Visiting Devil's Tower, WY

     We made it to Wyoming, which is our 28th state since we started fulltiming 2.5 years ago! Devil's Tower was the first National Monument in America. It's a strange, yet beautiful piece of geology. Most scientist think it was an underground volcano that bulged but never erupted since there is no volcanic rock or lave nearby. 

You can see it for miles!

Soon after you enter the gate, there is a huge prairie dog town. The kids thought it was great fun to watch them! I told Eldon my family would laugh way to hard at me if they knew we stopped to watch prairie dogs!

We hiked a trail that went all around the base.

Looking out over a valley.

Pretty girls :)

It's almost 1,000 feet about the ground!

Yeah, we felt small!

Taking a rest and doing Jr. Ranger books.

So pretty!

"I'm just watching ants, mama."

See the climbers?

     The first recorded climb was done by Willard Ripley and William Rogers . On July 4,1893, these 2 local boys managed to construct a simple stake ladder and reach the top. We were able to see part of the ladder with binoculars. Interesting note: it takes most climbers 4-6 hours to climb the Tower but a climber named Todd Skinner made the fastest recorded ascent in.........18 minutes!