All in all, a very memorable day.

Well, our son, Jonathan, was home from the USAF Academy for a 2-day break and in need of something other than military. We arrived at the trail head and sleep a few hours and started our hike at 4:30 a.m.

Here is a look back down the valley as the sun was coming up

It was a great father's day gift to spend a day with my son and push the mind and body on a Colorado 14er.

The focus for this outing is a couloir called Dead Dog on the east face of Torreys. Do not ask me how this couloir received its name. I have looked high and low, but have not had any success. So if anyone knows how this couloir received this moniker, please let me know.

I arrived at the trail head gravel parking lot at 3:30 A.M. (yes, you heard me right) and there were only two parking spots left!!! The place was alive with activity. Skies, backpacks, and other assorted hardware was everywhere. I realized quickly that it was not going to be a day of solitude.

Here is a profile of the 1500 foot Dead Dog Couloir on the east face of Torreys that I took on the return. I wish I could have captured a still shot of the alpenglow while hiking in — it was stunning.

Starting up the couloir on consolidated snow

Halfway up the couloir a look out over the valley as the sun is coming up. If views like this ever paid out cash, I would be a millionaire several times over.

Getting near the top

A look down the couloir and the basin below

Well, you are going to have to trust me on this. The Wayward Bottle was in my pack for the entire climb. The plan was to bring out the bottle for a summit photo, but the winds were simply too strong to allow any meandering on top. It was all I could do to stay upright. Sorry...

Just as we gained the bottom part of the west ridge two guys were descending in rapid step. They said the winds were howling and it was too dangerous further up. My partner and I decided to give it a try. We both estimated the winds at 40 mph. The snow was excellent for purchase, so with careful movement we felt comfortable. Simply jam the axe in the snow, use it as a rock solid belay, and take careful steps.

Summit in the background

Turn around point with axe and Wayward Bottle. Over my right shoulder there is a cornice. On both sides the slopes measured 45 degrees (perfect angle for a slide) and the run out was 1500 feet. The snow is still consolidating, and risks far outweighed the benefit. Besides, this wonderful piece of creation is right in my backyard and I can always return.

Here is a look back down the Mayflower Gulch. The trail head is near the frozen lake in the valley below.

Stay tuned, there is more fun to be had on this "little" peak!!!

Approaching the North West Ridge of La Plata and a mountain of snow (literally and figuratively).

This picture is looking back at where the previous pic was taken; down at tree line.

Nearing the top of the ridge that will lead to La Plata

Snow cave complete, waiting on dinner and holding my Wayward Bottle. Take note of the ferret hole in the snow back - or as I would like to describe it - the front door to Hotel La Plata

Inside Hotel La Plata and about 10 feet in the snow drift. The inside temp is a balmy 32 degrees. During the night, the outside temp was below zero with strong winds. Inside it was quiet and toasty.

Day two and working towards La Plata. The "peak" you see in this frame is a false summit. La Plata is located out of sight to the left.

My partner and DenSem student J.G. I think he is saying, "I love this place!!!" As you can see it was a little windy!

It was a great two days of climbing. My legs were tired for a few days, but what joy it was to push the body.

Atlantic Peak is located north of Leadville and is on the list of Colorado's "Highest 100" peaks—ranked #87 at 13,841 feet. There is an easy route up the east side and a more exposed challenging route up the west ridge. I opted for the west route.

The upside of a 13er is the low volume of climbers compared to a 14er. 13ers do not have the appeal/allure of a 14er, so there is much more solitude on these "smaller" siblings. In the winter this translates into more effort because folks are not breaking trail on the approach—as was the case with Atlantic.

Here is Atlantic on the left just as the sun was coming up...it was a brisk 5 degrees.

Look closely at the saw tooth ridge that connects Atlantic on the left and Fletcher on the right. There is some 5.9 climbing on that beast.

Breaking trail

Treeline at 12,000 feet and where I (and the Wayward Bottle in my mitts) turned around. The snow was waist deep and I kept punching through with snow shoes. It took about 4 hours to cover 3/4 of a mile. The peak over my head is Fletcher Peak.

On the return...Yes, that's me...extracting my legs...again!

Well, I will need to return to this beauty!

I have been pinned down with a renovation project at home and have not been out on a mountain for several weeks now. Well, the project is nearing completion and it is time to get out and romp in this marvelous playground that we call the Rocky Mountains.

About an hour west of Denver sits the Continental Divide. More specifically, an hour west is a place called Loveland Pass on the Continental Divide. And right next to this pass sits Grizzly Peak. This peak is characterized by lots of cornices, strong winds and great views. I can now say from experience that the characterization is true.

Here is a view from the first saddle. The snow behind me is one of the long cornices that forms the ridge.

Here is a view of the second saddle and is a better view of the cornice that is starting to form.

Here is the Wayward Bottle (and me) on the summit at 13,427. It was a brisk 7 degrees with moderate winds on top. There were no clouds and the views were just amazing!

This lovely peak sits right in our backyard and is a fine example of the marvel all around us.

Let the winter games begin!

Along with a few friends I climbed my first peak in the Sangre de Cristo Range. Sangre de Cristo means the "blood of Christ" in Spanish. This range is longer than any other range in Colorado and traverses all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. One unique feature of this range are the sand dunes. The winds from the West are unable to carry their burden over the mountains and kindly deposit their load at the range's base, creating amazing sand dunes. These dunes reach a staggering 700 feet in height and are clearly visible from the top of Challenger Point.

Right above tree-line. Anyone up for some ice skating...or ice fishing...or a Polar Plunge?

On the side of Challenger Point. It took 4 hours of hard labor, just scale the side of this beaut.

On the side of Challenger.

On top of Challenger Point at 14,081 feet with Columbia in the background and the Crestones further back.

This hike was a 13 hour day and I was soooo glad to get back to the trail head...and my comfortable car!

Winter does come early to the high country in Colorado. I tried climbing Snowmass (a peak in the Elk Range) in August, but was turned back near the top by rain and thunder. So before full-scale winter set in, I thought it would be good to try another Elk Range mountain.

I was very surprised at the amount of snow already on the ground. At the base of Castle and Conundrum there was enough snow to make travel sloooow! This pic is taken right below the basin of the two mountains.

Here is a view of Castle's spiney ridge near the top.

The Wayward Bottle on top of Castle at 14,265 ft. What a million-dollar view!!!!

After Castle it was off to Conundrum...an unranked 14er connected to Castle via a rocky saddle. This pic is taken on top of Conundrum with a nice view back at the face of Castle.

All in all, a splendid day in Colorado's high country.

My bottle and I visited the wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. Mt. Washington is in the background. Thomas Cole visited here in 1839 and later became one of the founding members of the U.S. National Academy and exhibited major Christian paintings. Cole wrote, “prophets of old retired into the solitudes of nature to wait the inspiration of heaven. It was on Mount Horeb that Elijah witnessed the mighty wind, the earthquake, and the fire; and heard the 'still small voice' — that voice is YET heard among the mountains! St. John preached in the desert; the wilderness is YET a fitting place to speak to God.” Amen!

I've been blessed to summit the highest peak in New England over 20 times throughout the year. While less than half the height of Colorado's "14ers," its weather statistics are impressive: highest wind speed ever recorded (231 mph!), from November to April hurricane-force winds occur two out of every three days, the average year-round temperature is 27, and the all-time high was only 72 degrees.

Well, I have completed my tour of the collegiate peaks and Columbia was the last one to put hands and feet on top. Here is a pic of the Wayward Bottle at 14,073 feet with Harvard (say it with the proper accent) in the background. The hike to the base of the mountain is fairly straight forward and easy hiking. At tree line the trail makes and abrupt turn and then starts a 30 to 40 degree slog to the top. The winds were fairly strong - I am guessing 30 mph and gusting to 40 mph. All in all a very fine hike.

You are wondering what 31 stands for...right? Well, it is not my age...argh! This is my 31st 14er summit in the past 13 months...whowa! What fun it has been.

As you can tell the onset of winter has arrived. When you think about it, it really is quite amazing that you can be hypothermic in one area of Colorado and a few hours later cutting grass. What a state! What an amazing creation!!!

“You’ve come far pilgrim.”

“What brings ya up so high?”

“14ers, but I lost my count. No matter, weren’t many left to climb in the Sawatch.”

“Wouldn’t know what month of the year it is would ya?”

“No, I surely wouldn’t. I ‘m sorry pilgrim. September, maybe October.”

“ September maybe, I don’t believe October. Snow comes early this high.”

Well, I just had to borrow a few paraphrased lines from one of Hollywood's all-time classics. The Wayward Bottle only has 2 more remaining peaks in the Sawatch. Plus, it is nearing the end of September and snow is already on top.

Massive contains 5 summits over 14,000 feet and is simply a massive mountain. No other mountain in the lower 48 has an area greater than Massive above 14K feet.

I arrived at the trail head shortly after midnight and caught a few hours sleep and started my climb before sun-up. Here is a pic on top of Colorado’s second highest peak at 14,421 feet. If you look further back in the pic you will see North Massive…my next stop.

Here is a pic taken on North Massive looking back at Massive. The hike over to North Massive was quite enjoyable with lots of bouldering and some class 3 scramble. There was also quite a lot of snow in the couloirs already. Since I did not bring along my ice axe I had to down climb, then re-climb, and then repeat the process over on the return. My legs were appropriately tired by the time I got back to the parking lot.

This memorial was erected recently in remembrance of the 4 soldiers killed when their Blackhawk helicopter crashed on top of Mt. Massive last month during training maneuvers (click here to read the story). The memorial is signed by parents, spouses, family, and friends and is an emotional reminder of the sacrifice given by so few for the benefit of so many.

Well, I was feeling particularly academic and decided to get some further schooling on Mt. Harvard over the weekend. Mt. Harvard is part of the “Collegiate Peaks.”  Five of the southern peaks of the Sawatch Range carry the names of universities and Harvard is one of those peaks. And Harvard is only one of three peaks in the state to rise above 14,400 feet.

Chad W., a student at DenSem, joined me on this hike. We left Denver at 9:00 p.m. and arrived at the trailhead around midnight. Chad parked himself under a pine tree (me in the car) and slept a few hours before starting our predawn hike.

Here is a nice profile of the peak. Harvard is an easy climb, but it does require some effort. The standard route on this hike is a total of 14 miles and 4,600 feet of elevation gain. So what the mountain lacks in brute, it makes up for it in sheer energy.

Tada! The Wayward Bottle at 14,420 feet on a fine summer’s day.

Thanks Chad for keeping me company. You did a great job!

I attempted to climb Long's Peak last October but the weather beat me to the top and I had to cancel. So last weekend I was finally able to get my schedule and the weather to
cooperate for a solo run.

Long's Peak is a monarch of the Front Range. When you step off a plane at DIA or drive along I-25 this beauty is here to great you. This particular peak is the northern most 14er in the entire state and is one of the most popular peaks in the western United States.

I started hiking at 2:00 a.m. The parking lot was nearly filled at  this early hour and countless folks were already on the trail. Hiking in the dark for several hours with a headlamp and striking up conversation with total strangers was a real treat. Here's a pic. of the east face of Longs. Isn't this mountain tremendous?

I was the second individual to summit and just in time to catch the sun coming up. The views, colors, and contrasts were stunning. Look no hands!!!

The Wayward Bottle at 14,255 on a brisk and beautiful morning.

This formation is called the Keyhole and allows climber to cross Long's ridge quite easily. The left side of the Keyhole appears to have a face...can you see it? Look even closer and you will see a stone hut at the base of the Keyhole on the left side. That hut would be a life saver if you were ever caught in severe weather.

All in all another fine day in the mountains.

We climbed Quandary Peak, 14, 265' on August 13th. This time, the wayward bottle didn't escape discovery in the bowels of my pack. Not long after the summit photo snow squalls prompted a hasty retreat.

In contrast to the last few peaks I've climbed, Quandary was hopping with picas - their squeaks accompanied us as we trudged up.

Near the summit several mountain goats mingled with us.

One then seemingly guided us back down for several thousand vertical feet.

A tardy report, but the wayward bottle was spied perched upon the John Muir commemorative plaque, admiring Yosemite falls on June 29th.

It also summited Mokelume Peak in the central Sierra Nevadas, but forgot to climb out of the pack for the group photo. We climbed Mokelume July 4th to spread my brother Woody's ashes. He was a wilderness ranger there and had a special affection for the Peak.

I had a killer 14er marathon this weekend that involved climbing four 14ers in 48 hours. This involved 610 miles of driving, 6 hours of sleep, 27 miles of hiking, and 10,800 feet of climbing. I was tired, but felt like I just celebrated Christmas!

