Summit

Exactly one year ago…
I came to Portland.
I met Danelle.
And I went to Summit.

The Summit retreat was last weekend and from the looks of it, everyone had a blast. It was rather interesting because we had 2 girls stay in our room. If you’ve been in a dorm room you’d understand what I mean by interesting and if not, just know that it is a rather tight squeeze. We didn’t mind though, it was kind of fun and it definitely helped that Elizabeth and Kristin were awesome!

I think the majority of Summit was the same as it was last year, although I don’t really remember, but what I do remember is the rock gym and that’s where my story comes in.

One day when I was working in the admissions office, Tanitra said something about belaying and I said, “Oh, I did that once” and the next thing I know I was at the rock gym RELEARNING how to belay. After a few brave souls climbed up my wall, I saw James (admissions counselor James) and said, “Hey James, you should go up my wall!” He was a little hesitant at first because he didn’t think that I could hold him, but after a little persuasion he decided to climb it.
James and I were both doing great, he was climbing and I was belaying. Things were great, until he fell and tried to kill me. Although he may argue that he was the victim, it was I who was in the deepest danger. James slipped about halfway up the wall and I tried to stop him, as any great belayer such as I would do, but it was no use and I flew up off the ground as he fell down. As we flew the treacherous 6 ft above ground (I think that is what James and I decided the height was), our lives flashed before our eyes. It wouldn’t have been as bad if I had simply flown up and he down, but this experience was a little different. At the time of James’ fall, I was angled out from him, so when I flew up I angled in toward him. To put it simply, we collided a few times in the air and might I add, we hit really hard! After we got down from the near death experience, James went up again and then fell again. The difference this time was that I had positioned myself differently so that IF he fell again, which he did, I would fly straight up. So as he fell and I flew we went straight up without colliding, it was kind of like a ride at Six Flags. I don’t know which one, but I’m sure that it has to be like one of the rides there.
Even though we almost died (kinda/not really), it was pretty fun and I provided a picture for your viewing pleasure.



P.S. People who came to Summit…Come to Cascade.
P.P.S I saw pictures of Summit, good times.

That’s All.



This is James as he was about to die, luckily I saved him.