<<< PREV
| NEXT >>
November 5th - Otto's Route, Independence
Monument
Wendy: Who was Otto? Otto was one wacky dude, and
he was obsessed with climbing a tower in the early 1900s. Otto
climbed the tower known as Independence Monument over several months, before
climbing gear, shoes, etc. He had stiff soled shoes, and as a result had a
difficult time using nature's hand and foot holds. He compensated for his
difficulty by pounding 3 foot long stove pipes into the rock, which he would
then use to hold or to stand on as he went up the rock. What is left today
are holes from where the pipes once were, now 4 inches in diameter which modern
day climbers use as hand and foot holds.
Otto's Route was one of the more bizarre climbs we've
done. Manufactured holds all the way up, stuffed with sand from the recent
rains, and even one stove pipe still left in the rock. It's one of the
easier desert towers, and is a 4 pitch 5.9 route. A beautiful 2 mile hike
into the tower starts the day, with looming sandstone walls all around.
Low point in the day came when we got back to the car, and went
into town to find some dinner. We stopped at the local bike store in
Fruita, CO to ask for restaurant recommendations. The conversation went
something like this:
Andy: We're just passing
through town and looking for someplace to have dinner. What do you
recommend?
Mtn Biker Chick: There's a place across the street.
Andy: Hmm, what kind of food? (sign says it's called Delicioso's)
Mtn Biker Chick: It's kind of Italian, with some sandwiches, pasta,
pizza, chips and stuff like that. But it's not that great, name doesn't
quite fit the food.
Andy: Not that great? What about the Mexican restaurant a few
doors down?
Mtn Biker Chick: Really bad, really really bad. Waayyy thumbs
down. Pretty much like most places around here.
Andy: Um, hmmmm.
Mtn Biker Chick: Actually, you're probably best off if you go to
Burger King. I'd have to say they're the best place in town.
So off we went to eat at Burger King. Better to be safe
then sorry!
On a sad note, for those who know Julie and Joe Wetherell, their
beautiful baby Megan is losing her battle to cancer. Please send them
positive thoughts and prayers to help them through this horrible time. And
give your loved ones a hug tonight.
Independence Monument in Colorado National Monument. It's the obvious
tower in the photo, and it stands about 300 feet high. Looks kind of like
a wine bottle... or a funny looking bird.
|
Wendy, enjoying Otto's route, manufactured for our climbing comfort...
|
Look at that natural handhold!
|
Andy, looking for the next "hand hold"...can you see the hole
under the rope?
|
Otto also cut steps! He was a very busy bee....
|
Looking down on Wendy from the summit....
|
Our summit photo.. ahhh, how cute...
|
Rappelling the descent, with Otto's shadow in the background
|
<<< PREV
| NEXT >>