Is that really me, or did I just dream that I did that?
09 July 2004
"Air Traffic Controller" has an entirely new meaning to me now
Orderville Rappel, Zion Ponderosa Ranch, Utah
Though technically this was a rappel and not a hike (the hiking part lasted only a short time -- about a mile or less), I'm putting this in my hiking journal because I feel the need to memorialize the fact that I actually did it. Outside of the practice rappel down the side of the Zion Ranch activity barn, this was my first real rappelling experience, and it scared the wits outta me.
Jay and Cindy and I hopped in a suburban with Amber and Staci from East Zion Adventures, and drove out to a 150-foot dropoff on ranch property. The road to get there (the same one we used when we did the Orderville Canyon hike on July 6) was a rocky, steep, dry riverbed that required four- wheel drive and a lot of machismo to navigate. It was enough to nearly shake my breakfast loose. Luckily I had very little breakfast in me, because I had trouble eating anything that morning, I was so worked up about rappelling. The terrain we drove on was so choppy I'm surprised we didn't blow a couple tires.
We parked the suburban about 9:15, loaded up some backpacks with our equipment, and hiked about 15 minutes out to our cliff. Each of us rappelled down twice. Staci stayed at the top to check our harnesses, and Amber belayed at the bottom. The first time was down a lumpy, steep rock face. My arms felt so shakey I was worried that I might not be able to trust my right arm to hold myself up.
My left arm was none too steady, either, as it was busy feeding rope through a flimsy-looking little piece of metal that climbers and rappellers (a very witty bunch) have cleverly dubbed an "air traffic controller." Hard to appreciate the humor in the name when you're watching that thing, bug-eyed, wondering if it's going to give way and send you smashing into the side of the cliff.
But everything went fine and I felt pretty empowered at having made it to the bottom of the cliff in one piece. When I finally landed, I realized that I had been gripping the rope so tightly with my left hand that I could barely pry my fingers open. My hand ached for several minutes and felt like it might fall right off my arm.
For the second rappel we switched the ropes over to a "keyhole," a deep crevass in the side of the cliff, and rappelled down the inside of it. At first I didn't think I would do the second rappel, because my hand hurt so badly the first time, but everyone else talked me into it and down I went. Peer pressure is an amazing thing. I'm really glad I did it, though; it was so cool to be inside of that crevass, looking up, looking down, and really enjoying the experience rather than just breathing through the terror (which is all I did the first time). My left hand was fine, but I had to keep reminding myself to loosen my grip.
High point: Conquering my fear of rappelling. I feel pretty comfortable with this now and would actually do it again. Would even be interested in something higher or more challenging. (Did I actually say that?)
Though technically this was a rappel and not a hike (the hiking part lasted only a short time -- about a mile or less), I'm putting this in my hiking journal because I feel the need to memorialize the fact that I actually did it. Outside of the practice rappel down the side of the Zion Ranch activity barn, this was my first real rappelling experience, and it scared the wits outta me.
Jay and Cindy and I hopped in a suburban with Amber and Staci from East Zion Adventures, and drove out to a 150-foot dropoff on ranch property. The road to get there (the same one we used when we did the Orderville Canyon hike on July 6) was a rocky, steep, dry riverbed that required four- wheel drive and a lot of machismo to navigate. It was enough to nearly shake my breakfast loose. Luckily I had very little breakfast in me, because I had trouble eating anything that morning, I was so worked up about rappelling. The terrain we drove on was so choppy I'm surprised we didn't blow a couple tires.
We parked the suburban about 9:15, loaded up some backpacks with our equipment, and hiked about 15 minutes out to our cliff. Each of us rappelled down twice. Staci stayed at the top to check our harnesses, and Amber belayed at the bottom. The first time was down a lumpy, steep rock face. My arms felt so shakey I was worried that I might not be able to trust my right arm to hold myself up.
