Today was all about hiking in the park. There are several short trails that have their trailhead along the 22 mile drive inside the park boundaries. Key attractions along the route, aside from the stunning scenery, were two groups of inhabitants of the park: bison and prairie dogs.
Click below for a video Claudette made of the same bison rolling itself in the dirt
Its one thing to see a photo in a book, and another completely different one to see one in person. We had learned from the ranger talk that adult males roam the park as individuals, whereas females roam in herds along with the young one. We saw a herd later in the day, but not close enough to capture a good photo.
Once in a while, kind strangers offer to take a picture of us (which in fellow tourist code means “can you take a picture of us afterwards”? – in that case, one woman and her two daughters)
Claudette’s 2 Cents.
What a thrill it was to see a bison up close—in person! Not just once, but several times throughout the day. And let’s not forget the adorable prairie dogs. I had to laugh when one of my grandkids asked, “Is this real or are we on a safari?” This is real! As wild and authentic as it gets.
The prairie dogs were a delight to watch—so cute and full of personality.
We even got to see feral horses, which was a beautiful and unexpected treat.
This kind of summer travel is new for us, especially an extended road trip like this. So far, it’s been good—mosquitoes aside. I’ve loved spotting all the wildflowers, especially the sunflowers. They’ve brought me so much joy.
But what I’ve probably enjoyed most is that Bernard and I have been able to hike many of the “easier” trails—and even a few marked “moderate.” I say that in quotes because what’s considered easy or moderate really depends on your own abilities and stamina. On the steeper sections, I was definitely huffing and puffing, while Bernard just moseyed along ahead of me. (He’s got extra airflow, you see )