Credit Where Credit is Due

If you were in the Custer South Dakota Area of the Black Hills the last few 3-4 days, you know it was less then nice spring weather. It was incredible the way it went from sunny and OK to snow and WIND...wow was it windy at times....then back to the good life in the sun spot!

Through all this I had a great guest to climb with out in the Needles. She was a tough one too. I must admit, had I not been working, there was no way in heck, I'd have been out there climbing, but as it was, it was truly great to experience the fickleness of Mother Nature. The only thing that was consistent was the cold rock in the shady sections of our climbing. Well , and the

We'd top out in the Cathedral Spires, and be greeted by great wind gust, and terrific views of snow showers coming in from all directions. We were actually glad it was cold frozen snow. Had it been the wet stuff, we'd have had to quit...as it was, we just pulled on another layer of clothing, and pulled down. It was full conditions like you might find in some remote places of the earth, w/o leaving our home crag. All and all it was mighty fun and beautiful out there. I'm pretty amazed by how fast things start to pile up. The snow pellets run and dribble down each chimney and it can get slick in a hurry.

The moral of all this is be prepared when you go outdoors. No matter what the weather forecast is, you never know what is coming your way. Around here, that means...keep your sticking cap and gloves in your pack with your rain jacket all year round. Be prepared for changes, and everything will be more fun.

So that is my advice to all the visitors we salute this week here during South Dakota during Tourism Week....Have fun, make sure you are prepared to enjoy some Black Hills Adventure, by packing what you need because mother nature can be mean if you don't.