#2: [21-Aug-04]

#1: [26-Apr-02]

25-May-2024 -- I have been seeking and finding confluence points for 25 years, and have established a tradition going back nearly 20 years of devoting a whole day or multiple days, solely to getting out on the landscape, seeing physical and cultural geography and visiting confluence points. Thus, it was time for the 2024 trip which I have been looking forward to for an entire year. I had landed in Bismarck, North Dakota, the previous day and despite the slow start in a sleet and rainstorm for 47 North 99 West, I visited two more points that day; and now it was Day 2. Earlier today I had visited 46 North 98 West, 46 North 97 West, entered Minnesota and visited 48 North 96 West, and 48 North 97 West. Could I visit 5 points in one day? I had done it a few times in the past: Now it was time to see if I could make 5 points today.

The route from 48 North 97 West to 48 North 98 West took me through Grand Forks, the largest city in many miles, but I did not stop; I pressed on to US Highway 2. The road gradually rises in steps almost imperceptibly up the ancient beaches of Lake Agassiz, every 10 miles or so. Only slightly more than 90 minutes after I departed 48/97, I found myself at the road just north of 48/98. The first challenge was making a U-turn on the divided highway and pulling out into a short driveway leading to what I could now see was the nearby town's water source, or settling ponds for their water treatment plant. Once done, looking many times in both directions for oncoming traffic, I parked and set out with a minimal amount of supplies. I was now 2,335.52 ft (711.87 m) from the confluence and my excitement was building! But soon I would encounter the second challenge.

From my plans before the trip again, I had mistakenly assumed that this would be one of the easiest confluence points of all: Just south of a major US highway. However, as is so often the case, being on the ground with something entirely different. What I noticed, as I circumnavigated the pond, that I was a bit over 100 m from the actual site. Specifically I was at the south end of the pond, 1,412.98 ft (430.67 m) from the actual point. Not wanting to call this good enough… I pondered my options. I walked from the pond to the west, into the adjoining field, which was no easy trek. Once in the field, I turned toward the southeast, and walked along the muddy field edge to the wetland. Now south of the point, right when the ground gave way to marsh, I was now less than 100 m from the point. What should I do?

Of course, dear reader: I decided to plunge forth into the marsh, walking on the plants stalks that had been sideways due to the passage of perhaps a deer not too long ago. Using this method, I was able to actually zero out the GPS unit, taking giant strides and going past my ankles in water. No worries because earlier that day I had been in three wet fields, and my shoes were already soaked. It was worth the extra effort, and even though I had no firm ground under me, I stood there for a few moments. Taking care not to fall over or drop anything, I filmed a video and took photos. But then I needed to get to a campground before the sun set, so I walked out the way I came. In retrospect it would have been easier to park northwest of where I did, but then I would not have had that lovely sunset walk around the pond and seen those many marvelous bird species. Before I left the vicinity, I had a short tour of the lovely small town of Petersburg to the northwest of the confluence point.

It had been 20 years since the last of the two former visits to this point. Each narrative seems different and indeed wetlands change with seasons and other cycles. This confluence lies in a wetland and I was grateful to see that it had not been drained: Wetlands are important to our planet's birds, animals, and water quality. I have great appreciation for people that care for this land and the indigenous population that traversed and took care of this area over the centuries as well. It was early evening in late May, about one month before the summer solstice. It was much more pleasant than my snowy-rainy-windy walk the day before to 47 North 99 West. Now, the temperature stood at a pleasant 75 F (24 C) under moderate breezes and clear skies. I saw many wonderful birds but no people. To the northwest, a few buildings from Petersburg are viewable, as a few buildings to the south. I took photos and posted this video of 48 North 98 West.

I am wearing my "I know where it is at!" geography shirt in honor of the occasion. It is under my shirt from Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, where I used to teach GIS. By now in my 25th year of doing this, I have a very tidy, robust collection of visited confluence points in North Dakota. I have stood on 48° north latitude many times in the past from Washington state on the west to Minnesota on the east. I have also stood on 98° west many times from North Dakota here on the north end down to Texas on the south end, spanning a wide array of ecoregions and biomes. This was my 8th confluence of the 15 points I would eventually visit for my current four day trip: 3 points yesterday and 5 today! From the confluence neighborhood, after my Petersburg tour, I found a campground to the west at the lovely Stump Lake and watched the sun set. Get out there and explore!

When the trip was all said and done, here are the final statistics:

-------------------------------------------------
Days set aside to visit points:  4

Confluence points attempted:  15.  

Confluence points successfully visited:  15. 

Points where I met the local landowner = 3 of 15 points. 

Points where I met the local dogs = 3 of 15 points.

Miles = 1588, Kilometers = 2556.
  
Percent of travel on interstate highways:  15%
Percent of travel on US, state, and county roads:  85 % :-)

Campgrounds = 3.  

Windy confluence points:  13 of 15.
Rainy confluence points:  3 of 15.
Snowy confluence points:  1 of 15.

Beautiful confluence points:   15 of 15.

Convenience store stops = 7.  

Points I thought would be

                easier than they turned out to be =           2 
                about the same as I expected them to be =     2 
                more difficult than they turned out to be =  11 
		------------------------------------------------
			                                     15 points.
Points          in wetlands              1
                in woodlands             1
		in non-tilled hills      2
		in agricultural fields  11
		---------------------------
			                15 points.

Points along 	45 North = 1 
		46 North = 3 
		47 North = 3 
		48 North = 8  
		-------------
			   15 points.

Points visited on 	Day 1 = 3 
			Day 2 = 5 
			Day 3 = 5 
			Day 4 = 2
		-------------------
			   	15 points.  

Points visited in the 	morning = 	5 
			afternoon = 	7 
			evening = 	3 
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points

Points visited in 	Minnesota =     2
			North Dakota =  11
			South Dakota =  1 
			Montana =       1
		-------------------------------
			   		15 points 

The most frequently visited longitude line:  99 West:  3 points.

Get out there and explore!