The Black Hills of South Dakota

We left Colorado in a torrent, punctuated by lightening, on our way to the Black Hills of South Dakota. No matter. We perservered, and ended up in an a very funky cabin (built in 1929) in the town of Hot Springs, at the southern fringe of the Black Hills. The next day we began to explore this glorious corner of our vast nation. There were unusual impediments in the road. For someone skilled at hitting a deer, the notion of hitting a bison seemed a bit more catastrophic.

Not being too bright, we decided to go on a hike in Custer State Park despite the rain. we chose the "Lover's Leap" trail - go figure. Although we didn't jump, perhaps we should have. There were 7 creek crossings before we got out, thoroughly drenched. Why didn't we see anyone else on the trail? Oh, well, this sign sums up our existential insouciance:

Today the sun shone. It was still a bit cold, and it had snowed in the mountains overnight:

Undaunted, we climbed Mt Harney, a glorious peak deep in the Wilderness at the center of the Black Hills, and the highest point between the Rockies and the Pyrenees (think about that for a moment). We basked in the sun at the top, our breath frosty, our thoughts rhapsodic: