|
calamity_chk
Sep 8, 2004, 3:20 AM
Post #1 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 23, 2002
Posts: 7994
|
Okay desert rats - I thought that this has been discussed before, but after spending a few hours searching through the forums, I give up. What would you say are the top 10-15 most classic towers in the Colorado Plateau?
|
|
|
|
|
atg200
Sep 8, 2004, 3:49 PM
Post #2 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 27, 2001
Posts: 4317
|
Ancient Art The Titan Echo Tower Cottontail Tower Castleton Tower Sister Superior The Priest Moses Washer Woman Monster Tower Islet in the Sky Standing Rock The Three Gossips Tower of Babel Texas Tower Dreamspeaker North Sixshooter King of Pain Lighthouse Tower The Hindu That is probably a good list to start. I've done about half of those so far.
|
|
|
|
|
pbjosh
Sep 8, 2004, 6:58 PM
Post #3 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 22, 2002
Posts: 1518
|
The Mace The Shark's Fin Totem Pole Whatever the the taller super sacred thing is in Navaho Nation, The Spider or some such? Can't remember...
|
|
|
|
|
calamity_chk
Sep 8, 2004, 7:40 PM
Post #4 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 23, 2002
Posts: 7994
|
thanks, guys! i've heard a couple of people talking about mexican hat, but cant remember the net opinions of the discussions - any thoughts/opinions about it? oh, and what about otto's route?
|
|
|
|
|
telluryan
Sep 8, 2004, 8:10 PM
Post #5 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 30, 2002
Posts: 194
|
ottos route is a novelty route, not really symbolic of a desert tower. The drilled holes make it almost more of a via ferrata outing. All in all it is fun, but not to be on the most classic list. It is a historic route at that though. better off doing some of the other towers in the monument, Fast Draw is a good one!
|
|
|
|
|
calamity_chk
Sep 8, 2004, 8:28 PM
Post #6 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 23, 2002
Posts: 7994
|
telluryan - gotcha. the historic thing is why i tend to associate it with the 'cool kids' list.
|
|
|
|
|
atg200
Sep 8, 2004, 8:31 PM
Post #7 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 27, 2001
Posts: 4317
|
mexican hat is nothing but a 5 bolt ladder. neat formation, but the crux is jugging with a 6 pack of beer to drink on the top. i enjoyed otto's route, but i agree it is mostly a novelty. definitely worth doing, but not a classic compared to anything on my list. independence chimney or one of the other routes on that tower would be more like a real desert route.
|
|
|
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Sep 8, 2004, 8:36 PM
Post #8 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 24, 2003
Posts: 2599
|
airport tower in moab it way sick looking, we crashed at the base but ended up climbing waldens room instead.
|
|
|
|
|
jcinco
Sep 8, 2004, 8:58 PM
Post #9 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 27, 2002
Posts: 395
|
Add to that list: Bell Tower (aka Kissing Couple) Dolomite Tower King Fisher and, of course: Independence Monument (remember we're talking about classic towers, not classic routes)
|
|
|
|
|
numbnut
Sep 8, 2004, 9:28 PM
Post #10 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 31, 2004
Posts: 144
|
How can you forget Shiprock?
|
|
|
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Sep 8, 2004, 10:28 PM
Post #11 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 24, 2003
Posts: 2599
|
Is ship rock a tower? I thought that a tower has to be taller than it is wide or it becomes a butte.
|
|
|
|
|
actionfigure
Sep 8, 2004, 10:36 PM
Post #12 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 18, 2004
Posts: 107
|
what about the rectory?
|
|
|
|
|
rockprodigy
Sep 8, 2004, 10:37 PM
Post #13 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 10, 2002
Posts: 1540
|
My favorites are: N. Six Shooter The Rectory (Fine Jade is the best trad climb in the universe) Washer Woman Monster Tower Moses Independence Monument Castleton Sister Superior S. Six Shooter
|
|
|
|
|
rmiller
Sep 8, 2004, 10:40 PM
Post #14 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 4, 2002
Posts: 251
|
Aren't ALL the towers classic? Even Lizard Rock is a classic tower to me. The real question should be, "Is there any towers that suck and I should stay away from?"
