Despite the obstacles and warnings, Everett Kalin, 93, made the unprecedented decision to climb Yosemite’s Half Dome.

His journey’s purpose was to show that age should never be a barrier to pursuing one’s dreams, not just to reach the summit.

The retired seminary professor from Oakland, California, found inspiration in his own good health and former exploits.

He even skydived on his 91st birthday. Following that incident, he chose to tackle Half Dome, one of Yosemite National Park’s most iconic and difficult climbs.

According to the National Park Service, Half Dome is both a difficult challenge for many hikers and an iconic image of Yosemite.

Despite a report from 1865 claiming that the region was ‘absolutely inaccessible’ and could never be reached on foot,

In 1875, a mountaineer named George Anderson defied the odds and reached the peak, paving the way for the cable route that is still in use today.

The Half Dome hike is around 14 to 16 miles in length and is not recommended for anyone who is unprepared or out of shape. The hike usually takes between 10 and 12 hours to complete.

Kalin had spent months preparing for the climb. Every day, he ascended the 17 flights of stairs at his retirement community and wandered around Lake Merritt.

When it came time to begin the ascent, he was accompanied by his son, Jon Kalin, and his granddaughter, Sidney Kalin. His perseverance and devotion had paid off.

The Kalin family’s three generations set off on their journey in mid-July 2023. They spent the night in Little Yosemite Valley before beginning their ascent to Half Dome.

The expedition encompassed at least 14 kilometers of challenging terrain, including the Subdome, a system of steep granite stairs.

Everett had regular visits to Yosemite, but he didn’t decide to do the Half Done until he was 90 years old.

Despite failures and obstacles along the road, the Kalin patriarch’s perseverance and determination motivated his family to persevere.

‘I don’t know if we’re going to make it,’ Jon told the Los Angeles Times. That’s what I’ve been thinking the entire time.’

When the stairs ended and a granite shelf took their place, Everett took his time getting through the challenging stretch,

even getting down on his hands and knees. Despite his wounds, he persisted because other hikers’ encouragement kept him going.