Deerfield Trail No. 40 – Page 2 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 256 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Daugherty Trailhead to Signal Knob & Deerfield Lake (10-30-20)

8:36 AM, 26ºF, Mystic Road, Daugherty trailhead, Deerfield Trail No. 40 –

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.

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.

Approaching **Slate Prairie**. Photo looks WSW.

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.

A number of peaks Loopster had been to before were in sight, including South Castle Rock (6,840 ft.), Castle Rock (6,783 ft.) and Nipple Butte (6,800 ft.).

**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), **Peak 6962** (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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 240 – Deerfield Lake Loop Trail No. 40L & Hat Mountain (11-14-18)

Deerfield Trail No. 40 – Map & Brochure

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 236 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Deer Creek to Silver City & Peak 5707 (10-6-18)

Start – 9:45 AM, 41 °F, at the Deer Creek trailhead 0.25 mile from Hwy 385 off Silver City Road

Oh, it was going to be a fabulous day! Blue skies and high thin clouds greeted Lupe upon arrival at the Deer Creek trailhead. The morning air was cool and fresh. Autumn colors were near their height of glory. The American Dingo was excited. Loop was anxious to hit the trail!

Ready to hit the spur trail leaving the Deer Creek trailhead on a glorious fall morning.

This was Lupe’s third time here in as many weekends. The first two times Lupe had been exploring segments of Centennial Trail No. 89. Two weeks ago she had reached this point after starting from the Rapid Creek trailhead 5.0 miles to the S. Last week she had started here and journeyed 3.8 miles N to the Pilot Knob trailhead.

The Carolina Dog certainly intended to continue her adventures along Centennial Trail No. 89, but not today. The Deer Creek trailhead is also the E end of Deerfield Trail No. 40. The far W end of this 23 mile long trail connects with the 11 mile long Lake Loop Trail that circles Deerfield Reservoir in the W central Black Hills.

The plan for the day was to head W on Deerfield Trail No. 40 only as far as the next trailhead at Silver City, a mere 3.7 miles away. That ought to leave enough extra time for a couple of side adventures to Peak 5707 and Pactola Reservoir, as well.

As soon as SPHP was ready, Lupe set out from the Deer Creek trailhead on the now familiar spur trail leading W up a slope. Five minutes on the spur got her to the main trail. Here she turned L, proceeded 100 yards S to Silver City Road, then crossed it. The trail continued S through pine forest to a minor pass about 0.5 mile from the Deer Creek trailhead.

This pass was where Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40 part ways. A sign marked the R turn Looper needed to take to head W toward Silver City.

Lupe at the junction of Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40. This junction is 0.5 mile from the Deer Creek trailhead where she’d started. Loopster headed W toward Silver City from here. Photo looks W.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 initially gained elevation as it headed W from the junction, but soon leveled out. Loop actually lost a bit of elevation as the trail subsequently dipped into a minor drainage. Off to the NE, Lupe could see Silver City Road again not too far down a slope. However, upon reaching the bottom of the drainage, the trail turned SW away from the road. Starting up the drainage Lupe passed between several brightly colored aspens.

Upon reaching this drainage, Deerfield Trail No. 40 follows it uphill. The American Dingo passed between these bright aspens near the start of the climb. Photo looks SW.

A steady climb up the rocky bottom of the drainage ensued as the trail gradually curved W. By the time Lupe was 0.5 mile from the junction with Centennial Trail No. 89, the drainage had faded away. At this point Lupe wasn’t far below the top of a nearby hill to the SW. Meanwhile, Deerfield Trail No. 40 was beginning to level out. Apparently the trail was about to swing around the N side of the hill.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 levels out here not far below the top of a hill to the SW (L). Lupe had already gained 300 feet of elevation from the junction with Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks WNW.

Although Lupe was merely off to a good start as far as getting to Silver City was concerned, the topo map showed she was already fairly close to one of her side objectives. Peak 5707 ought to be only 0.5 mile S of here. A faded remnant of a road entered a small meadow S of the trail. Maybe that was the way to go?

This small meadow next to Deerfield Trail No. 40 looked like a promising start toward Peak 5707. After crossing the meadow, Lupe climbed the forested slope seen on the R. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe abandoned Deerfield Trail No. 40 for the time being to begin her search for Peak 5707. She went S through the small meadow, then turned SW climbing the nearby forested hill. She quickly arrived up on a spacious, virtually flat summit, already at 5,520+ feet elevation.

Up on the flat 5,520+ foot elevation hilltop. Photo looks SW.

Loop headed SW on the broad hilltop until she caught sight of an even higher forested hill a little farther S. That was High Point 5600. Peak 5707 wasn’t in view yet, but ought to be beyond it. Looper lost 80 feet of elevation going down to the saddle leading to High Point 5600.

