Iron Mountain – Page 2 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 183 – Iron Mountain & Woodpecker Ridge (11-20-16)

Time for a change of focus. Lupe had spent most of her Black Hills Expeditions of the last couple of months peakbagging in the NW Black Hills, often going as far as the Bear Lodge Mountains in NE Wyoming. Only one named peak remained in that general direction that was a current peakbagging priority for her, Sweetwater Mountain (6,440 ft.), but she didn’t have permission from the land owner to climb it until hunting season was over in December.

So, what to do? Looking over the topo maps on Peakbagger.com, SPHP noticed a couple of peaks a few miles SSW of Iron Mountain that Lupe had never been to. They weren’t far away, which was kind of important on a short November day, since Lupe was getting off to a late start. Woodpecker Ridge and Peak 5688 should be fun! Lupe could start from Lakota Lake.

To get to Lakota Lake, Lupe and SPHP took Iron Mountain Road (Hwy 16A) going S from Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone. Iron Mountain Road is a fun drive. It ultimately winds all the way up to the top of Iron Mountain (5,446 ft.). Along the way, Iron Mountain Road spirals up several pigtail bridges, features a couple stretches of “divided highway” consisting of one-way single lanes, and passes through short tunnels deliberately constructed to frame Mount Rushmore.

Naturally, Lupe and SPHP stopped to enjoy a few of the sights along the way up Iron Mountain.

Lupe by one of the pigtail bridges along Iron Mountain Road.

Lupe at the start of the longest tunnel on Iron Mountain Road. Three tunnels were purposely constructed to frame Mount Rushmore. The camera couldn't handle the light contrast well enough for Mt. Rushmore to show up in this shot. Photo looks NW. — Lupe at the start of the longest tunnel on Iron Mountain Road. Three tunnels were purposely constructed to frame Mount Rushmore. The camera couldn’t handle the light contrast well enough for Mt. Rushmore to show up in this shot. Photo looks NW.

Lupe now at the other end of the tunnel closer to Mt. Rushmore. Photo looks NW.

Here's how it looks driving through the tunnel on the way to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Photo taken with help from the telephoto lens. — Here’s how it looks driving through the tunnel on the way to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Photo taken with help from the telephoto lens.

Mount Rushmore, Black Hills, South Dakota, Photo looks NW.

At the top of Iron Mountain is a paved parking lot, and a short walking path to a viewpoint. Right next to the viewpoint is a ridge of rock roughly 20 feet high, where the absolute summit of the mountain is located. Lupe and SPHP stopped briefly to make the tiny climb to the absolute summit for a look around.

Since the true summit is on the W edge of the large summit area, the best views were toward Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) to the W, and Mount Rushmore (5,725 ft.) to the NW. From Iron Mountain, Lupe had a great view of some of the most rugged terrain in the Black Hills!

Lupe on Iron Mountain. Harney Peak, the highest mountain in South Dakota, is in the background. Photo looks W.

Harney Peak, the highest mountain in South Dakota, from Iron Mountain. Photo looks W using the telephoto lens.

Mount Rushmore from Iron Mountain. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

After all the sight-seeing stops coming up and over Iron Mountain, it was 10:01 AM (46°F) by the time Lupe arrived at Lakota Lake. SPHP left the G6 parked at the empty picnic ground.

Lupe arrives at the Lakota Lake picnic ground. Photo looks E toward the dam.

Lupe near Lakota Lake. Lakota Lake is E of Iron Mountain Road about 3 miles ESE of Iron Mountain. A short gravel road leads to the picnic ground on the W shore near the N end of the lake. Photo looks NE.

Lupe’s first peakbagging goal was Woodpecker Ridge (5,680 ft.). Woodpecker Ridge is about 2 miles long, running SW/NE. The ridge is W of Iron Mountain Road, and S of Iron Creek. The topo map showed that the summit was near the far SW end of the ridge, about 3 miles from where Lupe was starting at Lakota Lake. Lupe and SPHP followed the gravel road SW from the Lakota Lake picnic ground back to Iron Mountain Road.

Iron Creek Trail No. 15, starts on the W side of Iron Mountain Road, right across from the road to Lakota Lake. The plan was for Lupe to follow Iron Creek Trail No. 15 up the valley for a mile, or so, to where the topo map showed the easiest approach to the Woodpecker Ridge summit from the NNE. After a relatively gentle mile-long climb, Lupe would reach the ridgeline about 0.25 mile E of the summit.

