Black Hills SD > Devils Tower > Climber's Log
Black Hills SD > Devils Tower > Climber's Log|
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| Rockclimber77 | fun!! | |
| el cracko diablo, teachers lounge and new wave. 5-8, 5.10 and 5.10 | |
| Posted Oct 10, 2011 11:32 pm | ||
| wyomtman | HOTT!  Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2011 | |
| We climbed El Cracko Diablo. Fun climb, begining of the first pitch was alittle blocky but then good hand the rest of the way especially the second pitch. Good to touch the top with my future wife! | |
| Posted Jul 12, 2011 4:33 pm | ||
| grabbs146 | first time to the tower Date Climbed: May 27, 2011 | |
| glad to have made it out there. The weather was good for two days and then the rain came and sent us home. climbed the durrance route and patent pending.(only went to the teachers lounge on p&p) | |
| Posted Jun 7, 2011 8:49 pm | ||
| pyerger | devels tower Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2005 | |
| durrance route to the top | |
| Posted Jan 14, 2011 3:44 pm | ||
| JoeyBagoDonuts | Durrance Date Climbed: Oct 14, 2010 | |
| The perfect day. | |
| Posted Oct 19, 2010 7:36 pm | ||
| noahs213 | Interesting Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2010 | |
| Interesting. 90% offwidth... but a classic | |
| Posted Aug 17, 2010 1:11 pm | ||
| paclimber | Durrance. Rap in rain and lightning Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2010 | |
| Did Durrance with friends Patrick and Aleya. Little "greasy" in spots but can't complain cause it's a classic climb. Realization of a 6-year dream. Been wanting to climb since a visit with my Dad in 2004. Started at a little after 7am. 5-6 climbers ahead of us that passed us rapping down, otherwise saw no one else on the Tower. Ran into trouble coming down, as winds howled and rain fell and lightning flashed. Also had to contend with rope-eating cracks, and twisted, wet ropes. Felt like a rock star as we waded through tourists at the bottom. It was the first day of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. | |
| Posted Aug 12, 2010 10:24 pm | ||
| bigwally | Falcon Closure Lifted Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2010 | |
| DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT News Release June 25, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2010-10 Devils Tower National Monument Lifts Current Prairie Falcon Climbing Route Closure To protect prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) nesting sites, the National Park Service (NPS) temporarily closed climbing routes along the west face of Devils Tower beginning April 20, 2010. This closure is an annual event established under the monument's 1995 Climbing Management Plan, with authority from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. NPS professionals have been surveying the Tower to determine the presence or absence of nesting prairie falcons. To date, the surveys documented early nesting behavior by the falcons but lately no activity has been observed around the nest site. Under authority of the park Superintendent and in consultation with biologists from the National Park Service Intermountain Regional Office, park climbing rangers and resource management staff climbed to the site to determine if it was currently being utilized by the falcons. Observations indicate that the nest site has been abandoned. The falcons have since been observed flying around the Tower but have not been exhibiting behavior consistent with nesting or tending young. Because no falcon nesting activity has been observed, the prairie falcon nesting closures currently in effect will be removed on Saturday, June 26, thus opening these areas to normal recreational climbing activities. The areas to be reopened include climbing routes on the west face between and including the “Vulture” and “Abject Cathexis” (routes #154-176 in the Devils Tower climbing handbook) as well as the “Tulgey Wood” and “El Matador” rappel routes. NPS professionals will continue to survey the Tower to determine the presence or absence of nesting prairie falcons, and climbing and rappel route closures may change in the future based on the location and behavior of nesting falcons. Any areas closed due to nesting falcons will remain closed until young falcons fledge, generally between July 15 and August 1. Updated information on climbing access can be obtained at the climber registration office, the park climbing kiosk, or at the park visitor center or administration building. These annual closures are implemented not only for the protection of the birds, but also for the protection of climbers, as prairie falcons are known to defensively dive in order to protect their nests. Prairie falcons are extremely protective of their nests and are easily driven from an area. The presence of climbers near or above falcon nests is distressing to parent birds; too much disturbance from climbing activities may cause falcons to abandon eggs or chicks. -END- | |
| Posted Jun 25, 2010 2:44 pm | ||
| Liba Kopeckova | Durrance route | |
| Beautiful day. It was raining the night before, so we started late, and ended up having a wonderful day. I hired a guide (I was traveling alone with my son, who was waiting for us) Andy Petefish, and he flew up the Durrance. He knew the route so well, and was placing minimal gear. I think we were at the top in 2-3 hrs? and drinking beer in 3 hrs... | |
| Posted May 20, 2010 9:08 pm | ||
| michellen | El Cracko Diablo Date Climbed: May 20, 2008 | |
| First time crack climbing, I got to the top, but not easily :) Meeting Frank Sanders made it all worth it... | |
| Posted May 6, 2010 5:37 pm | ||
| Alika | Durrance- Amazing Place Date Climbed: Apr 17, 2010 | |
| Amazing Day, great way to spend my Birthday weekend. Amazing tower, great climbing, great fun. Thanks to Frank (Bigwally) for his hospitality as well, really made the trip for me! | |
| Posted Apr 27, 2010 10:42 am | ||
| seth@LOKI | rain Date Climbed: Jul 31, 1996 | |
| very cool. A must visit. | |
| Posted Apr 25, 2010 2:58 pm | ||
| bigwally | Falcon Closure | |
