A snow cooled breeze slips across the mountain meadow in the pre-dawn light. Above us are the rocky slopes leading to an unnamed 13,000 foot pass that forms the north shoulder of East Trinity Peak. Today will be pivotal for each person on the trip for the climb to the pass is not optional, there is no trail, and the group will not return this way. The previous two days have taken us from 10,500 feet at Molas Lake down to 8,900 feet crossing the Animas River, back up to 10,000 feet at the beaver ponds on Elk Creek, and now to 12,400 feet on this little meadow well above timber line. From the gentle ridge where I sit our tents look like colorful shapes scattered randomly on the green grass among white rocks. Around us on every side are the mountains. The Trinities rise on the southern border of the high valley, Peak One rises to the north, and Vestal Peak looms to the west of us on the down stream side. The unnamed pass rises above an unnamed lake to the east of us and splashes of snow streak the mountains on all sides of us. Most are still in their tents weary from the physical exertion of the previous days of trekking, the assault of many new experiences, and the thin air of the high camp.

Soon camp will come alive, first with a devotional, then breakfast, and finally the preparation and departure for the pass, but for now the stillness of the clear morning sky, the promise of a sunny day, and the awareness of God's care for the group to this point give me a peace that defies description. Do I believe in God? "Of course!"  is my answer. "I have been to His mountains before." "I have seen His power and majesty." "He has given me perspective on my bigger barns, on my computer technology, and on what is really important."

By the end of the trip we will have spent eight nights in tents in eight different places spread across some 40 miles and will have lived from only what we carry in our packs. Twenty people thrown together from literally across the world will return in a few days to our world of technology and sophistication with a closer relationship than many families. There will have been rock climbing and rappelling, Bible lessons and songs of praise, 24 hours of fasting and solitude, a snowball fight and a Frisbee game, the crossing of mountain streams and passes, shared times around meals and camp fires, shared fears and values, and an awesome awareness of God's presence.

I sit here in peace, looking over the sleeping camp, contemplating the ordeal to come, but confident that He is at work touching and changing our lives. The sky is lighter now and the time has come to start the days activities...