One of my boys just turned 14 and just earned Life rank. We’re in no hurry for him to reach Eagle, partially to wait for another President to sign his certificate.
We just returned from a 50 mile hike in the Smoky Mountains. All the Scouts did great even though it was extremely hot and humid.
Our kid will do Life next year and Order of the Arrow, we haven’t done anything in hills or mountains yet, but we hope to next year (Illinois is pretty flat).
I’ve never actually spent any amount of time in the mountains myself, and would love to do something like that with the family.