6 miles of hiking • 4000' elevation gain •
I have to say, I’m having a hard time doing a write up of this climb.
Failure is a hard thing to admit, especially when it takes you 10 hours to get there. Which is why I’m awake at 6 am with a mind that won’t shut off.
Write-ups of Borah make it sound straight forward, yes, the ridge is exposed, but – you are weak if you “chicken out”. I don’t agree at all.
Chickening out = not going up a ridge where a fall is fatal. Chickening out for me = I’m not comfortable with scrambling where error = death.
I thought I liked scrambling. I’ve done a fair amount, but I realize now, I haven’t been scrambling with significant exposure.
Other Mazamas probably look at this climb as easy, but I’m not one of them. I was scared. I wasn’t the only one that was. The leaders on this climb made the best decision for the group. We were all sensitive because of the recent death of one of our own at Smith.
It was a great experience, and I’m glad I was there. Perhaps someday, I’ll look back and get to the summit of Borah, and feel confident as I get up there. I’m not there yet, and that is okay.
Father Guido Sarducci
September 17, 2019
No "chicken out" in my book. When climbing rock piles like this its better to be over cautious than foolhardy.