Part 1 of Day 5 of Lupe’s 1st 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming!
3:30 AM – Hey, Loop, wake up! Are you OK? What’s wrong? Stretched out on her pink blanket, Lupe was breathing fast, as if she was having an exciting dream. Alarmingly, though, she’d been going on and on like that, and hadn’t been responding even when jostled or spoken to. Nothing roused her! Was she having altitude or lung problems, or maybe some kind of an attack?
Motionless, still breathing shallow and fast, Lupe finally opened a dull eye. The zombie eye slowly shifted to stare at SPHP, but the Carolina Dog didn’t even raise her head.
At last, SPHP offered Lupe a couple of Zuke’s treats that Dave Covill had sent her. That did the trick! Suddenly, Loopster came to. Lifting her head, she proceeded to gobble the Zukes up. She then polished off the rest of a can of Alpo she had started last night, inhaled some Taste of the Wild, and lapped up multiple bowls of water. Satisfied, the American Dingo zonked out again, returning to a deep, almost comatose sleep.
Guess 4 days of peakbagging in a row can do that to ya!
6:03 AM – When Lupe had gone out to sniff the air a little after midnight, a jillion stars of the Milky Way had been blazing overhead. Not now. Clouds and rain! Maybe nothing much was going to happen today? Having taken a Benadryl during the night, SPHP was in sort of an anti-histamine haze, anyway. After breakfast and catching up the journal, SPHP conked out again. Lupe seemed content with snoozing, too.
11:30 AM – Conscious again. Patches of blue sky. The rain was over! Plenty of time left in the day for Lupe to go check out a couple of easy peaks. First up was Peak9300. 1.5 miles SE of Meadowlark Lake, SPHP turned S off Hwy 16 onto USFS Road No. 429. 0.33 mile up the hill was a turn W (R) onto USFS Road No. 433, which went nearly 2 miles clear to the top of the mountain.
Peak 9300 from near the start of USFS Road No. 433. Photo looks WNW.
Except for a stretch of forest where the G6 scraped bottom a couple of times in a deeply rutted section, most of No. 433 was fine. However, at the base of the short switchbacks to the summit, the road deteriorated to practically a 4WD route. The first sharp turn was so bad that SPHP nearly decided to back down.
That was the worst of it, though. The G6 persevered, the road improved, and up on top SPHP parked near a small tower next to a pale green shed. (11:56 AM, 61ºF)
Getting closer. Photo looks WNW.Peakbagging the easy way! Parked practically at the summit. Photo looks NNE.
Peak 9300’s summit region was acres in size. No. 433 actually continued on a little beyond this point. Following the road a bit farther, Lupe came to another small tower at a slightly higher spot.
At the second tower. Photo looks SE.
From the second tower, the road sloped gradually N down to a green gate which bore a sign reading “Meadowlark Ski Lodge Boundary”. No one was around, and nothing said Lupe couldn’t go take a quick look at the ski facilities and views, so she ducked under the fence to go check things out.
The Meadowlark Lake Lodge operates ski facilities on Peak 9300.
Straight ahead, a little beyond the gate, was a sign for the “Hole In The Wall” double diamond ski run. Peering down this gap in the limestone N edge of the mountain, Lupe could see part of Meadowlark Lake more than 800 feet below.
At the start of the Hole In The Wall ski run.Peering down the Hole In The Wall. Photo looks NE.
Immediately off to the NW (L), a couple rows of log benches sat perched on a big limestone platform. Cliffs along the N edge provided terrific views of the high peaks of the Bighorn Mountains, plus a commanding view of Meadowlark Lake.
Darton Peak(12,275 ft.) (L of Center near the butterfly) & Bighorn Peak (12,324 ft.) (R) from the log benches. Photo looks NE.Meadowlark Lake. Photo looks N.Meadowlark Lake.
The views were wonderful, but it wasn’t clear yet if the American Dingo had been to the true summit of Peak 9300, or not. Exploring farther E, Lupe came to a chair lift on a little rise that might have been it. The true summit was either here, or back at the second small tower.
