On a crazy windy, rainy evening at 6:15 pm, I pull into the Greenleaf Hut in the NH White Mountains. I could hardly get the door open because of the wind! It took 3 tries before I could get it opened “far enough” and “long enough” to lurch inside without leaving half of me outside! When I finally got in everyone broke into a loud and long applause with shouting. When they finally stopped, I told them that I sure wasn’t used to that kind of greeting. (Although I did think getting in was almost a supernatural accomplishment!) =)
In the morning the wind is screaming even louder! I could see a plexiglass window beating to the rhythm of the 60’s and 70’s rock concert! It’s still raining with visibility around 100 feet. We’ll I’ve got to get going, and I step into the hammering rock-n-roll concert at 5:45 am.
Almost instantly I find myself getting knocked around by the crowd! I get knocked right on my butt and side several times above tree line. (I checked later, and the winds were a steady 60ish mph with 74 mph gusts.) Yahoo, Mountain Dew! This is taking adventure to a whole other level!
It’s quite the challenge to walk in this. I don’t look up much when facing the wind above tree line as the rain tends to sting a little. I can see less and less the higher I go. I know I’m going up, but I’m not sure how much further it is to the AT. I lose the trail a few times and had to wait until I could see a cairn and get back on track. I also have to stop at times squatting with my poles and feet firmly planted until a gust ends.
All of the sudden I find that I have walked right into the foundation on Lafayette! If I hadn’t stumbled into this, I wouldn’t have even known I was about to summit!
OK, I’m up to the top of Lafayette… Find the sign and head across the ridge. Woo-Wee, this is really something! I SAID… THIS IS “REALLY” SOMETHING!
The wind is brutal on this ridge. All I can do up here at times is squat and wait. Obviously, I make even slower time now, but I’m safely making it… time that is. =)
I am so thankful each time I get into the tree line! It’s such a relief. I’m also grateful that the mist isn’t as thick as it once was. (Getting lost in the fog is the worst! It requires an “immediate” stop for as long as it takes until it clears enough to reorient yourself.)
The hours pass by in the steady gale and rain. This environment has its phenomenal magic and attraction and well, yeah, its brutal nuisances as well. (Just being honest. =)
On South Twin the wind sucker punches me knocking me flat on my back and down for the count. I score a 10 on my impression of a turtle struggling to flip itself over as I struggle to turn over on my hands and knees to stand up. Eventually I get on all fours, then on my feet, (though it be at a 45-degree angle). It rips the pack cover right off the guy in front of me! (It probably landed back at the southern terminus… do not pass go and do not collect $200. =) Once up, I struggle back into the tree line looking like I’m dragging a stalled cog-train behind me.
Fourteen miles later at 5 pm I plop down at the Zealand Hut, happy but exhausted, calling it a day.
In all honesty, this was one of the days I most enjoyed on my AT adventure and one I reminisce about more often than many others. I “loved” the challenges, sounds, smells and views of all the special drama nature pulls out during times like this. I was in awe of nature at its rawest.
Now lest you think I’m some kind of adrenaline junkie, that’s not the case. It’s a case of the principle found in 1 Peter 1:6–7, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (which happens often enough on the AT =) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
If we face our struggles and trials in a biblical manner, God promises that our faith will grow stronger and stronger. We know this is true because a lot of matters that were once big issues to us, no longer are because of our maturing faith. Thus, we are progressively better able to deal with larger and larger challenges.
This spiritual principle overlaps into our physical and emotional abilities as well.
I have been an avid outdoorsman ever since I can remember, and I mean that literally. I am as comfortable in the wilderness as I am in our home. It’s only because of the decades of experiences mother nature and I have shared together and the knowledge, understanding, wisdom and discernment that she has taught me through those experiences, that I can as safely as possible enjoy a challenge like I have mentioned above. I understood the respect and humility that kind of environment demands. I had everything I needed for my safety, including immediate shelter if necessary. Thus, all that was left was to enjoy the concert! =)
The struggles and trials we all encounter in life or on the AT gradually change us, especially a non-seasoned hiker on the AT. Even if we choose to not complete the entire AT, we don’t get off it being the same person we were when we stepped on to it.
We may not like some of the struggles and trials we are forced to face in life or on the AT, but they “all” have the potential to change us for good. It’s up to us though if we cash in on the potential good. It’s up to us whether we allow our difficult circumstances to tear us down rather than build us up. But the fact of the matter is that 1 Corinthians 10:13 is true for all of us, No temptation (or trial) has overtaken you except such as is common to man (it’s something that happens all the time); but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (tested) beyond what you are able (to bear), but with the temptation (when we hit a trial, He) will also make the way of escape (from being dominated by it), that you may be able to bear it (bear up under it in order to discover and profit from the good.)
Extreme weather is very common in the White Mountains. There were only two questions I had to ask myself before I set out into it that day. “Do I have everything I need (personally and gear wise) to be safe in that kind of environment?”, and “Do I want to submit myself to that environment today?”
The “only” reason I could say, “Yes,” to both of those questions with confidence was because of decades of following the 1 Peter 1:6–7 principle.
I could have been in the woods all my life, but not have learned or gained anything if I’d just grumbled through all my challenges, allowing myself to be dominated by them. If that was the path I chose during those decades, I would not have been ready to safely enter that hostile environment. (That’s not to say that I don’t still grumble at times, but you get my point. =)
The attitude we habitually maintain in life or on the AT is a critical matter. It can mean the difference between life or the trail becoming more and more of a burden to process or becoming more purposeful and fulfilling.
We create charts and graphs all the time to keep track of things like paying something off, saving up for something, or reaching business and personal goals. What if we kept a mental graph during tough times as to how we are allowing a trial in life or on the trail to affect us. Is the arrow going up or down? Based on the trajectory of the arrow businesspeople make projections concerning what they are heading towards. Based on their projections they either determine how they can keep it going or what needs to be done to change the direction in order to reach their desired goal.
It might be good if we would do this as well to capitalize on the potential good contained in every trial. We “can’t” choose whether to be impacted or not, but we “can” choose how we will be impacted. Let’s choose to make any adjustment when necessary to gain the greatest purpose and fulfilment possible in life and on the AT!
Faith Aids 