Pullin' Chocks

Little Devil's Tower and Cathedral Peaks, Custer State Park South Dakota

On this particular hike we reached the summit of Little Devil's Tower at 6,982 ft and we also walked through part of the Cathedral Spires trail which took us down into the valley for magnificient close up views of the huge rocks.  The Cathedral Spires of Custer State Park are a unique feature that manage to stand out from the dramatic landscape of the Black Hills

Each hike we experience something different and wonderful.  On this hike I would say that it was meeting Harold and Harriet at the trail crossing of Little Devil's Tower and the Cathedral Spires.  We stopped and talked with them for a long while.  They were very experienced and gave us many very good ideas for our RV lifestyle and travels.  We ended up on top of Little Devil's Tower with them.  A great couple we were fortunate to cross paths with.

We rode on the new road work, Blue Star Memorial Highway, getting into this section of the park.  It is a series of tight switchbacks leading to a narrow rock tunnel.  We easily had 12 inches clearance on each side of Pepe.

Video going through the rock tunnel.

We left Pepe here.  Stay boy.

 Gari ready to go at the Trail Head marker.

Hiking instructions

Off we go!

Pretty, pretty, pretty!

Gari pointing to the needle eye she spied.

 Gari is giving the heart sign, love it!

No kidding, that's the trail!  That a blue arrow painted on the rock to the right.

 A view on the way up.

Taking a break.

A quartzy seam we used as stairs.

 Making progress.

 Looking back the hounds are gaining on us.

The last section to the top.

We're on top now!  That's Harold and Harriet near Steve.

Steve exploring the summit.

There's Gari! She is a stealthy creature that knows how to avoid the camera.

Views from the top.  The flat-top rock at center frame is the backside of Mt. Rushmore.

Tower atop Harney Peak. It's far away, see it?

Zoomed in, easy to see the tower now.

Telephoto zoom in on the Harney Tower.  That's a hike on our list of things to do.  We can see the people in the tower!

 Cathedral Spires to the east.

Southern view

Time for a break.  That's Harold and Harriet at the top.

Gari's still taking pictures, Steve's eating!

Steve has his banana.

 View of the spires from the picnic spot.

 Granola bar overlooking Harney Peak, see the tower?

Lots of chipmunks joining us for lunch.

Turning to head back down toward the Cathedral Spires.

We're following Harold and Harriet.

Our hero shot overlooking the Cathedral Spires valley.  This is where we first met Harold and Harriet.

There's the trail down into the valley of the Cathedral Spires

 Entering the valley.

 We're at the bottom now.

Gari found what looked like an Easter Island rock sculpture.

I don't always drink a beer after hiking, but when I do I drink at Miner's microbrewery in Hill City, South Dakota.

 ... which we did!