Vagabonding

Brooke's First Hike

2008-04-05T16:59:00.009-06:00

Contemplating a longer hike in July, Brooke and I decided to start with a ‘trial hike' first. We carved out a few days and selected a section of the Centennial Trail that would take us right through the heart of the Black Hills. Brooke has done her share of day hikes, but this was her first multi-day, sleeping outside kind of hike. Her main stipulation going into the hike was that it be somewhat warm (she’s not a big fan of the cold).

Our plan was to cover 48 miles in four days – pretty doable when all you intend to do is walk all day. As it turned out Brooke is a solid hiker and we covered more miles per day than we had planned. We actually finished in three days instead of four. Our first two days were absolutely lovely. The final day we had a lot of motivation to put away the miles; we hiked that entire day with sub-freezing temps and snow falling around us! While this was beautiful it was not what Brooke had signed up for! Our forecast upon leaving showed each day in the 40's, but as it turned out Sunday never got above freezing (based on our water turning to ice as we walked). So Brooke was very thankful that we weren't staying out in the snow and cold Sunday night and into Monday.

As we popped out of the woods at Legion Lake, the southern terminus of our hike, we still had one obstacle between us and hot food, hot showers, and warm beds. We still needed to hitchhike back to our car. Fortunately, the first car that went by Legion Lake drove us the 10 miles or so to the town of Custer and dropped us off at the town center. Unfortunately it took us about a half hour (walking/standing in the freezing snowiness) to get our next ride. Although the beauty of it was that the fellow took us all the way to our car which was 35 miles away and could have been another 2-4 different hitches. We gorged ourselves on McDonalds once in Rapid City and used all of the hot water with our lavish showers.

From my standpoint the hike couldn't have been much better. It was awesome sharing one of my joys in life – hiking – with the woman I love. The conversations were wonderful as well. And of course the entire experience was peaceful and scenic. Her perspective is a bit different. She's not exactly "sold" on backpacking. While enjoying some parts like being outdoors and active as well as the relational aspect, there are other things she could do without (discomfort, boredom, and cold!).

It sounds like we will be going ahead with a July hike, so Brooke can give summer hiking a whirl.

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There were moments like these:

And there were moments like this:

Brooke pumped her fist and hollered with glee when we saw the one mile to go sign:

Welcoming Springtime

2008-03-19T15:49:00.002-06:00

Spring might not be official until March 21st, but in my book March 9th is a better landmark. The 9th being the day this year that marked the time change and thus the extra hour of daylight that we've all been enjoying. And South Dakota must have agreed with me because we had the loveliest weather that weekend. Here are a few pictures from a dayhike that Brooke and I took on the Centennial Trail here in the Black Hills. We had a great time welcoming spring.

A video worth sharing...

2008-03-14T11:09:00.002-06:00

This Wednesday at youth group we played a game where there was a person in the middle of the big circle wearing a blindfold and wielding a standard pool noodle. Appropriately this person is called the “Blind Thwacker”. The goal for everyone on the outside of the circle was to see if they could touch the Blind Thwacker without getting hit by the noodle. It really was a blast; lots of laughter! But you’ve got to see what my wife Brooke did when she got the noodle in her hands. Everybody’s jaw dropped . . .

Unfortunately I only have about ten seconds. She went on for about a minute strong. If you loop it you get the idea. That's my ninja wife ;-)

Brooke Boarding

2008-03-04T00:04:00.005-07:00

Before our trip to Jackson, Wyoming Brooke had never snowboarded before. The first couple days she soaked up pointers from Mark & Jess and enjoyed the green runs of the beginner lifts. But by day three she was riding the gondola with the rest of us and even going down a couple 'double blue' runs (very steep). I'm glad that my wife is tough, willing to try new things, and open to the idea that winter actually can be fun ;-)

Skiing in Wyoming!

2008-03-01T12:57:00.004-07:00

Brooke & I and Mark & Jess Schmerse spent a great week in western Wyoming. The main event was skiing and boarding. We skied a day at Grand Targhee and a couple days at Jackson Hole. The area has seen over 300 inches of snow already this year! Our first base camp was Driggs, Idaho, a fun little mountain town. Our other base camp was Jackson, Wyoming - a gorgeous town surrounded by amazing mountains on all sides. In the evenings we played cards and Settlers of Katan, and there was even a day of snowshoeing outside of Yellowstone Nat'l Park. It was also a blast getting to take in the Tetons. Aside from picking up a cold, the entire road trip and vacation was wonderful.

Christmas Memories...

