Could you make the descent from Kevin's Watch?

Post by **aTOMiC** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:01 pm

One of the most memorable moments that left a very distinct impression on me when I first read Lord Foul's Bane was the scene where Covenant finally agrees to make the climb down from Kevin's Watch. The narrative paints a rather unimaginable picture for anyone not just Thomas Covenant. A relatively narrow column of stairs cut into the side of a stone cylinder angling out away from the side of a mountain that places the Watch itself thousands of feet above the valley below. The stairs have no railing, its essentially an exposed ladder that is angled just enough that each step is slightly below and away from the one above. Covenant must navigate this harrowing scenario without being able to properly feel his fingers, without any feeling in his feet and only three fingers on one hand. AND fighting vertigo the entire way. Maybe its just me but I wouldn't want to have anything to do with making a descent of this kind under any conditions. However TC managed it because he really had no other choice. Thankfully Lena was there to assist however she could which at least provided a bit of moral support.

For me given the same circumstances I have to admit I'd be forced to take on the descent but if it weren't in any way a life and death situation I definitely would avoid it all costs.

Post by **Cord Hurn** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:09 pm

I have acrophobia, so it would be difficult for me. I picked the "I'd have to be there" option.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:46 pm

Cord Hurn wrote:I have acrophobia, so it would be difficult for me. I picked the "I'd have to be there" option.

In truth that is probably the most logical response. No one ever really knows how they would react under stress. At least not for certain.

Post by **sgt.null** » Sat Oct 29, 2016 4:42 am

no problems with heights, I would rather not starve to death, so down is the only way to go.

Post by **Ur Dead** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 4:01 am

I suffer from vertigo.. One step is all I would have to make and I would be down...

The first book was made out that it was hard to get down.
But the third book Saltheart made the trek, so it would have to be determined how large and wide the steps were.
Add the slope of the decent would have to be known.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 12:32 pm

Ur Dead wrote:I suffer from vertigo.. One step is all I would have to make and I would be down...

The first book was made out that it was hard to get down.
But the third book Saltheart made the trek, so it would have to be determined how large and wide the steps were.
Add the slope of the decent would have to be known.

Watch that first step. Its a doozy.

Post by **peter** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:02 am

No way! Lena would have to have brought me food and shelter and my entire time in the Land would have been spent on the Watch (until the Haruchai bundled me kicking and screaming onto their shoulders and carried me down).

Post by **Vraith** » Tue Nov 29, 2016 10:11 pm

Ur Dead wrote:I suffer from vertigo.. One step is all I would have to make and I would be down...

The first book was made out that it was hard to get down.
But the third book Saltheart made the trek, so it would have to be determined how large and wide the steps were.
Add the slope of the decent would have to be known.

The giant had advantages---not least, the giantish affinity for stone and a ton of experience.
Having been forced to confront my own issues a couple times---naked heights like cliffs and ladders above the second story being one of them---I could probably force myself to make the descent...but there is a reasonably high risk I'd have a heart attack on the way down, and would need a day or two of "I'll just lie here in the fetal position, if you don't mind" recovery after reaching the bottom.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:16 pm

Most of my life I didn't think I had issues with heights until I bought a house with vaulted ceilings. The fluorescent light fixtures above the kitchen rose to about 20 feet above the floor. One day the light went out and I was faced with having to replace it. I didn't think there would be any problem so I borrowed a really tall ladder and proceeded up until I got near the light. Then it hit me. I looked down and suddenly realized just how high I was and began to feel dizzy. I had no idea I had a problem until that moment.

I would ultimately have made it down from Kevin's Watch but it would be the most difficult thing I would have to do...until having to battle Cavewights and Ur-viles and of course facing Lord Foul.

Post by **wayfriend** » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:06 pm

Ur Dead wrote:The first book was made out that it was hard to get down.

AFAICT the only person who had an issue with ascending and descending the Watch was Covenant.

