06/03/02:
Big boomers, lots of lightning and 15 minutes of rain last night in the Black Hills National Forest. Got an early start this morning and was on the road by 6am in heavy fog. Stopped off hoping to see the giant Crazy Horse Monument carved out of a mountain between the towns of Hot Springs and Custer. It was fogged in and the wanted $29/car load or $9/person so I left.
When I got to Rapid City it was still fogged in so I didn't even think about Mount Rushmore National Memorial and turned east on I-90 to the Badlands.
The main attraction here (I think) is the 24 mile scenic road along the Badlands. The Badlands area seems to be a giant basin, 20X20 miles (I'm guessing), with interesting mountains and rock formations in and around it. My first reaction was it looks like a small scale Grand Canyon. My second one was its like Death Valley, but different.
I drove the 24 miles and turned off at the campground because I was tired. I dunno if I'm going to do any of the hikes. They've only got a 4 miler and a 10 miler and a bunch of 1/4 milers.
06/04/02:
Decided not to hang around. No free camping and from the trail descriptions I'd only rate them as good. Got a little rain last night again. Up at 5am and ran 40 minutes, had breakfast and was outta there on my way to Sheridan, Wyoming, 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park.
The Cedar Pass area of the Badlands provided a much more interesting stretch through some nice formations on the way out of the park. Unfortunately it only lasted a mile or so and then flattened out.
When I got to Rapid City, SD I followed the signs to Mount Rushmore. Today had no fog and some sunshine so I hoped to see something. 30 minutes or so brought me to the Memorial. $8 parking fee is more than I would pay for a few minutes of viewing. Fortunately someone told me there was a turnout just south of the parking lots and I found it 100 yards beyond.
I could see the George and Tom and Teddy and Abe as I passed by on the road heading south. Couldn't see it at all heading north. I found a path just before the parking lot and found myself on a pavilion type thing with flags that reminded me of the United Nations. A short walk brings you to the viewing area and it couldn't get much better than that. I shot a couple of pictures, minus my zoom :-( and left.
Got into Wyoming and saw a sign for the Devil's Tower National Monument so took an hour to go check it put. A volcanic rock column rising almost 900 feet from the surrounding area. Road construction turned me back.
Got to Sheridan, WY about 4pm. The drive up was pretty nice, green, rolling hills for the most part. Saw a badger crossing the road in front of me but didn't come close to hitting itt. Made an appointment for 15,000 mile maintenance on the truck, found the post office and had mail forwarded and found the Big Horn National Forest ranger station and got all kinds of good information. That will be my fall back in case things don't work out at Yellowstone.