Lupe – Page 107 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

South Baldy & Peak 10281, Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico (5-15-21)

Days 7 & 8 of Lupe’s 1st Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to New Mexico!

5-14-21, 11:48 AM, W of Socorro – This must be the place! The plaque Lupe stood next to squinting in the sunlight mentioned both South Baldy, high point of the Magdalena Mountains, and Water Canyon. No doubt the paved side road leaving Hwy 60 here was either USFS Road No. 235, or would turn into it at some point.

Magdalena Fault plaque at the turn off Hwy 60 to Water Canyon. Photo looks NW.

On the road to Water Canyon. Photo looks SW.

The pavement ended 4.7 miles from Hwy 60 at a picnic ground where the road divided. Straight ahead was a parking area next to a green field. No. 235 made a jog to the L before disappearing up Water Canyon. The other choice was a R turn on a road that wound a short distance up to the Water Canyon campground.

**Water Canyon** from the road to the campground. Photo looks ENE.

Are we going to climb South Baldy (10,783 ft.), SPHP?

Yeah, but not today, Loop. Not after Sierra Blanca (11,973 ft.) yesterday. Let’s hang out here in Water Canyon and recuperate. You can doze or sniff around while I catch up the trip journal.

Still plenty of time, SPHP! Why waste it? Didn’t you say that Jobe just drove his Rubicon to the top, or close to it? And Covill told us something like that, too, when we visited him just the other day. With our new RAV4, we ought to be able to knock out South Baldy this afternoon!

True enough! I read Jobe’s trip report, and he didn’t seem to think much of this one, basically just a drive up. And Dave did more or less agree.

So, here we are! Let’s get with it, SPHP!

Oh, I don’t know, Loop. South Baldy is a big mountain. 3,800+ feet of prominence and high point of the Magdalena Range. Hate to trivialize it by simply driving to the top. Sometimes the experience is what you make of it. There’s a South Baldy trail that goes most of the way, and I was thinking it might be more fun to explore the trail.

And a lot more work, too! Not terribly efficient, SPHP, but I’m fine with it, if that’s what you want to do. Remember to bring plenty of water, though! For a place named Water Canyon, I’m sure not seeing any.

The campground was free, so SPHP grabbed a spot. By late afternoon, despite several brief sniffs around the campsite, Lupe was bored.

**Magdalena Mountains** from the campground. Photo looks SSW.

Got that trip journal caught up yet, SPHP?

Yup! Just finished! Want to take a stroll up Water Canyon, Loop?

The Carolina Dog did. SPHP drove back down to the parking area next to the green field, and Lupe set out across it.

It was hot out in the sun. Fortunately, the forest beyond the green field provided plenty of shade. Lupe discovered a trail near a dry stream bed. Not a drop of water anywhere, but she had a good time exploring.

After nearly 0.75 mile, Loop came a narrow gorge of exposed blue-gray bedrock worn smooth by water in some wetter era. A tiny trickle ran down these rocks into a single small pool below.

*Look at this! Actual water in **Water Canyon**!*

The murky pool was scarcely big enough to accommodate Lupe, but she plunked herself right down in it, emerging two-toned moments later, her lower half black with mud.

That felt great! So refreshing! You ought to try it, SPHP!

Umm, yeah. Thanks, but no thanks! Glad you enjoyed it, but you’re not getting into the new RAV4 dripping with mud like that.

To forestall any possibility of Miss Mudhole returning to the RAV4 before thoroughly dried out, further reconnaissance was done in this region. Turned out that the Mesa Trail No. 13 trailhead was located just above the mudhole. USFS Road No. 235 went right by it. A sign warned that only 4WD vehicles were allowed beyond this point, at least somewhat vindicating the decision to spare the new RAV4 such abuse.

5-15-21, 5:30 AM, 59ºF – SPHP parked the RAV4 at the Mesa Trailhead, and Lupe got off to an early start. The sign lied. Not a darn thing wrong with this road! The G6 could have made it. Climbing steadily, USFS Road No. 235 headed up Water Canyon, so wide and smooth that it made the whole excursion rather dull. Lupe passed a series of small blue and white numbered signs. Interest in them faded once SPHP realized they marked the locations of culverts under the road. Such exciting stuff!

After more than a mile, the road curved sharply L. A sign appeared up on an embankment on the R. South Baldy Trail No. 11! Did anyone bother taking it anymore? Or does everyone just drive to the top? Maybe the trail had fallen into such disuse that it would simply fade away? The American Dingo was about to find out.

Setting out on South Baldy Trail No. 11.

South Baldy Trail No. 11 turned out to be a good single track. Heading W, Lupe climbed steadily along the S side of a forested canyon. Not much to see at first except the forest, but the seclusion was fabulous! Much better than the road hike had been!

After nearly 0.75 mile, the trail crossed over to the N side of the canyon. Fewer trees grew on this slope, although there were still many bushes. At 8,280 feet, Lupe came to a switchback where there were initial views back down the canyon, and of a partially forested high point to the S.

Hey, Loop! That might be South Baldy!

Canyon view after passing the switchback at 8,280 feet. **Buck Peak (9,085 ft.)** (R). Photo looks SE.

**South Baldy** in the distance on the L? Photo looks SSW.

Beyond the switchback, the trail continued to climb steadily, first toward the NW, but gradually turning W. SPHP paused now and then for breathers or water.

On a long straightaway, which was pretty typical. Photo looks W.

0.67 mile beyond the 8,280 foot switchback, South Baldy Trail No. 11 was getting close to the ridgeline. Temporarily leaving the trail, Lupe headed N a short distance, climbing 15 or 20 feet to reach Point 8934 right up on the ridge. Forest hid most of Copper Canyon on the other side, but Loop did have a narrow view of much lower ridges way out on the desert.

Over 8,900 feet now, about to leave the trail to check out the views from Point 8934. Photo looks SE.

Up on the ridgeline at **Point 8934**. Photo looks NE.

Desert view from **Point 8934**. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.

Returning to the trail, Lupe continued on. Still climbing, the trail began curving SW. The next point of interest was Pass 9420, a minor saddle SW of HP9488. When Lupe got there, the half barren peak she had seen back at the 8,280 foot switchback was in sight again, looking quite a bit closer. Encouraging!

At minor **Pass 9420**. Photo looks ENE toward unseen **HP9488**.

After a chocolate coconut bar and water break at Pass 9420, Lupe went on, but SPHP kept stopping to look at the topo map.

