Tower Climbing, Baby!

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/250231411″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]“I unclipped the hot belay device from my harness. I looked over at Conor, smiled, and announced, ‘this is the best part of my day, so far’!“ writes Jen Altschul. “For a moment, a smile of pure joy spread across his face–which, just as quickly, flipped into disappointment as he realized that I was talking about being back on the ground.”

The first time Jen tried to climb a desert tower, her and her partner bailed after the third pitch and returned the guidebook. Today, we bring you a story of abrasions, frustrations, failure and an eventual, unlikely love for the peculiar formations of the desert southwest.

Music: Bad Coffee Blues by And Other Things • Bombs and Bruises by Black Pistol Fire • Rachel’s Song by S Punk 7 • Satisfied by Hemmit