What a grand reunion this proves to be, especially since they have only now come find out that all seven are part of the brotherhood of the wayƒarers, the most wonderful brotherhood that has ever existed.

As they sit around the campfire, they have opportunity not only to share with each other again but this time the most important sharing is how each found the brotherhood and how they came to find the truth. —Thom Buras

With solace having been long absent from his life journey, the wayƒarer pines for it's comfort to soothe his soul and it's wisdom to fully embrace him during meditative moments.

Dwelling here aside the seashore within this once quaint harbor city, the decades have overtaken the wayƒarer during which time he has allowed the frivolous wants of men to occupy the self and thus keeping out of mind and at long reach the summit on the mountain with all the wonders and blessings it provides any who would ascent to it.

Only now has he again become cognizant of the need to return to the mountain and ascend to it′s summit. However, the power of his vision to influence his actions seems to have abandoned him when he last left the mountain to come here to the valley plain, a lowland adept at keeping the mountain out of sight, it′s lofty summit entirely indiscernible and even thoughts of its heights wholly out of mental focus.

With winter nearing it′s end, all preparations complete and the gear packed, he is ready to start the quest for the journey on, a path that would begin with his departure from this valley plain on the seashore, now only a wakeup away.

Long before the arrival of dayspring and only by the light of the waning gibbous moon, just one night after full, the wayƒarer, laden with his burden, slowly makes his way upon the litter strewn concrete streets and stale air of this port city.

The path, teeming with biting insects and home to abounding low life routes him through areas he knows to be replete with all sorts of life threatening obstacles. Carefully, he winds his way out from the inner city and soon takes steps away from the stench of this lowland into an area of hills strewn with large boulders where the footing is tedious at best.

At suntouch, he has moved into the outskirts of the city where he now travels along the edge of row after row of large homes all covered in the current holiday decor, many of those living inside still sleeping off the imbibing from celebrations of the previous evening. After many miles and long hours afoot he eventually walks out of the concrete enshrouded areas of the valley plain and comes to a watercourse, the first waterway on this dusty path and with the sun descending fast, he quickly locates a stealth site for his campsite, one that will provide concealment from any who may happen by during the coming darkness.

As the sun sets, the wayƒarer prepares his camp by first setting up his tent to avoid the insects, then he draws through his filter water from the river, removes from the backpack his stove to boil the water and then prepares his evening meal. Then, in his prayer, he gives thanks to God for the safe passage of this day, for the knowledge of the path ahead, for the faith in His guidance, for the hope in the steps to come, for all the blessings he has received and for the provision of this nourishing meal; then he eats his Repast. Afterwards, he readies both his self and his burden for the journey yet ahead on his approach to the mountain. He knows that the morrow will find himself walking on an old barge tow path, a trail now called by most the river path and one which will only be the first of several paths he must needs traverse before his ascent onto the mountain. After all his preparations and planning, he believes that most likely, his arrival to the summit will not be until near the rise of the full moon shortly after the spring equinox.

Then, with the sunglow slowly fading to gray and the temperature dropping to near freezing, he climbs into his sleeping bag, reads from the Bible after which he closes his eyes and again gives thanks to the most high of the earth for the many perfect gifts received this day. (James 1: 17)

16 Adar JO. At first, it is only the moon, waxing gibbous, that provides light to place his foot as he walks slowly taking each step with care. Soon he notices that the eastern horizon begins to disclose a slight blue glow and knows that the onset of dayspring will follow soon.

With this new light now guiding his footfall, he travels apace knowing that numerous are the steps ahead.

He would choose to traverse as much of this mostly level and slowly ascending path before this day ends, but his ability to do that will depend entirely on what this traverse has by way of obstacles to delay his progress. As he proceeds along this waterway, he concentrates on breathing deeply in cadence with his step, having become proficient, even up to a seven count.

Soon, he arrives in an area where thorn bushes have overgrown the path requiring him to leave the trail and walk through an overgrown area of brush to avoid the briar patch. After a couple hours making he way around this obstacle, he arrives back on the path above the briar to continues upon his way. In several locations, the path crosses to the opposite side of the river where bridges, now deteriorated, were previously constructed but not now safe to use so he fords the waterway instead, which only slows his progress at each crossing. As the sun begins to drop low to the western horizon, he comes to a crossing where the bridge has been completely washed away, the water channel flooded by water and much too deep to cross. He stops, doffs his backpack and raises his legs to rest his feet, weary from the travel on this hard path, packed down by years of use.

