Otto's Route 5.9

 
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Independence Monument


Desert Towers, Utah, USA


Trip Report
(TR) I Love the Desert
Sunday April 27, 2008 8:31pm
This spring I was fortunate to make a really fun desert Southwest tour with my wife Michelle and a few other friends. We visited Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. During the trip I climbed 32 desert towers and a half dozen other routes.

First stop was Colorado National Monument. It was pretty cold,
but we managed to climb Independence Monument, Otto's Route (III, 5.9).
Colorado National Monument, with Independence Monument on the right:
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Credit: Joe Puryear
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A close up:
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The route was pretty "cool" with snow all over the ledges,
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But fun none-the-less. Love the history of the route with all the manufactured holds and staircases. You can see one of the staircases in the pic below, and Michelle is grabbing on to an old pipe hole:
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With temps dipping down to 10-degrees, we decided to head farther south to the Moab area.

We did a quick climb of South Six Shooter, South Face (II, 5.8). On South Six Shooter Peak, with North Six Shooter in the distance.
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It snowed on us, so dreaming of warmer weather we decided to head farther south into Arizona. We had long wanted to climb in the Superstition Mountains outside of Phoenix.

The Superstitions. The Hand, the Tower, and the Prong are the first three towers on the lower left. The larger Grandfather Hobgoblin Spire is on the right, but blends in a little with the cliff behind:
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The rock at the "Supes" is really interesting, some kind of crazy conglomerate. The protection is often sparse, and when there are bolts, well...
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One of those plant towers:
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The first day we did a collection of towers on the northwest side of the range. We climbed The Hand (5.6), The Tower (5.8 R), The Pickle (5.4), The Periscope (5.4R), and The Prong (5.6). All of them were unique little climbs and summits. Very cool.

The Hand:
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Here is Michelle at a small belay on The Hand. The 3-pitch route we climbed was called the Razor's Edge and the climbing was on a 3-foot wide, steep ridge crest:
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The Tower had 25-feet of unprotected, overhanging 5.8 climbing to start the route, then a long and thoughtful 5.7R pitch above that. It felt good to get on top of that sucker.
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The Pickle was fun - it looks steep and hard from the base but it really is only 5.4. The climbing is on huge cemented together conglomerate rocks.
Michelle rapping off the Pickle.
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The next day we woke up for two more climbs of Grandfather Hobgoblin (III, 5.9), and the really fun North Buttress, Spider Walk (III, 5.6).

Here is Grandfather Hobgoblin, the 4-pitch route climbs up to the notch on the left, then right up to the summit:
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Looking down at Michelle atop the first pitch:
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View from the summit out towards the suburban sprawl:
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After rapping down we went directly over to the North Buttress. Spider Walk takes an improbable looking line (for 5.6), meandering up 4 pitches of run-out slabs, with hard to find bolts, then up a chimney/crack system up a very cool feature.

Here's a shot of the North Buttress. The route starts on the left side, then works its way up to the chimney near the top:
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Michelle following the second pitch:
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At the end of the route, you can scramble up to a high spire that overlooks everything.
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A final sunset:
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Next stop was Red Rocks, Nevada.
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We spent a few days climbing Dark Shadows (5.8), Frogland (III, 5.8), Sour Mash (III, 5.10a), then met with our good friends Chin and Raleigh and climbed Eagle Dance (III, 5.10c A0) and then a twisted variation of The Gobbler and Yellow Brick Road (III, 5.10c) on Black Velvet Wall (this to bypass the cluster on Dream of Wild Turkey's and other routes).

Hiking up to Eagle wall:
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Me leading the second pitch of The Gobbler, with Raleigh belaying:
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Michelle following Sour Mash:
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All in all we had a great week in Red Rocks, with splitter weather and pretty moderate crowds.

Next stop: Zion. I really love Zion, and this is partly why:
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We only had a chance to spend two days here. The first day was a bit of a lazy day. We rode up canyon in the shuttle and climbed The Pulpit, Original Route (5.9, C1) - a cool little spire at the end of the road.

Here's Michelle following the one and only pitch:
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Day 2 we climbed the Iron Messiah (III, 5.10) a 10-pitch route on the Spearhead. You gotta love chimneys to like this route:
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High on the route (see Michelle at bottom of crack and shuttle bus below), the second to the last pitch was a stellar 200-foot corner.
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It had been a few years since visiting Zion and I was really psyched to climb there again if only for a couple days. Michelle had to head back home and my buddy Jim flew down to meet me for some climbing around Moab.

