Elevation: 4,515 ft
GPS: 44.58978, -104.71537
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 216,008 total · 849/month
Shared By: Peter Gram on Jul 10, 2002 · Updates
Admins: Peter Gram, Mike Snyder, Taylor Spiegelberg, Jake Dickerson
Access Issue: June Voluntary Climbing Closure and Seasonal Raptor Closure Details

Description

This approach leads to Durrance and surrounding cracks. Durrance is the most popular route on the tower, and it is usually crowded during summer months. This area also contains the Wiessner offwidth, Best Crack in Minnesota, Rangers are People Too, Pigeon English, etc. This area is primarily on the south side of the tower, so expect hot sun through most of the day.

Getting There

Take the trail east from the parking lot and then take a right at the junction a short distance away. Soon after, start heading toward the tower across the talus, taking the path of least resistence. This is also the start for the west face approaches. As you approach the tower, scramble up onto the southeast shoulder, and then depending on the route desired, follow this trail east around the tower. Durrance is located around the tower a ways, and starts near the location of the ramp for the south and east faces.

Durrance can also be reached by following the approach for the south/east faces until the start of the ramp. At this point, some scrambling/lower 5th class rock is required to get up to the base of the route and should probably be roped up.

20 Total Climbs

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Location: Durrance Approach Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Durrance Approach

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a PG13
 96
Bowling Alley- aka Durrance appr…
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 12
Sundance
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b A2+
 3
Late for Dinner
Trad, Aid 2 pitches
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 788
Durrance
Trad 6 pitches
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 20
Wiessner
Trad 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 47
Pseudo- Wiessner
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 26
Rangers Are People Too
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 11
Manifest Destiny
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 21
Fritz's Fantasy
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 10
P.O.T.C.
Trad 3 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 10
Lovely Liana
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 43
Direct Southwest
Trad 3 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 9
Black-Jones Direct
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Bowling Alley- aka Durrance…
 96
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a PG13 Trad
Sundance
 12
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Late for Dinner
 3
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b A2+ Trad, Aid 2 pitches
Durrance
 788
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 6 pitches
Wiessner
 20
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Pseudo- Wiessner
 47
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Rangers Are People Too
 26
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Manifest Destiny
 11
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Fritz's Fantasy
 21
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
P.O.T.C.
 10
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad 3 pitches
Lovely Liana
 10
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad
Direct Southwest
 43
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad 3 pitches
Black-Jones Direct
 9
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
More Classic Climbs in Durrance Approach »

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