On Day 2 we drove all the way across Montana following the tree-lined Yellowstone River...lots of good scenery. We stopped at Pompeys Pillar National Monument.
Here's the "Pillar," a massive sandstone outcropping on the southern bank of the Yellowstone. It was named by William Clark (Lewis and Clark expedition) in honor of Sacagawea's son whom Clark nicknamed Pompey (Shoshoni word meaning "little chief").
Here's Clark, Sacagawea and Pompey in the Visitor's Center.
A buffalo hide boat (Bullboat) often used by explorers.
Climbing up the stairs to the top of the pillar for a great view.
Clark's signature carved into the rock (about 3/4 of the way up).
The Chocolate Addict with the Yellowstone River in the background.
A marmot about to go into his home in the trunk of the tree. Lucky shot for Dad.
Montana hay fields. We saw very few traditional bales and grundles of these rolled ones.
By late afternoon we were into North Dakota. This National Park is huge and divided into 2 sections. We got to see the southern part.
First we got a guided tour of the Maltese Cross cabin, the main house on Roosevelt's first ranch. You can see the cross on the end of one of the logs...made by embedding cartridges in a pattern. Only one cartridge is left.
Interesting wooden statue of TR on his horse in the Visitor's Center.
We drove the 36-mile loop road in the early evening. It was all beautiful.
Panoramic vista of the North Dakota Badlands inside the National Park.
Interesting rocks and canyons.
What color!
Interesting erosion..lots of little pebbles (enlarge for better view).
We saw buffalo and stopped at several prairie dog towns...lots of mounds!
We really enjoyed watching and listening (almost a chirp or squeak) to these little critters pop in and out of their burrows. There were moms with several younguns. Most were standing upright on their hind feet and some were leaping up into the air from the standing position...maybe catching insects?
Of course, we did some geocaching just outside the park around the town of Medora. This white rock just crumbles away when you touch it.
On Day 2 we drove all the way across Montana following the tree-lined Yellowstone River...lots of good scenery. We stopped at Pompeys Pillar National Monument.
Here's the "Pillar," a massive sandstone outcropping on the southern bank of the Yellowstone. It was named by William Clark (Lewis and Clark expedition) in honor of Sacagawea's son whom Clark nicknamed Pompey (Shoshoni word meaning "little chief").
Here's Clark, Sacagawea and Pompey in the Visitor's Center.
A buffalo hide boat (Bullboat) often used by explorers.
Climbing up the stairs to the top of the pillar for a great view.
Clark's signature carved into the rock (about 3/4 of the way up).
The Chocolate Addict with the Yellowstone River in the background.
A marmot about to go into his home in the trunk of the tree. Lucky shot for Dad.
Montana hay fields. We saw very few traditional bales and grundles of these rolled ones.
By late afternoon we were into North Dakota. This National Park is huge and divided into 2 sections. We got to see the southern part.
First we got a guided tour of the Maltese Cross cabin, the main house on Roosevelt's first ranch. You can see the cross on the end of one of the logs...made by embedding cartridges in a pattern. Only one cartridge is left.
Interesting wooden statue of TR on his horse in the Visitor's Center.
We drove the 36-mile loop road in the early evening. It was all beautiful.
Panoramic vista of the North Dakota Badlands inside the National Park.
Interesting rocks and canyons.
What color!
Interesting erosion..lots of little pebbles (enlarge for better view).
We saw buffalo and stopped at several prairie dog towns...lots of mounds!
We really enjoyed watching and listening (almost a chirp or squeak) to these little critters pop in and out of their burrows. There were moms with several younguns. Most were standing upright on their hind feet and some were leaping up into the air from the standing position...maybe catching insects?
Of course, we did some geocaching just outside the park around the town of Medora. This white rock just crumbles away when you touch it. 
3 comments:
Cool stuff. I love marmots. And nice fanny pack! :)
Clark looks like quite the stud...lots of beautiful scenery out there huh? I love the prairie dog town...they are so cute!
Go Teddy and Piggy Wig (?). great prairie dogs. nice brown T-shirt.
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