From his pack, he retrieves his water bottle to drink and recalls that this river rises to a lake much higher up stream where a dam across the mouth of the lake releases water during the day creating power for the needs of valley plain below. However, when power needs during the night diminishes, the dam opening closes to store the water for the needs of the following day. Therefore, he decides to stay the evening upon this bank and await the low water passage that he will find early in the morning. Because, even here the problem with insects remain, he again sets up his shelter and then follows his evening routine of cooking, prayer, nourishment and then reading before sleep. He thinks about the morrow and hopes that day's end will find him near the area of the next passage of this journey, one departing this river and which leads into the old growth forests.

17 Adar JO. Before the dawning of this day, the wayƒarer rises, stows his gear, dons his burden and walks towards the river. Upon arriving, he sees that the deep watercourse has retreated to exposes large areas of ripples across the top of the water. The ripples, he knows from previous river crossing, are where the water is shallow enough to ford. He climbs down from the upper bank to the water's edge and immediately begins his ford of this river. On the opposite side, he climbs up the bank to begin a long tedious and uneventful walk along the river. At the end of the third day, he come to where the forests first begin to replace the low lying brush with taller hardwoods. He continues until he comes upon the trailhead for the next path, then walks to a nearby pool and makes his camp at the water. With the sunglow already upon him, he forgoes cooking, eats a few nuts while reading from the gospel and after praying, he turns in for the evening. (Romans 1:16)

18 Adar JO. Then, lifting his pack to his back, he begins walking away from the river on the new path towards the woodlands and quickly the verdure plentiful along the river valley gives way to progressively larger trees. After just a few miles, he arrives at the old growth forest with trees having trunks so massive that they overshadow everything else around and so tall that their tops reach into the heavens. Any light that may have filtered through these trees have long since been blocked by the dense canopy of these monoliths.

This overshadowing from these ancient trees hinders all growth below, befouls the air with mustiness and fog which results in causing a deep gloom about the forest floor.

A short way into the woodlands he comes to an extensive range of fallen trees, many having fallen right across the pathway making travel upon it near impassible. However, after several tedious detours, each of these downed tress are circumnavigated and then his progress, albeit slow, on the woodlands path through this forest can then resume. Also impeding progress, the forest is replete with spider webs stretching across the path and occurring so frequently, that the wayƒarer must need acquire a stick to walk with so that he may break the webs away from ahead of his step.

Immediately before a sunset after days of walking through the woodlands, the wayƒarer arrives at a beautiful clearing across which flows a cascading creek and he chooses to make this his evening campsite. As he prepares his Repast, the sun drops to the horizon and provides a display of color unlike any he has beheld even since before his many days in the valley plain. This grand display, he believes to be a gift from the supreme, because any such pulchritude here deep within the dense old growth forest is simply concealed by the gloom in this forest. Too, this scene serves as a presage of what he knows lies ahead upon the top of the mountain and he keeps this reminder close to his heart. Moreover, during the last few miles of today's walk, especially since the elevation has steadily been increasing, he has espied occasional evergreen trees in the forest and knows that he is coming close to where the forest will changes from the seed bearing trees to the cone bearing ones and which is where the evergreen path begins.

Like each day that have come to it's close upon his journey, he takes the time to give thanks to the Creator of the heavens and earth, then he eats a meal and after reading from the Truth, closes his eyes to sleep. During the night, he awakens briefly to see that the moon is at third quarter soon to wane into the crescent. (John 8: 32; John 17: 17)

23 Adar JO. The dayspring of this day finds the wayƒarer already well on his way and he makes note of how the oaks, maples and other hardwoods of the woodlands forest slowly transition into the balsam, fir and pine trees of the evergreen forest.

