Let's start with what I did know. I am familiar with the Native American origin myth about the bear chasing the seven sisters who were saved by the Great Spirit who raised the rock high into the sky to protect them. The bear attempted to reach the girls as the rock climbed, leaving his claw marks in the rock that can be seen today and when the sisters reached the sky they became the Pleiades star cluster.
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| Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming |
Now then.
I thought this was a noted landmark for pioneers heading west and I even recorded a video to show how it would suddenly appear in the distance.
I thought this was a noted landmark for pioneers heading west and I even recorded a video to show how it would suddenly appear in the distance.
But it seems Devils Tower is well away from any of the western trails and it was actually unknown to western travelers until the 1859 expedition to Yellowstone passed through the area. I was confusing it with Chimney Rock on the Oregon Trail in Nebraska, a state I have yet to visit.
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| Chimney Rock (NPS Photo) |
Devils Tower rises an impressive 1267 feet but I have been to Devil's Postpile National Monument in eastern California so I thought I would be seeing another, if more impressive, formation of basaltic lava columns.
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| Devil's Postpile National Monument, California |
But while there remain questions about the formation of both of these National Monuments, one thing that is known is that Devils Tower is not basalt but a different type of igneous lava. So while both have the same distinctive hexagonal shape, they are actually quite different.
Finally, just to add a further grating twist, the name, by common usage, is properly Devils Tower without an apostrophe.
Finally, just to add a further grating twist, the name, by common usage, is properly Devils Tower without an apostrophe.
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While we were visiting, a young couple returned from a climb of the rock face. They wouldn't say if they had actually reached the top (I didn't press it) but they both agreed that it was a technical climb, different from what they were used to.
There were signs asking visitors to respect any Prayer Bundles left by Native Americans but we didn't actually see any.
We also saw half a dozen turkey vultures circling the top of the tower but the rangers had no idea what they might be after. Vegetation can be seen at the top from some viewing angles but it is hard to imagine any wildlife up there other than birds.
There were signs asking visitors to respect any Prayer Bundles left by Native Americans but we didn't actually see any.
We also saw half a dozen turkey vultures circling the top of the tower but the rangers had no idea what they might be after. Vegetation can be seen at the top from some viewing angles but it is hard to imagine any wildlife up there other than birds.
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The name itself resulted from a misinterpretation that called it "Bad God's Tower," but most names actually referred to the bear of myth and a name change to the more appropriate "Bear Lodge National Monument" was considered recently but rejected. No matter the name, the tower really is an amazing sight and well worth the visit.
