Carolina Dog – Page 151 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 253 – Poverty Gulch, Castle Peak & Peak 6244 (11-19-19)

You can’t be serious! You’re joking, right SPHP?

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.

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.

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 Peak 6216 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.

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.), Peak 6962, 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, Peak 6244. 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.

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.

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.

**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 **Peak 6962**. 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.

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.

**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)

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 253, 11-19-19

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 142 – Castle Peak (10-17-15)

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Powder River Pass – Peak 10215 & Peak 10493, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-29-19)

Day 4 of Lupe’s 1st 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming!

6:20 AM, USFS Road No. 29 – Frost on the G6! Chilliest night of this Dingo Vacation yet. The sun was already up and climbing higher, though. Partly just to warm things up a bit, SPHP drove back to Munkres Pass (9,447 ft.). Lupe was bright-eyed and alert, anxiously watching for deer or moose along the way.

The Carolina Dog had no success with that, but a squirrel or two at Munkres Pass provided ample entertainment. SPHP heated up breakfast – beef and barley soup. After eating, not feeling terribly energetic, SPHP piddled around getting the backpack ready. With squirrels to watch, Loop was in no rush to do anything else, anyway.

Even so, by mid-morning, Lupe was at Powder River Pass (9,677 ft.). The pass was a busy place! Many vehicles stopped briefly at the huge paved pullout along Hwy 16 here. People got out to stretch their legs, and see the sights from the highest point the road reached on the journey over the magnificent Bighorn Mountains.

Powder River Pass was just a starting point for Loop, though. With any luck, she was going to climb a couple of mountains N of Hwy 16 today. And, yes, fortune was smiling upon the American Dingo! Blue skies, a nice breeze, and perfect temperature.

Despite all those advantages, there was a problem. Feeling drained after 3 straight days of peakbagging, SPHP was overcome by drowsiness and promptly drifted off to sleep. Lupe must have felt the same way. At least she didn’t object. She conked out, too, snoring rhythmically on her pink blanket atop pillows and gear.

11:40 AM, 63°F, Powder River Pass – Oh, yeah! So much better! A couple of hours lost, but no harm done. Peak 10215 and Peak 10493 weren’t that far from Powder River Pass, or all that much higher. Still time enough to visit both. Consciousness and energy restored, Lupe and SPHP crossed Hwy 16. The Carolina Dog started up the grassy slope at the base of the crag N of the road.

**S end of Peak 10215** from **Powder River Pass**. Photo looks NNE.

This crag was actually the lower S end of Peak 10215. Staying toward the W (L), Lupe was soon above the grassy region climbing on talus. She kept going until she was high enough to see the rest of the mountain. Ahead was a long rough ridge flanked by talus-strewn slopes. The topo map showed the summit at the most distant high point along the ridge.

Approaching the talus at the upper end of the grassy slope N of Hwy 16. Photo looks NNE.

The W face of the first part of the ridge. Photo looks ENE.

The rest of **Peak 10215** comes into view. Summit on the L. Photo looks NE.

Live and learn! At a glance it was clear that Lupe would have had an easier, more direct route to the summit knob, if she had stayed farther W and lower. She could have skipped this first talus climb and been on the grass longer. Nothing to be done about that now, and it didn’t matter too much, anyway. Loop headed for the true summit, bounding along the talus. Meanwhile SPHP slowly rock-hopped behind her.

The summit of Peak 10250 is only 0.33 mile from Hwy 16, so the talus trek didn’t take too long. The American Dingo lost a little elevation, but was soon climbing again. The higher Looper got, the steeper the climb became. None of it was terribly difficult, though, until she started getting close to the ridgeline.

The last part of the climb became quite steep. Picking a way through the rocks was slow going. Not far from the top, Lupe came to a nice flat area next to vertical rock walls. Ready for a bit of a break, Lupe and SPHP paused here. This was a good spot to catch one’s breath, but would have been even better if there had been more shade. The sun was hot. Having worn her fur coat, Lupe wanted to avoid it.

Making progress! Getting close to the ridgeline. Photo looks SE

Continuing higher, N of the flat spot Lupe came to a nearly vertical chute just below the top of the ridge. Fortunately, this chute wasn’t very tall, and proved to be negotiable. Looper scrambled up, and found herself at the top of Peak 10215.

The short steep scramble that got Lupe to the top is partially in view behind her. Photo looks N.

A small, skinny cairn sat along the W edge close to where Lupe came up. The summit region was roomy, but with lots of rocks at weird angles. The whole thing was split in half by a line of sharply slanting slabs 2 or 3 feet high, the true summit being the highest rocks along this line. The Carolina Dog hopped up on these rocks to claim her first peakbagging success of the day!

At the **true summit of Peak 10215**. Hwy 16 in the distance. The cairn Loop came up close to is on the R. Photo looks WNW.

