Been There, Done That, Got the T-shirt!`

For the last couple of years, John and I have seen announcements about the Crazy Horse Volksmarch, which takes place twice each year.  The Fall Volksmarch coincides with the Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park, and this year we decided to participate.  Sponsored by the Black Hills Chapter of the American Volksmarch Association, the route is described as “a 6.2-mile woodlands ramble.”  We thought we were in pretty good shape, but we would call it “a strenuous hike” through hilly forests and up the side of Thunder Mountain, the site of the Crazy Horse Memorial.  

We arrived Sunday after church and signed in for the Volksmarch.  The first couple of miles were  up and down steep canyons.  Fortunately, there were water stops and port-a-potties along the route.  It was hot going up, and the water was much appreciated…as were the potty stops.

The grade up to the Memorial is at least 7%, we decided….maybe more.  

But once on top, the view of the statue’s face is spectacular, as is the panorama.  The head measures 87 1/2 feet.  The arm, where we are standing, is 263 feet long.  When finished, the Crazy Horse Memorial will be the world's largest mountain carving.  

Here are a couple of “we were here” shots, and photos of some of our fellow-volksmarchers.

When we finished the 6.2 miles, we felt like we had truly earned our T-shirts!