You can support my educational videos by clicking on the "Thanks" button just above (right of Like button) or by going here: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=EWUSLG3GBS5W8 or here: buymeacoffee.com/shawnwillsey
@stevew521210 ай бұрын
Thanks for the view from the top. I have been to the tower but never ever in my life would I be able to see the top of it and the view from it with out this video. That is one place I can say I will never ever get to stand on that piece of ground.
@Skank_and_Gutterboy3 ай бұрын
Me too, seen it but never considered going to the top.
@hestheMaster10 ай бұрын
I totally have a fear of heights . I could never do this. More power to you Shawn, you got guts! Great view from up there!
@Backroad_Junkie10 ай бұрын
I'm with you. I climbed a few of the rocks at the base of the Tower. I got about 10 feet off the ground, and that was too high for me, lol....
@robertlee377810 ай бұрын
super amazing! I know that I could not do this climb! I am almost sweating, just watching it! Thanks for sharing! (I was a bit disappointed to see that you could not land a large size alien spaceship up top, with a full compliment of scientists and army personnel, though ;) )
@siralee497510 ай бұрын
I know right?! I was thinking the same thing 🤔 😅 😂
@DownhillAllTheWay8 ай бұрын
Um ... I think the aliens usually land at the bottom of Devil's Tower. That was a great movie - and Devil's Tower was the perfect setting for it.
@everettnichols906210 ай бұрын
AWWW Shucks!!! You mean you didn't find a UFO Spaceport at the top? I thought there was one up there!!! Thanks for the trip!!! You're a Brave Man!!!
@tree440810 ай бұрын
As a native Wyomingite, I have walked Devil's Tower as a child, adult and Geology student. My brave silly son climbed part way up free handed. I did not know of this until he was down! Thanks much for the top view!
@user-wk1mw9nj3i7610 ай бұрын
Wow! You’ve talked the talk and climbed the climb. Respect.
@shelbykeefe97110 ай бұрын
Stuff of nightmares! What courage you climbers have! Thanks for taking us with!!
@andrewmagill422910 ай бұрын
My thoughts exactly.
@dougsundseth690410 ай бұрын
Longer ago than I would prefer (early 80s), our rock climbing class at UW climbed Devil's Tower after the spring semester was over. We went up Durrance, which I think is the easiest route (5.8, IIRC), including the jump traverse, which was ... memorable. It was a kick, but we were a large group and we didn't get started right at dawn, so our descent was after sunset. Rappelling in the dark with small platforms that you had to hit to start the next pitch of the rappel was definitely interesting. If you like crack climbs and haven't been there, you might want to try climbing at Vedauwoo, just off I-80, near Laramie. Beautiful place with a huge number of excellent routes.
@rickmessina539610 ай бұрын
When I was climbing back in the early 70’s we pounded iron into the rock which caused problems. I have not used the new cams and too old to climb now. Thanks for the memories…….
@johnwest79939 ай бұрын
Years ago I'd gone up from Boulder, CO to Devil's Tower to climb it with my buddies. Unfortunately I was coming down with the flu, and it was a hot summer day, so I sadly chose to stay at the bottom taking photos with a big sports lens and keeping a wet bandana on my dizzy head while the 3 of them climbed the Durrance route. But I will never forget the echos from off the tower rock, and the sound of one of my pals about 2/3 of the way up yelling, "5.8 my ass!" I nearly collapsed from laughing. It's hard to carry enough water for a hot day on Devil's Tower. Thank you for the video.
@shawnwillsey9 ай бұрын
I felt the same way on our climb. Hardest 5.7 ever.
@wyojohn10 ай бұрын
Also, my brother climbed Devil's tower. I remember he needed a lot of special protection because of the large cracks. He and his climbing buds carried a small Dino (from a Sinclair gas station) up to the top. And everywhere else they climbed that year.
@artphotoscamp57888 ай бұрын
I visited for my first time 2023. Not a climber but totally loved seeing the top thru your experince. Love your insight and rock knowlege
@nohandle25710 ай бұрын
Cool video. Thanks. I'd love to see a similar climb with an attending drone videoing. I was surprised how very different the rock looked close up when you were actually making the climb.
