May 20-26; New York & Vermont

Friday, May 20-
Destination: Adirondack Mountains, New York

Today the guys made it to these incredible mountains up in New York state. They drove from Niagara Falls to the Adirondacks, which took up much of the day. Upon arrival to the Adirondack Preserve, they found a nice spot to park the bus for the night. Tomorrow they would start on a two-day backpacking trip into the mountains. Update: they have yet to grow tired of each other or of the adventures! The other two taught Andrew how to drive the bus and say that they now trust him behind the wheel! Today was a slower day, but that was needed to save up energy for the big trip!

Saturday, May 21-
Destination: Backpacking the Adirondacks; Day #1

The guys got an early start, making a nice breakfast before beginning the hike. They gathered all that they would need for the next two days and locked up the bus. The hike began with the hopes of catching some breathtaking views at the top, but they had quite a long way to go for that reward. The guys climbed a whopping 3,000 feet in altitude the first day! They told me it was practically straight uphill and they had to utilize those rock climbing skills. Several areas along the hike had frozen over, as it was still pretty cold up in the northern mountains, so they had to be careful with their footing. Luckily they made it to the top without trouble or injuries. The peak they climbed is called Algonquin Peak. And the view was spectacular. We have such a creative God- who else could think of and create mountains and sunsets and wonderfully full trees? They took a minute to sit up on the top to think and praise God for His wonder. They set up camp in the mountains for the night, to start again in the morning.

Sunday, May 22-
Destination: Backpacking Day #2 and more

This morning, the sunrise woke up the guys who then started up their second day of backpacking. Yesterday they reached the peak, so today the guys started back down the mountain. And they had quite the journey to make! They stepped off the trails and caught sight of their beloved yellow bus around noon. When they got back to camp in the Adirondack Preserve, near Lake Placid, they each took a VERY long-awaited bath in the cool lake. The guys prepared some hearty dinners and hit the sack.

Monday, May 23-
Destination: rest

Rest. We all need it, and the guys were really in need of it at this point in the trip. They had been going nonstop- and whether driving many miles or hiking many miles, they were spent. They set up a slack-line by the campsite in the Adirondacks and enjoyed some time of worship with both guitars and vocal chords. At the end of the afternoon, Jonathan and Leo decided to go on a bike ride to burn some steam. While they were out, they met three people close to our age: Coleman, Colin, and Caitlyn. The Lord gave the guys the opportunity to answer their questions like 'where are you from', 'what are you guys doing while in New York' which brought up the bus and the mission behind it. The guys were able to share about Jesus and the 'WHY' for this trip. That was such a blessing for the guys and for their new friends. Our purpose in life is to know God, enjoy Him, and share His truth and love with those around us. It's amazing because all three of those aspects met in this one moment: Leo and Jonathan know God and are knowing Him more and more, and they have spent time truly enjoying Him. Now they had the chance to share Him. This was a really great moment for all of them. The guys hoped to go riding with their new friends the next day.

Tuesday, May 24-
Destination: fishing and climbing

Still in Lake Placid (in the Adirondack Preserve), the guys ventured out to see what more they could experience here. Leo took off on the dirt bike - fly fishing gear attached - to go snag a few fish in the lake before joining Andrew and Jonathan who were 'bouldering' (similar to rock climbing). They spent much of the afternoon climbing. Afterwards, they were on a mission to repair Jonathan's bike wheel. One of the guys they had met the previous day worked at a bike shop (how convenient)! The guys were able to take it in and Colin fixed it up for them! The Lord works in mysterious ways. It seems He didn't want Jonathan's bike to be fixed until they had met their new friend, Colin. What an answer to prayer in many ways.

Wednesday, May 25-
Destination: Lake Placid and a new state

This morning the guys took things on the slower side and shopped around Lake Placid for fly-fishing gear and other items. Then the guys took off, leaving the state of New York where they had spent the past 7 days. Who knew New York was so diverse? So their next state of choice was Vermont. Apparently much of the state is mountainous.. perfect for them! They drove into Vermont and realized they were only 18 miles from one of their college buddy's homes; unfortunately he was away, but that would have been pretty crazy to bump into him! They settled into a little town and took to more fishing with their brand new gear. The guys ended up catching 6 really nice fish and cooked them for dinner that night! Quite the fresh meal.

Thursday, May 26-
Destination: Vermont

Today, the guys spent some time in a few small Vermont towns. They were in East Burke, Vermont that they are calling "a mountain biking town." Clearly, biking was the main focus of the day. They worked through some beautiful areas and the pictures from their time are stunning. They mountain biked up some intense trails for 26.7 miles. Go to the tab at the top of the page labeled 'Trip Photos' to see the full gallery. Again, the guys got some VERY needed showers. Also, they met a man by their campsite and found the opportunity to share the Gospel with him tonight! Pray for all those who have heard the Good News to come to Christ.