Lupe was back! The G6 was parked again at Victoria Lake Road near its intersection with Sheridan Lake Road. (8:37 AM, 59°F) Lupe had unfinished business – adventuring business – in the area.
A week ago, on Expedition No. 156, Lupe meant to climb Commissary Point and Tomaha Point, but due to a circuitous route chosen by SPHP involving climbing the wrong mountain, Lupe only made it to Commissary Point (4,590 ft.). Tomaha Point had eluded her. Now that the area was more familiar, Lupe was going to make another attempt to reach Tomaha Point (4,710 ft.).
Lupe was happy to be out in the Black Hills again. She was eager to hit the trail and begin exploring. It was an unbelievably beautiful day that was going to bring record-setting warmth for this date. Lupe and SPHP set out heading N on a single track trail. Tomaha Point was 4 miles to the NW.
Lupe was having a blast sniffing and running around in the forest, but it didn’t last long. Within 5 or 10 minutes of starting out, she heard a loud bang. Gunfire! Lupe raced to warn SPHP. She was scared, and wanted to stop and hide. SPHP knew that Lupe wasn’t in any danger, but it was impossible to convince her of that.
The gunfire was going to continue. It was just people out target practicing. They would very likely keep at it for hours. If Lupe was ever going to get to Tomaha Point, she couldn’t wait for it to end. SPHP encouraged her to just stay close and keep moving. Lupe wasn’t buying it. She kept getting in SPHP’s way, standing on her hind legs and leaning against SPHP looking for reassurance, begging SPHP to stop.
SPHP petted Lupe and encouraged her, but tried to keep going. It was tough for both Lupe and SPHP. Lupe persisted in getting right in the way. SPHP persisted in trying to weave around her. The game went on and on. Every few minutes, so did the gunfire – sometimes just in single shots, other times in volleys. Occasionally it was quiet for longer periods, 5 or 10 minutes, but each time it started up again.
The trail N was a pretty easy path. Lupe and SPHP should have been making quick progress toward Tomaha Point, but the nervous Carolina Dog was slowing things down a lot. While dodging dingoes, SPHP missed a turn and wound up taking Lupe down into a valley W of the most direct route to Victoria Creek, which had to be crossed along the way.
Fortunately, the western trail also turned N and would eventually reach Victoria Creek, too. It went down into a little canyon, where there was still some melting ice on the trail. There were some interesting twisted rock formations along the way. At one point, a little spring bubbled above ground at the base of a twisted rock cliff.
The melting ice was very slick. Most places there wasn’t any, but in a few places there were big ice flows where the water from the spring had gone over the trail and frozen. Lupe reached Victoria Creek at the end of the little canyon, about where SPHP expected to come out. A towering rock formation was right at the end of the little canyon.
Victoria Creek was dry, except for some ice. Lupe followed a path near the creek continuing N until it reached a trail she had been on a week ago. Lupe and SPHP turned W on it, crossed a road going through the canyon, and followed the trail NW up a long ridge. At the far S end of a barren ridge SE of Commissary Point, Lupe left the trail and headed N.
Lupe had been along this route before, a week ago on her way to Commissary Point. This time, instead of continuing on the barren ridge to the E end of Commissary Point, she soon left the ridge and headed NW down into a big valley. All this time, well over an hour, Lupe had been hearing the relentless gunfire and begging SPHP to stop. Now that Lupe was just S of Commissary Point, the gunfire was finally far enough away to be faint enough so the poor Carolina Dog could relax.
Lupe found USFS Road No. 163 and took it going around the SW side of Commissary Point. The road turned N and headed down toward Dark Canyon.
SPHP knew from the topo map that Lupe was approaching a critical part of her journey to Tomaha Point. By far the easiest path to Tomaha Point was to go 0.5 mile W up Dark Canyon, then turn SW to enter a side canyon. She could follow the side canyon 0.25 mile to yet another side valley coming in from the NW. From the side valley she would have a pretty straight shot going NW up toward Tomaha Point.