2007-12-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Growing up I always looked forward to the month of December. My mom had a special way of celebrating the Christmas season. My two sisters and I would receive some kind of gift every single day of December leading up to the big day on the 25th. As you would expect with the sheer amount of gifts, they were quite small. Sometimes it would be a pen, a pack of ball cards, a couple quarters, a bit of chocolate. But even if it was new toothpaste it was always exciting. A neat twist was that sometimes we would find a note instead of a gift. On that note would be a riddle or clue as to where to find that day's present. What kid doesn't love a hunt for hidden treasure?! Yeah, my mom is pretty great.

There were other traditions. Due to our Swiss heritage we started celebrating Saint Nicholas Day on December 6th. We knew on the night before to put a pair of shoes outside of our bedroom door. As we awoke in the morning we would peer outside our door to find that our shoes were filled with candy and fresh fruit and other goodies. It didn't take me long to start putting my biggest pair of shoes out there (i.e. here come the snow boots!) or even a couple pairs of shoes ;-)

But December 1st was always ornament day; we would receive an ornament to add to our annually growing collection. Often they were tailored to our interests. For example, December 1990 I was excited to have a Cincinnati Reds ornament...celebrating thier World Series run. Another year it was a mini-trombone (for some reason my instrument of choice). I have this picture in my head of one particular ornament. It was a nativity scene engraved into some kind of lightweight metal. And in addition to baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary, shepherds, magi, and animals there was of course the star shining down on it all.

December 1st of my youth was marked by the innocent excitement of ornament day and daily Advent presents. December 1st now comes loaded with more complex layers such as World AIDS day and the realization that millions of kids are afflicted with this disease. So life is more complex, but it opens up the door for a richer, fuller beauty. Just like that star at the nativity, the earliest followers of Jesus believed that He was the light shining out of the darkness. And today I'm moved by people who live in the same way - sacrificially, lovingly, longing to make a difference in their community and beyond. Our lives can be a beautiful light shining in the darkness, and that's beautiful.

www.freerice.com

2007-11-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

This site is pure genious. It is so many things all in one:
1) tangibly supports the global poor through donating food
2) raises awareness about the global poor through education and statistics
3) personal tutor for improving your English vocab
4) challenging! (so for I topped out at level 41...where are you?)
5) brilliant 'business model' (advertisers pay for all the rice)
6) heaps of fun! (just about borderline addictive)

the sold project

2007-11-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Rachel Sparks has gotten herself in over her head. Right where she belongs. Having assembled a team, she's in the process of producing a documentary on child sex trafficking in Thailand. Please check out the TRAILER. I'll be awaiting the full release in 2008.

The Death of Bottled Water

2007-10-27T00:36:00.000-06:00

I don't know that any of us can fully understand it, but we know that over the last decade bottled water has become as normal a part of the American life as milk and gasoline. In 2006 our country alone spent over $15 billion on bottled agua. As an article in The Week points out, that is more than we spent on going to the movies! When Aquafina is beating out Spiderman 3, you know it's a love affair.

But, new environmental, economic, and even safety concerns related to bottled water are beginning to change public perception. The facts (as reported in The Week):

OUR LOVE AFFAIR: A recent Gallup poll finds that 1 in 5 Americans drinks bottled water exclusively, finding tap water to be taboo.

BAD TASTE: Yet in a blind taste test, 75% of New Yorkers preferred city tap water to bottled water.

NOT AS SAFE: US Environmental Protection Agency safety standards are stricter for tap water than for bottled water. Bottled water plants must test for certain impurities once a week while most cities test their water hundreds of times per month.

A recent university study found that about 50% of bottled water samples had twice the amount of bacteria as Cleveland tap water.

WASTE: If Americans were good at recycling it would be one thing, but as it stands an appalling 2 billion pounds of plastic a year end up in land fills or by the side of the road due to bottled water.

FRIVOLOUS SPENDING: Bottled water costs about 1000 times more than tap water.

TIME FOR CHANGE: San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Ann Arbor, and New York City have at least one thing in common . . . they have all started campaigns to banish bottled water. In San Francisco, for example, it is now illegal to use municipal funds to buy the stuff.

So if it tastes worse, isn't safer, costs more, and pollutes the environment . . . how long will it be before we see the death of bottled water? Are you willing to change your habits?

P.S. Did you know that up to 40% of bottled water is simply purified tap water anyway? Both Coke and Pepsi's subsidiaries (Dasani and Aquafina respectively) share these 'noble' origins.

Wedding Photos!

2007-10-11T10:50:00.000-06:00

Please click HERE to see a selection of our wonderful wedding photos. Casper Hamlet was our photographer and he did a phenomenal job!

Please, humor me...look at the slideshow ;-)

What a Summer!

