Scaling the Woven Ridge

The ground level was getting way too crowded, so I aimed straight up. Right beside the backpacks hung the sturdy canvas strap of a tote bag, draped over a wooden chair rung. I grabbed the coarse woven fabric with both hands, hauled my boots off the carpet, and started climbing rung by rung! My plastic joints creaked a little with the effort, but I swung one leg up and hoisted myself onto the flat tabletop. Down below, the carpet looked miles away. I scrambled behind an empty ceramic mug and took a crouch—what a view from up here!