Black Hills – Page 61 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 239 – Silver Peak & Nugget Gulch Peak (11-4-18)

Start – 8:59 AM, 31°F, 0.5 mile S of Silver City along USFS Road No. 251

The more SPHP thought about it, the more it seemed like driving a little farther S would have been better. November now, and the first day back on Standard Time. Even though the clock said Lupe had gotten off to a reasonably early start, she actually had one less hour of daylight to look forward to than she would have had only yesterday at this hour.

Consequently, maybe Loop wasn’t going to be able to get to all of her planned peakbagging objectives? Yeah, driving farther would have been more efficient. Besides, the road hike on USFS Road No. 251 was a bit dull. Luckily the valley widened out. Lupe was perfectly happy roaming some off-road flat ground next to a dry creekbed.

Lupe was happy roaming this flat ground next to a dry creekbed. Photo looks S.

Before long the American Dingo reached a junction with a side road marked No. 251.1K. This far up Nugget Gulch the creek had a little water in it. Lupe crossed No. 251.1K and continued upstream.

Upstream of USFS Road No. 251.1K. The creek had a little water here.

More than 0.5 mile from the G6 was a more important intersection. USFS Road No. 251 continued S up East Nugget Gulch. Lupe made a R turn onto USFS Road No. 249 instead. As a more primitive road, No. 249 had a pleasant remote feel.

Starting up USFS Road No. 249. Photo looks SW.

No. 249 winds its way W, then SW up the main part of Nugget Gulch. Lupe had hardly gotten started when she came to a ford. By the side of the road, right next to the creek, Lupe discovered a terribly interesting something or other.

Looks like deer guts to me, Looper! Just leave ’em alone!

*What do you think of this, SPHP? Most intriguing, wouldn’t you say? Quite a find!*

*Oh, yes Loop! Simply lovely! Let’s, uh, keep going.*

On the way up Nugget Gulch, No. 249 crossed the stream bed half a dozen times. The first two fords had enough water to persuade SPHP to utilize a few stepping stones. The rest of the crossings were bone dry.

Nugget Gulch became narrower and deeper. The road hugged a hillside above the stream course. SPHP stuck with the road, since it was easier than trying to stay down close to the intermittent stream. For the most part, Loop did, too.

At one point the creek’s maximum flow was revealed where it went over exposed bedrock. Lupe left the road briefly for a closer look.

*Why, this has got to be the prettiest spot in all of **Nugget Gulch**!*

After nearly a mile on USFS Road No. 249, Lupe came to an intersection with No. 249.3B. Silver Peak (5,810 ft.) was now 0.67 mile due N. The Carolina Dog left the main road, slipped around a closed metal barrier, and began following No. 249.3B up a valley.

The road appeared to be permanently closed to vehicle traffic. Looper trotted along through tall, dry grass. No. 249.3B was the quickest, easiest way up Silver Peak. The road wound around a bit at first, but eventually straightened as it headed NNW. As Lupe got higher, small trees grew on the old roadbed.

In the tall, dry grass on abandoned USFS Road No. 249.3B.

Higher up small trees were growing on the old roadbed.

Near the upper end of the valley Lupe reached an area where the forest had sustained tremendous damage. Years ago, pine bark beetles had killed hundreds, perhaps thousands of trees. Deadfall timber littered the whole region. Many dead trees had fallen across No. 249.3B. The pace of advance slowed as negotiating the deadfall became an issue.

The road faded, then disappeared. Lupe climbed N up a steep slope. SPHP followed, simply choosing whatever route avoided the deadfall as much as possible. So many trees had fallen that the remaining forest was comparatively open. The general layout of the terrain was easy to see. Silver Peak’s W ridge was only a little higher.

Loop made it up onto the W ridge. She turned E toward Silver Peak. The going wasn’t any easier up here. The narrow ridgeline was clogged with deadfall, too. Fortunately, the summit wasn’t much farther.

Oh, yeah? The top of the mountain wasn’t as close as SPHP thought. The first high point Lupe came to was a false summit. The true summit was now in sight, but so was another stretch of deadfall infested ridge. No matter. Puppy ho!

