Final days in the Black Hills
Mt Rushmore has been an American icon since it was completed in 1941.  The sculptor and his team took 14 years to carve the heads of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt and created an inspiring monument and one of the most visited attractions - Mount Rushmore National memorial.  we have visited it on each of our previous visits to the Black Hills and it still stops us in our tracks.

We had breakfast in the great dining room at Mt Rushmore with Ron and Mason on one Sunday. It was a beautiful sunny and clear morning - perfect to mingle with hundreds of others to take in the view.





Another place that I especially wanted to return to was Harney Peak. I have hiked it on previous occasions but it has been a number of years since I last stood on the highest point between the Rockies and the Alps in Europe. It is 7242ft, just a bit higher than Mt Kosciosko. The hike is almost 8 miles or 13 kms.
Ron put his hand up to take me on the hike. We left the lake early and arrived at the car park for the trail head about 8.15am. There was no one else on the trail for the first part of the hike - a cool start but it certainly warmed up.  The view from the top was spectacular especially as it was a clear morning. The hike took about an hour and a half each way - give or take - with about 50 minutes on the top. Fabulous!!

Come with me!






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One little bit of history ... this guy called Valentine McGillycuddy (1849-1939) a controversial pioneer of the effort to build a sustainable relationship between the United States and the Native American people was the first known person to climb Harney Peak. His ashes are entombed at the top of Harney Peak behind a plaque that reads "Valentine McGillycuddy, Wasitu Wacan" - Lakota, translates as Holy White Man

Hope you enjoyed the trip!!!