British climbers tom randall and pete whittaker have carried out the first pinkpoint ascent of century crack in the canyonlands, usa. Apr 14, 2020 tom talks about his entry into the gladiatorial climbing scene in sheffield, england, how his crack addiction started despite the lack of cracks in the uk, and the battle that him and pete whittaker took on with the worlds hardest offwidth, century crack in canyonlands national park. The sizes of cracks vary from those that are just barely wide enough for the fingers to fit inside, to those that are so wide that the entire body can fit inside with all limbs outstretched. The crack is considered the hardest offwidth crack climb in the world. From red to orange striped sandstone with yellow honeycomb facets and dark purple mesas and towers, lavender is picturesque. White crack canyonlands national park 2020 all you need. If youre in the mood for some terrain and rock formations that will make you think youre on another planet, this loop in the needles district of canyonlands national park via the chesler park and joint trails needs to go on the top of your tohike list.
Island in the sky, the needles, the maze, and the rivers themselves. The national park service cannot guarantee the safety of park visitors. See a list of the best hikes and view a photo gallery. Learn about the geology, trees, mammals, birds, or other plants and wildlife of the area. Canyonlands national park offers a variety of recreational activities including rafting, mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, and camping. David lavender, a rancherturnedauthor was a cowboy at the dugout ranch. Why your instagram nature shot is breaking the law. Located in eastern utah about 30 miles west of moab, canyonlands is also home to the winding colorado and green rivers, which beckon to kayakers and canoers.
Department of the interior canyonlands national park island in the sky district trails and roads. It is the only paved road in this area of the park, winding for 34 miles along the high mesa with panoramic views of the red rock wonderland stretching from the canyon bottom 1,000 feet below. Lavender canyon is indeed a jewel of canyonlands national park. Apr 19, 2018 canyonlands national park is the largest park in the state of utah covering more than five hundred square miles of land. Canyonlands national park preserves a colorful landscape of sedimentary sandstones eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the colorado river and its tributaries.
The wide boyz are known for completing the first free ascent of century crack 5. Safety remains the sole responsibility of the climber. It took 8 hard driving hours in a jeep to reach the white crack camp but boy was it worth it. National park located in southeastern utah near the town of moab. Apr 26, 2016 welcome to the canyonlands national park information guide. Join tradprincess and wide boyz, tom randall and pete whittaker for a 3day crack camp spring 2020. Tom randall, 32, and pete whittaker, 20, free climbed the century crack by squeezing. White crack murphy hogback candlestick potato bottom hardscrabble labyrinth taylor syncline first overlook murphy point upper west basins taylor lower basins gooseberry lathrop canyonlands national park service u. Below is tom randalls full report on their reascent of century crack. Located in southeast utah, the park sits in the heart of a vast basin. Well pass one of utahs first and still operational ranches before we enter the needles and lavender canyon.
You climb upside down with your legs inverted inside the crack above your head the whole way, says british rock climber pete whittaker about completing the first free climb of century crack, the. Alex ekins the monster offwidth century crack, canyonlands, ut oh yeah. Here you will find all you need to know about the natural history of the park. Ukc news wideboyz climb century crack placing gear. It is full of archeological sites, giant stone arches, and stunning beauty in every direction. Crack climbing is a type of rock climbing in which the climber follows a crack in the rock and uses specialized climbing techniques. In the last few weeks we have been tinkering away down on the white rim in canyonlands national park the place is literally a horizontal roof crack heaven.
Canyonlands national park is an american national park located in southeastern utah near the town of moab. Whittaker and his climber partner tom randall trained for two years for the offwidth crack, meaning the gap was too wide for fistjamming techniques and too narrow for chimney techniques. Parks restrict climbing routes to protect wildlife the. Canyonlands is a place where roads or what brave souls with 4x4s call roads tangle for days across the wilderness, and time stands still. Seven years after its first ascent, the notorious offwidth roof crack century crack 5. Canyonlands invites you to explore a wilderness of countless canyons and fantastically formed buttes carved by the colorado river and its tributaries. Why your instagram nature shot is breaking the law outside. Canyonlands national park is the largest park in the state of utah covering more than five hundred square miles of land. Century crack, witness the wilderness, necronomicon.
Additional regulations apply for river trips and horsepack trips. Canyonlands national park offers visitors breathtaking views of deep red canyons, steep dropoffs, smooth orange arches, and rustcolored sandstone pillars. The site also goes into great detail about vacation packages, park information, visitor center, feespermits, activities for kids, history, weather and travel tips for canyonlands. Dec 27, 2019 in order to protect critical wildlife habitat for raptors and desert bighorn sheep, a number of climbing routes in canyonlands and arches national parks will close for up to six months each year, according to a statement from the national park service. Feb 02, 2015 why your instagram nature shot is breaking the law. During peak visitation, spring through fall, climbers are recommended to park in established pullouts and parking lots. Covering over 527 square miles, canyonlands national park is home to some of the must rugged and beautiful landscapes in the country. Amazing sunsets and sunrise and we were there all by ourselves. History in the early 1950s, the supervisor of arches national park, bates wilson began exploring the wilderness in the southeastern region of utah state. Canyonlands national parks conservation association. Canyonlands national park, utahthis will help you find all the great trails and routes to get to the canyonlands national park, utah.
