tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168981972024-03-12T21:33:57.734-07:00faithrunnerrun with endurance the race set out before you...Heb. 12:1-2faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comBlogger449125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-63003132836875454042024-02-24T10:10:00.000-08:002024-02-24T10:10:48.135-08:00Tres Cruces Costa Rica<p> I try to find a hike or something out of the ordinary when I travel. In 2023, I was invited to speak at a conference, <a href="https://micn.org/" target="_blank">MICN Re-Fresh</a>, in San Jose, Costa Rica. The conference was held at the <a href="https://www.ibccostarica.org/" target="_blank">International Baptist Church</a>, Paul Dreessen, pastor. Paul knew I liked hiking and adventure so he lined up a hike on the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/costa-rica/san-jose/tres-cruces-escazu-trail">Tres Cruces Trail</a> just north of his home in San Antonio de Escazu. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEHETUapMRzCZS0K8QQbPhzGoHFt2baYfaH8qFMWxoh3rf-sA0I5tsQdPaKP9PyhPfAJeYm0CInBrDlt7Ws3EJ35h3AudFcKegL-0WlKJ5gmNSHagXyvyPp6fzr0IO4iiM5Xflg3PsQ0zPO_1iDKan8ANHB69wwItJWXE-kDmcUatytVfuFal/s4032/IMG_3208.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEHETUapMRzCZS0K8QQbPhzGoHFt2baYfaH8qFMWxoh3rf-sA0I5tsQdPaKP9PyhPfAJeYm0CInBrDlt7Ws3EJ35h3AudFcKegL-0WlKJ5gmNSHagXyvyPp6fzr0IO4iiM5Xflg3PsQ0zPO_1iDKan8ANHB69wwItJWXE-kDmcUatytVfuFal/s320/IMG_3208.jpeg" width="240" /></a>Paul’s house sits at about 4100 feet above sea level, and the highest point on the trail is about 6600 feet. The trail is only about 1.5 miles one way, so it is a pretty steep climb. Getting to the trailhead was challenging enough. When I commented about the steepness of the trail, he asked, “I thought you were in shape to hike something like this?” I replied, “I’m in shape, but not for this!” I had not done much leg work getting ready to speak at the conference. </p><p>Once we found the trailhead, which is hard to find without someone who has been there before—that is why you always hike with a local, experienced hiker—we were joined by a couple who were also looking for the trailhead. </p><p>The trail is rugged with smooth sections and views along the way. We were fortunate that the trail was dry. The clay base would be slick if it was wet. Vines and rocks made some of the hike hard to make our way through, but it is very doable. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHxdbLbTgajWCkuBR32ut6JbzsVsoikuTkrUWd1l04smU9sj-8PG9uLu6HBzisSJ8I2vQFxuU-Bc9Hnuwt8kMyJlMW_qYBx0lsPCIJIv6vCHT5bFd6QnLiOpEn6D01Ago2gEyP9UXsSnJHRO1tdpJ9UN3MpU6qUNXcVah7OjvA_2yNNTQHA1D/s4032/IMG_3239.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHxdbLbTgajWCkuBR32ut6JbzsVsoikuTkrUWd1l04smU9sj-8PG9uLu6HBzisSJ8I2vQFxuU-Bc9Hnuwt8kMyJlMW_qYBx0lsPCIJIv6vCHT5bFd6QnLiOpEn6D01Ago2gEyP9UXsSnJHRO1tdpJ9UN3MpU6qUNXcVah7OjvA_2yNNTQHA1D/s320/IMG_3239.jpeg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn1aqHnFii21dbLcJDhl95P0lx7uCPfvSWa8vVd6RYHxawAUvMJljY-xbMDWomh_zv-4ugVUCgML3yL9YvAiHT-pf2Doo4v7QI8-TEuR8C8xfpikaqvtapEZ1IAMg3Fo580KpYy0I1di27-wN0yxxoEMNy8woXghE3wxpnaXs0iGRV0MhQB8k/s4032/IMG_3231.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn1aqHnFii21dbLcJDhl95P0lx7uCPfvSWa8vVd6RYHxawAUvMJljY-xbMDWomh_zv-4ugVUCgML3yL9YvAiHT-pf2Doo4v7QI8-TEuR8C8xfpikaqvtapEZ1IAMg3Fo580KpYy0I1di27-wN0yxxoEMNy8woXghE3wxpnaXs0iGRV0MhQB8k/s320/IMG_3231.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p>The first of three crosses was massive, but the view of the capital city was spectacular. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHii49SlGdSE7Dor7kT2X9rtF7ud_5paKlSphVe8SKQ_0-eBqeM0bDEBU6A9v8KbGR1KuSVFnUyJ5ncpOFOjYDw36OoYoks7iOIHIunYpOpcibkAnIu27vYr4_CPoKrWxJghfnOmp1AucQg_uwngmi0eonBgCLmFNZRcXSh65k8bH8wIUZ01eO/s4032/IMG_3216.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHii49SlGdSE7Dor7kT2X9rtF7ud_5paKlSphVe8SKQ_0-eBqeM0bDEBU6A9v8KbGR1KuSVFnUyJ5ncpOFOjYDw36OoYoks7iOIHIunYpOpcibkAnIu27vYr4_CPoKrWxJghfnOmp1AucQg_uwngmi0eonBgCLmFNZRcXSh65k8bH8wIUZ01eO/w320-h240/IMG_3216.jpeg" title="Pastor Paul and me at the first cross" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pastor Paul and me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDHc8Uhbr3-gFSFbJcUB_mqYMzEKk1_0O89uwwuheg7UP0krPtshaVO1ARC-B1I3xRKW5vkNm_q3aUgwPPH5Y9DrGst8GJ9hl_PL-7Ra2n1yprpQavzH-r2EAmAysniU7GfUF9FT2jFJfnIYRkQNFZC53kWmh932zIfpZ-2_yhI9r4AEvx9X7/s4032/IMG_3218.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDHc8Uhbr3-gFSFbJcUB_mqYMzEKk1_0O89uwwuheg7UP0krPtshaVO1ARC-B1I3xRKW5vkNm_q3aUgwPPH5Y9DrGst8GJ9hl_PL-7Ra2n1yprpQavzH-r2EAmAysniU7GfUF9FT2jFJfnIYRkQNFZC53kWmh932zIfpZ-2_yhI9r4AEvx9X7/s320/IMG_3218.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The group from IBC who hiked the trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlphoH6CxwYGhsRuXGep3coQPWfEZXY8bPZXvzUdE8Q_3k6SqC4rKOY_hVhOI-HZH2dqrpgrxEMirCxqUHywevKmUXJ_8VBlqe_V5UKlgT00wsgXRGVDnYJEl6Zaj91xBGym8hWBjsuB_TSJXFasg10iFf-j_g_gM35fzJeLJAEr02UFR985QD/s4032/IMG_3228.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlphoH6CxwYGhsRuXGep3coQPWfEZXY8bPZXvzUdE8Q_3k6SqC4rKOY_hVhOI-HZH2dqrpgrxEMirCxqUHywevKmUXJ_8VBlqe_V5UKlgT00wsgXRGVDnYJEl6Zaj91xBGym8hWBjsuB_TSJXFasg10iFf-j_g_gM35fzJeLJAEr02UFR985QD/s320/IMG_3228.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Second Cross</div><div><br /></div><div>Only a pedestal remained of the second cross. The platform provided a place to rest, hydrate and take in some carbs. Another group of hikers took advantage of the setting for the same things. They were locals on a Saturday morning hike. We flat landers from Dallas are jealous of those who have trails like this in their backyards. </div><div><br /></div><div>The approach to the third cross opened up after another section of steep jungle trails exposing the cross in front of us and a panoramic view of the city behind us. When we arrived, a woman and her companion came running up the hill behind us. We found out she had run Mont Blanc four times, and used the trail to train for that ultra mountain run. It took her about a third of the time we took to get up to the third cross. I have learned to admire rather than compare myself with those who are not only talented but who steward their talents well. She ran off before we finished our rest. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYCxFdJs05JWOUTcuExwiRYT1l5IWiPG_LUPJiIffrN6D9V5k4PCwHeDaNY-AmyV6M1voCY8Zf7l_9EcNcDCCwR4kZe24KSFc2ctlhADIlCKCg4z5rzh8pZXAmvQmpgbpBRil6uEre41sYB5ZeKRiMnZIZ9f4__XIYEJZFWY-9Kr-Px4frAlq/s4032/IMG_3230.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYCxFdJs05JWOUTcuExwiRYT1l5IWiPG_LUPJiIffrN6D9V5k4PCwHeDaNY-AmyV6M1voCY8Zf7l_9EcNcDCCwR4kZe24KSFc2ctlhADIlCKCg4z5rzh8pZXAmvQmpgbpBRil6uEre41sYB5ZeKRiMnZIZ9f4__XIYEJZFWY-9Kr-Px4frAlq/s320/IMG_3230.jpeg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfOsNyB2NyxEezZuDA1gpVTX0fZ3eIs2uAxjhUoHB4lQOmzDOhBvmvR_MmNe4rel8bSjrQ3iKTRa5UlXvPH5h6k8cQ_ixtAOECRN28UrY_qnpeeYyw4mk4Z8cnAoFEZBNz2bzzvg2cZM3avYBMdjEeo0rk0efZwIAjfj2gsfZDapaVPCtkA2x/s4032/IMG_3229.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfOsNyB2NyxEezZuDA1gpVTX0fZ3eIs2uAxjhUoHB4lQOmzDOhBvmvR_MmNe4rel8bSjrQ3iKTRa5UlXvPH5h6k8cQ_ixtAOECRN28UrY_qnpeeYyw4mk4Z8cnAoFEZBNz2bzzvg2cZM3avYBMdjEeo0rk0efZwIAjfj2gsfZDapaVPCtkA2x/s320/IMG_3229.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We took time to rest and enjoy the view. Instead of returning the way we came up, we traveled down the other side of the mountain. That trail was very steep and carried us through the valley and back into the town through a park. Descending is usually more difficult for me than ascending. I misstepped crossing a stream on the way down and carried several bruises and cuts the rest of the week as badges of my hike. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI9lx5i5hI8f-bHs5Vh4_QhpIjmYOaaipLKau8_Uiu7PkIIkhzl50Rz5RYEduFWxonAL1qaj6nZ3sp_0TBBFx2M9jsPl84hECiHhxF9ezozHpZLeFccTo_zOsBf1RARR4brDVndPKARFw-AFn21Sjp1pX0wVFQQL9i76eyJSO_QyzmZqogP7M/s4032/IMG_3232.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI9lx5i5hI8f-bHs5Vh4_QhpIjmYOaaipLKau8_Uiu7PkIIkhzl50Rz5RYEduFWxonAL1qaj6nZ3sp_0TBBFx2M9jsPl84hECiHhxF9ezozHpZLeFccTo_zOsBf1RARR4brDVndPKARFw-AFn21Sjp1pX0wVFQQL9i76eyJSO_QyzmZqogP7M/s320/IMG_3232.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpjBYZ2D6aZ6Bpg9RsSVblaOYc2i8oz523kXqFQwdJWG71FLpMbU3zg7LvdWdgdjHZb2qfMlV1e9zj67gDzwEaS9JQNvaWXoYeY96lIseXWIE-GFQq3SF-At9RaRpcTVfum2hspvVu1Y1uqjXC2DPzpUXnYrGLhV5GKupOyGWe7V2Nh8sH65n/s4032/IMG_3234.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpjBYZ2D6aZ6Bpg9RsSVblaOYc2i8oz523kXqFQwdJWG71FLpMbU3zg7LvdWdgdjHZb2qfMlV1e9zj67gDzwEaS9JQNvaWXoYeY96lIseXWIE-GFQq3SF-At9RaRpcTVfum2hspvVu1Y1uqjXC2DPzpUXnYrGLhV5GKupOyGWe7V2Nh8sH65n/s320/IMG_3234.jpeg" width="240" /></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGPDh-dFW6NYerkN55_su_HXkDnrsL_he0dD5Zvr29J-mjXFfgIiXCK5oW9mEuHAmaeRLwYFM9MvSvRhMwlaI9AkuUGBANUoalemdiPi3TSm2Py8gr27i2XcZBFIH8hZ8dVKMSyV1qerxdhB99GdI1aoxfl8vIanuWgsMpGsOphJsa_1sb1hZ/s4032/IMG_3243.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGPDh-dFW6NYerkN55_su_HXkDnrsL_he0dD5Zvr29J-mjXFfgIiXCK5oW9mEuHAmaeRLwYFM9MvSvRhMwlaI9AkuUGBANUoalemdiPi3TSm2Py8gr27i2XcZBFIH8hZ8dVKMSyV1qerxdhB99GdI1aoxfl8vIanuWgsMpGsOphJsa_1sb1hZ/s320/IMG_3243.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trail headed back to town</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I recommend you hike this trail if you are ever nearby. Costa Rica has many trails with multiple levels of difficulty. This one will give you the flavor of the country’s offerings. I did write in my journal “very difficult hike-not again-but glad I did it.” But like when you finish a marathon, and you say you’ll never do that agin, you sign up for the next one within a month of your last confession. I’d do it again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comSan José Province, San José, Costa Rica9.9280694 -84.0907246-18.017945740529257 -119.2469746 37.87408454052926 -48.9344746tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-42096508497858320322023-07-29T11:40:00.001-07:002023-07-29T11:40:53.715-07:00We Are One<b>We are one </b><div><span> </span>in our sin and </div><div><span> </span>our suffering </div><div>We are one </div><div><span> </span>in our wounds and </div><div><span> </span>our scars </div><div><span> <span> </span></span>scars from our sinful choices</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>wounds cut by the sinful choices of others</div><div>We are one</div><div><span> </span>at a table set by suffering sacrificial love</div><div><span> </span>invited by One</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>who sacrificed his life to heal the scars of our sins</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>who suffered at the hands like those that wound us </div><div>We are one</div><div><span> </span>by his healing love</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>salve for our woundS</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>the story behind our scars</div><div>We are one</div><div><span> </span>not by</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>color</div><div><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>race
or</div><div><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>creed</div><div><span> </span>earth-bound labels that drive us apart</div><div>We are one</div><div><span> </span>freed slaves all </div><div><span> <span> </span></span>rescued by the Conquering King</div><div><span> </span>joy-filled servants</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>to those who wound us and</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>to those freed with uS</div><div>We are one</div><div><span> </span>we feast at the table of his presence</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>as aliens and sojourners in a hostile land</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>no green-card status</div><div><span> </span>we are citizens of heaven</div><div>We are one</div><div><span> </span>healed and</div><div><span> <span> </span></span>made whole</div><div><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>by the Healer
