South Dakota – Page 125 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 131 – Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga (Making of Owls) & Little Devil’s Tower (5-30-15)

May, 2015 has been a wonderful month for the Black Hills of South Dakota. After a very dry start to the year, May brought snow and rain in abundance. Now everything is greening up, looking beautiful and the lakes and streams are full of water. Lupe, however, has been rather bored much of May. The wet weather prevented her from getting out like she is used to. This day, however, promised to be clear, bright and perfect for a long day in the hills.

SPHP chose Harney Peak (7,242 ft.), the highest mountain in the Black Hills as Lupe’s primary goal for the day, with a side trip to Little Devil’s Tower (6,960 ft.) afterwards. SPHP made this choice for three reasons: (1) it’s always fun to climb the highest mountain around, (2) the 360° views from Harney are hard to beat in the Black Hills, and (3) time may be running out to climb Harney Peak again before the name gets changed to Hinhan Kaga (Making of Owls). Lupe cares not one whit about the name of the mountain, she was just excited to be going out on an adventure again.

SPHP parked the G6 at the Willow Creek trailhead (accessed from Hwy 244 about 5 miles NW of Mt. Rushmore near the Palmer Gulch KOA) at 8:51 AM. At 47 °F, it was still a bit cool out, but the skies were almost completely cloudless and a brilliant blue. It would warm up fast. The trail up to Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga (Making of Owls) from the Willow Creek trailhead is longer than the most popular route, which starts at Sylvan Lake, but Lupe would encounter far fewer people and there are some great lookout points along the way.

Lupe near Willow Creek Trail No. 8 approaching Elkhorn Mountain.

Lupe took the portion of Trail No. 8 that is closest to Hwy 244 to Trail No. 9. She followed Trail No. 9 past Elkhorn Mountain and then all the way up to the summit of Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga (Making of Owls). She only saw 3 people and 1 dog (by the name of “Doc”) the entire way until reaching the short spur on Trail No. 9 that goes up to the to the top of Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga (Making of Owls).

Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga (Making of Owls) from near Trail No. 9 which ultimately leads to the summit.

As Trail No. 9 rises to about the level of Elkhorn Mountain, there are lots of lookout points like this one along the way. This photo looks S.

[Note: SPHP sincerely hopes that (Making of Owls) gets dropped from the official name if Hinhan Kaga is adopted. Nothing says this name was created by a board of bureaucrats as much as an official 5 word name in two different languages including a pair of parenthesis! Tired of typing all that already. Better to let the meaning of Hinhan Kaga go unknown to those who don’t have any interest in googling it, than to adopt such an unwieldy name. SPHP is setting an example and dropping (Making of Owls) here and now.]

Peakbagger fans, that's Peak 6735 in the distance. — Peakbagger fans, that’s Peak 6735 in the distance.

Looking SE now. The square block of rock on the left in the distance is the back side of Mt. Rushmore. — Looking SE now. The square block of rock on the left in the distance is the back side of **Mt. Rushmore (5,725 ft.)** . (Not the rock at the very left, but the larger one beyond and a bit to the right.)

Now looking W. Gap Lode Peak is shown in the right half of this shot. The closer, higher stuff is part of the N slope of Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga. — Now looking W. **Gap Lode Peak (6,560 ft.)** is shown in the center of the right half of this shot. The closer, higher stuff on the left is part of the N slope of Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga.

Lupe in the flat rocks area. These photos are all from the portion of the Harney Peak Trail No. 9 that is NE of Harney Peak. This is a longer approach to the summit than taking this same Trail No. 9 from the W at Sylvan Lake, which is the shorter and most popular route. — Lupe in the flat rocks area. These photos are all from the portion of the Harney Peak Trail No. 9 that is NE of Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga. This is a longer approach to the summit than taking this same Trail No. 9 from the W at Sylvan Lake, which is the shorter and most popular route.

Lupe still in the flat rocks area. This photo is looking WSW towards Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga.

Peak 6735 from a bit higher now. Lupe enjoyed drinking out of the water holes in the granite.

Gaining elevation, Lupe is now getting close to the No. 9 spur trail to the summit. Looking ESE from here. The back side of Mt. Rushmore is visible again.

However, hordes of people and dogs were coming up the portion of Trail No. 9 that comes up from Sylvan Lake. The last spur of Trail No. 9 to the top of Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga was just plain crowded. Everyone was in good spirits, though, and having a good time. After Lupe reached the lookout tower, Lupe and SPHP went down over to the far end of the massive granite W shoulder of the mountain.

Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga lookout tower at the summit. Lupe has already been there by now. Lupe’s 5th successful climb of the mountain!

The little reservoir on Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga.

Looking S towards Cathedral Spires (L) and Little Devil's Tower (R) from Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga. — Looking S towards Cathedral Spires (L) and Little Devil’s Tower (R) which all look like part of the same ridge in this shot from Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga. Little Devil’s Tower is where Lupe was headed next passing close by the Cathedral Spires on the way.

There, Lupe had some Taste of the Wild and water. She tried laying down to rest, but the granite wasn’t very comfy – in fact, not comfy at all. She wanted to chase chipmunks, but SPHP wouldn’t allow that with cliffs all around. Lupe posed for a few pictures and watched chipmunks. The views were magnificent, and SPHP stayed admiring them for some time. SPHP chatted with 3 geology students and took pictures of the 3 of them together when asked. Then, with Little Devil’s Tower still on the itinerary, it was time to move on.

Heading back down Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga on Trail No. 9 heading towards Sylvan Lake is this view of Peak 6735 to the S. — Soon after starting back down Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga on Trail No. 9 towards Sylvan Lake is this view of Peak 6735 to the S. Crazy SPHP wanted to climb **Peak 6735** this day too, but there wasn’t time. Lupe and SPHP have been there once before though. There is no trail, but there are a million beetle-killed pine trees to climb over, under, around or through to get there. Very time consuming!

Approaching the Cathedral Spires. SPHP forgets if this is part of Trail No. 3 or No. 4. — Approaching the **Cathedral Spires** **(6,840 ft.)**. SPHP forgets if this is part of Trail No. 3 or No. 4.

American Dingo Lupe spotted near Cathedral Spires! Little Devil's Tower is o the right. — American Dingo Lupe spotted near Cathedral Spires! Little Devil’s Tower is the big rock farthest to the right still a little way off.

Lupe above Trail No. 4 near its junction with the Cathedral Spires Trail.

From Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga, Lupe and SPHP went back down the spur trail to the rest of Trail No. 9 and started following it towards Sylvan Lake. Before long Lupe reached the junction with Trail No. 3 and took it. Trail No. 3 led to Trail No. 4 and then to the Little Devil’s Tower trail. Lupe saw only a few people on Trails No. 3 & 4. It was a different story on the Little Devil’s Tower trail. Even a two year old girl was clambering up Little Devil’s Tower. At the summit, Lupe and SPHP were never alone for more than a minute or two, but at least there weren’t so many people as up at Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga.

Lupe's 3rd successful summit of Little Devil's Tower. This photo looks N back at Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga, where she had just come from. — Lupe’s 3rd successful summit of Little Devil’s Tower. This photo looks N back at Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga, where she had just come from.

Cathedral Spires from Little Devil's Tower. The last bit of climb up Little Devil's Tower is a rock scramble that isn't too hard. A two year old girl was making her way up the mountain with help over the tough spots. — Cathedral Spires from Little Devil’s Tower. The last bit of climb up Little Devil’s Tower is a rock scramble that isn’t too hard. A two year old girl was making her way up the mountain with help over the tough spots.

The beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota as seen looking NW from Little Devil's Tower. — The beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota as seen looking NW from Little Devil’s Tower.

One mighty fine looking Loopster up on Little Devil's Tower. — Pretty girl Loopster up on Little Devil’s Tower.

The views from Little Devil’s Tower are almost as grand as those from Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga. Lupe posed for some more photos. She finished off the rest of the Taste of the Wild. She wanted to chase chipmunks again, but the summit area is considerably smaller than up at Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga, and cliffs were close at hand in almost all directions. Lupe again had to settle for chipmunk watching while SPHP gazed out at the Black Hills.

When it was time to go, Lupe retraced the trail taken to Little Devil’s Tower as far back as Trail No. 9. There Lupe and SPHP took Trail No. 9 heading down towards Sylvan Lake. Lupe followed Trail No. 9 only as far as the intersection with the Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 spur trail for horses. Lupe and SPHP had never been on this spur trail for horses before. No one else was on it. The path looked seldom used by people or horses. It wound through some very scenic large granite formations and offered up pretty nice views of Little Devil’s Tower in places. Most of the way it was close to the upper reaches of Palmer Creek, too. With all the recent rains, Palmer Creek had good flow in it. Lupe could have a drink whenever she wanted.

