Life Clinger

Grass tries its hardest to cling to life as the scorched earth gives it a run for its money

Oilman Don

Meet Don. A former Alaska native, here in North Dakota seeking riches from the oil boom

Towering Buttes

How could anyone get used to these buttes? Really?

Walking Buttes

My trail takes me along side these amazing geological wonders

Sky vs Butte

Its hard to decide what to look at in this picture. The sky or the buttes

Hot on the Trail

I began to get very warm as the trail continued on

Reach Out

The buttes seemed to get closer and closer...almost caving in on me

...and Touch It

Boom! I was now close enough to the unique mounds to touch their scales

Surprise

I better look where I am going because I almost ran into this buffalo

Do Not Disturb

I did my best to keep a mound of earth between me and this buffalo

Closer? Really?

Now perhaps I was testing fate. Especially since the signs warned of an aggressive bull in the area.

Stay Back

Don't hurt me Mr. Buffalo

Deck of Buttes

The buttes continue to unfold in front of me

Protrude

Rocks were protruding from the rock walls of the buttes

Scorched Earth

The terrain was so warm that it was no surprise to see the earth was scorched from the heat

Crumbles

Years of battering have taken a toll on these pulverized stones

My Path

Grass tickled my legs as I hiked through the parks narrow trails of the North Unit

Lucky Bug

Lady Bug luck was granted to me this day by narrowly avoiding a horned death

Crowned Butte

A crown appeared to be placed atop this kingly butte

Closer

Here is a clower look at that crowned butte. Its good to be the king

Chipmunk!

A resilient little critter like this chipmunk can withstand some pretty harsh terrain and weather

Way Back

I began to return back to the trail head

Geology Talk

Since I was not backpacking today I thought I'd try an catch a geology talk from a Student Conservation guide