Bear Butte State Park, Sturgis, Sodak October 31, 2017

 We left Rapid City after sunrise with the temperature hovering at 18. Grabbed a quick breakfast to go at McDonald's and drove toward Sturgis. This picture gives you a small sense of the open space around Bear Butte. It is easily understood why this is a sacred spot for Native Americans and you will see examples of how important this location remains in later pictures.

 Just beginning the hike to the top. Trail is 2 miles one way with an elevation gain of 1000'. It is considered a "moderate" difficult trail.

 Looking back as you climb on the trail, Bear Butte Lake. There is a nice campground beside the lake, open year around.

 I thought this picture shows the rate of climb on the trail very well. 

 Vick is heading up this long slow climb.

 Right after taking this shot, two deer moved through above us. I could not get the camera set for a picture before they vanished down the other side.

 View toward Wyoming.

 View back down to our parking lot. 

 This is the view looking toward Wyoming from the top. There are amazing 360 degree views from the top.

 Looking more toward Montana and North Dakota in this picture from the top.

 The stairs to begin your trip back down.

 Always amazed by the variety of rocks in Sodak.

 

Trip to the top took us about 2 hours with all my stops for pictures, climb side trails to look out over the plains, etc. The trip down took less than an hour and one half primarily because Vick has had some knee issues on previous downhill hikes so we took it slow.

We did meet Taffy Howard, South Dakota State Representative. What an amazing person, she was also hiking the trail and spent several minutes visiting with us. We tried to stress following Illinois politics so you know what not to do with state government.

Tremont History Part IX: 1937 Junior Class

Row 1 of this picture has my future Aunt Imo (Adcox) Thorpe. She will marry Gene Thorpe and they will raise a family in Washburn, IL. Gene had a sister who married prominent Tremont farmer Palmer Bliss.

Row 2 has a picture of Harold Haskett, step-father to Pam and Steve Haskett who were part of the THS Class of 1972. Also in this row is Vadis Riggenbach who will become the father of Linda (Riggenbach) Giovanetto. Linda was a classmate of my wife (class of 71) and married Kevin who was my classmate. 

Tremont History Part VIII: Class of 1937

Eighty years have passed since this group of optimistic young people left Tremont High School. Federal programs were beginning, in some cases, to reduce the stress of the Great Depression that had gripped America since the stock market collapse of 1929. Europe and the rise of the fascists seemed a great distance from central Illinois and warlords who had gained control of Japan were beginning to reach out to mainland China to increase their sphere of influence. These faces don't reflect those concerns, for a brief time optimism about the future reigned.

Top left is Dorothy Grubb, she will become the mother of classmate Scott Pflederer and aunt of classmate Deanna Grubb. Third from the left at the top is Wilma Bolliger, she will become a teacher to several of my classmates at Tremont and will be an aunt to classmate Jim Boyle. Middle row, first on left is Jim Moser who will become my boss the year I worked as a bridge carpenter. History is such an interesting study, making connections with the past helps one understand the present and look to future generations in a new understanding.

Tremont History Part VII: 1938 GAA photo

Scanned this page from the 1938 Tremont High School "Re-Echo." Small towns make for interesting future examination, in the years ahead Christine Schurter in row 1 would become my aunt, Helen Adcox in row 2 would become my mother, Bernice Schurter in row 4 would become my aunt, Marian Bolliger in row 4 would become my wife's aunt, and Imo Adcox in row 5 would become my aunt. For those of you too young to remember life before Title IX, GAA was the Girls Athletic Association which allowed competition in a few sports. This was competition within the school not against other communities. I remember watching the GAA teams playing field hockey and many guys being jealous we couldn't touch the sticks for fear we would immediately hit each other. The girls also played some strange form of basketball that I never understood. You would probably have to ask someone over 56 for an explanation. I know there were more than 5 players and not all could cross the center line but beyond that my understanding is limited.

Adcox Family History Part III

1943 letter to Helen, Henry and Charles Schurter

Badlands National Park: October 17, 2017

 Our second annual October hike on Notch Trail at Badlands National Park. It was mid 60s when we started and low 70s by the time we returned. Twenty percent humidity gives the sky that wonderful blue. This park is simply amazing and while some of you may remember previous photos I have not reused any picture from last year.

 Warm weather brought out this small rattlesnake to warm himself on the trail. 

 He quickly moved to protection as we approached. Small (young) rattlesnakes are just as dangerous as older, larger rattlesnakes.

 Our favorite part of Notch Trail is climbing this "ladder."

 View northeast from the top of the ladder.

 Notch Trail

 Looking out to the prairie to the east.

 View from the "Notch," you are looking a bit northwest from here.

 Nearly too bright to capture area as the sun was directly overhead.

 Looking down the ladder you can see how strong currents formed this little area.

 Apologies for not taking pictures of the Mountain Sheep that were sleeping right beside the road. They have become so much a part of our BNP experience that I guess I take them for granted.

October 16 - 17, 1948

1977 Schurter siblings

Front from left: John, Henry, Jesse, Dan

Back from left: Christine, Bernice, Louise, Ruth

John, Bernice, Louise all lived in Oregon through much of my younger years. Ruth lived in Congerville, IL while Christine, Henry, Jesse and Dan stayed in Tremont. Dan lived a short distance from the John and Rose Schurter farm, southeast of Dillion, IL.

Don't know what happened but Helen (Mom) took over writing and entries are inconsistent.

Oct. 16: "Took Charles to Doctor with infantigo. It isn't bad but have to take him back."

Gro.  2.35

ice cream  .50

beans & rolls  .60

paper  .20

bread  .15

Oct. 17: "Harriet and Gale were up home. Henry helped Jesse move to Morton. I sewed all day then after supper we went up for awhile. Was windy and chilly all day. Made Carol a slip and started Jim some overalls. Had our first killing frost this fall."

paper and cigars   .27

Ruth  .20

Adcox Family History Part II

Letter at top of page is from Senator Lester Hunt (Wyoming) to my Grandmother, Alta Adcox. They were first cousins. The picture of Lester may have been taken when he was Governor of Wyoming. My cousin, Norman, was stationed in Cheyenne at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base.

Tremont History Part VI: Class of 1941

Moving right from the word "of:" Christine Schurter (sister to Henry) and Helen Adcox is on the end.

Many of those in this picture were known to me growing up. Ryan Hild, his son, Don, was in my class at Tremont. Ben Miller, his son, John, was a year behind me. Wally Gauger had a daughter, Jill, in my class.

Some Adcox History

 Harriet and Gale Doty, Helen and Harriet were sisters. This picture was probably taken in Florida. Date was 1980.

This Thorpe Family picture was probably taken in 1980. Imogene (sister to Helen) had passed.

From Left: Charles, Gene (husband), Donald (behind), Beverly, Gerald

Feldman Family History: Special Post!

Vicki and I just returned from a visit to Portland, while there I was able to get together with Julie (cousin) and talk about some family history. She brought copies of these obits for my Grandmother Rose (Feldman) Schurter's family that I had never read. I always wondered about the Oregon connection and I noticed that both John and Louise had been in Illinois before moving to Portland. I would love to ask questions about the why, what it was like, how did you travel, and was it a good move. Being an amazing cousin, Julie brought a letter Dorothy Heater, who is a grand-daughter of John and Louise. I am going to write her a letter asking for some additional information about the move.