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ISAS Spring 2012: Update #1 Notes from the Field & Classroom
This winter/spring has brought us many things in Bass Lake, California: warm weather, friends traveling to and from Ecuador, God’s provision, and 4 wonderful ISAS students.
Jamie Husain, David Parker, Derek Campbell, and Katy Ireland will be spending the next 4 months with Summit Adventure embarking on a thorough exploration of who the Lord has called them to be.
Executive Director, Tom Smith and ISAS Program Director, Kelli Stansell will be walking alongside these four students throughout their journey. The students are currently living at Summit Adventure’s “Base Camp,” engaging in classes four days a week, serving in the Oakhurst community, and getting to know the Bass Lake area and surrounding wilderness. Day to day life consists of living in community with one another, studying, and homemade adventures – both in the kitchen and the outdoors!
In early February Kelli, Jamie, David, Derek and Katy will be leaving California to spend 6 weeks in and around Quito, Ecuador. During this time, students will stay with Ecuadorian families, further their learning of mountaineering skills on Andean peaks, and dive into the Ecuadorian culture head first.
Since their arrival, these four have exhibited the epitome of willingness. The students have spent two of the coldest days of the season at Fresno Dome in the Ansel Adams Wilderness taking time for solitude in the midst of snow flurries and learning about rock anchors in the spotty sun. They are currently preparing for three days in the High Country this week! As you outdoor enthusiasts understand, winter weather = unpredictable… We’ll search for snow and see what we find.
ISAS Classroom at Base - Photo taken by: Jamie Husain
Expect an update once we settle into life in Quito, Ecuador. Please be praying for continued safety, growth, and community-building.
Our First Course In 2012! (a trip report)
We just concluded our first course in 2012! 13 people joined us in Ecuador for nine amazing days of service and mountaineering. The group included a family of five, three Young Life staff, and five folks who have worked at Summit in one way or another.
We served at a new site for one of our days of service. Hogar Benana serves the elderly of Quito. We were privileged enough to spend the day with around 30 of their residents. After facilitating some games we were able to provide a celebratory lunch to bring in the New Year. We also spent two days serving with Remanso De Amor. We divided our time between working, serving with construction of their fourth floor and playing “futbol” and “Ecua Volley” with the students. Summit also supports Remanso financially through a modest percentage of the course tuition we receive from participants. Their Director Ramiro requests your prayer and financial support. If you would like to support Remanso please let us know and we can assist in this process!
Besides spending time with residents of Hogar Benana, our New Year’s celebration included dinner at our housing with Extreme Response. We were able to spend the evening with an Ecuadorian family including roof top salsa lessons, fireworks and the ceremonial burning of a “Muneco” (a South American tradition).
The following day we had great weather for our hike up Rucu Pinchincha (4698m/15,413 ft). This provided the necessary acclimatization for our next climbing objective, Volcan Cayambe (5,790 m/18,996 ft) . All but three from our group left the hut around 12:00 AM accompanied by two Ecuadorian guides. The equatorial stars shown brighter than the faint lights of small towns below us. Most participants ascended to an elevation of approximately 18,500 ft before turning around due to deteriorating visibility and poor route conditions. Everyone felt a great sense of accomplishment for their efforts on the mountain.
The perspectives gained from our time in Ecuador were also notable. We gained meaningful insights about the culture and people we found ourselves immersed in. This course was a great reminder of the powerful impact that participants can have through Summit Adventure. It was a blessing to have been around the people here in Ecuador and share in their lives. As instructors it was obvious that God was at work in more than one way with our group.
One insight that particularly stood out was a participant’s appreciation of the Latino culture. As a farmer who employs many Latinos, he described a new found appreciation and respect for those he works with. He hopes to make many return trips to Ecuador and other countries of South America. Another insight that stood out came from his daughter who went on “home visits”. This is part of an ongoing ministry provided by Remanso to support many single wives who find themselves in desperate situations. Comparing the living situations to what she experiences in the US was hard for her to comprehend. Another participant seems to be making a positive recovery from seven years she has spent facing depression and eating disorders. Two of the younger participants amazed us with the mature reactions they had to situations that they wouldn’t normally face at home. Everyone from our group described how they will continually be impacted by this experience.
Thank you for supporting Summit Adventure with your prayers and financial contributions! We experienced an incredible course with no injuries or major difficulties. Praise God for what he is doing through Summit Adventure and these ministries in Ecuador.
Enjoying the Environment and Spiritual Growth
Students who traveled to Ecuador for a Spring Break Wilderness Trek climbed two peaks in the Andes Mountains. Photo courtesy of OWU’s Office of University Chaplain
Spring Break Wilderness Treks
Enjoying the environment and spiritual growth
For the first time, Ohio Wesleyan University students completed service work on a Spring Break Wilderness Trek in addition to communing with nature and seeking spiritual growth.