Standing on the slanty summit rocks could be a bit awkward. Photo looks N.

Lupe had come up NW of the line of rocks splitting the summit region, but the SE side offered the only halfway decent spot where she could lay down for a bit. Even the best spot was cramped and rocky. SPHP put down a jacket to provide her a little cushioning.

The views were great! To the SE, Lupe could see the mountains she had been climbing the past couple of days. Hazelton Peak (10,264 ft.) poked up from behind Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.) and Peak 10372, which she had climbed only yesterday. Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.), which Loop hadn’t been to since 2016, was also in sight.

**Hesse Mountain** (L), **Hazelton Peak** (in the distance at Center), **Peak 10372** (straight up from Lupe’s head), and **Hazelton Pyramid** (just to the R). Photo looks SSE.

The temperature was pleasant, in the mid 60’s ºF, with a 10 to 15 mph W breeze, but Lupe still felt hot in the sun. The only bit of shade around was a small cavity beneath the rock Loop was laying next to. There was only room enough for her to stick her head under there, so that’s exactly what she did. Some shade was better than none at all!

Not too comfortable, but as good at it got on Peak 10215.

As it turned out, a 6″ diameter round white plastic canister was tucked back in the dark recesses of this same cavity. What was in it? SPHP checked it out, expecting to find a registry, but there was none.

The contents were sparse: a dull pencil; a torn piece of a map with the names Buck & D’Lynn Cowdin from Kaycee, WY 9-3-18; a Coors Lite key chain; 2 Miller Lite bottle openers; a badly disintegrating scrap of paper with the names Steven Topalin, Thomas Szczygiel, & Matt Thompson 7-15-15 (road trip from Michigan); a band-aide (still good) with the names Michael Markorsky, Milo Hansen & Johnathan Oarkyus 7-21-18.

The most interesting item was a plastic laminated card left by EskoClimber.

Apparently this card had something to do with geocaching.

Getting up Peak 10215 had been harder than expected. Lupe and SPHP hung around for a good 50 minutes relaxing and enjoying the views.

Looking down the length of Peak 10215’s S ridge. Photo looks SSW

Looking WNW along Hwy 16. **High Park Lookout (9,477 ft.)** is the hill on the horizon along the L edge.

**Bighorn Peak (12,324 ft.)** (L) and **Loaf Mountain (11,722 ft.)** (R) from Peak 10215. Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.

Looking NNW from the summit. **Bighorn Peak** (Center).

Mid-afternoon already! With such a late start, the Carolina Dog couldn’t afford to dilly-dally up on Peak 10215 too long. Peak 10493 was calling! Lupe could see it, a long ridge to the N a mile or more away in front of Loaf Mountain. Beyond a long talus slope and a forest, a broad grassy saddle to the NE led to the extreme SE end of Peak 10493.

**Peak 10493** is the long ridge in front of snowy **Loaf Mountain** (L). The plan was follow Peak 10215’s NE ridge down to the broad grassy saddle on the R. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe started down Peak 10215’s NE ridge, staying N of the ridgeline. It was slow going on talus for quite a distance. Upon finally reaching the pines, the terrain was less rocky and easier. Lupe was delighted to find patches of melting snow to cool off on.

Loop enjoying some relief from the sun and heat.

A little farther NE, the ridgeline became rockier again. The American Dingo explored the SE side of the ridge here before switching back over to the NW. Instead of continuing all the way to the grassy saddle, Loop now left Peak 10215’s NE ridge traveling NNW through the forest. She lost extra elevation this way, but was taking a shortcut to Peak 10493.

Heading straight for **Peak 10493** after leaving Peak 10215’s NE ridge. Photo looks NNW.

Another time-consuming descent on talus got Lupe back to the forest. Even among the pines there were rocky areas. However, the terrain quickly became much easier as she continued losing elevation. Lupe eventually reached the edge of a broad meadow. A long strip of open ground rose NE all the way to the saddle, and also went much further down a valley to the SW.

Beyond the huge meadow, the S slopes of the Peak 10493 ridge extended far to the NW. The lower regions were a mix of forest and meadows, the upper slopes nearly all rock and scattered patches of snow.

At the edge of the broad meadow. Lupe headed straight for the highest nearby portion of the **Peak 10493 ridge** (Center) from here. Photo looks NNW.

After crossing the meadow, Lupe started climbing steadily on mostly easy terrain. By the time things were getting rocky, she was able to look back and see that she was once again almost as high as Peak 10215.

**Peak 10215** from the S slopes of Peak 10493. Photo looks S.

The last part of the climb to the ridgeline was a very steep talus slope. Just short of the top was another nearly vertical chute, taller and more daunting than the one the Carolina Dog had successfully negotiated to reach the summit of Peak 10215. SPHP scrambled up first. Normally surefire Lupe leapt up next, but didn’t make it!

