Lupe – Page 152 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 252 – Peak 5865, Peak 6216 & Peak 6135 (11-9-19)

Start 10:14 AM, 44ºF at the intersection of Rochford Road & Mystic Road

Totally unacceptable – that’s what it was! More than 6 months had shot by since Lupe had climbed any mountain in the Black Hills. Even the last peak of her most recent Dingo Vacation had been nearly 2 months ago. Supposed to be a gorgeous day for November, but tomorrow snow was in the forecast again. So it was now or, well, not never, but another undesirable delay. Time for action!

The American Dingo was thrilled! Raring to go, Lupe sprang out of the G6 near the junction of Rochford Road and Mystic Road. She was ready to get back to climbing mountains and wasn’t fussy, any mountain would do! (10:14 AM, 44ºF)

*About time for some Black Hills peakbagging action, don’t you think?*

Before she could climb Peak 5865, the first mountain on today’s agenda, Lupe had to cross the Mystic Road bridge over Rapid Creek. The bridge was just S of where the G6 was parked, so she was there in no time. The Carolina Dog stopped long enough for quick looks both both up and down the scenic stream.

*What a gorgeous day! **Rapid Creek** is looking great!* Photo looks upstream (W).

Downstream view. Quite a bit of snow in the shaded areas, but little or none where the sun could get at it. Photo looks E.

After crossing the bridge, Lupe followed Mystic Road as it started up Cluder Gulch. 0.33 mile later, Mystic Road made a hairpin bend to the L. USFS Road No. 231.2B continued straight ahead at this turn, so Lupe took it the rest of the way up Cluder Gulch.

Mystic Road curves L away from Cluder Gulch, but USFS Road No. 231.2B continues up it. Photo looks S.

*No. 231.2B is rather snowy today, but I like snow!*

*Cluder Gulch is pretty! Could use more squirrels, though!*

Near the upper end of Cluder Gulch. Photo looks SW.

At the upper end of Cluder Gulch the terrain flattened out. Lupe entered a big park-like area. SPHP checked the topo map. Peak 5865 had to be off to the L (SE). The heavily forested W end of the mountain’s NW ridge was already in sight quite close by.

The park-like region beyond Cluder Gulch. Photo looks SW.

The W end of Peak 5865’s NW ridge is on the L. The summit can be glimpsed between the trees on the R. Photo looks E.

Advancing a little way into the park, a faint road not shown on the map led off to the W (R). Lupe stuck with No. 231.2B, which gradually curved SE (L). She soon came to a gate across the road, which she went around. No. 231.2B ended at an unmarked “T” intersection up on a minor pass.

The road to the L curved ESE toward Peak 5865, which was now in view and looked like an easy climb. Lupe took this road, following it partway through a sunny stretch with a nice view of the Pony Gulch area to the SSE. However, she soon left the road to climb NE up to the top of Peak 5865’s NW ridge. From there she headed SE toward the summit.

At the “T” intersection at the end of USFS Road No. 231.2B. Lupe took the road to the L toward **Peak 5865** (seen on the R). Photo looks E.

Looking SSE toward the Pony Gulch region.

The trek up Peak 5865’s NW slope was easy. Nothing to it! At least, not until Lupe reached the N/S oriented summit ridge. Arriving toward the N end, she made an unexpected discovery. The true summit was a rocky knob unlike anything else on the mountain. Although the knob wasn’t terribly high, it’s sides were nearly vertical. For a brief moment SPHP wondered if Lupe could even get up there?

Loop N of the rocky knob that is Peak 5865’s summit. Photo looks S.

Yes! A quick scramble to the top was possible from the NE side of the knob. And that was all there was to it! Lupe and SPHP both went up. There wasn’t much room to maneuver, but the Carolina Dog stood on the highest rock enjoying her first peakbagging success in months.

*Oh, you knew I’d make it, didn’t you?* At the **true summit of Peak 5865**. Photo looks S.

Peak 5865 was nearly all forested. The only reasonably clear view was to the SE. The Carolina Dog hung around the cramped summit no more than 10 minutes before she was ready to get down. 100 feet to the S was a gently rounded high point. It was somewhat lower, but a much better spot to take a short break.

