Sep 07 2008
First Account: Spray Park, WA- Freeclimbing
About a year ago I was out hiking with a friend near Mowich Lake, WA. After hiking over several peaks, we decided to try our luck at a peak about a half mile away. Upon reaching the peak, we found that it was a vertical 30 feet to the top, requiring the climb of a steep rock wall. Although the the wall was full of ledges, climbing with our day packs was extremely hard. At one point, I was holding on to a ledge that was slanted downward, toward the edge. Thinking that the ledge would be useful, I soon found my hand slipping toward the edge, with 20 feet between me and the mountain slope below, which gave way to another 300 feet of steep slope downwards.
By now, most sane people would have turned back and retreated to the safety of solid ground. Not my friend and I! We were on a quest for ultimate supremacy at the top, and nothing would get in our way! Desperately groping for another handhold while nearly slipping off the side of a mountain with another nearly had me convinced that turning back was the safe thing to do, however. We soon made it to the top, luckily. Unharmed despite our own stupidity, I was thankful to enjoy the views from the top.
The moral of the story? My friend and I both agreed afterwards that under no circumstances would we ever do that again. Whether or not adherence to that will come, I have no idea. But one thing is for sure, brains beat braun anyday when you are making potentially life altering decisions. Have fun hiking and be safe out there!
