Badlands & Hill City SD - August-September 2024

WIKI: Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded. They are characterized by steep slopes, minimal vegetation, lack of a substantial regolith, and high drainage density. Ravines, gullies, buttes, hoodoos and other such geologic forms are common in badlands.
Badlands are found on every continent except Antarctica, being most common where there are unconsolidated sediments. They are often difficult to navigate by foot, and are unsuitable for agriculture. Most are a result of natural processes, but destruction of vegetation by overgrazing or pollution can produce anthropogenic badlands. WIKI: The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a national memorial centered on a colossal sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore (Lakota: Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe, or Six Grandfathers) in the Black Hills near Keystone, South Dakota, United States. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum designed the sculpture, called Shrine of Democracy, and oversaw the project's execution from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son, Lincoln Borglum. The sculpture features the 60-foot-tall (18 m) heads of four United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, chosen to represent the nation's birth, growth, development, and preservation, respectively. Mount Rushmore attracts more than two million visitors annually[1] to the memorial park which covers 1,278 acres (2.00 sq mi; 5.17 km2). The mountain's elevation is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.
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An Overnight stop in the Badlands. Boondocked for the night.
Palmer Gulch - Hill City SD Day 1 & 2 - We arrived at Palmer Gulch KOA and will be in the area for 6 days, we set up our site and first thing Jim had to do was clean the motorhome. We ventured out to Hill City downtown, had some dinner and looked around at the local sites - Carvings were amazing. On the second day we went for a hike in the afternoon on Willow Creek trail, a lot more climbing/elevation than Florida. We had a great hike and did not get lost. We were both surprised that we were able to see Mount Rushmore from the road.
Custer State Park - Today we decided to take a ride on the Custer wildlife loop. We stopped at the entrance to pay our $20 fee to enter the park which is good for 7 days and the park attendant pointed out on the map which spots were a must to travel. The views were amazing, we were able to stop and grab pictures of Prairie Dogs, Pronghorn, Buffalo and we did see Burros (but didn't take a picture). The park attendant said to make sure you get your camera ready when you get to the one-way tunnels because you could see Mount Rushmore.
Mount Rushmore Hike - We had a great hike today and the weather could not be any nicer. So glad we have decided to have a life style change. It really is paying off for both of us.
Crazy Horse Memorial - Cathedral Spires Hike - September
We visited The Crazy Horse Memorial and the amount of work that still needs to be completed to finish this Memorial is insane. They have pictures from the start to where they are now and you look at those and it seems like wow look how far they have come, but have so much further to go. The amount of history that is on display was amazing. One of the hikes that we really wanted to do was The Cathedral Spires, it did not disappoint. The hike is considered strenuous because at a few sections you are climbing up the side of rocks/boulders I am so glad we made it to the top the views spectacular.
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