Angel's Landing and Fear (Part 2)
A fall from Angel's Landing is deadly. So is lightning out on this exposed ridge. As Micah and I approached the very top, the actual spot known as Angel's Landing, we gazed out toward the opening of Zion Canyon to greet the billowing clouds of an oncoming storm. I should mention that Alyssa and Teah were already at Scout's Landing with Lyle. They had gone before Micah and I, assuming I'd not want to go to the top. Lyle waited, being just a bit too young to be dangling by chains 1000' up. When the girls were up at the top is was sunny and with blue skies.
At the top of this exposed cliff there is literally to place to shelter during a storm. As the dark clouds increased a gentle wind and a slight drizzle began to come from the south east. We didn't stay at the top very long. The slightly clouded sky and cooler temperatures had been very welcome earlier in the climb up the mountain, but the dark clouds weren't expected. We began our decent, moving as steadily but quickly as we could.
As the wind picked we descended down the chains of the cliff to a spot where the canyon narrows and the climbers are exposed out on the side of the cliff. It was there that the wind really picked up. It sounded like white water in the distance, but it was the wind whipping through the junipers clinging to the side of the cliff. It was a beautifully cool wind and an echo-y sound between canyon walls.
I was immediately brought back to the Sea of Galilee. In 2007 I went to on a trip to Israel with my uncle who teaches through the bible and leads tours through Israel and Jerusalem. I had the opportunity to teach about Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25) to the 50 or so people on our tour. We were out on a small replica of a boat (except it had a motor and was probably nothing like the boats of Jesus day) in the middle of very calm water. I'd learned that storms come through the Cliffs of Arbel, strengthening as they reach the water of Galilee, where they could whip up a quick dangerous storm of wind and waves. As I spoke I suddenly saw a storm coming through the pass between the cliffs. Small waves began rushing toward the boat changing the water from a sheet of glass to millions of ripples. We could see the effects of the wind on the water as tiny waves approaching the boat. I've never seen anything like it
before or after. They weren't big waves but small gentle waves and a cool strong breeze. It was one of the most mystical experiences I've ever had, seeing and feeling the wind and waves come at us, completely changing everything.
I had the same experience on Angel's Landing. First seeing the clouds, then hearing the wind as it rushed toward us and then feeling it as it whipped up the sand that stuck to our sweaty skin. We thought it might be a violent storm coming our way, but it turned out to only be strong winds and a very little rain. It was definitely more scary than the Sea of Galilee experience but just as meaningful. We made it down off the cliffs, both of us extremely happy that we made it to the top, that we didn't quit, that we worked through our fears, even when they got bigger than we had expected.
At the top of this exposed cliff there is literally to place to shelter during a storm. As the dark clouds increased a gentle wind and a slight drizzle began to come from the south east. We didn't stay at the top very long. The slightly clouded sky and cooler temperatures had been very welcome earlier in the climb up the mountain, but the dark clouds weren't expected. We began our decent, moving as steadily but quickly as we could.
As the wind picked we descended down the chains of the cliff to a spot where the canyon narrows and the climbers are exposed out on the side of the cliff. It was there that the wind really picked up. It sounded like white water in the distance, but it was the wind whipping through the junipers clinging to the side of the cliff. It was a beautifully cool wind and an echo-y sound between canyon walls.
 |
| Arbel Heights and the Sea of Galilee |
 |
| Micah standing at the top of Angel's Landing as the clouds roll in. |
I had the same experience on Angel's Landing. First seeing the clouds, then hearing the wind as it rushed toward us and then feeling it as it whipped up the sand that stuck to our sweaty skin. We thought it might be a violent storm coming our way, but it turned out to only be strong winds and a very little rain. It was definitely more scary than the Sea of Galilee experience but just as meaningful. We made it down off the cliffs, both of us extremely happy that we made it to the top, that we didn't quit, that we worked through our fears, even when they got bigger than we had expected.
Comments