First thing in the morning, this hairy monster wanted to go on an adventure.
We headed out for a night of camping near Spearfish Canyon so we could hike the Old Baldy Trail the following morning. On the way, we stopped at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center in Lead. In 2001, the mine closed, but not before becoming the largest mine in the Western Hemisphere over its 126-years in operation. Today, 1.5 miles deep into the former gold and silver mine, scientists are studying dark matter. They did a Radiolab episode a few years back that takes a cool exploration down into the mine and more expertly describes the work scientists are doing with neutrinos underground.
We found a spot at Rod & Gun Campground on Roughlock Falls Road. The seven-site campground was delightfully empty and we snatched a large campsite next to the creek.
It was the first outing with our new-to-us PowerShot SX50 HS that we knew next to nothing about. Kenny's mom sent it to us after she found learning the camera was more than she bargained for. And I can see why! A few weeks after getting the camera, and 117 pages into the manual, I've often felt more frustrated than confident. The camera, popular among birders, has a long zoom lens that we were excited to experience. So, at the campground, I looped the camera strap around my neck and started following a Robin that was hopping around the perimeter of our site. I got her in my line of vision, zoomed in fast, and the camera wanted to focus on anything but my Robin.
I made a few grunts and groans, but continued following her as she hopped along the ground and landed on the low lying branch of a pine tree, only about a foot off the ground. Staring through the viewfinder on the camera I couldn't figure out what I was looking at. I looked up from the camera and realized I was taking really poor pictures of an amazing moment of this mama Robin feeding her tiny puffball!
I tried to quietly run to Kenny across the gravel path to tell him to check these two out -- and to hand over the camera so I didn't have to be held responsible for missing anymore special moments.
We left the birds and headed out on the lower Rimrock Trail loop that has a trailhead in the Rod and Gun Campground. The lower loop is only a little over three miles, but you can make it six-mile hike by continuing on the upper loop.
The next morning, Kenny took a dip in the cold creek (and Annie and I watched from a safe distance) before heading out to the Old Baldy Peak trailhead a few miles up the road.
The Old Baldy Trail is a 5.7 mile loop, plus there is an optional 1.4 mile (round-trip) spur trail that will take you to the summit. We did the 7-ish miles of the trail and ended the day at a roadside burger joint.