Stops along the road

As we traveled from the Black Hills to an overnight stop in Buffalo, WY we took a side trip to see the monolith made famous by "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", Devils Tower.
Devils Tower was the first declared United States National Monument, established in 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt.

There are several competing  theories as to whether Devils Tower is an igneous intrusion, a laccolith or a volcanic plug. In any case it's an impressive rock rising 1267' above the surrounding terrain.

The tower can be seen for miles in all directions.

There's a paved trail around the base that is 1.3 miles long. Of course, if it's a hike, we're gonna do it.

The tower is a favorite for climbers but because of nesting Prairie Hawks they couldn't climb this side.

But they could climb this side. Other than the guy soloing in the center there are two more climbers in this picture. Can you find them?
Note: The soloist is resting with his climbing shoes off!



We left Buffalo WY on our way to Big Timber MT and made a stop at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument to check out "Custer's Last Stand".
Little Bighorn is a large battlefield stretching over several miles of rolling prairie that has been dedicated to the U.S. soldiers and the American Indians who fought and died there. Custer overestimated his 700 troopers ability to overcome 2000 Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors led by Sitting Bull.
Custer lost 268 soldiers as well as his own life and those of his brother and brother-in-law.

All of the soldier remains were moved from where they were buried on the battlefield to this area where they were reinterred under the monument. Custer's remains were moved to West Point.

This marker, just below the memorial, is the approximate place where Custer and what was left of his command perished.

This wire sculpture is part of the memorial to Sitting Bull's warriors who died at Little Bighorn. It wasn't until recently that the decision was made to include battlefield markers and this memorial at the battle site.

Seventh Cavalry markers above and American Indian markers to the right.
Note the coins, bills and other trinkets tossed at the foot of the markers on the right.