Climbing Mount Shasta wasn’t supposed to be easy. It was my first big mountaineering challenge, and I had trained for months, studying the route, testing my gear, and preparing my body for the grind. But nothing truly prepares you for the altitude, the wind, and the sheer exhaustion of a summit push.
The climb started smoothly enough—frosty mornings, crisp air, and steady progress. But as we neared the summit, conditions worsened. A fierce wind picked up, making every step feel like a battle. My muscles screamed in protest, but I kept my focus on the goal: the summit.
Halfway through the final push, my partner and I were forced to stop. The wind had become so intense that it was nearly impossible to move forward. We made the tough decision to turn around, only a few hundred feet from the top.
It felt like failure at the time, but in the days that followed, I realized it wasn’t about the summit itself—it was about the journey, the lessons, and the respect for the mountain. The summit will always be there, but it’s the choices you make along the way that define you as a mountaineer.
I’ll return to Mount Shasta one day. It’s not about if—it’s about when. And when I do, I’ll be better prepared, mentally and physically, for whatever challenge comes my way.
Anyone else have a mountaineering experience that taught you something you’ll never forget?