Wind Cave National Park and the Mickelson Trail

August 2, 2012

Thursday, we went south and visited Wind Cave National Park, between Custer and Hot Springs.  On the surface, it looks like a nice, rolling hills, prairie-kind-of-place.  What it's known for are the caves below the surface.  I left my camera in the car....I have real issues taking pictures in the dark...still learning how to do it.  Glad I didn't haul it.  We took the tour called the "Fairgrounds" which took us to two levels of the cave.  There are 135 miles of explored cave and they are still researching. 

Love the colors!

Our tour lasted about an hour and 1/2 and traversed 450 stairs, up and down.  Ceilings in some places are so low we were crouching.  Not a good place to take a big camera.  I think I would have banged it against the walls.  Jim took his Nikon P7100 pocket camera.  Maybe he'll share a picture or two with me. (he did!)

Sample of "Frost" formations

The tour was great, but the group numbered 40 or so and the guide hurried us through.  Hard to stop and take pictures of things we liked.  Had to wait until the tour stopped in the large rooms for the "color commentary" by the Ranger/Guide.  At one point, the cave lights were turned off and we were shown the lighting that the first explorers used - a solitary candle in a tin can holder.  Didn't illuminate much, let me tell you!  I wouldn't have gone in with that contraption. Too many sharp twists and turns with proper lighting.  I can't imagine how claustrophobic it would have been for me.  Then they turned all the lights off....truly pitch black.  We couldn't see our hands in front of our faces.  Can you imagine if your candle went out and you couldn't re-light it?  Yikes!

The drive up and back from Wind Cave National Park had some nice scenery as well.  Mostly rolling hills and grasslands, which do make for some panoramic views.  We enjoy the journey as well as the destination.  Always have.

Example of "Box" formations

 (Wind Cave pictures courtesy of Jim....thanks, honey!)







MICKELSON TRAIL

August 3, 2012

Rapid Creek

No tourist traps for us today!  We took a nice, leisurely drive up to Mystic, SD, just north of us, north of Hill City.  We found a dirt road (nice gravel, actually) and followed that to where it met up with Rapid Creek and the George S. Mickelson Trail.  It was our intention to hike part of the Mickelson Trail.

We passed through what was left of an old town, Castleton, and some old mining equipment.  Pretty interesting little place, so we stopped and took a few photos.

 We found a place to park that was a little off the main dirt road.  According to the sign nailed to a nearby tree, we were trespassing on the mining claim of Lew Wight and Scott Mors, the Glory Hunters Gold Mine.

Off the Beaten Path

Lew's Claim

 I kid you not....these guys were mining this area in their spare time.  There were buckets lying around on the ground, a collapsed tent and a slew of "tailings", or what is left over after the miners sift through the rock for gold.  I told Jim, "I hope they don't find us trespassing and shoot us!",  which would be legal, I assume.

 We left the truck there anyway and took our chances.  We started up the Mickelson trail, which runs all the way from Deadwood, in the north part of South Dakota, to Edgemont, south of Hot Springs, over 100 miles of trail.  It is built on an old railroad embankment.  The train quit running in 1983 and the townsfolk of several cities along the way, along with the governor of the state, started the project to use the old railroad track bed for a hiking, biking, horseback riding trail. 

Jim and I walked about 3 miles round trip from the truck, taking in some of mile 75 and all of mile 74 to the 73 mile marker.  Along the way, we passed some great rock formations, mining operations, railroad tunnels.....just a really fun hike.

Mile 73

Mile 74

I was almost run over by a bicyclist who didn't bother announcing her presence....just rode up on us from behind.  I was ticked.  There were 3 of them and they chuckled as they rode by.  Not funny.  After that, I kept looking behind me every so often.  We did encounter other bike riders, but they were all coming toward us so we had no problems.   

Freedom Bridge

Halfway through the area we hiked we crossed the "Freedom Bridge", dedicated to the heroes of 9/11.  It is a wooden bridge, built across the road we drove in on, and above the creek.

We came home in time to grill tonight...beautiful 1" thick pork chops.  I seasoned them with Jim's Rub and other spices and Jim cooked them to perfection.  They were so big, we each only ate half a chop!  Very tasty.  Thus far, we

haven't done any grilling due to the hot, hot weather we've been having on this trip.  Tonight, the weather was so cold, Jim was dressed in layers and wishing it was warmer.  Can't please everyone, I guess.