Black Hills Expeditions – Page 124 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 144 – Five Points (10-31-15)

What better way for a lucky American Dingo to celebrate Halloween than a day spent exploring the Black Hills? Lupe was certainly in favor of it. When she saw SPHP getting the backpack ready to go, she quickly grew impatient for SPHP to head out the door. Finally, the great moment arrived.

For Lupe’s Black Hills Expedition No. 144, SPHP selected Five Points (6,221 ft.) as her peakbagging goal. Rather than being a single mountain, Five Points is actually a series of small mountains close together along a line running N/S. Five Points is located just a few miles NNE of Hill City in the central Black Hills. Its highest peak is the highest mountain N of Hill City for quite a few miles.

At 10:30 AM, SPHP parked the G6 just off Horse Creek Road (USFS Road No. 243). It was 48°F already, and was going to be quite a warm day for this late in the season. A breeze could be heard up in the trees, but the air was pretty calm down on the ground. Lupe and SPHP headed S on an access road that leads to USFS Road No. 669. Lupe crossed Horse Creek twice along the access road. Horse Creek isn’t a very big stream, but it had more water in it than other times Lupe has been in the area.

The access road is less than 0.5 mile long, so Lupe was soon at the junction with USFS Road No. 669. There is a small stock pond near the junction. In keeping with the theme of slimy ponds like Hidden Slew from Lupe’s Expedition No. 143, here is a photo of the pond:

Lupe reaches the pond near USFS Road No. 669. This is the only pond shot in this entire post, I promise, even though she passed several more going up the valley along No. 669.

Lupe and SPHP headed W on No. 669. The road went up a small, mostly forested valley at an easy pace. There were quite a few aspen trees at the bottom of the valley, but the slopes were mostly pine-covered. There would be no traffic on the road; it was blocked in quite a few places with deadfall timber. Most of the road, however, was open for easy hiking. Lupe explored here and there, just glad to be out running around. The deadfall didn’t bother her.

Up ahead, SPHP saw something odd dangling from an aspen tree. From a distance, it looked like the size of a human head. That would fit in with a Halloween theme, but upon reaching it, SPHP saw that it was an old wasp’s nest. The bottom of it had deteriorated so there was quite a large hole in it. SPHP thought maybe the nest was abandoned, but upon closer inspection, there were still a couple of wasps flying around and entering it.

This wasp's nest wasn't very active, but there were still a couple of bees that flew up into it. — This wasp’s nest wasn’t very active, but there were still a couple of wasps that flew up into it.

Even though the hive wasn’t very active, SPHP figured nothing good could come from hanging around it. There was no reason to stay there anyway. Lupe and SPHP went on up the road. Lupe passed several more little ponds. Toward the upper end of the little valley, the tiny stream that fed the ponds was running right down USFS Road No. 669 beneath an archway of aspen trees.

Some nice tall aspens along USFS Road No. 669.

A tiny creek flows down USFS Road No. 669 beneath an archway of aspens.

The road had turned SW by the time Lupe reached the area where the tiny creek was flowing on it. Eventually the road turned S and left the bottom of the valley. Lupe stayed on a path that continued up the valley. Before long, the path turned W and climbed more steeply up to a saddle along a ridge running N/S. There was lots of deadfall timber on the climb to the saddle, so it was slow going for SPHP.

USFS Road No. 249 was not very far W of the saddle, but Lupe did not go to the road. Lupe and SPHP turned S and followed the ridge. From the top of a small high point along the way, a considerably higher hill with a rocky top could be seen ahead. Lupe and SPHP climbed it. There was quite a lot of rock as Lupe drew near the summit.

From the top there were really nice views all around from the SW to the W, N, and NE. This high up, the wind was really roaring in the trees. The big rocks at the top were an effective barrier against the wind, which was coming out of the SW. Lupe liked it down out of the wind, but SPHP persuaded her to go up on top for a few photos.

Nearing the rocky summit of False North Point.

Lupe at the summit of False North Point. Photo looks N.

