Conquering Camelback Mountain

I set out with seven other Blackstone interns and enough water to sustain a small farm to conquer Camelback Mountain on Saturday, when we had our first true free time of training. Camelback is about a mile and a half hike to the peak, with some bouldering involved along the way. We chose to go in the afternoon heat to make it more of a challenge, and I should mention that the closest thing to trees out here are little bushes on the side of the mountain and 20-foot tall cacti. Five of us made it to the top in a little over an hour; the other three had to turn back at the 5/8 mile marker. After heaving for breath the last quarter mile up the mountain and getting beat by a girl, it was worth it for the view. We made it to the top around 5:30, only a couple hours till sunset. Good reminder of God’s creativity in his creation. The entire Blackstone group is going up to Sedona on Wednesday to go horseback riding and take in the desert. More pics to come!