Mt. Rushmore

Sorry for the interruption of postings.  Traveling up and down the mountains and camping in the parks doesn't bode well with Internet accessibility.  We have been trying to keep our travel dialog current off line and post when we are able.


Saturday, September 10

We returned to Mt Rushmore to see some of the things we were not able to see the night before.  The amphitheater is a relatively new structure being completed in 1998.  We watched the informational video and tagged along on a ranger guided walk to the base of the monument.

from the base of the mountain

From there we took the scenic Peter Norbeck Byway through the Black Hills.  This circle which includes the iron mountain road was breathtaking.  Thank goodness John was navigating the hairpin turns, switchbacks and tunnels through the mountains. 

  At numerous vantage points along this route we could still see 

Mt Rushmore off in the distance.  At one point we came through a tunnel and there it was staring us in the face. What a surprise. 

red patches on the hills

Most of the trees  in the Black Hills are Ponderosa Pines which are a very dark green.  Seen from a distance they appear black, hence the name; The Black Hills.  Large red patches were very noticeable on the hillsides.  These are the trees that have been killed by the infestation of the pine beetle.  

stumps from tree removal

We saw these piles of dead trees everywhere.

Then we drove up to Powell, Wyoming.  This was about a 5 hour drive which included some of the most  wide open country we have seen.  It was also the straightest, flattest, and longest road we have been on yet,  but as the journey continued the topography became some of the most beautiful , mountainous scenery we’ve seen.   We traveled on rt14 and 14A through Big Horn National Park Byway climbing to  8,347 ft. and then back down again.