Black_Hills

Black Hills Hiking
Dogs & Horses
Copyright 2005 Travis N. Wood

Hiking with Dogs

It is not unusual for a hiker to meet others with an unleashed dog upon the trails. True to their nature, most of these dogs tend to lead the group or hiker whom the dog accompanies. Upon encountering an unknown hiker, sometimes the dogs will bark. Often they will run ahead of their group to gain a sniff of the "strangers." Usually the dogs' owners will call the dogs back to their own group. Often the dogs obey or at least hesitate.

The general rule for dogs in the wilderness area, provided on a Forest Service Web page, is as follows:

"Dogs must be leashed or under strict voice control. Loose dogs often cause conflicts with wildlife, other users, dogs, and stock."

That rule applies generally to trail systems, whether in the wilderness area or not. We'll make this point by recalling an experience. Recently we were hiking not far ahead of a group entering Norbeck Wildlife Preserve with a couple dogs. We stopped to photograph a rock outcrop. The group behind us then stopped in the same area to climb nearby rocks. As members of the group later told us, while they were climbing the rocks, their dogs, evidently unleashed and left to roam somewhat, happened upon a mountain lion.

One of the dogs was seriously wounded with gashes that were nearly fatal to it. Some people may see the dog as protecting its owners, who were climbing on the rocks. However, it is likely that the dog provoked a lion that would have otherwise left the area without incident.

While such occurences may be rare, we cannot know for sure, since this occasion (like others previous perhaps) received no news coverage. Yet it is a potent reminder that dogs are required to be kept under strict control near the trails, for the dogs' safety as well as that of other animals and people.

We enjoy dogs but have no experience hiking with them, except for those rare occasions we hike with friends who have dogs. So our best recourse is to recommend a book, A Bark in the Park: the 48 Best Places to Hike with your Dog in the Black Hills by Lucinda Schuft. A press release for the book lists the ten best places.

Horses and Mules

Since there is no indication of copyright on it, we have taken the liberty to copy below a pamphlet published jointly by the U.S. Forest Service and South Dakota Trail Riders' Association. Though the pamplet also is written with Black Elk Wilderness in mind, much of it does apply to public land in general in the Black Hills Area and elsewhere.

Tips for Stock Users of the
BLACK ELK WILDERNESS
Black Hills National Forest

"There when I was young, the spirits took me in my vision to the center of the earth and showed me all the good things in the sacred hoop of the world."-Black Elk Lakota Holy man

The Black Hills and especially areas within the Wilderness have always been sacred to Black Elk and his people. Established by an act of Congress on December 22, 1980 the Black Elk Wilderness was originally 9,826 acres. In the fall of 2002 another 3600 acres were added on the south-east side so that there are now 13,426 protected acres.

We must do all we can to preserve this special area or risk loosing the privilege of riding here. Please take time to study these rules and suggestions on how to make better environmental decisions. With thousands of users in this area, individual impacts are quickly compounded.

The Forest Service has implemented fines to enforce the regulations. Violation fees range from $50 to $100 and can lead to fines of $5000 and or 6 months in jail.

Self Registration is REOUIRED before going into the Black Elk Wilderness Area. There are registration boxes located at most trailheads. Failure to possess a properly completed self-registration form is a fineable offence. Registration information is used to better serve the needs of wilderness users and to locate you in case of emergency.

Harney Peak Trail #9 is heavily used. If the trails are wet or rain is expected, please consider riding another day. Wet ground greatly increases the impacts of stock. If you have already ridden in this area, perhaps you should consider visiting other places to help lessen impacts of overuse.

Before riding be certain you and your stock are physically capable of the trip. Equip yourself with a good map, compass or OPS, raingear, first aid kit, water, and food.

Group size is limited to a combination of 25 heartbeats. Horse + rider = 25 max. Example: 12 riders and a dog is the maximum group size allowed. Split up large groups and ride different directions around a loop or separate groups by at least 1/2 hour. If there is already a group at a rest area or over look, please keep riding. Smaller group sizes help maintain a wilderness experience for all, and keep popular tie up areas from increasing in size.

