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Dinosaur National Monument: the Utah Side

In this post, I give a review of the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument.

 

**Author’s note: Just a word of warning, as this is a federal, National Monument, no dogs are allowed on any trails (exceptions for Service Animals). They are only permitted in the campgrounds and parking lots.**

To celebrate our 10-year anniversary, the Trekkers headed to Colorado!  We started our trip in Boulder, as Mr. Trekker had some work-related meetings for a few days.  Thanks to my flexible job I was able to work out on the balcony of our hotel room. 😋

We spent the remainder of our week at the Dinosaur National Monument, that spans the northern border between Utah and Colorado.  This is a cool place that we hadn’t heard of until recently (you can learn more about it at the NPS website here.)  It is in a very remote area.  In fact, we think we may have finally found a place in Colorado where planes don’t constantly fly over!

Boulder, Colorado

Boulder is nice, for being a larger city.  It reminds me A LOT of the place we used to live when we were in North Carolina.  I don’t like all the bike lanes, especially when driving Mr. Trekker’s truck, these give me serious anxiety!

I felt like it was just an added stimulus I had to keep track of while trying to navigate the busy traffic and figure out where in the world I was going 😛.  There were also A LOT of boulevards.  While this is certainly aesthetically pleasing, I find it makes getting around town (or just simply turning around, or getting to a business that’s on the other side of the block) difficult.

I will say this, for a larger city and busier place, I have been pleased with how friendly people are here, especially when driving.  I rarely ever get honked at and people are usually willing to let you into a lane quite regularly, even when traffic is heavy.

I hadn’t expected to miss seeing the mountains…being in a town that sits RIGHT NEXT TO the Rockies! 😛  Boulder might actually be closer to these peaks than we are to the Black Hills…and I can see those from our house!  There were just so many taller buildings and trees that blocked the view.  It seemed kind of sad to me, that people live in such a cool place and you don’t get to enjoy its natural beauty every day…

I can definitely understand why people live in Boulder.  It’s very pretty and there’s a lot of culture, nice restaurants, etc.  It seemed to cater more to those who ride bikes or walk, which is fine, I’m all about a green lifestyle that’s full of outdoor time and exercise.

It doesn’t help that Boulderites–whether on bikes or walking–don’t seem to understand the laws of physics.  They barely watch for vehicles!  Yes, I understand you may have the right of way in many situations. However, you should still navigate defensively. If someone in a half-ton vehicle hits you, your “Right Of Way” doesn’t offer any protection whatsoever! 🙄

Boulder seems to be in an odd transition phase.  Some parts of it are “old school” and charming, with Victorian-style homes (such as the one used in the tv show, Mork and Mindy, seen here!)  There is also A LOT of new construction occurring, of very modern, industrial-looking, apartment, condo, and office buildings.  While this type of architecture is cool too, I’m not sure about the mix of the two, especially when they’re squished together like sardines.  It kind of felt like a smorgasbord of building design, and I’m not sure how I felt about it…🤔

Parking was definitely a problem though.  I’m not sure if this may be due to the fact that the area has grown so quickly?  Unfortunately, there were multiple times when I couldn’t get to a business or park that I wanted to visit due to there being no parking available nearby.

As I said, if locals mostly walk or ride a bike, maybe this isn’t a big deal.  It doesn’t make a visitor feel very welcome though.  I find it INCREDIBLY frustrating when I want to go to a place and all I see are “no parking” signs. 😡  Do people just “Uber” everywhere these days?  Yeah, I’m a child of the 80s folks, this old dog likes her car and likes to drive herself, thanks! 😉😜

The only real complaint I had about the town (other than the traffic 😇) was when Target charged me 10¢ per plastic bag (and Safeway charged 20¢!)  I understand that the overuse of plastic is a problem, but don’t just start charging me for bags without any warning.  I don’t even mind using reusable bags that I bring from home, but I wasn’t at home, was I?  It just felt, unwelcoming, frankly.

As an example of why, after paying, I realized one of my bags was a little heavy and I would have preferred to double-bag it.  So then I was faced with a dilemma…do I “steal” an extra bag?  Do I go through the hassle of trying to pay an additional 20¢ for ONE MORE BAG?  Or do I just risk there being a hole in my single-layer bag and dumping my glass bottles all over the parking lot? *sigh*

I had an interesting encounter with a Tesla…we were in a tight parking lot and I was getting back in our truck.  I was being VERY careful to not bump the fancy, shiny car next to me, when all of a sudden, the computer screen on its dash “woke up” and started scrolling something about “security” (there was no one in the car, mind you).

I’m assuming the machine was “sensing” my presence?  It was a little creepy!  I felt like I was dealing with Kitt from Knight Rider! 😜 (Yes, that was a 1980s TV reference, I just dated myself again didn’t I? 😋)  I may not be cut out for this “brave new world” ya’ll! 😋

Things to do in Boulder, including the Mork and Mindy House!

A grey, Victorian-style house sits behind a white, picket fence in town

For those who don’t know, Mork and Mindy was a comedy show starring Robin Willaims as an alien that was on in the late 70s (Note: BEFORE my time folks! 😝)

The show was based in Boulder and the house Mork lived in is still standing. It is located at 1619 Pine St. (I’m telling you this because the info is LITERALLY available on Google. 😇)

And, because we apparently can’t ever go to Colorado for our anniversary without it snowing, this is the–admittedly beautiful–sight we woke up to one morning… 😋 (it was 80 the day before mind you! 😮)…

Dinosaur National Monument

On our route west, toward the monument from Boulder, we drove on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon.  That route through the Colorado Rockies has to be one of the prettiest sections of interstate I’ve ever been on.  Click here for a video of our trip through the canyon…

As long as you aren’t intending to go on a rafting trip on the river, fall is known as one of the BEST times to visit this park.  For one thing, it’s in the desert-scrubland that comprises northeast Utah/northwest Colorado, so it gets HOT in the summer (and you all know how much I “love” the heat 😜).  Also, it’s far less busy this time of year and the tree colors are lovely.  We, actually, intentionally held off visiting here, until we could go in the Fall.

We spent our first day on the west (or Utah) side of the monument.  Here you will find the larger–and in my opinion better–Visitor’s Center.  Also, if you’re there for dinosaur bones (and why else would you be visiting?! 😉) this is the side to start on!

The Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument

This place was COOL!  Just an FYI, there’s only a few established places where you can actually see dino bones at Dinosaur National Monument.  The town that holds the name “Dinosaur” is on the Colorado side of the park…but there aren’t many bones actually viewable there. 😋  You have to go to the main entrance, which is found in Jensen, Utah (just a little east of Dinosaur, on US 40).  If you’re there when its busy, there’s a free shuttle that takes you to the quarry from the Visitor’s Center.  If you’re there on slower days (which we were) you can drive yourself.

We stayed at a lovely Air B&B in Vernal, Utah, which is about a 30-minute drive west of Dinosaur, Colorado.  This is the largest town in the local area and we were glad we chose it.  It offers easy access to any of the attractions in or around the monument, and also provides the most options for food and lodging.  If you’re wanting to camp, there are several campgrounds within the monument itself, and there is said to be a nice RV park in Dinosaur (though I don’t have any personal experience with that). 

The Quarry is AMAZING!  It’s an enclosed building that was constructed over the site of a former paleontological dig, that contains massive amounts of dinosaur bones.  They were discovered in the early 1900’s.  After much excavation it was finally decided to preserve the remaining bones as-is, and allow people to view them in their natural state.  It’s thought that this was a place where large, flash floods occurred, helping to explain why so many bones ended up in such close proximity to each other.  I could have stayed there all day!

A wall of rock in a building with white, animal bones sticking out of it
At the Quarry. Those are all dinosaur bones from different species that were fossilized in the mud!

From here, you can also hike the Fossil Discovery Trail which shows some fossils that are still embedded in the rocks …

A rock wall with white arrows painted on it pointing to a specific section
If you look closely, the white arrow is pointing to the fossilized spinal column of a dinosaur!

After leaving the Visitor’s Center, we took Cub Creek Road through the park.  This is one of the only paved roads throughout the monument, and even it turns to dirt the final few miles. (This section is well-graded, though, and passable with any passenger vehicle under good conditions.)  It offers several opportunities to view petroglyphs and pictographs (these are the drawings and etchings that were left on the rock by the ancient people who first tamed this wild land).  I had seen pictures of these creations before, but had never viewed them in person.  Some were absolutely AMAZING! 

Aren’t these incredible?!

A sandstone, rock wall with etchings of animals
This is the only place in the park where you can see the lizards.

A sandstone, rock wall with etchings of animals and other figuresA sandstone, rock wall with etchings of figures

A sandstone, rock wall with an etching of a large figure

I’m sure they all had perfectly logical explanations (some of them can be found here) but some looked pretty “unique”…(I’m not saying it’s aliens but…😲😉👽🖖) 

This road eventually takes you to Josie’s Cabin, where up until the 1960’s, a woman lived, by herself, until she was well into her 80’s.  This was without electricity or running water, mind you!  We saw a lot of lovely tree colors in this area.  There were several easy hikes that ventured into box canyons that are known for being good for fall colors (they run right along rivers and streams and the cottonwoods that grow there are very pretty).

An old, wooden cabin sits amongst trees
Josie’s Cabin
A brows-grass meadow with green trees in the foreground and fall-colored trees and a rocky mountain in the background, all under a clear, blue sky
Some of the fall colors along the creekbed
Island Park Road

This was another beautiful drive that is located on the Utah side of the park.  I thought this area had the BEST petroglyphs that we saw throughout the entire monument.

