Towards the end of
my early childhood, my family decided to make a trip around America and see
several of its national parks. My father, mother, sister, and I enjoyed several
smaller trips in the past. We must have spent about a collective month
beforehand catching large-mouth bass, pulling campers across the highway while
slowly losing the feelings in our legs, guiding our dog Webster, a Springer
Spaniel, as he ran manically through the woods, making s’mores over campfires,
and many other activities associated with family camping trips. This trip,
however, was much more interesting.
Planning for a
two-week long road-trip from Grand Haven, Michigan, which included extended
stops at Yellowstone National Park, The Badlands, and Mount Rushmore, we packed
the car to the roof. Webster laid comfortably, wedged between a stack of
sleeping bags. To pass the time on the road, I read and played game boy –Super
Mario Brothers. After of few days of hotels and clear blue skies over open
road, we reached the West.
By coincidence,
Sturgis, the gathering of the bikers, was taking place. We passed thousands of
motorcycles. It seems we weren’t the only ones who thought of enjoying a warm
summer among some of the most scenic locations on Earth.
We finally reached
Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. I remember it looking a little smaller than I
would have expected, though impressive nonetheless. The construction of this
monument took decades of skilled use of dynamite, chisels, and more. Nearby is a
second and unfinished monument, “Crazy Horse,” dedicated to a Native American
warrior. Beginning in 1948, work continues to slowly progress to this day. As
eyes gave upon such structures, they may implant the values of dedication,
planning, and skill.
Soon after, we
reached the Badlands of South Dakota. Containing seemingly boundless grassy
prairies encased by medium sized mounds of visibly weathered rock, walkways on
wooden planks snaked throughout. Off the beaten path, you could dare to face
rattlesnakes. We took our chances. It was very dry and the sun baked from
above, but the family continued making many new visual memories. After a long
hike, we called it a day. For the night, we stayed in a nearby campground.
Rabbits darted across the barren grounds into small holes. One of them may have
been a legendary “Jackelope,” a rabbit with antlers; frequently mended by
taxidermists for the local gift shops. The sun set over a red horizon.
The next stop was
the grand finale. We finally reached Yellowstone, easily the most scenic and
impactful trip of our lives. On the way, narrow roadways leading into small
cliffs kept drivers on edge. Flimsy foot-high railings and a few feet of dirt
road were all that separated us from untimely doom. I was terrified. It was
probably the scenic route. Making it through, we put our things away at the
camp spot. Within a short drive to one of the most crowded locations in
Yellowstone was “Old Faithful” and several other natural formations.
Geysers are a
release point for the Earth’s deep processes. Through time, this phenomena moves
continents and spews water and chemicals from beneath. Being as lucky as we
were, we witnessed a massive burst of steamy vapor from a geyser that was
estimated to erupt only once every two weeks. It was quite the show.
Throughout the
area, bison filled the fields and roadways. At one point they passed our car.
Young and old galloped in random paths. Buffalo “pies” were seen every few
feet. They are impressive creatures. Bison’s great size and tendency to live in
large numbers makes me wonder if they would be tolerated outside of such parks.
Saying goodbye, we
went home from a well enjoyed vacation. I will always remember the beauty of
this part of America. The National Parks were created to keep America
beautiful, to provide great places of recreation to those who don’t have the
money to own millions of acres of land, and to prevent the exploitation of
these great locations that would ruin them for future generations. Overall,
seeing the great parks helps plant the seed of environmentalism in young minds.
If I had never left the city, I may never have considered the value of the
Earth’s natural resources.
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