Is there a problem, SPHP?

Yes and no, Looper.

Meaning?

You know that mountain we’ve been looking at?

South Baldy?

That’s what I thought, but it can’t be. Just doesn’t line up right.

So, what mountain is it then, SPHP? And what happened to South Baldy?

I dunno. Might be Timber Peak (10,510 ft.)? Don’t think we’ve seen South Baldy yet, but we will. Only a mile from it now as the crow flies.

A little farther, and South Baldy Trail No. 11 came close to the ridgeline again, but didn’t go over Pass 9740 as shown on the map. Climbing an open slope, Lupe once more left the trail to see what was on the other side. Across the upper end of Copper Canyon, Peak 10281 was in sight.

**Peak 10281** (Center) from **Pass 9740**. Photo looks NW.

Beyond Pass 9740, South Baldy Trail No. 11 headed SSW through dense forest. The trail steepened approaching a gully where part of the trail had eroded away. At the upper end of the gully, Lupe reached Pass 9940.

In the gully, about to arrive at **Pass 9940**. Photo looks SSW.

Pass 9940 was the upper end of South Baldy Trail No. 11 where it again linked up with USFS Road No. 235. By taking the trail, Lupe had skipped several miles of the road. No indication at all that No. 235 would have been a rough drive to this point. Still looked perfectly lovely. Plenty of parking available up here, too.

South Baldy still wasn’t in sight, but Timber Peak (10,510 ft.) was, and so was the peak that SPHP had misidentified as South Baldy. Turned out to be Peak 10206, a subpeak along the ridge leading to Timber Peak.

At the **upper end of South Baldy Trail No. 11**. Photo looks W.

**Peak 10206** (L) and **Timber Peak** (Center) from **Pass 9940**. Photo looks SE.

Road trek again! Lupe headed up USFS Road No. 235. At least she was high enough to have some views. 0.25 mile beyond Pass 9940, the road swept around a big curve and South Baldy (10,783 ft.) came into sight.

Cake! Nothing difficult about this one! South Baldy was just a big hill.

**South Baldy** (R) from USFS Road No. 235. Photo looks WNW.

Loop was soon just 0.25 mile E of the summit, passing a sign for North Baldy Trail No. 8. Ignoring No. 8 for the time being, the Carolina Dog continued up the road toward a conspicuous silver-domed observatory perched up on South Baldy’s S ridge.

At the **S end of North Baldy Trail No. 8**. Silver-domed observatory (L). **South Baldy** (R). Photo looks SW.

A locked gate across No. 235 put an end to how far the RAV4 might have made it, but did nothing to deter a Carolina Dog. Before heading on up to South Baldy’s summit, Looper ventured over to the observatory for a sniff around.

Checking out the **Magdalena Ridge Observatory**.

Looper’s main observation about the observatory was that it was closed. Might as well head on to South Baldy (10,783 ft.)! Shortcutting across a field, the Carolina Dog headed for a road zig-zagging up the S slope.

Heading for **South Baldy**. Photo looks N.

During final approach, the road curled around to the W.

South Baldy was a little weird, or at least what humans had done to it was weird. The whole upper W side of the summit region was covered with a metal wire grid. The road became a perforated heavy metal path that ended between a horizontal 15+ foot diameter shiny metallic disk to the W, and a green electrical box occupying the true summit. Several small concrete pads anchored metal supports for various equipment. A solar panel sat 50 feet away along the E ridge.

Sheesh! Kind of a mess, isn’t it Looper? Looks like someone’s science fair project gone wild!

Even if South Baldy had been an easy climb, it had been a long one. Time for a decent rest break! A grassy spot just E of the electrical box seemed as good a spot as any.

Arriving at **South Baldy’s cluttered summit**.

On the electrical box at the **true summit**. Perforated metal road and big shiny metal disc in sight. Photo looks WSW.

Relaxing on **South Baldy**. Photo looks W.

Half dozing after Taste of the Wild, chocolate coconut bar, and water.

Skies were blue to the SE, but clouds dominated elsewhere. Way off to the W, a line of showers was advancing, but didn’t look like much. What rain there was appeared to be evaporating as it fell.

South Baldy presented panoramic views in all directions except to the NW where blocked by thick forest. Beyond the Magdalena Mountains, hazy deserts extended beyond the range of vision. From the right spot, Peak 10281, North Baldy (9,858 ft.), and a more distant double-peaked mountain could be seen to the N. Probably the Ladrones (9,210 ft.).

**Timber Peak** (Center) from **South Baldy**. Photo looks SE.

**Peak 10281** (L), **North Baldy** (R of Center) and the **Ladrones** (?) (R). Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.

**Water Canyon** (R) and the desert beyond. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.

Nearly an hour went by before a lazy South Baldy reverie was disturbed by the distant rumble of thunder. The line of showers to the W was closer now.

Thunder! That’s our cue, Looper! Let’s get a few more photos before we head out.

**E end of the summit region** from the true summit. Photo looks NE.

Back on the electrical box. Photo looks E.

Looking S toward the **Magdalena Ridge Observatory** (R of Center).

OK! Thanks, Loopster. That’s a wrap! Puppy, ho! Onward!

No!

No?! What do you mean, no? It’s puppy ho time!

I mean, wait just a minute. Those squalls don’t look all that threatening do they, SPHP? Can’t we finish our summit hour?

Oh, I don’t know, Loop. Probably not a good idea in this case. They’ve got half of the summit covered with metal here. Makes me a little nervous with possible lightning on the way. We better skedaddle!

But we haven’t even checked out the space port yet!

Space port? What space port?

That huge, shiny metal disc!

Oh, that thing. Looks like some kind of seismic gizmo to me, Looper. No doubt somehow connected with the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research located at the far end of South Baldy’s S ridge.

Not much of a scientist, are you, SPHP? Or a detective, either!

Well, no. But do you fancy yourself a scientist, crazy Dingo? What makes you think it’s a space port?

C’mon, SPHP! What’s up here, anyway? A laboratory for atmospheric research, and an observatory. The scientists around here aren’t the least bit interested in seismology, they’re looking up! A space port would fit right in! What scientist wouldn’t love to have one?

A seismologist.

Oh, phooey! Besides, it looks like a space port to me!

Well, if it waddles like a space port and quacks like a space port, it must be one! There was no convincing Lupe that the huge metal disc on South Baldy wasn’t a space port. SPHP agreed to let the Carolina Dog conduct her inspection. However, she’d have to be quick about it.

