9:02 AM, 43ºF, USFS Road No. 231 just past the turn to Buck Spring – Not gonna make it! Getting high-centered in this crusty, rutted snow wouldn’t be good. The G6 had been scraping bottom at intervals for the last 0.25 mile. Didn’t look like the situation was getting any better up ahead. SPHP gladly pulled off No. 231 at a snowy opening on the R.
Close enough! Black Fox couldn’t be too much farther. Lupe could start from here! Encouraged by conditions on Expedition No. 253, SPHP had been convinced the American Dingo could still get up into the western Black Hills high country, despite the late November date. Might be the last chance Loop would have in 2019. The G6 just wasn’t built to handle much in the way of ice and snow.
What an incredible morning! Bounding out of the G6, Looper thrashed about on the snow in ecstasy, biting off mouthfuls of the crunchy upper crust. Oh, it was going to be a great day for a romp in the hills! As soon as SPHP was ready, she set off heading SW on USFS Road No. 231.
Waiting for SPHP to get with the program! Photo looks SW.
No. 231 was snow-packed and slippery, but level and an easy trek. The cool fresh air and pine scent were exhilarating! Morning sunlight cast long blue shadows on the glittering white snow. Looked and felt like winter up here already, a winter still young and mild.
Oh, what a fabulous morning! We’re on our way to Black Fox.
0.5 mile brought Lupe to an intersection. Here she turned L (S) on USFS Road No. 233, almost immediately thereafter crossing a bridge over the S Fork of Rapid Creek. Somewhat surprisingly, she passed several vehicles S of the bridge. Hunters? Probably. No one was around at the moment. Black Fox campground was just around the next bend.
At Black Fox campground, a quiet spot in late November!
Black Fox was closed this time of year. Snow was everywhere. Lupe stopped for a look at the Rhoads Fork of Rapid Creek. The frigid, dark water plunged over a tiny waterfall before flowing deeper into the shady, green forest.
By the Rhoads Fork of Rapid Creek.
No. 233 went SW up the Rhoads Fork valley, if up is the correct word. For 0.5 mile, the road was flat, or nearly so, all the way to a junction with side road No. 233.2D. A nice, rustic cabin with a sign saying “Minnelusa Tepee” was tucked off in the pines to the L. A deer on the road ahead caught Lupe’s attention, but as soon as it disappeared into the forest, she headed NW (R) on No. 233.2D.
At the intersection of No. 233 (L) and No. 233.2D (R). Photo looks SW.
Going up Beaver Draw, No. 233.2D climbed steadily. The road was even snowier here. Thankfully, several vehicles had compressed a couple of tracks. Loopster kept a careful watch for squirrels and deer, but had no luck. The trudge up the secluded valley was pleasant and quiet.
The road eventually curved W. A mile from the junction with No. 233, Beaver Draw began to widen out. Lupe came to a snowy clearing. This wasn’t the top, but it felt like she was starting to get close.
Checking for squirrels in Beaver Draw. Photo looks SE.On No. 233.2D in Beaver Draw. Photo looks NW.At the snowy clearing a mile from No. 233. Photo looks WNW.
The road kept climbing longer than expected, although at a diminishing pace. Beaver Draw widened out into a broad amphitheater. To the N, low limestone cliffs came into view. No. 233.2D turned SW, becoming muddy and icy. To facilitate logging operations, the road had recently been graded here. Lupe passed piles of dead trees.
No. 233.2D became icy as Beaver Draw opened up. Photo looks SW.Passing a pile of dead trees in upper Beaver Draw. Photo looks NE.
No. 233.2D skirted the S side of the amphitheater, climbing faster again. Lupe finally reached some high ground where the terrain leveled out. From here she had her first glimpse of a distant view.
Finally starting to get high enough to see something! The distant hills are part of the N end of White Tail Peak(6,962 ft.). Photo looks E.
As near as SPHP could tell, Lupe was now on a plateau about a mile S of Trebor Draw. There was an unmarked intersection near the viewpoint. One road went N along the W rim of the Beaver Draw amphitheater. However, Lupe took the road going SW. For a while she gained a little more elevation, but after that the terrain was pretty flat, undulating only slightly up or down.