On the saddle leading to High Point 5600. Photo looks SSW.

After crossing the saddle, the easiest route up High Point 5600 seemed to be to curl around to and up the E slope. Before she even got to the top, Lupe could see Peak 5707 ahead.

From the upper E slope of High Point 5600, Lupe gets her first look at **Peak 5707** (L). Photo looks SSW.

Lupe briefly visited the highest rocks on High Point 5600 before turning S toward Peak 5707. This time she lost only 60 feet of elevation heading down to the saddle. Along the way she came to a couple of spots from which she had quite nice distant views toward the E and SE.

Looper could see both Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.), which she had been to only 2 weeks ago, and Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.). Loop had been to Thrall Mountain, too, but it was getting close to 4 years ago now.

**Peak 5707** (Center) from the upper S slope of High Point 5600. Photo looks S.

The closest distant hill on the L is **Perrin Mountain**. Beyond it a little to the R is **Thrall Mountain**. Photo looks SE on the way to **Peak 5707**.

Similar view zoomed in. Lupe’s ears point up at **Perrin Mountain**. **Thrall Mountain** is at Center. Photo looks SE.

The N slope leading to the top of Peak 5707 really wasn’t much of a climb. Lupe only needed to gain 150 feet of elevation, and the slope was only moderately steep. Due to lots of deadfall timber, it was harder than it should have been, though. Nevertheless, Lupe was soon perched at the true summit on the highest slanty rocks.

Due to the forest, the only really clear view was toward the NW. Close by, Lupe could see Peak 5707’s NW ridge. Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) was on the far horizon.

Success! Lupe at the summit of **Peak 5707**. **Custer Peak** is the distant high point at Center. Peak 5707’s NW ridge is in the foreground. Photo looks NW.

While Lupe had arrived at Peak 5707 from the N, the mountain’s main ridge runs NW/SE. This ridge was quite narrow at the true summit. Slanty rocks and scattered deadfall made the immediate area a bit of a hassle to maneuver on. Once Lupe and SPHP were satisfied with having seen the limited available views, the Carolina Dog set off toward flatter terrain to the SE less encumbered with obstacles.

Lupe discovered a nice, wide flat area only a foot or two lower than the true summit. It was a pleasant spot.

Only a little SE of Peak 5707’s true summit, Lupe found this nice flat area. It was only a foot or two lower than the actual high point, and much easier to move around on. Photo looks S.

The W end of Pactola Reservoir is only a mile S of Peak 5707. SPHP had hoped Lupe would have a nice view of the lake from up here. However, if there were any views, even this nice flat spot was too heavily forested to see them. Lupe and SPHP continued a short distance SE along the ridge hoping to discover a decent viewpoint.

Sure enough, the American Dingo came to a point along the SW edge of the ridge from which it was possible to see Silver City, Rapid Creek, and the far W end of Pactola Lake.

Looking SW from Peak 5707’s SE ridge. **Silver City** is below on the R. The far W end of **Pactola Reservoir** is on the L.

The topo map showed Peak 5707’s SE ridge extending another whole 0.5 mile to come within 0.5 mile of Pactola Reservoir. Maybe there were even better viewpoints somewhere along the way? Eh. Perhaps, but it seemed like a longer trek than SPHP really wanted to make away from Deerfield Trail No. 40 and Lupe’s other objectives. It was decided to explore Peak 5707’s shorter NW ridge instead.

Done with a short, brief exploration of a small part of Peak 5707’s SE ridge, Lupe heads back toward the summit on her way to the NW ridge. Photo looks NW.

Exploring the NW ridge turned out not to be such a hot idea. Most of the ridgeline proved to be a mess due to large amounts of deadfall. Even so, lots of trees were still standing. Lupe didn’t come to any grand views she hadn’t seen before. Fortunately, there were some areas that weren’t too hard to traverse. Lupe did make it out to the high point at the far NW end before turning around.

Looking back at Peak 5707’s summit from the NW ridge. Photo looks SE.

*Not much deadfall here, SPHP! Kind of like a super highway for you!* Photo looks NW.

*Can’t see a darn thing from here, either!* Loopster at the high point at the far NW end of the ridge. She turned around and went back from here. Photo looks NW.

Well, the views from Peak 5707 may have been a bit disappointing, but exploring is always fun. At a minimum, Lupe had scored a peakbagging success. The Carolina Dog headed SE back toward the summit along the NW ridge. Before she got there, Lupe left the ridgeline heading E toward the saddle leading to High Point 5600. Some of the aspen trees were loaded with golden leaves.

Even if there weren’t any dazzling distant views from Peak 5707, Lupe could still appreciate the golden leaves of the aspen trees.

