Black_Hills

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			Devil's Tower, Wyoming

		After heading thru Utah and then across Wyoming we arrived at the East side of the Black Hills. We we're glad to finally be out of the "big sky" (no trees) country and into the very beautiful and forested Black Hills. Ever since seeing the movie "Close encounters of the 3rd kind" I had wanted to see Devil's Tower. It was indeed impressive and unusual. A hiking trail goes all the way around it and is well worth the walk as the geometry of the tower changes as you go around it.


	Rock climbers love to climb the "chimneys" in the sides (see above pix) and it may take them all day to get to the 2000 ft top.


	On the scenic road to Mt. Rushmore


	We had read that the twisting, scenic road to Mt. Rushmore was the way to go and it certainly was! You get to go through beautiful country and three narrow tunnels, one of which I had to fold in my tow mirrors on the truck in order to get through it.








		Avenue of the flags






	Mt. Rushmore is a very inspiring place. When you first arrive you go down the "avenue of the flags" with the president's heads in the distance above. It's beautiful. Be sure to take the walk that goes around the base of the mountain just under the heads. It's a fantastic view looking almost straight up at them.



				At the end of the viewing deck


	On the walk at the base of the mountain. What a view!


	Crazy Horse Memorial


	Though we thought the entry fee was a bit much for what you get to see, there WAS a very nice Indian cultural center there with very nice exhibits. Crazy Horses' face is complete although from the viewing angle it's hard to tell. The mountain behind with the carving in the foreground (below) shows what the compleation will look like.


	Buffalo were numerous in the Black Hills


	The historic old mining town of Lead


	There are lots of old mining towns and the bikers were starting to arrive for "Sturgis Week". They were expecting one million bikes for the week throughout the Black Hills.


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