When I think back to high school and junior high, one of the things i miss the most is Summer Summit. Each summer, 20-30 teenagers from Broadway pile in vans and head up to the Weimenuche to do some backpacking and get back to reality. I have literally thousands of memories from 5 years of attendance.

There were some nights we'd wake up and realize we didn't so as good of a job as we though pitching the tent and find ourselves sleeping in 4 inches of cold water. There were those mornings where one tent partner would just refuse to get up and desire to die, a feeling many have felt while on the trek. But mainly, i have good memories of people helping each other, caring for the weak, and really getting back to a basic relationship with Christ.

Every morning Stu, our fearless leader, would bang a tent-stake on your tent poles to wake you up. It was always a challenge to say you're already awake with the clearest of voice, even though it was obvious that you were still in the early moments of the day. There was the race to get camp knocked down and get on the trail before the other cook groups. There was no feeling better than getting to camp before anyone else, resting, and then greeting the others as they showed up. Sure it was a sucky thing to do, but it felt so good.

Every year without fail, the girls would get mad at the boys, it was like clockwork. I'd make a joke offending one which would in-turn offend the rest of 'em and then it'd be a virtual war to survive the rest of the week. But once you hit the town after getting off the trail, it was as if these people were all new to you. I'll never forget that feeling. No showers and a general lack of hygiene brought most people to their dirty knees, so ending the trek was an odor-free blessing. Everyone would head to the hotel and get cleaned up and then hit the town. It was as if everyone was glowing with cleanliness and you could repay the hugs you owed towards the end of the week when no one would want you near.

I could go on and on with good and bad memories, but it's really the creation of those memories that I miss.

Jagged Peak


Ruby Lake; Michael Parkinson pumps water in the reflection

Hiking up to Grizzly Gulch


Looking out from the top of Grizzly Gulch


A view from Death Ridge

Looking back down the gulch

A view into the bowl of Grizzly Gulch

A shot out from South River Peak

Ruby Lake, an amazing place

Stu fearlessly leading a scared girl across the snow

10th grade me!

This thing looks small, but Jeff and I named it Hell Hill because it takes hours to climb

Cook Group #3 - the best damn cook group ever!

Hiking up Knife Edge, a very fitting name for a nasty pass!