2007-09-21T21:23:00.000-06:00

This is probably more for me than anyone else but I thought it would be fun to recap the crazy summer that it was!

Camp job - From mid-March through August I worked part-time as the Director of Cedar Canyon Camp (the Dakota District camp of the Wesleyan Church). I worked primarily on publicity, summer staff hiring, big picture financial stuff, and pitching in where needed to help the camp run. I learned a ton through this experience and definitely gained a newfound appreciaton for the rigors of running a camp! My longtime friend Richie Brannon moved out for the summer and worked as our staff supervisor. I'm confident that was the best decision of his life ;-)

Jury Duty - I sat on a 'grand theft by deception' case for three days. Despite the massive interruption to life, it was an enriching experience. I learned heaps about our legal system and learned that I do have it in me to find someone guilty when needed.

Softball - After winning the church league softball championship last year, we came out of the gate 0-5 this year! The good news is we turned it around and finished the season around .500. Come tournament time we had some folks missing and were demolished. It was a good season though.

Alex's Visit - Our church partners with a church in Mexico City, Mexico. Their pastor, Alex Sicilia, came up to Rapid City for a visit in early June. Brandon, Alex, and I had such an amazing time together! We hiked around in the hills, walked to the top of the Crazy Horse monument, sat in a B-1 bomber, climbed around in a mine, and had some great conversations through it all. His message at our church that Sunday was incredible! I have come to love Pastor Alex and his family as my own family. (Look at the bottom half of THIS page to see some great pictures.)

Premarital Counseling - Brooke and I squeezed in about a half dozen visits to a local Christian counselor. While we wouldn't say this experience was life-changing, it did usually lead to some good discussions afterwards. From what we hear from our friends, post-marital counseling is where it's at!

Mt. Rainier Trip - No doubt a highlight experience! Read HERE.

Parents Visit - My parent came out to the Black Hills for the third time since I've lived here. They hit it hard! They took in Devil's Tower, the Badlands, Wind Cave Nat'l Park, the Needles Highway, Bear Country, and a bunch more. They reminded me that this is a premiere destination in the US for active vacationers. I love my folks and love spending time with them! Memorable experiences were playing cards most nights and seeing my dad on the high ropes course...Ha! I also loved that they were there for the following...

Ordination - On June 24 I became an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church. Dr. Jerry Pence led the service and my father was able to pray for me and share some special words. It was a moving experience.

Roof the Church - This wouldn't seem like a highlight but it really was. It's quite a bonding experience to roof a 15,000 sq ft roof over the course of several days. We had some great talks up there ;-)

Tri-State Youth Camp - One of the highlights of my summer was being the camp speaker at the Tri-State District Youth Camp (OK, MO, & AR). There were about 160 students, and they were awesome! God did some amazing things and it was exciting to see over 20 people baptized on the last day!

Jr High Camp & Sr High Camp - Unlike most districts, Dakota District has two full weeks of youth camp. It's always a blast, and it's always moving. My favorite times are late night kicking back hanging with the students.

Baptism at the Lake - Brandon and I baptized seven people on a beautiful summer afternoon in July. We picked one of the most scenic spots in the Black Hills, on the beach of Lake Sheridan. We had about 75 people from our church out for a fun afternoon and baptism celebration. It really felt like community.

Road Trip to Michigan City, IN for Family Vacation - Brooke and I spent the week before we were married with my family. Our rental cottage there is starting to become a summer home for the Kinds. Just a short walk from a lovely Lake Michigan beach, it's hard to beat. But really everyone knows this week is about the little ones. I love spending time with my nieces and nephew!

Wedding - In a summer full of highlights, this one takes the cake so to speak. In the deepest sense it was a beautiful day! We felt loved by all as we bound our love together with one another. Read more HERE.

Honeymoon - We'll always remember this trip as a fantastic week! It will be the bar by which we measure future trips. Read more about it HERE.

Rapid City Wedding Reception - Brooke and I hosted our Rapid City reception at a local golf course pro shop. It was a lovely setting and it was a joy to celebrate with our South Dakota family.

Flight around the Black Hills - A friend here in the area, Ryan Koontz, is a pilot and offered to take me up in his father-in-law's plane. We cruised around the Black Hills for about 90 minutes. It was gorgeous! I even got to control the plane for about 15 minutes.

FUEL Youth Pastors Conference - A little too soon after getting married I traveled to Orlando for a training conference. The resort/hotel was astounding, the speaker (Efrem Smith) was phenomenal, and connecting with old friends is hard to beat. A neat perk was being able to lead a roundtable discussion on "Discipleship in Youth Ministry".

