Happy B-Day NPS from Badlands National Park
Today we were up early had coffee and a quick breakfast. The skies looked threatening, but we soon hit the road and entered Badlands National Park from the West Entrance. Just before entering the park, there is a sign warning the Prairie Dogs have plague. Just after entering we spotted some Pronghorn Antelope and Big Horn Sheep. We made our way slowly to the visitors center (VC) stopping at several turnouts for photos. We arrived at the VC just as the skies started to sprinkle on us. We did get The Boys out for a walk in the Picnic Area and then we visited the VC. There were several sun tents set up with different divisions of the park hosting displays. The Junior Ranger Station was set up to make a bead keychain with different color beads signifying the various geologic layers observed in the Badlands. I got a nice 100th Birthday Junior Ranger Badge made of wood. Well, I used to do some of the Jr. Ranger programs at GTNP. The Minute Man Missile National Historic Site had a station where kids could make missile to launch. These use airpower to propel the missiles skyward, this was fun to watch as they soared about 100 feet in the air. There was also a Human Resources person there giving information about working for the NPS. (More on this later) It was early but we were hungry and decided to have our picnic lunch there at the VC. Yes we did get our NPS passport stamped.
The Badlands is very interesting from a geological standpoint. Deposition and erosion are the main factor in the creation of this beautiful area. The exposed layers of sedimentation start with Pierre Slate, which is about 70 million years old, give or take a million years or so, and ending with the upper layers of the Sharps Formations, about 28-30 million years old.
There have also been some very interesting paleontology find here at Badlands. Some of these finds include the Saber-tooth Cat and early dogs.
In talking to the HR person it sounds like the process to work for the NPS has been streamlined, which is a good thing. I did pick up some information about the Volunteers In the Park (VIP) program. Will further explore this as it might be a fun thing.
Not wanting to stay 4 hours at the VC to get some birthday cake and lemonade and the weather was still iffy, we went to visit the Minuteman Missile VC. The tickets for the tours go quickly and we had The Boys so that experience was out. I have been in a silo before so was not a priority. I must say the VC at Minuteman has a very well done Interpretive section. Here one learns more about the history of the cold war. I did get a kick of the photos of kids taking shelter under the school desks. Yes I remember doing this during the Cuban Missile Crises.
Since the weather was starting to clear, we decided to back track our route so as to maybe get some better photos. This was a good decision as the sun came out and we did find a group of very cooperative Big Horn Sheep.
Heading back to Wall, we stopped for fuel before arriving back at the campground. We got the truck unloaded and writing of the days events thus far were recorded. Lynn is bugging me to go back to Wall Drug for ice-cream. They advertise it as homemade, and I am sure The Boys will enjoy the attention they receive from the tourists.
The ice cream was very very good and The Boys got some Ice Water. Back to the campground and cooking burgers for dinner.
The photos of the Big Horn Sheep are pretty good in my book. I hope you enjoy.
I remember doing this
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