Took longer than it should have, but the Carolina Dog made it to the top of Silver Peak (5,810 ft.). The difficulties she had encountered really hadn’t been a surprise – this was Loop’s 3rd ascent. Deadfall had been an issue each time. The passing years hadn’t improved the situation.

Success! Lupe stands perched upon **Silver Peak**‘s summit cairn. Photo looks W.

After getting up on the summit cairn to claim another successful ascent of Silver Peak, Lupe laid down next to it. The cairn appeared little changed since the last time she had been here nearly 3 years ago.

Taking it easy on **Silver Peak**. This was Lupe’s 3rd ascent.

In a way, it didn’t seem fair. With all the damage sustained by the forest, Loopster ought to have enjoyed some nice clear views from Silver Peak. However, the summit area hadn’t been hit quite as hard by the pine bark beetles as some of the rest of the territory she had come through. Plenty of partial views and glimpses, but in every direction at least one or two trees still stood to mar the scenes.

To the extent that there was one, the best view was toward Silver City and Peak 5707.

**Silver City** (down by the red roofs) and **Peak 5707** (L) from Silver Peak. Lupe had been to **Peak 5707** for the first time nearly a month ago. Photo looks NE.

It had been sunny earlier, but the sky had turned gray. The temperature was still in the low 40’s °F. A 10 mph SW breeze made it seem cooler than that. Lupe still had two peaks to go. 15 minutes spent relaxing on Silver Peak was about the extent of it. Lupe and SPHP left to start picking a way back down the W ridge.

The views were actually better from the W ridge. Before leaving it, Loop paused at a rocky high point. Far to the NNW Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) sported a dusting of new snow. Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) was on the horizon to the S. Lupe’s next peakbagging objective was much closer in the same direction. She could see a long ridge that would take her to Nugget Gulch Peak (6,000 ft.).

At a more scenic spot along **Silver Peak**‘s W ridge. Photo looks SW.

**Custer Peak** was sporting a dusting of new snow. Photo looks NNW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

**Black Elk Peak** in the distance (Center L). **Nugget Gulch Peak** is in the vicinity of the first much closer high point immediately to the R. Photo looks S.

Lupe retraced her whole route back down USFS Road No. 249.3B. Upon reaching No. 249 again, she took it S, but only for 200 yards. Off to the L was a side road that led to a small clearing where a sign indicated this was USFS Road No. 675.1. At the far side of the clearing several stones blocked the road.

Stones couldn’t stop Lupe. She went right on by, following No. 675.1 as it climbed a short distance E up onto a level spot where the road divided. Neither branch was marked, but going straight would have taken Looper into Middle Nugget Gulch. Instead, she took the fork to the R (S) that curved higher. After another short climb, this road leveled out and faded away in a forest that looked groomed.

After a couple of quick climbs, Lupe reaches a groomed forest. Photo looks SW.

Ahead small pines grew where the road used to be. Lupe took this route SW until she got close to the next hill. A longer and considerably steeper climb up this hill ended as Loop emerged from the forest at the N end of a level field. From here the Carolina Dog had a good view back N toward Silver Peak.

**Silver Peak** from the field. Photo looks N.

Stones had been arranged to form a fire ring here. SPHP picked Lupe treasures out of a long extinguished campfire. The field continued 100 yards S past a few young pines to another unidentified road.

The grassy level field extended 100 yards S to another road. Lupe would follow this road R along the side of the forested high ground seen ahead. Photo looks SSW.

By now it was clear that Lupe had succeeded in getting up onto the N end of the ridge leading S to Nugget Gulch Peak. However, the summit was still out of sight more than a mile away. Since the unidentified road was going in roughly the right direction, Lupe followed it SW. The road gained elevation slowly staying 50 to 75 feet below the ridgeline.

After 0.2 mile, Loop arrived at a junction. A marker indicated she had been following ATV Trail No. 6803. She had just reached No. 6800.

