Where the Buffalo Roam
Leaving Hot Springs, SD, we headed back North through the Wind Cave National Park, which then connected to the lower loop of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway in Custer State Park, specifically the Lower Wildlife Loop Road.
It happily was an Open House weekend for the Park, so admission was free!
As every day so far has brought it’s own powerful emotions, this was no exception:
- Sadness over the devastating loss of so many trees in the park due to an infestation of mountain pine beetles.
- Excitement and wonder over spotting such a variety of wildlife – pronghorns, mountain goats, prairie dogs, mule deer, bighorn sheep, white tailed deer, and of course the start of the show was bison (it’s baby season!)
- Overwhelmed with the vastness of the BIG SKY.
“You’re not supposed to drive here at 60 miles an hour. To do the scenery half justice, people should drive 20 or under; to do it full justice, they should get out and walk.”
– Peter Norbeck
Tatanka is the Lakota word for bison.