I would probably be terrified. But I am not surprised that Stonedowners and Giants handle it better than I would.

Post by **Orlion** » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:37 pm

It's an interesting contrast between real life and fantasy. We often read fantasy as a form of escapism, and sometimes indulge in thoughts such as, "I wish I lived there, that would be so cool..."

But what we don't realize is that some of the simplest tasks characters in these books do would be the hardest obstacle we would ever face! And we have not even thought about the epic tasks!

Post by **peter** » Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:15 am

Kevin's Watch, I think, is set at that nasty point where a stair becomes a ladder: it demands a weight distribution at the beastly 'tipping point' between leaning towards the next step or actively hauling yourself up it. This and the vertiginous drop surrounding you make it an especially harrowing experience. I'd stay at the top and have the land-dwellers cater to my every need until Drool threw his hands up in despair and sent me home. Definitely.

Post by **wayfriend** » Wed Aug 23, 2017 1:38 pm

I've often wondered if there is a metaphoric significance to the decent of Kevin's Watch being the gateway into the Land.

Post by **High Lord Tolkien** » Wed Aug 23, 2017 3:45 pm

I like Lindens way down the the best actually. A lot faster.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Wed Aug 23, 2017 3:47 pm

I think the method Hile Troy attempted after seeing how big Foul's army was may be the fastest.

Post by **Skyweir** » Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:29 pm

The max height I've ever climbed is just over 170m (approx 600'), I've abseiled off 45m cliff face, climbed up terrifying chimneys (two parallel rock faces) and have always been

terrified of heights! I reckon I'd give it a fair crack - even as old as I am

I suffer from stupid syndrome...

I always think I can do things I'm really passed doing lol .. we had a visitor a while back and she wanted to take a pic of a koala up in a eucalypt tree .. I immediately said ' no worries, I'll take it ' LOL

yup - I started up the tree, my footing slipped and yup .. I fell flat on my back looking up into my mate's faces!!!

We're providing respite foster care to three wee barras under 10 .. they're very energetic lol .. we went to a lovely spot with sloping hillsides and I squealed out to them, ' let's roly poly down the slopes ' .. to be honest I love roly polies - so was pretty excited about my brilliant idea

.. I had a ball rolling down the slopes with the kids .. felt a little rough and sore after .. then oooh it hurt to breathe! Oh feck me, I've only gone and bruised my .. now oh so geriatric delicate ribs!!!

.. I could go on .. took the kids to the snow last weekend and now .. well.. you know

There's a connection that I severed in my brain that communicates common sense to mellow rash thoughts ... I don't think I've ever had that connection, loose wire somewhere I guess.

Post by **Hunchback Jack** » Wed Nov 01, 2017 11:49 pm

I would find it extremely difficult, but starvation and thirst would probably drive me to it. I don't know if I'd be physically able to descend, however. I would probably fall.

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 1:17 am

I could and would. I'm quite fond of heights. If Covenant could do it with his handicaps, it's doable.

Post by **Zarathustra** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 3:11 pm

I'm doing the roof sales thing again, helping to repair damage from Irma in Florida. Even doing this for a living, I hate that first step off the roof to the ladder. Once you're on it, it's fine. Going up is also fine. But the transition from having your weight firmly planted on one surface and then dangling it out--backwards--to a ladder is frightening. I don't like it one bit.

If you've ever had someone toss you something small from a height of even 20 feet off the ground, you'll get a good idea how quickly gravity can accelerate an object from a very short distance. A fall from even 20 feet would be devastating to the human body.

I'd make the decent from KW, but I'd be grumbling Hellfire all the way down.

Post by **darthbuzz** » Sat Feb 22, 2020 10:22 pm

No freaking way. I'd starve to death before I could muster the courage.
I would probably just jump.

... no silly emoji's... I meant jump off. Doh!

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Could you make the descent from Kevin's Watch?

Could you have made the descent down Kevin's Watch?

Could you make the descent from Kevin's Watch?