Loop on ATV Trail No. 6803. The junction with No. 6800 is dead ahead. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe could go E or W on ATV Trail No. 6800. Without a clue as to which choice was better, SPHP led her E. No. 6800 climbed up to a minor pass, then turned S. The road now began to lose elevation. Lupe followed it a little farther. Up ahead she could see a line on a hillside indicating the presence of a higher road.

On ATV Trail No. 6800. A higher road is on the hillside ahead. Lupe left No. 6800 near here to climb up to a saddle off to the R. Photo looks S.

Losing elevation was the wrong thing to do. Lupe left No. 6800. She climbed toward a saddle she could see ahead on the R. Upon arrival, Lupe found the saddle was mostly grassland. Another road was right over the crest on the other (W) side.

Lupe arrives up on the grassy saddle to discover another road on the other side. Photo looks SE.

An 80 foot high hill sat immediately NW of the saddle. This hill was in the wrong direction, but from below it looked like the top might be open enough to be able to get some views. Since it wouldn’t take long to check out, Lupe and SPHP climbed the hill. There were views, but none that were particularly helpful.

Looking S from the top of the 80 foot hill. The views from here weren’t really helpful. Lupe needed to get over to the hill on the R, but she already knew that.

The American Dingo returned to the saddle. She went down to the road W of the crest, and followed it 150 feet to a junction with the road she had detected the presence of earlier.

The road W of the crest went downhill from here. So Lupe tried the side road going E. The side road soon curved S. Looked like it wasn’t going to gain any elevation either. Hmm.

No choice. Lupe abandoned all roads and started climbing. She worked her way S up a steep hillside. The hill was rocky near the top. Once she was up, Loop found herself on a fairly narrow ridge. This ridge would inevitably bring her to Nugget Gulch Peak, if followed far enough S. Still no sign of the summit yet, though.

Lupe and SPHP struck out along the ridge. Most of it was forested. Some parts were a slow-going jumble of rock and deadfall. Loop pressed on climbing from one slightly higher point to the next. Rinse and repeat.

Time was slipping away. Occasionally Looper caught glimpses of what was ahead. After a while, SPHP became convinced the next high point she was coming to was either the summit of Nugget Gulch Peak, or High Point 5953, if she hadn’t gone over it already.

When Lupe got there, she discovered a patch of open ground offering views to the S and SW. A higher point was to the S. Surely that must be Nugget Gulch Peak? SPHP would have bet money that Lupe was now at High Point 5953. Woulda won, too!

*So here we are at **High Point 5953**! Not a bad view, but looks like weather might be on the way.* Photo looks SW.

**Nugget Gulch Peak** (Center) from High Point 5953. **Peak 6043** is straight up from Lupe. **Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.)** and **Peak 6167** are clustered together on the R. Photo looks S.

15 minute break. SPHP wanted to check the map. Lupe didn’t mind, she was ready for water and Taste of the Wild.

Still 0.25 mile to Nugget Gulch Peak. The sky had been cloudy for hours. Colder now. Looked like rain or snow showers to the SW, but a long way off. Looper and SPHP sat huddled together watching. Seemed like the showers were coming this way.

Looking down into **Middle Nugget Gulch** from High Point 5953. Photo looks ESE.

Approaching snow showers. Photo looks SW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

A shot rang out, spooking the American Dingo. A hunter! Not far away either. After waiting a few minutes to see if anyone would appear, Loop and SPHP stole away from High Point 5953.

Looking back from halfway to Nugget Gulch Peak, someone in a bright orange cap was standing on High Point 5953. SPHP waved. Whoever it was waved back. Lupe pressed on. Hunters and their guns scare her.

Getting there! **Nugget Gulch Peak** dead ahead. Photo looks S.

Some slow going, but within minutes of the summit. Photo looks S.

Lupe reached Nugget Gulch Peak (6,000 ft.) as tiny snowflakes began sailing by. They never amounted to much, but along with the brooding sky and cold breeze contributed to a sense of isolation. It felt late in the day, late in the season. Winter was coming. Not quite yet, but soon.

Lupe reaches the summit of **Nugget Gulch Peak**.

The absolute summit was treeless, featuring a few medium-sized rocks among thorny bushes. Lupe had been here once before, years ago, but SPHP couldn’t remember exactly when. Although trees grew N of the summit, the S slope was grass and stones.

