Night 7: I still have my hair.

Night 7/25

There was another brief swim on today’s hike. Very brief. I was more confident, it was easier. I kept my shirt on, having learned from the previous swim that I would only get everything wet if I were going to wear my bra.

I got my hair caught in the rappel device on our second to last rappel of the trip.
I”ll repeat that.

I got my hair stuck in the rappel device.

I was almost at the bottom and there was a tree and I started a conversation with the belayer so I turned my head to the left. It swung my braid around and as I continued to lower myself my hair was consumed by the ATC. I noticed right away and stopped myself and started saying, “Hair, hair, hair.” as some sort of explanation. Visions of lopping off a braid with my pocket knife started dancing in my head.

I love my hair. I spend money on my hair. I do all kinds of fun things with color and cut. And I love my hair. So, I was thrilled when Mesa suggested that somebody come over and stand up underneath me (that’s how close I was to the ground). The captain (John Wagner did) and then Chris did and Chris worked my braid out of the rap device.

It was scary for me. I thought about how it would have been if I had been higher up on the wall. Or if I had been descending more quickly. When I got down I was shaking. I needed to not belay the next person. I needed to take a break. I walked around a little. I curled up in the fetal position on the ground for a minute. I thought I was going to cry and then realized I could not and explained that I would save my cry for later.

I love my hair. I love not falling. I love not making mistakes rappelling 60 feet.