Dingo Tales – Page 2 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Double Digit Dingo! – Lupe’s 10th Birthday (12-14-20)

9:14 AM, 16ºF, Hwy 244 at the Rushmore profile parking lot – The newly minted Double Digit Dingo leapt out of the G6. Mighty chilly! Worse yet, the monotonous gray sky held out little hope for improvement. Would have to be the coldest day in the entire month of December. Maybe this wasn’t going to work?

Lupe, however, was unfazed. Apparently, she intended to tough it out at least long enough to see the most famous mountain in South Dakota. After all, this was the Carolina Dog’s big chance to do something special in the Black Hills on her 10th birthday!

At the Mount Rushmore profile parking lot.

Not a soul around on a Monday morning in December. After a look at George Washington, the only president visible from here, Lupe started trotting up Hwy 244. The main entrance to Mount Rushmore was 0.25 mile back.

Hardly any traffic along the highway, but there was more activity than SPHP expected up at the main visitor parking lot. Orange plastic fences blocked off various construction zones. Groups of people were coming and going.

SPHP let Lupe go only so far before saying this was good enough. Loop got a nice look at Mount Rushmore (5,725 ft.), but since Dingoes aren’t really welcome here, she wasn’t permitted to linger. A souvenir 10th birthday photo, and she was on her way.

**Mount Rushmore**, South Dakota’s most famous mountain. L to R: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Since Loopster didn’t seem to mind the cold, perhaps she was up for a more substantial 10th birthday adventure? SPHP had just the thing in mind. Having already seen the most famous mountain in South Dakota, maybe she would enjoy climbing South Dakota’s highest mountain, too? A great trailhead providing access to the Black Elk Wilderness was only 4 or 5 miles farther W along Hwy 244.

10:05 AM, 18ºF, Willow Creek trailhead – 2 degrees warmer! Every little bit helped. Lupe stood by the Willow Creek trail No. 8 sign waiting for SPHP to decide which part of the loop to take. SPHP chose the W half, which began by heading S straight for Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.).

At the Willow Creek trailhead. Lupe would take the trail seen on the R. Black Elk Peak (R) visible in the distance. Photo looks S.

Only a skiff of snow was on the ground as Looper set out. Although cold today, the last 1.5 months had been uncommonly warm. The Black Hills had gotten almost no precipitation. Ordinarily, climbing Black Elk Peak on Lupe’s birthday would have been out of the question. Cold and snowy enough to make the journey more ordeal than fun.

Today was different! The awesome thing was that if Lupe made it up Black Elk Peak, this ascent on her 10th birthday would also be her 10th ascent of South Dakota’s highest peak.

The first part of Trail No. 8 was super easy, a nice level trek through the forest. Before long, the trail crossed Willow Creek and quickly came to a junction. Lost Cabin trail No. 2 went R. Lupe went L instead, staying on Willow Creek trail No. 8. Although she’d been on most of the trails in the Black Elk Wilderness at one time or another, the American Dingo had never been on this next section of No. 8 before.

Turned out it wasn’t far to a frozen waterfall on Willow Creek.

A little past the waterfall, Lupe came to two wooden bridges. After the second bridge, Trail No. 8 began a slow, steady climb. A field of dry grass bordered by large dark gray rock formations appeared on the L.

A smaller field appeared a little farther on. Smoke could be seen rising from the trees in the distance. A forest fire in December? No. Took a moment, but SPHP soon realized it was coming from the sawmill a few miles NE of Hill City. Completely normal.

**Five Points (6,221 ft.)** (L). Smoke (Center). Photo looks N.

After a mile on Trail No. 8, Lupe came to another junction, this time with Trail No. 9, which would take her to Black Elk Peak. This intersection was only 0.5 mile from the Willow Creek trailhead as the crow flies, since Trail No. 8 had taken a semi-circular route to the S, E, then NE.

Trail No. 9 went E a little way, then zigzagged S through the forest. At one point, Hwy 244 could be seen not too far away down a steep slope. However, No. 9 soon turned away from the road. From the last big field the trail came to, Black Elk Peak was in sight again. The Carolina Dog was getting closer, but she still hadn’t gained all that much elevation.

**Black Elk Peak** (L of Center) from the last field Trail No. 9 goes by. Photo looks SSW.

Re-entering the forest, Trail No. 9 turned sharply, starting to climb again. The next junction was with Willow Creek Rushmore trail No. 5. This intersection was only a little N of the massive granite formations of Elkhorn Mountain (6,381 ft.).

