Back home in the office for a few quick (and long) days of work as we try and get out a new release of the software. We have some potentially huge deals coming and are scrambling to try and get everything that we are selling actually included in the product at a production level of quality. In a way, it's been very fun and the people I am working with are great. Let's hope the camaraderie and good nature hold out as pressure and problems build up!
James Hulme, son of my friends Amy and Jim is leaving on his mission so as a last activity before he left, we all went to Zions and did a couple of slot canyons on Thursday and Friday. Thursday was Pine Creek which is short but a spectacular section of pools and deep canyons with a long, free rappel at the end. The one shot is of me just starting to ascend and you can see someone in blue way below at the bottom. Many of the regular canyons were closed due to high water so we did one called Behunin Canyon which was fabulous with beautiful hiking and interesting red rock scenery! You climb to Angels Landing and then head north at the top for another several miles then drop into this long canyon with 8 rappels that bring you out near the Grotto and the Lodge. It was a little like a Clegg day in that we got off late, were way short on water and way underestimated the difficulty and time required. At the first rappel, I was at the bottom and pulling a stuck rope from around a tree. I jerked hard and it came loose and sent me stepping back down a small incline. I felt something pop in my right leg at the same time felt like someone hit me in the calf with a hammer. The sensation was similar to when I blew my ACL in that in some positions I was fine but in others there was no stability and lots of pain.
I said an internal heartfelt prayer, took four ibuprofen and just stretched and massaged it for a while. The next few rappels were a little hairy but managed to get to a degree of stability and movement for which I was grateful. As it was the first rappel, I was thinking, "Maybe better to have a helicopter lift out of here than go deeper into the canyon!" But the pain subsided some and I was able to keep ascending the drops. I'd go at the front then start navigating to the next drop ahead of the group and they would catch me as I got there so they didn't have to wait. By the time we got to the last drop, it was almost completely dark. James, set the anchor and then plunged over the cliff. The book said it was a 165 foot drop (like a 16 story building) and the rope was only 180 feet long so it was a little intense as he was letting out line, hoping to reach flat bottom before he ran out of rope. He made it and I went next, just lowering myself on rope into the darkness. Quite the sensation, plunging into the abyss with massive stars overhead and dropping into darkness.
That wasn't the end. Turns out there was about a half a mile of giant boulders (about the size of cars) to clamber over with water running underneath before getting to a walkable trail. I took off my dry suit so I could navigate better and then since we only had two flash lights for seven people, I went ahead again, using the display on the back of my camera for a flashlight (remember the night jungle hike in Costa Rica Hayden?). It put out pretty good light and after about 45 minutes of sliding around, hanging off and gingerly maneuvering on boulders, I got to the trail and a few minutes later, the rest of the group joined me.
By now, it was 11 p.m. and we were afraid we were going to have to walk the 2 miles from the lodge to the parking lot as we would miss the last bus but just as we were crossing the bridge, about a hundred yards from the road, a bus was coming down the road. We started flashing our lights and running (except me) and caught the last ride out of the park for the day. We were all so tired that we just filled up on water (hadn't had any for hours) and went to sleep. Alls well that ends well and very grateful that so many little miracles worked out to all make it back safe!
I slept with my leg on ice and by Saturday, it was feeling good enough to do some moderate hikes so we trekked to the Temple of Sinawava on the Narrows and then to the Emerald Pools and the Grotto. I read up on muscle tears when I got back and am pretty sure that's what I did but also it appears to be healing amazingly fast. Great time with the Hulmes, their cousin David Clark and Jame's friend Katie Lewis and glad that they insisted I come along as I enjoyed the weather, the fantastically beautiful country and the outdoor physical activity immensely. Special thanks to Dan for loaning us his scooter as a ferry vehicle to get back to the car.
Sunday was a good day as I got this term's ward directory out finally (just as school comes to an end on June 13th)! Great group of kids here for the summer and have enjoyed getting to know them and watch as newly called leaders accept the mantle of their callings and grow into forces for good in the ward family. One of the councilors (Dennis Harding) was released last week and I'm going to really miss him. He's been such a great guy to work with and was much more seasoned than the rest of us in the ways of student wards.
Well, I've rambled on for quite a while. I need to work tomorrow (Memorial Day) to make up for time off and missed seeing many of you on this traditional holiday but trust that all of our family who have passed on will be remembered and taken care of--even if it's cold and rainy!!!
Looking forward to this weekend and Gavin's baptism and McKelle and Nick's wedding! It looks like Alex moved in while I was gone so looking forward to getting to know him. Cambria's gone to CA for a week to visit Grandpa and Grandma Hunter. Hope everyone else is doing well!
Love,
Peter