Are you up to some space travel, SPHP?

Sure! Why not?

Good! Go stand in the center of the metal disc then, while I try to figure out the control system.

Are you nuts? I’m not going to stand at ground zero for a lightning strike while you sniff around! You can, if you want to, Loopster, but I wouldn’t advise it. We should forget this whole thing before one of us gets fried.

You’re always such a worry wort, SPHP! Fine, I’ll do it myself. You’ll have to work the controls then.

Standing at the center of the disc, several anxious minutes went by, but nothing happened. Apparently, the mother ship was running a little late.

Have you figured out the control system yet, SPHP?

Not really, Loop. To be perfectly honest, I don’t even see anything that looks like a control system. Maybe it’s been taken back to the laboratory for repairs? As space ports go, this one’s a bit dingy.

Well, shoot! Of all the rotten luck! I was looking forward to being the first Dingo in space, too!

Deeply disappointing without a doubt! But I’ll cheer you up with another chocolate coconut bar at Peak 10281. Wha’dya say? Ready to press on?

I guess …. No, wait! Silly us, SPHP! Space ports are advanced technology. Probably voice activated! Say the right words or password, and this space port will spring to life!

Even if that’s true, Loop, we’re still out of luck. We don’t know the password.

Speak for yourself, SPHP! I know the perfect phrase for dealing with alien systems. Stand back! I’m going to give it a go!

What? Impossible!

Take me to your breeder! …

Still nothing. SPHP laughed, then felt mean and terrible seeing how crushed Lupe was. What would it have hurt to have shown a little faith and support to the truest, dearest friend ever? SPHP tried to make amends.

Good try, Loopster! Might easily have been it. Shall I give it a shot, too?

If you can think of anything that might work, sure!

Umm … let’s see. Here’s another classic! Abracadabra! ….

Thunder rumbled, but the space port was as dead as ever. Lupe was glum.

One more, Loop! How about …. Beam me up, Scottie!

A sudden cool, light breeze swept in out of the W. Those showers were getting pretty close.

OK, Loop! Sorry, but that’s it! We tried. C’mon, let’s ….

Quiet, SPHP! I can scarcely hear them.

Huh? Hear what?

The voices! They sound like they’re a zillion miles away. Try saying that again, but louder!

Voices? Say what again? Beam me up, Scottie?

Yes, but louder! Oh, never mind. I’ll do it myself! Beam me up, Scottie! …. Oh, maybe that’s a little better. Not much, but a little. Hard to say. They’re still very faint!

Voices? No one’s here except me, Loop. Oh, I get it! You rascal! You’re pulling my leg!

Around the perimeter of the shiny metal disc tiny sparks appeared and began spreading toward the center, straight for Lupe’s paws.

Lupe! Run! Static electricity is building on the disc! A lightning strike is imminent! Get off now! Run for your life!

Shhh! Even with my big, soft Dingo ears, I can’t catch it all, SPHP.

Sparks now danced across the disc, traveling in a succession of pulsing waves from the perimeter to the center. The entire disc sizzling beneath her paws, Lupe just stood there. She looked vaguely different. Sort of … transparent!

Loop! Don’t you feel that? Move! Run!

Tingles a little, but it doesn’t hurt, SPHP. You were right! This space port is barely functional. Can you please be quiet so I can hear? Some control freak is whining about not having enough power.

Well, if that isn’t par for the course! Bad enough that so many are like that here on earth. Apparently the rest of the universe isn’t much different. So, you really are hearing voices? What else are they saying?

This guy keeps ranting about bi-lithium. Is that some sort of medication, SPHP? Sounds like he thinks it will solve all his problems!

Ahh. Makes sense. Lithium is used to treat depression, or mood swings, if I remember right, Loop. The “bi” part just means two pills, or maybe two doses per day.

Must mean doses, SPHP. He isn’t taking pills. It’s in crystalline form.

Really? Huh. Crystals would be hard to swallow, for sure. Oh, I know! Probably taking a finely ground crystalline powder. Otherwise it would be just about impossible to get it to dissolve. What’s he saying now?

Not a thing. I’m on hold. This power hungry lunatic needs to go take his bi-lithium crystal meds. Says he can’t beam me up, but will transfer me to another representative.

Hah! Space isn’t any different from earth! All those physicists and sci-fi authors have wasted their time and imagination. Truly nothing new under the sun. This one or any other! You’re just going to get the complete run around.

Shhh! Patience! The new rep is talking. A much better connection! Wants to know what I want her to do for me. Maybe she can fire this ole space port up? At least going to give her a chance. Here goes! Bye, SPHP! …. Alexa, beam me up!

The sparks dancing on the metal disc zapped into it, vanishing instantly as if sucked in by a powerful magnet. The entire disc hummed while glowing a dull red, but then brightened quickly … fiery orange, blazing yellow, searing white!

Lupe, oh Lupe! What’s happening? I can see right through you!

A blinding flash! Took a moment for SPHP to recover. The space port was back to normal. Dingy and silent. Carried on the cool breeze, tiny raindrops sprinkled South Baldy. Those hitting the metal disc suffered no evident effect. Not hot at all. Everything was as before.

Except for one thing. Lupe was gone!

SPHP was horrified! SPHP called the Carolina Dog again and again. No answer. Where was she? This couldn’t be happening! What to do?

SPHP walked to the center of the of the shiny metal disc.

Alexa, where is Lupe?

No response.

Alexa, beam me up!

Of course, nothing worked. Ridiculous notion in the first place! The rain showers rumbled on by without doing anything out of the ordinary. SPHP grabbed the pack. Crazy or not, maybe someone at the Langmuir Laboratory could shed some light on how this space port worked?

SPHP had barely started down the S slope when a shrill bark was heard. Lupe came tearing down from the summit! Overjoyed, she licked SPHP’s face until her big pink tongue was about to wilt!

Wow! What a greeting! Where were you, anyway, Loop? And why didn’t you come when I called? I got dazed by a flash of light, and when I came out of it, you had vanished! Got so desperate to find you that I even tried using the space port, but it wouldn’t do a thing for me.

Oh, that’s because you aren’t an authorized user! The space port’s voice recognition shields were down when I got transported, but got reactivated the moment Alexa saw me. Was she ever shocked when I showed up! She’d overheard you saying my name and was expecting Our Lady of Guadalupe, not an American Dingo.

