Date: September 1, 2010
National Park to Offer People’s Choice Wilderness Hike
Visitors will choose the destination for a wilderness hike on Sunday, September 5 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The hike in the park’s North Unit will be the last one of the 2010 summer season.
Backcountry Ranger John Heiser is offering several options for visitors to consider, including searching for bighorn sheep, hiking to the Petrified Forest or a backcountry spring, or venturing to the park’s most scenic bentonite ridge. The decision will be made the morning of the hike. Other considerations determining the hike’s destination will be the number of participants and weather conditions. The hike could last from 4 to 6 hours and cover 2 to 6 miles.
Hikers should meet Heiser at the picnic area in the Juniper Campground at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Participants should be prepared for a moderately strenuous hike and wear sturdy boots and clothes appropriate for the weather. Everyone should bring plenty of drinking water, food, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
“Late summer is a beautiful time to hike in the park,” said Superintendent Valerie Naylor. “This will be a great opportunity for visitors to experience the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness Area and see some spectacular scenery and wildlife.”
Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars, cameras, and a favorite poem or quote. In the case of extreme weather, the hike may be cancelled; please call the North Unit Visitor Center at 701-842-2333 for current information.
