Riders On The Storm.
Finally I committed, digging my fingertips hard into the small wet edges as I brought my foot high underneath me. Reaching up for the next hold, the last hold of the pitch, suddenly I felt my body peeling away from the rock. My hand fired off the slippery hold and I was slowly tipping away from the anchors, which, after a stressful rope stretching pitch of run out slab climbing, were finally within reach. My hands failed, trying desperately to reconnect with the rock, but knowing it was too late - I was falling. My body accelerated down the slab, crashing into small ledges for what seemed an eternity until finally the rope jerked me to a halt. Excruciating pain seared through my left heel, but on a quick inspection I seemed to be in one piece. Lowering back to the anchors off sketchy gear, I fought the tears welling up in my eyes. Afraid to show my weakness to my climbing partners, Ines Papert and Thomas Senf, this early in the trip. Yet innerly I was distraught “Was the trip over for me after only one day climbing?” and “Could Ines carry on if I was hurt” were the questions that tormented me as we descended.
My heel hurt, but climbing is the best cure I know for pain - We carried on and while on the rock everything else was forgotten…
This story is from the August - September 2016 edition of Adventure Magazine.
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This story is from the August - September 2016 edition of Adventure Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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