All Things Dad, Trip Reports

2016 White Mountain Presidential Range traverse

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When I was a teenager, my parents frequently hiked with me in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My favorite range to hike is the Presidentials. I haven’t been up the Presidentials in about 20 years, but this year I had the opportunity to do a Presidential traverse with my eldest son, Tim. Here is a synopsis of our trip.

DISCLAIMER: This article incorporates far more images than my typical article. Sorry. I tried to reduce it, but I just love mountain pictures!

Cast of characters

Tim (another one) and Stephen Arrowsmith, who are friends from church, accompanied us on the trip. Tim (who we call “Mr. Tim”) has been a good friend of mine for years, and Stephen has been friends with my son, Tim, since they were babies.

Day 1: Up from valley to Mizpah Springs Hut

We started our hike in Crawford Notch and hiked up the Crawford Path to Mizpah Spring Hut. This was a relatively easy 2.4 mile hike through the woods.

Up the Crawford Path to Mizpah Springs Hut
Up the Crawford Path to Mizpah Spring Hut

 

We left the parking lot at right around 10AM on Saturday, August 27, and arrived at Mizpah Spring Hut (on the side of Mt. Pierce) just before 12PM. We dropped our packs there and decided to hike 3.4 miles out to the summit of Mt. Jackson and back.

 

Tim at Mizpah Springs Hut.
Tim at Mizpah Spring Hut.
The southern peaks seen from Jackson. Mizpah Hut is in the lower-left of the image.
The southern peaks seen from Jackson. Mizpah Hut is in the lower-left of the image. The mountain at the far-right of the image is Mt. Washington.
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Tim climbing up the peak of Mt. Jackson.
Tim and Stephen Sitting on the peak of Jackson.
Tim and Stephen Sitting on the peak of Jackson.
Once we got back to Mizpah, we had time to play cards for a bit before dinner at 6:00.
Once we got back to Mizpah, we had time to play cards for a bit before dinner at 6:00.
Tim and Stephen were fascinated with this "epic" Jenga game in Mizpah Hut.
Tim and Stephen were fascinated with this “epic” Jenga match in Mizpah Hut.

Day 2: Across southern peaks to Lakes of the Clouds Hut

Tim relaxing in his bunk before breakfast at Mizpah.
Mr. Tim relaxing in his bunk before breakfast at Mizpah.
Stephen in the Mizpah bunk room Sunday morning.
Stephen in the Mizpah bunk room Sunday morning.

 

The next day we hiked 5 miles across the ridge (over Mt. Pierce, Mt. Eisenhower, and Mt. Monroe) to Lakes of the Clouds Hut, which is located between the peaks of Mt. Monroe and Mt. Washington. When we got to the slope of Monroe, we all decided to go around it so we could drop our packs at the hut and then scale to the summit without the extra weight.

 

On the summit of Mt. Pierce.
On the summit of Mt. Pierce.
Heading across the ridge toward Eisenhower.
Heading across the ridge toward Eisenhower.
Scaling the side of Mt. Eisenhower.
Scaling the side of Mt. Eisenhower.
On the peak of Eisenhower.
On the peak of Eisenhower.
The view of the ridge from the summit of Eisenhower.
The view of the ridge from the summit of Eisenhower. The large mountain at the left is Mt. Washington. Monroe is the bump in front of Washington’s right shoulder.
Tim looking from the ridge down into the valley.
Tim looking from the ridge down into the valley.

 

 

Tim at Lakes of the Clouds Hut.
Mr. Tim at Lakes of the Clouds Hut.

 

After we went up and down Mt. Monroe, we started on the 3 mile hike up and down Mt. Washington. We met my sister, Laurel, and her boyfriend, Dan, on the summit of Washington.

 

One of the lakes that Lakes of the Clouds Hut is named after. Washington looms in the distance.
One of the lakes that Lakes of the Clouds Hut is named after. Washington looms in the distance.
Lakes of the Clouds Hut seen from the slope of Mt. Washington.
Lakes of the Clouds Hut seen from the slope of Mt. Washington.
Tim and I at the peak of Mt. Washington.
Tim and me at the peak of Mt. Washington.

 

After the Mt. Washington hike, Tim and Stephen decided to go for a swim in one of the lakes near the hut.

