Michael on the summit of the Devil's Tower in Wyoming

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The tower of stone I was attempting to climb was steep, scary and more committing that I could have ever imagined. It was too much for a novice soloist… I was not good enough for this climb… so I retreated.

One year later I returned to attempt it again.

I began climbing on day two of a virtual blizzard. Progress was slow, difficult and demanding…

It was still steep, scary and committing but this time I made it to the summit! I had gotten better over the course of the previous year.

The Devil's Tower had always been a special place for me, and to stand on top by virtue of my own self reliance, skills and tenacity was more REWARDING than I can ever hope to explain. I soaked in the lonely and beautiful summit and watched it gently snow as I laughed at the wooden sign I discovered on the summit that said "No camping above this spot!".

As I stood there on this island in the clouds, I got the Idea that maybe I could go solo a big wall like my friend Chris Forrest had done.

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