Respect other visitors and let the sounds of nature prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises. When meeting on the trail, talk to hikers and riders about how to pass with the least impact. This chatter usually helps keep animals at ease. Riding off trail to pass other parties is not acceptable. It is usually best for one party to step off the trail on the downhill side and let riders pass while staying on the trail.

"There are so many of us, and there will be more. A simple equation exists between freedom and numbers: the more people the less freedom" �Royal Robbins, 1977

Control your animal. Due to highly erodible soil, letting your horse wander around rocky or muddy areas causes trails to widen and greatly increases maintenance cost. Always stay on the trail, ride single file, and never cut switchbacks or pioneer new trails. It is unlawful to flag or blaze new paths or cut open non-system trails.

When stopping, hand hold, hobble, or picket your horse. Highlines with tree saver straps are recommended. Even for short breaks, do not tie horses to trees. While camping move your horses often to avoid overgrazing. Due to over use and little rain, impacts recover very slowly here in the hills.

Hitch rails are provided about 1/2 way up the north side of Harney Peak #9 at a popular over look and also near the Harney Lookout Tower. Use certified weed free hay and pellets. Always scatter manure before you leave an area.

Water: Train your horse to ride through streams without stopping. Few of the small streams in the area are suitable for watering stock. Water crossings and stream side vegetation are very fragile. Water animals before leaving home/camp.

Sanitation: Letting stock stand in or near streams to drink allows them more time to urinate and defecate in or near the water. Always treat or filter water for human consumption. To keep streams and lakes pure, bury human waste 6-8 inches deep, 200 feet or further from water and trails. It is best to pack your toilet paper and hygiene products out in a zip lock bag rather than bury them.

Trash: Always pack out your trash, even fruit peels, cores, pits, and cigarette butts. Never feed wild animals or leave your garbage where they can get it.

Travel "Light on the Land." Minimize the number of pack animals used by packing light-weight tents, dehydrated food, single burner cook stoves, etc. Two riders with one pack animal is appropriate with modem equipment.

Consider those who come after you, and enjoy flowers, rocks, cultural, historic, and natural objects as you find them.

Dogs must be leashed or under STRICT voice control. Loose dogs often cause conflicts with wildlife, other users, dogs, and stock.

No campfires are allowed in the Black Elk Wilderness or on the Black Hills N.F. Fires are only allowed in official campground fire rings. Use a gas camping stove to cook on when packing. Smoking while riding is strongly discouraged and sometimes prohibited due to fire danger.

Camping is not allowed within 1/4 mile of the historic CCC built fire lookout at Harney Peak. Choose previously used campsites 200 feet away from lakes, streams, and trails.

Ensure continued horse use on public land by learning more. Visit: www.LNT.org or www.wilderness.net

For more information about the area contact:
Black Hills National Forest
Supervisor's Office
Highway 385 North
RR 2, Box 200 Custer, SD 57730

(605) 673-9200 or www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills/

The general rule is that hikers and cyclists yield to horse-back riders by stopping and stepping toward the downhill side of the trail. Because a hiker may see a horse before the rider is aware of the hiker's presence, we often initiate a conversation with the riders while still many yards away. Such conversation tends to calm horses that may otherwise be spooked at the presence of hikers.

Additionally, bike-riders are required to yield to hikers. However, many of us hikers prefer to also step aside for the bikes, provided we are alerted to their approach. On many inclines in the Black Hills, a cyclist's ability to climb the hill may depend somewhat upon maintaining momentum. If he or she must stop in the middle of a hill climb, it interrupts the cyclist's recreational activity much more than it does the hiker's.

We like to think there was at least a time when such consideration was a neighborly action to which others responded in kind. Too often we have found on city streets that our thoughfulness is considered a sign of weakness to be written off in a competitive world. It's refreshing to find people more responsive out upon the trails.

Customarily, we find that in our culture, many men and even women now, will resist having a door held open for them. A traditional heritage has associated strength with the man who holds the door for women and children. We often wonder how the same man could walk a city street and expect passersby to step aside for him�as if each of a dozen men he passes has the greater strength to open a door for the weaker man.

As hikers, we tend to step aside for members of other groups. And if they wish to step aside also, we have the setting for a good conversation.