Lupe had been here before, but quite a long time ago. Her first trip here had been on her first Black Hills expedition of 2013 on New Year’s Day. (Expedition No. 42, 1-1-13) Back then, SPHP had thought Lupe was up on the northernmost summit of Five Points. Accordingly, SPHP had named this mountain North Point.

Lupe had returned to the same area just 5 days later on Expedition No. 43 on 1-6-13. She had actually climbed up to the highest point of Five Points on Expedition No. 43. SPHP realized then that this mountain was not part of the Five Points grouping. This mountain was too far to the NNW. So SPHP changed the name to False North Point. The topo maps on Peakbagger.com show its elevation as 6,130 feet.

Lupe near the highest rocks on False North Point.

The view to the SSE from False North Point toward Five Points was partially blocked by the forest. SPHP snapped a quick photo in that direction, and then Lupe was ready to get out of the wind.

Lupe and SPHP headed back to the NE end of the summit area on False North Point, which looked like the easiest way down to the saddle over to the ridge N of Five Points. Before Lupe lost much elevation, there was a place where an opening in the forest permitted a look to the E toward Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.).

Looking SSE at Five Points from False North Point. The real North Point is hidden behind the trees at the L side of the photo. The true summit of Five Points is in clear view. To the right, Harney Peak is seen in the distance. The road is USFS Road No. 249, which is coming N from China Gulch.

Looking E from False North Point. A portion of Sheridan Lake is in view. Beyond the lake, the rocky high point is Boulder Hill.

Lupe and SPHP headed down from False North Point. SPHP led Lupe down a bit farther N than would have been ideal. She had to go S climbing up through an aspen forest just to reach the saddle over to the ridge N of Five Points. Instead of climbing up onto the ridge, Lupe and SPHP stayed W of it, gaining elevation slowly. SPHP was hoping to arrive at the saddle along the ridge just N of the real North Point. That’s exactly where Lupe did arrive, too.

The climb up the N face of the real North Point was the most challenging of the day. Near the top was a big boulder field. It was fairly steep. Lupe and SPHP went straight on up it, but repeatedly came to false summits. Each time it looked like Lupe was about to come out up on top, another set of rocks going 20 feet higher appeared.

The roaring wind made the climb seem more daunting than it really was. SPHP climbed slowly and carefully. Lupe wished SPHP would move in a more lively fashion. She had no trouble maneuvering among the rocks.

Lupe climbing North Point, the real one, not the false one. She isn't really as close to the top as this photo makes it look. There are more rocks higher up than seen here. — Lupe climbing North Point, the real one, not the false one. She isn’t really as close to the top as this photo makes it look. There are more rocks higher up than seen here.

Looking NW during the climb up North Point.

Finally, Lupe and SPHP were within 10 or 12 feet of the top of the boulder field. The last part of the climb was a rock wall. It looked like there were plenty of hand holds, but SPHP decided against it. Lupe had to go back down about 20 feet to get to a shelf that led around to the W side of the mountain. Over there she came to an easier way up.

The actual summit of North Point was still a bit S of where Lupe and SPHP came up. Before going over there, though, Lupe and SPHP went N to the top of the rock wall which SPHP had decided against climbing. There was an excellent clear view back to the NNW of False North Point where Lupe had just come from.

Looking NNW at False North Point from the top of the rock wall on the real North Point. — Looking NNW at False North Point (above Lupe’s head) from the top of the rock wall on the real North Point.

False North Point (L) from North Point. Photo looks NNW.

After taking a look back at False North Point, Lupe and SPHP went to see what the true summit of Five Points to the S looked like from North Point. Lupe also visited the summit of North Point.

The true summit of Five Points is now in view from North Point. Photo looks S.

Lupe very near the summit of North Point. Photo looks S. The small patch of open ground in the distance is part of Hill City.

The summit of North Point was along the W side of the mountain where the highest ridge of rock provided a commanding 180° view to the W. North Point also featured a slightly lower and wider ridge that extended out to the E. Lupe and SPHP explored this lower ridge to its eastern end.

