We were in 3 states today; Montana, Wyoming and ended up in South Dakota. The terrain was varied and beautiful. Our goal was to see Devils Tower National Monument before camping in Spearfish for the night. The monument rises 1,267’ above the Belle Fourche Riverbed and sits in the Bear Lodge Mountains, part of the Black Hills. It was the first U.S. national monument established in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. John and I hiked the 2 mile base perimeter. At one point we looked up and saw 3 climbers scaling the columns. Apparently, thousands climb the Tower every year; the youngest being a 6 year old boy and a 7 year old girl and the oldest, a 91 year old doctor from Florida. Normally our hike wouldn’t be that big of a feat except that the truck thermometer registered 107 degrees when we got back in. It was a short drive to Spearfish, SD afterwards while we gulped water. Spearfish was established in 1876 during the gold rush era as a supplier to the mining community. We walked the old downtown after dinner while the Friday night street festival was going on. Headed back to the City Campground when the skies started darkening. It was a pretty little park next to the “Historic Hatchery” but they pack too many campers into the back of the park where we were camped. You couldn’t tell where one site ended and another one started. Mitchell, SD and the iconic Corn Palace are the goals tomorrow.
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