During the “Service and Mountaineering in Ecuador” trip, eight students, Associate Chaplain William Hayes, and student leader Mery Kanashiro ’10 completed three days of service before heading to two mountain peaks in the Andes.
When they arrived in Quito, they had to adjust to the 9,300-foot altitude as they helped people at theRemanso de Amor (Haven of Love) church. While there, the OWU group painted the inside and outside of the building, helped to clear a community recreation area, and found time to play a pickup game of soccer with neighborhood children.
Despite all their hard work, the real physical challenge happened during the second part of the trip, when the group drove up near the top of two Andean peaks, where they again had to adjust to higher altitudes. They first went to GuaGua Pichincha, where they rock-climbed to reach the summit at 15,680 feet.
“It was difficult and a bit scary at times,” Hayes says. “The group really bonded as we pushed each other and all made it to the top.” He says the altitude caused headaches and made the climbers short of breath while on the two mountains.
On the second mountain, Cayambe, they drove to a climbers’ hut and then climbed up rocks and on a glacier. They started out in the dark with headlamps around 1 a.m.—so that they could return to their starting point before mid-day—when the softened snow makes climbing more dangerous.
Some of the group made it to 300 feet below the 18,996 foot summit before being stopped by a large crevasse that had opened recently. “We didn’t [reach the] summit but we were very fortunate with the weather,” Hayes says. “We were rewarded with clear skies and an amazing view of the Andes after sunrise. This was a trip highlight for much of the group.”
OWU students painted the inside and outside of a church in Quito, Ecuador, during their Spring Break Wilderness Trek. Photo courtesy of OWU’s Office of University Chaplain
The Off-season has Arrived
The summer season is officially over. The last courses have finished, the final bits of the Whitney Classic are being packed up, and the night temperatures are cool. Fall came more suddenly than I expected. I left to instruct our Go For It—Luv Em Up course with summer in full swing; I returned to blowing leaves littering the Base porch. The air is growing crisp and clouds are beginning to loiter in the sky– signs that rain and snow are hurrying on their way.
Lone Pine the morning of the Whitney Classic Photo credit: Erica Rackley
The office continues to be busy. The words “Ecuador”, “ISAS”, and “recruiting” float around in most conversations while we work on another busy spring schedule. We are continuing to pray that God uses this ministry for his purposes and that he directs us where we should go. We appreciate any prayers as we wait to see how the spring will go. In the meantime, we will enjoy the cool breezes and wait for the snow.
Women’s Retreat – July 29-31, 2011
Take a few days this summer to get to know yourself better, be challenged, be adventurous, and make lasting relationships with other women.
In the course of 3 days we will hike, camp, and rock climb in the Ansel Adams Wilderness and/or Yosemite National Park. We’ll provide the food and gear you need – you just come prepared to be open to new experiences.
There will be time for solitude, introspection, community building, and sharing. We’ll cook together, laugh together, and grow together! We look forward to the opportunity to get to know you better and walk alongside you in the wilderness.
“Wherever we go in the wilderness, or indeed, in any of God’s wild fields, we find more than we seek.”
-John Muir
Our mission at Summit Adventure is “to facilitate transformational learning that strengthens relationships, deepens faith, and builds compassion through Christ centered outdoor adventures, service and experiential education.”
Women’s Retreat
Dates: July 29-31, 2011
Cost: $395
(Cost includes food and equipment for the course, you need to bring personal clothing)
ADVENTURES IN FLY FISHING
Yosemite National Park and The Ansel Adams Wilderness boast some of the best High Country fly fishing terrain in the Sierra. Spend five days with our expert guide, and you will know why. Brookies, Brown, Golden, Rainbows; you name it and we’ll catch it.
We will take you to places where you won’t see a single person all day except maybe when you get back to the campfire to share your experience. Besides all of the fish, we will enjoy some amazing Christian fellowship, discussions and devotional times.
If you love fishing and love spending time in God’s creation, then you won’t want to miss this opportunity! Call today to ensure your spot on the course. Some personal gear required.
Adventures in Fly Fishing
Dates: July 6 – 10th, 2011
Five Days in the Sierra!!!
Cost: $950
(Price does not include California State license)
The Journey: A Creative Adventure for Artists
The Journey:
A Creative Adventure for Artists
July 8 – 10, 2011
Cost $330
Like adventure, art can be risky, and the creative process is an experience that touches all aspects of the artist’s life.
This 3-day course explores the creative process of making art, from its Biblical roots to its expression in the modern day church. Along the way, we’ll examine what it means to be made in the image of a creative God and the role of the Christian artist in today’s world.
Throughout the course, we will take plenty of time to reflect upon the artist’s personal journey, and interact with others who are engaged in artistic endeavors. In addition, we will discuss the spiritual benefits of challenging ourselves in God’s creation and how God can use the wilderness to speak to and through us and our art.
Regardless of your medium, don’t miss this opportunity to grow and learn in a fantastic wilderness setting.
