Climbing Independence

With climbing partner Rae Kennedy and photographer Whipple Chester, John Otto became the first person to summit Independence Monument. By then he had been in the area five years. After arriving in the Grand Valley, he immediately fell in love with the canyon landscape and worked tirelessly to rally support for protecting the area as a national park. A month earlier, on May 24, 1911, his goal was fulfilled when U.S. President William H. Taft established Colorado National Monument. Otto's Route is considered a classic tower climb and is still followed every year by hundreds of recreational climbers. After ascending most of the route on Wingate Sandstone, the final push to the top includes a precarious backward-leaning climb out from under the caprock of Kayenta Formation to the top of the monolith. Initiated by John Otto, the tradition of raising the American Flag atop Independence Monument on July 4th continues today.

Colorado · United States