My interest in Outward
Bound started in early 2001 when I enrolled my son in a program
for 14-15 year olds. I looked through the catalog and thought
I'd like to do that, and that, and that. My son never went
in 2001. He injured his foot
Gail
and her son signing the summit register
just days before the
trip. Thank goodness for trip insurance! For various reasons
2002 didn't work out.
In 2003 I wanted my son to take a backpacking trip. He wanted
to hang out with his friends. I looked seriously at the Adult
Renewal programs, and signed up for canyoneering in October.
I pestered the OB phone counselors Q. How high is it? A. ~6,000'
You can do it. Q. What if my doctor won't let me climb? A.
You can switch to rafting or canoeing.
I got serious about training - stairs at the office after
work, my old pack full of water bottles up and down the biggest
hill in the neighborhood. I had a schedule all mapped out
to be ready by October. Then the plan changed! My son consented
to go with me to the August family program in Colorado.
Fast forward to Leadville. Two moms, seven dads, five sons,
four daughters and four instructors. Most of the kids had
done a high ropes course before. They got the parents through.
Some of the dads had experience at technical climbing. Rafting
was a great change of pace. On the fourth day we split into
two groups and set off for the backpacking segment. The instructors
had me leading about half the time. I'd backpacked before
-- 30 years ago in the Appalachians with the Girl Scouts,
and everybody could keep up with the pace I set. For somebody
who lives at 800 ft, the air on Mt Deer was pretty thin. We
hit a snow field on a plateau, and needed to climb about 400'
up to the lake. We camped on the continental divide. While
the adults set up the tents the kids cooked dinner.
We were supposed to eat breakfast in the dark
and start for the summit at daybreak. At 4AM I was sure I
wasn't going. I had my speech all set about how Kahlil Gibran
talked about the parent was the bow and the child the arrow.
Neil, one of the instructors, encouraged me to try it. The
kids were slow to get up, but once we got moving they were
all gung ho for reaching the summit at 13,760'. From the start
I had a goal of safely back down. We all made both goals.
The group
on the 13,760' summit
Gail's
son, Travis (left)
I lost count of how many times I fell coming down. I was black
and blue for a month, but we worked together and made it.
I treasure the time on "duo" with my son, who thought
it was pretty neat that I didn't give up. Giving up isn't
a reasonable option on the way back down. I learned I can
do it. I also learned that next time I'm going someplace under
10,000'. Four months after filing for divorce, and three months
before my 50th birthday, I reopened doors to outdoor activities
I'd given up as a teen. Next summer I'm going day hiking in
the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. Maybe 2006 will be Outward
Bound Women's or Adult Renewal program along the Rio Grande.
