A natural monument found in eastern Wyoming is Devil’s Tower. Legend has it that one or more Indian girls were pursued by a giant bear (or bears) and prayed to the Great Spirit for deliverance. The Great Spirit made the rock rise up and as the bears tried to reach them, their claw marks made the deep gouges on the side of the tower.
Today’s women and men are more like to be climbing up one of the claw marks!
This, that and the other thing 
Interesting lore and the photo is great, too.
Thanks, Gina. It’s something we see every year on our way to the mountains, even if only from a distance. It’s quite something.
janet
🙂
Amazing!
It’s much more awesome in person. 🙂
janet
beautiful monument made by nature!
It is beautiful, kz. Thanks.
janet
I’ve been to Wyoming but never quite made it here. Have to see it in person one day. But climbing up it? I’ll take the stairs, thanks!
No stairs and I won’t be climbing it, either. But you can climb up over all the tumbles rocks to the base and that’s work, too!
janet
Wow! This is truly monumental! And the little story that goes with it is nice too.
Thanks for stopping by, Mara. I liked your tree stump, too. Made me think I could have done a photo of the redwoods, instead. Devil’s Tower is even better, and more monumental, in person!
janet
I’m happy you went with Devil’s Tower rather than redwoods, I wouldn’t have known of this monument if it were not for you 😉
I’m glad, too, Mara. I think the redwoods are much more well-known.
What a great story and i like the pic!!
Thanks and thank for visiting again this week. I like the new WP set-up but will like it more once the pingbacks are working. I’d really like it if the links would change color once they’ve been clicked on. Otherwise it’s difficult to impossible to remember where I was when I return!
janet
Lovely picture of a beautiful natural monument!
Glad you liked it, Jaap. Thanks for visiting.
janet
Great story and stunning photo. Well done.
Thanks, Sandra.
Wow, never saw that before!
It’s great, isn’t it? Glad I could introduce you to it.
janet
Yes, very impressive!
awesome up shot of this monument = and love the fun story. 🙂
I can see how the story came about, can’t you? It’s a great place and nearby is also a large prairie dog village.
janet
yes – and that was something extra nice about this post – in a matter of very few sentences we could feel it…. – “bears tried to reach them, their claw marks…”
Devil’s Tower! Perfect. I watched “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” 2 times last week. 🙂
🙂 My husband’s been watching “X-Files” episodes. Very weird.
janet
Haha. I’m not sure if you have seen Close Encounters, so my comment about watching it 2 times might have seemed really weird. But, a giant UFO lands on Devil’s Tower and has programmed unsuspecting people to draw pictures of Devil’s Tower on their walls and in their mashed potatoes, so they are obsessed with Devil’s Tower. One man, Richard Dryfus, scaled Devil’s Tower and was chosen to go with the cute little ant-like aliens. That’s why I mentioned the movie.
I did see it, but long ago. I knew what you were referring to, though. Just the sci-fi idea made me think “X-Files”. They probably have something at Devil’s Tower.
Great. I think the natural monuments are the best ones. Devil’s Tower is a real monument!
Have great weekend.
It’s a true monument all right. You enjoy your weekend as well. I’m getting ready to go out for a walk as it’s a lovely day!
janet
Neat shot! I am a sucker for fairy tales 🙂
This is even an Indian fairy tale, albeit Indians half a world away. 🙂
janet
Thanks to Mr. Columbus 🙂
If it hadn’t been him, it would have been someone else.
What a magnificent monument!
It is and lots of opportunities for serious walking/climbing, even if you don’t do technical climbing, which I don’t. 🙂
janet
A brilliant photo and story. 😀
Thanks, Raewyn. I’m looking forward to posting NZ mountain photos late next year. 🙂 Have to have Maori stories to go with them.
janet
LOL. 😀
Great story. It’s interesting how people tried to explain things.
If I’m ever there, I’ll stay on the ground and take photos. No climbing for me!
You can get plenty of exercise just walking or climbing through all the rock at the base. No climbing of the sort we saw for me, either.
janet
This I would have liked to see! Enigmatic, and a fascinationg story going with it.
I’m glad I could give you just the slightest glimpse, Leya. Just one of the great things about the photo challenge, getting to share worlds you might not ordinarily see.
janet
Totally agree!
That looks amazing! 🙂
I’m happy you enjoyed it. It’s a wonderful place.
janet
Beautiful legend and great shot Janet. Brilliant choise for the angle to increse the magnificence of the monument, besides the strength those vertical lines of the trees give to the image. Congrats!
Thanks, Jamie. I chose that shot because of the trees, so I’m gad you picked that up.
janet
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Wow, this is monumental indeed. Great to put the trees in, to make it even more bigger and awesome! Is this the one of close encounters of the third kind?
🙂 We’ve been there more than three times, Chris (but I get your reference.) This was a close encounter of the best kind and I’m glad you noticed the inclusion of the trees.
janet
🙂 I love it
That is beyond spectacular! Must really be a devil to climb.
Haha! The bottom isn’t too bad but the up-and-down part is only for technical climbing.
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I know have the perfect soundtrack for this bouncing around my head. 🙂 Nice shot.
Thanks, Bob. Now I’m wondering what it would be. 🙂
janet
Love that you’ve popped in the story behind this incredible natural formation. Thanks for sharing this one 🙂
My pleasure. Thanks for visiting!
janet
Love this Janet! I went to Jackson Hole when I was a kid but haven’t been to Wyoming ever since and know I’d love it there. I’m a mountain lover, skier and hiker. Sounds like a perfect place!
We love Wyoming. The Jackson Hole area is beautiful but expensive and very upper-end. Devil’s Tower is the tallest thing in its area, but there are plenty mountains in other parts of the state. And of course, Yellowstone is the one and only. Lots of mountains and hiking (and skiing in the right places.)
janet
Oh I’ll have to bring the family to Wyoming someday soon. Would be a wonderful place to visit!
It really is. Lots of beauty and variety and friendly people.
A place I would like to see! I’ve driven through Wyoming but missed this area.
Don’t miss it next time. It’s worth the side trip.
janet
Recognized it INSTANTLY ! – never mind any of that other stuff … it’s
C E 3 K !!!!
and how I LOVED it ! I watch it every so often, and never fail to be thrilled …
Thanks for such a terrific image, beautiful Janet !!
Glad to be of service, M.R. 🙂
Such a lovely legend, Janet! This Devil’s Tower is very impressive.
It is, Marion, and even more so in person. Hard to convey the height and size of it in a photo.
Wow… great shot… very nice perspective of this intimidating natural monument 🙂
Thanks, Sreejith. I wish you could see it in person. Thanks for visiting.
janet
Topic perfectly matched. Great photo Janet
Thanks very much. And off we go again tomorrow! I wonder what the new site will be like. 🙂
Wow! Including the trees gives perspective to its massiveness. I love the legend, but it looks like it was formed inside the neck of a volcano or something. Beautiful!
Rene, it is magma, so you’re right on target. It’s quite something, especially since it looms up all by itself. Thanks for stopping by. Tomorrow we start all over again. 🙂
janet
Thank you! I’m looking forward to it! 🙂
That’s a huge and amazing ‘natural’ monument, Janet. Spectacular shot!
Thanks for stopping by, Ida. Devil’s Tower is spectacular. Thanks for visiting it with me.
janet