The Gardners on Mt Antero

Gardner Family Adventures

Mt Antero - 14,269 feet

May 29, 2006

Hikers:
Wade, Dara, Caleb (age 7) and Anna (age 6) Gardner. From the Golden, Colorado campus ministry came - Andrew, Briana, Seth, Adam, Aspen, Karyn and Art.

Stats:
Started hiking at 9:30am from 11,727 feet. Summitted about 1:15pm for 3:45 of climbing time over 3.5 miles. Left the summit at about 1:30pm, returned to the vehicle at 5pm for 3.5 hours of descent time.

The Trip:
Left Colo Spgs at 5am, and met Art and his crew in Buena Vista at 7:30am. Arrived at the first Trailhead about 8am. Since both of the Golden vehicles were passenger cars, we transferred all extra gear out of our 1997 Expedition into the passenger cars, and all 11 of us loaded into the Expedition to drive to the 4WD trailhead.

By 9:30am we were parked, loaded up and ready to go. The rest of the group was a little faster than Caleb and Anna, so the Gardner family stuck together and brought up the rear. Caleb and Anna were excited about the climb, but motivation was a continuous need. The walking sticks that I was using came in quite handy - the kids were thankful that they were not cattle prods! J

We kept up a steady pace through the first 3 miles of easy trail. The last ½ mile was rock - Class II climbing. The kids were pretty worn out, and Caleb was really slowing down. Somehow we held it together and made the summit, to the cheers of the Golden crew who were waiting for us! After a few quick rounds of pictures, we were all ready to make a run for the vehicle.

By now Caleb was really hurting. I walked him a ways, then carried him a ways, and back and forth. At one point he laid down for a minute and promptly fell asleep! But with steady encouragement, we made it back off of the rocky section, and then made good progress through the rest of the trip down.

It was an incredible experience for our family. We have never done such a difficult thing together. The stronger were able to help out the weaker, everyone continued to be encouraging, and the Gardner family climbed their first 14er together. I kept wondering how many 6 and 7 year olds had climbed that mountain, and I don’t think many have. I was so proud of Caleb and Anna. They are the best kids in the world (yes, I am biased!), and I really think that after this adventure, they will have a better understanding that with God’s help, there is nothing that they can’t accomplish.

To God be the glory.

See the rest of the pictures at http://spaces.msn.com/wadedara/

Band of Brothers

How do I put this retreat into words? It was a retreat put on through a group of men with a ministry called Band of Brothers. The goal is for men to be honest and real with each other, so as to be able to help each other in our pursuit of God's heart.

As God worked it out, my friend Joel (top left) and I were able to go the the retreat a day early and hike Long's Peak. What an adventure that was! Check out http://spaces.msn.com/members/wadedara/ to see those pictures.

From there we went on to the retreat, and were joined by John Willingham (far right) - our new intern, and Jeremiah - one of the students in our ministry.

The four of us made a "Band," sharing discussion time, bunking in the same room, basically doing "life" together. During free time on Saturday we hiked up the big pile of rocks in the middle of the picture above. It was an amazing time of community, and it led into us opening up with each other about where we were at, where we had been, and our hearts desire to be free from so much of the junk that so often pulls us down.

One of the points that really stuck with us from the retreat was that "To be known is to be loved." It was awesome as masks came off, stories were told, and we were able to know and love each other.

I thank God for putting men in my life who desire to walk with me. I am so thankful for these three here in Colorado Springs - and for the others that God has put in my life through the years and across this country.

If you are one of those men, and are reading this now - please leave a comment and tell me how you are!!