By the chair lift. Photo looks NE.The chair lift looked quite new, or at least recently upgraded.Possibly the true summit of Peak 9300, if not, the 2nd small tower had been it.The 2nd small tower from close to the chair lift. Photo looks WSW.Meadowlark Lake from the chair lift. Photo looks NE.
Another ski run was a little E of the chair lift. This was a less demanding route than Hole In The Wall. A broad open area sloped SE toward USFS Road No. 433. Presumably the run then curved N back down to the ski lodge by Meadowlark Lake. From the top of this run High Park Lookout(9,477 ft.) was in view.
High Park Lookout (Center) from the ski run E of the chair lift. Photo looks SE.
High Park Lookout was where the Carolina Dog was going next. She had been there only yesterday, but on a rushed ascent trying to get to the top before sunset. No reason she couldn’t take the short trail to the summit again today when she could relax and mosey along exploring.
Before leaving Peak9300, Loop returned to the limestone platform with the log benches for a last look at Meadowlark Lake. (12:26 PM)
Must be beautiful in the winter, too, when everything is white and all the skiers are up here!
On the way to High Park Lookout, SPHP parked briefly near the junction of USFS Roads No. 433 & 429, so Lupe could get out and see the old fire lookout tower from down here.
High Park Lookout from close to the junction of USFS Roads No. 433 & No. 429. Photo looks WSW.The fire lookout tower with help from the telephoto lens.
The High Park trailhead was up at the end of No. 429 at the base of the forest crowning the mountain. The parking area was tiny; 4 vehicles was about all it could accommodate. Fortunately, there was space for the G6. (1:47 PM, 61ºF)
Plaque at the High Park Lookout trailhead.Sign at the start of the trail.
The trail started out as a level path through a beautiful forest of tall pines. Soon, however, Lupe was gaining elevation in spurts of varying steepness interspersed with only short level stretches. The trail wound among boulders adorned with green moss and orange lichens.
Start of the High Park Lookout trail.By one of the first big boulders.Moss grew on many boulders.
The terrain became rockier as Lupe went higher.
Among more boulders.Among the pines.The terrain gets rockier.
Near the end, 64 concrete steps were quickly followed by 21 dirt steps held back by wooden supports.
64 concrete steps appeared.Followed by 21 dirt steps held back by wooden edges.Rocks formations by the dirt steps.
The dirt steps ended close to a platform of rock just S of the lookout tower. The stairway leading to the tower’s balcony was open. Looper went up for a look around. The balcony’s wooden planks were soft and badly weathered. Many of the nails holding them in place were loose or missing. Despite this questionable state of affairs, a cautious tour didn’t seem too risky.
The views were great! The rugged spine of the Bighorn Range was off to the N. Most of Meadowlark Lake could be seen to the NW. 8 to 10 miles E was a line of half a dozen peaks Lupe had climbed, all but one in just the past few days.
On the rocky platform S of the fire lookout tower. Photo looks N.Up on the balcony. The intersection of USFS Roads No. 429 (L) & No. 434 (Center) is on the L. Photo looks SSE.Meadowlark Lake. Photo looks NW.Looking E. USFS Road No. 429 is in sight along with intersections with No. 433 (L) & No. 434 (R). In the distance are Peak10493 (Long ridge at L, but not at the edge), Peak10215 (L of Center), Hesse Mountain(10,385 ft.) (Center), Peak10372 (R), and Hazelton Pyramid(10,534 ft.) (far R).Loaf Mountain (10,722 ft.). Lupe hadn’t climbed this one yet, but it sure looked tempting! Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.
A couple of people appeared. Lupe and SPHP left the lookout tower, moving down to the rocks to the N.
