On the Wings of a Dolphin: Southern Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota

(Posted by Andy)

Since our last post, we saw the southern part of Idaho, blasted through Wyoming (I'll explain why) and almost completed our South Dakota journey.

In the southern part of Idaho we set our sights on Gold Bug Hot Springs, our dearest Dan Johnson's "favorite place on the planet!" This is no small title coming from this well traveled outdoor enthusiast. Dan discovered this particular spring on a 3 ½ month backpacking trip through Idaho with his travel buddy and pack-mule. They were caught by a surprise blizzard that lasted for a week and a half, and wielding only some warm clothes and a tent, Gold Bug was a sight for sore eyes, and legs, and back. Surrounded by pine and pink granite cliffs, an amazing bird's-eye view of the canyon below, and fresh water pools of 85-125 degree water, Caitlin and I were in Dan's shoes. When we come back to Salmon, Idaho in years to come, we will make it top priority to soak our bones in the serene Gold Bug hot springs, as should you!

(Unfortunately we forgot to bring the camera to Gold Bug, so you’ll have to go see it for yourself. Call us for exact location and directions!)

We made our way down further south in Idaho to Craters of the Moon National Monument. In short, an ancient volcano and series of fissures really lost their cool and spewed lava for about 50 square miles in the south of Idaho. It has since cooled, hardened and been claimed by the government. Looking like a prime filming site for the original series of Star Trek, Craters of the Moon really throws you into a celestial state of mind. Pictures below include panoramic views of the flow and of some caves we went hiking through. Just 20 miles from the main highway, this is completely worth the time to go visit.

Wyoming. We got snowed on in Jackson, but our Glacier experienced resulted in an immediate purchase of rain gear, so we were dry at least. The snow was severe enough, sadly, to keep us from the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone (honeymoon opportunity?). We filled up in Wyoming for $3.25 a gallon and Lost Springs has a population of 4. Off to South Dakota!

We will remember South Dakota for Mount Rushmore and the Badlands National Park. The drive up to Mt. Rushmore was as impressive as the monument, boasting jutting rock pillars, beautiful pine rolling hills and tranquil overcast skies. The first thing that came to mind for the monument itself was, “It’s smaller than I thought.” It’s not on a proud, gleaming white cliff that watches ever vigilant and regal over South Dakota and our nation as the history books portray, it’s just right there in the hillside. But it was one of the most impressive monuments we have ever witnessed. As we got up closer, the busts grew substantially and I was truly proud to have the same human cognition as those who skillfully and masterfully crafted this rock into a national treasure. Sadly, as the clouds rolled in, our dead presidents’ faded out, and we left. We spent the night in Wall to wait for the sunlight for our Badlands experience. It was indeed an experience. Having visited the Grand Canyon previously, I personally thought it was as equally literally awesome. Also volcanically spawned, the Badlands are the eroded remains of millions of years of volcanic ash turned clay and stone. Without erosion the Badlands would just be another grassland, like miles and miles of the surrounding area. This is not the case, and the pictures below speak for themselves. We were lucky enough to do a 4 mile loop trail, of which we also have photographic proof.

South Dakota has also given us 2 other experiences, of Crazy Horse Monument and getting a new Dometic refrigerator- THANK YOU STEVEN SEGO – we love you. Crazy Horse is the same idea of Mt. Rushmore, but for the commemoration of lost lives of Native Americans. This monument is 10 years in the making and still has an expected journey of 20ish years. We paid $20 to see the monument (which is only the face of the entire project), but it was raining and we couldn’t go up to see it. We got 1 picture, got our money back, and got the heck out. But on the bright side, our fridge is practically freezing! Thanks again Dad.

I am posting from Mitchell, Sd (the location of our fridge installation). From here, we go to Sioux Falls to hopefully buy some more coffee beans, then off to Minneapolis and the Great Lakes. Hope you enjoy the pictures, and we’ll be posting in another week or so!

-Craters of the Moon National Monument-