5-28-24, 5:31 PM – Out of the blue, a ding.
Loopster! We’ve got a text message from Dave Covill!
Awesome! What does it say, SPHP?
“I am approaching Rapid City right now with my grandsons. We will be climbing Black Elk Peak tomorrow, and White Butte on Thursday. Wonder if you would like to join us tomorrow around 9:00 AM at the Sylvan Lake trailhead?”
Oh, Happy Day! Tell Dave we’ll be there, SPHP.
5-29-24, 8:54 AM, 62ºF – After driving around the little paved loop at the Sylvan Lake trailhead, SPHP parked the RAV4. All smiles, Lupe leapt out.
Where’s Dave, SPHP?
Didn’t see his 4Runner. They’ll be along shortly. You can count on it, Loop.
5-29-24, 9:15 AM – Sure enough, they were. It was great seeing Dave again, and fun getting introduced to his grandsons Max (10) and Finn (8). After spending a few minutes getting organized, everyone hit Trail No. 9S to Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.).
Yes, everyone! The trail was busy on this beautiful morning in late May. Lots of people and dogs. Lupe had plenty of opportunities to exchange sniffs, while Dave and SPHP chatted. Black Elk Peak was going to be Max’s 27th state high point, and Finn’s 23rd. Tomorrow they would be visiting White Butte, North Dakota’s highest mountain. This summer Dave would be taking them to quite a few state high points out E, too.
Dave also mentioned Max and Finn’s sister, Eden (12), whom Lupe had met back in 2020. Eden was going to be tackling several difficult state high points this summer, including Wyoming’s Gannet Peak (13,810 ft.), Montana’s Granite Peak (12,804 ft.), and Borah Peak (12,666 ft.) in Idaho. She hoped to complete all 48 contiguous state high points in 2025.
Such is life, if Dave Covill is your grandpa! At the moment, Max and Finn didn’t seem to fully appreciate the experience. On this gorgeous day beneath clear blue skies, they were both soon complaining about the heat. SPHP didn’t think it was all that hot yet, although, in her fur coat, the American Dingo may have agreed with Max and Finn.
After a steady climb to the junction with Lost Cabin Trail No. 2, where SPHP finally remembered to start a GPS track, it wasn’t much farther along No. 9S to a couple of viewpoints providing opportunities to pause for photos, and water for those in need of it.
Shortly after passing the second viewpoint, Max stumbled and skinned his knees, adding to his misery. Continuing on, SPHP tried to strike up a conversation with the boys to occupy their minds.
Did they have a favorite state high point? No, not really. Neither Max nor Finn showed much enthusiasm for any of the ones they’d been to so far, although Mount Sunflower (4,039 ft.) in Kansas, with all of 19 feet of prominence, did get honorable mention.
Hmm. SPHP tried another approach.
What was the worst state high point Max and Finn had ever visited? That struck a nerve! The response was immediate and unanimous. Bug Mountain was awful! That was a state high point SPHP had never even heard of before. Not too surprisingly, Bug Mountain turned out to be Minnesota’s Eagle Mountain (2,301 ft.). Max and Finn had been there in June, evidently not the best time to go.
More than halfway to Black Elk Peak, a relatively flat stretch ended after crossing a stream near the junction with Lost Cabin Spur Trail No. 2B. After passing some big granite formations, Trail No. 9S soon steepened. Switchbacks helped keep the rate of climb to a moderate pace.
Two more junctions were ahead. Although Trail No. 9S continued higher, the switchbacks ended before reaching the first one with Little Devils Tower Trail No. 4. By the time the junction with Trail No. 9N was reached, all that remained was a short spur to the summit.
Most of the spur was flat, with big views off to the S and W. This led to a final steep climb on stairs among towering granite formations. Max and Finn thought the metal stairway spiraling to the summit area was cool. So was a mountain goat spotted shortly before reaching the stairs.
11:36 AM, 73ºF, Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) – A cool 15 mph breeze out of the W brought relief to Max, Finn, and Lupe as everyone approached the old fire lookout tower atop South Dakota’s highest mountain.
After a brief tour of the tower’s shady interior, Dave led Max and Finn out the basement exit, and around to the N side of the tower where the highest remaining natural point on the mountain is. A quick scramble, and the boys were at the true summit. Not to be outdone, Lupe decided to scramble up there, too.
No sooner had Max, Finn, and Lupe left the true summit, than someone else appeared intent upon visiting it, too. Fortunately, the Carolina Dog didn’t interfere, despite keen interest, when SPHP begged her not to.
Reappearing, the mountain goat calmly sauntered right on by, then sprang clear up to Black Elk Peak’s true summit in a few bounds, right where Max, Finn, and Lupe had been only moments ago. SPHP was too slow to get a photo of the mountain goat exactly at the true summit, but managed to get a picture before the goat disappeared entirely.
Lunch was actually held up on the tower’s observation deck, while many other people and dogs came and went. Dave provided peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Lupe shared her traditional chocolate coconut bars with Max, Finn, and SPHP. Water for all, of course. SPHP offered apples and oranges, but they were a tough sell.
12:19 PM – Nearly 45 minutes after reaching the lookout tower, Dave and his grandsons were ready to move on. Black Elk Peak had been a success! Max had tagged his 27th state high point, and Finn his 23rd, records they would both improve upon at White Butte tomorrow. Dave had his 11th ascent of Black Elk Peak, same as Lupe.
Before departing, the American Dingo did a little scrambling about on the rock formations S of the tower, enjoying terrific views of Black Elk Peak’s South Pinnacle (7,208 ft.), the Cathedral Spires (6,907 ft.), and Sylvan Hill (6,998 ft.).
Just for fun and variety, on the way back to the Sylvan Lake trailhead, Dave wanted to show Max and Finn the Cathedral Spires region. Little Devils Tower Trail No. 4 goes right through that area.
The last stop along Trail No. 4 was a short rest break at a bench donated by the Highpointers Foundation with a view of Black Elk Peak.
The spur to Little Devils Tower (6,981 ft.) itself was only 0.2 mile past the bench, but that fun little scramble would have to wait for another fine day. Time was limited. Dave already had plans to take the boys to Mount Rushmore (5,722 ft.) before returning to their hotel, where Max and Finn were eager to get back to the waterslide.
2:35 PM, 75ºF – The scenic loop along Little Devils Tower Trail No. 4 ended right back at the Sylvan Lake trailhead. It had been great seeing Dave again, and fun to meet Max and Finn. The boys said good-bye to Lupe, and SPHP made sure to shake their hands, congratulating them on their first ascent of South Dakota’s Black Elk Peak.
2:55 PM – Alone again, Lupe stood on a dock next to Sylvan Lake. Dave and his grandsons were already off to Mount Rushmore.
So, what now, SPHP?
Almost June, Loopster. Won’t be long before you’ll be setting off on your grand and glorious Summer of 2024 Dingo Vacations!
Oh, that sounds fabulous, SPHP! I can hardly wait!
As events turned out, though, the American Dingo would be back in this same region once more before all those fabulous adventures transpired.
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Max & Finn’s Scrollable GPS Track
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