The Indians call it Bear Lodge, the white man named it Devils Tower. The tower is considered scared by a number of tribes and they hold prayer sessions around the tower. They leave behind prayer cloths in the trees around the base of the tower, there are signs not to disturb them. About 5000 people climb the tower every year, however in June the park bans climbing in respect for the Indians. This was the country's first national monument, named by Theodore Roosevelt in 1872. It's a shame it is June and we couldn't climb it, had to settle for a 1.3 mile hike around the base, oh well. They have a great camp area, our site looked straight up to the tower. We were surrounded by prairie dogs, they are fun to watch, deer wandered around the area. At 9pm a park ranger put on a slide show and lecture on the first climbers of the tower.
Pics: In line to enter the park, colored prayer cloths in trees and dinner time with a tower view.
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