Theodore Roosevelt NP 28/7/19
|
Real cowboy country, with harsh winters and hot summers. We found
the North Dakotans as charming as South Dakotans. Last winter 33
miles away from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park they had 2
weeks of -40F with a wind chill factor bringing the temperature down
to an incredible -60. The mosquitoes are slightly less of a problem
here than they were in the great lakes, but still at witching hours
of about 5-7pm you just want to be inside. We are both constantly
scratching and covered in angry red lumps. But here, even the snakes
are polite. Caroline and a prairie rattlesnake both wanted to use
the path at the same time. The rattler politely gave a little
rattle. Caroline stepped back 2 feet, then Murray made her step back
more and the rattler finished crossing the path. The North campsite had a solitary male bison bumping into tents. The South had a bobcat saying hello (sadly unseen by us). We have seen prairie dog towns, bison, coyote, kangaroo rat, jack rabbit and all sorts of frogs and butterflies. The wild horses (well, perhaps feral is a better word, though they are as wild as horses can be) looked magnificent and – full apologies for anthropomorphism – but seemed so happy & different from domestic horses. With 3 trails under our belts of 15miles, 10 and 5 miles it seemed a busy few days.
campground bison
Big stone balls, the cannonball concretions
Trail paths are not always easy to follow or find
red rock seat on clay
stone trees in the Badlands
|
petrified forest