Devil's Tower

One of the Indian legends tells the story of seven girls playing in the woods when they were attacked by a giant bear. Children tried to escape, but the bear did not lag behind. In desperation, they climbed on the low stone and prayed for the salvation of the Great Spirit. Spirit heard them, and the stone is gradually rising, rising above all girls over the furious beast. In a rage, he tried to climb the cliff, but he did not succeed, but on a rock traces its claws. Gore has continued to grow, while the girls could not go to heaven where the stars have become the Pleiades. With this myth associated with one of the Indian name of the mountain - Mato Tipila (Bear's Den).

According to another Indian giving, the rock was created evil demon who beat her at the top of the drum, causing thunder and lightning. The Indians believed in an evil entity called its mountains and Tower wrong god, chose not to settle nearby and generally does not reach it. This name became the basis for the modern, which was given a rock researcher Richard Dodge in 1875. Actually, different Indian tribes idea of the rock varied considerably. If some it was considered devilish and was taboo, others, on the contrary, it was revered as a place of power, and performed various rituals here.

Scala is not enough that has an unusual shape, so also is located on a plateau, sharply stand out from the surrounding landscape and not having anything resembling nearby. It is not surprising that this geological phenomenon has become a sacred place among the natives, and remains so to this day, and therefore do not cease legal showdown between local authorities and the Indians, trying to limit the access of tourists to the sacred mountain.

For a long time the devil's rock was impregnable. The first time it climbed to a local resident in the late 19th century. The feat was repeated only in the 1938th, climber Jack Durance. The third was the conqueror of the devil peaks experienced skydiver George Hpokins, climb the mountain top in '41 by jumping out of a plane with a parachute. Landing went well, but get out of there was much more difficult: the ropes that dropped him to the aircraft so that he could go down, falling by or fell into disrepair from hitting the rocks. Use the same helicopter or dirigible was impossible due to bad weather conditions. Parachutist became a prisoner of the rock.

The news of this spread throughout America. Crowds of tourists and onlookers surrounded the tower, and captive-star sprinkled with jokes in a live radio broadcast. The most popular was a joke, that he lacks only Eve to, happen down there, the flood, give rise to a new branch of humanity. Soon dozens of planes circling in the air, dropping Hopkins free food and equipment provided by manufacturers for advertising purposes. Charter dodge falling objects, parachutist radio begged to stop the bombing, especially since most of the items still fall into the abyss.

Despite the abundance of food in the rain and wind forces quickly permeated the left prisoner. To his horror, it turned out also that impregnable smooth granite rock is inhabited by rats that every night getting bolder. Specially created Rescue Committee Hopkins has called for a rescue operation of an experienced climber Ernst Field and his partner Gorrell from Colorado. But climbers after an hour of visual exploration and 3:00 recovery were forced to return and to desist from further attempts. Field admitted: "We have the damn lump is too tough!»

It seemed incredible - professionals to conquer the peak height of more than 8000 m, but were powerless over 390 meters in height! Committee through the press began to search Dyurransa Jack, and only a day later he was found on the east coast at Dartmouth. A day later he arrived and began preparing for the ascent to the old, known only to him the route. High Noon assault began, and while the top was shrouded in mist, mountain climbers, led Dyurransa got to the top and climbing cradle lowered down exhausted parachutist. In total, Hopkins stayed captive Towers for about a week.