tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85693702024-03-07T18:14:00.262-06:00Mitch's Blog 7.0Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-50362277396367257962012-03-21T20:51:00.000-05:002012-03-21T20:53:29.431-05:00Four Years Have PassedAs of today, four years have passed since the last time I posted here. Wow. Perhaps evident by the subject matter of the post that has had the distinction of being labeled the most recent for 48 months in a row, I never really intended to stop posting here like I did. Nevertheless, in retrospect, several circumstances at the time led to that very thing happening. With that being the case, I wonder if, say, I start routinely posting here again, whether I could still place the phrase "since 2001" on any logo displayed at the top of the page?<br />
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I bring that up because I’m seriously considering once again writing every so often on here. To be honest, I’m not so sure what I would discuss with any regularity, but, then again, I remember that being an occasional problem in the past but not one that could be overcome. In any event, I do have to say that I have sometimes missed the long-form style of writing that works well with this format.<br />
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One thing I could use my blog for could be to provide a background to any new photos I include on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/" target="_blank">my Flickr page</a>, which now has over 2,000 images and is largely where I’ve concentrated my attention in the four years since my last post (<a href="http://www.mitchsblog.com/" target="_blank">www.mitchsblog.com</a> redirects there now too). Actually, thinking this over, that would be hardly revolutionary, since I remember that sharing recent photos I had taken as well as discussing the details of how they came about made up a significant portion of my posts in the past.<br />
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Taking into account the last thing I posted in 2008, I also obviously enjoyed writing about the weather, specifically in Brainerd, Minnesota. Being my hometown, that I picked that locale to talk about was no coincidence, but there was another good reason too. I believe I wrote about this sometime in the past, but, not having refreshed my memory by combing through previous blog posts, I don’t know for sure. Anyhow, I spent a good amount of time collecting all of the weather records there are to collect with regard to the city of Brainerd and sorted all that information into easily read tables and charts such as the ones available for St. Cloud, Minnesota on <a href="http://web.stcloudstate.edu/raweisman/climate.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this website</a>. With information like this, comparisons between days, months, years, or any other period can be made with ease and may even be enjoyable to anybody who has an interest in weather.<br />
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I once had all of this information online, but I never found a new hosting service when Yahoo! shut down Geocities. Nonetheless, all of the files that made up the website are still on my computer, and after updating with data for the most recent years as well as improving some formatting issues, I would like to make the tables and charts once again available and linked to at <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KMNBRAIN1" target="_blank">the website</a> showing the data my personal weather station in Brainerd have been supplying to Weather Underground since the end of 2006. Assuming I re-launch the website containing weather statistics, I would also like to perhaps provide monthly weather summaries chronicling the month that has just passed. Preliminarily speaking, I’m thinking I could use the blog as a way to share and archive these summaries.<br />
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Anyway, all of what I’ve written, which actually is much more than I was ever intending to write, is to say that this blog may get revived sometime in the future. If you’re reading this now, I guess you might just want to stay tuned to see what happens. <br />Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-73771683174859643982008-03-21T19:22:00.010-05:002008-03-27T09:26:05.910-05:00Winter of 2007-08 MusingsYesterday at 48 minutes past midnight, CDT, for the first time in six months, the sun aligned itself with the equator. This marked, of course, the vernal equinox and the end of winter in the northern hemisphere. Even so, meteorological winter, the winter that meteorologists use to reckon average winter temperatures, precipitation, and other variables, came to a close on the first of March after beginning on the first of December.<br /><br />So the three months that cover meteorological winter were exceptionally cold this year in the Upper Midwest, weren’t they? Well, yes, perhaps, when you view them in terms of a decadal perspective, but, no, not really, when you compare them against all winters of the past century.<br /><br />The reason for this is that the winter of 2007-08, while colder than average in the Upper Midwest, wasn’t really that cold compared to how cold many winters in the past have been. Instead, it most likely felt unusually cold this past winter because the last time a winter had been so cold was seven years ago in 2000-01 and because the intervening six winters during that seven year gap were not only warmer than average, but, with only a couple of exceptions, <em>much</em> warmer than average.<br /><br />Let’s concentrate on Minnesota a bit. The average 2007-08 winter temperature was 9.9°F, or 1.8°F below the 1896-2008 average. It was 38th coldest winter in Minnesota on record, which starts during the winter of 1895-96. The last winter that had a comparable average temperature was, like I mentioned, 2000-01, which had an average temperature of 8.8°F. February 2008, coming in at 3.3°F below the 1896-2008 average, had the largest departure from average (December and January were 2.1°F below average and 0.6°F above average, respectively).<br /><br />Going to Brainerd now, the preliminary average winter 2007-08 temperature was 10.3°F. I must use the word preliminary because that is the average temperature from the automated observation station at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. For my <a href="http://geocities.com/mwmnp25/" target="_blank">Climate of Brainerd website</a>, all (recent) data come from the <a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/what-is-coop.html" target="_blank">cooperative weather observer</a> station operated by Brainerd Public Utilities near the Mississippi River on the north end of town. Unfortunately, unlike the automated station at the airport, data from this station are not made public until a few months after they’re recorded. As a result, I must use data from the airport right now to determine the average winter temperature.<br /><br />The difference between what’s recorded at the airport what what’s recorded near the river isn’t usually that large, so some comparisons can still be made with the airport’s measurements in hand.<br /><br />10.3°F is about 1°F below the 1898-2007 average winter temperature and, as you’ve heard before, would make it the coldest average since the winter of 2000-01. December 2007 at the airport was colder than average, January 2008 was right near average, and February 2008 was colder than average. Interestingly, the coldest temperature recorded at the airport during winter was <em>only</em> -24°F on January 24, February 19, and February 21. On average, Brainerd records 3 or 4 temperatures of -30°F or lower during winter, and actually, if the coldest that the cooperative station got during winter also ends up being -24°F, that would be the sixth warmest “lowest temperature recorded during the winter” on record. This little tidbit leads credence to the thought that what dragged this past winter down temperature-wise were not the daily minimum temperatures seen during the outbreaks of arctic air, but the below-average daily maximum temperatures associated with the cold air intrusions.<br /><br />I have the space, but unfortunately not the time, to discuss precipitation patterns during the past winter. With that in mind, let me just say that winter was much drier than average in Minnesota and North Dakota but much wetter than average in the rest of the Upper Midwest. Still, thanks to two significant snowstorms during the first week of December that blanketed the region with roughly 8 to 15 inches of snow, most of central and northern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota maintained an extensive snow pack throughout the winter months for the first time in years. If you enjoyed the colder temperatures of this past winter, you should be exceptionally thankful for the timing and precipitation that fell from these early-December storms. If these storms had not provided the snow that they did when they did, it’s doubtful that winter temperatures would have been as cold as they were. A basic concept discussed in meteorology classes (and one that I was tested on just last week in <span style="font-style: italic;">ATSC 310 – Introduction to Weather Forecasting</span>) is that of how a deep snow pack can affect temperatures. Snow, being white, not only does an efficient job of reradiating solar radiation into space, but also emits infrared energy and acts as an insulator that prevents heat stored in soil from reaching the air. This, coupled with the fact that it takes energy to either melt or sublimate snow, means that unless some other factor is at play, an area with a good snow cover will by and large be colder than one with little or no snow cover. Furthermore, the newer the snow is, the better it is at preventing temperatures from warming too much. The temperature differences between a snow covered area and an area with no snow cover that are both being impacted by the same air mass can sometimes be dramatic – the snow covered area could be at 28°F while the area with just bare ground could be reading 48°F. One of the first things to look at if you want cold temperatures is how much snow is on the ground and how new it is.<br /><br />What was the most likely culprit in making the winter of 2007-08 turn out as it did? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Nina" target="_blank">La Niña</a>. Not since the winter of 2000-01 (hey, haven’t I mentioned these two years before?) has La Niña been as strong. Although it’s the weak La Niñas that seem to have a stronger tendency to bring colder than average temperatures to the Upper Midwest, almost all winters in the region influenced by La Niña have featured average to colder than average temperatures. Precipitation patterns during a La Niña are more variable, however. It’ll be interesting to see how La Niña, which remains quite strong, affects the weather pattern during the rest of March, April, and perhaps even May. There is a pretty good correlation between a strong La Niña event and a colder than average spring in the Upper Midwest.<br /><br />Now to some pictures – first are a few figures related to the weather discussion of this post and second are some of my favorite pictures taken here at UND during the past winter. Real quickly, let me just say that Grand Forks also had a cold, dry winter. The average temperature was 4.9°F, which is coincidently 4.9°F below the 30-year normal. The coldest temperature was -33°F on February 20; this temperature also set a new daily record low at Grand Forks International Airport. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRmsMLXO2cE" target="_blank">Click here</a> to view The Weather Channel’s local forecast from that morning.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5xKwsdBlNMbtKVXQ4DPFyTeK2Staq6YYcrbHBd-p_m4Vf6DIf4bEayfAab1ZI4rkWz99NWeiQjO0jO5S8zrCdW0KJRMLht4QeaHoKhWTqABihe05coiGQ7SPKeVi3n3A5Fxx/s1600-h/Winter2008tempranks.gif" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5xKwsdBlNMbtKVXQ4DPFyTeK2Staq6YYcrbHBd-p_m4Vf6DIf4bEayfAab1ZI4rkWz99NWeiQjO0jO5S8zrCdW0KJRMLht4QeaHoKhWTqABihe05coiGQ7SPKeVi3n3A5Fxx/s400/Winter2008tempranks.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180361026809316786" border="0" /></a>Statewide average winter temperature ranks (from the National Climactic Data Center's <a href="http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/feb/3month.html" target="_blank">3-month National Climate Summary</a>)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLrhkV2T5pvGpnN-bTAegj9Rp9q9MJZqJUX1JFXJ3yarcN8AlRBPZ95-dzSFNYb3Y7V3ynzsMiJA92fdIHE20GcegXcrwIoAbjTHJPNj2qvWXoGtjmtxRS7Qnd34effRNEhLP/s1600-h/Winter2008precipranks.gif" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLrhkV2T5pvGpnN-bTAegj9Rp9q9MJZqJUX1JFXJ3yarcN8AlRBPZ95-dzSFNYb3Y7V3ynzsMiJA92fdIHE20GcegXcrwIoAbjTHJPNj2qvWXoGtjmtxRS7Qnd34effRNEhLP/s400/Winter2008precipranks.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180361546500359618" border="0" /></a>Statewide average winter precipitation ranks (from the National Climactic Data Center's <a href="http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/feb/3month.html" target="_blank">3-month National Climate Summary</a>)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxJMTWn-8uM8zOrSswUCZmMiMRVxtzh3hkpqixU2HDSvUAAeizCAyborTZ9N6HgLtAsul5jfHighETRlqjAt_e7uYRhMU2beQ5mntOHWNa_ZYTm5LLFcUJeVedMzG7geubMx1/s1600-h/Minnesotaavewinttertemps.gif" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxJMTWn-8uM8zOrSswUCZmMiMRVxtzh3hkpqixU2HDSvUAAeizCAyborTZ9N6HgLtAsul5jfHighETRlqjAt_e7uYRhMU2beQ5mntOHWNa_ZYTm5LLFcUJeVedMzG7geubMx1/s400/Minnesotaavewinttertemps.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180361550795326930" border="0" /></a>Bar graph showing average winter temperatures in Minnesota since the winter of 1895-96 (from the National Climactic Data Center's <a href="http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/cag3/mn.html" target="_blank">Minnesota climate summaries</a>)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcgA5jasPxghMklvBiix6tOFcLyzjQEctmM5Y4ek9fcqfvVLiDuhTKfxfhWm-LqBE-MvVG1oXrc3QaNQT5Wx-BOvGvmm0YxcKvK5UWAXbqJtFTb22tSQ_uKFONjctgDhDX0uM/s1600-h/Avgtempswinter2008.gif" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcgA5jasPxghMklvBiix6tOFcLyzjQEctmM5Y4ek9fcqfvVLiDuhTKfxfhWm-LqBE-MvVG1oXrc3QaNQT5Wx-BOvGvmm0YxcKvK5UWAXbqJtFTb22tSQ_uKFONjctgDhDX0uM/s400/Avgtempswinter2008.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180361550795326946" border="0" /></a>As is usual, Minnesota's average winter temperature was the coldest among the lower 48 states; North Dakota's was the second coldest, which is also common (from the National Climactic Data Center's <a href="http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/cag3/cag3.html" target="_blank">U.S. Climate at a Glance</a>)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/2177024160/" target="_blank" title="dec07-4 by mwahlsten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2177024160_6a8e3b361d.jpg" width="500" height="341" alt="dec07-4" /></a><br />Second Avenue North on a snowy December evening at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/2246135802/" target="_blank" title="jan08-11 by mwahlsten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2120/2246135802_b0138cde2a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="jan08-11" /></a><br />Thick hoarfrost covered all vegetation outdoors on a pleasant January afternoon in Grand Forks, North Dakota<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/2245339535/" target="_blank" title="jan08-9 by mwahlsten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2139/2245339535_d615357108.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="jan08-9" /></a><br />Trees covered in thick hoarfrost make walking along this path in Grand Forks, North Dakota especially wonderful on a January afternoon<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/2245338031/" target="_blank" title="jan08-1 by mwahlsten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/2245338031_5d36b91915.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="jan08-1" /></a><br />Trees covered in thick hoarfrost line University Avenue at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks on a nice January morning.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/2246136116/" target="_blank" title="jan08-14 by mwahlsten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2246136116_217e5b321e.jpg" alt="jan08-14" height="335" width="500" /></a><br />This was one of those days at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks where bundling up from head to toe was an absolute necessity. When this photo was taken, the temperature was -14°F and the wind was blowing from the northwest at 27 mph, producing a wind chill of -44°F.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/2313469455/" target="_blank" title="feb08-6 by mwahlsten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2037/2313469455_552f482924.jpg" alt="feb08-6" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />At a temperature of -32°F (-36°C), water vapor tends to stay in the atmosphere for a while. Such was the case around the UND heating plant about an hour after sunrise. What isn't immediately evident in this picture, taken on the coldest morning of the 2007-08 winter, was that the wind chill was an incredible -54°F (-48°C).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/2314282820/" target="_blank" title="feb08-7 by mwahlsten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2314282820_9ca6f63b9d.jpg" alt="feb08-7" height="500" width="333" /></a><br />A ominous cloud of steam rises above the UND heating plant amid an ambient temperature of -19°F (-28°C) on one of the coldest days of the 2007-08 winter.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-61038030718596873952008-02-03T22:03:00.000-06:002008-02-10T22:44:37.849-06:007th Annual Top 10 Super Bowl CommercialsHere's a tradition I'll hold on to. Although I can't say it's the 7th consecutive year that I've posted a list of what I believe to be the top 10 commercials shown during the Super Bowl (I skipped out on doing this in 2005 for some reason), this is the 7th year that I've put together a list.<br /><br />Hopefully you're able to play all of the commercials. Otherwise, if you caught the Super Bowl, you'll just have play the commercial from memory.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. Bud Light - "Wheel Suck"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WX8Du9pusdA&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WX8Du9pusdA&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Audi - "Horsehead"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dzZRfC8n1Cc&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dzZRfC8n1Cc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Bridgestone - "Unexpected Obstacles"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Eg3T9vZ-rAM&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Eg3T9vZ-rAM&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Cars.com - "Witch Doctor"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mOWewRCVeq4&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mOWewRCVeq4&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Coca-Cola - "It's Mine"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xiMf5cCDy1I&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xiMf5cCDy1I&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Bridgestone - "Scream"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fu9ibUWIq8A&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fu9ibUWIq8A&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Bud Light - "Wind & Cheese Party"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aEWtTVaIH0M&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aEWtTVaIH0M&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Bud Light - "Jackie Moon"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ecqiZn2DDFQ&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ecqiZn2DDFQ&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Tide to Go - "Interview"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XmD7joJNE0c&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XmD7joJNE0c&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Planters - "Unibrow Girl"</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q81NFaRjp5s&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q81NFaRjp5s&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-65012360685366760662007-12-23T11:07:00.000-06:002007-12-23T04:15:35.289-06:00Another Birthday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4U26Uvoa3rWdCteIu1ETPNZTIb99zsscErMRHLPshUOqggyxo8xRCst7eMvs49J3DQxi2owM6q_IUXMdiuHiTkz14aDkHIBVQepYhIyw-gn4UallmNIQJ_P94E14sdnpjgbp/s1600-h/6bdaycake.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4U26Uvoa3rWdCteIu1ETPNZTIb99zsscErMRHLPshUOqggyxo8xRCst7eMvs49J3DQxi2owM6q_IUXMdiuHiTkz14aDkHIBVQepYhIyw-gn4UallmNIQJ_P94E14sdnpjgbp/s320/6bdaycake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147108054608252898" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4Fk2DnGteJAq94OX78_O-LIOPxAKPQKe_P7EH9d18IkW_XLh1kskmWx9-uvJjpoxQAMk7wYMDimJPKzjo5uvUyZ6tHWLH2i3F3ti5wYijIaEpyN0_CBlgaz713RYiyXT_1ah/s1600-h/birthday4-06.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4Fk2DnGteJAq94OX78_O-LIOPxAKPQKe_P7EH9d18IkW_XLh1kskmWx9-uvJjpoxQAMk7wYMDimJPKzjo5uvUyZ6tHWLH2i3F3ti5wYijIaEpyN0_CBlgaz713RYiyXT_1ah/s320/birthday4-06.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147108058903220210" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Today is the sixth birthday of my blog. For your enjoyment, I’ve posted two appropriate pictures. One depicts a Hot Wheels® themed cake and the other is a coloring page, courtesy of "<a href="http://www.lil-fingers.com/coloring/index.php" target="_blank">Lil’ Fingers</a>," that you can print off and fill in with whatever color(s) you want. I’d recommend using some yellow.<br /><br />Something I hope to accomplish during my current break from school is to get my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/" target="_blank">Flickr photo page</a> populated with pictures I’ve taken over the last two years or so. That’s right, I’m now placing my photos on Flickr. Thanks to Yahoo taking the site over and merging it into its family of services, getting an account set up there back in October was quick and easy. There were some problems that I saw with Flickr about a year or so ago when I was looking around for a good place to store and share my photos online, but, for the most part, they all seem to have subsided when I took another look at the site in October, so that's why I decided to host my photos there.<br /><br />As I type this, I have a little over 100 photos on Flickr, but only two "sets" – <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/sets/72157603489543203/" target="_blank">one</a> from my trip to see the <a href="http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/General+Public/Holiday+Train/default.htm" target="_blank">Canadian Pacific Railway's Holiday Train</a> last week in west-central Minnesota and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/sets/72157602223807672/" target="_blank">another</a> from an extensive mini-vacation in northeastern North Dakota in October. Hopefully, within the next week or two, I will have placed a couple hundred more photos into my account. I don’t believe any of the photos will be “new,” or ones that I haven’t yet shared here on the blog, but I just thought I’d let you know the address of the website (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlsten</a>) where you’ll be able to view all of my photos in the foreseeable future.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-1597353276244684762007-11-12T21:13:00.000-06:002007-11-12T21:17:45.708-06:00A Beltated UpdateI suppose it’s time for an extremely overdue update. I was actually thinking of taking the blog down, partly due to diminishing interest, but I’ve decided to leave it up – for now. Its sixth birthday is approaching, and it does make me proud to know that I’ve been regularly (depending on your definition of the word, of course) contributing for that long of a time period. Most people hadn’t even heard of the word blog when I began this in 2001; look how far society has evolved since then!<br /><br />Really, not much has happened in my life since the last time I wrote anything of significance. I started my third year at UND in the middle of August and have been kept consistently busy with classes and assignments since then, even though my schedule is not necessarily that crowded. My major (chemistry) and minors (German and atmospheric sciences) remain the same as last year. As long as some possible scheduling conflicts work themselves out, I should be able to enroll in German 408 (Second Semester German IV) this upcoming spring semester. This is the final course I need to fulfill requirements for a minor in German, so hopefully I’ll be able to take it and officially say that I have a minor in German upon the <em>successful</em> completion of the course’s final on May 7, 2008.<br /><br />If you’ve tried accessing the blog through mitchsblog.com recently, you will have noticed that it’s not working. I’m not quite sure what the problem is, but it likely has something to do with my domain name registrar. The solution to the problem may involve spending some money. Nevertheless, I’m going to try my best to get it fixed.