Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 343 – Buckhorn Mountain: As Seen on TV! (3-26-25)

3-21-25, 6:40 PM, at home –

Now here’s something we don’t see every day, Loopster!

Oh?  What’s that, SPHP?

You’ve got a new comment on T(M)TAOL, Loop.  Listen to this:

I’m Brad Walton, evening reporter at KOTA Territory News in Rapid City and long-time Lupe fan. Would love to do a story on you guys if you’re interested. Shoot me an email if you are.

Is Mr. Walton saying that I can be on TV, SPHP?  Is that what it means?

Certainly sounds like it, Sweet Puppy.  So, what do you think?  What shall we tell him?

What do I think?  I’ll tell you what I think, SPHP.  Don’t delay!  Accept Mr. Walton’s generous offer right now, before he changes his mind!

Ahh, so you like the idea of being a TV star, aye, Loopster?

Mr. Walton clearly stated that he is a long-time fan of mine, SPHP.  Surely you don’t expect me to disappoint him?  That would be so rude!  I simply must do it!

3-26-25, 9:37 AM, 55ºF, Monument Health hospital in Custer – Parking the bright blue RAV4 as conspicuously as possible, SPHP then helped the Carolina Dog out.

Where’s Brad, SPHP?

Oh, so it’s Brad already, not Mr. Walton?  We’re deliberately a bit early, Loop.  He’ll be along soon enough.  Stay right here next to the RAV4, and he can’t possibly miss us when he arrives.

We’re going to be climbing Buckhorn Mountain (6,325 ft.) with him, right, SPHP?

Yup.  That’s the plan.  Brad actually suggested it.  He’s a mountain climber, too, Loopster.  He knows a way up that’s different from the way you and I climbed Buckhorn years ago.  Brad mentioned some big, steep slabs we can explore during the ascent.

Sounds exciting, SPHP!  Buckhorn Mountain is a great choice.  I’m really looking forward to visiting it again. 

3-26-25, 10:08 AM – The American Dingo on display worked perfectly!  No mistaking Brad, either, when a colorful KOTA Territory News car pulled up right next to the RAV4.  A moment later, Brad and Lupe were exchanging greetings in the parking lot.

In less than 5 minutes, the Carolina Dog’s first ever adventure as a rising TV star was underway.  Lugging a duffle bag of equipment and a tripod, Brad led the way over to the Mickelson Trail, and turned N.

Flat and wide, the Mickelson Trail was a super easy stroll.  Before long, huge granite formations were coming into view.  Buckhorn Mountain was already in sight beyond them.

As the march along the Mickelson Trail continued, Buckhorn Mountain vanished from view again.  Brad said that there was a pond to watch for in the region where he’d left the trail before.

After going a little over a mile, a couple of big mounds of dirt covered with weeds appeared just beyond a ditch on the NE (R) side of the trail.  No pond was in sight, but Brad was confident that this was where he’d left the Mickelson Trail before.

Abandoning the trail, Lupe scrambled up onto the highest mound.  Sure enough, the small pond Brad remembered was hidden right behind it.  In view beyond the pond, a massive granite formation along Buckhorn Mountain’s lower SSW ridge confirmed that this was where Brad’s prior ascent had begun.

A jaunt N through a grassy valley led toward the granite formations.  Lupe had barely gotten started, when Brad announced that this would be a good spot to conduct an initial interview.  The American Dingo was happy to share more information about her peakbagging exploits in the Black Hills than Brad could possibly fit into a short news story.  Not to be completely outdone, SPHP sometimes chipped in, too.

Doing a news story wasn’t like other ascents.  Brad took numerous short video clips on the way up the mountain.  In some places, he filmed from behind while Lupe took the lead.  In others, Brad went ahead and got set up before encouraging her to follow him higher.  In this manner, Brad obtained different perspectives of the Carolina Dog in action that he could ultimately choose from when producing the final story.

The valley soon led to a more forested area and the start of the granite slabs Brad had mentioned.  This really did turn out to be a very scenic route, and a bit of a maze, too, since many of the slabs threatened to cliff out in one direction or another.  Scrambling over the bedrock was a lot of fun, and a fairly unique experience in the Black Hills.

Partway up, Brad produced a GoPro camera from within the duffel bag he was carting up the mountain.  Unfortunately, attempts to fasten the GoPro to the top of Lupe’s collar were unsuccessful.  The collar simply wasn’t stiff enough to keep the GoPro steady in an upright position.  Too bad, since that would have produced the best results.

SPHP suggested letting the GoPro dangle below Lupe’s collar.  While this technique worked, with the camera so close to the ground, the videos proved to be blurry.  Oh, well.  At least it conveyed some sense of what the ascent was like from Lupe’s point of view.

As Lupe kept climbing, the slabs became steeper and more extensive.  The American Dingo took her time, often pausing to enjoy the terrific views, while Brad kept moving his camera around to get action shots of her ascent from various vantage points.  Scenic highlights included Custer Mountain (6,104 ft.), Peak 6040, and Northeast Cicero Peak (6,278 ft.), all in sight off to the SE beyond the town of Custer.