Honeymoon in Puerto Rico

2007-09-08T15:33:00.000-06:00

See several more really sweet pix HERE

Brooke and I had an amazing time in Puerto Rico. There was plenty of great stuff to do. We really enjoyed Old San Juan with its colonial city center, 1700's era forts, narrow European-like streets. It was great. We spent a day hiking in the jungle-mountain core of the island. The views from the top were unreal. The perk of climbing up high on an island is the dramatic views of oceans hitting land on all sides.

We enjoyed some wonderful beaches; while everyone else was laying out we were setting paddle-ball records. We walked around city centers as we drove across the island. We felt as though we were able to explore quite a bit, particularly because we had a rental car. Our lodging was great. A friend of mine, Marcelo Santana, grew up in PR. His mom still works at a Holiday Inn Resort in San Juan. She really hooked us up! She got us a great deal on an eighth floor room with balcony overlooking the ocean a block away...king size bed...she sent up chocolate covered strawberries to our room ;-) What a lady!

Many have asked us, "Why Puerto Rico?" Well, we both love to travel and experience new cultures and places so we thought we would make our honeymoon a chance to do that. As we looked into ticket prices to various "cultural" places we found some rock-bottom tickets to PR from Chicago. Botta-bing-botta-boom and we were off to America's "51st state". PR makes for a great travel destination for someone wanting a little bit of the exotic with a lot of the familiar. You'll find a Burger King on every corner. You can still treat yourself to Coldstone ice cream and Starbucks coffee. English even gets you around pretty well, especially as it pertains to the tourist industry (rental agencies, hotels, outings, etc.).

Things aren't much cheaper in PR than the US...which makes sense since it is the US. There was this taco place/bar in San Juan that we literally ate at four times! It was so cheap and so tasty!!! That place will be remembered. Brooke was a bit bummed because it was the low tourist season in PR...which meant that a lot of places were relatively dead. She particularly likes to be where the action is.

And then comes the shock of being back home! Jobs with responsibilities! deadlines! and expectations! It's been pretty full. But, unquestionably the best part has been being Brooke's husband ;-) Married life is amazing!

See several more really sweet pix HERE

Loving married life!

2007-09-04T08:22:00.000-06:00

The big day...

2007-08-22T20:51:00.000-06:00

So Brooke and I were married on August 10. Wow! It was such a phenomenal day. To have your family and friends there alongside you as you join your life together with this other amazing person...it is not overrated. It is quite an experience.

At the rehearsal dinner we had this great time of sharing stories. Several friends and family of ours got up and told funny, meaningful, and at times tear-inducing anecdotes. It was very special!

Then later that evening I had a chance to hang out with all of my groomsmen while Brooke had her bachelorette party. I am continually blown away by my friends. They are amazing men and I love each of them! My dad and Mark Schmerse were my best men. My groomsmen were Richie Brannon, Justin Easley, Keith Jagger, Jared Osborne, and Max Shutt. Jesus said that "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." These guys make that almost too easy for me.

Brooke and I's hope for the wedding was that it would be a graceful collision of casual and classy. I think somehow we pulled it off (thanks a lot to our parents who poured so much into this great day). It was outside, surrounded by large trees which must surely have their own stories to tell. That day they offered us some much needed shade. The bridal party looked sharp but also comfortable. Our minister Keith Drury, long-time friend and mentor for both Brooke and myself, shared insightful words of wisdom, and was also incredibly witty. (Thanks Coach! It wouldn't have been the same without you!) Our music ranged from Johann Sebastian Bach and Richard Wagner to Norah Jones and U2.

From my perspective, I didn't expect to get emotional. It just doesn't usually happen. But when Brooke was walking down the aisle, one parent on each arm, I was overcome with emotion. There she was in all her radiant beauty. The woman that God had entrusted to me. The woman that He had called me to serve, love, and cherish...to give myself to. And did I mention how beautiful she looked?!

I'll share a couple neat lines from our ceremony with you. Keith asked me, "Paul, will you have Brooke to be your wife, and will you give yourself to her, in all love and honor, in all grace and faithfulness, to live with her and cherish her, in accordance with the heart of God?" That is an inspiring yet challenging question. I responded with, "I will". Now less than two weeks later, my main ambition is to live out that two word declaration. "I will." I will have you as my wife Brooke ;-) I will give myself to you and cherish you - even when my selfish desires try to get in the way...my desire and prayer will be to follow the heart of God in loving you with everything that I've got.

A phrase from our vows went like this, "Wherever our journey takes us". I smile thinking about journeying with Brooke. We've already road tripped across a good portion of the US together a couple times, we've explored Puerto Rico's jungles and beaches, we've spent a lovely evening together in Mexico. But "journey" captures so much more than wide-eyed trips and adventures. We will journey together in our faith, parenthood, hardships, accomplishments, and everything inbetween. I've got the best travel companion for such a trek ;-) I love you babe!