At first, everything went according to plan. Lupe enjoyed trotting along the single track Iron Creek trail looking for squirrels. Less than an inch of new snow on the ground made things look fresh and bright. The trail crossed Iron Creek several times, but there were plank bridges or good stepping stones to help SPHP get across.

Lupe on the plank bridge at the first Iron Creek crossing on Iron Creek Trail No. 15.

On Iron Creek Trail No. 15. Less than an inch of new snow made the trail look clean and bright.

At the fourth creek crossing, there was no bridge. SPHP didn’t see any convenient stepping stones around either. No way was SPHP going to wade across chilly Iron Creek this time of year! Lupe and SPHP went a little back downstream looking for a way to cross the creek.

Lupe hadn’t gone far, when a rather questionable way across the creek presented itself. SPHP had to reach out over the creek to lean against a boulder on the other side. SPHP was barely able to grip the top of the boulder and shinny up, but it did work. Lupe, of course, had no problem simply leaping over the creek. Carolina Dogs don’t let little things like minor creek crossings interfere with their plans!

Lupe and SPHP were now on the S side of Iron Creek, but not yet anywhere near where SPHP had planned for Lupe to start up Woodpecker Ridge. Lupe was only a little past the NE end of the ridge. Cliffs could be seen high above. It wasn’t at all clear if there would be a way up that would avoid the cliffs and allow Lupe to reach the ridgeline from here, but SPHP decided to try it anyway.

The start of the climb didn’t go very well. Lupe and SPHP climbed onto a small ridge to the E, before turning S. Right away, Lupe had to climb up onto a big rock outcropping. Ten paces later, a drop-off forced her right back down to the W. However, once around the rock formation, she was able to climb steadily through the forest, heading SSW.

There were plenty of rocks scattered around the whole way. Lupe eventually came to an area of fairly large boulders. The boulders slowed SPHP down quite a bit, although Lupe had fun exploring them.

Lupe among the boulders on the way up Woodpecker Ridge. Photo looks SSW.

As Lupe got closer to the cliffs above, the boulders got larger. At the base of the cliffs were boulder fields that would have taken a long time to traverse. Lupe and SPHP worked around to the W of them.

Lupe below the base of the cliffs. She is on the N side of Woodpecker Ridge, not too far from its NE end. Photo looks SE.

Fortunately, the line of cliffs was not continuous. Lupe bypassed them to the W, too. She was able to keep climbing steadily SSW through the forest. On the way up, Lupe even saw a woodpecker, but it wasn’t close enough for SPHP to get a decent photo.

As it turned out, Lupe wound up climbing well above the first cliffs. Lupe and SPHP reached the ridgeline near High Point 5537. Lakota Lake, and the top of the cliffs Lupe had bypassed, could be seen far below.

Part of Lakota Lake, where Lupe had started her journey to Woodpecker Ridge, is seen far below. The tops of the cliffs Lupe bypassed on the way to High Point 5537 are in view in the foreground. Photo looks NE.

Mount Rushmore from High Point 5537, near the NE end of Woodpecker Ridge. Photo looks NW using the telephoto lens.

Harney Peak from High Point 5537. Photo looks NW.

Lupe on High Point 5537 near the NE end of Woodpecker Ridge. Photo looks NE.

SPHP was glad Lupe had reached the ridgeline at High Point 5537. It meant Lupe would get to explore most of the length of Woodpecker Ridge. She now faced only about 150 feet of net elevation gain on the way to the summit. SPHP expected a relatively easy hike SW along the ridge.

Exploring Woodpecker Ridge was fun, but soon proved to be a lot of work, too. The ridgeline was rough, not level. Lupe had to climb over or around many rock formations. The rocks weren’t the worst of it, either. The farther SW Lupe went, the more deadfall timber she encountered. The rocks and deadfall weren’t terrible, but SPHP’s progress became very slow.

Another problem began to worry SPHP. Since there was so little net elevation change along the way, it might be hard to tell where the true summit of Woodpecker Ridge was. SPHP started taking photos of Lupe at notable high points, just on the chance that she was already at the summit.