It looked easy on the topo map, but there were two complications. Rapid Creek, the largest stream in the Black Hills, flows through Dark Canyon. A much smaller creek, Prairie Creek, flows out of the canyon to the SW down to its confluence with Rapid Creek in Dark Canyon. Either stream might well block the way for Lupe to follow this route through the canyons. In fact, it was rather likely. There might be bridges across Rapid Creek, but there wouldn’t be any bridges over Prairie Creek. Would Lupe find a way over or around the two streams?
She didn’t even get to find out. Approaching Dark Canyon, there was a big round steel bar gate across USFS Road No. 163. Signs said “Private Property” and “No Trespassing”. That was going to make things tough. Now Lupe couldn’t even try to find a way through Dark Canyon.
There was still one other possibility. SPHP had seen it on the topo map. USFS Road No. 163 was separated from the Prairie Creek canyon by a ridge almost 300 feet high, but there was one relatively low spot along the ridge. SPHP had already dubbed it Prairie Creek Pass. SPHP had been looking for it as Lupe came down USFS Road No. 163, but the ridge was so heavily forested, SPHP hadn’t seen the pass.
Instead of going back up No. 163 looking for a pass SPHP hadn’t been able to see before, Lupe and SPHP climbed directly up the ridge. It was steep, but Lupe made it up onto the ridgeline. Now Lupe could follow the ridgeline S looking for Prairie Creek Pass from above. First, though, Lupe still had to climb higher as the ridgeline went SW. In a few places, there were views of Commissary Point along the way.
Even up on the ridgeline, it was a pretty steep climb as Lupe went SW up to the highest point N of Prairie Creek Pass. Beyond the high point it got much easier continuing S toward the pass.
Surprisingly, Lupe arrived at the top of some small cliffs up above Prairie Creek Pass. It wasn’t hard to find a way down to the pass, though. Before heading W down into Prairie Creek canyon, Lupe and SPHP scouted the E side of the pass. The forest was so dense, it really wasn’t possible to see much. It did look like Lupe could get back down to the E from here, though, if she came back this way.
The topo map showed that the canyon wall above Prairie Creek was steep. Cliffs were a definite possibility. SPHP hoped there would be a safe way down. If there wasn’t, Lupe would be stuck on the wrong side of Prairie Creek canyon. There was no other alternative route from here that would allow Lupe to reach Tomaha Point without searching for miles for another way through.
The topo map was right. The canyon wall was steep all the way to the bottom, but Lupe and SPHP made it down slowly and safely. There weren’t any cliffs. Another possibility had been that Prairie Creek would be deep and flowing swiftly along the base of the canyon wall, preventing Lupe from getting across. Fortunately, it appeared at first glance that the creek bed was totally dry. It turned out there was some water in the creek, but not much.
Success! Lupe had made it down to Prairie Creek from Prairie Creek Pass. It had taken a long time to get here, but she had made it to this remote spot. Apparently it wasn’t totally remote. There was a big chunk of metal rusting in the stream bed right where Lupe had come down. Why would anyone have brought it here? And how? It looked too heavy to pack out.
Lupe now needed to follow Prairie Creek 0.25 mile NW heading downstream. There, Prairie Creek would turn NE on its way to Dark Canyon, but Lupe should be able to continue NW up a side valley. With the creek so low, it seemed like it ought to be easy to reach the side valley.
It wasn’t. Going through Prairie Creek canyon was hard. A thick tangle of bushes, trees, deadfall timber, occasional boulders, and uneven ground made it very slow going for SPHP. Lupe, however, was able to scamper around the veritable jungle pretty well. The gunfire that had made her miserable earlier, was now forgotten. Lupe was having a great time!
It took a long time for SPHP to force a way through “the Tangle” to reach the side valley coming in from the NW. Worse yet, the tangle continued up the side valley, too. No telling how far it went. In semi-desperation, SPHP looked up. It looked possible to climb up the NE side of the valley. If Lupe could get up to the ridge line, it might be a lot faster. A look at the topo map confirmed that this might work.
Lupe and SPHP made the steep climb. Lupe reached the ridgeline. It continued going up, steeply at first, but then more gradually as Lupe went NW along the ridge. The steep climb had been worth it. This was definitely better than fighting the endless tangle below!
