Thursday, July 9, 2009
We have Internet service a bit, so I will try to post to the web site each day.
We met at the school at 2:45am! Everyone arrived on time andwe left at 3am. Easy ride to the airport and made it by 4:05am. Check in was abreeze although lengthy.
Plane left on time and we made it to Minneapolis and lefthere on time too. Arrived in Rapid City at 10am.
This was the scene of our first trip mishap. Mrs. Troy fell and injured her knee and is now having to take it easy. She cannot go on the big hike on Tuesday. She is a trooper about it, but it is best she take itslow.
We have seen so many animals it is incredible. Mule deer,bison, prairie dogs, antelope, and even Bighorn sheep! That was probably the highlight of Thursday. We saw three ram bighorns with full curls.
We have taken so many pictures, it is insane.
The cabins are awesome and were much appreciated for Thursday night’s intense thunderstorm. So much better than tents.
Kids have been very good with everyone helping.
Friday will see us taking a 12-14 mile hike.
More to come…
Friday, July 10, 2009
It rained last night and was completely overcast this morning, so we did not do the sunrise hike. We rose at 6am, had breakfast, andthen headed out to Rankin Ridge (highest point in the park), and then did thebig 14 mile hike.
It was cloudy at first, but then the sky cleared beautifully, although the temp jumped up to the low 80s. We hiked our rear-endsoff! A few of our troopers struggled but everyone made it. We found several elk carcasses, bison bones, antlers, and lots of live bison, prairie dogs, and antelope.
We made it back to the vans around 4pm and went back to camp to shower, have an early dinner, and then we took a short drive.
The kids made a great fire and sat around talking.
What will tomorrow bring????
Saturday, July 11, 2009-Day 3
Last night was like a Stephen King novel. The evening ended with the kids sleeping on the decks of their respective cabins and the morning began with a tumultuous thunderstorm! Hail pounding the cabins, lightening illuminating the rooms, and rain pounding the landscape! Yes, the kids all made it back inside! It was insane!
So, for the second straight day we were not able to do oursunrise hike. The good news is that the kids slept in until 6:30! And then…
Everything was so wet I took great pity on them and decided to take them all out to breakfast at the BlueBell Lodge. $197 later everyonewas fairly well fed.
Now, I am sure some of you have heard about the illness sweeping through the Gang. Characterized by vomiting and headaches, about 7have been affected so far. It does not seem serious and lasts about 24 hours. It has slowed us down but we are perservering.
Today we did the cave tour at Wind Cave. It was incredible. All were very impressed.
We also decided to cook hamburgers and hot dogs to try tosettle all the ailing stomachs. This was a big hit amongst the students.
Overall the kids are doing a great job. Everyone is pitching in and working hard, being polite and cooperative. So far, so great!
Alright, day 4 here we come! Horseback riding!
Sunday, July 12, 2009, Day 4
It seems we will never get our sunrise hike accomplished.Once again this morning at 4am we had severe thunderstorms. Rain like you would not believe.
Our horseback ride was scheduled for 8am and was supposed to last 2 hours, but because the trails were so muddy and there was still a threat of storms, the ride was shortened to one hour. Nevertheless, we had a great time. The ride was leisurely and the scenery was spectacular. Everyone had a wonderful time and we all wished it had lasted 2 hours!
We then came back to camp and prepared for a short 5 mile hike in Wind Cave. This time we split up into two groups of 10 and started atthe trail head of two different trails. We then met in the middle, had lunch,the chaperones swapped keys and we continued on our way. It was like a“tag-team” hike. We found a nearly complete bison skeleton, a pronghorn horn shed, and lots of other bones. It was sunny the whole way too, with temps in the low 80s.
We had one small problem when we were nearly back to ourvans when I realized I had left my brand-new binoculars at the tree where wehad lunch! So, Tom Cloutier and I shed all our gear and hoofed it back the 1 ½miles each way to get the binocs! We set a record pace and made it back roundtrip in 31 minutes!
We arrived back in camp around 3:30, everyone took showers,we ate dinner, and then we drove into the town of Custer. We spent 45 minutesin Custer and then headed off to the Crazy Horse Memorial. I had never visited before and it ws well worth seeing. We stayed for the “lazer light” show at9:30. The kids liked it but the chaperones were not impressed.
We made it back to camp at 10:30 and the sky looked good for a clear sunrise tomorrow. Finally, up at 4:30!
Monday, July 13, 2009, Day 5
Finally! Up at 4:30 for a sunrise hike! Everyone got up right away and we hit the road by 4:55. We immediately ran into a herd of bull elk and they all had the most magnificent antlers! What a sight and we even saw a few cows with calves.