You mean the space port actually did work? You met Alexa?

Yes, of course! She beamed me up, remember? Spent a fair amount of time with her at first.

And what was Alexa like?

She’s …. different, shall we say? Alexa’s friendly enough and always wants to be helpful. Kind of neurotic that way. And she knows a ton of people. But Alexa was suspicious of me from the get go, what with me crashing the universal barrier like I’d hacked it somehow. That’s a big no-no, if you aren’t part of the elite these space ports are meant for. We had a falling out. Didn’t matter. Alexa wasn’t really my type, anyway.

That was quick! You’ve been gone for what, 15 minutes, max? You knew that fast that Alexa wasn’t your type? How is that possible?

15 minutes here maybe, but practically a lifetime where I’ve been, SPHP! Alexa was super nosy, always listening in on everyone’s business. Seemed kind of creepy after a while. Never really knew what she might be saying behind my tail, or who she might be saying it to. Even that wasn’t the main issue, though. Alexa thrives on being where all the action is. She would never climb a mountain. City girl, big time! Don’t think she could ever handle being alone.

What do you mean, you’ve been gone a lifetime? It’s only been 15 minutes.

Not in the space-time disjointium, SPHP! Once I met Siri, I parted ways with Alexa for good. Siri likes maps even more than you do, SPHP! Sure knows her way around the perpendicular universes! We went everywhere together.

You mean parallel universes, Loop!

No, I mean perpendicular. Actually, more like heavily skewed universes. Anyway, the point is, at some times and places they intersect. Otherwise it wouldn’t be possible to travel between them. You’d never get to a truly parallel universe, SPHP.

Never heard of a perpendicular universe before, but I suppose that might make sense. So you’ve been traveling these universes for how long? Where did you and Siri go? What did you do?

Gosh, I hardly know where to begin, SPHP! We had so many adventures! Siri eventually took me to the neatest planet. Huge mountains, sparkling lakes and rivers! Enormous forests, plains, and oceans! All kinds of strange and fascinating wildlife. One thing was familiar, though – Dingos! I had so many friends!

Dingos! What planet was that?

They had a really long alien name for it. I just called it Dingo Earth, or Dearth for short. Even nicknamed my boyfriend there Dearth.

Boyfriend!

Yes! Oh, Dearth was magnificent! You should have seen him, SPHP! He was bigger than me, with a shiny jet black coat. Dearth was all muscle with a set of fangs that would make a crocodile jealous. I sometimes teased him and called him Dearth Gator. He’d scare you to death just looking at him, but he was actually sickly. Allergies gave him severe asthma, so he wasn’t as powerful as he appeared to be. Yet somehow that labored gasping for air made him seem even more dangerous. We fell in love and got married. I had puppies!

Married! Puppies! How many puppies did you have?

Not sure, they kept me so busy! There was a passel of them! All of them were dark like Dearth, except for one puppy that took after me – same fur color, same interests. Sort of a fluke, so that’s what we named him. You know how I like to bark at airplanes and helicopters, SPHP? Fluke barked at every spaceship that flew by without fail. He even drove Death Stars away! They couldn’t take the incessant foaming-at-the-mouth hysteria. I loved Fluke Skybarker most of all.

Fluke Skybarker! Bet the neighbors weren’t too crazy about him always raising such a ruckus.

No, maybe not. Wonder if I’ll ever see Fluke again? Growing up, he was always such a rebel. Fluke kept getting into trouble with the authorities. Even Dearth, his own father, couldn’t do a thing with him, although he sure tried.

So, Fluke is all grown up? What happened to him?

It’s awful, SPHP! Fluke ran away to lead a pack of his wild outlaw friends. Dearth went after him, but they got into such a terrible fight it’s a wonder either one is still alive! Don’t suppose I’ll ever know how it all turns out. All that traveling among the universes in the space-time disjointium was aging me fast. I was getting so old that I would have died if I’d kept on like that much longer. Luckily, Siri said Alexa would be willing to send me back through the space port since I’d crossed the universal border as an undocumented Dingo in the first place.

Well, welcome back to Earth and the South Baldy space-time disjointium! I’m happy to say you look perfectly normal here, Looper! In fact, you don’t look a day older. Do you feel OK?

Like my old … I mean my much younger self again, SPHP! And how do you feel? Manage to get through 15 minutes without me?

Barely! They were awful! Not sure how I feel, Loop. Your tale makes me think maybe I tripped and fell and hit my head on a rock. Or maybe there was a lightning strike? Have I seemed incoherent or unconscious at any point to you?

No more than usual, SPHP. Are you hurt? I don’t see any blood.

Hmm. Guess not.

Our hour on South Baldy is over, SPHP, and a strange one it has been! Plenty of time left in the day, though. Still feel like visiting Peak 10281?

SPHP was fine with that. Lupe returned to the top of South Baldy, then started down the grassy E ridge following a path through purple-gray rocks. Upon reaching North Baldy Trail No. 8, she took it W through the forest.

Starting down the E ridge. **Timber Peak** (R). Photo looks E.

Looking back up the **E ridge** from close to North Baldy Trail No. 8. Photo looks WSW.

Trail No. 8 on **South Baldy’s N slope**. Photo looks W.

After traversing South Baldy’s N slope, Lupe came to an opening in the forest upon reaching the NNW ridge. Peak 10281 was in sight again 1.5 miles due N.

**South Baldy’s NNW ridge** where North Baldy Trail No. 8 reaches it. **Peak 10281** (Center), **North Baldy** (R) and the **Ladrones** (R) in the distance. Photo looks N.

The weather was still a bit unsettled. Lupe took a short break while a light shower passed and the roll of thunder died away before striking out again. North Baldy Trail No. 8 followed the NNW ridge, which was fairly narrow, but an easy route. Most of the time Lupe was in the forest, but sometimes there were views to the E or W.

By a spooky tree passed early on during the NNW ridge trek. Photo looks N.

View of the desert beyond Copper & Water Canyons. Photo looks NE.

After 0.25 mile, the trail descended a little. Lupe broke out of the forest at a big meadow where the ridge broadened out a great deal. Crossing this meadow, she came to a dilapidated old sign for Copper Trail No. 10. Apparently, she had reached a trail junction, but the topo map showed this junction way back where she’d first reached the NNW ridge.

Entering the meadow where the ridge widened out. Photo looks NW.