On her way back now to the G6. Lupe on Trail No. 9 not far from the junction with the Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 horse spur. Little Devil’s Tower in the background.

Little Devil's Tower is at the left. This view was taken from the Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 horse spur. — Little Devil’s Tower is at the left. This view was taken from the Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 horse spur.

Lupe in Palmer Creek. — Lupe wading in Palmer Creek.

The spur trail went about a mile before reaching the main Lost Cabin Trail No. 2. Lupe followed the main Trail No. 2 for miles back to a junction with Trail No. 8 a short distance from the Willow Creek trailhead. The sun was already behind the hills by the time Lupe reached the G6 again. It was 8:09 PM and 58 °F. Lupe had been gone for over 11 hours. She had made a huge loop around Harney Peak or Hinhan Kaga, plus taken side trips up to the summit of it and Little Devil’s Tower. Although SPHP was feeling the effects of the outing, Lupe was still full of energy. She stood up with her nose out the window of the G6 sniffing the air most of the way home.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 130 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Samelius to Big Pine & Horsethief Lake (5-23-15)

Lupe’s uncle Joe and cousin Dusty were in town for Memorial Day weekend. Joe had hoped to climb Harney Peak (7,242 ft.), but the weather was not cooperating. With gloomily overcast skies this morning, it wasn’t at all sure there was going to be any kind of a successful outing this day. An 80% chance of rain was in the forecast, but it wasn’t raining yet as Lupe and SPHP drove out to Lupe’s grandma’s house to pick up Joe & Dusty. The plan was to head out not too far into the hills and hope the rain would hold off for at least a few hours.

Joe parked the G6 at the Samelius trailhead of the Centennial Trail just off Hwy 16. Surprisingly, the almost foggy conditions had broken up on the way. There were even sizeable patches of blue sky around. Perhaps there was an inversion going on, which sometimes happens in the hills. Typically the inversions happen in the winter though – May would be quite an unusual time for one. In any case, things were looking up.

Since Joe and Dusty had already hiked N on the Centennial Trail No. 89 with Lupe as far as Mount Warner (5,889 ft.) on a previous trip to the Black Hills, today SPHP suggested heading S towards the Big Pine trailhead. Horsethief Lake was just a short distance off the trail beyond Big Pine and might be a good goal for the day, provided the weather continued to be cooperative. Fog still swirled around the summits of nearby Samelius (5,856 ft.) and Hardesty Peaks (5,562 ft.) as Lupe, Dusty, Joe & SPHP headed S on the Centennial Trail from the Samelius trailhead.

Lupe and Dusty ran ahead resuming their role as scouts, just as they had the day before on Expedition No. 129. The first part of the trail paralleled Hwy 16 heading W for a little way before turning S to go through a narrow little tunnel for foot traffic under Hwy 16. Lupe hadn’t been here since Expedition No. 9 way back on 3-4-12. Back then Lupe had only been 14 months old and the long, dark, narrow tunnel had been just too scary for her. SPHP had carried her through it in both directions.

Lupe S of Hwy 16 on the Centennial Trail No. 89.

Lupe had forgotten all about those long ago fears now. She and Dusty both trotted through the tunnel with complete confidence. Beyond the tunnel, the Centennial Trail headed up a partially wooded hillside and joined a gravel road for a short distance. Soon the Centennial Trail left the gravel road again and went through an area of small hills covered with a woods sparse enough so a fair amount of grass was growing between the trees. Both Lupe and Dusty had a great time running around exploring the area.

Dusty on Centennial Trail No. 89. New leaves are sprouting on the trees this time of year. — Dusty having a romp along Centennial Trail No. 89. New leaves are sprouting on the trees this time of year.

At first, the Centennial Trail was close enough to Hwy 16 to hear the traffic on it. Sometimes the highway was even in view. After about 0.5 mile though, the trail reached a creek which is a small tributary of Battle Creek and headed away from the highway down into a wooded narrow valley with steep rocky walls. The trail didn’t follow the creek for too long before leaving it to head more to the W while heading up a small side valley.

Lupe & Dusty scout ahead on Centennial Trail No. 89.

The trail came to a wide gentle little pass where there were some rock outcroppings on both sides of the trail. While still in the area of the pass, the 1880 train could be heard in the distance ahead. The trail headed into a grassy field. Small trees were growing in the field and will eventually turn this field into forest again. Just ahead, some of the big granite outcroppings near the start of the Black Elk Wilderness came into view.

