Ascending August 6 and descending August 7. The night prior to reaching the summit, the duo ate rice and katsu curry at the summit hut.
By JEY VELL, Steiner Ranch Dad
34 mph winds. Nearly 40 pounds of food, water, and essentials on my back. No porters. No guides. Just me, my 11-year-old son Justin, and a mountain that decided to be extra dramatic that day. Locals turned back, but we kept climbing.
A couple of hours in, Justin said, “Dada, my leg hurts. My chest hurts.” So we stopped. Then stopped again. The air was thin, the cold was biting, and I wondered, “What kind of father does this to his kid?” Then I realized it was a chance to teach him something powerful: deep breaths, short breaks, and empathy.
From my Mt. Kilimanjaro hike, I knew the rule: don’t stare at the peak—it’s overwhelming. Focus on the next few steps. I told Justin the same thing. In life and work, the principle is the same. Think big but move one step at a time.
Justin tripped. Then tripped again. My instinct said, “Be careful!” He looked up at me and said, “Dada, it doesn’t matter if I fall down. What matters is getting up.” In that moment, I knew he would be fine in life.
At the summit hut, most people had turned back, so there were plenty of beds and food. But the next morning, we were short on yen. No credit cards, no dollars accepted. I gave up my meal so Justin could have his hot cocoa. His smile filled my stomach and my heart. Small sacrifices, big rewards.
On the way down, Justin began taking “shortcuts.” I was skeptical, but they worked—he even beat me to the bottom. Lesson learned: age doesn’t matter. Knowledge does.
While I was in “preserve your energy” mode, Justin was stopping to admire every rock and making shapes with his hiking pole. At first, I thought he was wasting energy. But I realized he was right. Having fun gave him energy—and gave me an excuse to sit down without admitting I needed it.
Before the hike, we launched a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. With the support of friends and family, we raised $2,305 from 32 donors, enough to cover more than 23 days for a family’s stay. Reaching the summit was amazing, but the true joy came from seeing our community rally behind a bigger cause.
I came back with sore legs, a full heart, and a reminder: gratitude might be the highest summit of all. What really makes us happy is not just the journey or the destination. It’s the company—like my son Justin, and the community that supported us along the way.
About the author: Jey Vell is a father of three boys who enjoys hiking, yoga, and outdoor activities. He is an executive leader at Amazon and a weekend yoga instructor. He lives in Steiner Ranch.