@shawnwillsey10 ай бұрын
No drones allowed in national parks.
@joshsmith365010 ай бұрын
I had a wonderful time with my family hiking around this mountain. I don’t have the juevos to climb it tho lol
@joshsmith365010 ай бұрын
I’ve really enjoyed the videos Shawn. I never cared much for geology until the last several years. The more I learn, the less I realize I know
@algomaone12110 ай бұрын
It’s amazing to see this.I was there in 2009...it was an official spot on my “bucket list”! I watched the tiny specks of climbers going up, really only noticeable through binoculars...I was fascinated to see the binocs revealing dozens of climbers pretty much invisible to the naked eye! The Missouri Buttes nearby are fascinating to me because they can represent what the tower looked like in the middle of the eons of erosion. For some reason, maybe due to the presence of the Belle Fourche River, Devils Tower has eroded faster than the Buttes.
@Riverguide3310 ай бұрын
Awesome vid, Shawn! Congrats for your bravery! 👍
@gsmith953110 ай бұрын
I climbed with you in spirit - thank you for all your amazing field trips!
@Firebuck10 ай бұрын
For me, worlds collide in the best possible way in this video. I'm not a climber but I'm an enthusiastic fan of all kinds of climbing... including (especially?) crack. Just came from a Wide Boyz video of 5.14 near Moab. The geology of Devil's Tower in these past two videos has fascinating. I also live in the America west and learning the geology is just making me love it more. Thanks Shawn!
@sifridbassoon10 ай бұрын
I can barely climb my stairs, but DS has long been on my bucket list
@spazoq9 ай бұрын
Next time you climb to the top, have someone on the ground take a video of you at the top from the bottom! I took some pictures of people who were near the top, they are tiny little dots. People don't have a good concept of how tall or big Devil's Tower is. Seeing a person from the ground on it give you a new sense of the scale of it.
@JanetClancey6 ай бұрын
What a view!!! Something I’ll never see in person.. thanks for taking us with you 😊
@chucklearnslithics375110 ай бұрын
Now _that_ was a Close Encounter at Devil's Tower. Beautiful place!
@almeadows827710 ай бұрын
My buddy and I climbed it twice by two different routes in June of 1972. Our ascents were among the first 1000. Now, apparently, 5000 parties sign in to climb it every year.
@williamkrenik500510 ай бұрын
Great to spur the memories. 48 years ago a friend and I did the same route up, the Durance Route and repelled down. Thanks for the video.
@Dan-we7vs10 ай бұрын
Thanks for taking us to a place that most of us will never see 👍
@TimT-um6rt5 ай бұрын
Drove near there in the early 70s ,thanks for the on top view! As a old Yosemite climber,I know how great climbing and Geology go together!
@irmaoksanen683010 ай бұрын
That was amazing. That 'tower' is such an intriguing anomaly in that landscape.
@ricksanderson464010 ай бұрын
Excellent video! I have really been interested in seeing you combining climbing and geological discussions. Love to see more in depth like this: good vs bad rock, etc
@stanfullerton848510 ай бұрын
Amazing, most of us have only gazed up from the botton in awe. Catching glimpse of the other similar peaks (intrusions as you called them) interesting in same proximity.
@Barley15010 ай бұрын
Thanks for taking us safely along! -- charlie, sacramento CA
@sdmike114110 ай бұрын
Wow! Above and beyond the usual presentation of most instructors! Well done. Thanks. Looked like near perfect weather for you.
@Glen.1966..10 ай бұрын
Awesome view Shawn, can't believe how high it is, thanks for sharing this video . 👍👍👍
@Jayne-z5s8 ай бұрын
You are all very brave and courageous, you couldnt pay me enough to do that, so a great big THANK YOU.😊
@lealoo62878 ай бұрын
Grats on making the climb! I can't say that I would ever take on that challenge, I'm more comfortable hiking, but mad respect to Climbers.
@VincentDay-l9q3 ай бұрын
I summited the Tower on June 6, 2006. We went up Hollywood and Vine. I had to Jumar through the 5.10C pitch, but the climb was great. We got to the top a bit after sunset, and rappelled down in the light of the full moon. Definitely the highlight of my life. I learned to climb at 53, specifically to climb the Tower. I'm 76 now and still climb.
