August 2013
Suddenly feeling my boots start to slip as I was
trying to lower my backpack down, I had no choice but to let go and let it drop
over the ledge. I watched in dismay as it tumbled down the sharp incline,
pleading, “stop!” Some 20 meters below a clump of bushes heard my plea, caught
it, and, thankfully, saved most of my gear from about another 100-meter tumble down
the mountain. One water bottle was not so lucky, and I watched it bounce and go
flying out of sight over the ledges further below. Five minutes before,
realizing I could not get down attached to a 40 lb. backpack, I had removed it,
and now sat on a series of ledges, slightly concerned but carefully pondering
my next move.
