Mako Sica (Badlands) National Park

Friday night we were slammed by violent wind and terrific lightning over us and then passing to the east. This eastern path took the storm directly over the Badlands. For over 9 hours we were buffeted, rolled and bumped back and forth, just a very unpleasant night with the wind hitting us full on. We felt sorry for the tent campers by us - I think they crawled into their car to avoid the brutal wind. Again, no rain. We did not sleep much, and Chip and Grace were awake laying on me all night. By 10am the wind had died, the sun came out and we decided Chip was a little better we didn't need to watch over him so we jumped into the truck and headed to the Badlands National Park (Lakota Sioux language is Mako Sica). We had to travel back eastward on Interstate 90 about 70 miles to catch the north eastern entrance. What we read was that the sun would reflect off the cliffs and rocks best if viewed with them at our right side of the truck meaning we had to go from east to west on the loop road. We entered the park and traveled about one mile to our first overlook. Wow. Dave didn't remember the Badlands from our visit 25 years ago and I reminded him that we did not come here but drove a mile or two of the park from the western edge near Rapid City. We actually got to hike on one of the trails and I was a bit nervous about rattle snakes present. Didn't venture off the path at all. This park has over 244,000 acres of wilderness and of that, 64,000 acres are still pristine prairie grasslands which is home to the continent's largest free roaming buffalo herd. Since we didn't see any tatanka we will travel to Custer State Park and do the wildlife loop.

At the visitor center we watched a video where it explained how the Badlands were formed, how they are eroding at an inch a year (they will be gone in 500,000 years) and how the violent wind and rain are common here which shapes the rocks. And boy do we know that from the previous night! As we drove the loop road and stopped here and there to see and take pictures, you could still see the water running swiftly in many of the streams caused from the previous night's rain. And to think that over one hundred twenty years ago Lakota and Oglala Sioux Indians lived and thrived in this area. One stop we looked at was where Chief Big Foot brought his band of Oglala Sioux through a pass and within a week they were all massacred at Wounded Knee in 1890. A large portion of the park lies in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and the Oglala-Lakota tribe manage the southern area of the National Park. You are encouraged to visit the southern section and visit on the Indian Reservation.

At first you stop, look and wonder at the view and then you begin to see life. We saw sheep in the distance, prairie dogs, birds, didn't see tatanka (buffalo), and lots of rocks. The park wasn't that crowded for a holiday weekend. Here are a couple of pictures so you get the flavor of the colors and sights we saw. Would love to see this place at night with the moon shining over the rocks, but would not want to drive through the park - there are no guardrails along the loop road and if you slipped - yikes! There are many places where the road signs warn you of falling rocks which we did see. Too dangerous at night and I bet too dangerous when there is a storm. This is an awe-inspiring park to visit with breath taking views for you to behold.