Check this out...

2007-07-16T11:14:00.000-06:00

Check this out. Now that's a good looking couple!

A Mt. Rainier Narrative

2007-07-04T14:58:00.001-06:00

It was snowing as we set out from the parking lot. Not a good sign. But that was precisely why I had spent a half hour a couple nights before dousing my shell jacket in re-waterproofing solution. At the same time we were taking our first couple steps, attempting to get used to the 45 pounds on our backs, the Mount Rainier Nat'l Park "tourists" weren't even bothering to get out of their cars. They drove on toward Seattle or Portland or somewhere warmer than here. Although we hadn't actually seen the mountain yet due to the cloud cover, our sights were set on the top.

Mark, Jess, and I knew we had a long way to go. Our car was behind us at 5,600 ft and we intended to sleep that night at 10,100 ft at Camp Muir . . . with the summit awaiting at 14,410 ft. A couple months later in the season our path from the parking lot would wind its way steeply through flower laden meadows. However we trudged upwards through a landscape of snow with a sprinkling of evergreens - a few hardy ones pointing sideways having survived an avalanche or two. Before too long the trees fell behind us and were replaced by a stiff and unrelenting wind. The wind, the cold, and particularly the lack of visibility made everything take longer. On a clear day it might take a fit person four hours to reach Camp Muir; though we were fit, it took us over seven hours. Fortunately the route had been marked with wands every twenty-five yards or so. We typically couldn't even see from wand to wand.

Above 9,000ft we started to see glimpses of the mountain above us. We were climbing out of the clouds. The light was soft because the sun was setting on the other side of the mountain, however the whole landscape was aglow. It was as though the snowfields around us were playing hot potato as every remaining ray of light was reflected again and again. During the final push up to Camp Muir we marveled at the breathtaking views around us, and we laughed at the insane amounts of snow and ice encrusted on our packs. I was tired. We were soon nuzzled into our down sleeping bags inside the stone walls of the public shelter. Which basically means we're safe from the wind, but we fall prey to a cacophony of snoring. Thank goodness for ear plugs.

Day 2 of our trek up Mt. Rainier was our rest day, and rest we did. After sleeping for twelve hours I stepped outside under a clear blue sky that rivaled any other I'd seen. The view to the south was breathtaking. Mt. Adams and Mt. Saint Helens stood out prominently from our surroundings. And nearer the horizon one could make out the pointy peak of Mt. Hood, clear in a different state. I couldn't tell you how much time I spent that day taking it all in. In addition we watched as the Park Service shuttled gear up and down the mountain via helicopter drops. This was the first clear day in weeks, so they were making the most of it. We melted snow for drinking water. We set a few items off to the side that we would not need for our summit push. And most importantly we gleaned as much information from other climbers as possible. We were pleased to hear that the route was wanded all the way to the summit, and that the crevasses were navigable.

We laid down for some rest at 7:30pm and had an alarm set for 11:30pm. Whether because of the snoring or my nerves I did not get a wink of sleep. Needless to say I didn't need the alarm, I woke Mark and Jess and we started to gear up for our alpine ascent. We had a couple minor issues with our gear, so we didn't leave Muir until around 1am. As odd as it may seem, climbers typically leave high camp in the middle of the night when everything is frozen solid. The morning sun has a way of loosening things up and leads to rock fall, ice fall, and weaker crevasse openings. Each of which has the potential to end your climb and your life. We were roped up with ice axes in hand as we traversed the Cowlitz Glacier toward Cathedral Gap. We walked over a couple cracks in the glacier that we knew later in the season would present climbers with a real obstacle.

The day before our summit climb we had taken a crevasse rescue class with Rainier Mountain Inc. Which means that with the rope that connected us, a few carabiners, and some cord we were capable of hauling one another out from a crevasse fall. We wore crampons on our feet for traction on the frozen snow. We wore double-plastic climbing boots for maximum protection from the cold, wet conditions of the moutain. We wore knee-high gaiters to keep snow out of our boots. Our outer shell layer of pants and jacket were waterproof and breathable and covered up a couple more layers that we used for warmth and moisture management. My head was kept warm with a hat and kept safe from falling objects with a climbing helmet. And when the sun rises there is nothing quite as important as sunglasses and sunscreen.

