Eagle Era

Students from AHS climbed the highest peak in the contiguous United States

By Joycelyn Gu

Guest Writer

At approximately 11 pm on August 16, 2025, the scouts from Troop 2468, 468, and 2485 started their 22-mile ascent of Mt. Whitney. Their goal? Reach the 14,505 feet top and safely descend all within a 24-hour period.

Their year-long journey began on the John Muir Trail and ended on the John Muir Trail. On Labor Day in 2024, Troop 2468 Scouts completed a loop hike from Yosemite’s Happy Isles to Glacier Point. These Scouts were eager for a greater challenge, so they were offered two options: Mt. Whitney or the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim.

Without hesitation, the Scouts chose Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States.

From the end of 2024 when the decision was made, the climbing team was founded, the members were recruited, and the training began. Over a span of many months, the Scouts left their footprints across the Bay Area and Yosemite National Park, measuring their growth with each step.

The Scouts hiked over 300 miles, covering iconic trails like Pinnacles National Park, Mission Peak, Rancho San Antonio, Black Mountain, Kings Mountains, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpais, Glacier Point, Clouds Rest, Yosemite Falls Trail, Mt. Hoffman, Mt. Dana, and many, many more.

And so, after months and months of training, on August 16 at 10:30 PM, the Mt. Whitney team—Scouts ages 12 to 16 from Troop 2468—gathered at the Whitney Portal trailhead in Inyo National Forest. In addition to Troop 2468, one Scout each from Troop 468 and Troop 2485 joined the challenge. Their goal was to summit the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail, Mt. Whitney.

Obviously these scouts were aware of their upcoming challenge. 22 miles round trip, 22 hours on foot, 6,700 feet of elevation gain, and the possibility of high-altitude sickness. Every Scout felt the toll. The return journey of 11 miles became a nightmare for many.

Scouts persevered trekking the highest peak in the contiguous United States (Photo Credit: Natalie Lu).

Yet, they persevered. With sheer resilience and willpower, every single Scout pushed through and made it back without issue.

By 8:30 PM on August 17, every Scout and adult leader had safely returned to Whitney Portal. Among the Scouts were two girls that were only 12-years-old. Each Scout had school the following day, and most refused to miss it. They sat through the long car ride through the night, arriving back home at 4:00 AM while simultaneously exhausted and covered in trail dust.

Demonstrating excellent leadership, the Scout-in-Charge led the entire climb. They were the first to step into the wilderness and the last to leave. Along the way, they accompanied and supported a teammate who had sprained an ankle and was suffering from altitude sickness, ensuring no one was left behind.

The ascent of Mt. Whitney was more than just a hike. It was a test of endurance, teamwork, and heart. These young Scouts not only conquered the tallest peak in the Lower 48—they proved to themselves what they are capable of when they commit to a goal and support each other to the very end.

Three American High School students, Joycelyn Gu (10), Grace Cao (11), and Justin Gu (9), joined this climbing event and successfully summited.

The story was initially published by patch.com and has been selected and reposted by MSN News. It will inspire and influence the youth in the Bay Area communities and nationally.