Sorry I've been derelict in my blogging duties. I was busy stuffing my face with green chile and climbing this volcano in New Mexico.

Noah and I took a long overdue trip back to Albuquerque this past weekend. We got to see some great friends, eat our weight in New Mexican chiles and carne adovada, and climb to the top of a volcano because we're just that metal. The volcano we climbed is Cabezon Peak and it's the largest of about 50 volcanic necks that protrude from the Rio Puerco Valley. The landscape feels eerily prehistoric, as if you might see dinosaurs at any moment.

Dinos in heat!

The ascent took a little over two hours and was both physically and mentally challenging for a beginner like me. Clinging to rocks on the side of the exposed cliff face was kinda terrifying.

Noah and I on the ascent

But it was totally worth it. Once we got to the summit, we were rewarded with a spectacular view of the surrounding volcano fields and humping dinosaurs.

They're such majestic creatures, aren't they?

It's been four days and I'm still sore, but at least the nightmares of falling to my grisly death have subsided. If you want to see more photos, check out the Flickr set.