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Complete list of North American desert towers.

Original Post
Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186

Is there a complete list of desert towers floating around somewhere? If not, it'd be cool to make a complete list here. Cedar and Honnold had a good tour with 45, I've heard some people have climbed over 100.

Here's a good starting point I suppose:

Topo of desert towers

Also, what make a tower a tower and a spire a spire? Is there a solid rule or more just based on a case by case basis?

dahigdon · · phoenix, Az · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 220

what book is this photo from? Interested in this post.

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65

What would be the point? There are thousands in Utah alone.

David A · · Gardnerville, NV · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 405

Even if there was a definite construction of what a tower actually is, it would be near impossible to get a full list of every single desert tower in Utah, let alone AZ, NM, CO, etc. There are still a bunch of sizeable towers out there that very few people have seen, let alone climbed.

And if we expand this list worldwide? Good luck.

Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186
Jovid wrote:what book is this photo from? Interested in this post.
I found this in a Steve "crusher" Bartlett book called Desert Towers. I only paged through it once but it seemed to be about historic ascents.
Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186
David A wrote:Even if there was a definite construction of what a tower actually is, it would be near impossible to get a full list of every single desert tower in Utah, let alone AZ, NM, CO, etc. There are still a bunch of sizeable towers out there that very few people have seen, let alone climbed. And if we expand this list worldwide? Good luck.
You make good points. Let's say North American Desert Towers. I'm sure you could consolidate them with a similar rule that they use for Colorado 14ers: a peak must rise at least 300 feet above the saddle that connects it to the nearest 14er peak. Obviously 300ft would be a little extreme but you get the idea.
Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Don Ferris wrote: You make good points. Let's say North American Desert Towers. I'm sure you could consolidate them with a similar rule that they use for Colorado 14ers: a peak must rise at least 300 feet above the saddle that connects it to the nearest 14er peak. Obviously 300ft would be a little extreme but you get the idea.
You're still talking in the thousands.
Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186
Marc801 wrote: You're still talking in the thousands.
Fine...how bout top 250
budman · · Moab,UT · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 11

Remember it is only a game! Here in Moab it is played as such. 1- It must be on The Colorado Plateau, 2- It must be 5th class climbing, 3- You can not walk off of the tower, 4- You can not rap onto the tower.

Spire is taller than it is wide, Butte is as tall as it is wide, Mesa is wider than it is tall.

Colorado Plateau extends from Grand Junction through the Grand Canyon.

Someone I know has climbed over 500, 100 being FA's. There are Thousands of towers to be done and lots of chossy adventures to be had just here on The Plateau. Best part is sharing stories with your friends about the towers or searching out a new tower to be climbed with your friends.

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Don Ferris wrote: Fine...how bout top 250
Define "top".

For example, Standing Rock in Monument Basin, Canyonlands isn't the only tower in the basin. The majority of the others are unnamed. (Standing Rock is on the far left edge of this photo):

Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186
Rob T wrote:Best? Hardest? Tallest? Easiest to take a selfie stick on? Easiest to post to FB from? Softest(for the Greenies 8c cards)? Best for group sunrise summit yoga sessions?
Try to stick with best climbing.
Don Ferris III · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 186
budman wrote:Remember it is only a game! Here in Moab it is played as such. 1- It must be on The Colorado Plateau, 2- It must be 5th class climbing, 3- You can not walk off of the tower, 4- You can not rap onto the tower. Spire is taller than it is wide, Butte is as tall as it is wide, Mesa is wider than it is tall. Colorado Plateau extends from Grand Junction through the Grand Canyon. Someone I know has climbed over 500, 100 being FA's. There are Thousands of towers to be done and lots of chossy adventures to be had just here on The Plateau. Best part is sharing stories with your friends about the towers or searching out a new tower to be climbed with your friends.
Thanks, budman. This is the direction I was hoping for. Ask your buddy what his favorites are.
David A · · Gardnerville, NV · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 405

Okay...since it's slow at work and I've got tower fever bad after this long summer, here is about 100 off the top of my head that are large and/or significant and/or notable towers on the CO plateau. There are hundreds more. But here's a start.

Castleton
The Hindu
Mongoose
Titan
Cottontail
The Oracle
Echo Tower
Kingfisher
Ancient Art
Lighthouse Tower
Doric Column
Gothic Nightmare
Spinnaker
Ship Rock
The Outrigger
Happy Turk
North/South Sixshooter
Devils Golfball
Spider Rock
Texas Tower
Standing Rock
Sharks Fin
Meemohive
Mock Turtle
Monster Tower
Moses
Zeus
Aphrodite
Washer Woman
Candlestick Tower
Lady in a Bathtub
Totem Pole
The Priest
Sister Superior
Chinle Spire
Middle Sister
North Sister
South Sister
Cogswell Tower
Independence Monument
Argon Tower
Tower of Babel
Owl Rock
The Phallus
Three Gossips
Middle Finger
Pixie Stick
Enigmatic Syringe
Rock Point Spire
The Pope
Left Mitten Thumb
Right Mitten Thumb
Shangri La
King on a Throne
Rabbit and Bear
Islet in the Sky
Bridger Jacks
Captin Collywobble
Captain Carbunckle
Eagle Point Spire
Cleopatra's Needle
Venus Needle
Navajo Needle
Whale's Tail
The Whale
Rooster Rock
The Big Indian
Yei Bei Chei
Homer and Marge
Cleopatra's Chair (maybe not a tower?)
Collossus
Tombstone Tower
Citadel
The Sidekick
Block Tower
Zoroaster Temple
Three Penguins

dahigdon · · phoenix, Az · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 220

This thread has given me a tower of my own...

Paul Ross · · Keswick, Cumbria · Joined Apr 2001 · Points: 22,236

How about a list of the towers that as yet have not had a known second ascent.

BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620
USBRIT wrote:How about a list of the towers that as yet have not had a known second ascent.
You'd be the man. Spill it!
knowbuddy Buddy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 225

I'd love to see some pics and beta on any towers that have yet to be summited. You'll never get a complete list of towers though. There so many amazing towers scattered throughout the southwest and most people, including myself, aren't going to easily give up the location of some of these gems. Case in point is my profile pic

DesertRat · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 196

I'll add: The Mace, Earth Angel, Oak Creek Spire, Rubo's, Tooth Rock, Mexican Hat, Monument Peak (Southern CA), Monolith (Lake Havasu, AZ), Bill Williams Spire (although this is more mountain, than desert).

Andrew Gram · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,725
UncleBen wrote: You'd be the man. Spill it!
Moon River
Shake Wait

Raft required to get to both of these.
Chris N · · Loveland, Co · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 590

Don, it looks like you've found your life's work.

BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620
Andrew Gram wrote: Moon River Shake Wait Raft required to get to both of these.
Nice. I love the desert and I plan to spend much more time there in the future.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Trad Climbing
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