Lupe at one of the notable high points along Woodpecker Ridge. This turned out not to be the true summit, or even close to it. Photo looks N.

Lupe finally reached a place where there were significant elevation changes ahead. Two distinct hills weren’t too far away. SPHP hoped the closest one was the summit of Woodpecker Ridge, and the more distant one was Peak 5688, Lupe’s other peakbagging goal for the day. A brief halt to check the topo maps was in order.

Lupe finally arrived at this high point from which two distinct hills could be seen ahead. SPHP initially hoped that the one on the L was the summit of Woodpecker Ridge, and the one on the R was Peak 5688. In truth, both hills were summits of Woodpecker Ridge enclosed by the 5680 foot contour, with the one on the R likely being the true summit. Photo looks SW.

The topo maps said differently. What they showed was disappointing. Lupe hadn’t made nearly as much progress along Woodpecker Ridge as SPHP had believed. Both of the hills in view were high points of Woodpecker Ridge, the summits of which were both enclosed by the 5680 foot contour.

On Peakbagger.com, the more distant hill farther to the W with a much larger area enclosed by the 5680 foot contour was shown as the location of the true summit. Still, there was a chance that the closer hill was actually the true summit. Lupe would have to visit both to make certain she reached the top of Woodpecker Ridge.

One more thing was evident, too. At the pace Lupe and SPHP were going, there was absolutely no chance Lupe was going to reach Peak 5688 today. By the time Lupe reached the W summit of Woodpecker Ridge, the sun was going to be too low in the sky to do anything but start looking for an easier way back to the G6. Oh, well. That’s often how things go in the mountains.

Lupe still near the point where SPHP realized the two hills ahead were both summits of Woodpecker Ridge enclosed by the 5680 foot contour. Harney Peak is seen in the distance. Photo looks NW.

Harney Peak from Woodpecker Ridge about halfway between High Point 5537 and the E summit enclosed by the 5680 foot contour. Photo looks NW using the telephoto lens.

Most of the time, trees blocked the views from Woodpecker Ridge. However, Lupe did come to points with views in various directions. This photo looks E or SE out onto the prairies beyond the Black Hills.

Lupe and SPHP pressed on toward the two hills. If anything, the rock formations Lupe had to find a way around were bigger than before, and the deadfall still worse. There was more elevation loss and gain to deal with, too. It took more than half an hour just to reach the E summit, even though it hadn’t been very far away.

Lupe reaches the E summit of Woodpecker Ridge. Although the W summit is probably the true summit, the views were more open and better from this E summit. Harney Peak is seen in the distance. Photo looks NW.

Mount Rushmore from the E summit of Woodpecker Ridge. Photo looks NNW using the telephoto lens.

Lupe and SPHP took a break up on the E summit of Woodpecker Ridge, but only stayed 15 or 20 minutes. It was nice up there, but it was too late in the day to lounge about given the continual difficulties Lupe faced negotiating all the obstacles nature placed in her path along Woodpecker Ridge.

The time arrived to begin the final push to the likely true summit of Woodpecker Ridge. Lupe headed W down into a broad saddle. The more level terrain should have made the going much easier, but the deadfall timber here was the worst Lupe had faced all day.

The W summit can be seen ahead, but it was hard to make any decent time getting there through this mess! Photo looks W.

Although Lupe is generally very good at making her way through deadfall, SPHP encourages her to take her time. At least a couple of times in the past, Lupe has been impaled on broken branches, resulting in a lot of pain and hundreds of dollars worth of vet bills. Photo looks W.

It took close to another 45 minutes to make it over to the W summit of Woodpecker Ridge. Sadly, the W summit was ugly. There was a lot of deadfall. Even so, enough trees were still standing to block the views. Although Lupe could now claim a successful ascent of Woodpecker Ridge, the achievement seemed anti-climactic.

Lupe reaches the W summit of Woodpecker Ridge. She could finally claim a successful ascent. Photo looks NE.

Lupe questions SPHP's judgment in selecting this ugly spot for her peakbagging objective of the day. — Lupe questions SPHP’s judgment in selecting this ugly spot for her peakbagging objective of the day.

Lupe and SPHP took another break. Lupe relaxed. SPHP took a look at the topo maps again. The sun was low enough so Lupe really needed to start making tracks toward a decent route out of here.

Lupe relaxes on Woodpecker Ridge while SPHP checks the topo maps.