When Lupe had reached the ridgeline, she was still nearly a mile SE of Tomaha Point, even though it seemed like hours and hours had gone by. Starting with the gunfire, there had been one obstacle after another. Now, though, Lupe was finally able to start making rapid progress.
Skirting to the S of a high point, Lupe came to a road! It was an old road, but it was level and grassy. There were a few little trees growing on it, but for SPHP it was the Autobahn compared to what Lupe had come through. The old road soon led to a 3-way intersection. Lupe took the branch that continued NW. A marker showed that this was USFS Road No. 772.1I. The road looked long abandoned, and eventually ended.
Lupe and SPHP left the end of the road climbing W up a forested hill. It wasn’t too far to another higher ridge. Pretty soon Lupe was up on that higher ridge and following it NW. She came to a fairly level spot with lots of young trees around and some big ones, too. There was a forested hill just beyond a saddle to the N. It didn’t look all that high, but it was definitely higher than where Lupe was. Off to the NE was a glimpse between the trees of Buzzard’s Roost (4,695 ft.).
Was the forested hill to the N Tomaha Point? The setup looked right, but the truth was, SPHP didn’t know for sure what Tomaha Point looked like. From Commissary Point a week ago, SPHP had tried to pick it out, but wasn’t certain which hill was it. There was a hill that looked like a likely candidate, but from a distance there had been other hills that were still possibilities, too.
Lupe and SPHP were going to find out. Lupe went down into the little saddle, crossed it, and started climbing. Near the top of the forested hill, she found a seldom used trail. It went around to the W side before turning up to the summit ridge. A short walk S along the narrow rocky ridge led Lupe to a little cairn sitting atop a bigger rock. From the views between the trees on the way up, SPHP was 100% convinced. This was it. Lupe had made it to the top of Tomaha Point!
Tomaha Point was too heavily forested for there to be clear views. Still, in some places there were little gaps between the trees. The relative positions of Buzzard’s Roost and Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.), plus the sheer height of the very steep drop-offs to the E and W confirmed this was indeed Tomaha Point. From the top of the mountain, it was clear that there was nothing else around that could possibly be it.
The topo map shows that the Tomaha Point summit ridge runs N/S. The true summit is toward the S end, which was where Lupe found it. The N end of the ridge is lower. Lupe started going over there, but it was very windy and the faint trail in that direction passed next to some pretty steep terrain.
SPHP caught a glimpse of a very steep rocky spine running down to the E from the N part of the mountain. Yes, this was the same mountain SPHP had identified from Commissary Point. No need to go over to the N end. It looked a bit too treacherous. Lupe already had her Tomaha Point peakbagging success.
Although it had been breezy up on other ridges, the SW wind was gusting up on Tomaha Point. Lupe’s trip here had been somewhat of an ordeal, but she had made it. A lot of time had been spent getting here, though. It would likely be dark before Lupe could get back to the G6. Lupe and SPHP left Tomaha Point and returned to the somewhat lower ridge across the saddle to the S.
SPHP stopped to look at the topo map and ponder which way Lupe should go back. There were two choices, back through the tangle and over Prairie Creek Pass, or explore to the S. If Lupe went S, she would have to find another way across a different part of Prairie Creek canyon, but then it would be a mile or less before she would reach a good road or trail.
Exploring S seemed like fun, but iffy. It would probably be OK, but what if it wasn’t? Wandering around lost in the dark would not be much fun. Better to just go back the same way, despite all the steep ridges, passes and tangles. At least the route was known. Lupe and SPHP headed back to the SE along the ridge.
Along the way, SPHP came up with a brainstorm. Instead of going back the exact same way, why not try another ridge leading down to Prairie Creek closer to Prairie Creek Pass? That way Lupe could avoid most of the tangle. It was brilliant!
Instead of going back to the Autobahn, Lupe and SPHP continued SE on another ridge farther S, losing elevation steadily along the way. After a little bit, a big rock outcropping loomed ahead, blocking the ridgeline. Lupe wasn’t going to be able to stay up on the ridge.