and</div><div><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>the healed</div><div>We are one</div><div><br /></div><div>By C. Gene Wilkes (c) 2022</div>faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comDallas, TX, USA32.7766642 -96.7969878999999914.4664303638211535 -131.95323789999998 61.086898036178845 -61.640737899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-30461410482004561412023-07-27T11:17:00.001-07:002023-07-28T07:19:38.137-07:00I Celebrated my 70th Birthday on the CT (Segment 14)and Mt. Shavano<p>You can tell by my other posts, I like backpacking and hiking. So, <b>to celebrate my upcoming 70th birthday (August),</b> two friends who have shared other adventures with me partnered to complete <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/colorado-trail-segment-14" target="_blank">Segment 14 of the Colorado Trail</a> and climb <a href="https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=shav1" target="_blank">Mt. Shavano</a>. Mark and Amy have shared epic climbs and cycling events, and I was happy they agreed to join me in my celebration of life. Mark’s wife, Linda, prepared meals and snacks for us she gathered from a blog post suggesting a backpacking meal plan. We could not have completed the trip without her help. It takes a team. </p><p><b>We hiked the segment from the Highway 50 trailhead north to the <a href="https://chalkcreek-campground.com/" target="_blank">Chalk Creek Trailhead</a>.</b> Most through hikers and day hikers traveled north to south, but we only had three full days to complete the segment, and we decided to do the shorter length of the trail prior to our climb of Mt. Shavano.</p><p><b>We started from the Highway 50 trailhead</b> at 17:00 and hiked about a (steep) mile to our first campsite. We left that camp the next morning about 0600 and hiked about 7 miles to make camp near the Mt. Shavano trailhead. </p><p><b>The next morning</b> we left at 0430 for the 9-mile round trip, 4,600-ft-elevation gain, climb up Mt. Shavano. Mark made the summit while Amy and I made it to just over 14,000 ft. Mark surprised me with a t-shirt he kept from my last day at Legacy to celebrate my birthday. We laughed, but I was moved someone make that kind of effort to say “Happy Birthday.” The quote of the trip for me was Mark saying to Amy and me, “I’m uncomfortable with how uncomfortable you are with these boulders. I suggest you go no farther. We still have to get down, you know.” The last several hundred feet was over boulders with no clear trail. We had become very slow in our careful maneuvering through the rocks. Mark’s observation was all it took for us to start down while he made the summit. The length of the climb and heat of the day caused us to deplete our water supply. We drank from the mountain stream at about mile two on our descent and were refreshed (and not sick) from the cold mountain waters. We returned to camp exhausted about 18:00. A tough but beautiful climb. </p><p><b>Day 3</b> we broke camp and started the final 12.2 mile leg of the 20.4-mile segment at 0430 and got to Chalk Creek about 15:00. Steep climbs and descents sandwiched open, near-level trails that made going relatively easier than the rest of the trail. The weather was unusually hot for Colorado this time of year. The exposed sections of the trail were dusty and hot. But, you get what you get when you make your plans. The mountain and weather have the last word on your conditions. </p><p><b>I am grateful to the Lord for seven decades of life this side of heaven. </b>Being in God’s Creation has always drawn me closer to Him. My “sacred pathway” is definitely nature, but I will never forget to worship and be grateful to the Creator for the gift of creation and those I share it with. </p><p><b>I am grateful for my wife, Kim,</b> who supports me in these crazy adventures and shares friendships with people like Amy and Mark. She quilts. I hike. We share everything else together.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_aTSBUQFDcNDfKHTOxvYAV4H1AIo6-oc7E-OdVabxjtU1l41ldm78iHI3DbHkeVWY5muJKLIt7sKd1PErogx6fsr6wDjHyWPi12REi97BDGmmpEcuBxyD7Xghuv-igHTHzGJnXxYpQNfLnkCbb3vVA3JV-T9JRgKPUdzwP9eRMcEhOBn18q7/s4032/IMG_3780.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_aTSBUQFDcNDfKHTOxvYAV4H1AIo6-oc7E-OdVabxjtU1l41ldm78iHI3DbHkeVWY5muJKLIt7sKd1PErogx6fsr6wDjHyWPi12REi97BDGmmpEcuBxyD7Xghuv-igHTHzGJnXxYpQNfLnkCbb3vVA3JV-T9JRgKPUdzwP9eRMcEhOBn18q7/s320/IMG_3780.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never hike alone. Friends make everything better.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn34a3AWreFv8nUzW86JpIV5YqNKkvS9U6CV52V4cn_Sb5yR5WmwDluzeIhj-tEoZ9yaZp1EC78LosPs-hyoysy2A1e7rwEUEX7FU1rtToppaRh_Vip5wZ94oXicZujdl-e8c2FB_u2jdUlS0cKyLwdo1GOiYuKP6RNR_ZaoxJ0a4gHF3u_qul/s4032/IMG_3774.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn34a3AWreFv8nUzW86JpIV5YqNKkvS9U6CV52V4cn_Sb5yR5WmwDluzeIhj-tEoZ9yaZp1EC78LosPs-hyoysy2A1e7rwEUEX7FU1rtToppaRh_Vip5wZ94oXicZujdl-e8c2FB_u2jdUlS0cKyLwdo1GOiYuKP6RNR_ZaoxJ0a4gHF3u_qul/s320/IMG_3774.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the section between the climb and end of the segment</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mMawJjbswlILFhT2j1RG2Lw--U4PwZ1GZT6Nmtq00SPrV5GNPlYs1DY4IA08NaHOiXv9VnOwj9x-xRzb22V42j90NgLsP55y12wJGQ5qQJoFjM1Q4_c5PRvVpkpHKnGcmttX3qNzvjiHfn4Un0ogEUY0JCu7uFqLS3nCbI_BKEcsK_65QTSQ/s4032/IMG_3759.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mMawJjbswlILFhT2j1RG2Lw--U4PwZ1GZT6Nmtq00SPrV5GNPlYs1DY4IA08NaHOiXv9VnOwj9x-xRzb22V42j90NgLsP55y12wJGQ5qQJoFjM1Q4_c5PRvVpkpHKnGcmttX3qNzvjiHfn4Un0ogEUY0JCu7uFqLS3nCbI_BKEcsK_65QTSQ/s320/IMG_3759.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqJaFAqJi9KLlDpYDKagix3wDHA5E-iCvVzJ78lB4fhXGdRwYWLiwdX3mfz48xRJbiTmof-7JSosmPbQRlHo9Rb84fPC0h2CP3L6dou1yMs4LKfi-IM0mUiy2crpCiS1ZzQy5k2XpBzhOriYltMFwBEmOshmVJTMGIRqL8P4v84nifW9xB318/s4032/IMG_3746.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqJaFAqJi9KLlDpYDKagix3wDHA5E-iCvVzJ78lB4fhXGdRwYWLiwdX3mfz48xRJbiTmof-7JSosmPbQRlHo9Rb84fPC0h2CP3L6dou1yMs4LKfi-IM0mUiy2crpCiS1ZzQy5k2XpBzhOriYltMFwBEmOshmVJTMGIRqL8P4v84nifW9xB318/s320/IMG_3746.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday t-shirt surprise </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YGT8WipfpmxiSlvZCadP65_QpC-q2v_-rMa19rtihZyT_1HRxA24jbUZZ_amdakkE8PBdtp-eY7_mwJnSD0ouHOUsj_TwEOKvwcUOtzMFlq332u68U05lsCEGhmLgrOKGmpdFAKeUhz0eYv-k40gHF1avILn7hrZ5xGHxCyzN92ZxUSCLYZU/s4032/IMG_3789.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YGT8WipfpmxiSlvZCadP65_QpC-q2v_-rMa19rtihZyT_1HRxA24jbUZZ_amdakkE8PBdtp-eY7_mwJnSD0ouHOUsj_TwEOKvwcUOtzMFlq332u68U05lsCEGhmLgrOKGmpdFAKeUhz0eYv-k40gHF1avILn7hrZ5xGHxCyzN92ZxUSCLYZU/s320/IMG_3789.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooling off at the end of the hike</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqZ2ETDrxtae1tvt-GqyLOAYgha--LOF9-Wh93QO_9Wypx6roBkpuExXwMLzgGrmng1yby6T7ZjjZc_6iu8Bg1twoo3Goy44jMWVuQavVlb464LNxHqD3KV8c5TjCNG9VO8Gca0BMT5j2jNMG4dI6XA5sDXQPbTuIS21eFay6DSMOpvR64nRu/s4032/IMG_3741.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqZ2ETDrxtae1tvt-GqyLOAYgha--LOF9-Wh93QO_9Wypx6roBkpuExXwMLzgGrmng1yby6T7ZjjZc_6iu8Bg1twoo3Goy44jMWVuQavVlb464LNxHqD3KV8c5TjCNG9VO8Gca0BMT5j2jNMG4dI6XA5sDXQPbTuIS21eFay6DSMOpvR64nRu/s320/IMG_3741.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over my shoulder is the trail</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R8pmxPZ2GCSTAitGURpv6xa_fP08rSixBOjphwGztThRqn9joICuiRG8B1NA_QtpIivZuX9lIax-C1cSCCuWNUaKz1_SRNd6fm4wp7axcdQ3b6CKJKQRoeXlBc5l5TY6y4diUifTwiIE_yApd_XivChgrO-cs7wh9nLIMX7s1RRduiimJK1E/s4032/IMG_3740.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R8pmxPZ2GCSTAitGURpv6xa_fP08rSixBOjphwGztThRqn9joICuiRG8B1NA_QtpIivZuX9lIax-C1cSCCuWNUaKz1_SRNd6fm4wp7axcdQ3b6CKJKQRoeXlBc5l5TY6y4diUifTwiIE_yApd_XivChgrO-cs7wh9nLIMX7s1RRduiimJK1E/s320/IMG_3740.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed to the summit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEL5HjhNy7z2qAEMHMSONH2HSOL4PvgV3DVva6w3Ah3s1qlpIahnCBMuazonkSXvVX6bSrjzNyGKS7TrhCtlO2jSQXVCNeVhlqG2CBYY5bo6Xi5IZ9ZyeNJh6DK68Tz8XwM9hJ4v62_4HxR_5eLeDjT8HnRysky9Yby-X_RY9kEIgjrUP8q3m/s3088/IMG_3736.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEL5HjhNy7z2qAEMHMSONH2HSOL4PvgV3DVva6w3Ah3s1qlpIahnCBMuazonkSXvVX6bSrjzNyGKS7TrhCtlO2jSQXVCNeVhlqG2CBYY5bo6Xi5IZ9ZyeNJh6DK68Tz8XwM9hJ4v62_4HxR_5eLeDjT8HnRysky9Yby-X_RY9kEIgjrUP8q3m/s320/IMG_3736.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark, Amy, and I on a break to the top</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqjlQHq7RgtnXjJXBFLuNEucIQ_poooAcpNcJPSNcCg03RVhkQQ9_l3ClVLhrNAiVKnNQvUS7y_5gLIkHkxi4a2XY9woB1NqH5QxLvb2fttHnUJJ4aCNCzApkdhlIcDLF3_WN_P9R9ySVXladJnXptQMG-u07Eawp2EpZu3gUm4Qbr1yKP_K7/s4032/IMG_3730.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqjlQHq7RgtnXjJXBFLuNEucIQ_poooAcpNcJPSNcCg03RVhkQQ9_l3ClVLhrNAiVKnNQvUS7y_5gLIkHkxi4a2XY9woB1NqH5QxLvb2fttHnUJJ4aCNCzApkdhlIcDLF3_WN_P9R9ySVXladJnXptQMG-u07Eawp2EpZu3gUm4Qbr1yKP_K7/s320/IMG_3730.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind me is the ridge to the summit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Xn4KnlQwqVknlKyqAAiqHV5xAsU9sXwWi_-bIe2u9iHWpH8J0w-Tcr6aaS6XCXLZqn7dxnVQplplfQW2d5JGoKVIj_oPXjVnGCkTv5FteKEpDIXZA79QGIdbp221h3E5sKFDX91IQhNEzSVEFOD3FYg6CdK6QTdKI2Qc5FKzqHBMy_2AjFIX/s4032/IMG_3720.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Xn4KnlQwqVknlKyqAAiqHV5xAsU9sXwWi_-bIe2u9iHWpH8J0w-Tcr6aaS6XCXLZqn7dxnVQplplfQW2d5JGoKVIj_oPXjVnGCkTv5FteKEpDIXZA79QGIdbp221h3E5sKFDX91IQhNEzSVEFOD3FYg6CdK6QTdKI2Qc5FKzqHBMy_2AjFIX/s320/IMG_3720.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumping water from a stream was a daily chore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-X7Y9nJFuEim1civ9YIMD8vSE7YHepIhUbvZHEP2nRhFoFYfZnh6TTUbi8A94uB1SaCU25mwFM-NeFuL-KXGSHMuPc9eUb_j-Tyy_whwMML5ZK0mhAvP29gjeuQqydrX7dFKXNSIXeA5CmhWt3LtjDTUMDCOWwqp2KTKSgZLbTbFqhnvBKkxR/s4032/IMG_3717.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-X7Y9nJFuEim1civ9YIMD8vSE7YHepIhUbvZHEP2nRhFoFYfZnh6TTUbi8A94uB1SaCU25mwFM-NeFuL-KXGSHMuPc9eUb_j-Tyy_whwMML5ZK0mhAvP29gjeuQqydrX7dFKXNSIXeA5CmhWt3LtjDTUMDCOWwqp2KTKSgZLbTbFqhnvBKkxR/s320/IMG_3717.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like a campsite on the trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMn20rF2DNuNTml0Fe52Qui-OM6q93-JstfnAXBdiwt4-N0uvpcyIUZIsgyPjuid-KALzR_RofIINOzjTV3dmVEAK96eVGyGWG2Z0R-GHF9yHNha98mnITdgDyrm-NxlIKuknk7v-jmDojB5kyytNInAgmWEa_BA8dXNHIFSDYEH8-KNObHsNP/s2732/IMG_1353.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="2732" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMn20rF2DNuNTml0Fe52Qui-OM6q93-JstfnAXBdiwt4-N0uvpcyIUZIsgyPjuid-KALzR_RofIINOzjTV3dmVEAK96eVGyGWG2Z0R-GHF9yHNha98mnITdgDyrm-NxlIKuknk7v-jmDojB5kyytNInAgmWEa_BA8dXNHIFSDYEH8-KNObHsNP/s320/IMG_1353.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the beginning of the hike</td></tr></tbody></table><br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comBuena Vista, CO 81211, USA38.8422178 -106.131128822.316236176674362 -141.2873788 55.368199423325635 -70.9748788tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-11615393525105939592022-07-20T19:27:00.000-07:002022-07-20T19:27:23.930-07:00Wheeler Peak via Williams Lake Trail #67<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">I have traveled most of the trails from Red River, New Mexico to Wheeler Peak. I had never climbed to the peak via the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/wheeler-peak-via-williams-lake-trail" target="_blank">Williams Lake Trail out of Taos Ski Valley</a>. Trail #67 comes out of the valley, past Williams Lake, and on to Wheeler Peak. The lower parts of the trail were damaged by <a href="https://www.kob.com/archive/renowned-new-mexico-ski-area-closed-following-winter-storm/" target="_blank">the wind storm that tore through Taos and Red River in December of 2021</a>. The destruction looked similar to the destruction caused by a Texas tornado, but they don't have those in NM in the mountains; do they?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbyvWqruIKIm-KnIE7wMZq-qW_Citz7RNrj2MvlxEF1fftxK3WETBfy4ZXUlpL9ZfZXSOPuK-k0lLgIQowCRgWe9VhylYVn1EhLHB0YJR51rvw-WnoL5juX9HP9IIvFwPDzSf_ZKYMIsobRcHMoTArOpbXTYUobgBhFr_3BL0oZCWsb7XDw/s1512/Trail67WindDamage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmIAt_HPuMpGin6Bd8JxztBZfat9sP58zlgtYVJwTmZWEPBppkEQLoxYtJYvDjm5KhHHLqEpMA705XRTn7atsY0h-AO5oVQISySuTRDHmbRiEpKAs4Pf_WTOJEqXnFZkdEy_eH75GAhM1C7vQ4zX13nGGq5AvNePtuUczM1hgXKd6i7bNlg/s1512/NealonTrail67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmIAt_HPuMpGin6Bd8JxztBZfat9sP58zlgtYVJwTmZWEPBppkEQLoxYtJYvDjm5KhHHLqEpMA705XRTn7atsY0h-AO5oVQISySuTRDHmbRiEpKAs4Pf_WTOJEqXnFZkdEy_eH75GAhM1C7vQ4zX13nGGq5AvNePtuUczM1hgXKd6i7bNlg/s320/NealonTrail67.jpg" width="305" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbyvWqruIKIm-KnIE7wMZq-qW_Citz7RNrj2MvlxEF1fftxK3WETBfy4ZXUlpL9ZfZXSOPuK-k0lLgIQowCRgWe9VhylYVn1EhLHB0YJR51rvw-WnoL5juX9HP9IIvFwPDzSf_ZKYMIsobRcHMoTArOpbXTYUobgBhFr_3BL0oZCWsb7XDw/s320/Trail67WindDamage.jpg" width="305" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbyvWqruIKIm-KnIE7wMZq-qW_Citz7RNrj2MvlxEF1fftxK3WETBfy4ZXUlpL9ZfZXSOPuK-k0lLgIQowCRgWe9VhylYVn1EhLHB0YJR51rvw-WnoL5juX9HP9IIvFwPDzSf_ZKYMIsobRcHMoTArOpbXTYUobgBhFr_3BL0oZCWsb7XDw/s1512/Trail67WindDamage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVjU7g_7vhxDS1xVt8boO7d2ySWPUhTav7jtwl_KpQE9h9xFb_X8y9oCeBJbIr3tsTuhkNONgZUYCK2agckJK1J17HMVxpP4zYwslVCCaPP8IZ3Tg0QsvfXhvjlvgxQS9fS2ACcfkrfT9VExri2B2_HdL_RouHoNLie37mNmp8hN9PCuc_w/s1512/54B0A2B4-9A3B-41AB-BA5A-5E1F597BDA0B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVjU7g_7vhxDS1xVt8boO7d2ySWPUhTav7jtwl_KpQE9h9xFb_X8y9oCeBJbIr3tsTuhkNONgZUYCK2agckJK1J17HMVxpP4zYwslVCCaPP8IZ3Tg0QsvfXhvjlvgxQS9fS2ACcfkrfT9VExri2B2_HdL_RouHoNLie37mNmp8hN9PCuc_w/s320/54B0A2B4-9A3B-41AB-BA5A-5E1F597BDA0B.jpg" width="305" /></a></div></div></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The trail rises steeply out of the valley and divides to go down to Williams Lake or continue up to the Peak. The trail above the tree line has several sections of scree, which makes traversing the face of the mountain difficult. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvoKeoV2Qh-Xlu3fv0i9UCoDlbbFg8tNlcq2I9SRDMFUXOMN7xScuKMc82VKFZ2gIZyfHJoaeGZR052KQav868UFg6X7nQH62FEhgsK-mwifLHE2E78o4bYCirrToXROKFOmYu8mRbNxVEBFu5LnJRMWhJpNFfzqj9dsGd_6cduqzMgKT1w/s4032/IMG_1805.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvoKeoV2Qh-Xlu3fv0i9UCoDlbbFg8tNlcq2I9SRDMFUXOMN7xScuKMc82VKFZ2gIZyfHJoaeGZR052KQav868UFg6X7nQH62FEhgsK-mwifLHE2E78o4bYCirrToXROKFOmYu8mRbNxVEBFu5LnJRMWhJpNFfzqj9dsGd_6cduqzMgKT1w/s320/IMG_1805.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The trail intersects with the Middlefork Trail on the ridge between <a href="https://www.summitpost.org/mount-walter/153175" target="_blank">Mt. Walter</a> and Wheeler and leads to the peak. Neal and I made it in about four hours with stops to catch our breath, fuel and hydrate. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGS3opxCAoCDM0CPLyj0jDfEctodCgDChXnLx4GByjpHmxs3UhXJ22Wzczp5rzQGFZGHi2-atrGQKmcYlLp7RhpywdNcIjiosmjJJncLJf36xnVNBBkrIF-sbbxfah-qHc4xum0eGCuzUv4gtI1tdJC00kC6wfBFzxElzgkjEsQivoASwX1A/s320/0860B89C-7B26-48FA-9E81-AB862E9A40F7.jpg" width="305" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8-4BdtN4wHNpw3a9xH0X7-AmL4_Z95arCXrMTNW-HG6kMCwGgCtsf9XhJoo-h2AKWIF7rF7t7iKfBWOIDkYKj0RnZuQa_fjmbLrQmCHs8_5y0q9_TIEb0WT6Fm7_Z6HDHsYoXeN4WlvLA4Vdc2zLvFLVU1pKZ7x-EVR0q4szL1FMpJning/s1512/1B4D4585-1C24-4F77-BAD6-AF7EB7297D50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8-4BdtN4wHNpw3a9xH0X7-AmL4_Z95arCXrMTNW-HG6kMCwGgCtsf9XhJoo-h2AKWIF7rF7t7iKfBWOIDkYKj0RnZuQa_fjmbLrQmCHs8_5y0q9_TIEb0WT6Fm7_Z6HDHsYoXeN4WlvLA4Vdc2zLvFLVU1pKZ7x-EVR0q4szL1FMpJning/s320/1B4D4585-1C24-4F77-BAD6-AF7EB7297D50.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I prefer the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/lost-lake-trail" target="_blank">Lost Lake Trail </a>to get to Wheeler Peak, but Trail #67 from Taos provides its own challenges and views and worth the effort. The forests will never return to what they were, but they always have a way of continuing to recover and recreate no matter what happens to them. </span></div></div><br /><p></p></div></div>faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-37406743743255437522020-07-30T16:11:00.000-07:002020-07-30T16:11:03.732-07:00Mt. Huron, CO 14erVacation in Crested Butte this year included climbing Mt. Huron with friends. Some of us had <a href="https://drgdub2.blogspot.com/2017/07/mt-belford-co-its-really-steep.html" target="_blank">climbed Mt. Belford three years ago</a> and wanted to climb another one in the area. Also, the women in the group had attempted Mt. Huron last year and had failed. We were all there to reach the top this year. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pzCVq7JObgA/XyMqGFi8JkI/AAAAAAAADIs/S4vmh1m0Qbsod6m_qaNOqqyehxxAOujsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/2CFA51BF-ED9C-44CE-AFC5-7454D0A58D51.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pzCVq7JObgA/XyMqGFi8JkI/AAAAAAAADIs/S4vmh1m0Qbsod6m_qaNOqqyehxxAOujsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2CFA51BF-ED9C-44CE-AFC5-7454D0A58D51.jpeg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFhQbssfbvY/XyMqG3araBI/AAAAAAAADI4/n27BxkXf-uIdbHBRblz_TPtKL1r0LwWhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/56C8F270-9848-44E8-A956-920AF05CEE95.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" width="320" /></div><br />Finding the trailhead was iffy and required a 4W Drive Jeep. (Thanks, Jeff) Some other climbers helped us to <a href="https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=huro1&peak=Huron+Peak">the starting point</a>, and we were off. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsGzQRt1Tx8/XyMqLkNRpsI/AAAAAAAADJw/ySj39iXAm6wa452JsTAhNTWD_HhCy-VBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s480/FD1E31AB-0A21-40D5-B28A-75AD5270EDA8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsGzQRt1Tx8/XyMqLkNRpsI/AAAAAAAADJw/ySj39iXAm6wa452JsTAhNTWD_HhCy-VBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/FD1E31AB-0A21-40D5-B28A-75AD5270EDA8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The initial switchbacks and first 3/4 of the trail was an easy walk up through beautiful forest and open slopes. The last quarter mile is another story. We had been told Mt. Huron was an easy climb, "no problem," they said. However, the trails near the top were loose rock and sand, which caused you to slide both going up and climbing down. This section is the Class 2 Moderate part of the mountain trail. I prefer the ascent because of better footing, and this trail only confirmed my preference. <div><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-udY52br0CNA/XyMqHS06r5I/AAAAAAAADJE/PtJtFr5D5A4vTnUTE6n3VoqiUgt8firqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/637EAEBD-44E0-4FF9-95D1-3EC41106A627.jpeg" width="320" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="1272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXj3DcsOQhU/XyMqGCfzADI/AAAAAAAADIw/tI5jkBVMZ6YpOevtMHCN17NQhqjY2cDCACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/22E56166-CD7F-4DBF-989E-47885FA7C11B.jpeg" width="320" /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8xfBQH4_oc/XyMqIUlXBYI/AAAAAAAADJM/NI7MVhO4TWkvXYwFVLle7oo_oo_-gtD4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/A583AB4A-26C7-473F-A042-0A51C7A90A45.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8xfBQH4_oc/XyMqIUlXBYI/AAAAAAAADJM/NI7MVhO4TWkvXYwFVLle7oo_oo_-gtD4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/A583AB4A-26C7-473F-A042-0A51C7A90A45.jpeg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojEllxhSOeM/XyMqG4uc6ZI/AAAAAAAADI8/MHbrJ-ADAiMkV77YBSB6a1-ZXqvQtcvaACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/58F548CA-FFDB-45B0-85E3-89F09182E40A.jpeg" /><br /><br />The summit was terrific and the view spectacular. Everyone in our group made it up safely, and we took some time to rest and enjoy the panoramic view from the top. No, I did not eat a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch at the summit. That's the reverse of the sign in our group pic. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8KV_l5bofI/XyMqJWuyyCI/AAAAAAAADJU/ddE64VxrvGYVXMCQDiee-YwORPvNfA2RwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AFDE0B39-C045-413E-91B0-B407BCA1A030.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8KV_l5bofI/XyMqJWuyyCI/AAAAAAAADJU/ddE64VxrvGYVXMCQDiee-YwORPvNfA2RwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AFDE0B39-C045-413E-91B0-B407BCA1A030.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Gene, Jon, Rebecca, Jeff, Amy on top" border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1541" height="338" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzd6a5-QZyM/XyMqK9ZZMaI/AAAAAAAADJk/GqSyGb4Alv84Vwbeu3bajrBX0OmONrj7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h338/E6568CF1-6A67-45C0-A46C-DD0391409C2A_1_201_a.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jycwSL3Cb3Q/XyMqKewwyoI/AAAAAAAADJY/cWv-3EN-GX4-L1JKHKezc9kYF9FflnAGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/CDF500D1-8A32-442C-8305-70EBD6101062.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="1024" height="195" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jycwSL3Cb3Q/XyMqKewwyoI/AAAAAAAADJY/cWv-3EN-GX4-L1JKHKezc9kYF9FflnAGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h195/CDF500D1-8A32-442C-8305-70EBD6101062.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Going down the first quarter mile was everything we feared it would be. Slippery trails and loose rock. Yet, after carefully finding our footing through the rock field and returning to flatter trails, we made our way back to the trailhead. </div><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPR8v7B_7N0/XyMqKB00GzI/AAAAAAAADJc/Xcq4FNQ3jusbh6CJuGQjbnq4_2-blimuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/C4030516-2F9F-414A-87B8-1AFB39C2275A.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPR8v7B_7N0/XyMqKB00GzI/AAAAAAAADJc/Xcq4FNQ3jusbh6CJuGQjbnq4_2-blimuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/C4030516-2F9F-414A-87B8-1AFB39C2275A.heic" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QMPPtarif2Y/XyMqGnAe7aI/AAAAAAAADJA/Cdp49xME0oYHuZs7rPCtogSZpKMq028fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5585FF5F-BBD5-480F-82AA-AE973B0A7581.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QMPPtarif2Y/XyMqGnAe7aI/AAAAAAAADJA/Cdp49xME0oYHuZs7rPCtogSZpKMq028fwCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/5585FF5F-BBD5-480F-82AA-AE973B0A7581.heic" width="320" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RpnEkL2r3Gg/XyMqGGA_kKI/AAAAAAAADI0/jact7YSmnR4YKXs2pgqOS0P0JsHwBRsAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/093A9426-7F40-46A2-B516-626865880913.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RpnEkL2r3Gg/XyMqGGA_kKI/AAAAAAAADI0/jact7YSmnR4YKXs2pgqOS0P0JsHwBRsAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/093A9426-7F40-46A2-B516-626865880913.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Rain settled in toward the end of the hike, and we returned wet, tired, and ready for a hot meal. We broke camp down the road on 390 where we had camped the night before, and headed back to Crested Butte for pizza at <a href="http://www.secretstash.com" target="_blank">Secret Stash Pizza</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I recommend this trail and 14er. It is very doable, but if you are nervous about loose rock and slippery trails, this is not for you. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0sjlc7Kp6uw/XyMqI9QI1pI/AAAAAAAADJQ/5NKVUEC8HSwueIznMU3GCpuXslB8LUrbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AC7A1168-6B4B-428E-B0E0-062D955DF1BE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0sjlc7Kp6uw/XyMqI9QI1pI/AAAAAAAADJQ/5NKVUEC8HSwueIznMU3GCpuXslB8LUrbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/AC7A1168-6B4B-428E-B0E0-062D955DF1BE.jpeg" /></a></div></div></div>faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comHuron Peak, Colorado 81211, USA38.9452714 -106.43808210.635037563821157 -141.594332 67.255505236178848 -71.281832tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-84520184030157713132019-07-30T12:52:00.002-07:002019-07-30T12:53:22.343-07:00Wheeler Peak, NM with Friends<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On 19-21 July I hiked to Wheeler Peak for the sixth time, I think. (First pictures I have are from 1994) Love this trek and that mountain. I'll have my ashes scattered there. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1994 Wheeler Peak Group</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campsite at Lost Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon and Jeff at Lost Lake</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q30oQmA--EM/XUCXY4jPjDI/AAAAAAAADCM/7-RaEMjRNpcau2lGEkVz6S0SL1GmYNA7gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q30oQmA--EM/XUCXY4jPjDI/AAAAAAAADCM/7-RaEMjRNpcau2lGEkVz6S0SL1GmYNA7gCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1810.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The three of us left Riverside Lodge in Red River about 0700 Friday morning. After stopping by <a href="https://www.major-bean-coffee.com/" target="_blank">Major Bean</a> for coffee and sausage/cheese biscuit, we got to the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/recreation/recarea/?recid=44504&actid=91" target="_blank">Middle Fork Trailhead</a> about 0800. The weather was ideal, and my legs were okay after Gold Hill the day before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We got to the "half-way meadow" by 0900 and texted Kim, who had left for home the day before. I found out we needed a new AC unit at the house back home. Ended up calling Kim, texting a friend to get a friend’s number for a framer to lay boards in the attic, and buying a new unit to be installed Monday. All at 10,000 ft. of elevation! (Not really a break you want from life in the city while on the trail.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The trail from the meadow to <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/recreation/recarea/?recid=44406&actid=91" target="_blank">Lost Lake</a> is one of my favorite. </b>Walking through the valley on the single track trail and rock falls make for a pleasurable and relatively easy ascent. There are places to stop in the shadows of pines that make for ideal rest stops. The panoramic view rivals some in CO. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Got to Lost Lake, picked a camp site, set up my tent, and took a nap in my hammock. My site was above Jon and Jeff’s and was isolated both nights. Wind was very high off the lake and kept us up in the night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Started a fire, walked halfway around the lake with Jeff, and came back to freeze dried dinners. Fellowship was good. Really like these guys, and we never had an awkward or contentious moment. They have all the gear you would need and were always happy to share. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Went to bed about 20:00, but </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the howling wind and no sleeping pad made for a long night</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. The full moon was like a car headlight shinning in my tent. After a short night, we hit the trail by 0800.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horseshoe Lake</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UJg-MOYHQZU/XUCXaSLU31I/AAAAAAAADCc/foamua0StLAgkT2Au8ilbeW8__b4SGv1wCLcBGAs/s1600/rRHBi2tQS9%252BR4W1nNYzJkg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The trail from Lost Lake to <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/recarea/?recid=44480" target="_blank">Horseshoe Lake</a> is as scenic and comfortable as from meadow to Lost Lake. Deeper forest with rock falls and a waterfall add to the beauty. The wind calmed down and Horseshoe Lake was still. Patches of snow dotted the slopes falling into the lake. Campers weathered the wind and exposure the night before and waved as we trudged by them. Stopped at the overflow bridge and pumped filtered water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The trail out of Horseshoe Lake is the most difficult to the summit.</b> It is steep with loose walk. The view of HL from the top of the trail shows why the lake is named like it is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The “freeway” from the top of HL to the ridge to Wheeler Peak is a respirate from the HL climb before the climb from the ridge to the summit. Smooth with a gradual incline spotted with marmots and marmot holes.