Island Park Road was dirt, and, according to the park office, is said to be “impassable” when wet. (It is suggested to only take high-clearance vehicles on this route, but, when we were there, any vehicle could have handled the drive).

We got lucky, as conditions were absolutely perfect throughout the duration of our trip, with clear skies.  So we were visiting under the most opportune conditions.  There were several areas we drove through that appeared to be dry creek beds, and looked like they could flood easily during wet conditions.  This is also an area that only has one way in or out, so if you drive in under dry conditions, and then a summer thunderstorm pops up…you could find yourself trapped!

Below are a couple of pictures of the Green River as seen from this road…

Lake with trees and rock mountains surrounding it and in the backgroundCalm creek runs through scrubbrush-covered canyon walls on both sides

…and some of the scrubland around the monument (and thanks go out, as usual, to Mr. Trekker for most of these pics!)…

View over a desert landscape. Scrubbrush flatland with a creek in the far background leads to mountainsView over a desert landscape. Scrubbrush flatland leads to dry mountains in the background

Sunset over the monument!

Sunset over a desert landscape with the silhouette of dark mountains in the backgroundSunset over a desert landscape with the silhouette of dark mountains in the background

 

Have you visited this incredible place?  Tell me about your favorite parts of it in the comments!

 

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A sandstone, rock wall with an etching of a large figure. Pin reads, "Dinosaur National Monument--the Utah Side"

 

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I Do: 10 Tips on Making a Marriage Last

After more than a decade of marriage, I give my 10 tips on how to make it last!

 

Author’s Note:  I originally wrote this post five years ago for our 10-year anniversary. We’ve been through a lot together in the succeeding five years:

–we survived a worldwide pandemic and relative lockdown (complete with two rounds of COVID each–we like to share 😝–and now we’re both learning how to live with long-term COVID-brain 🥴 )
–Mr. Trekker was an AWESOME caregiver when I had major surgery  

I wanted to add more items five years on but honestly, I couldn’t really think of anything else helpful to add.  So, from someone who is five years further into a lengthy, successful, and very happy marriage, enjoy!

 

Mr. Trekker and I celebrated 15 years of marriage recently! Since we started dating early in our freshman year of college, we’ve been together more than half our lives!  I’m not sure we can remember what it’s like to NOT be a twosome! 😍

For a long time, we just hung out as friends, within our shared group of friends, and got to know each other casually.  Mr. Trekker and I were best friends first (in my opinion, that’s the way to go!)  At first, I didn’t even consider him as a potential romantic suitor (although if you ask him, I was always in his sights. 😊)  We just clicked in a way I never had with a guy before.  We became inseparable, best friends, almost instantaneously. 

One of the first times we hung out was a group trip to the local gas station. (Ok…we are OLD and we went to a SMALL school in the middle of podunk-nowhere Indiana, there wasn’t a lot to do there.  Most of us didn’t have cars.  We were also poor, college students, and this was before streaming tv–I didn’t even have a cell phone till AFTER I graduated college. 😮)

Due to these factors, a quasi-tradition at our school was a midnight, slurpy run to the nearby 7-11.  One of the nights, Mr. Trekker and I tagged along, individually, with a group of friends. When two friends, who were dating, started a round of piggyback rides, I casually mentioned, “I want a piggyback ride!”  Then I heard this deep voice emanating from this tall, lanky kid behind me, who I barely knew, “I’ll give you a piggyback ride…” That’s how it all began folks!  See guys, you can still sweep a lady off her feet, even in the 21st century! 😉

Now that we’ve been married for 15 years, I think it’s fair to give out a  few tips on how to make a marriage last…

1.  MARRY YOUR BEST FRIEND!!!

I cannot stress enough how important I think this is.  If I could give only one piece of advice on how to have a successful marriage, this would be it!

This will ultimately affect the way you relate to your spouse throughout the entire course of your relationship.  You will likely live through both the best and the worst moments of life with that person.  Why would you want it to be anyone other than your best friend?  I can’t imagine trying to navigate childrearing, sickness, family/household emergencies or any of the other stresses and difficulties that life will inevitably throw your way, with anyone other than your best friend!

Your best friend is the person who knows what you’re like at your worst, yet is still willing to put up with you. 😉  They will ultimately end up being one of your highest priorities anyway, so why wouldn’t you choose that person to marry?  Your spouse knows you more intimately than anyone else.  They know every one of your embarrassing, disgusting details (whether you want them to or not. 😛)  Why would you want anyone other than your best friend to have that kind of incriminating material on you? 😉

Your best friend is the person you have the most patience for, and the one you’ll do anything to fix a divide between.  Your marriage relationship should be this strong.  Your best friend should be the one you have chosen to be yoked to for life.  People have actually told us, “You guys just seem to actually LIKE each other”.  Um…yeah…we’re married!  Is this a common thing these days?  Do people choose marriage partners they DON’T like?! 🤔  

If your current spouse isn’t your best friend, figure out a way to change that.  Yes, it IS that important.  Find something the two of you enjoy doing together.  Find a way to bond.  I GUARANTEE you, without a shadow of a doubt, this will make your relationship better. 

If you’re engaged to someone who isn’t your best friend, don’t give up hope yet, but for the best chance of making your marriage succeed long-term, find a way to change this BEFORE the wedding.

The person you are “just dating” may not be your best friend…yet…but do they have that potential?  If not, rethink the relationship now before it gets more serious.

On the other hand, could the person who’s currently your best, platonic friend be a potential mate?  If that isn’t a practical option, figure out what qualities they have that draw you to them, and look for those qualities in potential mates (honesty, integrity, empathy, humor, drive, quirkiness…)

Two, old wedding rings with lace running through them
Two of my grandparents had died by the time we got married. Both were with their respective partners for almost 50 years! On our wedding day, I carried both of their wedding rings in my bouquet. I couldn’t think of a better way to bestow favor on our marriage.

2.  Play together!

Really!  Life is serious enough, have fun with the mate you’ve pledged your life to.  Goof around, pick on each other (good-naturedly of course).  Enjoy fun activities together!  Make each other laugh (they say it’s good for the soul!)  Tease, flirt, do fun, silly stuff with each other.  “Adulting” can get pretty dull, spice it up!  Got a day full of errands?  Find time for a quick ice cream or lunch date in the mix.  Go on walks together.  Get in food fights!

One of Mr. Trekker and my favorite memories from college is when we got in a food fight with buffalo wings from Dominoes…sauce got everywhere, it was epic!  His former roommate still doesn’t know that one of the wings ended up in his shoe (we cleaned it up! 😮🤫😇)

So play around and have fun with your mate…you know, like you would with your best friend… 😮

3.  Sex

Hehe…yeah, five years on and…NOPE, still not gonna talk about that subject!… 😲😋😘😉😇

4.  Pay attention to the little things

People tend to show you their true selves, in subtle ways.  Watch for clues for how your Intended will treat you years down the road.  You know, once the lovey-dovey, rose-colored glasses of dating life are removed and the ugly reality of spending the next 50-odd years with someone sets in. 🙃

These are things like, do they put the toilet seat down?  This is, admittedly, a bit trivial, but it can have serious implications for things to come.  Something like this is a small, simple sign that a person is considerate of and empathetic towards others.  That’s not a bad indication when considering someone as a potential, lifelong mate!  What’s the old saying, if you can trust them with the little things…

5.  Say “I’m sorry”…OFTEN, and then…FORGIVE!

Whoever came up with the old adage “love means never having to say you’re sorry” is an idiot. 😋  Seriously, that’s stupid!  We’re all human so we all make mistakes.  We’re also all intelligent enough to know when we were wrong.  So humble yourself, apologize when you’ve screwed up, and try to improve on your actions in the future.

For the spouse being apologized to…FORGIVE!!!  This is key when talking about a long-term relationship.  We all have times when we can be complete jerks.  We all lash out, from time to time.  Unfortunately, our spouses, by the very nature of how intimately we are connected, are most often the outlets for our frustrations. 

I don’t know why we seem to have this fault in our human nature that the person who is supposed to mean the most to us is also the one we default to treating the worst.  It’s probably because they are the one person we can truly let our guard down around…

If your best friend is a jerk to you, don’t you want to forgive them as quickly as possible to get back to your fulfilling relationship?  Be forgiving of your partner, we all have our bad days.  Remember, you chose them for a reason.  And the next time you are feeling cranky, remember how it felt to bear the brunt of that emotion from someone else, and maybe try to be as gentle as you can with them.

6.  PATIENCE!

This goes hand-in-hand with #5.  Because we are all human and therefore, all flawed, we’re going to screw up…A LOT.  Show patience towards your mate.  They are the one you dedicated your life to, they should be the one you grant the most patience to and are most tolerant of when they become frustrating…kind of like you would your best friend…🙃 (Yes, I’m going to keep harping on this point.  I TRULY believe it is THAT important). 

A cake topper with a male and female in hiking clothes/equipment and a flag with a picture of a dog
I’m sure it won’t surprise you that the Trekkers picked a hiking couple as their cake topper. 😁 And yes, since Doggo couldn’t be at the wedding, we included her on the cake!

7.  The “dreaded” in-laws 😱

I was fortunate to be blessed with pretty great in-laws (and I’m not just saying that because my mother-in-law reads this blog…REALLY! 😉)  Seriously though, I know family dynamics are complicated.  Not everyone is blessed with an extended family that’s easy to deal with.  HOWEVER, those family members played a large part in making the person you have chosen as a life-long mate into who they are today.

