4-23-21, late morning – It was the shrillest, happiest, most enthusiastic greeting ever! Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea, and Cousin Dusty from Colorado could scarcely get in the door or be heard above the din. The Carolina Dog was in a complete frenzy of joy and excitement! Lupe knew what their arrival meant – good times ahead!
Cousin Dusty arrives for a visit.
Festivities started off with a quick trip to Qdoba’s for take-out, and a visit to Grandma’s, where Lupe and Dusty each enjoyed a Busy Rib Hide.
After lunch, Aunt Andrea and Grandma were going shopping. Uncle Joe did not disappoint. How about a romp in the hills? A suggestion very well received by the pack!
Where to, was the immediate question? The day was breezy and gray. Barely above freezing, it was cold for late April. Furthermore, Cousin Dusty would be 15 in June, and was recovering from surgery to remove a tumor. She was doing well, but something not terribly strenuous was in order. SPHP suggested an easy trek along Rapid Creek.
4-23-21, 1:30 PM, Silver City trailhead – Out of the wind down in scenic Rapid Creek canyon, Deerfield Trail No. 40 was the perfect solution! The trail was easy to follow and wound upstream with minimal elevation gain. Dusty could go as far as she wanted to, or turn back at any time.
Heading W from Silver City on Deerfield Trail No. 40.
Early on there was a nice view of Silver Peak(5,810 ft.).
Silver Peak (L). Photo looks SW.
The trail passed through forest, and along stretches of Rapid Creek. It even went by a Dingo Cave.
Lupe and Cousin Dusty by Rapid Creek.Uncle Joe and Cousin Dusty from the Dingo Cave.
Lupe had been here many times before, but today there was something new to show off to her guests from Colorado. 3 bighorn sheep were up on a steep slope overlooking the trail. One wore two tags, No. 353 and No. 354, plus a radio collar.
Bighorn sheep.
Cousin Dusty was doing great! In fact, she was having such a grand time that she often led the way, even doing some off-trail exploring. As the trek continued, Dusty crossed several more bridges over Rapid Creek. Eventually, the sky darkened further. It began to snow.
Hiking with Uncle Joe.One of several bridges over Rapid Creek.On a remnant of a mysterious man-made wall or support.Dusty leading the way across another bridge.
Could have been November! Snowflakes filled the air, drifting silently lower. After passing Stewart Gulch, Uncle Joe called a halt. Probably far enough for Dusty. A break was taken. SPHP shared chocolate coconut bars with everyone, and Uncle Joe provided Kind bars.
Rapid Creek not far from the point of farthest advance.Dusty relaxing on the snow.
The bighorn sheep were still there on the way back, they’d hardly moved at all. Snowed the whole time, but it was too warm for any of it to stick. The return seemed to go fast. Cousin Dusty was still leading when the trailhead appeared ahead. (3:35 PM, 36ºF)
Heading back.
4-24-21, 10:30 AM, 45ºF, Horse Creek Road – Gray and cold earlier, just like yesterday, but the clouds were breaking up now! Sunny, getting warmer, and not too windy. A bit muddy, but everyone was in a good mood while setting out on USFS Road No. 243.2J.
Heading down Horse Creek valley. Photo looks SSW.Crossing Horse Creek. Photo looks SSW.
No. 243.2J led to a junction with USFS Road No. 669 near a pond that had been frozen over the last time Lupe was here a little over a month ago. Not so today! Cousin Dusty decided to take a dip.
By the pond. Joe and Dusty over on USFS Road No. 669. Photo looks SW.Dusty in the pond.
Although the pond still had to be mighty cold, Dusty showed no sign of being chilled when she emerged. She went right back to leading the way on USFS Road No. 669 as it headed SE up a valley.
Heading SE on USFS Road No. 669.
No. 669 topped out at a broad saddle 0.6 mile past the pond. Peak5520, an objective chosen for its excellent views and because Cousin Dusty would be able to climb it, was just 0.2 mile NE.
At the saddle with Peak 5520 in the background. Photo looks NE.
Could have chosen a tougher peak! Dusty had no problem at all. Soon everyone was congregated at the top of the mountain.