This territory was all above 6,700 feet, quite high for the Black Hills. Even so, Lupe came to no more viewpoints. The snow was generally deep enough to make exploring the forest too laborious to be worth the effort. For the most part, the American Dingo stuck to the road, trotting along happily in the fresh air and sunshine. As the day warmed up, the road became increasingly soft and muddy. SPHP marched along the snowy edges whenever possible.
By one of several snowy clearings on the plateau. Photo looks SW.
The road system didn’t match up with SPHP’s old maps. An expected mile long detour to the S and back again, never happened. Thinking Loop was still on No. 233.2D, SPHP was surprised when she came to a sign saying this was actually USFS Road No. 419.
Hey, SPHP! Look! We’re already on No. 419! Where that had happened was a mystery. Photo looks SW.
No. 419 continued SW. After a while, Lupe began to lose elevation. A ridge came into view beyond a snowy side road. Along in here, No. 419 curved W. The Carolina Dog quickly came to two intersections very close to each other at a low pass.
The largest clearing along No. 419. The snow was deep here! Photo looks S.Still on the high ground along No. 419. Photo looks SSW.The ridge seen ahead came into view as No. 419 began to curve W. Photo looks SW.
These intersections were a mess with lots of ground recently torn up by bulldozers. The only marker still evident was for the road coming up from the S, which said No. 189.2. Made sense. SPHP knew where Lupe was now. This minor pass was 0.75 mile N of Bombard Draw.
Crooks Tower(7,137 ft.), Lupe’s peakbagging objective for the day, was now 1.5 miles NW as the crow flies. The road going N from this pass had to be USFS Road No. 631. Ordinarily No. 631 would be both the quickest and most direct route, however, it was a minor road. Not too likely any traffic would have gone very far that way with so much snow around! SPHP suspected the valley immediately S of Crooks Tower would be full of deep, pristine snow.
So Lupe took the road leading W, a continuation of No. 189. Leaving the pass, the road curved SW and began climbing along the side of a fairly steep slope. Soon Lupe was getting close to the ridge she had seen from No. 419. However, the road didn’t cross the little valley leading to the ridge. Instead it turned NW proceeding up the near side of the valley.
A closer look at the ridge Lupe had seen from No. 419. Photo looks SW.Another view of the same ridge from farther up the valley next to it. Photo looks S.
Lupe stuck with No. 189 as it wound higher. Way up here, conditions were even snowier. Small rock outcroppings began to appear. For a while, Loop climbed steadily, but the pace eventually slackened. The road finally turned N and leveled out.
Following No. 189 higher. There was even more snow up here. Photo looks NNW.Approaching small limestone formations on the R. Photo looks NW.No. 189 leveled out at 7,100+ feet. Photo looks N.
The Carolina Dog was already at 7,100+ feet, nearly as high as Crooks Tower itself, but still a mile from it. Continuing N, she now lost a bit of elevation. 0.33 mile WSW of Crooks Tower, Lupe reached a junction with USFS Roads No. 631.2C and No. 189.4A. As SPHP had suspected, No. 631.2C was buried beneath a thick blanket of pristine snow. Good thing Loopster hadn’t tried to come up that way!
Continuing N on No. 189. Photo looks NNE.At the upper end of USFS Road No. 631.2C. Never would have made it coming up this way! Photo looks S.
No. 189.4A goes almost to the top of Crooks Tower(7,137 ft.). Clearly no one had been this way since the last big snow. Lupe began the trudge E.
At the start of No. 189.4A. Photo looks E.So what is this, training for the Iditarod? Don’t get any big ideas, SPHP! I’m not pulling you on any Dingo sled! Photo looks E.
At last, the final 15 foot climb to Crooks Tower’s summit appeared. As hoped, winds had swept part of the summit free of snow. Sweet! Lupe could relax in relative comfort.
Approaching Crooks Tower’s summit (L). Photo looks NE.Luckily, part of the summit was snow-free. Photo looks E.
Only mid-afternoon, but November days are so short that it still seemed late. The cheerful sunshine had vanished. Most of the sky was overcast, not darkly, but gray enough to produce a subdued mood. Lupe hadn’t seen a soul all day. Despite the relatively easy road hike, Crooks Tower felt isolated and remote.
