Day 15: Badlands Hikes and Family Time

Today was another much-needed family day. With all the scenery changes, we often feel like we’re on vacation, but we still have all the work, housekeeping, and school commitments. We’re definitely still trying to figure out the balance.

We woke up early to get ahead of the predicted 90+ degree temperatures. We warmed up with a half-mile stroll on the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail. This was a chance for both Rob and Nicholas to see how slippery it was climbing on this clay/pebble type of soil. It also provided this great view, including a little green among all the gray and red soil.

Notch trail was our main destination, noted as a moderate/strenuous 1.5 mile hike, and the trail description said it should be avoided by anyone afraid of heights (all of which I may have “forgotten” to share with the rest of the family ahead of time to avoid any unnecessary intimidation). They all loved it, so I mentioned the strenuous/fear of heights thing afterward. Cooper was a trooper and graciously did the Window and Door hike again so Rob and Nicholas could enjoy it too. It was getting pretty hot at this point, but we continued out to the extended Door hike and everyone enjoyed that too.

*Family photo to show the scale of these rocks*

*Going down was a bit more intimidating than climbing up*

*The end of Door Trail–we were done with the trail and done with the heat.*

Back in the car, we cooled off and did a quick stop by the visitor center again so Cooper could pick up his Prairie Dog (also named “Grounie”, as in short for Groundhog). We kept driving, eating lunch while we started driving the badlands wildlife loop. With full bellies and a cooled down car, spirits were picking up again. Random fact: in 15 days we have polished off an entire Costco size of peanut butter due to SO many peanut butter and jelly sandwichs.

*Grounies meeting each other for the first time*

We did the wildlife loop to see more of the gorgeous scenery and look for more animals. I am happy to report that we saw many bighorn sheep along the road and a few bison off in the distance.

*The smoke has reached SD. Some of the hills had a greenish tint to it from when this land was a jungle.*

It was such an awesome day that we ended it with a s’mores campfire, filling bellies and spirits again for another great night’s rest. Three amazing nights of continuous sleep does wonders for my mental health.

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