Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming
September 2005:
Our first look at Devils Rock. Interesting, but it doesn't seem to be all that amazing.
Sign at the start of the 1.8 mile trail around the foot of Devils Tower.
Climbing the tower is permitted though, if you register
and
if it isn't June, which is in deference to the Indians.
When you get closer, you start to figure out that it is sort of amazing after all.
Refer back to the previous picture to correlate which section this is.
And refer back to the previous two pictures to correlate which part this is
and how big the whole tower is compared to the guy climbing it.
Here is Marie with the tower as a backdrop.
And here is Patrick with a fallen section of a vertical column as a backdrop.
The whole tower is comprised of these hexagon columns, created by
the erosion of the core magna,
which is what the tower is made of.
There is a great view of this Wyoming valley from the tower trail.
Of the various critters in the area, the only one visible was this little "Least Chipmunk."
"The smallest there is," I think the broucher said.
Many
Prairie Dogs are found along the road back to the campground.
The abundant red Wyoming soil makes for spectacular views.
After hiking the Devils Tower trail, we relaxed in the nearby KOA campground.