Lupe was born on December 14th, 2010 in the little town of Vale, SD (population 136 in the 2010 census). Vale is less than a mile S of the Belle Fourche River, and about 10 miles N of Bear Butte, which is a few miles NE of the much better known town of Sturgis, SD, home of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in early August every year.
SPHP knows next to nothing about Lupe’s family, except that Lupe did have some brothers and sisters in the same litter. As a tiny puppy, Lupe and her mother and siblings all lived outside in the cold South Dakota winter. SPHP has no idea if they had a dog house, or some other kind of shelter provided for them. They did have some outside cats as companions, and perhaps because of this, Lupe has always been friendly to all cats.
Lupe’s 5th birthday started out crisp and clear. There wasn’t any snow, but the grass in the back yard was all frosty. Lupe still had stitches where her left rear leg and abdomen meet, but she felt pretty good. During the day, Lupe and SPHP periodically played some squeaker ball in the back yard.
Lupe gets an early start playing some squeaker ball on the frosty grass in her back yard.Squeaker ball!
In the afternoon, SPHP went to the grocery store to buy some things for Lupe’s birthday party. The store was absolutely packed with people. School was cancelled for the next day due to a snow storm in the forecast, even though not a flake had fallen yet, and wouldn’t until afternoon the next day. SPHP finally got home, and baked Lupe a birthday cake.
The lines at Safeway had been so long, there wasn’t even time for SPHP to frost Lupe’s birthday cake before it was time to head out to Lupe’s Grandma’s house. Every birthday since she has been born, Lupe’s birthday party has been at Grandma’s. SPHP frosted Lupe’s birthday cake there, and the party was ready to begin!
Grandma had made chili and cornbread for dinner. Lupe, Lanis, SPHP and Grandma all had chili. Lupe likes to let her chili cool some before she eats it, but she had at least a couple of helpings. After dinner, Lanis, SPHP and Grandma sang “Happy Birthday” to Lupe, being sure to include the part about “and many more!”
The Birthday Dingo arrives at Grandma’s house expecting great things!Grandma’s 3-legged cat, Butterfly, and Lanis were on hand for Lupe’s party!
After hearing “Happy Birthday” sung to her, Lupe was ready to go outside. Lupe and SPHP took their traditional walk up to the cul-de-sac at the end of the road. Near the cul-de-sac is the Most Beautiful Christmas tree in the neighborhood. Lupe and SPHP paused to admire it, before returning to Grandma’s house.
Lupe and SPHP took their usual walk up to the cul-de-sac at the end of the road to see the most beautiful Christmas tree. Lupe is at the base of the tree.
When Lupe and SPHP got back to Grandma’s house, it was time for birthday cake and ice cream! Dingoes love birthday cake and ice cream! SPHP and Grandma even drank a whole bottle of wine, too. Lupe had plenty of cake and ice cream, but she didn’t get any wine. Lupe’s favorite presents this year were a new blue squeaker ball from Grandma, and a rawhide chew stick from SPHP.
Lupe with her birthday cake (with sprinkles!) and her two favorite new presents, the blue squeaker ball from Grandma and rawhide chew stick from SPHP. Lupe’s cake didn’t have any candles, because Carolina Dogs don’t do candles.That’s one beautiful Birthday Dingo! Happy 5th Birthday, Lupe and ever so many more!
Since The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe blog didn’t get started until February, 2015, its time to share some photos from Lupe’s previous birthdays, too!
LUPE’S 4th BIRTHDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014:
Lanis was at Lupe’s 4th birthday, too!A new Kong squeaker ball was Lupe’s favorite new toy in 2014!
This squeaker ball lasted about 10 months before it finally quit squeaking. Lupe chased it hundreds of times.
LUPE’S 3rd BIRTHDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2013:
Lupe and Grandma on Lupe’s 3rd birthday.
LUPE’S 2nd BIRTHDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2012:
Lupe and Grandma on Lupe’s 2nd birthday.Birthday loot!