When you marry that person, you marry their family too.  Why not do everything within your power to make your relationships with those people as peaceful as possible?  If you don’t get along with them, don’t do it for them.  Do it for the person you have chosen to love, above anyone else.

8.  Show restraint with complaints…

Ok, before anyone yells at me, I’m not saying you shouldn’t speak up if you’re feeling unhappy, or that your needs aren’t being met.  HOWEVER, I think there is a time, place, and manner in which to bring up grievances. 

The old cliché that “it isn’t what you said, it’s the tone you used”?  Yeah, that one is actually true!  The best time to air your frustrations is probably not in the midst of your anger.  If you can hold your tongue just to the count of 10, or a few minutes, or maybe even a few days, the problem may be able to be resolved more quickly and/or with fewer feelings hurt. 

How do these things usually play out?  Someone says something in the heat of anger that may be true, but that isn’t very kind.  Then later, apologies are garnered and the situation is talked over and resolved calmly, right?  So, why not just skip the anger and drama, and jump right to the calm discussion?  I find I can usually express myself more effectively when I’ve had time to think about exactly what is upsetting me anyway.  Wouldn’t you strive to be gentle with your best friend when confronting them about something they do that upsets you?

9.  Don’t let life’s little hiccups ruin things

“Life is messy, sh*t happens, don’t sweat the small stuff.”  Living by these ideals will make life easier.  Eventually, things aren’t gonna work out as we planned.  We gotta buck up and deal with it, kids.  We gotta learn to “just groove“.  Besides, sometimes a minor disappointment, such as a rained-out picnic in the park, can lead to an even better result…like a Subway picnic on the floor of your dorm room. 😇

Speaking of rain, don’t be afraid of a little rain on your wedding day (…even if it is an outdoor wedding! 😮)  They claim it’s good luck!

I recently learned the supposed reasoning behind this and it’s kind of cool…When you get married it’s called “tying the knot” right?  Well, what material is often used for knots? Rope.  And what happens to rope when it gets wet? It swells.  So…the idea is, that a “knot” tied on a rainy, wet day, will swell and be impossible to untie…ha! 😉 (In case you are wondering, yes, it was rainy and in the upper 40s the day of our OUTDOOR wedding, and it was wonderful!  It was nothing that a covered gazebo with a roaring fire in the stone fireplace couldn’t cure!)

10.  …and last but not least…

Did I mention you should marry your best friend? 😉 😇

These tips are just my personal opinion, of course.  You can decide if you take them to heart or not.  But I think it’s fair to say that long-term marriages aren’t a super common thing these days.  I believe in learning from the lessons of others.  So, I try to follow the models of other long-term couples (both for what TO and what NOT to do. 🙃)  These tips are things that work for us.

The Trekkers have big shoes to fill.  Both of our parents have been married more than 40 years, and most of our grandparents came close to (if not hit) the 50-year mark! 😮  I pray we are lucky enough to have–at least–that many years together!

Do you have any pieces of advice for a long and happy marriage?  Let me know in the comments!

 

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Black & white photo of two hands on a quilt, both wearing wedding rings on the ring fingers. Pin reads, "Happy Anniversary, I Do: 10 Tips on Making a Marriage Last"

 

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Old Baldy: a Great Place for Fall Colors in the Black Hills

In this post, I review Old Baldy, a trail loop near Spearfish, South Dakota that the Trekkers frequent.

 

There is a great, under-appreciated place to view fall colors in the Black Hills, Old Baldy, near Spearfish, South Dakota!  While it’s beautiful in the fall, the Trekkers enjoy it throughout the year as it’s never crowded.

Where is the Old Baldy Trailhead?

The Old Baldy trailhead is on Tinton Road, about halfway between Spearfish and Lead.  You can get there from either town.

From Spearfish, the easiest way is to take Exit 8 off of I-90, for McGuigan Road.  Take this south to the T-intersection with Tinton Road, and then turn right towards the forest.  Take Tinton Road about 10 miles to the trailhead.

If you’re coming from Lead, take US 85 west (towards Wyoming) for about 18 miles out of Lead, until you reach the turnoff for Tinton Road.  Take Tinton Road about 18 miles to the trailhead.

The road is gravel, however, it is well-graded.  As long as you don’t mind your car getting dusty, any passenger vehicle can handle it under good conditions.  In the winter, though, it is rarely plowed past the Iron Creek Lake turnoff when coming from Spearfish.  A high-clearance, 4WD vehicle is often needed to drive this road under those conditions, and even then it is often impassable unless you’re on foot, skis, or are powered by a snowmobile.

I’m not sure if this area has been getting more snow in recent years (this part of the Hills receives some of the largest amounts of snow during the winter); or if the Forest Service just isn’t maintaining Tinton Road past the Iron Creek Lake turnoff; or if they’re intending it more for snowmobile usage.  But whatever the reason, the road has been almost impassible for much of the winter, lately.  One time, we got pretty stuck attempting to reach the trailhead (we were VERY fortunate we carry recovery gear).

What you will see on the Old Baldy Trail

This loop trail is around six miles in total length, with an additional spur to the Mt. Baldy summit that adds a little over 1.5 miles to the total hike.  There is a “lake” that is signed, though I use that term VERY loosely.  We’ve never actually seen any water in it.  It should be called “Green Lake” because it looks like a meadow!  There is a small stream that runs through the “lakebed”, but mostly you only see grass and cows near here. 😋

A word of warning, beware of the cows, as well as their “leavings”. 🤥   The National Forest leases this area to local ranchers, so you can find cows anywhere and everywhere near here during the summer.

A green meadow with trees in the background with a wooden sign that reads, "Baldy Lake"
The “lake” (yes, really!)
A muddy creek runs through a green meadow with trees in the background
Hey look, we found some water!

The trail winds through pine forests with aspen glens dispersed amongst them.  It also traverses the edges of a few meadows and offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.  This area is especially pretty in fall when the yellow of the aspen and green of the pine complement each other beautifully, especially as contrasted against the clear blue, Black Hills sky!

Besides the main loop, there is a spur of the Rimrock Trail that can be accessed from here, as well.  This side trail will take you to the rim of Spearfish Canyon.  These are all prime places to enjoy the fall colors the Northern Hills are known for, without having to deal with the crowds you’ll find in the Canyon below.

A brown-grass meadow and fence with hills covered in pine trees and yellow, fall-colored trees in the background
The trail options here are really just one loop (other than the spur to the Rimrock Trail).  If you go right at the fork, heading counterclockwise, you’ll hit the GORGEOUS aspen glen first,  traversing the only real switchbacks found on the trail on the downhill.

If you do choose this route, the return trip is a little steeper, but I think it’s easier.  There is more open space, so there is also more breeze if you’re warm.  The open areas also provide you with INCREDIBLE views of the surrounding mountains and prairie.  However, if it’s sunny in the summer, this area could be hotter as there is less shade…

Regardless of which fork you choose, the “lake” and the turnoff to the summit of the mountain are at the bottom of the hill.  You know what this means!  No matter which fork you pick, you have to climb back up the WHOLE return trip! 😛  

If you start off on the left branch of the trail, going clockwise, you’ll hit the more open area of the loop on your descent.  Facing this direction, you’ll actually be provided with more expansive views of the surrounding countryside.

Unfortunately, this will mean you have to face the “spirit-crushing switchbacks” (I HATE switchbacks!) through the aspen glen, on the way back up the hill.  Because the trees in this area are thicker, it is also more shaded during the summer months.  HOWEVER, the denser foliage also means there is less of a breeze…phew!  Decisions, decisions!

Either way the aspen glen, especially, is INCREDIBLY beautiful in the fall months, not to mention the surrounding hillsides that are ablaze with yellow from all the aspen trees.  The aspen glen is my favorite of the whole trail in the fall.

Author’s note:  the American Indians who originally gave the Black Hills their name called them this because the pine forests made the Hills look dark from afar.  In recent years, the pine trees have been decimated by pine beetles and some wildfires. Aspen trees grow EXTREMELY WELL in their wake.  One wonders if a few hundred years from now, a more appropriate name for these hills may be the Aspen Hills, or the Yellow Hills–the color all the aspens turn in the fall…

A view across hills covered in green, pine trees and yellow, fall-colored trees in the background
This view is from one of the lookout points on the western edge of the loop

These days, if you visit this location, you will see some extensive storm damage.  Multiple tornadoes actually went through here in recent summers!  That’s a rare occurrence in the Black Hills!

One of the storms was especially nerve-racking for me, as the Trekker Parental Units (and Extended Family) were staying at a rental house near Lead at the time. They were outside the tornado’s track–thankfully–but only by about a mile. 😮  Fortunately, the baseball-sized hail that the storm dropped missed them as well!  Helplessly watching that tempest on the radar, while I was sitting in the sunshine over an hour away, was enough to give me a few gray hairs!

When is the best time of year to visit the Old Baldy trail?

The trails are perfect for both summer and winter recreation IF you can reach them in the winter.  If Tinton Road is passable as far as the trailhead when there is snow on the ground, the actual site can be hard to find as the sign is often buried by snow.  Also, there is usually very little parking as the lane to the parking lot is not plowed.

So, you must make do with parking along the side of the road.  In the past, we have come here multiple times to snowshoe or ski. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to reach the site the last several years.

