Alert Top Story Topical Featured Editor's Pick 'Challenges are fun': Spearfish’s Mo Keller is carving his own para climbing adventure Matthew Neus Jul 11, 2026 Jul 11, 2026 0 × The Rapid City Journal is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of news, sports and culture in the Black Hills. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Mo Keller, a Black Hills resident, will always remember that first time he attempted a death-defying feat.kAm(9:=6 2EE6?5:?8 q=24< w:==D $E2E6 :? $A62C7:D9[ z6==6C E62>65 FA H:E9 |:<6 |4}6:=] |4}6:= H@C<65 2E E96 F?:G6CD:EJ 2D 2 s:D23:=:EJ $6CG:46D r@@C5:?2E@C 2?5 $EF56?E {:76 '6E6C2?D #6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C ?62C=J `_ J62CD] qFE >@C6 :>A@CE2?E — 6DA64:2==J 7@C z6==6C — H2D |4}6:=VD C@=6 2D 2? 25G:D@C 7@C q=24< w:==D $E2E6VD r#&) r=:>3:?8 r=F3] k^AmkAmz6==6C C642==65 8@:?8 @? 2 76H 4=:>3:?8 C@FE6D H:E9 |4}6:=] w6 H2D 9@@<65 7C@> E92E 7:CDE 4=:>3:?8 G6?EFC6]k^Am kAmQr92==6?86D 2C6 7F?[Q z6==6C D2:5] Q%9:D :D 567:?:E6=J 2 8@@5 =:76 492==6?86 E92E x 42? 5@[ ?@ >2EE6C 9@H @=5 x 2>]Qk^Am People are also reading… The secret season of the Black Hills Minnesota man arrested after stabbing in Deadwood gaming resort’s parking lot Two families displaced after fire takes mobile homes, car Update: Lookout Fire at 100 acres; evacuations underway Updated: Rapid City drug call ends with officer bit, suspect dying in custody; DCI investigating incident 'Best coach': Meet the glue of the Harding County/Bison football co-op Sen. Rounds’ senior staffer posts image of obscene gesture after report about ethics concerns South Dakota high school football scoreboard: Week 3 Update: Lookout Fire at 444 acres, 29% containment Astoria man dies after car v. lawnmower accident Crews respond to fire outside of Hot Springs South Dakota Supreme Court will not rehear Hideaway Hills sinkhole case All rise: Cassidy Stalley is judge by day, coach by night Staff cuts nixed after Rapid City Mayor Salamun pleads for continued funding of office positions St. Thomas More football beats Winner for the first time in 19 years, improves to 4-0 Mo Keller jumps down after attempting a climb at Black Hills Basecamp in Rapid City. Matthew Neus, Journal staff kAmz6==6C 92D 4@?E:?F65 E@ 4=:>3[ 3@E9 :? :?5@@C 4=:>3:?8 8J>D 2?5 @FE5@@CD @? G2C:@FD C@4< 7@C>2E:@?D] w6VD 364@>6 @?6 @7 E96 AC6>:6C 4=:>36CD :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 C646?E=J >256 E96 &]$] !2C2 }2E:@?2= r=:>3:?8 %62>[ 56DA:E6 4@>A6E:?8 H:E9 2? FAA6C\2C> 5:D23:=:EJ] w6VD 4@>>:EE65 E@ E96 6?562G@C H9:=6 A@D:E:G6=J AC@>@E:?8 E96 DA@CE E9C@F89 9:D DF446DD6D]k^AmkAm(96? E96 $A62C7:D9 C6D:56?E :D :? 9:D 6=6>6?E[ DEC2AA65 :?E@ 2 92C?6DD H96? @FE5@@CD @C D42=:?8 E96 :?5@@C H2== 2E q=24< w:==D q2D642>A :? #2A:5 r:EJ[ z6==6C 92D E@ 7@4FD @? 