at altitude

there are different demands for different altitudes.
you don’t accidentally stumble upon the peak of everest.
the natural pull is down, even if the explorer’s pull is up.

elevation isn’t easy or we would all be up there already. it requires different equipment, protection from exposure, weather and conditions awareness, different communication strategies, and at the extremes, experienced teams and supplemental oxygen.

at elevation, the stakes are higher, literally and figuratively. time is precious and calculated. what is accidental becomes dangerous. thriving and safety requires new levels of preparation, intention, and focus.

it’s easy to see why we want to ascend - the literal and proverbial peaks - for the purity and raw nature of the experience, the awe, the perspective. and to be growth minded, moving towards peaking the human experience, leveling up little by little - emotionally, spiritually, physically, vocationally, etc - is to instinctually return to an upward gaze.

but there are different demands at elevation, and different demands at the summit. the pace of the ascent changes - slows to acclimatize, then accelerates to meet a weather window. the air is thinner, every breath more crucial. and it’s exposed - to the elements, to the weather, to the extremes of conditions.

and the gear i took to this level may not get me to the next level. base camp attire is different than camp 2, which is different than camp 3. each upward push demands upward attention and focus. what got me here won’t get me there.

the mountaineering of company building is no different. companies, organizations, and projects at base camp can be scrappy, casual, and nimble - but with scale and ascent - the communication systems have to change to match conditions, uncertainties and problems require extra attention before devastating effects, and unless healthy culture has been properly acclimatized, a quick ascent can be deadly. time in base camp must include proper study of the map, determination of the route, inventory of the equipment, physical preparations, ongoing assessment of the conditions, and unification of the summit team.

so i can take an inventory for myself, at whatever base camp i sit at, or where my team is currently camped - what am I doing now to acclimatize and prepare for the next upward push? what gear no longer serves me and can be left behind? what new tools do i need for that next level? and ultimately - when is the best time to break camp and make moves?

in the old testament of the Bible, God’s presence is often tied to mountain tops. many key characters in the narrative meet and hear God on high places. at the same time, His presence is described as dangerous, a powerful holiness that our human bodies cannot comprehend or behold except in part. not that i’ve spent any time chiseling stone tablets, but i definitely find God’s presence extra potent in the mountains - and have seen many storms roll in on an exposed peak that i imagine only pales in comparison to a God-of-the-universe-level cloud.

so i love the detailed model and layout of the tabernacle - almost like a squared off topographic map. as you move inwards, and closer, to His presence, the demands change - it’s an ascent in elevation. slower pace, deeper breaths. there are tiers to his access, sacrificial requirements, different attire, different practices, different reverence, different exposure. and at that place, an accident can be deadly. God is relentlessly inviting us to the summit, yet also, fiercely committed and consistent with His holiness - that’s what makes the awe of the summit.

now, the mountain top is not the end game - at least not yet. summits are for perspective, views, awe-inspiring experiences, but not for camping. the goal is to bring the experience down. stories, pictures, accomplishments are shared from the peaks with others down below - life is lived at base camp level. even better, for use on the next summits and next elevation ascents, are the identity-level artifacts taken from each summit. a growing resume of strength, fortitude, confidence, persistence, and perhaps problem solving - the acclimatization between the ears that makes each subsequent climb possible.

even scripturally, the promised land was strategically positioned at the crossroads of the earth, at the base of the mountains over to the coastal plains - where God’s presence floods down to the wilderness. israel was positioned for their purpose. there’s power in the ultimate altitude, then daily life exists down below - with the evidence of having been on the mountain carried down. the goal is to bridge the presence outwards. a nation of priests. the light and the salt to the valleys and the plains.

so the question becomes - do my mountain top experiences permeate my life in the valley? or does the dust of the valley tarnish my journey to the mountain top?
am i glowing from having seen the summit, or collecting rocks in my pack, weighing down the ascent?

different altitudes have different demands.