Badlands – Big Horn Ram.

We have long stood in awe of God’s amazing hand of creation displayed throughout nature. From quiet sunrises to majestic mountain views, His artistry has always stirred our hearts with gratitude and wonder.

Now, in this season of retirement, we’ve been blessed with something especially precious… time. Time to explore, to reflect, and to journey to places we often dream about. With this gift of opportunity, we’ve taken some truly incredible trips and experienced breathtaking corners of His creation.

High on our list of unforgettable destinations is South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. Spanning just shy of a quarter million acres, the Badlands offer an astonishing and diverse landscape of grassy prairies, jagged canyons, dramatic and colorful layered rock formations, and towering spires.

Buffalo, bighorn sheep, coyotes, mule deer, rattlesnakes, and thousands of the cutest pipsqueaks (prairie dogs) all thrive here and share in calling the BadLands home.

This encounter clearly stands out above the rest: a massive full-curl ram we first spotted from over a mile away, silhouetted on a distant bluff like a natural monument.

Using the terrain to shield us, we carefully worked closer, moving slowly and pausing often to peek over the rocks. The approach paid off. As we rounded the final formation, we found ourselves directly below him. Then came the moment – sunlight flared beneath his legs as he turned our way, his massive horns catching the light in a perfect display of strength and symmetry. Knowing that a full curl takes around eight years to develop made the sight even more impressive. He was every bit in his prime – and was truly an unforgettable BadLands encounter.

We’re excited to share more of these adventures, how they have inspired us, strengthened our faith, and shown us the breathtaking beauty of the world around us!

Our hope is that these journeys will inspire and uplift you, and maybe even spark a few adventures of your own!

– Buffalo Hydraulic