Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary

Posted on January 21, 2011January 21, 2011 by Dusty Roads

I woke up really excited today. Wild horses have been running through my dreams all night. All of the stories and movies I’d ever seen or heard had my anticipation at a fever pitch.

It didn’t take us long to finish our Jimmy Dean breakfast, I confess I was nearing the end of my tolerance to JD sandwiches but they were fast and free, and then we were on our way.

We no sooner made the turn off RT 44 onto RT 79 South than we spotted 2 beautiful pronghorn. They were just standing there as though watching the traffic go by. Heads up, they made a beautiful picture in the early morning light. Sorry, it’s only in my mind, I was driving again and couldn’t stop, although I was really tempted to try.

Wild Turkey

We made good time, even stopping to get a picture of a turkey in full display and of a deer peaking out of a ravine.

Deer

The entrance is marked by a really attractive sculpture of running horses. We stopped for that picture for sure.

Wild Horse Sanctuary entrance

Then we drove down a well graded dirt road. We passed horses that were behind a fence and then spotted one on the outside of the fence. As we continued on we went up a small rise and then back down a rutted portion of the road. Not too much farther on we saw some buildings and there were cars parked in the dirt parking lot. I think we have arrived..

Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctruary

We went into the building which we learned was one of the original homestead building. Now that the property was a sanctuary, the building was converted to the welcome center.

Visitor Center

It was about 9:30 am and our tour was for 10:00am so we had half an hour to look around and get checked in. I got my “Kitty Fix” when we met the Sanctuary Cat. When I travel I do miss my pets but I always seem to connect with at least one cat on each trip…I call that connection my “Kitty Fix”.

The Sanctuary Cat

Right on time our guide came out to meet up. This time our guide was a personable young lady named Krista who also happened to be one of the sanctuary photographers. That was great because she said she’d help me find some good shots. The tour was billed as “semi-private” but Sandy and I were the only ones on it so as far as I’m concerned, it was private. That gives us much more flexibility.

We told Krista about the horse we’d seen on the outside of the fence and she went back inside to tell one of the wranglers. Soon after we saw someone heading back up the road. Krista said he would round up the horse and get her back where she belonged.

Krista showed us the yearling paddock and explained that in order to manage the herd size, some of foals that are born on the sanctuary are rounded up and sold to offset the operating costs. She said that for the most part the herd size is managed by separating the stallions from the mares to prevent too many foals. South Dakota has been in the grips of a drought the last few years and if the horses had been allowed to breed, many animals would have starved even with human intervention. The horses are truly wild and are left to fend for themselves against the elements and predators. It sounds cruel at first but it’s really just nature’s way.

Yearling Sculpture

Krista soon had us in a large 4 wheel drive SUV and we were off. As we climbed a dirt road we asked about a statue of a black and white horse on the side of the road. Krista stopped the car and while I took pictures told us this was their “Little Horse on the Prairie”. We got a chuckle out of that and the joke let us know that our guide had a sense of humor.

Little Horse on the Prairie

The first stop on the tour was an overlook that Krista told us was used to film the ranch for several western films including Crazy Horse. Before we got out Krista checked the area for rattlesnakes.

Ranch Overlook

Several more stops followed where Krista pointed out the flora and fauna in the area, explained about sage plants and flowers and in general set the stage for the main event.

At one stop we caught up with another tour. One of the women was upset because her camera had stopped working. Both Krista and I looked at it but we couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. I had 2 point and shoots with me as back up for exactly this reason. My DSLR hasn’t ever given me a problem but I have heard many horror stories of camera’s dying at the worse possible time so I always throw in a P&S or two just in case.

I offered to let the woman borrow one. I told her to just take the memory card and leave the camera with the front desk and I’d pick it up when our tour ended. Their guide was witness so I wasn’t too worried about the camera being stolen.

As we continued with our “nature “ tour, I admit I was getting restless for the wild horses.

It was worth the wait so I think I’ll let you wait another day too. I’ll tell you about the horses in another post. J

Wall Drug Store, SD

Posted on January 20, 2011January 20, 2011 by Dusty Roads

I Almost Forgot!