<br /><br />Finally, I wanted to say something about gloomy <a href="http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/110807/new_20071108006.shtml" target="_blank">news</a> that came out of Brainerd last week when area voters handily rejected a school district levy referendum. As a result, the district will now have to make $5.5 million worth of budget cuts for the next school year. These cuts will be comprehensive and deep, affecting students at every grade level and at every school in the district. Some of the proposals include laying off between 60-100 teachers, eliminating a huge variety of academic and athletic programs, and closing two elementary schools (to my sorrow, one of the two closed will likely be <a href="http://www.isd181.org/les/" target="_blank">Lincoln</a>, the one I attended). It greatly disappoints me to think of all that will be lost when the 2008-09 school year begins next September. However, even with that said, and despite the fact that I sent in a supportive absentee ballot, I can see to a certain degree why more voters of the Brainerd School District disapproved of the referendum than approved. Although the reasons for the failed referendum in Brainerd likely cannot be transposed to explain the results in other cities that held levy referendums, it should be noted that of the 99 school districts in Minnesota that had a referendum on the ballot, a majority – 67 – got their referendums passed either completely (61 districts) or partially (6 districts asked more than one question as part of their referendum). 32 districts saw complete failure, including Brainerd, Crosby-Ironton, Wadena-Deer Creek, Milaca, and Princeton. <br /><br />The full results of all referendums asked in 2007 across the state can be found by <a href="http://www.mnmsba.org/Public/DocumentShow.cfm?DocumentID=1634" target="_blank">clicking here</a> and accessing a PDF put together by the <a href="http://www.mnmsba.org/public/main.cfm" target="_blank">Minnesota School Boards Association</a>. Note that only five districts (Frazee-Vergas, Granada-Huntley-East Chain, Jackson County Central, Norman County East, and Windom) asked for a larger per-pupil increase in tax revenue funding than Brainerd. The referendums in all five of these districts passed.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-42811484089500897112007-08-06T22:41:00.000-05:002007-08-07T23:13:11.969-05:002007 Vacation: Day 10 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 10 Summary<br />Hallock, Minnesota to Brainerd, Minnesota</span><br /><br />The final day of my 2007 vacation began in Hallock, in Minnesota's far northwestern corner. Although the city only has 1,196 residents, it nevertheless is one of the most important cities in its locale in Minnesota. One of the reasons for this is undoubtedly because it is the county seat of Kittson County.<br /><br />I don’t know what it is, but I really like the northwestern corner of Minnesota. It’s a unique part of the state due to its connectedness with Canada. Ecologically speaking, the region is also quite unique, since it lies within Minnesota’s only example of a <a href="http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecs/223/index.html" target="_blank">tallgrass aspen parklands</a> system. As such, the scenery can be described as being a transition zone between tallgrass prairie and aspen forest. There really is no other place in Minnesota that looks exactly the same.<br /><br />Kittson County is one of the only counties in Minnesota that has no natural lakes. The sole lake in the county, Lake Bronson, was created in the 1930s when a dam was built along South Branch of the Two Rivers.<br /><br />As it turned out, Lake Bronson was one of the tourist attractions I saw in the region. The lake, and the mixed tallgrass prairie/aspen forest landscape that surrounds it, are on display at the beautiful <a href="http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_bronson/index.html" target="_blank">Lake Bronson State Park</a>. All in all, I think I ended up spending a good couple of hours wandering around the park. Not only is there good scenery to see, but also some historic buildings that date back to the park’s construction by WPA and CCC crews during the Great Depression.<br /><br />The trek back home to Brainerd started in earnest once I left the park. Although there are many ways to get to Brainerd from the city of Lake Bronson – adjacent to the park – I chose the one that would bring me through Grand Forks. I wanted to check out the city to ensure, I suppose you could say, that everything still appeared the same as when I left in May. For the most part, it did.<br /><br />As the drive from the park to Grand Forks and Grand Forks to Brainerd was largely uneventful, and covered no territory that I haven’t already more or less thoroughly covered on here, I’ll just keep things short and say I made it home sometime around 7 in the evening. And with that, my superb 2007 vacation came to an end.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The first fourteen pictures were taken in Lake Bronson State Park<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096172589715432066"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rrk9-DwSIoI/AAAAAAAAAt8/QbB-xkPfrCM/s288/day10-1.jpg" /></a><br />These three pelicans were looking for lunch in the lake<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096172675614778002"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-DDwSIpI/AAAAAAAAAuE/sXJIxwHWLg4/s288/day10-2.jpg" /></a><br />An example of tallgrasss prairie within the park<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096172757219156642"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-HzwSIqI/AAAAAAAAAuM/9ImVbZiHtc4/s288/day10-3.jpg" /></a><br />at trail marker #9 along the park's interpretive trail<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096172838823535282"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-MjwSIrI/AAAAAAAAAuU/iIr5MrGlFPU/s288/day10-4.jpg" /></a><br />There were a lot of butterflies flying around in the prairie<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096172907543012034"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-QjwSIsI/AAAAAAAAAuc/_4SpbaYAc2A/s288/day10-5.jpg" /></a><br />This depression was caused by a soil mining operation that was once located here<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096172989147390674"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-VTwSItI/AAAAAAAAAuk/YrVLWgP8UoA/s288/day10-6.jpg" /></a><br />Another example of tallgrass paririe<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173049276932834"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-YzwSIuI/AAAAAAAAAus/gpT0idB24ns/s288/day10-7.jpg" /></a><br />There were a lot of these purple flowers within the prairie - I don't know what these are called, but I believe they are an invasive species<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173191010853618"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-hDwSIvI/AAAAAAAAAu0/HklrrBmBRk0/s288/day10-8.jpg" /></a><br />So purple!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173427234054946"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-uzwSIyI/AAAAAAAAAvM/lU6kaxdZjmA/s288/day10-9.jpg" /></a><br />The water tower/observation tower<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173268320264962"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-ljwSIwI/AAAAAAAAAu8/CsYQ4fOJSxU/s288/day10-10.jpg" /></a><br />The view looking south from the tower<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173349924643602"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-qTwSIxI/AAAAAAAAAvE/q8_q3w3r-do/s288/day10-11.jpg" /></a><br />The view looking north from the tower - here's an example of an aspen forest within the park<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173478773662514"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-xzwSIzI/AAAAAAAAAvU/jhrbBNmWkf4/s288/day10-12.jpg" /></a><br />Even on a Tuesday morning, there were people enjoying the beach along Lake Bronson<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173538903204674"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-1TwSI0I/AAAAAAAAAvc/jQo3QCciZKo/s288/day10-13.jpg" /></a><br />Another view of Lake Bronson<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173633392485202"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rrk-6zwSI1I/AAAAAAAAAvk/NECh7k4TGJ4/s288/day10-14.jpg" /></a><br />Nobody was canoing on the lake at the time<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay10HallockMinnesotaToBrainerdMinnesota/photo#5096173689227060066"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rrk--DwSI2I/AAAAAAAAAvs/E2eS0ai-rB4/s288/day10-15.jpg" /></a><br />Scenery on a country road near Hawley<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Videos:</span><br /><br />Along the Shore of Lake Bronson<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fgsP30mUoqk"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fgsP30mUoqk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgsP30mUoqk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgsP30mUoqk</a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-70071128064158577512007-08-05T13:31:00.000-05:002007-08-06T02:09:30.384-05:002007 Vacation: Day 9 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 9 Summary<br />Brandon, Manitoba to Hallock, Minnesota</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.brandon.com/index.php?pageid=VIS000" target="_blank">Brandon</a>'s tourism slogan, “you belong in Brandon,” closely matched my feelings regarding the southwestern Manitoba city. In general, I found the city inhabited by 41,511 to be an exceptionally nice place to visit. It wasn’t that there were an abundance of tourist attractions, rather, it was just one of those cities that gave me good feelings.<br /><br />One of the reasons for that might have been due to all the similarities I saw between Brandon and Grand Forks. Both cities are roughly the same size, both are situated in fertile river valleys, and both are significant centers of commerce and industry within their respective regions. Both cities actually have public universities within their boundaries as well, though <a href="http://www.brandonu.ca/" target="_blank">Brandon University</a> is quite a bit smaller than the <a href="http://www.und.edu/" target="_blank">University of North Dakota</a>.<br /><br />Besides stopping in at Safeway to get some exotic varities of potato chips, one of the chief places I visited in Brandon was the <a href="http://www.riverbank.mb.ca/" target="_blank">Riverbank Discovery Centre</a> and adjacent hiking trails. The center provided some tourist information for the city of Brandon, while the trails wound around the Assinboine River and neighboring wetlands. There were even informative interpretive signs around a good portion of the trail network going through the wetlands.<br /><br />At slightly past noon, I had to leave Brandon. I exited town heading east on the Trans-Can, which took me through some of the most agriculturally-developed land in Canada. Field after field of various crops could be seen alongside the road as it continued pressing deeper into the fertile, flat Red River Valley.<br /><br />One of the more scenic sights along the way were the fields of canola. Though I had seen them since southwestern Saskatchewan, they seemed to become much more numerous as I traveled through southern Manitoba. These fields’ distinctive appearance made the landscape appear as if somebody took an airbrush and lightly painted it a school-bus yellow. It was quite striking, actually.<br /><br />The biggest city in the 133 miles between Brandon and Winnipeg is <a href="http://www.city.portage-la-prairie.mb.ca/community/default.asp" target="_blank">Portage la Prairie</a> (known locally as just "Portage"). This city of 12,748 is one of the leading centers of strawberry and potato production in North America. In fact, the <a href="http://www.simplot.com/" target="_blank">J.R. Simplot</a> Company opened an enormous potato processing plant there in 2003 to produce French fries for customers throughout Canada and the United States.<br /><br />Portage la Prairie is also one of the most significant railroad centers in Canada, since it is situated along both the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National lines that run, more or less, across the country. Dozens of trains pass through Portage la Prairie on any given day.<br /><br />Since I had already visited Winnipeg for a few days last October, I decided to detour around the city to get to the border. The first detour was Manitoba Highway 13 south from Newton to Roland, followed by Manitoba Highway 23 east from Roland to <a href="http://www.town.morris.mb.ca/" target="_blank">Morris</a>. The scenery along these roads wasn’t anything spectacular, but I did get to see some more of those old grain elevators that I enjoy.<br /><br />From Morris, it’s a quick 25 mile drive on Manitoba Highway 75 to the border and the Emerson, MB/Pembina, ND crossing. As was the case 4 days earlier in Montana, I made it across the border with little incident.<br /><br />After taking a quick look around the historic city of <a href="http://cityofpembina.org/" target="_blank">Pembina</a>, it was time to get on the road – predominantly U.S. Highway 75 – and travel 21 miles south to Hallock, one of the largest cities in extreme northwestern Minnesota.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095472913773109666"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrbBnjwSIaI/AAAAAAAAAsI/U6jUQrUjSBY/s288/day9-1.jpg" /></a><br />These purple flowers were all over the wetlands next to the Assiniboine River in Brandon<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095472965312717234"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrbBqjwSIbI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/nP4K6iZw3lc/s288/day9-2.jpg" /></a><br />There were also hundreds of these frogs in the wetlands<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473042622128578"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrbBvDwSIcI/AAAAAAAAAsY/9-il64CBwNk/s288/day9-3.jpg" /></a><br />The Assiniboine River<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473107046638034"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrbByzwSIdI/AAAAAAAAAsg/bAsUTOxKbZA/s288/day9-4.jpg" /></a><br />Another view of the Assiniboine River<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473171471147490"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrbB2jwSIeI/AAAAAAAAAso/fDbEH_Go-fU/s288/day9-5.jpg" /></a><br />Feeding geese near the river<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473240190624242"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrbB6jwSIfI/AAAAAAAAAsw/0aEAh3ZDMYw/s288/day9-6.jpg" /></a><br />This "fuzzy" grass was growing in many places throughout the wetlands<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473278845329922"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrbB8zwSIgI/AAAAAAAAAs4/5Uw5iEgzF6o/s288/day9-7.jpg" /></a><br />(from left to right) The flag of Canada, Manitoba, city of Brandon, Ducks Unlimited Canada<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473351859773970"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrbCBDwSIhI/AAAAAAAAAtA/-br_d1GOnHg/s288/day9-8.jpg" /></a><br />A canola field near Portage la Prairie<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473394809446946"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrbCDjwSIiI/AAAAAAAAAtI/4a_8geNHI1A/s288/day9-9.jpg" /></a><br />The grain elevator near Kane<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473485003760178"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrbCIzwSIjI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/qwhMu9VdQtQ/s288/day9-10.jpg" /></a><br />The grain elevator near Lowe Farm (or "Lowe F rm")<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473553723236930"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrbCMzwSIkI/AAAAAAAAAtY/wXAIwLV7oEo/s288/day9-11.jpg" /></a><br />Red River Valley scenery near Morris<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473631032648274"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrbCRTwSIlI/AAAAAAAAAtg/2WLV8EzFtd0/s288/day9-12.jpg" /></a><br />The Red River near Pembina - that's Minnesota on the other side; the Canadian border is about 2 miles up ahead<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay9BrandonManitobaToHallockMinnesota/photo#5095473678277288546"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrbCUDwSImI/AAAAAAAAAto/3VK5wkjG_5g/s288/day9-13.jpg" /></a><br />Scenery near Hallock along U.S. Highway 75<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Videos:</span><br /><br />No videos related to day 9</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-32969073113568255342007-08-04T22:29:00.000-05:002007-08-05T02:02:33.753-05:002007 Vacation: Day 8 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 8 Summary<br />Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Brandon, Manitoba</span><br /><br />Day 8 of my vacation started off on a beautiful note in the lovely city of <a href="http://www.moosejaw.ca/tourism/welcomes.shtml" target="_blank">Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan</a>. The weather was sunny and pleasant as I looked around at one of the things the city of 31,132 is known for: its many intricate <a href="http://moosejaw.topcities.com/murals/index.html" target="_blank">downtown murals</a>. It really does seem like there’s one around every corner in the city’s historic downtown.<br /><br />Although I didn’t see it, the downtown murals are topped as a tourist attraction by <a href="http://www.tunnelsofmoosejaw.com/" target="_blank">The Tunnels of Moose Jaw</a>. Just as the name suggests, this attraction consists of a series of tunnels built underneath the city over a century ago. The tunnels represent one facet of Moose Jaw’s unsavory past, since they were once used as hideouts by smugglers and criminals, including the legendary Al Capone.<br /><br />One of the reasons I didn’t have the chance to see the tunnels was because I wanted to see some things in <a href="http://www.tourismregina.com/" target="_blank">Regina</a>, a mere 47 miles to the east of Moose Jaw.<br /><br />I caught my first glimpse Saskatchewan’s capital and second most populous city when I noticed Regina’s skyline appear suddenly on the horizon as I was traveling through farmland on the city’s western edge. The odd contrast in scenery was made possible due to Regina’s lack of suburbs. The city of 179,246 is pretty isolated amid the prairie.<br /><br />One of Regina’s claims to fame is that it’s where all members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) go through basic training. While the training grounds are largely off limits to civilians, the public is welcome at the northern end of the grounds, where the recently-completed <a href="http://www.rcmpheritagecentre.com/" target="_blank">RCMP Heritage Centre</a> is located. I put this site at the top on my list of things to see while in Regina.<br /><br />The center was put together extremely well. It offered a thorough, informative look into the past, present, and future of the RCMP. There was even a nice gift store with some RCMP swag. All in all, I’d highly recommend anybody visiting Regina to check the place out.<br /><br />The next place in Regina I wanted to see was the vast <a href="http://wascana.sk.ca/" target="_blank">Wascana Centre</a> alongside Wascana Lake near the city’s center. This 3000 acre site in the heart of the city provides Reginians a place to enjoy all sorts of activities, including visiting museums, art galleries, walking, running, biking, or even kayaking on the lake that offers a nice view of the city’s skyline.<br /><br />Although I didn’t have much time to visit all the center has to offer, I did make it to the <a href="http://wascana.sk.ca/waterfowlpark.html" target="_blank">Waterfowl Park</a>, which is a 576 acre marshland home to all sorts of waterfowl, including Canadian Geese, mallard ducks, swans, and pelicans. I had a great time walking through and getting the chance to closely interact with all the birds.<br /><br />Another place close to Wascana Centre is the ornate provincial capitol and a small, but dignified, veterans’ memorial across the street from it. Even the capitol grounds were being used at the time for recreation, as a group of people were playing Frisbee next to the building in the nice Sunday weather.<br /><br />After spending more time in Regina than I probably should have, it was time to get back on the Trans-Can and head east. Since it was getting late in the afternoon, and crossing the border between Saskatchewan and Manitoba also meant losing an hour in crossing the Central <en>Standard Time Zone and Central <em>Daylight</em> Time Zone, I had to hustle through the 224 miles between Regina and Brandon without doing much stopping.<br /><br />It wasn’t a big loss, though, since there wasn’t all that much to see. The road passes through numerous small towns, some of which still have their classic <a href="http://www.swp.com/" target="_blank">Saskatchewan Wheat Pool</a> grain elevators. I’m not exactly sure why, but I really enjoyed spotting these “prairie skyscrapers” as I traveled through Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They just seemed to have more character than grain elevators in the United States. It’s unfortunate that more and more are being decommissioned and removed.<br /><br />It was after 8 PM when I finally approached <a href="http://www.brandon.com/index.php?pageid=VIS000" target="_blank">Brandon</a>, the second largest city in Manitoba and my destination for the day.<br /><br /></en><div style="text-align: center;"><en><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span></en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097104570140770"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrVr0lYGSGI/AAAAAAAAApg/142Xmig4fcA/s288/day8-1.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>Downtown Moose Jaw</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097168994650226"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrVr4VYGSHI/AAAAAAAAApo/95teyAkvBkE/s288/day8-2.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>A street scene in Regina</en><br /><en></en><br /><en>The following five pictures were taken in the Waterfowl Park at the Wascana Centre</en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097246304061570"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrVr81YGSII/AAAAAAAAApw/7yiIj8pX_-g/s288/day8-3.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097332203407506"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrVsB1YGSJI/AAAAAAAAAp4/XD36xt9KdDE/s288/day8-4.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097405217851554"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrVsGFYGSKI/AAAAAAAAAqA/4dl04cMZkd8/s288/day8-5.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097478232295602"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrVsKVYGSLI/AAAAAAAAAqI/9E98owmGHk0/s288/day8-6.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097546951772354"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrVsOVYGSMI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/aCASoTFIy7U/s288/day8-7.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097581311510738"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrVsQVYGSNI/AAAAAAAAAqY/IzWnPss8dCU/s288/day8-8.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>The Regina skyline as seen from Wascana Lake</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097628556151010"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrVsTFYGSOI/AAAAAAAAAqg/078gB0TLliY/s288/day8-9.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>The Saskatchewan capitol building is opposite the skyline on Wascana Lake</en><br /><en></en><br /><en>The following four pictures were taken at the veterans memorial across the street from the capitol</en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097753110202626"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrVsaVYGSQI/AAAAAAAAAqw/-LaIEw8H8w0/s288/day8-10.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>Her Majesty the Queen was here in 2005 when ground was broken for the memorial</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097813239744786"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrVsd1YGSRI/AAAAAAAAAq4/UTx2BreMlKo/s288/day8-11.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>The World War II monument</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097890549156130"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrVsiVYGSSI/AAAAAAAAArA/f_dk14JQcLo/s288/day8-12.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>World War I monument</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097933498829106"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrVsk1YGSTI/AAAAAAAAArI/PtedZlLBcNM/s288/day8-13.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>Just a few of the many names on the walls of the World War I monument</en><br /><en></en><br /><en>The following three pictures are of the Saskatchewan capitol building</en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097692980660466"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrVsW1YGSPI/AAAAAAAAAqo/mfmkrv5W7A8/s288/day8-14.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095097985038436674"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrVsn1YGSUI/AAAAAAAAArQ/eiksZg884jI/s288/day8-15.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095098027988109650"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrVsqVYGSVI/AAAAAAAAArY/nbxW-AESJ30/s288/day8-16.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>The flag of Saskatchewan, Canada, and the United Kingdom</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095098088117651810"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrVst1YGSWI/AAAAAAAAArg/cXmvZ38uuG8/s288/day8-17.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>The majestic grain elevator in Whitewood</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095098152542161266"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrVsxlYGSXI/AAAAAAAAAro/P_c_zCxKLvk/s288/day8-18.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>Scenery near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border</en><br /><en></en><br /><en style="font-weight: bold;">Low-Grade Camcorder Pictures:</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095098268506278274"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrVs4VYGSYI/AAAAAAAAArw/E2vFImoCtdU/s288/day8-19.