We arrived at the “parking lot” at 3:30 am and began our early morning assault on Uncompahgre. Uncompahgre is a Ute word for hot springs…I think.

Here I am on top of Uncompahgre at 14,309 feet. This is my first 14er sunrise and it is an experience everyone should have. The dark hues and long shadows were an eye full.

The San Juan Mountains have a reputation for having a lot of bad rock. The pic gives you a feel for the deteriorating nature of the rock and why the reputation is warranted.

After Uncompahgre it was off to Handies for a very late start on this 14er. Handies is located in the American Basin. Handies has a reputation for being an easy 14er. From a technical perspective the reputation is true. However, there is 2,500 feet of elevation gain in 2.5 miles, so it does require some effort.

Here’s a closeup of the American Basin. I would travel to this remote site just to look at the basin.

On top of Handies at 14,048 feet. I have read the views on top of Handies is one of the finer views in the state.

I came across this beauty on the return. This is a ptarmigan in summer attire. This sweet bird lives above tree line. In the winter she will turn pure white and will blend nicely with the snow. She also had a brood of young chicks too.

After six hours of rest under the Milky Way Galaxy, it was time to tackle Redcloud. This mountain has an amazing red hue to it and I am guessing it has something to do with red oxide and or minerals in the rock. It looked rather Martian and quite unique.

Here is a nice profile pic of Redcloud from its base.

Snow in August and nearing the top – whowa!

Me on top at 14,034 feet. Note the distant mountain near the end of the red flag. That mtn. is Uncompahgre.

After Redcloud it was off to Sunshine. Sunshine is 1.5 miles away and is connected to Redcloud via a rocky saddle.

Hiking over to Sunshine I attempted a “leave no-trace pictograph.”

Here’s the Wayward Bottle on top of Sunshine at 14,001 feet. This mtn. is the smallest 14ers in the US and is only 2 feet away from living a life of obscurity as a 13er!

Well, this was a great trip. It was great to be pushed physically and it was great to see such beauty in such a short period of time. My one regret is that I can not fully describe the beauty of these mountains. I should have been a poet.

Today’s focus was the Wetterhorn. Wetterhorn means “weather peak” in German and is named after the Wetterhorn in Switzerland. Apparently the desert conditions to the west make for some interesting weather on this peak. And the upside of Colorado’s Wetterhorn is that I do not need a passport to climb it! Take note of the rocky bump to the left of the summit – it’s called the Ships Prowl. You will see a close up pic of this formation further below.

Above the tree line, the wildflowers were in full glory. I continue to be awestruck by the sheer beauty of such a sight.

Here’s a view down the SW side of this magnificent mountain. Check out the snow in July! Whowa!!!

Here’s a view nearing the top. The summit is on the right and the rock formation on the left is called the Ships Prowl. The plan was to summit and then climb the Prowl for extra credit.

Here I am entering an area called the notch right next to the Prowl. The notch allows a climber to cross the rocky rib and gain access to a class 3 scramble on the other side to the summit.

Here’s a view from the summit. The Matterhorn is located in the middle of the frame and Wetterhorn’s 14er sibling, Uncompahgre, is on the top. After we summited Wetterhorn we hiked over to Umcompahre and made it all the way to the visible notch on ridge to the right. I ran out of water 90 minutes from the summit and had to bail.

Bingo! The Wayward Bottle on top of Wetterhorn at 14,015 feet on a BEAUTIFUL day; clear skies, no wind, and very mild temps.

My climbing partner on top of The Ships Prowl

This is a Colorado columbine -- the state flower. What a beaut.

Well, I will need to go back and climb Uncompahgre...again. Running out of water has its benefits!

On a magnificent summer day overlooking Ouray, Colorado, this Denver Seminary water bottle is taking in the splendor of the surrounding mountains and valleys.  "Drink it in" applies in more ways than one when viewing this vista!

Perched on a handrail in the gorgeous mountain village of Telluride, Colorado, this Denver Seminary water bottle is pointing toward the grandeur God’s creation. Non-living and living water may be accessed here.

I have been wanting to put hands and feet on Missouri ever since I first saw the mountain late last fall while climbing Belford and Oxford. We left Denver around 2:45 am and arrived at the trailhead just as daylight began. This photo was taken as we were leaving the valley and nearing tree line.

You gotta just love the marmot. A.K.A a HAG (high altitude groundhog). This little guy was out in the early morning sun just living life at 12,500 feet with no apparent worries in the world. I think we could learn a thing or two from the marmot.

This is Missouri's NW ridge. The views on the ridge were stunning. And since the ridge is exposed for a long period of time you have plenty of opportunity to soak up such magnificence.

This area is referred to as the Crux. We came across a couple people that turned back at this point for fear of slipping on the steep slope. The ice axe, however, made the traverse less daunting and helped provide safe passage.

The Wayward Bottle on top of Missouri at 14,067 feet. Again, the 360 views were simply awesome. The weather was equally splendid. The temps were in the low 50's and the wind...well, there was no wind. It was hard to tell we were at 14,067 feet. I would have enjoyed sitting down and reading a good book. :-)

This is a view of our descent route. The couloir on the left is called the C Couloir and we glissaded it from top to bottom. In addition to shaving off an hours worth of work, we had a blast in the process! The descent was pure fun! As you can see in the photo below:

The wildflowers are coming on strong and I would be remiss if I did not show you one photo of God's high altitude handiwork. I think there could very well be less violence in the world if everyone was required to spend at least one summer's day in an alpine meadow full of wildflowers.

Missouri, The Holy Cross, and La Plata now consist of my all time 14er favorite views from on top. I am blessed beyond measure to live in such a splendid state!!!

Mt. Antero is named after a Native American chief of the Unitah Nation and sits in the southern portion of the Sawatch Range. Antero is more famous among gem collectors than it is among mountaineers. The mountain is well known for producing topaz gems, aquamarines and quartz crystals. While it was great to get out on the side this mountain, it was discouraging to see the 4x4 trails and prospecting sites cut into the side of such magnificence.

The high alpine flowers are just starting to come to life with the arrival of warmer longer summer days above tree line. There are not many more beautiful sites on the planet than an alpine meadow bursting forth with color and life.

Here is a view of large meadow at the base of Antero’s western side. Had the weather permitted, I would have enjoyed spending just a little time soaking up some of the splendor of this place.