Heading up. Photo looks NNE.Joe and Dusty not too far from the top. Photo looks NE.With Uncle Joe & Cousin Dusty on Peak 5520. Photo looks NW.Cousin Dusty still peakbagging in the Black Hills at 14 years, 10.5 months!
Veterans of many trips over the years, Joe and Dusty were no strangers to the Black Hills. A number of peaks they had climbed before with Lupe were visible from Peak 5520, including Boulder Hill(5,331 ft.), Peak5917, Mount Warner(5,889 ft.), Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) and Custer Peak(6,804 ft.).
Fond memories on display in almost every direction!
Peak6070 (L) and Peak 5917 (R). Photo looks N.Mount Warner (L) and Black Elk Peak (R). Photo looks SSE.Mount Warner (L of Center), Peak5741 (R of Center), with Samelias Peak(5,856 ft.) (Center) between them. Photo looks SE.Lupe and Uncle Joe on Peak 5520. Five Points(6,221 ft.) (L). Photo looks SW.
Naturally, a chocolate coconut bar break, shared in by all, was taken to commemorate another successful Black Hills ascent. Then it was down Peak 5520’s S slope, a slightly different route back to USFS Road No. 669, with a brief stop to check out the still splendid views from some of the rock formations.
Uncle Joe starts the descent. Mount Warner (Center). Photo looks SE.On the rocks with Uncle Joe. Five Points (R). Photo looks SW.
4-24-21, 12:50 PM, Horse Creek Road, back at the G6 – Good times with Cousin Dusty and Uncle Joe! Two nice hikes in two days, but this was only a very quick trip for them. Although they’d arrived only 27 hours ago, bright and early tomorrow morning they would be on the road back to Colorado.
Still early afternoon, though, and Dusty was doing great! Would they consider spending a little longer in the hills before heading back to town? SPHP suggested lunch in Hill City, then another short outing.
And so it was. Lupe and Dusty rested up in the G6, while Joe and SPHP enjoyed a fabulous meal at the Alpine Inn. Then it was on to Burnt Fork Road and a hike to the Gold Mountain Mine.
At the Gold Mountain Mine. Lowden Mountain(6,055 ft.) (L). Photo looks SW.Joe reads one of 7 or 8 plaques while Dusty looks on.Cousin Dusty at the Gold Mountain Mine.
In the valley SE of the mine was another pond, considerably larger than the one on the way to Peak 5520. On the way back to the G6, Cousin Dusty couldn’t resist taking another dip.
Cousin Dusty in the bigger, more scenic pondSE of the Gold Mountain Mine. Union Hill(6,120 ft.) (Center). Photo looks E.
Then it was back to town to Grandma’s apartment where Aunt Andrea was playing cards with her, and where two lucky cousins got to enjoy Busy Rib Hides after another fun day together in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.
Busy Rib Hide time at Grandma’s apartment, 4-24-21
After that big storm last week, I never dreamed there would be so little snow up here, Loopster! We could have gone up to the high country, if I’d realized it was going to be practically snow-free.
Still can if you want to, SPHP, but this is fine with me.
Eh, I didn’t plan anything out for up there thinking the G6 wouldn’t even be able to get close. Maybe we should just go with the flow? You can knock out a section of the Deerfield trail today. We might even have time for a side excursion to Signal Knob(6,200 ft.) for some peakbagging fun!
You know I’m not picky, SPHP. Happy just to be here! If you are, too, let’s go! Don’t want to keep the early squirrels waiting!
Somehow I doubt an American Dingo is what the squirrels are hoping for, but onward! Puppy, ho!
Lupe was on it, anxious to make tracks and get in some long overdue sniffing action. Sprinting ahead, she left the Daugherty trailhead of Deerfield Trail No. 40 following USFS Road No. 182 W up Whitetail Gulch. Daugherty Gulch was 0.75 mile S of here, and why this wasn’t called the Whitetail trailhead instead of Daugherty had always been a mystery to SPHP.
However, it was more of a curiosity than a real mystery. Whatever the answer was, it made no difference at all to Lupe.
Waiting impatiently at the Daugherty trailhead for the photo to get snapped so the day’s adventures can begin.Starting up Whitetail Gulch.
