climbing Devil's Tower in July- too hot or okay?
|
I'm heading through Wyoming in July and would love to climb in Devil's Tower. Will I roast and be miserable or possible to chase shade and be okay? |
|
I did a trip to the tower in July last year...it was hot as balls, but some really stellar routes stay shaded all day so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding stuff to do. Don't do El Matador in the afternoon though. Definitely can't recommend that. Felt like I was in an oven in that box stem |
|
The tower is a big sundial, so chasing shade can be an option if you are fast. The approaches on different faces are distinct and not completely trivial though, so there can be quite a bit of effort involved. If it is really hot, you can always go to the Needles and find shade/altitude there. |
|
Start early and you will be fine. If going for the Durance try to be climbing by 7. Cool and enjoyable then. Lots of great single pitch stuff goes into the shade in the afternoon. |
|
Just chase the shade you'll be fine. We went in sept and it was hot 85 deg just moved from nw to ne throughout the day. The approaches are pretty damn easy and the routes are amazing! |
|
Thanks folks!! We're adding it to our summer trip itinerary! |
|
And don't forget to hit up the limestone sport climbing in Spearfish Canyon. It's just an hour away from Devil's Tower and on the way to The Needles. |
|
Thanks Brent, it's actually on our list now and I'm really looking forward to it!!! |
|
Nice! Shoot me a mountain project alert if you need someone to climb with when you plan to climb in rapid city and spearfish |
|
Start on the west face of the tower and make your way around to the north face as the sun comes around. Good routes in the 5.9 - 5.10- range...(mccarthy west, tulgey wood, new wave, assembly line, and a lot of the first pitches to the classic 5.11s on the tower are all in the .10- range) |
|
July at the Tower can be tough. Yes, like a sun dial is the Tower. But in July middle of the day the dam sun is pretty much directly over the tower - making all aspects very close to or in the sun. Maybe an approach would be early morning climbs on the north and west side, take a mid day break, and if you still had guns then later afternoon climbs on the northeast side. |
|
Get up early and do a few routes then take a break from noon-5, then do a few more routes after the heat breaks and shadows are long again. You'll be fine. |