WE HEADED FOR THE HILLS...THE BLACK HILLS THAT IS


The harvest was done, the Dam Challenge over, and it was finally time for our very overdue vacation. Initially this vacation was meant to be a fly fishing excursion, but as the autumn moved forward and the cold air arrived, we had our doubts.


We had made reservations for a 'cabin' at a place we had happily stayed last year, and upon our arrival on Monday of last week, there was snow, and plenty of it, close to 8". As no one was at the cabin(s) to greet us, we called the number that was left with the outdoor phone. We were told how to get the key and open our cabin, which we did, to no heat or electricity.

This is how we spent the first hour and a half of our stay in the Black Hills.

After much calling around and lots of waiting, trees and branches down all over, ice encrusted the lines, and generally no one knowing when the electricity would come on again (anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 days), we left there to find other accommodations. After much indecision, lots of time, and some searching, we went to Pinerest Cabins, a place we had looked at on line prior to leaving. The woman there said she had a duplex cabin for $60 per night. We said we'd take it. As she was walking us to the cabin, she said, "Opps I haven't cleaned it yet. I'll give you Birch for the same price." Did we ever luck out. What a beautiful four room cabin with fireplace, and small kitchenette, and for only $60 per night. We stayed there for 6 nights, and it was the nicest place I have ever stayed!!

The snow remained, and we got more, but that did not deter Fishing Freddie, who did spend several days fly fishing. As I have Raynouds disease and it was in full swing, I knit or read in the sunny, cozy car, or hiked around the nearby hills.

This a picture of Freddie, on the first fishing trip, changing into his waders, well, actually getting up from just having fallen off the rock he was trying to sit on while changing into his waders. I laughed until tears fell, really this was very funny, as he did not get hurt.

This is the creek he fished that first day.

The aspens were simply glorious the entire stay. Everywhere we looked was white snow and brilliant aspens.

One day we hiked the Black Elk trail, the most beautiful of all the hikes we took. Black Elk was a Dakota shaman and we think in the above and below pictures he was either objecting to our hike or blessing us.

The Centennial Trail 89

The Centennial Trail goes for 89 miles through the Black Hills. It can be accessed from many places. We hiked portions of it several times. The vistas upon reaching the top, were truly breathtaking.

The 'summit' of one hike.

The summit of yet another hike.

We left for this trip with great doubts that we would have a good time, knowing there was likely to be snow in the hills. We did not anticipate 8", and when we arrived, we had even more grave doubts. However, it was not long into the trip, that we felt blessed by the Hills and the snow.