Our first stop was the Bridger Jack Towers in Indian Creek. In two days we climbed Sparkling Touch Tower (5.11-), Thumbelina Tower (5.11), Sunflower Tower, East Face (III, 5.10), Easter Island Tower (5.10), and King of Pain, Vision Quest (III, 5.10+).

Shadow of the Bridger Jacks on the desert floor:
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Jim's picture of me leading Thumbelina, a great single pitch of 5.11, and a cool spire to boot!
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Jim's picture of me leading the first pitch of Sparkling Touch:
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The King of Pain. Vision Quest climbs the split between the two towers:
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Here's Jim in the 5.10 slot on Vision Quest. After this pitch, I won't disagree with the guidebook description calling the route "burly".
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Jim taking the lead on the last pitch of Sunflower Tower. South and North Sixshooter can be seen in the distance.
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I was psyched to finally climb on these towers. The ease of access, quality rock and routes, and relaxing atmosphere made for a great couple of days (and a great warm up for Jim!)

Next we headed into Canyonlands National Park. We stopped by the ranger station and got a permit to camp down on the White Rim for a couple days, then later that afternoon we climbed Washer Woman, In Search of Suds (III, 5.10+). The route was super-classic just like everyone said it would be. Gotta be one of the most unique looking towers in the desert. Can't wait to see what it looks like when that chock stone falls out!

Washer Woman and Monster Tower:
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Joe Puryear
Joe Puryear
Credit: Joe Puryear
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Looking down from the last pitch, with Monster Tower behind:
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Jim's pic of me leading the final summit block:
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Gotta love that rappel!
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Next we headed into Monument Basin.
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Our first objective was the ultra-classic Standing Rock, Kor Route (III, 5.11). You can tell this route gets climbed a ton because there is no loose rock or mud typical of the area to speak of. I can only imagine what it must have been like on the first ascent.
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Jim's pic of me leading the great roof (way easier than it looks from below):
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Jim following the second pitch:
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That afternoon we climbed the Shark’s Fin, Fetish Arête (III, 5.10c R). This route doesn't seem to get as much traffic and one gets a taste for some more authentic Monument Basin climbing. This picture was taken from Island in the Sky. The route follows the lower angled right side for 5 fun pitches:
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Jim's pic of me starting up the first pitch:
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I thought the 1st and 3rd pitches were more R rated than the 5.10b R second pitch according to the guidebooks.

Jim rappelling off of Shark's Fin - awesome rock striations:
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A big rain storm ruined our shot at Monster Tower so we headed back out to Moab to reconnoiter. Our final objective was going to be the Titan in the Fisher Towers, but thoughts of wet mud made us cringe so we headed to Castle Valley instead. Neither of us had climbed the Priest, so it seemed like a worthy objective. We started on The Priest, Honeymoon Chimney (III, 5.11).

The route follows the ow/chimney in the middle of the picture:
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Does this look like an Alien/Predator head to anyone else?
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Entering the Alien's layer - looking up the upper chimney:
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The classic shot of the second pitch:
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That afternoon I decided to give a shot at The Nuns, Bad Habit (II, 5.11c). The first pitch was strenuous and I wished I had (a lot) more #1 Camalots!
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Jim had to fly back home and I had a few days before my next partner was going to show up. I really wanted to climb in the Fishers on this trip (especially the Titan), so I decided to give The Titan, Finger of Fate (IV, 5.9 A2) a try solo. It went amazingly well and I was able to complete the climb in 8 hours 53 minutes (10:04 base to base).

The Titan, looking up the route:
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Of course, pictures of soloing are pretty boring cause it's hard to get a person in the pic, but anyways, here's the belayer at the top of the second to the last pitch:
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I hauled a ton of crap up the route, not knowing exactly what I would need. The hardest parts for me were the small bits of mandatory free climbing. Because of the wandering nature of the climb, I couldn’t tag gear, so I started up each pitch with pretty much all the gear I had and the entire lead line in a rope bag off my harness. It made for a few interesting moments, but overall I enjoyed really quality climbing and a superb summit.