Approximately 14,000 and nearing the top.

The Wayward Bottle on top of Mt. Antero at 14,269 feet! As you can see over my left shoulder the clouds were rolling in and Mother Nature was getting ready to serve the mountain a bowl of soup (foul weather). By the time we reached tree line on the descent it was raining and the summit was socked-in and snowing on top. We passed several folks heading to the summit (some wearing cotton!), and I have been wondering how these folks fared. I hope they were able to get off the mountain safely.

It was a great day to meet and hike with several people. The various personalities mixing in with the personality of the mountain made for a very fine day of fellowship and laughter. And to round the day out, we are able to catch a ride with “Mike,” an MBA student in Denver. It was raining hard and none of us felt like forging Baldwin Creek and hiking the remaining three miles off the mountain, so we all jumped in Mike’s Tacoma pickup truck and bounced our way back to civilization. My internal organs may have been bruised in the process, but I appreciated the ride.

Mt. Huron stands in at 14,003 feet. Take just 4 feet off the top of this mountain and it would be relegated to a life of relative obscurity as a 13er. Mt. Huron distinguishes itself as a 14er that is the furtherest from a paved road (the last two miles on the 4X4 trail took 45 minutes to cover) and it has one of the best summit views of all the other 14ers in the Sawatch Range.

This pic is taken right at tree line. If you look closely (note the circled areas) you will see two coyotes on the snow pack. Shortly before I took this picture, I saw one lone mule deer above tree line. I am still curious why a mule deer was so high on the mountain and have been wondering if the coyotes were chasing it.

Our son, Jonathan, is home from the Air Force Academy for a few weeks and wanted to climb his first 14ers. Well, here he is getting a workout.

The Wayward bottle on top of Mt. Huron with the Three Apostles (yes...I am not teasing) in the background.

It was another fine day in the heaven of thin air. Time with my son, time enjoying the marvel of our planet, and time to push the body...what more could I ask for?

The plan for the day was to get an early jump on the weather and attempt a climb on both Shavano and Tabeguache Peaks. These two mountains are the southern most fourteeners in the Sawatch Range. The names for these two mountains come from the Ute Nation.

This is a view of Mt. Shavano from the east side of the mountain. Take note of the interesting couloir on the side of the mountain. This couloir is called the Angel of Shavano. The Sawatch has another couloir with a religious theme on the North end of the range called the Holy Cross.

The hike started in earnest well before sunrise to get a jump on the weather. This picture was taken near the tree line. The surrounding views from this vantage point were stunning.

Once above tree line the weather deteriorated quickly. In the middle of this frame is my climbing partner on hands and knees. The winds were approximately 50 mph and blowing small pieces of ice. It’s as if you were in a media blaster. Hiking became difficult from this point forward. A decision was quickly made to summit Shavano only and leave Tabeguache for another day.

Nearing the top

Voila! The Wayward Bottle on top at 14,229 feet. In addition to the strong winds you could see a band of snow approaching from the East. So, after a few quick pictures, a retreat was in order.

What’s the quickest way off a mountain? Yes, you guessed it...a glissade. I read the Angel of Shavano provides one of the finest glissades in the state. Let me just say, I think whoever said this was right. I can not tell you when I laughed so hard. I felt like a kid again. What fun. Click on the very brief video below and see a glissade in action.

It was Saint Irenaeus who once said, “The glory of God is a man fully alive.” I felt fully alive today!!!

There she is, Mt Princeton, the pride of Buena Visa dominating the sky west of town. Isn’t she a beauty? The peak to the left is Tiger Peak and is connected to Princeton via a saddle. You may recall we were able to gain the rocky saddle last month and nearly made it to the top of Princeton before being chased down the east face with high winds and zero visibility. What a difference another month can make. As I look at this mountain I am thinking creative design.

OK, let’s get moving.

This pic is taken of the Arkansas Valley at almost tree line. The view at this juncture was superb. We are eye to eye with the clouds, the sky is colored deep, deep blue, and I am thinking creative design.

I know you are wondering “What in the world?!” This is a sweet patch of needle ice. Needle ice occurs in soil where water seeps into the surface. The water freezes when it comes into contact with the air, but the hydraulics of the water below keeps pushing upwards forming strands of frozen spaghetti. In this particular patch of needle ice there were thousands of three inch high, highly fragile, glistening little reminders of creative design.

This pic will give you a view of the couloirs on the east face of Princeton. The coulior on the right is called Line Glacier. Our goal was the wishbone coulior to the left. We pretty much walked a straight line from this point to the coulior.

This is a view down the coulior. The pitch is approximately 40 degrees, the surface icy, and the descent LONG!!! An ice axe is simply imperative at this point. If you were to slip without one, the decent would be fast, furious, and not pretty. Climbing this coulior was not terribly difficult; it just took some time. You essentially kick-step a foot hold in the ice/snow and walk up the side. The legs do burn and the lungs work overtime, but what fun can be had!

Well, there’s the Wayward Bottle on the summit of Mt. Princeton at 14,197 feet. From this unique vantage point you could see the immediate neighboring Shavano, Tabequache, Antero and a few other 14ers I did not recognize. You could also see the Front Range nearly 125 miles to the east including what appeared to be Pikes Peak, Mt. Evans, and Longs Peak. The view was simply beautiful...and I was thinking creative design the entire time. How fortunate and blessed we are to live on such an amazing planet.

Well, I am still trying to decide what next for the Wayward Bottle, but The Angel of Shavano and Tabequache are both on the short list.

Onward and upward!!!

This first pic is a shot of my two climbing partners hiking up an avy run. Notice the lack of mature vegetation. Just when a tree starts to take hold...BAAM! tons of snow barrel down this chute at 50 mph and whisks it away. Well, not to worry the chute was safe for hiking:)

Yes, it's me "lounging" on the ridge at 13,500 feet. The weather softened and we were able to take a 5 minute break.

Here's a pic of the Wayward Bottle on the saddle between Tiger Peak and Mt. Princeton

This pic was taken of my partner shortly after my "lounge" picture. Winds are picking up and visibility is starting to drop. 30 minutes after this pic is taken we decide to bale and head down. We had less than 500 feet of elevation to climb and 15 waypoints on my GPS to cover, but it was getting crazy!

(Me) visibility drops to 30 to 50 yards on the decent all the way to tree line. We had to stay real close to prevent getting separated.

