(Continued from page 19)

ter view of places that are off the beaten path, Helen Vandoremalen said.
• "We have no obligation to be anywhere. We can just go where we want," she explained.
• The European couple planned to visit several of South Dakota's popular attractions, including Badlands, Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park.
• The Zwarts, of nearby Larchwood, Iowa, load their fifth-wheel camper and head for area campgrounds about 10 times each year, spending a couple of days on each outing away from home. The leisure time is very relaxing, Patricia said.
• "We usually grill burgers one night and brats the next night," Alan added. "That keeps thing simple."
• Like thousands of others who enjoy camping each year in this state, they like to ride their bikes, hike on trails and walk among campsites.
• And they often have their grandchildren in tow.
• "It's a good chance to get to know them better because there are no distractions," Patricia Zwart said.
• Palisades State Park is popular with campers, photographers, picnickers, rock climbers, and hikers because of its unique Sioux quartzite formations. Its 50-foot (15-meter) cliffs tower over Split Rock Creek. The quartzite deposits are estimated to be 1.2 billion years old.
• In 1886, silver was discovered in the creek, drawing hundreds of mining claims. But the silver proved to be of low quality, and the claims were quickly dropped. This tiny state park was later developed to preserve the area for the public. It has just 34 campsites, six small cabins and a group lodge.
•

• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- Recent spring rains on top of heavy snow last October have led to unstable conditions on trails and roads in the Black Hills National Forest of western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming.
• Forest engineer Dave Plummer says in a statement that most roads and trails are soft and not suitable for driving. But the Rapid City Journal reports that forest officials are seeing indications that people are ignoring conditions and causing unnecessary damage that could take years to repair.
• Soil conditions are so bad around Cook Lake in western Wyoming's Crook County that the Forest Service has closed the entire recreation complex. Forest Supervisor Craig Bobzien says in a statement that there's an increased risk of landslides in the area.
•

(Continued on page 21)