For the next three hours, Dean and Beth maneuvered down the East Ledges through manzanita tunnels, granite slabs, scree patches, fixed rappels, talus fields, and finally, the last stretch of dirt trail through the woods and down to the valley floor. Dean moved more like a mountain goat than a mule, and this was the first time throughout the entire adventure I'd seen Beth look scared. But then, being strapped to the back of a 6'5" guy descending that terrain would scare anyone. We all knew full well that falling was not an option.

Timmy distracted Beth with bizarre tales and impromptu narration of the Dean Potter East Ledges Workout Video — "Okay, Ladieees! Grab a 90-pound paralyzed girl and a rap line! Let's get those ATCs moving! And one and two and, come on girls, pass that knot!" -- until we thought she might hurt herself laughing so hard.