2023 Black Hills Bounty (Day 1) - Mining Camp Ghosts Lead to Deadwood

Day 1 of the 2023 Black Hills Bounty introduces the crew to the lush beauty of the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota via a circuitous path of USFS Primary, Secondary, and Low Standard Roads that eventually plop into Galena, a haunted 19th Century mining camp that warns visitors of Ghost Crossings.

We climb out of that spirited valley on rocky, rutted steeps to big views of Bear Butte and the surrounding prairie, drop through stunningly brilliant birch groves, and power back to Deadwood for late lunch. As the sun retreats beyond the hills, we spin to a dispersed campsite for the night.

Here are a selection of images from Day 1, as captured by our riders. For prior posts on the 2023 Black Hills Bounty, go to Day 0 - Gathering At Roubaix Lake.

Jeff Bloom, Jeff Caldwell, Ben Cooper, Paul Brasby, Craig Groseth, Jon Naaf, Kevin Fox.

Bikes are ready to roll. (image by Kevin Fox)

Warmup spin on USFS Primary Road 198. (image by Kevin Fox)

 Gentle grades on USFS Primary Road 198. (image by Paul Brasby)

Our path narrows and steepens a bit on USFS Secondary Road 151. (image by Paul Brasby)

Still climbing further along on USFS Secondary Road 151.  (image by Paul Brasby)

Jeff Caldwell considers a more direct route. (image by Ben Cooper)

We're going ballistic! USFS Low Standard Road 567.1E. (image by Paul Brasby).

Pushing a section of USFS Low Standard Road 567.1E. (image by Paul Brasby).

View while climbing USFS Low Standard Road 567.1E. (image by Kevin Fox)

USFS Low Standard Road 567.1E makes a statement. (image by Kevin Fox)

Jeff Caldwell claws up USFS Low Standard Road 567.1E. (image by Paul Brasby).

Jeff Bloom takes a breather on USFS Low Standard Road 567.1E. (image by Paul Brasby).

Jeff Caldwell works his way up USFS Low Standard Road 567.1. (image by Paul Brasby).

Bear Butte view from USFS Low Standard Road 567.1. (image by Paul Brasby).

Big views atop climb of USFS Low Standard Road 567.1E and 567.1.
(image by Craig Groseth)

Hard earned Second Breadfast along USFS Low Standard Road 567.1. (image by Paul Brasby).

Dreams of Saloon #10 dance through Jon Naaf's head. USFS Low Standard Road 172.1. (image by Paul Brasby).

Highway 14A? How'd 14A get here? (image by Kevin Fox)

Deadwood! (image by Paul Brasby)

Rolling through downtown Deadwood. (image by Paul Brasby)

Trail weary steeds huddle in cover. (image by Paul Brasby)

Searching for a campsite. (image by Kevin Fox)

Spinning up the Mickelson Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

Daylight slipping away along the Mickelson Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

Lights out soon at our dispersed campsite. (image by Paul Brasby)