The only reasonably clear view from Peak 5865’s summit was this one to the SE.

Loopster next to the S face of the rocky summit knob. Photo looks NNE.

The rest break didn’t take long. Looper wasn’t actually hungry or tired yet. While SPHP consumed an apple and looked at maps, she laid on the ground or checked trees for squirrels. A gusty 15 mph W breeze blew between intervals of calm. A higher snowy mountain could be glimpsed off to the SW. That was Peak 6135. Maybe Lupe would climb it later on, but that wasn’t really the plan.

At the rounded high point where Lupe took a short break. The true summit is seen on the R. The significance of the red post wasn’t clear. Photo looks NNW.

Snowy **Peak 6135** could be glimpsed between the trees. Photo looks SW.

Lupe was ready to move on as soon as SPHP’s apple was gone. Before going back the way she had come up, she checked out the larger of two old mining pits. Whoever had dug or blasted them must not have found anything of interest. Even the largest hole wasn’t that big.

S of Peak 5865’s summit by the larger of two old prospecting pits. Photo looks NE.

The Carolina Dog concurred. She didn’t see any reason to stick around this hole in the ground, either. On the way back to the T intersection at the end of USFS Road No. 231.2B, Lupe explored a little farther along Peak 5865’s NW ridge. She was rewarded with a fairly decent view of Peak 6135, and discovered a canvas deer hunting blind.

*Hey, here’s a better view of **Peak 6135** (Center)! Maybe we should climb it, too?* Deer blind on the R. Photo looks SW.

**Peak 6135** (Center). Lupe was headed for this region next. Photo looks SW.

No one was at the deer blind, so Lupe continued on. Upon reaching the T intersection at the end of USFS Road No. 231.2B once again, she took the unmarked road going SW. According to SPHP’s map, this was USFS Road No 238.

No. 238 climbed steadily at an easy pace. For a long way it wound along the upper S slopes of hillsides overlooking Pony Gulch. Looper trotted along happily looking for deer, squirrels, or anything else of interest. Much of the time she enjoyed nice views of Peak 6135.

*We’re on USFS Road No. 238 now! That’s Pony Gulch and Peak 6135 on the L.* Photo looks SW.

Along a sunny stretch of USFS Road No. 238.

*Still gradually climbing! That’s Peak 6135 again on the R.* Photo looks SSW.

After 1.5 miles, Lupe went over a minor pass as No. 238 swung over to the N side of the ridge it had been skirting. Bearcat Gulch was to the N. The road dipped and headed back SW again as Lupe crossed a broad saddle. She wasn’t far from Peak 6135 now.

*We’re getting close to **Peak 6135**! That’s part of it on the L. Doesn’t look much higher, does it?* Photo looks SSW.

The long slope at the upper W end of Pony Gulch. Photo looks ESE.

Lupe was almost to a part of USFS Road No. 238 she had been to before. On two prior Black Hills Expeditions she had come up Pony Gulch from Mystic Road on USFS Road No. 428. The junction was just ahead. On those prior occasions Lupe’s ultimate destination had been Castle Peak (6,358 ft.). That was today’s plan, too.

Approaching the junction with No. 428, SPHP considered the notion that maybe Lupe ought to go climb Peak 6135 instead of bypassing it? The summit was only 0.5 mile SE from here. In fact, the first time Lupe had gone to Castle Peak on Expedition No. 36, she had climbed Peak 6135 on the way back. That was nearly 7 years ago now. SPHP remembered a high rocky knob with some great views at sunset.

No, not going to happen. SPHP dismissed the thought. Already too late in the day to climb Castle Peak and another mountain along the way that actually was on the agenda, plus Peak 6135. A nice idea, but unrealistic. Days are simply too short this time of year. Lupe continued W on USFS Road No. 238.

There were occasional distant views to the SE or SW as the road wound along hillsides, once again climbing slowly, but steadily. Lupe got almost as high as Peak 6135 before No. 238 started a gradual descent to a saddle where junctions with two other roads appeared in quick succession. The first road came up from Castle Creek to the S, and the second (USFS Road No. 184) went down Bloody Gulch to the N.