My left arm was none too steady, either, as it was busy feeding rope through a flimsy-looking little piece of metal that climbers and rappellers (a very witty bunch) have cleverly dubbed an "air traffic controller." Hard to appreciate the humor in the name when you're watching that thing, bug-eyed, wondering if it's going to give way and send you smashing into the side of the cliff.
But everything went fine and I felt pretty empowered at having made it to the bottom of the cliff in one piece. When I finally landed, I realized that I had been gripping the rope so tightly with my left hand that I could barely pry my fingers open. My hand ached for several minutes and felt like it might fall right off my arm.
For the second rappel we switched the ropes over to a "keyhole," a deep crevass in the side of the cliff, and rappelled down the inside of it. At first I didn't think I would do the second rappel, because my hand hurt so badly the first time, but everyone else talked me into it and down I went. Peer pressure is an amazing thing. I'm really glad I did it, though; it was so cool to be inside of that crevass, looking up, looking down, and really enjoying the experience rather than just breathing through the terror (which is all I did the first time). My left hand was fine, but I had to keep reminding myself to loosen my grip.
High point: Conquering my fear of rappelling. I feel pretty comfortable with this now and would actually do it again. Would even be interested in something higher or more challenging. (Did I actually say that?)
08 July 2004
Afraid of Heights? No problem, just don't look down.
Trek to top of Angel's Landing, Zion National Park, Utah. Five miles, ~4 hours including breaks and lunch.
I had no idea how challenging this hike would be! It is dubbed the "most strenuous" frontcountry hike in Zion National Park, but who knew it would require climbing straight up for two and a half hours?! Cindy and I hiked together, leading the way (Cindy claimed a "pancake advantage" due to the lavish breakfast at Zion Ranch just before leaving for the park.) Janet and Jay brought up the rear. We started about 10 a.m. and got done at 2 p.m. (yes, doing this hike during the sunniest, hottest part of the day was not the best decision).
The first mile or so went okay, with a steep but manageable grade. Then we got to this interesting area called Walter's Wiggles, which got steeper and more difficult. Then we got to the last half-mile of the climb, where the park has installed metal chains to hang onto at some of the more dangerous spots, so you don't go skittering down the rock face to your death. (A Boy Scout died that way just two weeks earlier, and he fell so far it took two days to recover his body. Really.) It was probably the most difficult hiking I've done. The height bothered me a bit, and I couldn't discipline my mind enough to quit thinking of falling. At some points, the steep, rocky path was only a foot or two wide, with steep dropoffs on both sides. But it was worth it to get to the top, which was 1,500 feet above the place where we started, and the view there was spectacular.
Quote of the day (from Janet): "I'd hike Orderville Canyone three times before I'd do this again!"
We dragged our sweaty, bad selves into Springdale after our descent and enjoyed ice cream and cold pop.
I had no idea how challenging this hike would be! It is dubbed the "most strenuous" frontcountry hike in Zion National Park, but who knew it would require climbing straight up for two and a half hours?! Cindy and I hiked together, leading the way (Cindy claimed a "pancake advantage" due to the lavish breakfast at Zion Ranch just before leaving for the park.) Janet and Jay brought up the rear. We started about 10 a.m. and got done at 2 p.m. (yes, doing this hike during the sunniest, hottest part of the day was not the best decision).
The first mile or so went okay, with a steep but manageable grade. Then we got to this interesting area called Walter's Wiggles, which got steeper and more difficult. Then we got to the last half-mile of the climb, where the park has installed metal chains to hang onto at some of the more dangerous spots, so you don't go skittering down the rock face to your death. (A Boy Scout died that way just two weeks earlier, and he fell so far it took two days to recover his body. Really.) It was probably the most difficult hiking I've done. The height bothered me a bit, and I couldn't discipline my mind enough to quit thinking of falling. At some points, the steep, rocky path was only a foot or two wide, with steep dropoffs on both sides. But it was worth it to get to the top, which was 1,500 feet above the place where we started, and the view there was spectacular.