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We made the summit and joined the ten or so Saturday hikers. Dogs and sky runners were unique additions to the trip up. Signed the notebook, took pictures, rested and FaceTimed Kim. Little to no wind. That surprised us after the wind the night before and that morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Met a couple from NM, who knew all the peaks around WP, and a guy from Ohio, who was hitting the highest peak in every state. Always a different group of folks on the peaks</span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hs9r21sMO9c/XUCXYIMozqI/AAAAAAAADCE/V-Ti8cIWL5A3oRWXe4Fe4srEpuqxHqA8ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hs9r21sMO9c/XUCXYIMozqI/AAAAAAAADCE/V-Ti8cIWL5A3oRWXe4Fe4srEpuqxHqA8ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Headed down as clouds began to gather in the west. Just the other side HL the storm hit, and we got pummeled with rain and pellet-sized hail. It stopped by the time we got back to Lost Lake, and it had not rained that hard there. Hit the tent for a nap as showers filtered over the lake. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the time I woke up, the rain had stopped, and we gathered below to visit. <b>Started a fire at 16:30 with a goal to keep it burning until 21:00 so it will be dark when we went to our tents.</b> Goal attained. Also, instant mashed potatoes!! A must from now on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great fire and conversation before bed. I slept so well with only one bio break about 01:30. Woke up, took down the tent, packed my pack and went down to join J&J for a breakfast of a shot of G7 coffee and instant oatmeal. We used their Jet Boils and filtering systems (Sawyer and Katadyn). Not sure where my Katadyn went. Loaned it to someone, I guess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Broke camp by 0740</b> and headed down to the car. Weather was ideal. Stopped on the valley trail down to worship the Creator of this beauty and power. Valley below and sunshine thru the clouds above. Cool breeze, green foliage, sweet smells of the forest, feet in the earth, eyes to the sky, heart connected to God. Truly an awe-inspired moment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Got to the car by 10:00. Met Billie and Betty Ann at Major Bean for coffee and a muffin. Spit bath and change of clothes at the Convention Center and on the road by 11:00. Had to throw away the bandana I used for the spit bath. It was radio-active. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A fabulous trip that satisfied my wanderlust and desire for adventure. With the Gold Hill climb on Thursday I had enough to satisfy me. And with these guys made it even better. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Headed home to a full inbox of emails and Kim’s Sewing Kamp at our house all week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you, Lord, for the blessings of this trip. The beauty of Creation still moves my soul and refreshes my spirit like few other things you have provided. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m ready for the run to Christmas. </span></div>
faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-55653121637908828202019-07-29T11:55:00.002-07:002019-07-29T11:55:21.187-07:00Gold Hill Hike, New Mexico July 2019<br /><div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Took <b>Gold Hill trail</b> to the summit. Steeper and more rugged than I had thought. Switchbacks near the summit were heavily washed out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><b>The view was spectacular,</b> and the wind was blowing hard. Still some snow on the morning side of the mountains. No animals in sight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Saw only chipmunks and black squirrels coming up.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><br />
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Decided to go down <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/goose-creek-trail-65--2" target="_blank">Goose Creek Trail</a> instead of back tracking and fighting the ATV traffic on Pioneer. </div>
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<b>A mistake</b> when it came to connecting with Jon and Jeff and Billie, who had made great time coming up from Dallas for the climb on Friday. Took <b>Goose Creek Trail 65</b> at the crossroads to get over the ridge and down to Goose Lake. Very steep with much loose rock. Tough going. </div>
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Got to <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/recarea/?recid=44214" target="_blank">Goose Lake </a>and saw the sign 8 miles to RR!! I was screwed to meet up with the guys any time soon. I could not find the trail head so I started down through the parking lot. Saw a couple of guys, two kids and a dog snaking on the back of their SUV. We exchanged greetings, and when he asked how I was doing I told him, “<b>I bit off more than I can chew</b>, and I’ll buy you a drink if I could get a ride down into town.” He said, “Sure, I’ll give you a ride but it’ll be in awhile.” I said it would be no problem and I’d meet him on the road. </div>
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Sure enough in about 20 mins he came bouncing down the road, stopped, and I got in the back seat with his daughter, son, and Jasper the dog, and his friend from CO. His name was Dean from outside Albuquerque. They were pop-up tent camping in Taos Ski basin and came up as they always had since he was a boy to Red River. Said that may be his last drive to Goose Lake due to the ruggedness of the road. </div>
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<b>The ride down was wicked.</b> Washed out roads made for slow going. Dean would let Matthew get out of the car sometimes and video him driving over a rough spot. Delightful conversation.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stopped to video a cave, see <b>a Jeep that drove off the road and rolled down the hil</b>l, and crossing the swollen river at the base. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jeff and Jon were there waiting. Thanked Dean. Found out where they were eating dinner and said we’d see them there. We dropped by Riverside, I showere</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">d while they unloaded their stuff. Got the the <a href="https://redriverbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Red River Brewing Co</a> about the time Dean and his gang did. Bought them drinks and an appetizer as I said I would. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Best $30 I spent all week. </span></div>
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faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-54672153143455294552018-06-10T09:14:00.000-07:002018-06-10T09:14:01.104-07:00Weeds in the flowerbed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you see it?<br />
It's right there.<br />
Behind the flowers.<br />
It's Poison Ivy.<br />
I hate the weed because I'm allergic to it, but it fades so nicely behind the scene.<br />
The beauty of the flowers in front hide the weed in the back.<br />
I have two options here: 1) leave the weed and keep it in the background, hoping no one will come in contact with it; or, 2) I can intentionally get a broad-leaf herbicide and kill it.<br />
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<b>My bad habits springing from my heart are like that poison ivy growing in my flowerbed</b>. I think they go unnoticed because the flowers of my public behavior built on good habits masks them, but they are there. They betray my heart's deepest motives even when I think they don't. My "unseen" habits, however, do affect those who come near me whether I tell them they are there or not. People are made ill, or, at least, irritated by my selfish behaviors.<br />
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Like poison ivy in the flowerbed, I have two options with my habits: 1) I can leave them alone and try keeping the poisonous ones in the background, hoping no one will be hurt by them; or, 2) I can intentionally work to know my heart, tutored by the Holy Spirit, and then destroy and replace them with habits that add to the beauty of my life.<br />
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<b>I know it's easier to kill weeds in the flowerbed than change habits in my life</b>. Seeing the motives in my heart behind the habit is harder still. But I will never know the full beauty of a life lived for God and others until I work to know my heart and change the habits that mold my behavior.<br />
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<b>Dallas Willard wrote astutely</b>, "A carefully cultivated heart will, assisted by the grace of God, foresee, forestall, or transform most of the painful situations before which others stand like helpless children saying, 'Why?.'" (<i>Renovation of the Heart</i>, 14 Kindle Edition)<br />
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Beauty in a flowerbed begins and ends in carefully cultivated soil.<br />
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Beauty in life begins and ends in a 'carefully cultivated heart.'<br />
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<br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-44846995941961716442017-08-31T10:23:00.000-07:002017-08-31T10:24:42.677-07:00He is our Peace<style>
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The recent and continued racial strife in our country has
deepened the division and separation among our citizens that has existed for
years. As followers of Jesus, we must speak and act in ways that bring
reconciliation and redemption out of the strife, not add to the disruptions. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is our narrative in days like these?</b>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Paul, a
Jewish religious leader who Jesus called out from among his people and sent him
to all ethnic groups beyond the tribes of Israel, faced similar racial
divisions as he carried the good news of Jesus to the global mission field. Many
of the issues in the movement of Jesus centered on social and racial issues
like who could share a meal with whom and who belonged and who did not by the
religious rules they kept. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paul
addressed the corrosive issue of race and its attending social practices </b>when
he wrote to Christ-followers in Ephesus<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></div>
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<span class="text"><sup><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For he himself is our
peace</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, who has made us
both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>by abolishing the law of commandments
expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place
of the two, so making peace,</span> <span class="text"><sup>16 </sup>and
might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing
the hostility. (Eph. 2:14-17; ESV)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f6/bd/70/f6bd705af80e0dfe07117dfb6c8a9a1d--spirituality-photo-ideas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="It really amazes me that racism still exists in the world today, at least on such an overt level. And it’s not just in the US, people in Europe throw bananas at opposing black soccer players (even though many players on their team are black, also). I don’t understand how anyone thinks it’s funny or cute to treat people poorly based upon the color of their skin. I like to think of myself as an example of how skin colors can work together. ~ Raj Sivaraman Part Time Genius." border="0" height="244" src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f6/bd/70/f6bd705af80e0dfe07117dfb6c8a9a1d--spirituality-photo-ideas.jpg" style="border-radius: 8px; border: 0px none; display: block; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 626px; opacity: 1; position: relative; transition: opacity 0.04s linear 0s; vertical-align: middle;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christ alone</b> is
the way for warring, prejudicial groups to become a community. Jesus’ death on
the cross <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">abolishes </b>racial and social
“dividing walls” that create “hostility.” A relationship with Christ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">creates</b> “one new man…so making peace”
from those who were separated by prejudice and pride. Christ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">kills</b> the hostility between God and
people brought on by our sin-filled egos through his sacrificial death on the
cross and victorious resurrection from the dead.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Followers of Jesus</b> no longer use labels
like “strangers and aliens,” but we are now in reality “fellow citizens with
the saints and members of the household of God.” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A19&version=ESV">Ephesians
2:19</a>) All people are made “citizens” and family members—no matter their
racial, social or ideological origins—through a relationship with Christ. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The new community of the church should be
an example of reconciliation and hope where we live, learn, work and play.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New-creation people who are gathered and
scattered as the church should be the pacesetter in demonstrating the suffering,
sacrificial love of Christ toward others in our neighborhoods, schools, and in
the marketplace. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Confess</b> your “citizenship is in heaven”
(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A20&version=ESV">Phil.
3:20</a>), which is made possible by Jesus, the Christ. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Live</b> like you are truly a member of the household belonging to God.