Being roped up means that the three of us had to walk at a near identical pace. I was first in line which meant that if I walked too fast I would feel the tug of Jess' weight on my harness. If I slowed for some reason and she didn't notice then not only could her crampons step on and slice our rope, but there would be too much slack in the rope thus negating the safety of being on a rope in the first place. I will tell you firsthand that getting three people to climb at the same pace over steep, icy (occasionally rocky) terrain for hours is quite a chore. But that is exactly what glacier travel demands of you.

We traveled by headlamp through Cathedral Gap up to Ingraham Flats and onto the Ingraham Glacier. At points we could look over a few yards and see great caverns of darkness where the depths of a great crevasse were plunging over 100 feet below the surface. My heart pounded a bit as we crossed a sizeable snow bridge over one such crevasse. We traversed the Ingraham Glacier and found ourselves at the base of the Disappointment Cleaver, the namesake for our route to the summit. We negotiated about 300 yards of fixed line on a section of the route where a fall would have been particularly dicey. We switchbacked over snow and rock and gained elevation quickly on the cleaver. For being the "easy" route up Mt. Rainer, I was amazed how exposed our route was. The angles below us were steep and the snow was hardened, which can make for a long fall if one does not self-arrest properly. Fortunately we never had to put our ice axes or rope team partners to the test.

It was incredibly windy as we climbed the cleaver. A cleaver, by definition, is a ridge of rock that juts up above two or more glaciers. Thus the jet stream of cold air at 12,000+ ft was unencumbered as it tried to knock us off the mountain. Mark coined the phrase, "pick-you-up-wind" in order to describe the intensity. There were numerous points where we would go down to one knee just to keep from being knocked over by a particularly nasty gust.

There was a nice flat spot at the top of the cleaver, around 12,350 ft, where we set down our packs for a break. Whenever we stopped for more than a minute we would quickly put on our down parkas that we had rented. Even with several inches of insulation all around me I would still find myself shivering. At this break we snacked and drank. Mark snapped some pictures. We had turned off our headlamps because the eastern sky was kicking out some light. We could now see the cloud layer at about 8,000 ft. Little Tahoma was stunning as it spiked its way into the air. At one point I stepped to the side to take a pee. While trying to stand there I remember being almost knocked over by the wind. I heard some hollering behind me. As I looked back I saw my pack flying past me, which moments ago had been laying heavily on the snow. Without thinking I dove forward fully extended and just grabbed a shoulder strap of my pack. The problem was that the same 1,000 ft cliff I was saving my pack from continued to get closer. I remember digging the toe points of my crampons down hard. I came to a stop about four feet from the edge. My water bottle sailed over the edge into oblivion.

I have replayed that moment in my mind many, many times and even get goosebumps doing so now.

Even before my incident, we had begun talking about whether it was a good idea or not to go on because of the wind. Our next stretch was riddled with crevasses and we weren't so much worried about falling into a crevasse as getting blown into one. The incident kind of sealed our fate. We headed down despite the fact that it was shaping up to be a beautiful morning. We knew we could be turned back due to getting clouded in, we hadn't factored in the possiblity of "pick-you-up-wind". The summit would still be there for us another day.

Once down at Camp Muir we came to realize that we did not have the supplies to give it another summit push. We slept there that night and headed down to Paradise on a lovely Thursday morning.

Though we did not attain the summit, we could each say undoubtedly that we had a blast on Mt. Rainier. We learned heaps. We gained confidence in glacial terrain. We took in breathtaking vistas. We enjoyed one another. We pushed our limits. And yes, we'll be back.

---------------------------

Our summit climb was June 11-14, 2007. We used our extra day on June 15 to sea kayak inbetween San Juan Island and Vancouver Island. Many thanks go to Mark and Jessica Schmerse for their wonderful friendship, thirst for adventure, and incredible bravery.

>>>>>>>>>>> View more sweet pictures HERE. <<<<<<<<<<<<

The Prep...

2007-06-29T16:35:00.000-06:00

So what does it take to climb a mountain like Mt. Rainier?

I suppose it depends on where you're coming from. I have had pretty extensive experience in the outdoors, most of which has been in the realm of long distance backpacking. So this was my "route to the mountain":

:: Read four books Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills (575 pp), The Measure of a Mountain (275 pp), Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue (150 pp), and Mt. Rainier: A Climbing Guide (250 pp) for a total of 1,250 pages.
:: Exercised diligently and intensely for many weeks (you can read more about that in an earlier post).
:: Assembled heaps of gear via purchases, borrows, and rentals. This was the pricey part; I probably spent around $500 in this category.
:: Found some rope team buddies, Mark & Jessica Schmerse, and made my way to the Cascades

There is no question all this was a sizable commitment, particularly in the arena of time. Brooke can attest that there was a period of time for around a month that if I wasn't working or hanging with her I was exercising or reading or online assembling gear - something to prepare for the trip. However, it is more than a hobby for me. It is about setting goals and achieving them. It is about pushing oneself. It is about soaking the most out of this one life of ours. It is about thinking outside the box. A bit of it is about treading where few dare to. There's also shared experiences with friends, incentive to be healthier, and cool pictures to share with friends. Put it this way, I'd much rather spend a week on the side of Mt. Rainier than on a sunny beach somewhere!