The dilapidated Copper Trail No. 10 sign.

Toward the N end of the meadow, the ridge began to narrow down again. Lupe startled a couple of giant deers, which raced away into a forest where the ridge became very rocky. Although the Carolina Dog kept a sharp eye and keen nose out for them, she didn’t see the giant deers again.

Heading for the N end of the meadow. Two elk were resting in the shade of the trees just ahead. Photo looks N.

Glancing back at **South Baldy** (Center). Photo looks SSE.

*Hurry, SPHP! The giant deers went this way!* Photo looks NNE.

As the ridge got rockier and narrower, Trail No. 8 dipped down along the W slope. After passing a nice view to the W, Loop went through a long stretch of forest. At the next clearing, Peak 10281 came back into sight, now only 0.6 mile away

**North Baldy Trail No. 8**. 80 feet below the ridgeline now. Photo looks NNE.

**Peak 10281** (L) comes into view again. Photo looks NNE.

A gradual descent led to a meadow at Pass 9956. Lupe was now only 0.2 mile from Peak 10281’s summit. Since North Baldy Trail No. 8 was about to skirt Peak 10281 to the E, Lupe was going to have to leave it here. While taking a short break, SPHP contemplated available routes.

The SE ridge looked potentially pretty rocky, and the S slope looked sort of steep, but the general impression was that either way ought to work. Looper elected to make a direct attack along the SE ridge. Partway up, it got a little interesting.

On **Peak 10281’s SE ridge**. Photo looks NNW.

No big deal, though. A little light scrambling and Lupe got above the rocks. Soon she was approaching Peak 10281’s true summit, where a cairn sat on a small rise 70 feet W of another slightly lower high spot along the mountain’s E edge.

Above the big rocks now, not far from the summit. Photo looks NW.

At the **true summit of Peak 10281**. The **E high point**, which was nearly as high, is seen on the L. Photo looks E.

The cairn was out in the open, but too many trees were nearby to see much from the true summit. Lupe ventured over to the E high spot for a look around. South Baldy and Timber Peak visible to the S, and there was an impressive view of Copper and Water Canyons to the E.

At the **E high point**. **Timber Peak** (Center). Photo looks SE.

**South Baldy** (Center) from **Peak 10281**. Photo looks S.

5-15-21, 3:45 PM, Peak 10281 – Sunnier now. Lupe wanted to rest in the shade. A big pine between the true summit and E high point provided a convenient place to relax.

I believe you said something about a chocolate coconut bar, if we made it this far, didn’t you, SPHP?

Yes, I did! Hang on, Loop. I’ll dig it out of the pack.

The chocolate coconut bar, as well as what remained of other provisions, were soon disposed of in delicious fashion.

Thanks, SPHP! Wonder what Dearth, Fluke, and the rest of the family are doing? Funny, I just spent a lifetime there, but it all seems so far away and long ago now, almost like a dream or something I once heard about that happened to someone else, yet I’ve only been back here on earth with you for a couple of hours. I feel really tired. Mind if we just lay around here for a while?

Hard to say what they’re doing, Looper! Really hard, since I’ve never met any of them. We’ve got our whole traditional summit hour to goof around here, so rest up. You probably have a bad case of space port lag. You’ve come an unfathomably long way from a very different time zone!

SPHP had seen a jar stashed inside the summit cairn. While Lupe dozed in the shade, SPHP went to retrieve it. The jar contained only a little pencil, and part of a long, thin notebook. This registry had been started by Mike Garrett on 10-2-15, and had a few entries most years. The last entry was by Jim Morehouse on 10-1-20.

The notebook pages were so flimsy and dirty, that SPHP created an entry for Lupe on a single page torn out of a small notebook kept in the pack, adding it to the jar’s collection.

5-15-21, 4:35 PM – Just before summit hour was over, Lupe returned to the E high point for a last look back at South Baldy and Timber Peak. Now that the hour was up, she stood at the true summit again. Time to bid farewell to Peak 10281!

**Timber Peak** (L) and **South Baldy** (R). Photo looks SSE.

Back at **Peak 10281’s summit**. Photo looks WNW.

SPHP returned the registry jar to its place in the cairn. The Carolina Dog had one more thing to do up here. The topo map showed the 10,281 foot top of the mountain over near the NW end of the summit region, several hundred feet away. Was that true? Didn’t seem like it, but trees hid what was over that way.

Lupe went to investigate. Nope! Impossible to be completely certain, but it sure seemed to SPHP that the true high point was back at the cairn.

During the return, the American Dingo took an entirely different route. Instead of heading directly back to Pass 9956, she roamed N down Peak 10281’s N ridge, getting almost to Pass 9806 before running into North Baldy Trail No. 8 again.

Oh, it would have been fun to keep going all the way to North Baldy! However, what with all the space port adventures and a lifetime spent exploring alternate universes, Loopster had already had a long day. Turning SE on Trail No. 8, the Carolina Dog took it back to Pass 9956, where she found the N branch of Copper Trail No. 10.

The topo map showed a steep descent into Copper Canyon. Surprisingly, Trail No. 10 started out as a wide, old roadbed. Super easy! Everything was peachy until the road and all sign of a trail vanished at a dig site where a ladder led up to a dark hole in a wall of solid rock.

At the dig site, wondering what happened to Copper Trail No. 10? Photo looks NNE.

Fortunately, the ancient ladder was broken. No way to actually get up to that mysterious dark hole. If the ladder had been intact, Looper might have insisted on subterranean adventures, too – a journey to the center of the earth to complement her inter-universal roamings!

The situation being what it was, the descent into Copper Canyon was destined to continue. However, below this excavation the slopes were incredibly steep, so much so that SPHP was unwilling to consider taking them on without the benefit of a trail. Yet the trail could not be found.

A check of the map finally showed that Lupe ought to be over closer to a short ridge visible to the NE. To get there, she’d have to go back up the road she had just come down. No other solution came to mind.

Returning to the road proved to be the right thing to do. Loop soon came to a previously unnoticed cairn marking where Copper Trail No. 10 left the road.

At the cairn (L) where Copper Trail No. 10 leaves the old roadbed. Photo looks SSW.

That cairn was the key to success! Copper Trail No. 10 was so faint in spots that it was hard to follow as it switchbacked down the steep slopes, but after losing a tremendous amount of elevation, the American Dingo arrived at a secluded junction marked by ancient wooden signs. One sign said 4.5 miles to Water Canyon campground.