You live to honor your Father in Heaven and to respect those who are members of
that household. Doing so will free you to hold loosely those external things that
identify you and will help you see past those same things in others. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We are to treat all who trust Jesus as one
of the family—no matter who they are—and all others with respect and as
potential family members who can accept their adoption into God’s household at
any moment.</i> I believe, if we do these things, all the other issues that
fill the news and social media will find their proper place in our cultural
dialogue with others.</div>
faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-58801664998713294242017-07-06T07:44:00.000-07:002017-07-06T07:44:36.350-07:00Mt. Belford, CO "It's really steep."<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/---OS33xAxAA/WVq9dZmgkDI/AAAAAAAAC4g/oOnbF3vctEAKk68iWZWdrB7w8GxAdP-1QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/---OS33xAxAA/WVq9dZmgkDI/AAAAAAAAC4g/oOnbF3vctEAKk68iWZWdrB7w8GxAdP-1QCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_8609.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik, Rebecca and Jeff at the campsite about .25 mile beyond the trail head<b><br /></b></td></tr>
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<b>Monday, June 26, 2017 Erik and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.m.skogsbergh" target="_blank">Rebecca Skogsberg</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jeff.l.byrd" target="_blank">Jeff Byrd</a> and I left the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/cs/recarea?ss=110308&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003738&navid=110240000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&position=generalinfo&recid=12496&ttype=recarea&pname=Missouri%20Gulch%20Trail" target="_blank">Missouri Gulch Trail Head</a> headed for <a href="https://www.14ers.com/photos/peakmain.php?peak=Mt.%20Belford" target="_blank">Mt. Belford</a> and <a href="https://www.14ers.com/photos/peakmain.php?peak=Mt.%20Oxford" target="_blank">Mt. Oxford</a>. </b>This would be Erik and Rebecca's 2nd 14er, Jeff's first, and my 7th. Sunday afternoon several hikers came down from the peaks saying they could only do Mt. Belford and couldn't make Mt. Oxford. They all described the trail with one phrase, <b>"It's really steep."</b> Of course, being optimistic and overly confident, we collectively thought they were weak and that we would easily knock out both peaks per the plan. We would eat our words for lunch on Monday. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS0ldrSs4BM/WVq9erxt0TI/AAAAAAAAC4k/B0jHShrvmQcqtDSJesQCP4PB73LLQLn8wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS0ldrSs4BM/WVq9erxt0TI/AAAAAAAAC4k/B0jHShrvmQcqtDSJesQCP4PB73LLQLn8wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_8612.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Mt. Belford via Missouri Creek Trail</td></tr>
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<b>The weather was ideal,</b> and the first leg is in the forest along the creek. The issue is that the steep part begins immediately as you cross the creek at the trail head! <b>The 8-mile, 4500 ft. elevation gain, Class 2 Moderate trail creates a tough day for flatlanders like us</b>. However, spring had hit the mountains and flowers of all kinds spotted the trail and gave us hope as we climbed slowly up the trail. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bavOorJruno/WVq9idhpXHI/AAAAAAAAC4s/0uvb8qVUiEUjlh7finp2EkERUZjoSizoQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bavOorJruno/WVq9idhpXHI/AAAAAAAAC4s/0uvb8qVUiEUjlh7finp2EkERUZjoSizoQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_8616.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look back into the valley from the shoulder leading to Mt. Belford</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Belford Summit, 14,197'<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F_f6JrKzXyk/WVrCXp9apdI/AAAAAAAAC5M/5trBM5jjF80_DEXYZXWQndZ_C177fDEwQCLcBGAs/s1600/Headed%2Bdown%2BMossouri%2BTrail%2B2017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F_f6JrKzXyk/WVrCXp9apdI/AAAAAAAAC5M/5trBM5jjF80_DEXYZXWQndZ_C177fDEwQCLcBGAs/s320/Headed%2Bdown%2BMossouri%2BTrail%2B2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming down via Missouri Trail</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The trail is well kept and traveled with measured switchbacks on the saddle. <b>Above the saddle sections of loose rock make the steepness of the trail even more difficult to manage and added to the effort to reach the top</b>. With a few stops and many calls of encouragement, we made the summit. That's why we do this, and I am grateful to the friends who work so hard to share these moments.<br />
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We were too tired to make Mt. Oxford. <b>We ate our pride along with trail mix on the summit as we reflected on the confessions of the climbers the day before.</b> A younger, stronger climber returned to Belford while we were there to report that it took him an hour both ways to Oxford, and the climb back to Belford almost did him in. We had already decided we did not want to go back down the slick, steep Belford trail. Fatigue and terrain would surely result in an injury.<br />
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<b>We chose to go back down the Missouri Creek Trail toward Missouri Peak from the Belford summit. </b>It was a more gradual slope and connected with the main trail above the tree line. It did have some snow packs and creek crossings that got our feet wet, but it was a better choice. The path did add hours to our day, but we were pleased with our choice in the end. It was an 11.5 hour-day but worth every step.<br />
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<b>Next to <a href="http://drgdub2.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-summit.html" target="_blank">Mt. Rainier</a>, this was the hardest climb of a 14er for me.</b> If I ever seek to knock off Mt. Oxford, I'd approach from the valley to preserve my legs for that summit. Until then, I'll be satisfied with the Belford summit and the great memories I share with my friends.<br />
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<b>Climbing continues to be a metaphor of life and ministry for me.</b> Life and ministry are hard, and there are many times along the trail you want to quit. It's not so much your will to finish that gets you to the goal as it is <i>the fellowship and encouragement with friends and the certainty of God's call on your life to do what you do</i>. <b>The pain of persistence is what brings you to the summit views that you cannot see any other way.</b> Few get to see the world from 14,000 ft., and I am blessed to be able to do it from time to time. Don't fear the heights or the pain it takes to get there. You'll see things you never dreamed of seeing!<br />
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We took a travel break on Tuesday, and Jeff and I tackled San Cristobal Trail #78 on Wednesday. You can <a href="http://drgdub2.blogspot.com/2017/06/san-cristobal-canyon-trail-78-new-mexico.html" target="_blank">read about that hike here</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu95lKA29dc/WVq9vQgLo3I/AAAAAAAAC40/CaaGqjO_3K4mGc4ZLDT8dx0OoueioIEtQCLcBGAs/s1600/Group%2Bat%2Bend%2Bof%2Btrail%2Bto%2BMtBelford.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu95lKA29dc/WVq9vQgLo3I/AAAAAAAAC40/CaaGqjO_3K4mGc4ZLDT8dx0OoueioIEtQCLcBGAs/s320/Group%2Bat%2Bend%2Bof%2Btrail%2Bto%2BMtBelford.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team at the end of the trail! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5yvMu6Svk6E/WVq9vYpit_I/AAAAAAAAC48/xvhyWUO-BZYmea2pRJMYyVxh20drzrAnACLcBGAs/s1600/Erik%2Band%2Bme%2Bat%2Bcampsite%2B2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5yvMu6Svk6E/WVq9vYpit_I/AAAAAAAAC48/xvhyWUO-BZYmea2pRJMYyVxh20drzrAnACLcBGAs/s320/Erik%2Band%2Bme%2Bat%2Bcampsite%2B2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Considering what to do Tuesday--We chose to break camp and go get pizza<br />
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<br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-50761248772867887632017-06-30T14:19:00.002-07:002017-06-30T14:19:59.473-07:00San Cristobal Canyon Trail 78 New Mexico<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oUm_BN-PU_4/WVa2CzZXb_I/AAAAAAAAC4M/Gmb0tGZMHvQ2_0mkRMKV1KtkrCczfQw8wCLcBGAs/s1600/Jeff%2BByrd%2Band%2Bme%2Bon%2BTrail%2B78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oUm_BN-PU_4/WVa2CzZXb_I/AAAAAAAAC4M/Gmb0tGZMHvQ2_0mkRMKV1KtkrCczfQw8wCLcBGAs/s320/Jeff%2BByrd%2Band%2Bme%2Bon%2BTrail%2B78.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff and I at the top of Trail 78</td></tr>
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On <b>Wednesday, June 28, 2017</b> my friend, Jeff Byrd, and I climbed the <b>San Cristobal Canyon Trail 78</b> on our way to <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/recreation/recarea/?recid=44384&actid=104" target="_blank">Lobo Peak</a>. We had both climbed <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-mexico/middle-fork-lake-trail" target="_blank">Wheeler Peak out of Red River</a> so we were looking for a new tail. This trail is hard to find, less traveled, but <b>one of my favorite trails now in the Red River/Taos region</b>.<br />
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<b>The trail head is off CR B-009 in San Cristobal</b> (turn left coming from the north just after the San Cristobal Post Office onto Comino del Medio go about 3 miles through town past the San Cristobal Academy entrance to the trail head. High clearance vehicle recommended.)<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GjhnYLinxho/WVZXvbNCpWI/AAAAAAAAC3c/gGaGww1nbnszhnZFqoVOeRm0GG5a8cKwwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GjhnYLinxho/WVZXvbNCpWI/AAAAAAAAC3c/gGaGww1nbnszhnZFqoVOeRm0GG5a8cKwwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_8635.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The trail follows the <b>San Cristobal Creek</b> and is shaded most of the way. We counted about eighteen (18) creek crossings. We easily managed most of them, but we had to build up one to get to the other side. Less snow fall and later weeks of summer will lessen the flow of the creek and the number of crossings.<br />
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<b>The 3,100 feet of elevation gain over the four miles to the intersection of <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/recreation/recarea/?recid=44384&actid=104" target="_blank">Lobo Peak Trail #57</a></b> <br />
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was made enjoyable by the shade of the forest and accessibility of the creek. The slope of the trail was moderate, but above the meadow the trail turns steep with switchbacks and moves away from the creek and becomes hard. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cairns mark the high trail</td></tr>
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We were grateful for <b>the cairns people had placed on the trail above the meadow</b>. Without them we surely would have wandered around the hillside for a while...or longer. The less-traveled trail and the meadow foliage made the trail hard to find in places. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View toward Highway 522 from Trail 78 before the switchbacks</td></tr>
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<b>It took us about 8.5 hours round trip, and we did not make it to Lobo Peak.</b> The late start in the morning along with fatigue from climbing <a href="https://www.14ers.com/photos/peakmain.php?peak=Mt.+Belford" target="_blank">Mt. Belford in Colorado</a> two days before left us with energy enough to return to the jeep parked at the trail head. <b>We guessed it was another 1.5 miles to the Peak</b>. (Anyone know for certain?) We brought a filter to pump water from the creek, and we were glad we did. The day was hot, and we needed the extra hydration. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View toward Taos Ski Valley from the top of Trail 78 </td></tr>
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If you are looking for a shaded, creek-side mountain trail that pauses in a mountain meadow and throws you out on a ridge that gives you the view of two valleys with the possibility of a NM summit, this trail is your choice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Trail 57 back toward Taos Ski Valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail intersection sign</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WfZ_rhB-_J4/WVZYGJtq0KI/AAAAAAAAC34/ApB0YBd5i6o9aQEFKdNldWdk5GrJL699wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WfZ_rhB-_J4/WVZYGJtq0KI/AAAAAAAAC34/ApB0YBd5i6o9aQEFKdNldWdk5GrJL699wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_8656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaded trails along the creek made the afternoon descent bearable</td></tr>
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faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-64586873165020175112017-05-24T19:34:00.000-07:002017-05-24T19:34:18.501-07:00Cycling To Work (and back home) in DFW!I have officed in Las Colinas for about two years. Before then the <a href="http://www.bhcarroll.edu/" target="_blank">B. H. Carroll Theological Institute </a>offices were in downtown Arlington. Living in Plano, I assumed I could never commute on my bike to work. The distance and with city streets 99% of the way, it would be too risky and the traffic would be horrendous at rush hours. <br />
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<b>Thanks to my friend, Jeff Holder,</b> who cycles to his office frequently, I experienced a relatively safe route to work on my bike; 100% pedaling with no public transit assistance. <br />
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My ride to the office (minus the ride from my house to where I met Jeff) began at 0500 at my house. I have a <a href="http://www.lightandmotion.com/choose-your-light/urban/urban-500-onyx" target="_blank">Urban500 bike headlight</a>, and it worked well. Only drawback was it has a 1.5 hour rechargeable battery that lasted until daylight but would not be helpful beyond that time limit.<br />
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Traffic was light (surprise!) until we got close to the Valley View/635 interchange about 0645 or so. But even then Jeff had steered the path through parking lots and less-traveled roads to get me to my office.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWIeCJBFoS0/WSXbxuuQ2TI/AAAAAAAAC1g/Glt_UoCgaBEFQXoqR-YmbZxYyZHZpfMvQCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-05-24%2Bat%2B2.14.30%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="622" height="252" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWIeCJBFoS0/WSXbxuuQ2TI/AAAAAAAAC1g/Glt_UoCgaBEFQXoqR-YmbZxYyZHZpfMvQCLcB/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-05-24%2Bat%2B2.14.30%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2195997860" target="_blank">My Route to the Office from Plano to Las Colinas</a></td></tr>
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<b>Jeff has showers and lockers at his office. <i>I don't.</i></b><i> </i>It was a relatively cool day so a spit bath and change of clothes in the restroom sufficed. I had several meetings at the Carroll Center that day and no one asked, "What's that smell?" I guess I was fine. However, carrying a change of clothes and shoes in a backpack does add to the weight and heat of the ride. I've got to figure that one out. Any suggestions?<br />
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<b>My ride home was solo</b>. I had to leave the office earlier than Jeff to make a dinner appointment. I was able to retrace my tracks by memory. (My cycling friends would be surprised that is possible, since I tend to get lost on trips I lead with them.) Traffic did not get bad until the last legs in Plano. Only one jerk needed to let me know I was not welcome on his street. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiGkfnw3TkE/WSXbdtAI78I/AAAAAAAAC1c/hDQVfDxsia80_AYKSAxYmaUBE0O-GpKCACLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-05-24%2Bat%2B2.13.12%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="621" height="235" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiGkfnw3TkE/WSXbdtAI78I/AAAAAAAAC1c/hDQVfDxsia80_AYKSAxYmaUBE0O-GpKCACLcB/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-05-24%2Bat%2B2.13.12%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2197454498" target="_blank">My Route Home from Plano to Las Colinas</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<b>I will commute to work again on my bike.</b> It may be when the temps go below 90 again, but it is possible to safely commute on a bike from Plano to Las Colinas. If you have any other routes or ideas, let me know...and, I'll see you on the road!faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-65565641085081342102017-03-04T15:50:00.001-08:002017-03-05T11:52:00.221-08:00Gene's Urban Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently watched the documentary <a href="https://vimeo.com/72980283" target="_blank">Cars vs Bikes</a> on Netflix. I used to compute sometimes to the church on my bike, and now I take the <a href="https://www.dart.org/riding/dartrailorangeline.asp" target="_blank">DART Rail Orange Line </a>occasionally to the <a href="http://www.bhcarroll.edu/about/contact-us/" target="_blank">B. H. Carroll's offices in Las Colinas</a>. So when my riding buddies said they were riding<a href="http://www.gravelthon.com/" target="_blank"> Gravelthon! </a>on the levees of the Trinity River and the subtitle of the event was "adventure in the heart of the city," I thought I'd join them and add to the adventure by seeing <b>if I could go from my home in Plano to the event in West Dallas and back riding only a bike and public transportation. </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image may contain: 5 people, people smiling, outdoor and nature" class="spotlight" height="240" src="https://scontent-dft4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17021621_1630589156954573_8176417277017491317_n.jpg?oh=12f9922cbd4f130fc7a7d432073586c7&oe=596F200C" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gravel grinders on the Trinity River Levee</td></tr>
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The adventure began when I rode my bike from my house to the first bus stop. <a href="http://drgdub2.blogspot.com/2017/01/icemans-challenge-2016.html" target="_blank">My last post</a> told about the gravel grinder that turned into a cycling tough mudder. The road crud clogged up my freehub, and the cassette would not engage with the axle. Basically, <b>you spin your pedals forward like you would if you were peddling backwards.</b> Since a little WD-40 had loosened the pins enough to ride after this happened last time, <b>I decided to get on the bus anyway and find a bike technician at the event.</b><br />
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(Clearly, I'd rather risk having things resolve along the way than to get my bike repaired intentionally. It's a personal issue, I know.) <br />
