Durrance Route

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Summary

Devils Tower in August of 2004.

In August of 2004, after being hosed for 4 days in the Cirque Of The Towers, Shirley & I got fed up with that shit, hiked out and drove to Devils Tower to try and bag the classic Durrance Route. Fun stuff in such a unique setting. After climbing the route, we drove back to Salt Lake City and cragged for half a day in Lower Cottonwood Canyon before catching our flight home.

Photos

First views of Devils Tower on the drive in (Aug. 2004).

Devils Tower rising out of the green pastures of eastern Wyoming (Aug. 2004).

Devils Tower in August of 2004.

What's wrong with this picture? Parking lot at Devils Tower (Aug. 2004).

A view of Durrance Route on Devils Tower...there's a climber on pitch 1 (the broken column; Aug. 2004).

We met Frank (a.k.a. bigwally) at the base of the Durrance route. We're very much grateful for his invitation to come and camp at his Devils Tower Lodge (August 6, 2004).

Leading pitch 1 of Durrance Route (August 6, 2004).

Shirley atop pitch 1 of Durrance Route on Devils Tower.

Starting up the crux (5.6+) pitch 2 of Durrance Route on Devils Tower (Aug. 2004).

Almost done with pitch 2 of Durrance...very nice climbing (Aug. 2004).

Shirley admiring pitch 3 of Durrance Route with the Wyoming prairies in the background (Aug. 2004).

Looking back towards Shirley from the start of pitch 3 of Durrance Route (Aug. 2004).

Eastern Wyoming landscape from the top of the third pitch of Durrance Route on Devils Tower (Aug. 2004).

Shirley topping out on pitch 3 of Durrance Route (Aug. 2004).

Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 4 of Durrance Route on Devils Tower (Aug. 2004).

Shirley topping out on pitch 4 of Durrance Route (Aug. 2004).

In the pitch 5 chimney of Durrance Route (Aug. 2004).

A short little hop (pitch 6 of Durrance) to the summit of Devils Tower.

Shirley topping out on Durrance Route and the summit of Devils Tower (Aug. 2004).

Shirley hiking towards the summit cairn on Devils Tower (Aug. 2004).

Attacked by a swarm of somethings on the summit of Devils Tower...we retreated very quickly (Aug. 2004).

Devils Tower on the hike out following our climb of Durrance Route (Aug. 2004).

Devils Tower as seen at dusk from our campsite at the KOA (Aug. 2004).

Lower Cottonwood Canyon

Gate Buttress formation in Little Cottonwood Canyon outside of Salt Lake City. The nice 2-pitch line called Beckey's Wall (5.7) follows the huge, right-facing dihedral (Aug. 2004).

Shirley following pitch 1 of Beckey's Wall in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Aug. 2004).

Shirely nearing the top of pitch 1 of Beckey's Wall in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Aug. 2004).

Leading pitch 2 of Beckey's Wall (5.7) in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Aug. 2004).

Nearing the top of pitch 2 of Beckey's Wall in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Aug. 2004).

Looking upcanyon from the top of pitch 2 of Beckey's Wall in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Aug. 2004).

Shirley atop the Beckey's Wall (2 pitches, 5.7) in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Aug. 2004).

Leading Satan's Corner (first pitch only; 5.8) in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Aug. 2004).

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