 

Tim and Stephen swimming in a lake on a mountain.
Tim and Stephen swimming in a lake on a mountain.
Tim headed back to Lakes of the Clouds after his swim.
Tim headed back to Lakes of the Clouds after his swim.

 

Laurel and Dan spent the night with us at Lakes of the Clouds Hut, and we celebrated Laurel’s birthday (August 28th) together at dinner.

Day 3: Across the northern peaks to Madison Spring Hut

The weather on the third day took a turn for the (much) worse. We were told to expect fog and winds of 50-70 mph, with occasional rain and wind gusts up to 85 mph. This day, we hiked a little over 7 miles across the ridge to Madison Spring Hut.

There weren’t any views, and the wind and rain (combined with temperatures in the 40s) were pretty miserable, so we bypassed most of the northern peaks on this trek.

About to leave Lakes of the Clouds Hut on the 3rd day.
About to leave Lakes of the Clouds Hut on the 3rd day.

 

 

 

Hiking around Mt. Washington in the fog.
Hiking around Mt. Washington in the fog.
The cog railway tracks that go up the side of Mt. Washington.
The cog railway tracks that go up the side of Mt. Washington.
A brief respite from the wind.
A brief respite from the wind.
Hiking across one of many rock fields in the fog.
Hiking across one of many rock fields in the fog.
A rare break in the clouds reveals the welcome sight of Madison Spring Hut.
A rare break in the clouds reveals the welcome sight of Madison Spring Hut.
The sunset seen from the porch of Madison Spring Hut, after dinner.
The sunset seen from the porch of Madison Spring Hut, after dinner.
Tim and Stephen playing cards with friends in the Lakes of the Clouds common room.
Tim and Stephen playing cards with friends in the Madison Spring common room.

Day 4: Down from Madison Spring Hut to the valley

The morning of the 4th day, I woke early and hiked from Madison Spring Hut about a quarter of a mile up the side of Mt. Adams to get pictures of the sun rising over Mt. Madison.

 

The sunrise over Mt. Madison.
The sunrise over Mt. Madison.
All setup for breakfast in Madison Spring Hut.
All set up for breakfast in Madison Spring Hut.

 

After breakfast, we hiked without packs 1 mile (round trip) from the hut to the peak of Mt. Madison and then back again. We then donned our gear and hiked about 4 miles down the Air Line Trail to the parking lot where Mr. Tim’s car was waiting for us. The weather was beautiful again, and the views were spectacular.

 

Mt. Washington (on the left) and Mt. Adams (right) from the summit of Mt. Madison.
Mt. Washington (on the left) and Mt. Adams (right) from the summit of Mt. Madison.
Madison Spring Hut nestled on the side of Mt. Madison.
Madison Spring Hut nestled on the side of Mt. Madison.
Tim hanging from a cliff on the Airline Trail.
Tim hanging from a cliff on the Air Line Trail.
Hiking down the Air Line Trail.
Hiking down the Air Line Trail.
Standing on the edge of the world.
Standing on the edge of the world.
More hiking down the Air Line Trail.
More hiking down the Air Line Trail.
Before long, we were back below tree line for the first time in 3 days.
Before long, we were back below tree line for the first time in 3 days.
Tim squished into the back seat of Mr. Tim's car.
Tim squished into the back seat of Mr. Tim’s car.

 

– danBhentschel

Moral Issues

The contradiction between omnipotence and free will

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In the last few months, and in more than one context, I have heard it mentioned that the existence of free will is paradoxically opposed to the concept of an omnipotent God. The argument goes something like this:

IF God can do anything
AND God is in control of all things

THEN human free will cannot exist.

In this article, I intend to prove that no such contradiction exists, and that it is, in fact, quite possible for God to be in control of the events surrounding us while still preserving our free will to choose how we respond to those events.

One paradox at a time

Before I begin, I want to make it clear that I am only going to address the perceived disparity between an omnipotent God and free will. I am intentionally avoiding other similar problems, such as the classic omnipotence paradox (Can God create a stone He can’t lift) and the omnipotence vs. loving God paradox (Why do bad things happen to good people). I may circle back to discuss these topics in future articles.

God’s influences on world events

People of many faiths petition God to intervene in both their own personal lives, and in the lives of others. I will attempt to create a list of ways in which God can manipulate the events of our world without usurping the decisions of the people inhabiting the world.

