Devil's Tower

83% of the view between Buffalo, Wy and Devil's Tower.

Carefully measured of course!

Coal train

red rocks

We left Buffalo, Wyoming and headed to Devil's Tower which should be our last stop in Wyoming.   Again, I could post one picture that would portray 83% of the drive.  What we were impressed with, prior to reaching the tower, was the energy resources being accessed from the Wyoming countryside.  We passed hundreds of oil wells all over the desert and just as many, if not more natural gas facilities.  (Are they mines?  I really don't know what they are called.)  We also passed one open pit coal mine.  And then the trains started going by.  Trains as long as the Mississippi River, car after car loaded with coal going one way, and empty cars returning just as numerously.   I had no idea that Wyoming played such a large roll in keeping our energy demand satiated.. 

      As we got nearer to Devil's Tower, we began seeing more and more red dirt and rocks.  I am facinated by the colors, especially when the bluegreen sagebrush is near the red rocks and dirt.  I may start to paint everything with just these colors on my pallet.

      And we saw literally thousands and thousands of motorcycles.  The rest of the country must be missing their harely sounds, because they are all in the Sturgis area right now!  The rangers at Devil's Tower actually have canceled their daytime outdoor presentations because the motorcycles create too much noise for the rangers to talk over.

The campground was very pleasant with large cottonwood trees and lots of grass.  Where we camped, we were close to the Powder River and upon further investigation, found that it was at least 80 degrees warm and full of carp or catfish.  The temperature would climb into the 90s during the afternoons and then be followed by thundershowers.  We sat in the river to lower our inner temperature  while we gazed up at the incredible columns of rock.    I spent some time painting in reds and bluegreens and reading.
     We hiked around the Tower in the late afternoon.  We began the hike in clear skies, and finished in thunder and lightening just before a torrential downpour.    The hike was enthralling.  We began in huge boulders that have fallen from the face of the tower and walked through a ponderosa and oak forest at the base.  (We learned from a ranger that this area has one of the world's only ponderosa and oak mixes, because it is as far east as the ponderosa grow and as far west as the oak (of a specific kind) grow.) When we reached the backside and the clouds were blowing in dark and menacing we felt like we had hiked into a different day.  In one area there were thousands of turkey vultures playing in the wind drafts created by the thermodynamics of the hot tower and increasing wind.  I thought only seagulls played in the wind that way.  We saw several climbers working their way off the tower.  Repelling down looks exciting.  If only you didn't have to climb up to experience the down!

Rocks at the base of the Tower

The Tower from every possible angle!

View from camp

Skydiving turkey vulures

Views from the base of the tower.

      People come from all over the world to climb the tower which is disturbing to many local tribes people because the Tower is a sacred space.  The park closes the Tower to climbing every June so that the tribes can celebrate the solctice without the interference.  All around the base are tied colorful prayer bundles

and several signs ask us novice Tower walkers to please leave them alone.  They create an atmosphere of spirituality as one walks through the woods at the base of the Tower.

Prayer bundle

     We enjoyed the location so much that we stayed for two nights.  Near the camp is a very large field covered with prairie dog holes, tunnels and inhabitants.  They scold anyone coming nearby and put on quite a show.  There were also fairly tame deer that grazed throughout the camp.

High society!

One day we went into the nearest town, Hulett, Wy to investigate the locals.  We entered a museum/gallery and found an incredible display of cowboy engravings.  The artist was there and apparently has customers from all over who order his work, but mainly displays in little Hulett. He has a morbid sense of humor; the coffins in the picture below have a sign that indicates you can stand in them and have your picture taken if you pay $1.   While the town is miniscule, there were several large tents up selling all kinds of motorcycle paraphenalia.