Arc'teryx California

“There was a time when a day in the mountains only felt complete if I was climbing something hard.

Growing up skiing and hiking, big days in the mountains have always felt familiar, but in a climbing context, the approach was usually more of an inconvenience to be endured than an objective worth savoring in and of itself.

A recent finger injury was the perfect impetus to trade pulling hard for very sore legs and a deeper appreciation for the world of fast alpine ascents.

Partnering up with fellow ambassador (and far superior endurance athlete) Collin Wills was the perfect way to explore more of the High Sierra and tick a long-overdue summit of Mt. Whitney.“

Some of the best days in the mountains don’t come from pulling hard — they come from putting one foot in front of the other for hours on end. For regional ambassadors @ross.fulkerson and @cw.climbs, Whitney was a reminder of that, and a reminder of how good it is to share the effort with someone who pushes you to keep going.

📸 @taylor._shaffer