The first full day of the May X was spent exploring and discovering the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. Although cold and windy at times, the beauty of adventuring through these mysterious elements of nature left much to wonder. Centuries before, when Native Americans roamed these lands, the abundance of wildlife and the austere of the Badlands were a much different scene than the land and wildlife that we experience today. With climate change and the continued erosion of the Badlands, the scenes today are almost frightening. When will the Badlands be gone entirely? Will future generations come to these beautiful areas to find high-rise condiminums or housing developments or strip malls, or will humans find new ways to save the Badlands? My hope says that we will find ways to save these awesome parts of nature, but history suggests otherwise.
In the age of innovation and the pursuit of more, humans have become enamored with stuff. No longer do we try to preserve what we have, but waste has become the societal norm. When in doubt, throw it out. If it doesnt work, don't even try to fix it, just throw it out and get the latest and greatest version of what was broken or lost. This norm has caused a dangerous trend that continues to destroy the environment. If we continue down this dangerous path, the great and mysterious forces of nature we see today will not be witnessed by future generations.
On a more positive note, the trip so far has been amazing. The people, the places, and the adventures have all been new and incredible. From eating spaghetti with the sunsetting on the Badlands to sitting around the campfire on Stockade Lake, South Dakota is a remarkable place. Although this is just the beginning of the experience, I cannot wait to see what these places have in store. I am looking forward to the Grand Tetons as well as Devil's Tower, and I look forward to post in the coming days.
-Tyler
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