It's just a two for one kind of day around here.... I already posted about life in Lingle, but I just have to post about our weekend in Devil's Tower!
Our buddy Tim drove up from Laramie to join us for the weekend. We headed out on Friday evening and arrived after dark.
We awoke the next morning to the tower looming above our campsite, it's splitter pillars calling our names.
After a short hike on the tourist-friendly paved trail, we ventured up to the base of the tower itself.
Looks pretty impressive close up, doesn't it?
Kelby leading the classic and mile-long Assembly Line (5.9) pitch. The columns of the tower make for some of the longest and most sustained pitches I have ever climbed.
A couple of goobers on the belay!
Team Harris-Long-Scott on the Summit! All the tourists asked us what it was like up there- well, it was just a big grassy hill, covered in ants. Not so glamourous. But we signed the summit register, took some photos, ate some granola bars, and rapped down. It was a hot day, and once we were back on the ground, we headed straight for the river.
The boys, cooling off and admiring the tower.
After our swim, we were playing hearts at our campsite, and a friendly park ranger came by and told us about the evening program going on that night. A man named Buffalo Bill Boycott was going to be playing music and telling stories, and to quote the ranger, "It's just going to be a lot of fun."
We headed out to have dinner, which ended up as a bust. The KOA campsite had a diner that served buffalo burgers in the shape a buffalo. Not so good.
But Buffalo Bill, he was good. He played the banjo, guitar, mandolin and fiddle. He told jokes and bits of cowboy poetry. He did Native American sign language storytelling, and told us history of the wild west. It was a great show! We went to bed exhausted and happy.
The next morning, we climbed a bit more- attempted the classic El Matador (5.10d), and then headed over to the slightly easier but still classic Soler (5.9) and Walt Bailey (5.9). We were battered and tired at the end of the day, but another river swim, and a real burger for dinner worked wonders.
What a dreamy weekend!
Beth! I found you, so good to hear from you, and thank you for your sweet card. love reading about your adventures, and congrats on you marriage!! Cody sounds great, would love to see you if you get down this way, you are always welcome here. You look just the same, just a bit more grownup. Cant believe its been so long!
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