Great Climbs and Great Falls

great climbs and great falls – successes and failures

hard challenges and high risks – achievements and mistakes

joys and sorrows – abundant life

Over 6 years ago, a close friend and I decided to climb Deseret Peak which is on the west side of the Tooele Valley over 11,000 feet high in the Stansbury Mountains. From the trailhead it took us about 4 hours to get up and 3 hours to get down. We decided to come down a different way going around the peak from the back side then coming up over the ridge a more northern pass. We lost track of the trail since it was less traveled and ended up descending a steep sandy/rocking area too fast which put too much stress on my achilleas causing tendonitis that was almost crippling the days and weeks that followed. Walking any distance brought on too much pain. Running was out of the question. This is when I took up cycling and started preparing for 20, 50, 60 and 100 mile events. Three years later I got physical therapy for my tendonitis which were painful visits 2 to 3 times a week for over 2 months. I could walk and even run distances again without pain or the crippling effect. The lesson . . . “Crap happens but find a way to keep on trucking”