This years trip involved a south to north, seven-day 65-mile hike through the rough backcountry at elevations of 14,000 feet or more.

According to Burns, “I was not originally planning to make the difficult side trip up Whitney, but decided to do so after seeing the terrible way that law enforcement were being treated by some in the public and by some politicians.

“I customized the flag before leaving Fredonia. I could think of no better way to salute those that protect us than unfurl this banner from America’s highest peak, said Burns, who is a Holy Trinity parishioner. “I think we all agree that All Lives Matter”.

The annual trip to the mountains has become known to family and friends as “The Big Hike.” The path usually follows the Pacific Crest, John Muir, or High Sierra Trails in the southern part of the Sierras. The magnificent scenery is beyond imagination, the backcountry is only accessible by foot, and is over 20 miles from the nearest roads.

The sun rising and shining through one of the “windows” formed by peaks along the trail to Mount Whitney.

This area is beyond the reach of cell phones and communications are only available by satellite.

Food and shelter is hand-carried but water must be filtered from lakes and streams.

Chris Burns states “For those willing to prepare, even us older folks can see and do things we thought were out of reach. On most days I still feel like I did as a teenager back in Fredonia.”