The E ridge was forested, but there were some openings in the forest. Several rock outcroppings provided great views. Most views were to the N, but it was possible to see to the SE in a couple places, too. There was even a clearer view to the S toward the true summit of Five Points than Lupe had found near the summit of North Point.

From the E ridge on North Point, Lupe found this view of the True Summit of Five Points. It can be seen that there are actually two of the Five Points over there. The high point on the left is South Point. South Point is not quite as high as the True Summit on the R. Photo looks S.

After exploring North Point, it was time for Lupe to head over to the True Summit of Five Points. Although the way initially looked steep, it really wasn’t hard going down North Point into the saddle to the S.

SPHP expected another rocky climb up to the True Summit. Lupe stayed mostly to the E of a spine of rock heading up the N slope. The way up was pretty steep, but Lupe didn’t have to climb any big boulder fields to get up on top. It was an easier climb than going up North Point had been.

Looking N back at North Point (R) and False North Point (L) from the N end of the ridge on the True Summit of Five Points.

Up on top of the True Summit of Five Points was a rocky ridge oriented N/S, just like on the other peaks Lupe had already climbed. The rocks toward the S end were much larger than at the N end. Lupe had to pass just below the big rocks on the E side of the mountain to work her way over to the S end of the ridge. Near the S end, she found a steep grassy ramp that led right on up to the very top of the mountain.

Separated by less than 100 feet, there were two high clusters of rock. The grassy ramp brought Lupe up between them. Lupe went first to the S rock cluster. It had a great view toward Harney Peak (7,242 ft.). The N rock cluster was the very top of the mountain, and the True Summit of Five Points. It was only a few feet higher than the S cluster. There were views to the W, N, and E from here.

Since the most impressive view was to the S toward Harney Peak (7,242 ft.), Lupe and SPHP returned to the S rock cluster to take a break. SPHP had carrots and apple crisp. Lupe had Taste of the Wild and plenty of water. She got to lick the remaining apple crisp sauce out of the plastic container, too. Carolina Dogs like apple crisp!

Looking S toward Harney Peak from the S rock cluster at the top of the True Summit of Five Points. This photo shows two more of the Five Points. They are the rocky hills in the foreground L of Lupe. Both are clearly lower. Lupe did not go to either of those summits.

Lupe up on the North rock cluster. These are the very highest rocks on the True Summit of Five Points. Photo looks N. — Lupe up on the North rock cluster. These are the very highest rocks on the True Summit of Five Points. Lupe reached her Five Points peakbagging goal here. She had been here once before on Expedition No. 43 way back on 1-6-13. Photo looks N.

It was still windy out while Lupe and SPHP were taking the break on the True Summit of Five Points. However, the wind had shifted a bit and was now coming out of the W. It finally seemed to be weakening a bit. After eating, Lupe curled up for a few minutes in a spot where the rocks protected her from the wind.

Lupe had now climbed North Point and the True Summit of Five Points to achieve her peakbagging goal for the day. There were still 3 of the Five Points unclimbed. False North Point didn’t count, since it wasn’t really part of the official group. The sun was starting to get low. SPHP debated whether or not Lupe should climb any more of the Five Points mountains.

The 2nd highest mountain of the Five Points group was separated from the True Summit by a saddle extending off to the SE. SPHP was calling this mountain South Point, even though there were two lower points of the Five Point group farther S. South Point really wasn’t very far away.

The saddle to South Point didn’t lose much elevation, but there was a lot of deadfall timber and some pretty big rock outcroppings visible along the way. If Lupe could get by the rocks and deadfall, it wouldn’t take long for her to reach the summit of South Point.

As always, Lupe was willing to try it. So Lupe and SPHP went back down the steep grassy ramp and headed SE toward the saddle to South Point. It really wasn’t hard to cross the saddle area. The deadfall timber was more of a problem than the rocks were. Lupe succeeded in reaching the top of South Point. She found the highest rocks near the SE end of the ridge. The best views were from a rock platform at the very SE end.

Looking S from South Point. Harney Peak (L) and Hill City (R) are in view.

Lupe on the rock platform at the far SE end of South Point. Photo looks SE.

