Louise's Utopia: I climbed-Nicollete Tower!

In August, after over a year of living in Sisseton, I finally decided to climb to the top of Nicollete Tower. I actually was not planning to climb to the top until about a month before I made the climb. To make it clear, I had zero plans to go up there and had no sorrow or regret about that decision. With this in mind, I am unsure why I made the decision to climb it but I did and that was that. The time in between "the decision" and the actual day was a mental map for me. I did not ever argue with myself or even think it was crazy, as I was sure that I was going to climb up and I knew I was set on not ever changing my mind. I did however make mental notes on how I would do it, basically, I would go right up to the tippy top and deal with it. I had one stipulation, it was going to be a sunny day and I had to find one that did not involve all the smoke that Canada shared all summer. Maybe that is why the decision was so easy, I figured they would never stop smoking us out, so why worry? But for whatever reason on August 12 the smoke cleared, and with my daughter in tow, we parked in the parking lot and began to video record the climb on the cell phone. At that time my daughter did not know I was terrified of heights. In fact, it did not even cross her mind, so on the climb up she was completely confused as to why I was acting strangely, she quickly learned. The long pauses in the video were not because I was out of breath. I was horrified that the floor was going to fall out from under me with each step we climbed. I have seen the video of the jolly couple laughing and happily running to the top like it was some summer jaunt to get lollipops, no, this was not the case for me. I was not maniacally laughing as the staircase enclosed tighter with each step up. On the same token, it was exceedingly beautiful, the higher I stepped, the more I loved the view. Spectacular! The Coteau delivered, what a sight! What a feat! The top landing of the tower was magnificent and although I did not entirely get to enjoy it, because I was still so afraid so far up there I still did eat up all the beauty I could, in my hysteria. As I was descending back down the stairs I was already making plans, I would be back! I have decided I will climb the tower again and again and again, until I happily run to the top with bubbles, laughing all the way, reaching all the sides, and enjoying all the moments at every height! Yes, I plan it will only get better! But for the time being, this is the one and only accent I have made to the top and I am sharing it with you! I hope you enjoy it and realize that this is an amazing accomplishment for someone who felt the way I did about heights! I climbed it all- 96 steps up! Just 80 short feet, it was worth it! Let me know what you think! Also- I did not mention my daughter had no problem with the climb and had already been up a time or two before.

Coteau des Prairies

South Dakota Hobby Farm