A Million Years of Erosion | Larry's Short Stories

This pedestal sticks up like a sore thumb, between the escarpment above and the river far below.

Intrigued; that’s probably the best word to describe my thinking, when this small pedestal came into view. Our safari car had been climbing steadily for twenty minutes and we were approaching the escarpment that defines the plateau, far above the river. My professional hunter had seen this sight many times before; but, when I asked if he had ever climbed that pedestal, his answer was no. When I asked why not, he offered only that he had never had a hunter who was interested. Well, he did now!

Growing up in Missouri, mountain climbing was never an opportunity, but I have climbed many, many trees and hills. This pedestal looked like a great challenge and a lot of fun. Also, it was the next to the last day of our safari and we were finished with all the serious hunting.

This plateau and drainage system was formed millions of years ago and every year during the rainy season, the escarpment erodes a little or a lot, depending on the intensity of the rains. Apparently this pedestal had been part of a ridge that extended out from the plateau; and the part of the ridge nearest the plateau had eroded away, leaving this pedestal a mile or more out.

The sides are sheer. Roots and fallen trees offer the only way to gain access to the top.The sides are sheer. Roots and fallen trees offer the only way to gain access to the top. — The sides are sheer. Roots and fallen trees offer the only way to gain access to the top.

The road took us within a thousand yards, after which we parked and walked the rest of the way. The sides were sheer for the last 50 feet, with only roots and tree limbs offering any hope of getting to the top. It was about 100 yards wide and we circled it easily, looking for a better way up – there wasn’t one.

We left our guns with a tracker at the bottom, hoping there wasn’t any dangerous game on top, and started up. It was an easy climb, for a person of reasonable shape, and soon we were walking the top – and smiling.

It’s an interesting feeling to spend time in a place that has been separated from the rest of the world for perhaps a million years. There is some sense of security, like being in a fortress. And some sense of disappointment, knowing that the world is constantly changing and one day this pedestal will have eroded completely away. I put it on my bucket list to return and climb it again.

Success should always bring a smile; I made it!