Lupe in the field beyond the little pass. Granite outcroppings in the Black Elk Wilderness visible in the distance.

Nearing a home along the old Keystone to Hill City road, Lupe and Dusty heard some marmots whistle an alarm over by the rocks to the N. They ran over to investigate, but were soon back, the marmots having taken cover. The Centennial Trail skirted to the SE of the private property with its heard, but not seen, ferocious little defending doggie. The trail crossed Battle Creek, the 1880 train tracks, and the old Keystone to Hill City road (paved) in rapid succession. Unfortunately, the 1880 train had already gone by, so Lupe missed seeing it, although it could still be heard now far away towards Keystone.

Once S of the old Keystone to Hill City road, the trail began the only relatively steep part of this day’s traverse. It was just around 0.33 mile to the Big Pine trailhead along Hwy 244, and the trail started leveling out even before reaching it. A few people were around at the Big Pine trailhead. Hwy 244 had a fair amount of traffic on it. Big Pine is only a few miles NW of Mount Rushmore (5,725 ft.), and Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the tourist season in the Black Hills.

From Big Pine, it wasn’t far to Horsethief Lake. No more than 0.25 mile. SPHP wasn’t even sure Horsethief Lake had any water in it, since the last time Lupe had been by it on the highway, SPHP had been surprised to see it had been completely drained. (Perhaps to be dredged out?) After crossing Hwy 244, Joe & SPHP stayed on the Centennial Trail a short distance before leaving it and heading down a little gulch towards the lake.

There is quite a nice campground at Horsethief Lake. Soon Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP emerged from the forest on the paved campground road. There were a few people camping, but the big majority of the sites were open. The wet, cool weather had discouraged camping, which is not unusual for Memorial Day weekend in the Black Hills. Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP headed towards the lake.

This footbridge at the W end of the campground at Horse Thief Lake leads to the trailhead for the Horsethief Trail No. 14 into the Black Elk Wilderness. — This footbridge at the W end of the campground at Horse Thief Lake leads to the trailhead for Horsethief Trail No. 14 into the Black Elk Wilderness.

Horsethief Lake did have water in it, but wasn’t as pretty as it normally is. Normally the lake is nice and blue, but it was all brown this day – probably partially from dirt and silt in runoff from recent rains, but mostly from not having had a chance to settle out from having been completely drained and refilled not long ago. Close to the lake, Joe & SPHP selected a picnic table to use for 10 minutes for a little energy bar break. Lupe wasn’t hungry yet, but Dusty was very happy to partake of as much Taste of the Wild as SPHP allowed her.

Cousin Dusty and Lupe at Horsethief Lake.

Horsethief Lake isn’t very big, perhaps in the 5 – 10 acre range. However, it is in a scenic little spot near Hwy 244 just a few miles from Mt. Rushmore. The campground is really nice and has some campsites quite close to the water. There are big granite outcroppings around and two good trails nearby leading into the Black Elk Wilderness. Centennial Trail No. 89 doesn’t come down to the lake or the campground, but is just up a hill to the N of the campground. Lupe recommends Horsethief Trail No. 14 which heads into the Black Elk Wilderness from a trailhead near the SW corner of Horsethief Lake.

After the snack, Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP headed across the curved footbridge to the road on the W side of Horsethief Lake. The road led to the Horsethief Trail No. 14 trailhead. About 0.75 mile in from the trailhead, Horsethief Trail No. 14 would link up with Centennial Trail No. 89. It was possible to make an almost complete loop around well to the W of Horsethief Lake and come back just N of it on the Centennial Trail. However, clouds had kept coming and going the entire time so far. With possible heavy rain in the forecast, it was decided to return to the G6 at the Samelius trailhead on the Centennial Trail without making the loop.

Lupe on the way back went wading in the water of a tributary of Battle Creek. Cousin Dusty wasn’t as convinced it was a good idea.

At a little under 4 hours round trip, Expedition No. 130 was one of Lupe’s shorter Black Hills expeditions. Like Expedition No. 129 the day before though, it was shared with her uncle Joe & cousin Dusty, which added to the fun.

This proved to be Lupe’s last outing in the Black Hills this Memorial Day weekend. The next day was a combination of rain and fog all day. Lupe never saw the sun. Joe and Dusty didn’t get to climb Harney Peak this trip before heading home for Arvada, CO on Memorial Day.

Links:

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Next Trail Section North:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 228 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Spring Creek to Samelius (5-6-18)

Centennial Trail Map & Brochure

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