We hiked up to Rankin Ridge and saw the sun rise. I am not sure the kids appreciated it as much as the chaperones, but we did it.
We then drove the wildlife loop road in Custer State Park and we saw more pronghorn antelope, bison, tons of deer, and prairie dogs. We also climbed up a rather steep hill to gain access to a cool cave.
We got back to camp, had a late breakfast and then headed to Jewell Cave. This cave was really amazing with very large, cavernous rooms.Very much different than Wind Cave. The tour lasted about 2 hours and our tour guide said our students were one of the best groups she has ever had!
After Jewell Cave, we spent 2 hours in the town of Custer,shopping and eating. Then back to the camp, a quick change of clothes and then we took the kids to Evans Plunge. It was a cool 97 degrees today and they needed a way to cool off. Evans Plunge is a natural spring and has been turned into a big swimming area. The kids had a ball. So did Mr. Peloquin!
After Evans Plunge, we trekked over to Dairy Queen and cooled off even more. The kids are eating machines. I think these kids are getting spoiled!
We had an unbelievable thunderstorm and the street outsideof DQ flooded!
Back to camp around 9pm. On the way back we saw three huge bull elk. Their antlers looked like a forest! More bison, tons of deer and antelope too.
Some of us went to bed right away because we are planning a 3:30am rise to try to get closer to the elk. Elk feed very early in the morningand we hope to get close to them while it is still dark.
Hard to believe we have only one more day in this park andthen we head to the Badlands.
Tuesday is the Mammoth Site and Mt. Rushmore.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Day 6
A few of the more adventurous souls (Taryn, Ally, Mrs.Rowden, Mr. Peloquin, Tom, Joe,Olivia F., Josh, Olivia C. ) joined me at 3:30 am for an attempt to get close to some elk. While we did not “sneak” upon any we did see some incredibly beautiful bulls. It was well worth the earlymorning rise. We were back in camp by 5:30.
The rest of the gang rose around 6:30 and we made preparations for a trip to a “laundromat.” This was a new experience for manyof our gang and it was even comical at times. We washed and dried all our clothes and then went for a tour of the Mammoth site.
The Mammoth site is a museum built on top of a sink hole inwhich some 20 mammoths were entombed some 40, 000 years ago. To see thefossilized remains of these awesome creatures is just spellbinding. We spent about 2 hours there.
We then headed back to camp for freeze dried mac and cheese.It was great. We left for Sylvan Lake and Mt. Rushmore around 1:30pm. The driveon the Needles Highway is breathtaking as the road winds its way through hugegranite peaks. The kids swam in Sylvan Lake and declared it was “not that cold.”
Next, we head to Mt. Rushmore and arrive in the town of Keystone around 5 pm. The kids had two hours to browse through town as well aseat their dinner. We headed up the road to the Mountain.
Arriving at Mt. Rushmore for 7pm, the kids watched a movie on the creation of the monument and then did what else? Shopped and ate! The evening program began at 9 and it was really great. Very moving.
We arrived back at camp at 11:30pm and very exhausted.Tomorrow is moving day. We leave for the Badlands at 10am and we need to have everything packed nice and neat. And that is a tall order for this Gang!
Everyone is doing well, the illness has seemed to pass. All students are behaving and helping out in camp. The chaperones greatly appreciate all the responsibility and politeness.
Bonus posting!
While hiking in the Badlands tonight, we saw our first rattler! Ally and Olivia F. spotted it right on the edge of the trail! It caused quite a bit of excitement!
The kids love the Badlands and are mesmerized by its beauty.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Day 7
We finally had a beautiful sunrise, but the problem was thatI was the only one awake for it! We arrived back to camp so late last night,everyone slept in until 6:30am. But we really got after it when everyone wokeup. Kids did a great job and by 9:30am we were packed and ready to hit theroad.
We drove to the Darger’s and left our chairs and left-overfreeze dried food. Pam Darger made us some pastries and coffee and lemonade.They are such great people.
We then headed to lunch in Rapid City. Everyone ate at thefast food place of their choice.
Next stop was Wall and the heralded “Wall Drug.” We spenttwo-hours and everyone shopped like crazy. I bought some great python boots!
Our final destination was the Badlands and we arrived at5pm. Everyone was very excited about real beds with sheets and pillows, and ourown showers. No more waiting in line.
We had a dinner of freeze-dried lasagna. So delicious!
After dinner we hiked the notch trail. It is a beautifulhike and very different from what the kids are used to doing. Their favoritepart was the rope ladder.
We also had some very exciting happenings when Ally Tichyspotted a rattlesnake right on the hiking trail. That got everyone’s bloodflowing! It was a small snake, only about 2’ long. He had a great rattle though!
Tomorrow is a 4:30 rise and an all day hike.
