WHEN I WORKED WITH THE THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AT STURGIS IN THE 80'S I DID A GOOD DEAL OF LAB WORK. AFTER WORK I WENT TO CLIMB BEAR BUTTE FOR EXERCISE. BEAR MOUNTAIN OR MATO PAHA IS A LAKOTA NAME GIVEN TO THIS UNIQUE BEAR BUTTE ISOLATED FROM OTHER MOUNTAINS. IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL IGNEOUS ROCKS THAT FORMED MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO NORTH OF THE BLACK HILLS. IT IS SACRED TO MANY NATIVE AMERICANS AND IT'S CEREMONIAL ARE IS VISITED BY THOUSANDS EACH SUMMER. WHEN I WAS THERE THEY HAD FEW PEOPLE CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN. A SMALL BISON HERD ROAMS THE BASE. IN MOST RELIGIONS CERTAIN AREAS HOLD GREAT SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE. BEAR BUTTE IS SUCH A PLACE. I NOTICED PIECES OF CLOTH AS OFFERINGS IN THE FEW TREES ON THE WAY UP. THESE PRAYER CLOTHS AND TOBACCO TIES REPRESENT PRAYERS OFFERED BY INDIVIDUALS DURING WORSHIP. NOW THEY HAVE AN INTERPRETIVE CENTER BEFORE YOU CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN THAT EXPLAINS IT'S SIGNIFICANCE.. I REMEMBER SEEING SEVERAL VISION QUEST AREAS ON TOP OF THE BUTTE. YOU CAN SEE FOR MILES ONCE YOU CLIMB THIS MOUNTAIN AND IT IS ABOUT 200 FEET TALL. LEADERS LIKE RED CLOUD, CRAZY HORSE, AND SITTING BULL HAVE BEEN HERE. GEORGE CUSTER ALSO VISITED HERE AND LED 1000 MEN INTO THIS AREA TO MINE GOLD.
BLACK HILLSSOUTHDAKOTA.COM
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