Chadron State Park

This week we decided to take a sampling of the ticks found in Chadron State Park. Our methodology was fairly simple - we just went for a hike. We came up with 10 ticks between the four of us in a couple of hours. Ryan discovered a simple way to keep Helen moving on the trail, the ol’ carrot in front of the donkey technique. She would do anything for chocolate animal crackers.
I learned from this hike why Mom was always had reservations about the exciting hikes that Dad liked to take us on. I don’t think that the pictures adequately capture the steep drop off on one or both sides of our trail. Ryan acted as the buffer and we had no incidents.
Helen was oblivious and I was slightly terrified. I knew that Ryan and I could stay on the trail; I have no such assurances about a two year old.

It's tough to get a picture of Jane on these hikes because she is burrowed in next to me and usually asleep. So here is a picture of Ryan and the girls in our little apartment.