Good Morning to All

Home at last!

5814 miles, 13 states and 19 days later we are back at home with a jeep load of memories.  The jeep has an admirable covering of dirt from what the rain kicked up in St. Louis, the road going to Polebridge, West Side of Glacier, Avalanche Lake Trail head, GTSR, Goat Lick Rocks, East Side Glacier, Two Medicine Area, Medora, and the list goes on.  I'm thinking of leaving that dirt on the jeep - right,  until Tammy reads this post!

Forgive us if we talk about our trip too much.  It is one that sets the tone for future trips no doubt!   We will get settled in over the next few days and probably start thinking of our next big adventure.

GO TO GLACIER! Take kids, grandkids, family and friends.  There were 150 glaciers in 1901.  Now there are only 25 left.  By 2025 the prediction is that they will ALL be gone.  Of course Alaska is holding out with it's share of glaciers, but nonetheless, go to Glacier.  See the range of mountains that none can compare to.  John Muir said, "It should take no less than a month to see Glacier".  Let the wildness seep into your soul.  Feel the rush of the swollen mountain streams carrying the snowmelt down to the lowlands where it will nourish the land.  Take thousands of pictures and lay up memories that will soothe your spirit in troubled times.  Take a hike and when you come to that sharp bend in the trail or that open meadow, feel that adrenaline rush and know that you are in one of the wildest places in America and that wildness just might be in the center of the trail right in front of you!

Peace to you all~
Jim

Evening at Many Glacier Lodge

Another day closer to - home?

Hi my friends

Many of you know how much of a outdoors kinda person I am.  Today as we got back into "civilization", a term I'll use for the crowed traffic, rude drivers and pornographic signs along the highway at a minimum, I felt the pull of the mountains with the clean crisp air that just a few days ago filled my lungs with each breath I took.   I have found myself already yearning for the view of all the lakes with that special ingredient known as glacial flour, that is grounded rock into a fine talc-like powder making the water a beautiful opaque turquoise.  Add in the smell of the ponderosa pine, western larch and the warmth of the early summer sun on my back and I guess you can figure where my mind could be if I should have that "glazed-over" look when you talk to me the next time we meet.

In my early backpacking days with my friend Donnie Shirley from Seneca, SC, we hiked the Appalachian Trail together whenever we could.  On one of our hikes we descended from a ridge where the trail crossed a road complete with a Trail information sign and picnic area.  There were a few cars in the area and after having been in the woods for I think 3 to 4 days I was anxious to get going. We climb our way up and out of the saddle and stop briefly at an overlook back down to the picnic area.  I felt so protected being in the woods and knowing that I could melt away into the surrounding trees added to my security.  I felt that same feeling today as we cross into Illinois and started to mix it up with the populace again.

Only a day away from pulling into our driveway in Union Grove, NC, we are planning to see some family here in Noblesville, IN.  A well deserved rest from being behind the wheel for two days (AK I don't know how you do it!)  After a day of going to Conner Prairie with family we will push on to the house on Friday.  With all this time on the road, you can bet that the thoughts are like the streams flowing from the glaciers on that warm summer day.  We will submit a final post I suppose after we have had time to reflect and collect our thoughts.

And as My Love says - A post without a picture - isn't a post!

Until then~
God Bless you all

Just one shot of the jeweled peaks surrounding Avalanche Lake

On the Road Home

Today we started for home.  At the end of the day, we are 600 miles closer than we started out.  


We talked today about our favorite parts of the trip and both came to the conclusion that to pick just one is impossible.  There are so many memorable moments about our trip, each equally as meaningful.  


We learned so much about the areas we visited, the flora and fauna.  And so much more about ourselves.  We look forward to seeing the areas again very soon.

Here's an idea: Tell us what is your favorite part of the trip?  Let us know.  If you like, you can email us and not have to sign up:

pscansetzer@aol.com

luvforkids@aol.com

We felt it prudent to reroute our trip due to some of the flooding SD and IA are experiencing.  We had the two hour detour going out and really didn't want to repeat that part of the trip.  Plus it gave us the chance to see some of the country we had never been to.  We decided to travel through Minnesota and Wisconsin, making our way to Indiana tomorrow.