She almost did. Lupe hung on the upper edge of the chute whimpering and clawing desperately to avoid falling backward. No way! She was about to fall! In a flash, SPHP grabbed her front left paw and tugged. It was enough. Loopster scrambled to safety. Scary! Closest call ever, but the American Dingo was fine. She regained her composure immediately.

Enjoying a snowbank not far from the ridgeline. Photo looks NW.

Lupe was safely up on Peak 10493’s ridgeline now, but it was instantly clear she wasn’t at the summit yet. To the NW were two slightly higher points, both capped with cairns. The more distant one was the highest.

The happily still-in-one-piece Dingo on **Peak 10493’s ridgeline**. Two modestly higher points sporting cairns are in sight. Photo looks NW.

The top of the ridge was all rock. The ridgeline was so rough that Lupe often had to travel a bit below the top along one side or the other, usually toward the NE. She passed within a couple of feet of the first cairn, and eventually made it over to the more distant high point.

Surprisingly, just SE of this high point was a roomy patch of fairly level ground. This area was still scattered with large rocks, but also some sparse vegetation. Another cairn was present down here, in addition to the one on top of the high point. More high points, all apparently close to the same elevation, could be seen farther NW along the ridgeline.

Loop on the easier terrain just below the 2nd high point. More high points are seen to the NW (L) along Peak 10493’s long ridgeline. Photo looks N.

Perhaps due to her scare back at the chute, the Carolina Dog showed little interest in climbing to the top of this high point. However, a marmot appeared, and that changed everything. Suddenly Lupe was scrambling all over this pile of rocks jutting out at weird angles. She leapt up, down, and all around, repeatedly circling the high point while searching for the wily marmot.

Naturally, the marmot was safe. This high point was its home territory. It knew every nook and cranny. The marmot vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Lupe searched the Marmot Castle in vain. However, all the excitement had made her more than willing to visit the top, just in case the marmot might be lurking somewhere up there.

No marmot, but there were some pretty nifty views!

At the top of the Marmot Castle. **Loaf Mountain** in the distance between Lupe and the cairn. Photo looks N.

A wider view of Loop on the **Marmot Castle**. Photo looks N.

Slightly different angle showing **Loaf Mountain** (R). Photo looks N.

From the Marmot Castle, two more high points were visible farther NW along the ridge. They both looked about equally high, possibly even a tad higher, so Lupe couldn’t linger on the Marmot Castle. She scrambled down. Before leaving the area, she took another look back at Peak 10215 and some of the other mountains she had been to.

By the lower cairn just SE of the Marmot Castle. Double-peaked **Hesse Mountain** is on the L. **Hazelton Pyramid** at Center, with more distant **Hazelton Peak** between them. **Peak 10215** at far R. Photo looks S.

The next high point wasn’t far from the Marmot Castle, only 100 to 200 feet away. The intervening ground was more rough, rocky ridgeline. Loop scrambled over there, but beyond this high point was yet another high point much farther away. SPHP couldn’t tell if where Lupe was now was any different in elevation from the Marmot Castle or the much more distant high point still to the NW.

On the next high point a short distance NW of the Marmot Castle. Yet another high point (L) is visible much farther along the ridge. Photo looks NNW.

Looking back at the Marmot Castle. **Hesse Mountain** (Center) in the distance. Photo looks SSE.

The ridge ahead looked easier than the part Lupe had already explored. It was widening out with some grassy spots, but some ups and downs along it might conceal big drops. Did the American Dingo really need to go way over to that distant high point, or had she already reached the summit?

Hard to tell. SPHP resorted to comparing the layout of Hwy 16, much of which could be seen to the S, with the topo map.

Yep. Seemed pretty certain. The angles weren’t quite right yet. The 10,493 foot elevation marked as the presumable summit on the topo map was definitely farther NW. Lupe continued along the ridge.

A closer look farther along the ridge with help from the telephoto lens. The next high point is on the L. **Bighorn Peak** (Center) and **Loaf Mountain** (R). Photo looks NNW.

This considerably longer trek along the ridgeline was easier than what had come before. Most of the time Lupe could travel up on top of the ridge. The terrain went up and down some, but none of the dips or climbs revealed cliffs or impassable spots. The sun was starting to sink, but what a beautiful, fun ridge hike!

The biggest drop came near the end. Loop got past it, and faced a bit of a climb back up to a narrow flat-topped wall of rock. Ahead a big whitish boulder sat perched by the edge of a small cliff. Beyond it were slightly higher rocks, quite possibly the true summit of Peak 10493!

On the narrow rock wall leading to the true summit. Photo looks NW.