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>One of the murials in downtown Moose Jaw</en><br /><en></en><br /><en><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay8MooseJawSaskatchewanToBrandonManitoba/photo#5095098281391180178"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrVs5FYGSZI/AAAAAAAAAr4/fyd7wgizSoo/s288/day8-20.jpg" /></a></en><br /><en>Welcome to Manitoba</en><br /><en></en><br /><en style="font-weight: bold;">Videos:</en><br /><en></en><br /><en>At the Wascana Waterfowl Park in Regina</en><br /><en><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hVmbxwoCwEI"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hVmbxwoCwEI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object></en><br /><en><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVmbxwoCwEI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVmbxwoCwEI</a></en><br /><en></en><br /><en>Richardton's Ground Squirrel</en><br /><en><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8S_y1UXF_24"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8S_y1UXF_24" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object></en><br /><en><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S_y1UXF_24" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S_y1UXF_24</a></en></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-68249160765770716702007-08-03T22:10:00.000-05:002007-08-03T22:39:15.819-05:002007 Vacation: Day 7 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 7 Summary<br />Medicine Hat, Alberta to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan</span><br /><br />I started day 7 of my vacation in <a href="http://www.tourismmedicinehat.com/" target="_blank">Medicine Hat</a>, Alberta. With the population of 56,997, the city, known locally as “The Hat” is the most populous in southeastern Alberta and without a doubt the center of commerce and industry in the region.<br /><br />In case you were curious (I know I was), the name is derived from <em>saamis</em>, a Blackfoot word referring to the eagle tail feather headdress worn by medicine men – a “medicine hat.” The site where the city was founded had been a well-known meeting spot for Blackfoot, Cree, and Assiniboine nations for generations, thanks to its location in a gently sloping valley with converging waterways and hardy native cottonwood trees that attracted migratory bison herds.<br /><br />Though the city was pretty quiet on a Saturday morning, I did get to see a few tourist attractions. One was the downtown <a href="http://www.city.medicine-hat.ab.ca/City%20Government/Departments/Parks%20and%20Outdoor%20Recreation/Parks%20System/Riverside%20Veterans%20Memorial%20Park.asp" target="_blank">Riverside Veterans' Memorial Park</a> – which may or may not have been laden with drug dealers – and the other was “Saamis Teepee,” the world’s largest teepee. Standing over 20 stories tall, it was designed for the 1988 winter Olympics in Calgary as a symbol of Canada's Aboriginal heritage. For reasons unknown to me, it was moved to Medicine Hat in 1991.<br /><br />After visiting those two attractions, as well as buying some Canadian souvenirs in a downtown shop, it was time to head east on the Trans-Canada Highway, referred to as Highway 1 in Alberta (and Saskatchewan and Manitoba).<br /><br />I wasn’t on the Trans-Can for very long, however, before I turned off to take a little detour south to the <a href="http://www.cypresshills.com/" target="_blank">Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park</a>. This was one of the chief attractions I wanted to see in Canada. It’s quite a unique place in a few ways. First, it’s Canada’s only interprovincial park (since it located within both Alberta and Saskatchewan), and second, it has a unique geological history. The entire region escaped being glaciated during the last ice age. As a result, it has an appearance quite different from the surrounding countryside, and is actually also much higher in elevation than the surrounding countryside. The park's highest point, 4,816 feet above sea level, is the highest point in Canada in the nearly 2,000 miles between the Rocky Mountains and the Labrador Peninsula.<br /><br />Although some of the park’s most popular activities include camping and fishing, I chose the tamer activity of merely enjoying the scenery from the half-paved, half-gravel road that meanders through the park. The drive was quite a leisurely one through the hills and jack pine forests (jack pine is usually called <em>cyprès</em> in Canadian French) that make up the park.<br /><br />The road through the park ended in Saskatchewan about 22 miles east of where it started in Alberta. The park’s boundaries also ended at this point, as the road descended the Cypress Hills and entered a relatively flat, barren landscape peppered with wheat farms.<br /><br />After touring the park, I got on Saskatchewan Highway 271 to travel about 28 miles north to Maple Creek, the most significant city in far southwestern Saskatchewan (population 2,270). From Maple Creek, the Trans-Can, which I needed to get back on to get to Moose Jaw, was still about 6 miles away. Eventually, I reached the desired highway and began taking it farther east.<br /><br />The 187 miles between Maple Creek and Moose Jaw are pretty lonely. Other than small, agriculturally-significant towns with 1,000 or fewer inhabitants spaced every 10 or so miles apart, the biggest city along this stretch of roadway is <a href="http://www.tourismswiftcurrent.ca/" target="_blank">Swift Current</a>. The city of 14,946 is located roughly halfway between Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw.<br /><br />Though I didn’t get to see that much, Swift Current seemed like a nice prairie community. Of utmost importance to me, it was big enough to sustain a <a href="http://www.timhortons.com/" target="_blank">Tim Hortons</a>.<br /><br />Scenery-wise, the landscape was transforming the farther east I went. From west to east, it became flatter, less arid, and dotted with an increasing number of farms. By the time I was ready to call it a day in Moose Jaw, the scenery started resembling that of the central Great Plains.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675347371607842"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrPsPFYGRyI/AAAAAAAAAms/mJTfDRq6NE8/s288/day7-2.jpg" /></a><br />A downtown stoplight in Medicine Hat - Alberta prefers using horizontal stoplights<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675300126967570"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrPsMVYGRxI/AAAAAAAAAmk/asBmCWMXvHA/s288/day7-1.jpg" /></a><br />A statue in Medicine Hat's Riverside Veterans' Memorial Park dedicated to local World War I veterans<br /><br />The following thirteen pictures were taken in the Cypress Hills Interprovicial Park<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675411796117298"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrPsS1YGRzI/AAAAAAAAAm0/foQXWPnJX7E/s288/day7-3.jpg" /></a><br />Elkwater Lake near the town of the same name<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675579299841874"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrPsclYGR1I/AAAAAAAAAnE/kfWjZxLOCtU/s288/day7-4.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675480515594050"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrPsW1YGR0I/AAAAAAAAAm8/EnHsnR_pj2w/s288/day7-5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675725328729970"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrPslFYGR3I/AAAAAAAAAnU/PpROHKnvKmo/s288/day7-6.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675832702912402"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrPsrVYGR5I/AAAAAAAAAnk/3AhiEa-DDDg/s288/day7-7.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675648019318626"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrPsglYGR2I/AAAAAAAAAnM/b8-ZeLY0K-c/s288/day7-8.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675763983435650"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrPsnVYGR4I/AAAAAAAAAnc/OKnNhgCki4Q/s288/day7-9.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675875652585378"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrPst1YGR6I/AAAAAAAAAns/HCkNMyKe2Fs/s288/day7-10.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094675940077094834"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrPsxlYGR7I/AAAAAAAAAn0/TWl_67n-rNE/s288/day7-11.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094676043156309954"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrPs3lYGR8I/AAAAAAAAAn8/lrLwcqdrtlQ/s288/day7-12.jpg" /></a><br />The welcome to Alberta sign also welcomed visitors to the park...<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094676150530492370"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrPs91YGR9I/AAAAAAAAAoE/LYuMc4XYEcI/s288/day7-13.jpg" /></a><br />...The Saskatchewan welcome sign, however, was rather dull in comparasion<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094676206365067234"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrPtBFYGR-I/AAAAAAAAAoM/frlAq1jjL-o/s288/day7-14.jpg" /></a><br />The welcome to Alberta sign that hikers on the Trans-Canada Trail see<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094676257904674802"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrPtEFYGR_I/AAAAAAAAAoU/spwFKK3hJ-E/s288/day7-15.jpg" /></a><br />There was a lot of cattle on the road weaving through the park<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094676300854347778"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrPtGlYGSAI/AAAAAAAAAoc/qVPmO7y5sHs/s288/day7-16.jpg" /></a><br />This is the scenery only a few miles away from the Cypress Hills - it's quite a dramatic difference between the hills and the surrounding countryside<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094676343804020754"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrPtJFYGSBI/AAAAAAAAAok/DdymStAiPHw/s288/day7-17.jpg" /></a><br />Scenery near Herbert<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094676395343628322"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrPtMFYGSCI/AAAAAAAAAos/RA0gz0CcQ3Q/s288/day7-18.jpg" /></a><br />Saskatchewan isn't called "land of living skies" for nothing - the skies were alive with continually changing clouds on the days I visited<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay7MedicineHatAlbertaToMooseJawSaskatchewan/photo#5094676451178203186"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrPtPVYGSDI/AAAAAAAAAo0/6RMZCJZ2hfY/s288/day7-19.jpg" /></a><br />The landscape is much flatter the closer you get to Moose Jaw<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video:</span><br /><br />Scenic Overlook at Cypress Hills Interprovicial Park in Alberta<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xnQNhXsRcv4"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xnQNhXsRcv4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnQNhXsRcv4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnQNhXsRcv4</a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-87257764124756749982007-08-02T17:09:00.000-05:002007-08-05T02:05:52.901-05:002007 Vacation: Day 6 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 6 Summary<br />Great Falls, Montana to Medicine Hat, Alberta</span><br /><br />Slightly to my surprise, the city of Great Falls ended up being quite a pleasant place to visit. With a population of 56,690, it’s an anomaly in a region dotted with towns of less than 1,000 people.<br /><br />Great Falls got its name due to its proximity to five daunting waterfalls on the Missouri River. While the waterfalls were an obstacle for the Lewis & Clark Expedition and early river explorers to navigate around, today they provide an abundance of hydroelectric power. In fact, Great Falls is known as “The Electric City” because of all the hydroelectric dams located close by.<br /><br />Three of the dams and waterfalls are on display on the northeast side of town in the small, but picturesque, <a href="http://fwp.mt.gov/lands/site_282690.aspx" target="_blank">Giant Springs State Park</a>. Besides some scenic overlooks showcasing the Missouri River, waterfalls, and dams, the park also contains one of the largest natural, cold water springs in the world, a state trout hatchery, and the Roe River, which qualifies – in the Guiness Book of World Records, anyway – as the shortest river in the world. It flows a mere 58 feet from the springs to the Missouri River.<br /><br />I found the park to be a very worthwhile place to visit. Also worthwhile to see is the fairly new <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic/" target="_blank">Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center</a> operated by the <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/" target="_blank">USDA Forest Service</a> right next to the state park. The center interprets the story of the expedition from its beginning to end.<br /><br />After looking around the park and interpretive center (where I found a nice book about the Yellowstone River), it was time to leave Great Falls and head north. There was a still a long drive to the day’s final destination of Medicine Hat, Alberta. Plus, I had to get through customs at some point.<br /><br />There aren’t really any side roads in the area, so the lonely Interstate 15 was the only viable road to take to travel the 118 miles between Great Falls and the Canadian border.<br /><br />For the most part, the 118 miles was filled with a lot of vast, barren fields. Every so often, the road passed alongside small towns recognizable as such for miles away thanks to a towering grain elevator or two. Conrad and <a href="http://www.homestead.com/shelbychamber/" target="_blank">Shelby</a>, 60 and 85 miles north of Great Falls, respectively, were two of the most significant cities along the way. Still, those cities only had a couple thousand people; this area of Montana is incredibly sparsely populated.<br /><br />For the most part, the landscape consisted of gentle, rolling hills. One exception to this was about 8 miles south of Shelby, where the road enters the deep valley of the Marias River. The river has a bit of an interesting history. It was explored in 1807 by the Lewis & Clark Expedition after some men on the expedition mistook it for the main branch of the Missouri. Eventually, after finding the waterfalls of the Missouri near Great Falls, the expedition realized it had made a wrong turn. Meriwether Lewis then named the newly-discovered tributary of the Missouri after his cousin, Maria Wood.<br /><br />Interstate 15 became exceedingly lifeless near the town of Sunburst, 8 miles south of the border. There wasn’t much in the way of traffic except for a few semi trucks and vehicles with <a href="http://www.travelalberta.com/" target="_blank">Alberta</a> license plates. It’s a far cry from the scene encountered at the interstate’s southern terminus in San Diego.<br /><br />The road finally reaches the border at the twin cities of Sweetgrass, Montana and Coutts, Alberta. Customs took about 10 minutes to get through (mostly because only one booth was open for all non-truckload traffic), but I ultimately made it into Alberta with little hassle.<br /><br />The biggest change on the other side of the border was that all the signs were in metric. In terms of scenery, the Albertan landscape looked like the one I had gotten used to seeing in Montana.<br /><br />From Coutts, it was about 24 miles to the small town of Warner, where I diverged from Alberta Highway 4 (which I had been on since the border) to Alberta Highway 36. This highway ran for a lonely 37 miles to <a href="http://www.taber.ca/" target="_blank">Taber</a>, where it intersected Alberta Highway 3. In order to get to Medicine Hat, I had to travel east down this road for about 72 miles.<br /><br />The road between Taber and Medicine Hat passed through some small towns with interesting names – Purple Springs, Grassy Lake, <a href="http://www.bowisland.com/" target="_blank">Bow Island</a>, and, my favorite, <a href="http://www.telusplanet.net/public/mtoll/sevenp.htm" target="_blank">Seven Persons</a> – but didn’t offer much in the way of distinctive scenery. To keep things short, I’ll just mention that I made it into my destination of <a href="http://www.tourismmedicinehat.com/" target="_blank">Medicine Hat</a> slightly after 6 PM.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /><br />The first thirteen photos were taken in Giant Springs State Park near Great Falls<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094227962103219634"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrJVV1YGRbI/AAAAAAAAAjs/tThanN4lZTY/s288/day6-1.jpg" /></a><br />The site from which this picture was taken is called the Rainbow Falls Overlook<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228035117663682"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrJVaFYGRcI/AAAAAAAAAj0/3o5bNM0An3M/s288/day6-2.jpg" /></a><br />Rainbow Falls<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228108132107730"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrJVeVYGRdI/AAAAAAAAAj8/WeTxNaR0E4g/s288/day6-3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228159671715298"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrJVhVYGReI/AAAAAAAAAkE/yTNIaFStblA/s288/day6-4.jpg" /></a><br />A view of the dam at Rainbow Falls<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228194031453682"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrJVjVYGRfI/AAAAAAAAAkM/UtZytECuDWI/s288/day6-5.jpg" /></a><br />Looking south toward the city of Great Falls<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228267045897730"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrJVnlYGRgI/AAAAAAAAAkU/6MWk0KOSPks/s288/day6-6.jpg" /></a><br />One of the ponds at the trout hatchery - these fish, which are much larger than the ones ordinarily released into the water, are the only ones the public is allowed access to<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228378715047442"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrJVuFYGRhI/AAAAAAAAAkc/O1foRpO41b0/s288/day6-7.jpg" /></a><br />This is the smallest river in the world<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228447434524194"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrJVyFYGRiI/AAAAAAAAAkk/Bv5J0SDUbDI/s288/day6-8.jpg" /></a><br />Another view of the smallest river in the world shows the point where it empties into the Missouri River<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228486089229874"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrJV0VYGRjI/AAAAAAAAAks/71KwaBB_EBI/s288/day6-9.jpg" /></a><br />The Missouri River<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228541923804738"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrJV3lYGRkI/AAAAAAAAAk0/8FLE4VnN32g/s288/day6-10.jpg" /></a><br />A few canoeists were out on the Missouri River<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228593463412306"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrJV6lYGRlI/AAAAAAAAAk8/pLvzbe5JiLE/s288/day6-11.jpg" /></a><br />One more view of the Missouri River<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228679362758242"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrJV_lYGRmI/AAAAAAAAAlE/EFo7YmlkN7w/s288/day6-12.jpg" /></a><br />This is what gave the state park its name - these are the "giant springs"<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228752377202290"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrJWD1YGRnI/AAAAAAAAAlM/Sz0MSEGI6E8/s288/day6-13.jpg" /></a><br />Another view of the gushing water in the springs<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228851161450130"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrJWJlYGRpI/AAAAAAAAAlc/n1O6yD2CYCM/s288/day6-15.jpg" /></a><br />A view of the Missouri River closer to the main part of Great Falls<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228808211777154"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrJWHFYGRoI/AAAAAAAAAlU/IYSZqDtSaeQ/s288/day6-14.jpg" /></a><br />There were a lot of Canadian geese lounging around on the river's shore<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228902701057698"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrJWMlYGRqI/AAAAAAAAAlk/Cq7N8ZSvJGk/s288/day6-16.jpg" /></a><br />The scenery along Interstate 15 near Shelby<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5095091439508277314"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrVmq1YGSEI/AAAAAAAAApI/RjUC0JQvD3g/s288/6-amtk88shelby-1.jpg" /></a><br />The eastbound <em>Empire Builder</em> leaving Shelby following a five minute station stop<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228954240665266"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrJWPlYGRrI/AAAAAAAAAls/Zd8YgDYNvZg/s288/day6-17.jpg" /></a><br />Interstate 15 near Sunburst, about 9 miles south of the border - notice that there are absolutely no vehicles on the interstate at this point<br /><br />The following three pictures were taken from a recreation area on a reservoir near Warner in southern Alberta<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094228992895370946"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrJWR1YGRsI/AAAAAAAAAl0/FtivfoSU5ic/s288/day6-18.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094229053024913106"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrJWVVYGRtI/AAAAAAAAAl8/5FNZXy6CurI/s288/day6-19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094229113154455266"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrJWY1YGRuI/AAAAAAAAAmE/Kmgg-0eE3mE/s288/day6-20.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay6GreatFallsMTToMedicineHatAB/photo#5094229143219226354"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrJWalYGRvI/AAAAAAAAAmM/lLcVqxsRS6o/s288/day6-21.jpg" /></a><br />Southeastern Alberta scenery<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video:</span><br /><br />Canadian Geese along the Missouri River in Great Falls<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wVsKZ8wTSaQ"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wVsKZ8wTSaQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsKZ8wTSaQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsKZ8wTSaQ</a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-67863300984180108372007-08-01T16:58:00.000-05:002007-08-01T18:10:59.246-05:002007 Vacation: Day 5 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 5 Summary<br />Billings, Montana to Great Falls, Montana</span><br /><br />Day 5 of my 2007 vacation involved covering some territory I’d never traveled in before, so there’ll be no need to link to something I wrote last year.<br /><br />The day started off in <a href="http://www.billingscvb.visitmt.com/" target="_blank">Billings</a> by first going to visitors' center to get some electricity, since I had forgotten to recharge the battery on my camera. Oops. After successfully getting the battery charged, it was off to downtown Billings and the <a href="http://www.ywhc.org/" target="_blank">Western Heritage Center</a>.<br /><br />The museum, housed in Billings’ former public library, houses several different exhibits relating to the history of Billings. As luck would have it, 2007 is the 125th anniversary of the founding of Billings, so there were all sorts of special artifacts on display. There was even a theater presentation from <a href="http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/" target="_blank">KTVQ</a>, Billings’ CBS affiliate, of video clips chronicling significant events in the city’s history.<br /><br />After taking a look around the museum, I made it up to the rimrocks on the northern edge of Billings. The rimrocks are essentially steep cliffs that line the Yellowstone River Valley in which Billings is located. By taking one of two routes from downtown Billings, you can get on top of the rimrocks and look out on the entire city. It’s actually quite an amazing view.<br /><br />After looking around at Billings for a bit, I got on Montana Highway 3 to head north. The landscape was definitely quite different than the one I had witnessed in the Yellowstone River Valley the previous day. Fertile, forested land alongside the river was replaced with a hilly, arid landscape dotted here and there with ranches or wheat farms.<br /><br />The countryside was like that through the town of Broadview and for about 40 miles north of Billings. Then, in the town of Lavina and near the turn for U.S. Highway 12, the road entered another lush valley, this time the one of the Musselshell River.<br /><br />As I traveled Highway 12 for the 45 miles between Lavina and <a href="http://www.harlowtonchamber.com/" target="_blank">Harlowton</a>, the nearby river made it appear as if I was traveling through an entirely different state. The surroundings were very green, and there were trees everywhere.<br /><br />I traveled through another abrupt change in scenery north of Harlowton, however, as I got off of Highway 12 to begin traveling north on U.S. Highway 191.<br /><br />About 17 miles north of Harlowton, the road passes through Judith Gap, which is both a small town and geological feature. The town didn’t have much to see, but the geological feature was pretty neat. It’s just a big, flat gap, discovered during the Lewis & Clark Expedition, between the Little Belt Mountains to the west and the Big Snowy Mountains to the east. These mountains, rather mediocre by Rocky Mountain standards, would be the only ones I would get close to during my 2007 vacation.<br /><br />Near the town of Moore, the road stops going straight, and motorists must turn either right or left. Turning right brings you back east to Glendive, while turning left brings you to Great Falls. Since my destination was the latter, turning left was the correct way to go.<br /><br />The road west of Moore provides some more striking glimpses of the Little Belt Mountains as it winds its way through a flat, barren, treeless landscape near their northern slopes. The road also passes through some dying small towns – Hobson, Moccasin, Stanford, and Geyser – as it continues toward Great Falls.<br /><br />For about 12 miles between the towns of Raynesford and Armington, the road dives into a deep, narrow valley. The road and paralleling railroad tracks both hug the valley’s walls in what ended up being one of the most scenic portions of the drive between Billings and Great Falls.