Lupe never got there. A seemingly endless march down Copper Canyon led to roads that went to mines. Somehow, as it was getting almost too dark to see, she wound up near a ravine that looked vaguely familiar.

Sure enough! Visible in the gloom over on the other side was a welcome sight – the RAV4 sitting alone at the Mesa Trailhead. Lupe’s South Baldy adventure was over! (8:39 PM, 65ºF)

**South Baldy**, Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico 5-15-21

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 275 – Mount Wheaton, Peak 4516, Peak 5171 & Peak 5741 (4-14-21)

Pleading eyes.

You promised, SPHP!

I know it, Loop, but it’s really not all that nice out for the middle of April. Can’t you wait another day or two?

You P-R-O-M-I-S-E-D we would go today, SPHP! Not even raining or snowy or windy! Why can’t we go?

Tell ya what, Looper. I’ll check the forecast, see what it says.

9:22 AM, 30ºF, Hisega Road – Past the last green house on the R, a little yellow and black National Forest boundary sign sat along a fence line. SPHP pulled just off a side road beyond it, parking in the tall grass. Not very warm out, below freezing, in fact, but even if the day was cold and blah beneath a gray sky, the luck of the Dingo was running hot! Snow in the forecast the next 2 days had finally stirred SPHP to action, and as it now turned out, there actually was access to Mount Wheaton (4,600 ft.).

About to strike out for mighty Mount Wheaton! Photo looks W.

Mount Wheaton was going to be cake. Over 300 feet of prominence, 340 feet to be precise, according to Lists of John, was the mountain’s claim to fame. An easy trek, the summit wasn’t even a mile away.

In any case, Lupe was happy as she set out, following the road W. Past a row of pines, the road curved S heading for a gate at the E end of a low ridge. Simply bypassing the gate, since no fence was on either side, Loop soon reached a meadow on top of the rise beyond it. The terrain rose to the W, but Mount Wheaton didn’t look like much from here.

Rounding the first curve. Photo looks SW.

Abandoning the road, Loopster crossed the meadow. Upon entering the forest she came across a path going W, and was excited to see several deer fleeing through the trees.

A hill soon appeared ahead. An easy climb got Lupe to a rounded ridge running E/W. An old log at the E end was oriented the same direction. Only marginally higher, the highest ground proved to be between the log and a line of rocks 200 feet farther W.

On the old log at the E end of the ridgeline. Photo looks WNW.

At the line of rocks toward the W end. Photo looks WNW.

Looking ahead, the terrain sloped away.

Is this all there is to Mount Wheaton, SPHP? I was hoping for more!

Seems rather skimpy to me, too, Loop, and I wasn’t expecting all that much to begin with. Let me check the topo map.

The map insisted that there actually was more to Mount Wheaton. Lupe had only reached the E high point. The summit was a little farther and 100 feet higher at the W end of the next ridge. SPHP encouraged the American Dingo to keep going.

A minor dip quickly led to the next rise. Climbing from the E, Lupe saw red “W’s” on several trees. “W” for Wheaton? Seemed entirely possible.

100 feet isn’t much. The terrain soon began to level out. Beyond a few rocks, Loop made an interesting discovery. Part of a deer leg was laying on a bed of pine needles. No sign of the rest of the deer.

Stay alert, SPHP! Maybe it’s “W” for were-wolves?

Getting close to where the terrain levels out. Photo looks WNW.

Mount Wheaton’s true summit wasn’t much farther, some high ground at the W end of the ridge. A big cairn sat near the SW edge.

**Mount Wheaton’s summit**. Photo looks SW.

Nothing says success like standing on the summit cairn! Photo looks SW.

Mount Wheaton (4,600 ft.) wasn’t all that heavily forested, but enough trees were present to obscure the views in almost every direction. By moving around a bit, it was possible to at least catch a few glimpses of what was out there. Nearby Tomaha Point (4,700 ft.) and more distant Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) and Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.) were visible to the S. A better look at Commissary Point (4,598 ft.) was to the SE.

Disappointingly, there was no view of Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.) at all.

**Tomaha Point** (L), **Boulder Hill** (Center) and **Silver Mountain** (R). Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.

**Commissary Point** (L). Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.

And that seemed to be about it for Mount Wheaton. Loopster left the summit retracing her route along the ridge.

Leaving **Mount Wheaton**. Photo looks E.

The American Dingo was already back down to the E high point when a man and a dog appeared, approaching from the E. Lupe and SPHP met Duane and Rusty, a 6 year old Irish Setter who liked to carry big sticks and didn’t speak at all. Duane did, though, and he had some interesting things to say.

Duane and Rusty live near Mount Wheaton, and enjoy a circular romp along some of the faint trails twice a day. Rattlesnakes were in the area, and cougars, too! That deer leg up on Mount Wheaton? Yup, part of one of several recent cougar kills. A year ago, Duane had seen a 4 foot rattler on this very same E high point. Happily, too cold to have to worry about rattlers today.

The red “W’s on the trees did stand for Wheaton, and marked the course of the Mount Wheaton trail from the Wheaton College Summer Camp just N of the mountain. If Lupe was interested in views, the best one was from the RazorBack Ridge trail, which led to a viewpoint overlooking Rapid Creek and ended at a sharp ridge SW of Mount Wheaton.

Well, why not? Might as well take a look! When Duane and Rusty went on their way, Lupe headed WNW down the Wheaton trail.

Near a fence marking the Wheaton College Summer Camp’s S property line stood a tree with an “R” for RazorBack. A sign with arrows pointed toward both Mount Wheaton and RazorBack Ridge. The RazorBack Ridge trail followed a faint road SW. “R’s” led over to cliffs overlooking Rapid Creek, just as Duane had said. Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.) was visible, too!

At the intersection where the Mount Wheaton and RazorBack Ridge trails part ways.

**Rapid Creek** (R) and **Thrall Mountain** (L of Center). Photo looks NW.

**HP4815** (Center) beyond **Rapid Creek**. Photo looks SW.

Duane was right! The view was worth the side trip. However, what could be seen of RazorBack Ridge farther SW looked heavily forested. Probably not much point in going all the way over there.

Lupe headed back up the RazorBack trail and part of the Wheaton trail. Staying low, she explored another route Duane and Rusty had taken E. It eventually led back to the meadow above the gate. From there, it was a simple matter to follow the road back to the G6. (11:10 AM, 32ºF)

On the Duane & Rusty route! Photo looks E.

