On my many road trips between Colorado and Missouri over the years, the stretch through the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas (between Topeka and Junction City) is my favorite. These ridges and intervening valleys are, in effect, a geographic boundary zone between the Great Plains and the Midwest.
For those traveling west on Interstate 70, the Flint Hills offer the first "feel" of the West: Big Sky and broad vistas. For those traveling east, having crossed the relatively dry and flat landscapes of the Great Plains, they present the first glimpse of lush greenery and dissected terrain so common throughout the Midwest.
Today, illuminated by bright sunshine, the Flint Hills did not disappoint. Since the land is utilized primarily for grazing cattle, drawing mixed emotions on my part, there is very little development. Raptors are common throughout the year and scissor-tailed flycatchers are often observed during the warmer months. This morning's highlight was the back edge of this week's massive storm system, stretching along the far eastern horizon.
See also: The Permian Swath
