Black Hills????

“Ok Walkindude and anyone else with interest in the Black Hills. Perhaps it's time for a group trip in 2003?? And since everyone is going nuts posting trips, well, now might be a good time to think about it.

I had some ideas on spring dates, probably before the throngs descend on the area. I went once in March when it was super nice. Of course, it could just as easily be a freakin' snowstorm... ya never know.

Or, in early to mid-October, would also be nice. There is a round-up of buffalo in Custer State Park around this time I always thought would be neat to see.

One idea would be to build a trip on either side of the first weekend of June **IF** there is any interest in this "side" trip: The annual volksmarch up Crazy Horse Monument.

I thought this was waaaaaaaaay cool. You only had to pay a buck for Volksmarch Association sanctioning (otherwise a visit there is probably $14 a person or so. There is a nice complex of Native American history, crafts, etc. Oh, I see now it's $3 a person. Man, we're gonna go broke! lol)

For those who don't know, a volksmarch is a 6.2 mile (10K) hike. This one winds around and then actually takes you up on the gigantic rock carving of Crazy Horse. I mean, you see how awesome it really is close up. I have photos by the nose of Crazy Horse, probably 2 stories tall.

The downside?? You'd be hiking with a ton of people. Here's a link giving information: Volksmarch

I see it is June 7-8 in 2003. I thought it was really cool, but that is just me. When I hiked it with a friend in 2000, we left about as late as you could on Sunday. We missed out on the huge crowds.

Ok, now back to a Black Hills hike. Walkindude might have some ideas. My suggestions would range in these areas:

1. Centennial Trail, from Wind Cave N'tl Park on into Custer State Park.

2. Harney Peak, the highest point in South Dakota, over 7,000 ft. Many trails in this area, although I understand they're very busy in the summer.

And how about the possibility of a trek from the Sage Creek campground in Badlands N'tl Park?? It would be a no-trails, use-your-compass (GPS) tracking expedition. I like the Sage Creek area, although you can backpack anywhere within the park.

Ok, there are some ideas. I'm sure not set on any weekend yet, which is why it's posted here.

Anyone else interested??”

“I would be interested depending upon the time...”

“Pack Rat, Myself, & some friends are already planning a week long trip for June or July. No dates confirmed yet. It's a chance it will be the week of July 4th. We plan to announce it as soon as we have a confirmed date.
BTW, it will be at least 4 or 5 days on the trail and we will be in the Harney Peak area.”

“keep me posted, wd..”

“Ahhhhhhhhh, good to know that!”

“We discussed it a lot today while helping Pack Rat move.

You mentioned hiking around the Sage Creek area in the Badlands. That is a fantastic and Magical area but I know of a place out there that is even better!! Go to the Contra Road Picnic Area and head west (out there).”

“We will keep yall posted for sure.”

“You know how to get my attention don't ya Lizs?!?! HAHAHA!!!”

“now somewhere in the black mountain hills of north dakota there lived a young boy named rocky racoon.....and one day his woman ran off with another guy, hit young rocky in eye, rocky didn't like that, he said i'm gonna get that boy.....so one day he went and booked himself a room in the local saloon....




i love playin that one round tha campfire.....”

“hmmmmmm, am thinking that's a north-south road that heads off the main road?? I never went on that one. But it would be the eastern part of that Sage Creek Wilderness, right?

Another cool area to hike around, but watch out for old, potentially live ammo: Sheep Mountain Table, you'll overlook the gunnery range (maybe from WWII?) or could go hike down there.

That's in the part of the park located within the Pine Ridge Reservation. I'd love to see the site of the Ghost Dance; I think it's somewhere in the vicinity of the Cuny Table in this part, called the Stronghold Unit.

Also, looking at the map, I see that's Conata Road with the picnic area.

Waaaaaaaaaaah.. I wanna go NOW!!”

“You got it Lizs.”

“sounds like a good hike...I will be a maybe on this...hafta see what's goin on with work...and the annual summer Chooch trip.”

“Coolness!”

“I still dont see this one on the trips page. Sounds like one I'll be able to make it to if the timing's right. I put my vote in for the end of May, but whatever it takes.”

“Whatever walkindude decides, I might be up for a different trip, possibly in addition to going on his.

There's a loop in Wind Cave I'd sure like to do, probably 2 nights at most (maybe just one), followed up perhaps by an overnight through-hike along French Creek Natural Area (I think that's it) in Custer State Park.”

