Our last day in South Dakota took us on a hike into a section of Badlands National Park. If you haven’t gone, you need to go. The combination of terrain is amazing and varied. It is both desolate and filled with life at the same time. Not quite desert and not quite prairie. It was the perfect capper for our trip.
This bit was right in front of our car when we parked. I was tempted to head on this trail rather than the loop I had already picked just from the sight of it. Always like to take a before the hike shot when we are fresh and excited for the day. This was at our parking spot at Badlands National ParkThe crazy thing I discovered about the Badlands was that these formations are all over the place. They look like mountains in the distance, but really they aren’t that far off.I took a lot of pictures of this really alien landscape (to me at least). Usually I have lots of comments, but this was just so different from other hikes.In my head I imagine this is what terraforming Mars would look like after some success.This on the other hand would be what Mars would look like at the beginning of terraforming. Obligatory selfie, horizontal this time.The mix of plant-life was really fascinating. Cacti, prairie grass, shit I have never seen before all mixed together.Seriously, my camera role was filled with photos like this. I tried to pick the most interesting for this post.I am less afraid of running into bears than I am of rattlesnakes. I am so glad it was a cool day, but this sign greeted us at one point before we entered the tall grass.
I have no idea what kind of plant this is, but there were a lot of them and found them fascinating.
I hate snakes doc. I hate ’em!
No need for comments. Just Enjoy.No need for comments. Just Enjoy.No need for comments. Just Enjoy.No need for comments. Just Enjoy.The terrain mixture if just crazy.It just seemed endless in a way mountain and forest hiking just doesn’t.At certain points the trail we were on got confusing because of the nature of the terrain. You had to keep a look out for this little markers.No need for comments. Just Enjoy.I probably whispered, “I am a desert creature a dozen times on this hike.”This was the halfway point of our hike, these formations we climbed up to get some stunning photos and eat some snacks.It was super windy up on the formation, cool, but sunny.A much needed rest.The Badlands are enormous and the isolation is easy to find and enjoy.
The view of where we came from in our loop.These guys let us get real close. They did not GAF about us.
Keith Senkowski