My friend Stoney showed up for some final tower antics. We warmed up in Arches National Park on some fine Entrada sandstone (which I think is way more ass-kicker than Cutler). Our first stop was The Three Gossips, West Face (III, 5.11) - a splitter crack system, followed by a cool chimney pitch up the split summit block.
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Later that day we got on Argon Tower, West Face (II, 5.11). What a great route for the grade, climbing some authentic Arches “sand”.
View to the south with Argon Tower in the center:
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Rappelling off Argon Tower with the Three Gossips in the distance:
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The next day we headed out to Tusher and Mill Canyons. There we climbed The House of Putterman, Walden’s Room (II, 5.10+), our first Putt-route. This is a desert classic with probably the easiest approach in the entire region.

The House of Putterman:
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Later that day we climbed Echo Pinnacle, Window Route (III, 5.11a).

Echo Pinnacle. The route ascends a system just right of the sun/shade line. The left side is detached, forming a series of windows to look through to the other side:
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Stoney leading the first pitch (gotta love a tower that is composed of Entrada on top of Dewey Bridge!)
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The next day it was back to Canyonlands again where we went right for Monster Tower, Kor Route (IV, 5.10 C2).

Monster Tower and Washer Woman at Sunset:
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Another shot of Monster Tower, Washer Woman, and the Sandcastle from up canyon:
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It was a neat route as it cork-screwed around the tower, starting on the northeast side and finishing on the northwest. Stoney leading around the 4th pitch:
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The next objective was Chip Tower and Dale Tower. We started with Chip Tower, Stuffin’ Nuts (III, 5.8 C1).

Chip Tower and his big brother Dale Tower. The route on Chip Tower ascents the other (south) side, while the route on Dale Tower climbs the large chimney system on the right, then bumps over and climbs a pitch of off-widths to the summit.
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Stoney leading the 2nd pitch of Chip Tower:
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Later that day we climbed Dale Tower, Boy’s Night Out (III, 5.9 C1). Another fun and "wide" tower.

Stoney's pic of me on top of Dale Tower after a long happy day:
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We went down into Monument Basin for some more, uh, fun. First up - the Meemohive (III, 5.9 C2). We both really enjoyed this tower - the climbing was moderate but classically Monument-esque. The route climbs up the right-side chimney, traverses left on the ledge near the top, then takes a steep hand-crack through a roof up the central crack system to the top.
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Stoney leading the second mud chimney:
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and following the 3rd pitch ledge traverse:
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On top of the Meemohive, we looked over and saw something terrible:
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The Enigmatic Syringe... If the name alone wasn't enticing enough...
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So I had a go at the Enigmatic Syringe, Altered Sanity (III, C3). I was able to do both pitches clean, bypassing some of the really bad sections with free climbing.

Stoney's pic of me leading pitch one of two:
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and, me hoping not to deck on pitch two:
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It was super-windy all day and it gusted up to 40+mph. We are obviously noobs to this kind of climbing because we didn't bring any goggles in the kit. Next time...

We had time for one more while on the White Rim and decided to try out Blocktop, Original Route (IV, 5.10 C2), just cause it looks really, really cool.
Islet in the Sky and Blocktop. The route on Blocktop goes right up the crack that splits the tower literally in half:
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Stoney's pic of me leading the hand/fist/ow/squeeze/chimney pitch:
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Looking down that same pitch from one of the best belays in the desert:
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Yep, it was as cool as it looked.

Finally with one day of climbing left, neither of us had climbed North Six Shooter, Lightning Bolt Cracks (III, 5.11a), so we made the drive down to Indian Creek to give it a go.
Looking down the first half of the last pitch (I linked this all the way to the top) from the obvious picture taking stance:
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The route was definitely as classic as could be, though a bit disappointingly short.

All in all, another amazing adventure in the great lands of the desert Southwest.
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I love the desert!


  Trip Report Views: 8,887
joepuryear
About the Author
joepuryear is a climber from Leavenworth, WA and Talkeetna, AK.

Comments
Chiloe

Trad climber
Lee, NH
  Apr 27, 2008 - 08:50pm PT
All my desert trips are that long and successful, too! Not.

I love even vicarious desert trips, though.
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
  Apr 27, 2008 - 08:58pm PT
Coolness!

i think it took me 32 years
to climb 32 towers,
If I've climbed that many.

