The Black Hills greeted us with their usual warm welcome, all over everything. It actually was in the 70's as we drove out there, but it was just trying to soften us up. Here Anna and Millie load the water for the day's excursion.

It snowed on Adam.

And it snowed on Mary.

Dignity bows to necessity as your faithful visual-record keeper does his work in this photo by Ed Buchwald.

The snow turned to nicer weather the next day as we mapped in Little Elk Creek Canyon. This is Ada checking out the first outcrop.

Annie and Dave check the orientation of a fold along the Highway 16 outcrops near Rapid City.

Nick taking strike and dip on the bedding.

Millie, jump quickly or you'll get burned by the flames!

Annie examines a rock using her sense of sight.

As does Mike, high on a ridge over the "Race Track."

Shelby, Dave and others use both sight and touch.

But Erik goes basic, using taste.

Shelby and Mary collaborate on an explanation of local tectonics.

We concluded the trip with a day in the Badlands, doing some touring and some projects. Here Ed leads the discussion.

We celebrated Ed's 60th birthday in the Badlands with a surprise cake featuring the local stratigraphy and geomorphology. Photo by Anna Nelson.