South Dakota (It is better than you would think)

The Black Hills of South Dakota

From Drop Box

When I say the name of a place, close your eyes and write down the first word that comes to your mind. South Dakota. What did you write? Flat, boring, unpopulated? Well, maybe in Eastern South Dakota, but in the West, you would be way off. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Sturgis and the annual bike rally, streams and rolling hills with lush forest are just the beginning of what South Dakota has to offer. Take a hike, a bike ride, or even just a ride through the windy scenic highways and I assure you: your perception of South Dakota will be positively changed forever.

If You Go:

-Coming from the West on I-90, take Highway 16 exit toward Newcastle, MT. Along the way make a quick stop into Jewel Cave National Monument. Take a quick tour and admire the sparkling crystals in the cave, and hike around one of the trails based here. Back on the road, continue into Custer, SD.

-From Custer, go south to Wind Cave National Park and take a 2 hour long tour of one of the only caves in the world offering “box work” formations. These brittle rock formations on the walls can play tricks on your mind, and their true essence can only be captured in person. Wind Cave is a small park, but offers a campground, and contains the largest number of bison per acre of any park. Another place to set up camp is north to Custer State Park for more up to date facilities, and much more hiking and biking trails.

From Drop Box

-North on HWY 89 leads you to the partially completed Crazy Horse Monument. Be sure to stop in and watch the sensational video of the man who single-handedly took on the project and his family who has continued his efforts. Just a dozen miles or so west, in Keystone, sits one of the most patriotic monuments in our country: Mt. Rushmore. Be sure to hike along the trail and get an up close look at our great presidents of the past. Here also is an informative visitor center and anything you would want to know on the historical background of this monument.

-Head back up HWY 89 through the windy roads towards Central City. Up here, people live life a little differently. Some might call them hicks, but they respect the beautiful land they live on just as the formerly abundant Native Americans of this great land. Explore the ghost towns, have a beer at an old tavern, and if you make it in August, admire the thousands upon thousands of bikers that migrate to Sturgis for an annual biker’s festival. If you pass by, don’t miss the Sugar Shack burgers right off the highway. They are to die for.

-Be sure to stop off the road at some point and find a stream to enjoy the lush areas of South Dakota people don’t realize exist. Crack open an ice cold soda, hike along a stream, whatever floats your boat. Just don’t miss out on the natural beauty of South Dakota by staying in your comfortable SUV the entire time.

From Drop Box

My Experience:

I drove into Custer only to realize I decided to come on the busiest weekend in the Black Hills all year: the Sturgis Bike Rally. Among thousands of bikes, it is needless to say my explorer stuck out like a sore thumb. I saw Crazy Horse around sunset; a great time of day to beat the heat. The entire operation is privately run, including the visitor center and access to the best views.

After Crazy Horse I realized I needed a place to sleep. I ruled out sleeping in the car in any town nearby, as the biker rally encouraged some angry drunk people all night long. So I drove down toward Wind Cave NP. Luckily there was no entrance station to the park, and I found the campground open. Just as I was pulling out my tent a storm came through, shooting lighting across the sky and buckets of rain on the ground. There is nothing quite like a storm on the plains!

The next day I drove to Mt. Rushmore, then up through the black hills and “intermingled” with the bikers at the world-famous Sugar Shack burger joint. It was packed beyond belief with all sorts of characters. I saw a 50 year old woman wearing assless chaps (if you don’t know what those are, its worth googling them) and a fishnet shirt with nothing covering her oversized fake breasts but two big stars. Needless to say, I didn’t quite fit in. I took my burger and headed into the hills where I found a serene spot right off the highway to eat my burger in peace.

I proceeded through ghost towns and some great small towns such as Central City, until I hit the 90 and headed out through Rapid City. Between the caves, rolling hills, amazing parks and monuments, and the people, I was pleasantly shocked with what South Dakota has to offer. It’s one of those places where you gotta see it to believe it.

Badlands National Park

From Drop Box

Badlands National Park

If you are one of thousands of Americans who drives across Interstate 90 each year, it is time to stop ignoring the signs and finally take the exit for Badlands National Park. When coming from the north, the Badlands appear suddenly and necessitate a pinch in order to make sure you not dreaming that you are roaming the planets from Star Wars. The erosional formations here jut from the desolate land and seem to be unlivable. If you stop, look, and listen, however, the ecosystem will quickly reveal itself to you. The more time spent here the stronger the desire becomes to explore the incredible Badlands of South Dakota.

If You Go:
-Coming from the West on I-90, drop down through Wall and take HWY240 down to the Pinnacles Entrance. If you have an extra hour, or are coming at sunset or sunrise, take Sage Creek Rim Road for 10 or so miles and enjoy the picturesque colors and shapes off in the distance to the East. Enjoy the colors and sounds of a summer storm rolling through the prairie.

-Heading back East on Badlands Loop, enjoy the many overlooks and take the time for a few small hikes. Saddle Pass is a short, steep hike that will earn you a breathless overlook of the plains and badlands.

