Tagged with road to rushmore

Of Bridges, Bear Safety, and Cartoon Rangers

Of Bridges, Bear Safety, and Cartoon Rangers

May 9th, 2016. 7:20 a.m., 45 degrees – Mammoth Hot Springs Campground, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. It can be challenging to sleep in at a campground situated on a spit of land surrounded by a loop of road. Especially when that road is the only way to travel between Yellowstone’s Historic North Entrance and the … Continue reading

A Spring Day in Yellowstone

A Spring Day in Yellowstone

Sunday, May 8th, 2016 – Canyon Campground, Gallatin National Forest, Montana 6:30 a.m. – 42 degrees Bright eyed and bushy tailed, we were back on the road to Yellowstone. The morning sky was a bright blue pallet on which we would paint our day. (24 minutes later…) 6:54 a.m. Historic North Entrance, Yellowstone National Park, Montana We … Continue reading

Getting to Yellowstone

Getting to Yellowstone

Saturday, May 7, 2016 – Moraine Park Campground, RMNP – 7:20 am, 41 degrees We woke to small clicking and crunching noises outside of our tent. Having heard these sounds before in the Rocky Mountains, we had a pretty good idea what it was: foraging elk. We sat quietly in our tent, listening. Hooves casually click-clacked on the … Continue reading

From Fossil Bed to Mountain Peak

From Fossil Bed to Mountain Peak

Wednesday, May 4th, 2016 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Campground  Site #67,  6:48 a.m. – 37 degrees The sun was just beginning to stretch her glow across the dunes as we broke camp and made coffee. It was a still morning, a few songbirds and snoring neighbors the only sounds in the campground. … Continue reading

The Great Sand Dunes

The Great Sand Dunes

May 2nd, 2016 – On the road from Northern New Mexico to Southern Colorado It was almost 1:00 p.m. when we crossed state line into Colorado. Within the hour we entered Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. We visited this park for briefly in 2013, climbed one of the tallest sand dunes, and then … Continue reading

From Windswept Plaines to the Rio Grande

From Windswept Plaines to the Rio Grande

April 30, 2016 The Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas Anxious to get back on the road, we checked out of The Arlington and were on the road by 8:00 a.m. and entering the Ouachita National Forest within the hour. Deciduous trees lush with spring boasted vibrant green over yellow-green grasses. Finally, after being shrouded in … Continue reading

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park

Thursday, April 28, 2016 – Holy Springs National Forest, Mississippi It was wonderful waking up in our tent knowing that we had started the second leg of our voyage to Mount Rushmore and that we would be crossing another National Park off of our list today. A slight drizzle fell on the glistening green surrounding … Continue reading

The Road to Rushmore

The Road to Rushmore

One of my favorite parts of being a National Park Ranger is hearing the stories of the visitors at Mount Rushmore. Everyone has a story to tell about why they have made to journey to the Black Hills, where they are going next, how long they have been on the road, and the adventures they … Continue reading

Becoming a Ranger

Becoming a Ranger

It’s difficult to believe that we have been living in South Dakota for a month now. We have been in the thick of our rangering adventure, allowing little time to reflect on the experience enough to be able to put it in words to share with those of you who have been patiently waiting for … Continue reading