A Saturday in South Dakota

Today is Saturday. It's overcast, slightly. There's a call for rain, but I'm not going to let it rain on my parade.  I've been scheduling the night before the next day's hike so that I can plan the day. Well, I didn't do that very well today. So, "I wung it."

I decided to take a drive out of Rapid City toward the direction on Hwy 16 that I've been going the last couple of hikes. I hiked Boulder Hill, which is pretty strenuous, and another part of the Flume Trail here in the Black Hills.

I passed those two places, and I knew it was Open Weekend at Custer State Park. No fees for fishing, hiking, or entering the park. So, hey, I stopped by good ol' Mount Rushmore in the meantime, too.  I took a couple of back roads, and I decided that we're okay to hike starting at about 11 til about 1. That's long enough for about a 2-3 mile hike. I stopped at the Visitor's Center, and they directed me around the park after I had said that I was going to do the Cathedral Spires Hike. Their faces lit up. I told them I was hiking with baby girl, and they thought that was awesome. That's where we headed.

Who ever thought that South Dakota was so beautiful? I definitely did not. And, shame on me. It's glorious. The Cathedral Spires are a registered natural landmark, and they darn well should be! It was a moderately strenuous hike, but relatively short. The view once we reached the top was just breath-taking. I was in awe.  The formations reached up toward the sky, toward the heavens above. The clouds would move and change directions. I heard climbers atop these crazy rocks, and they would summit and change climbers. My daughter loved it. We had peanut butter sandwiches and fruit. I carried her up the most challenging rock scrambling section, but she walked the entire return.

I, sadly, only had my phone to take pictures... I left my battery back at the hotel, but they are still incredible photos.

I had some thoughts today. I want to be better everyday. I want to be outside everyday. I want to write everyday. I am getting what I want right now. I'm trying to be thankful for that today. 

Tomorrow we will be returning to Custer State Park. Sylvan Lake is where Adam will be fishing, and I'll hopefully hike to the top of Harney Peak solo. More soon! Keep following, I'll be posting daily! Check Facebook!