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The singularly most dangerous thing ... 25-Oct-2005 At 4:05:52 PM The Elk

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While still a relative newby to climbing, I was rapping in to the photo ledge for Kachoong to take my first photo's of the 'oh so photographed route'.
I had camera gear slung all over me, clipped to my harness as well so as not to drop any of my gear I'd spent months saving for, and rapping off a one anchor point.... a tree (dead) that no longer exists up there.... but this isn't the worst of it....
As I was rapping down over the lip of the roof of Golden Echo Variant I didn't clear the roof in one swoop, so as I headed straight back in towards the wall my thought process was all about protecting my head and both hands left the rope and headed to break my hit into the face of the rock.... In less than a second (fortunately) I realised what stupidity I was committing and got my brake hand bake on the rope. I hadn't really gone too far thanks to the thickness of the rope and the great length of it still hinging below me acting as a bit of a brake in itself.... however, not something I have ever forgotten, nor will ever do again.
Oh, and there was not knot at the end of the rope, so there's strike 3 for absolutely horrendous on the scale of singularly most dangerous.
I'm so glad I'm alive!