Crooks Tower is one of the highest peaks in the Black Hills, yet this area wasn’t rugged. Consequently the views weren’t all that impressive. The best was a distant look at Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) far to the SE. Miles to the NW was a high ridge that might have been Laird Peak(6,906 ft.). Forest blocked the views in other directions.
Lupe went to the highest spot, a flat area toward the N. After claiming her peakbagging success, she took a quick look at the best views before curling up on SPHP’s lap facing Black Elk Peak.
At the true summit of Crooks Tower. Photo looks NNE.SPHP thought the high ridge in the distance (L) might be Laird Peak. Photo looks NW.Hmm. Didn’t really look like Laird Peak with help from the telephoto lens. Might actually be Cement Ridge(6,674 ft.).At the slightly lower S end of the summit area. Black Elk Peak (L of Center) is in view on the horizon. Photo looks SE.Black Elk Peak (L) with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks S.
Pines sighed in a 10 mph NW breeze. Far to the E, a big patch of blue sky lingered out over the unseen plains beyond the hills. Everywhere else the mood was subdued beneath the gray smudge of wintery clouds. Cool out, but not cold. 40ºF?
The view was familiar. Crooks Tower is a favorite place. In fact, Lupe had been to Crooks Tower more times than to any other mountain. This was her 10th ascent. Yet Loop hadn’t been here in more than 2.5 years.
Snow, silence, solitude. It felt good to be back, if only for a little while.
Lupe near the spot where she took a break on SPHP’s lap. Photo looks SE.The N end of the summit region. Photo looks N.The S end. Photo looks S.Looking E toward a ridge nearly as high as the top of Crooks Tower.
For nearly 40 minutes, Lupe remained up on Crooks Tower. It would be dark before the American Dingo reached the G6 again. Before departing she returned briefly to the true summit. A final glance at the familiar views to the NW and SE, and that was it.
Back at the true summit. Photo looks E.Last moments at the S end. Photo looks SSE.
Leaving the summit, Lupe had scarcely reached USFS Road No. 189.4A, when gunfire erupted somewhere to the N. Hunters! The courageous Carolina Dog begged SPHP for protection. Not to worry. She was fine. A few shots, and that was it. Silence returned, and the snowy trek back to the main road began. It didn’t seem as far going downhill.
Starting back on USFS Road No. 189.4A. Photo looks SW.
The return trip was otherwise uneventful. Lupe went back the same way she had come. Such a beautiful, quiet time following these remote USFS roads! Up here it already felt and looked like Christmas. Of course, the light eventually began to fail. Going down Beaver Draw, twilight faded. In darkness, Lupe passed Black Fox. Expedition No. 254 was over. (5:31 PM, 41ºF)
A visit to Crooks Tower had been long overdue! SPHP was glad Lupe had done it. Six days later, on the last day of November, a blizzard struck the Black Hills dumping 2 additional feet of snow. Expedition No. 254 really had been her last chance to visit the western high country of the Black Hills in 2019. Fortunately, Lupe had made the most of it!
Returning from her 10th ascent of Crooks Tower, Black Hills of South Dakota, 11-24-19
Day 6 of Lupe’s 1st 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming!
Predawn – Uh-oh. Raindrops! USFS Road No. 10 had been plenty soft on the way up here yesterday evening. As the rain started in harder, SPHP had visions of a repeat of Lupe’s muddy misadventure at Big Pryor Mountain last year. This road and situation weren’t anywhere near as bad at that had been, but still no sense in simply sitting here while No. 10 turned into a quagmire, was there?
The G6 sprang to life, and a slow slippery descent began. The night was utterly black, the headlights barely revealing only a short stretch of a rutted sea of mud ahead as the rain poured down. The mud clung to the tires, causing a serious loss of traction. Not quite as bad as driving on ice, but not that far from it, either.
Slowly, slowly! What time was it anyway? A glance at the dash revealed only darkness where the radio, clock, and information panel ought to have been all lit up. Huh. They’d been working yesterday. The G6 crept along, finally succeeding in covering the 2 miles back to the pavement at Hwy 14. By then the rain was over and done with. Just a shower. The sky was already clearing, the faint first light of dawn now perceptible.
