8:52 AM, 41ºF, Newton Lake – After a roll in the grass near Newton Lake, Lupe snorted then trotted across both Deerfield Road and the Mickelson Trail. Disappearing into the pines, she headed N up a short slope.
Things had changed since the last time she’d been here. The forest had been thinned and groomed. The Carolina Dog passed neat tipis of slash destined for burning. Beyond the tipis, Lupe picked up USFS Road No. 389.1Q, which headed straight for Lowden Mountain (6,055 ft.).
At the base of the mountain was a “T” intersection with USFS Road No. 389.1B. Abandoning both roads, Loopster started up Lowden’s S slope. She soon began coming to rock formations along a SE ridge. Union Hill (6,120 ft.) and a few others could be seen off to the E. Higher up, there was even a big view to the SW.
The climb varied, featuring a series of rock formations, stretches of open forest, small clearings, and thickets of dog hair pines. Initially steep, the slope eventually diminished. Near the end, a sunny, open lane led to a collection of boulders at the top.
Someone had built a tiny cairn on the summit rock. Lupe hopped up next to it. Lowden Mountain (6,055 ft.)! Oh, it was good to be back!
A nice green patch of kinnikinnick was close to the true summit. SPHP took off the pack and sat down.
More than 6 years since the last time we were here, SPHP!
Hard to believe it, isn’t it, Looper? Glad we’re back! Always liked Lowden.
We ought to have a celebration!
Umm, yeah. What sort of celebration did you have in mind, sweet Dingo?
Got any chocolate coconut bars in that pack, SPHP? I bet you do!
Heh. Should have said sweet-tooth Dingo. Yes, just so happens that I do have a few chocolate coconut bars. Kind of early in the day for it, but OK.
The chocolate coconut bar met its match. Lupe stayed resting on SPHP’s lap. Two big views from here. Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) was the most impressive, but False North Point (6,130 ft.), Five Points (6,221 ft.), and Union Hill were also of great interest.
On Expedition No. 270, Lupe had climbed Five Points instead of False North Point due to SPHP’s navigation errors, and Union Hill might be in the cards today.
Are we going to keep up our Lowden Mountain traditions, SPHP?
Oh, I think we should, if we wind up with enough time, Loop.
I hope we do! What else is on the agenda?
Well, remember how I messed up on our last expedition, and we never got to Peak 6040?
How can I forget? Of 3 peaks we were going to climb, we managed to get to 1.
True dat, but we also got to Five Points as a nice consolation prize, even if it was unplanned. Anyway, we can take another stab at Peak 6040 from here. After that, who knows? Redfern Mountain (6,075 ft.), Peak 6167 and Union Hill (6,120 ft.) will all be in range depending on what direction we decide to go.
One Lowden Mountain tradition, a visit to the somewhat lower W ridge, could be taken care of before Lupe left the mountain. After revisiting the summit boulder, she headed NW down a 12 foot slope into another region of dog hair pines. Forcing a way through, SPHP snap, crackled, and popped countless little branches following the American Dingo.
Although several large trees marred the views, the W ridge featured the biggest rock formations on Lowden Mountain. Lupe always came out here to scramble around a little. From the right spot, it was possible to obtain a distant look at Signal Knob (6,200 ft.) and higher peaks beyond.
45 minutes after arriving at Lowden Mountain’s summit, Lupe was on her way down the steep N slope. In some places the snow was nearly a foot deep, which was good because it gave SPHP some support.
The slope diminished farther down the mountain. Lupe came to a more open stretch that was littered with deadfall. Working her way through it, she reached USFS Road No. 389.1K. Following the nearly level road E, then N, the Carolina Dog arrived at a junction with No. 389.1A.
The branch of No. 389.1A that went E soon started winding downhill. The road turned N bringing Lupe to another intersection. Abandoned USFS Road No. 389.1L, marked only with a “No Motor Vehicles” wand, went E here disappearing into a small valley.
I remember this, SPHP! Isn’t this the way to the Gold Mountain Mine?
Indeed, it is, Looper. We’re almost there!
Less than 0.1 mile down No. 389.1L, the Gold Mountain Mine sat up on a hillside to the N. Lupe went up check it out. The main features were a big multi-story mill structure overlooking the valley, and a metal kiln or boiler supported by loose rock walls.
Suppose there’s still any gold laying around here, SPHP?
Not likely, Looper. In fact, stick close to me. Used to be a lot of broken glass, especially up by the boiler or kiln, or whatever that thing is.