9:D 7@@E:?8] %92E :D E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 2 4=:>3 7@C 9:>] k^Am kAm(96? z6==6C H2D 3@C? :? w2?8K9@F[ r9:?2[ A2CE @7 9:D =67E 2C> H2D 2>AFE2E65] z6==6C D2:5 E92E :E :D 2 QEJA:42= 3:CE9 56764EQ 2?5 92AA6?65 H96? E96 F>3:=:42= 4@C5 HC2AA65 2C@F?5 9:D 2C> H9:=6 96 H2D 8C@H:?8] k^Am kAm&A@? >@G:?8 E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 27E6C 36:?8 25@AE65[ z6==6C 5:5?VE :?:E:2==J 86E :?E@ 4=:>3:?8] %92E 492?865 H96? 96 >6E |4}6:= 2E q=24< w:==D $E2E6] w6V== ?6G6C 7@C86E E96 766=:?8 @7 E96 C@4< @? @?6 @7 9:D 7:CDE @FE5@@C 4=:>3D 2?5 36:?8 @FE :? E96 H:=56C?6DD 2E DA@ED 2C@F?5 $A62C7:D9 r2?J@? :? E96 q=24< w:==D] k^AmkAmp?5 86EE:?8 E@ E96 E@A @7 E96 4=:>3 >2<6D :E 2== H@CE9H9:=6]k^Am kAmQ%96 G:6H :D 2=H2JD 8@@5[Q z6==6C D2:5] QxEVD =:<6 >@E:G2E:@?[ E@ 86E FA E@A E@ 4964< @FE E96 4@@= G:6H]Qk^AmkAmz6==6C H:== 25>:E E92E 96 5@6D 92G6 2 AC676C6?46 7@C @FE5@@C 4=:>3:?8] %92EVD 5F6 E@ ?@E 36:?8 4@?7:?65 E@ 2? :?5@@C DA246 =:<6 2 8J> @C 4=:>3:?8 46?E6C] qFE 4=:>3:?8 @? >2?\>256 DECF4EFC6D 2?5 4@FCD6D :D H96C6 96 6I46=D[ 2=E9@F89 E96C6 :D 2 9F86 5:776C6?46 36EH66? @FE5@@C 2?5 :?5@@C 4=:>3:?8]k^Am kAmz6==6C :D 2 DE2A=6 2E A2C2 4=:>3:?8 4@>A6E:E:@?D] w6 4@>A6E6D :? E96 p&a 42E68@CJ] %96 5:G:D:@? 8C@FAD 4=:>36CD H9@ 92G6 925 2? 2C> 2>AFE2E:@? 36EH66? E96 HC:DE 2?5 6=3@H] z6==6CVD 6=3@H :D DE:== 2 A2CE @7 9:D =67E 2C>[ 3FE 96 5@6D?VE 92G6 2 92?5 @C HC:DE] k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^!2C24=:>3:?8]@C8Qm!2C24=:>3:?8]@C8k^2m 56D4C:36D E96 p&a 4=2DD:7:42E:@? 2D 4=:>36CD H:E9 =:>:E65 C6249 2?5 k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A2C24=:>3:?8]@C8^4=2DD:7:42E:@?^QmQE96 FD6 @7 E96:C 7:?86C A@4<6ED 2?5 A:?49:?8 :D 2=D@ ?@E A@DD:3=6 H:E9 E96 :>A2:C65 2C>]Qk^2mk^Am Mo Keller chalks his hand for a better grip before starting a climb at Black Hills Basecamp. Matthew Neus, Journal staff kAm(96? 4=:>3:?8[ 6DA64:2==J :?5@@CD 2?5 2E 4@>A6E:E:@?D[ z6==6C 92D E@ 36 DEC2E68:4] %96 A=2DE:4 C@4<D D4C6H65 :?E@ E96 C@4<\4=:>3:?8 H2== 2C6 5:776C6?E D92A6D 2?5 92G6 G2DE=J 5:776C6?E E6IEFC6D] w:D 7@@E:?8 92D E@ 36 A6C764E E@ =@H6C 9:D H2:DE 2?5 2==@H 9:> E@ >@G6 D:56\E@\D:56 2?5 FA E96 H2==]k^Am kAmQp =@E @7 E@6D[ =:<6 966= 9@@<D[ 7=2E 766E[ 2?5 E96? ECJ E@ 86E J@FC 766E F?56C J@FCD6=7] {@H6C J@FC H2:DE[ D@ E96? J@F 42? >@G6[Q z6==6C D2:5]k^AmkAmz6==6C C646?E=J A=2465 7@FCE9 :? E96 !2C2 r=:>3:?8 }2E:@?2= r92>A:@?D9:AD :? %6I2D[ 62C?:?8 9:> 2 DA@E @? E96 &]$] !2C2 r=:>3:?8 }2E:@?2= %62>] (:E9 :E[ z6==6C H:== 4@>A6E6 :? :?E6C?2E:@?2= E@FC?2>6?ED DA2??:?8 7C@> v6C>2?J :? tFC@A6 E@ y2A2? :? pD:2]k^Am kAmqFE 2== @7 z6==6CVD 8@2=D 2C6 2:>65 2E a_ag[ H96? E96 !2C2=J>A:4 v2>6D H:== 36 96=5 :? {@D p?86=6D] k^AmkAmQ%92EVD >J 8@2= 2E E9:D >@>6?E[Q z6==6C D2:5]k^Am "Nerve racking," Keller said when describing the feeling of going on a climb. "Indoor climbing is totally different from outdoor climbing." Matthew Neus, Journal staff kAmz6==6C :D F?5@F3E65=J @?6 @7 E96 36DE A2C2 4=:>36CD :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 96VD 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ 36 @?6 @7 E96 E@A :? E96 H@C=5] w:D 23:=:EJ E@ A@E6?E:2==J 8C@H E96 DA@CE :D H92E DE2?5D 23@G6 E96 C6DE]k^AmkAmx? 