When we first arrived at Devil\u2019s Tower, we were prepared to stay with no hook-ups (no power, water or sewer), but the National Park campground was full as one of the loops was closed. We think it was closed for reasons related to why no climbing was allowed- because they have times throughout the year when there are Native American celebrations going on and they get back the use of the land. Anyway, they say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I agree. We were going to be camping with no hook-ups which is great as we have always been more of the tent campers and love that crowd, but since we couldn\u2019t, we enjoyed our first FULL HOOK UP experience! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was nice not having to conserve water quite as much as we learned about gray and black water tanks and try to learn how much fills them up. The KOA was nice although the pool was closed, it served us well as we ease into full time camper living! We had never spent much time at a KOA as we have never really had a camper (besides our pop-up) and they are kind of expensive to stay at for a night. However, this place was great with cabins and teepees and a lot of space\u2026not to mention the beautiful view of Devils Tower. Every night at 8:00 pm, they play Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but was fun watching with the Devils Tower looming in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We had some time to contemplate whose land this is anyway. It felt a little like trespassing on Native land the whole time and I know the debate goes back many years, but this land does feel like we stole it. I do appreciate the efforts that have been put in to preserve some of it. I can see why this land would be a holy place for Native Americans who have owned this land a lot longer. Sienna wanted to rock climb- but not to the top- but there were signs asking that no climbing happen in June out of respect for rituals and other goings on happen in the Native culture during this time. Even without climbing, the views were beautiful and we were able to walk around the Tower a couple of times. My favorite was at dusk on a particularly beautiful evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did you know that the Devils Tower was the first ever National Monument and established in 1906? We do, because it was on our Kahoot. We are taking turns creating Kahoots to check on what we have learned along the way and calling it part of our homeschooling. The Kahoots are fun and one rule is that they all have to include Taylor Swift trivia in every one- which Nick particularly loves (insert eye-roll emoji). You can feel bad for him all you want, but he is doing just fine on those trivia questions too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, thanks to my West Jeff friends, we go to your our National Parks Pass for the first time! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When we first arrived at Devil\u2019s Tower, we were prepared to stay with no hook-ups (no power, water or sewer), but the National Park campground was full as one of the loops was closed. We think it was closed for reasons related to why no climbing was allowed- because they have times throughout the year…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,20],"tags":[21,23,22],"class_list":["post-494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-parks","category-wendy","tag-devilstower","tag-koa","tag-native-land"],"yoast_head":"\n