American Dingo – Page 222 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 123: White Rocks, Mt. Roosevelt & Crow Peak (3-21-15)

Lupe was destined to have a bit of a different excursion this beautiful, sunny and unseasonably warm Saturday in March. SPHP had decided she should go do a bit of peakbagging in the northern Black Hills and hit 3 different peaks she’d never climbed before. The 3 peaks were scattered far enough apart so Lupe would have to get a ride in the G6 to get from peak to peak. That alone was unusual enough, since Lupe doesn’t normally return to the G6 until the end of the day. However, all three peaks were also in areas where Lupe would likely see people and other dogs, too. Usually Lupe and SPHP are in remote enough areas so they rarely see anyone else once they leave the G6.

The first peak Lupe went to was White Rocks (5,250 ft.). Lupe was pretty surprised to jump out of the G6 at 10:11 AM and find herself at a little park in the town of Deadwood, SD. Lupe started off trotting past several blocks of houses following Cemetery Road steeply up to the Mt. Moriah Cemetery. There were several tourists around since a number of local celebrities are buried at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery, including “Wild Bill” Hickok, Preacher Smith, Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock and Potato Creek Johnny.

SPHP checked, but, of course, dogs aren’t allowed in the cemetery. This saved the $1.00 admission fee, but also meant Lupe had to go back down Cemetery Road just a little bit and then turn and climb straight up a long steep forested slope to get up to White Rocks. Shortly before reaching the summit, she did reach a dirt road, which she followed to get to the summit area. The summit area consisted of a number of limestone outcroppings. The highest one had a solar panel on it.

At first, SPHP was a bit concerned that it wasn’t even possible to get safely up to the actual summit. Fortunately, there was one reasonably safe route up, provided one made good careful use of the available handholds and didn’t rush things. Lupe had no problem leaping up the rocks to the top, and then peering over to see what was keeping SPHP. Soon SPHP joined Lupe at the summit.

Lupe on the summit of White Rocks. Bear Butte visible out E on the horizon.

Looking down on Deadwood from White Rocks. Snowy Deer Mountain (center left) and Terry Peak (center right) in the distance.

There was a nice view of the W end of Deadwood. A little farther off in the general direction of Deer Mountain, some of the buildings of the old Homestake gold mine could be seen. Still snowy Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) and Deer Mountain (6,652 ft.), both downhill ski resorts, were farther W. The nearby hills to the E and S were all barren, having burned in the 10,771 acre intense Grizzly Gulch fire back in June, 2002. Bear Butte (4,422 ft.) was visible to the E out on the plains.

Grizzly Gulch burn area looking S from White Rocks. — Looking S from White Rocks towards Grizzly Gulch fire burn area.

A view to the E of the Grizzly Gulch burn area from White Rocks.

Once done at the summit, Lupe sniffed and explored around the other rock outcroppings for a little bit before heading S along a ridge that soon led her to the burn area. There Lupe and SPHP followed some jeep trails to lose elevation hoping to get back down to street level in town without having to go down a steep slope. This was partially successful, but the jeep trail eventually ended at a big power line. From there the rest of the way down was a steep open slope. Lupe wound up at the dead end of a short street where there was a little creek flowing out of a big pipe.

Exploring more of the White Rocks area near the summit.

Lupe had to walk a few blocks in town to get back to the G6 at the little park. The temperature hadn’t changed, it was still 60 degrees out, but by now it was 12:07 PM. Her first peakbagging task of the day, to climb White Rocks, was now out of the way. The next goal was to climb Mt. Roosevelt. Lupe got to enjoy the luxury of a ride in the G6 with the windows partially rolled down so she could sniff the air while heading for Mt. Roosevelt (5,680 ft.).

The little red car was high-centered in the snow and abandoned on the road to Mt. Roosevelt. Lupe & SPHP proceeded on paw and foot from here. — This little red car was high-centered in the snow and abandoned on the road to Mt. Roosevelt. Lupe & SPHP proceeded on paw and foot from here.

Mt. Roosevelt is just a couple miles NNW of Deadwood and 2.5 miles W of Hwy 85 via Mt. Roosevelt Road. About 2 miles from Hwy 85 a little red car was high-centered and abandoned on the road. It was stuck in the only big patch of snow along the whole road. SPHP just parked the G6 at a small turn off just before the red car instead of attempting to drive through the snow. Later on it was clear that at least high clearance vehicles weren’t having any trouble getting through.

