Photos by bigwally

WELL, THE DOCTOR SAID TO "ELEVATE THE KNEE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE"..... On March 23, my Friend Jerry K. rolled through here, returning from California and on his way Home to Omaha, Nebraska. Even though he had a business appointment in nearby Gillette, WY that morning, he dealt with that quickly and was back by Noon. Although the temps were moderate and the rock was dry, we knew that there was a WINTER STORM WARNING out and that some significant snow was coming just around sunset. We charged up the Deadly Durrance Route with Great Joy. Jerry had torqued his knee, skiing in Tahoe, just the week previous, so he sported a knee brace....but it didn't slow him down at all. The climb was Magic, as we could see mixed rain and snow all around us, but it never came at us !! As we sat on the Tower Top we detected the wind rising, the temperatures falling and the clouds closing, but before we moved on to the raps, we had to take this picture !! it was to let the Doctors know that Jerry was following their instructions to "elevate the injured knee as much as possible". Well Jerry had done just that, elevating it to the Top of Devils Tower. It was a Beautiful Day and a Magic Climb. You already know that the snow started shortly after we made it back Home....but also, please know that it could only have been better if YOU had been along to share it all with. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO LIVE OUT THEIR DREAMS

This Mild Winter, of 2005, Has Led to Many Happy Climbs On Devils Tower. Here, On January 25th, Andrea B. Is Clearly Excited By the Great Leads She Has Just Done, With Summit Success on This Warm Day and the Opportunity to Have the Tower All to Ourselves !! Photo complimnets of www.devilstowerlodge.com

Gossamer is Truly a "Fairy Tale" route; a Fantasy in Stone. Although the climbing is of moderate (5.7) difficulty its setting and exposure are unsurpassed. After a few moves of crack climbing, the leader grabs the edge of this Incredible flake and procedes skyward, clipping well placed bolts along the way. This photo was taken by Scott Dikkers, of his friend Buzz Kemper this Autumn.

This photograph, of climbers on the CUSSING CRACK pitch of the Durrance Route, was taken by Jesse Salk (as he rapped down the Standard Meadows Rap Route). A Lovely Picture of a Beautiful Route, it well illustrates the steepness of Devils Tower, as well as the accommodating size of the belay ledges !!!

The Soler route was first established in 1951 by Tony Soler et.al. Soler "aided" the route and it is the Tower's first official "aid"route. In 1959, Layton Kor free-climbed it, making it the Tower's first aid route to get free-climbed !! Today Soler is one of the Tower's more popular routes. It offers 2 pitches of excellent, well protected, 5.8+/5.9-, finger-to-hand jamming, with a hanging belay in the middle. I Know, over the decades, that I have climbed this route more than 50 times...and I still look forward to the next 50 times that I might be Blessed with climbing it. If You are climbing at Devils Tower, You need to give "Soler" a visit.

Canadien Climber Greg Shergold Has finished the Leaning Column and is Contemplating the Durrance Crack, the Crux Pitch of the Durrance Route. (5.6d)Photo Courtesy of Devils Tower Lodge. "Simply the Finest Accommodations, Guiding and Climbing Instruction in the Area. www.devilstowerlodge.com

The 2nd pitch of the Durrance route is considered to be the hardest (5.6d) of the entire climb. Jon and Brad, in this picture, have completed that difficult stretch and are relaxing and pondering the problematic "Cussing Crack" that now confronts them. Photo courtesy of Devils Tower Lodge. www.devilstowerlodge.com

The North end of Devils Tower has many high quality, yet often overlooked climbs. Anyone aspiring to do the Durrance Route would surely benefit from first sampling the first two pitches of this Patent Pending route and/or the first pitches of New Wave, Broken Tree, Mystic and the Mulchers & McCarthy North Face.All of these end at Big Bolt Belays and are readily protected!!! With the experience that Kathy B. gained from practicing on these routes, she totally cruised up Durrance !! Photo courtesy of Devils Tower Lodge. www.devilstowerlodge.com

Devils Tower Has Aid, as well as Free Climbs. This Bold (A3+) Climb Ascends a Very Direct Line in the Middle of the Southwest Face Offering consistently Difficult Placements and No Ledges for Rests. Photo Compliments of Devils Tower Lodge. www.devilstowerlodge.com

A Classic stemming route on the NW corner of the Tower, established in 1984 by Dan Rosen & Todd Skinner. Photo compliments of Devils Tower Lodge. www.devilstowerlodge.com

Patrick Kingsbury and Jessica Kilroy, at Some Height on BLOTTER IS MY SPOTTER, on the West Face of Devils Tower, WY

The Long But Thin and Simple 2nd Pitch of BLOTTER IS MY SPOTTER. This Route Is An Aid Man's Dream; Spectacular Setting, Clean Rock, No Route Finding Difficulties, Thin Stuff Aplenty and Very Secure Belays. In This Shot Patrick Kingsbury Belays, Bigwally Leads.

High Up, On BLOTTER IS MY SPOTTER, Patrick Kingsbury Bats "Clean-Up" With Style, Flair and Undiminished Energy !!!

Patrick Kingsbury Belays on the Long,Thin and Beautiful 2nd Pitch of BLOTTER IS MY SPOTTER, on the West Face Of Devils Tower.

Nate ChossMonkey, getting ready to "Rock & Roll" on the First Ascent of DANCING WITH THE DEVIL AFTER DARK (A3+/A4, 5.8) on the Steep South West Face of Devils Tower, Wyoming. We started at 7 pm, one warm June evening and climbed through the night and into the next day, retuning to the ground at 5 pm. Great Route, Great Rock, Tremendous Tower, Powerful Partner !!