July 2017 – Page 2 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 105 – Silver Mountain (11-22-14)

On November 10, 2014, 8″ of new snow fell at Lupe’s house. The weather turned very cold for more than a week with highs in the 10-12°F range and subzero lows every night. Another 4″ of snow fell. Lupe was bored waiting for it all to end. She stared out the window for hours, repeatedly sighing and putting her head down, then checking again a little bit later to see if anything had changed. Nope.

Finally it did warm up. A few days came when the highs got clear up into the 40’s or even 50’s. The snow started melting fast. Saturday the 22nd was Lupe’s big chance to get out on an expedition. The next day it was supposed to turn cold again. When Lupe realized SPHP was getting the backpack ready to go, she was one enthusiastic Carolina Dog!

By 9:04 AM (43°F), Lupe was eagerly leaping out of the G6. The G6 was parked at a little side road just W of Boulder Hill Road (USFS Road No. 358) about 0.5 mile N of Hwy 16. Lupe was about 0.75 miles S of Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.), and 0.5 mile NE of Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.). Lupe wasn’t going to Boulder Hill today. Instead, the plan was for her to go to Silver Mountain, and then on to Calumet Ridge (5,601 ft.) another 2.5 miles to the W.

Lupe and SPHP started out heading W on the little unmarked side road. There was still about 6″ of snow here. Glimpses of Silver Mountain could be seen between the trees to the SW. Lupe and SPHP soon left the road to start climbing toward it.

Lupe didn’t have to go too far from the road to leave the forest. She entered an open area where there was quite a bit of deadfall timber around. These trees hadn’t been killed by pine bark beetles. Almost all of Silver Mountain burned in the August, 2002 Battle Creek fire. Between the snow and the deadfall timber, the going was rather slow.

When Lupe started hearing gunfire off to the W, things got even slower. Lupe wanted to stop and hide. She kept begging SPHP to stop, trying to block the way forward by standing on her hind legs and leaning her front paws on SPHP. It took some doing, but SPHP finally persuaded her to keep going. Lupe soon reached the top of a little ridge. Ahead was a small snowy valley. Silver Mountain loomed just beyond it.

Lupe sits on a stump up on the first little ridge she reached on her way up Silver Mountain. Photo looks SW at Silver Mountain.

To avoid losing too much elevation, Lupe and SPHP went W along the ridgeline for a little way. Near the upper end of the small snowy valley, Lupe turned SW again to head directly for Silver Mountain. She lost a little elevation traversing the valley, but once across started regaining it quickly.

A band of live pines that had escaped the 2002 Battle Creek fire was still standing on the upper NE slopes of Silver Mountain. As Lupe got closer, SPHP realized the trees were swaying in the wind. It wasn’t windy at all down where Lupe and SPHP were, but apparently a strong wind had kicked up out of the SW. The higher Lupe climbed, the less protection the mountain gave her. By the time Lupe was out on the open ground up above the band of trees, the wind was just a gale. The strongest gusts were enough to make SPHP stumble on the rocky ground.

There were two separate rock formations up ahead in the summit area. One was to the E, and the other to the W. Lupe and SPHP were coming up between them. The E rock formation looked to be the highest. SPHP hoped it was. The W formation looked harder to climb. SPHP didn’t want to have to waste time searching around for an easy way up to the top in this hurricane. No way Lupe would want to either.

Lupe and SPHP headed for the E rock formation. Very close to it, Lupe passed by a crude 4-sided structure made out of small logs. It was too poorly built to have ever been a real cabin. It looked more like an elaborate kid’s fort. Lupe didn’t even bother investigating it. Gunfire was still continuing sporadically to the W. She stuck close to SPHP.

Approaching the E rock formation from the NW.

The E rock formation proved to be an easy little scramble. The wind was very strong, though. It really felt cold up on top. Even Lupe was shivering a little. SPHP sat down on the highest rocks and faced NE away from the wind. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap. She huddled together with SPHP in SPHP’s jacket to warm up. Protected from the wind in the jacket, snuggled up with SPHP, Lupe seemed happy and reassured. She was content to lay there warming up and gazing at the view.

