Recently JWU spent the day with Johann Aberger and two other expert rock climbing guides for what I thought was to be a short jaunt up Petit Blue. The jaunt was indeed short, but the climb was long and challenging. The focus of this outing was to face fear and move through it with courage, and for me, trust in our guide, Amos, to whom I was attached with a climbing rope for three hours. I have rocked climbed in the past, but past experiences did little to prepare me for the climb up Petit Blue. It was a multi-pitch climb in which my climbing partner, Matt, was connected to me equal distance as I was to our guide. When I use the term multi-pitch, I am using it lightly. I did not count the number of pitches, but suffice it to say that a dozen would be an understatement. Fear reared its ugly head, doubt about my ability was pervasive, and joy erupted in the form of high fives as Matt and I reached the peak after a three-hour ordeal. Joy? No, I was ecstatic to have achieved the summit; minor in the world of climbers, an achievement in my world!
Janet DeMars
Program Director
Jaywalker U