Lupe could have taken a shortcut to Deerfield Trail No. 40 by going down a valley to the NNW before she even reached the saddle S of High Point 5600. However, SPHP thought maybe she should return to the exact same point where she had left the trail. That way Loop would get to see the entire trail, even if it got so late the return trip was in the dark.

So that’s what Looper did. She went back over High Point 5600 and the 5520+ foot hill, and all the way back down to the small meadow where she reached Deerfield Trail No. 40 again. As expected, a level stretch of trail took Lupe around the N side of the 5520+ foot hill, then turned SW.

Lupe back on Deerfield Trail No. 40 again as it rounds the N side of the 5520+ foot hill. Photo looks SW.

Once W of the 5520+ foot hill, Deerfield Trail No. 40 began to steadily lose elevation. At first Lupe was traveling through pine forest, but she soon came to a long stretch with many aspens mingled in that was quite beautiful this time of year.

As the trail wound SW, Lupe came to a long beautiful stretch of forest with many aspens mingled in among the pines.

*Sure is pretty along in here, SPHP. Hope it stays like this all the way to Silver City!*

So, where is this place on the map, SPHP? …. Remember when you were up at the high spot at the far end of Peak 5707’s NW ridge, Loop? I think we are just N of there now, but several hundred feet lower.

Looking up, SPHP eventually saw that Lupe was rounding the far NW end of Peak 5707’s NW ridge. Deerfield Trail No. 40 emerged from the aspens about this time and curved S. The forest was all pines now, with virtually no other vegetation. Pine needles covered the trail and littered the forest floor.

Lupe started having success finding squirrels to bark at. Most of the time she stayed busy roaming off trail eagerly looking for the next one.

After leaving the aspens behind, Deerfield Trail No. 40 wound S in a solid Ponderosa pine forest. Photo looks SSW.

*Well, those aspens were pretty, but when it comes to excitement, you just can’t beat squirrels!* Lupe had considerable success finding squirrels in the pine forest.

The trail wound around a bunch, but overall kept working its way S. Most of the time Lupe was still losing elevation, but after a while she came to level and even uphill sections, too. The pine forest went on and on. Lupe was somewhere on the lower W slopes of Peak 5707, but many hundreds of feet below the now unseen summit.

The pine forest finally began to open up. Grass appeared. Lupe had lost a lot of elevation. She would soon reach a gravel road leading to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground near Pactola Reservoir.

Grass appeared when the pine forest finally opened up. Loop had lost many hundreds of feet of elevation by now. Photo looks S.

If there weren’t so many squirrels down here as before, it didn’t matter. As Deerfield Trail No. 40 approached the gravel road to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground, Lupe spotted a new source of keen interest right across the road. Cows! Big, beautiful, black cows. So tempting!

Approaching the gravel road to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground, Lupe spotted a new source of interest on the other side. Big, beautiful, black cows! Photo looks SSW.

Don’t even think about it, Loopster! Be good! Leave those cows alone.

SPHP settled for 2 out of 3. Lupe was good. She didn’t chase the cows. Even after the trail crossed the road and she was mighty close to them. However, Loop sure did think about it. It was simply impossible not to. Just the look in that Dingo’s eyes made the cows decide the grass was greener farther up the valley as Lupe approached. A few decided there was some urgency in the matter, and set off at a lively trot.

Where the cows had just been, a rather rotten old tree trunk served as an official Deerfield Trail No. 40 bridge across a tiny creek.

The tempting cows departed of their own volition leaving Lupe in command of their field. She crossed the rotten tree trunk seen on the R, which still served as a bridge over a tiny creek. Photo looks SSW.

Beyond the creek, Deerfield Trail No. 40 headed SSW through the field to the base of a forested hillside. It continued in this direction with the hill on the W and the field to the E until beyond the hillside. The trail then turned W gaining elevation slowly as Lupe went through open forest and meadows.

After getting around the S end of a forested hill, Lupe follows the trail W through an area of meadows and open forest.

Lupe soon came to a short climb up and over a small ridge. On the other side, water was in sight at the bottom of a steep slope. Deerfield Trail No. 40 turned NNW heading down the slope. After losing most or all of the elevation Lupe had gained going over the little ridge, the trail turned W again as the terrain began to level out.

After crossing the small ridge on the L, the terrain leveled out. Rapid Creek flows into the W end of Pactola Reservoir on the far side of the wetlands on the R. Photo looks S.

The American Dingo was only 0.5 mile from Silver City now. Soon the red roof of the Silver City Community Hall was in sight beyond a field. Lupe was thrilled to see a magnificent herd of black cows munching away at the tall grass.