There were a few low bushes at the top of the E rock formation, but no trees to block the views in any direction. Lupe and SPHP could see way out onto the plains E of the Black Hills. Boulder Hill was off to the NNE. Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) was off to the SW. Calumet Ridge, Lupe’s next peakbagging goal of the day, was off to the W.

Lupe on top of Silver Mountain. Photo looks SW toward Harney Peak. Hwy 16 is seen below.

St. Elmo Peak (6,458 ft.) is the high point on the horizon on the R. — **St. Elmo Peak (6,458 ft.)** is the high point on the horizon on the R.

One good thing. It was easy to see from here that the W rock formation wasn’t as high as the E one. Lupe wouldn’t have to climb it. Lupe was already on the true summit of Silver Mountain!

Looking toward the W rock formation from the E one. The E rock formation where Lupe is was clearly higher. Lupe wouldn't have to bother climbing the W one. She already had her peakbagging success! Calumet Ridge is seen in the distance. Photo looks W. — Looking toward the W rock formation from the E one. The E rock formation where Lupe is was clearly higher. Lupe wouldn’t have to bother climbing the W one. She already had her peakbagging success! Calumet Ridge is seen in the distance. Photo looks W.

The views were great, but there was no sense staying up in the cold wind all day. Besides, Lupe still had her Calumet Ridge peakbagging goal ahead of her. Lupe and SPHP climbed down to the saddle area between the E and W rock formations. A little W of the “fort” there was a big rock. SPHP got Lupe up on it for a photo of Boulder Hill behind her. Lupe was having to look directly into the fierce SW wind. She refused to open her eyes. Oh, well!

Lupe kept her eyes shut facing into the strong SW wind. Boulder Hill is the highest point seen beyond her R of Center. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe and SPHP went over close to the W rock formation, and then began following it NW down the ridgeline. Lupe was on her way to Calumet Ridge. She lost considerable elevation coming down Silver Mountain. She was on exposed ground all the way, but the wind gradually diminished as she lost elevation.

Beyond the end of the W rock formation at the top of the mountain, Lupe passed by a series of other lower rock outcroppings along the way. The last of the large rock formations was fairly flat, but still high enough to offer some views. Lupe could still see Calumet Ridge and Mount Warner (5,889 ft.).

Calumet Ridge is seen beyond Lupe. Photo looks W from the NW slope of Silver Mountain.

As Lupe continued NW losing elevation, the wind was weaker. That was a good thing, except that she could hear the gunfire coming from the W even better now. Lupe started becoming more and more anxious again.

Part of the burn area NW of Silver Mountain. Photo looks NW.

Lupe made it beyond the burn area NW of Silver Mountain. She entered the forest again heading W. She came to a hillside where she could see USFS Road No. 366 just below. No. 366 went N/S, and Lupe would have to cross it to continue on to Calumet Ridge. Lupe was just E of the saddle at the highest point on the road.

But Lupe wasn’t going any farther. She was a nervous wreck. Volleys of 10 shots or more kept coming. She was much closer to them now than at Silver Mountain. Gunfire was heard to the W, SW and NW. At first SPHP had thought hunters were the source. The truth was, people were just out for some target practice, which is why the gunfire went on and on. It sounded like a war was in progress.

For a few minutes, SPHP stopped and looked at the maps. There was certainly time for Lupe to get to Calumet Ridge, and it was a very nice day out of the wind. SPHP ate some carrot sticks and pondered. Lupe wanted to hide right here until the coast was clear. The problem was, the coast wasn’t going to clear until it got too dark for target practice.

Lupe normally loves all of her Black Hills explorations, but she wasn’t having any fun now. She was convinced there was mortal danger all around. Her worries were unfounded, but there was no way to convincingly convey that to her. No reason to make her suffer. Time to turn around. Lupe would make it to Calumet Ridge another day, when target practice wasn’t in such vogue.

Lupe wasn’t relieved of her fears until she was back over to the E side of the NW ridge coming down from Silver Mountain. When she reached the G6 (12:09 PM, 50°F), she hopped right in ASAP! Turns out there are worse things than being bored – like fearing for your life!

