7:59 AM, 28ºF, Cascade Falls, S of Hot Springs – Shadows were long, but the day already bright as the sun came peeping over the mountains. The steps leading down to Cascade Creek from the picnic ground were icy, forcing SPHP to use the railing for support. Reaching Cascade Falls, mist was rising into the chilly morning air from both the swimming hole, and the lukewarm stream tumbling into it.
Beautiful! Love Cascade Falls, SPHP, but it’s still January! Kind of early in the season to go swimming, isn’t it?
Ha! No doubt, Loopster! Not too early to do a little wading, though.
As SPHP sat down and began removing boots and socks, the Carolina Dog appeared more concerned than convinced.
Even though the water wasn’t all that cold or deep, Lupe was reluctant to follow SPHP into the stream. The creek bottom was smooth and firm, but uneven with sudden drops of a foot or more, enough to freak the American Dingo out a bit, causing her to freeze up midstream.
Just follow me, Loop. It’s not deep at all, if you take the exact same route.
After fording Cascade Creek, SPHP sat down and began putting socks and boots back on again.
Aren’t we staying here at the creek like we’ve always done before, SPHP?
Nope. Cascade Falls may be a great place to hang out during the summer, Looper, but we’re actually here to visit Line Camp Peak (4,530 ft.) today.
Line Camp Peak? Never heard of it, SPHP.
That’s the name I just gave it, Loop, because the topo map shows a Line Camp 0.33 mile SW of the summit. On Lists of John, it’s merely Peak 4535.
Oh, I get it! We’re back to tagging Lists of John peaks with a minimum of 300 feet of prominence. What is a line camp, anyway, SPHP?
Really don’t know, Loopster. If I had to guess, I’d think a temporary work camp near the construction of some sort of road or utility. Way out here, maybe a pipeline or powerline. With any luck, maybe we’ll find out today.
Scrambling up the steep, heavily forested bank on the W side of Cascade Creek through pines, junipers, and bushes, the terrain leveled out after a 40 foot climb. Another steep-sided ravine full of pines and junipers was now to the L with grasslands visible above both sides.
This big ravine is Falls Canyon, Loop, but we’re on the wrong side. We’re going to have to find a place to get across.
Although Falls Canyon was only 40 feet deep, Lupe was above a cliff with standing water below it. Heading NW, there was already a nice view of Devils Slide Mountain (3,960 ft.) back to the NE.
After only 0.15 mile, the canyon divided. Falls Canyon turned N, while Mike Canyon continued NW. Lupe easily descended into Falls Canyon and climbed back out again here, but now had to cross Mike Canyon, as well. Another 0.1 mile NW got her to a good spot to enter Mike Canyon.
The terrain in the canyon was rolling and grassy, with a few inches of snow lingering along the more shaded SW side. Although the SW slope wasn’t a cliff, it was still mighty steep. Fortunately, Lupe didn’t have to sniff her way much farther up the canyon to find a spot where it was possible to scramble up and out, entering a region of typical western South Dakota prairie.
S of Mike Canyon now, the prairie rose in a long, gradual climb as Lupe headed W. Didn’t take her long to notice that grass wasn’t the only thing growing out here. The Carolina Dog’s nemesis was here, too.
Yeouch! SPHP, there’s cactus!
Lots of it, too. Progress slowed as Lupe insisted upon playing the cactus game. Remaining in one spot while SPHP scouted ahead, Lupe refused to budge until SPHP gave the signal that the route was cacti-free.
In some places, the cactus was so thick that carrying Lupe was the only way to keep going.
I sure hope it isn’t very far to Line Camp Peak, SPHP!
It’s a bit of a stroll, Loopster. Nearly 7 miles from Cascade Falls.
7 miles! We’ll never make it, SPHP! You can’t carry me that far, and I’m not walking barepaw through cactus infested fields for any 7 miles. You try it! It’s not fun.
Ahh, but there’s a road that goes nearly the entire way, Loop. We’ll soon come to it.
A road? Why didn’t you say so? That’s different, SPHP.
Continuing W, the terrain finally leveled out. From the top of a small rise, the Cheyenne River valley was now in sight off to the SW.
