DD Wins the Wild West

[DenverDane]

I had already conquered several cities, so now it was time to saddle my horse, adjust my
Stetson hat, holster my guns, and journey into the wild west, the last frontier.

I started out in Nebraska looking for wagon trails at Scottsbluff National Monument.


Scotts Bluff National Monument. Here is Eagle Rock with a wagon in front. People traveled
across the continent in search of a better life in the West. The ones who were headed for
Oregon passed by this monument. Therefore, the trail is called the Oregon Trail.


Sentinel Rock on the other side of the Oregon Trail.


Dome Rock in the background and Crown Rock to the right.


Eagle Rock to the left and Dome Rock in the background.


Oregon Trail marker in front of Eagle Rock.


Saddle Rock.


If you look closer, you can actually see Chimney Rock in the background in the center.


The weather has shaped the rocks over the years.


Saddle Rock Trail runs along the side of the rock.



After Scottsbluff I rode a little further southeast to find Chimney Rock.


Chimney Rock National Historic Site.


Chimney Rock functioned as a milestone. The pioneers could see it from afar, and then they
knew that they had almost crossed the boring plains but were in for a much tougher ride
through the mountains.


It was a rough trip across the plains, especially for old people. Some people didn't make it, and they might be buried at Chimney Rock Cemetery.


In Alliance, Nebraska they have made a replica of Stonehenge in England, but here they are
using old cars, so it's called Carhenge! Crazy Americans!






There are also other car sculptures. Here is "The Fourd Seasons".



I then rode north and entered South Dakota. The landscape changed drastically as I entered
Badlands National Park.


Sunrise at the Big Badlands Overlook in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.


Big Badlands Overlook.


Pictures taken along the Castle Trail.
















Pictures from the Medicine Root Trail.








From the Saddle Pass Trail.


Wild bighorn sheep.


From the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail.


Mommy Deer.


Her children.


Overlook.


To be continued.....

[Erebus555]

Awesome pictures and so scenic as well. Really changed my idea of what it is like out there but you still wont see me mounting a saddle in a hurry. Out of interest, what camera did you use and if used, what lens?

Cheers and well done!

[DenverDane]

@Erebus555: Thank you very much! I used a Canon Digital Rebel from 2004 and various lenses: a Sigma lens kit and a Canon 10-22mm wide-angle lens.

More pictures coming soon.

[Erebus555]

Thanks alot! And I'll be looking out for the other pictures.

[DenverDane]

After the Badlands I headed north into North Dakota and found another amazing park, Theodore
Roosevelt National Park.


The badlands of North Dakota are more colorful than the ones in South Dakota, but the
landscape is not as surreal, though still very beautiful. Here is The Painted Canyon of
Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Western North Dakota.






Other places in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.










River Woodland Overlook.


There are many wild animals in the park, though most you'll never see. Here is a herd of
bison in a prairie dog town.






North Dakota Badlands Overlook.


Wind Canyon.


Little Missouri River near Wind Canyon.






A prairie dog guarding its hole.

[Erebus555]

Some great pictures there! I think you've won me over Wild West, here I come!

[Paddington]

You could easily call this thread: "So, you think the Midwest is flat?"

This also reminds me that a lot of the "Wild West" stuff happened in the Midwest, and not - say - Texas or California like most people assume.

[DenverDane]

@Erebus555: Hehe, thanks, have a good trip! But I'm not done yet!

@Paddington: Yes, except that there will be more pictures coming up, which are from further west, so such a title would be misleading!

[DenverDane]

I heard there was a major battle going on further west in Montana near the Little Bighorn River,
so I headed that way, hoping to make a difference. Unfortunately, it looked like I came too
late....



On June 25th, 1876, a famous battle was fought in the valley of the Little Bighorn River.
Over 260 soldiers under the command of General George Armstrong Custer met defeat and death
at the hands of several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. The hill where Custer made his
last stand is now called Last Stand Hill.








