Sunday, April 22, 2012

What Do I Fear

With predicted temps in the mid 90s, this was a good time for an early and short hike. Headed out to Devils Arch. Should have walked the mile to the trail head. That four wheel drive road is meant for the pink Jeeps with a softer suspension. The heavy suspension on my one ton diesel makes for one really rough ride.

On the trail, the Red Rock Country with stunning views is in every direction.


Soon the arch comes into view with a couple of hikers atop the arch.


Catching a father son team leaving the arch.


A visitor assumes a Yoga pose.


After watching his hiking companion jump the chasm at the end other end of the arch,
 this hiker returned the way he came. The sane solution.


That arch looked wide enough for me to walk across. That was my intellectual brain telling my irrational brain that it would be easy. However, the rational brain lost the argument to the acrophobia as I approached the narrower portions of the arch. At least I didn't freeze. That is the reaction for some with acrophobia.  

Install a railing and I would be able to walk across. But what is the fun in that. 

What else do I fear. Snakes. Nope. Spiders. Nope. Traveling alone. Nope.

Guess I will just live with this one problem in my life.


A photo of the arch from below.


Another scenic shot of Red Rocks.


This natural bonsai implied a long life hanging on the rocky ledge
 getting what little moisture it could.


Another beautiful day in Red Rock Country. Life is great. Even with acrophobia.

6 comments:

  1. Same here. Fear of falling is my only phobia. It has forced me to turn back on a hike a couple times. Sometimes I can steel myself and get past a bad section, but then I'll be dreading the return for the rest of the hike, so it's not worth it.

    C'est la vie. There are plenty of other trails which do not trigger my irrational fear.

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  2. Well, you walked out to the narrow part... that took some courage! Maybe next time one more step, and so on... or not. It's cool that you don't let it bug you.
    mark

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  3. Ted, Nice to know I am not the only one with a phobia.

    Mark, As I stood there, the rational part of my brain was watching all those others on the arch. I thought I also could do that. Well. I couldn't. Too much stress. Lots of other trails to enjoy.

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  4. I figure life is too short to be adding unnecessary stress, stress being the #1 cause of ill health and a shorter life.

    Baby steps. I push myself just a bit, short of causing stress, every so often on a hike. I have gotten less sensitive to heights over the past year. Without feeling any need to push it. (i.e. there's one hike I turned back on. Twice. Third time I did it. Fourth time it was a little easier. No stressing about it.)

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  5. Personally, I think acrophobia could be considered another name for good old common sense, lol. Your very intelligent brain accurately warns you about doing things that are simply foolish. So,thankfully, you are still around and can continue to hike relatively safely in that stunning landscape, and not end up a pile of foolish bones on the bottom. That's a GOOD thing, lol.

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