Tag Archives: Black Hills National Forest

Black Hills Bucket List

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The last couple weeks I’ve been posting about some of my recent hikes and have referred to a Black Hills Bucket List. About a year and a half ago I originally posted about “The List” and figured it was time for an update. I keep joking that when this list is done, there will be no option but to leave the Black Hills. I’m not sure that’s true but completing this list will wrap-up almost every major adventure I have left to do in this area. Of course, we keep adding items so maybe we’ll never leave! Either way, here it is: (If the adventure is completed, you can click on it to link to the story.)

  1. Done! Explore Hippie Hole (Rockerville, SD)
    BHBucketList1
  2. Mountain Bike the Paha Sapa Trail (Custer, SD)
  3. Done! Hike the Hell Canyon Trail (Custer, SD)BHBucketList4
  4. Explore the petroglyphs (Edgemont, SD)
  5. Done! Visit the town site of Igloo (Edgemont, SD)BHBucketList2
  6. Eat at Moonshine Gulch (Rochford, SD)
  7. Traverse the Mickelson Trail End-to-End
  8. Done! Hike the Flume Trail (Rockerville, SD)
  9. BHBucketList3Done! Mountain Bike Trail 40 (Deerfield, SD)
  10. Watch a show at the Black Hills Playhouse (Custer State Park, SD)
  11. Go to the Rushmore Waterslides (Rapid City, SD )
  12. Overnight in the Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin (Newcastle, WY)
  13. New! Take the Lantern Tour at Jewel Cave Nat’l Monument (Custer, SD)
  14. New! Climb Devil’s Tower to the Top (Huelett, WY)

5 out of 15 completed, not bad but there’s still a ways to go. And there might be a few more additions to the list. However, summer plans are in the works to tackle a few more list items.

Hopefully, by the end of June the Mickelson Trail End-to-End traverse will be done. (It will also be my first century if I get it right!) And since a cyclist needs to eat and Moonshine Gulch just happens to be right along the trail…I’m already dreaming about it! If it all works out, BAM, two birds with one stone! The Lantern Tour at Jewel Cave Nat’l Monument will probably also go down this month; just a few more days until they’re open. The Rushmore Waterslides are being saved for a day when my two favorite not-so-little girls can join me. July or August will see this one checked off. The Black Hills Playhouse has been someplace I’ve wanted to visit as long as I’ve known about it. In the way-back days, tor two summers, I lived just down the road from it and somehow never made it there. This summer I’m not taking any chances, the first weekend this fits into I’m there.

That will leave just a few more to accomplish. Will they all happen this year? It’s anyone’s guess. But there’s a definite possibility! I’ve some some extra motivation but that secret will have to wait for another day…

From the Field || Wildcat Fire

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Somedays I think I have a pretty cool job and this fire was one of those. It used to be that when I went on a fire assignment I took hundred of photos but anymore I’m lucky if I have any photographic proof that I was ever there. Since I am oftentimes a crew supervisor or incident commander this is probably a good thing, since I’m pretty sure it means I’m actually paying attention but it doesn’t give me much to share. However, this assignment was pretty relaxed and I had a crewboss trainee so not only did I actually have a few spare moments but somehow I remembered to take some pics.

It funny to see what sort of images I take now as compared to when I started fighting wildland fires. They used to be of flames and our crew in the heat of the action but as you can see that’s not so much the case anymore. Not that there was much of that to see on this trip anyway. But the views this trip sure were amazing!

Happy weekend! Be sure to check back Monday for a trip report from my weekend adventure on Bomber Peak in the Bighorns of Wyoming.

 

Get out and play!

Rochelle

Adventures || Hangin’ with Smokey

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With work in full on wildland fire mode, I’ve been spending some extra hours at work, which was where I spent my Saturday. I thought I’d share some pics from my adventures working for this guy…

Our assignment was to patrol and interface with the public. We talked to a lot of folks out enjoying the woods that day. They like to see us and our fire engine is a good reminder to be careful.

The kids are always the most fun because they want to play with our fire engine. One little guy took a particular interest in the pump panel the other day. I found myself being grilled on the job of every light and button on here. It was a good quiz and reminder session! Maybe he’ll grow up to be a wildland firefighter some day.

We stop to check out the popular local recreation sites. This was one I’d never even heard about but I think it’s pretty cool. I can’t wait to come ride the trails in this area, they look as awesome as the pond!

Some of our work centers have old relics from our history. I knew I couldn’t run away with either of these long enough to scan them but I thought they were super cool. (I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for old stuff!)

This is one of my favorite trees on the whole district. He’s a granddaddy and the picture doesn’t do him justice. He just goes on and on forever.

So that was just one of my days in the woods. Today wasn’t nearly as nice, it is cold and windy today but I’m glad for the respite even if it is short lived!

Happy Monday!

~R