When you open yourself up to life, Life opens up to you!: Custer State Park, South Dakota

April 25 – May 3

We had a lot of fun exploring Custer State Park in several ways: Scenic Drive, Hiking, and a Jeep Tour!

I talked about the drive a bit in prior posts, with the crazy tunnels, twisty curves, but the views!! Oh my the views. I'll post some of what I took at the end of this post. So many breathtaking vistas. The other fun part of the scenic drives where the animals: Buffalo, Antelope, Deer, Donkeys, and even some wild Turkeys. Oh and a distance view of Elk.

Played tourist and took a Jeep Tour of the park which got us up close and personal to the Buffalo and Donkeys (affectionately known as the Begging Burrows). Got to go to those places in the park where cars can't. The driver/tour guide was very informative, being the 4^th generation on the ranch he lived on gave him great insight and knowledge of the history of the land, park, and animals. If you ever get there and do the tour, ask for Roger.

It was Roger who explained the difference between a Buffalo and a Bison. It depends on which side of the fence their in, LOL. If you are from there they are Buffalo, if you are from elsewhere they are Bison. Actually, they are the same animal, the scientific name for the American Bison or Buffalo is Bison bison, but hey have you ever heard of Bison, NY?? or how about Bison Bill?? nope. Buffalo was the name the French gave them for the shaggy mane: Buffles. In the Sioux-Lakota language, it is “Tatanka” which means “He Who Owns Us.” By any name they are big, incredible strong, and surprising fast with a speed of 35 miles per hour: Truly majestic animals with soulful eyes.

Did several short hikes which were, one up to the Fire Tower and memories of some very important people in my life growing up. My dad, Uncle Bill, Uncle Andy, Harold; they were all part of the NJ Forest Fire Service and great men. I grew up with State Fire Truck B-25 in my backyard and got to go up in the Fire Tower in Jamesburg often. These men as well as others taught me the love of nature, the woods, and a healthy respect for what is there and of fire. I have been honored in knowing them.

Onward to Sylvan Lake. Beautiful area.

What an entertaining, surprisingly challenging hike it was. According to the write up it was just hike around the lake, that sounds nice, and yes, it was nice but its what they didn't tell you that made it, umm, interesting. Started out nice and easy wide pathway.

Go around the bend and oops, first obstacle, a large patch of slushy snow/ice to get through. Okay, not so bad, just take your time.

Continued on, go down to the end and follow the trail around those rocks, HA, that brings you to a narrow tunnel covered in ice. Oh goody. Does that stop us, of course not, fortunately the walls are close enough to help.

Get through in one piece and come around to the back of that mountain of rock, other WOW!! Okay now just a scramble up and over those rocks there, ha piece of cake.

Cool slit through there and just a bit further up the scramble, yep, another WOW!

Over the rocks and down the hill it evens out a bit until, well more scrambling! Hey, Look, I made it!! Playing a bit of peek a boo is always fun. More great views and a deserved break!