Another day of big miles await us in the morning.  On to Indiana to see family and take in Conner Prairie, an interactive history park,  representing life on the prairie during the move westward of our great nation.


PS:  Concerning the Lewis and Clark - Corps of Discovery. . . I have found that more people are becoming intrigued with this part of our history.  I have often wondered what it would take to retrace their steps - to read their journals at the same (as close as possible) place.  To see what they saw would truly be a connection to our past, with their determination as motivation for our future endeavors.

Avalanche Lake

Didn't want a day to go by without an awesome picture!

Good night friends.  Know that we are safe and secure, and hope that you are too.


Jim & Tam  

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Today. . . .Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  The Badlands, from North Dakota side.  We visited the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Today was a remarkably different side of the Badlands.  The terrain was the same grey, red and brown.  But today was a vibrant addition of green, lush rolling hills, mixed in with the desert features, hallmark of the Badlands.  What was most outstanding about TRNP was it's quiet, unspoiled wilderness.  We sat atop Wind Canyon, overlooking the Little Missouri River. Off in the distance, we watched as a herd of buffalo swam across the river to cool off, and reach the other side to graze on the soft, sweet grass.  It was so quiet that we could hear the buffalo splashing into the cool stream of the Little Missouri, snorting as they warily swam across. The sun was warm on our faces, the wind gently blowing the soft grasses at our feet, not another soul around, not another vehicle to be seen for miles.  The earthy scent of sage carried on the warm, summer winds. This was truly an unrivaled experience during our tour of National Parks so far.  The beauty of national parks is that they are preserved for the world to see.  With that can often come the crowds and noise of so many visitors. But today was different.  TRNP is a clandestine piece of serenity, quiet and unspoiled by crowds and congestion.  What we had wished for in many moments during our trip thus far, we reveled in today. Peace and tranquility, coupled with  unspoiled, wild, natural beauty. 

The warm evening sun

The endless Badlands

The Little Missouri River

My love saying, "Hey"

The soft side of the Badlands

For dinner, the Pitchfork Steak Fondue.  Ribeye steaks loaded onto pitchforks, cooked to perfection. Coupled with veggies, potatoes and cowboy baked beans, a wonderful western meal.  We sat on a hilltop overlooking the Badlands for as far as the eye could see. The elk were grazing in the fields below, the sun setting low in the western sky.  A warm, summer breeze carrying the songs of the country band that performed during dinner.


Tomorrow we start to make our way back home.  There are mixed emotions. Part of us longs for the comforts of home.  The familiar.  The greater part of us yearns to stay in the wild, to explore the unknown. Push ourselves to outer limits.  Take ourselves to greater heights, discovering new vistas that await us.  To quote Theodore Roosevelt, the Wilderness Warrior, "Life is a great adventure. . . Accept it in such a spirit."  And so our adventure will continue. . . 
Love to all~

Medora - Everything we expected!

North Dakota - What a beautiful state so far.  Medora is a little town with some history, nestled in a large depression just across the state line from Montana.  The miles went by today with certainty as we made our way to this little cowpoke kinda town.  MT route 200, 2 lane 300 plus miles revealed scenery that kept us interested all the way.  The Judith Mountain range was rolling smaller mountains with the distinctive ponderosa pine scattered about really made me want to stop the jeep and fill my lungs with sweet sweet smell.  The great plains returned as an old friend with its rolling hills, grassy knolls, mule deer and pronghorn dotting the country side.  The roads seem to go on forever here.  I counted a 6 1/2 mile stretch straight as an arrow.

I measured this portion at 4 miles.

Teddy Roosevelt put Medora on the map.  We are bedded down tonight at the Rough Riders Hotel in Medora. An establishment he help to get started and named after Teddy and the Rough Riders.  The building has been renovated and we compared to the pictures, they did a pretty good job!  It makes you feel as if you were back in the early 1900's.  After a walk through town to get the kinks out, we ate supper at the Rough Riders restaurant.

Colonel Roosevelt, 1898

Tomorrow the plans include taking in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and maybe an ice cream cone!