It had been a very short Black Hills expedition, barely 3 hours, but Lupe did climb Silver Mountain. About half an hour after Lupe got home, Guille showed up unexpectedly. She brought a lot of food with her, including a beautiful big ham. Lupe and SPHP gorged on ham. Life was good.

SPHP was certain Lupe was completely stuffed when she started taking pieces of ham out to the back yard to bury them for future feasts. Carolina Dogs think ahead, you know!

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Seattle & Puget Sound, Washington (8-20-12)

Day 13 of Lupe’s 2012 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast.

Today, Lupe was going to see the ocean for the first time ever! Well, not the broad expanse of the open sea, but she was at least going to see Puget Sound in Seattle. Lupe was nearly to Seattle already!

First things first, though. Lupe’s day started with a visit to a dog park along the Cedar River in Renton, WA just to get some exercise and sniff the morning air. The dog park turned out to be long and narrow, as it followed the Cedar River. There wasn’t any access to the river itself, which flowed down in a steep narrow gorge. A bike path went through the park. Lupe had to be careful. Bikers whizzed silently by with some frequency.

Even though the dog park was in the city, it was cool, shady and not too crowded. Trees and blackberry bushes grew along the bike path. There were grassy areas where Lupe could run. Lupe searched the trees for squirrels with some success. In the meantime, Lanis and SPHP discussed where to go next. Lanis was interested in seeing the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle.

Seattle, WA - a different type of wilderness than Lupe is used to. — Seattle, WA – a different type of wilderness than Lupe is used to.

The Washington Park Arboretum covers 230 acres. A wide variety of trees, bushes, flowers and plants of all types were growing in great profusion. Lupe, Lanis and SPHP wandered the pathways looking at the displays. It wasn’t long before SPHP noticed that Lupe was stopping frequently to lick her left front paw. On examination, there was a little round circle on her biggest pad. Lupe had stepped on a blackberry thorn back at the dog park in Renton.

The Washington Park Arboretum had many beautiful plants and flowers. — The Washington Park Arboretum features many beautiful plants and flowers.

Lupe’s sore paw put an end to touring the Washington Park Arboretum. Lupe needed help getting that blackberry thorn out of her paw! At a Safeway store, SPHP bought tweezers and a set of needles. SPHP operated on Lupe’s paw. Lupe was very cooperative. She clearly understood that SPHP was trying to help her. Unfortunately, at first SPHP didn’t seem to be making any progress removing the thorn.

Suddenly, with a little flick of the needle, the blackberry thorn popped out. It came out all in one piece, leaving a small round hole in Lupe’s pad. Her paw wasn’t sore anymore. She quit licking it, and forgot all about it. A few days later, when SPHP examined her paw, there was no sign of the hole where the thorn had been.

Once the painful blackberry thorn was removed, it was time to go see Puget Sound. Lupe saw the ocean for the first time at Golden Gardens Park.

There was a nice beach at Golden Gardens Park, but no dogs were allowed on it. Lupe saw the ocean, but she didn't get to swim or wade in it, or even run along the beach. — There was a nice beach at Golden Gardens Park, but no dogs were allowed on it. Lupe saw the ocean, but she didn’t get to swim or wade in it, or even run along the beach.

Ravens were flying around looking for tidbits on the lawn near the parking area where the Element was parked. Lanis became interested in feeding them. The ravens seemed to like graham crackers. Lanis’ flock of ravens grew rapidly. Seagulls noticed the action and started joining in.

Ravens and seagulls wander the lawn near Lanis' Honda Element looking for tidbits. — Ravens and seagulls wander the lawn near Lanis’ Honda Element looking for tidbits.

Lanis started feeding the ravens graham crackers.

Lanis' flock started growing rapidly. — Lanis’ flock started growing rapidly.

The decimation of Lanis’ graham cracker supply led to a loss of interest by his flock of followers, which soon abandoned him. Although Lupe hadn’t been allowed on the beach, she had at least seen the ocean. Lupe had to be content with that for the time being. Maybe it was time to check out the Space Needle?

Lupe saw the Space Needle, but there wasn’t any open parking nearby. Lanis was ambivalent about paying to go up in the Space Needle, anyway. Carolina Dogs aren’t generally that interested architecture, although Lupe would have liked the view from the top. SPHP was pretty certain the view would have been fabulous. However, since Lupe probably would have been prohibited from going, and there didn’t seem to be any place to park the Element, Lanis drove on.

