Sweat poured off his brow and the muscles in his arms throbbed as he strained to reach the next outcropping. Though he was almost to the top he was going to need to rest before making the last push. Old McCrory Cliff was just as tough as everyone said but Billy had never been one to pass on a challenge, though he had begun to question coming alone.
He finally made purchase on the small ledge and pulled himself up onto it. He pounded two pitons into cracks left and right of his position and clipped his carabiners on. There was a small pocket above his head that he was able to insert a cam and a safety line, ‘cause you never know when you might just need one. He was able to stand on the ledge comfortably, elbows against his sides holding on to the two lines and leaning against the rock face.
Focusing his breathing he relaxed and he felt some of the tension in his body release. The cool rock face he was pressed against felt good and comforting. Closing his eyes, he focused inwards trying to achieve a calmness while remaining alert. Five minutes passed and he had begun to feel better and opened his eyes. Looking up he could see his intended landing plateau only about fifteen feet above him. He took a slow breath, seeing that his completion was only minutes away, just a little more rest.
After another 10 minutes of resting he felt he was ready to finish the climb. Billy prepared his body and pulled himself up completely using the ropes. As he pushed off from the overhang to continue his ascent the ledge beneath him began to crumble and fall away. He felt a vibration in the lines and a trembling in the rock face itself. Several loud cracks and the rock surface in front of him began to fall away from where he had been hanging.
** A new episode will be posted each Monday **
- Episode 2 – 4/19/21
- Episode 3 – 4/26/21
- Episode 4 – 5/03/21
- Episode 5 – 5/10/21
- Episode 6 – 5/17/21
- Episode 7 – 5/24/21
- Episode 8 – 5/31/21
- Episode 9 – 6/07/21
- Episode 10 – 6/16/21
- Episode 11 – 6/21/21
- Episode 12 – 6/30/21
- Episode 13 – 7/09/21
- Episode 14 – 7/14/21
- Episode 15 – 7/19/21
- Episode 16 – 8/12/21
- Episode 17 – 9/03/21
- Episode 18 – Coming January 2022
- Episode 19 – Coming January 2022
- Episode 20 – Coming January 2022
- Episode 21 – Coming January 2022
(c) 2021 Trell Waindah, All Rights Reserved