We slept on the summit of Mount Whitney on the longest day of the year. 14,505 feet, the highest point in the Lower 48, on the summer solstice. A PCT side quest with my tramily.
We woke up late at Chicken Spring Lake one morning and decided to push all the way to the top that night. At Crabtree Meadows we stashed food and extra gear in the bear boxes so our packs were light for the final push. On top we found a dugout foxhole in a rock outcropping that blocked the wind just enough to make sleeping possible. It was cold, windy, and we barely slept. But I saw about 20 shooting stars, watched the sunset, and then the sunrise the next morning. One of the best days on the entire PCT. When I did the Appalachian Trail, I skipped most of the side quests and regretted it. On the PCT I made a point to say yes, and it made the whole experience more fulfilling.