Summary:
The narrator begins their story with the context of reaching 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube and deciding to celebrate by attempting to climb Mount Shavano in Colorado. They describe their journey, starting from a mountain town named Salida and the initial hike through a serene forest. As they gain elevation, the effects of the high altitude become noticeable. They reach the tree line and continue their ascent, encountering wildlife and enjoying the breathtaking views.
The narrative details the final scramble to the summit, where they experience the challenges of extreme altitude. At the summit, they reflect on their journey and milestones while enjoying the scenic beauty. However, on the descent, there's a moment of panic when they briefly lose sight of their mother, who was also hiking. Fortunately, they reunite and continue their descent, with the effects of altitude still affecting them.
Overall, the story combines the adventure of climbing a mountain with personal reflections and moments of humor along the way.
Sure, here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The author was about to celebrate their birthday and had reached 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube.
2. They planned to climb Mount Shavano in Colorado for their birthday.
3. The author, along with their brother Reese and their mom Amy, prepared for the hike.
4. They started the hike early in the morning from a trailhead at an elevation of 9,700 feet.
5. The hike was about 5 miles to the summit, with an elevation gain of almost 5,000 feet.
6. They encountered various wildlife, including deer, squirrels, and cows, on the trail.
7. The hike took them above the tree line, where the terrain became rocky and challenging.
8. The author met a subscriber named Tyler on the hike.
9. They reached the summit of Mount Shavano, which was at an elevation of 14,229 feet.
10. The author used bottled oxygen during the climb.
11. They had a moment of panic when they couldn't initially locate their mom on the way down from the summit.
12. They eventually reunited with their mom and continued their descent.
These facts provide a concise overview of the author's hiking adventure on Mount Shavano without including opinions or additional commentary.