Medicine Rocks St Park 2023
I didn’t plan it, probably because I don’t plan hardly anything, but this mid-summer sojourn has turned into a time to visit “old friends.” Not necessarily actual people, although we did meet up with friends along the way, but more so, the places we have explored several times still keep calling us back. As it happens at many of our stops, I find something not previously noted or see a familiar feature from a different perspective.
The sunsets at Medicine Rocks SP are spectacular
Last year at Medicine Rocks SP, we walked the established trails. This time, we walked across the still lush and green short-grass prairie. This spring and early summer, Montana received significant rainfall. The “short” grass was up to my waist on the north slopes. Looking at one of the larger rock formations, the “Supreme Mistress of Navigation” noticed a faint trail through the tall grass leading into a narrow crevasse. On a whim, we followed the path that provided an easy climb to the top of the formation. The sun was setting, providing a soft glow on the rolling hills below. The outcrop of stone was only a hundred feet higher than the surrounding landscape, but this small change in perspective opened an incredible vista.
The faint trail through the prairie leads to this overlook.
You may recall from a post a few months ago our guide on the Ute Reservation in Utah was named Wolf, who told us about the history and traditions of his tribe. Here, we met another storyteller; his first name was Beaver. He is the groundskeeper for the park where we first met last year. He has been taking care of the place for years. The Princess and I enjoyed our conversation with him one afternoon when he stopped by our campsite riding his industrial-strength lawn mower. We learned a few things during that chat: the rattlesnakes don’t get very big and are not very numerous. The only thing Sherrie took from that comment is there are snakes everywhere, and we might die at any time. We also heard about bobcats and mountain lions that pass through the area, but there are no bears. Again, Sherrie heard that if the snakes don’t get us, the marauding lions will. We did not see any of the foretold wildlife during our stay. It turned out that Beaver lived in Rockford, IL, our home state, for 15 years before he and his wife moved back to Montana to raise a family. Another interesting fact is that they have three Highland Coos (the strange-looking cows from Scotland) on their farm as pets. A very interesting guy that I hope we see again.
During the five days that we camped here, the heat was intense, and the sun glaring. So we adjusted by taking hikes early in the morning or late in the evening with the sun low in the sky. Most days, we hung out under the pines shading the ORV and listened to music and reading – a perfect way to spend time. Then we went out to gaze at the stars later in the middle of the night. These middle-of-the-night walks across the prairie are where the info about snakes, bobcats, and mountain lions really made the Princess hyper-vigilant.
Millions of stars and no bears
Dennis
Sunrise and Wildflowers
A few notes:
In Chamberlin, SD, we visited the Akta’ Lakota Museum & Cultural Center. The displays were well done, and we found the historical material interesting.
On the way East towards Medicine Rocks, we overnighted at Bear Butte Gardens, an organic farm a little north of Sturgis, SD. This is a very nice Harvest Host member.
Medicine Rocks, SP is a small park with only 12 campsites, all without water or electricity. The fee for non-residents is $24 a night. What it lacks in size and amenities, it more than compensates with solitude and quiet.