From the summit rocks, Lupe could see a long way in most directions.

Loop on the highest rocks. Photo looks NE.

**Middle Nugget Gulch** from Nugget Gulch Peak. **Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.)** (L) is in the clouds. Photo looks ESE.

Looking back at **High Point 5953** (R). Photo looks NNW.

Lupe had one more peakbagging objective. Peak 6043 was in view 1.5+ miles to the SSE.

**Peak 6043** (L) was Lupe’s next objective. **Old Bald Peak** is on the R. **Black Elk Peak** (Center) on the far horizon. Photo looks S.

It really wasn’t all that late in the day, but with this weather it would get dark mighty early. On a clear, bright day the Carolina Dog might have continued on. SPHP thought about it, but decided Silver Peak had chewed up too much time. Best to head back to the G6.

*What’s the verdict, SPHP?* Lupe next to the summit rocks on **Nugget Gulch Peak** with more snow showers on the way. Photo looks SW.

15 or 20 minutes on Nugget Gulch Peak, then it was time to call it a day. Lupe lingered another couple of minutes at the summit before joining SPHP heading down the S slope. At the first minor high point, Loopster paused briefly for a final look around before ducking under a fence and heading W down a long grassy slope.

Final moments poised atop **Nugget Gulch Peak**. Photo looks NNE.

A last look back toward the summit. Photo looks NNE.

On the way down the W slope. Photo looks N.

Lupe reached USFS Road No. 249 again near Pass 5606. She was 2 miles farther S than where she had left it hours ago. It was several degrees warmer down here than Nugget Gulch Peak had been. A light rain fell.

Lupe reaches **Pass 5606** along USFS Road No. 249. Photo looks NNW.

Close to 4 miles back to the G6 from here. The plan was to follow No. 249 all the way back to No. 251, but when Lupe came to a side road on the R and saw that it was ATV Trail No. 6800 again, she took it instead.

Exploring another section of ATV Trail No. 6800 late in the day. Photo looks NNE.

No. 6800 stayed higher than USFS Road No. 249. In fact, Lupe was gaining elevation. As SPHP suspected, she eventually arrived at the grassy saddle SE of the 80 foot hill. So that mystery was solved. Clearly the road was going to loop all the way around the W side of the 80 foot hill back to the junction with ATV Trail No. 6803.

Taking No. 6803 became the new plan, but shortly before Loop got that far another ATV trail split off heading N. Hmm. Lupe took this side road, but it dead-ended. In fading light Loop and SPHP descended a steep, mostly open slope to the W. At the bottom was No. 249 again.

No more adventures! Still 3 miles to go. Stick with the known road!

The light rain never quit. A black night fell. Cold and soaking wet, Lupe trudged at SPHP’s heels. Every step homeward bound. (6:09 PM, 37°F)

Nugget Gulch Peak, Black Hills of South Dakota, 11-4-18

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 238 – Centennial Trail No. 89: South Boxelder Creek to Dalton Lake (10-28-18)

Start – 8:53 AM, 28°F, South Boxelder Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 one mile W of Nemo, SD

Chilly. Frost on the grass. Lupe didn’t mind the brisk morning air at all. She was eager to begin a big day of adventures exploring another section of Centennial Trail No. 89. Dalton Lake, her objective, was 6.1 miles away. If the Carolina Dog got off to a good start, she ought to have time enough to visit a few minor Black Hills peaks along the way, too.

As soon as SPHP was ready, Lupe set off on a level path heading NW by the main road. The path quickly led to a ford of Boxelder Creek. Since SPHP didn’t feel like fording Boxelder Creek on a cold morning, Lupe skipped the ford, too. Two bridges along the road got Lupe and SPHP over the creek twice in rapid succession.

Beyond the second bridge was an ATV trail on the R. A sign indicated the ATV trail also served as part of Centennial Trail No. 89. Loop followed it into the forest.

Lupe at the 2nd bridge over **Boxelder Creek**. This bridge is a short distance upstream of the South Boxelder Creek trailhead. Photo looks SW.

