What an unbelievable day!

The park's Chief Ranger offered to drive me down to the south unit today, introduce me to the ranger down there, and talk about ideas for getting me into those areas more. This all revolves around the exhibit I'm building towards next spring at the Dahl Art Center in Rapid City. It will focus on the south unit lands, and I would like to interweave the historical and cultural context. At the very least I will include my own stories and experiences as a park Artist-in-Residence. Chalk up today's events as one of my most memorable experiences here in the park, to date.

First off, we drove out to Sheep Mountain Table, which I have done before. I have not, however, driven to the end of the table since I have never had a vehicle that can negotiate the insane 'road' surface. Think two ruts in the dirt and in places one rut is 18-30" higher than the other rut. You feel like you're about to tip over. So much fun. Next we rolled down to the White River Visitor's Center (HQ for the south unit) where I met the south unit ranger. We proceeded over to the Red Shirt Table overlook on the far west side of the Stronghold district to check on the area where the Chief Ranger organized a clean-up effort just last week. Still need to get a helicopter in to remove the piles of old tires that are too deep in the ravine to get out otherwise. We then drove north to Red Shirt village, which I had not been to before, and over into another access point from the west into Stronghold. Then back down to BIA 2, which crosses Cuny Table on the south edge of the park, and over to the slide road. I love this spot - the overview down into the park, the crazy road, the fence and gate. Next over some rough two track that skirts the edge of the rim to Stronghold Table (historically, culturally, spiritually significant location for the Lakota). Walked around a little bit out there. Then back to BIA 2, past the visitor's center again, and across the highway to the road that leads towards Palmer Creek unit. Attempted to do a quick in and out of Palmer, driving in on one of the two roads that heads in there, this time the road that I had not been on before. Spectacular views here, so remote. We navigated the terrain, including some particularly steep passes in and out of drainage beds that feel like you're about to tip over backwards. After one very intense incline, the ranger remarked again about how great the rig he's driving is, and how well it handles without needing the four wheel drive. Indeed, I was most impressed. I'd have been leery of taking some of those inclines in an ATV even, but this truck handled great. Well, it did until we were just about to the end of the "road" in the deepest part of Palmer Creek, in the curve of the wall of badlands. For that spot, the tight fit and mud did us in and we were stuck. The sun was going down. We were not getting unstuck. Serious middle of nowhere. It was epic. The search and rescue endeavor that followed is a story all of its own, so I will give it a post of its own. Finally got back home at 11pm. What an awesome day!