Only 0.25 mile ahead, Lupe’s next peakbagging objective was now in sight. Peak 6216 was a heavily forested ridge. Quite frankly, it didn’t look too impressive. No matter, despite low expectations the American Dingo was going to explore it. You never know what she might find!

0.25 mile E of **Peak 6216** (Center) on USFS Road No. 238. Another road goes S (L) from here down to Castle Creek. Photo looks WSW.

Trees and snow mostly. From the saddle, Lupe followed No. 238 going NW. Before long the road reached a high point. Looper left the road climbing SW through the snowy forest.

At the high point on USFS Road No. 238 where Lupe left it. Photo looks NW.

The snowy climb to the ridgeline. Photo looks SW.

The top of the ridge was forested, too, but not nearly as snowy. Crossing over to the W side, Lupe found a small opening where the ground was snow-free. Castle Peak was in view only a mile to the W. Much farther to the SW, Loop could also see the snow-filled fields of Reynolds Prairie.

Along the W edge of Peak 6216’s N ridge. **Castle Peak** is on the R. **Reynolds Prairie** is in the distance on the L. Photo looks WSW.

After a look at the view, Lupe headed S along the ridgeline in search of the true summit of Peak 6216. The terrain sloped up for a short distance to the top of a modest rise. Was this the true summit already? Not much to see here other than the forest. Loopster stood briefly on highest rock before continuing S.

On the highest rock of the first high point. Photo looks SSW.

At first she lost a little elevation, but Lupe was soon climbing again. She quickly regained all the elevation she’d lost and then some. She reached another high point. This time the ground sloped away more sharply in all directions. This had to be it! Clearly nothing higher any farther S.

In truth, the true summit of Peak 6216 didn’t look much different from the first high point. A few rocks scattered in the forest with a little snow on the ground. No views to speak of here, either. Oh, well. Lupe’s first glimpse of Peak 6216 from the road hadn’t raised any big expectations, that was certain. The Carolina Dog could still claim a 2nd peakbagging success for the day.

*Guess this is it. The **true summit of Peak 6216**. Super exciting, huh?* Photo looks SSE.

*Uh, yeah. This is it. What more can I say?*

Lupe on the **true summit of Peak 6216**, a feat not likely to be repeated.

Actually there was a view from the summit of Peak 6216, a rather nice one too. Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), the highest peak in South Dakota, was narrowly visible with the help of the telephoto lens from a slightly less forested spot only 10 or 15 feet SE of the true summit.

**Black Elk Peak** from Peak 6216. Photo looks SE.

Time for another break. Not too long, though. The sun was sinking. If Lupe still intended to get to Castle Peak where the views would be better before sunset, she couldn’t linger too long on Peak 6216. Castle Peak (6,358 ft.) was only a mile away as the crow flies, but easily twice that the way the roads went.

Chowing down on some Taste of the Wild on Peak 6216.

On the way back to USFS Road No. 238, Lupe explored the entire length of Peak 6216’s N ridge, which was close to 0.33 mile long. The whole ridge was forested, but she did find another spot along the W edge where she could see Castle Peak and Reynolds Prairie.

Starting back along the N ridge. Photo looks NNE.

**Castle Peak** (R) and much more distant **Reynolds Prairie** (L). Photo looks WSW.

Zoomed in on **Reynolds Prairie**. **Nipple Butte (6,800 ft.)** (Center) and **Flag Mountain (6,937 ft.)** (R) are beyond it. Photo looks SW.

At the end of the N ridge, another snowy romp got Loop back down to USFS Road No. 238. Following it NW, she didn’t get far before coming to a padlocked gate. A big orange sign said the road was closed.

Private property was ahead. No. 238 went through several old mining claims in this area. Lupe had gone this way to Castle Peak on both of her previous expeditions to it back in 2012 and 2015. Those mining claims had been for sale back then, but this road had never been closed before. The gate was new, too.

This padlocked gate and road closed sign were new since the last time Lupe had come this way in 2015. Photo looks WNW.

Well, shucks Loopster.

What’s wrong SPHP?

