A major highlight of Tuesday’s birthday hike up the Mt Whitney Trail occurred when I met Daniel hiking toward me. Carrying a large pack, he was obviously equipped for a multiday trek into the backcountry. The quick exchange of greetings as we started to pass in opposite directions revealed that he was part of a larger group, sister Susan not far behind, and their mom, Joanne, 82 years old, carefully making the steep rocky descent, bringing up the rear. They had entered the trail at Onion Valley some fifty miles ago, and about a week prior to this moment. This was the culminating day of a 4-year family project to hike the entire 211-mile John Muir Trail in segments, this one being their Kearsarge Pass to Mt Whitney segment, cumulatively 38 days of hiking, now only 5-6 miles from completion. I climbed further and met Susan, a fit 50-something woman, looking over her shoulder, awaiting Mom. Susan explained more about the family project, how scattered they had all become across the US, and how she missed the easy access to California’s Sierras, having relocated with her husband to Sarasota, FL for her work. I told her how much I admired her family for collaborating in this project, and I could feel the emotion welling up inside myself, having lost my own mother only six months ago. Five more minutes of climbing, and I found Joanne, easing herself down each step with expert use of her trekking poles, looking strong and fresh, nowhere near the 82 years her son and daughter had revealed. “Hello, Joanne,” I called out, and she smiled and returned my greeting. Joanne stopped and gave me about five minutes of her time, savoring these last hours on the JMT, telling me how this 4-year odyssey had become such a wonderful annual family reunion, started with her son, this day accompanied by so many extended family members, all awaiting her down at the stream. She gave them credit for “putting up” with her slowness, modestly disregarding their obvious love and admiration. She expressed a little concern about completing the project, telling me that she now had to come up with a new challenge. I congratulated her for her admirable achievement, and especially for her amazing family. She continued to move with care down the trail to the ten or so awaiting family members about a quarter of a mile away. As I write this, I think of my own mom who celebrated her 86th birthday by hiking with my sister Linda in the Mammoth area, not at all an unusual activity for either of them. Only weeks later, Mom suffered a major stroke, never to fully regain her abilities, dying more than two years later at the age of 88. My brothers and sisters and I continue to draw inspiration from her life lessons, from her strength, and from the example she set for us all. Joanne, you are providing the same for your family, and I am so glad to have met you.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 16:05:26 +0000
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