Linda_allen's travel blogs:
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Pompeys Pillar, Deer Medicine Rocks, Rosebud Creek
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On their return trip from the Pacific, Lewis and Clark split up and went their separate ways for about a month. One of the most famous sites recorded by William Clark is called Pompeys Pillar - named "Pomp's Tower" by Clark in honor of little "Pomp" - Jean Baptiste - who was Sacagawea's son born on the expedition. Clark's first editor changed the name for some reason... This "pillar" is a dramatic sandstone structure rising off the plain, and is well preserved. Clark actually etched his name in the stone, and it is clearly visible. On the Yellowstone River side of the tower is a stone formation that evokes the face of a lion even today. This was a sacred site for native Americans.
Deer Medicine Rocks is another scared rock site where, in June 1876, Sitting Bull had a vision foretelling the defeat of Custer. His fellow Sioux told the story of his vision in etchings which are still clearly visible. Some of the other etchings were made before horses had been introduced. The site is on private property, and the owners for seven generations (since 1884), the Bailey family, kindly allowed us on the property, then escorted us to the formation. They are very knowledgeable and take their stewardship seriously.
To get to the ranch, we left paved roads and took a 35 mile drive on a gravel road. Yes, on a tour bus. After arriving at the Bailey ranch, we all got out of the bus so that the weight was reduced as much as possible, while driver Eric gently negotiated the huge vehicle over a wooden bridge that straddles Rosebud Creek. We ate our box lunches in the shade of the Bailey's aspens. Mr. Bailey showed us historic and prehistoric (Clovis) arrowheads and Native American artifacts, as well as US Army artifacts from the Indian Wars. We spent our afternoon walking through the Battle of the Rosebud, where a band of Lakota led by Crazy Horse surprised General Crook. While I had trouble following the hour-by-hour movements, the 1+ mile walk in brilliant sun to the top of the ridge gave us a 360 degree view with no man-made structures for about 50 miles. The very few homes and ranches are lost from site in valleys, so what we see today is exactly what was present in 1876. The six hour battle with only twenty deaths was seen as a victory from both sides. Crook would not make a report about what had happened, and eight days later, Custer would ignorantly (and justifiably, some would say) ride into his doom.
One of the highlights of the Rosebud site is a 4,000 year old bison cliff. Incredible. Tomorrow we're off to spend our final day at Little Big Horn. More thumbnails ...
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