… yet climbing even half way is an achievement for me. As I
am someone who’s scared of climbing down even a steep staircase; climbing down
a mountain has been until now like impossible to me.
We started climbing pen-y-fan from storey arms car park.
map at the Storey arms car park
After walking for about 10 minutes I turned back and then
looked at the path ahead of me and was dead scared – “How am I going to climb
down?”
Ankit said I need not worry as he will be with me. But
nothing would console me. I could have gone back then but Ankit wouldn’t leave
me alone and I didn’t want to spoil his day.
Ankit and me... thanks honey for being so supportive...
Every now and then I would stop and would have an
opportunity to go back or wait somewhere until they come back. But I decided to
continue; for
One – I did not have the courage to climb down alone AND
Two – Ankit would not allow me to wait anywhere alone.
We planned we would walk till Corn Du and then decide
whether we go till pen-y-fan or start climbing down as we had to leave for
London at about 4.
we had come this far
Soon the weather started getting worse; and so did my fears.
It was so foggy that we could not see anything beyond 10 meters. Then we reached a point
where it was very windy and I gave up. My group agreed too that it’s not safe
to go further as we did not have protective gears.
We thought we were close to Corn Du and may walk up till
there. So Ankit went a bit further but then he came back because he could not
see anything beyond 4-5 meters and weather was very bad up there.
So we started climbing down. Initially I was holding Ankit’s
hand; but after sometimes I decided to try alone i.e. not holding his hand but
he being a one hand distance away from me.
And this way I climbed down Pen-y-fan - in a way alone and in a way holding Ankit's hand; but mostly with the support of Ankit, Vikas and Bonney.
Vikas, Ankit and Bonney having fun
and that's me with my victory pose