The Gold Mountain Mine had been partially restored. At least 7 plaques were on display. Lupe sniffed about nearby while SPHP had a look at some of them.
Lupe’s visit to the Gold Mountain Mine kept another Lowden Mountain tradition intact. Always fun to see it, but Loopster was more likely to get shards of glass in her paws than nuggets of gold. A quick visit, and SPHP encouraged the American Dingo to move along. Down a slope to the SE was a frozen pond, and a nice view of Union Hill (6,120 ft.).
Burnt Fork Road (USFS Road No. 389) was visible on the far side of the valley below the pond. Reaching the road, SPHP turned NE following it up another valley.
SPHP! Wait! Aren’t we going to climb Union Hill? We’re real close to it!
Umm, I don’t know, Loop. Thought we better get that pesky Peak 6040 out of the way first, since we’ve never been to it before. Don’t want to fail for the 2nd expedition running, do we? Besides, by tagging Peak 6040 first, we can keep our options open on where to go next.
0.5 mile up Burnt Fork Road it turned E going over a pass. SPHP stopped to consult the topo map.
That’s odd! Believe we’re a little N of HP5772, but the map doesn’t show the road going this way.
So, what do you propose, SPHP?
No more than 0.67 mile to Peak 6040 from here, if I’m right. Looks like easy terrain according to the map. Let’s just go for it!
Heading NNE through the forest, Lupe soon came to a minor high point. A considerably higher ridge was visible to the NE. Didn’t look all that far away.
Getting to Peak 6040 was harder than it looked. Beyond the first high spot, Lupe crossed 2 drainages, losing 30 or 40 feet of elevation both times. The terrain was easy, but the deadfall was icky. The uphill SW slopes of the ridges separating the drainages weren’t bad, but the rest of the trek was full of it. The NE downslopes and bottoms of the ravines were particularly clogged.
One more ridge and valley to go just to get to the base of Peak 6040. This valley was deeper than the others, and also loaded with deadfall. Lupe lost twice as much elevation. Took a while, but once the American Dingo got across this last valley she was past the worst of the deadfall. Only a 250 foot climb remained.
Still some deadfall on Peak 6040’s SW slope, but not enough to prevent Lupe from weaving through it all without much trouble. She was soon approaching the summit, with nice views back to the SW.
1:40 PM, 58ºF – Peak 6040’s summit region was big, grassy, and littered with deadfall. Not too pretty! A collection of 5 foot tall rocks stood on end near the NE edge, one of two possible true summit locations. The other high point was NW of where Loopster came up among some low rock outcroppings.
Without bothering to go to either true summit candidate, Lupe and SPHP picked a sunny spot along the SW edge and sat down. A cool breeze blew out of the W.
Chocolate coconut bar time, SPHP?
Absolutely, sweet-tooth Dingo of mine!
The chocolate coconut bar survived 10 seconds, followed by Taste of the Wild and water. SPHP ate an apple. Peak 6040’s summit might have a case of the uglies, but the views were really nice! For half an hour, Loop and SPHP relaxed in the breeze, basking in bright sunshine.
Well, Loop, if we’re going to do anything else today, we better get with it!
Ready when you are, SPHP!
A brand new 4 foot high, 4-sided skinny stick stuck up out of the ground 20 feet N of where Lupe had been resting. Little metal tags near the top of each side had stampings indicating that this was some sort of a survey marker. Peak 6040’s NW high point was another 15 feet NW. Looper got up on the highest rocks.
After visiting the NW high point, Lupe went over to the SE one where the rocks were standing on end. The highest rock, only a few inches taller than some of the others, provided a precariously narrow perch. Perhaps the true summit, but SPHP couldn’t tell for sure.
Less than 2 miles away, Peak 6167 was visible to the NNE. Might be the Carolina Dog’s next destination, but a trek through who knew how much deadfall suddenly seemed potentially ill-advised. Nearly 2 miles of it would be horrendous.
Peak 6040’s summit ridge extended several hundred feet farther SE. This region was slightly lower, narrower, and more heavily forested. Abandoning the Peak 6167 idea for the moment, Lupe explored way out to the very end before finally coming to a viewpoint.
Beyond Marshall Gulch was a terrific look at the region Loop had visited on Expedition No. 270. False North Point (6,130 ft.), True North Point, and Five Points (6,221 ft.) were all lined up in a row.
2:43 PM, 58ºF – The Carolina Dog’s hour on Peak 6040 was over. Lupe was back at her initial rest spot along the SW edge. SPHP stood gazing S still trying to figure out what peaks those were in the distance between Union Hill and Zimmer Ridge (6,600 ft.).