Approximately where each soldier fell, a white ganite marker has been placed. Here is the
marker for General Custer.




The remains of about 220 soldiers are buried under the memorial for the 7th Cavalry.


Even the horses of the 7th Cavalry got their own little memorial. Many of the horses were
killed by the soldiers themselves, such that they could cover behind them.


The Indians who fell in the battle also got some markers later. These are red to distinguish
them from the soldiers' markers.




Not too long ago the Indians got their own circle memorial honoring the fallen warriors.


Next to the battlefield there is a small museum. Among other things, the weapons used during
the battle are on display.


The area seen here was where the Indians had set up their huge camp.


Custer had some help from Captain Benteen and Major Reno, but they were also vastly
outnumbered, so instead of coming to Custer's aid, they defended this hill overlooking the
river.




Custer National Cemetery.




View of the battlefield.

[Bond James Bond]

[DenverDane]

@Bond: Yep!

----------

Looking for a more pleasant sight, I went over the Rocky Mountains and found a nice valley in
western Colorado.


Colorado National Monument is situated just outside the town of Grand Junction in western
Colorado. The canyons were carved primarily by the erosive force of flood waters for
millions of years. Water, wind, and frost continue to cut the canyons wider and deeper.
This is Cold Shivers Point.


Ute Canyon.








These rocks could be named "The Owls".


"The Kissing Couple" in Monument Canyon. The canyon is about 600 feet (180 m.) deep.


Monument Canyon. Notice how small the houses in the background are.


Independence Monument was once part of a wall spanning the whole canyon. Slowly, erosion caused the wall to break down in places, thereby
forming the monument.

[DenverDane]

Following the trail of the Ute indians, I ended up in the state of Utah.


Arches National Park is an amazing park with tall, red rock formations and, of course,
several arches for which the park is named. Water, ice, extreme temperatures, and underground
salt movement are responsible for the sculptured rocks. The park is located in a "high
desert," with elevations ranging from 4,085 to 5,653 feet (1,245 m. to 1,723 m.) above sea
level.








La Sal Mountains ("la sal" is the salt in Spanish) can be seen in the background.




Park Avenue with the Courthouse Towers in the background.






The Petrified Dunes.






The Delicate Arch.




Cache Valley is very colorful.


Broken Arch.




A lizard.


Balanced Rock.




A rabbit.


The Windows Section.


North Window.




South Window.




North & South Windows.

[DenverDane]

Continuing south I dropped in to say hi to my Najavo friends at the Najavo Tribal Park known as
Monument Valley. It's right on the border between Utah and Arizona.

Monument Valley has provided the backdrop for scenes in several Western movies. It also
appears in the movie Back to the Future Part III. This is Artist's Point.




The Three Sisters.






Camel Butte.


These rocks kinda look like two dwarves, except they are acutally giants!


The Thumb.


North Window.


Mittens & Merrick Butte.

[Davee]

Stunningly beautiful - I just love rural North America.

Thanks for the fantastic view.

[DenverDane]

You're welcome. Glad you like 'em!

----------

Going further west I discovered a big hole in the ground, otherwise known as the Grand
Canyon.

Grand Canyon was carved by the mighty Colorado River over millions of years. It is about
277 miles long and between 0.25 and 15 miles (0.4 and 24 kilometers) wide. This is the
Desert View.






The Watchtower at the Desert View.


Navajo Point.


Lipan Point.


Moran Point.




Grandview Point.




Mather Point.


Notice how small the people to the left are.


Yavapai Point.

[DenverDane]

This was as far west as I went this time. It was time to head back towards the state of
Colorado. On the way I passed another gorge, the Little Colorado River Gorge.

This beautiful gorge was created the same way as the larger Grand Canyon.

[DenverDane]

In Durango, Colorado I left my horse at a livery and took the train to the little mining town
Silverton in the mountains.

The train is getting ready to leave Durango.


Going under the road bridge outside Durango.


On the way we pass some beautiful scenery.








The railroad tracks run along the Animas River.