June 20th to 24th, 2016
When you get up in the morning, put your pants on, brush your hair, tie your shoes, and head out the door you would not expect to walk into Heaven. But, then again why not.
June 21, 2016
On June 21, 2016, just 10 ½ months since that fateful day when I was hit by that Ford Explorer going 35-40 mph leaving me badly bruised and a broken leg, I was fortunate enough to walk into Heaven. Not only on that day but on each of two days following. I will just say at this time that Heaven is beautiful. The rest of the story will follow.
The story really began in May of 2014 when I was given the freedom of the open road and a long list of adventures that would shape my life and prepare me for what happened between June 20th and 24th 2016. Who would think that buying a bicycle would put you on the road to be able to Walk into Heaven? Through fate and the blessing of a loving Heavenly Father I was given a fresh start in life along with a bit of freedom to pursue a dream of going road cycling. The day I picked up my new bike I met a friend Brian Wilson for my first ride. After a brief consultation it was decided to ride to the top of Geiger Grade, a challenge, and a climb of over 2000 feet with an exhilarating downhill.
Well, I loved it and that opened the door to many other mountain passes and longer rides. By Labor Day I was doing multiple passes and 100-mile rides all in a day. On my ride of Labor Day, doing Geiger Grade, Spooner Summit, and Mt. Rose Summit and home, I found myself on the top of Spooner Summit looking south over mountains and horizons with a yearning to ride even further. I resolved at that time to set my sites on a longer ride from Reno south to Yosemite Valley and back in a week.
Through much planning and preparation this goal was accomplished on June 15-22, 2015. For one week, 24-7, I was in the presence of God and his creation. Miracles were about me every day. The experiences of that week prepared me for the next mountain and experience.
On August 7, 2015 I was in Lassen Volcanic National Park at their Annual Dark Sky Festival. We were there in 2014 as well and during that time I biked over the summit and to the north end of the park and back. It was a trip of a little over 60 miles and an elevation gain of 6000 ft. An awesome ride. I was all excited to do it again and prepared everything for that day and off I went. Little did I know I was in for an experience of a lifetime. A real-life changing experience. A couple miles before I reached the north entrance and a break for lunch, I was taking a short stop to get a drink of water and rest a little. As I was standing on the side of the road and straddling my bike, I heard a loud noise. I turned to see what had happened and as I turned back around, I felt a pain course my body on a scale of 1-10, a perfect 100 and started to pass out. I also saw a car pull over and realized I had been hit by a car. With every bit of adversity there are seeds of equivalent benefits. The adversity and ordeal that had happened would prove to be miraculous and open the Windows of Heaven for more of Heavenly Father’s blessing.
After the trauma of being hit by a car while cycling can be life changing. I wondered if I would ever get on a bike again and ride for any distance. On October 17 2015 just two months and a week after the accident I went with our boy scouts out near Pyramid Lake and climbed back on my bike for a 50-mile bike ride. We camped overnight in the desert, and then hit the road the next morning. I was a little reluctant with the distance and just being given the OK to walk on my leg without crutches. I gave it a try. Well at the end of 50 miles I was wiped out but ready for more.
Yes, I was ready for more. More of what was to come. In the spring of 2016, I was asked by the local Stakes Young Men’s Leadership to lead the 14-18-year-old boys during the LDS scout camp week on a high adventure experience in Lassen Volcanic National Park. I was to take a different group of boys each day. On the first day I was to teach them that God is Real. The second day that Jesus Christ Lives and of the atonement. The third day that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is true.
I wanted to give them a high adventure they would always remember. I only had about 7 hours each day for each group to accomplish that. After much prayer and thought it came to me that I was to take the boys to the top of Broekhoff Mountain each day and experience what was put there for us. I planned on this and set a date to go to Lassen Park and check out the hike and the snow conditions on the trail and mountain the week before the event. When I did, I found that the trail and the summit was doable. However, there were many challenges and there would be snow. The realization of the physical ordeal it would put me through each day gave me to worry. Could I do it. I anguished for five days prior to the first day. How could I do this each day for three days? What was I doing? It has only been 10 months since my cycling accident and broken leg and ankle. What if I cannot do the three days? I could not disappoint the boys. I cried and cried out to Heavenly Father for help and understanding. If I was to do this, I needed his help. The answers and help did not come right away. I was left to myself to work this out and do all that I could on my own. As each day passed, the reality of what I was to accomplished weighed heavy on my mind.
Monday June 20, 2016 was finally here. I had planned well and now needed to get my things in the truck and get myself to Lassen Park. Never in my life had I felt so much doubt and anguish over something I needed to do. The process of getting all loaded up and ready seemed to be never ending. Finally, I found myself in the truck heading out when I suddenly stopped and cried out and commanded the adversary to depart and leave me alone and that I was going to do all that I had been asked. A sweet calm came over me and I was off for what was to be “A Walk Into Heaven” and one of the most memorable and life changing experiences of my life.