The difficulty in accessing the trailhead during the winter months is really a shame because it is GORGEOUS under the cover of snow.  The sunbeams shine through the bare branches of the aspen trees while the pristine, white snow, and dark-brown bark, contrast perfectly with the dark green pine trees and blue sky.  Make sure to wear layers, as it can get pretty windy up here since it’s near the top of the mountain.

View through a snowy forest with leafless trees
This is a fun trail for mountain biking as well, heading downhill. 😋  Going back up can be a bit of a pain, especially if you ascend via the eastern leg of the loop, through the switchbacks.  Both hikers and bikers need to be watchful for each other as there are several blind curves and collisions can happen if the bikes round them too quickly.

Horses are also allowed on this trail.  It is imperative that bikers watch for these equines, who could shy and throw a rider, or hurt themselves (or the biker) if a bike came racing around a corner and startled them.

If you’re looking for a fine place to view fall colors in the Black Hills, and you’d like to avoid the usual crowds, check out Old Baldy!  You’ll be glad you did!

Have you ever tried this trail in any season?  Tell me about your experience in the comments!

 

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4 pictures: 1) Yellow-leafed and green trees cover a hillside; 2)A brown-grass meadow with fall-colored trees dotting it, all under a clear, blue sky; 3) A view across hills covered in green, pine trees and yellow, fall-colored trees in the background; 4) A green meadow with trees in the background with a wooden sign that reads, "Baldy Lake". Pin reads, "Old Baldy: A Great Place for Fall Colors in the Black Hills"

 

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Enjoy the Holidays Mindfully

In this post, I discuss how detrimental I think it is that our society rushes us from one holiday to the next and how Mindfulness practices can help us keep our sanity, especially during the upcoming, Holiday Season.

 

Gird yourself for the Holidays folks, ready or not…they are coming! 😮  

Here we go again…I’ve been noticing the Old Navy Christmas ads are already going strong and it’s not even Halloween…yet! 🙄  EVERY year this happens and EVERY year it makes me irritated. 😝

Straight, No Chaser has a great song that speaks to this very issue

One of my biggest pet peeves is the overt rush to the Holiday Season, which seems to start in September. 😋  Why the rush?  It completely goes against all principles of Mindfulness and being Present, or living in the moment–especially as this year felt like we had summer to the middle of October! 😓

I will acknowledge, that the pretty lights do help to lighten the mood as our days shorten…but there are plenty of Halloween/Fall-related decorations we could be focusing on right now! 😤  –I do appreciate that our local neighborhoods have seen an explosion of Halloween and fall decorations this year! 

Christmas…in Fall?!

It seems like a week or two before Halloween each year, the seasonal sections of stores are already alight with Christmas decor.  Not one or two things, here or there, mind you.  No, there are rows upon rows of Christmas lights, outdoor and indoor decorations, and fake Christmas trees already filling the shelves.

This isn’t that big of a deal.  It happens every year, so I know I should be prepared for it and should just ignore it.  At the very least, it is NOT important enough to be wasting my precious, mental energy on…yet every year it irks me more!  I just get irritated that while I’m busy thinking about goblins and ghouls, Christmas decorations are shining at me from the shelves. 😝

The stores have Halloween candy out in August!  Seriously, if you buy the candy then, it would be gross come the actual holiday.  And let’s be honest, who could keep it in their house that long without eating it? 

Maybe that’s the plan of the stores and candy companies, get it out early so we start enjoying it…so then we have to buy more by the time the actual holiday comes. 🤔  They’re making us fat while simultaneously slimming our wallets! 😡  They probably partner with the weight-loss companies…we’re on to the conspiracy now though! 😉  (Ok, time to take off the tin-foil hat. 😇  ) 

Have we always rushed the Holidays?

I wonder if this rush to the Holidays is really a new thing?  Maybe it has always been this way?  The over-commercialization of Christmas is even mentioned in The Charlie Brown Christmas movie from the 1960s…

Perhaps our rush to the next event we are anticipating is just a weakness of human nature?  I wonder if people who participate in less, mainstream holidays experience this, as well?  Are those who celebrate Diwali, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa allowed to enjoy these holidays in their proper season?

I think one reason this yearly phenomenon bothers me so much is that it makes me feel rushed.  I feel like it adds an additional level of stress to the everyday pressure I already struggle with.  It’s no wonder we have so much ADHD and anxiety in our world today, we’re constantly being rushed from one commercialized holiday to the next and never given the opportunity to rest and enjoy a given event in its moment.

Stop Rushing the Holidays!

You barely finish your hot dog and watch the 4th of July fireworks…and “Back to School” and pumpkins are being rammed down your throat…then, a month before Halloween even occurs, and THREE FULL MONTHS before the Christmas holiday, I’m supposed to start getting excited about Santa and his reindeer…?

It seems like we skip right over Thanksgiving, which is so sad.  That is the holiday where no gifts are expected, we can just enjoy the moments spent with family and friends.  It’s the one time where we are actually supposed to reflect on our many blessings and how thankful we are for them.  It’s one of the most mindful holidays of them all!

…then with the Christmas holidays barely past, we’re already seeing chocolate hearts for Valentine’s Day…then green clovers start appearing for St. Patrick’s Day…and shortly after, candied bunnies and chicks, for Easter, will be on the horizon…then the red, white and blue, patriotic decorations start flying for the summer festivities…and before we know it we’ve returned to Back-to-School and Halloween again!…and I swear we JUST took our Christmas tree down a few weeks ago! 😅

No wonder the years seem to fly by, we’re all living three months in the future at all times!  It reminds me of a scene from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  Upon learning that another holiday is just around the corner, Charlie Brown’s sister, Sally, states, “I haven’t even finished eating all of my Halloween candy yet!”  I remember having this same thought as a child. (Regular readers will note I reference Charlie Brown rather frequently.  The Trekkers like Charlie Brown ok, those stories taught me good lessons during my childhood, I’m not sorry! 😉) 

I just don’t understand the constant need to always be reaching for the next thing.  Do we ever take the time to just enjoy the current moment?  Are we even able to anymore?  On one hand, it seems silly to be concerned about this.  But on the other, I think this is just another example of our over-stimulated, modern culture where we need to be constantly hyped up about something at all times.

Enjoy the Holidays Mindfully

Mindfulness principles can be really useful here.  By focusing on and appreciating the individual moment, event, day (or at the very least, holiday) that we are CURRENTLY experiencing, we can help keep the stress and pressure of the Holiday Season at bay.  We will feel less stress when we aren’t always preparing for something that won’t occur for several more months.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE everything about Christmas, I just REFUSE to participate in holidays until their appointed season.  For the Trekkers, this means NO Fall decorations until at least the last half of September and I 100% refrain from engaging in anything related to Christmas until Thanksgiving has come and gone…then it’s Merry Freakin’ Christmas all day, every day! 🙃 

To Conclude

I think this rush to the Holidays is detrimental to us.  It increases the pressure of the already-stressful Holiday Season for many people.  There are so many things that always occur at once:  parties, religious and school activities, and family gatherings.  All of these can cause us angst.

This time of year can also be very expensive for many people, with all the gifts, and the–sometimes lengthy–travel involved to see family and friends.  On the other hand, not everyone has a loving family, so this time of year can be very lonely for them.

I think it’s pretty obvious that we would all benefit from putting a little less focus on the commercialized Holidays, and a little more on making our world a better place.

Do you find that the coming Holiday Season is over-hyped?  Tell me about it in the comments!

 

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Just Groovin’: 5 tips for Using Mindfulness to Lower Anxiety

I find myself stressed, many days, over the simple tasks of daily life. Read on for how I’m striving to reduce this, and ways you can too!

 

I find myself feeling anxious over dealing with day-to-day items and stressors.  I know this isn’t healthy for me mentally or physically.  I want to be more Present and live in the current moment.  So, I’ve set the goal for myself to use mindfulness practices to help lessen my anxiety levels.

I Feel Anxious Every Day

I think the anxiety stems partially from the less-than-regular, work-from-home lifestyle that I mentioned in a previous post.  My days offer incredible flexibility, but the lack of routine can make life feel chaotic.  I think the stress is also due, in part, to the general anxiety I deal with on a daily basis.  I just have a tendency to worry about things in the future.

I think many people struggle with this.  We worry about situations from daily life; we worry about interactions or disagreements that occur in our family, friend or work groups; we worry about the health of people we care about.  Basically, we just worry a lot!  Often times there’s nothing particularly awful occurring, these are just the situations we encounter over the course of life for any given day, week or month.  These are normal things to concern ourselves with, but what can we do to ease the strain caused by that constant level of stress?

How I Lessen Anxiety with Mindfulness

I’m striving to implement a “Just Groovin'” mindset†.  Read on for tips on how to use this to reduce your levels of anxiety and to live in the moment…

†You may remember this from a previous post, where I discussed us visiting a great BBQ spot in Marble, Colorado.  It was called Slow Groovin’ BBQ, but their message was basically to just take time to enjoy the simple things in life.  The Trekkers have made this into a personal, family motto of sorts, though we edited the name to “Just Groovin’!” 

5 Tips to “Just Groove”:  Using Mindfulness to Live in the Moment and Reduce Stress:

1)  Stop Catastrophizing! 

This is a therapeutic term that basically means, don’t imagine what horrible things can go wrong in a situation when it hasn’t even happened yet, or you don’t even have all the details regarding it yet. 

This is something I struggle with regularly.  I am striving to not worry about *insert-situation-here* until it actually happens.  Usually, things play out better than I imagined they would anyway. 