On the rocks N of the fire lookout tower. Photo looks SSE.Part of the spine of the Bighorn Range. Photo looks NNE.Peak 9300 (L) and part of Meadowlark Lake (R). Photo looks NW.Meadowlark Lake (L) and Cloud Peak (R edge). Photo looks N.Cloud Peak(13,167 ft.) (L) and Bomber Mountain(12,840 ft.) (Center). Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.Peak 10215 (L), Hesse Mountain (Center L), Peak 10372 (Center R above Lupe’s tail) and Hazelton Pyramid (R above her shoulders). Photo looks E.
And that was about it. Everything was so beautiful, but it was time to move on. Lupe had completed the peaks she had come to climb in the S Bighorn Mountains on this Dingo Vacation. Bidding High Park Lookout farewell, she returned to the G6. (2:29 PM, 61ºF)
The American Dingo wasn’t done yet, though! Down at Hwy 16, SPHP turned W. Before long Lupe was in Tensleep Canyon on the way to her next adventure.
No, really Loop. It’ll be fine. You’ll see. You don’t object, do you?
Object? Why should I object? Every Carolina Dog dreams of a chance to revel in the splendors of Poverty Gulch! My, you sure know how to show a Dingo a good time, don’t you?
Oh, come on! It’s just a name. Keeps the riff-raff out.
With a name like that, it probably draws riff-raff like flies! Why on earth would we want to go to Poverty Gulch, anyway?
It’s just an alternate route up to Castle Peak(6,358 ft.), Looper. Since we didn’t get there last time out, I thought we might try another approach?
And Poverty Gulch was the best you could come up with? What’s wrong with Middle-Class Meadows or Luxury Lane?
Well, there’s Brown Jug Draw, which is actually closer, but I don’t think the G6 can get back in there this time of year.
Brown Jug Draw? That sure sounds highfalutin! I suppose we’re doomed then. At least the castle part sounds good!
Upon reaching Rochford in the central Black Hills, how to get across Rapid Creek to the lower end of Poverty Gulch was itself a question. Lupe wound up having a chance to visit parts of the greater Rochford metropolitan area. The stores were closed this early in the day, but Rochford seemed to be making a good impression on the American Dingo.
Loop was a few days early for the Rochford Mall’s big Christmas Bazaar & Bake Sale.And hours early for Happy Hour at the Moonshine Gulch Saloon.
Maybe we should just skip Poverty Gulch, SPHP? We could hang out here in Rochford and wait for the saloon to open!
Why, Loopster what’s this change of attitude? You weren’t impressed with Brown Jug Draw. Moonshine Gulch doesn’t sound any more highfalutin than that.
It does when you put “saloon” behind it! Sounds downtownish, in an Old West sort of way. If we stay, we can check out the Rochford mall while we wait for Happy Hour. Ought to open pretty soon. No harm in looking, even if the Christmas Bazaar hasn’t started yet, is there?
Disappointingly, SPHP persisted in wanting to go up Poverty Gulch. It turned out that Lupe could get across Rapid Creek by taking a short stretch of the Mickelson Trail. The Rochford trailhead was just E of town. (9:07 AM, 30ºF)
Near the Rochford trailhead of the Mickelson Trail.Short history of Rochford on display at the trailhead.The Mickelson Trail bridge over Rapid Creek is just beyond the gate.
The Mickelson Trail went past a number of private homes and cabins. After 0.25 mile or so following Rapid Creek upstream, Lupe came to a frozen pond. The ravine coming down out of the hills next to it had to be Poverty Gulch!
By the pond near the start of fabled Poverty Gulch! Photo looks SW.
An old cabin sat up on a little rise at the mouth of Poverty Gulch. A small, snowy side road passed just below it heading up the valley. The topo map showed a trail going up Poverty Gulch, but there weren’t any signs for it, or fences around the old cabin. Hmm. Who knew? Maybe not completely kosher, but Lupe left the Mickelson Trail trotting past the old cabin and up the valley.
In the lower reaches of Poverty Gulch.
Poverty Gulch wasn’t wide or particularly deep. A tiny stream could be heard gurgling away next to the road, which soon narrowed to no more than an ATV trail. A power line went up the valley, but there was no sign that anyone had come this way since at least the last snow.