**Elkhorn Mountain** from the intersection of Trails No. 5 & 9. Photo looks S.

Trail No. 5 sign. Lupe stuck with No. 9 instead.

After passing Trail No. 5, the terrain become more rugged. Trail No. 9 went S to Elkhorn Mountain, then SW along its base. A high point was reached, then the trail descended 100 feet to cross a tiny tributary of Willow Creek. After crossing the creek, No. 9 switchbacked steadily higher working its way SE past the W end of Elkhorn Mountain.

The forest was a wreck! Thousands of large pines had been killed by pine bark beetles years ago. Most had fallen over by now, opening up the views to some extent.

Approaching **Elkhorn Mountain** on Trail No. 9. Photo looks S.

Another glimpse of **Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SSW.

**Elkhorn Mountain** from quite a bit higher now. Photo looks E.

The dramatic granite ridge of **Elkhorn Mountain** rises beyond the shattered forest. Photo looks NNE.

After getting nearly as high Elkhorn Mountain, Trail No. 9’s rate of climb decreased. Switchbacks lengthened, then disappeared. No. 9 continued to climb, but more slowly as it worked its way SW.

Lupe was getting close to the most scenic part of the entire journey, other than the summit of Black Elk Peak itself. Granite Flats wasn’t much farther. The first sign she was getting close was an impressive view of a 3-pronged granite knob atop other massive rock formations. This knob might have been Peak 6057, but SPHP wasn’t at all certain about that.

**Peak 6057** beyond Lupe? SPHP didn’t know. Still impressive, whatever it was.

The weather was changing as Lupe approached Granite Flats. Clouds closed in. The air cooled, becoming a little foggy, and it began to snow. Lightly, nothing to be concerned about, but views were disappearing. Suddenly it felt like winter! The cold gray world gradually turning white. So quiet, hidden, and remote!

Starting to snow on the way to Granite Flats. Photo looks SW.

**Black Elk Peak** from **Granite Flats**. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

On one of the Granite Flats rock formations. **Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SW.

After spending a little time exploring Granite Flats, Lupe hurried on her way. Even so, she paused now and then at certain viewpoints.

Lupe on the day she turned 10. **Peak 6735** in the distance. Photo looks SSE.

Getting closer! Old fire lookout tower atop **Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SW.

Not much farther now! Loopster passed the last viewpoint, and the trail was soon switchbacking steeply up a forested slope. Loop gained most of the last few hundred feet of elevation remaining here. The trail then leveled out, proceeding SSE to a junction with the spur trail that goes to the old fire lookout tower on Black Elk Peak.

The spur trail promptly swung around the S end of the summit region to more open ground on the W side of the mountain. Still snowing. Normally sweeping views of some of the most rugged terrain in the Black Hills were reduced to the silent, ghostly presence of nearby peaks. Trotting N now, Lupe reached the entrance to the spiral staircase that winds up to the to the old lookout tower.

The see-through metal grid stairway that used to freak Loop out so much had long since lost its terror. Up the American Dingo went without the least hesitation. She’d made it! The Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) lookout tower was only 50 feet away.

*Come on, SPHP! Nothing to it! We’ve done this a bunch of times, remember?*

After entering the lookout tower, Lupe ventured out onto the viewing platform. No one around. SPHP helped her up onto the wall. Even the views had deserted Black Elk Peak. December’s frigid, snowy solitude was awesome, though!

2:02 PM, 17ºF, Black Elk Peak – Leaving the viewing platform, Lupe had gone down to the basement of the lookout tower and out the back door. Now she was curled up on SPHP’s lap out on the huge granite formations W of the tower with SPHP’s jacket thrown over her for warmth. She was warm, too, despite winter’s grip.

Half an hour enjoying the gray-white solitude. Two chocolate coconut bars shared. A little water. SPHP munched an apple. The Carolina Dog was still toasty warm, but SPHP was getting cold and stiff sitting on the granite. A couple of people waved from up on the viewing platform. The signal to move on.

Up on the platform, Lupe and SPHP met a young couple from Boston. A friendly 15 minute chat, and it was time to leave them to the solitude, something they said was near impossible to come by in the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont where they normally went.

A few more photos, and Looper was on her way.

Lupe trotted down the metal stairs. Nearly an hour had shot by up top! That bright spot in the clouds would set in 30 minutes.

