1 | P a g e Exodus The Holy Cross Expedition Through The Wilderness… a Journey to Holiness August 6-14, 2017 Blueprint for Men, Inc. 2017 © 2 | P a g e Holy Cross Expedition Through the Wilderness… a Journey to Holiness August 6-14, 2017 Greetings Mountain Men, John Muir once penned the motivational quote… “The mountains are calling and I must go.” And while I wholeheartedly agree with Muir, I more deeply sense that we are responding to the “Still Small Voice”, the heart of God calling us upward to high places. And when God calls we must answer, for to do so is to embark on an adventure like no other! Through the mountain wilderness Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were all faced with the holiness and power of God. That is our goal and our deepest desire. Pray for nothing short of this my friends and be ready for what God has in store… it’s sure to be awesome! The following information packet contains the essential details for your participation in this expedition. Please carefully read this document to make sure you follow the preparation timeline below. Preparation Timeline: Step 1 Now Begin a fitness program and acquiring gear Step 2 June 25 Begin the EXODUS Curriculum Step 3 June 25 First ZOOM Conference call Step 4 July 16 Sign-up Deadline Step 5 Aug 6-14 Holy Cross Expedition If you have any questions feel free to call, text, or email. Let’s climb! Marty Miller Blueprint for Men Blueprint for Men, Inc. 2017 © 3 | P a g e INFORMATION PACKET TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Overview 2. Leadership 3. Schedule 4. Gear List 5. Logistics 6. LNT 7. Forms 1 OVERVIEW WHO: Young men participating in the EXODUS WHAT: The culminating wilderness experience to the EXODUS journey to freedom WHERE: Holy Cross Wilderness, Colorado PROVIDED: Trip leadership, naturalist education, spiritual guidance, transportation, etc. BRING: You are responsible for your own camping equipment…refer to equipment list REGISTRATION: Every participant must complete and submit the following forms Participant Form - send PDF copy via email to [email protected] Release Form – send PDF copy via email to [email protected] Medical Form – send PDF copy to [email protected] COST: Donation of $100 – make donation at www.blueprintformen.org SIGN-UP: July 14, 2017 Deadline OBJECTIVES: Purification and Holiness Walking with God in Quiet Solitude Brotherhood of Suffering Servant Leadership Blueprint for Men, Inc. 2017 © 4 | P a g e 2 LEADERSHIP Marty Miller, Expedition Leader Marty is a lifelong disciple of Christ, the loving husband of his first wife, the father of two adult children, and the proud grandfather of two grand-daughters. Marty’s career path has been primarily in the field of education having served in both public and private sectors from California to Tennessee. He has held positions that include elementary school principal, multi- grade teacher, middle school science teacher, high school science teacher, nature center director, outdoor school director, educational consultant, university education professor, student teacher supervisor, and outdoor leadership program director. He is a well-recognized outdoor professional with skills and certifications that include WMI/NOLS Wilderness First Responder, ACA Swift Water Rescue, and AIARE Avalanche Safety. Marty is gifted at discovering and sharing spiritual lessons from nature, God’s second book, as modeled by Jesus Christ, the master educator. Now, after nearly 30 years in education, Marty has transitioned into full-time ministry by creating Blueprint for Men, a non-profit men’s ministry devoted to helping men discover and live out their God-given design in a secular world. Through outdoor retreats, small group support, leadership training, and curriculum development, Marty is helping men to step up and become the men God intended them to be, better husbands, better fathers, and better disciples of Christ! “Leader of the Day” During the trek each man will have an opportunity to provide leadership for the entire group in what we call “Leader of the Day”. During your leadership day you will guide and manage the group as pertaining to safety, schedule, teaching, devotionals, etc. Oversight will be provided by the trip leader, Marty Miller, but just enough to ensure that our objectives are met. While on the trek we will follow the Biblical pattern of the day starting at sundown so your leadership day will begin in the evening too! This will all make sense while on the trip… I promise! Blueprint for Men, Inc. 2017 © 5 | P a g e 3 SCHEDULE Date Tentative Schedule Sun, Aug 6 Leave Southern Drive to Denver Mon, Aug 7 Arrive in Denver REI Food purchases Drive to Half Moon Campground Set up camp Supper Evening Group Worship Anointing - Hyssop - Purification & Empowerment Tue, Aug 8 Leader of the Day Breakfast Morning Group Worship Backpack 2.0 miles to campsite Supper Evening Group Worship Anointing - Frankincense and Myrrh - Healing / Intercession Wed, Aug 9 Leader of the Day Sunrise Climb (4.8 miles RT) to Notch Mountain Shelter (13,077’) Breakfast Morning Group Worship Backpack 1.5 miles to Lake Constantine (11,300’) Supper Evening Group Worship Anointing - Cinnamon - Passion & Courage Thu, Aug 10 Leader of the Day Breakfast Morning Group Worship Basecamp – Activities TBD Backpack 1.6 miles to Tuhare Lake (12,300’) Supper Evening Group Worship Anointing - Cedars - Strength & Protection Fri, Aug 11 Leader of the Day Sunrise climb (4.0 miles) of Mount of the Holy Cross (14,005’) via Holy Cross Ridge Breakfast Morning Group Worship Supper – (Communion) Evening Group Worship Anointing - Spikenard - Worship & Praise Sat, Aug 12 Leader of the Day Breakfast Morning Group Worship Backpack to trailhead Evening Group Worship Drive to Glacier View Ranch Celebration Supper Sun, Aug 13 Drive Home Blueprint for Men, Inc. 2017 © 6 | P a g e 4 GEAR LIST General Backpacking & Camping Gear Personal First aid kit o Large backpack (65L+) o Band-Aids o Sleeping bag (rated to a min. of 30° F) o Duct tape o Sleeping pad o Moleskin o Lightweight Tent o Ace bandage o Stove w/fuel o Athletic tape o Cook-set o Scissors o Lighter/matches o Antibiotic ointment o Cooking Utensils o Aspirin /Tylenol – for headaches o 1 liter wide-mouth water bottles (2) o Aleve/Ibuprofen – for swelling o Zip-lock bags for stuff o Prescriptions o Compass & map Misc. Personal Items Clothing o Sunglasses o Trail boots o Sunscreen (SPF 30+) o Waterproof/breathable jacket and pants o Lip balm o Fleece insulating layer o Headlamp o Insulating jacket o Extra batteries o Quick-dry synthetic underwear (2) o Ear plugs for tent flap wind noise o Quick-dry synthetic T-shirt (2) o Toilet paper in Ziplock bag o Warm gloves o Deodorant o Wool socks (2) o Pack towel for bathing o Warm cap o Bible o Journal o Pen/pencil Blueprint for Men, Inc. 2017 © 7 | P a g e 5 LOGISTICS Financial Transportation and the “wilderness experience” are all provided for free. Each person is responsible for paying for their own gear, food, and other incidentals. Transportation SAU 12 passenger van and trailer Communication Much of the backcountry is out of cell phone service range. That being said it is possible that some high points may have a signal. I will bring a lightweight solar panel into the backcountry to charge phones, etc. via USB cable since you might use them as cameras and such. Safety I have medical training as a Wilderness First Responder and will be carrying a group first aid kit. Please bring your own personal first aid kit as listed in the gear section. In the event of a major medical emergency that requires helicopter evacuation I will be carrying a SPOT (satellite messenger) with up to $100,000 evacuation insurance. Blueprint for Men, Inc. 2017 © 8 | P a g e Half Moon Campground – Elevation 10,000’+ General Information Directions: Travel west on I-70 to Exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Hwy 24.Turn right and travel south about 5 miles. Immediately before crossing the Eagle River, turn right onto Tigiwon Road - FSR 707 and continue up this dirt road for 8 miles to the campground at the end. Reservations: first come first served Fees: $13/night **Bear activity has been increasing. For this reason a food storage order is in effect at all developed campgrounds on the Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, and the Piney Guard Station, Tigiwon Lodge, Mount of the Holy Cross Overlook, Homestake Road FSR 703, and Nolan Creek Road. This order requires all food and refuse to be stored in hard-sided vehicles, approved bear-resistant containers, or suspended at least 10 feet clear of the ground at all points and four feet horizontally from any supporting tree or pole. This order has been issued to provide for public safety and wildlife conservation. Hopefully it will reduce wildlife habituation problems.** The Halfmoon Campground is located at the top of Tigiwon Road #707 near the boundary for the Holy Cross Wilderness in a forested setting; all wilderness regulations must be observed when traveling in the wilderness (foot and horse travel only). This campground is located at the trailheads for several hiking trails and is heavily used by hikers who are climbing Mount of the Holy Cross. Due to the nature of the Forest Road to the campground and the short parking spurs within the campground, the Halfmoon Campground is not suitable for most RVs. Sitka Valerian Paintbrush Colorado Columbine Sky Pilot Blueprint for Men, Inc. 2017 © 9 | P a g e Holy Cross Wilderness The Holy Cross Wilderness is a U.S.