Snowy Fridays

For the past two Fridays it has snowed, and of course both Fridays I was working all day in the Visitor Center. These pictures and the only ones I could take on my way to work... The first one is the view from my front porch, the next is a shot of the road entering the park, and the last one is Theodore Roosevelt's cabin that was on the Maltese Cross Ranch.

Happy Arbor Day!!!

This is my tribute to the tree! Ok don't worry I haven't turned into a Tree Hugger or anything. Here is a selection of my favorite tree pictures during my travels. The first picture is my favorite tree in Gettysburg, along cemetery ridge. I took this picture while I lived there the year after I graduated from college. The next tree I found along the James River, while visiting plantation in Virginia. On my trip to the Bahamas I visited a National Park there and took this picture of this tree while in a cave, and like the lighting effect in this one. Of course I had to include the old white oak tree at Rock Creek. And the last one is an example of the trees that I see around here; well not really... this is an old Juniper tree on a butte's North Slope that was a result of fire many years ago. Ok now go plant a tree, or at least appreciate their beauty.

Thats just Bullshit.... NO its not

The Dogs of the Prairie

Painted Canyon

This is the view from the overlook at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center for TRNP, and guess what the overlook overlooks Painted Canyon. This visitor center is located right of off I94, but people really think of it as a rest area. But the colors are beautiful and they differentiate between the areas with sunlight and the areas subjected to cloud cover. This is the area where you can find elk at dawn and dusk.

Spring Time in TRNP

Well apparently this little flower, something like a prairie crocus, marks the coming of spring. Also snakes have come out now as well, there have been two Bull Snake sightings, and of course after hiking I found the season’s first tick crawling up my leg. The beloved Canada geese have returned and sit in the badland formations right outside my apartment, they make so much noise and every time someone leaves the park housing they do a fly by right over your head. The winter has been very dry so everything is pretty brown, but as soon as the rain comes the park will turn completely green and people say it resembles Ireland. But I would have no idea, because I have never been to Ireland before anyways. I am looking forward to seeing the park with a little green pigment... but I have enjoyed the colors of winter, time to make way for spring!!!

A North Dakota Sun Set

I enjoyed this beautiful Sunday North Dakota sunset on a quick trip to Knife River. Knife River is a historical site were Lewis and Clark picked up their famous guide Sakakawea on their exposition out to the Pacific Ocean. We arrived at the visitor center after hours, so I know I will be venturing back to this park site to learn as much as I can. Knife River Indian Villages is one of the three park sites in North Dakota, and all the parks work closely together. There have been talks that seasonals get to go on work time fieldtrips to the North Unit of TRNP, Fort Union Trading Post, and Knife River, so I'm really looking forward to seeing if that truly happens!!!