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D2:5]k^AmkAm%92E C6249 DEC6E496D 24C@DD 2== 286D] (96? 4=:>3:?8 @FE5@@CD 62C=:6C E9:D DF>>6C[ 2 A@E6?E:2= 2DA:C:?8 A2C2 4=:>36C 2AAC@24965 z6==6C] w6 D2:5 E96 8:C= D92C65 2 3:CE9 56764E D:>:=2C E@ 9:D[ 2?5 96 6IAC6DD65 E@ 96C 9@H 7:?5:?8 2 9@33J E@ 6?;@J 42? 36 36?67:4:2=]k^Am kAmQx E2=<65 E@ 96C 23@FE :E[Q z6==6C D2:5] Qs@ E9:?8D E92E J@F 6?;@J[ 2?5 4=:>3:?8 :D @?6 @7 >:?6]Qk^Am kAmpD 96VD 4=25 :? 9:D &]$] }2E:@?2= %62> 862C 5@:?8 E96 24E:G:EJ 96 =@G6D E96 >@DE[ 8@:?8 FA 2?5 5@H? 3@E9 ?2EFC2= 2?5 72<6 C@4< 7@C>2E:@?D[ z6==6C 766=D C:89E 2E 9@>6]k^Amk2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\:?7@Qmk9cmw@H E@ 96=A z6==6Ck^9cmkAmx? 2 ?@E6 E@ E96 y@FC?2=[ |@ z6==6C D2:5[ “C646?E=J ;@:?65 E96 &$p !2C2 r=:>3:?8 %62> 7@C E96 a_ae–a_af D62D@? 2?5 2> D66<:?8 DFAA@CE :? AC@>@E:?8 >J ;@FC?6J[ D92C:?8 >J 8@2=D[ 2?5 4@??64E:?8 H:E9 A@E6?E:2= DA@?D@CD 2?5 5@?@CD H9@ >2J 36 :?E6C6DE65 :? DFAA@CE:?8 >J 2E9=6E:4 42C66C]” r@?E24E 9:> 2E k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6C ?@C676CC6C ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ>2:=E@i>2@EF2?bo8>2:=]4@>Qm>2@EF2?bo8>2:=]4@>k^2m]k^Amk^2D:56m Contact Matthew Neus at mneus@rapidcityjournal.com. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Matthew Neus Sports reporter Author email Follow Matthew Neus Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Rapid City Journal The Rapid City Journal is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of news, sports and culture in the Black Hills. 6 coaches, including Stevens’ Hendry, to be inducted into S.D. High School Coaches Association Hall MITCHELL — Six coaches, including four with ties to northeastern and north central South Dakota, are slated to be inducted into the South Dako… Sioux Falls LL wins South Dakota state tournament, full scores from state tournament The road to the Little League World Series begins in Rapid City. Canyon Lake and Harney to square off at Little League state tournament It's an all Rapid City matchup at Collins Field on Friday, July 10 at 5:30 p.m. Aiden Roberts has one more season with Post 22. He's making the most of it Aiden Roberts returned to Post 22 for one more season after spending time at Garden City CC. He's maximizing that chance. 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Matthew Neus Sports reporter Author email Follow Matthew Neus Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Rapid City Journal The Rapid City Journal is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of news, sports and culture in the Black Hills.
