La Stampa    (Frassati News)

Frassati Takes on the Wilds of Glacier National Park

It was mid-August, 2006 when we set out.  We all knew we were taking a risk but that is
what life is about, right?  Heck, our patron is quoted as saying,“I left my heart on the
mountain peaks and I hope to retrieve it this summer…” We’ll do it!  

Perhaps, they were not the same mountain peaks but we wanted to understand to a
greater level how Pier could leave his heart on the mountain peaks.  So, off to the wilds of
Montana, and deep into grizzly bear country we headed, as we sought to spend a week
becoming a family, traveling, camping, and falling in love with our Lord’s majesty in the
mountains of Glacier National Park.  

Who were “We” you may ask?  There were six of us, for what turned out to be the furthest
distance the Frassati Society of MN has traveled so far to find the adventure of a lifetime.  












Our fearless leader was Doug, the current Tech Guru of the society.  A young-at-heart,
middle aged man with a gentle smile and laid back spirit in the midst of details and danger.  















Co-piloting this event was our Outdoorswoman, Jen Messing, a woman of passion, and
fire.  If you ever meet Jen, you will know that her greatest loves are our Lord Jesus Christ,
our Blessed Mother, and the great outdoors.











For a cultural twist we had Sinatra-singing, and Dickinson-quoting Peter Schmitz, recently
married, and gracing the company with yet another vocational perspective.  












Not to be forgotten, newcomer Kelly Laumeyer who was a refreshing presence of feminine
intelligence, poignant affirmations, and wonderful perseverance.












Next, we come to the youngest member of our crew (but mature beyond his years) Andy
Wagenbach of Durand, WI.  He brought of sense of introspective humor and selfless
accountability to our heavenly calls that rivaled our patron, Pier Giorgio himself.  



















Lastly, you have me, Jessica Kartak, tenacious leader of the society itself for the last year.  
So, grateful for the opportunity to reap all that our good Lord offers us through fellowship
in our Catholic faith especially in the treachery and serenity of the mountains.  

After a 24 hour forced march through the badlands of North Dakota, and across eastern
Montana, we came to the park around 5:30pm on Thursday, August 10th.  After finding a
suitable campsite in Fish Creek Campground on the Westside of the park, we set up camp,
and settled in for what would be our little home for the next three and half days.  













The next days were spent enjoying random meals around a campfire, casual conversations
about faith, politics, literature, our lives, our needs, and all that connected us.  Many
realities brought us closer with the close quarters of sharing tents, and gallivanting around
the countryside each day in Doug’s chariot, a Ford Taurus sedan, with all 6 of us getting
cozy each day to “conserve” gas with $3.50/gallon prices.  

However, we would become closer still, when with the second day,














Friday August 11th, we returned from our day hike to learn of some sad news.  After a
relatively short but strenuous hike to Avalanche Lake, and when those of us who chose to
enjoy, a grueling “bushwhacking”, as Miss Messing referred to it as, finally returned, we
learned of a sorrowful event.  As Doug knew might happen, our Lord chose this day to be
the day, to call his son, Doug’s father, Bernard back to his heavenly home.  

All quickly agreed to join him in prayer, and vowed that wherever he needed to go, we
would accompany him.  God in his goodness, and eternal knowledge, chose to allow Doug,
and us the time to grow closer to Him for a few more days.  Doug’s sisters back home
picked up the planning, and Doug was able to lean on us, and on hiking to the heavens
with his grief.  

This is truly what it felt like when we headed to an actual glacier on the fourth day of this
journey.  Saturday, August 12th we departed at 1:45pm to begin what would be our longest
hike.  The Grinnell Glacier hike takes approximately 6 hours round-trip when all is
functioning perfectly.  I’m proud to say that I accomplished the entire hike in a little over 7
hours due to a severely painful left knee that required some extreme assistance (thank
you, Andy!) in order to get back down the mountain.
























God was challenging us all, calling us to self-sacrifice, and humility.  Perhaps, this is the
point at which we begin to leave our hearts in the mountains, when the self-deaths that are
required to survive begin to resurrect our true selves again.

















With the dawning of August 13th, we had the opportunity to enjoy yet another blessing.  
Not only were we kissed with the kindness of our Blessed Mother, “Our Lady of Fatima,
pray for us!”  We journeyed to mass, and on to the celebrating.  Andy turned 21, and on
the most beautiful day of the entire trip!  We enjoyed the native grown and baked,
Huckleberry Pie, and departed with just enough time to hike our last hike of the trip, Hidden
Lake.  












Nostalgia came over me in waves all that day.  I had been here before in 1998.  My first
mission trip, and the first time I had visited heaven.  Truly!  The beauty is nothing like
anything you will experience.  I felt so loved that day.  God was so good, as He loved us
(well, me) through wild flowers carpeting the mountainside in every shape, and color.  

Despite my knee problems the day before and with some lingering pain I still made it to the
lake.  I had to…persevere; it had been 8 years since I had been there.  Skipped some
rocks, and was convinced by Peter and Jen that Andy and I really should come see
something spectacular.  

A waterfall crashing off in the woods, literally these falls flowed into “the Promised Land.”  
“Happy Birthday, Andy, it seemed to sing!”  As we hiked back the sunset on those
mountains, with all the brilliance that our Lord could muster, was a perfect farewell to us
all.  

We spent a final evening down by Mc’Donald Lake where we enjoyed the moon rising over
the lake one last time, and with the next day came time for us to say “goodbye” to our time
in “Big Sky Country.”


After, another 23 ½ hour drive home we arrived safe, and sound at my home in
Robbinsdale.  Weary but joyful for all we had experienced, and grateful for the lessons that
Glacier gave us.  I know none of us will be forgetting this trip any time soon, and I think we
all have a greater understanding of the call before us all from our brother, Pier Giorgio
Frassati, “Verso l’Alto! (Onward to the Heights!)  May God bless and keep you all my
brothers and sisters: Jen, Kelly, Doug, Andy, and Peter!







In the Love of Christ and in memorium of Bernard John Schober,



Your sister,

Jessica