Serene Lake

SERENE LAKE

July, 2007

Took in another great trail on July 3, 2007 to Serene Lake. Sign says 3.5 miles to lake. We added a mile hiking to Bridalveil Falls - a trip well worth the steps - so a total of 8 miles for the day. About 3.5 hours to the lake, with plenty of stops and pictures at the falls (4.5 miles to the lake via the falls for those who think we hike at the speed of slugs) and about 2 hours back.

This time Jonathan was with me. Found out that he is able to provide running commentary either in song or random thoughts as we hiked. A welcome change from hiking with just my own thoughts. He was also a great help in clearing the trail.

The hike started out easy on an old logging road abandoned years ago. This took us up to the falls area. After that the switchbacks began and we gained most of our 2000' elevation gain for the trip.

Lots of berries along the way. The salmon berry is ripe now. Raspberries and blackberries will wait until later.

Bridalveil falls was in great form. Still lots of snow melt coming out of the lake.

Lots of steps built into the hillside on the trail. Over 600 of these steps. Great for the calves. I was wondering as I hiked the step section from the falls on, who it was that was the first man up here and why did he come? Also, I was hoping that they were able to get the materials in by heli, or someone would have a lot of packing to do.

This lake is in a bowl. It is what remains of a volcano after it blew its top many years ago. I do not know if God created this volcano with apparant age and put the lake there on the day of creation or if he allowed it to be formed when the mountain blew its top some time since. There are many of these lakes in the Cascade mountains. And they are beautiful.

Great views along the way of the Cascade Mountains.

What is it about the hike? The conquest of the trail? The attaining of a goal? The exertion and challenge of something we do not normally do? The solitude - with God and without the normal distractions. The opportunity to be physically challenged, spiritually recharged and personally driven. Driven to accomplish, to explore, to go beyond personal limits. And to see the handiwork of God in creation. The fingers of the mountain ranges are like the frosting on meringue, where God lifted his palate knife and left ridges with jagged tops.

The trail is a great place to contemplate the Sovereignty of God and the finite nature of man. Get on a high ridge and look down on dwellings, cars, roads, bridges and all of the works of man and see that from just the top of the ridge they all look so small and insignificant. Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Job 11:7Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

Psalm 104 31May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, 32who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! 33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

These are the thoughts that go along with us on the trail. Oh yes, there are many other thoughts running through the mind also, but it is a special time of worship, confession, prayer, planning . . . kind of like taking a walk with God in the garden. I remember something about a man who did that a long time ago - only he did not have any confession issues to discuss with God - and he did not have the thorns and briars we fuss with. Of course, he did not live in the state of Washington either. But when Adam sinned, the change in his relationship with God must have been his greatest loss. That friend with whom he fellowshipped daily was gone. By the power of the hew birth and the indwelling Spirit of God, the relentless pursuer of our souls, we are able to recapture a small bit of that intimacy. One day we will have fellowship like we never knew it on earth.

Come back for another chapter in the hikes of the summer of 2007, i.e. worship experiences.