Winter Day At Devils Tower

Go back to Wyoming.

The Diarrhea

McCarthy's West Face Variation

McCarthy West Face.

It’s a 4-day Presidents Day Weekend and all the usual destinations have shit weather forecasted. Instead we roll the dice and head east towards Devils Tower and the promise of dry if chilly sunshine. Benny comes along though this is not exactly a dog-friendly destination – he’ll sit things out in the car (it’s winter; temps will be chilly anyway) and we’ll get some family hiking in on the afternoons post climbing. On day one, we climb the beautiful if stiffly rated McCarthy West Face route (the 10b variation, not the 11), just left of the more famous El Matador. Benny stays back in the Subaru entertained by (bribed with?) a large smoked bone we brought along for the occasion. We can see the car from high on the route and know that he’s quietly chewing the bone and not drawing attention to himself as the handfuls of tourists don’t even glance towards the car. When we get back a couple hours later, we find Benny soundly asleep with the bone between his paws. We hike a bit, let Benny enjoy the snow and even visit Frank whom we have not seen since our first trip to DT some 14 years ago. We make plans for day two climbing and fade out early in the motel room. Sometime in the pre-dawn hours, a smell wakes me up. I try to convince myself that Benny is having gas but no such luck. Seems the smoked bone did not agree with Benny and there are a couple of dollops of diarrhea on the floor. Morning turns into a marathon clean-up session and since we’re not willing to leave Benny to shit up the car, we head home instead. Another single route outing to Devils Tower.

The Photos

Devils Tower

Prairie dogs (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

West face of Devils Tower (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Leading pitch 1 (5.9+) of McCarthy’s West Face Variation (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

More pitch 1 action (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Shirley on pitch 1 of McCarthy’s West Face Variation (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Leading pitch 2 of McCarthy’s West Face Variation (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

In the stem box of pitch with Shirley belaying (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Higher on the stem box of pitch 2 (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Cold weather and the inability to really “feel the jams.”


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Shirley enjoying the jams and stems of pitch 2 of McCarthy’s West Face Variation (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Snowy landscape (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Almost done with pitch 2 (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Leading pitch 3 (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Looking back towards Shirley from the lead of pitch 3 (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Shirley nearing the top of pitch 3 (Feb. 2017).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Shirley rapping down the route (Feb. 2017).


Devils Tower

Devils Tower in winter – an unexpected treat (Feb. 2017).


Devils Tower

Shirley and Benny enjoying a short post climb hike & snow play (Feb. 2017).


Devils Tower

Prairie dogs (Feb. 2017).


Devils Tower

Prairie dog (Feb. 2017).


Devils Tower

Hulett, WY – best eats near to Devils Tower according to Frank (thank you! Burgers were good).


McCarthy's West Face Variation

Devils Tower area accommodations – not overly busy in February.


Go back to Wyoming.