By the second morning, the hardwood trees are no longer found in the surrounding forest but instead he is only seeing evergreen trees and those of progressively taller stature. As his step takes him deeper among the evergreen trees, travel on the path becomes increasingly difficult due to the constant ascending and descending terrain. Too, new and different obstacles take the place of those he only recently experienced below in the woodlands forest. Yes, the path here is now replete with rocks, roots, and ruts, causing him to stumble several times. However, each time he picks himself back up, wipes off any dirt and continues ahead. The obstacles, the falls, the tedious footing, all make travel through this evergreen forest a treacherous and tiresome path to walk upon for both his feet and legs.

The rocks of varying shape and size are never small enough to walk on neither large enough to step on but constantly flail the feet always searching for ways to cause a fall or to painfully contort the ankle. Constant vigilance is necessary to traverse the continuous rock strewn areas beneath these evergreen trees. Also at the base of the large evergreens and making foot travel all the more perilous are slippery roots extending out in all directions, crossing the pathway at every angle, requiring constant action in stepping over and around each and every one. Frequently found between the outcropping of the rocks and roots are the ruts, low areas that pool rain water and which, due to constant foot travel have caused these pools to become mud pots which progressively become deeper and wider with every passerby; many offering no other alternative but to become bemired by the foul-smelling, thick mud.

Days come and go while slowly making progress deep within this overshadowing forest bespread by many obstacles but stalwartly the wayƒarer must need be and steadfast he must needs remain to reach the upper edge of the evergreens so as to come upon the trails of ascent upon the mountain. During the long days of struggle upon this evergreen path, he meditates on the many blessings he knows to exist upon the mountain. While constantly moving upward, he thinks back how he has risen out of the valley plain leaving behind the hills and boulders; walked through large areas of biting insects that tormented him throughout the lower reaches of this journey; bushwhacked around thorns, made river fords at deteriorated bridges and waited for the flooding waters to reside, all of which slowed his progress along the river path; then in the old growth forest, persisted through the gloom, the fallen trees and the constant webs stretching across the woodlands path; and finally now in this forest, how he has the constant need to deal with dangers inherent in the rocks, roots and ruts here upon the evergreen path. Like each of the paths before, with their many obstacles, he know that soon, this path as well will eventually come to an end.

28 Adar JO. After sunset, while persisting in the fading light of the sunglow, he arrives at the treeline. Finding the air cool and absent of insects, he stops to make camp; quickly he locates a spring, draws water to quench his thirst and then begins preparing his Repast. Although now in the dark, because of it being a new moon, he is not able to see the surrounds, but he knows that up ahead when walking on the treeline path, the mountain will become fully within view. Too, upon arising on the morrow, the ascent on the mountain will begin. He prayerfully thanks his heavenly Father for all that has been, all that is and all that will soon come; then he partakes of a small meal and after reading the Word, he lays out his bag on a ground cloth to recline for the evening. With not a cloud in the sky, while watching the stars sail across the moonless sky, he lies fully awake, agog for the morrow. (John 17: 17)

1 Nisan JO. As dayspring quickly illuminates the sky, the wayƒarer stows his gear. However, before hanging his cup on the pack loop, he eats the now plump raisins. As the sunglow grows in the east, he breaks camp and takes steps upon this new path, the treeline path.

As light of day increases about him, the wayƒarer discerns this place to be one of only few trees, and notes that trees living high on this mountain are contorted from constant powerful winds, diminished from brief growing seasons, and timeworn from centuries of extreme weather. Slowly he walks by these gnarled relics, leftovers from a past age as he follows lichen encrusted cairns, each strategically positioned to provide indications of where steps must needs be placed across this tableland. These ancient piles of rock, like the trees stand as silent witness to all those wayfarers that have gone before the wayƒarer and will remain for any who may take steps here after him.

While proceeding slowly along the edge of the forest and at short reach of the treeline, suddenly, the suntouch occurs causing the entire plateau to be bathed in warming light. With the light of day now fully exposing the treeline, the wayƒarer notes how the gnarled trees are becoming progressively smaller in stature and thinly scattered along this ever ascending way. Although this dwarfed forest allows for unobstructed views, the footing on this pathway is replete with rocks demanding full attention to each steps and making passage here wearisome.

Later, the sun begins to bake down upon this path and several times during this day to rest his weary feet, the wayƒarer retreats into any shadow these gnarled trees may provide. At one rest, he looks to the distance in the direction of his step and is able to make out that line he knows to be the high ridgeline, the ridge and the path he will walk upon in the upcoming days. At days end, he locates a spring, draws water for drink and then sets up his campsite. Wearied from his day′s travel and unaccustomed to this high altitude, he retires without eating.