@shawnwillsey3 ай бұрын
Awesome!
@antoniodelrio129210 ай бұрын
Your geology knowledge sharing is why I watch but man I really enjoy your rock climbing snippets. Thanks!
@chrismarlow65715 ай бұрын
This was really cool to see you are much braver than me thanks for videotaping your climb. We went to Devils Tower a couple of years ago and saw the climbers going up the side of it. Such a different perspective when you are actually climbing it.
@ExoticTerrain10 ай бұрын
Wow, you’re the man! Beautiful view!
@matambale10 ай бұрын
Nicely done, and thank you for additional detail on climbing gear Prof. Willsey.
@karenabram960710 ай бұрын
WOW ! Always been fascinated of Devil's Tower since "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" What a view and very interesting geology lessons too.
@robertmitchell192010 ай бұрын
Looks like some nice climbing, Strangely enough a lot of the climber friends were geologists too!
@karentrimmer10 ай бұрын
This is something I always wanted to do but never had the chance. Thank you for taking us with you!
@TreDeuce-qw3kv4 ай бұрын
Wild! i didn't know we are allowed to climb it. Amazing experience. Thanks for sharing. Two Thumbs Way Up.
@jclaytoncabral51067 ай бұрын
I'm completely freaked out here on my couch. Great job!
@Nrc3neallyo9 ай бұрын
WOW! Those flat-topped topographic reliefs (toward south?) look incredible.
@debbieschilbe409110 ай бұрын
That was an amazing climb you did on this mountian. The view from the top was wonderful.
@stevensteptoe68210 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing this. I've been intrigued by this ever since I saw Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, and it was great to see footage of you on the top of it, and the great viewpoint it offers.
@gregrussell770410 ай бұрын
Beautiful video such views. Good job climbing.
@bottomup1210 ай бұрын
Incredible views and and amazing effort! How does enough soil build up and stay in place to be able to grow grass? Crazy to realize the whole thing was underground and eroded away. I visited there while going to Yellowstone.
@garyb621910 ай бұрын
Thanks for this. Looking up at the climbers from the base is an amazing sight, even with binoculars it's surprising how massive that tower is.
@vegalyra670510 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful experience, and the views from up there with us down here (not a climber), but I am so very fascinated by it, especially Devil's Tower.. Awesome!! 😊
@SusanS58810 ай бұрын
Another cool hike/climb to an area I’ve only seen from below. Also introduces a new rock type. And it’s great to see it up close.
@vebnew10 ай бұрын
Thanks for dragging me along; just another place I'll never be!
@Rachel.464410 ай бұрын
Gosh, I've been there but no parking was available...super popular. It's pretty scary looking down! Wow, beautiful, thank you!
@wyojohn10 ай бұрын
I grew up in Northern Wyoming. One football trip, we stopped at Devil's Tower. We convinced some freshmen that if they walked around to the other side of the tower, there was an elevator that would take you to the top. Silly freshmen.
@kenwalker11112 ай бұрын
Awesome climb! Looks like fun.
@WiseSnake10 ай бұрын
I'm interested in the species richness at the summit.
@shawnwillsey10 ай бұрын
sagebrush and grass
@jpexoticpets14610 ай бұрын
You are brave! Thank you for the video@
@gigistrus49010 ай бұрын
Interesting. I always wondered how they could insert an anchor. Thanks for sharing.
@DMLand10 ай бұрын
Active cam anchors were brand new technology when I was a climber. I think I owned just one because money was so scarce. Our protection consisted of passive devices called "nuts," "chocks," and "hexentrics" of various sizes. Placement of such passive protection is an art form … that you bet your life on.
@gigistrus49010 ай бұрын
@@DMLand Oh my word, I can't imagine how it's possible.
@DMLand10 ай бұрын
@@gigistrus490 It has a lot to do with being young and imagining you're gonna live forever. I don't think our host thinks he's gonna live forever, but climbing is a sport for… Well, not me anymore :-)
@pencilpauli944210 ай бұрын
Rather you than me Shawn! I got vertigo just watching the video!