Not a cloud in the sky! Tiny sunlight diamonds sparkled on thin layers of frost and snow. The air was crisp and clean, summer’s smoky skies at long last a thing of the past. Deerfield Trail No. 40 wound gradually up Whitetail Gulch past ponderosa pine covered slopes and naked aspens. A tiny creek trickled in the ditch next to the roadbed. The road crossed it 10 minutes from the trailhead.
On USFS Road No. 182, which doubles as Deerfield Trail No. 40 in Whitetail Gulch.Loop returning from one of her romps ahead.At the tiny stream crossing 10 minutes from the trailhead.A long straight stretch bordered by white-barked aspens.
All of the terrain Deerfield Trail No. 40 would take Lupe through today was pretty easy stuff. Some variation, of course, but mostly a series of long gentle inclines and descents. A good 0.5+ mile from the trailhead, Whitetail Gulch curved S. The trail, however, continued W a little way before making a short steeper jog up to the N. Turning W again, the road leveled out, reaching a high point shortly after passing No. 182.1D, a side road on the R (N).
Just beyond this high point, the Deerfield Trail curved SSW as it began a gradual descent. Some open ground provided Lupe with her first views of nearby hills. Nothing too spectacular, but pleasant enough.
At the curve beyond the junction with USFS Road No. 182.1D. Photo looks SW.
Lupe was soon past the open grassy region. The trail now dipped more steeply down into a shady canyon, entering a different drainage. At the bottom, the road crossed Crooked Creek, which was considerably larger than the tiny creek in Whitetail Gulch, but still a small stream. Paving blocks in Crooked Creek made for a trivial stream crossing.
Immediately beyond Crooked Creek, the road forked. A brown Deerfield Trail fiberglass wand was in sight ahead along the L branch. Going that way, Loop quickly came to a second Crooked Creek crossing, also blessed with paving stones.
At the first Crooked Creek crossing. Stay L at the road fork ahead!The second Crooked Creek crossing was only a few hundred feet farther.
Crooked Creek was a major low point. From here, Deerfield Trail No. 40 climbed steadily following the creek valley higher. Within 10 minutes, Lupe arrived at another place where the road forked. She stayed to the R entering a shaded, narrower portion of the valley. A snowy trek on a straight stretch led to a curve to the L where the road crossed Crooked Creek yet again, which this time flowed beneath it in a culvert.
Immediately beyond the culvert crossing, the road curved sharply R (NW), starting up a hill at a steeper pace. However, Deerfield Trail No. 40 parted from the road at this curve. SPHP nearly missed the trail as it headed off to the L. The only sign was 25 feet from the road where a big ponderosa pine had a metal “40” diamond nailed to its trunk, and a pink ribbon could be seen behind it flapping in the breeze.
Heading W up the S side of the Crooked Creek valley after the 2nd stream crossing.Looper at the fork 10 minutes W of the 2nd Crooked Creek crossing. Stay to the R here!By the big ponderosa pine with the 40 diamond and pink ribbon. The trail has just left the road 25 feet back and is now a single track. Don’t miss this turn! Photo looks SW.
Deerfield Trail No. 40 now continued SW up Crooked Creek as a single track. At first, the single track looked a little like an abandoned ATV trail, but soon lost that characteristic as it promptly entered a narrow, V-shaped valley. The shady forest seemed dank and dark, but the trail was easy to follow.
Before long, Lupe came to another creek crossing. This one was a bit of a mess. A mostly frozen-over pool of water was surrounded by deadfall and tree trunks that had been cut to clear the trail, but which were still crowding the crossing. The ice wasn’t thick enough to be trusted, and getting past this little spot was more trouble than it ought to have been. On the far side, SPHP had to crawl under a downed spruce, but the Carolina Dog enjoyed plenty of clearance.
As it turned out, Loopster came to 3 of these stream crossings in quick succession. None were significant obstacles, but they did slow SPHP down, which admittedly doesn’t take much.
First of the 3 Crooked Creek crossings that came in rapid succession.Second crossing. The log next to Lupe would have made this one a cinch, if it hadn’t been icy.
Shortly after Lupe passed the third stream crossing, the valley turned S and began to open up. The single track reached an old forest service road again, which continued up the valley at an easy pace, crossing Crooked Creek one last time at a point where the stream was a simple rock hop, almost a step-across.
