I’m not sure how I heard about the desert wilderness granite climbing area called Cochise Stronghold in SE Arizona 40 miles from the Mexican border, but I think I first peeked a look at these domes from Fred Beckey’s 100 Classic Climbs of North America. So when work brought me to Phoenix in the winter, I thought there was little excuse not to check out its desert domes with their abundant featured granite, chicken heads and alligator plates uncommonly found in this rock type.