Looks like whoever bought this mining claim doesn’t want anyone going across it without permission. They’ve closed the road.

Can they do that? This is a USFS road, shouldn’t there be public access?

I would think so, but I don’t really know. Our maps are old. Maybe the road and its easement have been vacated or abandoned?

So what now?

Think this is it, Loop. No easy way around this private property. Too bad. I was looking forward to seeing the sunset from Castle Peak. We would have had a long walk back in the dark, though.

So we’re going back to the G6?

Yeah, think we have to. We can take USFS Road No. 184 to Rochford Road, if you like. We’ve never gone down Bloody Gulch before.

Lupe was fine with exploring Bloody Gulch, but before she got to the turn, SPHP had a different idea.

Hey, Looper! Why don’t we just go back the way we came? If we hurry, we might get to Peak 6135 in time to see the sunset from there?

Oh, that sounds like fun! We haven’t been on Peak 6135 in nearly 7 years, right? Let’s do it! Come on, I’ll race you, SPHP!

Heh, you can award yourself the blue ribbon right now, Loop.

American Dingoes are flexible. That’s one of the great things about them. As long as they get to come along, they rarely fuss over exactly which adventures they go on. There is no point in racing them, though. None at all. Lupe led the way back on No. 238, sniffing and exploring while SPHP plodded on behind.

The evening sun was still shining brightly on Peak 6135, but wouldn’t be for much longer by the time Lupe drew near again.

Approaching the **NW end of Peak 6135** shortly before sunset. Photo looks E.

Lupe and SPHP lost no time. Abandoning the road, Lupe headed SE up Peak 6135. Half a foot of snow or more hid lots of slash from old logging operations, making progress a bit slow. 0.5 mile to the summit!

A prominent rock formation stood bathed in the last rays of sunlight as the Carolina Dog approached. This wasn’t the summit yet, but Lupe paused here for a quick look. The sun was already on the horizon.

Approaching the first big rock formation on the way up **Peak 6135**. Photo looks SE.

Partway up the first formation as the sun sets near Reynolds Prairie. Photo looks W.

Same spot, but looking NW at the rock formation.

Hurrying onward, Lupe came to a second outcropping, a vertical wall of rock that was set back in the trees.

Near the second rock formation. Photo looks NE.

Two more rocky high points were only a few hundred feet farther S. The closest appeared to be the true summit. An easy little scramble and Lupe was there, poised once again at the top of Peak 6135 for the first time in nearly 7 years.

Approaching the summit (R). Photo looks S.

The sun was already gone, but just barely. Lupe stood bathed in the glow of an increasingly beautiful sunset. The views were tremendous, especially from more exposed rocks a little S of the true summit. Both Peak 5865 and Peak 6216 were technically more prominent, but they couldn’t hold a candle to this!

On slightly lower rocks a bit S of the true summit. The 4th and final rocky high point is on the L. Photo looks SSE.

Colors spread rapidly across the sky. Lupe and SPHP lingered admiring the glorious display. It didn’t last. The brilliant glow was soon fading, in full retreat before the onslaught of the dark powers of night.

Back at the true summit. Photo looks WNW.

Zoomed in on the dying embers of sunset over **Nipple Butte** (Center).

It was over. As twilight deepened, Lupe made her way NW back past now gloomy rock formations. The snow hiding the treacherous slash helped to reflect and prolong what light remained long enough for the Carolina Dog to reach USFS Road No. 238 again. When she got there, though, SPHP had to pause long enough to bring out the flashlight.

Nearly 3 miles to go to get back to Cluder Gulch and down to the G6. Thin clouds blotted out the stars, an almost full moon a mere silver smudge. Lupe trotted happily along the road, venturing frequently out into the inky blackness to explore whatever secrets were hidden out there. A coyote howled, the rhythmic crunch of snow underpaw the only other sound. (End 6:49 PM, 33ºF)

On **Peak 6135**, Black Hills of South Dakota, 11-9-19

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

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

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Hazelton Peak, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-27-19)

Day 2 of Lupe’s 1st 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming!

