Bismarck.......Badlands.......Maah Daah Hey

N46°49.542' W100°46.883'


This is the Capitol Building in Bismarck. It is beautiful inside, panelled in exotic woods and stone, perfectly maintained, and fantasticlly fitted with art deco fixtures. It cost $2 million, the same as a moderate-sized condo here in South Florida.

Bismarck is a great town. Everyone is friendly, and they have many bike paths.
N46°49.869' W100°46.428'


Doesn't this sign just make you want to get in the car and drive?
Tour of Bismarck


Track Data

I didn't have a car. I walked, biked, and took a taxi -- sort of an impromptu triathlon.

I walked to a good history museum on the Capitol Grounds. It has a very cool dinosaur skeleton and many other interesting exhibits. From there, I walked around a golf course, through a university campus, and then over some mountain bike trails that cut down to the Missouri River.

There is a bike rental place by the river in Bismarck. From there, bike trails connect all the way to Ft Lincoln and General Custer's former residence. It is kind of a long way. I took a taxi back to the hotel, which was uphill, after I was done.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


I took my new GPS device for a bike ride in the Badlands of Western North Dakota. I think it had fun.

I made lots of waypoints. I also acquired some from another traveler, and preloaded them in case I got lost. I was glad to have them. Sometimes the cows would make false trails.

Thank you to www.stoneylonesomephotos.com/Maah-Daah-Hey for all the great data.

See my waypoints here.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


This trail across the pretty meadow is very nice. There were all sorts of flowers. Those hills in the background are referred to as badlands and are quite steep.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


When the trail goes up or down these steep parts, switchbacks have been cut into the cliff faces. Don't worry mom, I walked my bike on these parts and did not go near the edge ;-) I'm sure those foot prints right at the brink of the cliff in the foreground are not mine. It must have been goats or something.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


This might be a place called China Wall. Anyway, whatever it is, I like it - very creative wall treatment idea. Nice textured look, excellent crown mouldings. Maybe I'll bring the photo into the local Home Depot and see if they have any product suggestions.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


More nice rocks
Maah Daah Hey Trail


There are countless great views in these hills. The river below is the Little Missouri. The land below is either part of where Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn ranch was, or it might be some land near that area that looks similar. I guess I should have made a note at the time.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


We rode or walked our bikes uphill several or more times a day. You can tell which people walked, as we were able to stop and take photos of the pretty scenery. Some riders on this trip demonstrated serious climbing skillz.

It was uphill to get to the campsite. No taxi was available.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


Typically, the trail went downhill, then uphill. At the top of the hills, I got into the habit of stopping to admire how far I had travelled while drinking water and sucking down energy foods. I found it useful to take the extra time to breathe as well. I seemed to be using a lot of air:-)
Maah Daah Hey Trail


My vacation Home
Maah Daah Hey Trail


I suggested that people sit in these chairs for a nice portrait in flattering light. Everybody was too tired to move. I was too tired to move the chairs out of the nice photo of the sunset. So there they are.

Imagine your self here, drink in hand, digesting a gourmet dinner.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


These are purported to be grass seeds. If my socks have babies in 9 months, I'll know better. I wonder if am on to something here...I keep finding odd socks. This could explain a lot.
Maah Daah Hey Trail


The Maah Daah Hey would not be fun without an outfitter. While superheros on singlespeeds have been known to ride the route in a day, it takes ordinary mortals 5 days to ride the trail. I drank 8 or more liters of water and other fluids a day. Western Spirt organized bicycles, campsites, food, water, and even ice cream on a 100+ degree day!!!
Maah Daah Hey Trail


This is called Devils Pass. We camped above it, knowing we were to cross it first thing in the morning. The trail actually is on top of this narrow ridge. Is that dark area on the cliff face really a pentagram? Like, what's up with that?
Maah Daah Hey Trail


Part of camping is not having television. We watched the sky instead. It was a good show. Later the moon put on a show of its own, appearing to be huge just before it set. After the moon was gone, all the stars were visible -- all the stars, not just the few bright ones that can outshine city lights.