The long trek back was utterly deserted. Much whiter than the journey up had been. So beautiful! What an experience being a Double Digit Dingo was turning out to be! The most famous mountain in South Dakota, and the highest one, too, on the very first day.

Near **Elkhorn Mountain** again during the return.

5:41 PM, 17ºF, Willow Creek trailhead – Dark and still snowing! SPHP hadn’t had to bring out the little flashlight until Lupe had gotten all the way back to the wooden bridges over Willow Creek. Now the adventure was over. SPHP turned the key, and the G6 sprang to life.

Lupe curled up for the ride home. To her great surprise that wasn’t the end of things. At home, SPHP made a couple of trips loading stuff into the G6. Then it was off to see Grandma!

Visiting Grandma was a Dingo birthday tradition. However, Grandma had moved to a senior living facility early this year, even before Lupe and SPHP had helped her get her big, old house sold. At the time she’d moved in, Grandma thought that Lupe wouldn’t be allowed in the senior living center, but that had turned out not to be true. Loopster had been there lots of times.

7:15 PM, Grandma’s apartment – The party animal had arrived! Lupe dashed in all excited to see Grandma! She barked and wagged her tail like mad, then raced over to hop up on the comfy white couch. Grandma was so happy to see Lupe, too!

No dilly-dallying! SPHP was famished. A chocolate coconut bar and an apple all day were no longer cutting it. Birthday presents were piled up around Lupe right there on the couch. One of the presents wasn’t even wrapped. Lupe’s buddy Dave Covill had sent her a package of Smart Cookie Rabbit & Pumpkin regional bites all the way from Colorado. They weren’t wrapped because Loopster hadn’t been able to wait. She’d been gobbling them up all week long.

On the comfy couch surrounded by presents.

Without delay, SPHP produced a birthday cake.

A Double Digit Dingo cake with candles! So incredibly many candles that Grandma could heat her apartment with it. The Carolina Dog was leery of the fearsome fiery spectacle.

*Another trial by fire! Why do I have to go through this every year?*

There was singing! Happy Birthday! It was happy, too!

Grandma’s girl on Double Digit Dingo day.

SPHP helped Lupe choose the first present to open. It sniffed good!

While the T-bone steak was broiling, Lupe opened the rest of her presents. She got 3 new Kong squeaker balls, and lots of good things to eat! Speaking of eating, she devoured the rest of the Smart Cookie Rabbit & Pumpkin regional bites that Dave Covill had sent. They served as T-bone steak appetizers. Although there was nothing wrong with Loopster’s appetite, she loved the whole concept.

Smart Cookie Rabbit & Pumpkin regional bites from Dave Covill. Bon appetit!

At last the T-bone was ready! While Lupe had steak, Grandma and SPHP had cake and ice cream.

While there was still some meat on it, SPHP saved the T-bone itself. The big bash ended with Lupe giving Grandma a live demonstration of what to do with a Purina Busy Rib Hide.

Nearly 10:00 PM by the time Lupe got home again. Double Digit Dingo day had been a blast, but a long one. Loopster hopped up on the bed. While SPHP read, the Carolina Dog got to munch away on that still meaty T-bone SPHP had saved for her.

Crunching away was so satisfying! By the time the light went out, only a stubby, little white T remained.

Double Digit Dingo day, **Black Elk Peak**, Black Hills of South Dakota, 12-14-20

Links:

Lupe’s 9th Birthday (12-14-19)

Lupe’s 11th Birthday (12-14-21)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Dingo Tales Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe Adventures.

Book Review: The Klondike Cafe – A Bud Shumway Mystery #11 by Chinle Miller

6-30-20 – Hey, Loopster, come here! Get a load of this!

What is it, SPHP?

Now that we’re temporarily back from your first Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation, I’m checking on some of the cool comments that came in for you on T(M)TAOL while we were gone. You’re never going to believe this one!

Really? Don’t keep me in suspenders, SPHP! What does it say?

Suspense, not suspenders, Loop. Anyway, here goes:

“I hope you don’t mind that I dedicated my book to you, Lupe. If you contact me, I’ll send you a free copy. Even though I’ve been in Tombstone, your adventures helped inspire it, as well as you being who you are.”

A book dedicated to me! Mind? Why would I mind? That’s a great honor, isn’t it? Who wrote that comment?

