Following in the footsteps

Well, if you have not noticed, I really enjoy following in the footsteps (or sometimes standing on their shoulders) of Jan and Herb Conn. If you have never heard of them, well, you are missing out. They are currently a couple of cool ol' white haired people enjoying a quiet life devoid of most modern conveniences and hassles (yeah, they are still living w/o electricity and running water).

Before their 'retirement', they did the first ascents of some of the rad'est and bad'est climbing routes in the area...Oh, and then they did that little caving thing and discovered and mapped the first 60 miles of Jewel Cave (now one of the largest known caves in the world).

So again I was out in the Needles Eye Parking lot along Needles Highway in Custer State Park, looking up at a granite spire called the Bell Tower. It is the mass just west of the Needles Eye. Its around 200 feet tall and was first climbed circa 1952 by Herb and Jan.

Today I found myself there a the base with another living legend, Peter Lev. We really enjoy climbing together and he has explored a lot of these crazy Conn Routes, so he can get me started on the right track....which is a huge plus, because when you are following someone else its important to keep on their trail...as climbing off into uncharted territory without the proper gear can get wild in a hurry.

As it is, many Conn Routes have bold run outs (sections w/o protection), airy traverses, and grovely climbing, and our trip today had all his and more. Again I questioned why anyone in their right mind would do such things. What made Jan and Herb explore all those summits and deep dark holes? I'll never know.

Ones ability to belief in his ability to preform is key. When you grab a little hand hold or dance across some foot hold 15 feet above your last piece of protection there can be little doubt that you will stick to the rock and continue moving upward. Doubt causes fear and fear can release a flood of other unwanted emotions that can result in failure when failure is not an option. Preform at this level repeatedly, learn to dig deep down into power and it can be a real eye opener as to what you might really be made of. This is perhaps what keeps people climbing. Continuing to learn and push the edges of that they thought was possible. I see it almost everyday I guide. Take someone who has never been in the vertical world, tie a rope on them, teach them the basics, get them to trust you, themselves, and the equipment, and it isn't long before they have gone somewhere they never even imagined possible. Now that is a vacation experience they will not soon forget.

Today, that with a clam head and a few long sections of climbing above little or no protection and a wicked fall for motivation, we were challanged to hold on tight and move delicately up the rock and enjoyed a wonderful summit view. Looking down on the city of Custer, and the Black Hills National Forest below, we were quite pleased at our accomplishment. Perhaps that feeling of happiness and accomplishment is enough...I mean it must be, because we are excited about doing it again sometime...after we forget how scary it was. Like I tell many of our guest. "That little voice in your head telling you this is crazy is what keeps you alive, but sometimes you have to learn to turn down the volume on that voice and break into unknown territory of what is possible."