2023 CASA Photo Contest Results

2023 CASA Photo Contest Results

Photo by Ashley Thompson

In February 2023, a call was sent out to all climbers, boulderers, hikers, photographers to submit their outdoor photos celebrating climbing and the community of outdoor life in Southern Arizona. Two categories were designated: Climbing Community and Southern Arizona Climbing. Below are the recipients of the climbing gear provided by CASA.

Our Climbing Community:

Photographers demonstrated their appreciation of the people we climb with every time we go out there belaying, sharing beta, hanging out, traveling, or celebrating. They made us smile reviewing the submittals.

Climbing Community - Third Place

This shot captures the simple joy of hanging out with friends Brian Sotelo, Max Taylor and Luca Diamente with dog Lily

Photo by Samantha Lim

Third place in our Climbing Community category goes to photographer Samantha Lim. This shot captures the simple joy of hanging out with friends Brian Sotelo, Max Taylor and Luca Diamente. They decided to spend their last day of winter break bouldering at Gates Pass, along with their crag dog, Lily.

Climbing Community - Second Place

Adrian Montaño and Owen Anderson are descending from a pinnacle in Hands Canyon in Cochise Stronghold

Photo by Mark Mellot

Second place in our Climbing Community category goes to photographer Mark Mellott. In this photo, Adrian Montaño and Owen Anderson are descending from a pinnacle in Hands Canyon in Cochise Stronghold. Adrian, Owen and Mark had been working on a new route that @adrianmontano_ and @mayahumeau had envisioned, and are descending to beat the oncoming night. New routes are usually a team effort, with a lot of toil, hard work, exploration, vision, and sometimes just plain hard climbing. Ultimately, new routes are also a contribution to our entire community here in southern Arizona.

Climbing Community - First Place

Justin Healy holding Kristina Waker's son while sitting next to his dog Leela.

Photo by Kristina Wake

First place (and a shiny new Petzl rope!) in our Climbing Community category goes to photographer Kristina Wake. What we share with our climbing partners is, for many of us, the most enduring part of the climbing experience. This photo shows Kristina’s climbing partner Justin Headley holding her young son Daniel. Also joining them is Justin’s beautiful dog, Leela. Here’s what Kristina had to share about Justin.

"Justin Headley has been such an important part of my climbing history. My first choice of climbing partners for anything multi-pitch, close friend and rope gun. Justin supports making climbing more accessible and helping newcomers to the sport, as anyone knows who saw all the work he put into developing Sloth Slab. Of course Justin was the perfect person to introduce baby Daniel to climbing outside at Barnum Rock when he was only five months old."

Thanks to Kristina for sharing, and to Justin for being a friend, partner and part of our community.

Southern Arizona Climbing:

We asked that photographers showcase a climb, climber and/or locale in southern Arizona. Show us some try hard! Highlight the beauty of our crags, or take it in any direction that inspires and gets us psyched to get out there. The winners did not disappoint.

Southern Arizona Climbing - Third Place

Clay Mansfield stems his way up the beautiful and bold second pitch of the Sound of One Hand Thrashing in Cochise Stronghold

Photo by Peter Noebels

Third Place in our Southern Arizona Climbing category goes to long time Arizona climbing photographer Peter Noebels. In this photo, climber Clay Mansfield stems his way up the beautiful and bold second pitch of the Sound of One Hand Thrashing in Cochise Stronghold. This well-regarded route is a classic, difficult test piece; challenging both physically and mentally.

Southern Arizona Climbing - Second Place

limber Adrian Montaño waltzes up the route Jitterbugs, on the Reef of Rocks on Mount Lemmon

Photo by Michael Russo

Second Place in our Southern Arizona Climbing category goes to photographer Mike Russo. In this photo, climber Adrian Montaño waltzes up the route Jitterbugs, on the Reef of Rocks on Mount Lemmon. The photo captures both the scale of the long, nearly 150 foot pitch, and the incredible rock and lichen that grace one of southern Arizona’s most spectacular crags.

Southern Arizona Climbing - First Place

climber Emily Clark on the crux bulge of Huggin’ the Chubby at the Wall of the Flying Scorpions on lower Mount Lemmon

Photo by Annie Ashenfelter

First place in our Southern Arizona Climbing category (and another shiny new Petzl rope!) goes to photographer Annie Ashenfelter. This beautiful photo captures climber Emily Clark on the crux bulge of Huggin’ the Chubby at the Wall of the Flying Scorpions on lower Mount Lemmon. The evening light creates a dramatic silhouette of Emily against a backdrop of Molino Canyon. The Flying Scorpions crag has a good selection of fun routes, and the canyon is dotted with many other nice winter crags that give us year round climbing in southern Arizona.

Photo by Andy Harrison

HONORABLE MENTION:

An honorable mention goes to photographer Andy Harrison for this photo, which captures climber Julianna Gordon celebrating her first time climbing outdoors on Mount Lemmon, on one of our most iconic formations. Thanks Andy and Julianna for capturing the stoke of climbing in southern Arizona!