Time to make a choice about which valley to follow, the one to the SW or to the NE? Both valleys continued down to the SE. SPHP chose the SW one, since the valley farthest S should be Prairie Creek canyon.
Lupe reached the bottom of the valley to the SW without losing much more elevation at all. Right away she was back in the tangle again. At least the creek was underground here. Hopefully Lupe wouldn’t have to go too far to get to the base of Prairie Creek Pass.
Prairie Creek canyon was a much narrower “V-shaped” valley here than farther down where the stream was above ground. The bottom of the valley was full of boulders of various sizes in the dry creek bed. As Lupe went around the big rock formation, the creek bed lost elevation rapidly. It continued to do so as Lupe and SPHP pushed on down the valley. During a big rain, the water gushing down this steep valley must become an absolute torrent full of waterfalls.
SPHP was hoping and expecting that Lupe would reach the base of Prairie Creek Pass soon. This time she should be approaching from the upstream direction. The tangle went on and on. Sometimes there were places where the NE side of the valley wasn’t as steep. Lupe and SPHP could gain a little elevation and temporarily escape the tangle. Each time, though, the terrain soon forced Lupe back down all the way to the creek bed again.
There hadn’t been any water at all in this steep valley at first, but after Lupe had lost quite a bit of elevation, there started to be signs she might soon reach water. She came to a big mossy rock that was dripping a little bit.
Near the mossy rock, Lupe found a few puddles where she could get a drink. Any time now, Lupe would reach a place where Prairie Creek would be above ground. Well, not really. Lupe and SPHP still had to push on farther through the tangle than SPHP expected before Lupe heard the sound of running water ahead.
Oh no! Could it be? It was. Lupe still wasn’t at the base of Prairie Creek Pass. SPHP was now certain where she was. SPHP recognized the big rock wall on the left. Near here, Lupe had climbed out of the start of the side valley on her way to Tomaha Point. She was back where the side valley met Prairie Creek Canyon. She hadn’t been coming down Prairie Creek Canyon at all!
That meant all the struggle Lupe had just been through to avoid the tangle had just been additional tangle. She now had to work her way upstream through the entire length of the same tangle she passed through going to Tomaha Point. The brilliant plan to avoid it, had failed. DOH!
No choice, but to press on through it. Lupe and SPHP set off going up Prairie Creek. When SPHP saw that Lupe was finally getting close to Prairie Creek Pass, SPHP tried another maneuver. The E canyon wall looked like it might be possible to start up here and angle up toward Prairie Creek Pass, getting Lupe out of the tangle a bit sooner than she otherwise would.
Lupe and SPHP started climbing. Within 30 seconds of starting to angle toward Prairie Creek Pass, the proposed route was blocked by a deep ravine going straight down. Lupe couldn’t go forward. Up or back down? Those were the only two choices. SPHP hated to lose the elevation again. It looked possible to go up. High above was some kind of a ridge where it looked like there might be some level ground.
Of course, it was steep. Why shouldn’t it be? Everything else was today. Lupe and SPHP started climbing. Lupe reached the top of the ridge. SPHP followed her up. SPHP was sweating. It sure was warm out for February! The top of the ridge was broad, flat and thickly forested. Sunlight filtered between the trees. It was nice here, so incredibly private.
SPHP found a log and sat down. Time for a break! Lupe agreed. Taste of the Wild, an apple, a chocolate and coconut granola bar, and lots of water all got consumed. At least the backpack was lighter now. For a little while, Lupe and SPHP just rested. It felt good.
Lupe must nearly be as high as Prairie Creek Pass by now. Maybe there was a reasonably level route over to it?
No, of course not. Lupe made it most of the way to Prairie Creek Pass, but the canyon wall got too steep to be worth trying to go that way. Lupe had to climb clear up to the top of the higher part of the ridge. Fortunately, it wasn’t all that much higher. Lupe made a discovery along the way! She found a great Dingo den under an overhanging rock formation.
It was still a little bit of a climb from Lupe’s secret Dingo den up to the top of the ridge. Lupe and SPHP had been up here earlier in the day. The rest of the way back to the G6 would be pretty easy. Lupe and SPHP went down into Prairie Creek Pass, and crossed it heading SE trying not to lose too much elevation.
