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Durin
Apr 10, 2009, 6:12 AM
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This weekend should be pretty sunny -- does anyone know if Devils Tower is too cold/full of snow, or if I should go for it? I'll only have one day, so I wanted to do Durrance.
I'm comfortable on 5.9 trad and solid on multipitch. I figure it's feasible.
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mtnkid85
Apr 10, 2009, 6:41 AM
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I believe Durrance is closed right now for the falcons, all the way over to ~Bon Homme I believe. Go check out there website as they have the exact closure on it.
I was planning on going this weekend and have decided to save the gas for another trip. Earlier this week I was told there was ~ 2 ft of snow, and last I checked there was a 50% chance of precip over the weekend...
You could give the ranger station down there a call and Im sure they could look out the window and tell ya whats going on.
If you do end up going post up here as I would like to hear the current climbing conditions.
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Durin
Apr 10, 2009, 7:20 AM
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In reply to: To protect prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) nesting sites, the National Park Service (NPS) will temporarily close climbing routes along the south face of Devils Tower beginning March 15, 2009. This closure is an annual event established under the monument's 1995 Climbing Management Plan, with authority from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The areas to be closed include climbing routes on the south face between and including the “P.O.T.C.” and “Waterfall” (routes #206-208, #1-21 in the Devils Tower climbing handbook). The “Durrance,” “Bailey Direct,” “Bowling Alley,” and “Meadows” rappel routes are also closed. The south edge of the Tower summit is closed to climbers with the exception of the “Summit South” rappel. Alternate south-face rappel routes from the meadows are “Bon Homme” and “El Cracko,” which remain open. Climbing and rappel route closures may change based on the location and behavior of the nesting falcons.
Well, F my life.
Our trip is to the Needles, I figured a Devils Tower detour might be fun.
I'll probably call them tomorrow and see if I can push them into letting me go. I'll definitely post here again if I'm going.
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chossmonkey
Apr 10, 2009, 6:00 PM
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The Durance route isn't very good anyway. Do El Cracko. It gets plenty of morning sun.
The weather can be hit or miss. If you are already climbing in the Needles you won't be any worse off than at the Tower. You might even be better off. I forget what the elevations are.
You could try PMing Bigwally for up to date conditions.
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therat
Apr 14, 2009, 1:18 AM
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Registered: Apr 4, 2005
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Durin wrote: In reply to: To protect prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) nesting sites, the National Park Service (NPS) will temporarily close climbing routes along the south face of Devils Tower beginning March 15, 2009. This closure is an annual event established under the monument's 1995 Climbing Management Plan, with authority from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The areas to be closed include climbing routes on the south face between and including the “P.O.T.C.” and “Waterfall” (routes #206-208, #1-21 in the Devils Tower climbing handbook). The “Durrance,” “Bailey Direct,” “Bowling Alley,” and “Meadows” rappel routes are also closed. The south edge of the Tower summit is closed to climbers with the exception of the “Summit South” rappel. Alternate south-face rappel routes from the meadows are “Bon Homme” and “El Cracko,” which remain open. Climbing and rappel route closures may change based on the location and behavior of the nesting falcons. Well, F my life. Our trip is to the Needles, I figured a Devils Tower detour might be fun. I'll probably call them tomorrow and see if I can push them into letting me go. I'll definitely post here again if I'm going.
Spent Saturday climbing in the Needles... weather was GREAT!
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Durin
Apr 14, 2009, 5:01 AM
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Really? So did we! We didn't see anyone, and it looked like we were making fresh tracks through a bunch of it...
Was yours the car with the school of mines sticker? I had the california plates...
Went to devil's tower on sunday, it was great.
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mtnkid85
Apr 14, 2009, 9:11 PM
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Durin wrote: Went to devil's tower on sunday, it was great.
Everything was dry eh? Grr I should have gone...
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