Leaving the main road. **Boxelder Creek** is on the R. Photo looks NE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 headed N gaining elevation at an easy pace. Lupe passed through a fairly dense pine forest featuring occasional stands of white-barked aspens.

Following the ATV trail through the first stretch of forest. Photo looks N.

Over less than 0.5 mile, Lupe gained 200 feet of elevation before arriving at a minor pass. Looper simply ignored an intersection with a dirt road and went straight on over the pass. The trail lost elevation before turning E toward more open country.

After going over a minor pass, Centennial Trail No. 89 heads for more open country. Photo looks E.

Lupe passed through a big meadow where several dirt roads intersected the trail. Just E of this meadow a small rise led up to another section of forest. The trail leveled off, curved SE, then began dropping again.

Temporarily on higher ground after crossing the big meadow. Photo looks SE.

Lupe wasn’t far from Nemo. She started seeing buildings through the trees. However, instead of going on into Nemo, Centennial Trail No. 89 turned sharply N. The trail crossed over to the E side of Nemo Road, then went N 200 yards to a junction with Vanocker Canyon Road.

Just off Centennial Trail No. 89 near Nemo. Photo looks ENE.

Lupe reaches the junction of Nemo Road & Vanocker Canyon Road. **Peak 5237**, which she hoped to climb a little later in the day, is on the R. Photo looks N.

The trail now turned NE following Vanocker Canyon Road. After going over a small tributary of Boxelder Creek, the road curved N. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued to parallel the road for a little way, but then began angling E up a large forested draw. Lupe gained elevation steadily again on her way up to a second, somewhat higher pass.

Looking S down a minor tributary of Boxelder Creek from Vanocker Canyon Road. This was the last water Lupe would come to before reaching Dalton Lake.

On the way up to the second pass after leaving Vanocker Canyon Road. Photo looks S.

At the second pass Centennial Trail No. 89 ran alongside USFS Road No. 144, which also headed E just S of the trail.

Going over the 2nd pass. USFS Road No. 144 is on the R. Photo looks E.

Once over the pass, the trail lost a bit of elevation before turning N away from USFS Road No. 144. Centennial Trail No. 89 made a long sweeping curve up a large draw, eventually rounding a sharp bend leading up to much flatter ground.

Lupe was now on a long ridge she would be following for the next 1.5 miles. This was the start some of the most remote country she would travel through today. Along the way she could expect a couple of minor peakbagging opportunities and occasional distant views.

Lupe reaches the high ground of a long ridge she would be following NW & N for the next 1.5 miles. Photo looks NNW.

Centennial Trail No. 89 headed NW. Loop was still gaining elevation, but very slowly. The forest in this area had been thinned by loggers. It was possible to see quite a bit of local territory between the remaining pines. This first part of the ridge was very broad and flat. The trail stayed far from the unseen edge.

After going 0.33 mile NW, it appeared that Lupe might be nearing the W end of the ridge. Her first peakbagging objective, Peak 5237 couldn’t be far from here, yet there didn’t seem to be any higher ground around. What could be seen of the terrain was almost perfectly level. SPHP called a brief halt to check the topo map.

Thinking Lupe couldn’t be too far from Peak 5237, yet seeing nothing but flat terrain, SPHP called a brief halt here to check the map. Photo looks SW.

The map showed that Peak 5237 was likely still a good 0.25 mile away. Before Lupe would get there, the trail ought to swing N a short distance then turn WNW crossing a much narrower and slightly lower section of the ridge. When the ridge started widening out again, Peak 5237 should be close by off to the SW.

It all worked out just as the map foretold. Within minutes of returning to the trail, Lupe did come to a decidedly narrower part of the ridge. She crossed it quickly, and as the ridge began to widen out again, the roar of engines was heard. ATV’s were approaching from the N. A forested slope with considerable deadfall timber and slash rose toward the SW.

Crossing the narrower part of the ridge. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe reaches the point where the ridge widens out somewhat again. Peak 5237 is close by up the slope to the L.

