Dusty – Page 2 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 301 – Sylvan Lake & the Custer State Park Buffalo Hunt (4-16-22)

11:48 AM, 32ºF, Sylvan Lake Picnic Area – Oh, the news was wonderful! Yesterday evening Cousins Dusty, Laddie, and Uncle Joe had arrived for a visit. Lupe was thrilled! The enthusiastic American Dingo knew what that meant – good times on joint expeditions in the Black Hills! The real question had been where to go? Cousin Dusty would be turning sweet 16 in less than 2 months, and wasn’t up to anything long or strenuous.

This morning, SPHP had suggested the loop trail around Sylvan Lake, a choice agreeable to all, but hadn’t taken the lake’s 6,145 foot elevation fully into account. Mid-April, but there was ice on the lake, snow on the ground, and a chill in the air as Lupe and her cousins set out from the picnic area for a counter-clockwise tour around the lake. It was so cold out that only a couple of Canadians were hardy enough to be hanging out down by the beach.

Setting out from the picnic area. Photo looks NW.

**Sylvan Lake** from near the beach along the N shore. Photo looks SW.

Beyond the beach, the trail wound NW past massive granite formations and improbable spires. Going over a bit of a rise, another part of Sylvan Lake came into view. Cousin Dusty was doing great! She even led the way, happy to be back in the Black Hills again.

Among the granite formations. Photo looks N.

Approaching the **N end of Sylvan Lake**. Cousin Dusty (R) in the lead. Photo looks NW.

Going around a bay, the trail climbed onto rock formations overlooking Sylvan Lake. On this cold, overcast morning, the scene was mostly gray and white. Pines added a green too subdued to break a wintery mood.

The N bay from up on the rocks. Photo looks SE.

Joe, Dusty, and Laddie got a head start as the trail turned SW descending into Sunday Gulch. Protected from the sun by towering rock formations, there was even more snow down here. Water seeped from a big crack in the granite.

Joe and Laddie start down into **Sunday Gulch**. Photo looks SW.

Laddie, Joe, and Dusty in **Sunday Gulch**.

Once down in Sunday Gulch, it was only a short distance to a junction with Sunday Gulch Trail No. 6 near the Sylvan Lake dam. The cloud cover thinned, and the sky brightened. Suddenly, winter seemed to be losing its grip. A hint of spring was in the air.

Joe, Laddie, and Lupe below the dam. Photo looks SE.

Sunday Gulch Trail No. 6 is scenic, but steep. Cousin Dusty wasn’t going to be able to take on a side excursion like that. In fact, she had a bit of a problem with the next section of the Sylvan Lake trail. Beyond the dam, the trail turned S going up a series of snowy steps that led into a narrow passage between vertical rock walls.

The passage was a sheet of ice! A minor rise near the end was so slick that Dusty could scarcely get up it. Repeatedly losing traction, she kept sliding back. Joe had to brace himself between the rock walls to try to give her a helping paw.

Joe, Dusty, and Laddie head up the steps. Photo looks S.

Joe trying to help Dusty up the super slick ice.

After a couple of comical attempts, Dusty got the extra help she needed. Emerging from the narrow passage at lake level near the dam, the rest of the path around the lake was a cinch. Flat as a pancake, the trail ran right along the SW shore nearly all the way to the S end of the lake.

Near the dam (unseen off to the L) after successfully negotiating the icy passage. Photo looks NE.

Looking NW back toward the dam (L beyond Joe).

Didn’t take long at all to get there.

Laddie, Joe, and Dusty at the **S end of Sylvan Lake**. Photo looks NNW.

The massive granite formation near the dam. Photo looks NW.

The scenic jaunt around Sylvan Lake was almost complete. Not much farther back to the picnic area now. Cousin Dusty seemed perplexed. Other than the one icy spot that everyone had had a little trouble with, she was doing fine. The adventure couldn’t be over already, could it?

At 15 years, 10 months, Cousin Dusty ready for more Black Hills action!

Joe proposed extending the trek with a stroll along Needles Highway No. 87, which remained closed to vehicles for the season. After 0.33 mile, a shortcut was taken up to the high point of Little Devils Tower Trail No. 4 between the trailhead and the picnic area back at Sylvan Lake.

