Bagging the peak of Mount Whitney, the highest mountain peak in the contiguous United States, is hard as hell for any human. But what happens when you get invited to climb this beast with only three and a half weeks to prepare? Our tenacious Coach Polly said YES, and then redesigned everything—her training, her time, and most importantly... her mindset, to turn a daunting summit into a living lesson on wonder, focus, and self-trust. This isn’t a highlight reel of hero shots at 14,505 feet; it’s a candid, strategic walk-through of the choices that made her success possible.
Let's start with the real constraints: a packed calendar, sub‑ideal fitness, and a permit date that wasn’t moving. From there, we map a minimalist plan— two weeks of specific training, acclimating in Mammoth, planning water and gear, and last minute packing microspikes after scanning current trail snow reports. The 2 a.m. start under a near super moon set the tone: steady pacing over ego sprints, calm breathing over nervous chatter. When whitecaps on the lake and a wind-chill slap threatened to unravel the team, we used small levers to regain control—layers, shelter, and music to manage the pain cave on the infamous 99 switchbacks!
On cliff exposure, we trade bravado for protocol: eyes on the next step, not the void; simple cues; quiet leadership. The summit is cold and fast—photos by the hut at 19 degrees with 25 mph winds—and the descent becomes a masterclass in risk reduction with microspikes. Along the way, wonder shifts from a postcard mood to a daily practice. Constraint sharpens decisions. The A‑team proves priceless. And the real win becomes the journey itself, not the last step at the top, but WONDER.
So if you’ve got a big goal—whether it’s Mount Whitney, the Camino de Santiago, a business launch, or a creative leap—this conversation is your field guide. Coaches Sam and Polly share the tactics that matter (acclimation, gear, pacing, mindset) and the invaluable inner work that sustains them (agency, community, and a commitment to process). Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review telling us the mountain you’re choosing next.

-xoxo Coach Polly & Sam

@everydayawesomeproject

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