Climbing Horn Peak
Each year there is a week-long break between the summer and fall semester at Sangre de Cristo Seminary. The students and teachers choose to spend that time in different ways, whether it is catching up on “fun” reading, taking a little camping trip, building new steps for a deck, or…climbing Horn Peak. I am told that Horn Peak is 13,428 ft., but during the climb, one realizes there is not much difference between 13.4 and the 14.2 of Pikes. My friend and fellow seminary student Matthew and I, set out from the Horn Peak Trail Head at 11:15 a.m. on September 3rd. It was a beautiful warm day, around 77 degrees, with very little wind. After several stops to get more air in this 52 year old’s set of lungs, we made the summit just a few minutes before 4:30 p.m. It was a gruelling climb up, and the trek down was not much easier. It is not a climb that I would recommend for those with bad knees, because coming down really makes them hurt. Paula had a really nice hot meal waiting for us when we got back to the cabin around 7 p.m., and we were thankful for that. The next day, I was not very sore, and finished the steps to our back porch as I mentioned earlier. In the afternoon, we took Chris and Allison Conger and their two daughters to see Mission Wolf. I talk more about that in a following post. By Saturday evening, my legs, hips and calves were starting to get pretty sore from the climb, and this morning (Sunday), I’m feeling really stiff and sore. But at this point, I’m glad I made the climb. There were several points where it was pretty scary, and my exhaustion level was high, and I had to really push myself to move on. While I might consider shorter trips up to the tree line on other trails, I don’t think I’ll try anymore summits. However, I’ve got two more years here and I could change my mind before then. The beauty of God’s creation is magnificent at that altitude!
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About
- David and Paula McAfee on Rainbow Trail
Our Story…
David has served in many areas which include serving as an officer in the USMC, law enforcement, information technology, sales and more importantly ministry. He has been a Minister of Single Adults, Minister of Education and Senior Pastor in Lubbock, TX and recently Tucumari, NM. David received a Bachelor of Arts in Law Enforcement Administration, a Master of Arts in Political Science, and has one semester left to complete a Master of Divinity degree. Paula was formerly an executive secretary with Occidental Petroleum, Oklahoma University College of Continuing Education, and Texas Tech University Law School.
Sangre de Cristo Journal is a collection of postings about seminary life in the Sangre de Cristo mountains and is not endorsed by the Seminary, although I think they like it. Hopefully it will give prospective students a better feel for what a non-traditional seminary atmosphere is like and provide some meaningful information that the Seminary website does not provide.
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Quote of the Week
Trifles Which God Gives
“The emperor Augustus, in his great feasts, gave trifles to some—but gold to his favorites.
Just so—honors, riches and worldly pleasures are the trifles which God gives to the worst of men.
God gives His gold—His special love and grace—only to His people.” - Thomas Brooks Heaven on Earth 1667
Hey, I am interested in going to Sangre de Cristo Seminary in the future. Could you give me a detailed description of the classes?
sincerely,
Gustavo A. Quintero
I would suggest you check out the seminary website at the link below. We start Fall classes tomorrow. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have.
http://sdcs76.org/
I would like to know more about the workload of the classes.
I;m sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. The workload is not easy. This is my second time around. I went to seminary in the early 90′s at Southwestern and this is very comparable. The environment of learning here is worth it all. The people are great and the professors want to see you succeed. We are a seminary that places much greater emphasis on the Biblical languages that most other seminaries. There is usually homework everyday and reading and we are held accountable to finish our work, but we also work together very well. I hope this helps.
Thanks for responding to my questions. I am currently going to the undergrad school of Southern baptist Seminary. I am seeking a more remote and rural location to study. I would especially like to go here in the future because of it is not expensive. I also would like to go to a school where they focuse more on the languages, and I hopefully be able to be able to read my Greek New Testament after attending. I have taken taken two Greek classes so far. We used Basics of biblical Greek and another textbook by Croy. It would also be nice to be able to have more time with my professors.
While I have a great deal of respect for Southern Seminary and it’s staff, and had considered attending there, and still may for my doctoral work, the environment for study here at SDCS is unbeatable. The personal relationships we have with the professors and their families are lifelong. Another note about the professors is that during the summer semester, we have world class professors teaching here. Case in point is people like Dr. Simon Kistemaker, Dr. David Chapman and Dr. Rollin Blackburn and others. Another aspect I might mention, is the opportunity for you to get experience preaching and teaching. I don’t know for sure how it is at Southern, but reflecting on my time at Southwestern, I can tell you that you will be required to preach and teach several times each year and you may have opportunites to preach at local churches as I have. Most of the time, preaching at the local churches have financial benefits that can help offset the cost of tuition. As you have noted, the cost of attending seminary here is extremely low and the tuition assistance scholarship after the first year, makes it almost free the second and third year.
I have not been able to visit sangre de cristo yet. From the pictures you have posted it looks beautiful. I would like to see a picture of the inside of the library and the inside of the apartments if that would be alright with you.
Ok, I’ll be glad to do that for you. The Lord bless you!