<br /><br />The road ascended the valley near Armington, and continued its journey through what’s referred to as the Judith Basin. It’s a barren, listless area starved for moisture by being so close to the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains.<br /><br />In due course, <a href="http://greatfallscvb.visitmt.com/" target="_blank">Great Falls</a> – the third largest city in Montana with a population of 56,690 – appeared out of nowhere. It was in this oasis of north-central Montana that I spent the night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /><br />The first six pictures were taken from on top of the rimrocks in Billings. Unfortunately, I visited this site in the late morning, so the lighting wasn't ideal.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862262817834162"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrEIvVYGRLI/AAAAAAAAAhc/4rhqDiXfn_c/s288/day5-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862340127245506"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrEIz1YGRMI/AAAAAAAAAhk/GJeMqtyNqj4/s288/day5-2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862426026591442"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrEI41YGRNI/AAAAAAAAAhs/pDzmtkj_fEw/s288/day5-3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862138263782546"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrEIoFYGRJI/AAAAAAAAAhM/-V41G_7e3Bo/s288/day5-4.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862194098357410"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrEIrVYGRKI/AAAAAAAAAhU/Yqh2qY64Esc/s288/day5-5.jpg" /></a><br />These two doves were walking back and forth, undoubtedly checking out the view below<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862559170577634"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrEJAlYGROI/AAAAAAAAAh0/ssPJu2OIvnk/s288/day5-6.jpg" /></a><br />It's amazing how dramatic the scenery contrasts here - while the city of Billings below is lush and green, cacti are able to grow on top of the rimrocks<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862593530316018"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrEJClYGRPI/AAAAAAAAAh8/zWToDRwtRD4/s288/day5-7.jpg" /></a><br />The Little Belt Mountains can be seen of in the distance near Broadview<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862627890054402"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrEJElYGRQI/AAAAAAAAAiE/8yZwGMCZNLw/s288/day5-8.jpg" /></a><br />The roadway near Lavina<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862666544760082"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrEJG1YGRRI/AAAAAAAAAiM/xxNe6d28jAs/s288/day5-9.jpg" /></a><br />Downtown Harlowton<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862752444106018"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrEJL1YGRSI/AAAAAAAAAiU/xfEaYtj4I6A/s288/day5-10.jpg" /></a><br />The Harlowton depot along with some railroad artifacts<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862808278680882"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrEJPFYGRTI/AAAAAAAAAic/YnSC6VyhHwI/s288/day5-11.jpg" /></a><br />About to pass through the Judith Gap<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862881293124930"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrEJTVYGRUI/AAAAAAAAAik/Csh87FqfcuQ/s288/day5-12.jpg" /></a><br />The Big Snowy Mountains near Judith Gap<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093862941422667090"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrEJW1YGRVI/AAAAAAAAAis/fsN6DNzLx3E/s288/day5-13.jpg" /></a><br />Some plateaus that belong to the Little Belt Mountains<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093863126106260850"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrEJhlYGRXI/AAAAAAAAAi8/ZAXctKon8y8/s288/day5-14.jpg" /></a><br />There were a number of steep cliffs like this near Raynesford<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093863027322013026"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrEJb1YGRWI/AAAAAAAAAi0/iLdvSPSGJI8/s288/day5-15.jpg" /></a><br />MDOT doesn't want you to climb the rocks<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093873223574373778"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrEStVYGRZI/AAAAAAAAAjU/QnVpQHRyfps/s288/5-emdx785raynesford-2.jpg" /></a><br />A southbound train is about to enter Raynesford<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay5BillingsMTToGreatFallsMT/photo#5093863190530770306"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrEJlVYGRYI/AAAAAAAAAjE/yt8luOApdwk/s288/day5-16.jpg" /></a><br />Some typical scenery between Raynesford and Armington<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video:</span><br /><br />At the Rimrocks in Billings<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TjxU11gdZBU"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TjxU11gdZBU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjxU11gdZBU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjxU11gdZBU</a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-47510395052651429552007-07-31T23:24:00.000-05:002007-08-01T16:53:21.917-05:002007 Vacation: Day 4 Summary<span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 4 Summary<br />Glendive, Montana to Billings, Montana</span><br /><br />The fourth day of my 2007 vacation closely matched the fourth day of my 2006 vacation, so it’ll be best if I keep this entry short and provide <a href="http://mwmnp.blogspot.com/2006/08/2006-vacation-day-4-summary.html" target="_blank">a link</a> to last year’s day 4 report.<br /><br />One thing different about the trip from <a href="http://www.glendivechamber.com/" target="_blank">Glendive</a> to <a href="http://www.billingscvb.visitmt.com/" target="_blank">Billings</a> this year was that I found more pieces of the old U.S. Highway 10 to travel on. This kept me off of Interstate 94 and allowed me to see a few neat things, such as a couple historical markers near Terry. One marked the spot where the Powder River flows into the Yellowstone River, while another discussed the local region – its economy, geology, and history – and even contained a tiny pioneer cemetery where some unidentified remains are buried.<br /><br />Both historical markers were set against the backdrop of the Terry Badlands – rocky, brown-colored hills that contrast nicely with the lushness of the Yellowstone River Valley, in which the interstate and small towns between Glendive and Billings are predominantly located. Though these badlands aren’t as impressive as their counterparts about 40 miles away near Glendive in <a href="http://fwp.mt.gov/lands/site_283890.aspx" target="_blank">Makoshika State Park</a>, they are nevertheless neat to look at.<br /><br />Near Tusler, or 8 miles northeast of Mile City, I found a nice recreation site next to the Yellowstone River. The site offered the opportunity to enjoy all sorts of activities, including fly fishing in the shallow river, picnicking at one of the nearby picnic tables, or walking down a paved path following a raging creek that flows into the river. You could even try your hand at hunting for the famed agates that line the Yellowstone River shore.<br /><br />A couple of the largest remnants of old highway still intact are between <a href="http://www.forsythmontana.org/" target="_blank">Forsyth</a> and Hysham and Custer and Huntley. Both stretches turned out to be very worthwhile to travel down. In fact, if you ask me, they are more scenic than the corresponding portions of interstate in the area. The old highway travels up and down hills lining the valley’s wall, while the interstate travels down primarily flat terrain.<br /><br />I did see that <a href="http://www.pompeyspillar.org/" target="_blank">Pompey’s Pillar National Monument</a> near the town of the same name had changed a bit in the last year. The visitor’s center, which was still under construction last year, appeared to be all complete, and there was now an official entrance gate complete with a staffed ticket booth.<br /><br />Other than that, not much had changed in the area, including the city of Billings. It was in that city that I spent the night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584335484109618"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAL91YGQzI/AAAAAAAAAeU/FTOsukUdJ6k/s288/day4-1.jpg" /></a><br />Interstate 94 southwest of Glendive<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584408498553666"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrAMCFYGQ0I/AAAAAAAAAec/CGSNceYSqjA/s288/day4-2.jpg" /></a><br />Along the old U.S. Highway 10 - this bridge crosses the Powder River, near the spot where it empties into the Yellowstone River<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584468628095826"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrAMFlYGQ1I/AAAAAAAAAek/C_jGLrDTmUw/s288/day4-3.jpg" /></a><br />There's a marker near the confluence of the Powder and Yellowstone Rivers<br /><br />The following eight pictures were taken near the historic site to the southwest of Terry<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584524462670690"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAMI1YGQ2I/AAAAAAAAAes/N-4VU49pSHE/s288/day4-4.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584679081493378"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAMR1YGQ4I/AAAAAAAAAe8/kn-yXJ9Nems/s288/day4-5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584992614106066"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrAMkFYGQ9I/AAAAAAAAAfk/G6TDOJ-TIoI/s288/day4-11.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584636131820402"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrAMPVYGQ3I/AAAAAAAAAe0/xCTmfphwxpM/s288/day4-6.jpg" /></a><br />You don't usually associate cacti with Montana, but they do show up in some places in the eastern portion of the state<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584747800970130"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAMV1YGQ5I/AAAAAAAAAfE/eZHpQ1oOfwY/s288/day4-7.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584816520446882"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAMZ1YGQ6I/AAAAAAAAAfM/oajREM_ZSjY/s288/day4-8.jpg" /></a><br />The pioneer cemetery where some unknown remains are located<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584885239923634"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAMd1YGQ7I/AAAAAAAAAfU/qadH5gD86S8/s288/day4-9.jpg" /></a><br />One of the gravestones - its only marking is the year 1878<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093584928189596610"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrAMgVYGQ8I/AAAAAAAAAfc/os70v8sfcH8/s288/day4-10.jpg" /></a><br />The design on the fence lining the cemetery shows the animals which were important to pioneers in the area<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585039858746338"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAMm1YGQ-I/AAAAAAAAAfs/Jy6DG67iMWI/s288/day4-12.jpg" /></a><br />The Yellowstone River near the Tulser Recreation Site - notice the cattle standing in the water?<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585130053059570"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RrAMsFYGQ_I/AAAAAAAAAf0/IgIpIw9J4aY/s288/day4-13.jpg" /></a><br />The creek at the Tusler Recreation Area<br /><br />The following five pictures were taken near Hathaway from an Interstate 94 rest area that overlooks the Yellowstone River and its adjoining valley<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585207362470914"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RrAMwlYGRAI/AAAAAAAAAf8/Se0kpkiUch8/s288/day4-14.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585280376914962"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAM01YGRBI/AAAAAAAAAgE/tTDlijII_mo/s288/day4-15.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585331916522530"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrAM31YGRCI/AAAAAAAAAgM/LQ_U4XS6Ig4/s288/day4-16.jpg" /></a><br />These pelicans were big enough, and flying low enough, to make shadows on the water below - it was a pretty neat effect<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585460765541426"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrAM_VYGRDI/AAAAAAAAAgU/_SkPPO7VuPA/s288/4-bnsf9837hathaway-1.jpg" /></a><br />A westbound empty coal train curves of the Yellowstone River Valley<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585581024625730"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrANGVYGREI/AAAAAAAAAgc/aDKxgQd9P2Q/s288/4-bnsf5892hathaway-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585709873644642"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrANN1YGRGI/AAAAAAAAAgs/wpdCicPjKwI/s288/day4-17.jpg" /></a><br />The Rosebud County courthouse in Forsyth is one of the biggest architectural masterpieces of eastern Montana - too bad it's hard to get a good picture of it and that the lighting was bad at the time I visited<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585649744102482"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RrANKVYGRFI/AAAAAAAAAgk/yOgq-FbMJsI/s288/day4-18.jpg" /></a><br />A little bit of downtown Forsyth<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay4GlendiveMTToBillingsMT/photo#5093585778593121394"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RrANR1YGRHI/AAAAAAAAAg0/mpfojAq-ER4/s288/day4-19.jpg" /></a><br />F is for Forsyth - almost all towns in this part of Montana have their first letter prominently displayed on a nearby hill<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Videos:</span><br /><br />The Terry Badlands<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-YUiPlXu0xM"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-YUiPlXu0xM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YUiPlXu0xM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YUiPlXu0xM</a><br /><br />Along the Yellowstone River near Tusler<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CklRo9kZZOI"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CklRo9kZZOI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklRo9kZZOI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklRo9kZZOI</a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-42538531674848091042007-07-30T15:43:00.000-05:002007-07-31T23:36:53.751-05:002007 Vacation: Day 3 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 3 Summary<br />Dickinson, North Dakota to Glendive, Montana</span><br /><br />Once again, day 3 of my 2007 vacation was similar to day 3 of my 2006 vacation, so I’ll direct you to <a href="http://mwmnp.blogspot.com/2006/08/2006-vacation-day-3-summary.html">the report</a> I wrote last year.<br /><br />One difference between 2006 and 2007 was the amount of time I spent looking around <a href="http://www.dickinsoncvb.com/" target="_blank">Dickinson</a>. This year, I visited the Dickinson Dam on the west end of town as well as the campus of <a href="http://www.dickinsonstate.com/" target="_blank">Dickinson State University</a>.<br /><br />The dam was located very near to the reservoir I visited in Dickinson last year, so the scenery was largely the same. Still, I once more enjoyed being near a lake – even if it was man-made – in the largely lake-free southwestern corner of North Dakota.<br /><br />I don’t know what made me want to check out DSU, but I saw a sign along Villard Street (the old Highway 10) in Dickinson pointing toward it, luring me there. The campus turned out to be quite a nice place containing beautiful, old buildings as well as a fairly significant green space. My favorite site, however, turned out to be the International Flag Plaza and Walk of Pride next to the Student Center. The fairly new site consisted of a brick walkway, lined with memorial bricks purchased by alumni and friends of the university, as well as over a couple dozen flagpoles containing flags from all over the world. As a nearby plaque described, there is a flag displayed for each country that an international student at DSU comes from. As it turned out, I chose a good day to see all the flags, since there was a fairly significant breeze causing them to flap around.<br /><br />After seeing DSU, it was time to head west toward the badlands around <a href="http://www.nps.gov/thro/" target="_blank">Theodore Roosevelt National Park</a>. The scenery was just as great as last year in this area.<br /><br />Something I found interesting was how empty the tourist trap town of <a href="http://www.medora.com/" target="_blank">Medora</a> appeared to be when I passed through this year. Sure, there were still people buying knick-knacks in the shops or walking around the city’s streets, but, as tourist traps go, it wasn’t all that crowded. Perhaps it was just because I visited on a Tuesday; weekends probably see a lot of people on day trips to the area.<br /><br />The drive from Medora to <a href="http://www.glendivechamber.com/" target="_blank">Glendive</a> hadn’t changed much from 2006, so, once again, see <a href="http://mwmnp.blogspot.com/2006/08/2006-vacation-day-3-summary.html">last year's report</a>. The oasis of Glendive served as the place where day 3 of my vacation came to an end.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093098789431296450"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq5SXVYGQcI/AAAAAAAAAbI/HIj633wXhNc/s288/day3-1.jpg" /></a><br />The Dickinson Dam<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093098883920576978"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq5Sc1YGQdI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/L7b_SudooXc/s288/day3-2.jpg" /></a><br />Some interesting rocks near the dam<br /><br />The following eight pictures were taken on the campus of Dickinson State University<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093098944050119138"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq5SgVYGQeI/AAAAAAAAAbY/C_zfpZNqyp8/s288/day3-3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099085784039954"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq5SolYGQhI/AAAAAAAAAbw/oIcUfzf5FVs/s288/day3-5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099133028680226"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq5SrVYGQiI/AAAAAAAAAb4/RK5nsBRW2zs/s288/day3-6.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099158798484018"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq5Ss1YGQjI/AAAAAAAAAcA/xaVBVtE4-Js/s288/day3-7.jpg" /></a><br />Australia<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099184568287810"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq5SuVYGQkI/AAAAAAAAAcI/LLQdCD9g_Xk/s288/day3-8.jpg" /></a><br />Jamaica, Republic of Macedonia, Nepal (left to right)<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099047129334274"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq5SmVYGQgI/AAAAAAAAAbo/Fy1VVUBC_-Y/s288/day3-9.jpg" /></a><br />DSU's Student Center<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099240402862674"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq5SxlYGQlI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/7Z6nTisC5Fg/s288/day3-10.jpg" /></a><br />DSU's King Pavilion<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099304827372130"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq5S1VYGQmI/AAAAAAAAAcY/3Q4m2Q0jdvk/s288/day3-11.jpg" /></a><br />The entrance to DSU<br /><br />The following four pictures were taken on the road in the badlands east of Medora<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099343482077810"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq5S3lYGQnI/AAAAAAAAAcg/kXpMSvGAvhg/s288/day3-12.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099403611619970"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq5S7FYGQoI/AAAAAAAAAco/3KhTBbzoZvw/s288/day3-13.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099463741162130"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq5S-lYGQpI/AAAAAAAAAcw/ah6C30W_FKY/s288/day3-14.jpg" /></a><br />Beware of cattle<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099528165671586"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq5TCVYGQqI/AAAAAAAAAc4/cUREAv3slUQ/s288/day3-15.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099609770050226"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq5THFYGQrI/AAAAAAAAAdA/hpyRIdgowmw/s288/day3-16.jpg" /></a><br />The Medora post office<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099669899592386"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq5TKlYGQsI/AAAAAAAAAdI/WaLV0rKhrps/s288/day3-17.jpg" /></a><br />No trip out here woul dbe complete without making a stop to see the view at the Painted Canyon Visitors Center right off of Interstate 94<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093103561139962642"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq5WtFYGQxI/AAAAAAAAAd0/E7482pIRy58/s288/3-bnsf9736sullysprings-1.jpg" /></a><br />A coal train going to Superior, WI ascends the grueling hill east of Medora<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099742914036434"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq5TO1YGQtI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/XSpUj-UCFt0/s288/day3-18.jpg" /></a><br />The Yellowstone County courthouse in Beach, ND<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099781568742114"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq5TRFYGQuI/AAAAAAAAAdY/gQO-UwrGUXw/s288/day3-19.jpg" /></a><br />The landscape north of Beach and about a mile east of the Montana/North Dakota border<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099824518415090"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq5TTlYGQvI/AAAAAAAAAdg/YKekKih6NME/s288/day3-20.jpg" /></a><br />One of the most prominent natural landmarks near Beach is Sentinel Butte, which stands at an elevation of 3430 feet above sea level<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay3DickinsonNDToGlendiveMT/photo#5093099858878153474"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq5TVlYGQwI/AAAAAAAAAdo/WaYdiL5kun4/s288/day3-21.jpg" /></a><br />One of the first billboards eastbound travelers along Interstate 94 see upon arriving in North Dakota is this one for Medora, which is about 25 miles straight ahead<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video:</span><br /><br />At the Dickinson Dam<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cR5p-zZ94ig"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cR5p-zZ94ig" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR5p-zZ94ig" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR5p-zZ94ig</a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-33522288937011083002007-07-29T00:44:00.000-05:002007-07-30T01:46:05.941-05:002007 Vacation: Day 2 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 2 Summary<br />Bismarck, North Dakota to Dickinson, North Dakota</span><br /><br />Although there were a few differences, the second day of my 2007 vacation resembled the second day of my 2006 vacation. As a consequence, I’ll direct you to the <a href="http://mwmnp.blogspot.com/2006/08/2006-vacation-day-2-summary.html" target="_blank">day 2 report</a> of my 2006 vacation and only point out the differences between 2006 and 2007 in this report.<br /><br />One of the biggest differences was the route taken to get to Dickinson from <a href="http://www.bismarckmandancvb.com/" target="_blank">Bismarck</a>. In 2006, the route was pretty straightforward: I traveled along what’s left of the precursor to Interstate 94, the now-decommissioned U.S. Highway 10. This year, however, I yearned a bit beforehand to deviate from this path and visit the <a href="http://www.beulahnd.org/" target="_blank">Beulah</a> and <a href="http://www.hazennd.org/" target="_blank">Hazen</a> areas. These two cities lie within the heart of the vast lignite coal fields of North Dakota and, as a result, contain numerous coal-fired power plants and related industries that, quite often, employ fresh blood from UND’s <a href="http://www.und.edu/dept/sem" target="_blank">School of Engineering and Mines</a>.<br /><br />To get to this area from Bismarck, I decided to first take ND Highway 25 from just west of Mandan to Center, an aptly named city of 678 located in both the center of its county and state.<br /><br />Although there’s a lot of North Dakota that is extremely rural, the area to the north and west of Mandan seems to be even more so. The hilly, treeless land around Center is better suited for coal mining than farming, meaning that not much settlement has ever occurred. In fact, Center is actually the last remaining city in its county (Oliver), which has a total population of only 2,065.<br /><br />From Center, I got on ND Highway 48. A little more than 9 miles north of town, the highway ends at an intersection with ND Highway 200A and crosses the border of Mercer County, which also happens to be the border between the Central and Mountain Time Zones.<br /><br />As the cities of Hazen and Beulah were located still farther to the west, I got on ND Highway 200A heading west. The barren, hilly landscape that I had traveled through since Mandan briefly gave way to a lush, cottonwood-laden landscape as the road traveled close to the Missouri River.<br /><br />The change in landscape was short-lived, however, as the roadway exited the Missouri River Valley a little west of Stanton. Once more, the chief scenery consisted of barren hills and the stacks from close by coal-fired power plants.<br /><br />West of Stanton, the next city on highway 200A is Hazen. This community of 2,457 is one of the largest in central North Dakota and, along with Beulah – a mere 10 miles away – makes up a 5,609 person “metropolitan area” that is the center of commerce and industry in the region.<br /><br />Although I didn’t see any notable tourist attractions in Hazen while I was planning this vacation, I saw some signs pointing to the Riverside City Park while in town. I didn’t know what sort of park this might be, but I figured it might be a good idea to check it out.