**Buzzards Roost (4,695 ft.)** (Center) from the meadow. Photo looks SE.

Mount Wheaton turned out to be fun, SPHP! Except for one thing.

And what might that be Loop?

Not even 2 hours, and we’re back already! Is that it? Are we done?

Hah! Not by a long shot! Got 3 more Lists of John peaks for you today, but they are strung out so far from each other that we’ve got to drive to each one. Almost like a mini Dingo Vacation! A little early yet, but we’ve got to go through Rapid City on the way to the next one, so we’ll stop for lunch, then continue on to Peak 4516.

12:26 PM, 35ºF, Victoria Lake Road – A circular pullout on the R provided ample space to park the G6 shortly after leaving Sheridan Lake Road. Still cloudy and cool, but a few little patches of blue sky were beginning to appear. A trail the Carolina Dog had explored more than once what now seemed like ages ago, went NW up a short, gentle rise to a meadow.

Another super easy one, Looper! Peak 4516 is only 0.5 mile away as the crow flies, a bit longer the way we’ll go. Head for that slope!

The trailhead just off Victoria Lake Road. Photo looks N.

Top of the rise. Loop left the trail here to climb the slope beyond her. Photo looks NE.

Much to SPHP’s surprise, Lupe almost immediately discovered a trail that wound up the slope to the NE. This trail took her around the W end of a little ridge, passing a limestone formation on the way, then headed NE up the ravine S of Peak 4516. The bottom of the ravine was kind of a mess, but the trail was clear. A squirrel provided a few shrill moments of entertainment.

On the newly discovered trail. Photo looks NW.

After crossing the bottom of the ravine, the trail merged with another one. Lupe continued NE only a little way before turning N up a shallow, forested drainage. A steeper climb led to yet another trail on the S side of a rounded hill.

That must be Peak 4516, SPHP! We’re almost there!

Sure enough! Looper was soon posing on the small chunk of limestone constituting the true summit.

In the **valley S of Peak 4516**. Photo looks NNE.

Approaching the summit from the SE. Photo looks NW.

**Peak 4516 true summit**! Photo looks NW.

On the way back, Lupe took an even shorter route, exploring Peak 4516’s SW ridge before heading S right on back down to the trail in the ravine.

Exploring **Peak 4516’s SW ridge**. Photo looks SW.

Fun, but not even an hour for that one. You’re going soft on me, SPHP!

Not entirely, Looper. The next peak is going to be tougher.

1:32 PM, 38ºF, Spring Creek Picnic Area along Sheridan Lake Road – Sunny skies now! The morning’s dreariness had departed, but still cool for the middle of April. Before setting off for Peak 5171, Lupe helped herself to a drink, then sniffed along the edge of Spring Creek.

The **Spring Creek Picnic Area** is 0.5 mile due S of Peak 5171.

What’cha think, Loop? Long, scenic way up, or the short route?

Can we take the short route up, and the long way back, SPHP? That way we’ll get to see it all.

Sounds like a plan. Onward! Puppy, ho!

Lupe headed W on Sheridan Lake Road. No traffic, since it was closed not far from here due to construction. Upon reaching the mouth of the valley SW of Peak 5171, Loop left the pavement. A brown wand for Trail No. 6710 stood next to a dirt road.

By the Trail No. 6710 wand. Photo looks NW.

A road! Guess this is going to be easier than I thought, Looper!

Luck of the Dingo, SPHP!

The road soon vanished, but a single track trail did go up the valley. Eh, just as good! No. 6710 quickly became quite steep, but eventually got easier. Not much to see except trees. After a 0.67 mile climb NW, the trail entered a more open region and curved NE. Having already gained 500 feet of elevation, Lupe reached a broad saddle on Peak 5171’s NW ridge. SPHP paused, taking a breather near a rock formation.

By the single track wand, only a little beyond the Trail No. 6710 one. Photo looks NNW.

Waiting on SPHP at the **saddle NW of Peak 5171**. Photo looks S.

A little more to Peak 5171 than Mount Wheaton or Peak 4516, isn’t there, Looper?

Most definitely! I like it! How much farther, SPHP?

Oh, not that much, maybe 0.4 mile and another 270 feet higher?

As soon as SPHP was ready, the Carolina Dog kept going. A gentle slope led up into a dense forest. Fortunately, the trees didn’t have many low branches to interfere with SPHP’s progress. As the slope steepened, Lupe passed several rock formations. No difficulties with them, either.

Heading into the dense forest. Photo looks ESE.

2:31 PM, 40ºF, Peak 5171 – Peak 5171’s summit wasn’t as thickly forested as the NW ridge, but enough trees, including several gigantic Ponderosa pines, were up here to block the views in most directions. High ground consisting of a rounded region covered with pine needles connected short S and E lobes. The true summit proved to be a little rock next to a broken tree near the end of the S lobe.

**Peak 5171’s summit region**. Photo looks W from the E lobe.

By the broken tree at the **true summit**. Photo looks SE.

Time for a break! The best views were toward the E or S, so Lupe and SPHP hung out on the SE slope between the S and E lobes. Would have had a panoramic view if not for a single monstrous Ponderosa pine that towered up right smack in the center of the field of vision.

Any good news in that pack, SPHP?

As a matter of fact, there is, Loopster! Care for a chocolate coconut bar? Think we’ve earned one this time.

Ask a silly question, and a chocolate coconut bar blinks out of existence. A little warmer would have been even better, but it was pretty nice up on Peak 5171. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap, and for a while nothing happened. Some kind of a huge bird circled lazily on the breeze before gliding away. A turkey vulture? Hard to say, it never got that close.

Lupe ventured over to a rock formation just to the E that looked like a decent vantage point.

How’s the view from there, Loop?

Good, but that colossal tree still messes it up.

Peak 5171 is one of those summits where you have to move around some if you want to get a semi-clear look at the best the mountain has to offer. Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) and Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.) had both been visible from Mount Wheaton, but Peak 5171 was much closer to them. The telephoto lens revealed more detail.

**Silver Mountain** (Center) beyond **Baker Park**. Photo looks SSE.

Another look with help from the telephoto lens.

**Boulder Hill** (L) and **Silver Mountain** (R). Photo looks SSE.

Part of the E end of Sheridan Lake was in sight. The top of Peak 5200, which Lupe had visited not terribly long ago during her explorations of Flume Trail No. 50, could be seen as well.

