Canyonlands National Park, Island in the Sky District. In October, Jon Burnham and Bill Duncan climbed Chortler’s Joy (II, 5.9, Al, 3 pitches) on Candlestick Spire by first the west and then the north face. Jim Bodenhamer and Al Torrisi made the first ascent of Sandcastle (III, 5.10, A2, 5 pitches) by the northwest face. This rises just west of Washer Woman Tower on the White Rim of the Island in the Sky. In July, Galen Howell. Sonja Paspal and Steve Swenkeclimbed Wind Shear (III, 5.11, A1, 5 pitches), approaching from the Airport Campsite. (Note: the tower is closed to climbing from January 1 to June 30 to protect nesting raptors.) On October 2, Jeff Widen, Cameron Burns and Jeff Singer made the first ascent of Dale of Chip and Dale Towers via Boys’ Night Out (III, 5.9, Al, 3 pitches). The climb was up a 330-foot crack system. They had to rappel off the virgin tower at ten P.M. In Monument Basin, Frosty Weller and Keen Butterworth climbed Deathalonian Spire (III, 5.8, A3+, 2 pitches) via the west face. The tower is directly south of the Syringe.

Eric BjØrnstad