Now a year or two ago, my BFF Maryanne had told me about an awesome hike she had done and how she had taken her husband, John, back there to hike it with her and he cried like a baby (OK, I apoligize John, I exagerrated) and wouldn't go up the last 1/2 mile. Then we talked to some other friends and the husband loved it and the wife froze up and couldn't finish...and that's when I put it on my bucket list. Heck (a VERY Utah term), I've run marathons, given birth, spoken at Stake Youth Conference...this should be a piece of cake! So off we went.
This should have been our first clue:
At first the walk was warm and pleasant, but I still stuck to the side of the rock face. The edge looked pretty scary and went straight down.
At the 2 mile point we were laughing and enjoying the view. We'd hiked Walter's Wiggles and arrived at Scout Landing.
That's the point where you see this...a set of chains leading up a steep, but doable sandstone mountain with a large chain to help you climb up.
Then it got scary and that is where I started to feel like I might be in for more than I had anticipated...and I was right. Yes, that's me holding on to the chain so I wouldn't take a misstep and slide 1,000 feet!!!
There was one point that people call the "saddle" and it is literally 5 feet wide, about 150 yards across, 1500 feet down on each side....and I mean STRAIGHT down...and there are NO STINKIN' CHAINS!!! I will now admit that I almost quit there. I was scared stupid. Yes, it scared the bejeebers right out of me and I sat in a crouch and couldn't move. Mike was kindly suggesting from the other side that we could turn around, it was OK and I could tell he was nervous because I was so scared. We had heard horror stories of people freezing up and having to be lead off in total panic, of "criers" who shed tears of terror and even people falling off and dying, and I was letting all this stuff get into my head and began to panic. Then a woman came behind me and asked if I was OK (I think she could see me shaking and the not-moving thing concerned her) and then told me she could get me across. It was the wierdest thing, but she put her arm around my waist...barely touching me and suddenly I felt better and was able to get moving again. From then on, I just held onto the chain, kept my eyes riveted directly in front of me to the next foothold and kept going...and we finally made it to the top.
And this is what we saw...
Just after the saddle, another couple met up with us and I was greatly relieved to see that the cute girl was just as scared as me...it's so nice to be in good company! By the top, Beth and I became BFF, had shared quite a bit of information, blog sites and our deep terror about the situation. Beth's boyfriend, Josh, was wonderful and kind and understanding and when we finally made it to the top, we celebrated with hugs, giggles and shaky picture taking.
Celebrating my victory over the mountain at the very highest point of Angel's Landing! (Whoa, someone should have told me how winter-white my legs were before I climbed into those shorts!)
Now as you can see in that group picture, the wind started to pick up and storm clouds started to brew so we decided to head back down pretty quickly. I was never so grateful for those strong pieces of metal as we descended down the slippery stone in strong winds...yes, I kissed them! (Notice even when I had a death grip on the chains, I was still leaning as far back from the edge as I possibly could!!! Can you blame me?That edge plummets straight down to the valley floor!)
This is the saddle...and on either side is a 1500 foot dropoff! EEEEEEEEEEK! I am hanging on for dear life...AND it was VERY WINDY!
When we finally reached Scout's landing again (and I kissed the ground)Beth and Josh shimmied VERY CAREFULLY over to the edge to look down to the valley below...Beth was scared to death.
Then back down to Walter's Wiggles....
and another Bucket List item has been crossed off! Whew!!!!! Maryanne asked me if I would ever do it again and I still don't know the answer. That was seriously one of the scariest things I have ever done. As we were coming down I asked Mike why I didn't just write "Eat truffles" or "Learn to tat" on my bucket list...he said that's just not me. Poor Mike, you should see what else I have on my List.
I, Kris Monson, hiked Angel's Landing TO THE TOP on April 17th, 2009!!!!!
14 comments:
LOL! SO proud of you!!! I know Dave told you that I'd done this before. But here's the thing. I was only 19 and was completely unaware of the delicateness of my own mortality. I would NEVER be able to do it now! Not without handcuffs to bind me to that chain! And no way I could do the saddle now. No no no no no no no way. So good for you!
I am seriously impressed!!!!
my blood pressure was sky high just reading about your experience.
That one will never make it anywhere near my bucket list, I'm scared of heights. Timpanogas was nail biting enough for me :s
congrats :)
YOU GO GIRL!! My stomach was flip-flopping the entire time I was reading, and especially when I saw the couple laying/leaning on the edge!!
Eating truffles sounds like so much more FUN, I'll join you. lol
I am sitting here at my desk at work and my stomach is churning!!! I am not sure I would have been such a good sport!! Way to go. Thanks to you for sharing those great pictures, I will never have to do this myself!!!!
Love you for that!!!!!
Okay, I am actually shedding tears after reading that! Not tears of fear, nor of churning stomach, nor of high blood pressure, but tears of complete PROUDNESS that my BFF actually did it!!!! Woo-hoo-hoooo-hooooooo- hoooooooooooooooo!!!!
Honestly, both times I have hiked that thing I later wonder how-in-the-heck I was able to do it and not completely go out of my mind! It's just weird how "okay" I am when I'm up there. It always hits me that night when I'm laying in bed and I really realize what I did and how close I came to losing my mortality. That's when I kind of freak out.
I would love to hike it sometime with you guys though! Once your shock has worn off :oI
Fantastic! Way to go. That is on my list of things to do someday. I would never take my children there though...they have no fear, and we all know where that could lead! For them, I will stick to the Emerald Pools.
Just proud of you! And those photos, ahhh.
I can't believe you used the word BFF twice in one post. Also that you won't share ice cream but you'll kiss a dirty chain!?
On another note, you guys are crazy. There is no way I would ever ever do that.
Okay, I must admit that I did notice that AFTER you mentioned ME as your BFF, suddenly someone else is your BFF. So have I been trumped?!?
Maryanne, Only for that day! You're my forever BFF!
Okay, good. I feel MUCH better now! I was a little nervous.
Remarkable. I am ust grateful that event isn't on my bucket list! Really amazing photos. I am proud of you and Mike! I have heard about this hike - our scouts did it. Hope none of their mom's see the pics!
So glad you took pics so I never have to do the hike. And if you ever do put 'learn to tat' on your list, I'm your gal to teach you. You see, I had 'learn to tat' on my list and I've done it.
Congrats. You are an awesome friend.
Miss Kris oh how I can relate to your experience! I prayed the whole way to the top and my friend Jessica told me that she was going on with or without me. I HATE heights and I want you to know that I Sarah Wilson (then) have also made it to the very top of angels landing. It's so comforting to see the names and dates of people that have fallen and died off of this crazy hike when you finally get to the top! GOOO MISS KRIS!!!!
Kris, great photos and narration! You are a strong and brave woman for your age. lol Way to go. I want to go and do that so bad. Thomas keeps asking me if he can go to Arches this summer. I love doing scary things, like bungee swings and fast roller coasters. I did have a slight panic attack whenever I climbed up on our ladder to hang our letter V in the entry way, and that was only 7 feet up or so! Maybe I should rethink this...
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