We were on our way to Yellowstone, as I just wrote below. And I thought I would check the weather to see what its looking like out there. Wouldn't you know it, there is a winter storm alert. Late spring snowfall looking like 15 inches. Are you kidding me!? Tetons, which we were going to hit up as well, already has 3 inches.
We came equipped for mostly summer weather with some long sleeve T-shirts and light jackets. Not at all equipped for snow. Plans have changed. We aren't going to go to either Yellowstone or Tetons. We are going to go to Rushmore as planned and then turn south.
Headed to Denver now. Will stay there for a bit; day or two. Then we're going to go to Utah and hit up Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. I checked the weather and they aren't supposed to get any snow there. After that we may drive to Vegas for a day or two and then we will drive up to Salt Lake City so I can catch my flight.
At this point, we are doing whatever. The only plan we have is to be in Salt Lake City on June 5th to catch my flight to Indy. No idea what will happen between now and then.
Showing posts with label Western USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Western USA. Show all posts
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Mother Nature: 1 Human Adventurers: 0
As I said below, we showed up at Badlands Nat Park last night at about 10:00 pm. The rain had started slowly just before we got there. It wasn't super bad when we were setting up camp, but it just kept getting progressively worse. The wind was relentless, too. It was blowing hard enough to drive water under our tiny tent's tarp. Actually, it could have been far worse. The tarp was being held down by two tiny stakes that I had driven into the ground. Had one of those slipped, the corner would have popped up and water would have poured into the tent. So through the night I was just praying that didn't happen.
We woke up and it was still raining, and hard. There are little shelters at each campsite, but that would have done us no good, since the angle of the rain was so sharp. So we just said screw it and got breakfast at the lodge. Sell outs.
After breakfast we went out in the car to try to do some hiking or biking. The problem is that it had apparently rained 12 of the last 14 days in the Badlands, even though in general it is a very dry place. Just out luck. The ground was SOAKED. Everything was pure mud. In most places you could hardly walk, let alone mountain bike. Climbing up on the sediment mounds would have been quite literally impossible, because the sides of them had turned into pure mud.
We did some biking in a relatively grassy field, trying to get a closer look at some sheep. Drove around a bit and took pictures after. We were done at noon. We had planned to spend the day at Badlands and go to Yellowstone tomorrow, but that plan has changed. Now we're headed to Mount Rushmore (which is right on the way) and hopefully will be in Yellowstone before dark. So we'll have 3 days in Yellowstone, maybe a fourth if we use our flex-day.
Meanwhile, we're driving west as I type this, and are just getting blasted by more rain and wind that is on its way to Badlands. Good decision bailing. Badlands will be there for at least a few thousand more years, so I can always go back. Spea later, bad weather.
We woke up and it was still raining, and hard. There are little shelters at each campsite, but that would have done us no good, since the angle of the rain was so sharp. So we just said screw it and got breakfast at the lodge. Sell outs.
After breakfast we went out in the car to try to do some hiking or biking. The problem is that it had apparently rained 12 of the last 14 days in the Badlands, even though in general it is a very dry place. Just out luck. The ground was SOAKED. Everything was pure mud. In most places you could hardly walk, let alone mountain bike. Climbing up on the sediment mounds would have been quite literally impossible, because the sides of them had turned into pure mud.
We did some biking in a relatively grassy field, trying to get a closer look at some sheep. Drove around a bit and took pictures after. We were done at noon. We had planned to spend the day at Badlands and go to Yellowstone tomorrow, but that plan has changed. Now we're headed to Mount Rushmore (which is right on the way) and hopefully will be in Yellowstone before dark. So we'll have 3 days in Yellowstone, maybe a fourth if we use our flex-day.
Meanwhile, we're driving west as I type this, and are just getting blasted by more rain and wind that is on its way to Badlands. Good decision bailing. Badlands will be there for at least a few thousand more years, so I can always go back. Spea later, bad weather.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Road trip through western USA
As my last hurrah before starting residency, I am headed out on a road trip to some of the western states with a buddy from undergrad, Pat. We are headed to St. Louis tonight (the gateway of the west, appropriately) to stay with a couple friends for a day or two. Then we are headed out to South Dakota (Badlands), Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Tetons, and I am finishing in Salt Lake City.
At Salt Lake City I will part ways and fly back to Indy for a long drive out to New Haven. I'll start residency a couple days after that. Pat will continue on alone in his car and head to Tahoe, where he'll stay for a few weeks at a family cabin.
Car is loaded up with camping gear. Got good traveling shoes, two mountain bikes, and some fishing poles. Will post pictures as they come.
At Salt Lake City I will part ways and fly back to Indy for a long drive out to New Haven. I'll start residency a couple days after that. Pat will continue on alone in his car and head to Tahoe, where he'll stay for a few weeks at a family cabin.
Car is loaded up with camping gear. Got good traveling shoes, two mountain bikes, and some fishing poles. Will post pictures as they come.
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