In yesterday’s post I said I would tell you about the Wild Horse Sanctuary but I would be remise not to finish my narrative about our activities after the train ride. So before we go on to the wild horses, I’ll finish up June 10^th.

Back in Hill City we picked up the car and headed back to Rapid City. As usual we got twisted around but isn’t that what exploring a new place is all about? We didn’t have any deadlines so it was ok to get lost or as Sandy liked to say, “we’re not lost, we’re sight-seeing”. That’s fast becoming our mantra!

The weather continued to threaten but we made good time and soon were “home” but now it was time to figure out where we were going for dinner. We decided to explore Wall Drug Store. So it was back on RT 90 and pretty soon we were pulling into the town of Wall, SD.

Now I don’t want to upset any of the residents of Wall, but it looks like Wall Drug Store is Wall, SD! J That’s ok. It seems to work.

All the driving and early mornings were starting to take their toll on me so I snapped a picture of the sign to prove we were there and locked the camera in the car. Big Mistake!

If you go to Wall Drug Store be sure to take your camera. The place is amazing. There are full sized statues of miners and western characters, a T Rex Dino, a cafeteria, and tons of gift shops. The photo ops abound!

We had dinner in the cafeteria, very reasonable and quite good, and as for me, I picked up most of my souvenirs. Sandy got some shopping in too and then it really was time to head back so we could get good night’s sleep so we’d be ready for another early morning.

And that early morning is so we can get to the Wild Horse Sanctuary in Hot Springs by 10am for our semi-private tour.

1880 train Hill City to Keystone

Posted on January 19, 2011January 19, 2011 by Dusty Roads

I don’t know about Sandy but I had a good night sleep that night and we were both up in plenty of time to get ready to head to Hill City to catch the 1880 Train. The railroad runs from Hill City to Keystone and back. The engines and cars are so authentic that many film companies use footage for movies and TV programming, Some of this programming includes Gunsmoke, Orphan Train, Dakota Woman, National Geographic , PBS, and the BBC.

The total round trip is about 2 hours but we planned to get off and explore Keystone a little before catching the return . We weren’t under any time constraints except for the train schedule as this was the only “planned activity” today.

After grabbing our Jimmy Dean sausage breakfast sandwich it was back in the car and heading out RT 44. On the way to the junction of 385 south we passed signs for Thunderhead Falls. This is billed as an underground waterfall. That went on our “possible” list.

All of the roads were nice and wide and well paved. We were making good time when I spotted something on the left side of the road. Sandy didn’t see what had caught my attention and I was too busy making a U-turn to explain. With any luck she would see soon enough.

Completing the U-turn I pulled off the road to the shoulder and was rewarded with a great look at more wild animals. I wasn’t sure what they were. I thought they might be big horn sheep but none of them had the distinctive curved horns. It took some research and asking around before I settles on an ID of Big Horn juveniles and ewes.

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We were soon joined by other cars which were pulling over and taking pictures. Finally the whole herd started across the road. I held my breath because the cars were really flying down this wide highway but I shouldn’t have worried. As the little parade crossed the road the on-coming traffic stopped and waited until they were safely across the road.

Then it was back on the highway for us in order to get to Hill City in time for the Train.

Water Tower Hill City

Hill City Station

Once in Hill City the Train Depot was easy to spot and we arrived with time to spare.

Lines for Train, Hill City

We picked up some snacks and soda at the snack bar for the train ride and poked around the gift shop before taking our places in a very long line to board the train.

The trip was narrated by a retired gentleman who said he was a “Workamper”. He and his wife were full time RVer’s . They travel around the country in their RV and find part time seasonal work at the various State and National Parks. His wife was working in the gift shop. This gig gave him 3 days on the train and she had 3 days in the gift shop. They would stay until the season ended and then move on. It allowed them to see the country and gave them a little income to support their retirement. Kind of a modern day gypsy.

From this very personable interpreter we learned about “summer” cows. As the train passed a herd of cows he announced that if we looked to our left we’d see a herd of summer cows. I looked and saw a plain old herd of cows. So I had to be the one to ask…what do you mean? Well he drawled, some are brown and some are black and some are spotted…“some are” (summer) cows…ohhhhhhhh!