I have grouped God’s influences into the following broad (and frequently overlapping) categories:

  • Control of nature
  • Control of random (or uncertain) events
  • Control of unforeseen events
  • Control of our health
  • Control of our personality
  • Control of our subconscious
  • Control of societal trends
  • Control of supernatural events

Control of nature

God is in control of the elements. Will today be sunny or rainy? Will this winter be harsh or mild? He can cause or prevent earthquakes. He can control precisely where and when lightning will strike.

God is also in control of the Earth’s flora. Which plants will thrive where, and when? I may plant, fertilize, and water a seed, but God is in control of how well a tree grows and when it ultimately dies.

God is even in control of the animal kingdom. This point may be a bit contentious, but I don’t believe that animals, regardless of intelligence, have free will. God can influence whether or not a fly gets into my house when I open the door. He determines the success of my fishing trip. He influences how long it takes for my dog to learn to sit.

Control of random events

Are there even any truly random events, or is what we perceive as randomness actually deterministic in a way that is beyond our current understanding? Either way, I believe that God can orchestrate events that we are currently unable to predict. How long till my car needs a new transmission? Who will win the lottery? How much traffic will I encounter this morning?

Control of unforeseen events

While obviously related, I have decided to call out “unforeseen events” as a separate category from random events, with a random event being defined as an event whose outcome is selected from a known pool of possibilities. Unforeseen events, then, are events that are completely unexpected. This includes calamities, such as a fire or a meteor strike, and windfalls, such as an anonymous gift.

Control of our health

We can somewhat influence our health through the choices that we make, but these decisions (diet, exercise, toxins, treatments, etc.) only effect likelihoods and percentages. Nothing about health is certain. My health and my very life is in God’s hands.

Control of our personality

Any parent of multiple children can tell you that there are some personality traits that are identifiable from a very young age. I do believe that I am free to somewhat mold my personality through conscious mental disciplines, but God has stacked the deck in order to push me toward certain ways of thinking and behaving.

Control of our subconscious

My mind is a multifaceted, complex apparatus. I am in complete control of my conscious decisions and behaviors. But there is a good portion of my mental processes that happen without conscious effort. This includes such things as recalling long-forgotten memories, continuously replaying annoying songs in my mind, or driving to work on “autopilot” in the morning.

It’s my belief that God’s influence on my subconscious thoughts is actually one of His primary means of communicating with me.

Control of societal trends

While God doesn’t control the actions of individuals, I’m confident He is able to shape populations to His will by exercising all of His means of influence in conjunction. In a Hari Seldon-like manner, God can direct events and circumstances in such a way that large populations of people, as a whole, will head down a certain, determined path.

Control of supernatural events

I have not witnessed anything supernatural, in the sense that it is unexplainable by known natural laws. I do believe that such events occur, though. I suspect that God rarely exercises his ability to instigate supernatural events, and reserves that option only for instances where it is not possible to enact his will through one of the more natural avenues that I have already enumerated.

Putting it all together

God can mold my natural habitat to influence me. He can instigate events that will direct me down certain paths. He has already pre-tuned my emotions and personalities to predispose me to certain ways of thinking and behaving. He can inject thoughts directly into my subconscious. All of these techniques can be used to influence not only me, but the people around me, thus further intensifying his control of my circumstances. And if this all isn’t enough, He can exercise His trump card of the supernatural.

I have free will to make my own decisions. God is in control of my circumstances. There is no contradiction.

 

– danBhentschel

All Things Dad, Blurbs, Yes, I Know Komputors!

BLURB: My long overdue dive into Adobe Lightroom

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Last month I bought a new camera: a Canon Rebel T6i. Even though I’ve considered myself to be somewhat of a photo hobbyist for years now, it’s my first DSLR ever.

This month, I finally retired my decaying, 8-year-old laptop and bought a new Dell i5.

So today I decided to rectify yet another long overdue acquisition: I purchased a subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan so that I can edit the pictures I take with my new camera on my new laptop.

Since today is my 3-year-old daughter Beth’s birthday, my first photo creation is a picture of her:

This image was modified in Lightroom only. I haven’t delved into Photoshop just yet.

 

– danBhentschel