DAMDetails - Day | Calendar

Club Events 2007 : 2007-04-14 : COC - Heart Mountain

Trip Log Trip List Calendar

< Previous Day

Next Day >

No entry found!

Trip Log

Notes	Actions
This was a first scramble for all but Marty, and let me just start by saying that everyone else who did Heart Mountain today had a lovely time and can't wait to do more scrambling. This, however, is not my personal story. Instead, let me tell you the true story of what happens when an acrophobe goes on a scramble. I have an intense fear of heights. I was assured by a few people who've done Heart that I would be ok on it... no serious climbing, no serious exposure. Apparently these people do not have a proper appreciation for just exactly how intense my fear of heights is (and, you may rightly say, I did not have the proper respect for it myself when I undertook this adventure). Of the 10km total distance I was scared out of my everlovin' mind for approximately 4km of it and clinging to the frayed ends of my comfort limits for another approximately 2km. To anyone who remembers me crying on my first Yamnuska Scree Indulgence (cheers to Susan, Cam and Mehran), yes I did, in fact, cry today, and even hyperventillated for a little bit. To everyone who has told me that I should at least try scrambling before I write it off as an activity, I have met your requirement and proved to myself, and six lucky companions, why I should not scramble. Completing this scramble burns approximately 2000 calories. I burned about another 4000 just in sheer terror. In general, I am not able to get closer than 8 feet to any kind of drop-off, and am not able to watch someone ELSE get less than 8 feet to a drop-off without getting uncomfortable. If I do happen to get within the 8 foot limit, I get dizzy, my feet tingle, the world wobbles back and forth, I get butterflies in my stomach, and vivid visions of throwing myself over the edge. Incidentally, my good friend, Ben, 's wife is also afraid of heights and it's her butt cheeks that tingle rather than her feet. Specific moments of terror today included: - A complete inability to look behind myself at what I had just climbed - Unease when Marty would point something out that was in the view below us (looking across at Yamnuska and the other mountains on the north side was ok) - After leaving the first peak (ie. the upper-right corner of the "heart") and finishing the portion of the ridge heading south, there is a short section of traverse that is only maybe three feet wide with sharp drop-offs on either side. Here is where the first whimper was heard. - For the descent after leaving the highest point (SE corner of the route), I was unable to look ahead or to the sides as there were sharp drop-offs on either side of me, continuing on into an interminable distance. At times I was not able to avoid getting within one or two feet of the side/drop-off, and although I tried to focus on the ground directly in front of me, I couldn't help but occasionally look up at which point I would spot the long LONNNNNGGGG descent in front of me, flanked on either side by those stomach-lurching drop-offs. Months ago, I struck a deal with Marty. I would do a scramble with him and he would eat sushi with me. Because of my soft heart (or head) I let him off the hook a month or so ago and said I would still do Heart Mountain but I wouldn't make him eat sushi. By the time we reached the first peak today, I had decided that Marty definitely was going to have to eat some sushi and it wasn't going to be the "beginner" kind of sushi. He was going to eat octopus and salmon roe (eggs). By the time we reached the second peak, I decided that he was going to eat blow fish. Wish him luck - he's gonna need it. But enough about me... everyone else had a great time, including Lynn who did not actually do the scramble with us but who rather turned around early and did Heart Creek a couple of times, plus the first part of Heart Mountain while she waited SEVEN HOURS for us to finish this trip. Thanks to everyone for putting up with me today and I promise not to torture you with my presence on any other trip this far beyond my comfort and abilities. Thanks especially to Marty for talking (and pushing) me up, and then down, the mountain, for listening to my complaints (which, thankfully were few because I was too scared to talk), and for giving me his shoulder for the noted blubbering and hyperventillating. Honorable mention to Ahmed, Peter and Jerry for assisting Marty in pushing/pulling me up the mountain. -- Rhonda

Notes

Actions

This was a first scramble for all but Marty, and let me just start by saying that everyone else who did Heart Mountain today had a lovely time and can't wait to do more scrambling. This, however, is not my personal story. Instead, let me tell you the true story of what happens when an acrophobe goes on a scramble.

I have an intense fear of heights. I was assured by a few people who've done Heart that I would be ok on it... no serious climbing, no serious exposure. Apparently these people do not have a proper appreciation for just exactly how intense my fear of heights is (and, you may rightly say, I did not have the proper respect for it myself when I undertook this adventure). Of the 10km total distance I was scared out of my everlovin' mind for approximately 4km of it and clinging to the frayed ends of my comfort limits for another approximately 2km. To anyone who remembers me crying on my first Yamnuska Scree Indulgence (cheers to Susan, Cam and Mehran), yes I did, in fact, cry today, and even hyperventillated for a little bit. To everyone who has told me that I should at least try scrambling before I write it off as an activity, I have met your requirement and proved to myself, and six lucky companions, why I should not scramble.

Completing this scramble burns approximately 2000 calories. I burned about another 4000 just in sheer terror. In general, I am not able to get closer than 8 feet to any kind of drop-off, and am not able to watch someone ELSE get less than 8 feet to a drop-off without getting uncomfortable. If I do happen to get within the 8 foot limit, I get dizzy, my feet tingle, the world wobbles back and forth, I get butterflies in my stomach, and vivid visions of throwing myself over the edge. Incidentally, my good friend, Ben, 's wife is also afraid of heights and it's her butt cheeks that tingle rather than her feet. Specific moments of terror today included:
- A complete inability to look behind myself at what I had just climbed
- Unease when Marty would point something out that was in the view below us (looking across at Yamnuska and the other mountains on the north side was ok)
- After leaving the first peak (ie. the upper-right corner of the "heart") and finishing the portion of the ridge heading south, there is a short section of traverse that is only maybe three feet wide with sharp drop-offs on either side. Here is where the first whimper was heard.
- For the descent after leaving the highest point (SE corner of the route), I was unable to look ahead or to the sides as there were sharp drop-offs on either side of me, continuing on into an interminable distance. At times I was not able to avoid getting within one or two feet of the side/drop-off, and although I tried to focus on the ground directly in front of me, I couldn't help but occasionally look up at which point I would spot the long LONNNNNGGGG descent in front of me, flanked on either side by those stomach-lurching drop-offs.

Months ago, I struck a deal with Marty. I would do a scramble with him and he would eat sushi with me. Because of my soft heart (or head) I let him off the hook a month or so ago and said I would still do Heart Mountain but I wouldn't make him eat sushi. By the time we reached the first peak today, I had decided that Marty definitely was going to have to eat some sushi and it wasn't going to be the "beginner" kind of sushi. He was going to eat octopus and salmon roe (eggs). By the time we reached the second peak, I decided that he was going to eat blow fish. Wish him luck - he's gonna need it.

But enough about me... everyone else had a great time, including Lynn who did not actually do the scramble with us but who rather turned around early and did Heart Creek a couple of times, plus the first part of Heart Mountain while she waited SEVEN HOURS for us to finish this trip.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with me today and I promise not to torture you with my presence on any other trip this far beyond my comfort and abilities. Thanks especially to Marty for talking (and pushing) me up, and then down, the mountain, for listening to my complaints (which, thankfully were few because I was too scared to talk), and for giving me his shoulder for the noted blubbering and hyperventillating. Honorable mention to Ahmed, Peter and Jerry for assisting Marty in pushing/pulling me up the mountain.

-- Rhonda

Photos

COC Details
COC List
Route
Climbing
Scrambling
Scrambling
Scrambling
Scrambling
Near the top
Unhappy hiker
The Marty Solution
Coming down... alive

< Previous Day

Next Day >