First Church of God

Today we do the Half Dome day hike. We arrive at the trail head at 11am only to realize we should have started by 6am. It’s a 10-12 hour hike, and you don’t want to travel down this treacherous trail in the dark. We’re also suppose to have 4 liters of water each; Scotty has 2 liters and I have 1. We decide to start the hike anyway, knowing we can turn back anytime.

Our altitude will increase 4,800 feet on this 16 mile hike. We experience most of that increase in the first two hours on a trail that follows a fast moving stream all the way up. The path is chiseled into the side of the cliff. We stop often, partly because it’s a tiring trail, but also to take in the unbelievable views of two beautiful waterfalls.

At the top of Nevada Falls we decide to keep going.  It’s clear that our water won’t last, so we choose to drink all our water on the way up, so that we feel good for the final push up the dome.

After a few more hours of hiking we get our first shocking view of the dome.  Soon that will be us making our way along that sheer rock wall.  But first we have to climb steep switchback rock steps to get us to the foot of the dome. Don’t look down.

It’s clear where the Half Dome gets it’s name; it goes almost straight up at fist, then a gradual curve til it flattens out at the top. Impossible to climb if not for the posts placed in the rock every ten feet with cable running through the posts. This is by far the most insane thing I have ever done. But here we are, pulling ourselves up this incline with gloved hands gripping the cables.

Finally we reach the top and are treated with a spectacular view. Not only distant mountains, but we can see over the tops of those mountains to mountain ranges beyond. Incredible. Then, creeping to the edge I look over the ledge, and the straight drop down makes me dizzy.

\There are natural bowls in the rock that still hold water from yesterday’s rain; we drink it, happy to have it. Our water is gone, and there’s no place to get any more for the trip down. We don't stay long, knowing we have to make good time down to beat the darkness.

Hours later we arrive at the foot of the lower falls and drink deep of the cold water. We are proud to have made it before dark. This was something special; I’ll never forget this experience with Scotty.

My life is far from boring, but I don’t have anything in my every day life that demands much risk either. Doing the Half Dome leaves me thirsty for more adventures that stretch me.  There is something about facing this challenge that makes me feel more alive than before.  Lord, I have this desire to do things that are miraculous and beyond my ability; things that can only be done with a power that comes from You.  I have a feeling You are taking me down that kind of trail, and I long for it.