A good foot of snow, crunchy hard from days of thawing and freezing, was on the road. Lupe could usually stand on it, but the snow didn’t hold SPHP’s weight. Although the trail was never steep, the all-uphill post-holing trudge was wearying and slow. The Moonshine Gulch Saloon was sounding better with every step.
For what seemed like a long way, but probably wasn’t much more than 0.5 mile, there were no tracks in the snow other than occasional animal tracks. Eventually, Lupe came to a more open spot where the trail widened out. This was the dead end of USFS Road No. 238.1B. Some vehicle with big knobby tires had come this far from the S. The tires had compressed the snow, but so much so that it had become ice.
Didn’t really help speed things up much.
Continuing up Poverty Gulch shortly after the ATV-sized trail widened to a road.Farther up, looking N back down Poverty Gulch.
The snowy scenery was pretty, the solitude unbroken. After deepening to 1.5 feet, the snow pack began to diminish. As Poverty Gulch gradually broadened out, the road gained elevation at a relaxed pace. The broken trunks of Ponderosa pines killed years ago by pine bark beetles dotted surrounding hills only moderately higher than the road.
The valley widens out. Photo looks SSW.
On and on it went, the road winding its way S. Lupe came to no more cabins. The power line must have ended or veered off somewhere along the way. At one point Lupe and SPHP sat on a log together, taking a 10 minute breather. A gorgeous day for a workout in the hills!
Like genuine poverty, Poverty Gulch went on and on! Photo looks WSW.
Couldn’t be much farther! At last it was clear that the road was about to reach the top of a rise. When Lupe got there, sure enough, she had been here before. SPHP recognized the sign. Loop had reached USFS Road No. 238 (Divide Road). Her long trek up Poverty Gulch was over!
At the junction with USFS Road No. 238 (Divide Road). No. 238.1B, which goes most of the way down Poverty Gulch, is on the R. Photo looks NNW.
Castle Peak(6,358 ft.) was still 0.75 mile S of this junction. Lupe took No. 238 heading SW. The road quickly curved W, where a tree-broken view of Castle Peak was on offer from a hillside S of the road.
Castle Peak (Center) from just S of USFS Road No. 238. Photo looks S.
Returning to the road, it curved NW and started going downhill. A side road, USFS Road No. 238.1A, soon appeared on the L (SW). This was the same road Lupe had taken twice before when she’d gone to Castle Peak. It would get her nearly all the way to the summit.
At the start of USFS Road No. 238.1A.
Taking No. 238.1A, Lupe soon went past No. 238.1E on the R (W), which looked like it would curve down into Brown Jug Draw. Ignoring it, she stuck with No. 238.1A. Another snowy trek, steeper toward the end than anything back in Poverty Gulch, finally brought the American Dingo to the top of Castle Peak.
Just below the summit where USFS Road No. 238.1A ended. Photo looks SW.
Castle Peak used to be the site of an old fire lookout tower, long gone years ago. Now the summit is an open area rimmed by pines. The views are disappearing as the trees keep growing. Lupe couldn’t see Peak6216 a mile to the E, which she had visited 10 days ago, but there were still some views in other directions.
Time for a break! After taking a look at both Custer Peak(6,801 ft.) and Terry Peak(7,064 ft.), the most prominent mountains to the N, Lupe and SPHP sat down on a snow-free patch of ground. The best views from the summit of Castle Peak were on display off to the S.
Castle Peak summit. Photo looks SW.Looking NNE. Custer Peak (L) is visible in the distance.Custer Peak(6,801 ft.) (Center) still has an active fire lookout tower. Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.Terry Peak(7,064 ft.) (Center). Photo looks NNW.Black Elk Peak (L). Photo looks SSE.Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) (Center) and Sylvan Peak(7,000 ft.) (R) both on the horizon. Photo looks SE.The big ridges on the horizon are part of the Limestone Plateau and some of the highest ground in South Dakota! Photo looks S.
