Hike Log

Overcoming the Fear of the Ladder

Trailhead:

Hot Springs Trail Head

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Trail in good condition

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

Bugs were an annoyance

Snow:

Snow free

We started out on the hike/trail run around 11 a.m. – It was much cooler than normal (only around the high 80s)…The Fee to get into the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation was $10 per person.. The restrooms were locked however there ae outdoor porta potties that were clean with outdoor sinks to wash your hands…The hike/run to the top was mostly climbing with a few spots to “rest”- we did the extra quiet trail loop that added a .9 to the entire hike/run..I would recommend trekking poles (it really helped on the way up)…for the first 2-3 miles it was mostly exposed and then there was some shade and lots of beautiful trees…the bugs were bad so I recommend the face net…once you get to the look out (which is not the summit) you can rest and take lots of pictures from that side… it was clear that day…the summit is a single track off to the right marked with red/pink ribbons….the summit is only accessible by either scrambling the rocks but on this day there was a ladder with ropes to get to the top however my fear of heights did not allow me to actually go up with ease…Greg was there and tried to encourage me up one way but I found that my fear was much too great!  I was shaking and hyperventilating he did not want to give up so he took the ladder around and found an “easier” way…but when you have a fear like mine…nothing is “easier”….after much coaxing and tough love from Greg…I was able to “crawl” my way to the top platform where the marker for the summit was…I sat frozen in fear and tried to look relaxed for the photos…getting down off the ledge was not any easier…my run down the mountain was slowed as my fear had zapped all of my energy…

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