A quick step out: Small's Falls

One of our favorite waterfalls in Maine is just down the road in Township E. The plain sign along the road doesn't hold any clues to the majesty that is Smalls Falls. The Sandy River drops from pool to pool as it cuts through the granite for about a tenth of a mile.

We were lucky enough to visit on a perfect afternoon. Since it was a weekday there weren't many people about. The place was nearly all ours. We parked, got Eli geared up and Wu leashed and headed towards the falls.

Our favorite thing about Smalls Falls is that there is another waterfall that people often overlook. It's easy to become sidetracked at the first waterfall but if you are vigilant and willing to hike a bit then there is more to see.

Well worn, unmarked paths lead into the woods and will eventually lead to the second channel of the Sandy River. The paths lead directly to the water and flat rocks to relax on undisturbed.

We hiked around this area for awhile taking pictures and letting Wu take a swim before heading back towards the top of the first waterfall. Then we hiked around there for a bit, taking in each drop and pool of the waterfall. 

Smalls Falls turned out to be a great afternoon escape. It was nice to be out as a family with our feet on the trail and Maine air in our lungs. We think we were smiling the whole time. It won't be long before we are visiting again. 

Crepes and Escapes

Crepes 6.19.11

Today, Amanda and I took advantage of our opportunity to sleep in, so we got a late start on our adventure for the day. After taking showers and letting the dogs run we made some World Famous Laliberte Crepes. Amanda whipped up the batter and let me figure out how to cook them just right. On top we put peach and blueberry yogurt, sprinkling them with powdered sugar. It was my first time to ever try making crepes and they turned out freaking awesome! It's weird now that I have a French side of my family! After the first crepe came out a little over done I had the cooking method down. I made about 8 crepes today and let me tell you (and Amanda agrees...), they were good.

View from Roosevelt Loop Trail 6.19.11

After wolfing down breakfast we decided it was time to leave for an adventure. The only problem was we had no idea where we were heading. So, we picked Mt. Roosevelt. It's a favorite of ours and we thought it would be nice to let the Wu and Tahquitz run a bit. We loaded the beasts in the jeep and off we went. We were hoping to have some privacy so the boys could run free but of course that wasn't a possibility where we normally go. There were tourists everywhere and we headed back to drop off Tahquitz (He doesn't like car rides very much). Before we left Mt. Roosevelt we found a trail to take and let the dogs run on. We hiked a ridge line and after a bit of exploring we wrangled the boys up and started back. On the way Amanda found a nice case for a pair of binoculars. SCORE!! After that we took Tahquitz back home. We laid some treats around the house for him and then Amanda, Wu, and myself were off to explore.

Custer Peak Camground Site 6.19.11

We decided to explore back roads that would take us south into Hill City, so we could try out this restaurant that the locals love, The Alpine Inn. We took Highway 385 out to Rochford Rd. then down Mystic Rd. It's a cut off we've seen multiple times but for some reason we had never taken it before. It turned out to be a great drive through steep canyon walls. From this road we took a cut off called Custer Peak Campground. As the name suggests, it leads to a campground area which is spectacular! Nearly every camping area was against a large creek and it seemed like each one came with about 4 acres of personal land. It was a very private area that we thought our friends would love when they come up here.

We stopped and let Wu Bear take a swim. He jumped out of the jeep and as soon as he figured out where the best entrance was, he started swimming. He loves to have a stick thrown into the water so he can jump in after it and bring it back. Recently, he's started taking up whining like a little girl just before you throw the stick, and to be honest, it's one of the funniest damn things I've ever seen. After being drug around by the strong current he was done, so we headed back towards Hill City to get lunch.

When we finally arrived in Hill City, we parked next to The Alpine Inn and were hoping to enjoy some German goodness..... It was closed. Facing disappointment we travelled on.

Bumpin Buffalo in Hill City 6.19.11

Amanda dragged me down the street to find another place to eat. We saw a biker looking bar that served mexican food. I love Mexican food, but there was another little tavern called the Bumpin Buffalo. The sign was cool so we took a chance on went inside. It was incredible how much this place reminded me of a college bar I used to frequent when I still went to Oklahoma. (Go Sooners!!!) Anyway, I saw that they were serving buffalo brats with sour kraut... CHA CHING!! I love me some brats, but I really love me some buffalo brats! Amanda and I both ordered brats and had the waitress throw in some fried pickle spears. Those
things are amazing and it's kind of our thing to get them everywhere we go. They served the brats on a wheat hoagie with plenty of sour kraut. The fries were really good and the pickles were fantastic. Needless to say, the meal was awesome! I was a happy man.