Harney Peak from South Point. Photo looks S. — Harney Peak from South Point. The two points of the Five Points group that Lupe did not climb on Expedition No. 144 are seen in the foreground. (Only the rocks at the very top of the lowest point are seen at the lower R.) Photo looks S.

The summit of South Point. Lupe is surrounded here by the highest rocks on South Point. Photo looks NW. The True Summit of Five Points isn’t very far away to the NW, but is hidden by the forest.

When Lupe reached the summit of South Point, she had climbed the 3 highest mountains in the Five Points group, plus False North Point. It was time to start heading back to the G6. Somewhat surprisingly, it wasn’t difficult to just continue down off South Point continuing to the SE.

Lupe was losing a lot of elevation. As soon as the terrain permitted, SPHP led Lupe to the SW and then W. Lupe was going to go clear around to the W of the True Summit and North Point. It was a fairly long march through the forest, made longer by the steepness of the slope, deadfall timber, and big patches of thistles and thorny plants. Lupe had a great time, though. There was now room to run around in the forest. She sped around, happy to not be so confined up on high rocky places.

When Lupe had gone quite a long distance to the W, she came to a big square-shaped rock outcropping, which SPHP promptly dubbed Block ‘O Rock. Not too long after reaching Block ‘O Rock, the terrain leveled out and Lupe was able to head N. She was far enough W to see USFS Road No. 249 down the hill to the W, but she did not go down to the road.

Lupe continued N through the forest until she was just S of False North Point again. There a faint road went almost all the way up to the saddle she had crossed earlier in the day heading for North Point. Lupe continued N over the saddle and descended into an aspen filled valley. At first there was a path, but as Lupe continued on, the path became choked with deadfall timber.

A look back at North Point (L) and the True Summit (R) of Five Points. Photo looks SE.

It really wasn’t terribly far (0.5 mile?) to reach another saddle NE of False North Point that would take Lupe back to USFS Road No. 669. The forest was a mess, though. The deadfall was so thick it even slowed Lupe down. The sun disappeared. A little later, the last sunlight remaining on the peaks disappeared. It wouldn’t be good to be stuck out in this tangle at night. The moon wasn’t due to rise for several hours.

SPHP was confident, though. Lupe made it to the saddle while there was still twilight. She picked up USFS Road No. 669 again. Once on No. 669, it was easy to just retrace the early part of the day’s journey back to the G6. The stars were out by the time Lupe got there at 6:39 PM. It was 38°F. The wind was almost gone. A slight breeze was heard in the treetops.

Lupe and SPHP stood under the stars for a few more minutes. Then it was time for Lupe to go to her Grandma’s house for Halloween. When she got there, Lupe raced into the house, and up the stairs wagging her tail and whining in excitement. Grandma was very happy to see her! Time for ice cream!

The pathway into the aspen filled valley before it becomes choked with deadfall timber. — Heading back. The pathway into the aspen-filled valley before it becomes choked with deadfall timber.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 143 – Bald Hills, Peak 6888 & Crows Nest Peak (10-24-15)

Thursday evening, 10-22-15, the Black Hills got some much needed rain. While checking the weather online, SPHP noticed that there was a band of snow shown up in the higher western Black Hills near the border with Wyoming. Lupe loves the snow, so on Saturday morning, 10-24-15, Lupe and SPHP set out for the high country.

It turned out there wasn’t any snow. Or, at least, if there had been, it was all melted by Saturday. Lupe and SPHP did see some areas of frost in the shade of the pines in some areas, but that was it. Lupe wasn’t going to get to play in the snow, but she still had a couple of peakbagging goals in the area.

NW of Redbank Spring, SPHP parked the G6 about 0.25 mile W of USFS Road No. 117 along No. 113. No. 113 would take Lupe to her first destination, which was Bald Hills (6,690 ft.).

Lupe on USFS Road No. 113 shortly after starting out for peakbagging goal Bald Hills.

At first, No. 113 headed WNW through a tall grass field, but it soon turned N to enter the forest. In the forest, the road was muddy. SPHP had to leave the road due to the amount of mud clinging to SPHP’s boots.

