The Black Hills Travel Blog

Joe Author Archive

Joe is a resident of Spearfish, S.D. He grew up in the tall-corn state of Iowa, where he developed an early interest in all things outdoors. After high school he moved to Vermillion, S.D., where he earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising. During his college years, two things caught his attention: the beauty of western South Dakota’s Black Hills and a girl from those Black Hills. After graduating from college, Joe traveled across the country as a recruiter for the University of South Dakota. He saw the sights from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas and everywhere in between, but it was the Black Hills (and the girl) that kept drawing him back. He and wife moved back to the Black Hills in 2008. He's an avid hiker, mountain biker and road cyclist whose future plans include trying to fit a pair of kayaks into the spare bedroom. Email this author




“Wooly” good attention for Mammoth Site

By Joe • Mar 5th, 2010 • Category: Discoveries

The Mammoth Site is an active fossil dig-in-progress. It is the site of the world’s largest collection of mammoth bones…



Reptile Gardens plays it safe

By Joe • Mar 4th, 2010 • Category: Culture

Although the dangerous animals often get the majority of the attention, there is much more to Reptile Gardens than that. It’s a great place for the entire family…



Deadwood celebrates the wearin’ of the green

By Joe • Mar 2nd, 2010 • Category: Events

Every year, round-about the beginning of March, a lot of people claim to have some Irish heritage in their families. Some are telling the truth – others are just spreading a bit of blarney…



Where’s your favorite place?

By Joe • Feb 26th, 2010 • Category: Discoveries

Almost everybody who explores the Black Hills region ends up having something stick with them that becomes their “go to” place. A few days ago, over on the Black Hills Facebook Page, we asked folks a simple question…



Custer State Park by snowshoe

By Joe • Feb 25th, 2010 • Category: Outdoor Adventure

I’m often guilty of not taking full advantage of all the wonderful winter activities here in the Black Hills. After a recent trip to Custer State Park, I have vowed to never sit home bored during the winter months again…



Wilson & Ditch Digging the Black Hills

By Joe • Feb 23rd, 2010 • Category: Discoveries

The folks at The Jim Henson Company featured the Black Hills in this week’s episode of “Wilson & Ditch Digging America,” a new PBS children’s series…



I think I’ll call them hontlers

By Joe • Feb 18th, 2010 • Category: Discoveries

As far as headgear goes, the pronghorn really is sort of an oddball. Although “horn” is part of the animal’s name, and most people consider them to be horns, I’m not quite convinced…



On Hiking Lookout Mountain

By Joe • Feb 17th, 2010 • Category: Outdoor Adventure

Lookout Mountain sits just east of the town of Spearfish and is one my favorite easy day-hikes in the northern Black Hills…



Black Hills Sport Show

By Joe • Feb 16th, 2010 • Category: Events

The 28th annual Black Hills Sport Show is taking place Friday, February 19th through Sunday, February 21st…