Alright! Almost there, Looper. USFS Road No. 647 should be just down this little slope about where the trees start. In fact, I think I see it.
Reaching the road put an end to the American Dingo’s cactus concerns. Turning NW again, her road hike commenced.
No. 647 was a scenic, easy march. Trending NW for miles through both prairie and open pine forests, the road steadily gained elevation. Soon Lupe was high enough to see Nebraska way off to the S.
The Black Hills had been very warm for January recently, and today was no exception. The morning was warming up fast as the sun climbed into the cloudless sky. Very little snow remained, but Lupe was happy to find enough melting in the shade here and there to eat for a bit of moisture whenever she got thirsty.
Nothing happened on this pleasant journey until, approaching HP4040 after 2 miles on No. 647, the American Dingo spotted movement ahead. A lone horse with a thick black mane was running around up here. The horse trotted through the fields for a few minutes before disappearing into the forest, evidently on its way to some unknown destination.
The road didn’t go all the way to the top of HP4040, instead flattening out as it turned W for a short stretch before losing 50 feet of elevation winding NW down into the uppermost reaches of Cedar Canyon.
The uphill trek soon resumed as a somewhat steeper climb. Once out of Cedar Canyon, tablelands were in sight beyond Wildcat Canyon. Views of Wildcat Canyon improved as Lupe continued on.
A level stretch led to yet another gradual climb, which topped out near HP4154. However, there were enough trees up here to block any distant views, at least from along the road.
Beyond HP4154, more open territory provided a good look at the upper reaches of one of the branches of Wildcat Canyon. However, the views were even better just a little farther on, when the road swung over to the NE side of the long ridge it was following. Looking across Buck Canyon, quite a few peaks Lupe had once been to long, long ago were in sight.
Oh my gosh, SPHP! There’s Roundtop Hill (4,469 ft.) and the Seven Sisters Range (4,420 ft.)!
Yup. And if you look down Buck Canyon, Loopster, you can see not only Devils Slide Mountain (3,960 ft.) a mile or so from where we started, but Flagpole Mountain (4,320 ft.) as well.
Looks like we’ve come a long way already, SPHP.
Yeah, we’ve definitely made some progress, Loop. Still 1.5+ miles to Line Camp Peak, though.
For the next 0.67 mile, USFS Road No. 647 ran along the shady SW side of Buck Canyon, all mushy and wet with melting snow. After going up this incline, the rate of climb greatly diminished as the road turned W again for a little way before resuming its NW course. In this flat region, a large power line soon appeared ahead.
Hey! This power line might be why the line camp is on Line Camp Peak, SPHP.
Don’t know, Loop. According to the map, the line camp is still 0.67 mile NW. Seems sort of far. Plenty of excellent space right here for a camp, if it was meant to support the construction of this power line.
Continuing NW past the power line, it wasn’t much farther to a fork in the road. Taking the R fork, Lupe headed N through a huge, very gently sloping field. Line Camp Peak’s summit was now only another 0.25 mile, hidden somewhere among the pines directly ahead.
However, something else caught Lupe’s attention. Over toward the W end of the field, a whole herd of horses was hanging out near the area where the line camp was supposed to be.
Oh, I love horses, SPHP! Do you suppose they’re friendly? Maybe we should go see them? We can check out the line camp, too!
Whether friendly or not, let’s leave ’em be, Loop. The line camp mystery is of secondary importance. Let’s do what we came to do, first.
12:32 PM, 60ºF, Line Camp Peak (4,530 ft.) – Located near the NE end of the enormous summit plateau, Line Camp Peak’s true summit proved to be along a rocky, pine-covered, E/W running ridge that rose 10-15 feet above the immediately surrounding area. Only tree-broken views were available from the top, but a little SE of the summit, Lupe enjoyed a great view to the E across multiple canyons.
A long march, but an easy one! Congratulations, Loopster, you’ve made it to Line Camp Peak! May I shake your paw?
Not all of it was as easy as you make it sound, SPHP! But, yes, go ahead, you may shake my cactus-stabbed paw. Gently, please!
For the last day of January, this was an extraordinary day. Although wind now sighed in the treetops, the breeze was only light and variable at ground level, and at a sunny 60ºF, the air was pleasantly warm. For a while, Lupe and SPHP relaxed on patches of grass near the true summit after sharing water and a chocolate coconut bar.
