Friday, June 3, 2011 Custer, SD

Went to the Peter Norbeck Museum in the a.m. Tried panning for gold in a creek nearby - needless to say, we were very successful. We then hiked the Lover's Leap trail - about four miles with creek crossings. They had plans set for the crossings - thank heavens. We also saw deer along the trail.



After lunch, we tried hiking the French Creek trail but after about a half mile, came to a wide creek w/no crossing in site. We found a country dirt road and decided to take it. After 5.5 miles, came to a place called Badger Hole. It's where Badger Clark lived in a cabin he built. He was the first poet laureate of SD. the cabin had all of his original furnishings and clothes. The lady tour guide, was very pleasant and enjoyed telling his story. We hiked the one mile trail around the cabin. Afterwards, we went to Leion Lake and hiked another mile around the lake. A neighbor lady caqme over and told us about her nephew getting bit by a rattle snake two years ago and almost died. He is fine now, but the scary part is that Bruce was hiking near that same area just the day before. We put over 200 miles driving around Custer and vicinity.

Again, saw more buffalo just walking around the park. These guys were licking the salt alongside the road as they use salt in the winter time to help clear the roads of snow. They certainly weren't bothered w/people driving the roads near them.