Mt. Yamnuska
Gallery / Current Painting
Acrylic on Canvas
Diptych, each panel 40” x 60”
Achieving my goal to reach the top of this iconic limestone cliff-faced peak, a demanding site for hiking and scrambling with a total elevation gain of over 7,349 feet, was a challenge I'd long sought to achieve. Our hiking group ascended the initial climb but at a final point we had to decide on who would go on further to scale the steep and treacherous outcroppings by rope, to reach the top ledge.
I held back but I felt envious as I watched the bravest of our group succeed on reaching the top of this ominous cliff, taking small comfort in the fact that I wasn’t up there with them.
However, once they were safely down again and raving with exhilaration and pride at accomplishing this precarious feat, the heckling and encouragement aimed at scaredy-cat me began in an effort to get me over the terror I felt for this ultimate hiking experience. Several experienced climbers offered to make a second arduous trip to take me up there on my own. I felt I had to save my nicknamed reputation as Wolf Woman Mentor to my many wilderness art students back in the city so I finally relented.
So scary. So dangerous. Breaching those gaps. Clutching the rope. Grabbing for the outstretched helping hands. Slipping, sliding, finding footholds, fighting the fear. But I made it! I got to the top! I couldn’t walk over to the edge to look down though. My fear of heights gripped me intensely. I literally had to crawl on my belly to look over the edge. But I did it!
This was one of those true Bucket List moments.
If you can try this challenge, you’ll never be the same again!