The Seasoned Traveler
One of the advantages the Great Plains Trail has over, say, high mountain trails is the times of the year that it makes sense to be there. Winter and spring are difficult times to hike in the mountains. Fall can come early with snow and cold. High summer is probably the best time to be […]
A Map from Here to There
A few weeks ago I mentioned some highlights of the Great Plains Trail. I am very excited to now provide a map which gives a rough idea of where I think the trail should be. Of course, this is far from the only option, but I think it represents some of the best things the […]
Earth Day
Earth Day is a great day to get out there and enjoy a trail. Any trail. There’s hardly a better way to enjoy the natural world than to be on a trail. Whether the trail is a short one near your house, or a long epic National Scenic Trail such as the Pacific Crest Trail (or even the […]
The Next Step on the Trail
The process of creating the Great Plains Trail is parallel to actually hiking an epic trail itself. There are so many steps. The only difference is that with an actual trail, you know right where your next actual step will be. In trying to create a trail where none exists, you are faced with endless […]
Lies, Damned Lies, and . . .
Personally, I like statistics. I like baseball stats, basketball stats, stats about the highest mountains or the longest rivers, or even stats about stats. I’ll admit (happily) to being a little bit of a geek about numbers. What can I say? I’m a math teacher. This week I have a link to a publication by […]
There Will Be Wind
This week I took a trip out to the grasslands of Eastern Colorado and Western Nebraska. I visited Pawnee National Grassland as well as Scotts Bluff National Monument. The main features in both places are enormous sandstone bluffs that rise hundreds of feet above the plains. I took advantage of the hiking trails that exist […]
Spring Trip in the Works + Wild Bison?
I’ll be heading out to the plains sometime this week for a short visit. Spring is definitely on the wind. I’ll be taking my camera, and looking for wildflowers and scenic vistas. Check out next week’s blog for the whole story. For now, here’s an interesting story from the Denver Post about the genetic makeup […]
Great Plains Atlas
A new Atlas of the Great Plains is being published by the University of Nebraska Press. It promises to be a very comprehensive look at the region as a whole. It will include Canada as well, so as to recognize the full extent of the natural boundaries of the Great Plains, which do not, of […]
Drawn from the Collective Human Unconscious
A very interesting article titled Where the Buffalo Roam: America’s Plains Are Emptying Out, Should We Give Them Back to the Beasts? has appeared in the latest (March/April) issue of Mother Jones Magazine. The article is by David Samuels and it highlights the efforts of the American Prairie Foundation in Montana. The article also references […]
The Road Less Traveled
According to several well informed individuals, and I must say that I am in agreement with them, the best way to make significant progress on the Great Plains Trail (GPT) will be to establish a route on back (way back) dirt roads. This could be the best initial step toward creating a proper trail, which […]
Top Ten Places to See on the Great Plains Trail
The time has come to begin to lay down some specifics about the Great Plains Trail. In recent days, there has been an uptick in curiosity about this proposed trail. I am delighted to find out that there are more people out there who “get it,” and are genuinely excited about the prospect of a […]
It May be Flat Broke, but it’s not Flat
An article on yahoo this week highlights the economic plight of the plains states well. Ziebach County in South Dakota has hit 90% unemployment with most of its residents living below the poverty line. While this is an extreme case, many counties in the Great Plains region face prospects that aren’t much better. One of the goals […]