It's a climb of 1,400 ft, the first 1,000 feet take you to Scout's Lookout and the next 400 feet take you to Angels Landing.
The first part of the hike to Scout's Lookout is very pleasant and not too challenging. The next part is completely different and involves the use of chains for most of the way up. We make it to Scout's Lookout without incident and this is the viewpoint.
I don't have a fear of heights (I've done a bungee jump for goodness sake), but I'm feeling somewhat nervous about the next stage of the hike. I set off up the climb, using the chains and find that the physical challenge is not outside my limits.
However, the mental challenge is another matter. I have a very vivid and over active imagination, and I know that there is a very narrow ridge coming up with a 1,400 ft drop either side. I start to imagine lying clinging to the ridge and needing to be helicoptered off, or finding the visions in the mind are so powerful that they actually draw you to the edge and you topple over. To avoid the shame of needing a psychiatrist to come and talk me down, and not to spoil the climb for everyone else, I think I make the wise decision to turn around. The guidance for the hike does say that if anyone in the hiking party starts to feel a little unusual thay should reconsider their hiking plans. I firmly fitted in that category!
Stuart is feeling OK, so he carries on with the challenge and heads off up to the top. I ask him if he took a photo of the very narrow ridge with 1,400 ft drop either side. He said that he was resolutely not looking down at this point, and is not going back just for the photo!
The way Stuart described the climb, it was extremely challenging, and he had a couple of moments where he thought he could not make it. However, he told himself that he was never going to be here again, and that this was his only chance. He made it to the top and this was the view that was his reward!
I'm very proud of Stuart and he is pretty chuffed too!
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