Descent

25 MILES

6 DAYS

POLE CREEK TRAIL

One week ago today, we were heading back to civilization. We had all survived the wilderness with considerable wear, but little tear on our bodies. We sported cuts and blisters and dirt under our nails as medals of what we had conquered. We had peaked 13500 feet, braved piercing cold rain, and slept under a blanket of millions of stars.

The trail we hiked was called Pole Creek Trail, and the sights and views grew increasingly familiar as we went along. I had sense of deja vu and what do you know....I had hiked this trail on my own wilderness trip back in 2009.

This wilderness expedition was better than my own trip though. I got to watch six young women, who in many ways are like younger sisters, experience something entirely new. I watch them embrace each other and embrace a new lifestyle, embrace a new faith, embrace hope and abandon fears and burdens and darkness.

The trip cannot be explained in words, or photos, a video, or four blogposts. Again I will borrow from the wise words of my dear sister Lauren Schoger,

"The Lord did unbelievable things in the hearts and lives of each of our girls throughout the week. Beautiful stories of redemption were shared. Beauty and worth were realized for the first time. Walls were shattered as girls felt what it was like to trust in the Lord. Several girls left the week committed to making big changes in their lives. In short, the Lord showed up in bigger ways than we could have ever imagined."

And as if you were not already tired of seeing all of these wilderness photos, here is a video. Join the adventure or relive the trip. Wilderness 2012 in four minutes. Note: watch the HD version (it's better) on the Vimeo website

Wilderness 2012 - Greater Cedar Park Young Life from Victoria Haas on Vimeo.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:18