The trail became increasingly hard to determine where it was because it soon just became piles of rocks. It also started to rain which in turn made it difficult as well to see where the trail was. It was a light rain, especially compared to Indiana rain. So we were able to keep dry thanks to our handy-dandy raincoats. At points on this days hikes it was just a light drizzle, but as the day wore on, the rain seemed to very slowly pick up. After 5 or 6 miles of hiking we had decided it was getting to the point where we should look for a camping spot. At this time we realized we had not gone eight miles the first day as originally thought, but more like 5 or 6. Which means we were behind schedule, we were supposed to be about 15-16 miles out by then instead of 12. It was an unknown blessing to be behind.
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| This pile of rocks is an example of the markers we followed. |
So by the time we decided to set up camp, it was raining pretty good for Alaska standards. I'm pretty sure it was also around 50 degrees, maybe even colder. So with the rain, it was pretty chilly. We had half the group set up tents and half prepare food. Dinner that night was quick rice that wasn't fully cooked and burnt with summer sausage in it. It sounds pretty gross, but at the time it was delicious. We were just happy to get something warm in our stomachs. As soon as we were done eating we went straight to bed even though it was about 8 pm. We were cold and the only way to warm up was to get in our tents out of the rain and in our sleeping bags and more clothes.
None of us slept well that night. The ground was uneven, the wind and the rain picked up. Our tents were not meant for that type of weather, for that much rain. So as you can imagine it was hard to sleep. Around 5 am I realized I wasn't the only one still awake in my tent. All of my tent-mates clothes and other things were soaked. So we were cold. Soon after Ramon came to our tent asking if he could come in, we were fine with that. All of his stuff was soaked as well. He was probably in worse shape. I was lucky since my sleeping bag seemed to keep me dry. I eventually decided to take a look outside for myself since I was sick of sitting around and being cold. I notice the tarp that was covering my boots were no longer covering my boots. My boots had ice on them. ICE! It was very cold out. I somewhat freaked out and began urgently saying that we need to leave. Other guys were also awake and agreed and we packed up as fast as we could, which was hard with very cold fingers. I tried to be optimistic and see the bright side of things, so I said "Hey guys, at least its not snowing!" Soon after I said that it started snowing. It was snowing pretty hard with some large snowflakes. The biggest I've ever seen. That increased our urgency to pack up and go. So as soon as everything was poorly packed, we headed off.
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| The snow also fell pretty fast. |
We decided it was best to stay as one big group as we leave. Well, one group, plus three guys who went up ahead of everyone to get the vehicles. I was one of the three who went up ahead. It was about a mile or so to the emergency trail. We were slipping and sliding the whole way there since it was very muddy. During that time I began praying. Not for myself. Not really for the guys hiking. But for my friends back home. My friends from Purdue, the Purdue campus, my high school friends. I should have been tired. I should have been cold. My legs should have been sore. My back should have been killing me since my backpack wasn't fitting properly since it was wet. Taking my focus off of myself allowed me to push through, to feel no pain, soreness, coldness, and to have a lot of energy. God really got me through that one.
After 3 miles on the emergency trail we finally made it to the end of the trail. It was a good distance to our vehicles, so we decided to try and hitch hike...No one is going to pick up a few hitchhikers in Alaska, you know what happens when hitchhikers are picked up. That person ends up being a serial killer or something. So we tried for half an hour and during that time the rest of our group caught up. When they got to us, we flagged down a truck. Cody and I went to the truck and began explain our situation. and get this! Cody was explaining when he looked in the back and said "HEY! I know you!" He had met this guy a few weeks earlier at work and had prayed to meet him again. How CRAZY is that?!? God answered a prayer in such an unsuspecting, straight-up way, it was incredible. Cody was able to get the guys contact information while we were they were getting the vehicles.
So those guys were nice and brought both vehicles back. We then pretty much then stripped down naked on the side of the road and rode back to where we were staying in our underwear because that was all that was dry. The sun came out 15 minutes after we began driving back. I guess God didn't want us backpacking. haha. We had to stay at a church the last week in Anchorage, so we drove straight there. We couldn't get in it for three or so hours, so we pretty much set up a hobo camp for everything to dry. It was pretty ridiculous.
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| The guys posing with all our drying stuff. |
So what do a bunch of guys who had just been hiking, almost died, and been miserable do now that they are back to civilization? Go to Golden Corral! We were hungry and a buffet sounded wonderful after eating trail mix, rice, and summer sausage. So we went there and had a great dinner. And when we left, there was a double rainbow. No joke. The guy from the video was legit in his reaction. It was so cool! So bright, and vivid! All the way across the sky!!!
We took those rainbows as a promise. A promise from God. Sometimes, He has to take you through some crap before you turn back to Him, so we can learn something. But He will ALWAYS bring us out of it. And that may mean that we die. Phrenq could have died the first night. One of us could have gotten hypothermia or slipped on our way back. But God delivered us from it. He brought us on a great Alaskan adventure so we could point to Him even more. All glory to God.
For I am the Lord, your God who takes a hold of your
right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.
-Isaiah 41:13
However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all
longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.-1 Timothy 1:16
Crap is going to happen. It is a fact of life. But know this, as long as you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour, you are going to make it through. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
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