If you live in the Northwest, you should really sign up for this. I’ve been before and it’s a great event. Don’t worry if you’re not a baptist… you can hang with me (remember, I’m a DB after all). This year’s speaker is Donald Miller (Blue like Jazz) and I’m so excited. Miller is great and it’s going to make this year’s Men’s Round up amazing. It’s a weekend full of sports, worship, speakers and man food (steak and portions you can’t finish). $90 before mid-August and $100 afterward.

Either email me or go to www.mensroundup.com if you’re interested.

[continued from 1.1] We arrived late in the evening. The first night was total cake… we slept in a cabin. The rest wouldn’t be so nice. That night the guides issued gear (40lb. packs per person) and confiscated all watches and cell phones. It was going to be all down hill from there. We went to bed early and woke up early (I’m assuming due to my lack of watch) the next day.

There was some early groaning from the group as we begun our ascent. They weren’t used to carrying packs this heavy and really weren’t used to hiking at all. The first day was a pretty gnarly hike. Five miles in with 3,000 feet elevation gain isn’t a cake walk. Each student was assigned 2 water bottles to last them for the first day and a half. There was no source of water for the first part of the ridge. They were told to take small sips of water as we made our way up the trail. We hiked on and the day grew hotter. It peaked at 105 F with no breeze.

As we stopped for lunch the guides did a water level check on everyone. To our dismay, most of the students were about out of water. The sips had turned into gulps. The two guides and I prayed as we set forward, assuming one of us would have to go and retrieve water from further down the trail (about 3 miles beyond our first day’s destination point).

Continuing up towards the ridge, the pace began to slow. They weren’t used to this much physical activity, especially not thirsty and in the heat. Then we entered the forest of desperation. It was a mosquito breeding ground. We had already eaten lunch, but evidently the mosquitoes had not. Thus began the feast. The only plus to the bugs were that our pace quickened. We knew once we made it out the other end, there would be relief. Huffing and puffing along they made their way through. We took our last water break (and downed the rest of our supplies) then pushed on.

Soon the sight of the top of the ridge was in view. It pushed us forward. Then we experienced one of the most wonderful sights known to man. At the top there was a snowfield. Evidently there was enough shade to keep it from melting this late into the year. Everyone dropped their packs and rolled in the snow. We literally were laughing and rolling in the snow. God had provided.

We dug down deep to find the cleaner snow to fill our water bottles. In our packs we had some Gatoraide powder, with that we made slushies. There was a quick turn around in morale from despair to relief. They relished the moment, but it was only short lived… [to be continued]