Who ever saw the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind knows Devils Tower. It is that distinctive cone shaped protrusion from the earth where the aliens landed and the locals were helplessly drawn to. We were blown there from Mt. Rushmore because the winds were still whipping our butts at 40mph.
The American Indians call it Bear Lodge and have developed legends about its origin. As late as 1875 scientists thought it was the core of an ancient volcano. When I asked the Lil’ Dude what he thought, he said “it was a big bump”.
It certainly would get anyones attention. The unusual rock structure holds no likeness to the surrounding rolling grasslands, rises 1267ft. above the river, 5112ft. above sea level and can be seen from miles away. The name Devils Tower originated in 1875 during an expedition led by Col. Richard Irving Dodge when his interpreter misinterpreted the name to mean Bad God’s Tower.
Scientists have since determined that it is an igneous intrusion, that 50 million years ago molten magma was forced into sedimentary rock and cooled there. As it cooled, the rock contracted forming the columns and erosion of the sedimentary rock has exposed the tower we see today. In 1906, the site was proclaimed the first National Monument.
It is a popular climbing destination with over 220 established routes but climbing stops during the month of June to observe Native American beliefs so we didn’t get to see any climbers on the walls.
left: pieces of the ladder can be seen
The rock was first climbed by a couple of crazy but ambitious farmers back in 1893. They crammed pieces of wood horizontally into the cracks, attached the outside edges together with vertical pieces of wood fashioning a type of ladder then climbed to the top. The first ascent was made on July 4 and became an annual event for the locals. Pieces of their ladder can still be seen. I think I would prefer to be tied in with a rope.
We hiked the 1 mile trail around the base which gives great views of the Tower as well as the surrounding countryside.
We didn’t have any close encounters while we were there except for a few birds and chipmunks and that’s OK with me.
“There are things in nature that engender an awful quiet in the heart of man; Devils Tower is one of them” N. Scott Momaday
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