El Altar

How much can a person write about a 3 day hike up a mountain?  There's so much I could share, but I'm not feeling very wordy right no, so I'm afraid this won't be very long.

 

We left last Thur. morning at 4:00am for the mountain in a chartered bus.  There were a total of about 25 high school youth along and about 5 adults.  We rode in the bus until about 12:30pm and then began hiking.  After almost 5 hours of hiking up hill we arrived at our camp site.  After pitching tents and having supper, we settled down to sleep.  It was rained most the night and many got cold and wet in the tents.

 

Friday morning after breakfast we left to continue hiking further up the mountain.  We began the trek in good weather, but soon it began to rain and fog began to roll in.  After a good 2 hours of hiking up a very steep trail, the path began to diminish, and the fog began to thicken.  There was no way to continue on.  We called all the kids together and had a time of prayer, praise and Gerardo gave a devotional.  Right at this point, the fog began to lift and an amazing view unfolded before our eyes.  There below us was the dazzling blue-green lake in the center of the crater, and surrounding the lake were the rugged, snow capped mountain peeks.  It was breathtaking, and that much more than just he altitude.  It was so exciting to see the Lord so directly answer our prayers and roll the fog away.

 

From that point we were able to continue climbing up to the snowline.  After hiking up some very steep, rugged rocks we made it to the snow.  The altitude was about 14,500 feet at this point.  What fun to see the kids play in the snow.  For most of the people on the hike, it was the first time for them to touch snow. 

 

After being in the snow, we hiked back down to camp.  There we dried sleeping bags over the fire and ate supper.  That night, it did not rain as much and everyone seemed to sleep better.  The following morning we ate granola and began the hike back.  Due to all the rain, the trail had drastically deteriorated.  We walked in mud up to at least our ankles all the way back.

 

Part way back down the mountain, we learned that our bus that was supposed to pick us up had been in an accident.  That complicated matters.  We had no option but to return in a public bus.  Thankfully, the Lord worked out those details as well.

 

Thanks to each for your prayers.  We had some excellent devotionals with the youth, and no major injuries.  God is good!