JOURNEY TO THE BLACK HILLS DAY 5 - ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL GRASSLANDS

Turned out it was a good thing we went to Roosevelt Park yesterday after we arrived and there were some clouds drifting. This morning we woke to sunny clear skies. Without clouds landscape photos of this kind of country can be pretty much a yawn. Or so Kinsey says.

If one wants to get up with the sun around here you best be rising around 4:30am. I tried to get Kinsey up by jumping in her bed. She just grumbled so I laid my head next to her head on the pillow and we both went back to sleep.

The visitor center opens at 8:00am so we arrived promptly at eight. We still needed to get that map. We also asked about a dirt road we had seen that went off the park. We also asked about those horses and sure enough they are wild. You sure wouldn't know it to look at them. They are in excellent condition. We thought the wild horses of the Pryor Mountains were in good shape but these are in even better condition.

Wild Horse in Roosevelt National Park

By eight the sun was already high in the sky so what was beautiful last night was pretty washed out this morning and nary a cloud in the sky. We had our eye on that dirt road because we needed to stretch our legs. No hiking with dogs in the national parks.

Rambunctious Buffalo in Roosevelt National Park

About a mile up the dirt road you leave the park and are in the National Grasslands. There wasn't a tourist to be found. Yay! The road runs north toward the Elk Ranch and the North Unit along the Little Missouri River. There is a lot of private property along here so the traffic was primarily local pickup trucks. This is some pretty isolated country. Kinsey stopped to talk to a rancher parked on a side road. Turned out he was waiting for the mail which is delivered twice a week! She told him he was lucky. The USPS doesn't deliver mail to us at all. Course, the difference is we have to drive less than ten miles to get our mail. This guy would probably have to drive forty.

The Road North to the National Grasslands

The Little Missouri River

Kinsey wouldn't turn me loose for two reasons. First, as the name National Grasslands might suggest there's a lot of cattle grazing out there and well I might get myself in trouble. The other reason is ticks. Everybody seems to be having a hellacious tick season this year. I wish she get me a tick collar. We've never had them at the ranch. Anyway, we did get to stretch our legs and see some new country. We headed home for lunch.

I look like a ghoul. Kinsey messing with me.

After lunch and a nap we decided to check out Sully Creek State Park. The Haah Daah Hey trailhead was supposed to be out that way. The park itself was very nice. You can bring your horses and camp there. The trailhead was more for riders than hikers unless you wanted to jump in the river right off the bat. Reading the sign it's not all that hospitable out there. No potable water. Rattlesnakes. Quick sand. And the ever popular ticks. But, I guess cyclists like it cuz there's a big bike race that goes north out of there and into the park.

The trail also goes south because we found mini trail heads along the road. You can pick it up down by the Bully Pulpit golf course. But, it was getting late so we packed it in for the day. Not a good idea to hike out there by yourself if you're starting tired. Well, it wasn't really getting late, you know who was getting pooped.

BTW, Medora, where the Roosevelt National Park entrance is located is quite quaint. Lots of stuff goes on here in the summer months.

Medora North Dakota

If you haven't already, you can read the story of why we ventured to the Black Hills here.

Ciao for now.
Molly Montana

Kinsey Barnard

JOURNEY TO THE BLACK HILLS DAY 4 - GLASGOW TO ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK

We pulled out of Glasgow, Montana bright and early and, once again, headed into the sun. We headed out on Hwy 2 until we reached Wolf Point. Wolf Point is the birthplace of one of Kinsey's childhood heroes, Monty Montana. Monty Montana was a trick rider and roper. He could do things with a rope that would make your head spin. The first time she ever saw him was at her grammar school when she was about nine. Over the years they rode in many of the same California parades. She really really loved that guy. His smile was quick, his face full character and his hair black as shiny coal. We just drove through but we did see a small sculpture honoring him.

Montie Montana

The road continued to be pretty dull. Just more wide open space interrupted by a grain elevator or a ranch every now and again. Kinsey says it would take a certain kind of person to live out there and she wasn't that type. Not only is it isolated but the winters are incredibly harsh. Most of the time the snowfalls horizontal the wind blows so hard. We never saw a river or creek that wasn't muddy. We must have crossed over the Milk River a half dozen times and every time Kinsey said, "They shoulda named it Chocolate Milk River." Nope, weeze mountain girls. That's for certain.

Our destination was Medora, North Dakota. It was really amazing when we crossed into North Dakota the landscape instantly went from boring to interesting just like magic. We arrived in Medora about 1:30pm. Stayed at a campground called Red Trail. It's conveniently located to the park. I think it may be the only private rv park, Medora is a fairly small town.

The Landscape became interesting the moment we crossed into North Dakota

We had lunch and headed over to Roosevelt National Park. The park entrance isn't manned yet so you are supposed to check-in at the visitor center. Kinsey must have had some kind of brain flatulence because she just blew right through without stopping. She wasn't trying to get away without paying. She's of an age she has a lifetime pass. The thing is, if you don't stop you don't get a map. By the time "the brain" figured this out we were too far in to go back. She decided we couldn't get into too much trouble if we just followed the loop. That's what we did.

Roosevelt National Park

A few miles in we encountered a prairie dog colony. WOW! They were so cool!

Prairie Dogs

 I'm quite proud of myself though. I wanted to chase those critters but remained relatively calm in the face of incredible stimulus. Not only were they running all about begging to be chased but they chattered the whole time.

Oh, what I wouldn't give to get out of this car. Maybe I should just drive off and leave her?

Our next encounter was with a great big bull buffalo. I mean this dude was a bruiser and he nearly walked right over Shadow. Honestly, I think he was bigger than Shadow! Once again I was pretty darned good. I never once tried to go through the windshield. Kinsey is quite proud of me. I got a lot of "Good girls". I'm very pleased with myself. Despite what Kinsey may think, I don't try to chase things to annoy her. It's my nature. It's also in my nature to want to please her. I think eventually we are going to find our balance.

Buffalo-Roosevelt National Park

Next we came across some horses lolly gagging in the road. Once again, I sat at attention but didn't make a fuss. I don't know if these were wild horses or not. Thanks to you know who I have no information. (We found out later they were wild horses) A funny thing happened with these horses. There was a white mare with a gray yearly leading the little band. As we drew up on them the mare led them across the road to the shoulder. No sooner did she reach the shoulder than she started back across the road so we couldn't pass. They zig zagged back and forth three times before a car came from the opposite direction and they stopped on the shoulder. It was the darnedest thing.

Wild Horses in Roosevelt National Park

Then there was the landscape, quite beautiful in a lonely sort of way. Old Teddy sure knew how to pick his spots.

Roosevelt National Park

Roosevelt National Park

If you haven't already, you can read the story of why we ventured to the Black Hills here.

Ciao for now,
Molly Montana

©Kinsey Barnard