Lupe had some Taste of the Wild. Since she’d been eating snow, she wasn’t interested in water. SPHP munched an apple. A light S breeze blew. The late November sun was bright, but felt feeble. Not cold out, but not all that warm either. Comfortably cool.
More than 4 years gone by since the last time the Carolina Dog had been here, nearly 7 since her first time on Castle Peak. Hard to believe. The thought was faintly disturbing.
So, we just going to sit here all day, SPHP?
Nah! Beautiful spot, though, isn’t it Looper? If you’re ready, we can go check out the views to the W.
From the top of Castle Peak, pines hide the views to the W. However, past experience had shown that a few small rock formations several hundred feet SW of the summit provide great views in that direction. Miles of the E edge of the limestone plateau country can be seen, including South Castle Rock(6,840 ft.), Castle Rock(6,783 ft.), Nipple Butte(6,800 ft.), Flag Mountain(6,937 ft.), Peak6962, and White Tail Peak(6,962 ft.).
When Loopster got there, the bright white snow enhanced the already terrific panorama, making the hills seem higher and more splendid.
The big snowy field is Reynold’s Prairie. Beyond it, Castle Rock & South Castle Rock are part of the same ridge straight up from Lupe’s head. Nipple Butte is straight up from her rump. Photo looks SW.Along the horizon: South Castle Rock & Castle Rock (L), Nipple Butte (L of Lupe’s ears), Flag Mountain (R of Lupe’s ears), and part of Peak 6962 (far R). Photo looks SW.Oh, this is fabulous, isn’t it? Classic Black Hills!
The view of White Tail Peak was of particular interest. Between here and White Tail Peak was a smaller mountain, Peak6244. The Carolina Dog might be going there next, so SPHP wanted to get a look at it and the surrounding territory.
Flag Mountain (L by the stump), Peak 6962 (L of Lupe’s head), and White Tail Peak (R). Peak 6244 is the small hill on the R. Photo looks W.
Peak 6244 didn’t look like much, just a small forested hill slightly over 1.5 miles away. It took SPHP several minutes of studying the topo map and comparing it to the terrain to pick Peak 6244 out for certain from similar hills nearby.
White Tail Peak is the distant high ridge on the L. Peak 6244 is the much closer and smaller hill also on the L. Photo looks NW.White Tail Peak (Center) and Peak 6244 (R). Photo looks WNW.
I don’t know, Loop. Might not see much of anything except trees from over there. Want to do it?
Oh, there’s more?
Yes. I was thinking we could visit that little mountain, Peak 6244.
Sure! Why not? We’ve been on Castle Peak an hour already. I wouldn’t mind doing some more exploring.
Well, one reason not to is that there isn’t any road that I know of most of the way. Between the snow and the deadfall we’d likely encounter, getting there might prove a lot tougher than it looks.
So do you want to, or not, SPHP? We’d better get going, if you do. The sun is already sinking!
Eh, the Carolina Dog had a point. Better quit dithering and get with it!
Loop and SPHP returned briefly to the summit of Castle Peak before heading back down USFS Road No. 238.1A.
On the way back to the summit of Castle Peak. Five Points(6,221 ft.) is visible in the gap between trees on the L. Photo looks SE.At the summit of Castle Peak prior to departing for Peak 6244.
Going down was definitely easier than going up. Didn’t take long to get back past the turn for USFS Road No. 238.1E. Shortly before reaching Divide Road again, Lupe came to the top of a small rise. Time to leave the road! To the W, dead trees stood spaced out on a gentle slope thickly covered with young pines.
On USFS Road No. 238.1A after leaving Castle Peak.Lupe left No. 238.1A here, crossing the slope seen behind her. Photo looks W.
The idea was to travel almost due W through the forest staying as much as possible up on the high ground of a hilly, poorly defined ridge. By staying toward the S, Lupe ought to be able to avoid the deepest snow. Like most of the Black Hills these days, though, the forest looked heavily damaged by a pine bark beetle infestation. The going might get really tough, if the Carolina Dog came to a lot of deadfall.