Lupe and SPHP left Centennial Trail No. 89, disappearing up the slope before the ATV’s arrived. It wasn’t far to the highest ground, maybe 200 yards. Lupe found the top of Peak 5237 covered with slash. Not pretty, but a minor peakbagging success nonetheless.

*So this is it, SPHP? The towering summit of **Peak 5237**? Not too impressive, but I’ll take credit for another peakbagging success anyway!* Photo looks W.

Peak 5237’s actual high point might not have been much to look at, but only a few 10’s of feet away to the S and W were small cliffs from which Lupe could get some fairly nice views. The Carolina Dog could see SSW toward Nemo. To the NW she had a good look at Green Top (5,360 ft.).

*Hey, SPHP! I can see the intersection of Nemo & Vanocker Canyon roads from here! We were down there just a little while ago!* Photo looks SSW toward the Nemo area.

**Green Top** (Center) from Peak 5237. The more distant high point a bit to the L of **Green Top** is **Terry Peak (7,064 ft.)**. Photo looks NW.

After a short break by the cliffs, Lupe and SPHP returned to Centennial Trail No. 89. The trail wound down a steepish slope to the N losing 100 feet of elevation before reaching a saddle. This was the lowest point along the ridgeline. Almost immediately, the trail began regaining all the elevation it had just lost.

Before topping out, Lupe came to a rock platform along the W edge of the ridge. This platform was very close to the trail and provided another good look at a broad expanse of territory to the W.

Lupe discovers another viewpoint Just W of the trail. Photo looks WSW.

After a quick look, Lupe continued N. She soon reached the next high ground along the ridge. The Carolina Dog was virtually as high as she had been at Peak 5237. This region was quite broad and flat again for 0.25 mile. Near the N end, the ridge narrowed and began to drop slightly. Across a wide valley, Lupe caught glimpses of cliffs near the S end of her next peakbagging objective.

Continuing N, Lupe caught glimpses of this line of small cliffs near the S end of her next peakbagging objective. Photo looks WNW.

This next objective, which SPHP planned on naming Mile High Plateau, sat more than 0.25 mile off to the W of Centennial Trail No. 89. That was within reason. Mile High Plateau might be a fun place to explore. Lupe wouldn’t be able to head toward it, though, until she got to High Point 5217 where the ridge she was following more or less ended, and split off into branches going E and W.

High Point 5217 wasn’t much farther. The American Dingo was soon there. A power line went over the edge of the ridge here, producing an opening where Loop had a view to the N.

Lupe reaches the power line in the vicinity of **High Point 5217**. The ridge Lupe had been following N ended here, splitting into branches that went E or W. Photo looks NE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 turned E here, but Mile High Plateau was W. Looper left the trail, and picked up a faint road going NW. She gained a little elevation. Pretty soon the road curved W and leveled out near the N end of a spacious, level, open forest interspersed with meadows.

SPHP was about to congratulate Lupe on reaching Mile High Plateau when a check of the topo map showed that the name didn’t fit. The highest contour was actually only 5,260 feet, a smidgen short of being a mile high. Well, phooey! Welcome to “Peak“ 5260 then, Looper!

Even “Peak” 5260 didn’t seem like such an apt name for this pancake flat region, but SPHP wasn’t going to call it Plateau 5260. In any case, it was what it was.

Lupe arrives at **“Peak” 5260** more than 0.25 mile WNW of High Point 5217 and Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks SW.

Lupe seemed perfectly happy with Peak 5260. She roamed SSW looking for an obvious high point, a big boulder or anything recognizable as the true summit. Nothing. Eventually the ground began to slope away.

No discernible true summit. Not even any views without dropping down to wherever the cliffs might be along the edge. While Lupe headed back N across the plateau, SPHP hatched another plan. A little farther NW of Peak 5260 was another slightly higher mountain. Since Lupe was in the vicinity, why not climb it, too?

An initial look at Peak 5300 was encouraging. Lupe could climb it easily enough. Shouldn’t take too long.

An initial look at **Peak 5300** from Peak 5260 was encouraging. Lupe could climb Peak 5300 easily enough. Photo looks NW.

