The Fortress

Yesterday Mike and I went to the top of Mt. Lemmon to climb The Fortress via Steel Crazy. It looked like we were going to have the whole rock to ourselves because there were no packs where people leave them for the approach down to the start of the climbs. When we arrived at the base there was a party that had camped somewhere close by and had beat us to the bottom. We decided to wait our turn by doing one of the 5.10 single pitch routes close by. Mike lead a very pumpy 5.10 that was lots of fun. When we got done we went to check the other team's progress. Their third member was just starting up the first pitch. Sometimes if you want to have a good time climbing you have to be flexible. We decided to go climb the Fisherman's Elbow. Mike had done it a few months earlier with Ryan so he lead the two pitches that Ryan had lead the last time. That's me getting ready to start the third pitch. It was the most fun (and scariest) part of the climb.

The view of Rapp Rock from the Fortress. If you look back a few posts you can see a view of the Fortress from Rapp Rock.

I had to hold a gun on Mike to get him to let me take his picture.

Can you find the climbers in this picture of the Murray Wall. They were drilling and bolting a new route.

All in all another great day that I hope to remember forever. Good climbing+good partners=great memories. That is my equation for happiness.