My Life In The Desert
 

Haven't been doing too much riding the last several months, owning your own business sometimes takes precedence over doing those long rides in the Sonoran Desert. Can't really complain about the weather either, the last month it hit a high of almost 80 degrees but we have been getting some much needed rain here and snow in the high country.

Some of you know that I own the Arizona Climbing and Adventure School (www.climbingschool.com), not your typical job. Business has been a financial roller coaster ride the last couple of months but we seem to be making ends meet (barely). Of course fun is more important than money and living life on the edge and to its fullest in the great outdoors ain't bad either.

So, here are some pics of my staff and a recent REI team building outing we did for their employees - Enjoy!

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Megan Evans, one of my younger instructors going over rappelling and self-rescue trechniques.

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Sara Mitchell, my assistant climbing director belaying a beginner student on a route called "Head Banger".

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Megan checking the safety of my Tyrolean Traverse set-up. I drilled eight-4" deep, 3/8" diameter holes for the stainless steel expansion bolts topped with stainless steel hangers in solid granite (four at each end of the traverse). I use a Dewalt 18-volt Hammer Drill with 6 battery packs and Hilti drill bits which run about $25 a pop. Each masonry drill bit is totally waisted after drilling 2 holes in that diamond hard rock! Each bolt can hold 25 to 30 kilonewtons (kN) or about 5000 pounds of force, the climbing rope and carabiners about 4 to 5000 pounds of pull force. The rope is tightened via a pulley system and hand winch. The static rope feels like a piano wire before the first person goes over and then it begins to stretch, little by little. You can hear all the backup webbing and cordellets creaking the whole time - it's unnerving to say the least.

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Jason Ohman, my climbing director going over the Tyrolean Traverse before I had a chance to set up the safety and recovery line, he just couldn't wait!

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The recovery or retrieval line is good to go.

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Hiking with KawiKathy, snow on the far mountains.

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KawiKathy finds several pottery shards in a dry wash (arroyo).

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The Superstition Wilderness and Weaver's Needle - home to the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine in the distance.

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KawiKathy looking out towards Four Peaks Wilderness.

Nice day out there today, starting to get green but Spring is still weeks away when desert wild flowers along with those pesky rattlesnakes come back out again.

You have a killer job, I would love to have a job like yours! And why are all the pics of KawiKathy of her backside? ;)

She thinks she's getting old and knows I'll post her photos on some of the forum sites I frequent - in other words she'd kill me if I did!

The job is pretty unique (I've been doing it for over 30 years) but with people's lives at stake every minute of every day you can get pretty stressed even with some of the best certified guides in the country - stupid sh*t happens all the time!

smokers always look older than non smokers

Dude! Where have you two been? Do you still own the KLX bikes? You know we have a new president now.:D I'm just messing with you man. Tell Kathy we want a face shot next time. Not that there is anything wrong with that shot. :p Find any good rattles lately? Later. ;)

Sweeeeeeet pics! man, of all the things I have done in life so far, i have as of yet to experience that. Looks like a blast. words probably can't describe the feelings of climbing. I def need to try that.

checked the link...thanks...not a bad price either. I might have to hit you up this summer. you are only 7 hours from me.

Mark!

I thought you fell into a hole somewhere! Gimme a shout sometime if you want to go for a ride.

I hope business is good for you in this funky economy!

Don

Looks like a lot of fun.

Thanks for the nice pics and good to see ya healthy and back to posting.

Just took a break from poking fun at you guys - so you missed me eh?! KawiKathy sold her KLX and wants a Dakar. I'll be lucky if the bank doesn't repossess mine by summer - might have to put Kawasaki decals on my Stumpjumper and pretend it's a dirt bike - or put a clipped on baseball card in the spokes to make a little noise - doubt if it will sound like the HMF :D!

So yeah Don, let's go riding!