Today was to be our second state high point in as many days. On the 28th we hiked Harney Peak, the highest point in South Dakota. On the 27th we had run the Wyoming Marathon, where I placed 2nd, and Laila was first female.
Now we were driving 200 miles further north to bag a low peak, the 3,506 foot White Butte in North Dakota.
As we drove we sampled the books-on-tape we had checked out from the Pikes Peak library before we left Colorado Springs four days before. "The Argument Culture" is an enlightening examination of our propensity in the present state of American culture to frame our societal issues as black and white, with diametrically opposing views. This leads to the press in the interest of "fairness" to present "both sides" to an issue, when in reality they often give great creedence to a point of view that is only held by a tiny minority, just because it is at the opposite end of the spectrum, while the truth is often contained in the myriad of views closer to the center. As examples the author cites Holocaust denial and global warming--both issues are without dispute by the vast majority of historians (holocaust) or scientists (global warming), but because the press in its twisted attempt to foster a "story" lends credence to a few cranks this is enough for many people without the time to look into the issue for themselves to conveniently adopt an opinion as suits their political inclination or prejudice.
Our other tape was the Pulitzer-prize winning "The Shipping News", by E. Annie Proulx--highly entertaining look at provincial life in Newfoundland, Canada.
With Paul Zumwalt's "Fifty State Summits" for our trusty guide we drove north 12.0 miles from the junction of US-12 and US-85 in Bowman to an unmarked road where we made a right (east) hand turn. After four miles we turned left (north) at an intersection and continued for five miles. Then we made a left turn (west) for one mile. The farm home of Joseph Van Daele's is south of here.
There was an old trailer home to the right that looked unoccupied for years. To the left was a turqouise house that had seen better days. I rapped on the door. An ancient toothless woman answered, adroitly stepping outside while slamming the door on a dog making a valiant attempt at freedom.
My purpose was to ask permission to access the high point which required crossing her property. She smiled and said, "That is okay, but people have been making a donation and the usual amount is $20." Taken aback I said I had only $10 (which was true--I don't carry much cash) She naturally accepted it--$10 being better than 0$ no doubt.
We drove south for a mile or so on an unimproved dirt road before stopping at a fence. A gate to our right was the way in. A well-worn path led south along the fence in the direction of White Butte, about a mile away. A couple hundred yards and there was a steep section, replete with a helpful rope affixed to the fence. In the steady 25 MPH wind and light rain I joked to Laila that it almost like climbing Everest on the fixed rope section.
But now we had to cover the 200 miles back to our temporary base at Ellsworth AFB near Rapid City, SD. Along the way I had the shock of filling up with near $2/gallon gas and a full tank totalling $40.
Next on the agenda was Panorama Point, the high point of Nebraska.