Arizona Mountaineering Club. The AzMC is a climbing and mountaineering club with approximately 500 members. In 2003 the club conducted several climbing schools, seminars, and master classes. Over 200 students participated in various training sessions. Two of our members, Richard Horst and Sean Colonello, attempted a new route on the Moose’s Tooth in Alaska. They climbed and fixed ropes on the first third of the route but ran out of time due to weather delays. They will be returning in 2005.

The AzMC conducted its annual over-the-rim cleanup at the Grand Canyon. Led by Scott Hoffman, 60 members rappelled over various tourist look-out points and hauled up dozens of bags of trash. We also completed two trash pick-ups in the Queen Creek canyon area. The AzMC continues to be involved in local access issues. We are supporting access efforts of the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust. The Land Trust and the City of Scottsdale are purchasing land for a preserve that, when open, will have non-motorized access to hiking and climbing in the McDowell Mountains in North Scottsdale. In other access concerns, climbing on Mt. Lemmon, near Tucson, has been restricted due to a severe forest fire during summer 2003. Finally, the AzMC celebrated its 40th anniversary in April 2004.

Bruce McHenry, President