Reader: Vernon Wiley, 33, of Gardnerville, Nevada

The Spot: The east ridge of 13,986-foot (4,262-meter) Mount Humphreys, rated 5.5, in the Sierra Nevada, located outside of Bishop, California

The Moment: When I took this picture, the climber, Austin Archer, had ascended a small pillar on the ridge. As he looked into the vast Sierra Nevada Range, we were overwhelmed with peace and silence. The views from the top provided seemingly endless peaks to the north and south.

Do-It-Yourself: We got some last minute gear at Wilson's Eastside Sports in Bishop. Peter Croft's book The Good the Great and the Awesome provided the beta for the route.

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