Rock climbers drawn to challenges and beauty of Ring Mountain’s boulders

Daniel Lomeli has twisted his body, splayed like a starfish and at times dangled under just the strength of his hands to get to the farthest point he’s ever reached in climbing across Turtle Rock on Ring Mountain. It’s a particularly hot Saturday morning in June, and the fingertips of Lomeli’s right hand are gripping a ledge close to his body. His right leg is bent at a sharp angle into a small concave portion of the rock. With those limbs as his anchor, he reaches far to his left with his other hand for the next hold. He stretches it to the limit, but he can’t quite make it and falls off the rock. (Matthew Hose photo)

Read the complete story in this week's Ark.