Jim & Tam

Sad to say goodbye to GNP

Our day sprang into action with getting packed and out of the KOA cabin ASAP.  We wanted to get to East Glacier Lodge for breakfast and to take a look at the place.  AMTRAK runs directly to it.  In fact, we saw an arrival at 10:15 this morning.  We drove to Two Medicine after breakfast and spent just a little bit of time there.  The air temp was 48 degrees this morning and with a 20 to 25 MPH wind,  the wind chill was around 32 degrees.  The lake at the Two Medicine area was choppy with white caps galore.  We drove the campground and found an interesting site -

A Big Horn Sheep - So . . . . .guess what's for supper?

We finally said goodbye to GNP and left for Great Falls, MT for the night.  The mountains kept getting smaller in the rearview mirror as we crested each rolling hill until finally, the range of Glacier was not to be seen anymore.  A little bit of sadness filled my eyes but in my heart I knew I had left a little of myself there in the deep, wild woods of Glacier National Park.  See you soon my new friend.

Our thoughts now turn to Medora, ND and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  An area like the Badlands we understand.  Teddy Roosevelt was instrumental in our nation's quest to secure national parks, provide for the upkeep, and promoting them as American as apple pie.  We are looking forward to our brief stay in Medora but both of us were continually looking in the rearview mirror today.

As promised here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.

Our first view of the east side!

One Happy Girl on the East Side

Beautiful Swiftcurrent Lake

Jackson Glacier, under the snow somewhere.

Chief Mountain - A Blackfeet Indian Religious Site

A view from Many Glacier area

Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Lake

Me and my love on our hike to Virginia Falls

Virginia Falls

Our mama grizzly bear 

 Two Medicine

Grizzly Bear, a little closer and more personal

What a day!  The Park Cafe served another breakfast that was enough for a good hike today.  Tammy and I hiked to Virginia Falls today.  But before we got on the trail, we discussed bears and how to deal with them.  So our plan included a stop at the respective ranger station to discuss any recent bear activity.  I am no expert but what I have read lately indicates that bears attack for one of two reasons:

1. You surprise (the sudden encounter) them on the trail and/or pose a threat to their young or food supply.
2. They are habituated and food conditioned - plainly stated - the bears see you and know that food is around.  Hence the reason the park rangers are so adamant about food storage and garbage disposal in the proper containers.

If you desire to know more, read Bear Attacks and Avoidance by Stephen Herrero.

A stop at the Ranger Station is a priority when hiking in bear country.  The rangers did indicate that since the snows are still deep in the higher elevations, the bears have come down to the lower elevations for foraging and birthing.  The Ranger suggested a few good hikes and since our tax dollars are paying for this I figured it to be good advice.  A quick look at the map and off we went.

Noise on the trail is the best method to avoid the sudden encounter.  The bells may work but around here the locals call them "dinner bells", I'll let you figure that one out......  Every trail in Glacier is preceded by a lovely sign indicating that "You are entering Grizzly Bear Country".  A sobering thought no doubt.  But noise we did make, an occasional shout, clapping of the hands and Tam pounding on the ground with my hiking stick seem to be enough.  The hike was beautiful and the destination was awesome.  We passed 4 waterfalls to Virginia Falls.   It was waterfall mania today!  The trip back was as uneventful as the walk to the falls (no bears).  But make no mistake about it, you have to be attentive and keep a sharp eye out for we did see several signs of bear activity along the trail, such logs and stumps ripped apart and moss pulled back to expose grubs and other bear goodies.

As today was our last full day here in GNP - and what a day it was.  You have to admit when you walk into a place as wild as Glacier National Park, you realize very quickly that YOU are in the ANIMALS element, be it wolf, bear or whatever.  That feeling comes over you fast and stays with you while you are in the park - especially, when you see the first shape of the famous hump on the shoulders, the con-caved face and the blonde hair.  She was off the road about 20 yards from us really working over something in the ground and paying no attention to us at the time.  There were several cars around and a ranger as well.  The report has it that she is a sow with two cubs and the rangers had decided that she was just too close to a high traffic area.  So they proceeded to scare her off with a few shotgun blasts.  Tam got some great pictures and we will post those as soon as we get out of internet purgatory at the KOA.

