Give me a break, it's hard to find internet access in rural Wyoming

I've already received harassing emails from some of you asking when the next blog entry would be forthcoming. My only defense is to say that it's hard to find internet access in some of the places we're visiting so cut me some slack! Today's entry is coming to you from the lovely public library in Lander, Wyoming. After I last posted, Thomas and I spent a few more days climbing at Devil's Tower. We were really taken with that place and I can't say enough good things about it. A few more pics for those of you who are just here for the pictures.

As another climber pointed out one afternoon, the Tower is really just a giant sundial.

Some obligatory summit shots, Thomas at the very top and me signing the summit register:

Leading the Durrance route (5.8, 5 pitches to the summit). This route is probably the most famous on the tower, mainly for it's historical significance and as an easy route to the summit, but it was one of the less "classic" that we climbed in my opinion. In addition to the routes I told you about previously some of the best that we climbed in the ensuing days:

One Way Sunset - Thomas led the first 5.10c finger crack and then after doing all the hard work was kind enough to let me lead the perfect 5.9 hand crack second pitch. This was one of the hardest and most sustained leads I've done and it started about 160 feet off the deck which added to the fun!

McCarthy North Face - Thomas led the two pitches of the 5.11a awesome finger crack. We did this the same day as One Way Sunset and our fingers were not happy with us by the end of the day.

Tulgey Wood - For something completely different, Thomas led the two pitches of this 5.10a. The second pitch is 160 feet of fist crack (or armbars if your hands are smaller) and was a lot of work but very rewarding. It was a nice contrast to some of the other climbs we'd been doing. Getting to the top was a struggle and was definitely a matter of making progress inch by inch.

Leaving Devil's Tower was difficult because we stayed long enough to feel a real connection to the place and also to form friendships with Frank and some of the other folks around his lodge, but Thomas and I also both felt that we had the opportunity to do all the things there that we really wanted to do and that is a good feeling.

After staying significantly longer than we originally planned at the Tower, we reverted back to our original plan to head from there to climb in the Wind River mountains, which are located right outside Lander. Yesterday we visited Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons, both were a first for me. Seeing the Tetons was great because I have wanted to get there for a long time. Unfortunately, I took some pictures of the mountains around dusk but they didn't come out due to the lighting. But for anyone who's interested, you can find plenty of beautiful shots at the National Park's website: (http://www.grand.teton.national-park.com/) I know, you're all thinking that it's lame that I just linked to the NP website, but it's better than nothing, right?

This afternoon we'll head out from Lander for the trailhead for the Cirque of the Towers in the Wind River Range. It's a 9 mile hike in to where we'll be camping and climbing for the next few days. (And I won't be carrying my laptop so don't expect another post for a few days!) Climbing in an alpine environment will be a new experience for me and I am really looking forward to it. I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks for reading. More later!