Lupe’s 13th Birthday & Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 321 – Crooks Tower (12-14-23)

12-13-23, 2:00 PM – C’mon, Loop!  We’ve got to get this party underway.  Hop up onto this chair next to your birthday cake!

Lupe didn’t feel like it.  SPHP had to lift her onto the chair more than once to get her to stay put.  The Carolina Dog looked back questioningly at SPHP.  So soon after this morning’s terrible sadness?  It wasn’t even her real birthday yet!  That wasn’t until tomorrow.  Lupe was still 12.

No matter.  Everyone was here!  The champagne was flowing!  This was Lupe’s best attended birthday party ever by far!  People she hadn’t seen in years were here, but not for long.  Erik needed to leave for the airport in just a little while.  With time of the essence, SPHP lit the candles.  The resulting conflagration was more fearsome than ever, making Loopster nervous while the gathered throng sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

Lupe didn’t even have time to make a wish.  The instant Happy Birthday concluded, Owen and Felix blew all the candles out in one mighty joint blast!  Cake and ice cream were served, subject to SPHP’s rule.  No one qualified for cake or ice cream until they appeared in at least one photo with the birthday girl.  Children were granted the opportunity to meet this draconian requirement first.

Women were next, followed by the men.  SPHP made certain everyone had to squint into the low December sun.

SPHP stayed busy scooping ice cream and serving champagne.  Someone else must have served cake.  Yvonne brought out presents from her and Lanis.  The party was so busy that they, and Lupe, got more or less lost in the shuffle.  The time flew!  Erik needed to go.  A final group photo was in order before he got away!

Leaving her own 13th birthday party, which was still going strong, Lupe went with SPHP and Erik to the airport.  By the time the American Dingo got back, her party was over.  Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea, and new Cousin Dixie were still here, but by early tomorrow morning they’d be gone, too.

12-14-23, 8:00 AM – Back down to just you and me, Loopster.  By the way, Happy Birthday!  You really are 13 now!  So, what did you think of that birthday party yesterday?  Sort of fast and furious, wasn’t it?  More like a blowout celebration of your last day of being 12.

It was fine, SPHP, except for one thing.  I wish Grandma could have been there.  She’s been at every one of my birthdays until this one.

I know, Loop.  Grandma would have loved to be here for you.  Almost made it, too, but we tried practically ever since we got back from Canada & Alaska and couldn’t save her.  Thought she was going to be fine when we had Thanksgiving dinner together.  She was the best she’d been in weeks, and in good spirits. 

Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten so much of her turkey, SPHP?

And all of mine to boot, Looper!  But no, that wasn’t the problem.  She was glad you enjoyed the turkey, and came to see her.

We won’t be seeing Grandma ever again, SPHP?

No, not in this world, Loop.

It’s hard to have your birthday party right after you bury your Grandma, SPHP!

I know, but you’re a source of joy to all of us, Lupe, and everyone was here.  If we’d had your party today, I would have been your only guest.

Promise me you’ll always be at all of my birthdays, SPHP!  And that you’ll stick with me every other day, too!

Silly Dingo!  You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried!

So now what, SPHP?  It’s my real birthday!  Is anything going to happen, or is the fun already all over and done with?

Well, I haven’t written a new post for your blog in months, and I’m way, way behind on countless other tasks, given all the adverse events we’ve run into this fall.

So you’re just going to work, while I stare out the window all day, SPHP?  Sounds like being 13 is going to get off to a crummy start.

Oh, no!  We’re not going to let that happen!  We’ve got the whole day.  How about a Black Hills expedition?

Now you’re talking, SPHP!  Where to?

It’s been super warm.  No snow at all around here.  Bet we can still get up into the high country.  How about Crooks Tower (7,137 ft.)?

Seems like forever since we’ve been to Crooks Tower, SPHP.  Let’s do it!

12-14-23, 10:17 AM, 38°F, Besant Park Road (USFS Road No. 206) – Well, there was a little snow here, but not an awful lot, an inch or two at best.  Lupe was thrilled to see it, and rolled in the frosty snow as soon as she leapt out of the RAV4 despite a chilly SW breeze.  The sullen gray clouds and cold air created a subdued wintry atmosphere, partially relieved by a large patch of blue to the S.

You ready yet, SPHP?  Which way we going?

In a moment, Looper.  Crooks Tower is a few miles SW of here.  Rapid Creek Road (USFS Road No. 231) is just ahead.  We’ll take a L there.

Minutes later, SPHP was ready.  Onward!  Puppy, ho! time.  Reaching the junction with Rapid Creek Road, Lupe followed it SSW through a big field, trotting merrily along.  At the far end of the field, the road began losing elevation at a little faster clip as it curved SW into the forest.

The gradual downhill road trek was super easy.  Didn’t take long for Lupe to reach an intersection with USFS Road No. 631.

Hang a R here Loop, and just keep going until we get to No. 631.1C.