As I got closer to my destination, I felt a surge of energy come over me along with a strong determination to do what I had to do and be ready in the morning for the first group and give them everything they were expecting and then some. Camp was set up and I had all the comforts of home. A good bed, good food, and hot water. I put my 8×8 easy up over a picnic table. I then put my airbed on the picnic table off the ground and slept well. I then set up my camp stove and boiled water for my mountain house dinners and sponge baths. What more could you want?
As I settled in the night came. With the darkness also came doubt, a little anguish, and the sick feeling that accompanies such feelings. I again questioned what I was about to do. What had I gotten myself into? Was I equal to the challenge? Again, I got on my knees and cried out to Heavenly Father and ask him to remove these thoughts and give me the assurance and strength to do what I had come to do. Tomorrow was the day. I felt his presence and the negative feelings were gone and I slept well.
With eager anticipation I was up early and prepared a hearty breakfast and put my things together for the day. The appointed time had finally come for me to meet the group at the trailhead.
More surprises. In my preparations I had given specific instruction for the type of foot ware to have, along with a hiking pole, and a backpack with adequate food and water for the day. I first noticed that many did not have what I thought was adequate foot ware, few had a hiking pole, and some without what I thought was adequate food and water. How could I get all these boys and leaders to the top of this mountain and back down safely in 7 hours. Some of these boys and leaders are not going to make it. Oh, Ye Of Little Faith! I did not have the faith.
One of my favorite books I had been reading every day is “A Future as Bright as Your Faith” by President Thomas S. Monson. Each day he gives a special thought for the day. On this day, June 21, 2017, he wrote something that was so applicable for the day and for what we were about to do. I took a moment to welcome everyone and share with them the following thought from President Monson.
“As we pursue our quest for eternal life, we will come to many forks and turnings in the road. We cannot venture into the uncertainties of the future without reference to the certainties of the past. Your challenge is to join the forces of the old and the new—experience and experiment, history and destiny, the world of man and the world of science—but always in accordance with the never-changing word of God. In Short, He becomes your pilot on this eternal journey. He knows the way. His counsel can keep us from the pitfalls threatening to engulf us and lead us rather to the way of life eternal.” In others words, “Today we have a mountain to climb, experiences to experience, and goals to reach so let’s use all that we have been given and make it happen.
Hi Ho! Hi Ho! And up the trail we go. What stories would we tell at the end of the day?
More to come!!!!!!!!!
Had I known what was to come I may not have ventured into the mostly unknown. It was unknown because there was still much snow covering the marked trails and, in my preparation, I had not hiked a trail to the top in these present conditions. With hope and a lot of faith I led the way. However, that was a little difficult as there were a lot of trials in the snow and it was difficult to say the least, to find which trail was correct. Midway up the mountain the trail was so obscure we ended up in a bushwack and a lot of uncertainty. We pressed on and met up at about the 2/3rds mark and then could see our way to the top. I was relieved and knew that it was now possible for all to make the top.
At one point there were so many different choices of trails and so called cross roads I stopped the group and took and opportunity for a teaching moment. The lesson I call, “The Crossroads Of Life” was appropriate. When we come to the crossroads of our lives who can we trust to turn to for direction? Where can we go to find that help. During this short little lesson as I was speaking and asking this question, one of the boys opened his backpack for something and a Book Of Mormon popped out. That was exactly what I was teaching. We can turn to the scriptures, Our Heavenly Father and Our Savior. We can pray and receive direction. That was what we needed to do at this time to successfully find our way to the top.
With the help or Heavenly Father, we all made it to the top and were thankful for this. Now it was time to return to the bottom. We needed now to remember the way and safely make it home. We had a lot of fun going down. The boys took opportunity to do a little butt sliding in the snow. We again got separated into groups. Some made it to the bottom before others. When the bulk reached the bottom, we were informed that a group had been doing some butt sliding and one of the boys slid into a tree well and had broken his leg and could not make it to the bottom. Miraculously a cell phone had worked and a call was made to park rangers of the situation and there was a helicopter rescue underway to rescue the young man. It was a bit touch and go. We got word that he had been taken out to a hospital and the rest of the group was headed down. At the end of the day, we were all safe. I was relieved and gave thanks for the blessings of Heavenly Father. The group returned to the scout camp and I went to my camp in the park for a good night’s sleep. I needed to do this again tomorrow. This time I knew the trail and felt a bit more comfortable in what I was to do. After a good meal and restful night’s sleep I would be ready to do it again. Months later I again met up with the young man who was injured. He had broken his leg. His uncle told me that the experience he had changed his life for the better. It has been an example that with every bit of adversity there are seeds of equivalent blessings.
June 22, 2016
It is now day two. I am up with eager anticipation for the next group of young men and their leaders. I am sure each of them has heard of what happened the day before and there may be some reluctance. I had my breakfast and a good fueling and headed off to meet them. I arrived a little early and was able to meet them one by one as they came and found they were about as ready as the group the day before. However, this time I felt more confident of the day and was glad I had the experience of yesterday. I was ready.
