Mount Kananaskis

Achieving my goal to reach the top of this mountain was a challenge I couldn’t have accomplished without the help of my hiking buddies.  We ascended the initial climb as a group but at a final point, had to decide who would go on to scale the steep and dangerous rocky ledges by rope.  My fear of heights.  Nuh uh. I declined.

Watching the rest of the hikers succeed, and seeing them all up there at the top edge of this ominous cliff with its 1500 foot drop, I felt envious, but still glad I wasn’t up there with them.

However….once they were safely down, all the while raving about the exhilaration and pride they felt at accomplishing this scary feat, the encouragement and heckling began in an effort to get me through the terror of this ultimate hiking experience.  Several of them kindly offered to make a second arduous trip and take me up on my own.  I finally relented.

Scary, scary.  So dangerous.  Breaching the gaps.  Clutching the rope.  Grabbing the outstretched hands.  Slipping, sliding, finding footholds, fighting the fear. But I made it!

I couldn’t walk to the edge to look down.  I literally had to crawl on my belly to look over the edge. But I did it!

It’s truly one of those Bucket List moments. Try it. You’ll never be the same again.