2017 National Parks

Rocky Mountains, Black Hills and Grasslands

July 9-19, 2017

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July 9, 10, 11 in Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park is a United States national park located approximately 76 mi northwest of Denver International Airport in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Staying at Maryslake Lodge (image on left from Web source)

Image result for marys lake lodge photos 

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Visiting Bear Lake in RMNP with friends Don Musselman and Ella Blume

 

  Sprague Lake / famous fishing camp

    

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Visiting Grand Lake

   

Elk sighting on return trip

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July 12 off to Nebraska

  

Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska includes an important 19th-century landmark on the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. The National Monument contains multiple bluffs located on the south side of the North Platte River; it is named for one prominent bluff called Scotts Bluff,

 

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July 13-14 off to South Dakota

Crazy Horse Memorial Monument

The Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument under construction on privately held land in the Black Hills, in Custer County, South Dakota, United States. It will depict the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse, riding a horse and pointing into the distance.

   

(image on left from postcard)  

 

(image on left from wall display; image on right of sculpture model)

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Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore,

 a batholith in the Black Hills in Keystone, South Dakota.

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Arrival and walking Presidential Trail

 

 

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The Black Hills Central Railroad is a heritage railroad that operates in South Dakota, United States.

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July 15-16 off to North Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a United States National Park comprising three geographically

 separated areas of badlands in western North Dakota.

   

(two images above from postcards; cabin was used by TR in 1883)

TRNP South Unit Amazing views and many wild animals.

  

 

 

TRNP North Unit more rustic; less animals; important geology

  

 

 

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July 17-18 return to South Dakota

 

 

  

Last animal viewing: Longhorns and Prairie Dogs

  

  

Geology: unusual layers of three colors: gray, red and yellow

 

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Most images were from Dianne and Don. Thank you for sharing.

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The End

Additional Travel Photos at

http://www.retkuprof.com/TravelPhotos.html