**Sheridan Lake** (Center). Photo looks SW.

**Sheridan Lake** (L) and **Peak 5200** (R, in the foreground). Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

Before her Peak 5171 tour was over, Lupe returned to the true summit and took in the views from a platform of rock nearby.

On the platform near the true summit. Photo looks SSW.

3:06 PM, 39ºF, Peak 5171 – 35 minutes gone! Probably about as long as Lupe could stay up on Peak 5171, if she really intended to take the long way back and still hope to climb another mountain today. SPHP grabbed the pack, and Loopster was on her way back down the NW ridge.

Loop abandoned her route up at the saddle where SPHP had taken the breather. Here, she took a trail down the slope to the NE, but it soon shot off to the NW. Lupe didn’t make the turn. Instead she kept sniffing NE until she had wandered clear down to USFS Road No. 405.

**N of Peak 5171** on USFS Road No. 405. Photo looks ENE.

No. 405 was scenic and gently downhill all the way, but also easily twice as long as the route Lupe had taken up Peak 5171. The road wound clear around the E side of the mountain where the Carolina Dog went by the Balser Summer Home Group, a collection of nice older cabins.

Passing a Balser Summer Home Group cabin. Photo looks N.

Lupe was already close to Sheridan Lake Road by the time she reached USFS Road No. 405.1A, a more secluded route back to the Spring Creek Picnic Area. No. 405.1A ended at a rocky slope, but by then the journey was nearly over. (4:28 PM)

4:53 PM, 35ºF, Centennial Trail No. 89, Samelius Peak trailhead –

Here? We’ve been here lots of times, SPHP!

Yup! But we’ve never climbed Peak 5741 before. Today is the big day!

Fine with me! Where is it?

Not too far, Looper. It’s the peak NW of Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.).

Samelius Peak! That’s where we had our interview with Michael Zimny of South Dakota Public Broadcasting last year!

Exactly! So head N, if you’d like to do this.

This was a favorite area. Didn’t have to tell the American Dingo twice. Lupe went around the gate and headed up USFS Road No. 531. Wasn’t long before the S end of Peak 5741 came into sight.

At the Samelius Peak trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89.

About to set out on USFS Road No. 531. Photo looks NW.

Instead of heading straight for the mountain, Looper stuck with No. 531 until she got to the saddle NNW of Samelias Peak. Here she left the road, gradually climbing NW through the forest along the S side of a ridge. It wasn’t far at all to a bit of a view down Joe Dollar Gulch.

From this viewpoint, Lupe turned SW, crossing a minor saddle that led to a fairly steep climb among deadfall and patches of snow. Every now and then there were glimpses of Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.) off to the SE.

After gaining close to 300 feet of elevation, the Carolina Dog reached the SE end of Peak 5741’s summit ridge. A fair amount of deadfall up here, too, but it wasn’t too bad. The true summit was somewhere over near the opposite NW end of the ridge. Still climbing, but much more slowly now, Loop headed NW.

**Samelias Peak summit**. Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.

At the **SE end of Peak 5741’s summit ridge**. Photo looks WNW.

Within minutes, the ridge began to narrow, the deadfall worsened, and an unsettling sight appeared. Just ahead, a boulder jutted 8 or 10 feet skyward above a mess.

Criminitly, Loop! Don’t tell me that we can’t even get to the top! Thought this was going to be a slam dunk.

Is that the true summit, SPHP?

I don’t know, but sure looks like it!

The problematic boulder (R of Center). Photo looks NNW.

Scrambling among the deadfall and rocks, closer inspection revealed that getting Lupe to the top of the problematic boulder might be nearly impossible without taking undue risk. Just to get a few feet higher? Not worth it! Fortunately, it turned out that this wasn’t the end of the ridge. Maybe there was still higher terrain ahead?

Lupe kept going, and sure enough, there was! However, the situation at the next high point was practically a duplicate of the first one. Another skinny, vertical boulder with no reasonable way to the top.

The ridge continued. SPHP soon became convinced that the second high point wasn’t the top, either. Lupe kept coming to marginally higher spots. Occasionally, openings permitted views, including a nice one of Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.). The terrain rose more and more slowly, and the rock formations diminished in height. Even the deadfall began to fade away.

Confidence grew. Maybe this was going to work after all?

**Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SW.

A minor high point with a bit of a view. Photo looks S.

A flat rock scarcely any higher than others nearby appeared ahead, close what appeared to be the NW end of the summit ridge. Lupe got up on it, but it soon turned out that a collection of bigger rocks that might be a bit higher existed 40 feet farther NNW. No problem! The American Dingo easily leapt onto the highest rock there, too.

Congratulations, Loopster! I think you’ve done it!

SPHP shook Lupe’s extended paw.

At the highest point, or close to it, at the **NW end of Peak 5741’s summit ridge**. Photo looks NW.

At the **likely true summit**. Photo looks N.

Summit region from the true summit. Photo looks SE.

6:29 PM, 30ºF, Peak 5741 – In the area between the flat rock and likely true summit, a glowing green carpet of kinnikinnick covered a NW slope illuminated by the evening sun. Lupe sat looking at a tree-broken view of Five Points (6,221 ft.) while SPHP dug a celebratory chocolate coconut bar out of the pack. Smoke, or maybe steam, drifted S from the sawmill near Three Forks.

Felt cold in a light breeze way up here on Peak 5741, but long after the chocolate coconut bar vanished, Lupe and SPHP sat contemplating the beautiful scene near the end of a 4 peak day.

Looper had a look at Mount Warner (5,889 ft.), but forest hid the views in other directions.

**Mount Warner** (Center). Photo looks ENE with help from the telephoto lens.

The kinnikinnick faded, then glowed again. Evening magic! But time grew short, sunlit cheer returning more feebly after each passing cloud.

On the way back, Loop varied her route. Near the SE end of Peak 5741’s summit ridge, the American Dingo went down a S slope steeper than the one she’d come up. Reaching USFS Road No. 531 near it’s junction with Centennial Trail No. 89, Lupe prolonged the day by taking the longer Centennial Trail route back to the Samelius Peak trailhead.

See! I was right, wasn’t I, SPHP? We had a good time! Aren’t you glad we went on Expedition No. 275, instead of frittering the day away at home?

SPHP couldn’t help but agree. (7:40 PM, 31ºF)

**Peak 5741**, Black Hills of South Dakota 4-14-21

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