Often, I build up all this angst around an impending event and then it ends up proceeding far more smoothly (and often more quickly) than I had anticipated.  Then I’m left with this surplus of negative energy that had been consuming me that, as it turns out, was completely unnecessary.  Now I have no way to release that pent-up strain, so it is just added to my ongoing stress load. 

Instead, I want to “just groove” through life, to just deal with things when and if they happen.  

2)  Don’t Stress Yourself Out Over Everyday Tasks:

I have this habit of rushing to get everything that’s on my To-Do list for that day, or week (or month) done as efficiently as possible.  While it’s good to not procrastinate when necessary tasks need to be completed, it’s also good to implement productive, time-management practices. 

We shouldn’t let ourselves get stressed out about these things.  That causes unnecessary mental and physical tension.  Again, I am usually able to complete all the to-do items that day (or at the very least that week or month) and it often takes less time than I thought it would.  So then I am stressed out, and for what?  Time and again, the list has been completed (usually more easily and more quickly than I anticipated), and all I’m left with is a further build-up of negative energy that I now struggle to relieve.

Are you seeing a pattern here? 😋  This compounding of stress just further contributes to the unnecessary tension we feel in our daily lives. 🤯  Ugh!  This is why anxiety is so mentally exhausting!

3)  Stop Stressing About the Future: 

We need to remove the word “might” from our vocabulary.  People with anxiety are always worried about what “might” happen in the future.  “My boss MIGHT yell at me when he calls me into the office; those routine tests at the doctor MIGHT show something bad…”  Let’s stop with the “might”! 

There’s only so much we can control in life.  Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Not everyone is big on the Bible, but I think this is some advice that can benefit all people, whether they are religious or not.  We need to stop worrying about what “might” come tomorrow, next week, next month or next year.  Because these things are only MIGHTS, they aren’t actually occurring yet, and we can’t deal with them until they happen.  So, let’s be mindful, live in the present, and expend our precious, mental energy on what is actually occurring RIGHT NOW!

4)  Don’t Miss Out on Today’s Joys by Worrying About Tomorrow:

Not all stress comes from negative events.  We have a tendency to want to rush through life so that we can get to the good stuff, though that may mean we don’t fully experience or appreciate the simpler, everyday nuggets we encounter along the way. 

A famous philosopher once described this problem in his young apprentice, “all his life he has looked away to the future…to the horizon…never his mind on where he was…what he was doing…” (If you’re imagining a small, elderly, goblin-looking creature, talking about Luke Skywalker…you’d be correct.  Hey, Yoda was sort of like a philosopher!  I’m a Star Wars nerd and I’m not sorry. 😉)

It’s good to enjoy the fun and exciting parts of life.  But the humble joys of our daily existence are important too.  Things like watching your children play on the playground, having a talk on the swing with an aging parent or pulling off the side of the road just to watch a particularly, stunning sunset.  In the end, these nuggets are what we experience most often and they are what we’ll remember in the long run.  These are the little things that make life worth living.

5)  Just Groove! 

My ongoing life goal that I’m continuously striving toward is to learn to just “go with the flow”.  I will strive to not allow myself to be anxious about things unless I KNOW that there is something to be anxious about. 

You may be thinking, “ever thought of trying some meds?”  Anti-anxiety medication is always an option, of course (full disclosure, I do use it, occasionally, on days that feel particularly stressful).  But I don’t want to have to rely on it for the rest of my–hopefully lengthy–lifetime.  I don’t want to need it just to get me through the normal pressures of daily existence.  It seems to me, being that most of us live in a time and place where the quality of life is about the best it’s ever been, throughout the entire course of human history, that I don’t have any excuse to build up so much stress over just getting through the day. 

This is where the concept of “Just Groovin'” comes in.  Basically, it means, take life as it comes.  I am striving to embrace mindful minimalism, and only concern myself with problems as they present themselves (rather than wasting mental energy to worry about them ahead of time). 

Want to join me on this quest?  Tell me in the comments about your tips for using mindfulness to lessen daily stress, and to live in the present moment!

 

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Autumn is a Wonderful Time of the Year

In this post, I discuss my love for my second-favorite season, Fall!

 

It’s Fall ya’ll!  The official, astronomical start of Fall was this weekend! (I’m always happy to escape the heat of summer! 🥵)

I live with a meteorologist, so I actually tend to go with the meteorological start of Fall which is September 1.  The meteorological seasons always made more sense to me anyway.

The astronomical calendar is based on the position of the sun.  Spring and Fall start on their various equinoxes, while Summer and Winter start the days with the longest (and least) amounts of daylight. 

In contrast, the meteorological calendar just divides the seasons up into three-month sections (Winter starts December 1, Summer starts June 1, etc.)–Who thinks of winter starting in the middle of December, or summer in the middle of June anyway? 😋  It always feels like those seasons are half over by the time they “officially” start.

Why Fall is Wonderful

Fall is my second-most-favorite season of the year (it’s only slightly short of Spring as my most favorite season 😉)!  I absolutely LOVE it!  There are only two bad things about this time of the year:

      • The South Dakota winds tend to start blowing again 😗
      • The days are starting to get shorter in earnest now, which I never enjoy. (The good news is, Fall is usually fairly busy for the Trekkers, and with Halloween will come the start of the Holiday Season so, before we know it, it’ll be January and the days will be lengthening again! 😎)

I am SO ready for the heat to be gone! (Especially after this year. I can confidently say this was the first summer since we moved to the Black Hills 13 years ago that summer made me as miserable as it did when we lived in North Carolina. 🥵)

I always look forward to summer, until it gets hot and stays hot and then I say…NOPE! 😋  I just don’t “do” hot ya’ll, sorry.  And while I enjoy summertime activities (and all the daylight), I just don’t find that I enjoy summer weather that much.  My body just can’t handle the heat (my doctor says I have “heat sensitivity”. 😓)

Click here for a list of some of the Trekkers’ favorite, fall hikes!

I can’t help it, I just LOVE fall weather; the crisp, cool evenings, the damp, foggy mornings.  I LOVE that it’s starting to feel good to snuggle in a sweatshirt again.

I love the smell of drying leaves and the way they *crunch!* underfoot, not to mention all their beautiful colors!  The ever-green pines here in the Hills contrast so nicely with the vibrant yellows of the aspen trees, all set against the backdrop of our–frequently–blue sky.

I love the way these signs herald change.  The cool air just feels like such a relief after the hot summer.  It’s like we’re all coming out of a sluggish mode and we’re gearing up for a season full of activities again.  I also LOVE the moodiness of the cloudy, grey days (as long as they don’t occur too close together, or I have to pull out the Vitamin D3† early!)

Other Vitamin D3 options:  Nature’s Bounty, Nature Made 2000 IU tablets, NOW softgels

What is your favorite season?  What are your favorite parts of Fall?  Let me know in the comments!

 

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Camping in the Bighorns

We try to camp in the Bighorns, in northeastern Wyoming, at least once a year!

 

The Trekkers have a tradition of camping in the Bighorns each Labor Day Weekend!  Puppers has been a trooper on our camping trips.  She enjoys riding in the truck (she doesn’t even mind the BUMPY, jarring journeys we’ve taken her down a few 4×4 roads…too much! 😉)  She can keep up with us on the hiking trails and she even handles the tents like a champ (though she needs a little assistance getting in and out of the rooftop tent).

You do have to wonder about people who drive 3+ hours to the wilderness, where they proceed to pee in a bucket and not shower for three days…and call that fun! 🤔😉😎

A rooftop tent is open on top of a trailer, a separate small tent and truck are behind. All in a woodland scene.
One of our camp setups

We finally caved and bought a privacy shelter for this trip, and we were SO glad we did.  It made life SO MUCH easier.  In the past we’ve used the vestibule that came with the rooftop tent, this worked ok, but even I couldn’t stand up straight in it (not to mention Mr. Trekker’s 6’4 frame).  This could be because we have the tent on the trailer rather than on top of the truck, the vestibule likely works better in that situation.  But the shelter worked great for changing, for a bathroom along with our Luggable Loo†, and for a shower using the solar shower.  It was so cool to look up at night and see the Milky Way shining over you while you were changing or “taking care of business”. 😇

The Bighorn Mountains

I know I’ve said this before, and I hate to sound like a broken record, 😇 but I LOVE the Bighorns.  I always forget we aren’t in the depths of the Colorado High Country when we visit there.  I love their stony summits, some still sporting spots of white leftovers from last winter’s snowpack, just above the treeline far below.

I always think of them as their own tiny island of mountains that rises out of the high prairie of northeastern Wyoming, but according to Wikipedia, they’re actually a spur of the Rockies separated from the main mountain chain by the Bighorn Basin.

A creek runs through a wetland area with trees and stony mountains towering in the background.Though this area is just as beautiful as the Rockies, it is FAR less crowded, which makes it so much more pleasant to visit. 😋  There are no lines of people hiking in the Bighorns like we’ve experienced in various places around Colorado.  Also, oftentimes, the lower-elevation plains may be baking in 90-degree weather, while it’s in the 60s-70s, and breezy, in the mountains!