The old road eventually began curving R (W), and soon arrived at a 3-way junction at a sunny clearing. Another 3-way junction was just 150 feet away up a hill to the S. A check of SPHP’s maps showed that all Lupe had to do was continue straight W on a road clearly marked as USFS Road No. 443.
The valley opens up after the 3 rapid succession stream crossings. Loop is approaching a final easy Crooked Creek ford just ahead. Photo looks SSW.Still following Crooked Creek higher, but we won’t have to cross it again! Photo looks SW.2 different 3-way junctions in this area. Stay straight W on No. 443! Photo looks WSW.
No. 443 headed W from the junction, then gradually curved NW. What was left of Crooked Creek was still on the L (S) side of the road, but was now largely reduced to a strip of mucky terrain with only a little free flowing water among tufted grasses. A little after No. 443 turned NW, Lupe reached an unmarked fork.
Directly ahead, a grassy slope lay between the two choices, either a road to the R (N) which went uphill into an area where several trees had pink plastic ribbons tied around them, or a road to the L (W).
The road to the L looked more heavily trafficked, as though it might be a continuation of No. 443. After some debate, Lupe went that way. She soon came to a place where the hillside N of the road had been carved away by a bulldozer. In fact, the guilty bulldozer was still rusting away up in the scar. Orange signs in the trees nearby said this was an “active” mine site, but it sure didn’t look like it.
Part of the carved up hillside N of the trail. Photo looks E.Looking ahead. No. 443, if that’s what it still was, continues W. Photo looks W.
Continuing W past the inactive active mine site, the road soon curved NW again, leaving the last remaining trickle of Crooked Creek behind for good. Lupe came to a 3-way junction in a large clearing. A tree on the E side of this junction had a 40 diamond nailed to it. The positioning made it look like this meant the road heading NE up a little hill was actually the Deerfield Trail, not the way Loop had just come.
Wondering if the road from the NE was a continuation of the branch to the R that Loopster had not taken at the last fork before the mine, SPHP led her up to the top of the little hill. Off to the L (N) was a somewhat higher ridge that looked like it might provide some distant views. The road kept going NE, instead of bending around to the R (S) like it should have if it was going to head back to that last fork.
Inconclusive. Didn’t really matter. SPHP was certain Lupe needed to go back down and take the road going SW. She sure didn’t need to be going NE. Might as well forget this for now. Maybe the Carolina Dog had taken a little shortcut by going past the mine, and maybe she hadn’t, but it was true that she hadn’t seen any 40’s along the road that went by the mine.
Lupe reached this junction from the R (SE). However, the 40 diamond on the pine at R seemed to indicate that this road to the NE (Center) had been the correct route. Photo looks NE.On a brief foray to the NE to see if this was the route Lupe should have been on. Result: inconclusive. Photo looks NE.
Lupe turned around, went back down the little hill, and continued SW past the 3-way junction. The road climbed gradually for a while, then leveled out. Was this the place? Nothing stood out, but then again, that was to be expected. There wouldn’t be anything to make it stand out. A brown fiberglass “40” wand confirmed Loopster was definitely on the Deerfield Trail again.
On the flat high ground. Photo looks SW.
A long time ago, the Carolina Dog had been this way. In fact, back in the early days of her Black Hills expeditions she had traveled both the entire Deerfield and Centennial trails, among the longest in the Black Hills. That was years before she had her very own adventure Dingo blog. In the last few years, Loop had revisited some sections of both trails, which was more or less what this expedition was all about, too.
Today’s re-exploration had all seemed like a completely new voyage of discovery. Nothing had triggered memories of having been here before until now. Yet a growing eerie feeling of long lost familiarity still wasn’t conclusive.
Keep an eye out, Loop. I think somewhere up here the trail veers off to the R, going downhill as a single track again. If I remember right, the turn is marked, but still easy to miss.
I’ll try, SPHP, but I’m sort of busy watching for squirrels and deer, too. Are we close to the turn you’re expecting, now?
Not sure. Suddenly feel like I’m in an ancient dream walking in a real, but long forgotten land. All I really remember is being up on a stretch of flat high country like this that didn’t offer any views, and subsequently missing the turn. That scarred hill and rusting bulldozer we passed now seem vaguely familiar, too, but I could be confusing all this with some other completely different place.