Quote of the day (from Janet): "I'd hike Orderville Canyone three times before I'd do this again!"
We dragged our sweaty, bad selves into Springdale after our descent and enjoyed ice cream and cold pop.
06 July 2004
Conquering Orderville Canyon
~12 miles, starting at Zion Ponderosa Ranch and winding through to the Virgin River in Zion National Park, Utah. Took ~7 hours including breaks and lunch.
Hiked Orderville Canyon trail with Jay, Cindy, Janet, and a guy named Daniel, who saved our hides. We started out on ranch property, hiked a steep switchback trail down to the canyon, and hiked a dry riverbed for about five or six miles. A trickle of water appeared eventually (spring-fed I think?) and turned into a small river about half the width of Mill Creek. We hiked the remaining six or seven miles through sixty-degree (read: cold) water, sometimes an inch or two deep, sometimes over our heads (!). It was very difficult to navigate over some of the steep boulders, particularly a couple of chokestones which have created dropoffs measuring aboutfifteen feet. There were a few areas where we had to use webbing to navigate our way down. Our first exporsure to "technical" hiking! It was a bit scary but pretty exhilarating.
In three or four spots we needed to climb or slide down huge boulders into deep water and swim across the deep parts until we could regain our footing. One time I plunged all the way under, after jumping from the two boulders between which I was (very daintily) wedged. We all got thoroughly soaked, as did our packs. Thanks to Daniel's swimming skills, Jay's camera actually survived with only a scrape or two -- no water damage. We were all amazed about that.
Daniel is part of the family who owns Zion Ponderosa. He had hiked this trail nine times already, so he pretty much knew what we were in for around every turn. At the hard parts (like areas that required submersion in water!) he went first so we could see the best way to negotiate the terrain. He also caught us a couple times when the climb down a boulder was especially hard. Without him it would've been, at worst, impossible, and at best, emotionally draining and nerve-rattling, to complete this hike.
Next time I would wear boots intead of my New Balance trail shoes.
High points: Seeing Cindy conquer some of her fear of deep water. Admiring God's artistry and immenseness in the huge rock sculptures, slot canyons, and boulders.
Low point: Slipping on a submerged rock and hammering my right knee pretty hard, at about mile 10. I was getting tired and sloppy.
Hiked Orderville Canyon trail with Jay, Cindy, Janet, and a guy named Daniel, who saved our hides. We started out on ranch property, hiked a steep switchback trail down to the canyon, and hiked a dry riverbed for about five or six miles. A trickle of water appeared eventually (spring-fed I think?) and turned into a small river about half the width of Mill Creek. We hiked the remaining six or seven miles through sixty-degree (read: cold) water, sometimes an inch or two deep, sometimes over our heads (!). It was very difficult to navigate over some of the steep boulders, particularly a couple of chokestones which have created dropoffs measuring about
In three or four spots we needed to climb or slide down huge boulders into deep water and swim across the deep parts until we could regain our footing. One time I plunged all the way under, after jumping from the two boulders between which I was (very daintily) wedged. We all got thoroughly soaked, as did our packs. Thanks to Daniel's swimming skills, Jay's camera actually survived with only a scrape or two -- no water damage. We were all amazed about that.
Daniel is part of the family who owns Zion Ponderosa. He had hiked this trail nine times already, so he pretty much knew what we were in for around every turn. At the hard parts (like areas that required submersion in water!) he went first so we could see the best way to negotiate the terrain. He also caught us a couple times when the climb down a boulder was especially hard. Without him it would've been, at worst, impossible, and at best, emotionally draining and nerve-rattling, to complete this hike.
Next time I would wear boots intead of my New Balance trail shoes.
High points: Seeing Cindy conquer some of her fear of deep water. Admiring God's artistry and immenseness in the huge rock sculptures, slot canyons, and boulders.
Low point: Slipping on a submerged rock and hammering my right knee pretty hard, at about mile 10. I was getting tired and sloppy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