Tomorrow we pack up and move towards Two Medicine Area and fill our souls for the last time with everything that is wild and good here in Glacier.

Tam's Post:  Wow!  What a day!  To begin our day with a hike in bear country was a rush!  Adrenaline pumping for so many reasons.  We know we are in bear country because we have seen them.  When we first started on our hike, I was very apprehensive. You have to respect the wild out here.  As we began to see all the beautiful sites of the waterfalls, the cascading mountains of water, it was easier to relax and enjoy the moment, continually mindful of what was around you.  We hiked back to Virginia Falls and realized that these were the falls we could see from the road.  Amazing!  We sat at the water's edge for a little while and watched the spray dance in the sunlight.  I closed my eyes and felt the cool spray on my face.  Then the warm tears on my cheek as I was overcome by the beauty of this place, this moment.  My heart is so full~

After our hike, we then came upon the mama grizzly by Windy Creek.  She was absolutely loving life at that moment.  Her golden coat shining in the sunlight, digging up whatever it was she found, grooving on the bounty of spring, surrounded by the carpet of brilliant orange and purple wildflowers.  Awe!
We watched as the park ranger took out his shotgun.  Chills ran down my spine, but then I watched him aim the gun into the air and fire off two shots, to scare her back into the woods.  Bears have to be protected from people too.  We have watched people with no respect for wild, try to approach bears to take pictures.  If a stranger tried to come into your house, what would you do?  But if a bear tries to approach someone, even if that person is in her space, they will have to destroy the animal.  We should know better.

After our bear share, we went on for dinner.  Again we dined at the Ptarmigan Restaurant at Many Glacier Hotel. Our table was overlooking  Swiftcurrent Lake.  Today was especially windy and the water was a deep turquoise blue, topped with the gentle tufts of white caps.  As we sat at our table, we could look out over the lake and across to the towering rugged mountains, still topped with snow.
From where we sat, the mountainsides were dotted with what look like tiny waterfalls adorning the jagged edges like jewelry.  But after our hike today, we know these waterfalls are immense and powerful. The steel grey mountains stood in contrast to the billowy white clouds that danced across them, against the backdrop of the cobalt blue sky. Sometimes words seem so small when you try to describe such an experience.  Our food was great! But our experience was unforgettable as we drank in all that beauty, accompanied by a violin soloist while we dined.

When we first came out here, the remoteness made me a little nervous.  Now, I don't want to leave.  I hope that I can hold these memories in my mind for a long time. There is purity; unpretentious, genuine energy out here.  To begin and end this day with powerful bear medicine~I couldn't ask for more.

Another Full Day at Glacier East Side

Hello from the East Side or what they (the locals) call the "wild side" of Glacier.  Rugged terrain, spectacular views, and wildlife to boot.  After breakfast at the Park Cafe, which was pretty darn good, we drove up the GTSR and it began to rain a bit so we decided to drive over to Chief Mountain.  Chief Mountain is similar to the Devil's Tower monument.  It holds big medicine for the Blackfeet Indians and even though there were some back country roads to take, Tam and I decided to respect their beliefs about the sacredness of the area and take a long look at this massive rock formation standing there tall and proud.

Afterwards we drove up to the US/Canadian border.  The park is just as wonderful there I should think.  There was a tree marked with several colored tags - indicating that the area had been frequented by grizzly bears.  Just knowing that gave me the sense that we were truly in a wild place, unforgiving of mistakes.

On to the Many Glacier area.  This area is dubbed the wildlife viewing point for the park.  We had supper at the Ptarmigan Restaurant.  It was very good and would recommend it.  They are in the middle of renovations in the dining room.  The old ceiling is being removed to expose the original beams and rafters!  We got to go back in the area and check it out.  It is going to be a show place.  Hey!  Another reason to come back - they keep piling up!

