The Pampas and the Gauchos
The Pampas Continuing our review of the world’s major grasslands, we have what is commonly referred to as the Pampas in South America. The Pampas is a relatively level region extending from the Atlantic Ocean in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. At roughly 300,000 square miles, it qualifies as a major grassland. It is drier in […]
The Tantalizing Horizon
Thanks to everyone who commented on the previous post about the importance of grasslands in American history and culture. It’s a fascinating topic. A number of people pointed out that Europe does indeed have a major grassland – the vast central Asian Steppes do extend into parts of Europe, a bit west of the Black […]
The Grasslands – The Most American Landscape
Yes, you’ve read this before, but maybe I’m going to make this an annual post on this holiday . . . because it’s still true. Happy 4th of July from the Great Plains Trail! On this most American of holidays, it’s time to recognize (and brag just a bit) that the most American of landscapes […]
Limitations Imposed by the Earth’s Curvature
I’m reviving an old theme here: Quotations relating the the Great Plains by authors famous and not famous. Enjoy! It is a stern, formidable land that invites no dalliance with the viewer, no light hearted love affair with persons who visit or inhabit it. Yet for those who are willing to accept it on its […]
The Skies Above the Plains
This spectacular photo, taken by storm chaser Kelly DeLay, which has been making the news of late, was taken just a few days ago, and just a few miles from where the Great Plains Trail will pass! I know what you’re thinking, but do not fear. This is just part of the impressive beauty of […]
The Journey – Part Last
OK, I can’t believe it’s almost been a month since I posted a blog. Wow. Truth is . . . I’m a teacher, and the end of the year was hectic and insane, and I found that I did not have the time nor energy to put together a coherent post. But enough of the […]
The Journey – Part Five
Cows. I can’t say I have a lot of experience with them. I grew up in the suburbs, but I did spend a few weeks working on various farms in New Zealand, and I managed to learn at least one thing: Be careful around the bulls, they can be unpredictable. So it was with […]
The Journey – Part Four
Toadstool is an amazing place. I’ve now been there enough times in the last few years that I’m starting to get to know it pretty well, I think. To the north of the campground, there are a series of imposing badlands, and then it starts to peter out and becomes just rolling grasslands about a […]
The Journey – Part Three
From Fort Robinson we were faced with a 26 mile trek all the way to Toadstool Geologic Park, which is part of Oglala National Grassland. So on the day before, we took a “day off” to do some things in town, and also shortened our trek about three miles by taking the very pleasant White […]
The Journey – Part Two
This is the second installment in a series detailing (sort of) the 106 mile hike recently undertaken from Agate Fossil Beds National Monument to Edgemont, South Dakota. Once again all photos are courtesy of Ken Ilgunas. We awoke in the cold, windy dawn at our campsite at Fort Robinson State Park, which is a gem […]
The Journey – Part One
This is the first in a series of posts about the 106 mile journey I completed two weeks ago with Ken Ilgunas, Kevin Purdy, and Robert Pahre. It was a test drive of the first few sections of the GPT, and it was also the backdrop for an upcoming Backpacker Magazine article to be published […]
High Plains Hiker
Here’s a link to the article about the Great Plains Trail that appeared in a recent edition of the Rapid City Journal: Rapid City Journal Article