Most of the rest of the way to Bald Hills, SPHP walked through the forest. It was pretty easy. This part of the hills is all high ground, but very gently rolling. Lupe was feeling great in the cooler weather. She raced through the forest sniffing everything.

Along USFS Road No. 113 was this area of frozen mud. The thin ice was hollow underneath. The water had already soaked into the ground. When Lupe came by again later in the day, the ice had all melted.

Bald Hills is a high point near the SW end of a long ridge that extends out to the W. Despite the name “Bald Hills”, the area is nearly all forested. When Lupe reached the high point shown on Peakbagger.com, there was a big level field there. The top was all bald, but it was also surrounded by forest. Presumably the trees have grown up since the name was given to the area.

The surrounding band of trees was thinnest to the W. It was possible to see between them to catch glimpses of Mount Pisgah (6,380 ft.) 5 miles away in Wyoming. Bald Hills is in South Dakota, but only 0.5 mile from the Wyoming border. Some of the surrounding trees had been killed by pine bark beetles. Whenever those trees finally fall over, the view will be better.

Lupe and SPHP took a break. Both had cake and water on Bald Hills. Lupe also had Taste of the Wild. SPHP had carrots from the garden. Afterwards, Lupe posed for a few photos.

Lupe at the summit of Bald Hills. It not clear which other hills might be considered part of Bald Hills. There were other fingers of the same general ridge off to the N, but Lupe was where all SPHP’s maps showed the location of Bald Hills to be.

The hill might be bald on top, but there isn't much of a view due to surrounding forests. — The hill might be bald on top, but there isn’t much of a view due to surrounding forests. Photo looks ENE.

OK, there was kind of a view to the W toward **Mount Pisgah (6,380 ft.)** in Wyoming. Only peakbaggers like Lupe would come way out here for such a mediocre look at the world, though. From Lupe’s point of view the sniffing, squirrels and solitude were great.

Lupe’s next peakbagging goal was Peak 6888 off to the NE. Lupe and SPHP set off on No. 113 again, retracing Lupe’s route to Bald Hills, but only for a short distance. There were two other fingers of the same ridge that Bald Hills was part of that SPHP thought Lupe should explore along the way. Side roads off USFS Road No. 113 went along both ridges. The first one Lupe came to was No. 113.1E.

No. 113.1E headed WNW. SPHP had hoped it might lead to a clearer viewpoint off to the W. Instead it lost elevation at a steady, moderate pace and stayed in the forest. The road went on and on. SPHP gave up on finding a better view here. When a side road appeared that headed back E, Lupe and SPHP took it. SPHP hoped to find a shortcut to road No. 113.1D on the next ridge to the NE.

The side road lost elevation gradually, and came to a sharp bend at a draw. SPHP didn’t want to lose any more elevation. Just above the road was a little earthen dam. Lupe and SPHP left the side road to investigate. There turned out to be a little stock pond behind the dam. There was another even smaller dam and pond above this one. SPHP named the larger pond Hidden Slew, since the water seemed a bit slimy.

Only readers of The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe get to see and learn the secret locations of great things like puny little slimy stock ponds. What a benefit! This photo shows the very remote little side road Lupe followed to reach this hidden treasure. — Only readers of The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe get to see and learn the secret locations of great things like puny little slimy stock ponds in the Black Hills. What a benefit! This photo shows the very remote side road off No. 113.1E that Lupe followed to reach Hidden Slew. What a treasured find! Photo looks W.

From Hidden Slew, Lupe and SPHP started climbing up the NE slope of the draw. Pretty soon, SPHP noticed that along the N side of the draw, it looked like there might be a viewpoint. Going over in that direction, Lupe found a slope heading up to the ridge where No. 113.1D was.

This slope had been pretty heavily logged. Climbing higher, Lupe discovered the only spot where there was an opening in the forest big enough for a clear distance shot with the camera. Off to the NW was a nice look at Inyan Kara (6,360 ft.).

