20th Anniversary Dream Trip Contest

Great Travel Moment

What a sight to behold as you begin to climb the highest mountain in the contiguous 48 states, Mt. Whitney. It's 4:30 a.m. when you climb out of your sleeping bag and sleepily make a cup of cocoa and have a few quick bites of instant oatmeal. You've only been planning this hike for six months and the anticipation is killing you. Before you lies one of the most memorable days of your life and you know it. This particular day, this particular climb, also just happened to be my 50th birthday -- and the day that my husband Jerry proposed to me! We rounded a bend in the trail as the sun was coming up and beginning to warm our bones. This spectacular sight is forever etched into my brain.