Highpoint #17 - White Butte, ND

White Butte near Amidon, ND

Probably should have started out a little earlier to avoid the heat on Friday, July 22, 2011, but we were able to hike this in about 2 hours. As you can see from the pictures, no shade! And it does get hot in North Dakota! White Butte near Amidon, ND, is 3506 ft. and offers a spectacular view of other buttes across the plains. The night before our hike, we stopped in Bowman, ND, at the Visitor's Center and picked up a brochure which gave us directions. Only problem is that the roads are not named, so follow the directions exactly and you won't get caught driving south down the wrong road like we did.




Leave a donation in the mailbox and hike through the owner's land.

 We did call the phone number on the brochure to ask permission to hike through the private property, but no one answered and no one returned my call. We left a donation and hiked along the two ruts through the hayfield. When you reach the bottom of the butte, the hike is pretty steep. You'll see a few different trails leading to the summit, and you will have to decide which one to take. The trail along the fence looked a little difficult, so we took a longer, less steep path. On the way down, we decided to travel along the fence. Mistake. Just too steep for us. You may think differently.



Looking back toward the car.



Wish we could have driven a little closer.



Highpoint #16 - Harney Peak, SD

Harney Peak Tower, SD

Custer State Park near Custer, SD, holds magnificent wonders. On a beautiful Thursday, July 21, 2011, we hiked the 3.25 mile Trail #9 to Harney Peak. Took us about 3.5 hours to hike up (yes, we're slow, but the journey is more important than the destination!) We had more than enough water (about 3 liters), but noticed many people hiking with one bottle of water. I never can figure that one out.

The stone tower was built by the CCC in 1939, and provides a fascinating overlook of the Black Hills. Harney Peak is 7,242 ft. with the ascent being about 1,100 ft. Many people were on the trail, young and old. We descended in about 3 hours - there's a nasty little uphill stretch on your way down. Starting out we almost made the mistake of taking Trail #4 which intersects with #9. That's fine if your up for a difficult hike.

 



Harney Peak from the trail.

While you're in the area, visit Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, Wind Cave, and Mammoth site. South Dakota has a great website for all of the state parks. The night before our hike, we camped at Center Lake. The Sylvan Lake Recreation Area is beautiful, so save time to take a dip in the lake. We ate a late lunch in the restaurant at the Sylvan Lake Lodge (after a shower, of course.) 

This hike and the drive up Needles Highway to the trailhead has spectacular scenery!

Highpoint #15 - Panorama Point, NE

Panorama Point near Kimball, NE

On Tuesday, July 19, 2011, we "climbed" the highest point in Nebraska, by "climbing" into Georgie's Rav4 and driving southwest of Kimball. At 5,424 ft. above sea level, Panorama Point is higher than the mile high city of Denver! The only difficult part of reaching this highpoint is driving on all the unpaved roads and through the property owner's fields. This pretty much has the same feel as the Kansas highpoint of Mt. Sunflower. Be sure to stop by the Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce, 122 S. Chestnut St., Kimball, NE 69145 (ph: 308-235-3782). to get a brochure, map, and a personalized certificate. And, no, we did not see any buffalo in this field. We did, however, pass a few buffalo on a ranch on our way to view the Tri-State Corner.

Books We Recommend

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

                    A well written story, funny, and worth reading whether or not you ever run. You'll learn the importance of the strength in your feet, the correct shoes, and form--even if you just walk for exercise.

The Backpacker's Handbook by Chris Townsend

                                    This book is very detailed about backpacking and you can learn a great deal from it. The author has more than 30 years of experience and has personally tested all kinds of gear, hiked all kinds of terrains and climates. Learn about ultra-light backpacking, how to choose your gear, and prepare for the challenges of wilderness adventure. Make sure you get the latest edition.

How to Shit in the Woods, Second Edition: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art by Kathleen Meyer

                                    Let's face it--we are trained very early in life to use toilet facilities. If the thought of primitive camping leaves you dreading it, this book is for you.The narrative is very matter of fact, and even strategic about the how- to's of relieving yourself in the woods.