Caramel Apple Pie Fudge 6.19.11

We took off walking down the street checking out all the shops that line Main St. Of course, Amanda found the one that served ice cream and fudge; I was hooked. She ordered a cake cone with a scoop of mint chocolate chip and I got a waffle cone with a scoop of Mocha Almond Fudge. We also got a couple squares of Caramel Apple Pie Fudge. WOW!! This was just what we had needed. It was the best fudge I had ever had!!

Thunderhead Underground Falls 6.19.11

At this point, we were completely satisfied and ready to head back home. On the way back up 385 we noticed a nice looking new sign for Thunderhead Underground Waterfalls. We've been looking forward to doing this for two years. We headed down the road towards the falls. When we got there we walked down towards the entrance and paid to get in. It's a self guided tour and it's only about 600 feet into a mountain, but it was pretty cool. You could see where there was copper in the tunnel walls and other really cool color patterns all over the ceiling from a variety of minerals. There is a creek that runs through the tunnel. If you follow this creek all the way to the back you can see the falls. It's a small drop but the water is coming down hard and it gives the whole place a really large feeling. We took a few pictures and then headed out.

Amanda and Wu at Custer Peak CG 6.19.11

It was another good day with my Baby and our Wu Bear.

Spearfish Canyon Rim

     The last couple of weekends Josh and I haven't strayed too far from home. With such wacky schedules we've been trying to find some time to get out and explore. That day turned out to be Sunday. By 8 AM it was apparent that it could be the hottest day yet this year.

6.5.11 Crow Peak Rec Area

      After a late start we loaded up the Jeep and headed towards Spearfish Canyon via Maitland Road. Maitland Road is basically a local's only dirt road into Spearfish. It winds along the northern side of Spearfish Canyon and offers spectacular views and serene privacy. We turned into Crow Peak Recreation Area and began to explore the two-tracks that run throughout the unit.

     We had been studying maps to find an old unused road that ran between Maitland Rd. and Spearfish Canyon and that day we decided to try every road we came to. We drove for hours on those roads and always ended up having to turn around for washouts and whatnot. The day was really starting to heat up and we were just crawling on these dirt roads without much of a breeze. We came across a road that was overgrown with grass, beautiful lush grass, and so we followed it up hill and to it's end. The road ended on a knoll overlooking Maitland's valley and had a thick carpet of pine needles with jack pines offering shade and respite from the sun.

6.5.11 Improve Picnic under the Pines

     Taking full advantage of the shade, we pulled out a tapestry and our cooler and set to having a picnic on a nearby rock. Oranges, granola bars, and peanut butter crackers were devoured. And Wu was re-hydrated. It was so peaceful knowing that we were the only ones in those woods. It was like the whole forest was ours to explore. So we did.

     Following our path back we took a fork that we hadn't been down yet. At this point we were off the map. These roads, for the most part impassible by jeep, had become mostly ATV trails. As we were discussing that the road was becoming narrower and likely coming to an end, we realized that we had been creeping along the edge of Spearfish Canyon. There was a spectacular view of the cliffs and the winding road. We took a walk to see where the road was heading which was quickly into a ATV only trail and stopped to enjoy the views. How had this happened?

6.5.11 View of Spearfish Canyon

     We let Wu run for a bit and then we packed up, heading for the Canyon. A swim would have to be next. There are a few spots that we always return to in Spearfish Canyon to catch a quick dip. One of our favorites is past Roughlock Falls on CR 222. It's just a little hole big enough for the three of us. Or one particularly crazy Wu, who happened to be all business. The water was as cold as you would expect it to be in early June in the Black Hills. Josh and I were in and out quickly- it was so cold our legs went numb, not to mention we were getting hungry agian. But Wu was in heaven and playing until we offered him a car ride home. Silly dog.

Box Canyon Revisited

This morning we set out to Rapid City for the 29th Northern Plains Outdoor Expo. It was the third and final day of the event which had started on Friday evening. There were lots of great booths and we acquired some priceless maps and bumper stickers. Josh found some great camo pants for his hunting adventures and eventually we left feeling quite satisfied but in need of more adventure.

The elusive Canyon 3.11

We headed South towards Keystone and Rushmore Cave with purpose. When Josh & I first met we explored nearly every cave in the Black Hills Region. On one of those adventures we had taken a dirt side road and found an awesome canyon. For some reason we didn't stop and explore it just then but instead marked it on the GPS and kept on adventuring. Somehow the waypoint was lost and we've been looking for it ever since.

