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 ou oughta climb Enchanted Rock at least once in
your life, and if you're really clever you'll do so in your teens. My Grandma Rosa
climbed The Rock at 74 years -- I'll be lucky to see the rock at that age.
Truth be known, the last time I made it to the top I nearly didn't. Kevin was with
me then too...
"You gonna be alright Dad?"
We were just over half way, and from where I was sitting the summit arched high and far
away. Invisible. Even if I made it to the top I wouldn't have seen much what
with all them spots swarming around like bumble bees.
My plan -- some three years old at the
time -- was to shoot a 360 degree panorama from the summit.
"Ditch the plan, save your life," I was
thinking as I gave Kevin the digital camera with instructions for the shoot.
Sitting there, trying to catch my breath, I wondered
if I would ever see the summit again. Then, a few minutes later, my breath caught up
with me -- somehow -- and I made it to the summit. Kevin walked over with a smile wider
than the distant horizon.
"Better, huh?"
"Well, I realized I had two lungs and I
might as well use one of them."
With that Kevin handed the camera for the
panorama shoot. ( You can see the result HERE.)
On this day I elected to let Kevin climb Enchanted
Rock alone while I climbed Little Rock. From there I could get some shots of
The Rock -- I could see Kevin shooting video and writing in his journal as he sat on
the summit.
 As
planned, after an hour or so Kevin met me on Little Rock where we amused ourselves
watching folks with next to no climbing experience scoot on their posteriors down the
south face of The Rock and spilling out into Echo Canyon. Climbing
experiences are like programming VCRs. ( Looks easy from the get go; but turns
ugly in a hurry.)
As we meandered around Little Rock we came
upon an odd looking contraption. After contacting the park I learned the object was
a solar powered radio repeater for communications between parks employees. With a
few granite domes standing in the way they can't exactly use sign language.
Near the end of the five day campout the days
began to run together like the eggs I was trying to fry sunny-side-up. (If at first you
don't succeed just scramble 'em.)
By the last day we were both more than
prepared for a warm house with sofas, easy-chairs, TV and a remote control. Thanks
to Kevin's help the packing up and hauling out was a mite easier which was a very good
thing. I was completely out of muscles I could abuse, joints that didn't ache and
body parts to cut, burn or impale with thorns.
If you're planning a trip to Enchanted Rock
this summer you should check out this article of mine and remember campsites are reserved well in
advance.
 PAGE 1: ARRIVAL / PAGE 2: LOOP TRAIL / PAGE 3: AROUND EROCK
PAGE 4: LITTLE ROCK
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