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Regular
Posts: 54
Location: Croswell MI | We are heading to South Dakota.Is it better to go in June or July? |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wi | We always go in June and seem to miss all the hot weather. It is a good 11-12hr hike for us, and we try to avoid those High 90's/100 degree days when traveling that far. If you are into the tourist thing, Wild Bill Days in Deadwood is going on in June. Mount Rushmore has put on some great fireworks on the 4th. Bugs have never been a problem so that doesnt come into the equation. |
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Member
Posts: 29
Location: kansas | We have always gone in the third week of June. The weather is great. |
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Regular
Posts: 69
Location: missouri | We have been in July August and September. Bugs have never been a problem. I would pick June or September due to heat, but even in July and August when we have been out there it wasnt bad, but I live in Missouri and to ride here you have to be ok riding in blizzards or desert temps or you would never ride. |
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Member
Posts: 17
Location: Southern Minnesota | Mount Rushmore hasn't done fireworks for at least 4 years due to the fire risk. Crazy Horse and Custer put on good shows though. We have been there in both June and July. Weather in Custer area can change dramatically in a very short time. We have had the AC on during the day and the furnace on that night. Rain comes out of nowhere and hail is always a possibility. Best riding is in the mornings for consistent weather. Then do the tourist things in the later afternoon and evening. Make sure to take in the lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore and the laser show at Crazy Horse. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: missouri | Genebob; I am curious about the fuel cost up and back... pulling a large rig with two horses...with fuel costs so flakey... it takes a little planning these days. |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wi | GeneBob is correct on the weather. Been caught once on the trail going up to Harney Peak without a raincoat. It changed from 80deg to rain and hail, wife was pretty cold. Now we always pack the duster no matter what the temp is or how long we are out. I pull a 2hrs 10' living qtr trailer with a 2011 Chev Duramax and a heavy foot and get anywhere from 8-12mpg pulling from WI to the hills. You learn pretty quick that some cities are higher in fuel (1880 town). Gas Buddy works great to see who is cheapest. If fuel is .10 more a gallon, it is only $14 more per round trip. So in the whole scheme of things (cost of the trip) it is negligible. |
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Member
Posts: 17
Location: Southern Minnesota | We are right at 600 miles from Custer. We have a 3H w/ 12' LQ Elite trailer. We have pulled it with an 05' F350 SWR Crew cab and now a Chev 3500 dually. I have found we usually average 10 mpg for the trip. Going west is all uphill and we always seem to find the days that the temp is in the upper 90's and a strong south wind. I am also a lead foot on the Interstate as I don't like the horses standing in the trailer any more time than they have to. We have our places we like to fuel up for convenience. Usually stop before the border in Luverne, MN because there is a McD's and Subway right at the station, then again at Kadoka or if I have to in Murdo. Murdo prices seem to be a little higher. Fuel is the most expensive part of the trip and even if you have to pay 10 cent / gal more somewhere, in a 35 gallon tank it is only $3.50. |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wi | GeneBob - Do you have any sources for certified hay? All of mine have dried up. I have pulled lists off of MNTR and SDTRA and the info is very old one list was dated 2007. Even the hardware store in Hill City doesn't have any. Might have to go hay cubes?? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: Texas | A possible source for certified hay you could try is Michael Pease, or MAP Enterprises. He is located just west of the west entrance to the State Park, on Hwy 16A, between Custer and the State Park. Red pole barn with a "Hay For Sale" sign on it.
You could try one of these numbers: 605-673-5441, or 605-517-0515. He doesn't live where the hay is located, so it takes a little coordination. Otherwise, for a group buying several bales, he's been known to deliver it right to your campground. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: Texas | You'll probably have to copy all the text from the link and paste it into your browser. The forum is breaking the link, making it unclickable. https://maps.google.com/?ll=43.771224,-103.550326&spn=0.000008,0.004635&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=43.771224,-103.550326&panoid=ghOayE0cRYeH269w0f_qnQ&cbp=12,158.95,,0,0
Edited by jdzaharia 2014-05-22 9:15 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wi | Thanks, i will give that a shot. |
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Regular
Posts: 54
Location: Croswell MI | Thanks for all the great info.We like to ride challenging trails.Which camp would you recommend?We could move a time or two for greater verity. |
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Regular
Posts: 54
Location: Croswell MI | Well we have our reservations for June 17 -27 at Broken Arrow campground.Cant wait. |
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Black hills S D
