There were quite a few people on different parts of Black Elk Peak’s summit, on July 21:  The usual college-age guys posing for photos, on the most seemingly inaccessible rocks; the young ladies, sun-bathing, on their own “private” section of boulder, and folks like me, checking out pools of water in the area once used as a water-collection spot for the fire watch crew.

Throughout nature, living creatures seek companionship.  Look closely, and you will see two butterflies.

On the way down, along Trail # 9, I came across an injured man, whose party had already requested medical assistance.  The dangers of heat prostration cannot be minimized.  I was fortunate to have an abundance of water, on hand.  The Search and Rescue crew passed me, about a mile further down the trail.  They have some amazing equipment in this area.

Passing the westernmost boulders, at the base of Black Elk Peak, I bid the fair mountain thanks and farewell.

Thus ended this phase of my spiritual quest.  It brought me in touch with myself, forced me to confront my darker places, and helped cleanse those areas.  My focus now was on crossing the prairie, to Pipestone National Monument, in southwest Minnesota.

Cathedral Spires is an area where I could camp for days on end, if it were permissible.

Yet, there was something of grandeur lying ahead for me, on Sunday afternoon, July 21:  The summit of Black Elk Peak.

The columbine were there to send me forward.

As I ascended, the views of the surrounding Black Hills region underscored the uplifting air.

While the haze was a small bit of a damper, one can look beyond it and be glad for such as this.

The summit was now just a stone’s throw away, once past this little “tunnel”.

Upon reaching the summit, I found several rather hazy views, but there was also this:

and this,

this,

courtesy of this:

It was a beautiful day, in the hawks’ neighbourhood.

Next:  Playtime at the summit and someone’s harrowing descent

After spending about an hour at Crazy Horse Monument, I headed directly for Custer State Park, and Sylvan Lake.  From there, Trails 4 & 9 offer breathtaking choices, in heading for the summit of Black Elk Peak, another mountain that is sacred to indigenous people of the High Plains.    I will describe my hike of Sunday, July 21, in three segments.  Today,  I present the first half of the ascent:  Trail #4, from Sylvan Lake to Cathedral Spires.

The photos will tell the rest.  The approach to Custer State Park offers a hint of what lies ahead on Black Elk Peak.

Next,we arrive at Sylvan Lake, a very popular fishing and swimming spot.

Now, on to Trail # 4.

The Black Hills remain heavily forested, yet have igneous, granite and limestone formations much like those of points further west.

A spire, looking like a cave, got some new friends and I in the mood for further adventures, uptrail.

The trail itself is quite moderate, in terms of elevation gain, up to and including the turnoff to Little Spirit Tower (which I did not visit, this time) and Cathedral Spires.  It was worth noting, however, the effects of heat on the quartz which is also ubiquitous here.

Now, back to the various and wondrous shapes, which the rocks present.

Wildflowers get in their two cents, every now and then.

Through it all, the rock guardians keep watch.

Soon, again alone, I came to Cathedral Spires.

From these majestic volcanic uplifts, I would continue on a somewhat steeper course, to the awe-inspiring summit of the highest mountain in the Great Plains region.

I decided to have a 3-4 hour look at the northern, less-traveled slope of South Dakota’s highest peak, on the bright and sunny Saturday afternoon, July 20.  There’s a Horse Camp nearby, but I found myself the only person on the trail, which is clear as far as a small waterfall.  This was a perfect place for me to turn around, after three hours on the trail.

Here are some views of this wilder side of the Black Hills.  I credit a family of horsefolk for showing me Trail #9.

Limestone and granite abound here, as they do in the Southwest, as remnants of glacial movement and volcanic thrust.

A lone butterfly was resting in the ash-coloured soil, as I passed carefully by.

The fruits of the butterfly’s, and other pollinators’ labours, are much in evidence here.

Monster-faced rocks added to the legends of the Arapaho, Shoshone and Crow, as well as the Siouan nations who occupied this area in more modern times.

Greeting me, and anticipating the next day’s visit, were the spires of Black Elk Peak’s summit.

Some smaller spires were well-hidden by the forest.

Others very proudly thrust their chests out.

I arrived at the falls of South Fork, Spring Creek, as the five-thirty “click” signaled to me that it was time to head back.

Tomorrow, I would be full-on, along the south slope of this magnificent peak, and would reach the top.  In between, the more settled gems of Mount Rushmore, Custer and Crazy Horse Monument awaited.