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| Mount Rushmore |
We arrived late at night and were surprised by a few things. It is lit so that you can see it from a distance ...
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| Night viewing from two vantage points |
... and appreciate it as you drive by ...
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| The highway viewpoint |
We were even more surprised to find that we could drive right into the park. It is extremely impressive at night ...
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| We were inside the gates here |
But, our greater mission was to hit early for sunrise. We stopped (oh so briefly) to sleep in the room Scott had booked for us as we were driving. Since "season" was over, lots of places were closed.
But, who cares? We didn't come for restaurants and resorts.
We came for sunrise.
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| And, a pretty sunrise it was |
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| Just a few minutes of light change. |
Success!!!
We got there in time for all the early morning glory.
This is a good place to say a few words about this controversial National Park.
Yes, it's probably cheesy to carve faces into a mountain.
And, yes there are very real issues with carving up a mountain that belonged to and is considered sacred to Native Peoples.
But, this happened a while ago (it was completed in 1941).
And, you can't put the mountain back.
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| Lots of controversy, but impressive |
So, I think the best thing to do is to balance as carefully as possible the intent of this impressive work of art and the needs of the people who came before.
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| We both had to pose |
That means respecting and properly representing the past and doing no further harm. All these monuments that trampled on Native People's rights are reflections of the time in which they occurred ...
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| The monument reflecting in the Visitor Center windows |
... and, indeed, teaching opportunities. We need to embrace that.
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| Closer reflection |
Regardless of all the politics, I find it beautiful and surprisingly moving.
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| The whole thing |
Especially when you walk the avenue of flags representing all the U.S. states.
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| Celebrating America |
After sunrise, we went to breakfast (I mean, this is Mark!) and then back for a few more shots before heading home.
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| Fortunately, we had blue, blue skies |
It's hard to stop taking pictures ...
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| From a different angle |
And, it's hard to believe that much of this was carved with dynamite. Before I learned that, I always imagined guys on scaffolds and climbing ropes working away with chisels.
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| A crew making a National park video about Mount Rushmore |
But, these faces are 60 feet high.
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| Big impact |
With chisels, they would probably still be working.
I can't imagine the anxiety that came with each blast, though.
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| They really knew what they were doing |
Needles Highway
After we got enough Mount Rushmore, we drove the beautiful Needles Highway, with its tunnels constructed to frame Mount Rushmore.
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| Great views of Mount Rushmore (and Mark) |
I am sure Guidebooks tell you that, but I discovered it by mistake the first time I visited when I turned around to get something out of the back seat and looked through the rearview mirror.
I could have missed it completely, but it was cool to make the discovery myself.
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| Warm enough for shirtsleeves |
South Dakota Highway 87 passes Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park (we didn't have time to visit either). The northern 14 miles of the highway is also known as the Needles Highway.
This is a spectacular drive through ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains.
Finished in 1922, the narrow, winding highway is named after the high granite "needles" it winds among.
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| The Needles |
It has two tunnels: Needles Eye Tunnel is 8' 9" wide by 9'8" high; Iron Creek Tunnel, 8' 9" wide by 10'10" high. Both can be very tricky for large vehicles.
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| Iron Mountain Tunnel |
The roadway was carefully planned by former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire course on foot and by horseback.
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| Needles |
Needles Highway closes to vehicles with the first snow of the season and does not reopen until April 1, or later depending on conditions. The trail remains open for hikers, walkers, bikers and skiers.
It was the end of the season (a common theme), so very uncrowded and peaceful. But, it warmed up nicely.
Home
Our drive home was long, but uneventful.
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| Just a few wildlife sightings; Male Pronghorn grazing |
And, the next day, the entire National Park System and all the Parks closed because of the government shutdown.
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| Photo: Rapid City Journal |
We were very lucky. We could have been blocked out of everywhere we went.
It is also a shame that ridiculous politics deny citizens entrance to these beautiful places.
Final Comments
Mark is a great travel buddy. He's up for anything, likes the same music as I do (or pretends he does) and doesn't mind stalking animals for hours. And, I love showing off my favorite Parks to first-time visitors.
It was a great trip.
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| Fun, fun, fun |
Trip date: September 26-October 1, 2013
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