Counterclockwise Sept 10, 2020

Dickinson to Wannagan

Left Americinn Dickinson 8.15am after breakfast (cereal, yoghurt, coffee) and hit I-94 for the short drive to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  Stopped at Painted Canyon visitors center for a map and to purchase some t-shirts, a book and a stuffed bison.  Wonderful views of the North Dakota badlands from right there near the parking lot. Drove on a short distance to Medora to enter the park at the south entrance. Beautiful fall sunshine 68 degrees, drove slowly along the scenic drive for about 11 miles; we were restricted from driving the entire loop because most of the road was closed due to repairs. Saw some wild turkeys (collective noun, ‘case’?).

Arrived at Wind Canyon and took the 0.4 mile loop up to the viewpoint looking over a fantastic bend of the Little Missouri river.  Alas no bison.  Descended to Peaceful Valley ranch and did a 2.8-mile hike over towards the Maah Daah Hey trail intersection.  Three interesting things about this hike; firstly, the landscape was classic western badlands with horizontal sedimentary layers and buttes everywhere, secondly we had to ford the Little Missouri by removing our boots and socks and (for Tim) lower pant-legs and wade across 2 foot deep water and lastly we passed through an extensive prairie dog town and the animals were only a few feet away from us; they were concerned, judging by the calls and whistles.  We saw a frog in a stream and a lot of grasshoppers with black wings but wood colored bodies.  Great hike, no one else on the trail.

Here is the video of our hike;

Afterwards we drove onto the Cottonwood campground to have a picnic of cheese (Tim) and PBJ (Jeri) sandwiches.  Finally, on the way back we spotted one bison; lack of numbers made up for by the fact that he stood silhouetted against the afternoon sky.  On exiting the park, we bought firewood in Medora and took the 20-mile gravel road to the campsite at Wannagan, not knowing if we could find a place.  We got there around 3.30pm and luckily there were 4 or 5 sites for us to pick from.  I soon had the tent up and our site was in order. 

We took the bikes and did a little climb up to the Maah Daah Hey trail.  Dinner consisted of brats, boiled potatoes and mixed veg with a bottle of chardonnay and another of cab.  We lit a fire.  The stars were amazing; the whole sky was filled with the milky way. Three shooting stars! Wonderful site wonderful evening.