Level 2 Training

Saturday, in the 37 degree weather, we did a level 2 ropes course training. This was designed to teach us how to rescue equipment and people from a high ropes course. We climbed out on cables, rapelled ourselves down to "victims", transfered belays from one person to another, and chased away belligerent squirrels. Well....that last one didn't really happen but, our instructor warned us that we might have to deal with those kinds of things on our ropes course. Awhile ago, he was attacked by some squirrels and I think that has given him a tainted view of those little creatures.

The word "Belay" comes from a french nautical term that means to "hold fast".

Right before our training started our instructor read a passage from Romans chapter 12 the ESV version. It says "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. v 9-13

After all of that training I hoped that I learned more than just the technical ability to save someone on the course. I hope that I learned what it really means to "hold fast" to what is good and to value my brother/sister more than myself.

Sugar, Sugar, Sugarloaf!

Last weekend i took a trip up to Maine with my roommate Jill. We went to visit our friend Lucien whose family owns a house on Sugarloaf Mt, a popular ski resort in the northeast. We spent Saturday afternoon hiking on part of the Appalachian. The snow was a little deep in spots and as we were without any snowshoes, the going was a little rough. We would, at undetermined intervals, find ourselves with one leg stuck in the snow up to our thigh. It was like being in the "fire swamp". Trap doors in the ground that just sucked you in. About a quarter of a mile from the trail head we came across the trail registry. It was funny to me that the registry was so far from the actual start of the trail. Maybe, they wanted to make sure you were really serious about hiking this thing before you are official considered "on the trail". haha

Because the hiking was a bit rough we decided to set up the tent at a campsite that was only about a mile and half in. We dug out a perfect little spot for our two person tent, which we crammed three of us in. Spent the evening cooking our dinner and chatting and then hit the sack. All in all, it was a good to be out in nature and spend sometime with friends.

Lately I have been realizing the importance of personal communication in my life. It is so easy to read someone's blog or see things they post on the internet, but not interact with them about this information. So, i have made it a goal to try and either comment on the blogs that I read

or have a conversation with someone about the things they have posted. I challenge all of you to do the same. I would love to hear your comments and thoughts.

ADKs....

Last weekend i took a trip up to our base camp in New York. We did some snowshoeing up Cascade Mt. This hike usually takes 2 hours to do in the summer because of all the boulders that you have to navigate, but we did it in an hour and half. The snow actually made it easier to hike. It was great to get out into the wilderness again, even if it was only for a weekend. I really needed the sunshine and exercise. The winter dreariness was really getting to me.