Started the morning with a visit to the Big Badlands area and a little bit of climbing among the buttes there. Drove over to Saddle Pass, and hiked to the top. Spent about an hour or more exploring among the buttes above Saddle Pass, hunting for and discovering fossils and more recent bones. After hiking back down, we continued driving along the loop road out to Big Foot Pass area. Had snacks there and let the kids finish the activity books for both the junior paleontologist program and the junior astronomer program. Headed back to the visitors center for the kids to turn in the booklets and receive their badges. Hung around for a while, waiting to hear back from anyone. The plan for the evening was to have a BBQ before the weekly volleyball match. Ryan went to Rapid to get a grill and supplies, and we headed to his house when he got home. While he and Amanda were setting up his new grill, Ed spotted a flock of Pelicans flying over. We all stopped to watch. Had dinner, put the kids to bed on Ryan's couch and hide-a-bed, and went outside to watch and participate in volleyball. We played until it was so dark you really couldn't see the ball coming, or where it was going. Then moved the party inside to Ryan's dining room for a raucous game of Cards that went until about midnight. Made plans to meet with Ryan and Amanda for breakfast.
Across from the visitors center
Big Badlands overlook
Looking back to the parking area
Back side of Angel Butte. Quad visible to the left and behind, visitor center hidden.
Telephone Pole Canyon stretches back to the left.
At Saddle Pass, before the hike up.
Looking down from part way up.
Above Saddle Pass.
One of the many snail fossils we found.
Tiny little skull, perhaps a vole? Not a fossil.
Side view of same skull with finger for scale.
Teeth and mandible fragment. Oreodont, likely.
At the top of the path back down Saddle Pass.
Along the way back from Big Foot Pass.
Norbeck Pass area.
Approaching Saddle Pass area.
Telephone Pole Canyon
Buttes near where hwy 377 enters the park from Interior
