9212796

Mammoth Trip, 2018

September 21

Attempt on Volcanic Ridge

Stella pulls herself up the rocks as far as that takes her, and then scurries up the compost pile in a flurry of motion. -F.



I get my left foot planted firmly on the rock and bring up the right foot. But it loses traction at once. I slide downward. Somehow I arrest myself. My left knee is under my chin, my right leg flopping uselessly. I clench my teeth and do the hardest one-legged squat of my life, pulling my entire weight up as I straighten my left leg.



A moment's rest holding onto the big rock. The slope above is all dirt and needles. I will simply have to lunge for it and try to run up faster than the dirt can slide down. -S.