It doesn’t hurt that, depending on which area you are heading to, the Bighorns are a shorter, 3 – 4-hour drive from the Black Hills, rather than the 6 – 8+ hours required to reach the mountains in Colorado ( and that’s just the Front Range, in the east-central portion of the state).  You will still have to drive through rural Wyoming whether you’re going to Colorado or the Bighorns.  However, to reach the mountains in Wyoming, you drive on I-90 the whole way.  It’s a little easier if weather is bad, and you don’t have as much trouble with the Wyoming drivers who like to pass on two-lane roads leaving little room for oncoming cars…(ahem!🤬🤯) ( Of course, all that being said, no one should visit here, ever, it’s just a terrible place to be. 😮😇🙃)

The Bighorns aren’t to be trifled with though.  These mountains are rugged, with little accommodations by way of gas, food, and supplies.  Small towns, such as Buffalo, Ten Sleep, Greybull, and Sheridan dot the area.  But these are few and far between (not to mention pretty tiny, by the standards of “normal” people who aren’t used to the small settlements that are common in the West). 😉  This is a national forest area, not a national park, so even camping accommodations are rustic, rarely offering more than potable water and a pit toilet (and those are the fancy ones)! 😮  So, if you’re looking to visit this area, be prepared to be self-sufficient.  The views will make it worth the trial, though!

The night sky in the Bighorns

There isn’t a lot of light pollution in the Bighorns, so on clear nights, you are treated to an INCREDIBLE light show!  Once the sun sets, the stars and planets come out in abundance.  My whole life, I’ve never seen a night sky that is comparable to what you find in the crisp coolness of the high mountains.  The sky actually looks like it has the measles, as there is almost a rash of stars that covers it.  The cloudy ribbon of the Milky Way is often clearly visible as it stretches across the expanse of darkness.  You can almost sense it glowing from within.  It is truly an incredible sight.

Silent Night in the high mountains

An instrument shows an altitude reading of 7500 feetOur campsite was at about 7500 feet on this visit (oftentimes we stay much higher, closer to 9000-10,000 feet).  We’ve noticed something odd at these high altitudes that we have also experienced in Colorado’s High Country.  There is a distinct lack of “night sounds”.  You don’t hear the chirping of crickets or croaking of frogs in that thinner air, even on warmer nights, and I don’t know why.  Nights tend to be pretty cool in those places, so it may be due to this, or just that there is a very short season where the night air would even be warm enough for the creatures to survive.  But whatever the reason, when we’re up so high I do miss the “chirping” sounds of a summer night.

Dispersed camping in the Bighorn National Forest

Morning on a meadow ringed by trees. The sun is just coming up and is shinning on the mountains in the background.Sometimes when we head out we Disperse Camp.  This is also known as “dry camping”, where you just set up your camp somewhere in the national forest, outside of an established campground.  We tried this for the first time in Colorado, at both State Forest State Park and near Crested Butte.  On both occasions, we did stay at an actual, numbered campsite, it was just away from any campground and we weren’t able to see our neighbors.

On this trip, there were no numbered sites, but they did request that you stay at an already established campsite (designated by fire rings).  I have never experienced such a busy weekend in the Bighorns!  We stayed near Circle Park (there are a lot of “parks” in this region, they are basically just large, meadowy areas amongst the forests).  It was a lovely site with views of the surrounding mountains, but we could see three other campsites from ours (one had a large group in it).  We could hear even more campers, just on the other side of the copse of trees we were camped near.  Next time, we’ll have to try going even farther out if we hope to have more privacy! 😉

Moose in the Bighorns!

Morning in the meadow. A bull moose can be seen at a distance in the grass. The background is forest with the red, morning sun shining on the mountains in the far background.
Ladies and gentlemen, Martin the Moose!

I wasn’t sure if we’d see any moose on this trip since we were sticking mainly to the southern portion of the Bighorns and I wasn’t aware of any waterways running near our campsite (which moose favor).  We lucked out though.  It only happened one time, but at about 6:30 one morning, as the Pup and I were enjoying her “morning constitutional”, I spotted Martin the Bull Moose sauntering through the “park”, down the hill from our campsite!  SUCCESS!!!  Puppers wasn’t sure what to make of that LARGE, funny-looking thing!

Hiking Trails

Circle Park Trail:
A small lake, surrounded by forest
Sherd Lake

We did this same trail on our first trip to the Bighorns, several years ago, in October.  It’s a nice hike, fairly wide and graded, and not terribly steep (though it is quite rocky in several places).  We walked to Sherd Lake, which is absolutely GORGEOUS!  There are views of several nearby mountains, such as Bighorn and Darton Peaks, from here.  This trail is around four miles total, so it’s perfect for a day hike (especially with a not-quite-full-stamina, juvenile, canine friend). 🐶

The trail continues on to several other lakes from there.  It also connects with an 8-mile loop that snakes around the nearby mountain peaks, if you’re looking for a lengthy hike (or a good backpacking trip). 

Maybelle Lake Trail (off Forest Road 430):

A grassy meadow with large rocks sprinkled about, bordered by forestThis hike was deceptively tough.  It’s only about three miles in total length, but it’s overgrown in many spots, very rocky and there are lots of downed trees.  We actually lost the trail several times and had to root around to locate it again.  Other parts of it are PERFECT though.  They feature a flat, graded path through a moist, pine forest, that is surrounded on both sides by a green carpet of ferns, moss, and soft undergrowth.  It almost felt like hiking in the cool rainforests of the Pacific Northwest.  It was such an idyllic sight!

The other difficulty is in reaching this trail.  You have to drive about 45 minutes (one way) on a rugged, 4×4 road to get to the trailhead.  We had done this route several years ago, so we knew what to expect, but this would NOT be appropriate for a normal car, or even just a high clearance vehicle.  If you don’t have a 4×4, with gear intended for off-road purposes, you should NOT attempt this road. (As an example, after trying this route a few years ago, we decided skid plates would be an important addition to the truck.)  After completing the road on this adventure, there is some paint hanging from the skid plates in a few spots (we sure were glad they were there!) 😋

Small lake with rocky, tree-covered mountain peaks in the background
Maybelle Lake

Tensleep Canyon

I’ve mentioned this canyon before, but this is one of the most beautiful places in the Bighorns.  If you are anywhere near this national forest and you have the chance to drive the canyon, you absolutely MUST put it on your list.  It is NOT to be missed.  This is one of our favorite areas in this national forest, and we try to enjoy it whenever we’re nearby.

The canyon is surrounded by arid, rocky cliffs on both sides, and is located on the southwest side of the Bighorn mountains.  One great thing about it is that EVERYONE can experience it.  US 16 is the main road that runs through the middle of the canyon.  It’s an easy-to-drive, paved byway.

For the best views, I would travel down the canyon, from east to west, on Route 435.  This is actually a dirt road that runs parallel to US 16 on the canyon’s southern side.  It’s a very well-graded route though, so as long as you don’t mind your car getting a little dusty, any 2WD vehicle can handle it in good weather (beware, the road may be impassable during snowy or muddy conditions. The road is also closed to vehicles November – June).

It’s a two-way road, but it’s fairly narrow, so take your time and be cautious.  There is room to pass a vehicle coming the other way but both drivers need to be aware as the lane gets tight.

Related posts:  Lake Helen, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming; 4 Don’t Miss Sites in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming; West Tensleep Trail, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming;  Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming

This route provides better views down the length of the canyon into the dry expanse of Bighorn Basin, that opens up between the western slopes of the Bighorns and the eastern slopes of the Absarokas (near Yellowstone National Park).  While the Bighorns provide cooler conditions, even on the hottest days of the summer, the Basin sits on a high prairie that lies in the rain shadow of the larger mountains, to the west, and bakes under the heat waves of the summer sun.

On your return trip up the canyon, take the paved, US 16 for incredible views of the dun-colored rock and sparse, short, green trees and bushes that comprise the canyon walls.  They stand out in contrast to the deep blue of the sky above.  These views are SO beautiful!

You aren’t very likely to see moose in this area, it’s too dry and hot for the vittles they enjoy dining on.  The northern side of the Bighorns, near routes like US 14 and 14A, are prime spots for spotting these ungulates.

For the best light, it’s best to drive up the canyon, west to east, in the afternoon when the sun is at your back!  Here is a link to a video I made of our drive up the canyon.

We were glad to enjoy another successful, Labor Day, camping trip to the Bighorns.  We really enjoy returning to this area year after year.  There are so many things to see here, it can’t all be done in one weekend!

Have you hiked to Sherd or Maybelle Lakes?  What did you think of the trails?  Tell me about your experiences in the comments!

 

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Canoeing at Deerfield Lake

In this post, I review one of our favorite canoeing sites, Deerfield Lake, in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

canoe on a lake's shoreDeerfield Lake is one of the Trekkers’ favorite spots for canoeing in the Black Hills (another is Jenney Gulch, on Pactola Lake.)  This site is the terminus for the lengthy Deerfield Trail, that I’ve mentioned in another post.  There are many things to enjoy about this part of the Black Hills.  It’s a little more remote, so it does take a little longer to reach, but it’s also higher in elevation so it tends to be cooler.  In the winter, this may not be as pleasant, but in the summer, when you are roasting in Rapid City, you can head to the Deerfield area for a less oppressively warm, far more enjoyable day.

Where in the Black Hills is Deerfield Reservoir?

This body of water is easy to reach, just take Deerfield Road west, from Hill City, for about 15 miles.  You drive right past it so you can’t miss it! 🙃

What fun things can you do at Deerfield Lake?

a lake view

a lake with mountain backdropThere is a hiking trail, that circumvents the lake, which is also good for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the colder months.  There are several campgrounds available around the lake, as well.  You should be aware these are National Forest campgrounds, which we always love, but they usually have very sparse accommodations.  Potable water and vault toilets are about all you can expect at these campsites (though they are usually quiet and some spots have WONDERFUL views).  This is also one of our favorite areas for acquiring Christmas trees in the Black Hills if you know where to look…

What makes Deerfield Reservoir so great?

