The Great Creator’s Gifts A story of grand nature and great adventure

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.  - Col. 1:16

Our Heavenly Father the great creator again blessed this soul with yet another epic adventure of grandeur.

Miraculous in all aspects thoughtful of design, eloquent in rudimentary art stands Mount Whitney in Lone Pine California. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Whitney)

Midnight Thursday April 15, 2021 a mixed remnant of six uber-spirited American patriots met in Lone Pine California to hike Mount Whitney. Originally slated to be a Frogman University gathering and supplementation of the brotherhood BUT the small turnout quickly transferred the evolution into a charged “conquer this mountain” company of veterans and an artist.   

Events leading up:

I flew in late Wednesday the 14th April to Los Angeles from Charlotte, North Carolina to begin this adventure. Quickly rendezvous’ d with a fellow frogman and got a room in Manhattan Beach California for the evening. Doing zero prior planning, or even training for this, I needed some gear and was even lacking some of the critical gear – an ice pick, clamp-on spikes, & hiking poles. So we opted to hit the REI there in Manhattan Beach the next day. Next morning he and I jet over the local REI to assemble gear. I, concerned about knee issues and potential constraints, went shoe section first on this gear forage. I ended up buying a pair of new boots advised good for bad and/or replaced knees for hiking & climbing aficionados. We gathered the rest of the gear needed and then some: clamp on spikes for the shoes, hiking poles, hand food, protein, survival essential survival mindset items. My Frogman U. brother and I even purchased new backpacks and installed camel back bladders, water (6 liters of Essentia), trail mix, protein/sustenance items, Chagit, Frog Fuel, and other essentials. Shortly after the much needed shopping, we picked another frog brother from the airport and headed north from LAX to Lone Pine, California arriving 1700-ish. Once there, we opted to grab a couple rooms at the Lone Pine Inn where members prepped gear, shifted to slumber mode, and napped until others in transit reached us with a midnight drop dead. Midnight is when the small turnout became clearly evident with just six guys, 1 of which came with me (the artist) assembled to tackle this feat.

All six men of renown in their own ways, red-blooded Americans with ZERO experience or knowledge relative to anything hiking, climbing, or other “Mt. Whitney” set out guide-less to conquer. A troubled detail, the organizer had said there was to be a guide all the way up to game time Thursday night: There was none to guide for this power crew of “last man standing” spirited patriots determined to conquer this feat…at midnight.

Sadly, only three frogmen showed from the extraordinarily acclaimed, global media followed, “U.S. Top SECRET” military unit / TV show from Frogman University... The IRONY

Regardless, a great group of guys amalgamated to set out at midnight this past Thursday minus an experienced trail guide versed in the snow-covered trails/routes to ensure we get to the top of this mountain. Through the process I learned was the highest point in the lower forty-eight states secondly only in North America to Mt. McKinley. I did not even look this mountain up in any way due to life and professional time constraints much to the chagrin of my wife and others in my life in the pain management sector.       

Midnight, on a moonless night, pitch black dark sky and sub-zero temperatures were the conditions when this fire team started its mission that night. We layered our bodies with various clothing and equipment, assembled for the last head count, prayers, and charged out upon the cool night sky to tackle this mountain head on. Such amazing terrain complimented by the seemingly millions of stars spilling into the horizon that night. Straight upward we trudged for a grueling twenty plus hours. This grand adventure evolved into an incredibly rich, spiritual journey enhanced by the compliment and surroundings of grand magnitude that I am humbly thankful the Lord gifted me the health, a great team, and another great chapter of my life.

Divine in every way this adventure brought a group of red-blooded Americans together and bonded upon the threads of adventure peppered with great stress, fear of the unknown, extreme situational fear, brotherly love prevalent in this squad, talent, drive, and all the tenants that make a grafted, great American were displayed, lived, and found upon that hike.

Thought for the day:

Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance, i.e. the infamous 6 P’s = a constant applicable in everything -save- unless the Heavenly Father has other plans for your life path.

Hoo-Ya Mt. Whitney!

Hoo-Ya elements of Frogman U. and supporting cast that adjoined for this epic, soon to be, fireside tale!