Recent Trip To Rapid City Equals Even More Questions (rental car, rental)

[AJTucson]

Diverdan - thank you so much for the skiing info and the homes link. I'll take that A-frame under new listings!!! Hubby just told me that particular one is between Sheridan Lake and Pactola Lake (heaven to me).

You're also very correct. We did a lot of our focus in Rapid City (southwest side in particular) due to our too short visit. We didn't hit the westside. Additionally, we saw Spearfish (which I liked as well), but we didn't get to Sturgis (only saw the I-90 exit views), Deadwood or Lead areas. On a second trip, we would do a day with a realtor (that's for sure). Plus, with working at the hospital I would want to know how well the roads are plowed in the winter (I-90 and if there are other ways in - you can probably tell hubby did most of the driving). I've done my share of snow covered ice and ice covered snow and blizzards (Wisconsin style ), but it has been ten years and I know it will be a relearning curve.

Thanks again - we sure can tell we need a much longer trip.

[DannyBanany]

AJ, the roads around Rapid City are fairly easy to get around on in the winter because -once again- the snow melts so quickly and it's usually a light, powdery snow. Wisconsin snow is heavy, wet, and stays around all winter long. I-90 closes more due to spring blizzards than to winter snowstorms. I had a friend that went to BHSU in Spearfish and lived in Rapid City. She commuted easily in the winter and classes were cancelled anyway when I-90 was closed because so many students/workers commute in.

A lot of people wonder if 4WD is necessary and it's really not. It helps up in the hills where roads aren't plowed immediately, but in the cities you'll be fine.

Would you be working at Rapid City Regional if you lived in Rapid City?

[AJTucson]

Hi Danny - thanks for the road information, that is very encouraging. I keep forgetting the difference between lake effect snow and snow in a drier climate. Not that I don't understand that there is a difference, I just have to wrap my brain around winter yes, but a different type of winter. I appreciate the info on the 4WD. I am taking this to mean that we would not necessarily need snow tires as well....unless we have a place in the hills. Is that correct?

Yes, I absolutely would love to work at Regional Med. I was able to stop in their HR (very helpful and friendly people) and saw the layout of the hospital as well. I did have a lot of information as they have a very good website, just really nice to make an initial contact and get a map of the layout as well. We just need to keep working on selling this house and then once we have a firm and final offer, we'll be more able to give a more exact ETA.

[DannyBanany]

Snow tires were never really needed for me in Rapid City either. Of course, we lived on the Southside just off of 5th Street. Some friends of ours that lived a little ways out of town often had snow tires. This has been a topic before, and excuse me if I am wrong, but I believe you can have studded tires from October 1st to May 1st. If you live in city limits, Rapid Valley, or Summerset/Piedmont I doubt you'll need them. At least I never did. Snow isn't around long enough to really get use out of them anyway.

Rapid City Regional Hospital is a great healthcare system. My mom has worked for them for years now and she's begun doing more work for Hospice House. She really loves her job. Best of luck!

[AJTucson]

Thanks Danny. That is great to hear how much your mom thinks of Regional Hospital, best wishes to her working for Hospice House.

Thanks so much for the snow tire answer. Really kind of interesting for me now. You mentioned 5th Street and I finally can picture the area you (and others) are speaking about.

Danny (or anyone who can tell me), I thought of yet another question. Hubby and I sat on top of Skyline Drive (at the main pull out) right before we had to head out. It was Monday afternoon and there were a couple of smoke stacks with white smoke coming out of them. I don't recall reading about a specific industry; however, I do admit that we did a lot in 52 hours and we missed a lot in that time as well. Can you tell me anything about what industry that is??

[DannyBanany]

Were you facing northwest? If so, that was the cement plant. If it was cool enough outside, the power plant probably had steam rising as well. Black Hills Power and Light uses coal from Wyoming to heat up water to generate electricity. It's odd how the Southwest and Westsides of Rapid City are considered the best while the Northwest corner is industrial.

[Jammie]

Snow tires or a 4 wheel drive are always nice to have in the wintertime up here. I'm not sure if they're still called this, but all season radials would suffice, too.

[AJTucson]

Danny - you are right - we were facing that direction (NW). That is probably what we saw. And it was cool on our last pass up Skyline Drive (about 36 degrees or so). Thanks so much for answering my question.

Jammie - thanks so much for the tire info. I was trying to remember what we did in WI (ten years ago), in regards to what car we drove. For me it was a 4WD Explorer and I had no problems whatsoever. But again, I do understand this is going to be a relearning curve for me for certain !!

[ElkHunter]

Not sure about South Dakota, but here in Wyoming our first responders run all season radials. Police, Sheriff, HP, Fire, Ambulance. None of them run snow tires and they are what we rely on during any weather.

[rjl78]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Not sure about South Dakota, but here in Wyoming our first responders run all season radials. Police, Sheriff, HP, Fire, Ambulance. None of them run snow tires and they are what we rely on during any weather.

Around here search and rescue, game fish and parks wildlife guys, some sheriff offices use 4x4 some with aggressive thread. That is more mud than snow.

I have an old 4x4 and 4x2 pickup. For the most part I can get around with two wheeled drive. However I do tend to add ballast over the tires.

In high school my Olds Cutlass V8 with rear wheeled drive I had a set of studded snow tires.