National Parks with the Campbells (Part 1)

We started off our grand adventure on Saturday morning. Jacob was supposed to have a baseball tournament game and we went to that, but the other team didn't show up. So we got an earlier start than we hoped. We drove to Dickinson, ND getting there shortly after the Campbells. We hit Pizza Ranch and the pool that night.

The next morning we headed a few miles west to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Stopping at the Painted Canyon Visitor center for pretty views and info before heading into the park's South Unit - stopping in there to check out the cabin Teddy Roosevelt lived in for a while. We hiked Big Plateau from Peaceful Valley Ranch. On this trail we got to cross a shallow river and see a herd of bison & pronghorn. Towards the end of our hike, Wyatt had is first opportunity to use the toilet paper we'd packed in the day packs and it wouldn't be the last...

We also explored Wind Canyon Trail (more bison and pretty views), Buck Hill Trail (2nd highest peak in the park), and Old East Entrance Trail (saw a wild horse and the original entrance building). Since Kate and Quinn skipped the last hike, the other 9 of us crammed in the van and ended up singing the whole 99 bottles of milk on the wall song on the way back to the visitor center.

We stayed a night in Billings, MT before heading to Gardiner where we would be staying for 4 nights. Before checking into the house, we went white water rafting. Such a fun adventure! Then we checked into the house, got settled, did some grocery shopping, and had supper.