Qeldas Pickett never thought she would be able to participate in something like the Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarch. Twenty years ago, Pickett's doctor told her that she would soon be in a wheelchair because of back injuries. When Pickett started losing the strength in her legs, she began volksmarching, and on Saturday, the Northern California native completed the entire 6.2 mile hike with her sister, who has arthritis.

"When we came here, we were both kind of scared," Pickett said. "I didn't know if I could do this. But we saw it, we walked it, we touched it, and when I got to the top, I cried. This has been the time of our lives."

The annual Volksmarch at Crazy Horse Memorial is the most popular organized hike in the United States, with 15,000 attendees in its record year. About 5,000 people marched Saturday, and more will be there today.

The trail twists through the Black Hills forest before ascending up the carving and culminating on the arm of Crazy Horse.

"You see so many more things than when you just drive by," Pickett said. "Not only is it healthy, but you get to see more of the history. And when the locals design the trail, you get to see all of these interesting places that you don't normally get to see as a tourist."

The two-day event is organized by the American Volkssport Association's Black Hills Chapter and hosted by Crazy Horse Memorial.

"I think the appeal is the progress they are doing on the mountain," said Chip Elverud, president of the local Volkssport association chapter. "It's an adventure for people to come up here because it's the only time of the year that people can walk on the arm."

For Donna Downs from Peru, NY, the best part of the hike was being up on Crazy Horse's arm and touching his face.

"It was very emotional and overwhelming," Downs said. "It's something everybody should do and experience. After seeing all the history that's behind it - the blood, sweat and all the work people have put into it - I think it's just as important as Mount Rushmore."

"I think it's unbelievable what one man can do with a dream," said Toni Kenefick-Aschoff, who hiked the memorial with a Girl Scout troop from Pierre. "We definitely want to do this again next year."

Participants come from throughout the world, and a mixture of ages participates in the volksmarch - newborns on their parent's backs through people in their eighties.

The AVA Black Hills Chapter puts on many other events throughout the summer, proclaiming the motto "We walk for the health and fun of it!"

"A lot of people think Crazy Horse is our only event we do all year, but we do one almost every weekend," Elverud said

If you go

What: Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarch

When: Today between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Hikers must register before 1 p.m. and be off the trail by 4 p.m.

Cost: Volksmarchers get free entrance to the memorial with a suggested donation of three cans of food per person, to benefit the KOTA Care & Share Food Drive. The hike fee is $3 for each participant (all ages).