<a href="http://www.dart.org/riding/bike.asp" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.dart.org/riding/bike.asp" target="_blank">DART buses and trains are bike friendly</a>, and the ride to <a href="https://www.dart.org/riding/stations/parkerroadstation.asp" target="_blank">Parker Station</a> held no incidents. The train ride to <a href="https://www.dart.org/riding/stations/westendstation.asp" target="_blank">West End Station</a> was also uneventful, and I met a couple of other cyclists who were taking the train. One to work, the other to an electronics swap meet. He was taking his DIY electric bike to get new parts. <br />
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When I got to West End Station, the<a href="https://www.dart.org/gopass/" target="_blank"> DART App</a> told me to find Bus 59 to make it to the race start. I eventually found the stop at <a href="https://www.dart.org/maps/facilityoverviewmaps/rosaparksplaza.asp" target="_blank">Rosa Parks Plaza</a> with the help of a DART employee. When the bus arrived the driver told me there was no way to get to the Singleton start address because of all the detours. <b>The event had blocked my way to the event! </b>Another DART employee said I could ride my bike to the start and gave me a route to take. I took off on my bike to my destination.<br />
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Remember, <b>I have no propulsion by peddling my bike</b> at this time, but I had to get to the start to find a technician. So my bike became <b>a push bike</b> down Lamar Street in downtown Dallas and across the <a href="http://dallascontinentalbridge.com/" target="_blank">Ronald Kirk pedestrian bridge</a> to the start of the ride. The good news is that there are some downhills to get to the bridge. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://dallasnews.imgix.net/TRINITYLEVEES2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for trinity river levee trail" border="0" class="irc_mi" height="172" src="https://dallasnews.imgix.net/TRINITYLEVEES2014.jpg" style="margin-top: 22px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2015/04/27/corps-signs-off-on-dallas-long-held-dream-for-a-trinity-river-park" target="_blank">Trinity River Levee</a></td></tr>
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I rode immediately to the <a href="https://www.rei.com/c/bikes?r=c&ir=category%3Abikes&page=1" target="_blank">REI tent</a> to find a bike technician while my friends rode the parade lap across the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. <b>Thanks to Ashley,</b> t<a href="https://www.rei.com/stores/bikeshop.html" target="_blank">he REI bike technician</a> who cleaned the freehub as much as she could, the cassette engaged enough for me to make the 20-mile loop along the river levees.<b> </b>It was cold and windy, but the city planners have done a great job on the trails on the levee tops and along the river. Get down there and ride them some time.<br />
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We enjoyed the ride and our company, and were happily headed to the finish...<br />
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<b>...when I got a flat! </b><b><br /></b><br />
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I rode as long as I could on the flattening tire, stopped, changed into my running shoes to run my bike to the finish. (We were less than a mile from the start/finish, and I didn't want to take the time to put in a new tube and use up a C02 cartridge. I'm cheap, too.) Amy came to my rescue and let me use her pump. I got enough air in the tire to get me back to the REI tent and air pump without running it it. Ashley and team were tearing down the tent, but she stopped what she was doing to pump up my tire. (It was a <a href="https://www.slime.com/us/products/bike/tubes/" target="_blank">Slime Self-sealing tube</a> and held the air. They don't always do.) I told <b>her 25 psi was enough </b>since I only had to get to the train. (That was a tactical error I will discover later.)<br />
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<b>I rode on a low tire through the streets of Dallas</b> back to the West End Station, boarded the train, and enjoyed my ride back to Parker Road Station in Plano. My adventure was almost over...<br />
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...except the buses on my route only leave on the hour on Saturdays, <b>and it was 2:15. </b><br />
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I put my helmet and cycling shoes and gloves back on. I knew the <a href="https://www.plano.gov/DocumentCenter/View/363" target="_blank">Chisholm Trail in Plano</a> crossed under West Park Blvd., so I started riding in that direction...<b>on 25 psi in the rear tire! </b><br />
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<a href="http://www.plano.gov/204/Parks-Recreation" target="_blank"><b>Kudos to Plano Parks and Recreation</b></a> who expanded the hike-and-bike trail from the DART Parker Road Station to where it intersects the Chisholm Trail. I rode from that entrance to the trail to my home near Independence and Spring Creek. The extra almost-3 miles on a low tire was a great workout, but not enjoyable.<br />
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My Urban Adventure was more than I had planned, but I did enjoy it. <b>I discovered you CAN travel from West Plano to the Trinity River Trails on a bike and public transportation</b>...and it only cost $5.00 for a day pass on DART!<br />
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<br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-81674632210184885632017-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:002017-01-02T10:51:20.802-08:00Iceman's Challenge 2016<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My last scheduled event of 2016 was the <a href="http://www.icemanschallenge.com/home.html" target="_blank">Iceman's Challenge</a> outside China Springs, TX. You could not have asked for a <a href="http://www.icemanschallenge.com/maps.html" target="_blank">better course</a> or worse conditions. On ride day, it was raining, 45 degrees, and a northerly wind at about 20 mph. Depending on your perspective, it was either ideal or the worst conditions ever for a gravel ginder. I ride to be with friends and for the adventure, so this definitely ranked high on both meters. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-goto79Ybmbc/WGqYfqBNN8I/AAAAAAAAC0Y/CMCzOMURSyors4JpJHvUBAULsCPRcyO_wCLcB/s1600/IcemanChallengeGroupPic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-goto79Ybmbc/WGqYfqBNN8I/AAAAAAAAC0Y/CMCzOMURSyors4JpJHvUBAULsCPRcyO_wCLcB/s320/IcemanChallengeGroupPic.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Peloton: Jason, Me, Erik, Rebecca, Graham, Amy<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had all registered for longer distances, but when we woke up in Waco and it was pouring rain and we saw the conditions as we rode to the starting line, we all opted for the shortest 31-mile distance. That was plenty on a day like this. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud, mud, and more mud<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Riding was difficult, as you can imagine, but everyone took the conditions in stride and laughed our way through the hills, mud, wind, and rain. You really get to know people when you are on the road with them in these conditions and fun turns to survival as the day goes on. I rode with a quality group of people. This was Graham's first sanctioned cycling event. I hope he will want to try another. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6vxyCN8Jy0/WGqUL0HJMNI/AAAAAAAAC0A/T6bg7cMfJQ8V6MQ8EZOjJdvjTl5tKbTWQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6vxyCN8Jy0/WGqUL0HJMNI/AAAAAAAAC0A/T6bg7cMfJQ8V6MQ8EZOjJdvjTl5tKbTWQCLcB/s320/IMG_8340.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kudos to the Iceman's Challenge Race Director and crew. They were a great team and supporters, and the tracking app, <a href="http://www.racejoy.com/app.html" target="_blank">RaceJoy</a>, they used was excellent. <a href="http://www.thebearmountain.com/" target="_blank">The Bear Mountain</a> was a good pre-race host and support if you needed it, and the post-ride meal was unquestionably the best I've experienced. Give <a href="http://www.icemanschallenge.com/home.html" target="_blank">Iceman's Challenge </a>a try if you want a good grinder experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll go back for this one next year when it's dry--or, ride again in the mud, wind, and rain. </span>faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-19408135413667982182016-08-04T06:50:00.002-07:002016-08-04T06:52:55.069-07:00Devotion<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Robert-Frost-Collected-Poems/dp/0805069860">Robert Frost</a> began a poem about devotion with these words:<br />
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The heart can think of no devotion</div>
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Greater than being shore to the ocean. </div>
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I read these words while my father and I camped out together between my graduation from college and my wedding day. As we set on the shore of <a href="http://www.toledo-bend.com/national-forest/index.asp?request=redhills">Red Hills Lake in East Texas</a>, I thought maybe Robert Frost was right. Shores lay stuck to oceans,</div>
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Holding the curve of one position</div>
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Counting an endless repetition.</div>
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This endless repetition surely had to be the clearest picture of devotion. </div>
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Then it hit me I was about to get married.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UzwfTOavbL8/V6NGZKvif6I/AAAAAAAACys/yLJtBeveagMUUx1ZM6h6H_Y02Vnp-K-IgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UzwfTOavbL8/V6NGZKvif6I/AAAAAAAACys/yLJtBeveagMUUx1ZM6h6H_Y02Vnp-K-IgCLcB/s200/IMG_8032.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm">Padre Island National Seashore</a></td></tr>
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<b>Shores have no choice in their devotion. </b>They are cemented to their ocean partner without the freedom to leave the relationship. Oceans, too, hopelessly pound their boundaries with no other options. A greater devotion, I thought, had to be having the choice not to be devoted to someone but dedicating yourself to that one person with all the other options still out there. Surely marriage was a better picture of devotion than "being shore to the ocean."<br />
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Some years later, Frost's poem came to mind as I meditated on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A36-46&version=ESV">Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane</a>. The Son of God, with all that was at his disposal to escape death and suffering at the hands of those he had created, prayed:<br />
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If this is what you want for me,</div>
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may your will be done, not mine.</div>
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Jesus had a literal universe of options not to go through with the Father's plans for his death. He had the freedom not to devote himself to His Father's will. But with sweat drops of blood on his brow, he submitted his life to death on a cross as a "ransom for many."</div>
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<b>Robert Frost nor I had thought of the ultimate image of devotion.</b> Everything in human experience pales in comparison to Jesus' devotion to the Father's will. Maybe the poem should read:</div>
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The heart can think of no devotion</div>
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Greater than Christ to the Father's Notion.</div>
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I'm not a poet, so don't judge me on the verse. However, if you ever wonder what the ultimate expression of devotion looks like,<b> look to Jesus' devotion to God's Plan for his life. </b></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A36-46&version=ESV"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A36-46&version=ESV">Read Matthew 26:36-46</a> to recall Jesus' devotion to the Father. </div>
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What other examples might you have for the meaning of devotion? </div>
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faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-36050369892355414022016-05-14T05:00:00.000-07:002016-05-14T20:30:18.024-07:00Four Lessons from My Tough Mudder Experience<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">A little over a year ago I completed my first and only <a href="https://toughmudder.com/content/2015-central-texas">Tough Mudder event. On May 2, 2015</a>, I joined 14 other members of the Dirty Dozen team led by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paul.wilson.9615566?fref=ts">Paul Wilson</a>, TM vet and Pastor. Paul's and my friend, Doug Miller, chided me to join the team and to get dirty. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like a challenge, and I had never attempted one of the muddy obstacle events like <a href="https://toughmudder.com/">Tough Mudder</a> or <a href="http://www.spartan.com/en/race/detail/1317/overview?c3api=5985,88783303577,spartan%20race,e&c3api=5985,88783303577,spartan%20race,e&gclid=CjwKEAjwmdu5BRCg1O3a-tDY0AQSJACKPgRKAj7TTQZYdL-NmkbWCmAqyNknrdTIP9Gijikb9e1Q7RoCmvvw_wcB">Spartan Race</a> or <a href="http://battlefrogseries.com/">Battlefrog</a>. So, I signed up and began to train with the Plano contingent. <a href="https://toughmudder.com/mudder-nation/videos">You can watch videos</a> of the events (ours was a 10.2-mile-18-military-style-obstacles course), so I won't bore you with my wordy descriptions. I want to tell you <b>four lessons I learned</b> from the event that stick with me a year later. (They also continue to apply to every obstacle-filled effort I seek to do.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P9-xVCuU8Kw/VzUrNy_UWkI/AAAAAAAACxo/YAM_Ogoc-eM/s640/blogger-image--1631198356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P9-xVCuU8Kw/VzUrNy_UWkI/AAAAAAAACxo/YAM_Ogoc-eM/s640/blogger-image--1631198356.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b> Teamwork is the only way to accomplish anything outside your own capabilities.</b> I can run and cycle a long way for my age, but I am a weakling in my upper body. Without the help of multiple team members I would have stood helplessly below several obstacles. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> When I came to </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">the others outside my capacity I </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">just dropped in the muddy water.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. <b>Humility comes from reaching your limits</b>. Most of us want to be humble but we don't want to go through the things that make us humble. I have never met anyone who was naturally humble. It's a characteristic chiseled into us by experience and God's Spirit. Until you attempt something you cannot do you will never know how far you can go. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IlzRO1UDgkQ/VzUrMnS0PRI/AAAAAAAACxk/wDZUdsw0u18/s640/blogger-image-752986259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IlzRO1UDgkQ/VzUrMnS0PRI/AAAAAAAACxk/wDZUdsw0u18/s200/blogger-image-752986259.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. <b>Accountability gets you where you want to go</b>. The Plano contingent began training twice a week in January for the May event. Knowing someone was waiting for me to complete the TM training regimen that day got me dressed and on my way to join them. I don't have a team now, and I train at my leisure. That's not good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. <b>Pain is bearable when it is a byproduct of reaching your goal</b>. The last obstacle is a shocking 10,000-volts surging through wires as you run, crawl, or dive through a mud pit. You are tired, wet, and you are caked in mud, but you lock arms, duck your head and run anyway. The electricity straightens you up when it hits you, but when you stumble out the other side, it's all okay. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lKzMpY6hhbc/VzUrPMMGTpI/AAAAAAAACxs/Owcz_0aIaDA/s640/blogger-image-957340291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lKzMpY6hhbc/VzUrPMMGTpI/AAAAAAAACxs/Owcz_0aIaDA/s200/blogger-image-957340291.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I most likely-99% sure-I won't do another one of these mud-obstacle events, but I will continue to apply what I learned through that event all the time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Find a team of friends for whatever your challenge may be and enjoy the adventure!</span></div>
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faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-13794733949070609382016-01-15T07:36:00.001-08:002016-01-15T16:24:57.608-08:00Church Around the Table<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1DXfEnn7qg/VpgZXZEA9AI/AAAAAAAACws/XZqP_bcGO8E/s1600/Lake%2BGang%2Bat%2BStones%2BJan%2B2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1DXfEnn7qg/VpgZXZEA9AI/AAAAAAAACws/XZqP_bcGO8E/s320/Lake%2BGang%2Bat%2BStones%2BJan%2B2016.jpg" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Around The Table</td></tr>
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One weekend our LifeGroup gathered at the lake house that belonged to one of the members. Not everyone in the group could make it, and it was winter, but water sports and 100% attendance were not our goals.<br>
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We just wanted to be together.<br>
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<b>Sunday morning we gathered around the table for breakfast. </b>We enjoyed the cooking of our hosts and the warmth of the fireplace on a cold January morning. All the surface talk had been used up in the time we already had together walking, playing table games and watching football. Our guards were down, and we were relaxed to be ourselves.<br>
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My wife jumped into some story about our grandchildren and told of a podcast she liked where the host always ended her episode by asking her guests, "<b>What are three things that make you happy now."</b> She thought that would be fun for us to do. (Being an introvert married to an extrovert I have come to expect these conversational invasions into free-flowing conversations I can sit back and enjoy without participating.) The group accepted her idea, and she began telling her three happy things <br>
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The rest of the breakfast club shared. Someone said, "<i>This</i> makes me happy!" opening her arms as if to embrace the entire group. We agreed. Someone else mentioned their grandchildren, and another mentioned the beauty of the day and setting of the retreat. We laughed and told stories for about an hour. It was a truly happy time. <br>
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We had talked about having a time of worship or devotion that morning. It was Sunday after all, and we were brought together through our shared experience of worship on Sunday mornings. I had been reading and meditating on biblical passages about anxiety. It was my turn to re-direct the flow of conversation. I asked, <b>"What are three things that make you anxious now?" </b>A sort of downer, but as Joy learned in the film <a href="http://movies.disney.com/inside-out">Inside Out</a>, Sadness, like anxiety, completes our full range of emotions and are necessary for a full life. Anxieties are also issues we can confess to one another, receive prayer and encouragement and trust to the Lord. Without anxiety what's the point of faith and happiness? <br>