After parking at a snowmobile unloading area, SPHP turned on a light to take a look at the dash. Lupe’s water bowl was perched directly above the radio. The bowl was practically empty now, the dash clearly wet. Gah! Should have remembered to remove the bowl before taking off down the rutty road. Dousing electronics with water is seldom a great idea. Too late now.
Oh, well. Still mighty early. After letting the Carolina Dog out briefly to sniff the air, back to sleep!
An hour or two later, SPHP woke to find Lupe awake panting on her pink blanket. The sun was up, and a lovely clear blue sky promised a great day. At the end of a short side road near Shell Canyon, the American Dingo got out to bark at a squirrel while SPHP replaced the fuse for the radio, clock and information panel. No luck. The spare fuse made no difference. Not too surprising, since the original fuse looked fine. Some circuit board must have shorted out.
Simply fabulous! Zig when you should zag. Should have stayed put, and let it rain. The road out would have been better now, anyway. That was that, though! A minor setback. So what? The G6 still ran.
Onward! Puppy, ho!Antelope Butte(9,935 ft.) was calling! It was only a few miles away.
By the sign for the turn off Hwy 14 to Antelope Butte. Photo looks N.
The Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation Area was only 0.33 mile off Hwy 14 on USFS Road No. 244. Next to a large parking lot, a huge green and gray plastic yurt sat near a ski lodge undergoing renovation. Only one person was around, a man driving a small bulldozer. SPHP caught his attention and asked if it would be OK to park the G6 here?
Sure, no problem, provided SPHP parked off to one side. The parking lot was going to get smoothed out today. While SPHP got ready, Lupe leapt out to briefly inspect the premises, before continuing SE on USFS Road No. 244. (9:08 AM)
Antelope Butte info on the side of a trailer.The gray and green plastic yurt looked brand new.Extensive renovations were underway at the Antelope Butte ski lodge.A broader view showing some of the ski runs.Setting out for Antelope Butte!
No. 244 went up a valley past a dozen private cabins strung out over 0.5 mile. At one point Lupe forded a small tributary of Granite Creek. At the last cabin two men were busy re-shingling the roof. USFS Road No. 244 ended here, but ATV trail No. 421 continued on.
A nice reddish dog came over to greet Lupe, and seemed inclined to come along to explore Antelope Butte, too. That would have been fine, but SPHP drew the attention of the roofers, who called the friendly dog back.
One of the first private cabins No. 244 went past.On USFS Road No. 244.Wading across a little tributary of Granite Creek.At the start of ATV trail No. 421 by the last cabin.
Lupe had gained only minor elevation along USFS Road No. 244, but ATV trail No. 421 climbed more steeply. The trail wound through a mostly forested region, but Loop came to a few clearings, too. The brilliant sun was starting to feel hot. SPHP paused briefly to put on sunscreen.
Following ATV trail No. 421.
Naturally, applying sunscreen changed everything. The sky soon began to cloud up rapidly. After following No. 421 for 0.5 mile, Lupe arrived at an open gate at the edge of the forest. By now the sky was completely overcast. The air felt cool and damp. Beyond a big meadow, low clouds clung to a line of peaks several miles away.
At the open gate 0.5 mile from the start of ATV trail No. 421. Photo looks SE.Low clouds clung to peaks several miles away. Photo looks E.
Beyond the gate, a two track road (USFS Road No. 279 on the topo map) headed S in a big meadow. The road stayed fairly close to the forest as it climbed toward a pass. Although prospects for a successful ascent of Antelope Butte were suddenly looking questionable, Lupe followed the road higher.
By USFS Road No. 279 after going through the open gate. Photo looks S.
Lupe hadn’t gotten too far beyond the gate, when the roar of engines was heard coming up ATV trail No. 421. A family of 5 appeared on 2 ATV’s. They waved as they raced on by, before disappearing over the pass Lupe was heading for.
Pass 9260 was only 200 yards away. The American Dingo was soon there. What to do now was the question? A grassy open slope led fairly steeply up to the N end of Antelope Butte’s long N/S summit ridge, but the ridgeline was hidden well up in the clouds. The true summit was still nearly a mile SSW, nearly 700 feet higher than this pass.
