Yosemite Summit 2008 Report
- Don’t miss the video at the end, and click any picture for a larger view.
It’s hard to believe the Yosemite Summit 2008 is over. It’s been several weeks, but it still feels like a part of me is still there in the Sierra Nevada. It’s been fun sorting through the 5000+ pictures we took and reliving the fun memories. Not only the incredible PLACE we were, but the awesome friendships that were formed and will continue to grow in the years ahead.
It was an amazing time together and God did some incredible work in our lives. For me, my soul comes alive in this place and I finally feel truly free. We started our first day watching the sun rise at Glacier Point. The views are simply spectacular!
It was a time to leave the busyness and noise of normal life behind and just listen to God. There were times we could just sit and soak our souls in the presence of God as well as walking with Him on the incredible hikes.
There is just something powerful about reading God’s Word and praying when you are in a place where His handiwork is so much on display. The rocks indeed did cry out – God is real, and God is here.
The hikes themselves were indescribable. The first day we did a solitude hike (each separated by about five minutes so we could hike alone with God) and then on the second day we did the Panoama Trail which took us on an incredible hike around the rim of the valley, through many types of landscape and ended with the Mist Trail which goes to the top and then down the side of two thundering waterfalls. In the picture below we are near the starting point and in the background you can see the waterfall we would be at some seven hours later!
By the third day we did some easier hikes that had incredible views of the valley, some with a few straight down of seveal thousand feet! Below is one of the few railings due to the incredible drop straight down over 3500 feet!
The hikes were challenging – but the views breathtaking and like nowhere else on this continent. Not only can you not believe what you are seeing is real, but when you are hiking, you can’t believe “I’ll be there in a few hours” or “I was there yesterday?” We hiked through areas that at times looked like Narnia in winter – under the shadow of huge trees walking on several feet of snow while at other times we were out on barren rock checking out lizards. The scenery and climate changed constantly. We’d be hot and enjoying cold water to cool off, and later getting drenched from the mist of a raging waterfall. Like I often say, “This is the place God just showed off.”
I have been to MANY National Parks and NONE have the views and variety and splendor of Yosemite. I’ve often said the Grand Canyon is a yawner if you’ve been to Yosemite. We ran into some guys who were at the Grand Canyon just two days before (doing a cross country hiking trip) and they said Yosemite outdid anything they had seen at the Grand Canyon. They were in awe and said Yosemite far exceeded even their high expectations!
Yosemite is a photographers heaven. My wife was a little worried that I’d fall off a cliff in pursuit of a great picture and end up in real heaven. So I told her any time I saw an awesome, but dangerous, photo opportunity, my motto would be WWSS. (What Would Sara Say?) That motto cost me many potentially incredible shots… but also brought me home alive.
I have been dreaming of doing some of the serious hikes at Yosemite since I was a boy. Coming on this trip, and bringing a group of fellow children’s pastors with me was a dream come true. At one point I asked Yosemite had lived up to my grand descriptions of Yosemite before we arrived – and they all said no. One guy said, “You didn’t do Yosemite justice. You can’t begin to describe this place.”
There were people there from all over the world. (I was surprised there weren’t more Americans – or are we too used to having entertainment pumped into our homes?) I don’t know how anyone comes to this place and doesn’t leave with an awed sense of having been in the presence of the Creator. Everything here points to one thing: GOD.
It was truly a time of experiencing God in a place where his creative power is on full display and where his Voice is more easily heard. Men, as you watch this video, whisper a quiet prayer asking God if He is calling you to join us next year for Yosemite Summit 2009.
Wow! Great video Karl. I felt like I was back there. I am at my desk working to be ready for a Day Camp next Monday. I was feeling slightly overwhelmed and it was great timing to revisit the Summit and see my new friends again. What a privilege it was to get to know the guys and experience the incredible sights and sounds with men of God. I am not ready yet to try to put into words the obvious value of the event but I will as the summer unwinds. Thank you for your part in arranging it all. I look forward to seein you soon. Lenny
Great video, love all the shots. It really looks like you all could have had a great time and I am sure you did. Hopefully God had met each of you i all the ways you were looking for.
Loved it! I really hope to go next year. Can I reserve a spot now!
“Thanks Karl” for putting all the hard work in to make a memory like that. I agree with Lenny, makes feel like I was back there.
Thanks again!!!
Looks great gentlmen. Can’t wait till next year.
Oh, yeah, I teared up, just remembering all those Mountains!
Wow, I know next years crew will be blessed beyond belief.
I only hope I can return for a second round.
Describing Yosemite is a bit like trying to describe God, eventually you realize that your vocabulary is inadequate for the task. Thanks for the reminder to continue taking time to be still. And thanks too for this reminder of our time in the wilderness joining our voices with all nature in praise to God.
Wow- God at his best for sure. Thanks for the neat pictures and the reminder to BE Still….God bless everyone as you work with the children this summer. I was in those spots many many years ago and guess what- they look exactly the same. Soo majestic!!!!!! God is amazing!!!
The Yosemite 2008 report was excellent. The idea of getting away, away from the “stuff”, is a great idea. One that I need to put into practice. The pictures and video were really inspiring. I can see how it would be next to impossible to verbalize what all of you experienced. I would love to experience it first hand next year!!!