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calamity_chk
Sep 8, 2004, 3:20 AM
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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?
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atg200
Sep 8, 2004, 3:49 PM
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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.
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pbjosh
Sep 8, 2004, 6:58 PM
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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...
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calamity_chk
Sep 8, 2004, 7:40 PM
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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?
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telluryan
Sep 8, 2004, 8:10 PM
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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!
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calamity_chk
Sep 8, 2004, 8:28 PM
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telluryan - gotcha. the historic thing is why i tend to associate it with the 'cool kids' list.
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atg200
Sep 8, 2004, 8:31 PM
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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.
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tradmanclimbs
Sep 8, 2004, 8:36 PM
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airport tower in moab it way sick looking, we crashed at the base but ended up climbing waldens room instead.
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jcinco
Sep 8, 2004, 8:58 PM
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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)
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numbnut
Sep 8, 2004, 9:28 PM
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How can you forget Shiprock?
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tradmanclimbs
Sep 8, 2004, 10:28 PM
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Is ship rock a tower? I thought that a tower has to be taller than it is wide or it becomes a butte.
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actionfigure
Sep 8, 2004, 10:36 PM
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what about the rectory?
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rockprodigy
Sep 8, 2004, 10:37 PM
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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
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rmiller
Sep 8, 2004, 10:40 PM
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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?"
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rockprodigy
Sep 9, 2004, 1:39 AM
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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.
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atg200
Sep 9, 2004, 5:50 PM
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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?
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telluryan
Sep 10, 2004, 2:22 PM
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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?
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calamity_chk
Sep 10, 2004, 2:52 PM
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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. ;)
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dee
Sep 10, 2004, 4:57 PM
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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!
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madmax
Sep 10, 2004, 7:31 PM
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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
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numbnut
Sep 10, 2004, 8:00 PM
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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?
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calamity_chk
Sep 10, 2004, 8:31 PM
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well, so much for my hippy-esque feelings about it. :?
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ullr
Sep 12, 2004, 11:46 AM
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Desert Mule (Sedona)
Earth Angel Spire (Sedona)
Oak Creek Spire (Sedona)
Among the others already listed.
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dynobelay
Sep 13, 2004, 4:26 AM
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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.
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