It had been 5 days since Lupe’s first experience with the luxury of motel life back in Bozeman, MT. Lanis and SPHP both needed to get cleaned up, and were looking forward to soft beds again. Lupe certainly wasn’t going to object! Soon Lupe was checked into a motel in Tacoma. Now that she had a better idea what to expect, Lupe acted like living in a motel was the most natural thing in the world.

In the evening, Lupe, Lanis and SPHP went to a park. There was a big pond, trees fully equipped with squirrels, and a very spacious lawn for Lupe to race around on. The park was a popular place. Lots of people and other dogs were around. Lupe played Frisbee with Lanis and SPHP. Sometimes Lupe invited herself to play Frisbee with other people when their Frisbees strayed conveniently close. The sun set. It grew dark. Time to head back to the motel for a long luxurious snooze.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 106 – Smith Mountain and Flag Mountain (11-28-14)

Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving. The day everyone celebrates being totally over-stuffed with delicious turkey and all the trimmings by spending a fortune Christmas shopping online or at the mall. Well, not quite everyone. American Dingoes neglect their patriotic duty to keep the economy humming. They prefer to go on adventures instead!

At 10:06 AM (50°F), SPHP parked the G6 at the Newton Lake (a pond, really) trailhead a few miles NW of Hill City just off Deerfield Road. Time to start working off a few zillion calories! The N end of Smith Mountain (5,897 ft.) was immediately to the W. Lupe couldn’t just go W, though, to get there. The Newton Fork of Spring Creek, too big to simply leap across, was in the way.

Lupe and SPHP crossed Deerfield Road and got on the Mickelson Trail heading WNW. The trail was covered with 6″ of snow. Lupe and SPHP trudged along, burning calories already. The trail soon crossed Newton Creek at a very nice bridge. 0.5 mile after Lupe got on the trail, she was a little N of the N end of Smith Mountain. Lupe and SPHP left the Mickelson Trail, climbed up the embankment to Deerfield Road, and crossed over to the S side of the highway.

Smith Mountain was the first of 3 peakbagging objectives Lupe had for the day. The other two, Flag Mountain (5,896 ft.) and Campaign Hill (5,800 ft.), were both S of Smith Mountain. Smith Mountain is a nearly mile long ridge running N/S. Lupe and SPHP started climbing the slope at the N end of the ridge. There was quite a lot of deadfall timber to work past, and snow everywhere, too. By the time Lupe reached the first little saddle where she could see over to the W side of the mountain, the sun was so warm SPHP had to stop and take off a jacket.

Lupe gained the top of the ridge close to the highest point at the very N end of Smith Mountain. If there had been fewer trees blocking the view, she would have gone to the very top of the N high point to take a look at Lowden Mountain (6,055 ft.) a mile to the N. Instead, Lupe headed S along the ridge looking for the true summit of Smith Mountain. She came to a couple of high spots definitely higher than the N high point. SPHP thought the second one she came to was likely the true summit.

Lupe at the 2nd high point S of the northernmost high point on Smith Mountain.

Lupe continued S along the Smith Mountain ridge. This part of the forest had been thinned before the pine bark beetle infestation started. There was far less deadfall timber to contend with. The remaining trees were healthier. More sunlight could reach the ground between them, so there wasn’t nearly as much snow around. It was far easier to move along, and Lupe and SPHP caught better glimpses of the views to E.

The ridge started angling a little more to the SSE. After having lost some elevation, Lupe was climbing again. As Lupe went higher and higher, SPHP began to realize that Lupe hadn’t actually reached the true summit of Smith Mountain yet; it was still ahead.

Lupe didn’t have very far to go to reach it. Soon she was sniffing around much bigger rock formations at the true summit of Smith Mountain. The highest rocks were so huge, she couldn’t actually get up on top of them, but she climbed up almost as high. SPHP lifted her up so she could put her front paws on the highest rock, just a foot or two below the very highest point, which was out of reach to the W.

