Jeanne Apelseth shared these photos of Bear Butte State Park and Bear Butte Lake, just a few miles north and east of Sturgis. The area is sacred to many Native American tribes. According to Cheyenne custom, Bear Butte is where holy man Sweet Medicine met the Creator and the Four Sacred Persons who guard the universe. Traditional religious ceremonies are still held there.
John Mitchell shared these photos from a section of the Mickelson Trail near Kirk Trailhead south of Lead. Trains thundered along this north-south route through the heart of the Black Hills for nearly a century. They stopped in 1983 and the abandoned line from Deadwood to Edgemont was converted to a 109-mile recreational trail. The first segment opened in 1991 with the entire route completed in 1998. It’s named after Gov. George S. Mickelson, one of the project’s first supporters. See more of Mitchell’s photos on Facebook and at sodakmoments.com.
Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Spearfish was founded in 1999 by Michael Welchynski to provide a permanent home for unwanted and abused animals. The sanctuary is home for a variety of species, from African lions to potbellied pigs. Around 300 animals live there, and he plans on taking care of them for the rest of his life, without pay. He uses donations to pay for food and care for the animals and is grateful for volunteers who help with manual labor. Photos by John Mitchell, Pierre. View more of his photos on Facebook and at sodakmoments.com.
Jan Siemucha shared these wintery photos from rural Hecla. “Most of my photos are shot around the Hecla area when I am out with my dog, Sadie,” Siemucha says. “We both enjoy the outdoors. It gives the two of us some quiet time, taking in the beauty of what natures provides for us to see each and every day. Sadie just turned 13 and is heading for 14, so our time out in the country is very special.” Siemucha is retired and enjoys photography as a hobby.
The Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup was held Friday, September 27th. Over 1,000 bison were rounded up by horseback riders to be vaccinated, branded and sorted for auction. Those sold generate money for park operations. An estimated 14,000 attended this 48th annual event.
Photos by Deborah Eich. View more of her work at lifescapephotos.blogspot.com.
The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum in Sioux Falls is home to 1,000 animals — from asian cats and anteaters to striped skunks and zebras. And it’s open year-round.
Tommie Fantine Lauer took these photos last September. Lauer was born in Sioux Falls and currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina. She makes Lennox her home when visiting South Dakota. You may view more of her photos here.
Sylvan Lake is considered Custer State Park’s crown jewel. It was created in 1881 when Theodore Reder built a dam across Sunday Gulch. It’s now a popular destination for swimming, hiking, rock climbing and fishing.
Michele Richter shared these photos from her weekend visit. “The lake was busy with people enjoying their last summer day,” Richter says. Visit this link to see more of her work.
Ancient South Dakotans left their mark on the landscape by pecking, chiseling or carving images into the rocks and cliffs around them. These images, called petroglyphs or pictographs, can be found all over the Black Hills.
Tony Diem, a California native who works for bicycle power meter manufacturers Quarq of Spearfish, recently re-discovered and photographed one petroglyph-rich site near Hermosa.”I had visited the site about 8 years before, but my friend Mike Runge, the City Archivist for Deadwood, forgot the location. My girlfriend and I set out and drove many a road to find them off of Highway 79, including LH Road and Cobb Road, and saw some beautiful country, but we came up empty. I called Mike one more time and out of the blue he gave me the directions that had eluded his memory, verbatim.”
If you’d like to see them for yourself, Tony says,”They’re located just south of Hermosa where French Creek crosses Highway 79. Turn west and follow Downen Road for about a mile and a half.”
Photos by Tony Diem.
Ten thousand hikers made the trek to the face of Crazy Horse last weekend for the mountain’s 28th annual volksmarch, or organized hike. The 6.2 mile walk is the only time visitors are allowed on Korczak Ziolkowski’s giant sculpture in progress. Photos by Bernie Hunhoff.