With supper done, the sun was beginning to sink low in the sky.  We toured that area again, looking at the mountain goats and sheep.  On the way out we spotted a black bear forging in the brush.  Took a few pictures but the bear was pretty well hidden in the brush.  Finally we started again on our way out and I spotted what I thought was a sheep in the road ahead - Tam with binoculars in hand pulled them up for a view and announced - grizzly bear!!!  I could barely see it's back and had to agree with her.  We drove slowly up to the rise in the road where we saw the bruin and she was long gone.  I did notice, and it might be my imagination, the bent over grass, brush and twigs where she disappeared into the woods.  A great finish to a great day.

Sorry for no pictures - it is a real chore just to get online -   Plus we do not have cell phone service out here either.  Another part of the East Glacier Wild Side!
(on that note, we will not be back in cell contact until Saturday so if you need to get a message to us, best way is by this sketchy internet that comes and goes for us to check email).

Catch you good folks tomorrow -
Jim & Tam

Hello from the east side of Glacier National Park

Tammy and I rolled into the east side today with all of our good memories from the west.  We are settled in to our new digs here at the KOA and we are fortunate to have such a view from our front door.

On the way over, we saw a mother mountain goat and her kid today at Goat Lick Rock - got it's name from the mineral that the goats come down to lick in the springtime.  Too far away to grab a picture - oh well, that gives me a good reason to get that adapter for the spotting scope - right my love?  :)

This side seems to be a bit more remote than the west side.  Tomorrow we will go as far as we can on the GTSR and we might take in Two Medicine Area as well.

Love to Zach and Erin,  I enjoyed our photo-op today!

No pictures to gaze at, the internet is slower than dial-up.  We will catch up with pictures in a day or two.  Promise you won't be disappointed!

BTW.  It is 10pm here and still light!

On our way to East Glacier!

Good Morning!

After a canoe trip today on Lake McDonald we will say goodbye to the West Side of GNP.  Goodbye to Apgar and goodbye to our little hide away cabin just outside of Columbia Falls - Moose Hollow.  It was a great place to stay and I think that when we come back we will be staying here.

We will posting our next blog entry from the East side at the St. Mary's KOA. (We're sleeping in the woods tonight! YEAH - well kinda)

Day 3 - WOW!

Polebridge, Montana.  A small dot on the map and insignificant to most but if you come to GNP, you just gotta go!

We awoke to another cool morning of less than 50 degrees.   The day was beautiful and we know now what they mean when they say that Montana is Big Sky Country.  Check out the pictures and you'll want to go!

The road to Polebridge was a mixture of gravel and pavement.  More gravel than anything and lots of potholes to boot.  The jeep took all that in stride with no issues although the shiney red jeep in the first pictures is not so shinny now.    We passed Hell Roaring Creek as it fed the Flathead River a real treat to see as we drove along.

 We traveled along, what the locals refer to as the "Outside" road.  On the map it is called the North Fork Road.  The mountain range that parallels the road is the Livingston range.

29 miles later we arrived at the "Exit" for Polebridge.  A slight bear to the right and we were there!

Life is pretty laid back in Polebridge.  There are about three buildings there, notice I said "about", besides the Polebridge Mercantile and The Northern Lights Saloon. The third building is their outhouse! The big draw for most people to Polebridge is the baked goods at the store.  YUM!  The Huckleberry fritter was pretty dang good. 58 miles round trip for the best baked goods ever!

As we returned on the Outside road, we made a left about halfway back and drove on the Camas road inside the park.  You have probably noticed the burnt out trees by now.  A fire in 2003 did a lot of damage but the new growth is catching up now.  That fire was named - The Robert Fire.  On one ridge close to us, it burned 7000 acres in 4 hours.

We had lunch back at Apgar and arranged a photo-shoot for Tammy's mom back in TN via the GNP Webcam.  We will post a schedule for the other opportunities coming your way soon.

We hiked to Avalanche Lake today and we're so glad we did.  A beautiful walk in the moist woods.  Seen some horrific damage from a recent avalanche, big ponderosa pines snapped like twigs.  The trees were all laid in a downward direction across the gorge while the trees on our side were laying in a "up the hill" direction.  We were told that the trees down on the upward side of the hill came down due to the rush of wind from the avalanche, not the snow! What a power show that must have been!

