Chapter Eighteen
On Thursday evening, the county commissioners’ meeting was standing-room only, with the overflow crowd spilling into the hallway on the top floor of the county government building, across the street from Eagle Mountain City Hall.
Ian eased past groups of people he recognized as climbers, their faces familiar to him from past expeditions and gatherings at popular climbing hot spots, as well as some who had protested against the via ferrata.
Some of them greeted him by name or even patted him on the back, while others glared silently.
A few stared at his bandaged hands—less bulky than the wrapping applied at the hospital, but the layers of stark white gauze still reminded him of cartoon hands on animated characters.
A woman with a dark ponytail and a clipboard checked his name off a piece of paper and directed him to sit near the front of the room on the right side.
As he made his way to his seat, he scanned the other occupants of the room and spotted Bethany.
She smiled and waved, and he nodded in greeting, a little unnerved by how glad he was to see her.
One friendly face in a sea of faces he already thought of as hostile.
Wasn’t that the people who attended this kind of thing—those who wanted to speak against the project?
He had just settled into his seat when a door on one side of the chamber opened and the five county commissioners filed in to sit along one side of a long table at the front of the room.
Walt Spies took the middle seat. He was dressed as usual, in worn jeans and a checked shirt.
Though Ian knew he was over seventy, he had the erect posture and broad shoulders of a younger man.
Two men and two women flanked Walt at the table, all wearing casual clothing and sober expressions.
Walt banged his gavel once, and the crowd hushed. “I call to order this meeting of the Rayford County, Colorado, County Commissioners,” he said.
They sang the national anthem, followed by a prayer, then reviewed the minutes of the last meeting.
“The only item on tonight’s agenda is the consideration of the application for an operating permit for the Eagle Mountain Via Ferrata, to be operated by Seabrook Enterprises, LLC.
” Walt shuffled through a stack of papers.
“We have a number of people who wish to speak on this issue, so we’ll begin now. ”
A climber who introduced himself as Jeremy Leslie spoke first. Baby-faced and wiry, Jeremy fidgeted as he read from a piece of notepaper clutched in his hand.
“I think you should vote against letting this via ferrata operate in Humboldt Canyon,” he said.
“Climbers have used that canyon free of charge for decades now, establishing a precedent of public use. That precedent should be maintained.”
When Jeremy had finished his short statement, he looked up and grinned. Cheers rose from the back of the room, and Walt had to bang his gavel to restore order.
Next up was the president of the local tourism bureau.
“We think this could be a very good thing for the community,” he said.
“They’ve been huge draws in other locations throughout the mountain west. It would bring in tourists who would spend money on lodging, meals, gear and guides. We don’t see a downside.”
More cheers as he exited the podium, and Eldon Ramsey took his place.
“I’m a local climber,” Eldon introduced himself.
“I also volunteer with search and rescue. I had a lot of objections to this project initially. I didn’t climb a lot in Humboldt Canyon, but I liked knowing it was available—and free.
As a SAR volunteer, I also worried about the potential for a via ferrata to attract unskilled daredevils who might get hurt and strain our resources.
“But after talking with Ian and seeing his plan for the canyon,” he said, “I feel better about the project. He’s got a lot of safety protocols built in.
And he’s designing a course I think would be fun for beginners and more experienced climbers like me.
So I think you should vote to approve the project. ”
Next was a young woman who said she had heard a lot of talk against the via ferrata around town.
“But what nobody ever talks about is that property was for sale,” she said.
“Anyone could have purchased it and put up apartment buildings or a waste dump or anything else. The canyon is outside city limits, and it isn’t zoned.
As much as we might all like to keep everything pristine and untouched, the truth is someone was going to buy that property and develop it in some way.
I’m just glad it’s something like this, which leaves most of the canyon intact.
So I think you should vote to approve the via ferrata. ”
Half a dozen other people followed, speaking for or against the project. Animal lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, skeptics and all-around grouches had their turn at the podium. The commissioners listened and sometimes took notes. Then it was Ian’s turn to speak.
Calm settled over him as he approached the podium. He had been here before, at the start of a difficult pitch, harnessed and ready. He had all the tools to make this moment a success—all he needed was grit and a little luck.
“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Ian Seabrook,” he began.
“I’ve been a professional mountain climber for ten years.
I’ve met some of you at climbing venues and on expeditions over the years.
I love the mountains and I love climbing.
I want to share that love with other people—people who might not have the time or money or experience to climb on their own.
They can come to the via ferrata and have an expert take them through the course.
They’ll finish with a new perspective on the landscape they’ve been traversing and a new understanding of what they’re capable of.