2 Nisan JO. Long before any illumination ascends from below the horizon, the wayƒarer boils water in a cup atop his stove. Using the first cup for oats and the next for tea, both with raisins, he is able to quell his hunger. He then packs his gear, loads his burden upon his back and makes steps on the path.

Today, in several locations, he espies glimpses of the mountain in the distance beyond and above the ridgeline, the ridgeline that has been visible since the afternoon of the first day of his walk on this treeline path. These sightings of the mountain indicate to him that he is slowly gaining on his destination. Nevertheless, he knows there is plenty more before arriving on the mountain, and what lies ahead requires continued endurance and fortitude along the paths he knows are to come. All day he struggles to traverses the plateau, careful with his footing on the rocks and after many hours, he stops to rest from his exertion in this high altitude. Opening his pack, he retrieves his water bottle, then food and while he takes his Repast, he elevates his feet on a nearby rock so that the blood will circulate easier. When he has revived his toilworn feet, he rises, dons his pack and resumes the climb.

At the end of a second day on this path he again moves to just below the treeline to locate a spring and make camp. Getting out his stove, he boils water to cook grains and after eating his meal, uses the same pot to boil water for tea. After sipping the tea, he stows his gear, spreads his ground cloth, his sleeping bag, climbs into the bag and reads by the fading light of this day. Then, he watches as the moon, waxing crescent as it follows directly after the sun into the depths below the horizon. Thinking that he has much to be thankful for, he sends praise heavenly and soon after closes his eyes.

3 Nisan JO. the wayƒarer begins this day much like each day of this passage, rising before dayspring, preparing a cup of hot, stowing his gear and then with his burden strapped to his back take steps upward on the pathway set before him. The ridgeline that he has espied for several days slowly become closer and at the end today′s walk, he comes near to the start of the path on that ridgeline. Retreating to beneath the trees, he stops at a spring, fills his container with water and then searches for a suitable site to make his camp and rest until the morrow.

While setting up his campsite, the wayƒarer thinks back to all he has struggled through to arrive here safe. Too, he is well aware that even more still looms ahead on those paths he must needs step upon to reach the summit. After repeating his day's end routine and then reading from the Word of Life, he notices the moon is a hand width higher tonight than it was yestereven at this time. He then gives thanks to his heavenly Father and finally sleeps. (Philippians 2:16)

After his morning tasks are complete, he hoists the burden to its place and begins afoot. With light from the waxing sunglow he is able to locate the trailhead and start his ascent on the mountain.

Then, after walking for nearly an hour and just moments before the suntouch, his eyes lift from the tedious footwork, search skyward and behold golden crepuscular rays exploding upward from below the horizon and stretching across an expansive sky. Stopping momentarily to enjoy the colorful display, the wayƒarer also thanks the Almighty for providing such grand wonder. Then, when the colors have faded to gray, he resumes his upward push on the pathway before him.

4 Nisan JO. Steps on this path, ever ascending in elevation, span the upper edge of a narrow ridge, often skirting large boulders, climbing over many, and even descending at times to cross a saddle. By midday, the wayƒarer arrives at the base of a long steep rise and before continuing, stops to rest. Doffing his burden, he retrieves his bottle in which he had the night before, put hot water and two tea bag to steep. After sitting and elevating his feet, he opens the bottle and drinks some of the now cool tea. While biding time to regain strength, he turns, looks rearwards at the path behind and from his location on this ridge can see in the distance below large forests, even those he previously made steps through, what now seems to him so long, long ago.

Returning to the footwork, his steps now struggle for hours to find foothold on this steep path, replete with rock but now completely treeless. Later, when the end of this day approaches, the wayƒarer takes notes of how the wind is increasing, the temperature is dropping and the air is now freezing. This boreal wind makes him ever mindful of each place his skin remains exposed to the elements and he steps apace so he may arrive to where there is cover from the cold, the wind and now even rain. Recognizing the present need to don wool, he stops, quickly retrieves and puts on his hat and gloves. He even pulls his bandana up over his nose and then resumes his fast pace.