Things started off pretty well. Right away, Lupe found an animal trail going W through the young pines. Beyond them she wound up on the N side of a small hill, but the snow wasn’t that deep. She did come to some deadfall timber, but not enough to be much more than a nuisance.
A look back at Castle Peak from the young pines. Photo looks SSE.Exploring the hilly ridge. Not much snow where the sun could get at it. Photo looks W.
All seemed well when Loop reached the broad flat top of an expected hill. No snow or deadfall here. The only problem was telling exactly which way to go as the ground sloped down to the W. The forest was featureless, and the tree-broken views of surrounding hills all looked about the same.
In the open forest on the broad, flat top of a 6,100 foot hill. Photo looks WNW.
Well W of the hill, Lupe came to a faint, unmarked road.
On the faint road. Which way? This road wasn’t shown on the map. Photo looks SW.
Ignoring the road, Lupe crossed it and went over a small rise. On the other side, the terrain resumed a steady descent. Several big rocks were here, the only ones she’d seen since leaving USFS Road No. 238.1A.
On the big rocks. Photo looks S.
Peak 6244 was only 1.33 miles due W of where Lupe had left No. 238.1A. The American Dingo must have traveled most of that distance by now. Ahead was a valley, and beyond it were higher hills. Very difficult to tell with all these trees, but it looked like maybe there was higher ground connected to those hills off to the SW. Had Lupe wandered too far N?
Seemed like that might be the case. From the big rocks, a snowy clearing to the S could be seen down in another part of the same valley Lupe was coming to. She headed down to it. On the way, she came to another road that went by the clearing. Nearby was a junction with what must have been the lower end of the faint road Lupe had just crossed. A marker said the faint one had been USFS Road No. 238.1C.
By the road next to the snowy clearing. Photo looks SSW.
Lupe needed to get up on the ridge beyond (SW) the clearing. Following the road S up to the ridgeline seemed like a reasonable course of action. Probably was, but SPHP became anxious to turn W again, and had Lupe leave the road before getting all the way to the top.
The snow quickly deepened on the upper N side of the ridge. Loop came to another area thick with young pines. No animal trails here! Instead, deadfall timber was everywhere. The trek became a terrible struggle trying to force a way through the young pines, deep snow, and unending tangle of deadfall.
Progress virtually ground to a halt. In deep snow, stuck down among the little pines, Lupe valiantly leapt over or snuck under hundreds of dead trees. Exhausting! The sun was sinking. This was taking forever! At last, Lupe made it over to the SW side of the ridge where there was less snow and deadfall timber. What had to be Peak 6244 was now in sight.
Peak 6244 ahead! Photo looks W.
The easiest way to get there appeared to be to head NW to a subpeak NE of Peak 6244. The ridge Lupe was on led to minor dip at the base of the subpeak. Beyond the dip, she came to yet another unmarked road.
Unfortunately, the road didn’t go up the mountain. After crossing it, the Carolina Dog continued NW up the slope leading to the subpeak. At first, this was easy terrain. No snow, little deadfall.
Starting up the slope leading to the subpeak. Photo looks NW.
The situation soon deteriorated. Loop didn’t have to go all the way to the top of the subpeak, but all the territory between it and Peak 6244 was another region of young pines, snow, and a tangled mess of deadfall. Trying to turn toward Peak 6244 before reaching the saddle leading to it from the subpeak proved futile.
Up at the saddle, things were somewhat better. Not much snow. Still plenty of deadfall, but most of it was neatly arranged perpendicular to the route Lupe had to take. She still had to go over it all, then climb Peak 6244’s snowy NE slope, but the top of the mountain wasn’t much higher than where Lupe was now. Shouldn’t take too long.
Up on the saddle. Still lots of deadfall to cross, but this wasn’t too bad. Peak 6244 dead ahead! Photo looks SW.On the snowy NE slope, approaching the summit.