6:12 AM, 57ºF, dense fog at the I-90 Powder River rest stop – That darn black pickup truck was still idling! Had been all night, with not a soul in it, no less. Who does that anyway? May as well put a “Please Steal My Truck” sign on it! A thief wouldn’t even have had to turn the key. Yet here it was, still running with no owner in sight. No one had touched it. Gotta love Wyoming!

Ready to roll, Lupe hopped back into the G6. Hopefully this fog would clear up by the time she got to the Bighorns.

It did – almost immediately. Turned out it wasn’t anything more than just a ground fog stuck down in the Powder River valley. Cheery blue skies appeared as the G6 climbed out of the valley. Approaching Buffalo half an hour later, Looper stopped for a quick look at the Bighorn Range illuminated by the morning sun. Snow was visible on all the higher peaks.

Near I-90 approaching Buffalo, Wyoming and the mighty Bighorn Mountains. Photo looks W.

W of Buffalo on Hwy 16, SPHP initially missed the L turn onto USFS Road No. 32 (Hazelton Road) a mile before the Lost Cabin campground (about 9 miles E of Powder River Pass). This error was quickly corrected. The American Dingo was soon bounding out of the G6 at a huge meadow along Hazelton Road several miles S of Hwy 16.

Snow-clad Loaf Mountain (11,722 ft.) far to the NW looked enticing, but Hazelton Peak (10,264 ft.) was her objective today. Little, if any, snow was visible up there. Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.), which Lupe had climbed back in 2016, was also in sight to the SW.

**Loaf Mountain** (Center) from the huge meadow off Hazelton Road. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

**Hazelton Peak** (L) and **Hazelton Pyramid** (R). Photo looks SW.

Continuing SW on Hazelton Road, concern grew. Most of Hazelton Peak looked perfectly climbable, but could Lupe really get to the summit? The mountain’s main ridge featured some mighty steep rocky knobs. It was hard to tell exactly which knob was the true summit from down here, but several of the highest points looked a bit daunting.

Getting closer to **Hazelton Peak** (Center). **Hazelton Pyramid** (R). Photo looks W.

Hazelton Peak’s summit region. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.

Zoomed in on the summit region again. Photo looks NW.

Two miles beyond Lower Doyle Creek campground (a turn not taken), SPHP turned R (W) on USFS Road No. 506. This road wasn’t great, but still passable for the G6. After bumping along for 1.5 miles, a junction was reached just E of some private property. Beyond a wood railing fence an old cabin sat in a meadow next to Doyle Creek.

According to the topo map a road leading NW past the cabin was right where USFS Road No. 508 ought to be. Lupe had been intending to go this way, but there was no sign. Was that road public or private now? A sign along No. 506 did indicate there was a public easement for 0.3 mile across private property S of the cabin.

SW wasn’t really the right direction, but SPHP stayed on No. 506, driving through the private property on the easement, and crossing Doyle Creek in the process. Beyond the W boundary of the private land, the road turned S, directly away from Hazelton Peak. Clearly no sense in driving any farther! SPHP parked the G6. Lupe could start for Hazelton Peak from here. (10:16 AM, 63ºF)

Setting off N through the forest, the intention was to avoid the private property, but Lupe wound up on it. She quickly came upon a dirt road that led past a pond with 2 docks. A little farther on was another road. SPHP surmised this was likely the same one that had gone NW past the old cabin. About this time, a much newer, nicer cabin was glimpsed off to the W. Lupe did not go near it. Instead, she simply crossed the road and Doyle Creek again, continuing all the way N to a fence. Once beyond the fence, she was back on USFS land.

Definitely would have been better to have started from E of the old cabin and avoided the private property by following the fence line, but that didn’t matter now. Lupe roamed N through a gently sloping open forest, happy and completely oblivious to the private property issue she had already put behind her.

In the open forest N of the private property.

After gaining a little elevation, Lupe came to a clearing. The rugged S end of Hazelton Peak was now visible ahead. Having seen the ragged main ridge from Hazelton Road, climbing this end of the mountain would almost certainly be a waste of effort.

Approaching the rugged S end of **Hazelton Peak**. Photo looks NE.