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We spoke of our anxiety over our jobs, our finances, our children and their children, the frightening world in which we live, and our illnesses. We were not maudlin about it all, but we spoke in sober tones of things like these that challenge our trust in God and drain us emotionally. Another hour had passed. When everyone had shared, <b>I read without comment <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+6%3A25-34&version=ESV">Matthew 6:25-34</a>, the Word of the Lord. </b><br>
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We then prayed for each other, got up to clean off the table and returned to our leisure activities. <b>We had just been the church! Church around the table.</b> Like the biblical images of church as home and family we read about, we ate, confessed, encouraged one another, and heard the Word of the Lord for our lives. I thought of my brothers and sisters in Christ in Vietnam, for example, who gather to eat, share their joys and hurts and pray for one another in a member's home.<br>
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Church as family. Church is sometimes around the table. Church around the table will take some time, intentional effort, and planning, but give it a try. You may find church is more real than you ever dreamed. <br>
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<br>faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-41143923474266357552014-10-29T19:16:00.001-07:002014-10-30T04:59:13.989-07:00A Conversation with Robert Sterling<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://blog.beliefnet.com/wholenotes/files/2011/07/3-1-11-Hillsong-UNITED-Staples-Center-ph-cr-Andy-Barron-hi-res.jpg" height="266" id="irc_mi" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/wholenotes/2011/07/a-conversation-with-hillsong-united-part-2.html">A Conversation with Hillsong United- Part 2</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I recently had an online conversation with <a href="http://robertsterlingmusic.com/home/">Robert Sterling</a>, choral composer, producer, <a href="http://robertsterlingmusic.com/home/biography/">Dove Award Winner</a> (six, if you are counting), and friend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We mused over <b>the nature of worship music</b> in the church these days. I came at the topic from that of a Pastor/Theologian. He approached it from a composer/practitioner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We pretty much offend everyone, so don't be upset if we talk about your preferred style of musical worship. We were just being honest about what we believe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks for reading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Join in the conversation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://robertsterlingmusic.com/home/a-conversation-with-gene-wilkes/"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://robertsterlingmusic.com/home/a-conversation-with-gene-wilkes/">Here's the Conversation</a>. Enjoy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bfCdB9Whpw/VFIn2s5tZVI/AAAAAAAACrM/Ee1VJBV2uB4/s1600/sterling%2Bmachen%2Band%2Bme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bfCdB9Whpw/VFIn2s5tZVI/AAAAAAAACrM/Ee1VJBV2uB4/s1600/sterling%2Bmachen%2Band%2Bme.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert and me at my Inauguration. Photo bomb by Chris Machen </td></tr>
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<br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-68669472787324193662014-04-18T09:20:00.003-07:002014-04-20T17:13:02.313-07:00Eagle Rock Loop, AR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our first water crossing</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>On April 4-6 of this year,</b> three friends and I hiked the 28.6-mile <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_039482.pdf">Eagle Rock Loop Trail in Arkansas</a>. I had heard of the trail from my trail running community, <a href="http://www.nttr.org/">NTTR</a>, and we needed some training and outdoor fun as part of our preparation for our big summer adventure. (More about that at another time.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This was my second AR adventure in the past four months, (See the <a href="http://drgdub2.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-ouachita-switchbacks-25k-report.html">Ouachita Switchbacks report</a>.) and I am liking the closeness and variety the AR trails offer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>None of us had hiked tails with water crossings before</b>, and what we had read about the rising levels of the Little Missouri River and its tributaries made us a little nervous about the hike. (<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Media/campers-killed-arkansas-flash-flood-albert-pike-campground/story?id=10889327">The Albert Pike Rec. Area deaths</a> were due to quickly rising waters.) The weather cooperated mostly, and none of the crossings were unmanageable or dangerous.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jon, Jim and Amy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We parked at the Winding Stairs parking lot and headed counterclockwise on the Loop. </b>We started about 5:30 p.m. and hiked a couple of hours before we set up camp along the trail next to the river. Although it was April, the temperature dropped into the high 30s that evening. This made conditions perfect for an open fire and sleeping bags.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our imagination had us deep in the forest away from any forms of civilization. However, about 9:00 p.m. a truck drove down a road on the other side of the river with its high beams on. Oh well, at least we were not far from help if we needed it. (About 2:00 a.m. ATVs buzzed through to wake some of us. Danged motorized outdoor vehicles.)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Camp site #1</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The next morning, Saturday, </b>we cooked breakfast and coffee, packed up and were on the trail by 8:00. This would be the flatter side of the Loop, and we made great time, <b>covering about 18 miles total for the day</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The trails were well marked with white blazes on what seemed like on every other tree. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The trails were packed, and one can trek them in hiking boots or trail running shoes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The skies stayed cloudy, and we were not affected by the wind down in the trees and riverbeds. A highlight of the day was the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ouachita/null/recarea/?recid=10722&actid=43">Little Missouri Falls</a>. We saw more people here than anywhere else on the trail. We took a lunch break here and decided it would be a great place to cool down in the summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We encountered more water crossings as the day went on but those gave us breaks and time to enjoy the outdoors. </b>The cold water provided built-in ice water treatment for sore muscles. I was surprised at the winter-like conditions. Things were much greener in Plano than here this time of year.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Camp #2</span></td></tr>
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our day </b>setting up in a well-worn campsite that was on the other side of a
shoes-off water crossing. We filled our bottles with filtered river
water (of which there is plenty during the hike), ate our freeze-dried delicacies, and turned in early. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sunday morning rain gear</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We rose early Sunday morning</b> and packed up before it started <i>a steady rain that would not let up all day long.</i> We recited the Lord's Prayer and said a prayer of thanksgiving for our experience and beauty of nature. My favorite place to worship is Creation, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities I get to be in it and share it with friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This was the side of the Loop with the most climbs and steepest portions of the trail.</b> It also had the longer water crossings. We met a couple of groups of climbers going the opposite direction who warned us of each ascent ahead of us. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Missouri River crossing</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As with most hikes or runs, <b>the closer you get to the end, the longer the distance seems to become. </b>We thought we were done when we got to the actual Winding Stairs Trail, but ended up hiking what seemed another day or two. We were wet, sore, and tired, and it continued to rain. The climbs were tough, but the views were worth it. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the deeper crossings</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eagle Rock Vista</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We reached our car about 1:30 that afternoon,</b> changed into dry, warm clothes, and stuffed our wet packs and shoes in the car. It rained on us the four and a half hour drive home, but the memories and Tex-Mex dinner in Mt. Pleasant made it all bearable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I highly recommend this trail. </b>You can do the whole loop in a day if you are in shape, two like we did, or take longer or do portions of the trail. You will find every kind of terrain, and the water crossings make for variety and challenge. Give it a try! </span><br />
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<br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-6551589104038029322014-03-30T06:32:00.001-07:002014-03-30T06:32:47.306-07:00Noah, The Movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FZ78EIUaGkc/UzgXt0wGlAI/AAAAAAAAChM/cmz5T6ojd9o/s1600/Noah+movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FZ78EIUaGkc/UzgXt0wGlAI/AAAAAAAAChM/cmz5T6ojd9o/s1600/Noah+movie.jpg" height="200" width="134" /></a></div>
My wife and I saw <a href="http://www.noahmovie.com/">the new Noah film </a>last night with another couple. We went out of curiosity and to be able to dialogue about the film based on an important story in the Bible.<br />
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<b>My conclusion: </b>the Mexican food meal prior to seeing the movie was the highlight of the evening.<br />
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<b>Here's my review.</b><br />
<ul>
<li>It's Hollywood. What did we expect? Darren Aronofsky directed Black Swan. Who would be surprised at what he came up with?</li>
<li>The previews before the Feature were all science fiction selections. That should have been a clue, too.</li>
<li>Only the four names of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, an ark and a flood were true to the biblical story. </li>
<li>The storyline was to restore creation which had been damaged by evil men by vegetarian chosen ones who build a vessel to start creation over again rather than to restore a sin-broken relationship between God and people--which is a much more significant story to be told. </li>
<li>While told repeatedly, I was never sure of the importance of the Adam and Eve story to the overall story. </li>
<li>The director's efforts to deal with the human condition and values such as justice, love, mercy, and judgment were poorly portrayed in typically contrived dilemmas, and it reflected nothing of the biblical covenant relationship between God and Noah from which those concepts arise. </li>
<li>The Transformer-like Watchers and Iron Art in the desert threw my mind into a tailspin. I could not sync those with the ancient setting of the story. </li>
<li>Where did they find those designer clothes and backpacking equipment like the tightly fitting backpacks and saw-edged, steel knife of Noah?</li>
<li>The solution to thousands of animals, reptiles, and birds living together in closed quarters was magic--as in hocus-pocus. It was ingenious, but<i> the reality train had left the station long before that scene. </i></li>
<li>I felt at the end of the film like I did after watching the 1973 film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070239/">Jesus Christ Superstar</a>, confused at a poorly told story and not sure why they even made the film. </li>
<li>I am at least pleased so many films built around faith are being made. This "the Bible sells" mentality gives those of us who know the real story to tell it. </li>
</ul>
<b>Bottom line: </b>This was a bad science fiction flick that I pray if someone who knows nothing of the biblical story sees the film and says, "Really?" and goes home, finds the Bible his mother gave him in elementary school and reads Genesis, Chapters 5 through 10. <br />
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<br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-55056319548221109802014-03-03T15:34:00.004-08:002014-03-03T15:34:58.683-08:00My Inauguration at B. H. Carroll <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4YmUXy99cc/UxUO1s8CN1I/AAAAAAAACgw/-9Ftfok4AOQ/s1600/Me+at+Inauguration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4YmUXy99cc/UxUO1s8CN1I/AAAAAAAACgw/-9Ftfok4AOQ/s1600/Me+at+Inauguration.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>On Friday evening, February 28, I was inaugurated as the second President of <a href="http://www.bhcarroll.edu/">B. H. Carroll Theological Institute</a>. </b>Even as I type the sentence it does not seem real. Those sorts of things are for people who excel in their profession and have a string of accomplishments that those in the organization honor and want in those who lead them. I have neither of those things, but here I am: humbled, thrilled, strangely confident, and certain I am where God wants me for this season of growth for the Institute and for my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While I hold the academic credentials for the position, my time of service has been spent in the trenches of local church ministry not in an institution of higher learning. Those two realities may appear disconnected for most who would serve as a President of a seminary like I do, <b>but for Carroll Institute, they are a perfect fit. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let me explain. <i><b>Carroll Institute is not a typical model of seminary training</b></i>. Actually, my academic training and my pastoral/teaching ministry while at Legacy Church, Plano, TX are exactly the credentials necessary to embody the vision of the Institute. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">See, at Carroll we want to <b>return theological training back to the local church</b> where such training began. Our classrooms are not located on a campus somewhere to which faculty and students must pull up stakes of family and ministry move to that place in order to be trained. Local churches, <b>our <a href="http://www.bhcarroll.edu/our-model/teaching-churches">Teaching Churches</a> like Legacy Church</b>, are our classrooms and partners in ministry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We also want to <b>elevate the value of the Pastor as Scholar and Teacher</b>, a model which has been devalued in some circles with the rise of such models as <i>Pastor as CEO</i> and <i>Pastor as Entrepreneur</i>. My Ph.D. in New Testament studies, while not valued by all with whom I served, provided a discipline and depth of learning that I could pass on to those who desired to be trained at a certificate, diploma, masters or doctoral level. Our Resident Fellows are mostly local church servant leaders who hold accredited, academic credentials and who equip those on ministry with them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We also believe that <b>theological training is most effective when it is "both biblically based and praxis oriented."</b> I believe this is best done by a appropriately credentialed teacher who is actively involved in local church ministry. Academic excellence and effective ministry practice are essential to train church leaders in the intricacies of ministry in the 21st Century. As Carroll, we do this where those we teach live, learn, serve, and play. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These all are values I embraced as a Resident Fellow and as a Governor while serving as Senior Pastor of Legacy. So, <b><i>the apparent abyss between my local church ministry and my new ministry with Carroll is not as deep and wide as it may seem when aligned with the vision and values of Carroll. </i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKih-hRyklw/UxUNIsepBgI/AAAAAAAACgk/NhWf4dVk4jo/s1600/Machens+Sterlings+and+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKih-hRyklw/UxUNIsepBgI/AAAAAAAACgk/NhWf4dVk4jo/s1600/Machens+Sterlings+and+us.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Machens, Sterlings, Kim and me</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The evening was filled with significance and meaning for me</b>. Everyone who participated in the program were friends or co-laborers with Christ. When <a href="http://www.bhcarroll.edu/faculty/board-of-governors">Dr. Leach, our Chairman of the Board of Governors</a>, installed me and I knelt while he and <a href="http://www.bhcarroll.edu/faculty/administrative-staff">the Senior Fellows </a>placed their hands on me and Henry Webb, the LifeWay editor who asked me to write <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/jesus-leadership-developing-servant-leaders-member/c-wilkes/9781415868065/pd/868065?dv=c&en=google-pla&kw=backorders-0-20&p=1167941&gclid=CNDO-ai997wCFafm7AodA1gA6g">Jesus On Leadership,</a> prayed a prayer of dedication, I could think of <b>very few more meaningful and Spirit-filled moments in my life</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The music led by Bruce and Nancy Muskrat, co-laborers at Carroll, James Worsham, Legacy's Worship Leader, <a href="http://robertsterlingmusic.com/home/">Robert Sterling</a>, a friend from FBC, Richardson days, and <a href="http://www.mastersmusic.com/">Chris and Diane Machen</a>, friends from youth ministry and Baylor days, moved those they led and me deeply. <a href="http://www.williamstrew.com/">Joan Trew</a> has been a supporter of Carroll and a Governor since our inception. Dr. Daniel Tran is a partner in our work in Vietnam. Ben McPhaull is a DMin. candidate who shared a seminar with me, and I have served twice in Cuba with Dr. Adlin Cotto and her husband, Robert. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With my parents, family, friends, fellow Carroll staff and Fellows in the congregation I was blown away with the honor they bestowed upon me. Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am indebted to <b>Dr. Bruce Corley,</b> our first President and my Ph.D. supervisor at SWBTS, and the Senior Fellows and Board of Governors who believed I could do this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, now that the formalities are out of the way, <b>let's GROW!