pushing new limits....

Hey everyone!

Well it looks like another week has ended, I for one can not believe it's the middle of JUNE!!!! Where does the time go? I guess when you're having fun, it's over too soon.

I need to report on some personal limits pushed....for those that know, I HATE HEIGHTS!!!! I prefer my feet on solid LOW ground. Well I'm determined not to have it bug me as much, so I keep finding things that push the limits. Thursday, I finally did Angel's Landing!!! The 30 switchbacks are not fun, but once you get to the top of them your fun is not over yet. I've always heard about "the chains" you hold onto while climbing the cliffs. Well, I am one to testify that the chains are a good idea. Most of the chained hike wasn't too bad, but in a few areas the girls I was hiking with had to convince me to keep going. One part especially crazy. You walk about 100 feet with about a 2-3 feet wide walking space....looking around you one either side is a shear cliff. No, it's not a nice little gentle slop, it's a death cliff. All you have to hold onto is "the chain." Going up wasn't so bad, but I think coming down the mountain is much worse. But now I can say I've hiked it! However, I would not recommend taking anyone under 12 on this hike...there were some parents that had their toddlers with them. Crazy!

Wait....I'm not done.....yes I know, what more could I do?

After we got back from the hike, we headed off to a staff rappelling trip. Now, hiking high is very different than jumping off something high. I've never rappelled in my life, and what do I decide to do? Oh, how about rappel off a 150 ft. slot canyon? I think that sounds fun?!?!?! What was I thinking? Well I did it, but it was not quite as much fun as hiking. I was a nervous wreck the whole time. I even have some battle scares :) I was one of the last to go down, so it was pretty dark by the time I got down to the bottom. Well going down, I guess you have to get back up. So as I was climbing this dirt cliff (in the dark without a light) I went to grab what looked like a rock, well to my surprise I very firmly grabbed a cactus. So I had to finish climbing this mountain with a hand full of spines. Just if anyone is wondering, if you get a rag and soak it with vinegar and put it on your hand it dissolves the spines :) But here again, I did something I thought I couldn't/wouldn't ever do. However, I don't think I will be rappelling anytime soon. Since I'm home today, I'll have to put pictures up later.

Well my two new tips are 1-dutch tape works amazing on blisters, and 2-I should probably get a head lamp :)

Happy Father's day everyone!

Love Stace