Beyond the clearing, Lupe re-entered the forest. The plan was to stay on easy terrain W of the mountain. Wandering N, Lupe came to an old road in an immature forest. She followed it a little way until it turned E. A branch to the N soon faded away. Losing a bit of elevation going NW down a slope, she came to a small stream. Loop lost no time availing herself of a drink and this chance to cool off.

On the old road. Lupe followed it maybe 0.25 mile N until it faded away.

Cooling off in a tiny tributary of Doyle Creek. Photo looks N.

The map showed this stream was a tiny tributary lying well E of the main course of Doyle Creek. It meandered down open meadows from the N. Lupe was just where she wanted to be! The plan was to follow this stream up a long valley to a saddle at 9,520+ ft.

The meadows near the stream were damp, sometimes boggy. Staying E of the stream, Lupe traveled N on slightly higher ground in the forest. She crossed a series of rivulets trickling down hillsides seeping water. After going some distance in this manner, the meadows and damp areas ended, and the tributary of Doyle Creek seemed to have vanished.

Following animal trails, Lupe explored a mature forest of tall pines. The forest floor was bare except for pine needles. Although the American Dingo was now gaining elevation at an increasing rate, the forest hid all but her immediate surroundings.

The situation did not change. Lupe gained quite a bit of elevation, and it seemed as though she had gone a long way, but she did not come to the 9,520+ ft saddle or any viewpoints. She finally arrived at another little trickle of a stream coming down from Hazelton Peak, the first one she’d come across in quite a while.

Loop would inevitably reach the saddle, if she continued up the valley, but SPHP was getting impatient. How much farther was it? Had she missed it somehow? That didn’t seem possible. Where did this little stream originate? Out of curiosity, SPHP led Lupe E following the trickling stream higher. It led to a dam of white rocks.

By the last trickling stream where Lupe turned E.

The tiny stream led to a dam of white rocks. Photo looks ENE.

The dam wasn’t real. No water was behind it, only a steep forested slope. Maybe by now Lupe was far enough N to consider climbing up to Hazelton Peak’s main ridge? Loopster was willing to give it a shot, so up she went.

The American Dingo climbed and climbed. She came to fields of talus, which SPHP tried to avoid by staying in the forest whenever possible, but the forest was only a little easier. From the rocks, Lupe started getting better and better views.

First view looking across the valley Lupe had been coming up. Photo looks WNW.

Early glimpse of a formidable high point to the NE.

Eventually Lupe was high enough so SPHP could recognize features shown on the topo map. Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.) off to the NNW was unmistakable. Beyond the valley Lupe had been traveling up before starting this much steeper climb Peak 9753 was in sight.

Much closer was an impressive high point along Hazelton Peak’s main ridge. Was that possibly the true summit? SPHP hoped not. It looked questionable whether Lupe could get to the top from this direction.

**Hazelton Pyramid** (L) and a formidable high point along Hazelton Peak’s main ridge (R). Photo looks N.

**Hazelton Pyramid** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NNW.

**Peak 9753** (R of Center). Photo looks WNW.

Approaching the ridgeline, the boulders Lupe was climbing grew in size. The top of the ridge proved to be a narrow jumble of massive rocks hidden among pines. Maneuvering along this rugged terrain was slow, tricky work. Lupe had plenty of time to gaze about from various lofty perches while SPHP inched along.

Loop still a little below the top of the ridge. **Peak 9753** on the R. Photo looks W.

Looking S. Fortunately Lupe didn’t have to go this way!

On the rugged main ridge close to where Lupe first reached it. Photo looks S.

The rough, narrow section of the ridge ended, broadening out as Lupe closed in on the high point to the N. She reached open ground where SPHP could make rapid progress. The view was encouraging! Circling around the E side to where an ascent from the N might be possible looked easy.

On much easier terrain just S of the high point.

However, climbing this high point proved unnecessary. SE of it, Lupe came to a minor saddle along the ridgeline. On the other side, a huge forest-forest filled amphitheater stretched off to the NE, the upper edge rimmed by a series of rocky prominences clearly higher than the one she was close to now.

The forest-filled amphitheater. Photo looks NE.

Wow! We’re nowhere close to the top of Hazelton Peak yet, SPHP! It’s gotta be somewhere way over there!

