Theodore Roosevelt NP

We're on the edge of the badlands, a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay -rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water.  Little vegetation can grow on the unstable slopes.  Though not so hospitable for farming or ranching, this land holds a unique beauty.  As Greg and I pedaled east and our three musketeers drove west, we exchanged a few text photos of our different experiences in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  We saw the grand vistas from a roadside overlook, they got an up close and personal look at some bison. 

A Park Service exhibit named T. Roosevelt as a hero of conservation.  He had taken part in hunting some of the last buffalo in 1883, and became a cattle rancher in the Dakotas in years that followed.   By 1886-87, overgrazing in the plains led to underweight cattle as a very harsh winter approached.  Financial losses among ranchers were huge as cattle herds could not survive the winter.  Through these experiences, Roosevelt learned an important life lesson about human interactions with the natural world, and worked with other leaders to plan conservation efforts.  The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 authorized the setting aside of land for the first US national forests.  The modern US Forest Service was signed into law during Roosevelt's time as president. Today there are 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, encompassing 193 million acres. 

I'm really grateful for people in generations past who had the vision and made the effort for people today to have natural areas to enjoy and to utilize. Today are we following in their footsteps for the generations still to come?