I'm not even a mountaineer... what am I doing?

As one of my friends put it yesterday, "What? St. Helen's wasn't enough for you?"

Well, I guess not because this weekend I will be standing on the summit of Mt. Baker at 10,781 ft (the 4th highest summit in Washington)... that is... if I make it.

Yep, friends its true. I'm climbing Mt. Baker this weekend. And its going to be pretty interesting. Baker is in a league of its own... the climb requires crampons, ice axes, roping in with harnesses,and crossing crevasses on the Easton Glacier of Mt. Baker. 

By definition, this will be the hardest thing I will ever do in my life [that is, until I climb Rainier... but that won't be this year]. But that's the beauty of it. 

A while back, a friend asked me why I like hiking/climbing so much. And here's the reason: because it is a challenge. You have to work hard and stretch yourself beyond what you think you can handle in order to earn the reward of seeing and experiencing an unknown beauty that most will never get to see. It's special because its rare. And it means more, because it takes work. But the reward is always worth it. You're never left disappointed. And you learn the lesson that perseverance and effort give way to great joy and peace... the type that can only be experienced through trial and redemption.

And so I find myself yet again at the base of a challenge, ready to persevere to the top, to once again see beauty defined.

And when I feel like quitting, when snow bridges and crevasses scare the heck out of me, I will keep taking one more step toward the goal. If weather doesn't turn us around, I will make it to the top. 

Joyfully.

Intentionally pursued.

With arms wide open

And heartfelt gratitude.

This is for Him.

The time has come

It seems like only yesterday that I was sitting in my chair on a cold, rainy day in February. Fixated on my computer screen, I made the purchase...

10 permits.

$22 each.

Click submit. 

It is finalized. 

I am indeed going to climb Mt. St. Helen's on July 26th, 2009. 

Whoa.

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In that moment, climbing St Helen's seemed so far away... almost like a fleeting thought or undefinable dream in my mind. But now it is here. In fact, the epic event commences THIS Sunday! I can barely wrap my heart and mind around it. For some reason this means something so real to me. Its more than just climbing a mountain - especially since St. Helen's isn't any Mt. Rainier. But it is still a step in that direction. One day I will make it to the top of Rainier... and it all starts here. This is the beginning to something. I just know it. With meaning and purpose intertwined and running deep within... I will make it to the top. 

Despite the 95 degree weather we'll experience, despite the fact that I know its going to be difficult, it is something that will be experienced...

Joyfully. 

Intentionally pursued.

With arms wide open.

And heart-felt gratitude.

And so, this is for Him. 

From the crater edge on top of St. Helen's, I will behold this view of His perfect creation. 

And I will stand in awe of Beauty Defined.

My Fixation for the Next Month

Whoa. 

Imagine waking up to find out that you didn't climb Mt. St. Helens last night. That you weren't too sick to start the climb with the rest of the group, only to start later and attempt to catch up, eventually finding yourself alone in a storm, having to hanker down in a bivy sack tied to the edge of a snow wall so that you didn't roll off the cliff edge while sleeping, waking up to dig yourself out of a blanket of snow and ice only to realize that you wouldn't make the summit, that you failed and nearly died during the attempt and finally deciding to make the decent down to base camp before another storm started.

Again... I say... whoa.

I hope the real climb goes more smoothly than that. It's less than a month away. And its going to be amazing.

Basically if you're wondering what I'll be thinking about for the next month the answer is...

Mount Saint Helens. The climb.

I think my dream last night verifies this truth... Whoa.