A Couple of Fossil Pictures for Ava

Ava - We didn't find any fossils in the ground, although people find fossils all of the time at the Badlands. One was found a week before we showed up. They ask that you tell a ranger and then they take your picture with the fossil and tell you about it what you found.  The park has a Fossil Exhibit Trail where fossil's are on display.  Here are a couple examples:

Fossil of an alligator head.

This is a Oreodont - hog or pig-like that was found through out the Badlands.  It is unusual to find a completed skeleton.

The Blackhills! Crazy Horse, Mt Rushmore, Windcave, and Badlands

We headed out from Yellowstone and headed out towards the Badlands.  To get there, we traveled along the Beartooth Highway and then Chief Joseph By-Way into Cody, WY.

Beartooth Highway

Sunlight Creek Bridge - Chief Joseph Byway

Crazyhorse Monument - under construction since 1950's

Ray Kroc (McDonalds) helped fund the project and was a friend of the sculpture.

Smaller scale version of what the monument would look like when completed

Artist rendering of Crazy Horse. There are no confirmed photo's, so this was done via interviews with known associates of Crazy Horse.

The outline of this picture is the rock that will be removed. In terms of scale, it will be so large that Mt Rushmore will fit in Crazy Horses armpit.

In front of the original model of Mr Rushmore.  They were supposed to have coats.

Im READY!

Windcave - Boxwork

Alvin McDonald left his initials in code on caves he discovered.

Examples of other sections of the cave ...

These mules waited in the middle of the road to see if passer-bys would feed them.  

First views of Badlands

We didnt see any!

Ty believes that he is half Big-Horn Sheep and half kid.

More proof that Ty is part Big-Horn Sheep

View from White River Valley Overlook

Along the Fossil Exhibit Trail

Fossil Exhibit Trail

View from White River Valley Overlook

White River Valley Overlook

White River Valley Overlook

Badlands Loop Road

Badlands Loop Road

View of the moon after a Night Sky Ranger Program.  

Pictures From Yellowstone

There was so much to do and see at Yellowstone that we could have stayed longer.  Here are a "few" pictures that summarizes what we saw ..

When there is a traffic jam on the roads, it usually meant that there was wildlife near the road. 

Brink of the Falls

South Rim Trail - Canyon Area

South Rim Trail - Canyon Area

South Rim Trail - Canyon Area

Old Faithful

Old Faithful

Geyser Hill

Geyser Hill

Solitary Geyser

Beehive Geyser from Inspiration Point

Rare Treat!  Old Faithful and Beehive erupting at the same time!

Ranger Program on Trees

Lower Terrace - Mammoth Hot Springs 

Lower Terrace - Mammoth Hot Springs

Lower Terrace - Mammoth Hot Springs

Ty is DONE ... note all of the Jr. Ranger Badges on his hat!

Ty is DONE!

Elk were everywhere at Mammoth Hot Springs - Park Headquarters

Black Tail Deer Plateau

Blacktail Deer Plateau

Blacktail Deer Plateau

Blacktail Deer Plateau 

Lemar Valley - Bison Herd

Lemar Valley - Bison Herd

Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone

One final dip in water before we head to South Dakota  and the Blackhills