All in all a splendid day, but the Wayward Bottle has gotta go back and try this one again. Stay tuned!!!

This past week was in interesting week for winter storms. It snowed earlier in the week and then another winter storm hit the mountains on Thursday dumping many many inches of snow. I was not sure what to expect but opted to hit the mountains and give it a try. The focus was Mt Yale at 14,196 feet and located 9 miles west of Buena Vista. From Yale's summit you can see no less than 30 other peaks over 14,000 feet.

The starting temp. was minus 2 degrees and a blanket of fresh snow was there to greet you. I had to cut trail all the way to the tree line. This picture was taken as the trail started to climb out of the valley. The view in this bowl was just spectacular. On the opposing slopes there were massive cornices from all the snow loading. From this piece of real estate the summit is another 4 hours of climbing. Take note of the insulated blue bottle carrier on my hip - the Wayward Bottle is tucked away to keep my drink from freezing.

This pic will give you as sense as to the pitch climbing out of the valley. The snow depth was knee to thigh deep. The winds were also very strong. Above tree line the winds were a constant 30 - 40 mph. On top of the mountain I am guessing the winds were in excess of 50 mph. They were strong enough that I literally had to crawl...argh. I pulled my camera out to take a picture of the summit and would you believe it was froze and would not operate...argh. So, I am sorry to report the Wayward Bottle was not memorialized with a photo on top.

Well, it was a challenging day. The entire climb lasted 11 hours of non-stop movement and pretty much wore me out.

Well, it took a number of weeks to get the calendar and the weather to match, but it was worth the wait. The skies were going to be clear and the temps were going to be "moderate." I attempted to summit La Plata several weeks ago and was turned back at the base of the ridge because of deep snow, and I have been thinking about this mountain ever since. It was like being a kid at Christmas...I could hardly wait.

The hike began in earnest at 5:00 am. The temperature was a brisk zero degrees, the skies were clear, and it appeared as if you could simply reach up and pluck a star from the heavens. There was a remnant of a trail in the snow for the first 1.5 miles which made headlamp hiking through the snow a little easier.

This pic was taken of me bushwhacking through the woods to the ridge as the sun was coming up. There was a lot of snow loading on the standard route and we had to work our way through the heavily forested mountainside to avoid avalanche areas. Near the tree line there was an ocean of snow. There were waves of snow drifts 3 to 4 feet deep lined up every 15 - 20 feet as far as the eye could see. It was a beautiful sight, and it was physically demanding to cut a trail through all the snow.

Here I am standing on a drift of snow that is approximately 15 feet deep. You could build a serious snow cave in this drift. Or for the more entrepreneurial adventurist, you could build a whole snow cave apartment complex and charge rent.

Here is a view back down the ridge and La Plata valley. This part of the climb required crampons and an ice axe. Crampons are a series of spikes that strap to the bottom of your shoes and allow you to scale steep icy inclines. If you ever want to know what it feels like to be Spiderman, this is your ticket!

Here's the Wayward Bottle on the top of La Plata Peak at 14,336 feet. The 360-degree view was one of the most breath taking experiences I have had in some time. It appeared that you could see forever and the sights were simply an eyeful.

Total time on the trail was 12.5 hours, plus 6 hours of driving. I was utterly exhausted and utterly refreshed at the same time. This will be an experience that I will not soon forget.

The weather on La Plata has just not matched my calendar. I had plans on trying La Plata over the weekend but the forecast called for a 90% chance of 6 to 9 inches of snow and winds gusting to 35 mph. The forecast just was not looking favorable for another Wayward Bottle attempt on La Plata. So what do you do when the forecast on one mountain range is looking poor? Well, you do the "Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around" and just look at another range.

Here's the Wayward Bottle (and me) on top of Mt. Sheridan. Mt. Sheridan weighs in at 13,743 feet and stands proudly in the heart of the Mosquito Range. This "little" peak stands very close to it's bigger brother Mt Sherman and is connected via a rocky saddle. The temp. on top of Mt. Sheridan was a brisk zero degrees and the winds were blowing around 25 mph. In addition to standing next to Mt. Sherman, you could also see Horseshoe and Gemini Peaks.

The Wayward Bottle back at the car. This was a 13 mile round trip hike and proved a great alternative to La Plata.

We hosted our first Adventure Preview for the new year last week and had 22 visitors from around the country attend. For the adventure component of the experience we visited the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Here we are near Dream Lake with Hallett and Flattop Peaks in the background. This glacier gorge is just stunning.

We took a lunch break at Dream Lake and spent 20 or so minutes relaxing and just having fun.

We spent plenty of time off trail and slidding. It was great to be a kid again.

Here we are back at Bear Lake. Here I am sporting the Wayward Bottle in the middle of the pack.

One of our first stops was In-N-Out burger -- a family favorite. We each had a double-double, animal style, with fries and a strawberry shake. It also gave me the chance to fill my empty water bottle for our excursion to the beach.

After filling up on In-N-Out, we headed to the beach. This is the sunset we witnessed at the cliffs near Point Loma Nazarene University, where my sister-in-law is a student. My husband and I had a lively debate about whether or not Rocky Mountain or Pacific Ocean sunsets were better...

As the sun continued to set, we were amazed to discover that there were surfers in the water. While it is San Diego, it is still January, and the water was freezing cold, but as you can see in this photo (in the middle), there are some die-hard surfers in San Diego.

Well, it was a bust. I left the house at 3:30 am and arrived to the La Plata trailhead at 6:30 am. The temperature was a cool -5°F. Fortunately there was not much wind to speak of and it felt rather pleasant with the proper attire. The snow, however, was a different story. It was up to my knees for much of the hike and up to my thighs in a many places.

This picture was taken as I was leaving the forest and entering a high alpine valley at the base of La Plata. There was plenty of snow loading on the immediate slope on my right and I was hoping to witness an avy up close and personal. But as the day would have it, things were quiet and uneventful.

Here I am sporting my Wayword Bottle about 45 minutes from gaining the NW ridge of La Plata. It took 6.5 hours to cover the 3 miles to get to this point and I figured that it would be too risky to push for the summit and get back to the parking lot at a decent hour. My legs were also tired, but we're not going to talk about that! The summit is hidden in the clouds over my head and slightly to the left. It was 1:30 when this pic was taken and the temp. had warmed up to a balmy 10F.