Yeah, I see that. Been a while since I’ve checked the map, maybe it’s time I did? Let’s take a break here. Maybe we can figure out where we’re at.

Lupe was happy to lap up some water, then lay panting in the shade.

Alrighty, Loopster, I think I’ve got it.

So where are we?

Oh, you lucky Dingo! Good thing I didn’t get impatient down in the valley any sooner than I did! We barely went far enough N before turning E up to the ridgeline, or we might have had quite a time of it, maybe even been forced to retreat. Appears we are just SE of HP 9886 right now.

Is that good? Can you tell which of those high points to the NE is actually the true summit?

Probably none of them Loop. If I’m right, the summit is still more than 1.5 miles away. Should be past anything we can see from here. Won’t truly know if the news is good or bad until we can actually see the summit.

We better get going then!

Staying close to the NW side of the amphitheater, Loopster headed NE. She remained on open ground as long as possible, but wound up cutting through the forest to save time, losing a bit of elevation in the process. Less than halfway around the amphitheater, she reemerged from the forest. Directly ahead, mostly open ground led to another pass between rocky high points. Lupe headed for it.

Only a fraction of the way around the amphitheater, Lupe reemerges from the forest. Photo looks NNE.

Cooling off on a snowbank hidden in a stand of pines.

Upon reaching this second pass, it turned out not to be a pass at all. Beyond it the ground continued to rise, but more gradually. Another even higher line of rocky knobs was ahead.

Looking back from the second “pass”. **HP 9886** is at Center. Lupe had come here from the saddle just to the L of it. Photo looks SW.

Looking ahead from the 2nd “pass”. From here Loop headed for a 3rd pass between the rocky points seen straight up from her head. Photo looks NE.

Rock formations near the 3rd pass. Photo looks NE.

The 3rd pass wasn’t much of a pass, either. Dramatic rock formations marked a boundary with more level territory to the N. Yet another rocky knob was off in that direction. Maybe that was the true summit of Hazelton Peak? It wasn’t the only high point around, though, and it was still hard to tell for sure.

By the dramatic rock formations of the 3rd pass. The high point on the L might even be the true summit! Photo looks NNE.

The views from the rock formations at the 3rd pass were terrific! Lupe spent some time scrambling around while enjoying the sights. Stretched out along a line to the NW she could see Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.), Peak 10372, and Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.). Much farther to the NNW, massive, snowy Bighorn Peak (12,324 ft.) was in view.

**Hazelton Pyramid** (L), **Peak 10372** (Center), and **Hesse Mountain** (R). **Bighorn Peak** is the snowy distant mountain on the R. Photo looks NNW.

Exploring the 3rd pass region. **Hazelton Pyramid** on the R. Photo looks NW.

**Hazelton Pyramid** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NW.

**Bighorn Peak** (Center) with lots of help from the telephoto lens. The summit of **Hesse Mountain** (R) is in the foreground. Photo looks NNW.

Continuing N, the high point that had been visible from the 3rd pass looked more and more like it actually was the true summit. It was rocky and steep, but not an awful lot higher than the surrounding ground. With just a little luck, Lupe ought to be able to get to the top!

Approaching the true summit of **Hazelton Peak**. Photo looks N.

A quick scramble with only one tricky spot, and the American Dingo stood perched on the highest rock. This was definitely it – Lupe had reached the true summit of Hazelton Peak (10,264 ft.). Getting here hadn’t been bad at all!

At the **true summit of Hazelton Peak**. Photo looks NE.

The summit region was small, but roomier than expected. Several rocks along a short ridge were all nearly the same elevation. A bit lower to the SW, a grassy spot tucked among big rocks provided a little shelter and shade where Lupe could rest.

Looking SSW from the summit. Lupe’s grassy rest area is on the R.

*Woo-hoo, SPHP! We made it! And you thought I couldn’t do it!* Loopster up on the short summit ridge. Photo looks NE from the grassy spot.

After a quick look around, Lupe was ready for a break. Taste of the Wild, water, and a bit of a snooze sounded good to her. After furnishing the needed supplies, SPHP gazed at the splendid scenery while Looper relaxed.

