On the Weekend of April 30th, Phoenix Multisport held its 4th annual trip to Moab, UT. By Saturday, a record 94 Phoenix members had arrived at Moab?s Gold Bar campsite. The campground sits in a wide canyon at the beginning of an oxbow, formed by the Colorado River. On the eastern side of the canyon, a handful of small feeder canyons and natural arches beg to be explored. On the western bank, a huge sandstone promontory formed by the ancient river, towers hundreds of feet above. In the moonlight, Gold Bar Canyon looks like a Martian landscape. This unforgettable section of the desert southwest served as our multisport base camp for 3 days of yoga, climbing, road and mountain biking, trail running and hiking. From our camp each day, groups of sober athletes, set off to test themselves in this world famous terrain. The weekend?s schedule was full of outstanding events. There was a sport for everyone, regardless of your experience. Whether you had signed up for your first ever hike, or you were training for an Ironman, the Phoenix staff was prepared to give you the best experience available. One of the highlights of the trip was the annual hike to Delicate Arch. Since the first Phoenix Moab trip, it has become a tradition that a group of members hikes to Delicate Arch in nearby Arches National Park. The 1.5 mile trail terminates at one of the park?s most dramatic features. This 52 foot tall, freestanding sandstone arch has become a place for Phoenix members to reflect on their sobriety, to say a prayer for those still struggling with addiction and to remember fellow addicts who have lost their lives. For me, it was an opportunity to consider how fortunate I am, and to be thankful for the positive changes I have had in my life, since I became sober. As a Phoenix board member, I had read about the success rate of our members. I had seen our facility at West Pines, and had heard the stories of our member?s amazing accomplishments. However, it was not until I had the opportunity to spend time with our members in Moab, that I got a real understanding of how powerful Phoenix is. As I walked through the campground over the weekend, I had the opportunity to get to know a number of my fellow members. What struck me at first was that there did not seem to be anything different about this group, than any other group of campers. When I looked around, I did not see addicts. I saw a gathering of athletes, eager for a weekend of camaraderie and challenge. Among us, were climbers who could scale some of the hardest routes in the area, and cyclists, training for one of the most grueling 24 hour mountain bike races in the world. These groups were joined by novices in different sports and who were gently introduced into the various disciplines by their Phoenix friends who shared the common bond of sobriety. Everyone in our camp was so enthusiastic about participating, that it was not until the campfire gathering on Saturday night that I began to understand what life before Phoenix had been like, for many of my fellow members. As people around the fire told stories of how far they had come in their battles with addiction, I could see what an amazing gift Phoenix is. Back home last week, I once again felt the power of Phoenix. I was out climbing again and had paused for a breather on a thin ledge. I was spent. I had that involuntary trembling in my calves, telling me that my feet were about to slip off the ledge. My hands were cramping from my awkward attempt at a lay back on the last move and I was ready to give in to my exhaustion. Just before yelling ?take? to my belayer, so that I could be lowered to the ground, I thought back to a similar pitch at Potash Road in Moab. I remembered the ?sewing machine leg?, and the feeling as my fingers lost their grip and I swung away from the rock. I also remembered my fellow Phoenix members, urging me to continue up a route that should have been beyond me. With that memory to bolster me, I continued on and finished the climb. It was an ugly scramble to be sure, but I made it to the top, knowing that my fellow Phoenix members were always behind me.