Tetelestai!

It is finished! We made it! The "impossible" run is done. Thank you for your support. Check in next week to see the video from the run.

Passing the Torch

SEPTEMBER 2nd-3rd, we'll hike the full stretch of the Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains in ONE day. "Did you say 72 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 24 hours?" "Impossible!"

"With God all things are possible." ~ Jesus of Nazareth.

It's not impossible when we tackle this feat together in recognition that we are each members of one body in Jesus. Each of the six two-person groups will run/hike a distance ranging from 7.8-20.4 miles. We'll be symbolically passing a torch between each group.

The Campus House Of Prayer (CHOP) at the University of TN has opened this August with the vision of being a 24hr house of prayer in which students intercede for the campus night and day. This sounds overwhelming at first... maybe even "impossible." But together we can sustain such a movement. As small groups from more than 30 campus ministries are beginning to experience the power of intercessory prayer, we're beginning to see more "torch-bearers" hitting their knees at the CHOP for one and two hour sessions of prayer. Pretty soon there is unending night and day prayer for the campus. See the connection to the "impossible" 24hr prayer run? Both become quite possible when we each do our small but eternally significant part. Together, working as one body, we are strong. Together, as the functioning body of Jesus Christ we can do the impossible.

If you are interested in joining the team for a leg of the prayer run through the beautiful Smokies, please contact Paul at (hassellphoto@gmail.com) or Bryan at (bhill117@gmail.com). All runners and prayer folk will meet at the CHOP (1915 Lake Ave - Knoxville, TN) at 4pm on Wednesday, Sept 2, 2009. First group of runners depart from there to the trailhead in Fontana at 5pm.

All friends and family are invited to celebrate at the CHOP cookout 9pm Thursday evening!

DONATE to the CHOP Prayer Run.

It's no walk in the park...

We'll climb a cumulative 18,000' in elevation over our 72.371 miles of the Appalachian Trail. FYI: That's a greater elevation gain than climbers ascending from base camp to the summit of Mt Everest.

(click to enlarge this diagram)

Base elevation map courtesy of Robert Lochbaum.

This portion of the AT also boasts the highest point (Clingmans Dome: 6,643') on the entire 2,143 miles of the trail as well as the longest continous stretch above 5,000'.

Full moon, Great weather...

We're going for this thing rain or shine, but it sure is good to have such a fantastic weather report for Sept 2nd and 3rd.

Moon phase: 2 days from full... great for night visibility

Temp: 73-high = 51-low... perfect!

Precip: partly cloudy

Sunset Wed: 8:04pm

Sunrise Thurs: 7:05am

Of course... now it comes together.

Well folks, with just 30 minutes till kickoff on September 2nd, here's your schedule of runners and their approximate trek.

16.8 miles 9-2AM Mark Thurman and Bryan Hill

16.3 miles - 2-7AM Nick Baker and Paul Hassell

7.8 miles - 5:30 at Newfound Gap, then 6:00 at the parking lot at Clingman’s Dome. Walk up ~0.5mile paved trail to lookout tower ready to depart by 6:30am.

10.2 miles (in, then same distance back) - 8am at Newfound Gap. Ready by 8:30-9 am – 12:30 (passing on the torch) is Mark McComas and ?

9 miles - 12:30 – 3:00pm (hikes out down Snake Den Ridge Trail when torch is passed on) 30 is David Zampini from Pecks Corner ending at the trailhead of Snake Den Trail Head

11.9 miles - 3:30 – 7:00pm Snake Den Ridge to Davenport Gap, 11’ish miles, Nick Raff and ?