The topo maps showed some kind of a trail off to the W that would lead N before curving NE down a ravine into the Iron Creek valley again. There was a road down there that would take Lupe back to Iron Creek Trail No. 15 again. Somehow, SPHP would just have to deal with the creek crossings, even if it meant fording the stream.

SPHP polished off the last apple. Time to pack up and go. The sun would be down in minutes. Lupe was ready. Puppy, ho! Onward!

Lupe's last moment on top of Woodpecker Ridge, just before heading down. Photo looks S. — Lupe’s last moment on top of Woodpecker Ridge, just before heading down. Photo looks S.

Lupe and SPHP left the summit heading N. Before long, Lupe reached a cliff edge. The terrain forced her down to the W. She saw two more woodpeckers as she progressed down the slope. As soon as it was possible, Lupe turned N again. Lupe and SPHP wandered through a forest with less deadfall than before, but it was still slow going. The area was full of thistles. Time passed. The light was fading. Lupe still hadn’t found a trail or road.

SPHP decided to check the topo maps again. The maps could not be found. It became clear they had somehow been left up on Woodpecker Ridge. Not good. Still, they probably wouldn’t be needed. The distance Lupe needed to cover to reach Iron Creek wasn’t that far. One way or another, she would make it.

It’s hard to say exactly where Lupe and SPHP went, but probably somewhere in the area where the topo maps on Peakbagger.com show a point marked 5190 feet of elevation, 0.5 mile NNW of the Woodpecker Ridge summit. As Lupe and SPHP wandered N, Lupe finally came to a faint remnant of a road. It did curve NE down into a ravine. Lower down, the ravine had huge solid rock walls.

Lupe reached the road leading to the W end of Iron Creek Trail No. 15 before it was dark. Old cabins were strung out along the road, but there was no sign of activity anywhere. By the time Lupe reached the start of the trail, stars were coming out. At the trailhead, a sign said Iron Creek Trail No. 15 had 11 water crossings. Oh, boy!

It wasn’t a problem, though. Lupe and SPHP made great time along the single track trail. Luckily, there was a decent way across Iron Creek at every crossing – a bridge, stepping stones, a fallen log – always something. The stars became bright against a black sky. The flashlight came out. Lupe and SPHP enjoyed a last hour of quiet travel in the darkness.

Somehow, even in the dark, a way across Iron Creek appeared near crossing No. 4 (No. 8 counting in reverse). Funny that it could be found in the night, when SPHP hadn’t seen it during daylight, but there it was. Yay! No fording of the freezing stream was required! And that, was that. No suspense remained over the outcome of Expedition No. 183.

Lupe and SPHP made it back to the G6 (5:57 PM, 33°F). All the way back over Iron Mountain, the Carolina Dog rode with her head out the window, hoping to see a deer in the headlights, but she saw none. By the time she reached Keystone, Lupe had given up. It was kind of an anti-climactic end, like reaching the summit of Woodpecker Ridge had been.

Yet for Lupe and SPHP, it had been another great day adventuring together in the Black Hills. It’s often the journey, and not the final goal, that make the day and the memories.

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Black Hills, WY Expedition No. 177 – Duling Hill & Iron Mountain (10-10-16)

You awake, Loop? I’m not sleepy either. What time is it, anyway? Ugh, still early. Want to go out and sniff the air for a few minutes? She did.

Lupe in the G6 early on 10-10-16. The G6 said it was 5:11 AM, 38ºF.

The moon had set hours ago. Overhead, Orion was shining brilliantly in the starry night sky. Nights were already getting long this time of year. It would be at least another hour until dawn. Lupe sniffed around in the quiet darkness for 15 minutes. Then it was back in the G6 to try to get a little more shuteye.

The next time SPHP came to, it was light out. The sun was already shining on the treetops. Lupe was wide awake, looking out the window, watching. The American Dingo was anxious to get out and start her next Black Hills, WY adventure! OK, Loopster, it’s time, past time really, let’s go!

Duling Hill (6,005 ft.) was Lupe’s first peakbagging objective of the day. Lupe and SPHP followed USFS Road No. 872.3 a short distance WSW to the “Y” with No. 872.1F. Lupe turned S on No. 872.1F and promptly arrived at a big canvas tent in the forest just off the road.