A great honor? You better believe it is, Loop! Not every day that someone dedicates a book to you. In fact, until now, not any day was. Considering that most people never ever write a book in the first place, and then that the author doesn’t even know you except through T(M)TAOL, this is like getting struck by lightning!

Actually, this is a lot better than getting struck by lightning, SPHP!

Well, of course. I didn’t mean it literally, just that this is an extraordinarily rare event.

So, you still haven’t told me who wrote that comment. And what’s the book called?

The comment is from Chinle, Chinle Miller.

Oh, Chinle! I like Chinle. Chinle has written quite a few nice comments on T(M)TAOL. You never told me she was an author, though.

There’s a reason for that. I didn’t know it, either, until now. Chinle must really like you, too, Looper. One of your biggest fans! Dedicating a book she spent who knows how long writing to you is absolute proof, as if any was needed. Why, Chinle must have been planning this for ages!

Lupe beamed from big soft Dingo ear to big soft Dingo ear.

OK! So back to the name of this book, SPHP. What’s it called? What’s it about? Can you send for my free copy right now?

Sure, we’ll send Chinle a reply. I don’t know what the book is called, but there’s a link that Chinle sent along with the comment. Let’s check it out.

The link went to an Amazon page.

Hey, hey! Here it is, Loop! Wow, totally legit! The Klondike Cafe (Bud Shumway Mystery Series Book 11) by Chinle Miller. Rated 4.7 out of 5.0 stars on Amazon! That’s mighty good. People must really like it!

The Klondike Cafe? Must be about Canada! We’ve been to the Klondike Highway and the Klondike River, right? Don’t remember ever being at the cafe, though. What else does it say, SPHP?

The cafe might be fictional, Loop. Not sure. The Klondike Cafe is a novel. There’s a synopsis. Listen to this:

“When a Mountie shows up in Sheriff Bud Shumway’s Utah office and accuses him of aiding and abetting a possible murderer in Canada’s Yukon Territory, Bud is mystified, especially since he doesn’t even know the guy. And when he receives a gold-mining claim transferred to his name and a cryptic message telling him to come to the Klondike Cafe, Bud is soon on his way, even though he has no idea where the cafe is or why his help is needed.

Join Bud on the adventure of a lifetime, as he discovers the beauty and sometimes deadly lure of the North Country, the land once charted on maps as the “Great Northern Mystery.”

A murder mystery! I didn’t expect that, SPHP, but I was right about Canada, wasn’t I? The sheriff goes to the Yukon to solve the case, and get rich mining gold! Sounds like The Klondike Cafe must have a lot more of a plot than our adventures do. We’re always like, “Here’s a cool mountain, let’s see if we can get to the top?” Usually different mountains, but sort of the same thing every time. No one gets killed on our adventures.

No, they don’t. Planning on keeping it that way, too! If people want more drama than we provide, they’d be better off reading The Klondike Cafe. Anyway, there’s more here, another link. Apparently to a bio about Chinle.

So, read it to me!

Intend to, Looper:

About Chinle Miller

Chinle Miller wanders the outback of Colorado and Utah, eyeing civilization from a safe distance. She’s accompanied by her dogs and occasional ravens.

She has a B.A. in Anthropology and an M.A. in Linguistics and an A.S. in Geology.

Short and sweet, but does sort of explain why Chinle likes you, Loop. She has dogs, and enjoys spending time with them out in remote places, just like you and me. In fact, sounds like she’s more of a real nomad than we are. Most of the time, we’re at home. Civilization does have its perks!

Oh, and she’s a geologist, too, SPHP. Which means she must like rocks. Mountains have a lot of rocks, so maybe she likes that I climb mountains? She might not be such a complete nomad like you’re saying, though. Most nomads don’t spend that much time in school. An M.A. in Linguistics! Wonder if Chinle and her dogs talk like we do?

Of course, they do. I’m sure of it! Here, let’s send Chinle a response right now. Thank her for the grand honor she’s bestowed upon you, and get that free copy of The Klondike Cafe on the way.

Chinle responded the very next day. It was going to take a little while, but she would get The Klondike Cafe sent to Lupe as soon as she could, personally autographed, no less! Amazingly, it got even better than that, as Chinle went on to say “Thanks, but you’re the real star, Lupe, and beautiful to boot! But I think you’ll like Lindie, the dingo in the book, as she’s based on you, though I make her look a little more coyote like.”

A murder mystery in the Yukon with a Dingo named Lindie playing a role! Lupe and SPHP were both excited. The Klondike Cafe was really something to look forward to!

