Bert Gildart - Hiking the Black Hills Country: A Guide to More Than 50 Hikes in South Dakota and Wyoming

Many individuals from the different public lands agencies and other organizations helped with the third edition of this book. Thank you to everyone who answered my questions and provided great insight.

I would like to thank: Sara Erickson, Samuel Ainsley, Benjamin Schumacher, Matthew Jurak, and Eric Carney from the various Black Hills National Forest ranger districts; Patty Ressler, Matthew White, Joanna Marshaus, and Andrea Fountain of the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association; Nickolos Myers and Joanne Ensley at Devils Tower National Monument; Tom Farrell from Wind Cave National Park; Connie Wolf at Badlands National Park; Bradley Block of Jewel Cave National Monument; Kobee Stalder of Custer State Park; Jim Jandreau, Bear Butte State Park; Tim Cowman, State of South Dakota Geologist; Mark Fahrenbach and Brian Fagnan of the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Jona Ohm, Strategic Communications Director for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks; Curtis Price, Lecturer at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; LaRayne Woster, teacher at St. Joseph Indian School; William Welk of the Pennington County Highway Department; Jackie Wyatt, Vore Buffalo Jump; Marcus Lingl and LaDonna Droll from Vector; Martin and Lisa Freidel of Custer; the staff of the Hot Springs Public Library; Joe from Canyon Cab Company for picking me up at the end of the Centennial Trail; Danielle Billing of Twin Falls, Idaho; and Todd Tobin and Chris Hawkey for continued inspiration. If I have forgotten anyone, I am truly sorry.

This book would not have been possible without the guidance and support of Katherine ODell and David Legere from FalconGuides, who stuck by the project and believed in the importance of this revision even through a time of great difficulty in the world.

Even the most experienced hiker is sometimes well into a hike when he or she remembers a forgotten but necessary item. The following list is intended to help in preventing such occurrences, ensuring a more enjoyable trip. Some items on the list are essentials, but others can be included according to personal preference. Always keep the weight factor in mind. This is not meant to be a complete list.

Weather in the Black Hills can be unpredictable. Thundershowers come on a regular basis in the summer months. And if you are high on a mountain trail during a sudden shower, it can suddenly get very cold. So even if it is seventy-five degrees at your campsite, carry enough warm clothes and good rain gear to be prepared. Hiking boots should be of good quality and already broken in. Many trips have been ruined in the first few hours by new or poorly fitting boots. If you have purchased something new for a hike (tent, backpack, boots, etc.), it is a good idea to try it out, break it in, or set it up before embarking on your trek.

One final caution about drinking the water. Dont. Do not drink ituntil it has been purified with an acceptable system, that is. Wind Cave National Park and Badlands National Park have little water, and both these places are hot and dry in summer. The advice of most rangers in the Black Hills is to pack your own water. Take the water weight factor into account when planning a hike of any length.

The following checklists will help you pack well for any day or backpack trip in the Black Hills:

• ___ good-quality rain gear
• ___ warm jacket
• ___ windbreaker
• ___ wind pants
• ___ long underwear
• ___ long pants
• ___ lightweight long-sleeve shirt(s)
• ___ T-shirts and shorts
• ___ sweater or heavy shirt
• ___ socks for each day plus one extra set
• ___ underwear
• ___ hatsone wool, one with sun visor
• ___ gloves
• ___ belt
• ___ good hiking boots
• ___ extra shoes or sandals for camp and stream crossings

• ___ hot-and cold-drink mixes (tea, coffee)
• ___ dry food (dry your own or buy commercial meals, rice, beans, noodles)
• ___ hot cereal to mix with water
• ___ trail mix
• ___ high-energy snacks

• ___ tent and rain fly
• ___ warm sleeping bag and pad with stuff sacks
• ___ full-size backpack
• ___ day pack for shorter side trips from a base camp
• ___ backpack stove and fuel
• ___ cooking pot
• ___ cup
• ___ bowl
• ___ utensils
• ___ water bottle
• ___ waterproof matches in container

• ___ keys
• ___ drivers license, credit/debit card, cash
• ___ compass
• ___ maps
• ___ tick and insect repellent
• ___ sunscreen and lip balm
• ___ sunglasses
• ___ toilet paper
• ___ toothbrush
• ___ biodegradable soap
• ___ small towel/washcloth
• ___ small backpack shovel
• ___ garbage sack
• ___ plastic sandwich bags
• ___ pocket knife
• ___ binoculars
• ___ water filter or purification tablets
• ___ first-aid kit
• ___ flashlight and batteries
• ___ fishing gear and license
• ___ pocket notebook and pencil
• ___ 50-foot length of nylon cord
• ___ waterproof backpack cover
• ___ paperback book
• ___ headlamp
• ___ extra batteries
• ___ portable charger
• ___ cell phone and/or camera

The following agencies are excellent sources for maps, hiking and camping information, books, and other materials concerning the Black Hills.

Black Hills National Forest

Supervisors Office

1019 N. 5th St.

Custer, SD 57730

(605) 673-9200

101 S. 21st St.

PO Box 680

Sundance, WY 82729

(307) 283-1361

Newcastle Office

1225 Washington Boulevard

Newcastle, WY 82701

(307) 746-2782

Custer Office

1019 N. 5th St.

Custer, SD 57730

(605) 673-9200

8221 S. Highway 16

Rapid City, SD 57702

(605) 343-1567

2014 North Main St.

Spearfish, SD 57783

(605) 642-4622

Badlands National Park

25216 Ben Reifel Road

Interior, SD 57750

(605) 433-5361

Bear Butte State Park

PO Box 688

Sturgis, SD 57785

(605) 347-5240

Black Hills Parks and Forests Association

26611 US Highway 385

Hot Springs, SD 57747

(605) 745-7020

Black Hills Trails Office (George S. Mickelson Trail)

11361 Nevada Gulch Road

Lead, SD 57754

(605) 584-3896

Bureau of Land Management South Dakota Field Office

309 Bonanza St.

Belle Fourche, SD 57717

(605) 892-7000

Bureau of Land Management Newcastle Field Office

1101 Washington Boulevard

Newcastle, WY 82701

(307) 746-6600

Custer State Park

13329 US Highway 16A

Custer, SD 57730

(605) 255-4515

Devils Tower National Monument

PO Box 10

Devils Tower, WY 82714

(307) 467-5283

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

13000 Highway 244

Building 31, Suite 1

Keystone, SD 57751

(605) 574-2523

Wind Cave National Park

26611 US Highway 385

Hot Springs, SD 57747

(605) 745-4600

Jewel Cave National Monument

11149 US Highway 16

Building B12

Custer, SD 57730

(605) 673-8300

Forest Recreation Management