Page 35 - San Diego Woman Magazine Digital Version

TR A VEL

great time. He wanted every- exhilarating life, even if it than bringing a child into the of these moments on the
one else to see me. took more concentration, world. In a few moments of glacier. I wanted to lock in
About this time the ice preparation and working life on the ice, I had become this memorable experience
suddenly changed. It became harder than I had ever a better person. I had done forever in my mind!
slippery, looking like an ice worked before. something very few people in Everyone on Facebook
cube that melted, then froze I was finally 12 inches the world will ever do. And saw the video of me singing
again. The ice was shinny from the top of the rim and I felt such wonder and joy at the top of the ice wall.
and slick. I had to swing with my husband shouted to me, inside. It was pure bliss! They told me how brave I
more force to get the blade “Deena, what do you have to The glacier had been was; how they could never
of my axe to dent and grab say for yourself?” I turned awe-inspiring and intimi- do that. But I realized that I
the ice. I was now moving at to him, hanging by one axe dating. It could have been wasn’t as courageous as they
a snail’s pace. Each move up blade and one crampon in dangerous if I had been care- believed, instead I had just
the wall took more ener- the ice and the rope, and I less or untrained. Instead, I practiced taking one baby
gy, more effort, and more sang a few bars of the Sound felt privileged, special, and step at a time until I was at
concentration. I had to kick of Music song, “The hills powerful. I had proven to the top of 30-foot icy giant.
my boot into the ice several are alive with the sound of myself I could face a giant I believe bravery is a
times to get my crampons music!” Jeff was ecstatic! I and steadily reach the top of matter of perception and
to catch hold. My arms were had climbed a 30-foot ice a slippery-icy 30-foot glacial experience. I didn’t feel as
a little shaky because of the wall on the Mendenhall wall all by myself! brave as my friends believed
extra force I was exerting. My Glacier, something I’d never When I hit the ground, I was; however, I was the one
limbs began to feel heavier to even dreamed about before all I wanted to do was to who had walked on a glacier
lift. Each step up took more that day. climb that wall again. The and lived to share it!
swings, more kicks, and more As I backed my way guide told me we had run I decided that my next
effort. I knew that the rope down the ice, using the rope out of time and we needed to adventure was going to be
was around my waist and I as a pulley, I knew that this head back to the helicopter. walking on fire. How many
wasn’t worried about falling, was one of the best moments I was disappointed because people can say, “I’ve walked
but I was using more and in my life. It was different I wanted to take advantage on fire and ice!!”
more physical effort. Even
though it was harder to climb,
I was falling in love with this
journey up the ice wall.
As I worked my way up,
my mind exploded with pos-
sibilities of all the opportuni-
ties I could still do in my life.
I was thinking about other
experiences in my life that
I had not yet tried. I didn’t
even know whether they ex-
isted. I had never considered
all life’s magnificent experi-
ences I could conquer. What
about experiences that I had
decided were too hard for me
to do? I could go for those
too! During the hardest mo-
ments on the ice, I was filled
with deeper confidence and
wild enthusiasm! I realized
that I had not been thinking
big enough, deep enough, or
wide enough about my life! It
wasn’t just the physical chal-
lenges I was thinking about.
If I could climb a 30-foot ice
wall, I could certainly create
a nobler, worthier, and more

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