Story Time
This Story Time is on the two times where I was scared and both times I was over 4,000 feet and exposed area. One was free style rock climbing and other was thunderstorms and 30 mph wind gusts. These two moments were I was really scared I dont know how to describe or how to tell you how or why I got scared. It’s one of those things that just happens.
The first instant that I was scared and I can’t pinpoint why I got scared. I knew at some point I would be doing some bouldering/rock climbing in PA and the White Mountains in New Hampshire, but not 98 miles in. Albert Mountain is 5250 feet hight, second highest mountain that I been on by 228 feet short of Standing Indian Mountain.
I have rocked climbed before but that was close to 15 years ago and with harness, rope, and someone who knew what he was doing at the other end of the rope. I knew I could do it, but not doing it after 15ish years and freestyle it with a 30lb, give or take, leach of a pack. To this day I still don’t what set off my fear of hights. Climbing up with a free styling and steepness of it. Or freestyling rock climbing with a heavy pack on my back, losing my balance and falling backwards. Or the combination of both. Or totally out of my comfort zone.
Before the fear of hights kicked in I was fine. When my fear of hights kicked in one thing that was on my mind was to get up and over the mountain in one piece and no injury. Whether if was over of my comfort zone or fear of falling backwards from my pack and not having a good grip on the rocks with footing and with my hands. If I had a picture or a video of that climb I would add it in but I don’t and I only got one when I was at the top. Even with me scared and freaking out there where spots where I can walk normally between the crazy freestyle rock climbing. Though the picture will give you a small idea of what I went through going up Albert Mountain.
This one might make you laugh than anything thing else. Lighting, I was scared of lighting. Granted I love a good rip snorting thunderstorm. Now you may be asking why are you scared of lighting if you love a rip snorting thunderstorm? Let me tell you why. When you are 4,300-5,600 feet high and 75% exposed, well you get the idea. I started out at Russell Field Sheter (4347 feet), yes the same one that we had the bears the night before, up to Thunderhead Mountain (5527 feet), which is very fitting for that day. And ended at Derrick Knob Shelter (4884 feet). 9 miles in the rain, mud, and raging creek for a trail, I didn’t mind that but the lightning……. I knew the two out comes if I got hit: 1. Long lasting health issue(s) from it or 2. Death. And yes I was crazy, dumb, and stupid enough to hike those 9 miles in that kind of weather. Hence the name. Mind you the storms that I have countered up till that day I have been in the 2,500-4,500 feet range and lots of tree coverage. And they are your common summer rain storms stop the misty/foggy rain and mud galore. Walking in the rain and the wind with a creek in spots and puddles in others I was fine, from hiking in the rain before. It’s a game changer when you are above 4,000 feet and in open areas with a force that shouldn’t be wrecken with. Rest of the time in the Smokies, May 5-9, I have heard that about 8 people that got hit that day and walked out and to this day I have no idea how they are doing. Out of that number two groups of people that I saw told me that two gals that where hiking together got hit and where able to walk out. One of those groups was with them the day that they got out and one had more of a hit from the lighting and got patched up by one of the hikers in that group. The other one had tingling in her hand. The hiker that dressed the wound said they where in shock because the where hanging out with them that day had supper then the next day they finally decided that the do need to get checked out.