Lupe at the true summit of Smith Mountain. She climbed higher than shown here, and SPHP lifted her up so her paws could touch the big rocks within just a foot or two of the very top. That was close enough! The American Dingo was claiming a peakbagging success! Dingoes are practical, not purists. Photo looks W.

From the true summit, Lupe and SPHP continued only a little way farther SSE along the ridge before turning more to the SSW to start losing elevation. Lupe stayed high enough on the mountain to avoid a couple of draws that drained W. Eventually the terrain sloped more to the SSW. Lupe and SPHP headed down.

Suddenly there was the sound of gunfire! Hunters were about. Lupe was instantly alarmed. She insisted on stopping. SPHP found a dry spot. Lupe and SPHP took a break just sitting on the pine needles on the forest floor. Lupe wasn’t hungry, but SPHP ate a tangerine and a few carrot sticks. The gunfire had come from quite some distance to the S or SW.

A little while after the gunfire ended, SPHP was ready to move on. Reluctantly, Lupe tagged along close by. Almost as soon as Lupe started off again, SPHP spotted a road ahead. SPHP didn’t realize it at the time, but this was USFS Road No. 386.1B. Lupe reached it at a bend at the NE corner of a big clearing. She could follow the road W or S. Lupe and SPHP headed S in the direction of Flag and Campaign mountains. There was quite a bit of snow and ice gradually melting on the road.

Eventually, No. 386.1B began turning E to go around the S end of Smith Mountain. Lupe left the road continuing S. Before long, she reached a big field extending E/W down in the Patterson Creek valley. Lupe crossed the field. Patterson Creek meandered along the S side of the field. It had plenty of water in it, and was flowing along quite nicely. Fortunately, the creek was just small enough to leap over. Both Lupe and SPHP made it across without difficulty.

Near the S side of Patterson Creek was a snowy road going E/W. A quick check to the W revealed a dead end. The road went farther E following the Patterson Creek valley downstream. Lupe went just a little way E on the road, before turning S to start the climb up Flag Mountain. There was quite a bit of snow on the ground here, and some deadfall timber, too. Lupe succeeded in avoiding most of the snow and some of the deadfall timber by climbing up a little ridge approaching Flag Mountain from the NNE.

The last 200 feet of elevation gain up the N slope of Flag Mountain was different. It was fairly steep, full of snow and choked with deadfall. Lupe had lots of time to sniff around in the shattered forest while SPHP struggled up the mountain. Meanwhile, the sunnier skies Lupe enjoyed earlier in the day disappeared. A cold breeze started up out of the WNW. The mood had turned a bit gloomy by the time Lupe and SPHP made it to the top of Flag Mountain.

The summit area was a little surprising. It was as big as several houses, and mostly level. The biggest part was toward the E where the ground was mostly grassy, with trees along the N and NE perimeters. The very highest point was near the W end, where the summit was much rockier and narrower. The rocks weren’t very large. Lupe hopped up on top for a look around. There were quite a few trees around, but she could see Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) to the SE.

Lupe reaches the summit of Flag Mountain. Photo looks SE toward Harney Peak.

Harney Peak (L) with a little help from the telephoto lens.

The most wide open views from Flag Mountain were toward the E and S from the larger E portion of the summit area. There were a few bushes, but no trees along the SE perimeter to block the view. The most impressive view was SE toward Harney Peak, but Lupe also had a pretty good view off to the ENE toward Five Points (6,221 ft.).

Harney Peak from Flag Mountain. Photo looks SE.

Five Points is the wavy ridge on the R. Privately named False North Point is the pointy peak on the L. Looking ENE from Flag Mountain. — **Five Points** is the wavy ridge on the R. Privately named False North Point is the pointy peak on the L. Looking ENE from Flag Mountain.

Lupe had now climbed 2 of her 3 peakbagging goals for the day, Smith and Flag Mountains. Her 3rd goal, Campaign Hill was supposed to be just 0.5 mile S of Flag Mountain, but at first glance, SPHP did not see it. After looking more carefully from the SE edge of the Flag Mountain summit, SPHP saw the E end of a low forested hill to the S. It seemed too low to be Campaign Hill, but after consulting the maps again, that had to be it.