Yes, this was it! When Lupe got over to the area just beyond the whitish boulder, a short stretch of Hwy 16 just W of Powder River Pass pointed right to this spot. Even though yet another high point could be seen still farther NW, Lupe was where the 10,493 foot elevation was marked on the topo map. One of these rocks (a number of them looked equally high) was the true summit.

SPHP congratulated Lupe. No need to go further. She had not only reached the true summit of Peak 10493, but had narrowly escaped falling off the mountain! For a little while, Lupe and SPHP hung around. The early evening sunlight streaming over the Bighorns enhanced the gorgeous views in all directions.

*Well, we made it! And wasn’t it a fun trip, despite that one scary part?* Looking SE back along the ridge toward the high point just NW of the Marmot Castle with help from the telephoto lens.

Same view zoomed in even more. **Hesse Mountain** (R). Photo looks SE.

The tantalizing territory to the N. **Bighorn Peak** (L). Lupe’s R ear (on the L) points up at **Loaf Mountain**.

Looking NW farther along the ridge. Still some high ground out there!

A short stretch of Hwy 16 W of Powder River Pass and **Peak 10215** (L) points right to the summit of Peak 10493. **Peak 10372** & **Hazelton Pyramid** at far L. Photo looks SSW.

20 glorious minutes at the true summit was about it. Lupe was ready to head back to Powder River Pass. After all, 1.5 hours had gone by since SPHP had helped her up onto Peak 10493’s long ridge, so it wasn’t like she hadn’t gotten a chance to appreciate the mountain.

Before departing, Loop and SPHP paused to consider the incredible view to the SSE. There was Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.) which Lupe had first climbed in 2014, and then again yesterday along with Peak 10372. Hazelton Peak (10,264 ft.) was hidden by clouds, but highest of them all, Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.) loomed in sunshine beyond Peak 10372. And of course, not even 1.5 miles away, there was Peak 10215, which the Carolina Dog had left only 4 hours ago, looking like a pyramid as well.

**Hazelton Pyramid** (Center) with **Peak 10372** in front of it. **Hesse Mountain** (L) and **Peak 10215** (R). Photo looks SSE.

So beautiful, and to think that Lupe had been up on all of those splendid peaks! It was time, though.

Puppy, ho! Onward!

Eager to avoid so much difficult talus-strewn terrain, Lupe’s return route was much different. She left Peak 10493 heading first W, then slowly circling S down a bowl-shaped valley. For quite a long way, she was still on talus, but as she got lower, the slope wasn’t as steep. Lanes of vegetation appeared among the rocks, which sped things up considerably.

Below the talus, there were stands of pines scattered on a long slope of mostly meadows. The last part of the journey was all in a forest that was a maze of bogs, little streams, deadfall and animal trails. Lupe never did come to USFS Road No. 523111 shown on the map. She probably passed E of it. In any case, she eventually arrived just as planned at the curve in Hwy 16 WNW of Peak 10215.

Taking a snow break on the way back to Hwy 16.

Half a mile or more back to Powder River Pass! Lupe and SPHP plodded along the wide shoulders of Hwy 16. Traffic was lighter than it had been earlier in the day. Peak 10215 was bathed in brilliant sunshine shortly before Lupe reached the G6 again. (8:04 PM, 60ºF)

**Peak 10215** (L) as Lupe neared Powder River Pass again. Photo looks NE.

Back at Powder River Pass. Photo looks S.

Days are long in June! Even so, the sun wouldn’t be up much longer. Still, maybe enough time remained to do one more thing today? Might be possible to get to High Park Lookout (9,477 ft.) to see the sunset.

8:20 PM, 56ºF, end of USFS Road No. 429 – Better hurry! Lupe and SPHP hit the 15 minute trail to High Park Lookout without hesitation. The trail wound among stately pines, moss and lichen covered boulders, then up long flights of stairs.

Near the start of the High Park Lookout trail.

Faint rays of sunshine still gleamed on the higher peaks of the Bighorn Range as Lupe arrived up at the old fire lookout station. For a few brief moments, the American Dingo stood atop rocks brightened by the glow of fiery clouds that had just swallowed the sun.

Arriving late at the **High Park fire lookout station**.

**Bighorn Mountains** from High Park Lookout. Photo looks NNE.

**Meadowlark Lake** at sunset from High Park Lookout. Photo looks NW.

Undeniably, the towering mountains to the NE were the most impressive scene from High Park Lookout, but on this particular evening attention was drawn to two lesser points. Miles away, sunlight had already faded from Peak 10215 and Peak 10493. There they were, though, looking small and unimportant.

Yet what a fun day they had been!

**Peak 10215** (far R). The long ridge L of it is **Peak 10493**. Photo looks NE.

Twilight deepened. A final glance, and Lupe trotted back down the stairs into the dark gloom of the stately pines.

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