In early July, I (along with a few friends) will attempt to summit Mt. Elbert, in central Colorado. To “summit” a mountain means to reach its highest point. According to Wikipedia – A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it.

I’ve chosen the southern route, which is 5.8 miles (one way). “The South Mt. Elbert Trail forks off the Colorado Trail, which continues to Halfmoon Creek. It is the “easiest” route to Mt. Elbert, but remember, the elevation gain is still 4,800 feet. This trail is a great route and a relatively easy hike for someone in reasonable physical condition. The trail is well established and easy to follow. The key to a successful climb is an early start. A sunrise start is ideal to beat the afternoon storms.” (AllTrails)

Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America. With an elevation of 14,440 feet, it is also the highest point in the U.S. state of Colorado and the second-highest summit in the contiguous United States after Mount Whitney, which is slightly taller. (Wikipedia)

Since March, I’ve been preparing for this ascent by climbing stairs. We started at 60 flights of stairs. Last weekend, we completed 232 flights of stairs in 2 hours. This weekend, my goal is 250 flights of stairs. As of this weekend, we are one month from our anticipated summit date.

Ever since the adventure of my first backpacking trip in the summer of 1997, I’ve harbored a yearning for outdoor adventure. Over that six day trip God used every beautiful scene, every challenge, each highlight, and our daily fellowship (with Him and each other) to reveal Himself to me. He washed my spirit and soul, cleansing me daily to remove the distractions that distorted my vision.

In the wilderness, I am drawn with a sense of anticipation for what is through the next grove of trees, around the bend, over the next plateau!  In that first trek through the Weminuche Wilderness, we attempted to summit Rio Grande Pyramid Peak. We made it to within 300 feet of the 13,825 peak before having to retreat due to weather.

This birthed a “bucket list” goal of one day summiting a fourteener. In the mountaineering parlance of the Western United States, a fourteener (also spelled 14er) is a mountain peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 ft (4267 m). The 96 fourteeners in the United States are all west of the Mississippi River. Colorado has the most (53) of any single state; Alaska is second with 29. (Wikipedia)

Isaiah 52:7 declares, “How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

One of many indescribable nourishments of wilderness hiking is the reward of the landscape views afforded to those who persevere to such heights of exploration.

My prayer for this upcoming hiking adventure is and will be:

Habakkuk 3:19: “The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like deer’s feet, And has me walk on my high places.”

Psalm 18: 32-33: “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear. He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights.”