#1: [27-May-02]

26-May-2024 -- I 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 had been looking forward to for an entire year. I had flown to Bismarck, North Dakota, two days before, and had thus far visited three points on the first day and then five points on the second day. As Day 3 dawned, I departed my campsite but before doing so, I was invited for coffee in the trailer of a very nice long term visitor to the campground: He even spent all winter there! Tough soul. Therefore, I had a late start out of the campground, but it was worth getting to know a local person. I also had to stop to make at the geographic center of North America in Rugby, which I have always wanted to see: It was totally worth doing. Thus, it was after 10:00 AM by the time I drove south from Rugby and reached the vicinity of the confluence.

I was on task to visit many points along 48 North: Yesterday afternoon and evening, I visited 97 and 98 West, and was now on a goal of 100 West, all along 48 North. I skipped 99 West because it is underwater; and also because I had visited it back in 2002, over 20 years ago. Each one of these points, despite prior research with satellite imagery, and maps, oftentimes presents a surprise. The surprise that I now had at 48/100 that while I was driving east along the section line road from the state highway straight toward the point, the road ahead of me suddenly was nothing more than a very faint track. It was not passable at all, unless with an ATV or tractor. Thus, beware! Roads indicated on maps are not always real roads. Undaunted, I turned south, and parked, and then walked up to the pleasant looking residence there.

There were cattle in the distance, and lots of fields of crops surrounding the landowner's home. Fortunately, the landowner was at home, perhaps because this being Memorial Day weekend, and we had a nice chat before I received permission and set out on foot. I had a long walk ahead of me since the road was not passable, but it was very enjoyable walking, going up and down the low Rolling hills in a due westerly fashion. It was a bit over 2 miles before I turned south after traversing several fields that were plowed in a north south fashion. I spotted the lake to the west, and I knew I was close. After a few more ascends and descends up and down hills, I found the confluence point in the low point between two hills. It was in a plowed field, but there was nothing planted and thus I felt OK about stepping there and not damaging anything. I took photos and posted this video on my Our Earth channel: 48 North 100 West.

At this point, I was over an hour into the hike. It was now about 11:00 AM, late morning in late spring. The temperature stood out about 72° F (22 C) under cloudy skies and a moderate breeze. The best view was off to the south but because this was a low spot in the hills, to see to the west, it is best to walk to the field edge to the west, and then the vista widens. I have a very nice collection of confluence points now in North Dakota: By the time this trip would end, I would have all the points along 48° north; I have most of them on 47° north and 46° north as well. I have stood on 48° north latitude in many places from Washington state all the way over to Minnesota. I have also stood on 100° west on the north end here in North Dakota all the way down to 100° west 30° north in Texas. These cover an amazingly wide range of landforms, climate zones, and vegetation, despite all being in central North America. What a planet!

It is extra special to be on the 100th Meridian, so I did not want to depart. This line of longitude was traditionally the dividing line between the wetter east and the semiarid west, or the "frontier." But because I had grand plans today to visit 5 confluences, and because it was already late morning, I set off in haste. I was walking over the knoll and heading to the east-west track when I saw the landowner driving in to see how I was getting along, with his all-terrain vehicle. What a nice man! I rode with him back on the track to my vehicle. This saved me at least 45 minutes and would allow me to visit 5 points again today. The landowner's dog ran all the way back alongside us - over 2 miles - I was impressed. The landowner told me about the moose and the mountain lion that had been here in the past on his property. I was glad I had not seen them on my hike. After the fun ATV trip, I reported my success to the entire household, wished them all happy trails, and then departed.

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 that were 

                easier than I had expected  =           2 
                about the same as I had expected  =     2 
                more difficult than I had expected  =  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!