You must have a river permit if you are traveling upstream or downstream on the rivers within the park. The 527squaremile canyonlands national park is 30 miles. British climbers become first to conquer 160ft fissure in utah national park. Canyonlands park was made possible by a generous gift to the city from the lakeway municipal utilities district. For a good number of years now the few climbers that have visited canyonlands and have wanted to stay in the park for longer than a day have used the backpacking permit system. Oct 02, 2017 the 527squaremile canyonlands national park is 30 miles southwest of moab. It preserves a colorful landscape eroded into countless canyons, mesas, and buttes by the colorado river, the green river, and their respective tributaries.
The monster offwidth century crack, canyonlands, ut photo. Whether your looking for biking, hiking, camping, or fourwheeling, youll find it here in canyonlands national park. Welcome to the canyonlands national park information guide. Charlie horse needle, moses and zeus, airport tower, washer woman, and monster tower. E966j7 from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Two british climbers become first to conquer fissure in national park. Black crack, white rim trail, canyonlands national park, moab, utah.
The following regulations appear on all backcountry permits issued by canyonlands. Climbers have generally used this as the designated camping areas are often prebooked a year in advance by biking tour companies. Canyonlands national park is the largest national park in utah, and its diversity staggers the imagination. We elected to stay here during our 2 day drive of the white rim trail at the recommendation of the. The video of pete whittaker and tom randall on hardest offwidth in the world, century crack 8c in the canyonlands, usa.
See exclusive deals and packages for hotels and guided activities. You must also abide by all river rules, regulations, and required equipment with the exception of carrying a spare paddle and spare pfd. Two brave brits have become the first to complete a tough climb up a 160foot fissure in utahs canyonlands. The trailhead to the canyonlands is on the west side of trophy drive across from swim center park. Good cheer and good tales abound in this rare anglophile edition of the enormocast. While pets are allowed in the park, they must be on a leash at all times and are only allowed in developed areas like campgrounds and paved areas. Back in 2011, they authored the 120foot century crack, the worlds first 5. There is no evidence that potato bottom was ever homesteaded, but it was often used during the first half of the last century as a cowboy camp.
We drive on hwy 191 to the southern entrance of canyonlands national park near church rock. The park preserves a colorful landscape eroded into numerous canyons, mesas, and buttes by the colorado river, the green river, and their respective tributaries. Canyonlands moabs lodging and national park experience. Several rock climbing routes set to close at utahs national. Here he is seen upside down 200 feet above the floor of the canyon near the white rim in canyonlands national park, utah. Oct 25, 2011 you climb upside down with your legs inverted inside the crack above your head the whole way, says british rock climber pete whittaker about completing the first free climb of century crack, the. White crack camp in canyonlands national park youtube. White crack canyonlands national park 2020 all you. Black crack, white rim trail, canyonlands national park. If we were to think of the formation of canyonlands as a battle between the elements, the infantry would be comprised of limestone, sandstone and shale, and the cavalry would be water, gravity and the extremes of heat and cold. Human history courtesy of neal herbert, canyonlands national park web site. The island in the sky district is the most accessible and popular section of the park a mesa with spectacular views of the surrounding canyons.
Backcountry regulations canyonlands national park u. The wideboyz crack on in canyonlands fri night vid. Climbing routes close temporarily to protect wildlife habitat. Black crack, white rim trail, canyonlands national park 9gag. Canyonlands national park preserves an immense desert wilderness sculpted by the green and colorado rivers and featuring hundreds of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires. Several rock climbing routes set to close at utahs national parks by carter williams, posted feb. Jun 14, 2016 canyonlands national park offers visitors breathtaking views of deep red canyons, steep dropoffs, smooth orange arches, and rustcolored sandstone pillars. History in the early 1950s, the supervisor of arches national park, bates wilson began exploring the wilderness. The easiest way to see the park is with a visit to the island in the sky district, only 32 miles 51.
The island in the sky paved scenic driving road is the easiest way to explore canyonlands national park in a short amount of time. Century crack, witness the wilderness, necronomicon book of the dead, army of darkness, chip and dale towers, and candlestick tower. In 2011, the wide boyz made the first ascent of century crack 5. Renowned crack climber, author and wide boyz pete whittaker shares his new. The turn to the white crack campsite is half way around the 100 mile white rim road.
Find information about canyonlands national park in utah including things to do, places to stay, entrance fees, the best time of year to visit, and more. Those are tall words, but these two have the track record to back it up. Parking is available along trophy drive and at swim center park, 3103 lakeway blvd. As with all of utahs national parks, the history of canyonlands is written primarily in the language of stone. People have visited what is now canyonlands national park for over 10,000 years. Of all the places you wouldnt want to be caught without a map, canyonlands national park is one of them. Site includes detailed information on the the white crack trail and other great hiking trails and jeep roads leading to natural arches, indian ruins, redrock canyons, and more. Century crack, witness the wilderness, necronomicon book of the dead, army of darkness, chip and dale towers, candlestick tower. The 527squaremile canyonlands national park is 30 miles southwest of moab. Climbers should understand the inherent danger of the activity, have basic knowledge of selfrescue methods and plan accordingly. Legislation creating the park was signed into law by president lyndon johnson on september 12, 1964. Canyonlands national park located in southeastern utah just outside of moab, canyonlands national park is widely known for its beauty, natural wonder, tranquil scenery, and most of all, its hiking trails.
Several rock climbing routes set to close at utahs. Schedule of temporary closures of climbing areas in. Canyonlands, ut weather conditions weather underground. The most popular seasons to visit are spring april through may and fall midseptember through october, when daytime highs average 60 to 80degrees f and lows average 30 to 50degrees f.