This course will be led by Summit’s professional instructors and David Ashcraft, a local photographer/teacher and longtime friend of Summit.
Creative Adventures for the Artist
Dates: July 8 – 10, 2011
Three Days full of Creativity!!!
Cost: $330
Adventures In Fatherhood
Wanting more from a family vacation than just souvenirs?
Want to deepen your relationship with your child, be challenged physically,
spiritually and emotionally, and make an impact that will last
longer than a post card?
Join Summit Adventure for one of our “Adventures in Fatherhood”
courses.
For over 40 years, Summit Adventure has been leading parents and their
children on expeditions in the wilderness. Join us as we venture out to
the heart of the Sierra and into the heart of God! Our 5-day AIF courses
are full of backpacking, climbing, Bible study and discussion, rappelling,
swimming in alpine lakes, and one-on-one time with your child.
Throughout the course, we will focus on deepening your relationship
with your child as you share adventure activities in Sierra National Forest
and the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Make the decision to invest in your relationship with your child this
summer. We believe it is one of the greatest investments you can make.
Register today for one of our Adventures in Fatherhood courses!
$1733/Pair for 5 days!
Children must be 12 yr or older
Price includes: Travel to & from the course area, Food, and Group backpacking equipment.
Shower Strike
Get ready, we’re doing it again!!!
We’re launching the Second Annual Summit Adventure Shower Strike!
What is a Shower Strike? All registered participants will not shower until they raise a pledged amount of money for Summit Adventure.
Are you kidding? No, we are completely serious.
Why a Shower Strike… Again? Last year’s success made two things clear:
#1- Most people enjoy when their loved ones are clean and they are willing to pay money when such an ordinarily common hygienic routine is not followed.
#2- Some people (we’re not naming names) just want an excuse to stay dirty. ?Therefore, we are launching the Shower Strike again!
Where? Let’s be honest, there’s no way we want all kinds of stinky people around Summit! So the Shower Strike will take place wherever you call “home” and with whomever you call “friends.”?With Summit supporters scattered all over the world, this is a great way for folks to support Summit from wherever they are.
When? The Shower Strike begins May 9, 2011 and registered participants will not shower until they have raised their pledged amount or until the event officially ends on May 23. ??Please support our newest staff!!! The Instructors’ Course will be especially smelly if you don’t. The kick-off to our summer, the IC, goes out on May 26th!
How much money do I have to raise? $250 is the minimum pledge (for those of you that are slow with math like me that’s only 10 friends at $25 each or 25 friends at $10 each). Since this is Summit and we encourage folks to get outside their comfort zone, we would ask you to select an amount that will challenge you.
What do I get as a participant?
- A newly revived love and appreciation for showers?
- The satisfaction of supporting a ministry that you believe in and is making an impact around the world?
- A lower monthly water bill?
- A stinkin’ awesome t-shirt (but less stinkin’ than you!)
What do I get as a supporter?
- You get to partner with us in making a difference around the world?
- The fulfillment of contributing to a ministry that wants to see God’s Word shared throughout the world through high adventure programming
- The pleasure of helping your friend or family member come just a little closer to cleanliness
What if I want to support Summit, but cannot fully participate in the Shower Strike? You can still donate money. Or you can buy a t-shirt, all the proceeds go to support Summit Adventure. Simply give us a call 559-642-3899.
Can I invite others to participate? Sure. You can forward the invite by using the link at the top of this page.
How do I raise the money? We are hoping that you will take advantage of your local network to share with them about Summit Adventure’s ministry and what you are doing. Below, you are provided with a description of Summit Adventure and the Shower Strike that you can use to email, Facebook, or Twitter your network of friends and family. After several days you will probably be able to easily convince your coworkers to support you too. You can collect the donations or they can give directly to Summit Adventure.
Normally, supporters can securely donate online, but we are currently renovating our website. So, please direct supporters to our office at 559-642-3899 where we can take credit cards, check, or cash donations. We apologize for the inconvenience.
How do I know how much I have raised if folks donate directly to Summit? We will provide you with an email update as soon as we receive each donation.
Ok, I am in. How do I register?
Simply Email us your name and email and we’ll send you a registration form.
Community News
With the launch of our new website, we also want to start highlighting people and events from within the Summit “community”. By community, we mean the entire collection of people who have come through the doors, as both staff and participants, since 1971. We hope that this will remind you of your Summit experience, encourage potential re-connections, and illustrate how wide and impactful the ministry of Summit has been.
For example….
Chris & Meggie
Chris & Meggie Inouye, two Summit instructors from the mid-2000’s, recently summated Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Ascending the Machame Route, Chris & Meggie reached the 19,341’ summit on 28 March with a couple of friends from the Seattle area. Incidentally, they just missed Alan & Janet Nye (long-time Summit participants, Whitney riders and current Board Member), who came off the mountain after reaching the summit on 23 March. Congrats to all on a fantastic trip to East Africa!