6 coaches, including Stevens’ Hendry, to be inducted into S.D. High School Coaches Association Hall MITCHELL — Six coaches, including four with ties to northeastern and north central South Dakota, are slated to be inducted into the South Dako…
Sioux Falls LL wins South Dakota state tournament, full scores from state tournament The road to the Little League World Series begins in Rapid City.
Canyon Lake and Harney to square off at Little League state tournament It's an all Rapid City matchup at Collins Field on Friday, July 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Aiden Roberts has one more season with Post 22. He's making the most of it Aiden Roberts returned to Post 22 for one more season after spending time at Garden City CC. He's maximizing that chance.
Why coaching Canyon Lake All Stars is 'once in a lifetime opportunity' for Steve Nolan Assistant coach Steve Nolan brings Williamsport glory — and a love for family — to the Canyon Lake Little League All-Stars.
Rapid City’s Wyatt Reeder named Jayhawk Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Wyatt Reeder is a Jayhawk Collegiate Baseball League all-star. He leads the league in batting average, on-base percentage and total hits.
Post 22's quadrant of young talent backbone of success for future — and present “Long run is gonna be great,” said Reegan Turnquist, one of four 15-year-olds who contributed to Post 22's 2026 Firecracker title.
PHOTOS: Canyon Lake Little League beats Harney in state tournament action Canyon Lake Little League beat Harney, 9-1, on Friday, July 10, at Collins Field. Canyon Lake will play again on Saturday in another eliminati…
PHOTOS: Action continues in the Dave Ploof Legacy Tournament Post 22 played CarpetLand Rugs 18U in the first of two games on Saturday, July 11, at Fitzgerald Stadium.
American Legion roundup: The final week of the regular season begins What to know before the final week of the American Legion regular season.
Post 320's Anders Lockhart found a home with Minnesota West baseball Post 320's Anders Lockhart committed to Minnesota West baseball late in the recruiting cycle. It was worth the wait.
PHOTOS: Post 22 takes down Sioux Falls Post 15 East Post 22 swept Sioux Falls Post 15 East on Thursday, July 16, at Fitzgerald Stadium. The Hardhats won 14-9 and 9-4.
Post 320 split with Sioux Falls Post 15. Here's what to know After two wins against Sioux Falls, the state tournament is up next.
PHOTOS: Post 22 wins big, downs Spearfish Post 164 on the road Post 22 defeated Spearfish Post 164, 24-1, on Saturday, July 18, at Black Hills Power Sports Complex.