29 High Points Later: What Mount Hood Reminded Me About Growth, Goals, and Shared Adventures
At 2:00 a.m., most people are asleep.
My sister and I were strapping on crampons, adjusting headlamps, and beginning the climb up Mount Hood in the dark.
A few hours later, we stood above the clouds watching the sunrise, officially completing our 29th U.S. state high point together. Moments like that are hard to put into words.
Climbing the highest point in every state, has slowly become one of the most rewarding and meaningful journeys of my life. Not because of the summits themselves. But because of everything the mountains teach you along the way.
The Mountains Don’t Care About Your Plans
One thing highpointing has taught me is that preparation matters, but flexibility matters just as much.
The weather changes. Trail conditions change. Your energy changes. Sometimes the mountain simply has other plans for you!
Mount Hood was no exception with alpine starts, changing terrain, and the mental challenge of climbing while your body is asking why you voluntarily signed up for this all become part of the experience.
And yet, those are always the moments I remember most.
Because growth rarely happens when everything feels easy and predictable.
It happens when you adapt.
Big Goals Are Built One Step at a Time
When people hear “29 state highpoints,” it sounds huge.
But the reality is much less glamorous.
It looks like:
early mornings
sore legs
missed sleep
weather delays
countless hours planning
and taking one step after another for years
That’s true for mountains. It’s also true for careers, relationships, personal growth, and almost every meaningful goal in life.
We live in a world that celebrates instant results, but the most fulfilling accomplishments usually take time.
There’s no shortcut to standing on top of a mountain.
You earn it one step at a time.
Shared Adventures Make the Best Memories
One of my favorite parts of this entire journey has been doing it with my sister.
There’s something uniquely special about working toward a long-term goal alongside someone who understands every early airport run, every trail debate, every “this seemed like a good idea at the time” moment, and every exhausted laugh halfway up a mountain.
Some of my favorite memories aren’t even the summits themselves.
They’re:
laughing deliriously from exhaustion
eating snacks at ridiculous elevations
celebrating with terrible gas station coffee afterward
and retelling stories from climbs that didn’t exactly go according to plan
The mountains have a funny way of turning uncomfortable moments into your favorite stories later.
29 Down. 21 To Go.
Standing on top of Mount Hood felt surreal.
Not just because Oregon is now checked off the list, but because this journey continues to remind me how powerful long-term goals can be.
They shape you slowly. They teach patience, resilience, adaptability, humility.
And maybe most importantly, they remind you that life is meant to be experienced, not rushed through.
21 more state high points remain - I already can’t wait for the next one!
Onward and upward!