Inyan Kara (R of Center) is seen here to the NW. This was the only clear distance shot anywhere in the Bald Hills area. — Inyan Kara (R of Center) is seen here to the NW. This was the only clear distant view Lupe found anywhere in the vicinity of Bald Hills. Inyan Kara is in Wyoming. The mountain is on a single square mile of isolated Black Hills National Forest land totally surrounded by private ranches.

Lupe and SPHP easily reached the top of the logged slope to find USFS Road No. 113.1D, as expected. Lupe followed No. 113.1D NW for a while, but it too began to drop into a denser forest. There weren’t going to be any better views continuing in that direction. So Lupe and SPHP turned around, and headed SE back to the junction with No. 113.

It was possible to get a pretty good look at Sweetwater Mountain while moving along, but there weren't any unobstructed views of it for the camera. Sweetwater Mountain is also in Wyoming. — It was possible to get a pretty good look at **Sweetwater Mountain** **(6,440 ft.)** (the long forested ridge in the distance) while moving along, but there weren’t any unobstructed views of it for the camera. Sweetwater Mountain is also in Wyoming.

Lupe racing around on USFS Road No. 113.1D. Even though the area had already been heavily logged, it looks like they might just as well have taken down even more trees. Many of the trees still standing are dead, killed by pine bark beetles.

Back at No. 113, Lupe and SPHP turned E on it again. This time Lupe followed it to the formerly frozen mud so elegantly portrayed earlier in this post. By now, the ice had melted.

Near by was a side road, No. 113.1G, which headed N down into Bear Canyon. It looked like it was going to turn NE, and head up into the upper end of Bear Canyon, which was where Lupe needed to go to reach Peak 6888. So Lupe and SPHP left No. 113 again to check out No. 113.1G.

This high up in the Black Hills, the fall colors are now completely done. All the leaves have fallen off the aspen trees. The leaves on the ground have all turned a dull brown. — This high up in the Black Hills, the fall colors are now completely done. All the leaves have fallen off these aspen trees along No. 113.1G. The leaves on the ground have all turned a dull brown. Everywhere Lupe went this day, it was the same.

No. 113.1G did turn NE, and did lead Lupe to the upper reaches of Bear Canyon, where there were three stock ponds in a row. Beyond the upper stock pond was a big open field. Lupe posed for a photo near the middle stock pond, which SPHP judged to be most beautiful of all. Then Lupe continued following the road, which now headed NNE toward Peak 6888.

Lupe amidst the scenic splendor of the middle stock pond in upper Bear Canyon.

SPHP isn’t sure where the transition from USFS Road No. 113.1G occurred, perhaps it was at the stock ponds, but Lupe was now on Bear Canyon Road. When Lupe reached the high point on Bear Canyon Road, she was essentially at the summit of Peak 6888.

The topo map from Peakbagger.com showed the official summit location of Peak 6888 a little way off to the W of the road. The whole area was so flat, it hardly made any difference, but Lupe and SPHP wandered off the road to the W to see what might be a little higher than everything else. This area had also been pretty heavily logged. SPHP thought a particular stump looked like it was at the highest point. Lupe posed for her obligatory summit of Peak 6888 photos.

Lupe on the stump at the tip top of Peak 6888.

Another goal of interest only to peakbaggers. Peak 6888 was so flat that even with nearly all the trees cut down there weren’t any views. This photo looks E toward Bear Canyon Road, near the big pile of dead trees. The logging must have occurred fairly recently. Many of the trees that had been cut down still had green needles on them.

Lupe had now completed both of her peakbagging goals for the day. She headed N on Bear Canyon Road to reach USFS Road No. 109. She followed No. 109 0.5 mile E to No. 117. Lupe was now a little over 3 miles N of where No. 113 left No. 117. The G6 was parked back along No. 113.

The sun was still fairly high in the sky, though. Lupe had time to revisit Crows Nest Peak (7,048 ft.), which she had just been to on Expedition No. 139 on 9-27-15. Crows Nest Peak (7,048 ft.) was only about 2 miles to the NE. Lupe could reach it from a new direction this time, which meant more exploring, more squirrels, and more fun!

