Donohue Peak

How a 70-mile Backpacking Trip Taught My 3 Kids They Can Do Difficult Things

"After a celebratory summit on a sunny morning, the party was quickly hit by a sudden storm that brought rain and dangerous lightning while they were exposed above the treeline. Faced with the well-known hazard of lightning at high elevations, they covered their packs, debated whether to shelter, and made the split-second decision to descend rapidly. The descent involved traversing fast-moving creeks and slick rocks using trekking poles for footing, encouraging their youngest to keep moving, and feeling intense relief once they reached safer terrain." - Wendy Altschuler