The Hard Winter of 1886-1887

Abstract

It has been almost thirty years since the author of this paper, while enroute to the Black Hills, met an aging rancher, probably in his seventies, during the late 1970s. It was late June in the Pine Ridge and Toadstools (badlands) of northwestern Nebraska. Meeting Albert Meng was one of those things that happened for no reason and I had no idea just how much it would alter my life. I was not really lost (maybe just confused) and he let me drive my old International Scout all over his ranch. The International Harvester slogan of the day was "scout the America others pass by" and I was determined to do my best.