Devils Tower temps in early August??

Thinking about my first trip to Devils Tower, it would be right around the first of August. Is it likely to be ridiculously hot then? I guess it is a big tower, so you should be able to chase shade, right? We'd be looking at routes from 5.8 to 5.10d or so. Would there be plenty of classic routes in that range that would be shady enough? Any thoughts appreciated..

anyone???

just got back from the tower last weekend - and yes it was ridiculously hot - the rock was so hot you didn't even want to touch it on the rapp down.
But yes - you can chase the shade - and it is well worth the trip!
Start early, bring lots of water and enjoy.

(there were guys we met in the parking lot that did one pitch on one side of the tower in the morning, then hung out for awhile and went around the other side for an evening route.)

I've been there in August and in June(before I was a climber). Both times it was very hot and the afternoon t-storms brought rain, lightning and humidity for a couple of the days.

I wouldn't say it was unclimbable, but it definetly took a lot of the will to climb. Whether or not its worth it depends on how far you have to drive, if you have other options, and how psyched you are about climbing at the tower.

It's a big pillar, so you can just keep going around to follow the shade, but I don't know enough to say whether the "classics" will be climbable. If you get on the durrance, start at sunrise and bring water.

I just got back from a trip to the tower as well, personally I would worry more about all the tourists than the heat. But to answer your question, temps will probably be in 80's-90's in the sun. That said many of the classics on the north side (assemblyline, belle fourche) are in the shade for much of the day. If you plan on doing any of the classics on the westside (tulgey wood, mccarthy's, el matador) get a very early start in the morning. The southeastern side (Soler, Walt Bailey) cools down slowly and not until late in the afternoon. Hope this helps.

wilcox510 wrote:Thinking about my first trip to Devils Tower, it would be right around the first of August. Is it likely to be ridiculously hot then? I guess it is a big tower, so you should be able to chase shade, right? We'd be looking at routes from 5.8 to 5.10d or so. Would there be plenty of classic routes in that range that would be shady enough? Any thoughts appreciated..

AM Routes:

Rangers Are People Too 9-
El Matador 10d
McCarthy West Free Var. 10b
Fractal 10a

PM Routes:

P1 McCarthy North Face 8+
P1 Everlasting 8+
New Wave 10a
Assemblyline 9 (SUSTAINED!)
Belle Fourche Buttress 10b
El Cracko Diablo 8
Soler 9- (CLASSIC!)

ENJOY!