I did say steep didn't I? This was the scariest section on the trail. This was very steep over 30 degrees, overgrown with long "drops" on both sides if one were to fall off the ridge. I don't think Dan or I would have gone up if we were on our own. But BRAVE Michael took off with no fear in his heart. This section is a little over 100' in length. About 30 feet up Michael found an old nylon strap that was left by the last hikers to climb this ridge back in January of 2002. To some extent he used the strap but we were not sure how well it weathered the past 5 1/2 years. At the top of the slope is a big old Christmas Berry tree where the strap was secured. There was also a 6' vertical cliff just below the tree. That was spooky also.
I was the second one to go up. But I had the advantage of 70' of new rope that Michael carried up with him. Before I took off I looked back at Danny and the expression on his face seemed to say two things. What am I doing here, and do I really want to go up THERE?????