No Weaver's Needle?
SammyLee2

Trad climber
Memphis, TN
  Apr 27, 2008 - 09:01pm PT
Dammmm, fine stuff. Thanks for the TR. The pics were amazing. We hit Castleton tower last spring. Heck, the approaches were enough to flip me out. Back to the point, it looks like a hell of a trip. Good on ya!
Gooney

Trad climber
Boulder, CO
  Apr 27, 2008 - 09:07pm PT
Sheesh. It took me 20 years to climb 75 percent of that stuff. Nice trip!!
cowpoke

climber
  Apr 27, 2008 - 09:15pm PT
Holy cow...now that is a trip! thanks for sharing the report and the great pics too.
renoenvy

climber
  Apr 27, 2008 - 09:17pm PT
Really great TR.

L

climber
Just livin' the dream
  Apr 27, 2008 - 09:38pm PT
Joe Doooooode--you are a climbin' fool!!! And I mean that in the best way possible. Great TR, and those photos were simply amazing.

I can't believe the vertical mileage you put in, and most of it on lead. Holy cow...you sure are raisin' the endurance bar.
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
  Apr 27, 2008 - 10:44pm PT
Slackers.......(You guys are amazing......what a trip!......you did 2 decades worth of climbing in 10 days......).....Think I'll have another twinkie..........golf anyone?.......
hossjulia

Trad climber
Carson City, NV
  Apr 27, 2008 - 11:08pm PT
10 days?! Did you really do all that in 10 days?!

This TR should be sub-titled "A Sandstone Primer"

Big smiles, cheers, thankyousoverymuch for this!

(I stole the vegetation tower photo, just for my computer, it is stunning!)
nick d

Trad climber
nm
  Apr 27, 2008 - 11:14pm PT
Wow! You are one motivated super-stud! Thanks for the vicarious living. What a trip!
Brian

climber
California
  Apr 27, 2008 - 11:28pm PT
Well, better luck next time. Maybe with a bit more focus and psyche you can get more done.






Sarcasm, of course. That there is a damn prolific road trip. Well done.

Brian
Inner City

Trad climber
Portland, OR
  Apr 27, 2008 - 11:33pm PT
Ho Man, when you do a trip, you do a trip! That was absolutely wonderful to take in. Thanks for the effort on the report. A beauty!
Crimpergirl

Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
  Apr 27, 2008 - 11:36pm PT
Whoa. What a trip. And what a report. This is like a super Trip Report! Thanks for posting...
Double D

climber
  Apr 27, 2008 - 11:51pm PT
Nice TR and great pics...thanks!
nutjob

Sport climber
Almost to Hollywood, Baby!
  Apr 28, 2008 - 12:53am PT
Damn I got tired reading it. What do you do in the off-season that leaves you able to pull that on a vacation tour?

I'm saving this for a lifetime desert towers tick list.
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Apr 28, 2008 - 01:02am PT
very good tr. we need more of these.
John Moosie

climber
Beautiful California
  Apr 28, 2008 - 01:23am PT
GREAT GREAT GREAT trip report. Thanks for putting in so many photos. What a bunch of beautiful places. Yowzer.
J. Werlin

Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
  Apr 28, 2008 - 08:47am PT
Way to get it done. Thanks for a very excellent TR.
Zander

climber
  Apr 28, 2008 - 10:43am PT
Allright! Great Trip Report. Thanks for putting it together.
Zander
Chaz

Trad climber
Straight Outta Crafton
  Apr 28, 2008 - 11:05am PT
Outstanding TR!

TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
  Apr 28, 2008 - 11:34am PT
Just what I needed this morning.

sweet damn thats alot of towers...NICE
handsome B

Gym climber
SL,UT
  Apr 28, 2008 - 12:54pm PT
Your desert trip is most peoples desert lifetime!

Nice work, thanks for the TR.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
  Apr 28, 2008 - 01:02pm PT
What a great TR. I really enjoyed the abundance of photos and locations.
I can't wait to get to New Mexico...
Indianclimber

Trad climber
Las Vegas
  Apr 28, 2008 - 01:50pm PT
Fantastic ,Thanks
Manny

Social climber
tempe
  Apr 28, 2008 - 04:00pm PT
Incredible photos and excellent story. Now I have some towers in mind, thanks.
paganmonkeyboy

climber
mars...it's near nevada...
  Apr 28, 2008 - 07:34pm PT
sweeeet pics !! looks like one hell of a trip ;-)
Marshall

climber
bay area
  Apr 28, 2008 - 07:45pm PT
really awesome TR, thanks!
Ezra

Social climber
WA, NC, Idaho Falls
  Apr 28, 2008 - 08:04pm PT
Schweeeet Pics, very impressive trip!
Wish I coulda been there!
tenesmus

