Darren had a long weekend free due to Columbus Day, so we stuffed our futon in the back of my car, and went on another adventure to Wyoming. This time we headed east side of the state to climb at Vedauwoo and Devils Tower.
For the first time ever we camped in my vehicle. Good thing because it was extremely windy at Vedauwoo.
Some say Vedauwoo is sort of like Joshua Tree. I have to admit the huecos on top of the cliff did bring back memories of the monument.
It's difficult to appear tough when one looks like a giant marshmallow
After we descended "Edward's Crack" it started hailing, so we took a walk around the large cliff we had just climbed
Moose country getting hammered by hail
Autumn!
Pointing out Edward's Crack. So are we Team Edward or Team Rusty (see the "Tennessee" entry)? Darren is Team Rusty, but I think I am Team Edward.
Saturday evening we drove through Cheyenne on our way to Devils Tower. There isn't a whole lot going on.
We also stopped at some Oregon Trail historical sites. The pictures below show evidence of thousands of wagons passing through the area.
A sign showing the California, Oregon, and Mormon Pioneer trails
At Register Cliff, many pioneers left their mark in the sandstone cliffs, and many people continue to do the same.
We camped in a random field and woke up Sunday morning to our first view of Devils Tower!
We chose to climb the six pitch Durance route because it is a classic moderate route with doable off-widths and hand jams. It was so much fun.
At the base of our climb, with ropes freshly flaked and ready to go!
Darren resting on the leaning pillar about to embark on the crux of the route
Belaying at the jump pitch. Thankfully we were able to just traverse the pitch. I have no idea how people jump here because it's not a flat platform from which one is supposed to leap.
Success at the top!
Joining Devils Tower as a sundial
The Devils Tower Scarecrow. It is autumn after all.
The summit register
Beginning our numerous rappels
Safely back to the bottom
Trying to find the wooden ladders that the first ascentionists used to get to the top
There are loads of prairie dogs in the meadows below the tower
Catching the sunset on our way back from eating in Hullet
On Columbus Day we prepared ourselves for another route
Emm, potatoes! We ate mashed potatoes every day of our trip except the last day when we ate leftover french fries.
We climbed the Soler route and tore our hands up in its perfect two pitch hand jam crack
Soler
Some Native Americans believe that Devils Tower was formed by a bear clawing on a rock while trying to kill people on top of it. Many call it "Bear Lodge" instead of Devils Tower.
Before our seven and a half hour drive home we bought some well deserved ice cream from the Devils Tower Saloon
A very random shoe tree on our drive home
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