July 8, 2017 Jewel Cave is the third longest in the world; 181 miles of cave have been mapped so far. We saw a variety of dripstone formations. Flowstone (this one with an interesting fracture) Stalagmites and stalactites This stalactite and stalagmite will eventually join to form a column Read more
July 6, 2017 Located in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, Wind Cave National Park encompasses 33,924 acres of mixed grass prairie and Ponderosa pine forest, as well as one of the longest, oldest, and most complex cave systems in the world. This park is one of the oldest Read more
July 4 and 9, 2017 Approaching Badlands National Park, we were surrounded by rolling prairie. Slowly eroded areas were revealed until we were in the midst of a variety of shapes and colors dating between 75 and 25 million years ago. Where Scott’s Bluff and Cheyenne and Red Cloud Buttes, Read more
July 4, 2017 Custer’s population is less than 2000 but its volunteer fire department put on a show worthy of a city any size. Viewing sites had been staked out at various locations throughout town, but Pageant Hill had been set aside for the day and people gathered there from Read more
June 29-July 11, 2017 It was hard to go anywhere in the southern Black Hills without feeling as if one was on a scenic road. Two roads within Custer State Park have specific “scenic” designations. We’ve added a few photos from roads that weren’t “scenic” because we thought they were Read more
June 26-July 11, 2017 Custer State Park is 22,000 acres [in comparison, Walt Disney World is 27,000 acres] and borders the(Black Hills National Forest and Wind Cave National Park on three sides. It’s rich with wildlife. Some animals, like the white-tailed deer we saw frequently and the group of elk Read more
July 3-10, 2017 The Cairns Trail The Cairns Trail wasn’t included in the Park’s brochure, but a ranger told us we could find it above the outdoor education center. We neglected to take a picture of the cairns (stacks of rocks) that marked the trail. But we can show you Read more
July 2-3, 2017 Cathedral Spires Trail The Cathedral Spires Trail leads into the Needles formations: spires, towers and pillars of granite. The hike is a strenuous 1.5 miles each way, but much of the trail is shaded and the landscape is stunning. We are often amazed at geology: Huge Read more
June 30-July 5, 2017 Badger Clark, Nebraska Poet Laureate from 1937-1957, lived in a cabin in Custer State Park from 1925 until his death in 1957. We had enjoyed the Badger Sett Band’s presentation on Clark and thought it would be interesting to see his cabin. Clark built the Read more
June 27, 2017 Mount Rushmore is so much a part of popular culture that it’s hard to know what to say about it. It was carved from 1927 to 1941. The faces are about 60 feet tall and feature four presidents chosen by the sculptor for their specific contributions to Read more