With a few days before our rails-to-trails ride, we decided to take advantage of the $8/night price at Bear Butte State Park, plus we wanted to hike to the top of this oddly placed mountain.
We were welcomed back to Sturgis with 30 mph winds, which made for an interesting hike. Richie and I related the experience to our summit of Mt. Rainier - when we were leaving Camp Muir for high camp. I remember the three of us (Megan, Richie, and I) were constantly being blown down due to extreme wind. It was a very scary moment.
Luckily, there was no snow, but the drop-off was still spooky.
From the 4,426-foot peak, we had an uninterrupted view of the Black Hills.
The Black Hills are named for the Ponderosa Pines' dark bark (say that 3 times fast!), which viewed from a distance, and in bulk, look black!
Bear Butte LakeCan you see our tent? Its the one with the orange sides... see it?
We could also see Fort Meade (birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner?) and the motorcycle town of Sturgis.
The geology of Bear Butte...
Molten rock attempted to push through the Earth's surface, but never did - a volcano that failed to erupt. Over time, the layers of the volcano have eroded, leaving the butte.
In August 1996, over 800 acres of the butte burned due to a wildfire. Some of the blackened tree trunks can still be seen.
The trail is also lined with colorful pieces of cloth tied to the trees. Bear Butte is a sacred mountain - and is still a place of worship for the Lakota tribe.
They are called prayer clothes, and the colors are related to the four directions (north, south, east, and west).
The spirit of the mountain is strong (or maybe that was just the wind!)... and walking among the prayers was a peaceful experience.
In our visits back to Sturgis, we happened upon a delightful place called Olde Worlde Cafe and Bookery. Free Wi-Fi, great music, and Dan makes a mean cup-o-coffee! So if you are ever in Sturgis, South Dakota - stop by the cafe for a comforting smile, good food, and a beverage.
Dan said their website should be up soon... www.oldeworldecafe.com
Address: 923 Junction Avenue Sturgis, SD
1 comment:
Hi! Love to read the blog again and again. I know that you will have had fun on your longgggg bike ride. It constantly amazes me how vast our country is; especially to those of us who haven't traveled that much. How I envy you! You all are living a dream!
Love,
Mom (Linda)
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