Black Hills Trip Report.

“Well I have been back from the Black Hills & Bad Lands not even for a day and I already miss it.I am not very good about trip reports so I am going to do my best so here it goes.

Saturday (Day 1)

Me and 2scoops get too the Big Pine Trailhead in the late afternoon and hit the trail.We go West on the Willow Creek Trail for about 2.2 miles.This part of the trail is around 5400 ft and there is nice pine trees all over and the smell of pine is very strong in the air.Also there are lots of large rocks all over the place and it makes for good eye candy but little did we know there were much larger stuff too come.After the 2.2 miles we came to the Harney Peek Trail and started South.We started to climb and got to 6000 ft and too our left was Elkhorn Mountain it was very pimp.2scoops said we should try to find a campsite in the area becuase we were getting low on energy after a 10 hour drive so we got off trail and found a great campsite.There was a very large rock to climb after we set up camp and when we got to the top of it we got our first taste of the vast greatness that the black hills had to offer.The view was to die for.We got to see in a 360 deg's and got a full view of Elkhorn Mountain it just took my breath away.I was so happy with this spot that I lit up a nice cigar and just sat there looking and enjoying the view.After that we had gone to bed.

Sunday (Day 2)

After getting and makeing some nice cafe me and 2scoops hit the trail and started the climb to Harney Peak which was at 7242 ft this was also the place were we were going to meet Walkindude and the rest of his gang.The climb to the top was a ball buster and took about 1 hour to get to the top.Once there it was day hiker hell I never seen so many of them but hey too each there own.Anyway we got to the top and the view is well....just mind blowing.It seemed like you could see for 100's of miles in all directions.It was very pimp there was a nice wind blowing to cool us off and we took our packs off and ate lunch and took it easy untill Walkindude showed up.Well some time had gone buy before he showed up and it rained a little but he showed up with the rest of the gang but little did we know what was in store for us that night.Well we stayed the night in the lookout tower and thought that we would be ok and most of all dry but that was not the case.A very large thunderstorm had moved in with very strong winds and dangerous lighting and the rain was comming in from all directions.It woke us all up and we had too pick all of our gear up from the floor and find a safe place too put it all.Needless too say we all got little or no sleep that night and we all got a good laugh out of it and waited for the next day for a break in the weather.

Monday (Day 3)

When daylight came we packed up all our stuff and hit the trail.We had started going to Sylvin Lake and this was a down hill ride the whole way.By the time we got to the lake we had lost 1097 ft.The views on the way too the lake were just great.Along the trail we had seen all kinds of flowers and herd all kinds of birds.It was so nice it was like God had removed all the cares in the world away from us and we were all at peace.Once at the lake we took a catnap and got our thoughts going.Walkindude and the others had other plans so we parted ways and me and 2scoops drove to the Little Devils Tower Trailhead and hit the trail from there.This was a great trail.It was all up and we gained about 900 ft from the trailhead.This is where me and 2scoops saw some mountain goats and the one had baby goats and they were cute.Once we left Custer State Park and crossed back over into the Black Hills Wilderness we kept going on the trail untill we found a kick ass campsite behind a large rock pile and set up for the night.We had a great view of the backside of Little Devils Tower and a nice creek with clear water flowing not far away.After dinner we had gone to bed.

Tuesday (Day 4)

Off to the Bad Lands we go.This was a whole new ball game for me at least I had never seen such neat land formataions and wide open spaces to look at and to hike in.After we got out of the car we started out into the trailess Bad Lands.This was so cool there were so many ways too go so we started out going West.After going for a little while we found a nice flat spot to set up camp it was quite hot out and I had gotten a little sun sick so I had gone to bed early.I woke up around 3 am and saw a nice moon in the sky that seemed too light up everything.After a late night pee I had gone back too bed.


The next day we packed up and ended our backpacking adventure and headed home.

8)”

“Great report CMB!”

“Sounds like an incredible place. The Black Hills is the setting for a lot of great western novels. I've always wanted to visit there.”

“Thank you it was one of the most pimp trips that I have ever been on.

8)”

“Pimp trip report dude! ;)

Welcome back.”

“Thank you.


8)”

“I think I hear the hills calling me - great report!”

“thanks CMB!! that is waaaaaaayyyy pimp!”

“I know I wish I was still there!


8)”

“Just the names alone let you realize what a good time is in store. Good report.”

“Can't wait to get back there! Will it be yet this summer or fall??!”

“Nice Michael. Got any pics to go with it?”

“Nice trip report CMB, thanks, did you take any pictures?”

“Good one! The Black Hills are very cool! Glad you had a good trip. Yeah, let's see some pics!”

“CMB, sounds like you guys had a blast. We for sure need to see some pics.”

“Yes I have pictures I just need to get them over to walgreens.

8)”

“Those Badlands formations rock! Did you get hit with any high winds/hail out there?

Did you see any Buffalo in the Black Hills?

Did you take a bite out of the corn palace?”

“We did get high winds a few nights and we did get a little bit of hail.

8)”

“CMB - What are you doing posting this time of day? Are you "sick" today? ;)”

“Still off from work untill Monday.


8)”

“Great report, Mike - thanks! Didja get to see Mt. Rushmore? (Is it "those" Black Hills?)

I can just imagine someone peering through their binoculars at one of the Presidents: "Hey, there's somebody sitting up on Lincoln's nose smoking a cigar!"”

“Ya I did it was cool I guess but I just wanted to backpack not see all the tourests.


I was a good time thought.

I want to go back real soon.

8)”

“I just got home.

On Tuesday we wound up going out to Legion Lake and BPed on the Centinnial Trail. Saw a HUGE buffalo in the trail and had to bush wack up the hill to avoid him.

Wednesday we headed for the Badlands. We played around the Window and the Door Trail some but spent most of our time in Sage Creek Wilderness. Saw several buffalo. Some wandered into camp.
We headed out Friday morning and it took us 23 hours to get home.

I took loads of pictures and will put them up later.
I'm going to take a shower and take a nap.
Good night(morning) yall.”

“you suck. we didnt see any buffalo.”

“We prolly saw about 100 all together. Most of them were at Roberts Prarie Dog Town.”

“wtf is that?”

“On Sage Creek Road”

“i suppose i could find it if i got out my map”

“Black Hills pictures


Badlands pictures”

“I will have pictures up soon!Great pics WD.

8)”

“Cool Trip report Crazy Mike .Are you being good these days? LOL

Hey DUDE!! COOL pictures,I want to go on your Badlands trip. :~ )”

“great pics, WD. love the '5 great people' caption!! (so modest) lol!”

“Yam,
LMAO!!!!!
I wondered how long it would take for someone to comment on that!!

Glad yall like the pictures!!

I look foward to seeing your pics too CMB!”

“I think This one is pretty funny.”

“Hey Walkindude, could Humanpackmule um, borrow your burro?”

“Love the pic's dude!”

“Ummmm........sure.
Just tell him, "No kinky stuff though."”

“Thanks Pete!”

“Thankies WD!”

“Your burro is safe with me.”

“thanks for the virtual trip out west guys!!!
DUDE.....u took a picture of a flower!! :)
(heh....~~~ nice to see ya stop to smell the "birds nest"~~~”

“I enjoy looking at detail sometimes. As far a "Smelling", I lost my sence of smell years ago so I just look at the stuff.”