Lupe checks out the view to the S over the embankment near Mt. Roosevelt Road. Pillar Peak (center) and Bear Den Mountain (right) just visible on the horizon.

Lupe left the G6 at 12:27 PM (59 °F) to start the trek to Mt. Roosevelt. Before starting up the road past the little red car, though, Lupe went up a short barren embankment to the S which gave her a view back in the general direction of Deadwood. While not much of Deadwood was seen, Lupe did catch a glimpse of Pillar Peak (5,469 ft.) and Bear Den Mountain (5,642 ft.) where she had been a week ago on Expedition No. 122. She then went back to the road and trotted on past the little red car on her way to Mt. Roosevelt.

Lupe on the trail to the summit of Mt. Roosevelt. Terry Peak in the distance. — Lupe on the trail to the summit of Mt. Roosevelt. Snowy Terry Peak (center) and Deer Mountain (left) in the distance.

Near the summit of Mt. Roosevelt is a picnic ground. From there the rest of the way to the top is via a maintained foot trail. At the top of Mt. Roosevelt is a 31 foot tall stone tower, known as The Friendship Tower. It was built in 1919 through the efforts of Seth Bullock to commemorate the life and death of his personal friend Theodore Roosevelt. Lupe climbed the narrow steep winding stairway to get up to the top of The Friendship Tower.

Lupe up at the top of The Friendship Tower on Mt. Roosevelt.

The view N from the top of The Friendship Tower on Mt. Roosevelt.

Lupe at the top of the stairs to The Friendship Tower on Mt. Roosevelt.

By 1:39 PM (still 59 °F), Lupe was back at the G6. Only one of her 3 peakbagging goals for the day remained – Crow Peak (5,787 ft.), located about 5 miles WSW of Spearfish, SD. Lupe was in for a longer ride to get to Crow Peak. SPHP even stopped briefly in Spearfish to pick up a Subway sandwich to bring along.

Crow Peak as seen from I-90 near Spearfish, SD.

There is a good maintained trail up to the summit of Crow Peak from a trailhead located along Higgins Gulch Road (USFS Road No. 214). (To find Higgins Gulch Road turn W on Hillsview Road at the Burger King on N. Main Street in Spearfish. Follow it all the way W to the hills. Higgins Gulch Road is on the left where Hillsview starts to turn N.) At the trailhead, there isn’t any sign visible from the road. There is just a big flat open parking area. The trailhead sign is 50 feet in along the trail hidden in the trees.

SPHP was surprised to find the Crow Peak trailhead parking lot virtually full. Lupe was destined to meet quite a few people and dogs on the Crow Peak trail. The 3.5 mile trail was pretty much a steady moderately paced climb all the way with only a few short downhill stretches. The last 1.5 miles past the spur trail to Beaver Ridge were the steepest with lots of long switchbacks. There were some very nice views to the WNW towards Warren Peaks (6,650 ft.) in the Bear Lodge Mountains N of Sundance, WY on the higher switchbacks.

Lupe reaches the summit of Crow Peak. Terry Peak (center) in the distance.

At the summit of Crow Peak was a wooden sign showing the elevation of 5,760 feet. There were great views of the city of Spearfish and far out onto the prairie to the N and E. Bear Butte could be seen, but looked far away. To the S, Terry Peak dominated. Forest blocked the view to the W. Lupe and SPHP spent quite a long time up at the summit. People came and went. Even a few little kids made it. Lupe shared the Subway sandwich with SPHP. The sandwich was a sloppy, tasty mess. (Note to Self: Don’t have them put any dressings or sauces on a sandwich you intend to pack up a mountain.) Lupe even got in a little nap while SPHP wasted some time contemplating the world below.

Lupe on Crow Peak 3-21-15. Bear Butte far away on the horizon (center right). — Lupe on Crow Peak 3-21-15. Bear Butte far away on the horizon (center). Spearfish, SD is at the base of the forested hills on the left.