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://new.livestream.com/accounts/6780788/inauguration">Click on this link to the service</a> if you would like to view it. You can download the Program <a href="http://bhcarroll.edu/program.pdf">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-20793373630329653772014-02-03T09:23:00.000-08:002014-02-03T09:23:12.670-08:004 Ways God Can Develop Character in Your Heart<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLYWfhP6MtM/Uu_HQ3i3GyI/AAAAAAAACfk/nHEN681-GVI/s1600/cover+amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLYWfhP6MtM/Uu_HQ3i3GyI/AAAAAAAACfk/nHEN681-GVI/s1600/cover+amazon.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.newhopedigital.com/2012/03/character/">Get a copy here</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Norman Blackaby and I consider character a matter of the heart.</b> This is why we wrote, <a href="http://www.newhopedigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BWCharacter-interior_ch1.pdf">Character: The Pulse of a Disciple's Heart</a>. Here's our premise:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Biblically, character is defined by the quality of our intimate relationship with God. In our relationship with God we find our moral compass, calling and spiritual strength to live in an intimate relationship with Him and to complete what God has called us to do. (19)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Character is God's working in our lives to mold us into the image of his Son in order for us to be God's blessing to those around us.</b> Our behavior--public or private--grows out of our relationship with God. The more intimate our relationship with God, the more we think and ultimately act like Jesus. The less connected we are to God's Spirit and Word, the more we live life on our own terms, and our resulting actions reflect more our natural desires and impulses than those of our Rescuer and Leader, Jesus, the Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Character matters because who we are in our hearts is truly who we are before God and others.</b> Spin machines, image control, and acting the part can hide our true character for a time, but in the end who we are before God is who we really are. God desires to mold your character and reflect His purposes and values in your daily life. This is why we provided the biblical case studies in the book as examples of how God molds and uses character in people's lives in order to participate in His plans of reconciliation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>So, how does God mold character? </i>How can you prepare your heart for the work of God?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While God is the one who develops our character, we are responsible to place ourselves in a position for Him to do so. (229)</span></blockquote>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are four ways God can develop Character in your Heart. </span></b><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Spend time with God in His Word.</b> You cannot not have godly character without knowing God. The Bible which reveals his Son and his ways puts you in a place for God to transform your character. If you don't have a reading plan to read the Bible, <a href="https://www.bible.com/reading-plans">here are some</a>. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Spend time in God's Creation.</b> God created a good creation. Get outside the manufactured environments we have made and get into the place God designed for you and me to live and thrive. Sit in a park. Walk in your neighborhood. Make a trip to a wilderness area. Listen. Be quiet. Hear the voice of God. The Spirit will reveal your true heart to you. Then you can begin to allow God to mold your character. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Spend time serving the needs of others.</b> We are naturally ego lovers. Service to another in need who can't pay you back or return the favor tests the level of God-like love in our hearts. Godly character is built upon the love and grace we have received from God. Service in the name of Jesus molds our character to be like the One who served us.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Spend time with fellow followers</b>. The New Testament is filled with instructions for us to meet together, to bear one another’s burdens, to pray together, and to serve together in Jesus’ name. (231) Why? We can't change ourselves. We need others, including the Holy Spirit, to help us become what God has called us to become in Christ Jesus. </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What does your relationship with God look like? What are you doing to put yourself in places where God can expose and change your true character? </span>faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-5795697676693965342014-01-20T19:30:00.001-08:002014-01-21T05:23:34.619-08:00My Ouachita Switchbacks 25K Report<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBgTlhhS0bI/Ut3bFJlIckI/AAAAAAAACeM/WcVuq7PxyIw/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+Finish+line+group+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBgTlhhS0bI/Ut3bFJlIckI/AAAAAAAACeM/WcVuq7PxyIw/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+Finish+line+group+pic.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason, Amy, Mikey, Ginger, and me at the finish line</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The alarm went of at 2:45 a.m. Saturday morning. Within the hour I joined <b>Amy Nash, Ginger Becker, and Mikey Whittiker in Jason Smith's </b>FJ Cruiser. We were headed to the intersection of Highways 59 and 259 in Eastern OK for the second running of the <b><a href="http://ouachitaswitchbacks.blogspot.com/">Ouachita Switchbacks 25K and 50K</a></b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jason had seen the <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/653032881387093/?source=1">Facebook post by Tommy Brenan</a></b>, the race director and founder, on Tuesday, and <i>the three of us had taken the bait for a no-training, why-the-heck-not, it's-a-trail-run, adventure</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 4-hour drive to <b>the Pushabee Trailhead </b>near Big Cedar, OK, was filled with getting acquainted, two pit stops, and keeping everyone awake. "<i>Sleep deprivation is part of ultrarunning</i>" is one of my mantras so no one napped. We watched the sun and temperature rise to about 30 degrees when we turned off the highway and parked our car at a campsite to begin our trek through the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/ouachita">Ouachita National Forest.</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7ebiJ_Cs28/Ut3bMh0_xfI/AAAAAAAACe4/QY2mGjDZw9I/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+River+trails+L+Enlow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7ebiJ_Cs28/Ut3bMh0_xfI/AAAAAAAACe4/QY2mGjDZw9I/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+River+trails+L+Enlow.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wnm259FsOmQ/Ut3bMwMlvxI/AAAAAAAACew/qIjcNNNF5vQ/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+Trailhead+sign+L+Enlow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wnm259FsOmQ/Ut3bMwMlvxI/AAAAAAAACew/qIjcNNNF5vQ/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+Trailhead+sign+L+Enlow.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the reasons I love trail running is the people who run on trails. Trailrunners and trail running events are laid back. <b>Tommy Brenan and his race exemplify that spirit. Tommy said he put the race together because he ran these trails all the time and wanted his friends to run it with him.</b> So, in the spirit of a bunch of friends meeting up on a Saturday to run in the woods he put the race together. We signed in on a spiral notebook, got our bib numbers (that didn't all match) and picked up our hoodies (pretty cool ones at that). We then went to the car, geared up, and returned to huddle with the other fifty or so 25K starters in time for Tommy to shout, "Okay, go!" And, we were off. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYlKpr2pqqI/Ut3bJOy2z3I/AAAAAAAACec/Sv_1iKDIZA8/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+trail+blue+blaze+G+Becker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYlKpr2pqqI/Ut3bJOy2z3I/AAAAAAAACec/Sv_1iKDIZA8/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+trail+blue+blaze+G+Becker.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The trail is a narrow, single track, rock strewn trail that wound through trees, along and through streams.</b> Winter had set in completely so there were no leaves on the trees; they were all on the trails, which made for uncertain footing and holes that were hidden from your view. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The race blog described the trail this way:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"This is a very tough and arduous course...The course is very technical single track with substantial elevation gain. The 25K has 2982 feet of elevation gain." </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were warned...</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ginger and Amy on rock slide</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We ran along a river and crossed several streams that required only one or two steps on rocks to get across.</b> One crossing, however, demanded we wade through the water. It was shin-high and winter-cold, but the temperature helped swelling feet to feel great--both out and back!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The greatest challenge was</b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the 33 switchbacks that rose to the turn-around at the top of Winding Stairs Mountain.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> These came at about mile 7, so you were pretty worn down and still had to make the ascent, descend the switchbacks, and return the over 8 miles back to the start/finish line. It was along that trail though that we had the most scenic views of the area.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wLjuU59wp4/Ut3jAvuw80I/AAAAAAAACfM/e0Jd88OjUEU/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+view+from+mtn+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wLjuU59wp4/Ut3jAvuw80I/AAAAAAAACfM/e0Jd88OjUEU/s1600/Ouachita+Switchbacks+view+from+mtn+trail.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Winding Stair Trail</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This was one of the most difficult yet rewarding trail runs I have completed.</b> Multiple types of terrain and views kept my head in the game. Monotony was never an option. The 17 to 18 mile course challenged us in every way, but I loved every step along the way. I forgot to mention the weather: It was ideal...except for the wind when you got to the ridges and peak. As long as we were in the troughs and trees, we were warm. Get up on the heights and the cap and gloves came back on. Again, no monotony on this run!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Tommy Brenan and the volunteers were fabulous hosts. </b>The aid stations were well placed and well stocked with the kindest folks to serve us as we paused in our pain and ecstasy to refuel and rehydrate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>You can find our finishing times <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/653032881387093/">on the facebook site</a>.</b> I came out on top of the bottom half, which is where I usually finish. Jason burned up the course despite his bloodied knee. Amy, Ginger, and Mikey finished strong, and waited patiently eating hot potato soup until I showed up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I highly recommend</b> you plan to participate in next year's run. It will be worth the trip and soreness the day after.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Next run?</b> <a href="http://crosstimberstrailruns.com/">Cross Timbers Half Marathon on Feb. 15</a>. Join us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Pictures came from various runners who posted on the facebook event site. Thank you if you recognize your photo.)</span></div>
faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-90567465066195981672014-01-06T06:26:00.000-08:002014-01-06T06:26:02.185-08:006 Rules of Transition, 4-6<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vOv40FChtE/Usq0bijEC3I/AAAAAAAACdw/X4n7sQK9CPE/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vOv40FChtE/Usq0bijEC3I/AAAAAAAACdw/X4n7sQK9CPE/s1600/photo-4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atop Camelback Mtn. in Phoenix</td></tr>
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Realizing a goal involves moving from where you are to where you want to be or become. That's obvious but it's not easy. To say, "I want to climb that hill," and you have never walked to the end of your street means you have a lot of work to do before you make the top. <b>Pick any one of your goals you have set for yourself or ministry this year and if you take any time for reflection or planning, you will see what is involved it getting from here to there. </b><br />
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Reaching a goal includes transitions; those bridges of actions that carry you from one point of reality to the next. <b>The effectiveness of these crossings will determine your success toward reaching your goal.</b><br />
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<b>I offered the first 3 Rules of Transition</b> I have learned by leading people from a favored status quo to a preferred future in my first post, <a href="http://drgdub2.blogspot.com/2013/12/6-rules-of-transition-1-3.html">6 Rules of Transition, 1-3</a>. I want to offer you the next three in this post.<br />
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<li> <i>Transition involves as series of conflicts which will lead to defining moments</i>. Conflict is the vocabulary of change. Any person, ministry or organization who decides to realize God's mission call on their lives must be prepared for conflict. This does not mean putting on a flak jacket and hunkering down for a war. It demands picking up a towel and washbasin and serving those on mission with. But, when the conflict created by moving from the status quo down the road to God's future for you, some conflicts will emerge as defining moments that clarify the movement for those involved. Jesus used conflict among his core group to define great leadership in his movement. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2010:41-45&version=ESV">Mark 10:41-45</a>) Paul embraced his conflict with the church in Corinth to define the true nature of comfort and partnership in ministry. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor.%207:5-12&version=ESV">2 Cor. 7:5-12</a>) Servant leaders allow conflict in transition to become defining moments for the movement. </li>
<li><i>Transition is best led by a servant leader who has made himself or herself servant to the mission and leads by serving those on mission with him or her.</i> When the mission is the focus of the work of transition, then the group can find unity in the middle of their differences. When the issue is not the personal preference of the leader or those being lead, then how to accomplish the mission best becomes the topic of movement. When servant leaders keep their efforts on accomplishing God's mission call on the group, then trust rather than suspicion is built among the followers. Jesus was solely about his mission to seek and to save those who were lost, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019:10&version=ESV">(Luke 19:10</a>) and his ministry was about that and that alone. Conflict arose by completing that mission, but his goal was to please his Father in Heaven, not please or placate those who interacted with him. </li>
<li><i>Transition is fluid and must adapt to the dynamics of people and circumstances.</i> Paul's path from Antioch to Rome was not a straight line. We too often attend the work of the leader and his or her plans to execute change, but those they lead and the circumstances that happen outside the control of the leader impact transition too. Ask Moses as he led the Children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land. Transitions are journeys of faith that seldom follow the path of the original plan. Be prepared to encounter twists and turns that will deepen not only your trust in God but lead you to a place you did not even see when you started.</li>
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Much more can be and has been written about transitioning in ministry and work. <b>Keep your own notes about your journey,</b> and you will find how God works when he calls a leader to pursue the future revealed to him.<br />
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What are some of your lessons learned from leading through transitions? <br />
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<br />faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16898197.post-25613532972029865622014-01-02T09:08:00.001-08:002014-01-03T04:50:55.533-08:00Camelback Mountain via Cholla Trail Phoenix<br />
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knew I like trails said, "Be sure and climb Camelback while you are
there." So, I got online and found the destination. I found the Echo
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On January 1 before the game we rode around Phoenix and found the trailhead off 64th Street. Literally hundreds of people were coming and going down the street to the trail. I began to appreciatehow so many took on the challenge of the climb on a day off. I resolved to make the summit the next morning.</div>
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I rose before dawn grabbed a bagel and cup of coffee and headed to the trailhead. It was 40F and crystal clear. A little breeze kept me cool waking/jogging to the trailhead. My 5.5 hours of sleep after the game did not seem to affect me, and I got fired up about making the climb. I allotted 2hrs for the round trip hike to make it back to the room to check out with the group to make our flight. I made the round trip from the car in 1:46. </div>
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The summit sported a Christmas tree and people posed for holiday pics. The sky remained clear, and the breeze kept me cool and invigorated.<br />
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The trail was well-worn with loose gravel. The higher you climbed the more you were on the face of granite rock. I had to scramble some but the trail was well marked and not dangerous if you paid attention.<br />
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The day before we watched fire trucks and a helicopter circle the mountain to care for and extract an 11-year-old boy who fell 25ft down the trail while racing others, so it may not be that safe.<br />
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It is odd to be so close to neighborhoods and a golf course and yet have such a challenge on the outcrop. I like that about Phoenix. We have to drive for miles to get to trails in Plano, and those are nothing like the several in the Phoenix City Park system. We walked around North Mountain Park on Wednesday too.<br />
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I recommend climbing Camelback via Cholla Trail when you are in Phoenix. It's a challenge with a great reward of view and accomplishment. Sunrise on the trail is worth the effort.faithrunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999828918613895021noreply@blogger.com