We arrive at the Mercer Park & Ride when it is still dark. A little too early for a Saturday morning, I think, but at the same time, it is nice to get an early start. My housemate and I join the small contingent waiting for others to arrive. We are Mars Hill Outdoors (MHO), and we’re going ice climbing today (that sounds cold…). I begin to doubt again, but I am driven on by the promises of some sweet ice (as reported the night before by our fearless leader, David Skavdahl), fellowship with friends old & new, love of the outdoors, and a new camera to take pictures.
I’ll step back for a second and introduce myself. My name is Lisa – Lisa ‘M’ Dale that is, or Lisa Dale, or ‘M. Dale’, as friends like to call me (terms of endearment). Dale is my last name, not a third syllable of my first name. Now that that’s cleared up, I will continue. I am a Senior Coordinator with the Outdoors Ministry thru Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. I, along with several other coordinators (all volunteer), work to organize outdoors adventures of various degrees for Mars Hill church members, their friends, their family, or quite basically anyone who wants to go on an outdoors adventure. Our purpose, in a simple sense, is to make Jesus’ glory and name known by enjoying the gift of God’s creation. Why do I volunteer my time? Well, I love Jesus & I love the outdoors. I feel blessed to be able to go out and have fun with others, but to also be able to serve them, too. Another thing I enjoy when going on these trips is the sense of community that is grown among the people who join us. I enjoy helping and getting to know other people while we’re hiking, climbing, and (literally, at times) walking with & encouraging them through a physical struggle. I don’t think I’ve been on a trip with MHO that I haven’t enjoyed – and I know the people I’ve been able to spend that time with are a big part of it.
So, back to the ice climb. Our destination: Snoqualmie Pass (we are to meet again at the last parking lot of Alpental ski resort). David asks me to say a prayer for the day, and then we break into our carpools. Travis, someone I don’t know from Adam, joins my housemate and I in our car, and off we go to the mountains! The horizon glows pink as we drive through the morning. Once we arrive, it’s gear up time. Extra crampons and community gear are disbursed. Conversation also flows. By this time, we’ve gotten to know Travis a little, and now we also met Richard and Leigh. The sun has risen, and the day glows with promise for a blue sky sunshine day. David, our lead coordinator for the trip, gathers the group and leads us out towards Source Lake. I bring up the rear.
It is cold – but the coldness fades as we begin to hike, gaining elevation through the snow on the traveled trails, and the sun bears down on us. Even though it is only about an hour long hike, we still stop and shed a few layers. I snap a few pictures. What a beautiful day!
Once we reach Source Lake, we take a left up the hill. Our ice is visible, blue and dirty looking in places, but large and in charge. It felt a little like climbing up to Camp Muir – you can see your destination, but it seems like it takes so long to get there! But finally we all arrive and set our packs and gear down carefully against the steep slope below the frozen waterfalls. It is time to put on the climbing harness, crampons and climbing helmet.
In what seems like no time, David is geared up and starting a lead ice climb. David is an amazing climber, with several combined years of rock, alpine and ice climbing experience. We watch as David uses two ice axes and his crampons to climb up the ice. At comfortable intervals, David sets ice screws as protection, clipping into them with his rope, to catch a possible fall. David reaches the top of the climb, and sets an anchor around a tree. He pulls the rope thru the anchor, and repels down to join us. The ice climbing route is now set up for top-roping, and Richard volunteers for the first climb. David gives us a quick tutorial on the basics of ice climbing. He then moves on to set up another route.
As I said, I’m sometimes amazed at the community that grows on our trips. This trip seems to be no exception. Conversation flows freely as we watch others climb, help belay, and dodge falling ice chunks. Topics range from church community groups to down coats. If we weren’t watching the climbing, we could turn around and enjoy the view of the Source Lake basin.
Now it is my turn for a climb...
(more to come in the next installment!)
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