LEAVING WALL BEHIND
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It was sad leaving Wall, South Dakota, because there was still so much left to explore. But it was time to move on. I left fairly early, figuring I'd make a couple of stops along the way to Devils Tower.
It was partly cloudy and a little cooler than the past several days, but I could still get away with wearing shorts and a tank top.
A HEARTBREAKING SIGHT
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As I drove along Highway 34 near Whitewood, I noticed a group of horses hanging near the fence line, so I figured I'd pull over and take some pictures.
What I saw was heartbreaking. One horse was covered in burrs, and a yearling was limping and seemed skittish.
I will never understand how people can let things get to that point. I'll just leave it at that.
AN UNEXPECTED STOP
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I was looking at Google Maps when I stumbled across an unexpected stop: the Geographic Center of the Nation marker in Belle Fourche.
Hmm. What's this?
I'm imagining it in my head. This can't possibly be the center. It's too far north and a little too far west.
Oh well. I'm sure it's a tourist attraction.
Besides the Geographic Center marker, there was a historical cabin built in 1876 by Buckskin Johnny and memorials honoring veterans of the Vietnam and Korean wars.
It was a nice, quick stop before continuing my drive.
MOUNTAIN GOATS AT BRIDAL VEIL FALLS
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I made my way toward Spearfish Falls, but along the way, I stopped at Bridal Veil Falls.
Why are all these people pulled over?
I'd read that the waterfalls had been dry because of the lack of rain, but I figured, why not? I wasn't in any hurry.
I pulled over, grabbed my camera, and looked in the direction everyone else was looking. I didn’t see any waterfall, but then I saw them.
Mountain goats!
Fun fact: the Black Hills mountain goats aren’t native. They descend from six goats brought from Canada in 1924 that escaped from Custer State Park.
Oh, how cute! I finally got to see some, even though I'd missed seeing them at Crazy Horse.
But what I saw next really irked me.
Two girls were climbing up the hill, chasing after one of the mountain goats just so they could get a selfie.
Please give wildlife their space.
Why?
The lack of respect for wildlife by some people is something I'll never understand. And then they wonder why people get hurt or why animals sometimes have to be put down.
Okay. Enough of that soapbox.
Back to the story.
I snapped my photos and moved on to Spearfish Falls.
FINALLY, SPEARFISH FALLS
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I parked and followed a path.
Umm... I don't see a waterfall.
What am I missing here?
Then a lady standing at a table explained how to get down to the waterfall itself. Thank goodness, because I was about to leave.
I followed the tree-covered path down toward the falls, crossing a bridge over Spearfish Creek along the way. It was a pleasant walk, quiet and with very few people around.
And there it was.
A STRANGE SIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
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The drive along WY-24 was so relaxing. It wound through a valley of trees, and it was such a beautiful day.
Eventually, I made my way to Devils Tower.
There were more people on the road than I'd experienced over the past several days. Then I started seeing pullouts where you could catch a glimpse of the tower.
It's such a strange sight. This massive rock formation just seems to pop out of the ground in the middle of nowhere.
I wouldn't be able to check in to my motel for a few more hours, so I decided to visit the park. But first, I had an important stop to make.
The Devils Tower Trading Post.
And what did I get?
You guessed it. Souvenirs.
And ice cream.
It was a pretty warm day, so ice cream seemed like the perfect way to cool off. I ended up getting a double scoop in a waffle cone: huckleberry and moose tracks.
Oh man.
That huckleberry was absolutely delicious. It reminded me of blueberries.
So worth the calories!
I sat in the car for a bit, enjoying the view while my ice cream melted all over the place. Eventually, I managed to get cleaned up and headed into the national monument.
PRAIRIE DOGS, OF COURSE
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First stop: prairie dogs.
Yes, they were everywhere up here in the plains.
I hung around for a while, watching them and taking pictures. I could spend a ridiculous amount of time photographing these little guys. Oh and the birds.
Eventually, I made my way toward the visitor center. I knew better than to go there in the afternoon. Between the number of visitors and the limited parking spaces, things could get a little insane.
Instead, I turned off to where the Joyner Ridge parking area was located and where I planned to take some sunset photos later that evening.
Not much had changed since I'd last been here in 2021, except for one thing: a gigantic pothole just after turning onto the dirt road.
Some things improve over time.
Apparently, potholes aren't one of them.
I took a couple of pictures, and then it was finally time to check in to the motel.
CHECKING IN AT HULETT
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I drove to Hulett and, thankfully, was given a first-floor room. I planned to stay for three nights because I wanted to capture some Milky Way images. What I hadn't realized was just how far the Milky Way was from Devils Tower this time of year.
After checking in, I had some time to do laundry. It was a quick and uneventful chore, but at least I got it out of the way.
Then it was time to head back to Devils Tower.
WAITING FOR COTTON-CANDY CLOUDS
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I returned to the area I'd scouted earlier and settled in to wait for sunset.
Man, it was chilly!
Good thing I'd tucked a pair of gloves into my pocket.
Two other guys were there taking pictures, so we chatted while waiting for the light. One was visiting from somewhere in the Middle East, although I can't remember exactly where, and the other was from Colorado. Both were on their way to the Badlands and had made Devils Tower a quick stop along the way.
We waited for those cotton-candy clouds.
The sunset wasn't spectacular, but I managed to capture enough photographs that I might be able to create a composite with the Milky Way later.
Eventually, all three of us made our way back to the parking lot and chatted for a bit longer. We wished one another safe travels and went our separate ways.
It didn't look as though the skies were going to clear that evening, so I headed back to the motel and relaxed for the rest of the night.
Tomorrow night, maybe the skies would cooperate…