LUPE’S VERY 1st BIRTHDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011:
Lupe visits the dog park on her 1st birthday.1 year old Lupe at the dog park.Carolina Dogs can, too, climb trees! Comin’ for ya Squirrel!!!Kinda, cold and wet here at the dog park! Hope my 1st birthday gets better than this!Birthday Dingo Lupe arrives at Grandma’s house for her 1st ever birthday party.Chewing something good!The Birthday Girl on her first ever birthday.Party Pooper Puppy after her 1st big Birthday Bash!
After two huge climbs on the previous two days up to Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, the highest peaks in Colorado, it was time for Lupe to move on. It was 8-25-15, already Day 17 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation. SPHP gassed up the G6 before leaving Leadville, CO, and then headed S on Highway 24. A short time later, Lupe achieved another personal first: Lupe reached the southernmost point she has ever been to at the junction of Highways 24 and 82.
SPHP turned W on Highway 82. Soon Lupe was at Twin Lakes, which she and SPHP had seen for the first time from up on top of Mount Elbert two days before.
Lupe at Twin Lakes, Colorado, close to as far S as she has ever been. Photo looks SW.
After a wonderful time in the mountains of N Central Colorado, Lupe was on her way out of the state. She would see quite a bit of scenic NW Colorado on the way. Highway 82 went over 12,095 ft. Independence Pass. Lupe and SPHP took the short walkway there to a viewpoint overlooking more beautiful mountains of the Colorado Rockies.
Looking SW from Independence Pass.
Once over Independence Pass, Hwy 82 lost a great deal of elevation on its way to Aspen. From Aspen, Hwy 82 continued losing elevation, although at a reduced rate, all the way to Glenwood Springs. Lupe and SPHP stopped at a park next to the highway for a picnic. SPHP would have liked to have gone to the hot springs in Glenwood Springs, but it was near noon. It was hot, approaching 80°F – too hot to leave Lupe unattended for any length of time in the G6.
It got hotter as the day wore on. Until now, Lupe and SPHP had spent the vast majority of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation at 8,000 to 12,000 feet. At these lower elevations, the heat was oppressive. In the G6, however, Lupe rode in air conditioned comfort as the miles clicked by. Lupe and SPHP headed W from Glenwood Springs on I-70. It wasn’t too far to Rifle, where SPHP stopped at a McDonald’s to buy Lupe a hot fudge sundae.
From Rifle, Lupe went N on Highway 13. SPHP soon turned W onto Piceance Creek Road. Piceance Creek Road was interesting. It went 40 miles down a valley that gradually turned to the N. It was 10 miles before Piceance Creek had any water in it. Piceance Creek never became a very big stream. The valley grew wider as it lost elevation. It was bordered by low juniper and sage-brush covered mountains. There were cows and horses near the creek in the valley, which kept Lupe entertained for miles.
Lupe reached the White River again when Piceance Creek Road reached Highway 64. Lupe had seen the North Fork of the White River before. It flows out of Trappers Lake in the Flat Top Mountains. The scenery heading W on Highway 64 was interesting, but not inviting. Lupe was heading into increasingly barren territory. By the time she reached Rangely, even the sagebrush was sparse and struggling. It was 97°F in Rangely.
Beyond Rangely everything was hot, thirsty, white and barren. Late August was no time to be visiting here. At Dinosaur, though, SPHP did stop to get a picture of Lupe with a cool, colorful Stegosaurus.
Lupe at the cool Stegosaurus at Dinosaur, Colorado.
SPHP would have loved to take Lupe to Echo Park in Dinosaur National Monument. Echo Park is located at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. It is a beautiful spot down in a big canyon with vertical rock walls, and very worth seeing. However, SPHP knew the G6 might have trouble with the road there, which is best traversed with a high clearance vehicle. (SPHP once put a hole in a Chevy Corsica’s oil pan on that road – not an experience SPHP was eager to repeat.)
So Lupe missed out on Echo Park. Instead she turned W on Highway 40 at Dinosaur. A big event was only a short distance away. Lupe was going to enter the state of Utah for the very first time. It had been nearly 2 years since Lupe last visited a new state, so it was an event worthy of note. Soon Utah became Lupe’s 11th state!
