Crane Mountain Ladder - Part 2

The adventure continues...

It was time to come down from the summit of Crane Mountain in New York's Adirondacks and I was not happy.

"Maybe a few of us can go back down the main trail and you and the rest of our family who don't care about risking your lives can go down that rickety old ladder bolted into the side of a cliff." I stood with my day pack strapped to my back, my hands on my hips.

"No, Sue. We'll all go down the same way." My husband hopped off a big rock toward the ladder trail. His decision was firm.

I had heard about this dreaded ladder through the years and had somehow avoided it up until this point. This year, however, it looked like there was no way around it. We were going. All I could imagine was a rickety old wooden ladder hanging over the side of a cliff swaying in the wind by some rusty old bolts.

"How do you know those bolts are safe? That ladder has been exposed to extreme elements. It's old - the bolts could be rusted through. I really don't think it's safe, especially with Joel being only five."

I tried to keep pace right behind my husband's long stride. "We'll be fine. They have people who check it and make sure its maintained." Jim kept walking down the narrow trail. That was the end of the conversation. We were on our way to Crane Mountain Ladder.

Soon we arrived at the dreaded destination. I peered over the edge of the rocky incline. Just as I pictured, a wooden ladder leaned upright, bolted with a few wires into the solid rock. What I didn't anticipate was that at the bottom, there was a wide landing area to climb off the ladder before the trail began again. "Well," I thought, "at least we won't fall off the bottom into oblivion."

My brother-in-law and teenage nieces climbed down and then my sister-in-law. "Let me go down first," Diane said. "And then you and Jim can help Joel onto the ladder. I'll stay right behind Joel all the way down."

My heart was in my throat as my young son stood on the edge of the rocky incline and stretched his arm out, his little fingers grasping in the air for the top of the ladder. "Just hold on real tight honey and take one step down at a time." My voice quivered. "And don't look down at the ground. Just look at each step on the ladder. Aunt Diane is right behind you."

"And I'll be right in front of you." My husband Jim knelt down and looked into our son's blue eyes as Joel stood paralyzed near the top rung. "You'll be just fine Joel. You can do it."

Step by step my five-year-old climbed down. My daring fifteen-year-old son found his own way down. Clinging and climbing down the rocks next to the ladder like he did in a local rock climbing gym, Jared stayed right next to his little brother. "I'm right beside you Joel. You're doing great."

My palms were sweaty. Minutes ticked by until I finally blew out a sigh of relief. I clapped my hands. Joel stood on solid ground. "Yea, Joel! You did it!"

My husband looked up at me from the ladder. "It's your turn now, Sue. I'm right under you if you slip."

"Ha, what happens when I fall on top of you?" My legs felt like butter. "I'm way too big for you to catch me."

My husband shook his head. He knew my flair for the dramatic and yet he also knew my fear of the unknown. "Just come on. You'll be fine."

I reached out my hand and grabbed the side of the wooden ladder. My grip felt like iron. Swinging my leg out, I planted my foot on the narrow rung and heaved my backpack laden body onto the wooden structure. Step by step I climbed down, making sure my foot was squarely on each rung before I moved to the next. I let out a sigh of relief once I reached solid ground.

"See, that wasn't so bad." My husband flashed a brilliant smile, his blue eyes twinkling.

"I guess so." I didn't want to admit he was right. "I suppose I thought there wouldn't be anywhere to climb off as easily at the bottom. That's what had me more scared than anything."

"You need to learn to trust me."

I took a deep breath. That stung.

Slowly, I nodded. My voice sounded small. "You're right."

Jim turned onto the trail. Our family was all ready making their way down the rest of the mountain. "Let's go catch up."

I grinned and took the next step and thought about all the adventures God had brought me through. All God asks for us to do is trust Him. I breathed in the deep forest scent letting it fill my lungs with its freshness. "Yes," I thought, "I have a lot to learn on this adventure called life."

Live the adventure,