First Jedediah Smith Trail 1822 — 1824

Day 18: September 2nd, 2009 Hill City — Custer

Map Hill City to Custer

Today I sleep in a little bit. It’s already eight in the morning when I wake up. I try to hurry up a bit. But it is not before 10am until I have finished my breakfast at the Slate Creek Grille. This one is also in walking distance. Therefore I have left my truck at the motel.

Highway 16/385/Main St, Hill City, SD

Highway 16/385, SD

Highway 16/385, SD

Highway 16/385, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Because I have not needed much gas yesterday and I will also not drive too far today I skip the gast station and drive directly to the Needles Highway.

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Needles Eye Tunnel, Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Needles Eye Tunnel, Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Needles Eye Tunnel, Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Here is this famous long and tight tunnel which is announced everywhere. This is not really an issue with a small car. But if you drive a Full–Size Truck you must be careful that you will not loose your mirrors there.

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Squirrel, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Bumblebee, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Butterfly, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Butterfly, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Butterfly, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Butterfly, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Butterfly, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Bee, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Butterfly, Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park, SD

Just past the tunnel is the Cathedral Spires Trail. There I stop to do the hike. While hiking, I have a lot of opportunities for beautiful pictures and get totally lost in time. The hiking itself is not very strenuous. At the beginning are a couple of steep areas. But as soon as you have reached the needles, the hike continues almost level.

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Highway 87/The Needles Hwy, SD

Around half past one I am back at my car. The sun is shining and it is really warm. It was already warm in the morning. There we already had more than 70 degrees. And now we are almost approaching 85 degrees although I am at an elevation of more than 4500ft!

Highway 16A, Galena French Creek Divide, SD

Highway 16A, SD

Highway 16A, SD

Highway 16A/Stockade Lake Dr, SD

At the end of Needles Highway I continue on Highway 16A back to Custer.

Highway 16A/89/Mt Rushmore Rd, Custer, SD

Once again I drive through Custer.

Then I continue to Jewel Cave.

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Jewel Cave, SD

Around a quarter to three I arrive there. I only take the Scenic Tour. Otherwise I will run out of time. After I payed, the big surprise shows up: There is a restriction regarding your bag size! My both camera bags are too big!

I am forced to carry my camera without protection and spare battery and video tape in my pants pockets. This is really annoying me. But I have no other choice. Therefore I take my bags back into my car. In the meantime, all cars are circled by swarms of wasps. So I must sit inside the hot car to repack everything. Then I go back to the Visitor Center.

There I watch the introduction movie until my group is called. This is also a real huge group, which is not very promising. First, you run down with an elevator. Then you must walk through an airlock to enter the cave.

The cave itself only has few stalagtites and stalagmites — and only one “bacon”. All in all, this cave is not really outstanding. Most of it is just a “bare” cave with a lot of steps. Why they are doing such an insurrection because of the bags is really a miracle for me. What is also annoying is the fact that one guy insisted to be the last one at the end of this group and then permanently moaning if we start to loose a bit contact to the group.

I offered multiple times to pass me that I can take my time for video and pictures. But he declined mantra–like. At some point I start to not really care about any longer and do my video taping and taking pictures. Then he must wait…

Highway 16/Mt Rushmore Rd, SD

After visiting the cave, I drive back to Custer.

Once again I drive through the city.

Highway 16/385, SD

Then I immediately continue to the Crazy Horse Memorial. There they even have three entrance stations when entering the area. In the meantime it is already half past five. Accordingly less crowded is everything now.

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Nature Gates, Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

Crazy Horse Memorial, SD

At the Visitor Center I watch the introduction video first. Then I walk through the exhibition where you learn everything about the mountain carver. It is impressive to see all what he was able to build up — just by entrance fees!

And which simple tools he used in the beginning. He was chosen by the natives who wanted to place a memorial for Crazy Horse. And his birthday is at the same date as the one of Crazy Horse. That was a sign for them!

I take a couple of pictures and video of the monument and the smaller copy. Then I drive back to my motel.

Highway 16/385, SD

Around half past seven I arrive there. “My” room is already occupied. But instead I receive the room now next to it. The employee, who brought me my toothpaste, even remembers me! I also ask for other dinner options. But in the end I decide to go to the Dark Horse again.

For sure, Jerry is there and is happy to see me again. Also today we talk a lot and he suggests to try the Cajun Rib–eye. This tastes excellent, it is just a bit marbled. But it is something different than my usual sirloin. Because I still have to check a lot of video taping and also headaches are starting, I say good–bye and we wish each other all the best for the future. Let’s see, if he will still be there in case I will travel through this area again.

Around nine I am back at my motel and do my bookkeeping first after I have set up my coffee. Maybe this one will help me and I will feel better. Then I continue writing my diary. But my headaches are getting worse. I take an Ibuprofen and skip checking my video taping. Only the storage card for my pictures will be copied to have an empty one for tomorrow. Then I go to bed. Around a quarter to eleven I try to fall asleep…

The next day is in preparation…