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Not really lost, or seeking directions, but last weekend my wife (Timi) and I were aimed for Tower Rock and decided to stop at Gladie Visitor Center as my Timi's bladder was screaming at her. While there we were looking around and saw several maps, as I was looking over one of the maps, it had little climber marks on all of the crags I could remember, and since we were heading to Tower, I checked there, no little climber mark.

I mentioned to the "ranger" how I thought it was funny there was no climber mark on Tower Rock. She told me that's because climbing at TR was banned. I asked when that happened and she said "Years ago". We argued for a while about the ban being lifted and she finally got on the phone to check with someone. Sure enough, she was wrong, but she was excited about climbing returning to Tower Rock.

Apparently she's been turning people away from Tower Rock since the ban was lifted, and had, just the day before told a group of about 8 people that Tower was closed.

I'm happy that she now knows Tower Rock is open. I'm also happy she wrote it down in the "Rangers Look At This" book. I'm saddend at how many people she has given incorrect information. I'm also saddened to wonder how many other rangers are doing the same thing for either Tower or other areas.

I guess that's part of the reason I never see anyone there...

not all of them are like that. i went to Tower Rock for my first time this spring and had to stop at the Gladie center for directions. the ranger was quite helpful and enthusiastic.

Years ago Tower Rock was a major destination for me. That and Fortress Wall. I kinda doubt if a climbing ban would even be needed nowadays. There are so many other places to climb. Took my first big fall there on Dog Days. Made the mistake of pushing off before I fell and paid for it with a delightful pendulum back into the wall. Fun.

ZSpider

Dog Days. That thing wasa project for me for a while. Good times. Water drips off it on the belay.

Really?