After exiting SD’s Custer State Park, drove 20 minutes south to Wind Cave National Park.
Just enough time for a quick stop before bib pick-up in Nebraska. Had never previously heard of this Park but researched online [that] park rangers provided guided cave tours almost year-round. Bought my $12 ticket, then caught a historical film at the Visitors Center bringing me up-to-speed on everything Wind Cave.
Several mining claims were established at Wind Cave, but the most noteworthy one was by the South Dakota Mining Company in 1890. J.D. McDonald was hired to manage the claim. The mining was unsuccessful, but McDonald and his family realized they could make money by giving cave tours and selling formations from the cave. They filed a homestead claim over the opening and worked on improving a manmade entrance and enlarging passageways for tours.
One of J.D.’s sons, Alvin, spent much of his time exploring and mapping the cave, faithfully keeping a diary and making a map of his findings. On January 23, 1891, Alvin wrote that he had “given up finding the end of Wind Cave”.
The work of one young man – Alvin McDonald – was the inspiration for Wind Cave National Park. From age 16 Alvin explored & mapped 142 miles (yeah, miles) of tunnels. Sadly, Alvin died at age 20 from typhoid fever.
Sharing a lotta history – apologies. Just super impressed that such a young individual could create interest that would result in forming a National Park – ultimately sharing his love of caving with generations of people 125 years later.
So easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day & forget how to dream out loud. Go Alvin!
LOVED the tour – highly recommended.
In addition to cool 50 degree temps, saw 90% of the world’s boxwork or speleogen deposits.
Boxwork is made of thin blades of calcite that project from cave walls and ceilings, forming a honeycomb pattern. The fins intersect one another at various angles, forming “boxes” on all cave surfaces. Boxwork is largely confined to dolomite layers in the middle and lower levels of Wind Cave.
Crazy full day – no regrets. 2 hours 50 to Scottsbluff.
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- cave entrance – wind clocked at 30MPH
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- down, down, down — 190 feet below the surface
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- boxwork or speleogen deposits
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- fins intersect at angles, forming “boxes” on all cave surfaces
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- world’s 6th longest cave – 142 miles+
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- caving selfie – highly recommended
Wanting to tick another item off my bucket list, coupled the annual buffalo roundup in South Dakota’s Custer State Park with my 11th state marathon in Scottsbluff Nebraska.
Packed & on the road right after work Thursday – road tripped across rural Wyoming, before landing in Hot Springs, SD for the night. Deep political conversation with the Mumbai-native inn keeper, then 6 hours of shut-eye.
(Indian folk LOVE politics. Safely skirted a late 11pm ‘Muslim vs Hindu’ discussion by blurting ‘Sonia Gandhi’ 🙂 )
Up at sunrise & an hour north to Custer State Park, focused on arriving before park gates closed to cars.
What I did not plan on were 4 unscheduled stops. HUGE bulls walked directly in front of/stopping my car – snorting, blowing, showing no fear – allowing ample time for their family harems to safely cross the road.
HUGE STRONG, symbol of the Old West – why I LOVE LOVE bison.
Parked & sat in tall prairie grass awaiting today’s adventure, scheduled to start at 9am. Looking around, this land hasn’t changed in a hundred years. Felt like I had been transported to the 1880’s.
Why are the bison rounded up?
The Buffalo Roundup is part of Custer State Park’s management plan to maintain a healthy balance between the number of bison and the available rangeland forage. The park can only sustain a certain number of bison, based on the condition of the grassland and how much food is available. The Buffalo Roundup also allows for some of the animals to be sorted out of the herd, they are then sold at an auction in November.
How many bison are there in the herd?
There are approximately 1,300. Note: The big bull bison are not included in the Roundup because they are more aggressive and are simply hard to round up.
What happens to the bison after they’re in the corrals?
Once placed in the corrals, park staff sorts out approximately 300 animals to be sold, vaccinates the new members of the herd, brands the new calves, and checks the cows for pregnancy. It takes about four days to work the entire herd.
Folks with binoculars stood & the crowd began to murmur. I could hear their thundering hooves, see the plume of dust across the prairie. BUFFALO! BUFFALO! Is this how Native Americans felt? Heart racing, holding my breath, spine tingling.
Bison racing single-file across the prairie, followed close by cowboys on horseback.
and then it happened….
Tens of buffalo rolled over the hillside in waves, the crowd around me cheered loudly.
Frozen. No words.
Tatonka. I am John Dunbar, Dances with Wolves.
A moment in time I’ll never forget.
Make dreams happen, experience life. Live a life with absolutely no regrets.
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- road tripping across Wyoming
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- Great Faces Great Places – Welcome to South Dakota
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- Custer State Park’s annual buffalo roundup
Woke a little stiff after yesterday’s marathon but excited to see sunshine – first in days. Friday’s attempt at seeing the Tetons ended early, most of the day spent at Visitor Center(s) viewing park films & museum artifacts.
Today with 10 hours before my flight back to Denver, wanted to fit in a hike – the landscape so beautiful, reminiscent of our Colorado Rockies. And as clouds cleared, snow was visible on the high peaks – first of the season.
Snapped some of my most memorable shots of the trip this morning. WOW!
Decided on Inspiration Point as today’s hike destination. Bought a boat ticket across Jenny Lake to cut 2.5 miles off the hike distance. Jenny Lake, named after a Shoshone guide in 1872, is one of the Park’s largest bodies of water. That said, the trip across couldn’t have lasted more than 15 minutes.
Stopped a few minutes at Hidden Falls – a half mile UP – then continued on the well defined trail to Inspiration Point.
The quick stairmaster-esque hike & elevation was similar to Boulder hiking but the landscape so more lush. It’s been a wet summer this year in the Tetons; waterfalls & rivers running high, tall Pines & multiple varieties of wildflowers peppered the forest’s green floor. Only wish there had been more time.
Visiting America’s National Parks highly recommended.
Day after July’s marathon in Missoula I went whitewater rafting, this month I hiked Grand Teton National Park. Finding creative recovery an active part of marathoning. A-ok to keep re-setting the bar 🙂
“Keep your dream in front of you. Never let it go regardless of how far fetched it might seem.”
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- Grand Teton Nat’l Park
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- first sunshine in days
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- today’s WOW shot!
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- snowfall visible on the high peaks – first of season
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- Jenny Lake — formed by glaciers, 423 feet deep
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- left off the boat dock, then hike UP
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- Hidden Falls
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- Cascade Canyon
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- stairmaster-esque
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- soaking in thin air
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- today’s hike destination
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- goodbye Tetons
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- Jackson Hole WY – small airport, BIG landscape