“I've always wanted to visit the Black Hills and depending on the dates, I am certainly interested. I think my Dodge Dakota can find it's way to South Dakota.”

“The trip will be either in June or July. There's a good chance it will be June 29 - July 4. Reason is because my brother and a couple of the other guys going all work at the same place and they have this week off anyway. It would be harder for all of them to get the same week off.

Whatever date we pick it will be something like this;

Late Friday - start the drive out.

Sunday-Wednesday - Backpacking trip

Wednesday night - stay at KOA and shower up.

Thursday - Head to Badlands and stay the night. (either backpack somewhere or car camp at Sage Creek)

Friday Afternoon - Start the drive home”

“It would be great to have you along too Pennsy Hiker.

One other thing, We will probably be averaging only about 10 miles a day.
And we will take a side trail to go see Mt Rushmore. (Lunch at the Heads)”

“Are you going to put the details together on the trips page? The Black Hills are only about 4 hours away for me. I may be at scout camp that week however (Medicine Mountain in the Black Hills).”

“Second the motion, put it on the trip page. I'm very interested but need some details to plan.
Thanks in advance”

“I'll put it up there as soon as we have the dates finalized.”

“What about a week long trip out there?

8)”

“Ummm, CMB, I think walkindude is talking darn near a week. Look above!! lol...

So you made it home ok? No big traffic jams, eh?”

“We'll hook up on a Sunday and head for home on the next Friday. That gives us 6 days to play

I just E-Mailed a couple of the guys going to see if we can set the date.”

“OK, the trip is official. I put it up on the trip page.”

“we stayed in that firetower and it rained!”

“I visited the fire tower in March of 2000, I think. Cold, windy. Ice on all the steps up to it.

Most importantly, to Crash Boom Bang!, I saw BISON on my trip, as I do every trip to South Dakota.

;-P”

“I'm wanting to go back the Summer of 2005. The plan is to thru-hike the Cenntennial Trail. Just gotta gather a crew of tough, fast hikers that like to start early and walk till it's late in the day. 110 miles in 5 days.”

“WD, I have a book by Hiram Rogers, "Exploring the Black Hills & Badlands," in which he talks about doing the whole Centennial Trail. He suggests 10 days, with the days ranging from 6.8 to 15 miles. Of course, we know you can do more than that a day! lol

He did say finding water is the greatest obstacle.

I'm still looking to do the French Creek Natural Area hike at Custer State Park as an overnight, I guess. Maybe this year.... And did you see we now have a South Dakota poster? Felkspacker (OK, the spelling maybe be off)... the guy is moving from hiking to backpacking. Needs a lot of equipment, but very enthusiastic. If he sees this thread, he'll probably show up here, I'd think. lol”

“Thats an INSANE pace! it'll be an epic!”

“Yeah... and where ya gonna start? The book gives mileage from the southern Wind Cave end... and it's all uphill from there! lol

Hey Felkspacker, are you in Rapid City or Sioux Falls, or somewhere in between? If in Sioux Falls, some day I want to do a little weekend trip to see Blue Mound State Park, Pipestone National Monument and Jeffers Petroglyphs in SW Minnesota. And there's that park near there in SD where Jesse James hid, Rock Dell or something? Anyhoo... might be good to get together if you're near by.”

“Here\'s the 10-day route Rogers gives:

Day 1, 15 miles, to French Creek Horse Camp (first water)

Day 2, 14.8 miles (29.8 running mileage), Iron Creek Horse Camp

Day 3, 8.2 (38), Horsethief Lake (longer via Harney Peak)

Day 4, 10.8 (48.8), Calumet Trailhead (Sheridan Southside Campground)

Day 5, 13.7 (62.5), Rapid Creek Trailhead (Pactola Campground)

Day 6, 14.1 (76.6), Boxelder Campground (add 1.0 mile to campground)

Day 7, 6.8 (83.4), Dalton Lake Campground (add 1.0 mile to campground)

Day 8, 9.6 (106.7), Elk Creek (camp along creek)

Day 9, 13.7 (Hmmm... book says 106.7 as running total, again), Alkali Creek Campground

Day 10, 13.3 (120.0), Finish (add 1.5 milles to descend Bear Butte)

And it has a chapter for each day and good maps.”