May 14, 2012 - Badlands South Dakota
For 11,000 years, Native Americans utilized these "Bad Lands" as hunting grounds. Then came the Homesteaders and asked the Government to herd the Natives onto Reservations. Then came the War Years and this area was used as a bombing and gunnery range. In 1978 it was deemed worthy of becoming a National Park....and then came the Tourists! But before you get to Badlands, you will most likely pass the town of Wall, SD. (Provided you are approaching the Badlands from I-90 eastbound)
Wall, SD - Population 821
If you've ever driven from Rapid City, SD eastbound on Interstate 90 heading toward Wall, SD, you would have been exposed to a minimum of 100 billboard signs advertising Wall Drug! It has to be one of the best roadside marketing campaigns I've ever seen! And it worked! I was so impressed with the number of "marketing messages" this company spread out over the Interstate that Terry and I just had to go see what it was all about. The Population of Wall, SD is 821. My guess is that every one of them work at the 76,000 sq ft Wall Drug complex! This place is the Disneyland of Retail! Check it out for yourself the next time you visit South Dakota!
The Wall
The Badlands are comprised of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires. The erosion has created a wilderness of rugged canyons making travel through the Badlands nearly impossible. The Wall served the Native Americans as an observation point to get a view of the onslaught of wagon trains heading west.
Prairie Grasses
Where the landscape is flat, the prairie grasses dominate. The Badlands is home to the largest collection of mixed prairie grasses in the US which serves as habitat for those noisy Prairie Dogs and their mortal enemy - the Black-Footed Ferret!
Amber waves of grass!
Fossil Beds Abound
The Badlands contain some of the world's richest fossil beds. Like much of North America 75 million years ago, the Badlands area was once covered by a great sea. And in this sea lived a variety of sea creatures that became encased in the colorful layers of sediment. Fossils of squid-like creatures, clams, crabs, giant marine lizards and such can be found amongst these fossil beds.
Notch Trail
There are several short and medium length trails at Badlands. While Terry was working on her Bid back at the Cottage we rented, I explored 4 of them. Rated as "moderate to strenuous" (I rated it easy) the Notch Trail was the longest and least scenic. The highlight of this trail is the 56-step log ladder that you must climb to get to a very narrow ledge leading to the "notch". This part of the trail is not recommend for those who fear heights! If you survive climbing the log ladder and don't fall off the cliff-hugging narrow trail, you will reach the Notch and be treated to a "dramatic view of the White River".
Terry Contemplating the Notch Log Ladder
Terry negotiating the Ladder!
She makes it unscathed!
The ladder was one thing. The skinny little treacherous trail hugging the cliffs was quite another story!
Kaleidoscope of Color
The various layers of sediment deposited by the ancient seas provide a wide bands of colored sandstone. Depending upon the time of day, your eyes will be exposed to a visually exciting array of pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, tans, beiges and shale grays.
Red's and Pinks of the Chadron Formation
To get a better, larger look at these pictures, double click on one of them and you will see a full screen look.
Yellow Mounds of Oxidized Iron
Let's explore!
Less than a half-mile off I-90 on exit 116, we discover a fenced area with a Warning Sign. The Gate is partially open so we proceed to examine the grounds!
What is this place?
A Cell Tower? A Well?
What to my wondering eyes should appear?
The end of the World as we know it!
As it turns out...this place is an ICBM Minuteman Missile Silo! There are hundreds of them scattered throughout the northern Plains. Products of the Cold War, these nukes are aimed at Russia and if launched, would reach Moscow in less than 30 minutes!
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