ALL WHO WANDER

Photographer Crashes Picnic on a Pinnacle—Then Says Goodbye

WHEN ROCK CLIMBERS throw a party, they go to dizzying heights for a good time. In Tucson's small, tight-knit climbing community, everybody knows everybody. So when climber/photographer Peter Noebels heard about the gathering at Hitchcock Pinnacle on Mount Lemmon, he decided to crash the party. Without so much as an RSVP, Noebels grabbed his camera, hopped in his truck and sped up to Windy Point on the south face of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It didn't take him long to spot his friends. Plumes of smoke wafting from a backyard barbecue grill on the spire's tip drew a curious throng below. The spectacle of five people and a dog enjoying a cookout up in the sky created quite a buzz. “We were very easily seen from the parking lot," Noebels said. “Many onlookers walked to the base to see how we got ourselves to the top of the pinnacle. Several bystanders came up and asked, How did the dog get up there?” Noebels knows a great photo opportunity when he sees one. Many of his adrenalin-pumping adventure photographs were shot on assignment for Arizona Highways. Cameras always accompany him on climbs as he captures the high-risk side of outdoor recreation. The best photographs result from equal parts of preparation and opportunity. Since most of life's dramatic, poignant and humorous moments happen without warning, keeping his gear clean, loaded and ready allows Noebels to take advantage of circumstances. Being opportunistic keeps him in the middle of the action. Often the best images come from being a participant, not an observer. Scrambling up a rocky slope, Noebels climbed to camera positions on outcroppings above Hitchcock Pinnacle. “To get the shot, I was able to roam the hillside for the angle I wanted, climbing on top of a couple different rock spires for a clear view,” Noebels explained. After making several exposures from a distance, he couldn't resist joining in the camaraderie at the top of the rock and shooting a few close-ups of the gang. So, what was the occasion for this picnic on a pinnacle? It seems Doug Lantz, one of the intrepid Tucson rock climbers, was moving to Seattle, and his climbing friends wanted to throw a going-away party. Trouble is, Lantz doesn't care for crowds. “Doug isn't really fond of large parties,” says Noebels. “So they knew if they held the party on top of Hitchcock Pinnacle he'd show up.” See what I mean about everybody knowing everybody? Imagine the party invitations: “You are cordially invited to a barbecue on the rocks. Casual attire. Bring your own rope.” Invitees included Scott Brockmeier, Diane Vetter, Karen Novak, grillmaster Dean Broult, and guest of honor Lantz. Oh, yes, and Abbey, the canine. Abbey's presence at the party is a story in itself. The Border collie mix puppy was transported to the top of Hitchcock Pinnacle in a backpack. Broult, Abbey's owner, strapped her in and carried her up the vertical face of the gneiss spire. Once on top, the daring dog was leashed to the climbing harnesses of the picnickers. The party raged on until the wee hours of the afternoon. Having dined on grilled chicken, steaks and roasted corn on the cob, the group folded up their portable party and hauled it all back down to terra firma where they shared hugs and goodbyes. It was certainly a memorable send-off for Lantz, one that I'm sure brings a smile to his face when he reflects on that day spent with friends in the most unlikely of party locations; the one spot where there is room enough only for his closest of buddies—plus one adventuresome photographer capturing the entire episode on film.