Lupe discovered this big canvas tent off USFS Road No. 872.1F. No one was around when she arrived.

The big canvas tent was a rather unusual discovery. No one was around when Lupe arrived, but there was a big stack of logs outside ready for splitting into firewood. Evidently there was some kind of stove in the tent. A long black smokestack leaned out of a hole in the roof.

Someone had gone to considerable trouble to establish this semi-permanent looking camp. Lupe sniffed around the tent, but there were no windows. The front door was all zipped and tied shut. Interesting, but best to leave it alone. Lupe and SPHP continued SSW on USFS Road No. 872.1F.

Near a high point, Lupe and SPHP left the road to climb up onto a forested ridge to the W. It wasn’t much of a climb, but SPHP soon caught a glimpse of a high hill about 1.5 miles away to the SW. That had to be Duling Hill. No. 872.1F had been heading practically straight for it.

Lupe and SPHP cut back down a short steep slope to return to the road, which was now going SW down a valley. Lupe had some luck and found a squirrel to bark at in a beautiful grove of golden aspens.

Lupe on USFS Road No. 872.1F. The happy Carolina Dog soon found a squirrel to bark at among the golden aspens. Photo looks SSW.

After an easy stroll down the wooded valley, Lupe reached a junction. There was a big, round, tan, plastic water trough for cattle here, but it contained no water. A grassy unmarked road branched off going SE up another small valley. No. 872.1F turned W.

Lupe left the road, went past the water trough, and crossed a tiny, mucky stream. She then started climbing S up Duling Hill. The climb was steepest at the beginning, and soon became more gradual. Everything was going fine when Lupe’s worries from yesterday suddenly returned. Gunfire again! Intermittent just like yesterday. More target practice.

Up until now, Lupe had been all fired up, full of energy, roaming and racing through the hills. Even though the gunfire was distant, it instantly made the Carolina Dog nervous and spoiled her fun. She wanted to stop and hide.

SPHP found a fallen tree to sit on. Lupe curled up next to the tree. The Carolina Dog wanted to wait the gunfire out right here. SPHP allowed her a short break. No telling how long the gunfire would continue. Yesterday afternoon it had persisted until after sundown.

Lupe was reluctant to get going again, but she wasn’t in any real danger. It was time to move on. The American Dingo stuck closely to SPHP. Soon she was skirting the NW slope of High Point 5947 to reach the saddle over to the summit of Duling Hill. The summit wasn’t much farther. The old USFS map showed a survey benchmark at the top of Duling Hill, for some reason or other marked “Butte”. SPHP wondered if Lupe would be able to find it.

As it turned out, the “Butte” survey benchmark was very easy to find. Lupe went right to it. A conspicuous cairn was built up around benchmark, right at what did appear to be the top of the mountain. Next to the cairn was some old wire and a wooden cross fallen on the ground. The summit area was quite large, nearly flat, and forested. The forest was fairly open, but still effectively blocked the views.

The survey benchmark on Duling Hill did say "Butte", just like the old USFS map showed it would. — The survey benchmark on Duling Hill did say “Butte”, just like the old USFS map showed it would.

Lupe was still so nervous about the distant gunfire, she wanted to stay right next to SPHP. Many attempts had to be made to persuade her to stay alone near the cairn long enough for a photo.

A very nervous Carolina Dog poses reluctantly at the summit cairn on Duling Hill. The distant, intermittent gunfire from someone just doing target practice kept her on edge. Photo looks NE.

Looking ENE across part of the Duling Hill summit area.

Lupe and SPHP left the Duling Hill summit wandering WNW across a broad area that sloped down only slightly. The hope was that Lupe would come to some viewpoints along the way. Lupe did her best. She found some partial views, but that was all Duling Hill had to offer.

Lupe found this narrow view of Inyan Kara Mountain from Duling Hill. Photo looks SW.

**Inyan Kara Mountain (6,360 ft.)** with help from the telephoto lens.

This was the clearest view of Hooker Peak (5,862 ft.) that Lupe found from Duling Hill. Photo looks N using the telephoto lens. — This was the clearest view of **Hooker Peak (5,862 ft.)** that Lupe found from Duling Hill. Photo looks N using the telephoto lens.

