My sixteen yr old daughter Natalie has been climbing longer than she can remember.

inside and out, but neveer anything 'big.' So, when a hurried weekend trip to NE Wyo for her cousin's wedding came I said,
"Wanna Climb Devil's Tower?"
"Sure."
The Die was cast. Nat, myself and her Uncles, Chasbro & Barrybro would ascend on the last day of July.
a suitable first route, Bon Homme, 5.8+ 2 pitches was selected.

Charge
after the one hour drive which was Nat's intro to Firesign theatre, that the 'bro's knew by heart, she knew we were crazy!

Massive Exposure, sandbagged ratings, unfamiliar wyde crack technique and an exposed traverse and she still kept her enthusiasm and sense of humor.

Less sure how much fun Chasbro was having at the same point


though 'he got better,'


On, to pitch two

I topped out on that one and brought Nat up to the ledge,


and up into 'The Meadows'


While Barrybro Followed pitch one.



Meanwhile, the mighty Belle Fourche looked on,


after a short scramble, we were on to the summit prairie,




Time to head down for Ice Cream,



Of Course, No whirlwind trip to 'big wonderful' is complete without a stop at Vedauwoo on the way to DIA!




Natalie A, 16 - first time up the tower
Jay A, 50 - first time up the tower as a fifty year old (92nd overall ascent)
Chas A, 56 - First time up after marrying off both kids + becoming a grandad (100+ ascents)
Barry, 45- First time up of the new Millenium

Also the 31st Anniversary (more or less, I forget the exact date, though the month and year are 'On") of Chas & Jay's first time up (along with Tibor Polgar, Larry Losch and Mark Stumpf)