The Climb Down

Trip Start Jul 02, 2007
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9
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Trip End Jul 06, 2007


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Flag of United States  , Arizona
Wednesday, July 4, 2007

I slowly, one step at a time, descended like a rock climber. As I reached the bottom I looked up to see Andrew concentrating on his foot and hand holds as he worked his way down. Some areas of the climb down were certainly made for people with longer legs than I will ever have, which made the climb down difficult and very scary. A few ladders had been placed along the way, secured with rope and not-so-intricate knots. These, at times, felt less stable than the rock stairs.
     As I watched Andrew come down the cliff, I was overwhelmed with emotion, immense pride that Andrew, this person who refused to ride The Grizzly at Marine World, was climbing down a 200 foot cliff without so much as a rope tied to his waist. As he reached the bottom, I cried and hugged him, while he, of course, laughed at me for being silly. But it felt like an accomplishment reaching the bottom, and the payoff was well worth the trip.
     Beautiful Mooney Falls crashes about 200 feet to the pool below it, which is a striking blue-green color. Smaller cliffs and dams have been formed out of the rock beneath the water, creating a shallow sheet of water that moves smoothly over jagged edges. We stopped to admire the falls for a moment, then continued on the trail, heading toward Beaver Falls.
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