Buffalo Roundup

9 28 09 The alarm clock was set at 4.30 because we were told it would take much longer than normal to reach the parking lot, as so many people would be there. We jumped into warm clothes as the temperature at that time was 28F and took off. After Custer we joined more and more cars. Once on the Wildlife Loop Road, the traffic stopped and we all sat there in the dark waiting for the opening of the South parking lot at 6.15. At that time we got out our kefir and granola, that Pam had given us, from the trunk and sat there in the dark having our breakfast.

Around 6.15 it started to get light at the horizon and the traffic started to move slowly. Once in the parking lot we dressed in many layers - it was chilly - and carried chairs and blankets to a place we hoped would be good - not knowing what we were doing. They were selling coffee and pancakes in a tent there. Jalil had coffee but we were not hungry any more. Now we had to wait until 9.30 for the buffalo to arrive. I was talking to a woman from Kentucky for a while. She and her husband were on a big trip to Washington, cruise to Alaska, drove through Canada and were now on the way home. Jalil wandered around, later brought me hot chocolate and said that he had found THE spot to see the buffalo - where the press was allocated space. We were able to wiggle through to almost the front and had a great view. We still had to wait for the Governor to start the event. He was supposedly up on one of the hills nearby.

Suddenly, a herd of buffalo was visible at the top of a hill way back and then another herd came from the right followed by men on horses and pick-up trucks. It was as if they poured over the hill. Then they all stopped and I wondered out loud what made them stop. Somebody answered that the horses and the trucks had stopped and then the buffalo also stopped. Eventually, the two herds merged and moved slowly north and to the corrals. It was very controlled. The people around me started to rush to the north of the parking lot, which had been closed since 9 AM. Jalil wanted to go to the bathroom so I lost him. I managed to get close enough to take pictures. The ranger said that there were 14,000 people there. I had to call Jalil to find him. He was waiting by our chairs where we had left our jackets. It was getting much warmer.

We now walked passed the corrals to the Cookout tents for lunch. It was the most efficient service. There were four lines. First you paid $10. Then each food item was placed on your plate by a different server and in the end you were handed the plate with barbecued buffalo, beans and a bun and you got to choose a drink. It went lickety split.

Later the park staff caught each buffalo in a metal cage - one at a time - to sort, brand, and vaccinate the herd in preparation for the fall buffalo sale. The buffalo did not like being locked in the cage and pushed against the walls. The staff would open the cage for the head to stick out and when they were done, they opened the door and the buffalo took off in a flash. One gate would be opened for him, if he was to stay in the herd and another would be opened, if he was to be sold at auction later.

This event was to start at 1 PM. We were sitting in the stands much earlier. One man was stating that this was a typical government operation as it took so long. The second time he said something, I pointed out that it was scheduled for 1PM and it was now 12.30. No response! I am not saying what I thought!

It was now time for us to return to our cabin and start packing as we were leaving the next morning. We had the car almost fully packed when we went to bed (very tired), so that we could leave by 9 AM the check-out time.