Staring at the grassy slope, Lupe and SPHP watched as a featureless gray swept down enveloping even Pass 9260 in fog. All it took was a single minute.
The rather indistinct view of Antelope Butte one minute after arriving at Pass 9260.
Hmm. No point in trying to summit now. Felt like rain. Stay or go? The forest wasn’t too far away, maybe Lupe could hide out there hoping for improvement? Nah, not a speck of blue sky anywhere. Hadn’t been for a while. Might as well call it before getting drenched for no reason.
The Carolina Dog headed back. Disappointing, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Thunder confirmed the decision within 2 minutes of leaving the pass. Better hurry!
Lupe enjoyed the lively downhill pace! She raced through the forest along No. 421 sniffing and exploring. Scattered raindrops fell intermittently. Now and then more thunder. The family of 5 joined the retreat, racing by again on their ATV’s. Fortunately, any serious rain held off. Occasionally the sky even brightened. SPHP relaxed and slowed down.
Wrong! Back on No. 244, a mere 5 minutes from the G6, suddenly it was on again. The sky darkened ominously. Incoming!
Run, Loop, run! Tremendously excited, Lupe ran alongside SPHP leaping and barking. What a fun game! SPHP was seldom so lively!
No, Lupe. Keep going! Run to the G6! We’re almost there! Lupe raced ahead, but kept coming back to urge SPHP along. She wasn’t about to abandon SPHP, and after all, her speed wasn’t the issue.
The storm broke 2 minutes from the G6. An absolute cloudburst, with hail. Pea-sized, but it might get bigger. Thunder! Lightning! Streaking through the fearsome onslaught, Lupe finally made a beeline for the G6. Totally drenched, she leapt in as soon as SPHP arrived to open the door. (11:09 AM)
10 minutes later, the first patch of blue sky reappeared. 40 minutes later, the sky was 80% clear. The situation didn’t change for the next half hour.
So, are we gluttons for punishment, Looper?
I thought you always said we were fair weather friends when it came to the outdoors, SPHP?
Yeah. Looks like fair weather to me! No guarantees, though, especially on a day like today when it just keeps taunting us.
Well, if you’re game, what are we waiting for? Onward! Slow-Plodding Human Porter, ho! (12:28 PM)
2.25 hours after leaving Pass 9260 NE of Antelope Butte, the Carolina Dog was back! Looking SE along USFS Road No. 279, puffy white clouds were visible off in the distance toward Cloud Peak(13,167). The only significant cloud anywhere nearby was a lone gray one only partially visible looming to the SW. Long tentacles from this enormous cloud were stretching NE ever farther over Antelope Butte.
Back at Pass 9260. Cloud Peak (L of Center) is visible on the horizon. Photo looks SE.
The situation was questionable. Another storm seemed likely. However, this time the grassy slope formerly hidden by fog was still completely visible. Lupe could see the ridgeline. Not knowing what to expect, the American Dingo turned SW and headed for the N end of the ridge.
The grassy slope leading to the Antelope Butte summit ridge. Photo looks SW.
The trudge up the long slope was steepish, but otherwise trivial. Lupe came across an abandoned road and followed it part of the way up. As she drew near the top of the ridge, lone boulders of dolomite decorated with orange lichens were scattered at intervals along the slope. Many more were clustered at the top, but even there, they were separated by open lanes of vegetation.
Approaching the N end of the summit ridge. Photo looks SSW.Among the boulders near the top. Photo looks S.
During the entire ascent, it had seemed quite likely a storm was about to come sailing right over Antelope Butte at any moment. However, upon reaching the N end of the summit ridge, it appeared the American Dingo was in luck! Showers were visible to the SW, but apparently the storm was actually going to miss, passing S of the mountain instead.
Looking S along the summit ridge. Showers are visible to the SW (R).
The true summit of Antelope Butte(9,935 ft.) was a little more than 100 feet higher than where Lupe was now, still 0.5 mile farther S. The many dolomite boulders strewn along the way made the easy stroll along the broad N/S summit ridge an interesting trek. Lupe had lots of fun places to explore!
