The was our first desert tower. This climb is located out by Hanksville, UT (about 45 min west of Moab). We were top roping this 130 ft beast but we were practicing how to place cams and how to hammer pitons. Kt and I were very sick this trip. Kt would round the corner puking her guts out and I would follow hacking up a storm.
Kt lead through the first section. The first 40 ft or so took couple of hours to move through. I had the second half of the climb. Exhausted, I pushed through the top. At this point, Kt and I were both ready to call it quits from being sick and dehydrated. The top was literally made out of sand. I started knocking down soccer ball size sand globs. At one point, I looked to see Kt and our coach Andrew Downing running in circles dodging all the junk I was knocking down. Kt and I both made it up after a long grueling day of climbing.
Spiritual Experience: As I was mustering up the courage to make the last few moves, I prayed for confidence and strength. I was scared, tired, sick and mentally done for the day. I remembered a line from my patriarchal blessing that brought me comfort meaning Josh your not going to die today and heres why...(confidential). I knocked the blocks of sand down, stood on top and got my hero shot. On my way down, I re-set the hand line and down climbed to the anchors. THEN I HAD THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY CLIMBING CAREER!! The gates of the quick draws that were holding my rope in place keeping me 130 ft off the ground were OPEN!!! The rope was pinched between the gate and the draw. Apparently, things became all screwed up when the messy set of anchors started smacking the rock when I climbed above and behind the final pillar. I took my personal anchor system and went into the chains directly keeping me from falling to the ground. I fixed the rope and added a locking biner to the system so it wouldn't open up a second time. This experience did shake me up a bit. I wouldn't rappel off opposing gates for a while. To this day, if I fell when climbing down I do not know if the ropes would of stayed in place and there was no protection below the anchors to stop me. When I looked at it, I do not have any idea how the rope was being pinched by the gates. It seemed impossible like someone was holding in place. I owe big thanks to Heavenly Father on this one and of course Kt for holding the belay while dodging soccer balls of sand and stone.
Kt lead through the first section. The first 40 ft or so took couple of hours to move through. I had the second half of the climb. Exhausted, I pushed through the top. At this point, Kt and I were both ready to call it quits from being sick and dehydrated. The top was literally made out of sand. I started knocking down soccer ball size sand globs. At one point, I looked to see Kt and our coach Andrew Downing running in circles dodging all the junk I was knocking down. Kt and I both made it up after a long grueling day of climbing.
Spiritual Experience: As I was mustering up the courage to make the last few moves, I prayed for confidence and strength. I was scared, tired, sick and mentally done for the day. I remembered a line from my patriarchal blessing that brought me comfort meaning Josh your not going to die today and heres why...(confidential). I knocked the blocks of sand down, stood on top and got my hero shot. On my way down, I re-set the hand line and down climbed to the anchors. THEN I HAD THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY CLIMBING CAREER!! The gates of the quick draws that were holding my rope in place keeping me 130 ft off the ground were OPEN!!! The rope was pinched between the gate and the draw. Apparently, things became all screwed up when the messy set of anchors started smacking the rock when I climbed above and behind the final pillar. I took my personal anchor system and went into the chains directly keeping me from falling to the ground. I fixed the rope and added a locking biner to the system so it wouldn't open up a second time. This experience did shake me up a bit. I wouldn't rappel off opposing gates for a while. To this day, if I fell when climbing down I do not know if the ropes would of stayed in place and there was no protection below the anchors to stop me. When I looked at it, I do not have any idea how the rope was being pinched by the gates. It seemed impossible like someone was holding in place. I owe big thanks to Heavenly Father on this one and of course Kt for holding the belay while dodging soccer balls of sand and stone.
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| Kt pushing through one of the cruxes. |
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| A castle made of sand. |
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| Josh on the top of Planet X. |
Holy YIKES! So glad you are okay! - Shauna Harrel, the-girl-with-no-google-account
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