...or at least two particular large rocks. We started the day at Devils Tower National Monument, which is a mountain of solidified lava that cooled into vertical columns with primarily hexagonal cross sections. We first encountered this type of thing at Devils Postpile National Monument last summer on the east side of the Sierra Mountains. It also appears to be the same thing at Sheepeaters Cliffs in Yellowstone that we saw last week. However, the cross section of the structures is MUCH larger at Devils Tower. In the other two cases they were only a few feet across. At Devils Tower, they looked to be 6-10 feet across.
We again thought of Gwen when we saw climbers make their way up the 1200 foot sheer face. We only hope if she decides to attempt such a climb she will have the good sense not to tell us ahead of time!
We then went to Mount Rushmore, another very big rock, but interesting nonetheless. Almost as interesting was following Iron Mountain Road through the Black Hills to get there...great scenery, tunnels through the mountain, and the pigtail bridges.
I will add pictures of the above when I get a chance. We are currently in Chadron, Nebraska, center of the Pine Ridge region of Nebraksa. I didn't even know there was a Pine Ridge region...still looks mostly like prairie to me. We should go through the Sand Hills this morning as we head south.
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