Trad climber
slc
  Apr 28, 2008 - 09:05pm PT
best tr ever.
rich sims

Social climber
co
  Apr 28, 2008 - 10:11pm PT
Way cool TR!!
Can't wait till the end of the week for another go at some towers.
The pictures made me want to go back noW Friday is so faraway
Patrick Sawyer

climber
Originally California, now Ireland
  Apr 29, 2008 - 09:18am PT
All I can say is...

... I am ennviiioouuussss.

Darn, that's a fine TR.
MisterE

Gym climber
Small Town with a Big Back Yard
  Apr 29, 2008 - 09:38am PT
Excellent TR as usual, Joe. Those Alaska winter really make one want to go get it!

Seen Roger and Merridy lately?

Let me know if you ever come through Flag.

Erik Wolfe
Dirka

Trad climber
Hustle City
  Apr 29, 2008 - 09:57am PT
Wonderful pics, thanks for posting.

-Dirka
joepuryear

climber
Leavenworth, WA and Talkeetna, AK
Author's Reply  Apr 29, 2008 - 03:19pm PT
Thanks everyone for the cool replies. Erik - we drove through Flag - didn't know you were there these days. Next time...
Btw, it took just a little longer than 10 days. And after few trips down there now and looking around, I really feel like I've just barely scratched the surface. But I love sharing the pics of what I think is one of the greatest places on earth.
emac

climber
New Hampshire
  Apr 29, 2008 - 03:43pm PT
Joe, excellent Trip Report! It was great meeting you and Michelle at the Superstitions and sharing some rappels! Thanks, Eric
piquaclimber

Trad climber
SEKI
  Apr 29, 2008 - 06:34pm PT
What a FANTASTIC trip and TR!
Holy Sh#t you climbed a lot of awesome towers!
emac

climber
New Hampshire
  Apr 30, 2008 - 02:40pm PT
Joe and Michelle on Spider Walk in the Superstitions.

benkiessel

Trad climber
Durango, Co
  Apr 30, 2008 - 07:06pm PT
DAMN!
That is a freakin' trip to the desert!
couchmaster

climber
  Apr 30, 2008 - 09:02pm PT
the motto must have been "we shall leave no visible tower unclimbed".:-)

Great stuff, thanks for sharing.
yo

climber
Mudcat Spire
  May 1, 2008 - 12:10am PT
One more bump for the badness.
Irish Climber

climber
Ireland
  May 1, 2008 - 06:25am PT
Looks like a great trip, can anyone help me out here, I am flying into Utah in October, To cover the areas in this trip what are the best guidebooks to look for, Can't wait it just looks fantastic, not much desert in Ireland
MisterE

Gym climber
Small Town with a Big Back Yard
  May 1, 2008 - 09:24am PT
Cool, Joe. Thanks for the response.

Ping me next time you come through Flagstaff: wolfeboxatyahoodotcom.

Cheers, Erik
joepuryear

climber
Leavenworth, WA and Talkeetna, AK
Author's Reply  May 1, 2008 - 01:10pm PT
Cool Erik - will do.

Thanks for the great shot emac. Awesome again to meet you guys and thanks again for sharing the raps with us :)


"Looks like a great trip, can anyone help me out here, I am flying into Utah in October, To cover the areas in this trip what are the best guidebooks to look for, Can't wait it just looks fantastic, not much desert in Ireland"

Of course you've got to get SuperTopo Southwest Desert Towers Select - it's a great place to start your adventure. After you run through all those, I really like Selected Climbs in the Desert Southwest by Cameron Burns (of course Cam might have something to say about that :) Then of course Eric Bjornstad's series of desert guides is the ultimate resource - Rock Climbs in the National Parks and the original Desert Rock (out of print) are great for these areas.
crunch

Social climber
CO
  May 1, 2008 - 02:00pm PT
What a fantastic trip; That's nearly a decade's worth of towers at my usual pace. You guys were not just picking the easiest ones either.