Our destination was Avalanche Lake.  While we were there, Tammy spotted a mountain goat high on a rock ledge.  Too far for the camera, but not too far for the binoculars.  A few minutes later, a second mountain goat appeared!  The views were stunning and here are a few pictures to enjoy.  Bears had been spotted at the lake earlier but we did not see them.

We had a full day, our souls are full and it seems that there is no more room.  But tomorrow will be here and the work by the hand of God will be constantly burned into our minds and heart.   Here are a few more pictures of the Avalanche Creek on it's way to McDonald Creek.

All for now - Sleep well 

Jim & Tam

Day Two in GNP

The plans today are to visit Polebridge MT.  A little place in the middle of nowhere. The Inside Road is closed due to flooding so that will keep the jeep in two-wheel drive for the day!  We will take the Camas road back to Apgar and stretch our legs with a 6 mile round trip hike up Apgar Lookout Tower.  The park has come to life overnight it seems.  People are coming out but still not the crowds we saw at Yellowstone.

An update from the Ranger Staff at Apgar on the snow depths on the GTSR - drifts as deep as 100+ feet, if you clicked on the link for the pictures you can understand.  Bear activity has been reported from all aspects of the park, these big bruins are up, out and about.

Day One in GNP

Day one in the park and it started off kinda wet, but the sun broke through around lunch and it began to clear up.

With sun came the enchanting shadows of the dark forest trees dripping with morning's rain.  The rivers began to surge with the life of the mountain with snowmelt.

The opaque colored water with it's full force took my breath.  I used to paddle whitewater in the east and this was unreal water.  My heart ran fast, my hands got sweaty and I felt the feelings that I had at rapids where that little voice inside said, "mmmm do I really want to do this or do I want to walk this one?"  The video doesn't do it justice.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.   

Here is video of McDonald Creek as well.  This rapid is the BEGINNING of Sacred Dancing Cascade

Good Morning from GNP ~ Moose Hollow Cabin

Wow,  just being next door to the park makes you sleep so much better.  The cabin is warm and cozy, it has everything we need.  The owners have shown their pride by all of the details he and his wife have put into it.  Well Done Katie and Karsten!

Today will be a day to get oriented, check and see what trails are open, where to fish, where to rent kayaks and stuff like that.  I am afraid that the "Going to the Sun Road" is not completely plowed yet.  Check out the link for pictures.  Two days ago, I think it said only 29 miles of the 55+ had been plowed.  The crews are still encountering snow as deep as 30 feet in some areas!  Not too disappointed but just amazed at mother nature and all her strength!

We've made it!

Well,  we have finally made it to Columbia Falls!  It was five days of long, hard driving but all worth it.  The scenery is breathtaking, and we haven't even entered the park yet!! When leaving Helena, MT,  I wondered, "Should I top off the gas tank?"  In the background of the photo below, we rolled into "Stony's" Gas Station with 70 "DTE" (distance to empty) miles  showing on gauge.  The answer is "YES" always top off the tank before going on in this country.  The maps are so deceiving, short distances are actually pretty long.  We took the scenic route through Montana and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! We are going to get settled in now.  The cabin is really nice, look for a link. We'll take some pictures as well and post them a little later.

We looked briefly at the visitors guide for this cabin.  What really gets your attention is the section about this being bear country. They warn you not to leave your children unattended outside!  Our fireplace is warm and cozy, the ambiance in this cabin is rustic and comforting. The journey is over and now we can relax and enjoy the beauty of all that is outside our door.

Thanks to my Dad for inspiring me to take these types of trips and thanks to my sister for the "data points" along the way. Most of all thanks to my co-pilot for reading the GPS, the actual old fashioned map, and all the laughter to break up the hours - we make a great team!

Especially to Zach and Erin, thanks for the warm Father's Day wishes. It meant a lot and I really enjoyed hearing from the both of you.  BTW - get your bags packed for the next time - Love you both, Dad

We were still 150 miles away when we saw our first sign for GNP!

One day Closer to Glacier!

Hello to you all,

Today was another day full of some really good stuff.  Mount Rushmore was inspiring for us as it should be for all.  Washington, Jefferson, T Roosevelt and Lincoln were in full splendor and realizing what they had accomplished in their lives was, as I said before inspiring!  We can't seem to get enough of that area.  It is so uncomplicated.

