Summary: The Mt. of Olives--the traditional site of Jesus' Ascension--is some 2500 ft. above sea level at its highest peak. So before he was lifted up into the clouds, Jesus led his followers up a mountain. I wasn't exactly a Boy Scout as a child, so among other things, that meant that my first extended hiking trip didn't occur until the summer after my senior year of college. Some friends and I had planned a trip right after graduation--a week on the Appalachian Trail with our favorite philosophy professor, Dr. T. Perry Hildreth, or "T" as we called him. It was to be a rite of passage. For me, it was just six weeks before my marriage to college sweetheart, Jenny, and just a few months before a move to North Carolina, the beginning of divinity school, the start of a new job, and my entry into that "real world" that I had heard so much about somewhere out in the distance beyond the safety of Palm Beach Atlantic College. Now "T" was a steady and experienced hiker, so as Trail Boss he advised us as we prepared. He helped us know what kind of supplies to buy, what kind of menus to plan, and he taught us key insights like pass on the protein bars and bring Snickers instead. He also insisted that we spend some time before the trip getting accustomed to carrying 50 lbs. uphill. So ridiculous as it felt, we obliged him a couple times in stairwells and parking garages on campus. And sure enough, as we started the hike, we were prepared. All was smooth. We made steady progress up the trail. We left "T" and his fancy hiking poles behind on the ascents. At times we raced uphill, wagering our Snickers bars on who would win. And by Day 2 we made it to one of the highest peaks on the southern Appalachian: Roan Mountain. We felt satisfied; we enjoyed the amazing views and relished accomplishment around our campfire.
