Our Itinerary

Day 1: Thursday, April 18

Leave Shawnee, KS for Omaha, NE (12pm)

Spend the night at Sarah's place

Day 2: Friday, April 19

Leave Omaha, NE for Badlands National Park (8am)

Take I-29 and I-90

Arrive in Badlands National Park (4pm)

Hike four short trails

Door, Window, Shelf, and Notch Trails

Set up camp and sleep at Cedar Pass Campground (Sunset)

Day 3: Saturday, April 20

Hike loop of the Castle Trail-Medicine Root-Saddle Pass Trail (7:30am)

Leave for Mount Rushmore (12:30pm)

Take Highway 240 and I-90

Arrive at Mount Rushmore (2pm)

Hike Presidential Trail to base of the monument (2:15pm)

Head to Custer State Park (3:15pm)

Take Iron Man Road

Arrive at Custer State Park (4:15pm)

Begin driving 18 mile loop on Wildlife Loop Road (4:15pm)

Detour to hike Prairie Trail (4:45pm)

Continue on Wildlife Loop Road (5:45pm)

Drive to Wind Cave National Park (6pm)

Enjoy the scenic overlook :)

Drive to Black Hills National Forest to sleep

Day 4: Sunday, April 21

Hike Harney Peak from Willow Creek Horse Camp (~8am)

Drive to Devils Tower in Wyoming (12:30pm)

Arrive at Devil's Tower in Wyoming (3:30pm)

Take Highway 385

Drive to Sheridan, WY (4:30pm)

Arrive in Sheridan, WY (7pm)

Stay in Roadway Inn near Bighorn National Forest

Day 5: Monday, April 22

Hike in Bighorn National Forest (8am)

Leave for Canyon Campground outside Gardiner, MT (3pm)

Arrive at Canyon Campground, sleep(7:30pm)

Day 6: Tuesday, April 23

Check in at Mammoth Hot Springs (7-9am)

Tent Setup

New Tent

Our Tarptent came in! Even though the website says its only supposed to weigh 2 lbs and 2 oz, it's a shock to realize what that actually feels like in your hands. It basically weighed nothing! And it was like two feet long and super narrow. I couldn't believe that the both of us were supposed to be able to fit in such a little thing when it packed down so small. We halfway set it up in the living room to see how big it was unpacked. From the outside it looks like PLENTY of space :) Yay! We have plans to go on a test camping trip as soon as the weather and our work schedules cooperate.

 

Quitting My Old Job

Yesterday, I put in my official notice to my job that I would be leaving next month for the job in Yellowstone.  They seemed reluctant to lose me but they are also being supportive in my decision to move on to other things.  The Human Resources guy that hired me has even jokingly taken to calling me "Mr. Short-Timer".

Putting in the notice and having all my papers signed and sent in to Yellowstone makes it all feel very official and very close to coming up.  We are currently finalizing plans at home and slowly whittling down our possessions to be able to fit in my car for the long trip up.

This Blog

Hi there! First we would just like to take a moment to make sure that everyone knows how happy we are that you are reading this right now! It's our first blog and hope that it is as fun to read as we anticipate it will be to write it.

Daniel should be doing a little project he calls his Fave Five during the duration of our stay in Yellowstone National Park. Obviously YNP is one of the most beautiful places in the world so many a picture will be taken. Daniel periodically will be posting his five favorite pictures he has taken during our random adventures. I'm excited to see what makes the cut! :)