We made it to the Badlands JUST as the sun was setting, and let me tell you… seeing the sky turn pinks and purples over just how vast the badlands really are… this might have been the most breathtakingly beautiful place I’ve ever been my whole life. I’ve never seen anything like it. This was the type of beauty that makes a person feel small, like standing at the edge of the world. Pictures don’t do it justice.
The National Grasslands that surround the Badlands are protected, so the wildlife that lives there really aren’t that afraid of cars driving past. Plus, all of the cars were just as starstruck as we were, so traffic always slowed to a crawl to admire the ‘locals.’ We spend so much time hurrying in our daily lives, but out here there’s few signs of industrialized life, and certainly no cell service. It was soul enriching just to unplug for a while.
We made it to our campsite with the sun setting faster than we could set up our tent. There were about 12 other campers set up all rounded up into a circle, so we followed suit. Good thing, because you couldn’t tell in the dark but the center of the camp circle was housed by a prairie dog village!
It was. So. Quiet. Not sure if it was peaceful or eerie – normally when there’s people around there’s noise. After admiring how bright the stars were out here, we drifted off to sleep only to be awoken in the middle of the night by the most bizarre sounds. Stomping? Snorting? Munching. Steps and breathing that obviously belonged to a very large animal. Animals.
The moon was bright enough that we could see the buffalo casually walk right through our camp. Buffalo are peaceful, but wildly dangerous if they were to stampede or charge. We don’t know what time it was since we were too nervous to turn on a flashlight or a phone to see a clock. We didn’t move or speak or breath because what if it startled the nearest buffalo, causing a chain reaction.
I have to wonder how intelligent they are. One came right up to our tent to look in at us through the screen window, nudged its horn at our tent, and tore up some grass to snack on. A baby snuck up to nibble our chairs I forgot to put away, and then spaz-frolicked away.
It was such an honor, and such an adrenaline rush to be in the presence of these huge creatures. So many of them. When dawn came they had loosely surrounded our camp. One by one the other people slowly, quietly creeped over to the outhouse, careful not to startle our guests. Or hosts, really.
This night, the evening of Pete’s actual birthday, was my favorite of the whole trip.
As the sun rose and morning took, the buffalo just sorta drifted away and passed us by. As soon as they were far enough away to seem smaller, us and the other campers started moving to pack up.
Today’s mission would be hiking the Badlands.
Turns out, I’m afraid of heights. If you would have asked me before, I would have said pshh. Ask me again at the top of a cliff, where the ground crumbles a tiny bit every step you take, when everything is hot and sharp and steep, and probably home to a nest of rattlesnakes.
Why is it called the Badlands?
The original name for the area literally translates to “land that is bad.” When people explored this area (and I cannot express to you how truly vast it is…) it would be very difficult to safely move forward. You’re at the mercy of the elements, nothing seems to grow for food or shelter, hunting would be a trick, and don’t trip.
The outlaws were also known to hideout in the depths of the Badlands as well, because what sheriff is going to chase them safely into that labyrinth?
My advice? Be respectful of your surroundings. Don’t get cocky. Bring twice as much water as you think you need. And as always, constant vigilance.
Some places make you feel small. Like a single drop in the entire ocean. The world, the universe is so big, and there is so much to explore and see and learn. It’s so exhilarating to get to be a part of it all, and I feel so lucky to have someone to stand at the edge of the world with me.
To be continued…
greenifer 