Well, that’s really helpful, SPHP! Let me know if your dream walk is due to turn into a nightmare somewhere up here. Think I’ll stick to the squirrels and deer in the meantime.
The march SW went on and on, just like SPHP “remembered” it would, but Lupe still didn’t come to anything definitely recognizable, and no single track trail appeared veering off to the R. Instead, Loop eventually came to a 3-way junction SPHP had no recollection of at all with USFS Road No. 429, which was marked with a brown wand and continued SW.
So here we are up in dreamland! Flat high ground, pine trees, no views, but an easy trek. Photo looks SW.So far, so good, but still no single track off to the R (NW)! Photo looks SW.Junction with USFS Road No. 429. (Near HP6006 on the topo map.) Photo looks SW.
No. 429 soon started dropping. Slowly at first, but Looper hadn’t gone far before she was losing elevation at a good clip. She came to a place where the road curved R (N) into a valley. SPHP called a brief halt to check maps, and take a little break. A building was off to the SW on a partially open hillside of mixed grasslands and pines.
Well, we’ve done it again, Looper.
Done what, SPHP?
Missed the turn onto the single track. No harm done, though. I suspect we’ll find it right around this bend. That grassy hillside with the building makes me think we’re getting close to Slate Prairie.
Off the official Deerfield Trail a bit, but getting close to Slate Prairie. Photo looks SW.
Loop wasn’t hungry, but SPHP ate an apple. Once it was gone, onward!
Apparently, the few brain cells that hadn’t suffered a memory dump were right. Continuing around the curve down into the valley to the NNW, Deerfield Trail No. 40 crossed the road only a few minutes from the rest spot.
By the section of single track trail Lupe’d missed. It provides a little shortcut compared to following USFS Road No. 429 around a bend to the S. Photo looks E.From USFS Road No. 429 (which Lupe is standing on), Deerfield Trail No. 40 continues as a single track up the ravine seen beyond her. Photo looks SW.
Leaving No. 429, Lupe turned WSW following a single track up a ravine. This ravine was the upper end of the Bittersweet Creek drainage, a very small stream at this point. The creek was a mucky mess where the trail first met it. Loop avoided crossing it, staying along the S bank for a little way, waiting until SPHP found an easy spot to leap over.
A use path on the N bank led up to a boulder where it merged with the official Deerfield Trail. The use path contained a hazard the official trail did not. Several strands of rusty barbed wire from a downed fence were hidden in the grass just before the boulder. Fortunately, Lupe did not get tangled in it.
An American Dingo forges ahead after successfully avoiding a barbed wire trap only a few feet from this rock. Photo looks SW.
Following the official trail up the ravine, Loop came to a flat region on the edge of Slate Prairie. Signal Knob(6,200 ft.) could now be seen 0.6 mile to the SSE.
Heading up the ravine. Photo looks W.Approaching Slate Prairie. Photo looks WSW.Signal Knob from Deerfield Trail No. 40. Photo looks SSE.
Signal Knob wasn’t impressive, merely a small pine-forested hill isolated out in the Slate Prairie grasslands. Lupe had been there before, more than 5.5 years ago. SPHP remembered a deadfall timber laden summit due to a severe pine bark beetle infestation.
Noon already, but Looper had been making fairly decent time. She was only a little over a mile from the Kinney Canyon trailhead, her minimum goal along the Deerfield Trail today. No more significant peaks were close to this section of the trail, so SPHP figured the Carolina Dog might as well pay Signal Knob another visit. The side trip would cost her an hour or so, but no more than that.
Leaving Deerfield Trail No. 40, Loopster struck out heading S across the rolling grasslands of Slate Prairie. After crossing a ravine containing what remained of tiny Bittersweet Creek, she passed through a big field leading to County Road No. 307. Ducking under a fence to cross the road, she was soon approaching Signal Knob from the NW.
Approaching Signal Knob. Photo looks SE.
The N end of Signal Knob was private property, but the S half was USFS land. Lupe circled S partway along the W slope before turning toward the summit. The entire W slope was a mess of deadfall and stickers, making what should have been a trivial romp higher a slow process.