The (Delayed) Easy Fix

2007-05-26T10:06:00.003-06:00

I have this jacket. In fact it is both more and less than a jacket. It is more than a jacket because it has won awards in outdoors circles for being something that every outdoor enthusiast should have in their backpack (won the prestigious Backpacker magazine Editor's Choice Gold award - read about it here). It is less than a jacket because it weights in at a measly 10oz and actually goes by the moniker of "windshirt" (see the official site here). It has served me well. It's been around the world, on top of several notable peaks, and across over 1000 miles of trail. So imagine my disappointment a few months ago when the zipper started malfunctioning. I knew from experience that Marmot has incredible service and would take great care of me, yet with no upcoming trips I simply relegated it to the back of the closet. I put it off.

About a month ago I decided it was time to get the 'jacket' up and running, with the Rainier climb looming and all. I talked with a Marmot customer service representative who informed me that all I would have to do is ship it to their California location and they would repair it for a small fee (this made sense, but despite the sentimental connection there was a part of me that was hopeful for a complete replacement). With a busy schedule I just never carved out the trip to the post office, so my Marmot Driclime Windshirt would look up at me patiently in the corner of my room like an old yet loyal pet. Now only two weeks away from the trip my window of opportunity for sending it in had come and gone. So my mind went a different direction, "Is it possible to fix a zipper?" After some hunting on the world wide web I came to THIS site. Who knew that a gentle squeeze with a pair of pliers would resurrect an old friend? What an easy fix! Now the zipper runs smoothly and securely and my 'jacket' is ready to take on the Pacific Northwest.

Upon further thought, I started wondering if we do this a lot. Something breaks - whether it be a knob on your dashboard or a significant relationship - and yet we put off fixing it. You've seen it happen. When it comes to relationships, sometimes if it isn't handled proplerly the most insignificant disagreement can lead to distrust and separation of friendships. There's the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" I guess I'm spinning that around and saying, "If it's broke, fix it!" Why put up with little nuisances when we could simply stop and do something about it? I guess I've just seen too many friendships and marriages drift toward complacency and mutual indifference. I hope to be one who moves toward active involvement and mutual appreciation. [How did all this start with a zipper?]

"The Quest" :: Part 3

2007-05-05T17:42:00.000-06:00

So two key areas of continued failure: 1) rising early and 2) exercising regularly. Have you been there before? Let me tell you what kick-started some serious changes . . .

About three weeks ago I decided that I would attempt to summit 14,411ft Mt. Rainier along with my good friends Mark and Jessica Schmerse. Nestled not too far outside of Seattle, Washington, this mountain is the unquestioned icon of the Northwest. Unlike the Sierras in California or the Rockies (which each boast one mountain that is a couple feet higher than Rainier: Mt. Whitney and Mt. Elbert respectively), Mt. Rainier is snow covered year round. In fact "snow covered" is an understatement; over two dozen glaciers are unceasingly inching their way toward the valleys below. In large part because of its volcanic origins, it is a shapely and beautiful mountain to behold. But of course its rugged nature also presents its challenges to a would-be climber (i.e. crevasses, melting snow bridges, cold, wind, avalanches, etc.).

In desiring to be as prepared as possible for such a venture, I set out to exercise diligently for the six weeks leading up to the climb. My goal was to do an intense cardio workout two out of every three days (running hills, treadmill, etc.). When was this going to happen schedule-wise? The only time I could see it happening regularly was at 6:30am. It has now been over two weeks since I made that decision and it has led to a complete overhaul in the way I approach life. It starts with going to bed earlier. Typically between 10:30pm and midnight - as opposed to midnight to 1:30am. Then I'm up at around 6:30am. By 8am I have had an intense workout, cleaned up, and am out the door for an energized day. Even in the midst of a very busy time this has been doable and extremely rewarding. Better still is that I have been doing much of the exercising alongside my fiancee Brooke. Let's just hope all this sticks.

-- How have you dreamed of overhauling your life for the better?
-- What specific steps would it take to see that happen?

