Custer, SD and Black Hills National Forest

Sylvan Lake, South Dakota

 We took a day and a half to explore a beautiful section of America called the Black Hills. Dave saw an ad for it in my dad's motorcycle magazine as a drive worth taking, so we did.
It really was worth it; we saw such unique and stunning rock formations, saw a buffalo, ate the most delicious buffalo burger with a serene backdrop, and had a fun time!
So my $6 hiking boots didn't make it past their second hike. The sole was split and falling off. We stopped at a hardware store in some town and duct tapped those bad boys up. It was actually a better hike with them tighter! One we finished on the trail I popped those things in the dumpster, thankful for God's provision, but happy to never see them again!

The rocks here are pure granite; rough and jagged.












The forest however, is lush, green and moss covered.

At the end of the 3.9 mile hike (one way) you have to climb under this tunnel to make it to the top of Harney Peak.

An observation tower at the top of Harney Peak.

Looking out over South Dakota

 One of the coolest things is to drive along the Wildlife Loop Road. Part of it is open and green where wildlife are grazing, but the other half is absolutely amazing with hairpin turns and tunnels that are a tight squeeze.
This one may be called "The needle". There are two tunnels like this. After we passed through one I remember seeing a big, giant tour bus. The driver was standing outside of the bus just staring that this hole that was way too small to drive through. I remember thinking, 'How is she even going to turn around?' Her bus was parked along the road just after a sharp curve. They seemed pretty stuck!

We saw a real live buffalo - and it walked right past our car!!!

"Stick 'em up!"

 This truck was parked outside of a store along the main drag of Custer, SD. There are only two blocks worth of stores. One main grocery store and a smaller one. They did have a dairy queen and some pretty unique stores, including this one...
It was a store filled with furs, animal teeth, skulls, and bones. Any animal you could think of really. It was pretty cool. The guy was sitting in the back of the store sewing a hat together made of real fur. Hats went for about $75 or I probably would have bought one. We got the kids coyote fur scraps and a coyote jaw bone.

 So for $24 we spent the night in the back of our SUV on sleeping pads and in sleeping bags (thanks Pete and Julie). The picture above was our view from our "room". It was so peaceful, tranquil and quiet. It was bliss! We slept fairly well from hiking about 9 miles that day, however our hips were sore the next morning. It was totally worth it! We climbed in the front seat and drove away at day break - nothing to pack up. It was perfect!