If anyone has stood at the base of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson, AZ, you understand where reality meets perfection. Hiking with my cousins Dustin and Kristen, we worked our way back into the Melagrosa canyon by his house for a day of lead climbing. Melagrosa Canyon rises up on both sides of a wash running down from the north-eastern side of the Catalinas. When you see the rocky sides begin to rise hundreds of feet hiking into the wash, your mouth started watering as the potential for climbing is everywhere. We made our way up to a well-known 5.8-9 sport route and lead it to set up a top rope for a climber and anchored Dustin's mountaineering rope for photography. Dustin rigged up toe loops and used his ascender Mt. McKinley style and shimmied half way up the cliff.

Hopefully I can talk my cuz into taking some shots of him and his buddies mountain biking up in Flagstaff, AZ where they go to NAU. Thanks for the pics cuz.

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Top Picture: My cousin Dustin is learning mountaineering skills at McKinley