News from the Peak

by Tom Wood

Pastor Jim Lyon’s Note

During the third week in August, Madison Park’s Men’s Fraternity ministry sponsored an ascent of Mt. Adams in Washington State. Standing tall at 12, 276′, Mt. Adams is the second highest peak in the Pacific Northwest, ranking just behind Mt. Rainier. Unlike the Colorado Rockies (which reach similar altitudes), the vertical heft of the mountains in the Cascade Range is especially challenging and dramatic, in that it begins at sea level (the Colorado Rockies sit atop a plateau already a mile high). Climbing any of the glacial summits of the Cascades is considered a prep course for legendary climbs like McKinley and Everest.

Twelve men from Madison Park went to the top and back down again. It was, hands down, one of the most demanding weeks in my life–physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The lessons learned will not soon be forgotten. All twelve of us were profoundly changed for the better; all of us moved closer to God and an understanding of ourselves.

One of the guys on the team was 37-year old Tom Wood. Tom is an information technology specialist for the Community Hospital Network in Indianapolis. He and his wife and three sons are treasured members of our church family; he and his wife also volunteer to help couples in crisis find spiritual grounding and hope for their marriages in a retreat program called Retrouaville. In the essay below, Tom shared his Mt. Adams experience with his Retrouaville family–and he has given us permission to share it with you, as well. He found many parallels between his climb and his own journey in life. You will, too.

Last week I had an opportunity to climb Mt. Adams in Washington with a group of men from the church. Of course I was struck by the beauty of the trees, water, snow, rock and wild flowers. I felt a little scared as well when I lifted my 45 pound backpack for the first time. I had so many emotions going through me all at once. I felt fortunate to have the opportunity of the challenge, thankful for the wonderful view, challenged to complete the climb. Similar to the way I felt before marriage. Fortunate for a wonderful wife, thankful she wanted me, and challenged to complete the journey.

On the negative side, I also felt uncertain of my physical ability once I lifted my pack, vulnerable as I was now someplace I could not easily turn around and back out, nervous of how I would fair on the journey. I did not want to appear weak and concerned in front of so many other men.

We began our trail up the mountain. It appeared the mountain was moving away from us as we walked toward it. Every step seemed to bring me no closer to my destination – the top. The pack was uncomfortable and my balance was challenged. We reached our campsite for the evening and I was ready for some rest. Yes, it was challenging. I made it though. I felt inspired to complete the next leg of the journey.

The second day of the climb the guides taught us how to use the tools, harness, ropes, ice axe, etc to traverse the Mazama Glacier. How to perform a self arrest to stop ourselves in case of a fall. We were roped together for safety of all members of the team. If one member fell, then we can rely on other members of the team to save us from falling into a crevasse and consequently to our doom.  Again, I felt anxious, and frightened as we walked past the crevasses and then over a snow bridge that we were hopeful would hold for all members of the team. We reached our camp site for the evening and I was feeling tired and humbled by the mountain. The top of the elusive mountain still appeared so far away.

The third day, we set off with our smaller pack with only the supplies we would need to summit. We set off and climbed the steep trail toward the top. Air was thinner than I am accustomed to here in the Midwest. I was consciously breathing heavier and more often just to try to keep up with my body’s physical need for oxygen. Every step became a challenge. My legs hurt not only from the climb, but from the two days before. The wind blew hard as if to dissuade me from my journey. More than once, I had to stop and steady myself against the wind. I reached the false summit and thought of how close I was. Only ¼ mile to go and only 600 more feet high. I prayed for strength and endurance.

Finally, I was at the top. I dropped my pack and ice axe, and jogged to the summit. I made it. I am not certain I could have done it without the encouragement of the others in the group and the help of God.

Now for a short rest and the journey down. I was shocked how difficult this was. We took nearly 3 days to climb the mountain, and now we are expected to go all the way down the mountain back to the cars. The guides sure made it sound easy. It was no less exhausting going down than going up. I slid more going down and the impact on my knees was far more challenging than I had originally thought. On a few occasions, I had some spectacular falls in the snow and ice and had to use the tools the guides taught us to stop the fall and get back upright.

We gathered the remainder of our gear from high camp and traveled down the mountain. Part of the way down, one of the members was struggling. Those of us who were doing okay at that time took his load for the remainder of the journey. It was heavier, but he needed help.

It was a most fantastic journey and I could not help but draw parallels of this journey to that of the four stages of marriage and the Retrouvaille program.

Romance. The anxiousness and challenge of beginning our lives together. The mountain to climb.

Disillusionment. More difficult. Legs hurt. Exhausted. This is harder than I thought.

Misery. The difficult climb. How much more can I take. The external forces push against me. The slippery slope. The wind. It would be so much easier to quit now.

Awakening. I made it. The journey was hard. However, there are many trips and falls on the way down. I need to use the information and tools the guides taught me to upright myself. The further away from the summit the easier it becomes.

Finally, sharing the load. Helping those who are struggling by giving of our strength. And also, having the courage to say, “I am struggling. I need help.” It is difficult to put into words the beauty, challenge, and victory of the experience. Overcoming the external forces that dissuaded me from completing the journey. I am thankful for those who went before who offered their experience and skills to help me reach the bottom safely.