One of the best things about this lake is that it is fairly large in size (comparable to Sheridan Lake farther to the east) but it has a no-wake rule.  So, while people can bring motorized boats if they wish (and some do, to fish) they aren’t allowed to go very fast.  This regulation makes Deerfield Reservoir an opportune site for the slower, water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, and paddle-boarding.

We are especially thankful for the peacefulness of this place as there was a measure put forth to the State Legislature to drop the no-wake rule.  This would have allowed boats to travel at wake-speed which would likely have increased the frequency and amount of larger boats using the lake.  Fortunately, after a STRONG public outcry from locals, it was defeated.  We were SO glad!  This is truly one of the best places to canoe or kayak in the Black Hills (in my opinion).  There are other nice lakes around Custer State Park, but they aren’t nearly as large.  They don’t offer as nice of views of the surrounding mountains either. (With all that being said, this is a horrible place to visit and everyone should stay away! 😮😉)

More pictures of our canoe day are below, courtesy of Mr. Trekker!

a woman canoeing on a lake

 

Two canoe paddles against a lake shoreline backdrop
Just two canoe paddles, in love! 😉

With all this talk of canoeing, I would be remiss not to mention the rack system that we use to safely transport our mighty vessel. 😉   We really like the Yakima KeelOver Rooftop Canoe Rack†.  It installs INCREDIBLY easily–and quickly–on the luggage rack on top of your vehicle.  It also both protects the canoe from damage and holds it in place very well.  Basically, the way it is designed, there are four separate, cushioned feet that attach to the already-installed luggage rack.  If the canoe starts to slide to the left or the right, it is held in place by the feet on the opposite side.  The kit also comes with tie-down straps that are used side-to-side and front-to-back to strap the canoe to the vehicle.  It should be noted that this system is specifically intended for canoes only. 

The next time you’re looking to escape the heat of a summer day in Rapid City, check out Deerfield Lake.  It makes for a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the busier, tourist towns, and offers scenic views as well.  Go out and enjoy it!

Have you canoed at Deerfield Lake? Tell me about your experience in the comments!

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Looking for one of the best canoeing sites in the Black Hills? Read on for my review of Deerfield Lake, in Western South Dakota.

 

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Can we be friendly towards those with different political opinions?

After reading the book “Travels with Charlie”, by John Steinbeck, I discuss how many aspects of US society, that Steinbeck noted in 1960, are still true today.

 

Author’s Note:  I want to be VERY clear that I am NOT endorsing ANY political view with this post.  The critiques I outline below apply to ALL of us.  I truly believe we can (and should) ALL do better. (Also, this comes from the perspective of an American speaking on how I see political views playing out in the US.  I can’t speak to how things work in other countries.)–Also, also, I originally wrote this post during the Trump/Hilary election in 2016 but I think it’s still relevant today!

A few years ago, I read Travels with Charlie, by John Steinbeck.  This is a great story to read if you’re on a road trip since that’s what the book is about. 😉  It is set in the fall of 1960, as Steinbeck and his faithful poodle, Charlie, set out to explore the country. (Steinbeck wanted to rediscover it before he died.)  I was struck by how many things he noted that seem to still be relevant today, almost 60 years–and a HUGE technology boom–later…sometimes the old adage is true, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Life isn’t simple anymore:

Steinbeck bemoaned the fact that people are always rushing around in the big cities and on interstate highways.  He felt like they didn’t have time for chatting or pleasantries, that there was no real contact between them anymore.  He felt like everyone just kept to themselves and in their own little world…

Imagine what he’d think of today’s world, where everyone is too preoccupied with their noses in their phones, or their earbuds entertaining them, to pay any attention to the world around them. 😮

Steinbeck thought everything was too mechanized, that there was too much technology in his modern world.  He believed this made life too easy which gave people too much free time that they then filled with worry…

Things like mobile phones, the internet, and computer-driven machines hadn’t even entered popular culture yet.  What would his opinion be of today’s Brave New World?  He thinks things are bad in 1960, wait till he gets a load of the “always-on” society of the new Millenium! 😋  Does his theory help to explain why so many people suffer from anxiety in our modern world?  Do we have such–relatively– easy lives, and consequently so much free time on our hands, that we have lengthy periods to “think” ourselves into an unnecessary panic?

Steinbeck felt regional cultures around the country were becoming too homogenized.  That local dialects and customs weren’t as noticeable as he remembered from his childhood, he felt like they were all becoming too mixed and similar.  He believed this was due to people moving all over the country and living in different places from where they grew up…

You have to wonder, if this was true way back then, how much worse is it now when people regularly move all around the world?  On the other hand, does some good come from this?  When we travel and move to places that push us out of our comfort zone, we are exposed to new ideas and cultures.  I think that makes us more tolerant of and more educated about other viewpoints.  Wouldn’t this experience then help to enrich our lives?

People are afraid to be honest with each other…

Steinbeck felt like there weren’t enough people, at that time, who would stand up for what they believed in.  He mentioned how people didn’t want to talk about politics with their friends, families, or close confidants anymore.  He lamented the division that he saw in the country…

It is interesting to think that, on the eve of one of the most turbulent decades in modern US history, he could feel like people wouldn’t stand up for what they believed in.  The ’60s ended up being full of protests and people doing exactly what Steinbeck wanted to see more of, marching for what they felt to be just. 

What would he say about the political situation in our country today?  Plenty of people march and advocate for their rights, but others are afraid to speak up for fear of public shaming.  I personally know people who won’t be open and honest with their closest friend or family member regarding who they plan to vote for in the next election because they’re afraid of negatively impacting that relationship.  To me, this is a sad commentary on the state of our nation, that we can’t have differing opinions yet still respect each other. 

A House Divided Cannot Stand

Steinbeck talked about fighting with his Republican sisters (he was a self-professed Democrat) when he visited them, in his hometown, in California.  They would call him a Communist for his liberal views and he would compare them to oppressive tyrants like Genghis Khan because of their conservative opinions…

Sound familiar?  Things DEFINITELY haven’t changed on this front!  I think it’s sad how you see so much of this today.  In the US, Republican talking heads call Progressives “mentally ill” or “crazy”.  In contrast, Progressive talking heads refer to anyone who doesn’t agree with them as “bigoted” or the ever-popular  “Nazi”.  I know it isn’t just here in the States either.  I’m not super familiar with the politics of other countries, but I’ve read enough to know there are similar debates in those places, as well.

Why do we treat each other this way?  I don’t understand what we can possibly hope to achieve with it.  Is the majority of “the other side” really that bad?  I don’t think so.  Especially when those people consist of our friends, neighbors, and family members, who we otherwise love and respect. 

I think our differences come less from one side being “right” or “wrong” and more from the fact that we misunderstand each others’ perspectives.  I also believe that people on both sides of any given issue are often ignorant (intentionally or otherwise) of the plight that others face.  I read once that “you should never criticize someone else’s views unless you can explain them.  Because, if you can’t explain them, you don’t actually understand them”.  I think this is incredibly apt.  I believe we need to stay humble and realize we may not always be as “right” as we think we are. 

In the book, Steinbeck mentions a reporter who was beaten and his camera smashed for covering certain demonstrations that were occurring.  He states that the few, screaming people who were acting badly will be on tv and will end up representing that entire area or group.  Unfortunately,  no one will know about the many, good people from that same region or social category who just want to go about their daily lives.  He describes the media in his day as, “…all the polls and opinion posts, with newspapers more opinion than news so that we no longer know one from the other”…

WOW!  He could literally be writing about almost any newspaper or cable TV, news outlet in the country today!  It amazes me, with all the time that has passed and the many changes our society has gone through, how similar Steinbeck’s world was to our own. 

It’s interesting, but it’s sad in a way too.  You get the impression that not much has changed.  In some ways, it may have gotten worse with the rise of social media and the reach of the Internet.  You also get the impression we haven’t learned much in the last six decades.  Will things change much in the next six?  I’m not sure I hold out much hope…   

Can people of different political views be friendly toward each other?

Why do we fight so much and treat each other so badly?  I just don’t understand it.  Why does it always have to be “us” vs. “them”?  Why, if someone disagrees with us, do we automatically have to see them in a bad light?  Why can’t we each just have different views and opinions?

I have friends and family members that were raised in VERY similar situations as myself and with VERY similar values, yet we’re on completely opposite sides of the political spectrum.  We may agree there is a problem, but have opposing viewpoints on how to solve that problem.  Yet, for both of us, the desire to see the problem solved comes from a place of love and caring for–and wanting to help–our fellow man. 

Why can’t we use that as a cornerstone to build on, rather than calling each other names and finding ways to divide ourselves, when our values and beliefs are often similar?  We all have to live on this big, blue ball together.  Can’t we figure out a way to work with each other?

To Conclude

Steinbeck died in 1968, however, the politically charged climate that he saw wasn’t much different than the one we face these days.  I wonder what he would say about our modern world, and if he’d ask, “can’t we all just get along?”

So I challenge you, dear readers, to try to understand where someone from an opposing political viewpoint is coming from.  I’m not asking you to change your stance on any issue but if your question is, “how could anyone believe that?” I encourage you to look more closely at their viewpoint.  Honestly ask someone that holds that view to explain why they feel the way they do and then try to listen and understand with an open mind, an open heart, and without judgment.

I think if we take the approach that most people are good inside, even if they hold very different beliefs than we do, and we give them this benefit of the doubt, it would go a long way to making this world a better place for all of us. 