Lupe reaches Utah, her 11th state. She did indeed plan to live “Life Elevated” there!
Near Jensen, Utah, Lupe stopped by the sign for the Dinosaur National Monument Fossil BoneQuarry. The quarry features quite an amazing exhibit of dinosaur bones. The partially exposed bones are on display in their original locations on a hillside which has been enclosed with a building. The Quarry Exhibit Hall serves both to protect the fossils and as a visitor center.Of course, Lupe could not go into the Quarry Exhibit Hall, so there was no point in even going all the way to it. Instead, Lupe got to go see the Green River just below the Highway 40 bridge.
Lupe at the Green River where Highway 40 crosses it just E of Jensen, Utah.
It was almost 5:00 PM by the time Lupe reached Vernal, Utah. SPHP had hoped to get some pictures of Lupe with some dinosaurs outside the Dinosaur Museum. It had been years since SPHP had been to Vernal, though. The Dinosaur Museum (officially the Utah Field House of Natural History Museum) had moved. It is now housed in much fancier quarters. Unfortunately, the museum closed at 5:00 PM. Although there were dinosaurs outside the building, they were all behind walls and fences.
SPHP had to settle for taking a picture of Lupe and the profusion of petunias along the street.
This happy pink dino welcomed Lupe to Vernal, UT as she came into town from the E along Hwy 40.Lupe outside the Dinosaur Museum in Vernal, UT. It was closed by the time Lupe and SPHP got there, or SPHP would have bought Lupe a ticket just for some photo ops with the dinosaurs outside the building.Pretty puppy poses with a profusion of petunias in Vernal, Utah.
Lupe and SPHP toured Vernal, Utah. It looked like a thriving place with lots of new stores and development. It was like an oven there though, at 98°F when Lupe arrived. It was still 91°F at sunset when Lupe left town heading N on Highway 191. Up in the Uinta Mountains, it was 59°F when SPHP parked the G6 for the night. So much better!
The days aren’t very long in November. Lupe and SPHP should have gotten off to an earlier start. The plan was for Lupe to climb Buffalo Peak(11,589 ft.), the high point of Jefferson County, Colorado. With no trail and over 3,000 feet of elevation gain involved, it was a fairly ambitious plan for this time of year.
SPHP had intended to park the G6 up at Stoney Pass, but just past Wellington Lake there was a creek running across the road. The creek wasn’t very large. It was about a foot deep, and maybe 6 feet wide, as it crossed the road. SPHP stood peering into the clear water. The creek bottom looked flat and smooth and firm. But, what if it wasn’t really? The G6 didn’t have much clearance. If it sank another foot into mud and the engine got wet, Lupe and SPHP were in for an adventure of the wrong sort.
It would probably have been fine to ford the creek with the G6, but SPHP wasn’t going to chance it. Not way out here. SPHP found a place nearby to park. Lupe and SPHP were just going to have to walk the 1.5 miles up the road to Stoney Pass. The only real problem was the time it took. It was already 9:42 AM when Lupe and SPHP left the G6 behind.
Looking NW at The Castle(9,691 ft.) near Wellington Lake as Lupe starts for Buffalo Peak.
It was a beautiful, clear and calm day as Lupe crossed the little creek, and started up the road for Stoney Pass. It was already 45°F. Back in Arvada, where Lupe was staying with cousin Dusty while on vacation in Colorado, it was supposed to get into the low 60’s. It wouldn’t get that warm out here, though, not way up on Buffalo Peak. Even so, at least weather wasn’t going to be an issue.
SPHP reached Stoney Pass after a trudge up the road. Lupe had already been busy racing around in the forest sniffing everything of interest. Now it was time to leave the road together and plunge into a dense forest. The plan was to reach the summit of Buffalo Peak by following a ridge from the NE. SPHP already knew there was no trail, that the mountain was heavily forested, and that the ridge wasn’t all that distinct.
