Black Hills
After the Badlands, my next destination was the Black Hills in western South Dakota. I took a quick trip to Mt Rushmore, which felt pretty tourist-y, but it was right in the area, so I figured I might as well. It was indeed packed with tourists, but it was cool to see it up close and in person. Took some pics, although they look pretty much exactly the same as what's on google images, but... at least I know I was there?
The main goal of the Black Hills was to try some backpacking, so I did an overnight trip up Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak), the tallest point in the US east of the Rockies (7.244 feet). You can ascend the peak directly via a fairly easy trail, so I made a bit more of a trip out of it, taking an indirect trail out and around the mountain taking 9-10 miles to get to the peak. My pack felt like it weighed a ton, which was more of an issue with back/shoulder strain than with the extra weight for my legs. Maybe because I was hauling a ton of water (don't wanna run out on top of a mountain with no water!), maybe because my tent and sleeping bag are not exactly 'ultralight', or probably some combination of that.
One thing I noticed while hiking up (and in other spots around the Black Hills) is that a lot of the pine trees were dead and fallen over, which I later found out was due to an invasive beetle species that eats the pines. Kind of a bummer since it changes the landscape.
Found a spot off the trail a little below the peak to set up camp, and then watched the sunset on top the peak. The peak has a watch tower, as well as a large rocky outcropping that you can scramble around for some good views. Pics of the hike below:
The next morning, I was fortuitously woken up by some birds right around sunrise, so i went up to the lookout tower, enjoyed the sunrise for a bit, and then went back down to my tent and went right back to sleep for a few hours. Headed down the opposite side of the peak and looped back down to the trailhead that I'd started at, which was about 5 miles or so and downhill, so a much easier day than the hike up.
That evening, went to go check out Wind Cave National Park, which is down at the southern end of the Black Hills. Took a long tour of the cave system (you are only allowed to explore via guided tour), which ended up being even longer than anticipated because the elevator they used to bring us down stopped working, so we had to trudge out a longer way. Wasn't anything extraordinary, but moderately interesting. My only suggestion for potential visitors is to not bring toddlers on the long tour, for they will likely cry and/or yell a lot! Two such little ones were present on this tour, which was mildly annoying.
Spent the night in the area, and this morning, drove around some of the scenic byways in the Black Hills before heading off to stay with my aunt and uncle in Greybull, Wyoming (and had some surprisingly striking views along the way after getting into some mountains).
The main goal of the Black Hills was to try some backpacking, so I did an overnight trip up Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak), the tallest point in the US east of the Rockies (7.244 feet). You can ascend the peak directly via a fairly easy trail, so I made a bit more of a trip out of it, taking an indirect trail out and around the mountain taking 9-10 miles to get to the peak. My pack felt like it weighed a ton, which was more of an issue with back/shoulder strain than with the extra weight for my legs. Maybe because I was hauling a ton of water (don't wanna run out on top of a mountain with no water!), maybe because my tent and sleeping bag are not exactly 'ultralight', or probably some combination of that.
One thing I noticed while hiking up (and in other spots around the Black Hills) is that a lot of the pine trees were dead and fallen over, which I later found out was due to an invasive beetle species that eats the pines. Kind of a bummer since it changes the landscape.
Found a spot off the trail a little below the peak to set up camp, and then watched the sunset on top the peak. The peak has a watch tower, as well as a large rocky outcropping that you can scramble around for some good views. Pics of the hike below:
Starting out
Dead pines
Camp spot
That evening, went to go check out Wind Cave National Park, which is down at the southern end of the Black Hills. Took a long tour of the cave system (you are only allowed to explore via guided tour), which ended up being even longer than anticipated because the elevator they used to bring us down stopped working, so we had to trudge out a longer way. Wasn't anything extraordinary, but moderately interesting. My only suggestion for potential visitors is to not bring toddlers on the long tour, for they will likely cry and/or yell a lot! Two such little ones were present on this tour, which was mildly annoying.
Spent the night in the area, and this morning, drove around some of the scenic byways in the Black Hills before heading off to stay with my aunt and uncle in Greybull, Wyoming (and had some surprisingly striking views along the way after getting into some mountains).
Tunnel on Black Hills road
Some guy holding up traffic
Bighorn National Forest, en route to Greybull
Bighorn again, part 2
Thank you birds. Glad you enjoyed your time on the road less traveled and in the family stomping grounds. Hello land of the Big Horn.
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