@PedroB749410 ай бұрын
Always wanted to see what the top of this looked like close up - ever since Close Encounters film. Yes i agree scary climb! Dedication Shawn but as you say it’s easy when you are passionate about something. Thanks for sharing.
@3xHermes4 ай бұрын
Such a cool location!!
@SuntoSet7710 ай бұрын
So impressive...ill look to see if you have a video regarding the history n geology of this incredible rock.. Rock climbers are the most fit and brave. Thats you Shawn and Darren !
@nothanks323610 ай бұрын
What a spot to camp, gotta say. Congrats, nice climb!
@RonHei10 ай бұрын
My brother and his friend fell while climbing “Bears Lodge/Devil’s Tower”. They had to be rescued while hanging from their ropes. No serious injuries just wounded pride. I was surprised to hear it happened because my brother is not a rock climber. He’s an idiot to be frank and thought they could do it without problems because they bought some equipment. It’s not the only story I can tell you about him.
@jackprier772710 ай бұрын
Okay, thanks for the up-close views. From any distance, the columns appear smoother and cleaner and more regular. The rappels gotta be terrific-
@MXP90DL8 ай бұрын
I was expecting to see the space saucer from the movie. 😅 Actually I was surprised how small the top is. Thanks for showing
@jamiedbg5110 ай бұрын
We can’t see him! He got stuck in a rock! You guys are gutsy. Couldn’t pay me enough to look down let alone climb! I’ll leave it to you!
@RandomExitsJT9 ай бұрын
Much thanks!!!
@ebo360Ай бұрын
When you were at the top (kudos to you for doing so, I couldn’t) you pointed out a few other intrusion cones in the area. Are there any volcanoes in the area? Did any of these intrusions lead to eruptions? The landscape doesn’t look like it. I’ve never been anywhere near there personally, so I’m just going to off what you show in the video.
@AllensTrains10 ай бұрын
Looks very dangerous. You were fortunate that the Devil's Tower is not at that much altitude and you did not have snow and ice to contend with! Thanks for uploading.
@brendanacord10 ай бұрын
Awesome ascent and video! Couple questions: how hard would you say was the grade? Also for rappelling are there fixed rings or do you somehow make anchors to repel from without using your gear? Thanks for sharing!
@shawnwillsey10 ай бұрын
Climb was 5.7 but felt way harder because the style was so different than what I am used to. Rappel anchors exist for descent.
@brendanacord10 ай бұрын
@@shawnwillsey I think this is pretty common with old classic routes yeah? Anyways well done, climbing Devil’s Tower has got to be way up there on most people’s life list, and that sign up top is perfection :)
@michaelnancyamsden741010 ай бұрын
Thank you for this experience. 60 years ago, I would have loved to learn all this, alas, not able now.. Please do a few rock climbing basics for the totally unknowing flat landers. The views are wonderful.
@suziperret46810 ай бұрын
Wow…you made it to the top! That’s a scary climb!
@gtmurphy261110 ай бұрын
Looks like you climbed Tad 5.7+ I recognize the route. I climbed it in2019 fun route
@rickc431710 ай бұрын
Thanks for the view, Shawn. I don't like heights. Those nice shots near the edge made my hands sweat and my legs ache. 🙂 Yikes!
@davidcook171410 ай бұрын
Following you explanation of how the rock was formed in the previous video would like to ask a question. If the rock was cooled in the way you stated then i am assuming the surrounding land must have been above what is now the exposed tower. What happened to all that land? Erosion yes but how? Ice maybe? Just seems like a hell of a lot of material has gone if this is the case. Thanks
@sandradankowski612010 ай бұрын
That's a good question. I visited Devil's Tower in 2002 and was wondering that back then. I also agree that the intrusion explanation makes more sense to me based on previous video as well .
@dmc913610 ай бұрын
It's in a river valley, exposed by erosion.
@toughenupfluffy729410 ай бұрын
Two miles' worth. 50 million years is a long time.
@shawnwillsey10 ай бұрын
Erosion of land mainly via streams and rivers have lowered the landscape.
@loisrossi841Ай бұрын
Congrats!