Iron Mountain, Lupe’s next peakbagging goal, is the forested hill in the foreground. Far away on the horizon, **Warren Peaks (6,650 ft.)** can be seen on the L. Photo looks NNW.

Once Lupe’s exploration of the W end of Duling Hill was complete, she headed almost straight N down a long ridge. The ridge became quite narrow as Lupe lost elevation. More than half way down, Lupe discovered bones strewn about a small level spot. Some wild animal had met its fate here. It must have happened quite a while ago. The scattered bones were totally bare.

Lupe discovered these bones on the narrow N ridge coming down Duling Hill.

After following the N ridge down from Duling Hill for 0.75 mile, Lupe entered a wide valley of open meadows. A bright yellow stand of aspens was on display. Off to the NW was a clear view of Iron Mountain (5,887 ft.), the forested ridge that was Lupe’s next peakbagging goal.

A stand of yellow aspens greeted Lupe in the valley at the lower end of the N ridge from Duling Hill. Photo looks NE.

Iron Mountain, the long forested ridge seen here, was Lupe's next peakbagging goal. Photo looks NW. — Iron Mountain, the long forested ridge seen here, was Lupe’s next peakbagging goal. Photo looks NW.

Iron Mountain was less than a mile away to the NW. However, small bands of cliffs were visible along the S and SE slopes. The mountain looked like it could be much more easily approached from the NE than the SE. Lupe traveled N through the valley, looking for the easiest way up Iron Mountain. Along the way, she passed a stock pond.

Apparently the stock pond was fed by the tiny stream Lupe had crossed before beginning her ascent of Duling Hill. The trickle of flow was enough to keep the stock pond from going dry even this late in the season. The stock pond was kind of a scenic spot, in addition to a source of water for wildlife.

Lupe on her way past a scenic little stock pond SE of Iron Mountain. Photo looks NE.

N of the stock pond, Lupe came to a dirt road. It was unmarked, but was probably some branch of USFS Road No. 882. Lupe followed this road only a short distance, then crossed to the other side and followed a single track trail closer to Iron Mountain. It lead to another road, which was grassy and climbed at an easy pace, winding its way N.

The grassy road took Lupe to a pass NE of Iron Mountain where there was an intersection. A road marked as USFS Road No. 882.1B went W from the pass, and looked like it was about to turn SW to go up Iron Mountain. Perfect!

Lupe followed No. 882.1B. She was feeling better again. Sometime after she had left the stock pond, target practice had ceased. No more gunfire! Lupe was regaining her confidence. Life is always better when you don’t have to worry about being gunned down!

No. 882.1B brought Lupe high up on the E slope of Iron Mountain, but did not go to the top. Instead, it turned S, paralleling the ridgeline. Lupe and SPHP left the road to finish the easy climb through open forest. Lupe only needed to gain another 70 feet of elevation or so to reach the N end of the summit ridge.

From a distance, Iron Mountain had looked quite densely forested. SPHP was surprised when Lupe found a flat grassy field at the N end of the ridge. The meadow was ringed by trees, explaining why this bare spot hadn’t been visible from a distance. At the N end was a small opening between trees. Lupe had a clear view of Warren Peaks (6,650 ft.) from here.

To SPHP's surprise, Lupe discovered a meadow up at the N end of the Iron Mountain summit ridge. Later on, SPHP found out that topo maps show this part of the mountain as the true summit. Photo looks NNW. — To SPHP’s surprise, Lupe discovered a meadow up at the N end of the Iron Mountain summit ridge. Later on, SPHP found out that topo maps show this part of the mountain as the true summit. Photo looks NNW.

The lookout tower on Warren Peaks (Center) can be seen in this photo taken from the N end of the summit ridge of Iron Mountain. Photo looks NW using the telephoto lens.

The summit ridge on Iron Mountain was quite broad E/W, and ran N/S for a good 500 to 600 feet. To the E, the ground sloped away at a moderate pace. To the W was a line of limestone (Why not iron for Pete’s sake? This is Iron Mountain, not Limestone Mountain!) cliffs. The cliffs were on the order of 30 to 40 feet high.

Looking farther W into Wyoming from the cliffs along the summit ridge on Iron Mountain. Hwy 585 can be seen below.

Up on the limestone cliffs along the W edge of the Iron Mountain summit ridge. Photo looks SSW.

