USA Special Event Description:
ONCE-A-YEAR chance for the public to hike up the colossal mountain carving-in-progress for close-up views of the face of Crazy Horse on the world's largest sculpture in progress in the legendary Black Hills of SD
What: Most popular Volksmarch (organized hike) in the U. S. (15,000 in record year). A family event sponsored by the American Volkssport Association' s Black Hills Chapter and hosted by Crazy Horse Memorial. The only time each year the public may hike to the mountain carving-in-progress.
Where: On dirt trails and gravel work roads up the Crazy Horse mountain carving in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. Turn-around point is on the arm of Crazy Horse directly in front of the nine-story-high face completed June 3, 1998. Work continues on the rest of what will be the largest sculpture in the world.
When: Saturday & Sunday, June 2-3, 2007 (when Memorial gates open at 6 a.m.) Access to the trail and the mountain is conditional on weather.
Registration: No advance registration. Hikers must check in at starting point.
Restaurant: The Laughing Water Restaurant at Crazy Horse opens for breakfast at 6 a.m. on June 2-3, and serves lunch, dinner. The snack shop also is open.
Trail length: 10K (6.2 miles round trip). Hike is on hilly, rough terrain with some steep inclines; not suitable for strollers. From the valley the trail rises about 500 feet up the mountain.
Time on trail: Averages two-to-four hours. Hikers should pace themselves due to the terrain and peak elevation (6,700 feet above sea level). Sturdy footwear is recommended.
NO PETS: Pets of all kinds are prohibited on the trail.
Crazy Horse Memorial orientation: Before or after your hike, don't miss the short DVD Dynamite & Dreams playing in the twin theaters in the Orientation Center. See the Indian Museum of North America, Sculptor's Studio / Home Workshop and the Cultural Center. Meet Native American artists creating arts and crafts.
For more information, contact Crazy Horse Memorial: Phone (605) 673-4681 FAX (605) 673-2185 E-mail: memorial@crazyhorse.org
Location of USA Special Event:
Crazy Horse
Times:
Starting times: Between 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Hikers must register before 1 p.m. and be off the trail by 4 p.m. No camping is available at the Memorial (but Heritage Village adjacent to and overlooking the Memorial has camping and other facilities).
Admission & Parking:
Admission: FREE to the Memorial for Volksmarchers with a suggested donation of two cans of food per person, to benefit the KOTA Care and Share Food Drive. The hike fee is $3 for each participant (all ages). Special medal, commemorative shirt and official AVA credit is an additional charge. Hikers are welcome to visit the large Crazy Horse visitor complex without charge. Coffee always is free.
Parking: FREE. Due to the popularity of the event, parking can be some distance from the starting poi
Special Event Contact: 605-673-4681
Event Email Contact: memorial@crazyhorse.org
