NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/315021
ravelers wanting to step back in time thousands of years need to do little more than get off of Interstate 80. The Fossil Freeway is a collection of seven paleontological sites that are conveniently located in a north and south corridor along the western Panhandle of Nebraska and into South Dakota. The sites offer a variety of attractions that appeal to both beginners and advanced enthusiasts of prehistoric times. An aggressive traveler could visit all the sites in two days. A more thorough traveler will find enough to do for an entire week or more. The entire route is a little more than 205 miles. Travelers approaching the Fossil Freeway from the south exit I-80 at Kimball and travel Highways 71, 26 and 29 northward. Stops in Nebraska include Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, the Trailside Museum at Fort Robinson State Park, the Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed and Toadstool Geologic Park. The route ends at the Mammoth Site in South Dakota. Each site offers something a little different. Those who want to step out of the vehicle and see the remains of an adult mammoth will enjoy the Trailside Museum. Those wanting to hike and explore for fossils will enjoy the unique landscape of Toadstool Park. Some of the sites have camping available, while motels and numerous bed-and-breakfast establishments may be found along the route. For in-depth information, including lodging, dining and other attractions, visit F ossilfreeway.net. ■ By Justin Haag Trailside Museum at Fort Rob ra ra ra ra n l The Fossil Freeway: The Panhandle's Route to Prehistoric Times Wildcat Hills SRA Toadstool Geologic Park Trailside Museum Fort Robinson State Park Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Scotts Bluff National Monument Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed Crawford Scottsbluff Agate Fossil Beds The Pursuit is On By Jane Gustafson The 2014 Nebraska Great Park Pursuit is underway, but there is still plenty of time to get your team together and join in the fun. The Pursuit involves making visits to as many of the 20 parks in the program as you like between May 1 and September 17, 2014. Your first step is getting a team together and registering at NeGPP.org. Once registered, you'll be able to print off impression sheets that provide information about each park and clues on how to find the Pursuit post. The parks are located across Nebraska; when visiting, you need to locate the Great Park Pursuit post, make a rubbing of the face plate in your impression sheet and then send in the rubbing as proof of your visit. But be warned – there will be some walking and searching involved in this adventure. Sending in an impression sheet also enters you for a number of prizes, such as an Ipad, a $1,000 AAA Travel gift card, backyard bird packages, Scheels gift cards, a digital camera or the grand prize of a $1,500 outdoor recreation package. As a bonus, a traveling post will be available at a number of summer events throughout Nebraska. Locations will be announced on the Great Park Pursuit's Facebook page. This is the seventh year for the Pursuit, a free program sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Recreation and Park Association to promote active lifestyles and increase awareness of the nature-rich outdoor recreation opportunities throughout Nebraska. ■ PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TIM REIGERT Primitive Skills: Pine Pitch Glue By Nebraska Outdoor U! Pine pitch glue is what American Indians used to secure arrow heads on arrows and knife blades in knife handles. To make pine pitch glue you'll need pine sap, charcoal powder, a non-flammable container to hold your liquid pitch and small finely ground grass fibers (optional). You can gather hardened pine sap from any injury spot on a pine tree. After you've gathered your ingredients, put the pine sap in the nonflammable cup or container and start heating your sap over hot coals (NOT an open flame because pine sap is highly flammable and will flame up and burn). Once the sap is a consistent liquid, add enough charcoal powder (and fine grass fibers) to make it the consistency of glue; this step gives your glue tinsel strength when it dries. You can now apply this to any object you need glued, or simply let it cool and harden for later use. You will need to re-melt your dried glue for later use. Visit OutdoorU.org and start your own pathway to memorable experiences in the outdoors. Get outside and see what the Nebraska Outdoors has for you. ■ JUNE 2014 • NEBRASKAland 11