Re: Scouts and Caving
dexter lovrien (drlovrie@WOLF.CO.NET)
Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:51:45 -0600
On the way home (Minnesota) from the troops High Adventure trip to the
Rockies, we stop at Elk Mountain Campground. It is just outside of Wind
Cave National park in the southern Blackhills of South Dakota, near Hot
Springs, SD.
Wind Cave offers several tours, simple/short walking tours on paved trails
in the cave, a more intensive candlelight tour where the only light is from
a tin bucket you carry on its side with a candle in it. This is a real neat
tour. For the real adventurious, there is also a true down and real dirty
spelunking tour. This tour is very popular and those interested are advised
to make reservations long in advance. It has been a few years since I was
last there so I don't recall the age requiremnets. But try this URL for
more details and who to contact.
http://www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/US_National_Park/sd_wind.HTM
BTW, Elk Mountain Campground makes a fine "base camp" when in the Black
Hills. We set-up there, then run up to see Mt. Rushmore (now with greatly
improved parking and visiter center), Needles Highway and Custer State Park
(herds of free roaming buffelo!!) The staff at the campground has a
tremendous program at night. One year they took us out on the virgin
tall-grass prairie after sunset and told us several Native American folk
stories. Wish I could remember some as they were unlike any Scout campfire
tales I'd ever heard. There was one about their version of how man came to
be on earth. Something to do with man emerging from the depths of the earth
through a small opening in some rocks. (HEY, weren't we caveing that very
morning in Wind Cave and wasn't its origional enterance a small opening in
some rocks???) No wonder the Native Americans call it MOTHER EARTH. Boy,
as she was telling us this, the coyotes began the howl and the hair on the
back of me neck stood up. Take in these interpetive programs if you stay
there, they are great!
The next day, we pack up for home and head to Hot Springs and a long dip at
the local hot mineral pole, Evans Plunge. A troop tradition. Hot tubs to
soak the kinks out of sore legs and a big indoor pool for the Scouts to
unwind in.
Soi much for my hype of caving in South Dakota.
YIS
Dexter R. Lovrien
Austin, MN
e-mail to: drlovrie@wolf.co.net
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