Sunday, August 10, 2014

Back From the Mountaintop


Fifteen-year-old Julia is back from her ten-day trek in the eastern Sierra, culminating with the ascent of 14,042-foot Mt. Langley. She gave a short speech at her graduation ceremony that brought tears to my eyes. Tears of pride.

She seems so grown up. Back from ten days in the wilderness with seven girls and three young women she never met before, having braved wind, rain, snow, heat and lightning, with some border-line hypothermia at some points, she looks fit, strong and newly confident.

After big hugs all around we were off. Her brothers were there to greet her and we're all proud of her.