SOFT AS GOOSE DOWN

That is, until one of these sleeping dinosaurs turns postal.  Those are TEETH!

LEE'z B'z GO GROCERY SHOPPING

After a weirdly warm winter, we're having a very early warm Spring season.  I started feeding The Ladies with sugar water, but it appears Mother Nature stocked the grocery shelves somewhere out in the forest.  See the food they are packing back home in their thigh-high grocery bags.


I find the last picture below to be the most interesting.  It appears to support the claim that hive-bound bees intercept incoming forager bees to transfer pollen, so the foragers can take off right away and get back to the grocery store.  What do you think?

SENIOR EXPLORERS PURSUE THE CAVALRY

On January 14 the Black Hills Explorers set out to find the remnants of General Custer's cavalry unit.  We found plenty strong evidence at the old Fort Meade cavalry training grounds.  Starting from the Alkali Creek trail head of the Centennial trail, the Explorers hiked a few miles overland to Fort Meade for a sit-on-the-ground picnic lunch.  We also examined historical photo's and stories about how Ft. Meade was formed originally from the remaining soldiers of General Custer's unit (thanks to a great book recommended by Nila Boone, from the Canyon Lake Center's library).


En route we found an overlook to gaze down upon the Ft. Meade National Cemetery.  The turn-around destination was another overlook, one that provides a vast and dramatic panoramic view of Ft. Meade with Bear Butte in the background.  Along the way we saw historical evidence of the old cavalry training area.  


We also discovered old ruts in the prairie left over from the 1870's Sydney-Deadwood Trail.  Sidney, Nebraska was a booming freighting point when gold was discovered in the Black Hills.  (Not to mention its 80 saloons, plus gaming halls and brothels.  Initially, Sidney was the most established trading-supply point for Deadwood, the largest town in the Black Hills.  Then the trains came to the Black Hills.



And, did you know our current national anthem was first formally played officially at Ft. Meade?  Standing on the hillside overlooking Ft. Meade, imagining the thousands of pioneers who tread the wagon trails on this ground, contemplating the thousands of U.S. veterans who have served and been treated there...I could nearly hear the U.S. flag fluttering proudly in the wind at fort down below, lofting its song upon the prairie wind: 

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, 

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!.

   

WINTER SCIENCE PROJECTS FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN

Grandpa Lee assembled some winter-relief science-learning packages for his grandchildren.  Well, for their parents, too.  Kinda parent-child sorta stuff.  


Annalise will recieve a refurbished hand made mahogany cabinet her grandpa made in 1968.

Paul will become custodian for a 30-year old professional-grade laboratory microscope.  Great for helping the kiddo's grow up science-like and all that.

SATURDAY CHORES ON THE FARM

The geese decided to try for their Saturday baths.  It was a bit cold.  The grey goose kept shouting "Hurry!  Before it freezes again."

SENIOR EXPLORERS FIND GOLD AT SILVER CITY

Golden wintry scenery, that is.  On December 10, thirteen Black Hills Explorers went in search of outdoor adventure on Deer Creek Trail near Silver City.  What they found was a bitterly cold trail with a silver lining that evolved as the day went on, to a toasty golden sunny landscape that was seasonally decorated with beautiful ice formations of all shapes and sizes along Rapid Creek.

The trek crisscrossed six impressive heavy-timber pedestrian bridges, and passed between deep, vertical canyon walls of rock warmed by the direct rays from a low winter sun.

The entire trail is on an old railway bed, with smooth surface and gradual slope.  However, that did not prevent having to deal with slippery footing on ice and snow.  As part of the day’s adventure, trip leader Lee Alley provided a short seminar on how to select and use snow shoes on various trail conditions such as found that day.

To learn of next month’s program, see the Black Hills Explorers’ web site, www.BlackHillsExplorers.org or call group leader Lee Alley at 605.863.0806.  To receive activity announcements, and to get last minute alerts on travel changes, send your email address to Lee@LeeAlleyRealEstate.com. 

We Found a Golden Winter's Day Near Silver City

The purpose of the Black Hills Explorers is to explore new knowledge, activities and places in the Black Hills in order to better appreciate where we live.  The group normally meets the second Saturday of each month by 8:15AM at the Canyon Lake Center (but check each time, for occasional re-scheduling).   Sign up at least two days prior, in the Canyon Lake Center office.  Van seating is first-come/first-served for pre-signups. Be sure to read the special Participation Guidelines for each trip when you sign up. 

No Exploration Activity for November

Sorry to say, we will not have a monthly Explorers activity this month of November.  

We -will- meet on December 10 at CLSC.  Please sign up in the CLSC office at least two days before, by 5PM Wednesday, December 7 if you want to reserve space on the van (first-signed...first-seated).  We've had a number of recommendations for checking out the Little Devil's Tower area.  If you have an alternate suggestion please let me know.  See you all on December 10!

-Lee

PS:  We've had a number of folks indicate an interest in snow-shoeing in January - March some time.  If that interests you, then you may want to get your request in to Santa for some snow shoes, and (I highly recommend) two adjustable-height hiking poles.