So off she went. Lupe followed No. 117 a little farther N to get past a fence line. She then turned NE, crossed a field near another stock pond of immense interest (sadly not pictured), and plunged up into the forest.

Lupe at the intersection of Bear Canyon Road and USFS Road No. 109. Photo looks S. — Lupe at the intersection of Bear Canyon Road and USFS Road No. 109. The forested ridge in the background is part of Peak 6888. Photo looks S.

Lupe along No. 117. She would soon cross the big field at the right close to another stock pond, mercifully not pictured here. Photo looks N.

It had been SPHP’s intention that Lupe would just climb up the ridge to the NE, and then try to stay on high ground while heading directly for Crows Nest Peak. However, partway up the ridge, there was a really nice level road. It wound its way N and E along the side of the ridge. It looked so easy and inviting, Lupe followed it instead of climbing to the top of the ridge. Eventually, this road reached another. A marker showed that Lupe had been on No. 695.1A.

Lupe on No. 695.1A just before it ended at No. 695. Since No. 695 went the wrong direction, Lupe left the roads to cross the field shown in sunlight and head into the forest again.

No. 695.1A ended at No. 695, which went SE, not the direction Lupe needed to go. Lupe left the roads, and crossed a sunlit field covered with dark brown bushes. She then entered the forest again. SPHP had the same plan as before, just climb to the top and stay on high ground heading NE to Crows Nest Peak.

The same thing happened again. Lupe came to another nice level road which wound around to the N, but mostly to the E. This road proved to be No. 266.1A, which linked up to No. 266. No. 266 had been recently graded and was a muddy mess, but it took Lupe right on up to Crows Nest Peak.

Lupe on No. 266.1A on her way to Crows Nest Peak. This was a pleasant level stroll in the low angle sunlight. — Lupe on No. 266.1A on her way to Crows Nest Peak. This was a pleasant, level, sunlit stroll.

Aspen trees S of No. 266 on the approach to Crows Nest Peak.

Thought you would get away without seeing any more ponds, aye? Well, here is Lupe now at the pond just 200 feet W of the USGS Benchmark at the summit of Crows Nest Peak. — Thought you would get away without seeing any more ponds or mud puddles, aye? Well, here is Lupe now at the pond on Crows Nest Peak just 200 feet W of the USGS Benchmark at the summit. Photo looks N.

Lupe reaches the survey marker post next to the USFS Benchmark on Crows Nest Peak. This was Lupe's 3rd time on Crows Nest Peak. — Lupe reaches the survey marker post next to the USGS Benchmark on Crows Nest Peak. This was Lupe’s 3rd time on Crows Nest Peak.

Lupe didn’t stay long on top of Crows Nest Peak. The sun would only be up for another 30 or 40 minutes, at most. The G6 was now 5 miles away. Lupe left Crows Nest Peak heading S on No. 266. Instead of turning W along with the road, she continued S through the forest. She found a trail that took her SSW, and then SW. It was an interesting area. In the rapidly fading light, it seemed very remote and wild.

It was dark by the time Lupe and SPHP reached USFS Road No. 117 again, still at least a couple of miles from the G6. The moon, more than 3/4 full, was shining brilliantly in the clear sky. Only the brightest stars could be seen. Suddenly Lupe heard them – the wild dogs who live in the forests and fields – the coyotes.

Lupe sat next to SPHP listening very intently. The coyotes yipped and howled and sang. This was the biggest coyote choir Lupe had ever heard. A whole pack was out there.

SPHP told Lupe about how the coyotes live wild and free all the time, doing whatever they please, while roaming the Black Hills at will. SPHP also mentioned that they were often cold and tired and hungry. Lupe thought things over. Living free sounded wonderful, but so did a steady diet of Taste of the Wild, Alpo, treats, and a comfy soft, warm bed.

The coyotes sang for just a few minutes. They stopped as abruptly as they had started. Lupe decided to continue on with SPHP to the G6 beneath the silent, silver moon.

Hey, another pond shot! Trees are reflected in the tiny pond on Crows Nest Peak half an hour before sunset.

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