I also found out that he suffered from CRS….I should have known better but I hadn’t learned my lesson. I bit…what’s CRS? Can’t Remember Stuff.

One thing he did tell us seriously is that the name “Black Hills” comes from the Lakota words Paha Sapa which means “hills that are black”. Seen from a distance the pine covered hills appear black.

We saw a lot of deer and pronghorns. It was fun trying to decide if they were mule deer or whitetail and then we were pulling into Keystone.

RR Station, Keystone

As soon as you exit the train you see a sign welcoming you to “Historic” Keystone. We explored up one side of the street past homemade fudge shops and souvenir stores then

crossed to street to more T-Shirts shops and every kind of souvenir stand you can imagine. Mixed in were little restaurants and fast food eateries. We found one that offered a buffet and settled in for lunch.

Following our lunch break we continued down this boardwalk investigating each of the stores and emporiums along the way. It had clouded up and before too long it started to rain. A gunslinger came out of the “saloon” and began trying to drum up business for the afternoon vaudeville show. He was soon joined by a 2^nd cowboy , this one cracking a whip. I don’t know how much success they had because we had to skip it. We needed to get back to the station for the return trip to Hill City.

She's comin' 'round the mountain

On that note I will leave you with one last gem form the train narrations. Upon complaints from a miner’s wife that none of the family mines had ever been named in her honor, her husband complied and named one “the Holy Terror!”.

Black smoke belches as they stoke the engine

Tomorrow I’ll tell you about our visit to the Wild Horse Sanctuary, so we’ll be heading back down to Hot Springs in the morning.

Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, S.D.

Posted on January 17, 2011January 17, 2011 by Dusty Roads

The Jeep tour of Custer wrapped up at around lunchtime so we headed out to find someplace to have a bite to eat and since we were already ½ way to Hot Springs decided to continue down to the Mammoth Site. The weather was turning threatening and this is an enclosed dig so it made sense.

Although we were using maps we didn’t realize that we would be driving through Wind Cave National Park until we saw the signs. The roads are wide, paved and well maintained but don’t take that for granted and put the pedal to the medal. Out here the wildlife rules! Pronghorn were everywhere and we saw plenty of deer too but what you really had to be careful about was the buffalo.

Wind Cave Buffalo

As we came around a curve there was another herd crossing the road. We pulled into a parking area and took some more pictures. The buffalo were spread out through a prairie dog town and the little rodents we busy “barking” alerts and scampering between burrows.

Prairie Dog Town

Eventually the herd moved on and we resumed our trek south.

Reaching Hot Springs I was impressed by what a pretty town it was. I also got quite a scare because I think we nearly were hit by one of the turkey vultures in the area. I only got a glimpse of the bird that dive bombed the car but it was big and ugly! It almost flew right into the windshield on the drivers side. Thankfully it missed us and I didn’t run into anything but it did leave my heart pounding like mad! A modern-day pterodactyl? We are in fossil country.

A little farther on we spotted the sign for the Mammoth Site.

The Mammoth site is open all year. It is a combination of working dig, museum and educational center. Allow at least an hour to take the tour and explore the exhibits. I loved the way there were markers placed in the dig with explanations of what you were looking at. The tour guide also explains a great deal and gets the kids involved with facsimile bones and skeletons.

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The 36,000 sq. ft. visitor center is climate controlled and includes a kid’s activity area to provide budding young scientists with “hands-on” experience.

As you tour the site you will see bones still in the same place that they were found. The site was a huge sink hole that filled with water. Mammoths and other animals came to the sink hole to drink, fell in and could not get out again. Eventually the sink hole filled in again and the animals were buried and became fossilized. The site was discovered when the “hill” was being bulldozed for a building project and the operator spotted bones being uncovered. He stopped and called in the scientists and the rest as they say is history, the Mammoth Site was born.

Since it’s discovery in 1974 the remains of 58 mammoths that includes 55 Columbian and 3 woolly mammoths have been recovered. Scientist believe there could be as many as 100 mammoths in this small area.

If you have any interest in fossil hunting or paleontology, this is a not to be missed stop on any itinerary.

It was getting late in the day so we turned our rental northward to get back to Rapid City but there was still one more surprise for us today.

Tell you all about that tomorrow J