What's more, you get bonus style points for looking impossibly dapper, even in the wilds of Monument Basin. For comparison, here's a self-portrait from the first ascent of the Meemohive:

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
  May 1, 2008 - 02:09pm PT
Using a guide book to go desert climbing is like killing a fox.
piquaclimber

Trad climber
SEKI
  Sep 10, 2008 - 12:40pm PT
Bump for the best desert tower TR ever posted on Supertopo.

Ron,
Have you ever tried fox? It's pretty damn tasty!
dee ee

Mountain climber
Of THIS World (Planet Earth)
  Sep 10, 2008 - 10:56pm PT
Slow down a little or you won't have anything left by the end of a few more trips!

Took me 20 years to do most of those, there are others though.
My first was the Titan, complete with bivvy. My dog Washoe sat at the base for 30 hours.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
  Sep 11, 2008 - 12:15am PT
Aw hell, I'm not a killjoy, but the point in a fox hunt is the hunt. You don't kill them.

Anybody know where the term red herring comes from?
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
  Sep 11, 2008 - 12:34am PT
Anybody know where the term red herring comes from?

Smoked (red) herrings were used to train young dogs to follow scent trails in ye olden dayes in Merrye Olde Englande
Nohea

Trad climber
Living Outside the Statist Quo
  Sep 11, 2008 - 04:49am PT
That trip report is awesome! Lets get this tale back to the top of the page.
Thanks for sharing and did I mention that is one helluva great report?

Aloha,
wil
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Sep 11, 2008 - 04:56am PT
hey there nohea... say, i was just off to go to sleep, here...

say, but i will say amen and second your motion to get this "trip post" to the top.... i love the dessert, too, (as the title says)...


i will have to see all the pics, tomorrow, though...

god bless, to all.... and good morning-night...


edit, before i sleep:

OH MY!!! I JUST SAW that one pic was of the superstitions... i love learning about them.. say, i did once ask, aways back, if anyone ever climbed on any of them rocks... i will be back sometime tomorrow... wow...
jbar

Mountain climber
urasymptote
  Sep 11, 2008 - 05:09am PT
Nice pics! Your trip agenda looks just like one of the ones I always plan but never seem to suceed in actually doing. You should figure out how to get paid for doing some of that stuff.
Isn't Independence monument the one Eastwood climbed in Eiger Sanction? Been so long I can't remember. You know : "If you hauled beer up this rock you're insane" . . . "I may be insane but I'm not stupid. I didn't haul beer up this rock, you did!"
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Sep 11, 2008 - 09:03am PT
Gosh, I don't know how I missed this previously, but
an awesome report. I've not climbed as extensively in
the Desert (only a couple of towers), but it is a sweet place
to be. Great photos! Thanks.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  Sep 11, 2008 - 10:16am PT
Now that is a Trip Report! Splendid work putting that together and thanks for sharing the hit list. The dez is the true shizzle with the sizzle!
handsome B

Gym climber
SL,UT
  Sep 11, 2008 - 11:58am PT
The season is upon us.




prepare!
Dirka

Trad climber
Hustle City
  Sep 11, 2008 - 02:09pm PT
Now that's a TR!

-Dirka
grover

climber
Castlegar BC
  Sep 11, 2008 - 03:58pm PT
piquaclimber you said it!

Wow 32 towers in one trip...?!?!?!

Nice going.

Stellar pics!

Where is this Utah you speak of?


Mark
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  Sep 19, 2008 - 11:04am PT
Yarrrrg! Looks like summer is over up here.......bump.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  Sep 19, 2008 - 11:08am PT
Steve, I think you deserve a purple heart for sticking it out in Seattle.
paganmonkeyboy

climber
mars...it's near nevada...
  Sep 19, 2008 - 01:22pm PT
ooooooooooooooooo...
N0_ONE

Social climber
Utah
  Sep 19, 2008 - 08:50pm PT
Right on! Wow! Am I really that lazy?

Putting together the game plan probably to way longer than executing it.

Best TR in a long time. Thanks
MisterE

Gym climber
Small Town with a Big Back Yard
  Feb 25, 2009 - 01:55am PT
Almost bump-day bump
graniteclimber

Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
  Mar 20, 2009 - 03:10pm PT
bump
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Mar 20, 2009 - 03:36pm PT
hey there joepuryear.... say, i missed this, and it was only last year...

this is lovely.... such a long trip, too... and the most amazing photos...

sure hope it stays on the newer pages for awhile, as due to my slow download, which i keep stating so much these days, i sure miss some of the mid pics.... (as i tend to get the first and last post, okay... but takes longer to work my way through... still is a great TREAT to come back too!)...

very nice and lovely informed share... thanks so very much!
Jingy

climber
Random Nobody
  Mar 20, 2009 - 03:42pm PT
Joe - SUPER KICK AZZ PICS, BRA!!!!