A rocky escarpment of minor cliffs extended along the W edge of the ridge. Up on top were the dolomite boulders and formations, which grew more numerous and complex as Lupe proceeded S. She started coming to dense stands of stunted pines, which were best skirted. Any troublesome spots were easily avoided by straying toward the grassy slopes to the E.
Fun times exploring Antelope Butte! Photo looks S.Oh, I’m glad we came back! Antelope Butte is such an interesting place! Photo looks S.The weather was great back to the N.But still unsettled to the S.
As Lupe approached the S end of the ridge, the weather was improving. Two big boulders perched up on a larger dolomite formation came into view. One of them had to be the true summit!
We’re getting close to the S end of the ridge now. The true summit can’t be much farther! Photo looks S.Approaching the two big boulders (Center) at the summit. Photo looks S.
When Loopster arrived at the base of the maze-like summit formation, exactly how she might scramble up the last 20 feet to the top wasn’t at all clear. Exploring the NW side revealed only an insurmountable wall of rock. Circling back around to the E got her halfway up, on the verge of success, but a deep narrow passage separated her from the highest rocks.
This passage was too wide to leap over, and a large boulder wedged over it was too steep-sided to provide an easy bridge. SPHP didn’t like the looks of it. Maybe the wedged boulder could serve as a last resort, but if Lupe could find access to the passage, she would be better off climbing up from down there.
Almost there! The summit rock is on the R. The wedged boulder SPHP didn’t care to cross to get over the narrow passage is to the R of Loop. Photo looks SW.
Circling back to the N, a gap beneath another overhanging boulder was plenty large enough for Lupe to get through. She was now down at the N end of the short, narrow passage. SPHP had to crawl to squeeze under the boulder, but it really wasn’t difficult at all. Seconds later, Lupe was at the S end of the passage scrambling higher. Slowly, and less agilely, SPHP followed her up.
Down in the narrow passage. Lupe’s route to the summit was to the R from the near face of the boulder (Center) seen near the end of the passage. Photo looks S.
This was it alright! At the end of the short scramble, SPHP arrived up top to find the plucky American Dingo already sitting perched on a big boulder – the obviously true summit of Antelope Butte(9,935 ft.)!
Loopster at the true summit of Antelope Butte. Photo looks N.
The summit region was tiny, little more than just that one airy boulder. Hardly any room at all to maneuver up here. Lupe sat patiently atop the boulder for 5 minutes, basking in her peakbagging success, while SPHP took a few photos.
Looking N along the ridge Lupe had followed to get to the summit.View to the W toward Shell Canyon.Antelope Butte’s lower S ridge, a broad, featureless, grassy region. Photo looks S.Cloud Peak(12,167 ft.) (Center) and Black Tooth Mountain(13,005 ft.) (L). Still looked stormy way over there! Photo looks SE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.Orange and yellow lichens decorating the light gray dolomite summit boulder.On Antelope Butte, Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, 7-1-19
The views were glorious, but part of their magnificence was soon sacrificed in the interest of comfort. Time for a break! A grassy dolomite shelf about 20 feet lower a little NW of the true summit looked like a good spot to relax. Abandoning the summit boulder, Lupe beat SPHP back down to the narrow passage on the way there.
You coming, SPHP? Loop back down in the narrow passage. Photo looks N.
At the dolomite shelf, Lupe relaxed for half an hour curled up on SPHP’s lap. Partly surrounded by walls of rock, Shell Canyon and other features to the S or W were the only views from here. That was OK. The sky was still cloudy to the SW, and the breeze was from that direction, so this was a good place to keep an eye on the unsettled weather.
On some of the rocks toward the NW end of the dolomite shelf. Photo looks NW.The true summit (Center) from the dolomite shelf. Photo looks SE.
Persistence had paid off! SPHP was glad the Carolina Dog had made it to the top of Antelope Butte. Kind of a wacky summit with the little maze of interesting rock formations, but it had all been fun and pretty easy.
On the way back, Lupe got to explore the length of the main N/S ridge all over again. She ran hither and yon while SPHP strode along enjoying the sights. Marmots whistled now and then signaling Lupe’s approach.