Heading up to Trail No. 4 after leaving the Needles Highway. Photo looks SW.

A log served as a bench during a rest break. The dogs shared a chocolate coconut bar, while Joe and SPHP munched on apples and Kind bars. The party broke up after Laddie barked at hikers on the trail.

The return to the Sylvan Lake picnic area on Little Devils Trail No. 4 was quick and easy. Downhill all the way!

On Little Devils Trail No. 4, about to head back to the Sylvan Lake picnic area.

1:45 PM – When everyone got back to the RAV4, there was still plenty of time to do something more today, but that was up to Uncle Joe and his assessment of how Cousin Dusty was faring.

Dusty appeared to be fine. SPHP suggested Custer State Park’s wildlife loop. Dusty might enjoy exploring the rolling grasslands. Would take a while to drive there, with a good chance of seeing buffalo somewhere along the way.

A buffalo hunt, whether from the RAV4 or out on the prairie, sounded like a great idea! Lupe was clearly in favor, and no one else seemed to have any objections.

2:36 PM – Buffalo had already been seen by the time Uncle Joe parked at a curve along CSP Road No. 2 about 0.33 mile N of Racetrack Butte. Lupe had given her cousins live demonstrations of how to bark ferociously at bison from the safety of the RAV4. Laddie was interested, but hadn’t quite picked up on it yet.

Dusty was ready for another outing, if it wasn’t a long one. The plan was to climb a nearby flat-topped ridge hoping to spot more buffalo from a safe distance.

Setting off on the Custer State Park buffalo hunt! Photo looks SW.

Upon reaching the top of the ridge, the buffalo hunt became an instant success. Two buffalo were relaxing on the prairie up here. Not exactly a thundering herd, but they were impressive. Upon seeing an American Dingo, both got up to keep an eye on Lupe, but didn’t really do anything except stand there.

*I’m thinking buffalo burgers! How about you, SPHP? …. I’m thinking you’re close enough, Loop. Stay here!*

Both buffalo soon decided they might as well eat grass. Sensible enough, but not terribly exciting. A lone pine stood near the SE end of the ridge. Ought to be a great view of Racetrack Butte (4,320 ft.) and quite a bit of surrounding territory from over there. Might as well check it out.

Dusty, Laddie, and Joe up on the ridge. **Racetrack Butte** (L). Photo looks SSE.

The hunch paid off! From the end of the ridge there was a terrific view of a whole herd of buffalo in the valley next to Racetrack Butte.

Gazing down on the buffalo herd. **Racetrack Butte** (L). Photo looks SE.

This was a fabulous vantage point! Many brand new calves were among the herd. Joe, Dusty, Laddie, and SPHP all watched in fascination.

Buffalo and their calves with help from the telephoto lens.

Lupe was fascinated, too, but the excitement of seeing so many buffalo all at once quickly became almost unbearable. The Carolina Dog began whining so loudly that the bison must have heard her. All of a sudden, several began ambling off to the E. Before long, they were running.

None of the buffalo wanted to be left behind. Evidently convinced utter disaster threatened, the whole herd began stampeding away. This did nothing to calm Lupe down. Whining more than ever, the frustrated American Dingo watched the bison vanish across the prairie.

The buffalo race away past **Racetrack Butte** (R). Photo looks ESE.

Within minutes, the show was over. The buffalo had provided quite a spectacle!

Joe, Laddie, and Dusty heading back.to the RAV4.

That wasn’t the end of all the excitement, though! Once back in the RAV4, part of the same buffalo herd that had fled the Carolina Dog’s mere whining when she was way up on the ridge far from them, had stopped right on CSP Road No. 2, blocking the road. Now that Lupe was barking hysterically right next to them from the RAV4, most barely glanced up.

*Shut it, pesky Dingo! Can’t you see we’re grazing here?*

Joe eventually had to ease the RAV4 slowly through the herd to get them to move enough to get by. It was a good thing he got through, or Lupe would have busted a gut. The whole experience left her foaming at the mouth, chest heaving. Laddie had been so impressed that even he’d joined in for a moment.

That still wasn’t the end, though. Lupe had plenty more chances to bark like a nutcase. Wildlife was everywhere! On the way out of Custer State Park, Loop saw more buffalo, a huge herd of elk, lots of mountain sheep, marmots, wild turkeys, and turkey vultures. Uncle Joe was amazed at the quantity and variety of wildlife around, not to mention just about deaf, by the time the Custer State Park adventure was over.