Approaching from the NE, Peak 6244 seemed to be coming to a pointy top. Rocks were up there! Maybe Lupe actually would have some views from the summit? That would be really nice after all this effort!
The summit region was surprisingly roomy. Ground covered with pine needles connected two slightly higher rocky areas, one to the E and the other to the W. The true summit was a big rock at the NE end. Looper went first to some other rocks almost as high that offered a nice view to the S. Not bad at all!
Reynolds Prairie from Peak 6244. Photo looks SW.
The rock at the true summit provided a view of less interesting territory off to the NE, plus a tree-broken glimpse of Castle Peak.
At the true summit of Peak 6244. Photo looks NE.Castle Peak (R). Photo looks ESE.True summit of Peak 6244. Photo looks NE.
The rocky area to the W was worth exploring, too. Lupe went there next, stopping briefly for another look at Reynolds Prairie on the way.
That nice view toward Reynolds Prairie (R) again. Photo looks SSW.On the rocks at Peak 6244’s W edge. Photo looks W.Flag Mountain(6,937 ft.) (L). The ridge beyond Lupe is Peak6962. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.
Lupe’s journey to Peak 6244 had been a success! Really shouldn’t stay, though. The day was almost shot, the sun a mere glow in clouds near the horizon. Getting stuck out here in the dark surrounded by snow and deadfall would not be good! Yet the Carolina Dog did stay for a little while, hanging out by the W rocks.
Along the W edge. Photo looks NNW.
More Taste of the Wild disappeared. SPHP’s last apple vanished. Such a nice spot! Peak 6244 was way better than anticipated after that first look at it from Castle Peak.
Peak 6244’s summit region. The true summit is hidden by trees just L of Center. Photo looks E from the W rocks.
25 minutes flew by. Alright. Better get going. Lupe leapt up on the W rocks one more time.
Final moments on Peak 6244. Photo looks NNW.
She then started down the mountain heading S along the W edge. Oh, there was that view of Reynolds Prairie again! Worth pausing for.
Photo looks SW.South Castle Rock & Castle Rock (L), Nipple Butte (Center), and Flag Mountain (R). Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.
Enough already. Time to skedaddle.
Onward! Puppy, ho!
Heading S, Lupe quickly circled WNW as soon as the terrain permitted. Going back E the way she had come up was out of the question. Way too late for a return to Poverty Gulch. Had to get to a road before it got pitch dark! Finding a quick route to S Rochford Road less than 0.5 mile W of Peak 6244 was the only hope.
Starting down from the W rocks. Photo looks N.
Turned out it was easy. The W slopes of Peak 6244 weren’t that difficult. Not much snow or deadfall. Loopster lost elevation rapidly. Before long she reached another USFS Road by a tree marked “BT” in purple paint, whatever that meant.
At the purple BT tree and yet another unmarked USFS road. Photo looks W.
Lupe followed the road N. SPHP hoped it would lead to S Rochford Road. Nope. Instead the road wound along the W slopes of Peak 6244, neither gaining nor losing elevation. Fortunately, S Rochford Road soon appeared off to the L (NW) down a fairly steep slope.
Easily manageable! 5 minutes and Lupe was standing in a snowy field next to S Rochford Road. A rosy glow to the SW! Sunset, such as it was. The glow strengthened momentarily, then faded even faster.
Down by S Rochford Road (No. 306). Photo looks SW.
The sky was clearing. Stars appeared. The temperature plunged. Quiet, dark. Maybe 3 miles back to Rochford? Not any more than that. Long stretches of the road were icy and slick. Where it wasn’t smooth, the ice crunched loudly underpaw.
Lights were on at the Moonshine Gulch Saloon! Through the window, the joint looked packed. Good for the saloon, but too bad for Lupe. If it hadn’t been so busy, maybe she really could have snuck in? At least, SPHP would have let her try.
Oh, well. Only a little farther to the G6. (6:09 PM, 32ºF)
