“The fact that there are so many different types of terrain to explore makes Tucson unique for climbing. As many amazing routes as there are, it’s still a mostly untapped mar- ket as a climbing scene; it’s exciting to be on the forefront of guiding here. This part of the desert is just gorgeous and you’re always right near a scenic view.” Their love of climbing was


constantly evident as they answered my questions, and it was soon clear to me that their reasons for being in such an extreme line of work is as much about the excitement and thrill as helping others. “You see people go through a lot of emotional stuff,”


The brave and dashing Jon D’Auria


such a popular sport. It involves more than just an exhilarating physical challenge – it also involves conquering fear and solving prob- lems. “I think, especially nowadays, there is so much of the population that doesn’t get outside and feel the sensations of fear and adven- ture,” Finley later explained. “They don’t have an outlet to release their stress or do something new. Rock climbing takes a person out of their element and leads them to feel greater things. You learn a lot about yourself when you’re rock climbing,


explains Finley. “First-time climbers are fun to work with because you almost have to be a counselor to talk them through things and make sure they’re feeling OK. I always say that if they aren’t comfortable with something, we’ll change it and make them feel safe. I’ve taken 4-year olds and 70-year olds out climbing. Last weekend I took out a kid with cerebral palsy. It was one of the most inspiring moments in my guiding career. You can make every trip a success for anybody who wants to climb.”


His


“When we find something to completely focus on, it’s a rare and beautiful thing.”


charisma and confi- dence gave my morale a boost, which is exactly


what I needed as we entered a valley surrounded by mon- strous cliff walls. “What’s the name of this climbing area?” I asked, peering up into the towering heights of the rock in front of me. “Prison Camp,” David replied casually. As I looked down at the rope Alexis was fastening to my waist and examined my options for escape outside the canyon, I found the name of the cliffs oddly suitable for what I was experiencing at that moment. David and Alexis gave me thorough instruction: demonstration, assistance, motivation and insight. I took my first step up only when I was ready. Looking up at the 70-foot, 5.7 rated, Mt. Lemmon rock, I asked about the gear one more time, for reassurance. “The gear is flawless; the danger only comes when


there isn’t proper instruction,” David explained. “We’ve gone through the checks on the ropes, your harness and the quick draws. Alexis is below you, keeping you safe, and I’ll be right above you.” And with that, he scurried effortlessly up the cliff and, before I knew it, was at the top looking down at me. I had to do a double-take to under- stand what I had just seen him do. I reached up and grabbed the rock. Before I knew it I


was 20 feet up and finding my way quickly. Not only was I having a blast, but I quickly understood why climbing is


because you face some big fears.” As I neared the halfway point of the cliff I came to a stop, feeling cornered and out of sorts for my next move. David suggested that I plant my foot onto a tiny crevice that didn’t seem at all suitable for my size 14’s. Momentarily winded and stuck in a mental and physical puzzle, Alexis seemed to sense my concern and shouted up, “Take a break. Let go for a moment and dangle from the rope. If you let your harness support your weight you’ll realize how much you can trust the rope.” Letting go of the rock and dangling from the rope as a means of understanding its stability felt a lot like jumping into shark-infested waters to understand how warm the water was. Grudgingly, I let go, and sure enough, I dangled comfortably. My mentality shifted, and before I knew it I was another ten feet up the mountain. Not too long afterward I finally found myself sitting on top of the cliff, which now seemed a lot more beauti- ful than when I was below it. A gorgeous Tucson sunset appeared as my reward, and my two proud guides shouted encouragement to me from below. I would never have felt so comfortable doing something so terrifying if it hadn’t been for the support of my trusty guides. After they belayed me down we exchanged a few high fives and discussed the thrill I had experienced.


“When we can find something to completely focus


on, it’s a rare and beautiful thing. You get on the rock and nothing exists other than what you’re doing within that moment,” explained Finley. “In that way it is a moving meditation. It comes from that level of focus. The connec- tion to nature you experience, and the bonds that you feel with your guides, just make it that much more powerful an experience.”


Pangaea Mountain Guides can be viewed at pangaeamountainguides.com and contacted through info@pangaeamountainguides.com or 520-207-6564. See ad page 36.


Jonathan D’Auria is a writer and journalist whose work is featured in many of the largest music publications in America and the UK.


January 2011 17


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