Alee and I bagged our first peak of the challenge, Picacho Peak about 1.5 hours outside of Phoenix off the I-10.This peak is straight up with staircase steps, switchbacks and cable systems. A couple surprises await on the south side of the mountain: descending a couple of hundred feet after reaching the saddle and two sketchy cable systems right before summitig. It was busy so a lot if stop and go. We met some cool people and I ran into someone I know. The views were well worth the climb. Apollo the adventure gnome tagged along, a present from my grandsons. A photographer on the north side shared his amazing pictures of a bee hive with intricate honeycombs on our descent. Good times. A lovely day.