|
|
|
|
|
rockprodigy
Sep 9, 2004, 1:39 AM
Post #15 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 10, 2002
Posts: 1540
|
In reply to: "Is there any towers that suck and I should stay away from?" Yes, The Three Gossips, in Arches was a sandy pile, and I didn't care too much for the Titan, although I was glad to have done it. I really like Owl Rock too.
|
|
|
|
|
atg200
Sep 9, 2004, 5:50 PM
Post #16 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 27, 2001
Posts: 4317
|
the three gossips is classic. bomber rock compared to some of the really nasty entrada towers. i wouldn't bother going back to cenotaph spire in lost world. the last pitch was awesome, but the first two were the loosest things i've done in the desert and thoroughly miserable(keeping in mind that i love the fisher towers). makes the gossips look like LCC granite. i consider shiprock a mountain more than a tower, plus isn't it a volcanic plug and not sandstone?
|
|
|
|
|
telluryan
Sep 10, 2004, 2:22 PM
Post #18 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 30, 2002
Posts: 194
|
Is Shiprock able to be climbed? i was under the impression that it was closed for indian religious beliefs? If it is, does anyone have any beta?
|
|
|
|
|
calamity_chk
Sep 10, 2004, 2:52 PM
Post #19 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 23, 2002
Posts: 7994
|
hey there, hijacker. ;) i've read a couple of trip reports about shiprock. from my understanding, it's possible to get formal permission to ascend that sexy little monolith, but i'm not sure how easy/difficult obtaining said permission might be. then again, i've rapp'd off my rope; i'm probably not the best person in the world to be giving out beta. ;)
|
|
|
|
|
dee
Sep 10, 2004, 4:57 PM
Post #20 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 24, 2003
Posts: 45
|
Here are some of my faves. The Pole-of course Titan-Finger of Fate Arachnid Buttress-wild FA Castleton-Kor and NE Chim Moses-Primrose Zeus-Beckey bolt curiosity Echo-that route Haston freed Standing Rock-kitty litter Castle Butte-Shangri La Argon Tower-Arches The Pope-FA Sister Superior-Jahman Three Gossips-Crystal Entity Lighthouse Tower-dicey summit mantle King Fisher Tower-Co. NE Ridge I better stop there!
|
|
|
|
|
madmax
Sep 10, 2004, 7:31 PM
Post #21 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 23, 2003
Posts: 354
|
Ancient Art (because there aren't many summit like that one in the world) The Titan The Priest The Rectory (yeah, yeah, towers need to be taller then blah blah; whatever, all the routes up the Rectory sure climb like tower routes) Castleton Dolomite Lighthouse The Gooney Bird (this one really isn't "classic," but it's fun and probably only seen a handful of ascents) Standing Rock Moses
|
|
|
|
|
numbnut
Sep 10, 2004, 8:00 PM
Post #22 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 31, 2004
Posts: 144
|
The reservation land surrounding Shiprock is trashed and obviously not respected or taken care of. There are always a bunch of people out there driving around drinking beer and throwing the cans on the ground that, to be honest, I didn't feel bad about climbing it. I'd call it a tower. It is one funky formation. When your climbing it you feel like your in the belly of the beast. I thought it was a way cool adventure. Not to mention the landscape around there is barren, surreal and really gives off the post-apocalyptic vibe. Especially when you see the power-plant in the distance purging filth into the sky. Or is that a twinkie factory?
|
|
|
|
|
calamity_chk
Sep 10, 2004, 8:31 PM
Post #23 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 23, 2002
Posts: 7994
|
well, so much for my hippy-esque feelings about it. :?
|
|
|
|
|
ullr
Sep 12, 2004, 11:46 AM
Post #24 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 29, 2004
Posts: 338
|
Desert Mule (Sedona) Earth Angel Spire (Sedona) Oak Creek Spire (Sedona) Among the others already listed.
|
|
|
|
|
dynobelay
Sep 13, 2004, 4:26 AM
Post #25 of 37
(8451 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 10, 2003
Posts: 73
|
Hey, You guys are forgetting Eagle Plume Tower in Valley of the Gods. Its certainly one of the classics, but has seen fewer than 20 ascents. Good protection and a scenic location. Stay at Valley of the Gods B&B (great but expensive) or camp out. I enjoyed (a relative term for desert tower climbing) Eagle Plume more than some of the more famous towers. Do it.
|
|
|
|
|
|