The reprieve of silence didn’t last long. Outside the park, this was cattle country. Cows and horses! Lupe had to give them all what for.

So glad Uncle Joe, and cousins Dusty and Laddie were here! What a great day!

Near **Racetrack Butte**, Custer State Park, Black Hills of South Dakota 4-16-22

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 282 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Elk Creek to Peak 5261 (10-30-21)

The “Ponderosa Hike” along Centennial Trail No. 89 had worked out so well for new Cousin Laddie and Cousin Dusty yesterday, that SPHP had proposed another jaunt along the Centennial Trail this morning.

What a difference a day made, though! Yesterday had been sunny and warm, almost summer. On the way to the Elk Creek trailhead, Uncle Joe drove under a dark cloud hanging over the hills. Late fall, maybe even early winter, greeted Lupe as she leapt out of the RAV4. Definitely on the chilly side!

In fact, it was so chilly that the American Dingo soon leapt right back into the warm comfort of the RAV4, staying there until Uncle Joe and SPHP were ready to hit the trail.

A chilly start at **Centennial Trail No. 89’s Elk Creek trailhead**.

Despite the temperature plunge, everyone was in good spirits! Soon Loop and Cousin Dusty were leading the way as Centennial Trail No. 89 started NNE up a wooded ravine. Before long the trail left the ravine, climbing to a flatter region of open pine forest toward the NW. This flat stretch didn’t last long, either. The trail began climbing again as it curved up a hillside.

In the open forest, starting to climb again.

Rounding a sharp bend, the trail resumed a NE course, climbing more steeply. This turn had scarcely been left behind when Uncle Joe spotted a curious rock formation 200 feet off toward the SE. Looked like there was a cave over there! The whole gang ventured over to investigate.

The rock formation proved to be a high point at the end of a small flat region overlooking a forested ravine. Sure enough, there was a dark opening into the rocks! While caves aren’t all that unusual in the Black Hills, nearly all of them are found in limestone formations. These rocks clearly weren’t limestone, so Uncle Joe’s discovery was a rare find.

Cousins Dusty and Laddie weren’t inclined to investigate any further. What if a mountain lion lived there? Lupe, however, wasn’t worried at all. Without hesitating in the least, the Carolina Dog went up to peer into the black opening.

Cousins Dusty and Laddie look on, ready to run for it, if Lupe gets eaten by a lion.

No need to worry about any mountain lions! If there was one, it’s already escaped out the back. This isn’t a cave, it’s a tunnel!

Loopster was right!

A tunnel! That was really strange. Uncle Joe and SPHP both took a look. The tunnel was about 20 feet long, perfectly straight, uniform diameter, and slanted somewhat down toward the S. Other than a few loose rocks, the bottom was fairly smooth.

The rock formation the tunnel went through looked completely natural, but neither Joe nor SPHP could decide if this tunnel was natural, or not. If human-made, what purpose had it served? Dingo-sized, Lupe could have trotted through it with ease, but the tunnel seemed too small for most human projects. No signs of any other construction were round about. Odd, very odd.

Uncle Joe scrambled around to the back side of the tunnel, which exited the rock formation next to a drop-off. He then tried to entice Lupe to go through the tunnel to join him.

Maybe even Lupe was starting to get the willies? The American Dingo entered the tunnel, but even though she could see Joe at the far end, she refused to go all the way through.

Uncle Joe by the tunnel’s exit above the drop-off.

Loop partway in, getting spooked despite Joe’s encouragement to come on through!

Whether human-made or natural, the tunnel was so unusual that there seemed to be no explanation for its existence. Finding no clues, and in case a mountain lion might be on its way back home, everyone returned to Centennial Trail No. 89 leaving the mystery unsolved.

Continuing on, the trail climbed a bit steeply, but soon the slope became much more gradual. Eventually the trail began curving N. Abandoning it, everyone headed for a minor ridge to the E for a look around. Not much to be seen up here, so a shortcut was taken down a slope to the N to rejoin Centennial Trail No. 89 at a saddle where it crossed unmarked USFS Road No. 169.

