First campsite on a ridge nestled between some large boulders.
Breakfast paraphernalia on top of large boulder
Stove, pots and hot chocs
Next boulder over, we climbed up between the two.
The trail is down there somewhere, we hiked to this spot at night.
1st sight of Harney Peak from our breakfast spot, looking SE, we'll be there tomorrow morning.
Scenic view from rock crop.
We're were amazed at how the trees grew in the rock.
The rock was filled with quartz I'm guessing. These pieces were super thin.
Can you see the shiny quartz?
Rock wall looking back along the trail.
More scenic views on rock of rock, looking NW.
Looking south where we will be going.
Looking NE to Harney Peak.
Lake Sylvan in Custer State Park.
After a refreshing swim in the very cold lake, just before the afternoon thunderstorms rolled in.
This buck was not shy
Below Cathedral Spires.
Above opposite side of Cathedral Spires. Picture taken from boulder at second nights campsite, just below Harney Peak.
Steps through boulders leading to Harney Peak. Look to the right of leaning boulder and you'll see the rock wall that was built to support metal stairs in following pictures.
Where's Lacy?
Looking W? through window in rock wall.
Taking a breather.
These steps make a crude spiral staircase to the top of rocks.
Fire tower at top of Harney, not used anymore. Harney Peak is the tallest peak East of the Rockies, 7244 ft.
Looking S at Cathedral Spires to the left and Little Devil's Tower in the center.
North, the light part in the center of photo is a KOA across from where we started.
SE
W, water hole was dammed for use when men were living in fire tower.
Cathedral Spires.
Pump house.
Pump house to left, dam top right, this all rain water.
Pump house steps up to tower
Lacy, Cathedral Spire, Little Devil's Tower. Sylvan Lake is on the other side of Spires.
Mushrooms pushing their way through the dirt and needles.
The dirt looked like glitter from the quartz.
Our boots were dusted also.
"Wild" burros once used to take people to Harney Peak. They were let loose in Custer State Park and have managed to do very well!
They don't mind asking for hand outs.
I told Mike whenever we buy land, I want a burro or two.
This one sneaked up on Mike as we were looking at the ones out my window.
Cute!!! They didn't seem to mind that we didn't have food. No telling what all they have eaten. It would have been great to see Josiah's reaction to them. "OOOOOOO!!!!"
Buffalo
This big guy was all by himself and not too far from us.
Tunnel on Needles Hwy in Custer.
Looking up through crack in rocks.
Looking back.
Horsethief Lake
We took a refreshing!! morning dip to "clean" up before our long car ride back.
Horsethief campground on south side of lake.
Bet you didn't think all this was right beside a road?
Main Street in Deadwood.
We had never seen hay bales stacked this way before.
Crop dusters practicing, this just came over the rise.
They entertained us a while.