No I have a better appreciation for the desert as well!!!!

Thanks for taking me there!!!
Double D

climber
  Mar 20, 2009 - 03:48pm PT
That was a worthy bump. I'd love to have that many desert towers under my belt IN A WHOLE LIFETIME!

Great pictures!
Hoots

climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
  Mar 20, 2009 - 04:17pm PT
That made my day. SO MANY TOWERS! well done.
wayne w

Trad climber
the nw
  Mar 20, 2009 - 06:34pm PT
If Joe hasn't made you feel light enough yet after reading this post check out his ascent list at joepuryear.blogspot.com...bad ass!!
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
  Mar 20, 2009 - 07:51pm PT
This is the best post I have ever seen on Supertopo;.......and one of the reasons why supertopo and Joe kick butt...
tolman_paul

Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
  Mar 20, 2009 - 08:21pm PT
Awesome!

I'm jones'n for a road trip.
noshoesnoshirt

climber
Arkansas, I suppose
  Mar 20, 2009 - 08:48pm PT
bump!
I feel like a slug
Dirka

Trad climber
Hustle City
  Mar 20, 2009 - 09:39pm PT
Love this TR!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
  Mar 20, 2009 - 10:31pm PT
A perfect TR is lots of pics and just enough words.

* on this one. Kick ass!!!!!!!!!
ryanb

climber
Hamilton, MT
  Mar 20, 2009 - 10:41pm PT
Joe let two friends (Ben K and Dave O if he is reading this) crash on his floor on our way to check out some rare WA ice climbing last winter. He had a hugh hole in his lip from attempting to eat the head of an ice tool in his basement mixed climbing...um...structure. At one point he couldn't stop laughing despite the fact it hurt like hell...he ended up having to hold his lip out with his hand to get some relief.

SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Mar 29, 2009 - 07:19pm PT
More towers.
More climbing!!!!
MisterE

Gym climber
Small Town with a Big Back Yard
  Apr 8, 2009 - 11:50am PT
bump for one of the most sending TR's ever!
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Apr 8, 2009 - 11:51am PT
You be right about dat, MisterE!
RDB

Social climber
Great Basin
  Oct 28, 2010 - 02:43pm PT
Really great to see this again. I got dizzy trying to get through it the first time around. A life obviously enjoyed. Good for Joe!
graniteclimber

Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
  Nov 2, 2010 - 12:13am PT
Thanks, Joe.
cowpoke

climber
  Jun 5, 2013 - 05:46pm PT
Sch-bump
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
  Jun 5, 2013 - 06:42pm PT
wowowwwww. soo beautiful. this is definitely one of the best TRs i have seen on this sight, i will be perusing this one again, multiple times. BBST.
martygarrison

Trad climber
Washington DC
  Jun 5, 2013 - 08:03pm PT
Holy cow! What a trip. Thats a lifetime of tower climbing for me. Glad someone bumped this.

What happened to original poster? Just saw the rip comment above.
cowpoke

climber
  Jun 5, 2013 - 07:14pm PT
^^^wow, wml, same question...I absolutely love this TR and had no idea...I hope it brings up positive memories for loved ones and friends.
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Jun 5, 2013 - 09:34pm PT
Marty,
Unfortunately, Joe was killed in a climbing accident in the Tibet back in 2010.
canyonrat

Trad climber
vernon BC
  Feb 6, 2014 - 05:17pm PT
RIP Joe. Looks like you led an adventurous life
John M

climber
  May 22, 2015 - 10:47pm PT
Bump.. cause this was awesome
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
  May 23, 2015 - 02:55am PT
OLD GOLD never seen this? Take the time to check it out!
Joseph Manning

climber
BELLEVUE
  Feb 16, 2016 - 03:06pm PT
Gotta love the desert!
Go
Independence Monument - Otto's Route 5.9 - Desert Towers, Utah, USA. Click to Enlarge
Otto's Route from near the approach.
Photo: Chris McNamara