<br /><br />The park ended up being in a secluded area nearly a mile south of town. Nevertheless, it turned up being an excellent tourist attraction for me, since it included an interesting and informative tree walk. Somewhere along the line – I believe I read that it was in 2000 – the <a href="http://www.arborday.org/" target="_blank">Arbor Day Foundation</a> donated a few dozen trees for public display. What’s more, every tree contains a placard describing what type of tree it is. I think I spent a good half hour, or maybe more, walking around the park, looking around at all the unique trees. It was a very enjoyable experience that I think would have been even more so had the trees appeared to be in better condition. Sadly, many of them appeared to be in rough health; the biggest problems were leafless branches and leaves being eaten by hungry insects. Hopefully the city of Hazen doesn’t let the collection worsen any further, as it really is a distinctive tourist attraction.<br /><br />Before going to Beulah, I took a little detour and went to the <a href="http://www.basinelectric.com/dcc/dcchome.htm" target="_blank">Freedom Mine</a> and <a href="http://www.dakotagas.com/" target="_blank">Great Plains Synfuels Plant</a>. The former is one of the largest coal mines in the area, while the latter is a large coal gasification plant – coal from the nearby mine is brought there and chemically converted to natural gas.<br /><br />Since I didn’t know what, if anything, I’d be able to see of either the mine or the plant beforehand, it was nice to find a scenic overlook on a hill right across from the gasification plant. The overlook provided not just a good view of that place, but also of the coal mine as well as surrounding countryside. In addition, it had a huge scoop, presumably from one of the machines that once worked hard to scrape coal out of the strip mine.<br /><br />After seeing the mine and plant, Beulah was next stop. The city is set in the deep Knife River Valley, so if you come in from the north (like I did), you start off relatively high in elevation and keep descending and descending until you finally reach the downtown part of the city.<br /><br />From Beulah, it was off to ND Highway 49 to Glen Ullin, 30 miles south. While scenic, the landscape on this road was void of pretty much any signs of inhabitation. There was another coal mine or two, but that was about all.<br /><br />Once in Glen Ullin, I got on the old U.S. Highway 10 to head toward Dickinson. The weather forecast had earlier mentioned the possibility of severe weather later in the afternoon, and by the time I got to <a href="http://www.hebronnd.org/" target="_blank">Hebron</a>, this forecast was appearing more and more accurate. Though the sky had gotten dark and more ominous while I was still in Beulah, it was very dark in Hebron. I waited around town until the inevitable storm blew past, which ended up happening with relative ease. The only thing Hebron got was a few sprinkles of rain and a few flashes of lightning; the worse part of the storm passed to the south, where it spawned a brief tornado warning.<br /><br />As that storm continued moving eastward, the sky to the west started clearing. Eventually, the sky cleared enough to let the sun come out and dramatically light up the storm clouds pushing to the east.<br /><br />As luck would have it, the sun came out right about at the time when I reached the hill north of Gladstone with the “Geese in Flight” metal sculpture advertising the nearby “<a href="http://www.enchantedhighway.net/" target="_blank">Enchanted Highway</a>.” The scenes from the hill were absolutely beautiful lit up the way that they were (check out the pictures below).<br /><br />The sun was only present for a short while, though, as another storm fired up to the west and once again made the sky cloudy. Incredibly, this storm started moving right toward Gladstone and the hill I was on. I got to see nearly everything: the storm develop from out of thin air, grow in intensity, and finally pass directly overhead, bringing a torrential downpour, a little bit of lightening, and gusty winds.<br /><br />The storm was well below severe thresholds, however, and only lasted a couple of minutes. Nevertheless, it provided a pretty neat experience. The sun even came out, once more, after the storm passed and brought with it a short-lived rainbow.<br /><br />After enjoying the scenery from the hill for just a while longer, it was time to go the 11 miles to <a href="http://www.dickinsoncvb.com/" target="_blank">Dickinson</a> to end the second day of my vacation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /><br />The first nine photos were taken in Menoken, the small town east of Bismarck that the railroad has almost always called Burleigh<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092858365752000370"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq13s1YGP3I/AAAAAAAAAWg/g-C7F4V81M8/s288/day2-1.jpg" /></a><br />Menoken has a small school, still in use for grades K-8. Enrollment has dropped in recent years, however, as parents now have the option to send their children to the schools in Bismarck for more than just high school.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092858455946313602"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq13yFYGP4I/AAAAAAAAAWo/3XMzc-sX0Y4/s288/day2-2.jpg" /></a><br />The Menoken School sign<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092858524665790354"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq132FYGP5I/AAAAAAAAAWw/tMHUb1r_4KE/s288/day2-3.jpg" /></a><br />Behind the school is a small pond<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092858589090299810"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq1351YGP6I/AAAAAAAAAW4/1VL8i4ma5rg/s288/day2-4.jpg" /></a><br />There were a lot of geese swimming in the pond<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092858752299057074"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq14DVYGP7I/AAAAAAAAAXA/KOUqCfj1Seo/s288/day2-5.jpg" /></a><br />One of the many gophers(?) that were roaming around the school grounds<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092858808133631938"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq14GlYGP8I/AAAAAAAAAXI/13mYgvmjbLw/s288/day2-6.jpg" /></a><br />Fargo St. in Menoken<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092858941277618130"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq14OVYGP9I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/rdJ-Jq3I3Nc/s288/day2-7.jpg" /></a><br />The tracks in Menoken, with the Burleigh station sign prominent in the background<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859048651800546"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq14UlYGP-I/AAAAAAAAAXY/ZGrDpoNW3vc/s288/day2-8.jpg" /></a><br />An abandoned farm building to the east of Menoken<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859113076310002"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq14YVYGP_I/AAAAAAAAAXg/LfZ_Jlg6rBA/s288/day2-9.jpg" /></a><br />The Menoken Post Office was one of the only places still open for business in the city's "downtown"<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859237630361602"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq14flYGQAI/AAAAAAAAAXo/XM9qre-PTDs/s288/2-furx7249bismarck-1.jpg" /></a><br />An eastboudn train goes across the Missouri River in Bismarck<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859340709576722"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq14llYGQBI/AAAAAAAAAXw/ZKgXVUsPemY/s288/day2-10.jpg" /></a><br />Boating on the Missouri<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859405134086178"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq14pVYGQCI/AAAAAAAAAX4/xvOfIhOG-7o/s288/day2-11.jpg" /></a><br />This recently-placed sculpture was on display in the park next to the Missouri River in Bismarck<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859448083759154"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq14r1YGQDI/AAAAAAAAAYA/KMLBWC3bVBg/s288/day2-12.jpg" /></a><br />Some scenery on the road to Center<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859491033432130"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq14uVYGQEI/AAAAAAAAAYI/qMxupiKPvqU/s288/day2-13.jpg" /></a><br />Some more scenery near Center<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859542573039698"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq14xVYGQFI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/Wwy6yba-Ako/s288/day2-14.jpg" /></a><br />Der Imbiss Bar & Grill in Center<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859581227745378"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq14zlYGQGI/AAAAAAAAAYY/pc2qPc8oqyc/s288/day2-15.jpg" /></a><br />The Center water tower is on top of a small hill on the city's east side<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859619882451058"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq1411YGQHI/AAAAAAAAAYg/8JHu7uDQDcU/s288/day2-16.jpg" /></a><br />At The Missouri River Valley near Stanton<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859680011993218"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/Rq145VYGQII/AAAAAAAAAYo/iNlSvaNzDLk/s288/day2-17.jpg" /></a><br />An example of one of the placards next to each of the trees in Hazen's Riverside Park<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859778796241042"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq14_FYGQJI/AAAAAAAAAYw/i491ILbY6s8/s288/day2-18.jpg" /></a><br />A buckeye growing on an Ohio Buckeye tree in Hazen's Riverside Park<br /><br />The following five pictures are from the scenic overlook near Beulah<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859894760358050"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq15F1YGQKI/AAAAAAAAAY4/04lNHV5LQCk/s288/day2-19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859946299965618"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq15I1YGQLI/AAAAAAAAAZA/MWsMYKVw8xQ/s288/day2-20.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092859993544605890"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq15LlYGQMI/AAAAAAAAAZI/BhekoZp7HmY/s288/day2-21.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860053674148050"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq15PFYGQNI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/udcyee_YsYo/s288/day2-22.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860165343297762"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq15VlYGQOI/AAAAAAAAAZY/fE8C0GZJpm0/s288/day2-23.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860277012447474"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq15cFYGQPI/AAAAAAAAAZg/FumX-kOPzp4/s288/day2-25.jpg" /></a><br />After the first storm passed when I was near Hebron, the second storm started firing up to the west<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860311372185858"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq15eFYGQQI/AAAAAAAAAZo/3ASow07K530/s288/day2-24.jpg" /></a><br />The remnants of the first storm I saw<br /><br />The following ten pictures were taken from the hill with the "Geese in Flight" sculpture. You can see the storm clouds from the first storm illuminated by the sun, the second storm coming in and blocking the sun, the second storm building in intensity and pushing westward, and, finally, the sun coming out once again after the second storm's passage.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860362911793426"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq15hFYGQRI/AAAAAAAAAZw/5_9Dp3vVPpI/s288/day2-26.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860431631270178"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq15lFYGQSI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/onoFSZESbZE/s288/day2-27.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860551890354482"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq15sFYGQTI/AAAAAAAAAaA/WoWLy7VlHq8/s288/day2-28.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860586250092866"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq15uFYGQUI/AAAAAAAAAaI/67cWWrQR-KQ/s288/day2-29.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860616314863954"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq15v1YGQVI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/0Dy7WWhyTUc/s288/day2-30.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860650674602338"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq15x1YGQWI/AAAAAAAAAaY/53aT-ASTEUc/s288/day2-31.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860766638719346"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq154lYGQXI/AAAAAAAAAag/O5InJm2H55I/s288/day2-32.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860878307869058"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/Rq15_FYGQYI/AAAAAAAAAao/OTR8v4842dg/s288/2-bnsf9956gladstone-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092860925552509330"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/Rq16B1YGQZI/AAAAAAAAAaw/9dM__A64a6I/s288/day3-33.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay2BismarckNDToDickinsonND/photo#5092861041516626338"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/Rq16IlYGQaI/AAAAAAAAAa4/JRD_Uf_pSV0/s288/2-bnsf9971gladstone-5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Videos:</span><br /><br />An overview of the scenic overlook near Beulah<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rfahZ8vcRvY"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rfahZ8vcRvY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfahZ8vcRvY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfahZ8vcRvY</a><br /><br />An overview of the hill near the "Geese in Flight" Enchanted Highway Sculpture<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FDvxrEzYTF4"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FDvxrEzYTF4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDvxrEzYTF4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDvxrEzYTF4</a><br /><br />An somewhat of a timelapse video of the thunderstorm passing overhead at the "Geese in Flight" sculpture<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jfv9Tx3hbNc"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jfv9Tx3hbNc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfv9Tx3hbNc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfv9Tx3hbNc</a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-54894177018077614142007-07-27T12:52:00.000-05:002007-07-27T13:47:05.625-05:002007 Vacation: Day 1 Summary<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 1 Summary<br />Brainerd, Minnesota to Bismarck, North Dakota</span><br /><br />The first day of my 2007 vacation found me following a route I’d already followed twice before – Brainerd, Minnesota to Bismarck, North Dakota all in one day. I actually decided to do this on purpose, since I had wanted to venture once more through North Dakota. I’ve really developed an affinity for the countryside that surrounds Interstate 94 as it meanders 352 miles through the Peace Garden State.<br /><br />Because the path I took this year between Brainerd and Bismarck closely resembles the one I took last year, it’s probably best to direct you to <a href="http://mwmnp.blogspot.com/2006/08/2006-vacation-day-1-summary.html" target="_blank">the report</a> I wrote last year around this time. There really isn’t that much that I would add to that report, and I think it makes more sense to include a link to it rather than writing the same thing over again.<br /><br />With that out of the way, it’s still worth noting that even though my report may not have changed from last year, my photos and video from this portion of the trip are all new. It’d actually be pretty hard to go out to this region year after year and not continually find new and interesting subjects to photograph.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091934355077873330"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RqovUVYGPrI/AAAAAAAAASs/hJJ85VN8OIo/s288/day1-1.jpg" /></a><br />A westbound empty coal train descends the "peak" of the Alta Ridge east of Valley City, ND<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091934359372840658"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RqovUlYGPtI/AAAAAAAAAS8/VLVb7k93rsg/s288/day1-3.jpg" /></a><br />The same train pictured above going across the big bridge over the Sheyenne River in Valley City, ND<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091934359372840642"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RqovUlYGPsI/AAAAAAAAAS0/w8Rdrhci3Ec/s288/day1-2.jpg" /></a><br />The train once more, this time making a stop in Berea, ND to pick up a locomotive<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091934359372840674"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RqovUlYGPuI/AAAAAAAAATE/yXH7PLMqvaA/s288/day1-4.jpg" /></a><br />The landscape near Berea, ND along with some spooky clouds<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091934363667807986"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RqovU1YGPvI/AAAAAAAAATM/tVC2ZOCTmUQ/s288/day1-5.jpg" /></a><br />Even spookier clouds just east Sanborn, ND - those white specks in the water are geese<br /><br />The following four photos were taken near the Crystal Springs Waterfowl Production Area about 43 miles west of Jamestown near the city of Crystal Springs. The area is accessible from a rest area along the westbound lanes of Interstate 94.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091935308560613122"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/mw1125/RqowL1YGPwI/AAAAAAAAATU/ilg93g3Wo2c/s288/day1-6.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091935312855580434"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RqowMFYGPxI/AAAAAAAAATc/zdEVwKj0Kuw/s288/day1-7.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091935312855580450"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/mw1125/RqowMFYGPyI/AAAAAAAAATk/I9BaabZm4Ho/s288/day1-8.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091935317150547762"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RqowMVYGPzI/AAAAAAAAATs/jW6_ARUMfhg/s288/day1-9.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091935317150547778"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/mw1125/RqowMVYGP0I/AAAAAAAAAT0/MZALptexz7A/s288/day1-10.jpg" /></a><br />Was this picture taken in Burleigh, ND or Menoken, ND? It's Burleigh if you ask the railroad, but Menoken if you ask local residents or consult a road map. The dual names have existed since 1891, when the Northern Pacific Railroad decided too many places on its lines began with the letter M and renamed its Menoken station Burleigh (after the name of the county the town lines in). The townspeople weren't impressed, however, and continue to stick with the name Menoken.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/2007VacationDay1BrainerdMNToBismarckND/photo#5091935493244206930"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/mw1125/RqowWlYGP1I/AAAAAAAAAT8/kA7DU482gRw/s288/day1-11.jpg" /></a><br />The Menoken, ND post office<br /><br />I returned to Menoken/Burleigh the following day, so look for more photos from there in the next entry<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Videos:</span><br /><br />An overview of the Crystal Springs Waterfowl Production Area<br /><object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1oKQDcmrZwU"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1oKQDcmrZwU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oKQDcmrZwU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oKQDcmrZwU</a></span></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-72744679551661748162007-07-18T22:57:00.000-05:002007-07-18T22:58:08.603-05:00Back from VacationI thought I’d just write a quick note on here to mention that I just returned home from another 10-day vacation. This year’s vacation included some territory I’d traveled in just one year ago, some territory I’d never traveled in before, and an entirely different country (Canada).<br /><br />Hopefully and with some luck, I’ll have reports – including pictures and videos – posted on here soon. Keep checking back for more!Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-58133678168656898852007-06-11T03:43:00.001-05:002009-03-24T08:22:45.704-05:00Flood of '97 Series: ConclusionWell, I know it’s late, but at least I’ve gotten it posted. I wanted to have some sort of conclusion to the series of entries I made earlier this spring relating to the flood of 1997. This may not be quite the conclusion I wanted to write, but at least it’s something.<br /><br />While there were plenty of hardships along the way to recovery, in general, the 10 years since the flood have proceeded quite well for the Red River Valley. Few outward signs of the flood’s destruction remain, and, even though it might have been reasonable to assume that there would be a bit of an exodus of local citizens following the devastation, this has by and large not been the case. The number of people living within close proximity to the Red River is likely the same as, if not higher than, the number of people living within close proximity before the flood. However, even so, there were many residences that were torn down because the federal government deemed that they were too close to the river and too prone to flooding in record flood events like the one of 1997.<br /><br />Grand Forks, which arguably had the most out of any city to lose following the flood, has rebounded particularly well. After staying rather steady following the flood, the city’s population is now higher than what it was in 1997. New construction – of houses and businesses alike – continues at a rapid pace within the city, with projects being announced seemingly all the time.<br /><br />Two of the most noticeable projects completed after the flood are the multimillion dollar <a href="http://www.aleruscenter.com/" target="_blank">Alerus Center</a> and <a href="http://www.theralph.com/" target="_blank">Ralph Engelstad Arena</a>. The former is the largest indoor arena and convention center between Minneapolis and Seattle, while the latter is often described as one of the best arenas in the world and is home, of course, to UND’s men’s and women’s hockey teams. Even though the Alerus Center was conceived before the flood, and the Ralph Engelstad Arena probably would have been built regardless, both structures have helped outwardly signify that Grand Forks continues to progress forward following the flood.<br /><br />Downtown Grand Forks, the heavily flooded, burned, and bruised portion of the city, has also sprung back to life. There has been a recent push to make the downtown area the central hub of Grand Forks by creating more green space, establishing more diverse businesses, and creating more housing space. Even the portion of downtown most seriously destroyed by fire has been rebuilt and transformed into a popular condominium development.<br /><br />Although there’s no guarantee that the future won’t bring a similar-sized flood of the same magnitude as the one in 1997, the past 10 years have been spent ensuring that the effects of such a flood are as minor as possible. As previously mentioned, many homes and businesses in areas likely to go underwater in a major flood have been demolished or moved since 1997. Additionally, government officials have dictated that no new structures will be placed in these areas.<br /><br />Many cities throughout the Red River Valley have refined their protection against major flooding by building better dikes and floodwalls that can withstand flooding as bad as or worse than that seen in 1997. The cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks received major federal and state funds to build a series of walls and dikes along the river. Grand Forks’ flood protection, which was just recently completed and dedicated as a part of the 10-year anniversary commemorations this past spring, protects the city from a river crest 2 feet higher than 1997’s crest.<br /><br />The increased protection serves to illustrate the point that people of the Red River Valley are committed not to let the threat of flooding drive them away from their cherished homes and communities. Though it’s impossible to completely tame the Red River so that it won’t cause any more major flooding in the future, proper planning and awareness of the river’s devastating power will continue to lessen the chances of having such a destructive flood happen again. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Videos related to this entry:</span><br />The following two videos are montages of video taken during and after the flood. The first comes from KMSP-TV and the second from KARE-TV.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lCaLWJiYpu4"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lCaLWJiYpu4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCaLWJiYpu4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCaLWJiYpu4</a><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m4eXN9JY03c"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m4eXN9JY03c" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4eXN9JY03c" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4eXN9JY03c</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sources used in writing this entry:</span><br /><u>Beyond the Flood</u>. Videocassette. Minnesota Broadcasters Association, 1997.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-22580087403891023482007-05-07T14:52:00.000-05:002007-05-09T14:56:52.560-05:00Flood of '97 Series: ReopeningsThe first half of May in 1997 was characterized by the sights, sounds, and oftentimes, smells of flood-recovery efforts. Those whose homes had been damaged were kept busy by the stressful task of sorting through damaged belongings and discarding everything that could not salvaged. In most cases, anything that touched the floodwaters could safely be called unsalvageable.<br /><br />Preliminary estimates revealed the extent to which homes were damaged within the valley. In Grand Forks, 16,000 homes were officially declared damaged; in East Grand Forks, the number was 2,500 homes. Elsewhere, there were 600 damaged homes in Breckenridge and between 200 and 300 in Ada. Estimates for the total cost of all structures damaged were running well into the hundreds of millions of dollars.