Loop and SPHP headed down into the saddle leading to Peak 5300. The easiest route up the mountain appeared to be a forested slope right in the middle of the SE face flanked by small cliffs on either side.

Lupe would have headed straight for this slope, but a huge long pile of logs stacked across the saddle forced her clear around the NE end. The Carolina Dog consequently wound up taking on a steeper portion of the slope more toward the NE.

A steep, but relatively short climb brought Lupe up onto flat, forested ground near the true summit of Peak 5300.

**Peak 5300** (Center) from Peak 5260. **Green Top** is on the L. Photo looks NW.

Loop makes it to the top of **Peak 5300**, the highest mountain she would climb today. Photo looks E.

The top of Peak 5300 wasn’t nearly as vast as the top of Peak 5260 had been, but this smaller summit was also quite flat. Although Lupe had come up near the highest end of the mountain, once again no one point stood out as the exact location of the true summit.

Peak 5300 was as high as Loopster was going to get today, but she still couldn’t see much due to the forest. The one fairly decent view was of Vanocker Canyon Road off to the NW.

Vanocker Canyon Road (R) from the N end of Peak 5300. The ridge toward the L is part of **White Mansion (5,340 ft.)**. Photo looks NW.

The topo map showed more high ground only slightly lower than the summit near the S end of Peak 5300. Lupe and SPHP headed that way in search of better viewpoints. The Carolina Dog found some, too! She came to a good spot to take another short break along the W edge.

**Green Top** (L) & **White Mansion** (R) from close to the S end of Peak 5300. **Custer Peak (6,804 ft.)** is much more distant between them. Photo looks W.

Lupe near the W edge of of **Peak 5300** where she took a short break. This was a nice spot. Photo looks SSW.

It was the usual fare. Lupe had Taste of the Wild. SPHP consumed an apple. Contemplating the views W of Peak 5300 was relaxing. However, Lupe still had a long way to go to get to Dalton Lake. Better get a move on. Before leaving Peak 5300, Loop went to the far S end. This was a somewhat lower area, but featured the most dramatic viewpoint.

Lupe on a limestone outcropping at the far S end of **Peak 5300**. Photo looks S.

Having explored the top of Peak 5300 from one end to the other, Lupe left the mountain by the easiest route down the middle of the SE slope. She traversed the saddle leading back to the N end of Peak 5260, ultimately returning to Centennial Trail No. 89 near High Point 5217.

Loop on her way back to **Peak 5260**. Photo looks SE.

The time for peakbagging and any other dillydallying was over. Lupe headed E on Centennial Trail No. 89. To SPHP’s surprise, the trail did not stay on the high ground of the ridge to the E, but dropped into the forest a little down the N side.

Back on Centennial Trail No. 89 descending into the forest on the upper N slope of a long ridge going E. Photo looks E.

The trail quickly led to a cool gap between limestone formations. Lupe emerged from the gap seemingly back on top of a ridge. However, the trail almost immediately made a very sharp turn to the NW and started a long descent. This jog NW proved to be a single long switchback. At the lower end, Centennial Trail No. 89 veered sharply E again.

Passing through the limestone gap. Photo looks E.

Centennial Trail No. 89 maintained a course heading ENE for more than a mile. Still well up on a vast forested slope, Lupe lost net elevation only gradually. She could occasionally see the top of the ridge to the S as little as 100 feet higher than the trail. Little Elk Canyon was off to the N, but the forest seldom permitted more than a glimpse.

Centennial Trail No. 89 stayed well up on the N side of a ridge for more than a mile, but Lupe couldn’t see much due to the forest. Photo looks ENE.

A glimpse of the upper end of **Little Elk Canyon**. Photo looks NW.

A partial view across **Little Elk Canyon**. Photo looks N.

Mid-afternoon was approaching, the busiest part of the day. Several groups of ATV’s went by. Eventually the trail split. ATV’s were routed onto a lower track. Lupe and SPHP continued ENE on the upper track.

The trail went on and on. Sometimes ATV’s went by. Photo looks E.

Centennial Trail No. 89 eventually divided. Motorized vehicles were directed onto the lower track on the L. Lupe & SPHP stuck with the upper track on the R. Photo looks E.

