Acrophobia

I fear heights. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrophobia. I don't venture doing anything that involves height. It took me a long time to be ok with indoor rock climbing but even today, I cringe during the first few climbs.

Aug 25th, 2008, after our gruesome 16 mile hike thru the Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah, my friend Lito and I decided to do the 6 mile round-trip hike. We had plenty of energy left to do this hike. Infact, we were the only two who had the energy to do this. Its called the "Angel's landing". I figured after 16 miles of narrow, this cant be really that bad. Well, it was bad. First 2.5 miles was piece of cake (well, the elevation was a killer) but the last 0.5 miles was vertical up! We had to use chains to get past the narrow footpath. I started the few few steps and mentally blanked out. I could not do it. I said no. I was scared of dying. I am a klutz and it would take only one wrong footing before everything was over.

Two reason's gave me the motivation to climb it despite of my fears.

1. To conquer my fear of heights -- What better way to do it than to face it head on?

2. To have the bragging rights of having done it -- My better half did not complete this hike as there was a storm the day they hiked!

Lito, my fearless friend, gave me the courage. I asked him to walk ahead of me while I glued my eyes to watching his shoes as I climbed up. Scary but my eyes did not diverge from his gastrocnemius the whole way up! There were several people who did not make it up as they found it very dangerous. I was surprised that people were allowed to go on this dangerous hike. Really, a wrong footing would the end! Despite my fear, I pushed along! We made it to the top. What a sigh of relief!

Great view from the top but would I do it again? No thanks! Of course, I will always be able to proudly flaunt my accomplishment but that would be the extend of it.

I am now intrigued to do more hiking and see more of nature, especially, the national parks in the US!