During evenfall, he comes to a small clearing beneath a large crag and locates a suitable campsite. Looking up from under the overhanging rock, he sees the waxing crescent moon descending toward the horizon. Quickly he sets up his tent, covering it with a waterproof fly, then stands his burden within the hollow just outside of the tent door but still protected under the fly. After unzipping the tent door, he unstraps the sleeping bag and tosses it into the tent. Next, he retrieves his stove bag, water bottle, and food pouch from their compartments, then sets them at the base of the pack. Finally, he climbs into the tent and covers himself with his down sleeping bag, after which, he sets up the stove outside of the door next to the burden and boils water to prepare a simple Repast of gruel. After eating, he again boils water for a cup of tea and when done sipping his tea, stows all his gear, zips up the tent door, zips the bag, closes his eyes and then gives thanks to his Father above before falling asleep.

5 Nisan JO. The dawn of day finds the wayƒarer already climbing on the ridgeline path, slowly at first until he regains his footing and the sky illuminates with sunglow to light his way. He appreciates the warmth of the sun this morning, especially after the cold night. All day, he proceeds with these seemingly endless steps, during which he is invariably mindful of where he is upon this journey, how he has expended much effort and faced numerous braves, all he knows are necessary for him to arrive here now on this ridge high above the treeline and for him to be here on this path leading him up to the mountain.

His pondering remind him of when he had first become aware of his need for this journey to the mountain, to this place on the path above even the clouds. He thinks how he had left behind his house with those comforts and possessions he previously felt he needed; how only after he began this quest did he come to understands that the reason for striving in the valley plain after many mundane things was all just a ruse, a deception created in the minds of others to prevent him from his quest onto the mountain. Even now, that valley plain, seen in the distance is covered by clouds. However, this path he now takes steps upon is helping to solidify in his mind what true values and goals should be striving for. Here, high above the treeline, as the wayƒarer ascends the mountain, his life journey is becoming ever clearer with each and every step he takes upon this path, much like, as he has taken note of how the views are becoming more abundant and remarkable.

Late in the day, the path descends into a deep saddle where the wayƒarer finds a fast flowing spring with a pool next to large flat rocks and a nice area to camp. Stopping early this evening, he sets up his campsite, his tent, and then walks to the spring, takes off all but his shorts and then gets into the pool to clean himself. With the water temperature at about fifty degrees, he does not stay long in the water, only long enough to wash himself. Using his bandana, he wipes the water from his body, wringing the water out often and wiping until he is thoroughly dry. He had devised this technique using his bandana during an earlier journey, thus lightening his burden and disposing of yet another possession, his towel. Soon, he is preparing his Repast but because the temperature drops considerably, he enters his tent to eat his meal. After cleaning and stowing his gear, he zips up and meditates for some time on the words he has just read in the Bible. As the sun sets, he stows his gear and soon is sleeping comfortably warm.

6 Nisan JO. Rising just prior to the even, the wayƒarer immediately notices that his breath leaves as fog when he exhales and he surmises that the temperature is below forty degrees. Retrieving his stove and cup, and while he heats water to make a cup of hot, he folds and stows his gear. Then, after the tea has steeped, he sips from the cup while looking up to watch the planets and stars move ever westerly in there path along the ecliptic. As he finishes he cup of hot, he turns to look east and espies the faint glimmering of the sunglow on the eastern horizon ever increasing in strength and thinks to himself, "It is time to depart." After hanging his cup from the outside hook, but before he dons the burden, he polices the area, picking up all litter and debris not belonging here. Then, he departs from the campsite, climbs out of the saddle and continues his climb on the ridgeline path towards the summit.

14 Nisan JO. Still dark, he rises, retrieves his stove, his sierra cup and heats water to make a cup of hot.

Then while sipping slowly from his cup, he watches the moon in a cloudless sky set on the horizon and then upon seeing the quickly fading moonglow knows that the sunglow will follow soon.

Finishing the last of his molasses tea, he stows his gear away, dons his boots, draws the laces tight, ties double-dunkin bow knots on both and stands up. Looking up he espies a faint glimmer of light on the eastern horizon and then, speaking out loud he says, "It is time to begin." Donning his backpack, he leaves camp seven and begins his climb on the high path towards the summit.