Starting back along the main N/S ridge. Photo looks N.Looking NW.Shell Canyon. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.Checking in on Cloud Peak (Center) and Black Tooth Mountain (L) again. Photo looks SE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.Bruce Mountain (10,300 ft.) (L), Dome Peak(10,828 ft.) (R of Center) and the Sheridan County High Point(11,020 ft.) (R). Photo looks ENE.Along the W edge. Photo looks NNW.This escarpment along the W edge is a great vantage point! Photo looks NNW.
Nearing the N end of the main ridge, SPHP suddenly realized Lupe wasn’t around. Pausing for a couple of minutes to look and listen, the Carolina Dog still didn’t appear. SPHP tapped a rock loudly several times with one of the trekking poles. Nothing. No Lupe. Other than the light SW breeze, silence. Not even a marmot whistle.
Odd. Not like Loopster at all to simply disappear for more than a minute or two. SPHP began yelling for her.
Lupe! Lupe! Looooooooop!
Several more minutes went by, still nothing. No telling where she might have run off to! Still yelling and starting to worry, SPHP scanned S back along the ridge, and E along the grassy slopes. She’d been somewhere back that way last time SPHP had seen her, hadn’t she?
Suddenly Lupe came racing back from the N. She had a huge grin on her face, but was panting hard like she’d been running for a long time. How far had she gone, and why?
You made me nervous, Loop! Don’t roam so far off. This is big country! It would be terrible if you got lost!
Her chest still heaving, Lupe said nothing. She greedily lapped up a bowl of water, then stood looking happily at SPHP. Maybe she’d gotten so busy exploring that she’d completely lost track of SPHP, and mistakenly run off in the wrong direction? Possible. Didn’t matter now. Loop was back, and that was such a relief! Good thing SPHP had yelled for her, and that those big soft Dingo ears were so keen.
From the N end of the ridge, Lupe did not return to the USFS Roads or the ATV trail she had been on before. Instead she turned NW following an easy open ridgeline lower. This ought to be a shortcut back to the Antelope Butte ski runs, which would get her back down to the yurt and ski lodge.
About to start down the grassy NW ridge, a shortcut back to the Antelope Butte ski lodge hidden in the valley beyond Lupe. Photo looks NW.Shell Canyon from Antelope Butte’s NW ridge. Photo looks SW.
And that’s what happened. Upon reaching the end of the open ground, Lupe plunged into the forest. Should have stayed higher and gone NW longer before turning N. The ski lodge was farther than SPHP realized. The American Dingo enjoyed a longer romp in the forest looking for squirrels than expected. In the end, though, she did come across one of the big ski runs.
Soon Lupe was down at the base of the mountain. Fortunately, there was a bridge over Granite Creek, so SPHP didn’t have to ford it. Lupe preferred fording the stream just for fun.
Lupe’s Antelope Butte adventure ended with a ford of Granite Creek.
Upon reaching the G6 (5:06 PM), SPHP drove to N Burgess Junction. To celebrate Lupe’s success at Antelope Butte, SPHP ordered a big juicy hamburger. The Carolina Dog inhaled her share with evident relish.
After eating, SPHP drove N on USFS Road No. 15. Lupe went past the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness which she had visited years ago. Loop had returned again last year when she had gone all the way to the Garden of the Gods. SPHP didn’t stop, though, until reaching the start of USFS Road No. 165.
Such a beautiful evening! The end of a fun and ultimately successful day! Nearby, two tiny birds landed on a couple of big white rocks. Sunlight streamed over them as they twittered happily together. Beyond them a line of white clouds billowed in the blue sky. Without warning they zoomed away, a couple of specks soon lost in the heavens.
The sun was low. For a few minutes Lupe stood atop those same white rocks. She couldn’t fly away, though. Instead she got down and sat in the meadow, amid the tender green grasses and purple flowers swaying in the soft breeze.
You don’t really expect me to take flight and zoom off into the sky now, do you, SPHP?Lupe among the lupines.
Turning toward the sun, Lupe closed her eyes, sitting motionless. What was she thinking? Was she enjoying the lavender scented breeze? Or, in her mind’s eye, was she still perched atop that glorious airy boulder at the summit of Antelope Butte?
