It was my idea to do this sunrise hike. It was 5 am and so dark I couldn't see my hands inches from my face. Half asleep, the chill air and cool sand gave gently with each step. Soon we reached the summit. I took off my shoes and dug my feet in to find the coldest part.
A yellow haze emerged on the horizon and the sun sliced through the sky. I looked around. Red sand as far as you could see. Nothing out here was alive except us. The few fossilized trees looked like ants. It felt like another planet.
I took in the view down the edge of the peak we were on. Oof. The ground looked impoosibly far away. This was the perfect time to discover my debilitating fear of heights. I began to hyperventilate. How will we get down? I sat gingerly on the ground. I practiced breathing. I closed my eyes. I opened my eyes.
After an hour, the tightness and panic in my chest subsided.