Nearly 11 years ago I summited Mt. Rainier for the first time. The journey to the summit started months prior with every early morning workout, word of encouragement, and long weekend hike with family and friends. I learned two things then that I hold very close today—you cannot make it to the summit alone and we can do extraordinary things.

My dad understood this deeply, as he took on so many challenges in his life. Never afraid, and always full of conviction, he taught us that a day was not meant to be wasted. He embraced life with incredible tenacity and spirit. So it was no surprise, when a year after retirement, he let us know he would be training to climb Mount Rainier.

My dad found more than strength during his training. With a backpack full of sugar and the beat of Ravi Shankar in his ears, he discovered a true sense of freedom in the expansive wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.  These moments of untethering brought him peace and joy that was palpable to anyone in his presence.

"Remember how he lived" is the drum beat in my ear.

With new purpose, I begin this journey to the summit of Mt. Rainier again. This time I carry the weight of grief and deep loss. It has been on the trail that I have found my moments of untethering, strength, hope and healing. The gentle rustling of the trees, the sun peeking through the canopy, the quietness of the snow, and the open expanse of the mountaintops.

Our parks have been both my escape and my connection to the unimaginable loss of my dad. It is only in our parks where I have felt there is truly enough room for my grief and enough space to breathe. What a wonder it is to have these protected spaces of natural beauty at our doorstep.

I will set out to climb Mt. Rainier again this June 17th-19th, for my dad and for me. He earned the summit and so I will be carrying him with me on my journey.

If you’d like to honor my dad and support my climb, please consider a donation to Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF). Committed to preserving the vibrancy of our parks, I will be a lifetime supporter of WNPF.

On my way!