The topo map showed the climb up would be pretty relentless, although there were some flatter areas near the top. SPHP wondered if there would be any viewpoints along the way. It would sure help to be able to catch a glimpse of the summit every now and then, just to make certain Lupe was going the right way.
Despite the possible obstacles, SPHP felt pretty confident Lupe was going to reach the top. Lupe showed no concerns, whatsoever. It was just another big, fun romp in the woods to her. As Lupe started the climb, SPHP wondered what the summit would be like. Would it even be worth the effort to get there? From a distance, Buffalo Peak had looked like just a big forested hump. Would there be any place from which to get a view? Or would Lupe’s efforts just end at a high spot in a forest that looked like the entire rest of the mountain?
There hadn’t been any snow at Stoney Pass, but as Lupe climbed, she started encountering a thin layer of snow. SPHP worried that Lupe was going too far to the W instead of heading SW. Lupe didn’t really seem to be up on a ridge. The blue sky seen between the trees above was always hundreds of feet higher than where Lupe and SPHP were. There was little deadfall timber at first, but as Lupe went on, gradually there was more. Most of it was pretty small stuff, though, so it wasn’t much of a hindrance.
Lupe climbed a very long way before she finally came to a big rock outcropping. SPHP was eager to see what could be seen from the other side. Lupe and SPHP found a way through to the SW side of the rock outcropping. The view wasn’t all that encouraging. Farther off to the W than SPHP had been hoping was what might be a part of Buffalo Peak near the summit. To the SW was a little valley, and beyond it another ridge. Now SPHP wasn’t even sure Lupe had been following the correct ridge up.
Intrepid American Dingo Lupe reaches the first big rock outcropping on her journey up Buffalo Peak.This view to the W toward the general direction of the summit of Buffalo Peak from the 1st big rock outcropping wasn’t too encouraging.The first big rock outcropping as seen from the S.
To the S of the first big rock outcropping, Lupe passed through a nearly level area. She headed for the next ridge that SPHP had seen ahead. She climbed several hundred feet up it to find a 2nd big rock outcropping. The views from here were a little more encouraging. What SPHP believed was the summit area was now at least in clear view.
Part of the 2nd big rock outcropping Lupe reached.Buffalo Peak from the 2nd rock outcropping. Photo looks SW.A glimpse at mountains to the WNW from the 2nd big rock outcropping.
Lupe had to head S down into another valley from the 2nd big rock outcropping. When the land started rising again on the other side of the valley, Lupe and SPHP faced another long climb. The snow got deeper. Maybe SPHP was just getting tired, but the climb seemed to go on and on. Except at the rock outcroppings, it was difficult to have much sense of where one was in the snowy forest.Finally, Lupe reached a viewpoint on the N side of the mountain. SPHP isn’t certain about it, but this may have been the high point marked on the Peakbagger.com topo map as point 10,778. Wherever Lupe was, there were some impressive views to the N from this high point.
Looking N.Looking NW.Looking down to the N toward Wellington Lake (Center) and The Castle (L).
Looking NE toward Green Mountain (10,421 ft.). Stoney Pass and the road where Lupe came from are way back down at the base of Green Mountain.The Castle.
If Lupe was at point 10,778, there was still another 800 feet of elevation left to be gained. Lupe and SPHP headed SW still climbing, but the mountain was no longer as steep as it had been. The going was easier. The main concern was the time. SPHP knew that Lupe had to hurry if she was going to make it to the summit of Buffalo Peak, and still have enough daylight to make it back down to the road at Stoney Pass.
After climbing and heading SW for a considerable distance, Lupe emerged into a little open area where the ground was flat. Here it was possible to catch a glimpse of mountains to the S between the trees. Lupe had to be getting close to the summit of Buffalo Peak. There couldn’t be an awful lot of elevation left to gain.
Lupe emerged into this flat little clearing high up on Buffalo Peak. Mountains to the S could be glimpsed between the trees.
Lupe and SPHP turned W from the little clearing. Lupe hurried onward, but it was still farther to the summit than SPHP realized. Lupe would have to gain more elevation and cover more ground, if she wanted to reach the top. At a bigger opening in the forest, the summit area was still ahead and higher up.