Here's a look at the La Plata base. The view was simply spectacular. The pure white snow contrasting with the cobalt blue skies was an eye full.

This pic will give you a feel for the pitch coming out of the valley. Travel up this side was turtle slow with so much snow.

This was the first time that I have been turned back on a 14er; granted I have only been doing this for 5.5 months and only have 14 peaks under my belt. While I was a tad disappointed that I did not put hands, feet, and Wayward Bottle on the summit, it was a treat to be outside for a full day of challenge and breath taking scenery.

Stay tuned as I will again give it the ole college try real soon.

From Dr. Jan McCormack:

The Denver Seminary bottle takes a Christmas break with Dr Jan McCormack At Villa Las Arcos in Zihuatanejo Mexico. Zihuatanejo was the site where the prisoners escaped to in the film, "The Shawshank Redemption."

The Wayward Bottle 2009 has officially arrived. I teamed up with Nathan Hoag to put hands and feet on the Mt. Elbert. Nathan Hoag? Well, Nathan is a new MDiv student this fall at our fair school. In addition to being a new student he is also one of our new Kern Scholars. Word on the street has it that he is going to be a rockin pastor. Mt. Elbert? Well Mt. Elbert is the highest peak in our fair state.

We arrived bright and early at the trailhead and got started just as it was getting daylight. Here is a pic of me transporting my Wayward Bottle on the Colorado Trail. There was a couple feet of snow on the ground, but we were fortunate to have had hikers break the trail for us; this saved us a lot of energy and time.

Here’s Nathan standing on a bridge that marks the beginning of the South Mt. Elbert Trailhead. From this point forward the trail climbs several thousand feet out of the valley. As we neared the tree line we could hear the distinct sound of a jet engine or wind; I am still not sure. The forecast called for 15 to 20 mph winds and gusting to 35 mph - I am guessing a meteorologist messed up. Right before we crested the ridge we sported our wind stopper gear and stepped into a wind tunnel. The winds were simply raging. What a hoot!!! I lost count on how many times we were knocked over from this point forward.

Here’s Nathan taking a break out of the wind. If you look closely you can see the wind whipping the snow on the neighboring peak.

Here we are on top of the highest piece of real estate in the state of Colorado at 14,433 feet. At this elevation you have approximately 55% of the oxygen that one would have at sea level. That translates into moving a little slower and breathing a little deeper.

I am sorry to report that I strapped my snowshoes on top of my Wayward Bottle and could not get to it for this photo opt. The winds were simply too strong to linger on top. So, we gave each other a high-five, snapped a couple pics, and started our decent.

Here’s Nathan glissading off the side of Mt. Elbert. “Glissading” is a technical term for adult sledding…just without a sled. My top glissade speed was 12.5 mph. What a sweet way to get off a mountain.

We hiked 12 miles and gained 4,900 feet in elevation. It was a splendid day!

We arrived at the East Ridge route a little early to get a jump on the winter storm that was forecasted for early afternoon. The forecast was calling for 40 mph winds gusting to 60 mph and blowing snow. The forecast was spot on.

Here I am on top of Quandary Peak at 14,265 feet. The winds stopped just enough to snap this picture and then it was quickly back down the mountain. The Wayward Bottle is in my pack…really it is!

Half way down the mountain. The Wayward Bottle is in my pack...really it is...I promise...you'll see!

Back at the parking lot and out of the wind and snow. Merry Christmas!!!

It has been a glorious fall hiking in the heaven of thin air. Ya gotta just love life and God's splendid creation. Celebrate and enjoy. See ya in 09.

I opted to bring in the new year with a little solo excursion up Mt. Sherman. New year...? Well, it was my birthday and I wanted to start the new birth year off with a little excitement.

I arrived at the Fourmile Creek Trailhead at 7:00 a.m. The road to the trailhead was somewhat problematic and I ended up getting my 4-Runner stuck in the snow on two occasions.

Here I am at about 13,800 feet. I am guessing the winds were a constant 40 mph on the ridge to the summit. I literally had to be careful not to let the wind blow me off the ridge; although the wind did blow me down on one occasion. I met another climber decending and we stood toe to toe and had to yell just to hear one another.

Take note of the ice ax in my left hand. This ice ax (affectionately called "Sussy") is a gift from Greg Amstutz. Last month I met Greg in Pittsburgh at an event. We struck up a conversation and Greg shared how he was planning to start an outdoor guide service in California when God called him to start an orphanage in Baja, Mexico. Today Genesis Diez serves a vital role in the lives of hundreds of orphans and migrant children in that region. And so special thanks go out to Greg from entrusting me with his beloved ice ax.

Here I am on top of Mt. Sherman at 14,036 feet. I sat down to take this self portrait of myself and the Wayward Bottle.

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I arrived at the Missouri Gulch trailhead with two friends, Tracy S. and Jim Doenges. We started hiking at 7:15 a.m. with plans on summiting Belford and Oxford -- two 14ers.

We came across this log cabin below the tree line. I am thinking, "if these walls could only talk." That's Tracy and I believe she is thinking, "I wonder if I could homestead this place?"

Check out this White Tailed Ptarmigan! This beautiful bird was roosting above the tree line and well camouflaged; what an amazing creature. Shortly after I took this pic. two Bighorn Sheep ran across the talus several hundred feet above us. It was a great day for seeing wildlife.

We are now at the base of Belford and just starting the steeper portion of our hike.

That's Jim with Missouri in the immediate background. The pyramid shaped mountain further back and to the left is Emerald Peak at 13,904. I suggested that we haul 96 feet of rock up Emerald and have it reclassified into a 14er, but Jim and Tracy just rolled their eyes. The wind was blowing, and it was difficult to hear, but I think one of them called me "Biff."

Here we are on top of Belford at 14,107 with Tracy holding the Wayward Bottle. The 360 view was spectacular!

Here's the Wayward bottle on top of Oxford at 14,153 with Mt. Harvard in the background. Take note that the Wayward Bottle is empty. Again, Jim took the liberty of rehydrating himself when I was not watching my pack.

It was another fine day of Colorado adventure and life itself.