A ravine eventually forced Lupe to go down to USFS Road No. 163 again. Along the way, Lupe found the bleached bones of a deer that met its end here. The deer had met its tragic fate some time ago. There was nothing left of it except the bones.
USFS Road No. 163 had been rather soft and mucky early in the day. The warm breeze had dried it out considerably by the time Lupe and SPHP reached it again. After all the obstacles Lupe had encountered, trudging up the road seemed extraordinarily easy.
Clouds started moving in from the SW, and the sunlight disappeared. The cool wind was blowing harder as Lupe regained elevation again. It felt good. SPHP began to get ideas. Lupe was just S of Commissary Point. SPHP could see a break in the cliff wall near the top toward the SE end of the mountain. Why not climb Commissary Point again?
Another steep climb. Lupe and SPHP emerged above the cliff wall near the S viewpoint that Lupe had been at on Expedition No. 156. The SW wind was really blowing up here! It started to sprinkle. Thunder! Really? A thunderstorm in the middle of February? What next?
The wind blew hard. The clouds continued to spit a little rain, but there was no more thunder as Lupe and SPHP headed for the summit. Lupe liked it up here and raced around across the open ground and through the forest. Nearing the summit from the E, suddenly SPHP realized Lupe wasn’t there. Where had she gone? She had been here just a couple of minutes ago.
SPHP shouted for Lupe a couple of times. No Lupe. SPHP ran over to the N for a look at the terrain over there. She might have gone that way. Were there cliffs? No cliffs. That was good. SPHP shouted Lupe’s name over and over. More than a dozen times.
She always came, she always stayed near. Maybe Lupe had heard something, and had chased so far away after it she couldn’t hear SPHP in the wind? By now the sun had to be almost down. It would be getting dark soon. SPHP kept yelling for Lupe.
Suddenly, there she was! Racing as fast as she could up through the forest from the NE, here came Lupe! She was panting really hard. She must have come a long way. Maybe she had gotten turned around. Lupe had a huge drink of water, as SPHP welcomed the American Dingo back.
Lupe and SPHP returned to the summit of Commissary Point for the second time in a week. Nothing to see here in the forest. A quick, fuzzy photo and onward. Lupe and SPHP headed to the big viewpoint to the W. Just like a week ago, it was an absolute gale there. This time the wind was out of the SW instead of the NW. A few raindrops took aim at Lupe and SPHP just for fun.
SPHP had hoped there would be a nice sunset, but there were too many clouds. The sun was hidden behind them. Or, maybe the sun wasn’t even up any more? The light was fading fast. It was still more than two miles back to the G6. Best to be moving on. Lupe and SPHP left the viewpoint heading E through the forest.
When Lupe got back to the S viewpoint, SPHP was surprised to see there was a pink glow in the sky back to the SW. There was a bit of a sunset after all! Lupe posed in the gale for a shot with the sunset, but the camera wouldn’t pick up both. The sunset only appeared when using the telephoto lens. Sorry, Lupe! This is a sunset shot!
Lupe and SPHP left Commissary Point heading SE, and then S along the barren ridge where the helicopter had flown over exciting Lupe a week ago. It was almost dark out. Off to the ENE, Lupe could see the lights of Rapid City.
The way back to the G6 from the barren ridge was now familiar. Lupe still had one more little adventure when SPHP lost the faint trail once in the dark forest, but Lupe found it again before too long. At 6:58 PM (56°F), Lupe was back at the G6. Expedition No. 157 had lasted more than 10 hours. Despite the scary gunfire at the start, Lupe must have had a good time. She didn’t want to get in the G6 to go home yet.
So SPHP stretched out on the ground. Lupe laid down next to SPHP. She held her keen ears high. Her head darted back and forth, as she listened intently to noises in the forest. The sky was gray, not black, even though the sun was long gone. Once in a while, the moon shimmered briefly through thin clouds. Overhead, the pitch black outlines of the pines swayed in the still gusty SW wind.
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