- Taylor Courier
- 20 Sep, 2026
Camelback Mountain Multipitch
Got my first Arizona multipitch climb in today! Even though it's starting to cool off a bit (high of only 100 instead of 115!), we met at the trailhead at 6am to beat the heat.Camelback Mountain sits right on the edge of Phoenix, surrounded by homes and businesses, and rises out of the valley in a way that reminds me a lot of Smith Rock. It's an incredibly popular hiking spot - the traverse itself is a relatively easy hike (2.7 mi, 1500' EG round trip to the summit) - but there are often daily rescues from this trail in the summer. Arizona summer heat is not to be trifled with.The approach to the crag follows the first 0.3 miles of the Echo Canyon trail, then a short scramble up a climbers' trail leads to the headwall. A quick first pitch gets you to the top of the headwall, followed by a gully scramble and a short walk to the base of the Praying Monk - an iconic tower visible from the parking lot.The "East Face" is an 80' 5.6 sport route that starts on a vertical face beside a narrow cave feature (you'll descend back through this cave on the way down). It traverses out onto the exposed east side, then climbs a slab to the top of the pillar. It felt airy and exposed up there - the pitch itself isn't that tall, but you can see straight down to houses on the valley floor the whole way. The rock is essentially petrified mud with harder inclusions that make for good hand and footholds, but it also made the route feel a bit stiff for 5.6.From the top, there are outstanding views of the rest of Camelback, the surrounding city, and the McDowell and Superstition Mountains in the distance.Thanks to Kamesh for the lead, and Trisha for the invite! Looking forward to cooler weather and more climbing to come.
- Taylor Courier
- 13 Sep, 2026
Arizona White Mountains, Labor Day Weekend
Last weekend was the Labor Day long weekend, and I took a road trip to the White Mountains from Saturday through Monday. Saturday: Greer and the climb to camp I got a late start and drove up through Payson, then through Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside, before dropping down into Greer — the highest town in the state at 8,400 feet. From there I did a short hike from the Government Springs Trailhead along the West Fork Little Colorado River: scenic mountain and river views, a few wildflowers, and a welcome change from the Phoenix desert heat.From Greer I passed through Eagar and turned onto a winding dirt road past the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area, searching for a dispersed campsite. I kept going up the road toward the Escudilla Lookout Trailhead, climbing to 9,800 feet, where I camped along a forest road while cows ambled by.Sunday: Escudilla Mountain The next morning I drove the few remaining miles to the trailhead, surprised to find only two cars there at 9 a.m. on a holiday weekend. I started up toward the summit of Escudilla Mountain — the third-highest peak in Arizona, sitting about 3.5 miles from the New Mexico border. The mountain was hit hard by the 2011 Wallow Fire, which burned 538,049 acres, including the cab structure of the fire lookout at the summit. The tower itself still stands, and looks mostly intact from a distance — but the cab at the top is missing its floor and interior, with only a few melted solar panels left behind.On the entire hike I only passed four groups totaling 11 people, and had the summit and the entire top half of the trail to myself. Hike stats: 6 miles round trip, ~1,500' elevation gain.After the hike, I continued driving south on the Coronado Trail, passing through Hannagan Meadow and reaching the Blue Vista Scenic Overlook, which looks south over the edge of the White Mountains toward the Blue Range Primitive Area. That was my turnaround point — the rest of the Coronado Trail, with its hundreds of curves, will have to wait for another trip.I camped the second night just south of Big Lake, at a dispersed site overlooking the canyon of the West Fork Black River. As sunset approached, the light was phenomenal — an orange glow against dark, threatening storm clouds. Soon after I set up my tent, the rain arrived. I made a quick trip back to the lake and ended up waiting out the hardest rainstorm I've seen in a while, sitting in the car. When I got back to camp, the spot where my car had been parked earlier was still bone dry. Microclimates.Monday: the long way home The next day I passed Big Lake again and stopped for a short walk where an old railroad grade has been turned into a trail. A pedestrian bridge now replaces the missing trestle over a small creek and rocky canyon, and wildflowers were abundant along the way.After a quick pass by the Sunrise ski area (one of only three in Arizona), I headed home via a loop through the Fort Apache Reservation, through Canyon Day, then onto US 60 through Globe, stopping at the Salt River Canyon. The highway zigzags several thousand feet to cross the river, and at the bottom there's a rest area with stairs down to a river viewpoint, plus the option to walk across the old highway bridge.
- Taylor Courier
- 12 Apr, 2026
Mountaineers Basic Alpine Climbing - Vantage Rock Session
April 12, 2026 A weekend spent at Vantage Rock for the Rock Field Session for the Mountaineers Basic Alpine Climbing (BAC) course. We camped on the north side of the Feathers, and spent Saturday working on alpine climbing skills on the Sunshine Wall. On Sunday a few students stayed and climbed a bit more at Zigzag Wall and the Feathers.
- Taylor Courier
- 04 Apr, 2026
Mazamas BCEP - Mt Hood Snow Session
April 4, 2026 A weekend spent near Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood for the Snow Field Session for the Mazamas Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP). We planned to snow camp at the Mazama Lodge just outside Government Camp, but with the low snow levels this year, we camped just outside the Timberline special use area.
- Taylor Courier
- 27 Mar, 2026
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
March 27, 2026 A drive through Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in late March is a study in contrasts. The landscape is still waking up from winter, with patches of green pushing through the brown, and the air carries the crispness of early spring. Yet, the refuge is already teeming with life, a vibrant ecosystem buzzing with activity.