A good sabbatical includes a healthy combination of work and renewal. I am currently on sabbatical, and recently was able to spend three weeks in northern Wisconsin. Fall is my favorite season of the year, and the timing of my stay was such that I was able to enjoy the "peak" of fall colors. Most of my days were filled with reading, studying and writing. Some late-afternoons, after a day of work, I would paddle a canoe on the lake. A few days, I was able to ride my bike on the Three Eagles Trail, between the little towns of Three Lakes and Eagle River. Though the trail is not very long, it passes through a variety of environments -- pine forest, mixed forest, field, bog, creek. The picture with the bottle was taken at a little bridge crossing Mud Creek. I was so glad that my wife, Nancy, was able to join me for the middle-week of my three, and she took these (and many more) pictures.

Three Eagles Trail, Villas County,
northern Wisconsin

We arrived at the Half Moon Trail and started hiking at 8:00 a.m. Here's a pic of me transporting the Wayward Bottle on the North Ridge to the top of the Holy Cross.

The Wayward Bottle successfully make it to the top of the Holy Cross at 14,005 feet. That's Jim Doenges on the left and me (Robert Jones) on the right, and the Wayward Bottle in the middle.

The Wayward Bottle posing solo at 14,005. Take note the bottle is empty; I think Jim might have been thirsty.

Jim giving a thumbs up before we start our decent.

It was an absolutely wonferful day!

Joy and I ran across the wayward bottle while camping in Devil's Den State Park in northwest Arkansas. It seems to still have that wayward spirit...

Here it is in the campground proudly admiring itself since it's color so nicely matches the view. I had to remind it that just as the Lord created such beauty, it's beautiful color was a gift as well, and give thanks.

We snatched just it as it was poised, ready to plunge down into the depths of Devil's Den Icebox cave, where even angels fear to tread...

In my household we prefer the neighborhood playground to any health club. It's outside, free, and open 24/7.

Here's DenSem student Matt Whitt with a wayward bottle in a wilderness within a national park just a 2-hour drive from campus. Sky Pond and the spires known as the Petit Grepon and Sharkstooth are in the background.

Matt and Betsy Whitt at Sky Pond, with Taylor Glacier in the background. While not named for him, the glacier can remind us of the great missionary to China named Hudson Taylor. He wrote that, "God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him. ...The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed."

This is a photo of the Wayward Bottle at the summit of Mt. Sherman, another of Colorado's Fourteeners. The view was spectacular!

Robin Bosten, a Denver Seminary MACO student and her husband traveled to Frisco for aspen viewing this year. They were accompanied by a Denver Seminary Water bottle which posed for a couple of pics in front of an aspen grove.

The Hydrating Summit County Youth_SYATP update... Wayward Bottle joined summit county students as they gathered at Summit County High School and Middle School for the annual "See You At The Pole" youth led prayer gathering. Students surrendered to God their concerns and hopes related to friends, life, family, schools, government, and world issues.

DenSem grads Matt and Jenny Melton, and Mark Hallock with bottles during a recent family stroll on the Colorado Trail at Kenosha Pass.

The Wayward Bottle joined a great group of prospective students for our September Adventure Preview at Lake Dillon.  After an exciting morning of mountain lake kayaking, the Bottle joined Ashley Lokkesmoe, our newest Admissions Counselor (and first-time Adventure Previewer), for a quick lunch before braving the elements on the return trip to the marina. More photos of the adventure can be found on the Denver Seminary Facebook page. Good times!

From Robert Jones:

I spent the night at Crag trailhead and started hiking at 6:00 a.m. The skies were overcast until 13,000 feet. There was plenty of snow, ice, and wind near the top. Here I am on top of Pikes Peak at 14,110. In all the hike was 11.50 miles in length.

Following are 3 pics for The Wayward Bottle from Drew and Natalie Hill's recent trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. One is from the view atop Trail Ridge road. The others are in front of a river and waterfall. Enjoy...

Affectionately known as "Mooner"; I live in Summit County, CO, and spend myself doing life with local teens. I am a new student at Denver Seminary this year with the hopes of an adventure in growth and development as an influencer of youth. This picture was taken on the day after the 08-09 new student orientation. I raced back to the mountains Friday night to spend the weekend with the mob in celebration of another amazing year of youth ministry. The "Green Mountain Reservoir Camping and Boating Excursion" marked our 3rd and final stop of the Summer Adventure Series. It also marked to beginning of a journey that is sure to be an adventure of its own as we lean into a year themed by Toby Mac's song "Lose My Soul."  My bottle will accompany us through this next year as we follow Gods lead in battling against the pull to gain the world and in so doing, losing our souls...stay tuned.

I took a few pictures of the Wayward bottle in a couple different locations. From the front range to the high country the bottle does travel!

The Wayward Bottle hanging out on the ball field on a beautiful August day:

The following pictures were taken on top of Quandary Peak near Breckenridge, Colo. Due to the lack of opposable thumbs -- or other obvious dexterity features -- the bottle didn't sign the log in the canister.

At about 13,500 feet we ran into two mountain goats. One gladly posed for us although she didn't stop eating.

My bottle took my wife and I backpacking for Labor Day weekend.

Wayward bottle with Colorado Columbine (the state flower).
Walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers (Matthew 6:27)

Wayward bottle at Snow Lake in the Never Summer Mountains.
...He walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a mountain... (Matthew 15:29)

Here are photos of the bottle in various settings in Alaska.

On an Alaskan Cruise

At an Alaskan train station

On the train to Denali Park

These three were all at Denali Park

On caribou horns in Denali Park

Here are some pics from my weekend hike. It was another fine day being outside celebrating life.

I arrived at Kite Lake and spent the night and started hiking at 5:45 am. I was surprised at the number of old prospecting sites - they were everywhere. Here I am on top of Democrat at 14,148 feet sporting a new DenSem Bottle. I lost my previous DenSem companion last week on Grays.

On top of Lincoln at 14,268 feet

On top of Bross at 14,172

Fortunately, the Wayward Bottle survived the fall that it took off of Grays Peak last weekend. After a week of recovery, the bottle was spotted once again at the summit of Mt. Bierstadt. My wife, Julie (a current MDiv-Worship student), and I were fortunate enough to have a chance to have our photo taken with this famous adventurer. Now that Julie has gained her first 14er summit she is looking forward to future Wayward Bottle sightings on more of Colorado's 14ers.

I spent the night at the Stevens Gulch Trailhead and started hiking at 5:30 a.m. There was lots of thunder during the night and some snow.

View of Grays on the left and Torreys on the right.

View of the valley below. Mt. Evans and Bierstadt hidden behind the clouds.