July. Adventure season! The Klondike Cafe arrived while Lupe was out climbing mountains in Wyoming and Utah during her second Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation. There it was, though, brand spanking new when she returned home on July 26th.

200 pages long, quick-paced, and mostly light-hearted (despite being a murder mystery!) And, oh boy, was The Klondike Cafe ever good! As the synopsis and title of the series indicated, Sheriff Bud Shumway is the star. Early on he is astonished to find himself inexplicably entangled in a murder he doesn’t know anything about, yet suspected by the Canadian Mounties of somehow having a hand in it.

Sheriff Shumway is soon reluctantly leaving his semi-capable deputy, Howie, in charge of things back in his hometown of Green River, Utah, and is on his way to the far north to figure out not only who done it, but exactly what, how, and why they’d done it. Bud’s very capable wife, Wilma Jean, a pilot and business owner, is also left behind trying to stay in touch with her husband while taking care of the watermelon farm they own, plus their two dogs Hoppie and Pierre.

Realizing this trip will be a rare chance for adventure in places he’s only dreamed of before regardless of how the murder mystery he’s wrapped up in turns out, Bud brings along his harmonica, which he is learning to play, and a camera to take photos of the Northern Lights.

In addition to all the fixes Bud finds himself in as the plot unfolds, The Klondike Cafe is sprinkled not only with brief geology lessons, but bits of information on Canadian First Nations, too. Everywhere he goes, Sheriff Shumway meets an interesting cast of characters all with problems, likes and dislikes, motivations, and dreams of their own. Meanwhile, Chinle is busy slipping in snippets of her sneaky sense of humor, as well. “Palatial Estates Trailer Park”! SPHP had to laugh, yet you just know such a contradiction in terms might actually exist.

Bud makes it to Skagway, Alaska, a major cruise ship port and start of the White Pass Railroad that goes through Fraser up to Carcross in the Yukon, passing Lindeman and Bennett Lakes along the way. The action takes him to Whitehorse, capitol city of the Yukon, where paddle wheel steamships once provided transportation and brought in supplies in the days before roads; Dawson City, heart of the Klondike Gold Rush, with its free ferry across the Yukon River to the Top of the World Highway; and up the Dempster Highway to the spectacular trail to Grizzly Lake in Tombstone Territorial Park.

Since Lupe and SPHP have been to so many of the incredible places Bud visits in The Klondike Cafe, that really helped to make it all come alive. Despite Chinle’s considerable descriptive powers, readers who’ve never been to these parts of Canada or Alaska might have a harder time fully appreciating the amazing wilderness stage upon which Sheriff Shumway’s sleuthing plays out.

For Lupe, The Klondike Cafe was more than just an exciting tale of Bud’s adventures and travails while trying to solve the mystery at paw, it was a constant reminder of all the great adventures she’d been on with SPHP in the same areas Bud was getting to know.

**Taiya Inlet** and **Skagway** (L) as seen on the way up **AB Mountain** to join the Arctic Sisterhood, Alaska 8-7-17

Cruise ship in **Skagway**, Alaska 8-7-17

**White Pass & Yukon Route train** in **Skagway**, Alaska 8-7-17

The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood at the **Arctic Brotherhood hall** in **Skagway**, Alaska 8-8-17

Exploring past the end of the **International Falls trail**, which crosses the US/Canada border between Skagway & Carcross, 8-8-17

On **Fraser Peak**, British Columbia near the US/Canada border, 8-9-17

**Carcross** and **Bennett Lake** as seen on the way up **Nares Mountain**, Yukon Territory, 9-10-18

In **Whitehorse**, by the **S.S. Klondike**, which used to ply the upper Yukon River between Whitehorse and Dawson City, Yukon Territory 8-10-17

On **Grey Mountain** (Canyon Mountain) near **Whitehorse**, Yukon Territory, 9-9-18

**Dawson City** and the **Yukon River** from **Midnight Dome**, Yukon Territory 8-23-18

Lupe reaches **Tombstone Territorial Park** near kilometer 50 of the Dempster Highway, Yukon Territory 9-3-17

Approaching **Grizzly Lake**. **Mount Monolith** (R). **Tombstone Territorial Park**, Yukon Territory, 9-6-17

At the **Dawson City General Store**, Yukon Territory 9-3-17

The **free ferry** across the **Yukon River** in **Dawson City**, Yukon Territory 9-3-17

**Top of the World Highway** from **Swede Dome**, Yukon Territory 8-24-18

“They all walked inside and on to better things.” So that’s it, Looper. The end. Wha’dya think?

