Gail S - 8/12/08
My interest in Outward Bound started 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. He injured his foot just days before the trip. Thank goodness for trip insurance!
The next year, 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. 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 for my course. 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 getting safely back down. We all made both goals.
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.
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