By: Janine Niebrugge
Every now and then, if we are lucky, we have an experience that WOW’s us and may even change a part of who we are forever. Today was just that sort of day for me.
A couple of months ago when we decided to make Grand Teton National Park a part of our spring trip Ron dropped the suggestion that we take a mountaineering class. Specifically, he had developed this desire for me to learn to rappel. I’m quite certain he has a photo op in mind of which he needs my assistance. Over the course of this trip he has mentioned the idea a few more times! Last week we visited Exum Mountaineering and I said let’s go for it.
This was huge for me. Anyone who knows me knows I have a tremendous fear of heights. Were not talking sweating palms and being uncomfortable we are talking leg shaking, paralyzing fear! Over the years I have worked very hard at challenging myself and trying to overcome this fear. I have made great strides but taking this class was going to challenge me like I have never been challenged before.
Despite my fear I was looking forward to the class. There were two others in our class, a couple of very nice young men named Joel and Josh from South Carolina. Our guide, Brendan, was great. We started out bouldering then learning knots and belaying. Once we were all comfortable we hit some mild pitches. The climbing part was difficult for me. The technique is counter intuitive and I had a tough time overcoming what I wanted to do, lean in, when I should have been leaning out. This made the climbing part harder for me but I managed to get up. We continued up the mountain each pitch offering a little bit more of a challenge. We belayed each other requiring a lot of trust in the person at the other end of the rope. At one point I was belaying Joel and let out an “oops” about halfway up his climb. I realized I was belaying improperly. He good naturedly suggested I not yell out “oops” while someone was climbing. We all had a good laugh.
Next we moved on to rappelling. I figured this was going to be my biggest challenge. The climbing part had turned out to be more challenging to my fear of heights than I had thought it would be so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen when I tried to rappel.
As with the climbing we started out with a pretty mild rappel, both feet firmly planted on the ground. I did surprisingly well, in fact I can honestly say it was FUN. Now on to a more challenging rappel, this time we would drop over a ledge which then sloped inward leaving me dangling from my rope. Again, I surprised myself and showed little hesitation in dropping over the edge. Brendan decided we were all doing so well he would have us try another rappel, one usually covered in the intermediate class and one that simulates the rappel off the top of the Grand Teton. We dropped off over a cliff and continued down 120′ – as in a 12 story building! It was AMAZING. That’s me in the picture during this rappel. The rappel continues beyond the bottom of the frame.
When all was said and done I was thrilled I had agreed to take this challenge. I’m not sure I am cut out for mountaineering but I am ready to do some more rappelling. What an AWESOME day!
Comments 14
“Specifically, he had developed this desire for me to learn to rappel”. That’s hilarious in an almost twisted kind of way.
Author
Funny – it really isn’t like it sounds!
Ron
Way to go Janine! Very well written.
Hugs, Gail
Thank you for the ongoing entertainment!
I have been enjoying your blog, and seeing all the great shots you are piling up along the way.
Glad to see the trip being productive, and also apparently fun.
Great job w the writing Janine. Such a multi-talented lady.
And Ron, great job getting your lovely bride to hang off a cliff! She is already a famous covergirl, this shot may well produce another.
Alaska is blooming like crazy. Great flower year. A little late on the peninsula, which should work out nicely for you. I look forward to catching up when you make it back home.
Calvin
Author
Hey Calvin,
Thanks for the comment, great to hear from you!
I have been wondering what you have been up to, and if you completed your many projects you had going. We will have to get caught up when I get back.
We are looking forward to getting back to Alaska – it does seem strange to not be up there right now.
See you soon,
Ron
Thanks Gail and Calvin. I’m glad you liked my story. I would love to find time to write more.
Janine,
Great job, I have always had a fear of heights myself. What’s next pictures of you skydiving ? See you guys in a week
Ron and Janine:
Just wanted to say that it was great climbing with you both! Very well written article, especially the part about Josh and I being nice people 😉 Just kidding. I’ll have to keep up with your blog now that I know where to find it. I love the site and the photos – keep up the good work! Janine, if you find yourself tiring of being famous, just tell Ron to use one of the shots of me hanging off that monster overhang =)
Author
Hey Joel – great to hear from you! Thanks for the comments. I have similar photos of you and Josh, we will send them to you after we are home – I think you will like them.
Thanks,
Ron
hey Janine
Nice effort! Don’t you go getting all crazy with this mountain stuff now, though. Have you seen “Touching the Void”?
I like how “Specifically, he (Ron) had developed this desire for me to learn to rappel.” I got a chuckle outta that one. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Cheers
Carl
Thanks Carl. No worries, for the most part my feet are staying firmly planted on solid, not to vertical, ground! I read Touching the Void, need to see the film. Awesome story!
I guess I should have been more concerned with Ron’s interest in my learning to rappel, especially in light of the insurance policy he recently took out on me….LOL… just kidding!
Janine
Thanks for the great story. I am also one not too thrilled with heights. It probably wasn’t wise for me then to jump out of an airplane, but I did that once and what a feeling of exhilaration it was. I can’t really say that fear is now gone, because I think I would be just as nervous, perhaps more so doing this because you can see the ground a lot easier! 🙂 I might have to try that ‘convincing to take up extreme sports for photo ops’ technique!
Author
Hey Carl, Touching the Void is an amazing book.
Wow Mark, you sky-dived! I had a really hard time getting over that rock lip – I think I would have to be pushed from the plane!
Thanks,
Ron
impressive… especially the skating hall 🙂