Thumbs Up

As 2007 came to an end and the days got shorter, Josh's friend Dale proposed a Winter Solstice climb up Tom's Thumb. Little did Josh know that wasn't the only proposal Dale had on his mind.

Josh, Dale and Erin made the drive to North Scottsdale and hiked into the McDowell Mountains to Tom's Thumb, a popular rock looking out over Phoenix. Dale and Erin had done the Treiber's Deception route many times. It's only a 5.7, but its a mental tester starting with a chimney with a nearby rock, then crossing over to reach a flake that may or may not have grass growing from it. Those are just the first move. From there, it's a steady, 140 foot climb trusting feet on the McDowell granite and pumping through two overhangs.

Dale lead carrying his backpack and Josh and Erin followed. Dale usually has his camera in tow, so it wasn't unusual to see him with a pack. But this time, Dale wasn't taking pictures. At the top Josh had his back turned, taking his own shots of the view. When he looked back at his friends, Dale was nervously bending on one knee in front of Erin. Josh couldn't believe it. Dale hadn't said a thing to anyone. Within seconds, Dale pulled a ring from his pocket and asked his girlfriend of more than four years to be his wife. She gave him the thumbs up!