July 6th

July 6th, 2017
We drove down to Moab to hike delicate arch! It was just a day trip so we had to be fast. It took longer than expected to get to the trailhead and we didn't end up starting the hike until 1. We also started at the lower lot, instead of the one mile upper lot like we thought. We started out strong, but I started fading pretty fast. I thought I could just push through since we were under the impression it was only a mile. I ended up making it to Delicate arch, but feeling super hot, dizzy and exhausted. I could barely stand to take the picture. We rested for awhile and then started the trek back. It was faster than going up, and I thought I could make it if I kept pushing myself. About halfway there is a big, flat, stone area - basically a stove top in the summer sun. After we made it down from that I felt the heat draining energy from me. But I kept on pushing. We made it past the stove top and was so close to the switch backs at the beginning when I just felt my body shutting down. I ran over to a rock and collapsed on to it. From there Danny and Spencer helped lower me to the ground to keep my feet elevated. My legs, hands and face were starting to lock up. It was to the point where I couldn't move my joints or even open my mouth wide enough to get the straw in from my water bottle. So there I lay, in the dirt, with red ants crawling all over and biting me, Spencer and Danny not sure what to do next. After talking we decided that Spencer would take Jones back to the car and send a ranger back to help. Danny stayed with me and gave me water. We waited as I tried to regain control of my limbs. A few people passed us and offered to get help, some even gave me water - since by then I was out. After waiting what felt like forever, Danny finally convinced me to let him give me a piggy back ride towards the trail head. It was slow going, especially with the dead weight that I was. We stopped just at the bottom of a small hill so Danny could rest. That's when we saw the ranger! She came down to us, gave me a cold, wet t-shirt to put on to cool by body temperature, and gave us water. After a few minutes of cooling off with the water, I began to feel my limbs again. I was able to unclench my fingers and everything else that had started to lock up. I felt well enough that we could start walking up the trail. We made it to the peak of the hill when I saw Spencer and Jones walking towards us! Spencer was carrying Jones and the freezer bag full of frozen water bottles! I could've cried if I wasn't so dead! After I drank that cold water I felt so much better and was able to make it the last little bit to the car. I was so proud of Spencer for taking care of Jones. That's what I was worried about the most. Spencer told us that he got Jones to the car and sat with him in the AC until he felt his core temperature drop. Then he got anxious that we weren't back yet and decided to come bring us water. I really think that the ice water is what saved me, along with the countless prayers all three of us had silently been saying. We made it back to the car, loaded up and drove home. What a crazy and scary experience! I was so caught up with finishing the hike that I didn't listen to my body. Thank goodness I've got a few guardian angels watching over me, Danny, and Spencer.