Another Giant Head
Begun in 1948 the Crazy Horse Memorial is still far from finished with no completion date scheduled.
The Black Hills region of South Dakota is unofficially the world’s capital of giant heads; four on Mount Rushmore and one memorial to Crazy Horse.
After a long drive to an aborted hike took us within 10 miles of the memorial, we decided to swing by and check it out. At the foot of the mountain we found a small information booth and figured we could get directions to a new hiking trail – the day was not completely lost. Or so we thought. When I approached the booth I must have missed the quote marks surrounding the word “information” because none was to be had there.
Resigned to the fact that hiking was not in our immediate future, I asked about the price of admission to the memorial. “$10 each.”
“But it’s not even close to being finished,” I protested. “Twenty bucks seems kind of steep, don’t you think?” A disinterested shrug answered my question. I persisted by pointing up the mountain. “I can see it from here for free.” Another shrug.
Closing my wallet, I promised to return once the memorial is finished. Expected completion date: undetermined.
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Photo of the Day: New Orleans Cemetery
Walking Distance
“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.” – Steven Wright
That is mostly true, but I’m pretty sure I can’t walk to Japan. Not because of the distance involved but because it is an island. As much as I like to think I’m perfect, my water walking skills are strangely underdeveloped.
But the larger point is accurate. Plenty of people walk the entire 2,181-mile length of the Appalachian Trail. Others have walked coast to coast. Further treks are possible for anyone with the determination to undertake them. So it’s true that “walking distance” isn’t really an objective distance at all but rather a personal preference.
Giant Heads
There are few places as uniquely American as South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore. No U.S. road trip would be complete without a stop at the giant granite visages of these four historic presidents. Yet it is also one of those places that everyone has already seen in pictures, and pictures do it justice.
Photo of the Day: Devils Tower
Devils Tower Wyoming
Missed Opportunity: Climbing Devils Tower
We should have pursued it, but laziness won out. Climbing Devils Tower in Wyoming, if only to a height of a couple dozen feet with a class for climbing noobs, would have been a worthwhile and memorable experience.
The truth is Read more…
Wild
There’s something magical about nature in the wild.
Horses, majestic as they are, are not particularly exotic animals. We routinely see them on farms and in stables. But catching sight of a pair of mustangs, unbridled and unbroken – standing free on a wind-swept mountain – is an entirely different experience.
Can you hear me now?
Yes, even atop Buck Hill in the heart of the North Dakota badlands, with no sign of civilization for miles in any direction, Shannon can in fact hear you. Our Verizon cell phones registered two bars at this remote location, demonstrating the increasing futility of trying to “get away from it all.”
Close Encounters of the Bison Kind
A bestial growl, almost feline in nature, first caught our attention. Somewhere off in the distance, a cacophony of grunts and bellows followed. We listened for a short time before deciding a couple of things: the noise originated from within our campground; a large group of animals were responsible; we had no idea what kind; if we wanted to find out, we’d have to go investigate. Grabbing my camera we headed for the door.
Wanderings 