SENIOR EXPLORERS HIKE 1200 FEET UP TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF BEAR BUTTE

Most of us know about Bear Butte, a stand-alone monolith towering 1,200 feet above the prairie just east of Sturgis. But did you know it was originally formed 2,000 feet underground?  On September 10 the Black Hills Explorers climbed high to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Photo (c) 2011 Lee Alley

The Butte, called Mato Paha (“Bear Mountain”) by the Sioux Indians, is so named for its resemblance to a reclining bear in eternal sleep resulting from combat injuries.  On this trip, the Explorers were joined by geology professor Alvis Lissenbee, who has studied the geology of the area extensively.  Lissenbee explained that around 50 million years ago, this entire area was covered by a lake bed 2,000 feet above the current prairie. Then, Dr. Lissenbee explained, molten magma (quartz monzonite) from far below was thrust upward into higher underground cavities.  That is the same extra-hard material of the boulders and needles around Mt. Rushmore.  However, the magma that formed what is now Bear Butte chilled more quickly, resulting in its highly fragmented small pieces.  Eventually the softer sandstone and shale over and around this mass has eroded, swept toward the Gulf of Mexico, leaving the Butte to stand 1,200 feet above its surroundings.  We were also joined by one of the park rangers who helped us appreciate the long-held deeply spiritual place of Bear Butte in Lacota culture.  There was an impressive display of items used in Lacota spiritual practices.

Like walking on tennis balls.

On this adventure the Explorers were made uncomfortably aware of the small talus rocks that formed the Butte, as they rolled and slid under underfoot.  The trip to the top was long, steep, hot, and sometimes precarious.  If one goes, it should be noted that some of the stairs are difficult to manage, and some in need of repair.  However, the reward for reaching the summit was a delightful 360-degree panorama of the entire Black Hills skyline, from Crow Peak west of Spearfish, to The Needles south of Harney Peak, plus the vastness of the surrounding prairie.

Some of many steps along the way.
(Sorry, Google's Blogger insists on us hiking sideways!)

On October 8 the Explorers will celebrate its first annual Fall Foliage Foto Tour, this year along the Horse Thief Lake Trail.  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.  For questionable weather, check the web site prior to leaving. 

More information about the Black Hills Explorers can be found at www.BlackHillsExplorers.org or by calling Lee Alley at 605.863.0806.  Any person of any age is invited to accompany the Black Hills Explorers’ activities, and encouraged to join the Canyon Lake Center.  Be sure to read the special Participation Guidelines for each trip when you sign up. 

What's in a name?  The first to summit:
Kathleen, Kathy, Cathy and Kathryn.
Too bad my wife, Kathryn wasn't able to come.

Well, hey.  Why not?  Google's software won't allow this upright either!
This is Dr. Alvis Lissenbee describing how the Black Hills were formed sideways.

The Black Hills Explorers

Thanks, Clint, for this GPS track of our route.

SENIOR EXPLORERS SHOOT PIXEL-PERFECT PICTURES

Have you ever wanted to take great pictures of your adventures, then share them with friends and family?  On August 13, members of The Black Hills Explorers attended a workshop at the Canyon Lake Center to improve their skills in taking digital photo’s, enhancing the photo’s on a computer, then sharing the results with friends and family.  As part of the workshop, members practiced their new skills with a “field trip” to photograph scenery, close-ups of flowers and critters, and portraits of friends.

The workshop covered three aspects of digital photography.  The first topic “exposed” essential facts about the inner workings of a digital-image computer file, how to set the cameral to take the best pictures, and what the photographer can do to help the camera do its best job.  In the second segment, participants learned how to move the digital photo’s from the camera to a PC, and then how to edit (“tweek”) each photo’s size, framing, color, brightness, and even clarity.  In the third and final workshop segment the new photographers learned how to organize their photo’s on a PC, how to set up an online album, and how to email photo’s to friends and family. 

These Are Glamorous Models Recruited for the Pictures

Kathy Goodrich-Wilmes Snaps a Close-up Flower Photo

Instructor Lee Alley editing one of his photo's.

