Hiking on the Prairie

Monday, April 26th, 2010

They used to say that, before the advent of the West in North America, a squirrel could go from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River without touching the ground. That is, before the true influence of agriculture in America, the country was wooded from coast to coast. Of course, this is a grossly simple oversight. Native Americans were tilling parts of the land before Europe arrived, though it certainly wasn’t as aggressive of a farming style as was the Europeans.

Nonetheless, America’s plains were maintained by the large herds of bison and other grazing creatures, and today they still stand as a testament to North America’s diverse animal history. The bison were slaughtered and most of the animals are gone, but the plains and prairies remain. And for hikers who are tired of the popularity of the woods and the attention those draw, prairie hiking is just as fun and exploratory of a way to experience America’s still ranging diversity of flora and fauna.

On the prairie there are insects and different kinds of birds and mammals that you wouldn’t otherwise see in the forest, and the range of grasses and flowers across the prairie is extensive. As you stand and look across the horizon of the prairie, it’s a different sort of feeling that you might experience simply looking through a screen of trees in the forest. You realize how truly large the land is.

One of the problems being in the plains, however, is the intensity of the sun and weather. If you’re out in the plains in the summer, bring extra water and sunscreen to shield you from the unforgiving rays and exposure to the sun itself. And if you’re in the plains during a storm, seek cover quickly, since lightning strikes have a potential to seek out the tallest object around. Other than that, enjoy the plains – a geography unique to America.