Don’t leave home without it
To loosely translate from Norwegian to English:
fri = free, lufts = air’s, liv = life
The English equivalent= Outdoor Life
I posted a photo on my social media page of a rattlesnake I encountered in the South Unit of the North Dakota Badlands. I got instant feedback questioning the safety of hiking in the Badlands. My answer was that a rattlesnake is only one of the potential hazards that could be encountered on any hike. Other hazards include bison, twisted ankles, sunburn and heat stroke, etc. NONE of these are valid reasons to avoid getting out in nature.
I have hiked hundreds of miles in both units of the Badlands and have encountered my share of exciting adventures. One of the more interesting experiences happened while hiking with friends and family one afternoon in the South Unit. We rounded a butte and were attracted to a pile of bones in a small area between two hills. As I walked over to the pile, I broke through the crust on the surface and found myself teetering on the edge of a sinkhole. My right leg (I am
about 6’3″) didn’t touch the bottom of the hole and my left was barely perched on the edge of the hole.
Another incident involved a rattlesnake minding its own business, sunning him/herself on a rock ledge. I didn’t notice the snake until I was less than two feet from stepping on its sunning spot. Luckily for me, the snake was making a fast exit.
One more incident involved hiking in the Badlands in the early spring. Morning temperatures made for cool and easy hiking. Afternoon temperatures were rising and the bentonite clay was beginning to thaw, creating very slippery and dangerous conditions. Anyone who has ever encountered bentonite clay knows that it is hard and crumbly when dry but turns extremely greasy and slippery when wet.
I could provide a list of other incidents in addition to those mentioned above. In the end, most of them would include one common element, a good hiking stick.
I have been carving diamond willow hiking sticks for years. I enjoy finding the wood, carving the sticks and then gifting the sticks to the people I hike with. I do this for a couple of reasons. First, I just enjoy making and gifting the sticks. More importantly, the hiking sticks can get you out of a real jam.
My favorite hiking stick, which has hundreds of miles on it, got me out of the three incidents mentioned above. In the first, it helped me get out of the sinkhole. By walking with the stick held parallel to the ground when crossing unknown surfaces on land or on ice on the Little Missouri River, a wider profile is created which hopefully prevents sinking further into mud or water.
In the second example, by walking with a hiking stick and thumping on the ground as you walk, you are providing an early warning to rattlesnakes. They detect the vibrations and get out of your way.
Finally, a sturdy stick can provide a means of pulling hiking companions up a greasy bentonite slope where you have no other traction.
The Badlands are there for you to enjoy. Don’t forget your hiking stick when you go. It may add a happy ending to your hikes.