The annual supported ride highlights the George S. Mickelson Trail as it winds through the heart of the Black Hills from Edgemont to Lead/Deadwood. The ride began in 1998 as a celebration of the completion of the rails-to-trails project. The Trek continues today to introduce new bicyclists to the trail and to thank supporters for their long-standing enthusiasm for the trail. Riders on the Trail Trek will cover the entire 109 miles of the trail over three days, from Friday, Sept. 17 through Sunday, Sept. 19.

Registration before July 12 with merchandise is $170, without merchandise is $140. Registration after July 12 is $170, and merchandise is not available. The registration fee for the 3-day ride includes the trail pass, shuttle service, refreshments and some meals during each day’s ride. Riders are responsible for accommodations and mechanical support. The ride is open to all bicyclists 14 years of age or older.

Pre-registration is required and may be completed online by visiting www.MickelsonTrail.com and following the “Trail Trek” link. Registration cutoff is September 1, 2010. For more information on the Mickelson Trail or the 3-day Mickelson Trail Trek, visit www.MickelsonTrail.com or contact the Black Hills Trails office at (605) 584-3896.

Get your registration in today – and a hotel room! Go to http://www.deadwood.org/Lodging/ to book a room.

Have a great weekend!
Lee

Snowmobile trail maps for the entire state can be obtained from most Game, Fish and Parks offices or by calling 605-773-3391. The maps outline the nationally-recognized Black Hill trails (350 miles) and 13 trails in eastern South Dakota (1,260 miles). The maps also include locations for food and fuel, as well as additional information about snowmobiling in South Dakota.

The Black Hills trails will be open Dec. 15 through March 31.

New this year: Snowmobilers can check trail conditions daily via Twitter. And trail conditions can be found by clicking here: http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Recreation/Snowmobiling/trailconHills.asp
And all trails lead to Deadwood! Ride all day, warm up downtown at night – sounds like a good day to me!

Have a great week,
Lee

HOMESTAKE OPERA HOUSE TO JAM AGAIN JUNE 7
Benefit concert to feature Grammy nominee and Black Hills favorites

DEADWOOD – The Deadwood Jam Committee and the Historic Homestake Opera House are pleased to announce the “Spring Jam at the Opera House,” a benefit concert to be held June 7 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Opera House in Lead. Following the successful concert March 1, this second show will again raise much-needed funds for the Historic Homestake Opera House and the Deadwood Jam.

The concert will feature Grammy-nominated musician Randy McAllister, The Brandon Sprague Blues Band and the acoustic duo of Bob Fahey and James Van Nuys. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door on the day of the show.

“The reaction from the first benefit concert was phenomenal,” said Matthew Pike, Deadwood Jam committee chair. “Randy was so generous in wanting to make that show. When he couldn’t, it seemed only logical to shoot for another chance.”

Once again, Deadwood Jam photographer Marty Nelson has prepared a set of exclusive prints available for the first time from past Jams. “Spring Jam at the Opera House” attendees will be able to bid on these images through a silent auction on the day of the show at Blue Dog Framers and Studio Gallery, who donated frames for the photos.

Tickets for “Jam at the Opera House” are on sale in Deadwood at the Saloon #10 or the Main Street branch of First Western Bank, or in Lead at The Stampmill Saloon and Restaurant. Tickets will also be available on the day of the show at the Opera House.

The “Spring Jam at the Opera House” is presented by the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau, Budweiser through Eagles Sales of the Black Hills, the Lead Chamber of Commerce and the Stampmill Saloon and Restaurant.

Let the blogging begin!

Hey everyone. I’d like to introduce myself. My name is George Milos; I am the Director of the Deadwood Chamber & Visitors Bureau…the organization that hosts this web site. Before I get started on my blog I want to thank Dustin Floyd and the hard work he’s done with Dustin’s Deadwood Diary. He is a great guy, an excellent story teller and I thank him for letting us into his world every month.

Since I work at the chamber we figured it might be a good idea to have a blog from “inside” the organization to talk about all the things that are happening in and around Deadwood. I was born in Deadwood and graduated from Lead High School and like many young, wide-eyed people moved away in my 20’s but found my way back in just a few short years. If you ask anyone from the area, once you’ve lived in the Black Hills it’s impossible to not long for the mountains that surround you.

I started working for the Deadwood Chamber in 1998 answering phones but soon moved into the marketing department. I became the Event Coordinator in 2000 and held that position until 2004 when I became Director. Ok. Enough about me, let’s talk about some of the fun things happening in Deadwood in June.

The Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon takes place June 2 & 3 and has become the largest event of its kind in South Dakota. Over 1,700 athletes will be running the gorgeous Mickelson Trail this year. It really is a great event with all kinds of people participating….and when I say all kinds I mean that. I remember three years ago watching a man about ½ mile from the finish line running while smoking a cigarette. Although there are many world class athletes, we still have room for the little known “smoker athlete. Only in Deadwood.

One of my favorite events of the year is Wild Bill Days over Father’s Day weekend. This event started out as Charlie Utter Days in celebration of the man that brought many of the prostitutes and cats to town back in 1876. How do you not celebrate someone who loves hookers and cats? Anyway, we changed the name to Wild Bill Days a few years ago (prior to the HBO series) because enough people didn’t know who the heck Charlie Utter was.

As event coordinator, my first Wild Bill Days was quite an experience. We had a man riding a buffalo up Main Street with no protection whatsoever, I got in a shouting match with a re-enactor and the headline musician (who I won’t name) demanded 80, 1,000 watt lights for a 2pm show. She walked out on stage and about 30 seconds into the first song stopped and asked if those hot lights could be turned off. Being employed at the chamber for 10 years and working on so many events, these are just a few of the many stories I have to tell…..and I will, in upcoming blogs. If you want more information on this year’s Wild Bill Days just click here………………………..to go directly to our WB Days page.

Hope you enjoyed my first blog, I had fun writing it and I hope you all make it to Deadwood soon.

George