Last man standing

Because everyone else is sitting watching. As I get hold of the chain my first thoughts are how tight it is pulled against the rock. There's not a lot of room to get a good grip. But when you do get some slack you realise you don't want any slack - you need it tight. In fact, with it occasionally getting hooked onto the rock, my biggest fear is it suddenly coming free and creating slack with a sudden jolt sending me into the canyon below.

After a week holding this bag on my back with a heavy camera and multiple lenses, only now do I feel I may have over packed. It seems to pull on my back and extend out much further than I anticipated. It seems I am climbing across using only the tips of my fingers and toes. There's no room for anything else. Where there's a large gap in the rock you have some space to relax at your knees but otherwise it really is a case of swinging out your backside and pushing your toes into the little cracks - all the while holding with your fingers. About three quarters across it's my arms that begin to feel it. And my fingers. I begin to feel there's a limit and if I cross it I will let go without choice and fall.

It was a huge relief to make my way across and I firmly tell myself never to let myself do that again.