Mission Aborted

Everything was ready. I was packed, fully geared, and as mentally prepared as I've ever been for anything. The route to my campsite had been plotted, mapped out and printed. The timetable was coordinated with Mark. He would drop me off at Potasi Spring, 8am Tuesday, then he would meet me at the campsite on Thursday, when he would be returning to get the geocache he failed to get the week before.

But Mother Nature decided that my first solo adventure was not to be. The forcast in the city was 'Isolated Thunderstorms'. Just Tuesday. Just enough to ruin my excursion. I still considered attempting the trip. Isolated thunderstorms in Vegas often means five minutes of rain. But the National Weather Service forcast for the area of my campsite was for 'Heavy Thunderstorms'. A bit more serious than 'isolated' in town. The thought of trudging through the valley in the rain and mud, then climing to higher elevations with the lightning blasting around...the whole trip lost it's appeal.

Then there's the issue of my tent. It's not designed to withstand heavy rain. Just setting it up in the rain is an issue, because the tent has a sunroof. It's a mesh panel in the ceiling that's a foot wide and 3 feet long. There is a cover for it, called a rainfly, but you cannot attach the rainfly until the rest of the tent is assembled. In the 10 minutes it takes to get the tent up, it would be a bowl of water. Not the most comfortable of sleeping places.

Mark called Monday night to check on the plans. "You don't sound very excited," he said when I answered the phone. Apparently my disappointment was obvious in my voice.

"So, you're wimping out, then?" It was a challenge. Goading me into a testosterone rush that would have me brave death and/or pneumonia instead of losing face. But this is not feudal Japan. I need not commit hari kari now that I have shamed the family name. I am above all that. I am a man. I am strong. I am brave. I am courageous.

I know.

My Mommy told me so.