Looking W across the 2nd larger clearing toward the summit of Buffalo Peak.
SPHP knew it was decision time. Although the sun wouldn’t set for close to 2 hours yet, Lupe would need all that time, plus any twilight, to get back down to Stoney Pass. Continuing onward clearly meant breaking the rule. The rule is that Lupe and SPHP are supposed to turn around in time to be able to reach a road or trail before dark from which SHPH knows for certain the way back to the G6.
As far as complying with the rule goes, it doesn’t matter if the road or trail to the G6 is a long one. It’s perfectly fine if Lupe has to spend a few hours of the night getting back to the car. Darkness isn’t the problem. Not knowing the way to go in the darkness is….
Buffalo Peak is a big mountain. It is heavily forested, and the forest offers few views even in the daytime. There is no trail. Except near the top, the mountain sides are fairly steep. It was November. There were a lot of good reasons for Lupe to abandon the attempt on Buffalo Peak and turn around.
On the other hand, the summit of Buffalo Peak wasn’t much farther. Lupe was very close to it compared to all the distance she had already come. SPHP decided to break the rule.
SPHP reasoned that even though it was going to get dark before Lupe reached Stoney Pass, she would have enough daylight and twilight to retrace most of the way back to the road. Once darkness descended, Lupe could just head directly for Green Mountain. She would inevitably reach the road, even if she didn’t hit it right at Stoney Pass. In a sense, the route was known. It just wasn’t a trail or road.
Lupe continued onward. The snow was 6″ deep in the forest near the summit. At first, SPHP wasn’t even certain this was the summit of Buffalo Peak. SPHP was surprised by what Lupe found in the forest. Ahead was a 30 or 40 foot high ridge of rounded red rocks and boulders. To the NE, the forested ground was steeper than expected. To the SW, there was – nothing? SPHP couldn’t get a clear view over there, but it seemed like there might be a cliff.
The ridge ran SE/NW. There was no easy way up it from the SE end where Lupe first reached it. Lupe and SPHP worked around to the NW along the NE side of the ridge. Before long there was a place where Lupe could climb up. When SPHP got up there, the view was both fantastic and concerning.
From the narrow, rocky ridge, there were fabulous views in every direction except to the NE, which was hidden by the forest. SPHP’s earlier concerns that Lupe would climb all the way up Buffalo Peak to see nothing but trees was totally unjustified. The top of Buffalo Peak offers splendid views.
Wow, what a view! Lupe at the SE end of the rocky ridge up on Buffalo Peak. Pikes Peak(14,110 ft.)towers in the distance. Photo looks S.Looking SW at remote snowy mountains from Buffalo Peak.From Buffalo Peak, Lupe could see Cheesman Lake to the SE. Beyond the lake was Thunder Butte(9,836 ft.) (on L), the high point of Douglas County, which Lupe had climbed just 3 days earlier. Thunder Butte and Sheep Nose(8,894 ft.) looked so tiny from up on Buffalo Peak!
The object of concern was to the NW. In that direction there was clearly a break in the ridge. Beyond the break, the ridge continued. What concerned SPHP was that the ridge was clearly a little higher beyond the break. Lupe was not yet at the true summit of Buffalo Peak. It was going to take more time for Lupe and SPHP to work their way back down and around through the snow, deadfall and boulders to reach the true summit.
Looking NW along the ridge line on top of Buffalo Peak. Beyond Lupe is a break in the ridge. The true summit is past the break. Lupe and SPHP would have to spend more time climbing back down and then up again to get over there.
Well, there was nothing to do, but spend the time necessary to reach the true summit. Lupe and SPHP carefully climbed back down to the NE off the ridge. It only took 10 minutes or so even with the snow, deadfall, and rocky terrain to get over to the higher NW part of the ridge. Lupe and SPHP were soon up on top of it. SPHP was very happy to find a register and a USGS Benchmark. Lupe had made it to the very top of Buffalo Peak!