There’d already been a few brief water and Taste of the Wild breaks on the way here, and the American Dingo scarfed up some more as SPHP munched on an apple. Facing S toward the main part of the plateau, a glimpse of Nebraska was visible between the trees.
Time ticked away as it always does.
Very nice here, isn’t it, Looper?
Absolutely, SPHP. I loved all the canyon views and seeing some of the peaks we haven’t been to in a long time on the way here, too.
Me, too, Loop. Getting to be 1:00 PM, though, and the days aren’t very long this time of year.
We’ve only been here half an hour, SPHP. You aren’t saying we have to leave already, are you? Can’t we at least stay for the rest of my traditional summit hour? Or maybe you’re wanting to spend the second half of it checking out the line camp? I’d do that.
Actually have something else in mind. Horse Trap Mountain (4,682 ft.) is only a little over a mile N of here. Been a long time ago, but remember how scenic it was up there, Loopster? Would be fun to return for a little while, if the skinny ridge leading to it is negotiable.
A chance to visit Horse Trap Mountain again, SPHP? Let’s do it!
Alright. We better get with it, though, Loop. Taking on Horse Trap means we’ll be getting back long after dark, even if we leave right now. However, before we go, stand on the true summit of Line Camp Peak here again for a minute. There’s kind of an interesting view showing that there’s a hollow spot beneath it.
1:01 PM – Setting out for Horse Trap Mountain, Lupe wandered W along Line Camp Peak’s little summit ridge, turning NW once it melted away in the forest. To SPHP’s surprise, the Carolina Dog quickly discovered an old road that went N, exactly the direction she needed to go.
A short descent led to a grassy bench, where a cluster of rocks along the NW edge promised a grand view of Hell Canyon. Going over to them, the view didn’t disappoint at all.
Wow! This is gorgeous, Loop! Love this kind of territory. Doesn’t look like “Hell” Canyon at all to me.
Heh. Beautiful enough, SPHP. Probably full of cactus, though!
From the far N end of this bench, Lupe’s next objective was in sight.
There it is in all its glory, SPHP! Horse Trap Mountain! Doesn’t look like a difficult climb, either, if we can get down to the saddle leading to it.
Fortunately, getting to the saddle was no problem. The ancient jeep trail Lupe had found wound down to an intersection with USFS Road No. 327, which ran E/W right over it.
Crossing the saddle, the wind was 20 mph out of the W as Lupe started up Horse Trap Mountain’s S ridge. This fairly steep climb was actually a bit dangerous for the Carolina Dog due to a pair of parallel barbed wire fences running straight up the ridgeline, one of which was flat on the ground much of the way.
At one point, SPHP had to give the American Dingo a boost at a rocky spot, although Lupe could have gone around it, if necessary. Views were already marvelous from a couple of high points crossed during the 450 foot ascent. From the second one, Lupe had a terrific view of Horse Trap Mountain’s S face.
A band of limestone cliffs running along the upper rim appeared to have enough breaks in it to ensure a successful ascent.
Nothing to it! As Lupe closed in on the S face, a readily discernable trail went right on up. From atop the rocks along the S rim, Lupe enjoyed a tremendous view of Falls Canyon with Devils Slide Mountain (3,960 ft.) and Flagpole Mountain (4,320 ft.) beyond, and the prairies of western South Dakota stretching to the edge of vision beyond them.
2:16 PM, 57ºF, Horse Trap Mountain (4,682 ft.) – Lupe had come up at the lower S end of a huge, oval summit plateau covered with grass and scattered pines. Sloping gently up to the N, this plateau was ringed by a line of small cliffs around virtually the entire perimeter. Having been here once before, the Carolina Dog knew the true summit was along the opposite NNW edge.
Any preferences, SPHP? Want to go straight for the true summit, or circle around the perimeter where all the big views are?
Around the perimeter, Loopster. After all, the unobstructed views from this island in the sky are what make Horse Trap Mountain so special.
Clockwise, or counter-clockwise then, SPHP?
Your choice, Loop. Either way is fine with me.
