“While Eastern-style honesty might not have been a hallmark of Deadwood when it was set up as a rogue mining camp in the Dakota territory during the 1800s, integrity and frankness have become hallmarks at a museum, which should be the starting point for tourists who truly want to appreciate Deadwood and its colourful, controversial history.”

Read the whole article at: http://www.torontosun.com/2012/04/10/back-to-the-wild-wild-west

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Black Hills Gold Wedding Diamond Band

By law, any piece of jewelry bearing the description “Black Hills Gold” must be manufactured in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Traditional Black Hills Gold designs are typically comprised of rose colored and green colored leaves and gold grapes and grapevines. The rose color is made by combining gold with copper, and the delicate green color is achieved by adding sterling silver with gold. Though there are now a number of Black Hills Gold jewelry manufacturers, Landstroms is the oldest Black Hills Gold jewelry manufacturer and their roots date back to 1878. BlackHillsGoldSource is authorized distributor for original Landstroms Black Hills Gold jewelry, and “that is all we handle because Landstroms is not only the original, it’s the best!” For more information, visit BlackHillsGoldSource’s video page at: http://www.blackhillsgoldsource.com/videos

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Hallet Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park

The only thing is, I’m not the only one who knows this, due in part to the many “Best Places” articles that have been written over the years, such as the one in Backpacker Magazine. But population growth here is nothing new. In fact,  Boulder instituted its first growth ordinance in 1976. I first came to visit Boulder in 1991 and decided to move here in 1996. Since then, I’ve watched the area surrounding Boulder grow at an unchecked rate. Bloated suburbs, congested roads, compromised air quality (oh, that’s right, it all blows over to Nebraska), and the social chill that accompanies overpopulation has made Boulder a somewhat different place in 2009 than it was in 1996. And with all that growth, it’s become a little pricier, too. Nonetheless, Boulder provides what’s important to me: good weather, a four-season climate, a beautiful setting, a casual and friendly social atmosphere, unlimited outdoor possibilities and a stable economic environment. Besides, with the popular belief that the world’s population will reach a peak of nine billion as early as 2070 before it starts to shrink, I think everywhere that’s nice is undergoing similar growth.

That said, I still often wonder where I would move if I were to consider a change, and what the characteristics of that place would be that would attract me there? The answer to that question has always been The Black Hills of South Dakota, and the characteristics would be the same ones that brought me to Boulder from Syracuse, New York in 1996. The area has a sunny western climate, relatively low crime rate, beautiful scenery, no state income tax, a major university, a decent city (Rapid City) with a regional airport, and a setting which allows a number of outdoor activities (including excellent rock climbing!). Obviously, Backpacker Magazine recognizes these qualities as well as their article has given the #19 spot to Rapid City.

I also first visited the Black Hills South Dakota back in 1991 during the same tour of the west that brought me through Boulder Colorado, and for me the area has always maintained its allure. The Black Hills National Forest has trees and rivers and craggy peaks and blue skies, but unlike Boulder the area still retains a calm and tranquil flavor. The area is historic as well, being the site of the last great American gold rush, The Black Hills Gold Rush 1874. In fact, both “Wild Bill” Hickok and “Calamity” Jane lie buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood. The many towns such as Deadwood, Spearfish, Hill City and Custer bustle during the summer months, as crazed tourists hunt for the best deals in Black Hills Gold jewelry. And Mount Rushmore, the world’s largest mountain carving stands as a majestic tribute to four exalted American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

A Picnic at Sylvan Lake

During a recent trip, I toured Landstroms Black Hills Gold factory in Rapid City and spent some great time with the Customer Service people I work with on a daily basis. I also had the opportunity to camp and climb in Spearfish Canyon, go out for dinner in Rapid City, do happy hour in Spearfish, visit Mount Rushmore again, picnic at Sylvan Lake and take an awesome drive on the Needles Highway. And once again, I felt that same charm that I had felt back in 1991. It’s no wonder why Rapid City and The Black Hills made Backpacker Magazine’s cut.

Mount Rushmore Fireworks

With July 4th coming up this Saturday, the Black Hills are brimming with excitement. Mount Rushmore has celebrated July 4th with one of the largest fireworks displays in the country for the past twelve years and this year’s event is sure to be another memorable display.

When I saw the fireworks at Mount Rushmore a few years ago, I had been busy rock climbing in the Needles near Sylvan Lake. By the time we got back on the Needles Highway to get to Mount Rushmore, traffic was already heavy. So we decided to turn around and try to come in from the east, but it was too late. People were everywhere and cars had pulled off at every turnout and on the shoulder of the road to try and secure a place with a clear view of “The Faces”.

I decided that I had better do the same before it was too late, but there was just no place to pull over. The air was getting cooler so I knew the sun had begun its descent over the hills and there wasn’t a whole lot of daylight left. I was getting anxious. Finally I spotted a very small space between two cars and was able to squeeze in. We grabbed our Weber portable grill and a little cooler with our brats and beer and headed up from the road and into the woods.

After finding a nice, comfortable spot with a good view, we set up the grill and popped a couple of beers and finally relaxed… we were all set! Even though we were a few miles away, Mount Rushmore is so grand that it was a perfect place to watch the fireworks from. And we were jazzed! All around us in the woods more and more people arrived, having been “marooned” so to speak just like us. It was no problem, there were small parties of all sorts of people – teenagers, families, and elderly folks – everyone grinning with anticipation and having a great time just being there. It was a very special experience.

After the beer and brats, the sun finally disappeared and it began to get dark. Then the show began. Now I’ve seen a lot of fireworks in my days and I’ve seen some great displays. But I have to say, despite the magnificent show, what really made it special was where we were and realizing that all around us, everywhere in the Black Hills, folks were doing the same thing as we were, simply having a great time. The simplicity of it made me think of how things must have been back in the “olden days” when the Black Hills were first being settled, at the time when Black Hills Gold was first discovered. There was a closeness amongst us all. And then the show was over. Traffic cleared up pretty quickly and we made it back to our campsite at Sylvan Lake and called it a night.

Sylvan Lake in The Black Hills

The festivities this Friday, July 3rd will include music, historic re-enactments and military aircraft fly-overs, culminating in a half hour choreographed display of spectacular fireworks including over 5,200 firework artillery shells.

“The fireworks and events of the weekend put an exclamation point on what, for many, is the classic all-American family vacation,” said Richard Benda, secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development. “It is truly our privilege to host this event in such a beautiful and historic place as the Black Hills.”

“The sight of fireworks lighting the night sky above Mount Rushmore is an experience that stays with people for a lifetime,” said Diana Saathoff, executive director for the Mount Rushmore Memorial Society. “You can see in the faces of young and old alike the awe of the scene and the incredible sense of patriotism it inspires.”

In 2008, about 30,000 people attended the annual celebration while more than 53 million viewers watched the fireworks display on television. If you plan to attend, you can either get there early, or even better, get there late with your cooler and grill, and find a nice spot in The Hills to watch from. You won’t regret it.