Highest Peak East of the Rockies

Trip Start Jun 03, 2009
1
5
14
Trip End Feb 10, 2010


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Where I stayed
Custer State Park
(Custer hotels)

Flag of United States  , South Dakota,
Saturday, September 5, 2009

I started this morning early, my 6 months old daughter Nicole is a great alarm clock. She was in her good as always morning mood, babbling softly until Caroline or I pick her up. This morning she just wanted to continue practicing her newly acquired sitting skills. Caroline had been out jogging yesterday so i figured I would go on a morning run to catch up. Since we had a plan to go climbing in the Needles and get to Harney Peak in one day I planed to go the 3 mile round trip to Custer city to check if they had a bookstore and if that bookstore would have a better climbing guide than the one we already had. 
About 4 miles and a stop at the bookstore later I was sitting enjoying my breakfast in the company of the two most beautiful ladies I can imagine. Based on our earlier experience climbing in the back of Sylvan Lake, we decided that we would need some more equipment and a better guidebook, even if it would mean that we might not get to do one of the two activities set for the day. 
I get in the car to go to Hill City to check out the local climbing store "Granite Sport" Harney Peak
Harney Peak
 . Well inside the shop I find the book section and ask if they have any climbing books of the area which are not crapy... the unexpected response is that other customers join the conversation, eager to understate the same conclusion, which is that there are no good climbing books for the area. 
We have a nice talk about the climbing in the area and other places. A really nice couple there from Seattle helps me pick out the necessary equipment to clim at our next couple of locations. Something which was very convenient, since I donīt know to much about equipment and he had 16 years of experience, and a good part of them working for Black Diamond.
 I finally get back to base camp, and we can get to the starting point for the days hike. We have decided to try and reach Harney Peak, and investigate the climbs on the way. And try some if we decide not to go to the top. We never know up front how many hours of hiking Nicole is going to put up with. 
This day was one of those where Nicole was the one with the best endurance. It was a heavy hike carrying a full backpack of climbing and camping equipment, and Caroline carrying Nicole and food supplies.... But still we got to the peak and back in four hours including a 45 minute sleep and eat break for Nicole and the obvious enjoy the view stop at Harney Peak. 
You get some amazing views up there and is an absolute recommended hike if you are in South Dakota. Now I am just enjoying my ice cold coca-cola on ice.... whuuu that felt good...
 
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