He purposely chose this day for his ascent, being just one days before the summer solstice because it will allow him to have the most possible hours atop the summit. Also, leaving before the dayspring will extend that time by almost an hour. In the dim light of the sunglow, he follows the cairns marking the path which leads upwards moderately steep for the first mile but then becomes extremely steep and rocky for the next several miles causing his pace to slow considerably as he ascends higher and higher in the growing sunglow. As he climbs higher on the path, he notices that the temperature has begun to drop, quickly becoming colder as the elevation increases.

Suddenly, he stops, turns right to face the east and watches as the sun breaks the horizon. Too, he begins to see how vast the view is from this height as more of the surrounds are lit by the increasing light. He looks behind at the path from whence he has risen seeing those seemingly insurmountable barriers, all conquered and paling into insignificance. Turning back to the path ahead, he is now able to see the thick fog that envelopes and obscures from his sight the summit still a long distance ahead of him. Undeterred, he resumes his climb hoping that this fog will dissipate and leave before his arrival at the top. After several more miles of ascent he arrives at the place where the path enters the fog that enshrouds the pinnacle of the mountain but he pushes onward, braving the gloom.

With the visibility less than twenty feet, he climbs slowly through the dense fog, using the cairns to keep him true to the way but soon it begins to rain. Stopping, he Dons his poncho and without delay, proceeds carefully watching his step on the rain soaked pathway until he comes upon an overhanging crag under which he decides to take a short break. Soon, the rain stops and he continues, still in the fog, upward through an area of massive boulders.

The sight of these monoliths enshrouded by the fog have eerie shadows cast about them making the path look more ominous than it verily is, however, he continues upward to a small clearing with a large cairn in the middle. He gathers his bearing and then pushes upward to the summit.

It takes numerous long laborious hours over many large rocks and through the worst of inclement weather to ascent to the summit of this mighty mountain.

Freezing wind bites at the exposed skin on his face; he must needs get out of the wind. He walks to the leeward side of the large cairn, a monument built to indicate the high point of this summit, thinking that it will provide some relief. He removes his poncho.

Doffing his pack, he leans it against the cairn and sits next to it. Then using his poncho, he covers both the pack and himself.

Even though the rain had stopped much earlier, he continues wearing his poncho for the extra warmth it provides. Concealed under this make sift tent, he retrieves from the top pocket, his quill and quire, and then begins to write about his experience upon the mountain. Then he stops, to say a prayer to God thanking him again for the many blessings that have been generously bestowed upon him.

He retrieves and reads in his Bible and then later he has something to eat and drink. Too, many are his meditations as hours pass by in the fog atop this rock. It is amazing here on top of this summit, it seems is as if time has ceased, like there is no where else on the earth out past the fog. Then the wind picks up and drops the temperature even lower, definitely below freezing now. Then something amazing happens; the wind, that caused the lowered temperature also brought the appearance of a sun break directly about the wayƒarer. Looking up through the hole in the otherwise thick fog layer, he sees the sky above and it is deep blue in color, nearly black. The hole in the fog is moved about by the wind until the sun begins shining directly upon the cairn in the middle of the summit and brings warmth to this mountaintop. It does not take long before the hole in the fog layer begins to widen and soon the fog begins to evaporate from the top of the mountain.

The Wayƒarer looks out at the ever growing view that the quickly dissipating fog provides and begins to be amazed by it′s immensity. He stands, moves around the cairn to take in all the vastness from this location. He only then realizes that all the struggle to reach this summit was worth every effort required for the majestic views this place so abundantly provides and he silently thanks He who has provided him with everything.

Despite the extreme length this day has, the time he has here has been reduced greatly due to long wait for the fog to lift and soon he must need begin his ascent from this peak and return down to camp seven. Still, he lingers a bit longer to continue taking in the view until finally he determines that he is out of time here. Still, he knows that if he is not able to arrive at camp seven by evening suntouch, he will have the light of the full moon by which to continue, just as he has planned. As he descends, he thinks that except for the fog, the clear weather upon this mountaintop has been the best, very cooperative. He could never have planned this summit of Katahdin to be any better than it has been.

On the morrow, 15 Nisan JO. Thom will begin his final steps to Sabbath Day Pond so as to meet all of the other wayƒarers for our reunion.