No. 631 led WNW up the upper South Fork of Rapid Creek valley, but there wasn’t any surface water to be seen here.  Regaining lost elevation, Lupe passed both No. 631.1A and No. 631.1B on the R before reaching the spot where No. 631.1C split off about a mile from where she’d left Rapid Creek Road.

Go R on No. 631.1C, SPHP?

Yup!  This is the start of the big loop we’re going to make, Loopster.  Later on we’ll be coming back to this point from the L.

No. 631.1C was a much more primitive route than Rapid Creek Road had been.  The clouds overhead were starting to break up.  Lupe was often in sunshine.  There seemed to be more potential for excitement here, but other than a soft breeze, the forest was quiet.  Nothing stirred.

After roughly 0.33 mile, a long, 20-30 foot high limestone escarpment was visible ahead on the R.  USFS Road No. 631.1C angled toward it, but by the time Lupe got to the escarpment, it and the road had pretty much vanished.  A tiny climb led up to a flat region.

The roads gone, SPHP.  Now we’re in for some real exploring!

Been a very long time since we’ve been here, Loop, but if I remember right, there’s an old road somewhere nearby that’s not shown on the maps.  Let’s angle W.

Sure enough, Lupe ran into another road almost immediately.  Following it W, SPHP called a halt upon reaching a clearing.

OK, Loop.  I believe there’s a viewpoint we’ve been to at least a couple of times before off to the NW from here.  Nothing too magnificent, but we can head over to it for a look around, if you like, and take a little break.  Not too far away.  What do you think?  Want to do that?

Sure, SPHP!  Might as well, if we’re already close.  Leave the road here?

Yes.  Angle off to the R, Looper.

Exploring happily, Lupe sniffed her way through a maze of trees, bushes, and open lanes.  Roughly 600 feet from the road, she came to the edge of a limestone escarpment.  Miles N, the top of Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) was in sight.  On the NW horizon, a forested ridge rose above others nearby.

Is that Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.) in Wyoming, SPHP?

I’ve sometimes thought so, Loop.  You can see that ridge from Crooks Tower, too.  Seems too far away to be Laird Peak (6,906 ft.), and too close to be Warren Peaks (6,650 ft.), but I just don’t know.  I’ve never been able to figure it out.

Well, it didn’t really matter.  For 15 minutes, SPHP sat there enjoying the view while munching an apple.  Meanwhile, Lupe gobbled down some Taste of the Wild.  Checking the Carolina Dog’s GPS track on the iPhone, it said she’d gone 3.3 miles already.

Wandering farther W along the edge of the escarpment, Lupe discovered a stone fire ring.  Piles of gray branches nearby would have provided plenty of fuel for another fire.

SPHP fished several Lupe treasures out of the fire ring.

Nice spot.  Wish people would pack out what they bring in.

Many do, SPHP!

Many don’t, too.  Well, we better keep going.  Back to the road, Loopster!

Returning to the road, Lupe followed it S.  When it turned W and started losing elevation, she left it to wander through clearings full of tall, brown grass.  Soon a forested ridge was visible ahead.

That’s the N end of Crooks Tower, Loop.  We’re getting close!

The forested ridge was the steepest climb of the entire journey, but other than a fair amount of deadfall scattered across the slope, the ridge really wasn’t that much of an obstacle.  Before long, Lupe was standing below the N face of a 25 foot high rock formation.

Is this Crooks Tower, SPHP?  It’s not the way I remember it.

Oh, we’ve been here at least once before, Loop.  Looks like we’re at Crooks Tower’s NNE summit.  The generally accepted true summit is a bit farther.

Scooting around the W side of the big rock formation, the American Dingo found a relatively easy way to scramble up to the top, where a loose pile of rocks apparently served as a cairn.

So this is the NNE summit, SPHP?  Can’t really see anything except trees.

Yes, this is it.  Get up on those rocks, Looper, so I can get a picture.  I sort of remember this cairn, and that we couldn’t see much last time we were here, either.  Might even be worse now that the trees have grown.

Five minutes was about as long as Lupe lingered.  Tree-broken glimpses of distant views were all the cramped NNE summit had to offer.  Not even a hint of the true summit, even though it really wasn’t far off at all.

Continuing on, Lupe made her way first S, then SW, through thick forest and deadfall.  Breaking out into the open, she reached the big field SE of the Crooks Tower summit block.  A quick stroll around to the SW, and a short, familiar path led to a 40 foot diameter top covered with scattered big pines, pine needles, and exposed rock.

12-14-23, 1:18 PM, 41°F, Crooks Tower (7,137 ft.) – Clear skies now!  The clouds were gone, but it hadn’t warmed up much at all.  A 10 mph SSW breeze still made it feel rather chilly.  After polishing off most of the rest of her Taste of the Wild, Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap.

I do remember this place, SPHP.  We used to come here almost every year.