And some of them will go on to pursue the sport, as a hobby or even professionally. ”
Ian studied the faces of the men and women behind the table in front of him. Only Walt Spies betrayed impatience, his lips thinning as he pressed them together, the lines around his eyes deepening. The others were impossible to read, blank and pleasant—skilled poker players revealing nothing.
He glanced at his notes once more. “I’ve heard from a lot of you since I arrived in Eagle Mountain and announced my plans for Humboldt Canyon.
Some of what I’ve heard isn’t repeatable in public.
” Nervous laughter. “A lot of you have offered constructive criticism and valuable input. I’ve met with search and rescue volunteers, and they’ve given me good ideas for how to make the course safer.
The climbers in the community have pointed out ways I could make the course fun for more advanced climbers while still making it doable for beginners,” he continued.
“Others have taught me about the history of the area, a history I’m trying to showcase both through design elements such as mimicking the old tramways and shaft houses used in historic mines in these mountains and in plaques that give visitors an insight into the history of the area.
For those of you who have expressed concerns about the environmental impact of this project, I can assure you we’re following green principles and doing everything we can to lessen our impact on wildlife.
“I want to close by acknowledging that change can be hard. But change can also be a positive thing. I’m not here to sweep into town, make a big fuss and leave. I came to these mountains because they’re a special place. I want to stay and help make them even more special. Thank you.”
Applause. A few whistles. He turned to see Bethany standing, smiling broadly. Eldon and Ryan and some of the search and rescue volunteers stood also—along with, he was surprised to see, all three of the Ames brothers. He nodded to them in appreciation, then sat as Walt banged the gavel once more.
“I make a motion that we take a vote on whether or not to approve a preliminary operating permit for the Eagle Mountain Via Ferrata,” the blond-bobbed woman at the end of the table said.
“I motion that we table a vote until we can obtain more information,” said the man next to her.
Groans rose from the crowd. Walt tapped his gavel. “Do I have a second for the motion to take a vote now?” he asked.
“I second,” the other woman at the table said.
“All those in favor of granting the operating permit, signify by saying aye.”
“Aye!” Ian couldn’t be sure who had spoken.
“Opposed?” Walt asked.
“Nay.”
Walt studied his fellow commissioners. “I show three in favor and two opposed.”
A cheer rose from Ian’s supporters—a larger crowd than he had expected.
Walt’s expression didn’t change. “Mr. Seabrook, we are granting the operating permit for the Eagle Mountain Via Ferrata, but if any safety or traffic concern arise, you will be asked to address them or risk revocation of the permit.”
Ian stood. “Yes, sir. And thank you.”
“Do I have a motion to adjourn?” Walt asked.
There was a motion, then a second, and the meeting came to a close.
A crowd swarmed around Ian, some asking questions, some wanting to compliment his presentation. He fended off handshakes with a show of his bandaged hands and looked past them all in search of Bethany.
At last he spotted her at the back of the room with her brothers. He made his way to them. “Good job,” Dalton said.
“You were wonderful!” Bethany threw her arms around him. Ian patted her back, aware of her brothers watching him with, if not outright hostility, a certain amount of wariness.
“Ian, before you leave, just a few questions for the paper.” A curly-haired woman with wire-rimmed glasses approached, notebook in hand.
“Tammy Patterson, Eagle Mountain Examiner,” she introduced herself.
“Now that the via ferrata has been approved by the county, do you think the vandalism you’ve experienced will end? ”
“I hope so,” he said. “I’ve also added twenty-four-hour security to the site. Anyone who sneaks onto the property to make trouble will be arrested and prosecuted.”
“I’ll make sure people know,” Tammy said. “When will you open to the public?”
“I’m aiming for the middle of next month,” he said. “I’ll make an official announcement when I have a firm date. There are going to be lots of exciting things happening, for locals and visitors alike.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll look forward to hearing more about that.”
Arm around Bethany, he turned away.
Carter laid a hand on his shoulder. “Did you mean it about staying in Eagle Mountain?” he asked.
“I want to make my home here, though I’ll still need to travel—for work and to climb,” Ian said.
“And you really hired security guards?” Dalton asked.
“I should have done it weeks ago,” he said.
“Why didn’t you?” Carter asked.
Because he hadn’t wanted to believe things were that bad. Because he didn’t want to add to his image of the rich guy wanting to keep everyone else out. Because he’d been too proud to believe he needed help. “I should have,” he repeated. “No excuses.”
“I guess I’ll feel better about Bethany being out there with a security detail,” Carter said.
“I’m so touched,” she said and stuck her tongue out at her brother.
“Speaking of spending time in the canyon.” Ian looked down at Bethany. “No pressure, but are you ready to come work for me?” he asked.
“I am.” The look in her eyes made his heart leap.
“We’re going to figure this out,” he added.
Not just the job, but the future—something he hadn’t spent much time thinking about before. Bethany had changed that.