Nice Folks
A common denominator of this park is "nice." All the folks we met were nice. People were patient, kind, thoughtful, and generous. It was like stepping back into a more gentle time. Was it something in the air? Soil? Maybe the gumbo! In any case, it was a strong, defining characteristic.
In addition to Al Olson and his friends, and the Blue Angels, we met George and Lois Welsch, creators of The Big Hat Society (www.bighatsociety.com). George is a cancer survivor. The Big Hat Society was established to help fund cancer research and the Salvation Army, and to promote the cowboy way.
While visiting with George and Lois, I proudly pointed out a hole in Charlene's palm-leaf hat that I'd repaired with duct tape. Lois looked at the repair and solemnly said, "I see." She promptly took the hat into her shop, spent 20 minutes wetting it down, shaped it, and did a proper repair.
While Lois was busy on the hat, George noticed a small leak where two sections of our water hose joined. He inserted a washer in the joint and all was well. Nice folks!
Family Business
Immediately adjacent to the Little Missouri State Park is the Badlands Trail Rides concession. If you don't have a horse, these are the folks to see. They'll match you with a good mount and take you on guided trail rides deep into the rugged badlands. These folks also rent cabins and have their own campground.
If you bring your own horse, you can board him at the state park and stay in a Badlands Trail Rides cabin. All cabins have electricity, padded sleeping platforms, pillows, a refrigerator, a coffee maker, a table, and chairs. Outside are fire rings, picnic tables, and decks overlooking the eerie landscape.
We visited with Lynell Sandvick, the 75-year-old matriarch of this family-operated business. Her grandparents homesteaded the area in the early 1900s; Lynell was born in the valley below. She was giving guided trail rides before the area became a park. Lynell was also instrumental in encouraging the park to establish the color-coded trail-riding map.
We asked Lynell why she was still coming to work at age 75. She said, "I love to ride, have a passion for the badlands, and love to teach folks about the area."
We last saw Lynell guiding a couple who'd brought their own horses. These folks wanted her expertise in guiding them through the rugged, mystical badlands.
Last Ride
With every trip comes the last ride. So it was for us. Our last ride was on the night of a full moon. Just at dusk, we saddled Buddy and Scout. The moon rose over the badlands with an almost orange glow, bathing the area in a silver sheen.
We rode out of camp on an easy trail up to a fairly level ridge. Here, we stopped and looked across the valley to the campground where folks sat by campfires. In all other directions we could see no manmade lights, only the badlands, their thick, black shadows lurking below.
At times like these, the feeling of magic is strong. We could almost feel the magic of the area in our horses' eyes and senses. We wondered if this was a throwback for them to prehistoric times - if they could sense their ancestors pounding the plains toward the badlands for food and shelter.
It's during moments like this that we feel closest to our equine partners and to each other. Buddy and Scout seemed to feel the same; they were reluctant to return to camp and their corral. Winston Churchill said it well, "No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle."
Come to North Dakota. Experience a horseman's paradise, and enjoy a magical time with your own equine partner!