That’s right, Loop!  Even though the views are limited, Crooks Tower is one of the highest peaks in the Black Hills and long been a favorite.  This is your 11th ascent, and on your 13th birthday, too!  Makes it even more special.

I’m glad to be back, SPHP!  Seems like an awfully long time since the last time we were here.

SPHP smiled.

I looked it up before we came, sweet puppy.  Last time we were here was more than 4 years ago – on my birthday.  And now we’re here on yours.

Although still early afternoon, shadows cast by the sunlight filtering through the pines were already lengthening.  Not even mid-afternoon yet, and it already felt late.  As SPHP sat there stroking Lupe’s soft ears while gazing at the old familiar views, a certain sadness crept in.  Did Lupe feel it, too?  She was mighty quiet.

Dusty, Laddie, and now Grandma, all in less than 15 months.  Our world’s grown colder lately, hasn’t it, Loop?

It’s filling up with ghosts, SPHP.  I wish it weren’t!

Me, too, Looper.  Me, too.

The Crooks Tower region had another summit candidate more than a mile SW, plus a 7130 High Point nearly a mile S of that.  Now that Lupe was here for the first time in over 4 years, though, it seemed better to simply stay put and enjoy it rather than dash off.  The Carolina Dog had already traveled 4.7 miles, and going much farther would mean getting back to the RAV4 well after dark.

In any case, congratulations were in order!  Without getting up, SPHP shook Lupe’s paw, praising her for her 13th birthday ascent of Crooks Tower, then split an eagerly received chocolate coconut bar with her.

After that, no one moved.  SPHP wrapped the red rain jacket around Lupe to help hold in some warmth.  Minutes lost in thought ticked away.  Ghosts and days gone by!  Mere memories now, yet still so vivid, and seemingly perfectly real, it felt as if they could return anew even after long absence as easily as Lupe had returned to lay here on SPHP’s lap on Crooks Tower again today.

Gosh, look at the sun!  Can’t sit here too long, Loop!  Your summit hour is getting close to an end.  Let’s get some pictures before it’s time to go.

The best views were of Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) far to the SE.  Swinging toward the S, Green Mountain (7,164 ft.) stood out.  The only other real views were N in the general direction of the Mystery Ridge.

So how was that, SPHP?  Get enough pictures?

Oh, I think so.  Well done, Loopster!

After a more than 4 year absence, an hour on Crooks Tower didn’t seem like nearly enough.  Nevertheless, at 2:18 PM, precisely an hour after she arrived, Lupe headed back down the short path to the SW.

Instead of going back the way she’d come, though, just for fun, it was time to make the big loop SPHP had mentioned earlier.  Less than 0.5 mile WSW on USFS Road No. 189.4A got the American Dingo over to a big intersection with No. 189, the closest really good road to Crooks Tower, and No. 631.2C.

A longer route than Lupe’s ascent, the return was otherwise even easier.  In brilliant sunshine, at first, Loopster enjoyed the long gradual descent along No. 631.2C.

By the time Lupe got back to No. 631, the sun was behind the mountains.  A bit farther on, Lupe passed the turn she had once taken into Trebor Draw where she’d been injured years ago.  Continuing N beyond this point, another ancient memory stirred in SPHP’s mind.

You know, Loop, I seem to remember a fairly well-formed arch up on one of these hillsides to the L somewhere along this road.  Help me keep an eye out for it, would you?

Sure thing, SPHP!  Arches are rare in the Black Hills.  I’ll let you know if I see one.

It wasn’t until Lupe was well past a junction with USFS Road No. 631.1E that there it was, an arch up on the hillside to the L!  The Carolina Dog went up to it for a closer look.

Well, I’ll be!  The arch really is here, Looper.  My memory of it was so faint that I wasn’t even sure this was the right road.

You were right, SPHP!

Imagine that!  Does happen now and then.

The sun was down, but it was still light out when Lupe reached Rapid Creek Road again.  No traffic at all.  In fact, Lupe hadn’t seen anyone, not even any animals, other than a few small birds, all day long.

12-14-23, 4:50 PM, 30ºF – The light was fading fast when Lupe’s 11.4 mile 13th birthday round trip journey to Crooks Tower came to an end.  She’d had a great day up in the high country of the western Black Hills, and as it turned out, more excitement and festivities were still ahead.

During the dark drive home, a herd of nearly 20 giant deers suddenly ran across the road right in front of the RAV4, provoking a hysterical barking attack.  Once home, SPHP suggested another photo session with Lupe’s presents, the two that Lanis and Yvonne had given her yesterday during all the commotion of the big birthday bash, plus one that SPHP had been holding out on.

Oh, you did remember, SPHP!  My birthday T-bone steak!  Can I have it now?

Yes, ma’am!  Right after I broil it for you.

Then hop to it, SPHP!  I’m starving after spending all day roaming around up at Crooks Tower.

You’re wish is my command, Teeny-Bopper, Dingo!

Links:

Lupe’s 12th Birthday

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