Red Cliff Ascent

Mike and I spent the last four months living with his very patient and understanding parents, while we waited for our opportunity to attend a training-interview for employment at Red Cliff Ascent, a wilderness therapy program in south west Utah. 

The training process was arduous to say the least, fortunately we made the cut. We’ve heard repeatedly “just make it through the training”, and “training is the hardest part.” We’re both hoping these words hold true.

We started out on January 10^th with a survival pack consisting of the following rolled in a tarp, and strapped to our back. 

·         sleeping bag rated at negative 20

·         a sleeping bag liner

·         a food provisions pack

·         leather work gloves

·         glove liners

·         a poncho

·         a journal

·         a bladder for water

·         two metal water bottles

·         extra socks

·         a pot

·         a toothbrush

·         toilet paper (optional)

Our stoic instructor, Sage, had an actual back pack consisting of the previous plus med kits, radios, gps, compass, thermometer, watch, and other necessaries. In addition to our personal survival packs each member of the training took turns holding group gear.

·         Three large tarps

·         A bag with extra roping

·         Soap

·         Hand sanitizer

We left base wearing some variation of

·         Hat

·         Insulated Carhart overalls

·         Under armor

·         Shirt

·         Sweater

·         Thick socks

·         Boots

·         Water proof boot covers

Red Cliff Ascent uses a small bit of land that they own, as well as permits for Bureau of Land Management to operate their program.  As we drove out to the field I watched the thermometer on the inside of the Explorer drop from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 27 degrees. 

While the temperature was dropping the roads shifted from paved, to packed dirt, to mud, mud with ice patches, and then snow. After we hit mud, we didn’t go much faster than 15 miles per hour as we slowly made our way toward dark skies. En route the SUV started sliding considerably. Sage stopped to look if our tires were okay. Within ten minutes of being back on the road, we hit a big slide. The rear swung counter clockwise. As Sage was correcting the wheel, the Explorer slammed into the birm on the opposite side of the road with the right front tire. Both drivers side wheels left the ground, and I was positive we were going to turn over. 

Entirely unfrazzled, Sage drove on toward the snow and into the field while recounting stories of turning over. Phew….