Where to next, SPHP?
Well, what do you think, Loop? Options are Peak 6167, Redfern Mountain, and Union Hill. Doubt we’ll have time enough to complete your Lowden Mountain traditions if we choose 6167 or Redfern. Could probably still do it if you want to go to Union Hill, though.
Carolina Dogs aren’t fussy. Any of these choices would have been fine with Loop. SPHP too, for that matter. The Lowden Mountain traditions won out in the end. A last glance at the views from Peak 6040, and Lupe was heading back down the SW slope.
Upon reaching the valley, Lupe turned S following it lower, a maneuver that avoided most of the wretched deadfall. She saw several deer before leaving the valley to cut SW across gentle terrain in an open forest, and soon arrived back at USFS Road No. 389 only a short distance NW of a junction with No. 389.1O.
No. 389.1O was a shortcut that went S up over a gentle pass. Entering the next valley, the road turned SE going down to another intersection with USFS Roads No. 389 and No. 254. Looper followed No. 389 SW to the base of Union Hill.
Leaving No. 389, Lupe began her ascent of Union Hill. Upon reaching the top of the mountain’s NE shoulder, she came to a road that wound W practically all the way to the summit.
4:16 PM, 57ºF, Union Hill – The light was beautiful when Lupe reached the E end of Union Hill’s summit ridge. Long and gently rounded, the ridge ran E/W, a mix of long grass and nicely-spaced tall pines. Would have been comfortably warm out, but a gusty 10 to 15 mph breeze out of the NW made it feel a bit cool.
The true summit was near the W end. Lupe paused to enjoy a gorgeous view of Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) and Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.) on the way there.
Someone had carted a bench swing and metal patio chairs up here. The true summit, marked by a wooden post sticking up out of a loose cairn, was just beyond the chairs. The post was clearly the same one that had been here more than 6 years ago. Tiny bits of the peeling red paint that had been on it then still remained.
After visiting the true summit, SPHP thought taking advantage of the bench swing might be fun. Lupe hopped up next to SPHP, but leapt off a moment later.
What is that thing, SPHP? It’s making me sea-sick!
Oh, come on! It’s just a swing! A rather nice amenity, if you ask me.
I’m not asking you, SPHP! I’m telling you it makes me sick. Besides, it’s facing into the wind, and I don’t care for that much, either.
The swing has a grand view of Peak 6040!
Been there, done that! Why don’t we get down out of the breeze where we can ponder the fabulous view to the S instead? By the way, we’ve made it to Union Hill (6,120 ft.), so isn’t it about chocolate coconut bar time again? You’re holding out on me!
Union Hill was a great spot, but time waits for no Dingo. Lupe couldn’t linger too long, if she intended to complete her last Lowden Mountain tradition. 40 minutes after arriving, she again stood in the breeze next to the summit post.
Onward! Puppy, ho!
Union Hill’s NW slope was steepish with some deadfall, but not too bad. The worst of the deadfall was near a saddle reached after the first leg of the descent. Heading down into the valley to the N, Looper eventually picked up part of USFS Road No. 389.1N.
No. 389.1N soon headed off in the wrong direction. Turning W, Lupe left it, continuing down the valley.
Her Union Hill descent ended upon reaching Burnt Fork Road. A 0.25 mile trek N brought the American Dingo to USFS Road No. 389.1L SE of the Gold Mountain Mine. Loop paused briefly by the frozen pond before hurrying on, by-passing the mine.
Trotting along the winding roads, Lupe retraced her morning route. Soon she was heading up Lowden Mountain’s N slope.
6:44 PM, 50ºF, Lowden Mountain – The sun still hovered barely above the horizon when Loopster reached the summit boulder again. Success! All traditions complete! Lupe had been to Lowden Mountain (6,055 ft.) in 2013 and 2014. On both occasions she had climbed it twice on the same day, and now she had just done it again in 2021. Only 3 days on Lowden Mountain, but 6 ascents!
This was the only place where Lupe had a goofy tradition like that, yet it seemed fitting to have kept it despite the passage of so many years. She didn’t stay long, less than half an hour. Yet before the Carolina Dog left, the evening sun suddenly broke through the clouds. To the E, False North Point, Union Hill, and Five Points stood all aglow.
For a few moments, Lupe did, too, high on old friend Lowden Mountain. (End 8:09 PM, 42ºF)
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 107 – Lowden Mountain & Union Hill (12-6-14)
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