Lupe astride the true summit of Buffalo Peak, the high point of Jefferson County, Colorado. The blue top of the registry container is seen below her.Buffalo Peak is also known as Freeman Peak. This is one of two USGS Benchmarks Lupe found on Buffalo Peak. This one was near the registry container.
Lupe and SPHP were soon signed in on the registry. It was fun to see that Lupe’s blogging and peakbagging acquaintances Beth & Sprocket from 3UpAdventures had been here over a month earlier on 10-2-15. (Those two peakbagging maniacs had also signed the Thunder Butte registry the same day!) Lupe had the good fortune to briefly meet Beth & Sprocket in person (in Dingo?) back in the Flat Top Mountains in August, 2015.
Beth & Sprocket of 3UpAdventures were here on 10-2-15!
After registering, it was time for a little break. Lupe gobbled up most of the Taste of the Wild supply. SPHP hadn’t bothered to bring any human food along. SPHP eyed the remaining Taste of the Wild, but decided to save it for later. At least there was plenty of water. Lupe wasn’t drinking much since she prefers to eat snow. After a short rest, it was final summit photos time. The Carolina Dog was quite willing to add a little canine interest to some of the shots.
Looking SSE. Pikes Peak on the R.There wasn’t much time for taking breaks up on Buffalo Peak, but Lupe took a short one after gobbling up most of the Taste of the Wild supply. A dingo gets hungry climbing mountains! Photo looks toward the wild country to the WNW.Wellington Lake from the top. Photo looks N.Looking NNW with the telephoto lens.Lupe near the 2nd USGS Benchmark. (Near her left front paw.)
After all the time and effort it took to get up here, it was a shame to have to leave so soon, but it was important to get as far down the mountain as possible before the light was all gone. SPHP was glad the snow was around on the way down. Lupe and SPHP followed their tracks back down the mountain for a long way, before SPHP lost them for the final time.
The sun went down. The twilight faded. The mountain and the forest went on and on. The deadfall, which hadn’t seemed too bad on the way up, seemed more prevalent, larger and troublesome on the way down. The slopes seemed steeper in the darkness. Still, Lupe succeeded in losing a tremendous amount of elevation before it was so dark the flashlight had to come out. By that time, SPHP thought Lupe must already be getting close to Stoney Pass.
SPHP was wrong. Down, down, down went the dingo in the dark. Lupe and SPHP headed for the black outline of Green Mountain against the stars. It was the only thing that showed the way. Once SPHP distinctly heard voices. SPHP must have been losing it. There was no one out here. Suddenly a big bird flew away with a great deal of noisy fluttering. Lupe had passed beneath its perch.
Finally the steep slopes grew less steep. Lupe and SPHP emerged from the forest into a small grassy and level valley. A low dark ridge loomed ahead. There didn’t seem to be a road. Green Mountain was out of sight. Just great! No telling which way to go. It didn’t make sense. SPHP shone the little flashlight around.
A small patch of light similar to others on the aspen trees nearby looked a little different. It looked a little like it was reflective. Lupe and SPHP headed toward it. Soon it was clear that it was indeed reflective. There was some kind of sign. Before SPHP even reached it, Lupe found the road. A little wandering around in the grassy valley brought Lupe to a familiar spot. She had come down the huge mountain in the darkness to arrive just 150 feet NW of Stoney Pass.
No worries now. Everything was cool. Lupe and SPHP headed NW down the road. Although it was only 1.5 miles back to the G6, it seemed to take a longer than it should. Time always seems to go by very slowly in the dark. Lupe crossed the little creek that had prevented the G6 from reaching Stoney Pass. In just a couple of minutes, she was at the G6. It was 7:17 PM and 30°F.
It was after 9:00 PM by the time Lupe and SPHP were back at cousin Dusty’s house in Arvada. SPHP served up some Alpo for Lupe and Dusty. Andrea had a roast, potatoes, carrots, and onions ready and waiting in the crock pot. SPHP wasn’t going to have to finish Lupe’s Taste of the Wild after all.
Lupe on Buffalo Peak, the Jefferson County, Colorado high point.