@Mark_in_Boulder10 ай бұрын
I've been waiting for this video since you were planning this trip. Excellent! Looking forward to Fremont Canyon. I was last climbing at the tower in the early 90's. crack climbing heaven. When we were climbing there in the 80's, after we'd come back down, the tourists would inevitably ask "what's on top?" We'd say " you wouldn't believe it but there's a McDonalds up there. We had a hot fried apple pie and coffee". Sometimes it took them a few moments to catch on, then they would start laughing with us. What route is this?
@shawnwillsey10 ай бұрын
Route is called TAD.
@briane17310 ай бұрын
I'm sorry man -- beyond the grueling toll that climb takes on your body, the look straight down just about maxed out the pucker factor. Gotta be an awesome feeling once you're finally at the summit but _jeeeeez_ -- I'm sorry, can't do it.
@JanisLC10 ай бұрын
Wow.. climbers really have guts to do these climbs putting their life in the hands of those little crevice clamps things .. crazy scary.. glad you made it up and down ok!
@gregrussell770410 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@marjieestivill10 ай бұрын
Love your climbing vids so much!
@sleeplessstu8 ай бұрын
Don’t tell me you were piling up your mashed potatoes to make a tower on a your plate 😂. Great informative video as always. 😉
@thomaspeacock72489 ай бұрын
When I was in college, I was also taught Devil's Tower was a volcanic neck and that the columns were basalt. But that doesn't match the rock types of a stratovolcano all that much. What do geologists theorize is the source of the formation? Could it be a now-extinct hot spot?
@DJDouglasWarden10 ай бұрын
Yall must need am extra set of ropes to haul those giant testes it takes to do that. Lol I get vertigo just from watching. Awesome footage! Thank you
@tomolson132010 ай бұрын
Impressive! Cool!
@geoffgeorges10 ай бұрын
Can you post some close ups of the rock? I am obsessed with porpharitic andesite and basalt and have never heard of what you mentioned here.
@dilligaf2818Ай бұрын
Amazing
@Backroad_Junkie10 ай бұрын
Great climb! 'Course, I got this thing about heights, and I'd be crying for mommy about 30' off the ground...
@rickc431710 ай бұрын
Me, too.
@fredrossman118910 ай бұрын
thanks for that view.
@Corvusfromcentaura7 ай бұрын
Disproving the tree Theory: If it was a tree, it would have reached into the troposphere. The troposphere is about 10 km (6.2 miles or about 33,000 feet) above sea level. According to a team of Georgian (state not country) biologists, the maximum height of a tree lies somewhere between 400 and 426 feet (122 and 130 m).
@HylanderSB10 ай бұрын
30 years ago I learned to call those camming devices 'friends.' Is that term still used?
@shawnwillsey10 ай бұрын
Not so much anymore.
@albertlutton99207 ай бұрын
"Friends" was the name given to the very first spring loaded camming devices. Every manufacturer now has their own copyrighted name for their own cams, but they all basically work under the same principle. Once the cams are retracted and placed inside a crack, with a downward pull on the main stem, the cams try to expand outward, but cannot due to the hard rock surface. They stay in place due to spring tension outward on each cam lobe touching the rock inside the crack. Hope this gives you a better understanding. They are amazing pieces of technology. The inventor of the very first cams, (Friends) was an aerospace engineer!!!
@ecleveland19 ай бұрын
I always wondered what was on the top of the tower!
@snakeman4810 ай бұрын
Visited the Tower several time during the Sturgis MC Rally back in the day. I never wanted to climb it. Not trained to do that, but that Tower is sooo cool just to walk around it. Was at the Rally from 2000 to 2006.
@richardkelso947810 ай бұрын
Professor, you are making me very homesick😅. Wonderful and fascinating videos on, yes, the nation’s first national monument. We also had the first national park and first to let women vote. Haven’t had many firsts recently, tho. Bummer. Oh, also Josh Allen, so there’s that.
@F88koff10 ай бұрын
Close Encounters makes it seem sooooo much larger....I was surprised when we got to go there. The rangers (?) wouldnt let us go near the base, and I didnt know climbing was allowed. Do you need a permit for that??
@pmm104410 ай бұрын
55.8 MA Eocene I’m placement along with Missouri Buttes (2018). This is when Siletzia terrane is being accreted along wa ore coastline.