Up, Up, Up

Saturday morning started with 2 things on my mind. The end of the world, and climbing to the top of "Angels Landing" in Zion National Park. Neither one happened. Sunday morning the world was still spining according to Fox news, and I had climbed almost to the top of "Angels Landing". I just plain ran out of gas for that last section of the climb. In my defense, I'm 64, out of shape, and scared of heights. I did make it past "Scouts Lookout", which is the first plateau. From there you can see the goal, the top, and you must make a decission, do I have what it takes to finish this? My decission was yes. The next section is along the side of a shear sandstone cliff, your only safety is gripping a chain mounted to poles, your feet on decaying slippery sandstone and the edge is a cliff. Your goal is to navigate this to the top of the mountain. All of a sudden you reach another plateau. Another decission is to be made. From this plateau you not only can see the top, you can see all of the trail. If for one moment you think the toughest part is behind you, It ain't. You are at this point only a little over a quarter of a mile away from your goal. It might as well be another mile. As you look at the trail in front of you, your heart sinks. For me, I have spent it all just getting to this point. The trail ahead is chains all the way, and sections are just 3 feet wide with sheer drop offs on each side. Some of the chain sections greater than a 45 deg. slope. Grip the chain, plant your foot and push and pull. I was done. There was nothing left in the tank. My two sons Jeremy and Jason, and Larry Hamilton went with me on this hike. Larry and I both knew it was over for us, But Jeremy and Jason said "we're going on", and they did. For Larry and I it was "can we make it back?" Going down was not as tough on the heart but it was a whole different set of muscles. The trail was so steep it felt like your toes were being pushed and cramed into the toe of your shoes. We did make it down as you can see, but what an experience. Some of the highlights: Amaaaaaazing views, knowing you can do more than you thought you could, and challanging real in your face fears. But the most amazing site of the day was a guy going all the way to the top with his wife and he was carrying a baby on his back in a pack. I'm not sure what I think of that guy, tough, challenging, stupid, maybe even child endangerment. Like I said I just don't know where to put him. He did make it back, with wife and baby though. Well I'm still tired and sore enjoy some of the pictures. See Ya