<br /><br />Although the Red River had been quick to rise to bring about devastating flooding, it was taking its time to recede. By the second week of May, the flood was 1997 was still technically occurring, as all gauges along the Red River were continuing to report levels above flood stage. It wouldn’t be until May 17 that the Red would drop below flood stage at its headwaters in Wahpeton/Breckenridge. For Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, the Red didn’t drop below flood stage until May 19 – nearly a full month after it crested at 54.33 feet.<br /><br />Still, even at levels above flood stage, the river was manageable at this time, and communities, large and small, that had frantically built earthen and ring dikes in the days before flooding struck were busy taking them down. Grand Forks’ temporary dikes, which were blocking streets and disrupting traffic patterns in some cases, began coming down on May 5. Elsewhere, county roads that had been cut through in order to prevent overland flooding from taking over houses and communities were slowly being repaired.<br /><br />May 8 turned into a significant day for UND, since it was the day that what had been called the “virtual university” was shut down and the actual university officially reopened. Although not all staff returned to their jobs on this first day, the reopening symbolized that UND had successfully endured the flood.<br /><br />Preparing residence halls to house flood-victims and relief workers continued to be a high priority for university officials, who announced on May 8 how they would apportion the available rooms. Summer session students would be housed in Selke and Noren Halls, UND employees and their families would get Brannon, McVey, and West Halls, displaced residents would be assigned to Fulton, Johnstone, and Smith Halls, relief workers and trades people to Squires Hall, and FEMA and Small Business Administration employees to Swanson Hall. Bek, Hancock and Walsh halls, still needing repairs from flood damage, would be held as backup facilities and used only if all other space filled up. “Opening day” for occupancy was set as May 10.<br /><br />FEMA was instrumental in the behind-the-scenes work of getting the residence halls open to flood victims. The government agency had already announced that it would compensate the university all costs involved in providing the emergency housing, and, in turn, set up a system so that all flood victims could get the housing at no cost.<br /><br />As important as May 8 was, May 12 was even more important, since it marked the start of the summer session at UND. The complete, on-time, beginning of classes, which seemed nearly unfeasible at the time it was announced during the height of flooding ended up taking place without much of a hitch. Enrollment for the summer session totaled 2,852 students – down from the previous year’s number of 3,382, but better than the earlier projection of a 30 percent decline.<br /><br />Grand Forks and East Grand Forks were finally fully connected once more on May 13 after the Sorlie Bridge on DeMers Avenue reopened. The Point Bridge, another of the three bridges spanning the Red River between the two cities, reopened for traffic on May 11.<br /><br />With the May 12 announcement that water within the city of Grand Forks was once more safe to drink, the city was well on its way to recovery. Just how long the recovery process would take, however, was unknown.<br /><br />Check back around May 15 for a “conclusion” to this series.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Pictures related to this entry:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFtQNKSw-idep6tbpopJvqOVJtDp6S2R32m4vsZwr52hCPjeX9perMSyFBvyqbTfNKDrKGA0WMuB01aARrNmLr2DIiRshvCVPLHdfrTAU5VinCI8FAywqSeT0wvOEk5vRZByx/s1600-h/97flood-066.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFtQNKSw-idep6tbpopJvqOVJtDp6S2R32m4vsZwr52hCPjeX9perMSyFBvyqbTfNKDrKGA0WMuB01aARrNmLr2DIiRshvCVPLHdfrTAU5VinCI8FAywqSeT0wvOEk5vRZByx/s320/97flood-066.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062651886476887218" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZCNvYE_0pAAsjf3z3Xtk9q56T0iZ5qADcjGS91U-wptOItehSUkGDd3Rm4X7YMxZgVmvKOH8S7465h4W07uIChAD14O6H5KORS43mcOc1jR7G4RZZWL5KEDg6Uq0qK0BZ0IO/s1600-h/97flood-019.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZCNvYE_0pAAsjf3z3Xtk9q56T0iZ5qADcjGS91U-wptOItehSUkGDd3Rm4X7YMxZgVmvKOH8S7465h4W07uIChAD14O6H5KORS43mcOc1jR7G4RZZWL5KEDg6Uq0qK0BZ0IO/s320/97flood-019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062651890771854530" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sources used in writing this entry:</span><br />Orvik, Jan, and Dick Larson. <u>The Return of Lake Agassiz: the University of North Dakota and the Flood of 1997</u>. Grand Forks, ND: University of North Dakota, 1998.<br /><br />Staff of the [Fargo] Forum, comp. <u>Fighting Back: the Blizzards and Flood in the Red River Valley, 1996-97</u>. Fargo, ND: Forum Communications Company, 1997.<br /><br />Staff of the Grand Forks Herald and Knight-Ridder Newspapers, comp. <u>Come Hell and High Water: the Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood</u>. Grand Forks, ND: Grand Forks Herald, 1997.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-55974583718194431912007-05-02T22:45:00.000-05:002007-05-04T18:16:17.768-05:00April PicturesI wanted to take some time now and post something not entirely related to the flood of 1997 - pictures that I took during the past month. As you may notice, all of these photos are posted at the recently-created Picasa Web Albums over at Google. Although I'm not completely sold on this service yet, it does provide something I've been looking for: a place to publicly and easily share my photos. <a href="http://imageshack.us/" target="_blank">Imageshack</a>, which I have been using to host my pictures, recently launched an image sharing service, but, so far, I haven't been impressed. The servers there are often slow, and it appears impossible to group photos into individual albums. Plus, it should go without saying that Google's service makes it much easier to search for photos that others have uploaded. With any luck, I'll be working on my photo galleries at Google during the next few weeks, so that soon you'll be able to go to <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125" target="_blank">http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125</a> and view photos that I've taken.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">April 3, 2007</span>: The month of April started off on a particularly cold, wintry side throughout much of the Upper Midwest. While not unheard of, the cold was still unusual for the month of April, and was even accompanied with a storm that dumped nearly a foot of snow in some areas of central and northern Minnesota. The Grand Forks area missed the worst of the storm, but still picked up nearly an inch of snow and enjoyed scenes of blowing snow reminiscent of, perhaps, December 3 rather than April 3.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059788942881751890" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf7PFLqg1I/AAAAAAAAAII/l6UgF5iMob4/s288/07apr01.jpg" /></a><br />Though the coulee had just become ice-free a few days prior, it froze up once again on April 3 after more than a day of below-freezing temperatures. The new ice was very smooth thanks to the strong winds pushing at the water while it was freezing.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059788947176719202" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf7PVLqg2I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/w4Bnnmb1ZY0/s288/07apr02.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059788947176719218" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf7PVLqg3I/AAAAAAAAAIY/b5yc67V529c/s288/07apr03.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059788951471686530" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf7PlLqg4I/AAAAAAAAAIg/a2mu9EZ5lMI/s288/07apr04.jpg" /></a><br />In this photo, you can see streaks of blowing snow being pushed down the sidewalk in the 30 mph winds.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059788951471686546" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf7PlLqg5I/AAAAAAAAAIo/xmZ_ckQgdjI/s288/07apr05.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793113294996386" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_B1Lqg6I/AAAAAAAAAI4/VzJb3beeHr4/s288/07apr06.jpg" /></a><br />Bundling up was a necessity at the time - the temperature was 14°F, and, with a wind blowing at 28 mph, the wind chill was -6°F. This was probably one of the coldest April days I've ever experienced.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793130474865586" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_C1Lqg7I/AAAAAAAAAJA/bmMu48NvdA0/s288/07apr07.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">April 4, 2007</span>: After the snowstorm, high pressure settled in, and the following day was relatively clear. Early in the evening, I slowly walked behind Twamley Hall (the administrative building at UND) to see if I could get pictures of the huge flock of robins I had noticed hanging around a few nearby trees a few days earlier. The robins were a bit aprehensive of me at first, but eventually they started coming closer so that they could get some sips from a puddle created by melting snow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793160539636674" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_ElLqg8I/AAAAAAAAAJI/3cG-53Y7flU/s288/07apr11.jpg" /></a><br />This one here was doing his best to convince me that he <span style="font-style: italic;">wasn't</span> the one who dropped the butt into the puddle. I wasn't buying it, though.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793190604407762" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_GVLqg9I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/ZVgXZMYZqmw/s288/07apr09.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793216374211554" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_H1Lqg-I/AAAAAAAAAJY/WPK9dL75saQ/s288/07apr10.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793237849048050" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_JFLqg_I/AAAAAAAAAJg/FBvXXnp_4uo/s288/07apr08.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793263618851842" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_KlLqhAI/AAAAAAAAAJo/5p6OJwBX2Qo/s288/07apr12.jpg" /></a><br />I don't know what kind of birds these are, but they were also sitting in the same trees the robins were.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793285093688338" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_L1LqhBI/AAAAAAAAAJw/xaBRARmvIbk/s288/07apr13.jpg" /></a><br />The coulee was still frozen, as the temperature on April 4 did not make it above 25°F for the entire day. At 7 pm, the temperature was 21°F and the wind chill 6°F. The February-like temperatures made it strange to still be light out so late in the day.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">April 14, 2007</span>: With temperatures settling into a more seasonal pattern by the middle of the month, I went out to take a few pictures of the coulee at UND. My intention was to compare these pictures with those taken in roughly the same areas 10 years prior during the major flood. I never got around to doing that, but it's still interesting to note how drastically different the pictures would have turned out if I would have taken them April 14, 1997.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793315158459426" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_NlLqhCI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/wT6cPdPYFTM/s288/07apr14.jpg" /></a><br />This is the western side of Smith Hall. 10 years ago on roughly this date, water would have been approaching the top of the dike protecting the hall and volunteers would be busy stacking sandbags on top of it.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793345223230514" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_PVLqhDI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Wj8W3PcZOWA/s288/07apr15.jpg" /></a><br />Another view of the west side of Smith Hall. Once again, the coulee ran right up to the basement of the hall, almost submerging it completely.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793375288001602" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_RFLqhEI/AAAAAAAAAKI/IZDC2ua5_nA/s288/07apr16.jpg" /></a><br />This is the Fox Memorial Bridge going over the coulee. During the worst of the flood, the water came up to the top of the black railing.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793396762838098" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_SVLqhFI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/ehAAMn8npiY/s288/07apr17.jpg" /></a><br />The Adelphi Fountain stand next to the coulee. Water came up nearly to the spot where I stood to take this picture.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">April 20, 2007</span>: Like all other universities around the country, UND mourned the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings. On what was declared the National Day of Mourning, a Virginia Tech display unexpectedly (to me, anyway) showed up in one of the most highly trafficked areas of campus.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793422532641890" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_T1LqhGI/AAAAAAAAAKY/cTvGwUdkWPk/s288/07apr18.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793444007478386" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_VFLqhHI/AAAAAAAAAKg/1lBr-phc9kY/s288/07apr19.jpg" /></a><br />I don't know if the original intent was to have people post messages on the display, but here's one that somebody wrote. I think this is the only one that ever appeared on the outdoor display, as there was an "official" poster-type of board available in the student union for people to send condolences and well-wishes. That board ended up being completely full of dozens, maybe hundreds, of messages from different people.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793461187347586" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_WFLqhII/AAAAAAAAAKo/8p_D32Ki_TQ/s288/07apr20.jpg" /></a><br />While out taking pictures, everything just lined up perfectly to get this shot. A small hole that allowed the sun to peek through suddenly appeared in the sky while I was near the flag next to Twamley Hall. Even more fortunate was that the wind at the time was relatively strong and blowing from such a direction so as to illuminate the flag perfectly head-on. In addition, the sky behind the flag looked ominous thanks to the sun reflecting off the clouds, and the flag itself was at half-mast out of respect to victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy. All in all, this was probably one of the most beautiful, short-lived scenes I've ever witnessed.<br /><br />Just to add it as a side note, the flag was ironically ripped right off the pole a few hours later during a windstorm/thunderstorm that rolled through the area with winds topping 60 mph.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">April 25, 2007</span>: The Virginia Tech display ended up staying in place for one week. Later on the 25th, a Thursday, some fresh flowers were laid at its base. I intended to wait for the sun to come out on Friday morning so that I could get some pictures, but, by then, the display was gone, and the flowers were placed near the eagle monument.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/mw1125/April2007/photo#5059793615806170274" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/image/mw1125/Rjf_fFLqhKI/AAAAAAAAAK4/ghJpv-W00uA/s288/07apr21.jpg" /></a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-83353847424745392642007-04-30T15:41:00.000-05:002007-04-30T17:47:34.655-05:00Flood of '97 Series: "Mucking Out"“Mucking out” became the new buzzword in the Red River Valley as victims of the flooding began returning to their muddy, barely recognizable houses. By this time, the worst of the floodwater had gone into Manitoba, where it was besieging the small, francophone community of Sainte-Agathe.<br /><br />South of the border, communities along the Red River and its tributaries north of Grand Forks were slowly recovering from what the flood had done there. With the exception of the tiny town of Robbin, Minnesota, there was, thankfully, no instance of an entire community going under water in this area. Even so, there were quite a few individual homes, businesses, and churches that did succumb to flooding. What turned out being the greatest legacy of the flood of 1997 in this region, however, is the number of people forced to relocate as a result of living on land too susceptible to flooding or in the way of proposed dikes, levees, and diversion channels intended to protect the small towns in the area. To read more about this region and its connection to the flood of 1997, see the related links below.<br /><br />Throughout Grand Forks at this time, residents were returning to homes that were entirely different from the ones they had left nearly two weeks earlier. Though many would be restorable with a lot of hard work, some were nothing more than a heap of wreckage. In particular, homes that had sustained floodwaters up to their roofs in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Grand Forks and The Point and Sherlock Park neighborhoods of East Grand Forks were the worst off. In these areas, the homes would be unsalvageable; all residents could do was rummage through the debris for any small treasures that could be saved.<br /><br />Even for those fortunate enough to be living in the western half of Grand Forks and be unaffected by the floodwaters, there remained a sense of discomfort. Electrical, water, and sewer systems were still nonexistent in Grand Forks on April 30. Though the water system (as well as the emergency room in the city’s hospital) was restored on May 2, it would still be many more days before residents had dependable electricity in their homes. Nighttime curfews remained in effect, with officials asking all people who had decided to move back into their homes not to go anywhere after dark.<br /><br />Getting rid of flood-damaged material accelerated after May 1 when residents in flood-stricken areas of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks began trudging down into their still-wet basements and emerged with armfuls of debris that would then be piled onto increasingly taller heaps on lawns, sidewalks, berms, and city streets. After it was discovered that out-of-towners were ruthlessly coming and taking flood-damaged appliances so that they could resell them later, angry homeowners began spray-painting messages on the items or “customizing” them with several bashes from a baseball bat (also known as “flood therapy”).<br /><br />The recollections of several UND students from Grand Forks upon returning to their hometown are recounted in the book published by UND following the flood:<br /><blockquote>“I was not prepared to see the cars that were sitting on lawns because they had floated there in the flood. I did not expect to see houses off their foundations, with water lines left by the flood next to the roof. I was also not prepared for the smell. The hardest thing that I had to deal with upon returning was having no water. I did not like having no showers and using outhouses.”<br /><br />“When we arrived, I never expected to see what I saw. Driving over the bridge on Gateway Drive, I saw a living room recliner hanging on the side of the bridge, children’s toys littering the streets, and household items scattered everywhere. Reaching our home, I was absolutely horrified because everything I owned was ruined. I eventually managed to salvage a few things from my room, like a few dirty, curled-up pictures and a couple of special letters, which were now crinkled, smeared, and brown. It was then I realized everything I now owned fit into a shoe box.”<br /><br />“When I entered Grand Forks, I immediately covered my nose because the stench was so strong and crude. It took a while to get used to it. I didn’t really know what to expect to see, maybe a few puddles of water. What I did see was garbage lying all over. Empty sandbags were scattered on the sides of roads, some furniture pieces in people’s yards, and porta-potties on every street corner.”</blockquote>At UND during this time, students living in the residence halls east of the English Coulee were asked to get their belongings beginning May 1. It remained vital to clean the residence halls up as quickly as possible, since UND was committed to doing what it could to permit flood victims to have temporary housing over the summer. One of the problems standing in the way of this, however, was the extensive damage that had taken place in the lower levels of the Bek, Hancock, Johnstone, Smith, Squires, and Swanson Residence Halls. In order to hasten the clean-up efforts, FEMA formally approached the university to provide beds for up to 1,000 evacuees and assist with clean-up costs for all the residence halls.<br /><br />The campus was slowly returning to normal, even as new problems continued to be discovered. One of these dealt with the underground steam system on campus. Once it was restarted, large “geysers” of steam began spraying out of the ground, signifying that the insulation on the pipes transferring the steam had disintegrated during the flood.<br /><br />The first contracts were awarded for flood clean-up, and work quickly began on thoroughly drying out all buildings on campus. Any material that had gotten wet in the flood was removed at once; walls and floors were power-washed, scrubbed, bleached, scraped, disinfected, and washed again. In the end, attacking any potential problems caused by mold or other microorganisms saved the university an untold amount of money. As others in Grand Forks would find out, the longer a flood-damaged building was left to stand after the flood, the greater the problems stemming from mold and other contamination became.<br /><br />President Kendell Baker in the first few days of May announced that the University would officially reopen on Thursday, May 8. As scheduled, the following Monday, May 12, would mark the first day of the 1997 summer semester.<br /><br />Check back around May 5 for the next installment in this series.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Links related to this entry:</span><br /><a href="http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=36063" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read about the changes that have taken place in the Red River Valley north of Grand Forks in the 10 years since the flood (registration may be required).<br /><br />Something I haven't really covered is the anger many in the Red River Valley felt toward the National Weather Service, and its faulty predictions, in the weeks immediately following the flood. <a href="http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=35913" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read an article describing how the National Weather Service has changed how it predicts major flooding events in the wake of the Flood of 1997 (registration may be required).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Videos related to this entry:</span><br />After being forced out of their homes in the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks area nearly two weeks earlier, there remained many flood victims scattered around the region on April 30.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G9wQZDC7GkI"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G9wQZDC7GkI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9wQZDC7GkI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9wQZDC7GkI</a><br /><br />A profile of Grand Forks' mayor Pat Owens, whose commendable leadership during the devastating flooding and subsequent recovery of her city has been praised as being one of the reasons Grand Forks has rebounded so well 10 years after the flood.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0xEotT6v4PA"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0xEotT6v4PA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xEotT6v4PA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xEotT6v4PA</a><br /><br />On May 2, the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Grand Forks remains lifeless and utterly devastated. This report, narrated as only KARE 11's Ken Speake could, was one of the most memorable following the flood.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c8bC5lf1o7Q"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c8bC5lf1o7Q" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8bC5lf1o7Q" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8bC5lf1o7Q</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Pictures related to this entry:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmgpjuVFkr3Db5AItPQLhab81y9bSawyvgXABzVFuM9lYHAwTxXz9DWHtCfQbY5dEnH5NgUahSV_y0DtZDt9Yax56M8fiACEY-QgtZuQ5GMVKgX_FCCF8S69qfmrbj4K8qLM-/s1600-h/97flood-017.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmgpjuVFkr3Db5AItPQLhab81y9bSawyvgXABzVFuM9lYHAwTxXz9DWHtCfQbY5dEnH5NgUahSV_y0DtZDt9Yax56M8fiACEY-QgtZuQ5GMVKgX_FCCF8S69qfmrbj4K8qLM-/s320/97flood-017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059327010559132386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaw9oDB6Q2C6DW0uo7gaSLGaibZjstdM3G9FSfsp1Tnba8YJfFw67dQhGEyGybZoE7JrIJVXlCoIz0P85n1-_A3jV_7fQHR41Z9ORHWOF6lMIfMBF7N3bfv0L-TSV8wNj7MjG/s1600-h/97flood-018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaw9oDB6Q2C6DW0uo7gaSLGaibZjstdM3G9FSfsp1Tnba8YJfFw67dQhGEyGybZoE7JrIJVXlCoIz0P85n1-_A3jV_7fQHR41Z9ORHWOF6lMIfMBF7N3bfv0L-TSV8wNj7MjG/s320/97flood-018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059327014854099698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5KMriP-QZ1qGqyy-lelErPBaTVkMFg-Y0xsKzuHTtA67iKsZ-oWGzuWU2uB3wxe0JYW7WqdL2AXU6byL-T_zEGvwCRYJHRa9krNh8IWMyHUYgJdrAZSoqo9xMG__ds9tUxzC/s1600-h/97flood-020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5KMriP-QZ1qGqyy-lelErPBaTVkMFg-Y0xsKzuHTtA67iKsZ-oWGzuWU2uB3wxe0JYW7WqdL2AXU6byL-T_zEGvwCRYJHRa9krNh8IWMyHUYgJdrAZSoqo9xMG__ds9tUxzC/s320/97flood-020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059327019149067010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2msGSyvPvi7o0Lik_Pm3z_0Ww9Ghm_ci2y24fflJenY4GOiNUTR64fdIwlhFMwUmIepPdfVl-T0Br8nFn4m84YaM_GtXFwozRJsbnTy31JmAbeW-cGuGGHFkCuUwwvP0mJdmn/s1600-h/97flood-016.