Tipi Rings

While living in southwestern Wyoming in the 1980’s I spent a lot of time exploring the area in my Piper Clipper airplane. It was a cousin to the Piper Cub, and I liked to refer to it as my “off-road airplane.” While skimming over the badlands southwest of Green River, I saw these “tipi rings,” which held down the margins of lodges once used by a local tribe that inhabited the area.

I noted a two-track trail near them and followed the trail to its intersection with a local highway. Later, we loaded into our Chevy Blazer and followed the trail to the rings. Along they way we passed several large chunks of tiger chert that were surrounded by flakes that had been chipped of the main rock to fashion stone tools.

It was awe-inspiring to see the ringed remnants left behind by the people who came before. We left the area as we found it, and I hope that it remains the same long after I am gone.

#tipiring #nativeamerican #americanindian #piperclipper