The Badlands of South Dakota

For years I had heard people talk about the Badlands of South Dakota and how they wanted to go there, but every time I looked up images the landscape looked so blah I couldn't understand their interest.  Last year I was invited to help a friend scout the badlands for future workshops.  A group of us met up in Wall, South Dakota and explored the area for five days.  I was blown away by the beauty.  The image above was taken in Cedar Pass in the morning.

Highway 240 runs the length of the park taking visitors to a plethora of scenic views.  This image was taken at sunset and we found it along the drive.  The geology here is very interesting and raises all kinds of questions about the formation and erosion processes.  I understand the area is eroded one inch per year which is an astoundingly fast rate.

The variations in the colors really sets this place off from other places I have been. Reds, yellows, white, grey. and brown.  In mid day light the colors do not stand out.  It is during the golden hours, morning and evening that the colors pop out.  

If you would like to follow my blog and have it delivered to your email, please follow this link:

https://follow.it/notes-to-my-mother?leanpub