Moments Grander Than the Wonder They Surround
I was restless after a year of caution, hunkering down, and distancing. My daughter expressed interest in visiting a national park or forest and I had not been back to my home state of Wyoming in several years. This would be a great time to go on an outdoor adventure with my family. First stop, Devils Tower.
As you wind through the hills and trees and get your first glimpse of the rock stretching up over the horizon, it almost startles you. While you approach, more details reveal themselves until you find yourself standing at the foot. Your head is tilted back and your eyes looking up at this awesome structure standing over 800 feet tall. It is impossible to ignore this igneous protrusion piercing the blue sky above. Although everything is still, I refrained from looking away fearing I might miss something. Whether you call it Devils Tower, Bear Lodge, or Tree Rock. Whether it was formed from erosion or a monstrous bear clawing a massive tree. No matter what culture you claim, it is truly beautiful. But I’m not here to talk about the tower. I am here to share my moments surrounding its one-mile base.
Our hike around America’s first national monument is shaded by ponderosa pine trees. These long poles touching the clouds also sheltered a number of observant mule deer that were peaking over rocks and around stumps. Hearing the breeze rushing through the trees is calming. It reminds me of rushing water. I savored each breath while taking in the fresh pine aroma. Did you know if you put your nose right up next to the bark on one of these trees, it smells like ice cream? It’s true. Trees and bushes with lower branches will often be decorated with colorful fabrics, scarves, and cloth.
The sentimental ornaments remind us that Devils Tower is a sacred place with deep cultural and spiritual connections. The National Park Service asks that people do not climb the mountain in June to respect the ceremonial significance of the location. The Tower has cultural ties to Lakota, Cheyenne, Crow, Arapahoe, Shoshone, and Kiowa tribes. These prayer clothes which are not disturbed or touched after hanging have personal meanings known only to those who display them. This means the prayer cloth you observe might be an offering, a memorial, or a prayer. Appreciating nature’s beauty with my family, surrounded by visual remembrances of prayers from many cultures is a special experience. It’s as if the breeze you hear is the whispered requests and answers from those seeking comfort and strength.
Although the pandemic gave our family extra time together, venturing out west was a chance to share moments without the distractions from home. Unplugged with no emails or phone calls was a welcome change. Spotting wildlife, hearing my wife (a high school science teacher) answer questions my daughter would ask, sharing my memories from past trips to the same locations allowed us to learn more about and from each other. Returning to scenic Wyoming reminded me of what an amazing place I was from. I felt a lot of pride, and even a touch of home-sickness remembering what it was like to see Laramie Peak out our door. When I traveled back home, I was looking for a little escape, a chance to revisit my birth state and share the experience with my family. I mostly wanted to get out to do something. As it turns out, I got all that and a renewed sense of inspiration and awe from an amazing view filled with spirit. I want the same for you and yours. I encourage anyone who has a love for the outdoors to visit Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.
Information regarding the history, geology, and cultural connections of Devils Tower can be found on the National Park Service website at https://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm.
My daughter’s enthusiasm for our outdoor escape came from school when learning about the Every Kid Outdoors program. This allows fourth graders and their families free access to federal lands and waters. Information for the Every Kid Outdoors program is also available on the National Park website at https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/every-kid-outdoors-program-provides-fourth-grade-students-with-free-entrance-to-public-lands.htm.