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2msGSyvPvi7o0Lik_Pm3z_0Ww9Ghm_ci2y24fflJenY4GOiNUTR64fdIwlhFMwUmIepPdfVl-T0Br8nFn4m84YaM_GtXFwozRJsbnTy31JmAbeW-cGuGGHFkCuUwwvP0mJdmn/s320/97flood-016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059327019149067026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6mNU_p5o0_OW6OQq_e3TnESKpAa418EAKrpEUeawRxQIUEZjFm5oUD9p6OhB_ftL5OxHBu6u_Qg8NniwJb62Gz-mNyZjvXeoTLua4tZ6rT-4bSruJUE9VasOd7U4nzhxZHKO/s1600-h/97flood-021.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6mNU_p5o0_OW6OQq_e3TnESKpAa418EAKrpEUeawRxQIUEZjFm5oUD9p6OhB_ftL5OxHBu6u_Qg8NniwJb62Gz-mNyZjvXeoTLua4tZ6rT-4bSruJUE9VasOd7U4nzhxZHKO/s320/97flood-021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5059327023444034338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sources used in writing this entry:</span><br /><u>Beyond the Flood</u>. Videocassette. Minnesota Broadcasters Association, 1997.<br /><br />Orvik, Jan, and Dick Larson. <u>The Return of Lake Agassiz: the University of North Dakota and the Flood of 1997</u>. Grand Forks, ND: University of North Dakota, 1998.<br /><br />Staff of the [Fargo] Forum, comp. <u>Fighting Back: the Blizzards and Flood in the Red River Valley, 1996-97</u>. Fargo, ND: Forum Communications Company, 1997.<br /><br />Staff of the Grand Forks Herald and Knight-Ridder Newspapers, comp. <u>Come Hell and High Water: the Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood</u>. Grand Forks, ND: Grand Forks Herald, 1997.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-88327525801576985432007-04-27T14:37:00.000-05:002007-04-27T15:04:04.534-05:00Flood of '97 Series: An Angel gives a GiftAfter being separated for 10 days, the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks were linked together once again on April 28 when the Kennedy Bridge crossing the Red River on U.S. Highway 2 reopened. This unexpectedly turned into a momentous event after numerous residents decided to get in their vehicles and wait for their chance just to be one of the first to cross the newly-opened bridge.<br /><br />The bridge reopening was a piece of good news among the all the grim at the time. The Red River was continuing to drop, and, consequently, more and more residents of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks were being allowed back into their homes. However, with electricity still severed, water and sewer systems still down, and water still trapped in the basements of the homes in many of the neighborhoods being opened up, residents were only allowed to come back during the daytime hours; they had to return to their temporary homes after dark. What many residents came back to were homes that were, at best, cold and desolate and, at worst, barely recognizable. Although many wanted to assess their damages and begin the long cleanup process right away, this was made complicated by the water remaining in basements. In order to prevent basement walls from collapsing, both Grand Forks and East Grand Forks city officials cautioned against being too quick to pump any water out.<br /><br />The first rough estimate of property damage in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks came in on April 26, and it was pegged at $775 million. What could not be calculated, however, were the costs resulting in the residents’ loss of family treasures and confidence in themselves and their future.<br /><br />The spirits of local residents were lifted greatly on April 29, though, when a miraculous gift from an “angel” was announced. A woman who did not wish to be identified pledged to donate $15 million to Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, allowing each household in the two cities to receive $2,000. Only after news media tracked down ownership of the airplane she used to survey flood damage in the area was the incredible philanthropist identified as Joan Kroc, a Minnesota native and widow of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc. She had been in the area working anonymously with the many relief agencies in the area assisting flood victims.<br /><br />Elsewhere around the Red River Valley at this time, Interstate 29 was slowly being opened between Fargo and the U.S.-Canada border. The stretch from Grand Forks to Fargo, which had been closed for 16 days, reopened on April 27. This was a relief to many motorists who were getting increasingly frustrated with the worsening conditions on the back road that was being used as a detour between the two cities.<br /><br />After cresting at 54.94 feet in Pembina, ND and St. Vincent, MN on April 26, the Red River was also falling there, meaning that the flood of 1997 was over for people living south of the border. Although this was the highest crest ever seen in the cities of Pembina and St. Vincent, major damages were avoided thanks to the diligent efforts in raising dikes as well as higher crest predictions that ended up not materializing.<br /><br />Work continued at UND to bring the campus back to a resemblance of normal. Power systems, which had been completely shut off before major flooding occurred, were drying out and being brought back online. Making the decision to turn off electricity before water entered buildings ended up being one of the wisest things done at UND, since electrical equipment that is shut off before getting wet needs only to be completely dried out before being turned back on. On the other hand, electrical equipment that is left on while wet usually needs to be replaced completely and at a great cost.<br /><br />All residence halls behind Wilkerson Hall were officially opened up on April 29 so that students could retrieve their belongings. Enough resident assistants had returned to allow the check-out process to run smoothly.<br /><br />Inspections of campus buildings inevitably revealed new, unexpected damages during this time. Elevators, which are normally programmed to go to the lowest level in a building when power to them is shut off, were flooded in many places. Sewer systems, sidewalks, and the electrical, steam, and telecommunications tunnels underneath the campus also showed significant damages.<br /><br />Check back around April 30 for the next installment in this series.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Videos related to this entry:</span><br />An "angel" comes to help the citizens of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks in the form of $2,000 checks.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UFpDgHOAFDw"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UFpDgHOAFDw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFpDgHOAFDw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFpDgHOAFDw</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Pictures related to this entry:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WLkYhVdY4HB60HQDt3iAiUnfQXaQ4tECgGC-3rSKatW9zqlFmoLve51FWlZS1WJFaU8qLp7i90Lh9jZGRpmBWZ_Umd0gwyNmk0HoIH6-fFP7bYEwb0sTUip5Xal6LU25qd67/s1600-h/97flood-001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WLkYhVdY4HB60HQDt3iAiUnfQXaQ4tECgGC-3rSKatW9zqlFmoLve51FWlZS1WJFaU8qLp7i90Lh9jZGRpmBWZ_Umd0gwyNmk0HoIH6-fFP7bYEwb0sTUip5Xal6LU25qd67/s320/97flood-001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058200174349419202" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5fv1R7fv2CJMsTuzpBluOLgqDGJOyjbtU533UDQEOIQRovWkMze4F3_JGZvlUzqA7LUis47AMDEUUsybUUdnLadxZ-fFWXZHq5AXJDronge0nVp1FcurOUR1LwI75GXvzqDp/s1600-h/97flood-064.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5fv1R7fv2CJMsTuzpBluOLgqDGJOyjbtU533UDQEOIQRovWkMze4F3_JGZvlUzqA7LUis47AMDEUUsybUUdnLadxZ-fFWXZHq5AXJDronge0nVp1FcurOUR1LwI75GXvzqDp/s320/97flood-064.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058200174349419218" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sources used in writing this entry:</span><br /><u>Beyond the Flood</u>. Videocassette. Minnesota Broadcasters Association, 1997.<br /><br />Orvik, Jan, and Dick Larson. <u>The Return of Lake Agassiz: the University of North Dakota and the Flood of 1997</u>. Grand Forks, ND: University of North Dakota, 1998.<br /><br />Staff of the [Fargo] Forum, comp. <u>Fighting Back: the Blizzards and Flood in the Red River Valley, 1996-97</u>. Fargo, ND: Forum Communications Company, 1997.<br /><br />Staff of the Grand Forks Herald and Knight-Ridder Newspapers, comp. <u>Come Hell and High Water: the Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood</u>. Grand Forks, ND: Grand Forks Herald, 1997.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-73754933548342255262007-04-25T14:11:00.000-05:002007-04-30T23:13:49.925-05:00Flood of '97 Series: Cleanup BeginsBy April 25, the flood of 1997 was slowly coming to an end south of the United States-Canada border. The worst of the floodwater was coming into Pembina, North Dakota and St. Vincent, Minnesota – two cities just slightly south of the border. Though residents of both cities had to wage the same sort of battles as had been waged upstream in places such as Grand Forks, Fargo, and Wahpeton, they were largely spared the same fate as had befallen the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. One of the reasons for this was that the Red River spread out farther and became wider as it flowed north of Grand Forks. Although this meant more land – mostly farmfields – went underwater, it also meant that the water flowed slower and with less force. This allowed dikes, including the plywood one defending the city of Drayton, North Dakota, to be slightly more effective. Another saving grace for the residents north of Grand Forks was their ability to see the major destruction upstream and better prepare themselves for the water’s onslaught.<br /><br />Perhaps nobody was more acutely aware of the water’s potentially devastating effects than those living along the Red River in Manitoba. For days, people there had been tuned to Grand Forks’ local television station, WDAZ-TV, wondering what the water was going to do once it got to their communities. In the end, about 2,500 homes in Manitoba were destroyed, with 100 eventually being demolished altogether. Even so, only one community, Sainte-Agathe, was completely submerged by water during what was known as the “flood of the century” and what had prompted one of the largest mass evacuations in the history of Manitoba. In Manitoba’s capital and most populous city, Winnipeg, flooding ended up being minimal thanks in large part to a diversion channel built after a destructive flood there nearly a half century earlier as well as a massive earthen dike constructed just days before the worst of the floodwater reached the area. Had these two things not been in place to protect the city, the majority of Winnipeg might have gone under, and well over 500,000 Winnipeggers might have had their homes damaged or destroyed. <br /><br />In Grand Forks at this time, the Red River still remained very high, above the 50 foot mark. Nevertheless, the water was clearly receding, and some houses that had been sitting in water a few days before were now dry on the outside. This allowed the National Guard on April 24 to let some people back into the city for a few hours to check on the condition of their homes. Others would be allowed back in as the water continued to fall and their safety could be assured.<br /><br />Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Grand Forks and East Grand Forks on April 25. He got a look at the damage firsthand and reaffirmed President Clinton’s pledge of 3 days earlier to get aid from the federal government into the region as quickly as possible.<br /><br />Fargo was slowly returning to normal. On April 25, city crews began taking down the emergency earthen dike built south of town as well as some of the earthen dikes built on downtown streets. By April 26, the Red River dropped below 36 feet, signaling that the worst of the floodwater had left. The flood had damaged 86 homes in Fargo and 41 homes in Moorhead.<br /><br />At UND during this time, the “virtual university” was virtually a reality. The deans for each of the colleges on campus had been set up with a “virtual office” consisting of a chair, table, and telephone. Email access was restored on April 24.<br /><br />The UND call center continued to be flooded with nearly 2,500 calls a day. Of course, there were a lot of very similar questions, and in order to deal with this, University Relations made fact sheets and news releases covering the most frequently asked questions. This information was then posted on UND’s website or placed in newspapers wherever evacuees had scattered throughout the region.<br /><br />One frequent question dealt with housing. With so many people in the area unsure if they would have a house to come back to, many wanted to know what sort of temporary housing UND could provide. With the knowledge that the university could use its residence halls to house flood victims during the summer, officials made it a top priority to get Brannon Hall cleaned as quickly as possible so that it could be the first residence hall made available for disaster housing. <br /><br />But in order to get the residence halls open for temporary housing, flood damage had to be cleaned up, the buildings had to be safe to live in, and, perhaps most importantly at first, students’ belongings had to be taken out. Because of this, all residence halls west of the coulee – West, McVey, Brannon, Selke, and Noren – were opened on April 25 for students to check-out. With the sewer system still down and few housing staff on hand, conditions were less than ideal. Nevertheless, about 15 to 20 students moved out on April 25, with more continuing to do so during the next couple days.<br /><br />The payroll run, a normally routine operation for UND, was carried out under extraordinary conditions on April 25. UND’s mainframe computer generates payroll not only for employees of UND, but for employees at all the other higher education institutes in North Dakota. This became a problem because, after flooding threatened all buildings at UND, the mainframe was disassembled and taken to NDSU in Fargo. Therefore, in order to run the payroll, technicians had to recover databases and restore software systems at this remote location. Although they very came close to not making it, UND Payroll staff members were able to enter every available timeslip and payroll revision by Friday (the 25th), making payday came on time for all those employed at one of the 11 campuses in the North Dakota University System.<br /><br />Check back around April 27 for the next installment in this series.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Links related to this entry:</span><br /><a href="http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=35528" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read an article that appeared in Tuesday's <em>Grand Forks Herald</em> describing the plywood wall keeping the town of Drayton, North Dakota dry during this time in 1997 (registration may be required).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Videos related to this entry:</span><br />The 10 o'clock KARE 11 news from April 25 shows recovery efforts getting underway in Grand Forks and Newt Gingrich visiting the region.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cSuNj0FKyHQ"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cSuNj0FKyHQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSuNj0FKyHQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSuNj0FKyHQ</a><br /><br />A report on the journalists diligently working to get information to flood victims scattered throughout the region - including the use of maps to give callers an idea of possible flood damage around their homes<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GV9txNXx8qE"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GV9txNXx8qE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV9txNXx8qE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV9txNXx8qE</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Pictures related to this entry:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDC8PxZ1HMdMx8hc6Z9kfllH6Vz6-ODiWJWfi5dc-OWYJSWuAtn5JGxm12vgtM2Eq5yMuAw1baYHA-eUP9bdsOvtKYr9mOO4l7YrnK5YR-lqBgTdnfbApLNNVexI9EKFr3FOEl/s1600-h/97flood-013.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDC8PxZ1HMdMx8hc6Z9kfllH6Vz6-ODiWJWfi5dc-OWYJSWuAtn5JGxm12vgtM2Eq5yMuAw1baYHA-eUP9bdsOvtKYr9mOO4l7YrnK5YR-lqBgTdnfbApLNNVexI9EKFr3FOEl/s320/97flood-013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057445763343876786" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sources used in writing this entry:</span><br />Orvik, Jan, and Dick Larson. <u>The Return of Lake Agassiz: the University of North Dakota and the Flood of 1997</u>. Grand Forks, ND: University of North Dakota, 1998.<br /><br />Staff of the [Fargo] Forum, comp. <u>Fighting Back: the Blizzards and Flood in the Red River Valley, 1996-97</u>. Fargo, ND: Forum Communications Company, 1997.<br /><br />Staff of the Grand Forks Herald and Knight-Ridder Newspapers, comp. <u>Come Hell and High Water: the Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood</u>. Grand Forks, ND: Grand Forks Herald, 1997.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-85800812450081026872007-04-23T19:15:00.000-05:002007-04-23T19:47:16.292-05:00Flood of '97 Series: "Turning the Corner"April 23 bought more good news to the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. Although many houses nearest to the river still had water up to their rooftops, in other places of the city, it was quite apparent that the floodwater was receding. The Red River, at the moment one of the widest rivers in North America, was finally reverting back to its tamer, narrower self.<br /><br />The cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks continued to be virtually empty, and it appeared that they would be that way for at least a few more days. Those living in areas left relatively dry would be able to come back to their homes the soonest, but those living in the areas entirely inundated would have to wait much longer – a couple of weeks in some cases.<br /><br />Everybody who evacuated seemed to have one question – “how deep was the water in my part of town?” To try to answer this, KCNN Radio, which had become one of the most important providers of news during the flood, sifted through videotape footage and other reports to put together a map of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks that showed how deep the water had gotten in the different parts of the cities. All one needed to do was call into the station, give his or her address, and somebody at a phone bank would look at the map and estimate how high the water had been. People reacted differently to the news, with some relieved that water had not gotten as high as they had feared and others finally beginning to get a sense of how much post-flood cleanup would be required once they were allowed back into their home. <br /><br />As the river continued to fall, the sewer system in the city of Grand Forks was slowly brought back online. By the end of the day, 16 of 36 lift stations in the city were working. At the Grand Forks Air Base, the number of evacuees still there had decreased to 600, with more and more people finding temporary housing elsewhere.<br /><br />Media attention continued to be focused on Grand Forks and East Grand Forks as Elizabeth Dole, President of the American Red Cross, came to town. She toured flooded areas with North Dakota First Lady Nancy Shafer and Grand Forks Mayor Pat Owens.<br /><br />At UND on April 23, recovery efforts increased. After making an inspection of nearly all the university’s buildings the day before, Plant Services officials put together a color-coded campus map that indicated which buildings had sustained flood damage and the extent to which damage occurred. This map became important because it gave university officials a good idea of which buildings would likely be ready for use during the summer semester, which was still expected to begin as scheduled on May 12.<br /><br />The phone bank that was an essential part of UND’s “virtual university” became operational on this day, and incoming phone calls numbered into the thousands. It took a team of 20 staff working rotating shifts to ensure the call center ran smoothly.<br /><br />For the first time since the university canceled the remainder of the spring semester, all of the academic deans got together. One of their first priorities was to contact each person scheduled to teach in the summer and find out if he or she would be able to beginning on the 12th. There ended up being only one faculty member who was unable to.<br /><br />One of the happiest moments on campus came in the evening when Food Service employees provided the first “Red Tag Dinner,” as they would later come to be known, to university officials with “red tags” – tags that identified them as being associated with the university. Even though the menu was limited to whatever was in storage in the Food Services Building, the dinners provided those camped out at the university some of their first hot meals in days.<br /><br />Water continued to recede downstream in Fargo on this day as well. Cleanup of the Oak Grove Lutheran School and surrounding neighborhood began with help from faculty and students from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in Fergus Falls. The town of Ada also intensified its cleanup efforts after it was reported that most of the town’s 1,700 residents had returned.<br /><br />Check back on April 25 for the next installment in this series.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Pictures related to this entry:</span><br />Here is one of those maps that shows the extent of flood damage in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9vNos8ac2bT7qx7wlfxK2nxCY10Fv5jiAZHswfzMraLqkTlCoE_Ge3uxuV2HM3KX-u3Vycce6-pNhmRQbRfErxgBPYDaTXxCfqBQdzbYuA60T3bhO9Nz4FwLUR7wtyF9qfY6/s1600-h/97flood-010.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9vNos8ac2bT7qx7wlfxK2nxCY10Fv5jiAZHswfzMraLqkTlCoE_Ge3uxuV2HM3KX-u3Vycce6-pNhmRQbRfErxgBPYDaTXxCfqBQdzbYuA60T3bhO9Nz4FwLUR7wtyF9qfY6/s320/97flood-010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056789491890893890" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sources used in writing this entry:</span><br />Orvik, Jan, and Dick Larson. <u>The Return of Lake Agassiz: the University of North Dakota and the Flood of 1997</u>. Grand Forks, ND: University of North Dakota, 1998.<br /><br />Staff of the [Fargo] Forum, comp. <u>Fighting Back: the Blizzards and Flood in the Red River Valley, 1996-97</u>. Fargo, ND: Forum Communications Company, 1997.<br /><br />Staff of the Grand Forks Herald and Knight-Ridder Newspapers, comp. <u>Come Hell and High Water: the Incredible Story of the 1997 Red River Flood</u>. Grand Forks, ND: Grand Forks Herald, 1997.<br /><br />Varley, Jane. <u>Flood Stage and Rising</u>. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2005.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-64685867868667480832007-04-22T20:58:00.000-05:002007-04-22T22:27:36.859-05:00Flood of '97 Series: President Clinton VisitsThis <span style="font-style:italic;">Grand Forks Herald</span> article recalling the events of April 22, 1997 was put together by staff writer Mike Brue.<br /><br />On the day a U.S. president came to Greater Grand Forks, the Red River's record flood crest did, too.<br /><br />The path to disaster was ending.<br /><br />Bill Clinton's visit brought more national and international attention to the series of disasters that pummeled Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and the Red River valley.<br /><br />The river's historic peak at the official downtown gauge was 54.35 feet, more than 26 feet above flood stage and about 5 feet higher than 1979's record. Because floodwaters were expected to hover near crest levels for several days, few people paid close attention to the exact river level.<br /><br />The flooding behemoth already spoke devastating volumes, and continued to do so loud enough to prompt the presidential visit.<br /><br />Air Force One brought Bill Clinton to Grand Forks Air Force Base, where he and other federal disaster officials would tour the great Flood of 1997 firsthand, offer encouragement and bring news about expanded disaster assistance.<br /><br />"You bring us hope," added Grand Forks Mayor Pat Owens, showing some emotion.<br /><br />Shortly after his arrival, Clinton and other officials boarded helicopters to get a better look at the disaster. From the air, they saw virtually all of East Grand Forks and roughly three-quarters of Grand Forks in or under water. They flew over the remains of 11 downtown buildings damaged or destroyed in a weekend fire. They viewed a massive landscape of water, spread miles wide and stretched far in to the north and south horizons.<br /><br />They looked, and they said little.<br />Back in an Air Force base 3-Bay Hanger, standing before about 3,000 people, many of them flood evacuees, Clinton took center stage, a group of federal, North Dakota, Minnesota and Air Force dignitaries and an enormous American flag behind him.<br /><br />Among the dignitaries: East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Stauss, wearing a jacket with big "USA" letters, and Owens "wearing the heart and soul of my community," she told the president.<br /><br />"Welcome to Water World Mr. President," a sign said.<br /><br />A large spotlight overhead fizzled, then popped loudly. People flinched. Pause. Clinton, looking up, pointed to the source of the commotion.<br /><br />"Well," he said, "we've had a fire, a flood, a blizzard I think we can handle this."<br /><br />Laughter. Relief.<br /><br />Clinton talked about TV images of sandbagging during a blizzard, about having never seen a series of disasters hit one area like this. "You don't have to be ashamed if you're heartbroken," he said.