Skagway Excursion #2: Rock climbing and Rapelling

Knowing I would have a good part of the day in front of me when I returned from the Yukon, I planned a second excursion for the day. Well, maybe not quite as much time as I thought cuz I missed the bus by 7 minutes. The NCL rep at the excursions booth immediately got on her walkie-talkie and tried to get them to come back for me. Not happening. Instead, they sent a van for me! And on the way to our destination we swung by the office and picked up another guide.

I missed the orientation talk but quickly got outfitted with my equipment and safety gear. What it lacked in style it made up for in function. The rock wall loomed in front and above me...
After the first two in our group went there was a volunteer stall so I jumped at the chance to go. Until I was face to face with the wall.

Then the nerves hit. Holy cr@p! I was scared. I told my guide and he asked what was I scared of. I realized I didn't know exactly. He told me to trust him, trust the equipment. That was good enough for me and away I went. The higher I got, the better I felt. I had the beginner and intermediate walls mastered.

Now it was time to repell. I trekked to the top of the trail and got harnassed up, stepped over the rope and approached the ledge. (Repeat of conversation I had with guide below.) Close to the same response, with one addition "just blank out your mind for 10 seconds." I leaned back 90 degrees, 100 feet in the air and took that first step back. From there it was a breeze. I was bouncing off the wall, returning momentarily, repeating it over and over 'til I (very quickly) reached terra ferma.

As I heard more than once that day, "It's all good." It sure was.