My friend and I set out to do the six peak challenge. We’d classify ourselves as in “good but not great” shape so this was definitely a stretch. We knew that going from short 3-4 mile hikes to Mt. Wilson would push us physically and mentally, and that we may not complete it, but also if we did it that’d be the biggest hurdle to the entire six peak challenge.

We packed plenty water, and allowed ourselves to rest often. We were grateful that Mt. Wilson was especially cloudy and only had to deal with the sun at the top – at the 1 kilometer boundary layer height it was like walking through a fog and a rainforest.

By the time we were near the top, a mental barrier had been passed and it was easier to finish the hike to the top rather than turn back, even as we made a slight wrong turn and added two miles to our hike by going down the Mt. Wilson toll road. It was immensely rewarding making it to the top and having lunch while observing the top of clouds covering Los Angeles.

The photo in front of the Sierra Madre sign was after we had made it back down to Arcadia; our smiles hid the pain in our feet and legs but showed the massive satisfaction in our hearts. Shout out especially to the other hikers who, while clearly being more fit than us, were so supportive when they saw us struggling at the top