The Klondike Cafe was a great story, SPHP! You ought to learn to write like that. One bad thing about it, though!

Really? I thought it was terrific! What didn’t you like?

Makes me wish we were up in the Yukon having more adventures of our own right this very minute!

Yeah, me too! Sort of a fabulous trip down memory lane for us, wasn’t it? Got any favorite parts?

Oh, I liked Sheriff Shumway’s adventures and harmonica playing, but I loved Lindie best of all. So courageous! She not only helped Bud find the Klondike Cafe, she even helped solve the murder mystery, too, you know! Good press for all of us American Dingoes! For some strange reason, Carolina Dogs don’t get much of that.

So you loved Lindie best of all, Lupe? Well, knock me over with a feather. Who’da thunk it? Guess we’ve got partners now in Lindie and Sheriff Bud Shumway helping to spread the word on Carolina Dogs and their love of adventure!

Thank you, Chinle!

We’ll always treasure The Klondike Cafe! – Lupe & SPHP

**North Klondike River** in **Tombstone Territorial Park**, Yukon Territory 9-4-17

Links:

The Klondike Cafe on Amazon

In addition to the Bud Shumway Mystery Series, Chinle is the author of Desert Rats: Adventures in the American Outback, Uranium Daughter, The Impossibility of Loneliness, In Mesozoic Lands: The Mesozoic Geology of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, plus several U.S. National Park guides.

Chinle Miller on Amazon

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Dingo Tales Index, Black Hills of South Dakota & Wyoming Expeditions Index, or Dingo Vacations Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

To Samelius Peak with Michael Zimny of South Dakota Public Broadcasting! (3-11-20)

Michael Zimny? No, I don’t know any Michael Zimny. Who’s that, Loop?

Mr. Zimny is with South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

That’s nice. Been listening to the radio lately?

He wants to interview you, SPHP!

Oh, come on now! What makes you think that?

That’s what he told me.

Told you? Hah! Dingo feathers! You don’t even know a Michael Zimny from SDPB or anywhere else.

Not yet, but I’m going to!

What’s got into you? Something a little stronger than usual in that water bowl these days?

Don’t believe me? Go take a look at the new comment on my blog!

Alright! A new comment on which post?

Not a post, the About & Adventure Indexes page.

Michael Zimny, March 5, 2020, 2:09 PM – Hi SPHP, I’d like to interview you some time for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, maybe a interview-ascent could be arranged, if you’d be interested. Let me know. Thanks.

Well, I’ll be! Heh, I’ll have to think about how to let Michael down easy, while still appearing grateful for the opportun …. Hey, wait a minute! What’s this? You already answered him?!

Lupe, March 5, 2020, 8:22 PM – Hi, Michael! If there is an ascent involved, count me in! I’ll work on that persnickety SPHP. Look for an email from us soon.

Told ya, SPHP! It’s my big chance at fame and fortune! Plus we get to meet my new publicity director, Michael Zimny, and climb a mountain in the Black Hills! It’s perfect!

Perfect, except for one thing, Miss Fame & Fortune! I’m not doing it!

Oh, yes you are, SPHP! Michael is expecting a list of possible peaks to choose from to climb during this interview, and I’ve promised you would be sending that to him soon. So figure something out, and get with the program.

Listen to me, Loop. I’m no public speaker. I sound like Kermit the Frog! I’m not going to do a radio interview, and be humiliated in my own home state!

Oh, pooh! It’s not public speaking, SPHP. It’s radio! Just you, me, and Michael going on a little trek up a mountain together. A simple private chat that will get recorded and edited. No live audience, so if you still somehow manage to humiliate yourself across South Dakota, you’ll never even know it. Besides, I’m counting on you not to do that. I’ll get Michael to fix your voice somehow. They must have audio technicians at SDPB. Who would you like to sound like?

Oh, I don’t know. How about having them change me into Lady Gaga? That’s about what it’s going to take for your fame and fortune scheme to work.

Lady Gaga? Good choice, but that’s a real stretch, SPHP. I’ll see what Mr. Zimny can do, but don’t expect miracles.

Believe me, I don’t. Not going to do this, anyway. We’ve still got lots of work to do to get Grandma’s house ready for the market. She’s depending on us. Besides, what am I going to say? We climb a bunch of mountains no one has ever heard of in the Black Hills?