CHICKENS GET FOX-PROOF BLIZZARD DOORS

I heard about a book written in, I think, 1924 that claims chickens benefit as much from feathers for warmth as people do if we make coats out of their feathers.  

The book also claims chickens suffer more from moist, musty, deseased, pest-ridden enclosed chicken houses than from exposure to cold.  Hmmmm....who woulda thought, keeping chickens warm with a form-fitting feather coat.    The author, an MD, made extensive studies of commercial and research chicken operations in the northeastern states and concluded the best chicken house is not closed to keep them warm, but rather open on one side to keep their air fresh.  Cold fresh air over warm, dank air.  


However, my night vision videos disclosed we have a pair of foxes living on our property.  They would love an open front chicken buffet.

However, the book's author admitted that on the most bitterly cold blizzards it is ok to enclose the chicken house.  We also respect that chickens are just plain happier and more productive when not laying eggs pre-frozen.

Nervous Deer and Fanciful Foxes at Our Forest Pond in Piedmont, SD

I placed a motion-activated trail camera on a tree trunk, overlooking the water's edge of a pond on one of our properties in the Black Hills, SD.

FOR VIDEO CLICK THE CAPTION BELOW






Nervous Deer and Fanciful Foxes

   
Well, that doe is apparently still dating that worthless buck.  Even after he failed to rescue her from the Invisible Pond-monster.  In the non-color scenes, the two are out on a midnight date, by infra-red light.  Maybe she doesn't want to be seen with him in daylight any more.

In the Frantic Deer scene, we believe the little fella is being stung by wasps.  These wasps' stings are far more potent than a simple honey bee.

I think this pair of foxes used our free-range chicken flock as a buffet before the chickens learned to go in to the hen house at night.

Stay tuned.  More to come.

A LATE-JULY FOREST MOZEY

The goats and I were kinda bummed-lonesome with Jane gone so we decided to cheer ourselves up with a walk in the woods and to high places.  It worked.  It sure cheers things up to wander around nibbling on Mother Nature's grass and Grandma Jane's sausage biscuits.

Custer with Bear Butte in Background

Saving the Good Stuff for Later

MAKING FACES

Just some random glimpses of the faces of a wonderful life at Ten Green Acres in South Dakota.  Nothing like it.  

Goose Eye

Cat's Eye

Goose Eye

Eagle Eye

Glass Eye

Haunted Eye

SENIOR EXPLORERS REACH HIGHEST SUMMIT EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Four generations of enthusiastic men, women and children embarked on a Black Hills Explorers adventure to the summit of Harney Peak on July 9.  After hiking some of the members went fishing in Sylvan Lake, others went swimming at the Sylvan Lake beach, and others rested in the shade on the lush lawn at the shore.

The seven-mile round trip hike with 1,100-foot elevation gain reaches the old CCC fire watch tower.  In 1855 the 7,242-foot mountain, highest point east of the Rocky Mountains, was named for General William Selby Harney.  The tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 then de-activated in 1967.  On the day of this hike, clear skies and cool breezes provided an impressive 360 degree unobstructed panorama of the entire Black Hills, plus parts of four states.

The Black Hills Explorers group normally meets the second Saturday of each month at 8:15 at the Canyon Lake Center (but check each time, for occasional re-scheduling).   Advance signups are in the office.  On August 13 from 8:30 – 11:30 (during the Rally and typically one of the hottest weeks of the year), the group will meet in the Canyon Lake Center for a digital photography workshop.  This learning-adventure will help Explorers learn how to take better outdoor photo’s, edit (improve) photos on a PC, then store and email the photos to friends and family.  Participants may bring a digital camera.

More information about the Black Hills Explorers can be found at www.BlackHillsExplorers.org or by calling Lee Alley at 605.863.0806.  Any person of any age is invited to accompany the Black Hills Explorers’ activities, and encouraged to join the Canyon Lake Center.  Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Explorers en route to the Harney Peak Fire Tower (in background)

 Jim and Gigi Kern almost to the top with The Needles in the background

April Malik with her daughters Alysala, Aisha, Aleeya, Aisulu, Asea

Sylvan Lake and Beach