The slabs led toward a granite high point that was often visible ahead.  Brad’s prior ascent had convinced him that it was best to stay L of that high point, otherwise the terrain would get rather dicey in it’s vicinity.  With Brad’s experience as a guide, the Carolina Dog did just that.

This maneuver put Lupe back into territory that was more of a mix of rock formations and forest.  While on the rocks, it often appeared likely that the route would cliff out, forcing a partial downclimb.  However, a significant downclimb never became necessary.

Shortly after taking a break for water near a massive rock, the steepest slab of all appeared ahead.  Fearing Lupe actually was going to cliff out at the top of this slab, SPHP urged caution.

To SPHP’s surprise, Lupe didn’t cliff out.  Beyond this final super steep slab, the Carolina Dog explored a maze of forest, massive rocks, and less daunting slabs.  Despite having to navigate a couple of minor drops, she always found a way higher.

Near the end, the terrain became less complicated.  Lupe reached a spot SPHP recognized.  A short scramble quickly led to a platform of granite at the S end of the summit region.

3-26-25, 12:54 PM, 70ºF, Buckhorn Mountain (6,325 ft.) – The platform was 5 or 6 feet wide, its S edge a precipice beyond which a huge swath of the southern Black Hills was visible beyond the town of Custer.  Brad set his news camera up here yet again to capture some video of the scene while continuing the American Dingo’s interview.

A narrow ridge of higher rock only a few feet N of the platform provided another excellent view.  Rocky HP6302 was only 0.5 mile NW, with the E edge of the limestone plateau country visible in the distance beyond it.

Lupe’s leisurely journey up the mountain meant that time was getting to be an issue.  Even though it was already 1:00 PM, Brad hoped to have a story ready to air on KOTA’s next local news broadcast at 5:30 PM.

To hit a goal as ambitious as that, sacrifices would have to be made!  No traditional summit hour.  Although SPHP had brought a few along, no time to savor a chocolate coconut bar, either.  However, one sacrifice wasn’t happening.  This scenic S summit with its level platform wasn’t even close to being Buckhorn Mountain’s true summit.  Two higher points farther N of nearly equal elevation vied for that title.  Naturally, Lupe had to tag at least one of them to consider this ascent complete.

Some of the best views from Buckhorn Mountain were at the N summit, which was several hundred feet away.  Crazy Horse, Peak 6733, Sylvan Peak (6,998 ft.), Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) and others were on display.  Wouldn’t take that long to visit it.  Brad agreed.  He could get some great footage over there!

3-26-25, 1:09 PM, Buckhorn Mountain – For the first time in more than 8 years, Lupe stood on the highest rock at the N summit.  Might well be the true summit, as well.  Close enough for Dingo work, in any case, and the views certainly justified the extra time and effort expended to get here.

The show must go on!  10 minutes at the N summit, and the Carolina Dog was on her way.  Passing the central summit, Lupe didn’t scramble to the top like she’d done 8 years ago, but she did pause briefly to pose below the big rocks comprising this high point.  Brad took some video here that he ultimately used as the lead-in photo for his story about Lupe.

Half an hour after reaching the platform at Buckhorn Mountain’s S high point, the American Dingo headed down a steep, forested E slope.  The mountain wasn’t nearly as dramatic in this direction.  Although there were some cool rock formations seen 8 years ago along the E ridge, this route lacked the big slabs and views encountered on the way up.

The forest was a mess.  Some deadfall, and many large tree trunks that had been cut into 2.5 foot long sections.  Brad led the way, heading for a huge house that was under construction visible hundreds of feet lower.  After reaching it, the rest of the return was a simple road trek.

3-26-25, 2:17 PM, 71°F, Monument Health hospital in Custer – Well, it was over.  Brad had given Lupe a hug, shaken SPHP’s paw, and had already hit the road.  Too late to make the 5:30 PM news, but he would have a story ready to air on KOTA at 9:00 PM for sure.  Brad had been super nice, and the whole experience had been a lot of fun.

How do you think I did, SPHP?

You made it to the top of Buckhorn Mountain, Loopster.  I think Mr. Walton will give you a good report.

Oh, I hope so, SPHP!  Hollywood, here I come!

Don’t know about that, Loop.  We’d rather stay here in the beautiful Black Hills, wouldn’t we?

Of course!  I’m just excited, SPHP.  I’ve never been on TV before!

Brad did give Lupe a good report.  Such a glowing one, in fact, that it was almost enough to make a Dingo blush!  Appearing on KOTA Territory News was an honor and memory Lupe and SPHP will treasure always.

Thank you, Brad, and everyone at KOTA Territory News!

Lupe Live! on KOTA Territory News, 3-26-25

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition                 Prior Black Hills Expedition

Lupe Live! on KOTA Territory News, 3-26-25

Lupe’s Scrollable GPS Track & Ascent Statistics

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 191 – Buckhorn Mountain (2-13-17)

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