Campaign Hill wasn’t very far away, but the S slope of Flag Mountain was too steep to go directly down that way. SPHP got cold feet. No, really, truly cold feet. SPHP’s old boots leaked badly. After tramping around for hours in melting snow, SPHP’s feet were totally sopping wet. They had been that way essentially the whole day. Now, standing around on Flag Mountain in the cold breeze, SPHP’s feet felt like they were freezing up.

The sun was low in the sky, but there were still a couple of hours left before sunset. Lupe and SPHP hadn’t gone all that far as the crow flies, but it had taken a long time to get to Flag Mountain with all the snow and deadfall timber along the way. It might take quite a while to get back, too. SPHP needed to start moving to get the circulation going again. Decision time.

Well, no sense risking frostbite. Campaign Hill would still be there another day. Lupe and SPHP started slowly back down the N slope of Flag Mountain through the snow and deadfall timber again. Lupe went all the way back down the mountain to the Patterson Creek valley again.

Looking W up the Patterson Creek valley on the way back to the G6.

Lupe and SPHP crossed Patterson Creek and went over to the N side of the field. Since there was no need to climb Smith Mountain again, Lupe and SPHP followed the fence along the edge of the field heading W up the valley to see what was there. The field branched out into two even bigger fields, one to the SW and one to the NW. Two big spruce trees stood near an old abandoned cabin where the fields met. It was a pretty spot.

Lupe continued along the NE edge of the field heading N along the fence line. The field soon divided again. One arm of it went off to the W. The other arm turned and went N a long way. SPHP could see a home way up toward the far N end. The fields were probably private property. Lupe and SPHP decided to angle NNE through the forest, hoping to find USFS Road No. 386.1B again somewhere W of Smith Mountain.

Lupe did find No. 386.1B again near the big clearing where she had first reached it earlier in the day on the way to Flag Mountain. This time, Lupe followed No. 386.1B going N. The road wound around a little, but most of the time made steady progress to the N. Along the way, Lupe was exploring new territory W of Smith Mountain. She saw deer and squirrels in the forest, so she was having some fun.

After a little while, SPHP saw an intersection up ahead. As Lupe got close to the intersection, her fun suddenly ended. A shot rang out very close by. Hunters again! This time much, much closer. Lupe wanted to hide near a big tree close to the intersection. SPHP complied. Several more shots rang out. SPHP knew Lupe wasn’t going anywhere until they stopped.

Ten minutes of silence went by. SPHP headed for the intersection. Lupe didn’t want to go, but was scared to be left behind. The side road was marked No. 386.1F. It went NNE and looked like a shortcut back to the G6 compared to No. 386.1B, which would take a very long way around to the NW. From the intersection, SPHP saw the hunter’s pickup truck parked not too far away along No. 386.1F.

Another shot rang out. Lupe and SPHP retreated SW to a big rock. SPHP sat and looked at maps, while Lupe huddled as close as she could get. The maps showed it would have been faster to take No. 386.1B around the E side of Smith Mountain from Patterson Creek. Too late for that! No. 386.1F was definitely a shortcut back to the G6 from here. It would save at least a mile compared to staying on No. 386.1B.

After it had been quiet for a while again, Lupe and SPHP returned to the intersection and started NNE on No. 386.1F. Within a few minutes, Lupe was past the hunter’s pickup truck. The road was snowy and icy. There were lots of tracks in the snow. There must have been quite a few hunters. Lupe saw a couple of them to the E higher up on Smith Mountain. One waved. SPHP waved back, but did not stop. No more shots were heard.

No. 386.1F led down into a big draw NNW of Smith Mountain. Lower down, the road became so choked with deadfall timber, Lupe and SPHP left it. The mountain slopes seemed easier going than the road. The sun set. For just a few minutes, there was a beautifully colored sky to the SW.

It was 4:59 PM (41°F), and getting pretty dark by the time Lupe and SPHP reached the G6 again. SPHP’s feet were still cold, but moving on the long march back had helped. They weren’t as cold as they had been standing around on top of Flag Mountain. Carolina Dogs have great circulation. SPHP felt Lupe’s paws. They were practically burning hot! It felt good just holding them! Lupe just grinned.

Sunset from down in the draw along USFS Road No. 386.1F near the NW end of Smith Mountain.

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