"The Quest" :: Part 2

2007-04-27T14:23:00.001-06:00

I have always considered myself an active person. Up until college I played team sports incessantly (soccer, baseball, basketball . . . mostly soccer). In college I continued my love for sports through intramural flag football, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and softball, but I also added to it. I was introduced to the world of the outdoors - particularly backpacking. During those four years I logged well over 1000 miles hiking through woods and over mountains in at least seven states. The summer after college I summitted a dozen 14ers in Colorado, and over the next year I had various active excursions literally all over the globe as I traveled overseas with a couple friends. Like I said, I'm an active person.

BUT, here in Rapid City I was dishing out $42.50/month for a YMCA membership that I virtually never used. Even though I only lived four blocks from the gym, I just couldn't get it into my life routine. I dropped my membership when I moved to an apartment complex with a workout room. Now I would only have to walk 100 yards and I'd be in business. And yet almost two months into living here I had only worked out once. That's pretty disheartening.

Yeah, I've played some basketball or softball here and there. I've gone skiing and enjoyed a handful of hikes in the Black Hills. But all in all I would be stretching things to say that I've been an active person. Which is truly sad because this area has so much to offer!

So if you take my thoughts from Part 1 (I have a track record of being horrible at getting up in the morning) and intermesh them with this installment (over the last two years I have struggled to exercise consistently), you'll see that I haven't exactly been the posterboy for self-discipline or vibrant living. And this is where I found myself last week. Oh how things have changed . . .

Stayed tuned for the next installment of “The Quest”

"The Quest" :: Part 1

2007-04-24T21:47:00.000-06:00

Unless I had an appointment on the calendar, I would be hard pressed to get anything accomplished before 10am last year. Don’t get me wrong; I wasn’t lazy. I just opted for late hours rather than early hours. It was natural, it was easy. My body rhythms would keep me running late into the night which in turn led to needing some sleep well into the morning. But I wasn’t content. The clock showed noon and I felt as though I’d just gotten the day going. Have you experienced that? I hated that feeling! It was the feeling of irresponsibility and underachievement. So then I would try to make up for it and get a bunch done after hours. The cycle perpetuated itself. It was ugly . . .

Stayed tuned for the next installment of “The Quest”

An Interesting Thought...

2007-04-12T16:42:00.000-06:00

"One does not learn to be a Christian, but rather, one engages in the process of becoming one."
--- Peter Rollins, How (Not) to Speak of God

Thoughts?

Mexico Action

2007-03-31T16:53:00.000-06:00

View more pictures HERE.

From March 16 through 20 I joined five others from my church on a missions trip to Mexico City, Mexico. It was a short trip, but our goals were clear. We went there to establish a missional partnership with Senda de Vida (Life Path Church). Our church has had a vibrant local missional partnership with Love INC, their mission being to mobilize churches in Rapid City to help those in need. We had been on the lookout for a cross-cultural missional partnership for some time. By way of a couple key recommendations we began email communications with Alex Sicilia, the pastor of Senda de Vida.

What we found was that Senda de Vida is in many respects the Mexican version of our church, young leadership and a similar size congregation being only the beginning of the similarities. Senda de Vida currently has fourteen cell groups that meet regularly all over their city. Our church has around a dozen community groups that meet in various homes and in the church itself. Both churches are passionate about sharing the message of Jesus Christ with our communities and seeing lives impacted!

During the course of our few days together I was deeply moved by the people, particularly their love and hospitality toward us. They opened their homes to us, loaded their tables with incredible food, lavished us with hugs and kisses, and shared their lives with us. When it came time to leave Mexico City we realized we were leaving behind brothers and sisters.

On this trip we were able to help them paint some things in their worship center, held a youth rally, participated in Sunday morning worship, had a moving meeting with the leaders of the church, explored the city a bit, and even had time to squeeze in a couple games of soccer. Looking long-term we see our missional partnership being two churches in diverse settings that are committed to teaming together to more effectively carry out their mission of seeing people transformed by the love of Jesus Christ. It is essential that there is a two-way relationship – both churches contributing in significant ways. There are many things that our church has already learned from Senda de Vida and I believe that will only continue to happen as the years go by.

View more pictures HERE.

The Swan Song...

2007-03-25T04:09:00.000-06:00

As I recently got a new stamp in my passport - more on that soon I'm sure - it brought back many memories of that adventure that nearly filled up my passport: CrossingTheGlobe '04-'05. The website and its stellar pictures will fade from the online otherworld within the next month. If you want to see what I saw one more time, then simply click the links.

A Look Around the Place...

2007-03-15T20:56:00.000-06:00

Take a tour of the new apartment HERE.

On March 1 I moved into a new apartment here in Rapid City. The real incentive for the move is that now I have a roommate: Tyler Drewitz. Tyler started coming to our church last year and he has quickly become a great friend. We share a love for movies and hearty food.