Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After travelling thirty metres in half an hour, the end of the ordeal was in sight.
Just two steps away was another flat ledge and after that, the obstacles looked more
manageable. My self-control and my strength had almost left me and I was desper-
ate to get away from the brink of that terrifying fall. I took one careful step forward
then tried to make a quick lunge to safety.
As I pushed off with the toe of my right boot, the rock I was standing on dis-
lodged and went plummeting down. I crashed downwards. Gravity seemed hell-
bent on sending me to my doom, but in a reflex action I managed a desperate
grab at a small rocky protrusion on the solid face above me and checked my fall.
I wasn't able to hang on and the shock removed the skin from my fingertips and
nearly wrenched my arm from its socket, but at least I wasn't falling. I slid very
slowly downwards with the rocks, pressing myself flat and digging my hands and
feet desperately into the moving mass.
The slope was so steep that I was standing virtually upright. I felt like a very
small bug clinging desperately onto the top of an extremely high wall - only this
wall was sliding. Within a second, I was beginning to pick up speed, but at the end
of that second, just moments away from careening down to death or serious injury,
my foot found a stable rock and I stood still.
The world held its breath while my heart pounded furiously. A cold sweat was
pouring off my skin and I dared not move until I was sure I wasn't going to take
off downwards again. Carefully, I climbed back up to the safety of the ledge and
there I sat, regaining my composure, thinking of how much I loved Nat and men-
tally thanking each and every god I could ever remember hearing of.
The going became easier from there and, within half an hour, my panic had giv-
en way to a towering optimism. It was by far the most technically difficult and dan-
gerous scrambling and climbing that I'd ever done, but I was being very careful
now and was loving it.
I reached the saddle and began to climb up the ridge to the mountain on the
other side. The climb was steep and exposed but much safer than the descent now
behind me. I reached the top and stood like a king claiming virgin territory. I spun
around and exulted in the view of mountains and mountains and mountains. As far
as I could see, in every direction, towering peaks and valleys that stretched away to
every horizon. The peace and tranquillity of this wild world was seeping into my
consciousness, and every day I was feeling a stronger sense of calm.
If only Nat could be here with me, I thought. This is heaven!