How do you keep the peace between friends and family with opposing political viewpoints?  Tell me about it in the comments!

 

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Adopting a New, Furry Friend!

In this post, I relate our adventure when we adopted a new puppy!

 

After our long-time dog crossed the rainbow bridge, we adopted a new, furry family member from our local Humane Society.  It had only been a few months since the death of our other dog, so I wasn’t quite sure if I was ready for a new pup just yet. 

However, we didn’t want to wait too late into the fall as it would’ve been harder to exercise a young pup during those darker, colder days (we knew we wanted a younger dog).  We also didn’t want to have to wait all the way until the next spring to grow our family again. 

I’m glad we adopted our new friend when we did though, as she had SO MUCH energy.  It was nice that she was able to run around the backyard for a few months before the snow started flying and we were cooped up inside more.

At first, I felt really guilty about “replacing” our old friend.  But seeing the differences in the personalities between the two really helped to ease the pain.  Each one is definitely unique!  I found that we didn’t “replace” one friend with another, we just made room in our hearts for another who needs us.  I can love them both, in different ways. 

Our previous dog had a large amount of energy and an incredibly dynamic and dominant personality.  Let’s face it, she was a bit of a handful.  The new pup has energy too, is more just usual “puppy” spirit.  In general, she is more compliant and easier to train.  This is lucky for us, as things seem a bit easier.  It’s unlucky for her though, as we know better training techniques after being used to a “difficult child”. 😉  

Puppy Particulars:

It was a bit of a change, going from a 14-year-old hound dog who was happy to sleep on the couch all day, to a 7-month-old puppy, bounding with energy.  We had also been spoiled by our previous friend, she had come to our home fully potty-trained.  Puppers didn’t make it that easy on us.  Fortunately, she learned quickly that the weird humans she lives with made “happy noises” when she went outside to take care of certain urges. 😋

We don’t know a lot about her history, other than she came from one of the nearby American Indian reservations and her previous owners were kind enough to surrender her to the shelter when they felt they wouldn’t be able to care for her anymore.

She’s a mix of many “flavors” of pup.  The vet told us “Shepherd mix”, though apparently, she has “Beagle eyes” (figures, that was the ONE breed I wasn’t crazy about–only because of the bark.  Fortunately, now that she’s discovered her voice, I can happily report that it doesn’t appear that she inherited that particular gene. 😅) We also heard she could have Carolina Dog and various Currs in her.

Eventually, we did a DNA test which confirmed…she’s a mutt! 😂  Supposedly she officially has combinations of shepherd, Golden Retriever, St. Bernard! and some drops of cattle dog, among others.

She’s a timid little thing.  She’s very sweet, she’s just a little afraid of strangers, and loud noises, and it took her a good while to warm up to Daddy (unless he was sitting on the couch downstairs in which case he made a perfect pillow. 🙄)  We get the impression she never lived in a house before, and very likely came from a quiet, secluded area.  This is because we noticed she was originally startled at any loud noise, including cars driving past or children yelling from nearby yards.

It didn’t help that we brought the poor thing home during one of the loudest weeks of the year in the Black Hills, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. 😝  I can imagine it would have been pretty overwhelming, to move from such a quiet place to the second most-populated region in the state.  She did adjust quite well, though.

Puppers enjoys pats from the neighbor kids, though she seems to prefer having a fence between her and them as protection…for her. 😉  She absolutely LOVES other dogs.

The deer, rabbits, squirrels, and birds that frequented our yard were in for a surprise.  Previously, they only ever had an elderly, arthritic dog to deal with.  She’d put up a good show of chasing them, but everyone knew her heart wasn’t really in it anymore.  Now they’ve got a young one with speed, agility, and energy (not to mention a healthy prey instinct) so they’re learning they need to actually move out of her way. 😂

This pooch is also OBSESSED with socks.  If I put some outside on the drying rack, she carries them around the yard! 😝  She REALLY loves them if they’re still wet and sweaty. 🤢  She’s also FAST and LOVES to run!  She makes good use of our fenced-in backyard!

Rear view of a dog on a leash, on a dirt path in the woods, overlooking a lakeOur pup doesn’t seem to have quite the same stamina as our old, hound dog, though she enjoys the many hikes we’ve taken her on in the nearby Hills.  She has also learned to enjoy cars, including the camping trips, visits to the drive-in and storm chases we’ve taken in them.

Her one nemesis has been doorways.  It took her almost a year to stop fearing them (though she LOVES her crate/”she-shed”).

We did have to teach her to walk on a leash.  At first, she wasn’t sure about this tether that connected her to these strange people, but with a good harness, some practice, and a lot of patience, she learned that walks can be fun ways to enjoy new smells, people, and especially other doggies around the neighborhood.

Training the Terror: 😂

I have to say, this made me appreciate what the struggle must be in raising human children. I was barely capable of handling a puppy with the energy and mischievousness of a toddler! 😝  She wore me out those first few months!  We’re lucky that she slept through the night.  It took several months, but she finally stopped waking up around 5:30 am to play.

She was also a digger 😝 in those early days, and she enjoys finding things around the house and yard to chew on that may or may not be potentially harmful to her.  Yikes!  😮  I think I’m growing those eyes in the back of my head. 🙃

A dog with its tongue hanging out lays on a car seatI read a puppy training book called The Power of Positive Dog Training† by Pat Miller.  I really liked it!  The author subscribes to the “positive” training method which employs the use of rewards (or lack thereof) rather than true punishments. 

To give you an idea of her theory on the matter, she believes in using rolled-up newspapers in only one situation.  If the puppy goes potty in the house (or otherwise tears up something it shouldn’t) you are allowed to use the rolled-up newspaper to smack yourself on the head and repeat “I need to supervise the dog better”. 😂 

I really like this method.  It’s essentially based on the idea that a dog is a dog, they’re going to do what dogs do.  It is our job, as the species with superior intellect, to show them how to fit into our world.  Dogs are never intentionally “bad” or spiteful.  All they can do is behave like a dog.  They only have bad owners or bad training. 

There are no “bad” behaviors, there are only mistakes, miscommunications, misunderstandings, or painful memories of past experiences.  Understanding that each animal comes with its own insecurities and histories (some of which may have been pretty negative) helps you to be more patient and understanding when they don’t always behave the way you want them to.  

Rescuing a furry friend:

This is the second rescue dog the Trekkers have adopted.  Rescuing a pet is an incredible thing but it comes with commitment and understanding.

Usually, a rescue dog brings with it some emotional baggage.  Generally, the only way to avoid this is if you get them as young puppies, who were surrendered or found under the best of circumstances.  Even then, they sometimes suffer issues from being separated from their mothers too early.

Unfortunately, many of these dogs are older and have been abused, abandoned, or neglected.  Some have lived on the street all their lives, fending for themselves and never knowing kind, human hands.  That doesn’t mean they aren’t worth your time and effort though.  Once they learn to trust you, rescue dogs can be some of the most loyal and loving companions.  And sometimes, it can be really nice to get a dog who’s past the chewing, puppy phase! 😝

Our old dog had been with her person for almost two years and was then surrendered to the Humane Society down in North Carolina.  We didn’t see any evidence that she’d been abused or neglected, but she had separation anxiety from being left at the shelter (this is common for adult dogs who are surrendered).

She also had a strong fear of children, unless she got to know them well and slowly (there were a few friends’ kids who she got to know as babies that she absolutely LOVED!)  We don’t know why she had this fear, but she had obviously had a negative experience with kids before she came to live with us.

Animals aren’t that different from people.  They each have their own personalities and their own pasts.  We need to be sensitive to that.  I don’t say any of this to dissuade anyone from rescuing a pet, they can honestly be blessings to your family, you just have to be prepared for what you may be in for.

You will probably have to clean up someone else’s mess and teach the animals there is a better way of living.  But they will ADORE you for the rest of their lives.  It doesn’t matter how badly they’ve been treated in the past, all that matters is that you are their opportunity for a brighter future.

There are several rescues around our local area, many of which focus on animals from the local American Indian reservations.  Unfortunately, there’s a large problem with strays and pet overpopulation in those areas.  Many of the rescues are non-profits, run by volunteer Tribal members who do an incredible job.  The adoption fees go to help rescue more animals, as well as to help provide low to no-cost vet care for people who live on the reservations, who want to keep their animals but struggle with vet costs.

We ended up working with the local Humane Society rather than one of the rescues, as that shelter was closer to our location and their adoption procedures are less complex (such as no home visits.)  I understand why the rescues make the application procedures strenuous, they want to make sure the animals find committed, forever homes.  But with the distance we’d have to travel to access these organizations, we opted for our local site instead.  Oftentimes, dogs from the reservation rescues end up at our local shelter when the other rescues are full.  The local Petsmart and Petco offer their adoption events through these agencies, as well.

A dog lays on a dog bed in front of a window

If you live locally to the Black Hills, and you’re looking for a furry friend to add to your family (a cat, a dog, and sometimes other critters such as hamsters, guinea pigs, and even roosters or snakes!) I strongly encourage you to check out one of these local rescues (or Petsmart/Petco on their adoption days):

Humane Society of the Black Hills

Battle Mountain Humane Society

Oglala Pet Project

Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue

I’m not into clichés much, but in this case, I’ll make an exception.  Unless you’re looking for a specific breed of dog for working or show purposes and you need a breeder, PLEASE, #adoptdontshop!  You may be saving a life, and they’ll happily rescue you right back!

Have you ever adopted a pet?  What was your experience like?  Tell me about it in the comments!

 

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