Signal Knob is sort of a mess, but we knew that! Photo looks SE.
As expected, Signal Knob’s flat summit was still littered with deadfall, but patches of open ground existed, too. Despite the pine bark beetles’ work, enough trees were still standing to interfere with the views. The only really clear view was a nice one of Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) far to the SE. The last time Lupe had been here, it had still been Harney Peak.
Black Elk Peak (L of Center) from Signal Knob. Photo looks SE.Black Elk Peak with help from the telephoto lens.
12:29 PM, 55ºF, Signal Knob – A 10-15 mph breeze blew out of the W, but it was still nice up here for almost the end of October. SPHP was glad Lupe had returned to Signal Knob. However, if she was going to get as far along Deerfield Trail No. 40 as SPHP hoped, Loop couldn’t stay long.
Time enough for a relaxing light lunch, and that was about it. Taste of the Wild for Lupe, who was somewhat hungry now. Another apple for SPHP. A small chocolate coconut bar served as desert. Naturally, it got shared with the insistent sweet tooth Dingo.
Back on Signal Knob for the first time in more than 5.5 years. Photo looks NW.Relaxing a bit before pressing on. Photo looks S.
A pleasant 20 minutes, and it was time to go. At least the Carolina Dog had one minor peakbagging success to show for the day! Bidding Signal Knob farewell, Lupe started down the W slope again. The lower part wasn’t forested, and actually provided quite nice views of the E edge of the limestone plateau region off to the W.
South Castle Rock (Center) and Castle Rock (R of Center), both part of the same ridge. Nipple Butte (far R). Photo looks NW over Slate Prairie and more distant Reynolds Prairie with help from the telephoto lens.View to the SW from the lower W slope of Signal Knob.
Once down off Signal Knob, Lupe went NW intent upon getting back to Deerfield Trail No. 40 again. She didn’t return to it at the exact same spot she’d left it, but picked the trail up somewhat farther W where it crossed USFS Road No. 187.
In Slate Prairie, almost back to Deerfield Trail No. 40. Flag Mountain(6,937 ft.) (far L), Peak6962 (L), and White Tail Peak(6,962 ft.) (R) in the distance. Photo looks NW.Back at the Deerfield Trail where it crosses USFS Road No. 187. South Castle Rock (straight up from wand). Photo looks WNW.
From USFS Road No. 187, the trail left Slate Prairie heading W into the trees. Lupe soon came to a metal gate. At roughly 6,220 feet elevation, this gate was the highest point along the entire Deerfield Trail. From here the trail continued WNW on a long gradual descent. At the bottom, Lupe popped out onto County Road No. 307 again, the same road she’d crossed near Signal Knob.
On the other side of No. 307 was a big grassy clearing, site of the Kinney Canyon trailhead.
At the metal gate W of USFS Road No. 187. This is the high point of the entire Deerfield Trail. Photo looks W.Losing elevation after passing the gate. Photo looks WNW.Looking back from County Road No. 307. Photo looks ESE.At the Kinney Canyon trailhead. Photo looks W.
Not yet 2:00 PM, but close to it. Looper had met her minimum goals for this Black Hills expedition. Sure would be nice to continue far enough to link up with the Deerfield Lake Loop Trail No. 40L, though. Another mile would almost do it. SPHP actually hoped the American Dingo could get even farther than that.
Wha’dya think, Loop? How are you feeling?
Great! What’s up?
We can turn around here and call it a day, but want to keep going? Be kind of fun to go all the way to the Deerfield Reservoir dam and see the lake. On the other paw, the sun goes down mighty early these days. We won’t get back to the G6 until well after dark, if we do all that.
I’m having a blast! Let’s keep going! You brought the flashlight?
Yup. Extra batteries, too, if we need ’em.
So onward it was! From Kinney Canyon, the Deerfield Trail continued SW up a little valley, now as a road again. Shortly after the trailhead was out of sight, however, the trail veered off to the R as a single track. A steady climb eventually leveled out in a young pine forest.
SW of the Kinney Canyon trailhead, the Deerfield Trail again becomes a single track as it splits off here from a short stretch of road it had been following. “40” trail wand beyond Lupe. Photo looks W.In the young forest at the top of the next rise. Photo looks WNW.