*Hope you got that shot of the cliff, SPHP. I’m outta here!*

The highest part of the summit ridge near the limestone cliffs was nearly level for quite a distance going S from the N end of the ridge. Lupe and SPHP headed S exploring the ridgeline. Although SPHP later discovered that topo maps show the true summit of Iron Mountain very close to the N end of the mountain, there was an area 150 feet farther S that seemed a little higher to SPHP.

This more southern high point was certainly more scenic. It was forested and shady, but right next to the cliffs where there was with an opening between the trees permitting a look at Inyan Kara (6,360 ft.). Lupe declared it the official true summit of Iron Mountain as far as she was concerned, by posing on the highest rock she could find.

Inyan Kara as seen from Iron Mountain. Photo looks SW using the telephoto lens.

Lupe and SPHP went S along the Iron Mountain ridgeline far enough to be absolutely certain the Carolina Dog had visited the true summit. Then Lupe turned around and went back to the N end of the ridge one more time. Lupe’s explorations of Iron Mountain were complete. So were all of her peakbagging goals in this remote part of the Black Hills. It was time to head back to the G6.

Lupe returned to USFS Road No. 882.1B, following it NE back down Iron Mountain. She left the road a couple of times to take a look around from two different viewpoints along the way. Far below to the SE, she saw the stock pond she had passed by earlier. To the N was Hooker Peak (5,862 ft.), which she had climbed as the sun set yesterday.

On her way down Iron Mountain, Lupe saw the stock pond she had passed by earlier in the day. Photo looks SE.

Hooker Peak as seen from the NE slopes of Iron Mountain. Lupe had been up on top of Hooker Peak yesterday at sunset! Photo looks N using the telephoto lens.

When Lupe reached the pass NE of Iron Mountain at the start of USFS Road No. 882.1B, it would have been very easy to get back to the G6 by taking the road going N from the pass. That road would soon have turned E and headed almost directly to the G6. However, SPHP didn’t look at the maps and guessed wrong, taking a road winding SE instead.

Pretty soon it became apparent that the road going SE would eventually lead Lupe right back to the stock pond. It seemed like the long way around. SPHP now compounded the first error by making another one. SPHP left the road taking Lupe NE up a side valley, expecting to find a pass over the ridge.

There was a pass, alright, but much higher up than SPHP expected. Lupe climbed until she was nearly up to High Point 5783. She then lost all her elevation gains going E down a steep slope to a road visible below. SPHP didn’t recognize the road, but Lupe had been here before, just hours ago. She was back on No. 872.1F, but following the road the wrong way, away from the G6!

Even when Lupe passed by the same stand of golden aspens along USFS Road No. 872.1F where she had found the squirrel early in the morning, SPHP didn't realize where she was, or that she was going the wrong way! — Even when Lupe passed by the same stand of golden aspens along USFS Road No. 872.1F where she had found the squirrel early in the morning, SPHP didn’t realize where she was, or that she was going the wrong way!

Although Lupe and SPHP went the wrong way on USFS Road No. 872.1F, seeing fall colors like these a second time around could hardly be considered a waste of time.

When the big, round, tan water trough came into view, SPHP realized Lupe was back at the tiny stream where she had started her climb up Duling Hill. Good grief! SPHP had been leading the American Dingo the wrong way! Lupe didn’t mind. She was still having fun.

There was nothing to do about it, except turn around and traipse right back up USFS Road No. 872.1F for the third time today, this time going uphill. Lupe reached the little pass at the high point on the road, passed by the canvas tent (which was still vacant), and finally arrived at the G6 (1:51 PM, 71°F).

Well, all those navigation mistakes SPHP had made since leaving Iron Mountain had chewed up at least an hour. It was too bad. SPHP had been thinking Lupe might travel farther N to the portion of the Black Hills N of Sundance, WY known as the Bear Lodge Mountains. It would take time to get there, though. Now, Lupe would arrive with only a few hours left before sunset.

And so, the decision was made to call it for the day. Black Hills, WY Expedition No. 177 was over. Lupe and SPHP headed for home. Lupe had achieved her original peakbagging goals for her two day excursion to this part of the Black Hills in Wyoming. It wouldn’t be that long before she could return to explore peaks in the Bear Lodge Mountains.

In the meantime, the Carolina Dog was very happy barking at cows and horses along Moskee Road and I90 all the way home.

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