I woke up nervous. This was the day we were planning to hike to the top of Angel’s Landing. I think I’ve mentioned before I don’t do heights. But I have gone rock climbing and I have seen pictures of this particular precipice and it’s route and I had determined in my mind I could do this.
It turns out the reality is FAR worse than the pictures.
It turns out the reality is FAR worse than the pictures.
The first two miles are wonderful, scenic, and while not lacking in danger, the trail is wide and easy. We reached the end of the non-hair-raising part where Kevin was to wait with the girls while Joel and I made a push for the summit (see how I just made us sound like hardy mountaineers?)
We covered the first set of chains, a VERY narrow section of trail with ridiculous drop-offs and precious little that passes for firm footing. My legs were shaking and every muscle in my body was tense. It was a state of butt-puckering terror such as I have only experienced in my nightmares. As we passed the last metal chain post I breathed a huge sigh of relief and made my way to a (relatively) large flat area to rest and look around. “Ah! So that’s it, eh?” I said to Joel.
“No. That’s it over there,” he replied like someone who has hiked this before at the tender age of nine.
“No. That’s it over there,” he replied like someone who has hiked this before at the tender age of nine.
I looked and all the wind went right out of me. It was a false summit, a high point that makes you believe you’ve made the top when really you have far to go. We were only at the saddle. The worst was ahead. I spent about 3.8 seconds considering then said, “I’m done. Going back.”
I don’t like defeat. I had been determined to conquer my fear but I got schooled. I saw a Cocker Spaniel coming down, for Pete’s sake. This was not how my day was supposed to end.
So Joel and Kevin decided to go on to the summit while I stayed back with the girls. We monitored the guys’ progress through binoculars and I tried hard not to barf. They returned safely less than an hour later.
I don’t like defeat. I had been determined to conquer my fear but I got schooled. I saw a Cocker Spaniel coming down, for Pete’s sake. This was not how my day was supposed to end.
So Joel and Kevin decided to go on to the summit while I stayed back with the girls. We monitored the guys’ progress through binoculars and I tried hard not to barf. They returned safely less than an hour later.
As it turns out, my chickening out and the resulting delay was a really cool thing. On our way back down the trail we met up with some fellow hikers. We like meeting people out here and most everyone is pretty friendly. The outdoors just does that to you. Anyway, the more we talked with them the more we found we had in common. We hail from nearly the same town and studied the same thing at the same school. He has visited the gear shop owned by our friend Rob, whom incidentally, we met in the same sort of odd way. This intrepid couple is also out on the road for a full year. While their plan looks a bit different from ours, we share a love of nature and adventure and a deep appreciation for the freedom to just take off and enjoy it all.
Since our new friends were staying in the same campground we hatched a plan for campfire and S’mores after dinner. They brought their secret ingredients and we learned the art of roasting a Peep to caramelized yummy perfection. We burned through two cords of wood and talked until close to midnight. The next morning we spent more time enjoying their company and agreed to meet up again in Canada in a few months.
Am I disappointed to not have summited Angel’s Landing? Not in the least. Out here, again and again, I am finding that the best part of most days, the summit if you will, is rarely the thing I was expecting.
- Jenni
Since our new friends were staying in the same campground we hatched a plan for campfire and S’mores after dinner. They brought their secret ingredients and we learned the art of roasting a Peep to caramelized yummy perfection. We burned through two cords of wood and talked until close to midnight. The next morning we spent more time enjoying their company and agreed to meet up again in Canada in a few months.
Am I disappointed to not have summited Angel’s Landing? Not in the least. Out here, again and again, I am finding that the best part of most days, the summit if you will, is rarely the thing I was expecting.
- Jenni