June 05, 2016
Crazy Horse, SD - The first day of the 31st Annual Spring Volksmarch was a success. Hikers from all over came to participate in the 10K (6.2 mile) round trip hike to the arm of the Mountain Carving.
The event drew in 5,738 hikers, including foreigners from Germany Australia, Italy and many more. They were able to see the equipment up close which is being used to carve the Hand of Crazy Horse. One man celebrated his 20th time hiking up to the Arm of Crazy Horse. Hikers enjoyed taking pictures of the equipment, including the Manitou positioned at the tunnel of the Mountain. The display of the Manitou helped give visitors an idea of the carving process. When purchased, it was the largest of it's kind in the US. Visitors also had a chance to speak with the Mountain Crew.
There is still a chance Sunday, June 5th to be a part of this massive event.
The hike takes 2-4 hours to complete, and participants are encouraged to pace themselves due to terrain and peak elevation of nearly 6,500 feet above sea level.
Admission to the Memorial is waived for Volksmarchers with a donation of three cans of food per person. Normal admission rates apply to non-hikers. Registration for the hike, sponsored by the Black Hills Chapter of the American Volksport Association, is $3.00 per person; registration begins at 6:00 am and closes at 1:00 pm. The hiking trails will open at 8:00 am and all participants should be off the trail by 4:00 pm. The trail winds through the Crazy Horse Memorial grounds with the turn-around point on the arm of Crazy Horse directly in front of the nine-story-high face, which was dedicated June 3, 1998.