<br /><br />He told of authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse 100 percent of local governments' flood expenses, rather than the usual 75 percent. He said he was asking Congress for $448 million in Midwest disaster relief, $200 million more than first requested.<br /><br />The president then alluded to the faith and spirit of the region's people: "Water cannot wash that away, fire cannot burn that away, and a blizzard cannot freeze that away," he said.<br /><br />By mid-afternoon, the president was gone.<br /><br />From the air, Clinton could not see the details in two cities of a past life stopped in time by high water.<br /><br />"Sandbaggers needed," a sign read. "Please report to the Civic Center."<br /><br />A billboard advertising the Shrine Circus April 25-27 in Grand Forks. Dogs barking inside homes. The glow from a TV screen visible through a window.<br /><br />River currents ignored the reds, yellows and greens of working traffic signals. Basketball hoops peaked above floodwaters.<br /><br />"It's like the Twilight Zone," said Cheryl Westfall, a police 911 supervisor, as she passed through a north side neighborhood with other police personnel.<br /><br />Downtown, every street was Canal Street. A wrecking ball occasionally knocked down the remains of burned buildings. Boats and huge National Guard trucks provided traffic and transportation.<br /><br />A rubber raft outside the County Courthouse was the only sign of a document rescue inside. Nearby, with help from the National Guard, local law enforcement revisited the flooded police department building. Police retrieved supplies and computer equipment to bring back to the U.S. Army Reserve Center west of town, which served as a temporary police station.<br /><br />"It's Vietnam all over again," said Mike Flannery, a war veteran-turned-police officer. "Hueys in the air. You eat what you can when you can. . . .Camouflage all over."<br /><br />Evacuations continued in areas that were supposed to have been cleared. A U.S. Coast Guard boat came to a Sixth Avenue North home, where a white towel hung from the door. "I just decided it was no use," said the resident, holed up for three days with his bird and fish. "I thought I could wait it out. I couldn't."<br /><br />Still, no reports of lives lost to flooding in the two cities.<br /><br />Evacuees were scattered across communities from Devils Lake to Duluth, from Minneapolis to Minot, from Watford City, N.D., to Winnipeg.<br /><br />One example: Larimore, N.D., pop. 1,500, suddenly about 2,000 people larger, with about 100 Grand Forks students already enrolled at school and about 30 residents of Grand Forks' Tufte Manor residing in the school gym.<br /><br />At Mayville, N.D., about 900 Grand Forks evacuees were welcomed guests. "You visit people. You go for walks. When you see and talk to all of the people here from Grand Forks, you still feel like a part of Grand Forks," evacuee Darryl Tunseth said. "But (the flood) is always in the back of your mind. You're always in limbo, wondering what's going on."<br /><br />Mayville State University canceled the rest of spring classes on this day; its dormitories helped shelter evacuees. The college's latest newsletter, "The High Ground News," offered pertinent information, including helpful phone numbers and things to do.<br /><br />"We joined together as a community to fight the flood," said Rick Cornell, another Grand Forks evacuee at Mayville. "I hope we do the same to rebuild."<br /><br />The Flood of '97 was far from over. Downstream cities and towns and surrounding rural residents still faced flood battles. Many people upstream still dealt with high water, or at least faced what was gained and lost.<br /><br />But for Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, on a day a president visited and the Red quit rising, amid widespread shock, heartbreaking loss and historic evacuation, the earliest signs of recovery were showing.<br />-------------------------<br />Although he only stayed a short while, President Clinton’s stop in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks proved to be just the sort of thing that the cities needed to lift their spirits. Many residents felt comforted to know that people far away in Washington D.C. were willing to look after the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.<br /><br />At UND on April 22, the general consensus was that the university was “holding its own.” At the 9 AM flood recovery meeting, President Kendell Baker continued to outline the steps that would be taken to build the “virtual university” that would be in place until all UND departments could be operating as normal. The plans called for this “virtual university” to be fully operational by April 28.<br /><br />Talk also began to center around how UND could help in recovery efforts of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. It was generally agreed that the university’s greatest asset would probably be its residence halls; they could turned into temporary housing for flood victims. With this in mind, a task force was created to develop plans to get the halls opened as soon as possible. Although a few had taken in water in their basements, the main problem at first was the fact that students had left most of their personal belongings in their rooms after the call went out to evacuate. UND would need to get the residence halls open as quickly as possible in order for students to come back and retrieve their possessions. <br /><br />Elsewhere on campus, Plant Services officials began going into buildings to assess damage. With a volunteer cameraman from the UND television center, LeRoy Sondrol, head of Plant Services, led a small group into three heavily damaged buildings – the medical school, Smith Hall, and the USDA Nutrition Research Center. Although the latter building is operated and maintained by the USDA, Denise Schaefer, the animal caretaker at the center, asked to see the inside of the building. So the group went inside.<br /><br />What they found was startling. There was about a foot and a half of water covering the ground floor, and electricity was still on in the entire building. What’s more, there was smoke coming from the mechanical/boiler room. The early makings of an electrical fire, like the kind that eventually bought down 11 buildings in downtown Grand Forks 3 days earlier were apparent. In desperation, the group quickly left the building, and Sondrol got on a cell phone to summon the fire department and get NSP (now Xcel Energy) to turn off the power right away. Luckily, the power was cut in time. However, had nobody gone in to inspect the building, a very damaging fire easily could have occurred.<br /><br />More inspections during the day revealed even more damage. The lower levels of the Memorial Union, Swanson Hall (a residence hall), and Wilkerson Hall all were completely filled with water. Lesser amounts of water, in the 1-2 foot range, could be found in the basements of Montgomery, Walsh, Squires, Bek, Leonard, Robertson-Sayre, and Corwin-Larimore Halls as well as the Era Bell Thompson and Native American Centers.<br /><br />Good news could be found on campus, however. University officials residing in their new “homes” at the Plant Services building were treated to a hot lunch of scalloped potatoes and ham. They had also received one portable kitchen, with two more on the way. Even so, it was hard for many of the employees to not know how their own houses within the community had fared. The book published by UND after the flood describes how, at the end of a long day’s work, many would get on the phone and dial up their home phone numbers. If the call went through, the phone lines in the house had stayed dry. A busy signal, on the other hand, meant that water was in the house and the phone lines had been compromised.<br /><br />Check back tomorrow for the next installment in this series.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Links related to this entry:</span><br /><a href="http://clinton6.nara.gov/1997/04/1997-04-22-president-remarks-to-people-of-grand-forks-nd.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read a transcript of President Clinton's speech.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Videos related to this entry:</span><br />President Clinton visits Grand Forks and East Grand Forks<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DVJAWLteBto"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DVJAWLteBto" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVJAWLteBto" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVJAWLteBto</a><br /><br />A report on the <em>Grand Forks Herald</em> during the flood. Despite losing its building first to floodwaters and then to fire, the newspaper never missed an issue. Free copies were delivered daily to flood victims throughout the area so that they could get flood-related news from a local perspective.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LClb3CsJ3G8"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LClb3CsJ3G8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LClb3CsJ3G8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LClb3CsJ3G8</a><br /><br />This is the video shot on the UND campus on April 22. As stated in the beginning, the original intent of this video was to get emergency relief funding from the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7YCS8W2VirQ"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7YCS8W2VirQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YCS8W2VirQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YCS8W2VirQ</a><br /><br />The first 9 or so minutes of the KARE 11 10 o'clock news from April 22, 1997<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gI33--nneyM"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gI33--nneyM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI33--nneyM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI33--nneyM</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Pictures related to this entry:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHgyuS7_8RMJrVsTBeanuCyurR1d9j_g9mMZZvm6hUKNU3YgvsKV-mn9OHovZAkLojCuoAQ5ocreFU_-pKr5XfjW2o5qUgBiJDQ6pdBOHIUQcpMLSkxZTZfSBPr_5l_ZzV9Ao/s1600-h/97flood-014.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHgyuS7_8RMJrVsTBeanuCyurR1d9j_g9mMZZvm6hUKNU3YgvsKV-mn9OHovZAkLojCuoAQ5ocreFU_-pKr5XfjW2o5qUgBiJDQ6pdBOHIUQcpMLSkxZTZfSBPr_5l_ZzV9Ao/s320/97flood-014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056438751976600578" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeMlwkRnIda7_uAU0ZvFutIK9Izx1ARsskzHVAF4vEOsUN3ddgGtFwjFx1As1-km1-z0LIF-3bCwQJbnNnXlySoo0wxxqvHXAz1PXVMNhXLNrwxf-LD1_jvLV4QllKAUFPYVU/s1600-h/97flood-053.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeMlwkRnIda7_uAU0ZvFutIK9Izx1ARsskzHVAF4vEOsUN3ddgGtFwjFx1As1-km1-z0LIF-3bCwQJbnNnXlySoo0wxxqvHXAz1PXVMNhXLNrwxf-LD1_jvLV4QllKAUFPYVU/s320/97flood-053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056438756271567890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof5cvMkyj9X0FYWllSr4CmqbWZWiRPKHBSQn2TsI6EUXcueeuHozsodhJFmLC2LXN48ubXRR0GCuKkIwTI9zH_lnK3ZuamM5uh9lAE6bOpKkkERlBSZlbdq5gcFuAekcaonTE/s1600-h/97flood-056.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof5cvMkyj9X0FYWllSr4CmqbWZWiRPKHBSQn2TsI6EUXcueeuHozsodhJFmLC2LXN48ubXRR0GCuKkIwTI9zH_lnK3ZuamM5uh9lAE6bOpKkkERlBSZlbdq5gcFuAekcaonTE/s320/97flood-056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056438760566535202" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljkLptIEDZlrI80FgQLZsMqN4eeb5-oJ3n3HtHVKZCY_nPYve39q1eYzVbW_rRYGnlIMHR1V15xqpx7t4W4jIshu7Irc2nXTBb9P199Td15SmLVGxy-hLVVAvwx0QChWeXz8J/s1600-h/97flood-057.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljkLptIEDZlrI80FgQLZsMqN4eeb5-oJ3n3HtHVKZCY_nPYve39q1eYzVbW_rRYGnlIMHR1V15xqpx7t4W4jIshu7Irc2nXTBb9P199Td15SmLVGxy-hLVVAvwx0QChWeXz8J/s320/97flood-057.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056438760566535218" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sources used in writing this entry:</span><br /><u>Beyond the Flood</u>. Videocassette. Minnesota Broadcasters Association, 1997.<br /><br />Orvik, Jan, and Dick Larson. <u>The Return of Lake Agassiz: the University of North Dakota and the Flood of 1997</u>. Grand Forks, ND: University of North Dakota, 1998.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569370.post-89391471729449188002007-04-21T14:14:00.000-05:002007-04-21T23:25:59.120-05:00Flood of '97 Series: The Red Finally Crests in Grand ForksThis <span style="font-style:italic;">Grand Forks Herald</span> article recalling the events of April 21, 1997 was put together by staff writer Mike Brue.<br /><br />It was a Monday, the start of the work week, 10 years ago today.<br /><br />Business, though, was anything but usual in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, epicenter of the dramatic Red River Valley flood and fire, and the site of what some authorities called an urban disaster displacement on a scale then unmatched in American history.<br /><br />Cranes moved into flooded downtown Grand Forks to knock some walls down on buildings damaged by the dramatic weekend fire. “It doesn't seem real,” Deputy Fire Chief Pete O'Neill told reporters. “You want to wake up from some dream.”<br /><br />Finally, the Red River seemed about to crest. That, in turn, slowed the spread of floodwater across the nearly level urban landscape. It reached 54.11 feet, more than 5 feet above the 1979 record crest.<br /><br />Again on this day, flood tours gave emergency officials, government leaders and news media first-hand looks at the damage in mandatory evacuation areas. As much as several dozen feet deep in places, floodwaters from the Red and Red Lake rivers spread a quilt of raw sewage, fuel and debris for several miles beyond the dikes that failed to contain it. Homes, garages, businesses, vehicles and signs stood in water, or sometimes under it.<br /><br />“You'll probably hit (cars) before you see them,” DNR conservation officer Tom Campbell said during a boat ride Sunday over some East Grand Forks' streets.<br /><br />Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota's 7th District was one of the boat passengers who ducked under telephone and power lines en route to sights of homes tipped off their foundations. “I went to Breckenridge (Saturday), and I thought that was bad,” he said. “But this is unbelievable.”<br /><br />On this Monday, Peterson added, “The normal disaster relief is not going to work.”<br /><br />Greater Grand Forks leaders learned that President Bill Clinton would come to Grand Forks Air Force Base on Tuesday to hear their concerns and tour the area in a helicopter. In Washington, Federal Emergency Management Agency director James Lee Witt and other White House officials joined members of Congress to discuss Red River Valley federal aid needs.<br /><br />Increasingly, flood victims sought out FEMA's toll-free number to register for disaster assistance. But few calls came from Greater Grand Forks proper, though U S West workers so far successfully kept their water-surrounded downtown service center - and the area's dial tone, 911 and other government circuits - in working order.<br /><br />About 85 percent of Grand Forks' population of 52,000 had evacuated, either by mandate or voluntarily. Only about 250 of East Grand Forks' nearly 9,000 residents remained.<br /><br />“What I'm afraid of,” said the Rev. William Sherman of Grand Forks' flooded St. Michael's Catholic Church, “is that once reality sets in, there will be anguish and anxiety.”<br /><br />On this day, Greater Grand Forks' public schools and the East Side's parochial Sacred Heart School canceled the remainder of their school years for teachers, staff and some 12,000 displaced students. Officials said all but one of the schools within the two city limits had some type of flood damage.<br /><br />Grand Forks County Commissioners met in Larimore, about 30 miles west of Grand Forks, to begin moving the base for county services, primarily into the town's Masonic Temple.<br /><br />A few businesses remained open on the flood-free edges of Greater Grand Forks, including a couple of hotels, the temporary quarters for officials from two cities and many emergency personnel.<br /><br />“There's nothing to come back to now,” said East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Stauss, who helped set up a temporary City Hall at the Comfort Inn on U.S. Highway 2. “We have to, basically, rebuild our community.”<br /><br />The National Guard and other agencies still fought floodwaters at the East Side's water treatment plant, police station, cellular communications tower and other essential areas.<br /><br />In west Grand Forks, at a camouflaged tanker parked near the Ramada Inn, remaining residents filled jugs with fresh water from 2,000-gallon tanks, dubbed “water buffaloes.” The tanks contained water from the Turtle River and area reservoirs, purified for three hours with heavy chlorination by the Guard's reverse-osmosis water purification unit.<br /><br />On Grand Forks' southwest side, 10 postal workers - about 75 fewer than normal - sorted mail for shipment to northeast North Dakota post offices. Walk-up mail service was planned to start within a day or two at Grand Forks Air Force Base, home to more than 3,000 evacuees, and Crookston, where more than 4,000 evacuees either registered or sought shelter. “We're not accepting any change of address for evacuees yet,” a Fargo postal official said.<br /><br />Evacuees had spread to shelters set up by communities throughout the region, or they accepted one of thousands of offers from complete strangers who opened up their homes out of compassion and a feeling of helplessness.<br /><br />Fargo and Moorhead was a detour-obstructed destination for thousands, despite those cities' own recent fierce flood battles. “We got out with very little. Not even a suitcase,” said Jean Haus, who left their 24th Avenue South home near the river. She and her daughter, Judy, went to the Fargo Target to take advantage of a 20-percent discount for evacuees.<br /><br />New elevated crest forecasts on this day added to the stress of residents in downstream Red River towns Pembina and Drayton, N.D., and nearby rural residents north of Greater Grand Forks. The National Weather Service's revisions for crests, expected within two to four days, leapfrogged one or more feet over the cities' urgent dike preparations.<br /><br />But closer to Grand Forks, Oslo, Minn.,'s 31-year-old clay ring dike was holding. Floodwaters prevented virtually all but National Guard travel in and out of town, but farmer/volunteer firefighter Orin Knutson and farmhand Riley Farder brought two crates of mail from the Alvarado, Minn., post office, one day after hauling in a 10-day supply of groceries.<br /><br />Said Gary Durand, head of Marshall County's emergency services: “They're like a sovereign nation or something.”<br />-------------------------<br />Most activity at UND on April 21 began to center around flood recovery efforts. At one of the twice-daily staff meetings, plans were drawn up to start a phone bank that UND students (and their parents), staff, faculty could call into and receive answers to any questions they might have. Additionally, the university was committed to using the latest in technology to create a “virtual university” that would be capable to performing the university’s core functions until it could operate as normal. President Kendell Baker called on employees temporarily moved to the Plant Services building to create a “University of the 21st Century.”<br /><br />There remained some serious flooding problems on campus on April 21, though. Floodwaters were out of control inside the miles and miles of underground steam, water, and telecommunications tunnels on campus, and this water was still threatening to enter buildings and cause them to flood from within.<br /><br />University Avenue was essentially a river through most of the eastern half of the campus with water overtaking the basements of the many fraternities and sororities that line the street. Also affected by water on the eastern end of the university were the USDA Human Nutrition Center, the [old] Ralph Engelstad Arena, and Memorial Stadium, where the Astroturf of the football field could be seen flooding on top of a foot of water.<br /><br />Later in the day, after a prolonged effort to stave off flooding, several buildings at the Energy and Envrionmental Research Center (EERC) also succumbed to the water.<br /><br />Farther to the west, Wilkerson Hall now had water pushing up to its entrance and a submerged lower level. Selke and Noren Halls, two residence halls behind Wilkerson, also had water coming into their basements.<br /><br />During the day, word had spread that the downtown fire was likely electrical in nature, caused by not shutting off power to buildings before they flooded. This was a serious concern for UND officials, as they realized that the electricity was still on in most buildings on campus. A frantic effort then began to go into all buildings and make sure power was turned off. By evening, electricity was off in most places, with the exception of the USDA Research Center. For a couple of reasons – the most important being that nobody at UND could get in contact with the operator of the building, the USDA – electricity at this building was not shut off.<br /><br />Personnel at UND Flight Operations worked hard on April 21 giving helicopter rides for university, state, and local leaders. These rides provided the leaders with some of their first views of the extent of damage to Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.<br /><br />UND also began providing much-needed workspace for the hundreds of journalists that had come to Grand Forks from all parts of the country. The university’s Television Center, housed in the newly-completed Ryan Hall on the far western end of campus, was made available for use by national media outlets, including NBC and CNN.<br /><br />However, perhaps the most significant event of April 21 was President Baker’s early-evening announcement that UND’s summer session would be held as scheduled beginning on May 12. Although many thought the president had “gone nuts,” he stood firm and said he was committed to do everything he could to have the university open in time, to prove that UND was not going to let the flood of 1997 wash it away.<br /><br />Check back tomorrow for the next installment in this series.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Videos related to this entry:</span><br />Aerial views on April 21, 1997 show the "devastation beyond belief in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks"<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/I-ZEFa4qpGg"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/I-ZEFa4qpGg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ZEFa4qpGg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ZEFa4qpGg</a><br /><br />Watch as the Emergency Animal Rescue Service rescues stranded pets in Grand Forks<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/irZb_YTBoRI"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/irZb_YTBoRI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irZb_YTBoRI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irZb_YTBoRI</a><br /><br />WCCO-TV reports on what life is like for the thousands of flood evacuees living at the Grand Forks Air Force Base<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kHimGvYYvHY"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kHimGvYYvHY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHimGvYYvHY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHimGvYYvHY</a><br /><br />The first seven or so minutes of the KARE 11 10 o'clock news from April 21, 1997<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cZ649tcY6_E"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cZ649tcY6_E" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ649tcY6_E" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ649tcY6_E</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Pictures related to this entry:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJpsgh_vCvb6te6rr9JI3maP7XwS-7L-hfPslktuJPytU56Bh8os0fLY7546YTM7-KV-ZuInhMLqCI58_VGypR2oobrDJ2ErosLPc2W1E5uOTlDJM1b_ugOM3WeE1K_BvZcZx/s1600-h/97flood-052.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJpsgh_vCvb6te6rr9JI3maP7XwS-7L-hfPslktuJPytU56Bh8os0fLY7546YTM7-KV-ZuInhMLqCI58_VGypR2oobrDJ2ErosLPc2W1E5uOTlDJM1b_ugOM3WeE1K_BvZcZx/s320/97flood-052.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056101292101186450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_c33uWpOuJfk7UTrWAuKa8uViRvbLeQFOYzVBEJXCD-_QI9bH4RXqe4uAKtyzi5784ZZ1h0wALJagvBftjHfK1IalROTSjP26LFJFxUGCIsf0P9u_gERSWIwJ3Ci5itQekIK/s1600-h/97flood-054.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_c33uWpOuJfk7UTrWAuKa8uViRvbLeQFOYzVBEJXCD-_QI9bH4RXqe4uAKtyzi5784ZZ1h0wALJagvBftjHfK1IalROTSjP26LFJFxUGCIsf0P9u_gERSWIwJ3Ci5itQekIK/s320/97flood-054.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056101292101186466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitg9SuMZ9ixvkN2JNtzIA0FtqCBkRlrF5DcoYUN5DVynS5CkQVfVqNud2SwCt8SoWzUxTSFHKr9ncw9bM2dF2c6TRYfK8fluDh7CMDkHsurG07Vt37Z80UKw0ofRAkuOzMgDHU/s1600-h/97flood-055.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitg9SuMZ9ixvkN2JNtzIA0FtqCBkRlrF5DcoYUN5DVynS5CkQVfVqNud2SwCt8SoWzUxTSFHKr9ncw9bM2dF2c6TRYfK8fluDh7CMDkHsurG07Vt37Z80UKw0ofRAkuOzMgDHU/s320/97flood-055.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056101296396153778" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sources used in writing this entry:</span><br /><u>Beyond the Flood</u>. Videocassette. Minnesota Broadcasters Association, 1997.<br /><br /><u>Floodwatch '97</u>. Videocassette. WDAY Television News, 1997.<br /><br />Orvik, Jan, and Dick Larson. <u>The Return of Lake Agassiz: the University of North Dakota and the Flood of 1997</u>. Grand Forks, ND: University of North Dakota, 1998.Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482754908221958272noreply@blogger.com0