by The Flatlander for
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Please visit our Sponsor, CLICK on the Banner above
The Badlands Boogie was a welcome change from the intense rock surfn' I had covered the previous two days. Even though getting there and back requires two hours of highway driving each way, we still got back much earlier than most other trails, even those close by. And the drive is a pleasant and scenic one on smooth uncongested asphalt through the Black Hills and then the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Between the scenery and our trail leader's narratives, the time flew and we were soon there.
The variety of
4-Wheeling terrain offered by the Black Hill's 4-Wheelers is amazing. From rocky mountains
covered with evergreen forests to desolate, dry, and barren Badlands. Actually, they
aren't as barren as they look, there is grass in the bottoms which is used for grazing
cattle.
Our trail
leader, Steve Sipes, lead us with his well prepped Suzuki complete with Rock Lobster
transfer case and Lock Right. There is a very peaceful, remote feeling to this trail as if
the participants are the only humans within miles and miles - and they probably are.
This trail is
rated for the stock family grocery hauling Sport Utility Vehicle which can do the trail
easily. But the trail still has lots of little obstacles that make it fun. There are
dozens of little drops and climbs like this one. The steady leisurely pace, mixed with
trail talk on the CB, and fantastic scenery makes for a very pleasurable trail ride.
There is also a
little mud in the stream crossings to get your attention. Ones as deep as this can be
bypassed.
But the
optional deeper mud tests the best of equipment. Much of the trail will turn into this
mucky wet cement like mud during a heavy rain. Steve told us about an afternoon trip with
his club that took two days when they got caught in the rain. The ones that made it out
had to come back with spare parts and gas and retrieve the vehicles that didn't the
following day. So don't be surprised if your trail leader gets you out fast if it begins
to sprinkle.
Lunch under one
of the very rare trees big enough to cast a little shade. Our trail leader, Steve Sipes
and his wife are second and third from the left.
There are
optional obstacles that will defeat even the best built rigs. Nearly everyone in our group
had to try this super steep stream bottom exit, but only one old, tired, beat up Bronco II
made it up without a winch.
Trails like this are a great way to warm up for, wind down from or just take a break between the intense, high tension, 4+ and 5 rated technical rock crawling offered by the Black Hills 4-Wheelers. The are many trails rated for stock sport utility vehicles in the Black Hills mountains too.
TRAIL DESCRIPTION: BADLANDS BOOGIE IS A NEW TRAIL THIS YEAR. THIS RUN OFFERS A SCENIC FOUR WHEELING ALTERNATIVE TO THE HARD ROCK CROWD. THE BADLANDS BOOGIE FOLLOWS AN EXISTING THOUGH VERY PRIMITIVE TRAIL IN THE HEART OF THE AREA. THE TRAIL MOVES THROUGH BEAUTIFUL BUFFALO GRASS MEADOWS, AS WELL AS TRAVERSING MANY DRAINAGES. THOSE PEOPLE LOOKING TO GAIN SOME EXPERIENCE AND LEARN TO TRUST WHAT THEY AND THEIR VEHICLES CAN DO, WILL LIKELY LEARN A LOT ON THIS RUN. TRAIL WORN 'WHEELERS WILL FIND AN EASIER RIDE WHICH WILL STILL PRESENT AN OBSTACLE OR TWO TO KEEP YOUR INTEREST. EVERYONE SHOULD BRING A CAMERA AS THE MUTED COLORS OF THE BADLANDS CHANGE HUES WITH THE STEADY CLIMB OF THE SUN. THE RUN IS OPEN TO EVERY VEHICLE...STOCK TO TRICKED OUT...COME AND EXPERIENCE THE NOT-SO-BADLANDS.
96 Dakota Territory Challenge Index Page | Hal Johns | Iceman | Badland Boogie | Kiecker's Pics
South Dakota Trail Guidebooks, Trail Maps, and Trail Videos
| 4X4
BOOKS
.
com World's Best Selection of 4X4, Jeep, & Offroad Handbooks, Trail Guides, Videos, Maps, GPS and More |
4X4NOW
Feature Page
4X4NOW
Trail Reports | Moab
4WD Trails
4X4NOW
"How-To" | 4X4NOW
Buildups
4X4BOOKS
| MAPNOW
get Garmin at
GPSNOW
- Order by 5pm and have it Tomorrow!
Choosing |
for Laptop/Pocket PC | Basic
| Handheld Mapping | 2-way
Radio | Automotive | Motorcycle
| RV/Truck/Bus | Land & Water
Accessories
eTrex H | Legend
| Vista | Venture
HC | Summit HC | Legend
HCx | Vista HCx
GPS 18
DLX | 60
Mobile 10 | Mobile
10 for smartphones
GPSMAP 60 | 60Cx
| 60CSx | 76S
| 76Cx | 76CSx
| 276C | 376C
| 378 | 478
MapSource City Navigator
North America | US Topo | BlueChart
nüvi
200 | 270
| 350 | 360
| 370 | 650
| 660
| 670 | 680
Quest | Quest 2
Rino 110 | 120
| 130 | 520
| 530 | 520HCx
| 530HCx
StreetPilot 2820 | 7200/7500
| c330
| c340 | c530
| c550 | c580
Astro GPS dog tracking system
zūmo 450 / 550
© 4X4NOW