-Continue on the loop and discover the visitor center, with plentiful information and history. Also, never go to a National Park without taking advantage of a park ranger! They are a wealth of information and love to discuss their passion for the parks.

-Exit the park at the Northeast Entrance and before you head back on I-90 enjoy the short trails and even climb a few of the structures. Don’t forget water and sunscreen!

-If you are camping here, I recommend the Sage Creek Campground. Although there is no running water, the seclusion and location in between the prairie and badlands allows for a relaxing and intimate (with nature, that is) camping experience. If that was not convincing enough, it is free to camp here!

My Experience:

I came through Wall, SD and had to stop at world famous Wall Drug. There are enough billboards on the way to convince you it is the right thing to do. I drove the Sage Creek Rim Road at dusk and enjoyed a severe storm miles off in the distance. I set up camp at the secluded campground near the dried river. It is a very peaceful place. I woke up around 3 am to a howling pack of coyotes. I decided to get out of the tent, and caught a glimpse of a bright orange full moon amongst thousands of bright stars.

The next morning I woke up early and drove through the Badlands Loop road. Usually I don’t like to stop at all the overlooks, but here it was necessary. Also, there were a few small hikes that allowed you a sense of the structures and just how difficult it would be (or is) for anything to live here year round. The sun was blazing hot and about a mile into a 4 mile hike suddenly a rainstorm came. I have never experienced rain drops like these. I ran back to my car, not before getting drenched.

On the way out of the park I stopped at a visitor center and learned a bit of history. I was shocked to find out nomadic mammoth hunters, Native American tribes, and even some early American Pioneers settled here for extended periods of time. As shown by the fossils of mammoths, turtles, and numerous other animals, this place was not meant to support life for too long.

I left the park and hopped back on I-90, where the land was flat and corn fields started popping up. I couldn’t believe that behind me was a landscape and ecosystem so randomly located, so vast and unimaginable. Bottom line, the Badlands are worth a visit for a night and a day or two.

From Drop Box

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park
Visiting Yellowstone is a must for every American resident. The abundance of wildlife, the multitude of landscapes, and the stunning geological features make it unique and evoke pride in living in this vast, diverse country.
If You Go:
-Drive the extra hour or so and enter through the North Entrance. Stock up on any camping needs in Gardiner, a town just outside the entrance.
-Allow yourself at least 2 full days of exploration. The park has too much to offer to be wholly experienced in just one day.
-The must sees: Hot Springs in the North, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake and the West Fork, Mud Volcano, Upper and Lower Falls, and Wildlife in the Northeast plains.
-Start your day early. The best time to see wildlife, and miss the enormous crowds and ensuing traffic, is at dawn.
-Be ready to put some miles on your car. If you are there when it is busy the traffic will delay your arrival times. Don't forget a camera!

My Experience:
I drove in through the North Entrance, stopping in Gardiner to stock up on some food. It was around 8pm, so I set up camp at Indian Creek in the northern section. After getting to sleep early, I was out of camp the next morning by 6am.
On the drive south towards Old Faithful, the first hot springs begin to appear on the west side of the road. They looked especially beautiful with the morning steam floating above them.
Old faithful is a must see. The sheer anticipation of when it is going to blow, and the fact that humans have zero control over it, make it a thrilling experience. I waited for about 35 minutes until the gushing water came spewing out of a small hole in the Earth. I did not stop at the various restaurants and gift shops here, but a friend did and shared his leftovers with me. It was Buffalo hash with eggs, peppers, and tortillas. Amazing. I highly recommend this breakfast to anyone, but especially folks from places where bison is not on the local menu.
Another 20 minutes or so down the road is the West Fork of Yellowstone Lake. Here there are deep calderas that contain water around 175 degrees. The chemicals and colors they display look fake, and can only really be appreciated when seeing them in person.
Next I headed northwest up the road to the Mud volcano. This short boardwalk provides an abundance of scenery in a small amount of time. Here boiling water coming up from the earth mixes with mud and all sorts of elements to show a smelly, muddy, boiling mess. Bison sat and soaked in the sulfur gas only 10 feet from the boardwalk.
After a quick nap, I proceeded to the Upper and Lower Falls. Hiking down the steps to the lower falls brings you to one of the most glorious viewpoints in the park. You can see and feel the power of the gargantuan Lower Falls crushing down the canyon. This was my favorite part of the park.
Further North, then East, the terrain becomes much more flat, then suddenly mountainous as you leave the park. Here is where much of the buffalo and deer roam. Upon leaving the park from the Northeast Entrance, it was difficult to process all that I had seen in one day. I would recommend taking at least two days to do the fantastic park any sort of justice it deserves.

Im Baaaack

Just returned this past Saturday, Oct. 1.
Overall, it was an amazing experience and I am satisfied I chose to do it.
Unfortunately I rarely had access to a computer while on the road, so I was unable to publish any blog posts. Now that I am back I will be posting reviews from certain areas, including the baseball parks I visited and the National Parks. My goal is to publish 3 posts per week. I hope you enjoy my analysis, commentary, and suggestions to future visitors.
Nick