Nearing Silver City, Lupe was thrilled to see an even bigger and more magnificent herd of black cows ahead. **Silver Peak (5,810 ft.)** is in the distance. Photo looks SW.

To avoid the cattle as much as possible, SPHP led Loop along the lower SE side of the field near the edge of wetlands. Although the Carolina Dog didn’t bark and behaved quite nicely, the closest cows were unnerved by her predatory stares. Most returned to the safety of the larger herd.

The rest was easy. Deerfield Trail No. 40 took Lupe across the last part of the field to Silver City Road. Loopster briefly dropped by the Silver City Community Hall. From a lawn liberally decorated with cow pies, she had a great view back toward Peak 5707 off to the NE.

Lupe reaches Silver City. Photo looks SW.

At the **Silver City Community Hall**. Note the snazzy red roof. Photo looks W.

Looking back at **Peak 5707** (Center) from the Silver City Community Hall lawn. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.

On the other side of Silver City Road a scenic cliff was in view beyond Rapid Creek. Lupe wandered over for a closer look.

Rapid Creek is somewhere near the base of this scenic cliff downstream of Silver City. Photo looks SE.

A 0.5 mile level stroll to the Silver City trailhead was all that remained for Lupe to complete her Deerfield Trail No. 40 objective for the day.

Lupe on Silver City Road. The main part of Silver City is off to the L (S) on the opposite side of Rapid Creek (hidden by bushes). Deerfield Trail No. 40’s Silver City trailhead is still 0.5 mile away down the road on the R. Photo looks W.

Loop by Rapid Creek near the bridge to the main part of Silver City. Lupe didn’t need to cross this bridge. The Silver City trailhead is on this same (N) side of the creek farther along the road on the R. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe made it to the Silver City trailhead, just a wide spot at the end of a gravel road. Her mission accomplished, the Carolina Dog went a little farther exploring the near bank of Rapid Creek upstream to another bridge providing access farther up the canyon.

Lupe gets a drink from Rapid Creek near the Silver City trailhead. Photo looks ESE.

Exploring a little farther up Rapid Creek toward the next bridge. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe got up on the bridge over Rapid Creek. Deerfield Trail No. 40 crosses this bridge on its way farther up the canyon. This was it, though. Lupe wasn’t going any farther today.

The Carolina Dog had been this way before. In fact, long ago the Silver City trailhead and this same bridge had been the starting point for Lupe’s very first adventures in the Black Hills. Both of her Black Hills, SD Expeditions No. 1 & No. 2 had begun right here in January, 2012. Barely 2 years old then, Lupe had been so very excited by the mysterious Black Hills backcountry, and had such wonderful times! That was way back in the days before SPHP even thought to bring a camera.

A short distance beyond the Silver Creek trailhead, once again on the bridge over Rapid Creek to a life of adventures! Both of Lupe’s first two Black Hills, SD Expeditions had started right here way back in January, 2012.

It was mid-afternoon. This was a good place to take a break. Lupe curled up with a view of Rapid Creek by the end of the bridge. She had some Taste of the Wild, then spent a few minutes resting. Perhaps, like SPHP, she was reflecting upon those first adventures so long ago.

Taking a break near Rapid Creek where it all began once upon a time. Photo looks ESE.

Ten minutes only, before the American Dingo was ready for action again! Lupe and SPHP started back along the road. Loop would return to the Deer Creek trailhead retracing the same route along Deerfield Trail No. 40.

Leaving Silver City heading toward **Peak 5707** (Center) again. Photo looks NE.

On the way back, Lupe made two side trips off Deerfield Trail No. 40. First, she left the trail to visit the Jenny Gulch picnic ground. Here she had access to parts of the N shore of Pactola Reservoir. Lupe and SPHP spent a little time exploring the area.

Lupe reaches **Pactola Reservoir** at the lower end of Jenny Gulch. Photo looks ESE.

Overlooking part of the W end of **Pactola Reservoir** near Jenny Gulch. A squirrel has Lupe’s attention. Photo looks WSW.

**Pactola Reservoir** is the largest lake in the Black Hills. Only a small portion is in view here. Photo looks W.

Later on, as evening approached, Lupe left Deerfield Trail No. 40 again to attempt a second ascent of Peak 5707. Loopster used the exact same route she had taken this morning. It was cloudier and cooler out now than it had been earlier.

S of High Point 5600 on the way back to Peak 5707 for a 2nd time. Photo looks ESE.

Lupe succeeded in reaching Peak 5707 a second time. Sadly, a hoped for beautiful sunset wasn’t going to happen. Lupe and SPHP hung around for 20 minutes anyway, enjoying the solitude and limited views. Most of this time was spent relaxing on the flat area SE of the true summit.