A long descent was about to begin. Beyond the young pines, Lupe went through a second metal gate. Past the gate, she came to a big field. On the far side was a road. The last of the single track trail led over to it.
Last of the single track trail. The road leading to the junction with trail No. 40L is just ahead. Photo looks W.
Upon reaching the road, Lupe followed it R. It immediately entered the shade of a forested valley. The snowy road lost elevation more quickly than the single track had, but wasn’t steep. Winding W down this valley, Loopster came to a sign for the Deerfield Recreation Area. The junction with Lake Loop Trail No. 40L couldn’t be much farther.
A few more bends in the road, and there was the intersection at a small sunny clearing.
On the snowy road. Photo looks WNW.Entering the Deerfield Recreation Area. Photo looks NW.We’re getting close to the junction with Lake Loop Trail No. 40L now! Photo looks W.This is it! W end of the official Deerfield Trail No. 40. Of course, it links up with No. 40L here, which goes clear around Deerfield Lake. Photo looks SW.
A couple of signs were at the junction of No. 40 & No. 40L. One said Loop was now 7 miles from the Mystic Road trailhead, which is just another name for the Daugherty trailhead. The other sign said the Custer Trails trailhead, accessible from No. 40L, was 2 miles away.
W end of Deerfield Trail No. 40. The E end links up with Centennial Trail No. 89.Still at the junction, but on Deerfield Lake Loop Trail No. 40L now. Photo looks N.The second sign.
Only one more objective left! Lupe headed NW on Deerfield Lake Loop Trail No. 40L. Castle Creek wasn’t as far as SPHP remembered, only 0.33 mile. Another 0.33 mile past Castle Creek, and the Carolina Dog reached the top of the Deerfield Reservoir dam near its NW end.
Approaching Castle Creek below the Deerfield Reservoir dam. Photo looks NW.Deerfield Reservoir from the NW end of the dam. Photo looks SSW.
A cool W breeze swept across the lake. Trotting along the length of the dam, Lupe headed for a grassy region at its opposite SE end. Leaving the dam, SPHP walked along a steep slope below a fence, stopping to rest where as much of the lake was in view as possible. Loopster thought this slope was a little too steep, but SPHP helped her get comfortable.
Deerfield Lake from farther along the dam. Photo looks W.Looking back along the dam. Photo looks NW.The grassy slope. Photo looks W.
Tall strands of yellow grass danced in the wind. Sunlight glittered on Deerfield Reservoir as an unceasing parade of shimmering blue waves rippled into the dam’s rocky shore. Beyond the lake were ponderosa pine forested hills and ridges of the western Black Hills, dark green nearby, bluer in the distance. Other than the wind sighing in the pines, silence. Solitude.
Most of the rest of the Taste of the Wild disappeared. The last chocolate coconut bar vanished. Partially resting on SPHP’s lap, Lupe stayed a while, watching the waves.
3:11 PM, Deerfield Reservoir – Two hours until sunset. Nearly 8 miles to go. Better get with it! The American Dingo paused at the SE end of the dam for a final look, and was on her way.
Deerfield Lake.
The return was fun! Such a beautiful evening! Returning to Deerfield Trail No. 40, Lupe headed E. Long uphill and downhill stretches, but never very steep, and more downhill going this way than uphill. No rest breaks, no photo stops, no side trips, except a brief one that proved the road past the bulldozer and the inactive “active” mine site really was part of the official Deerfield trail.
Looper sniffed and explored to her heart’s content. In Slate Prairie, she saw cattle grazing in the fields N of Signal Knob. Later, she came upon several small groups of whitetail deer in the Crooked Creek valley.
Minus the stops, it all went by much faster than before, yet the last rays of sunlight vanished and dusk came on. A bright star appeared, most likely a planet, and as the darkness grew, a circular glow highlighted the black outlines of pines in the E.
Tomorrow was Halloween, and October’s second full moon – a blue moon. It was nearly full tonight. As the moon rose above the treetops, Deerfield Trail No. 40 became a mix of shadows and moonlight, where a homeward bound Carolina Dog roamed at will. (End 6:54 PM, 50ºF)
Signal Knob (R) from Deerfield Trail No. 40, Black Hills of South Dakota 10-30-20
