part eight

     They have decided on a 'short haul' to get us to their side of the creek and then a helicopter ride out of the canyon. Cedar jokingly says 'don't you have a ladder or plank?', implying that the gap between us seems so small. I think a zip line is in order. But no, they want do a short haul, which means we dangle from a carabiner a hundred feet above the rocks and raging water.  The idea is growing on me, let's go.

     First they hook themselves up to the cable and rise up ever so slowly, silhouetted against the sky, under the belly of the helicopter.   I am impressed with the steadiness of the pilot, the tail has no propeller just two jets that are constantly moving.  The chopper sways in the gusts of wind but the cable stays steady, I see the pilot watching from the window.  Two of them are on our side now. I am fascinated by 'the procedure', they are definitely functioning 'by the book'.  Everyone has a job, everything has an order and things run smoothly.  We are grouped together on the ledge, 'everyone in sight at all times'.

    The excitement is increasing. Its our turn now. Two at a time we slip on the 'diaper' and walk to the edge of the cliff. The ranger snaps the carabiner of our harness to the suspended cable.  A good-bye tap on my back and the straps begin to tighten.  Hip to hip shoulder to shoulder we are lifted so gently off the ground. I look up and see the pilot looking down at us like the friendly face of God.

     It is not like the tense 'Charlton Heston' rescue films. There is no whistling wind in our ears, no frayed ropes or shuttering lines frightening us into thinking about our emanate death. It is more like a Disneyland ride, the gondola above the park, the 5 story ferris wheel with the incredible view. Our friends get smaller and smaller as we gently glide to the opposite bank.  The landing is just as incredulous, I've hit the ground harder dismounting my horse.