In the last year we have taken to taking every side road that we could find in hopes of relocating that canyon. Josh had been South of Rapid City for work and that got our minds thinking that just maybe that canyon was further South that we had remembered.

Battle Creek Road, 3.11

There were four facts we agreed on; the road was dirt, there was a bank of mailboxes with a turnout just off the dirt road, that we had turned left onto that road and finally, that we had been caving that day. We actually couldn't agree which direction we were heading but we both knew we had turned left. Figuring those things out were a series of peculiar conversations. But since we had been caving that helped to narrow down the region. Keystone & the Rushmore Cave area was the only place that we hadn't searched.

When we went pass Rushmore Cave and didn't see it I think that we both started loosing hope. We drove and drove and every time we saw the jack pines giving way to prairie we would say "maybe it's up here..." but it really wasn't and we were just about to turn around when we saw a dirt road off the to right that seemed eerily familiar and when we saw that huge bank of mailboxes we started getting truly excited. Battle Creek Road. Of course.

Pass the mailboxes, onto Box Canyon Road, over the cut-out hill and just as you begin slowly coming down the hill the road will curve slightly to the left and Box Canyon will appear, as if out of nowhere, on your right. We saw that there were 'No Trespassing' signs posted so we took off to the nearest landowner house, the Bieber's. Mr. Bieber was home and was more than happy to let us hike with Wu for the day. He told us of his younger days when he ran a ranch and of his favorite horse. A very sweet man who, I think, was happy to have his day interrupted by two young kids in love and hungry to hike.

Box Canyon, 3.11

We parked our car in a little turn-around that the Bieber's owned and started off. We had been hoping that there would be an easy way to hike down into the bowl but from the start it was going to be impossible. The one place we had hoped would lead us into the canyon was actually a waterfall that dropped about 60ft to the floor below. That left us to hike the rim.

With the snow melt over the last week, there's not much left in the Southern Hills. As we walked around the edge we ran into very little snow. Wu sought out the few banks left to cool himself in. The yucca has already started to grow and the ground was dry enough to sit and enjoy the scenery. We walked until we realized that we had likely left the Bieber property and we still couldn't see the end to the canyon.

One of these at every spot, 3.11

After we had packed up and got back on the road we headed back towards Keystone and found a road called "Old Hill City Road." The train station was located just next to it and as it turned out the road followed the railroad through most of the canyon. It was beautiful- a quiet, steeply shadowed road that felt historic. It was easy to put ourselves in another era as we meandered through the curves. But sweet, little Wu brought us back to reality with his untamable desire for the window. That dog's a maniac.

We cruised home on all back roads, visiting spots we hadn't seen since before snow fell. Today was the kind of day that you daydream about. We immersed ourselves in all things outdoors, explored something new and then revisited the old. I don't think we can say it enough but "It's great to be home!"

He's pretty ridiculous. 3.11

Hike Towards Mt. Roosevelt

After a week of snow and rain there is finally sun in the Hills again. Josh, our roommate; Nate and myself went for a hike behind our new house. Our place is located at the top of the steepest hill in town and has no neighbors. It feels like the country but we're just a few steps from downtown. Our lawn blends into the prairie grasses and gradually blends to evergreens. Each day so far we have seen deer (whitetail & mule) next to turkey's feeding on our lawn. The cat thinks it great and likes to stalk them. No luck so far.

The first twenty minutes of our adventure were spent walking up hill.

After about five I was seriously wondering where we were heading. We followed an old two-track up a ridge. Wild grasses had taken it over and just a remnant of a road remained. After several rest stops we made it to a landing point. We found ourselves in a little clearing between small mounds with rock outcroppings. The boys hiked up to the top and I realized that was the place to be for great views.

After a few minutes of meandering I noticed I was going a different direction than the guys. This is typical. I tend to wander. Crap. We grouped up and walked up to the top of the ridge. On the way we came across some unusual scat and then the scattered and bleached remains of an Elk. We tried to find the skull but we didn't have any luck. The wind was unbelievably gusty and consistent. I was happy I'd grabbed my beanie.

The three of us finished walking the ridge line and ended up sitting for a bit in a thicket of birches. As we were trying to find a place to rest three deer came upon us and then skidded away. Maybe those were the deer that would be finding their way down to our place for dinner. Their dinner not ours. Not today anyway.

As we headed back down the hill it was much easier going. My legs ached from the hike up but that didn't seem to matter as I chose the easiest way down. It was the perfect afternoon for a long hike.