Taking it easy at the grassy spot. **Peak 9753** on the R. Photo looks SW.

*Shhhh! Dingo nap in progress.* **Hazelton Pyramid** on the R. Photo looks WNW.

**Hazelton Pyramid** (L) and **Peak 10372** (R). Photo looks NW.

**Bighorn Peak (12,324 ft.)** (L of Center) and **Loaf Mountain (11,722 ft.)** (R) with **Hesse Mountain** in the foreground. Photo looks NNW with help from the telephoto lens.

Hazelton Road (USFS Road No. 32) from Hazelton Peak. Photo looks SE.

View to the W. **Peak 9753** (Center) and **Hazelton Pyramid** (R).

Such a beautiful day! Conditions were close to ideal. 65ºF with a 10 to 15 mph breeze out of the SE. The Dingo snoozed. SPHP gazed. No rush at all. A white canister at the summit contained only trash, no registry.

More than 2 hours shot by. Lupe woke up. Hours of daylight left, but the sun had been sinking for a while. Sadly, it was time to get a move on. Before departing, the Carolina Dog returned briefly to the true summit. She then conducted her own little tour of the sights again.

Back on the **true summit of Hazelton Peak**. Photo looks E.

From the top of Hazelton Peak, a big green field could be seen down in the saddle leading to Hazelton Pyramid. If Lupe could get down there, she ought to have an easy time returning to the valley of the tributary of Doyle Creek she had partially explored earlier. This route wouldn’t be as scenic as retracing her path through all the minor passes, but ought to be faster and easier.

Late enough now for speed to be a consideration. Lupe is always happy to see something new, anyway. As the American Dingo left the summit, searching for a way down to the big green field was the new plan.

**Hazelton Pyramid** from Hazelton Peak. The big green field down on the L was Lupe’s next destination. Photo looks NW.

Starting the descent. The 3rd pass Lupe had come over on the way up is just to the R of the biggest rock knob on the R. Photo looks S.

Loopster below the true summit of Hazelton Peak. Photo looks N.

Once down off the summit, Lupe didn’t have to go back over any of the minor passes. Instead, she turned WNW. The ground sloped away only gradually at first, but became progressively steeper as she continued. Open ground higher up gave way to forests, rocks, and snow banks on the way down. However, the terrain never became too challenging.

On a snowbank during the descent. Photo looks NNW.

The plan worked! After losing 1,000 feet of elevation, Lupe emerged from the forest in the big green field.

Success! Lupe reaches the big green field. Photo looks NW.

It was still a long way back, but the rest was easy. The big green field was a saddle at 9,520+ ft., the same elevation as another saddle more than 0.5 mile SW. That other saddle was the one Lupe would have reached on the way up, if SPHP hadn’t become impatient.

Traveling SW through the forest, being careful not to stray too far from the W slopes of Hazelton Peak, Lupe eventually did reach the 9,520+ ft. saddle she had been trying for earlier in the day. She crossed a meadow there, then descended into the valley of the tributary of Doyle Creek.

Back in the forest again, light was already beginning to fade even though the sun was still up. Only a little sunlight filtered through the trees. Lupe and SPHP hastened on for what seemed like a long way. It wasn’t until the Carolina Dog came upon the “dam” of white rocks again that SPHP really knew where she was.

That confidence didn’t last. The trackless forest was all too much the same. Nothing looked familiar. Lupe came to no other landmarks, at least nothing SPHP recognized. Believing she might be too far W, SPHP eventually turned SE. Soon after climbing over a hilly area, Loop finally reached a road.

Know where we are now, SPHP?

Yes, lucky Dingo! Completely by accident, but we couldn’t have planned it better if we’d tried. I thought we were too far W, but that wasn’t true. This is USFS Road No. 506. We’re E of the old cabin. We’ll have to go by it on the way back to the G6.

Oh, so we managed to avoid the private property then!

True dat. We’ll still have to take the public road easement back through it, but that’s not an issue.

All’s well that ends well, SPHP!

Also true, and the evening did end well with a peaceful mile long trek back along the road. Hazelton Peak (10,264 ft.) had been a great day! (8:55 PM)