#2: [22-Sep-10]

28-May-2002 -- I departed 47°N 100°W and headed west towards this confluence. It was a beautiful day with blue skies and scattered fluffy clouds. I was able to drive on gravel roads to within a mile of the spot where I left the road and drove over rolling hills to get as close as I could. I hate to write this, but I smelled something terrible as I topped a hill and it wasn't long before I saw what it was. There were about 6 dead cows stacked up like wood next to a rock pile. It was one of the most disgusting things I've ever experienced. I almost lost my lunch. I held my nose and continued on.

I was able to drive to about ¼ mile from the confluence where I got out and hiked across a muddy area below a dam and then up some hills to the spot. The view from there was awesome with the rolling hills all around and a picturesque lake to the west. I took my photos and walked back a different way so I wouldn't have to walk through the mud again. For some reason a bunch of cows started running towards me. I'm a city boy and I didn't know what they were going to do, so I picked up some big rocks and stood my ground. Lucky for them they veered off before they reached me. They might have ended up on that stack I passed by earlier. But seriously, I'm glad they decided not to mow me down.

I got back in the truck and headed back toward the main road, trying unsuccessfully to avoid the smell. The next stop, 46°N 101°W, was the last one on this trip and I was looking forward to wrapping things up.

Danny Strickland
www.artgaga.com