Angels Landing

The view from the top looking east.
"I am on top of the world looking down on creation...."
Angels Landing is a destination to aspire to. When I left this morning to go on this hike, I had no idea that I would be in for such an adventure. The hike is difficult to describe in words so I am going to be posting a few photos tonight to show you how incredible this place is.

I was fascinated by the number of people willing to venture beyond what some would call impossible. An amazing variety of people made it to the top:grandmas, a women who had 4 knee surgeries, 13 yo boys bragging that it took then only 14 minutes, a women with perfectly painted long fake nails, and high school and college students by the ruck loads. The trail at times was continual line of ant like creatures.
Looking up to the peak where Angels Landing is.

The first 2 hours of the trail was a switch back hike that most hikers would consider strenuous. The last 1/2 mile was even more intense with a knife edge scramble that had a 2000 foot drop on both sides and at times was only big enough for one person. Thank goodness for the chain railing that I continually used to pull myself up and balance with. 

I frequently reminded myself to look where I wanted to go and not where I didn't. Most of the trail was slippery sandy sandstone, while other parts were icy and snowy.
 
Part of me never wanted to leave this spiritual place where the turkey vultures soar just feet above my head. Another part of my couldn't wait to get down so I can share this story and a few of my photos to hopefully inspire others to face their fears in order to experience this place of beauty and wonderment.
I am happily on top of the world.

Some quotes I heard at the top today: "I just don't want to think about it anymore." "I almost threw up twice." "I crawled on all fours." "That is the scariest thing I have ever done." "If my mom knew what I did today she would kill me." "I was just one step away from death."

Looking down from the top, Yes I walked along the knife edge.

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