The trail went on and on without losing much elevation. Dalton Lake was down in Little Elk Canyon, and couldn’t be much farther E. Finally, just beyond a No Motorized Vehicles sign, Centennial Trail No. 89 left the roadbed it had been following and veered L (NE) down into the forest.

Centennial Trail No. 89 heads down into the trees on the L just beyond this sign. This is where the real descent to Dalton Lake begins. Photo looks NE.

For the first time today, Centennial Trail No. 89 was a single track trail instead of an ATV trail. The descent into Little Elk Canyon now began in earnest. The trail wasn’t really steep, but Lupe was losing elevation a lot faster than before. She descended a series of tight switchbacks. Lower down the switchbacks were longer and more gradual.

Loop begins the descent into Little Elk Canyon on the single track trail. Photo looks NE.

Getting close to the bottom. Photo looks NW.

The American Dingo passed through a gate as Centennial Trail No. 89 emerged from the forest. This was it, Little Elk Canyon! To Lupe’s R (E) was an outhouse. Ahead was USFS Road No. 224. On the other (N) side of the road was the Dalton Lake trailhead.

Of course, having come all this way, Lupe wanted to see more than just the trailhead. She wanted to see Dalton Lake itself, which was 500 feet farther W. Loop and SPHP trudged up USFS Road No. 224 to the Dalton Lake campground.

Loop arrives at the Dalton Lake campground along USFS Road No. 244. Photo looks W.

A walking path led to an arched bridge over the Dalton Lake spillway. Emerald green Dalton Lake sparkled in the afternoon sunlight.

Lupe crosses the bridge over the Dalton Lake spillway. Photo looks SSE.

Dalton Lake is small, a glorified pond really. Several docks exist along the shore. Lupe and SPHP headed for the dock on the N side of the lake intending to take another short break.

*Well, we made it! All the way to Dalton Lake!* Photo looks E.

As low as the sun was getting, it was clear that Lupe couldn’t stay at **Dalton Lake** very long before beginning her journey back to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead. Photo looks WSW.

Lupe didn’t take much of a break at the dock. A chipmunk among the cattails along the N shore caught her attention. She spent the rest of her break time puzzling over how to get at that tricky, tiny squirrel. Meanwhile, SPHP enjoyed the lake.

Looking toward the S shore from the N dock. Photo looks SE.

The sun was sinking. SPHP encouraged the American Dingo to abandon her unsuccessful chipmunk quest. Before leaving the area, Loop and SPHP took a stroll through the empty campground on the S shore.

Lupe at the **Dalton Lake campground**. The campground was closed and empty this time of year, but looked like a fun place to stay. Photo looks WSW.

Cattails near the W end of **Dalton Lake**. Photo looks NW.

Late afternoon. 6.1 miles back to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead. Lupe and SPHP headed back to Centennial Trail No. 89.

With the exception of the peakbagging side trips, Lupe had to retrace her entire route. The Carolina Dog made great progress. The sun was still up when she went through the limestone gap shortly before reaching High Point 5217.

Back at the limestone gap. Photo looks W.

The sun had just set as Loop reached Peak 5237 again. Thinking there might be a great sunset, SPHP led Looper back to the summit, then on to the nearby W-facing cliffs. However, the sun had disappeared behind a bank of clouds. The whole sky was gray.

Lupe returns to **Peak 5237** at sunset, but the sky is gray. Photo looks SW.

Rather than wait to see what would happen, Lupe and SPHP returned to Centennial Trail No. 89. May as well use the fast diminishing twilight to get as far as possible before having to bring out the flashlight.

10 or 15 minutes later, the forest back to the W was on fire. An orange glow highlighted the dark pines. The sunset had developed after all. Should have waited. Oh, well.

Darkness descended upon the Black Hills. By the time Lupe crossed Nemo Road to begin the final leg of the journey back to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead, a black, moonless, and nearly starless night had taken over. An hour to go? Something like that. Tramp, tramp. Sniff, sniff. Puppy ho! Onward! (End – 7:36 PM, 35°F)