The Black Hills Travel Blog

Joe Rainboth Author Archive

Joe Rainboth 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




Making Snow – No Thanks to Mother Nature

By Joe Rainboth • Nov 15th, 2010 • Category: Outdoor Adventure

Black Hills ski hills have fired up the snow guns and are making snow this week, and lots of it. Today I learned a little about the snowmaking process…



Black Hills Christmas Tree Permits Available

By Joe Rainboth • Nov 10th, 2010 • Category: Culture

Black Hills Christmas tree tags are now available for the 2010 season. Make like Clark Griswold, fire up the four-wheel drive sleigh and go cut down your own..



Flying Squirrels in the Black Hills

By Joe Rainboth • Nov 8th, 2010 • Category: Discoveries

Yesterday, while poking around the interwebs for some wildlife-related information, I happened upon a mention of flying squirrels that live in the Black Hills.



Ski Swap: Great Gear, Great Cause

By Joe Rainboth • Nov 5th, 2010 • Category: Events

If you’re a skier or snowboarder who needs new winter gear, you need to visit the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center tomorrow (Sat., Nov. 6) for the annual ski swap…



RAP Ready to Break Records

By Joe Rainboth • Nov 2nd, 2010 • Category: Discoveries

September numbers put Rapid City Regional Airport on track for a record-breaking year in passenger traffic. For the ninth month in a row…



Winter Road Access in the Black Hills

By Joe Rainboth • Oct 28th, 2010 • Category: Outdoor Adventure

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, winter weather causes limited access to some popular scenic drives, particularly in the Custer State Park area…



The Black Hills’ First Snow of the Season

By Joe Rainboth • Oct 25th, 2010 • Category: Outdoor Adventure

The first measurable snow of the season fell today in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Terry Peak staff sent me this photo of the October snow on Stewart Slope.



Mt. Rushmore & Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

By Joe Rainboth • Oct 21st, 2010 • Category: Culture

Tourism officials announced that South Dakota has been selected by Macy’s to be featured on a brand new float in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…



Salsa Cycles names new bike Spearfish

By Joe Rainboth • Oct 20th, 2010 • Category: Outdoor Adventure

A Minnesota bicycle company, Salsa Cycles, was so impressed by the beauty and the biking in the region that they named their new mountain bike the Spearfish…