Anyway, I modeled for the fifth and final head, tell me, what do you think?

I gotta tell ya, if you ever go to that area, make sure your travel plans  include US Route 212 out of Spearfish SD to Little Bighorn.  300 miles of two lane, 75 mph, and only one billboard! Totally awesome drive.  It took us to the Little Bighorn National Battlefield site.  While we were there, I felt a lot of mixed, unsettled energy.  I think that mission was doomed for failure years before in advance with broken promises, treaties, poor leadership wrong motives. Well that's my take on it.....

The soldiers graves were marked where they fell.  The marker with the black paint is where Custer fell, although his remains were moved sometime later to West Point for final resting.

The picture below covers most of the concentrated battle where Custer had his last stand.  The dark line in the background is a tree-line.  That is where the indian encampment was located, over 2000 warriors plus women and children.  Imagine the lump in Custer's throat when he came over the hill and saw the numbers.  Essentially the battle surged from defensive to offensive on both sides.  History only knows what each leader was thinking, but the Native Americans were fighting for their way of life.

Tonight we are in Billings and then on to Glacier in the am!  Today we saw our first glimpse of the snowcapped mountains in the distance.  Tomorrow we will be there!

Goodnight to all my homies!

 

Billings - Here we come!

A crisp 45 degrees this morning!  That will traveling nice.  We plan to stop at Mt Rushmore on the way out of town today and on into Montana we will visit the Little Bighorn Battle Field.  I think I would have rather been a Lakota Sioux that day.

It promises to be another great day

Friday - Hill City SD

Hello to all,

Early this morning we left Sioux City and headed up I-29 north to I-90 and hung a left.  Westward bound now, we took full advantage of the speed limit.  Many of you know how I drive, well let's just say Tammy was surprised at me today. I told her "62 all the way", but I made her proud today.  We stopped at the Missouri River overlook for a needed rest stop and leg stretch.  As I was looking at the L&C displays, Tammy went ahead of me to explore some.  We met up outside and  she took me by the hand and led me to an overlook. On the way, she told me to close my eyes, and notice the smells and the sounds.  We were surrounded by cedars and the air was filled with their fragrance. The steady wind rustled the tall grasses in a symphony of soft music. The warm sun on my back felt so good. At that overlook, you could just imagine the Corps of Discovery camp on the western side of the river.   I was so thankful that Tammy led me to that spot.

It seems like everything changes when you cross the Missouri.  The terrain changes to rolling, undulating hills, the expanse of the great plains comes to life and one gets an idea as to why they are called the Great Plains.

This is my post. . .although we had not planned to, Jim indulged me with a ride through the Badlands.  We visited in 2006 and I came away from the visit considering the Badlands one of my favorite places.  The terrain is very unique.  Many look at it and call it odd or unearthly looking. It's uniqueness is part of it's allure but it's beauty goes beyond the physical.  There is an energy here, something that is hard to describe in words.  It is something you sense, you feel in every fiber.  Maybe it is the history of this region, what it symbolizes to the native people.  But as you look out over the painted rocks that stretch on for miles, listen and imagine,  just imagine yourself back in time, and you can almost hear the past carried on the wind.

On to the Black Hills in Custer State Park. Bison, mule deer, white tail deer, prairie dogs, prong horn antelope and mountain goats were out and about losing their winter coats and enjoying the fresh grasses and other edibles.

I know it seems like the Baptist Preacher is coming out in me, but some times there are no words to do justice to what the human eye sees, what the heart feels and the ears hear.  So here are a few pictures to highlight the day.  I am sure you all have had the same kind of experience before as Tammy and I had today.

We made a quick trip down to Wind Cave National Park.  The 4th largest cave system in the world, well over 100 miles of documented and surveyed rooms, chambers and such in multiple layers.  This National Park is tucked away at the bottom of Custer State Park in SD and well worth the visit.

The Black Hills of South Dakota are absolutely beautiful!

All in all, I would say that 4 to 5 days would be a good start to really enjoy this area.

Every hard mile driven today was worth every view and sensory event we experienced.

good night to all~ Jim & Tam