Needles Highway

Blast it and they will come to this Black Hills area of granite. Making this possible required tons and tons of TNT to create tunnels and roadways through some of the oldest exposed rock in North America. Completed in 1922, the Needles Highway was either named for what I think of as "thread the needle tunnels" or in some eyes the needless expense of all those explosions. The result is stunning and Oklahomans, Texans and "Wisconsin people" oohed and aahed and shot photos at scenic lookouts. Once again the use of logs to create guard rails was appreciated and one wondered at the possibility of an RV fitting through one of the "toot your horn" tunnels.

Diane and I gathered info from a Josh-a-like concerning the popularity of rock climbing in the Needles area. He claimed it is a safe sport and he himself had fallen over 40 feet and survived with no lasting effects. Those short-cut to heaven granite spires look like the perfect climbing surface, but a Fredism "let's leave before he falls" sounded like a good idea to flatlanders.

I'm sorry but there is something wrong with this picture! Velcro, white leather Nikes are old man shoes not a rock climbers daily wear. Reminds me of a time when the Newton cousins and the Wolf girls laughed at an elderly man water skiing very slowly by our summer campsite. Upon his return trip he was skiing backward. The lesson learned has new meaning at this phase of my life.

At the peak of the drive was Sylvan Lake where I have visions of couples rowing and flirting on the mirror like waters. The original lodge burned but it's location is prime real estate and those boating couples probably strolled through this same walking tunnel for some late night smooching.

Hiding behind some questionable architecture, the present day lodge offered a lobby worthy of Teddy Roosevelt and his hunting buds and buffalo burgers in the dining room. Voted the favorite drive by members of the Honda CRV, the Needles Highway will meander on in our memories. According to Peter Norbeck, a force behind all this wonderful development, this highway should be enjoyed by walking the 14 miles. He must have been in pretty good shape!