View of Torreys while ascending Grays.

My Denver Seminary bottle on the top of Grays @ 14,270 feet. A few seconds after I took this photo a gust of wind blew my bottle off the pack. I last saw my bottle tumbling out of control down the face of the mountain. I briefly thought of yelling, "Wilson!!!" as I lost my bottled friend. Perhaps another hiker will find the bottle when the snow melts or an archeologist in a 1,000 years.

My trekking poles atop of Grays

On top of Torreys @ 14,267 feet but failing to showcase my DenSem bottle; much like Nathan Lamb last week on Mt. Evans, though I have an excuse.

View of Grays while descending Torreys.

This was a very fun trip. It is still summer and I found myself walking in snow drifts up to my knees. A few hours later I was back in Denver cutting my grass in a pair of shorts. Colorado is a an amazing place.

Prior to her surgery (from which she is recovering nicely), Dr. Jan McCormack, proudly shows off her Denver Seminary bottle.

On August 8, the Denver Seminary Nalgene bottle braved the wilds of the Oregon coast. Fortunately it was under the watchful protection of Geordi, the ferocious guard dog, so the bottle lived to tell the tale.

The Wayward Bottle made its way to Disney World last week! The Bottle was especially excited to learn that Denver Seminary water bottles are permitted to enter the park before people do, so that they don't get run over and crushed, despite the Nalgene guarantee.

You can see the Bottle's excitement in these photos over getting to see Cinderella's castle for the first time. The bottle wondered if she might be up for the day yet, and considered going inside to surprise her.

The Bottle quickly got in front of the line for the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride, knowing that flying on the back of an elephant would be a great way to test his non-shatter exterior.

The Bottle was also excited about going on the "It's a Small World" ride, in hopes that he would see things there that are smaller than him. Sadly, he didn't.

The Bottle considered visiting the Haunted Mansion, but quickly lost interest since his Denver Seminary classes taught him that haunted mansions really...aren't.

The Bottle had a thrilling ride on Space Mountain, especially since the seat belt wasn't exactly designed for him. "Hurtling" would be a good word to describe his experience.

He was last seen entering the Carousel of Progress. He has been there for days now, finding seemingly no way to get off the carousel...Of progress. Looks like he'll just have to keep progressing with the world around him. And around, and around, and around...

Nathan Lamb (Director of Admissions) and I (Robert Jones, Vice President of Student Life and Enrollment Management) hiked the Bierstadt - Sawtooth - Mt. Evans route this weekend.

Nathan Lamb and Robert Jones atop Bierstadt at 14,060 feet.

Nathan Lamb and Robert Jones on the ledge of the west side of the sawtooth connecting Bierstadt and Mt. Evans a few minutes before a sleet storm

Nathan Lamb atop Mt. Evans but forgetting to showcase his DenSem bottle at 14,264 feet

Robert Jones atop Mt. Evans remembering to showcase his DensSem bottle.

I went on a personal retreat Friday and Saturday in Rocky Mountain National Park, and my bottle snuck into my pack.

Lost Lake:
On the shores of Lost Lake in the less-visited northern section of Rocky Mountain National Park my bottle reminded me that once I was lost and blind, but now I can see. Amazing grace indeed!

Mummy Mountain:
I thanked my bottle for carrying water up this 13er. If only it would grow legs so I wouldn't have to carry it up! I lift my eyes up to the mountains. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2). Phooey with Hollywood Mummies; should we not seek God's majesty in His creation instead of sumer action celluloid?

Engaging in theological reflection about its journey, The Bottle finds itself on the horns of a dilemma.

Having squandered its inheritance on theological books and lacking the funds for more respectable transportation, The Bottle is reduced to hitching an unbecoming ride while hoping desparately that it sees nobody it knows from the seminary.

Learning an experiential lesson in humility and incarnational ministry, The Bottle takes up manual labor. In a vulnerable, broken moment it admits to hopes of once again shopping at R.E.I. and holding filtered water purchased at Starbucks.

Thunderstorms drove my bottle indoors, to the climbing wall at the American Mountaineering Center. That purple thing is a belay device that climbers call an Air Traffic Controller or "ATC." My bottle says ATC should stand for "Adventures Through Christ" instead. I agree. I call as my heart grows faint, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2).

Jesus is your Belayer. Climb on.

My bottle visited the new Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum in nearby Golden, CO. Here the bottle is telling us it is timeless, hanging out with the old school climber and gear of yesteryear.

Here, my bottle - like the institution it represents - shows that it is contemporary and relevant to today's scene. Timeless, indeed! My bottle is not just a "hydration system" -- it's a climbing companion! ...Ah, an object lesson again... When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. (Matthew 5:1, The Message, emphasis added.)

Here is the bottle at the summit of Grays Peak (14,270') and Torreys Peak ( 14, 267'). I climbed both peaks yesterday.

Here are some photos from Rocky Mountain National Park.

From Brad Widstrom:

The Bottle had it's annual eye exam, and everything looks great! In this photo, Dr. Loomis checks the optic nerve...

From Jim Doenges:

My Denver Seminary bottle carried me to the top of Longs Peak. Like everyone from Denver Seminary, I think it's going to go far...

(I served as a leader for the first annual Lygon Stevens Memorial Climb. We got 21 people to the summit - and 10 of them it was their first 14er. Over 50 people participated. I was on the trail for 17 hours; we had graupel, hail, snow, rain, some blisters and illness...It was a full day.)

All pictures were taken at Solid Grounds Coffee Shop over on S Broadway.

All pictures are Denver Seminary students or grads...Well, the one labeled "Bible Study" is one of our grads and adjunct instructors with 3 girls from his senior high Bible study that were meeting that morning.

The one labeled "creating a syllabus" is me an Brenda Snailum, one our grads and adjunct instructors who is in a PhD program. She and I are creating a fall course together. The bottle had some very good suggestions. We aren't going to let him--or is it a her--do any teaching though.

The two fighting over the bottle are both employees of the coffee shop but they're also seminary students.

And I do think it's important to note in one picture that the bottle has chosen to use a Mac.

From Jim Doenges:
My bottle's first outing: 10,160' at Loch Vale in Rocky Mountain National Park on a hot July day. It reminds me of what Jesus said: "Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart'" (John 7:38).

Loch Vale is in Rocky Mountain National Park near Glacier Gorge at an elevation of 10,160 feet.