| National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Devils Tower National Monument PO Box 10 Devils Tower, WY 82714 307 467-5283 phone 307 467-5350 fax DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT News Release April 20, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2010-06 Devils Tower Climbing Routes Temporarily Closed to Protect Nesting Falcons To protect nesting sites currently being used by prairie falcons (Falco mexicanus), the National Park Service (NPS) will temporarily close climbing routes along the west face of Devils Tower beginning April 20, 2010. When necessary, such closures are an annual occurrence established under the monument’s 1995 Climbing Management Plan, with authority from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The areas to be closed include climbing routes on the west face between and including the “Vulture” and “Abject Cathexis” (routes #154-176 in the Devils Tower climbing handbook). The “Tulgey Wood” and “El Matador” rappel routes are also closed. The west edge of the Tower summit is closed to climbers. The “Meadows” rappel route remains open and is the recommended rappel route for climbers in this area. Climbing and rappel route closures may change based on the location and behavior of the nesting falcons. The closure is implemented not only to protect the birds, but also to protect climbers, as prairie falcons are known to defensively dive in order to protect their nests. Prairie falcons are extremely defensive of their nests and are easily driven from an area. The presence of climbers near or above falcon nests is distressing to parent birds. Too much disturbance from climbing activities may force falcons to abandon eggs or chicks. More than 190 other climbing routes on the Tower remain open. Climbers can find a list of currently closed routes at www.nps.gov/deto/planyourvisit/currentclimbingclosures.htm, the park climbing kiosk, climber registration office, visitor center, or administration building. NPS staff will continue to survey the Tower to determine presence or absence of nesting prairie falcons. Areas without nesting falcons will be reopened by May 15. Areas with falcon nests will remain closed until young falcons fledge, generally between July 15 and August 1. The closure areas may change based on the location of nesting pairs. Prior observations suggest prairie falcons use the Tower with an affinity for the west and northeast faces, where pairs nested from 2005 to 2007. In 2008, falcons were observed nesting on the south face of the Tower. In recent years, young falcons were observed to have fledged from nests on the Tower in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2006, and 2007. In 2009, the falcons nested and fledged away from the Tower. For further information on the climbing closures, please contact the monument’s chief of resource management, Mark Biel, at (307) 467-5283 ext 212. | |
| Posted Apr 23, 2010 1:44 pm | ||
| bigwally | Back in the Saddle, again Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2010 | |
| After a Great Winter of climbing/guiding/teaching/learning in Southern California, it is still Wonderful to get back to this Tower. Climbed with Virginia's son, Richard. Yup, did the Durrance in some chill temps. The winter has moved a significant amount of loose rock onto the ledges; some poor potential outcomes, for sure. Smile, have a Great Time, and be careful with the kicking off the loose stuff. See Ya when You get here !!! | |
| Posted Apr 23, 2010 1:42 pm | ||
| JonW | Durrance Route Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2009 | |
| This route really isn't climbing and mostly involve chimneys. The pitches are really really short and the rock is greasy. I won't be doing this route again. It sucks. | |
| Posted Aug 4, 2009 3:32 pm | ||
| Hotoven | Will climb someday Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2003 | |
| Was to young to climb, but I will be back for sure to dominate it! | |
| Posted May 12, 2009 1:06 pm | ||
| peerzat | on Durrance...RAP OFF THE NOSE Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2008 | |
| not very fun descending in the dark much less have to ASCEND twice! first to undo the knot from a crack, then just to flip it over the nose rather than the f'n side of it...exactly as the new guide book highlights! oh well, I like tobasco on my eggs, too. just waiting for those aliens to abduct us...but, alas, the burger at the restaurant a bit later was even tastier. | |
| Posted May 3, 2009 4:30 pm | ||
| McCannster | El Matador and Durrance Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2009 | |
| This turned into an epic. We got a late start (1:30 pm), looked up at the route and thought to ourselves "oh, that doesn't look too bad...". It was a tough route! My leader aided some moves, while I struggled following. We got to the summit in the dark, could not find the rap station, and decided to huddle for warmth and spend the night up there. In the morning we rapped down and was confronted by a ranger about our bivy. Turned out Bivying was not allowed, which we didn't know and weren't planning on doing, but he gave us a warning. It was an epic climb. Came back a year later and did Durrance, as well as redeemed ourselves on El Mat. Still didn't get the crux pitch clean, but led P1 and 3 and stayed with Frank. | |
| Posted Apr 13, 2009 8:48 pm | ||
| needarealname | finally climbed it | |
| Ever since I was in 2nd grade, I'd wanted to climb Devil's Tower. We were living in Michigan at the time, and my dad had me read an article about a man stranded on top. I don't remember the guys name or even the whole situation. All I remember is thinking "I want to be on top of there some day." Well, I made it. It was a wonderful June day. It wasn't too hot or too cold. We met a chipmunk half way up and he escorted us the rest of the way. Although there were other climbers, we had the top to ourselves. It was definately an enjoyable day. | |
| Posted Mar 26, 2009 1:53 am | ||
| breagen | Durrance Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2008 | |
| top of fourth pitch of Durrance, got baked off though... | |
| Posted Sep 25, 2008 11:39 am | ||
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