Lupe chose clockwise. Within minutes she reached a particularly scenic overlook along the SW edge from rock formations providing a superb view of Line Camp Peak, lower Hell Canyon, and barren ridges to the W.
Circling around to the NW edge, the upper reaches of Hell Canyon were in sight. The top of Parker Peak (4,848 ft.), the Fall River county high point, was also visible, sticking up behind them.
2:27 PM – The wind was only 5-10 mph out of the NW by the time Lupe reached the true summit of Horse Trap Mountain after a leisurely stroll around the W end of the plateau. A couple of photos atop the summit rock, the usual congratulatory pawshake, and it was time for a break.
Hard to believe we’re here again after all these years, Loop! So glad we came! Horse Trap Mountain is every bit as fabulous as I remembered it.
Most definitely agree, SPHP! Easily worthy of a chocolate coconut bar, maybe 2 or 3!
Um, yeah. Only one left, Loopster, but I do have a duck jerky for you, too.
Both were eagerly accepted, along with Taste of the Wild and water, then Lupe laid her head down.
Mind if I snooze for a bit, SPHP?
Not at all, Looper. It’s already been a long day.
SPHP drank a strawberry Equate and chomped the last apple. Only the sound of the wind broke a perfect silence. Amazing, unspoiled territory of this remote part of the Black Hills laid in all directions.
A glimpse of Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.) and Wildcat Peak (5,500 ft.) was far to the NW. Black Elk Peak (7,131 ft.) was but a distant blip to the N. SPHP peered into Hell Canyon. Gorgeous, but Lupe might be right. Maybe it was full of cactus?
After a short nap, the Carolina Dog woke up and accompanied SPHP on a stroll to other nearby viewpoints.
3:15 PM, Horse Trap Mountain – The inevitable sad moment arrived.
About time to get back on the top rock, Loop.
Summit hour’s over already, SPHP?
Hate to say it, but yup, pretty quick now, Loopster.
At least we can still enjoy completing our circumnavigation of the summit plateau, SPHP.
A brief return to the true summit, and Lupe was on her way, this time circling around the E end of the plateau.
The views were grand going this way, too. All too soon, Lupe was back at the S end of the plateau, ready to start her descent along the S ridge.
4:43 PM, 55ºF – The wind had died completely, and the rapidly setting sun was already on the horizon by the time the American Dingo reached the summit of Line Camp Peak (4,530 ft.) again. She wouldn’t get much of a rest break at all here this time around.
Enjoy it while you can, Looper. 10 minutes, then we’re moving on.
What about the line camp, SPHP? Are we ever going to check it out?
Yup. That’s why we’re in a rush. Going to be too dark to see anything, if we don’t get over there pretty quick.
The last rays of sunshine were filtering through the trees as Lupe headed SW across the big field where the horses had been earlier in the day. No sign of them now. SPHP overshot the turn W to the line camp. Lupe was well on her way to HP4509 before SPHP realized the error.
Doubling back in haste, dusk was deepening among the pines when the Carolina Dog reached the location marked as the line camp on the map. Nothing here. No towers, sheds, shacks, or other structures at all, only a few pieces of metal quietly rusting away in the tall grass.
So what makes this a line camp, SPHP?
No idea, Loop. Only our cartographer knows for sure. Had no idea what to expect from a line camp, and still don’t, except maybe not much at all.
Exploring farther along the N edge of the point W of the line camp, trees hid the views, except from one spot where Lupe caught a final glimpse of a familiar sight.
And that was it. The return march back along USFS Road No. 647 was even easier now going downhill. Lupe barked at a small plane that flew almost directly overhead while there was still light in the sky. However, it wasn’t long before the tiny flashlight had to come out.
On this black, moonless night, the Milky Way was stunningly bright. Rising in the SE, Orion was directly ahead. Back to the N, the Big Dipper stood on end. Geese honked as they flew by unseen, and coyotes sang a wild, mournful chorus before silence reigned again. Many miles away widely dispersed lights revealed the locations of remote ranch homes.
Nearly 14 hours after leaving the RAV, Lupe forded Cascade Creek again, completely unfazed by the jet black water or ghostly mist rising from it.
Line Camp Peak and Horse Trap Mountain! What a magnificent day they had been! (9:55 PM, 36ºF)
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