Oh, please, please, please, SPHP! You’ve got to do it! Don’t make me look bad in front of Mr. Zimny! I’ve already told him you would. It won’t take all that long. Grandma will understand, and we can get right back to work on her house as soon as it’s over. We haven’t been anywhere in months now! Don’t I deserve a teensy tiny break? Can’t we climb just one little mountain in the Black Hills with Mr. Zimny? What to say is easy! Just talk about me! I’m your favorite subject, aren’t I? And say something good about the Black Hills! They’re our home, and we love them!

Tell you what, Loop. I’ll think about it. Let’s leave it at that for a day or two. No promises. OK?

Only if you agree to give it serious consideration, SPHP. Will you?

I suppose! If that’s what you want.

Fabulous! You’re never going to regret this, SPHP! You’ll see! Soon we’ll be climbing that beautiful mountain with Michael Zimny, and launching ourselves to fame and fortune on SDPB!

Umm, yeah. Now who’s expecting miracles?

3-11-20, 7:00 AM Centennial Trail off Hwy 16, Samelius Peak trailhead – Michael Zimny was right on time! Miss Fame & Fortune was waiting for him. Pre-transformed Lady Gaga, too!

First things first! After brief self-introductions, Miss Fame & Fortune wanted a quick photo with her new publicist, Michael.

**Michael Zimny** of **South Dakota Public Broadcasting** and **Miss F&F**.

The interview plan was simple enough. It started off with an informal recorded chat between SPHP and Michael while hiking a 0.75 mile long section of the Centennial Trail. Lupe would then lead the way up the N ridge of Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.).

Starting up **Samelius Peak** after leaving Centennial Trail No. 89.

Turned out Michael is originally from Chicago, but has served in the army and lived in many different places. He was easy to talk to since he was enthusiastic about South Dakota, and loves hiking in the Black Hills and Badlands.

**Peak 5741** (Center) with **Five Points (6,221 ft.)** (straight up from Lupe) beyond it. Photo looks NW.

Soon Lupe, Michael, and SPHP were all at the top of the mountain. Loop was thrilled to be out in the Black Hills again, even if only for this one peak.

*My 3rd ascent of **Samelius Peak**, and, sure enough, the 3rd time is a charm! Fame and fortune, here I come! Thank you, Michael & SDPB!*

**Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** (Center) from Samelius Peak. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

20 or 30 minutes at the summit and the interview was about done. A round of chocolate coconut granola bars for everyone, then it was down the mountain. Partway down, out of the breeze where the microphone worked best, Michael wanted to stop to ask SPHP a few final questions.

And that was it. Back to the trailhead, good-byes and thank yous, and the interview was over. Lupe’s new friend and publicist Michael Zimny was on his way, and so were Looper and SPHP.

Two months went by before Michael sent an email saying the interview was going to be broadcast that Friday, May 15th at 10:27 AM during the “In the Moment” show. Naturally, Lupe and SPHP tuned in!

The Adventures of Lupe on South Dakota Public Broadcasting

21 minutes and 44 seconds of fame, Loop! More than our fair share, you know. Normally 15 minutes is about it for us mere mortals.

Went pretty well, don’t you think, SPHP?

Considering how little I gave them to work with, our friend Michael Zimny, along with Lee Strubinger, Joshua Haiar, Cara Hetland and the rest of the gang at SDPB did a fabulous job! I am disappointed with one thing, though.

What’s that?

My transformation into Lady Gaga seems to have been a complete flop.

Some things are technologically impossible, SPHP. You weren’t expecting a miracle, were you?

So as not to disappoint her fans, The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe and YouTube hereby present:

Lady Gaga in Poker Face

I’m really not Lady Gaga material, am I, Looper?

Not even close, SPHP! But did you notice those big dogs with Lady Gaga? How do you think I’d look if I dye my fur white? Instead of black spots, I’ll have stripes like a zebra! Since we’ve got the fame, but fortune still eludes us, Michael can bill me as the world’s first American Zingo on South Dakota Public TV! Maybe there’s money in video?

Oh, no you don’t! Just forget it, you crazy Dingo! We’re not doing any video!

Many thanks to Michael Zimny and everyone at South Dakota Public Broadcasting!

*So that’s all folks! Thanks for tuning in! Over and out from Samelius Peak in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota!*

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