On the trail up the mountain today we all pretty much stayed together. At one point the trail took a couple turns and up a bit of a slope. As we all reached the top of this area of the trail I felt another teaching moment. I called this the “Slippery Slopes” I noticed several of the boys and men giving another a hand up to help them up the slope and through the slippery part of the trail. I asked everyone if they had a bit of a hard time hiking up the last little bit of trail with its turns and slippery slopes and needed that “Hand Up”. I compared that to life. Life can be a little difficult at times and we may need a bit of help. I then asked where they can get the help need in their lives. Replies came such as, parents, friends, priesthood leaders, bishop, and Heavenly Father. I stressed that in our lives we will come to turns in the road and slippery slopes. However, we need not worry. We have help. Then off we went to the top for another rewarding moment of accomplishment. The day ended with everyone safe at the bottom. I retired to my camp and gave thanks for another rewarding day. I was a little tired but felt great and was eager for the next day. I was hungry and looked forward to another great meal and a restful night’s sleep. I thank Heavenly Father for his presence in my life and blessing us today.
June 23, 2016
Day three is now here. I was up early, got myself a great breakfast and headed off to the trailhead to meet the third and final group. As the group arrived, I was a bit concerned. There were a few of the young men that were a little on the heavy side and not in that great of shape. Many did not have on the type of footwear I had recommended to them and may be a problem. Physical condition, footwear, and lack of hiking poles could present a problem,
As we were getting ready to go, one of the young men from the Tongan Ward, Etu, came up to me and asked, “Bro. Giles, you did this on Tuesday, and yesterday, and now again today, How do you do that?” Wow! What a great question. I had a feeling at that moment and then I knew why. I looked at him and said, “Etu, I will tell you at the top.”
So off we went up the same trail we took the day before and kept pretty much together. The only thing concerning me was the few boys that were a little heavy were lagging somewhat behind. I was concerned that if we waited for them the main group may not make the top in the time we had allocated. At midpoint and at the location of the helicopter rescue on the first day we stopped for a rest and a drink of water. I called the adult leaders together and expressed my feelings. It was decided that one of the leaders would lag behind if needed with those who may lag behind. The rest then would proceed to the top and fulfill their purpose of the day. I was amazed at what happened next. The main group summitted in good time and I was glad. I took my position midway between the two groups in case I was needed at the second group. I kept looking back and the second group was progressing. Nearing the top, I decided to march on and make the summit. As I was about to reach the summit, I had a step left and there was Etu. He reached out his hand, pulled me up and asked, “So How Did You Do It?” I took him aside and was about to tell him when I glanced down the trail and to my pleasure, I saw the second group coming to the top. They were going to make it. I was so glad and joy fill my soul. With knowing all would make it I felt peace.
It was now time for Etu. “Etu I said, In the Book Of Mormon you read, ‘Surely the Lord God giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way to fulfill that which has been commanded. A commandment could be an assignment like the one I had been given. I have therefor been given the strength to do that which he has asked without getting tired for these three days. However, when I get to the bottom of the mountain at the parking lot the assignment will be over and I am going to be tired and feel the fatigue and hurt of these past three days. Little did I know how true that would be.
As a group now we enjoyed the view and the joys of all being together and accomplishing our goal for the day. Pictures taken and congratulations were expressed. I was happy to see this and know all was well. It was now time to head down the mountain. I could just feel what was ahead of me. The pain and fatigue would hit me like a freight train. As the bottom got closer, I could feel it coming on. Around the last curve of the trail and there it was, the parking lot. I crossed the road and then it happened. I was tired and I did hurt. I found my way over to Etu, looked him in the eye and said, “I HURT!” It was done.
I had one more thing to do. I needed to drive into town and up to the scout camp where all the scouts were camped. Our ward camp was glad to see me and gave me something good to eat and I was glad I did not have to worry about fixing my dinner.
After dinner there would be a camp wide campfire. Between eating I had a little time and I didn’t know whether I should role over and die or just buck up and endure the pleasure of the misery and discomfort.
I made it to the campfire and enjoyed it. It was now time to return to my camp about 30-40 minutes away. I was so tired I was afraid I would not make it back to camp. I seriously contemplated checking into a motel in town and crashing. However, when I checked cost, I was motivated to get back to camp and did.
Once at camp I placed my body into my sleeping bag and called it for the day. I knew the morning would come and I had to pack everything up and return home.
Morning came and of course it was to soon. Once up I knew I had to pack up and get everything up the hill to the truck. I still felt the fatigue and soreness of the past three days. I fixed some breakfast and ate. After breakfast it was time to load up. I had a prayer and prayed I would have the strength to finish the job. After the prayer I stood up and I could not believe what I felt. I felt strong and energetic. I gathered up my things and after several trips up the hill to the truck I found that it was all done. At that point it was all done. The assignment of the past three days was complete. Heavenly Father had been with me and strengthened me. It was all a miracle. Now it was time to go home. All the way home I felt the joy in my heart for all that had been done.
Yes it is so true……….
Within each of us there are limitations
However within those limitations there are mountains to climb and goals to reach
So climb your mountains and achieve your goals
Live your dreams
Why? Because YOU CAN DO IT
View photos from this adventure in my Gallery – Yosemite Trip page.
View photos from this adventure in my Gallery – Lassen Trip – Broken Leg page.