Up on the minor ridge. **HP5141** (R). Photo looks N.

After crossing the road, the trail began angling WNW along the SW slopes of HP5141. Before Centennial Trail No. 89 headed back into the forest, there was a bit of a view of hills to the NW, their tops softened and blurred by the low hanging clouds.

N of USFS Road No. 169. Photo looks WNW.

0.25 mile beyond USFS Road No. 169, a small clearing was reached at a second pass between HP5141 and HP5212. A sign indicated that it was a mile back to the Elk Creek trailhead. The trail continued W from here traversing a steep slope, but remained fairly level.

Once past the S end of HP5212, Centennial Trail No. 89 gradually began to curve N. The trail first lost, then regained some elevation, eventually going over another minor pass. Meanwhile, the sky was darkening as the gray clouds blanketing the region slowly crept down the hillsides.

Dusty, Joe, and Laddie leading the way **SW of HP5212**. Photo looks NW.

Getting colder out! A barely detectable mist began. The trail widened as it reached an old roadbed. Patches of snow left over from a prior storm added to an increasingly wintery feel.

Patches of snow added to a wintery atmosphere as the sky darkened and a light mist began.

Winding along the mountainside, the trail continued N. Uncle Joe began to wonder if maybe it wasn’t getting to be time to turn back? However, Lupe had been here before. SPHP was convinced that it wasn’t much farther to a junction with a trail that went to the Sturgis Reservoirs, and that junction was very close to Peak 5261, today’s peakbagging objective.

The chilly march went on and on. The trail junction was farther than SPHP remembered, but it finally appeared. From here, Centennial Trail No. 89 curved E, climbing 60 feet up to a broad grassy pass.

At the junction with the trail to the Sturgis Reservoirs. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued up to the R (E) from here. Photo looks NE.

Up at the **pass N of Peak 5261**. Photo looks SE.

Peak 5261 was only 0.2 mile S of this pass. The trail didn’t go up there, but the N slope was only moderately steep. Cousins Dusty and Laddie couldn’t get this close and not go to the top to claim their Peak 5261 peakbagging success, could they? That would be a shame!

Following a long snowbank, Lupe started up first, leading the way.

Heading up **Peak 5261**. Photo looks S.

Peak 5261’s summit was only 120 feet higher than the pass. Soon the N slope was leveling out. The top of the mountain could be seen a short distance ahead.

**Peak 5261’s summit region**. Joe heading for the true summit. Photo looks S.

Of course, everyone got there. Cousins Dusty and Laddie secured their second Black Hills peakbagging success in two days. Unfortunately, this ascent wasn’t as successful in other respects. Cold and foggy with a chill, damp breeze, conditions were none too pleasant.

Back at home this morning, the day had been sunny and bright. SPHP had chosen this destination partly because getting here wouldn’t be too hard for Cousin Dusty, who was now 15, but also in part for the views of Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) and Bear Butte (4,422 ft.). Cousin Dusty had made it, but the views were a disappointing no show.

*We made it, but the views didn’t! Sorry about that!* Joe and Lupe at Peak 5261’s summit.

Joe strikes a dramatic pose pointing out the fabulous display of nothing but fog while Lupe and Laddie gather round.

Too miserable out to linger! Plans for a summit celebration involving chocolate coconut bars, Kinkaid bars, and apples were cancelled. A few minutes at the top, and the whole pack headed back down Peak 5261’s N slope to pick up Centennial Trail No. 89 again.

Merely a postponement! The Peak 5261 ascent celebration actually did come off due to popular demand a mile later at a more sheltered spot. Not to be denied, Lupe, Dusty and Laddie all got their chocolate coconut bar rewards.

Then it was back through the wintery fog, all the way past the Tunnel of Mystery to the Elk Creek trailhead.

Tomorrow was Halloween! Sadly, Uncle Joe, Dusty and Laddie would all be heading back home to Colorado. Meeting cousin Laddie and getting to introduce him to the Black Hills had been fun, and it had been terrific to hit the trail with Joe and Dusty again.

Joe, Dusty, and new cousin Laddie on **Peak 5261**, Black Hills of South Dakota 10-30-21

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 274 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Elk Creek to Alkali Creek (4-10-21)

Centennial Trail No. 89 Brochure & Map

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!