While we were camping recently, our friend suggested that we visit this cool rock formation.
Not only did we visit it--we scaled it, accompanied by our six-year-olds and our dogs.
We didn't go up that sheer rock wall in the above photo, but we had to navigate this ridge in the photo to the right.
I won't lie. I was nervous--very nervous--as we crossed steep and slippery rock faces. I straddled the ledge below my daughter and her friend so that if they slipped, they would fall into me rather than over the edge. I hoped my dog wouldn't pull me off balance and send me shrieking onto the rocks below.
Had I not been with my friends, I never would have done this.
But I'm glad we did.
When we were finally safe on solid ground, I experienced the thrill of accomplishing something I actually did not know we could do. My friend's assumption that we could do it was nerve-wracking and even a little infuriating, but he was right.
That's what friends are for. To push you to be better and go farther than you think you can go. Friends who never push you or pull you along to a higher place aren't good for you.
Snow definitely pulls me along, but I'm thankful for my friends who are a little less literal about it.:-)
6 comments:
At Bible Camp in Wyoming a group of us climbed Candy Rock (in the mountains). There was one tricky part I refused to navigate, until every other adult in the group did, including the women. Male pride wouldn't allow me to walk around the tricky part - I put my faith in the guides and negotiated it. Successfully. I know the feeling you describe of having accomplished something significant - maybe not the rock, but the fear.
This is Soda Damn I think, in Jemez. I did the same thing with my little girls....climbed that same ridge along the back.....and felt those same scary feelings. It looked deceptively "easy" when we started out....and as we progressed, I stared second guessing my decision to take the little girls up!! It's a fun place to hang out!
Have you climbed inscription rock--El Morro? We climbed that and walked along the top of it. Talk about scary and hard to navigate. I'm glad I did it and equally glad I don't have to do it again. Fascinating place. It's southwest of Grants, Highway 53, east of Zuni Pueblo. I think I'd leave my dog at home and take a walking stick instead.
That's kind of cool. Where is that?
I understand what you mean about the thrill of accomplishment.
I'm deathly afraid of heights, but a few years back some friends and my husband convinced me to go rock climbing with them. It was a short hike, nothing too major. I didn't think I could do it, but when I reached the top, I felt so high. (Pardon the pun.)
So this means you are going to go up the Sandia Mt. tram-ride w/ me and ride the next roller-coaster we come to right?
Your husband.
Nope. The ridge is not dependent on human mechanics and operators. :-)
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