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Devils Tower....................... Two Week Road Trip from Boston

Original Post
Rock Roadtripper · · Boston area · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 0

Lets road trip to the TOWER.....
It's on my bucket list and I'm sure yours too.....

Very flexible with departure date, anytime after the June closure.

I have the perfect vehicle, a big diesel van 25-30mpg
Room for three passengers and gear
Would like to do a non-stop drive out to maximize climb time.
Was there last year but rushed because of a wedding in Colorado

Can provide transportation only or partner too

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webdog · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 0

Didn't the access fund post notice of a closure for the month of June for Indian ceremony? Better check before making a wasted trip

krzy Courkamp · · Rapid City, SD · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 5

Don't Worry about the closure Go climb the tower man

Tommy Layback · · Sheridan, WY · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 85
krzy wrote:Don't Worry about the closure Go climb the tower man
+1
Ben Mackall · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 1,823

Don't be assholes and jeopardize access (or just be assholes), just because its a "voluntary" closure doesn't make it any less important.

There's a lot of sweet climbing within 2 hours of the tower (Cutler SP, Needles, Spearfish Canyon, Ten Sleep, etc etc)

Tommy Layback · · Sheridan, WY · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 85
B-Mkll wrote:Don't be assholes and jeopardize access (or just be assholes), just because its a "voluntary" closure doesn't make it any less important. There's a lot of sweet climbing within 2 hours of the tower (Cutler SP, Needles, Spearfish Canyon, Ten Sleep, etc etc)
I have begun to seriously consider the hypothesis that the June voluntary closure was advanced by the Native American equivalent of white supremacists and their views do not represent a consensus of Native Americans.

If this closure was so important to the broader Plains Indian cultures, then why are they noticeably absent from Devils Tower on so many days in June? I was there today and walked the loop trail looking for a Native American to ask if they mind if I climbed it - to no avail. Perhaps they were disguised as white folk. Nevertheless, in the past I have asked Native Americans that I've run into on the trail and I have yet to encounter a Native American that tells me I shouldn't climb it. This is why I've begun to challenge the true spirit of the June voluntary closure. How many climbers among us can present actual data that confirms that a majority of Native Americans find climbing Devils Tower blasphemous? Or has much of the climbing community simple swallowed a myth concocted by a racist group of Native Americans.

We live in a liberal democracy which requires us all to have a thick skin. We should be able to draw crude cartoons of Mohammed, Jesus, and whomever we choose, and ALL natural wonders of this land belong to ALL people of this country with no disproportionate deference to any single group. Trying to placate every little group will only further encourage division in our society.
lucander · · Stone Ridge, NY · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 260

By the parameters of the Fort Laramie Treaty, Devil's Tower is part of a foreign country.

Indian country

Paul H · · Pennsylvania · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 5
Tommy Layback wrote: I have begun to seriously consider the hypothesis that the June voluntary closure was advanced by the Native American equivalent of white supremacists and their views do not represent a consensus of Native Americans. If this closure was so important to the broader Plains Indian cultures, then why are they noticeably absent from Devils Tower on so many days in June? I was there today and walked the loop trail looking for a Native American to ask if they mind if I climbed it - to no avail. Perhaps they were disguised as white folk. Nevertheless, in the past I have asked Native Americans that I've run into on the trail and I have yet to encounter a Native American that tells me I shouldn't climb it. This is why I've begun to challenge the true spirit of the June voluntary closure. How many climbers among us can present actual data that confirms that a majority of Native Americans find climbing Devils Tower blasphemous? Or has much of the climbing community simple swallowed a myth concocted by a racist group of Native Americans. We live in a liberal democracy which requires us all to have a thick skin. We should be able to draw crude cartoons of Mohammed, Jesus, and whomever we choose, and ALL natural wonders of this land belong to ALL people of this country with no disproportionate deference to any single group. Trying to placate every little group will only further encourage division in our society.
Seems like quite a reach to me. Perhaps the people you met were just being polite, perhaps it was a Monday and the foot traffic was lower.

Here's an interesting article from a recent post about Devils Tower and access discussions. Pages 8 & 9 mainly and well worth the read. It's not just saying "don't climb in June" but talking about how this is the direction we should be moving with climbing restrictions for places with access issues.

accessfund.org/atf/cf/%7B1F…
Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

The reason you don't see Native Americans out there is most have stopped the ceremonies due to the people climbing in June. Most gave up trying to finish their thing due to noise.

You can't climb anywhere you want just cause you're an merican. Try climbing Mount Rushmore.. You can whine to police that the constitution affords you the right to climb anywheres you want while you wait to see the commissioner to set your bail.

Jason Todd · · Cody, WY · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,114
Bill Kirby wrote: The reason you don't see Native Americans out there is most have stopped the ceremonies due to the people climbing in June. Most gave up trying to finish their thing due to noise.
No. Not even close.

If noise was the issue, Harleys would be restricted.
Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480
Jason Todd wrote: No. Not even close. If noise was the issue, Harleys would be restricted.
So what's the reason? Can you enlighten me?
Jason Todd · · Cody, WY · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,114

The ceremonies largely ended when the park was developed.

The noise from climbers is miniscule compared to the noise of the Harleys.

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480
Jason Todd wrote:The ceremonies largely ended when the park was developed. The noise from climbers is miniscule compared to the noise of the Harleys.
I Should've wrote noise in general plus climber traffic. Your words "when the park was developed" says it best. I'm didn't mean any one group was anymore responsible then the other.

Rock, apologies for the derailment!
climbing coastie · · Wasilla, AK · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 95

I'm courious as to what van you have. 25-30mpg and seats four. Older sprinter? Upfitted promaster?

Sorry for the off topic post, but I'm looking into buying a van soon and those numbers intrigued me.

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316

my 2006 3500 SHC Sprinter gets around 23mpg (approx. 575miles for 25 gals.). This is with new and tuned injectors, new air filter, no a/c. Some of that driving is slow traffic miles so on the open road you might get up to 25mpg. With the diesel power module you might eek out an extra 1 mpg.

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316

my 2006 3500 SHC Sprinter gets around 23mpg (approx. 575miles for 25 gals.). This is with new and tuned injectors, new air filter, no a/c. Some of that driving is slow traffic miles so on the open road you might get up to 25mpg. With the diesel power module you might eek out an extra 1 mpg.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

North Eastern States Partners
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