365 True Things: 24/Heights

If on my 2003 attempt on Mt. McKinley (Denali) my climbing partner and I had made it to the top, that would have been the highest I've ever been: 20,230 feet. As it is, we only made it to about 17,000 feet—twice. The reasons for our failure include food poisoning and a blizzard. In this photo, we're looking down on the 14,000-foot base camp from about 17K. It may not look like much, but it's a veritable village—including, fortunately, a well-stocked medical tent, where my partner was set to rights after a day on IV fluids.

Himalaya moonrise

In point of fact, the highest I have been is around 18,000 feet—in Ladakh, northern India. Some friends and I did a several-day trek there in 2004, through country stunning in its stark, desolate beauty, crossing over several 18,000-foot mountain passes along the way. We also drove over one of the highest paved roads in the world, at Khardung La (17,582 feet; La = pass in Tibetan), to arrive at our trailhead. Talk about the top of the world!

Here at home in coastal California, the highest I get with any regularity is 2,030 feet: Snively's Ridge in wonderful Garland Ranch Regional Park. It may not be the top of the world, but it does give out some pretty sweet views.