Today was most unpredictable. Calhoun was ready to head out around 10:30, wanting to stop in at Wall Drug before heading to the airport. Ed and I followed in my car, since Gary had to drive one of the vehicles back to the rental lot and then would need a ride back to the park. After an hour and a half exploring the wonders of Wall Drug, I led the way to Rapid City. First we dropped their rentals off, then said a tough goodbye to Francesco, Hailey, and the students as they boarded the airport shuttle. Gary then joined Ed and I in my car, and we went for a bite to eat. Just a few minutes after sitting down, Gary received a text from Francesco that the group's flight was cancelled! There was much back and forth as Francesco kept us updated on his fight with airline staff. Everything was up in the air: when would they fly out, where would they sleep, what would they eat? In the end, we went to Safeway and bought dinner for the group, then delivered it to the airport. They were scheduled for a flight that leaves tomorrow morning, but the airline offered no compensation for the hotel stay that was required due to the small town airport that closes for the night after 10:30pm. Gary, Ed, and I stayed with the group as they ate and until their hotel shuttle arrived, then made our second round of goodbyes. After returning to the quad, we met up with Dudley for a little while, as it was his last night here.

Made a stop at Pinnacles overlook for Calhoun
to say goodbye to the Badlands.

Gary: going local at Wall Drug.

This was Calhoun's last full day in the park, and many wanted to get outside to explore. I went out with Ed, Gary, Francesco, and five students for a seven hour hike. It snowed last night, thwarting several of the spectacular hiking plans Ed and I had for this group. We still went to Door, and followed the trail to the end, where we had an epic snowball fight atop the outcrop. Next we drove to Old NE Road, and headed along Castle Trail, towards the castle. Stopped near telephone pole canyon for lunch, where Francesco pulled out his contribution to the meal: Peepellini. "What is this?" you might ask. Indeed. It is quite the food item. First let me say that the following process of creation must be read in an Italian accent in order to fully understand (being Italian is an integral aspect of Francesco's personality). And so...

"Peepellini...what are they. First, the graham cracker. Then you take a...come si chiama...peepellino...the peep. The marshmallow pieces. Then you cut off the head and you make it flat and you stuff it in. Then the nutella. The nutella, graham cracker, and peepi. Oh! Peepillini, it's a new thing!"

It was really quite amazing stuff. Something like a cold s'more with hazelnut. After that entertaining stop, we continued along the trail a bit, managing to find some fossils in the snow. We came around a corner to the area that is above Calhoun Canyon - I call it that after a hike with the group from last year that started at the bottom of this canyon and actually got us all the way up and over the rim. Despite the slick mud and tricky footing with the rocks and buttes coated in snow, we made it up to the top of the highest buttes. And found more fossils along the way up and down. Heading back along the trail, the snow was really melty and slick. Lots of runoff and burbling temporary creeks. The weather started and ended gray and cloudy, but in between it was just beautiful today, warm, relatively calm, bright sun, and blue sky. Just about all of us came back with some degree of redness. We made a stop for a quick walk back to an area that is rich in fossils, particularly skulls. Then we all drove over to the yellow mounds area to give the kids the experience of walking on the peanut peak rock member - very ashy and greasy-slick when wet. They had so much fun.

Back to the quad for clean-up, dinner, and a last night of hanging out together. Really going to miss these guys when they leave.