Mountain Project Logo

Guide service for Devils Tower?

Original Post
Rick Wilson · · Upland CA · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

Hi, was hoping someone had info on guide services for Devils Tower. Going to be climbing there in May for about 2 to 3 days and was interested in hiring a guide. If anyone has info on a good service in the area, and maybe what are the average rates? I have done web searches but was hoping someone had some first hand experience they could share. thanks.

Justin Meyer · · Madison, WI · Joined May 2012 · Points: 47

I climbed the Durrance route with towerguides.com/ in 2013. I think it was around $150 but I can't remember all the details now. I think it would have been cheaper if there were more in the group but it was just me and the guide. Everything went very smoothly and I would recommend them.

Rick Wilson · · Upland CA · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

Thanks Mike and thanks Justin...I will look both up.

Wilson On The Drums · · Woodbury, MN · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 940

Frank Sanders with devilstowerlodge is the man! You can find his info on here or from the website. I first climbed the tower a few years back with his guides Philipe and Riley. The guides knew their stuff well and Frank's hospitality is unmatched. Since then I've been back and climbed the tower on my own about a dozen times and every time I camp at Franks place. they have an outhouse and outdoor shower and take donations for camping. devilstowerclimbing.com/

Steve0 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 5

Another vote for Frank at DT lodge.

Jeff G · · Colorado · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,098

Frank is awesome!

Colin OBrien · · Maine · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 155

Definitely go with Frank. Knowledgeable, hilarious, and a lot of history. His property is also great for camping.

David Lane · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 15

The Colonel, Frank Sanders. Above all climbing guides or something along those lines. There is a guide who owns another service who has been known to simply leave clients while on rap, Mr. Petefish is not recommended!!

MaraC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 10

Frank was recommended to me too, but he couldn't fit me in to his schedule. He recommended Daryl at Sylvan Rocks ( sylvanrocks.com), and I was super happy with him and his guides.

peterkang · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 0
Mike Mu. wrote:this guy devilstowerlodge.com/
Thank Mike! It is very useful to me
Bill Sherman · · Galveston, TX · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 0

I would not recommend Tower Guides with Andy Petefish. The guy is not the most sensitive to the needs of others. I haven't hired him as a guide but I did run into him while climbing there and listened to his rants at the time about the voluntary closure of the tower to respect Native Americans.

There are usually plenty of people there that you can meet up with to climb as well. If you're not sure about your own climbing skills on a multi-pitch trad route then I would recommend hiring a guide. There are many chossy areas where you can really get yourself stuck but then there are many beautiful lines to climb as well.

roger fritz · · Rockford, IL · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 60

Frank Sanders.. Hands down is your man. He will house you and feed youin the lodge if you choose. If you desire to camp, he will allow you to camp(for free) in his yard (overlooking the tower).
The man is great to hang with and a competent guide.
Cheers
Roger
(A biased friend of Franks, as you will be too, once you meet him : )

Tom Blackburn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2016 · Points: 0

Frank Sanders runs the only guide service at Devils Tower, WY that has had multiple accidents and the only one that has had to have a client evacuated in a Helicopter along with a host of NPS Infractions despite his false claim of Native American compassion.
FYI:
Free Camping does not EQUAL Safe Guiding!

justin harr · · moorcroft, wyoming · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 0

I am about 99 perecnt sure that about 100 percent of what blackburn said is a bunch of bs. Ive never heard of any heli evacs on the tower let alone at Franks hands. Frank and his Above All Climbing Guides are nothing short of exactly the people you would want to climb the tower with. Not sure who this blackburn feller is but ill bet he doesnt have many climbing partners, you turd, fyi

JD · · Southern AZ · Joined Jun 2016 · Points: 95

stick with Frank Sanders
best guide you'll ever hire

marty123 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 215

Frank is boss. Rangers themselves had told me that since very few native Americans do much during the volunteery closure it is more than handy to climb than. I have once and I as the climber in my parter love and respect the tower as much as any other human being. In my opinion no human has hold upon any land as thier own unless through deed of private ownership.

dreed05 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 100

You will be happy going with either Frank at Devil's Tower Lodge, or Sylvan Rocks. Both are great outfits that will ensure your safety and enjoyment. If you will be based at the Tower, then Frank may be a bit more convenient. May can be a tough time depending on the weather, I would try to have a few day window for a summit day in case it gets a bit wet. If you have questions, feel free to message me, I can give you any info I have.

Will Buckman · · Devils Tower · Joined Feb 2004 · Points: 170

Its a new business around the Tower and Needles, but I hear the guy has been around the Black Hills for quite a while :)

 check out buckwildclimbing.com

Rick L · · Medford, OR · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 50

Go with Frank, No joke best time youll ever have!

Tom Blackburn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2016 · Points: 0
This post violated Guideline #1 and has been removed.
John Klooster · · Arvada, CO · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 10

I know I am wasting my breath here but "Tom Blackburn" is a fake name and if you do a touch of looking it's not hard to figure out who he is. It is funny to me that a guy with such a strong opinion on people won't use his real name in his posts. Frank and Will Buckman are both great local guides  

John Klooster 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Wyoming, Montana, Dakotas
Post a Reply to "Guide service for Devils Tower?"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.