On the way down, SPHP decided to take a look at Beaver Ridge, but did not wait until coming to the spur trail to go looking for it. Lupe wound up on a high narrow ridge with some tall thin limestone walls along the spine of it. This was not Beaver Ridge, which SPHP later realized was farther SW. The high ridge ended and Lupe had to head steeply back down into a valley. There Lupe and SPHP headed S and soon came to the main trail right where the intersection with the 0.5 mile Beaver Ridge spur trail was.

However, by now SPHP had lost so much time wandering around on the high ridge that wasn’t Beaver Ridge, it was probably best not to wander too far away from the main trail. It was going to get dark. SPHP decided not to go to Beaver Ridge. The trail heading in that direction looked pretty faint. Instead SPHP picked up some trash around the trail junction, while Lupe sniffed around in the forest. Even without going to Beaver Ridge, it was getting pretty dark by the time Lupe arrived back at the G6 at 7:49 PM (47 °F).

It had been an odd, but successful, Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 123. Lupe achieved all 3 peakbagging goals, had several rides and rests in the G6, and had seen lots of people and sniffed with lots of other dogs. Barely visible in the growing darkness, she went wading down in the little creek across Higgins Gulch Road from the trailhead parking lot. There she got a big drink of cold water. A couple minutes later she hopped into the G6 for the ride home.

Lupe wishes you happy adventuring from Crow Peak!

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Wilcox Pass Trail, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-29-14)

An easy side hike SW from the high point on the Wilcox Pass Trail is the edge of a ridge featuring the most splendid panoramic snow-covered mountain and glacier view Lupe and SPHP have ever seen anywhere. Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, the Athabasca Glacier, Snow Dome, and Mt. Kitchener are on display in all their frozen glory. Although basically the same scene can be seen from down along the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93, the view is even better from 1,400 feet above and well worth the effort.

The Wilcox Pass trailhead is located just E of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 along the gravel road that leads to the Wilcox Creek campground. The turnoff is just a mile or two N of the Banff and Jasper National Parks boundary at Sunwapta Pass, and just a couple miles S of the Icefields Centre across from the Athabasca Glacier.

The spectacular view of Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda and the Athabasca Glacier from Wilcox Pass — The spectacular view of **Mt. Athabasca (11,453 ft.)**, **Mt. Andromeda** **(11,286 ft.)** and the Athabasca Glacier from Wilcox Pass.

Lupe arrived at the Wilcox Pass trailhead on 7-29-14 less than 10 minutes after having just completed a wonderful short day hike to Parker Ridge to see the Saskatchewan Glacier. It was 12:06 PM, 72 degrees F, with totally clear skies and a dead calm when Lupe set out up the Wilcox Pass trail.

The trail starts out climbing steadily at a pretty good clip through a conifer forest. This is deservedly a very popular hike and there were lots of people hiking the trail. For the first third or more of the roughly 4 km to the top of Wilcox Pass, the trail is climbing through the forest with only glimpses of the spectacular scenery nearby.

Lupe and the view toward Snow Dome & Mt. Kitchener. 7-29-14 — Lupe and the view toward **Snow Dome** **(11,483 ft.)** & **Mt. Kitchener** **(11,417 ft.)** (R). 7-29-14

The first really good look at the fantastic scene to the SW comes at a rock ledge just a few feet off the trail shortly before the trail emerges from the forest. From the ledge you get a clear view of Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, the Athabasca Glacier, Snow Dome and Mt. Kitchener.

Lupe only stopped here for a few minutes before continuing on. From this 1st viewpoint, the trail climbs at a slower pace and soon emerges from the forest. Scattered clumps of trees are still around, but the area is mostly open so most of the time the view to the SW is unobstructed.

The Athabasca Glacier flows down from the 325 square kilometer Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains of North America.

After almost completely leveling out, the trail, which has been heading NW, takes a jog more to the N for a rather steep stretch of climbing until it gets completely above tree line. Gradually the rate of ascent decreases as the trail turns back more to the NW once again. Shortly before reaching the high point on Wilcox Pass, Lupe came to a nice creek where she cooled off and got a drink.

The Wilcox Pass area in Jasper National Park, Canada. Mt. Athabasca (L) and Mt. Andromeda (R).

From the high point on Wilcox Pass, the trail continues NW over a broad, open, gently sloping area between Mount Wilcox (9,462 ft.) to the SW and a large rocky ridge to the NE extending out from Nigel Peak (10,535 ft.). If followed beyond the pass, the trail eventually leads down to the Tangle Creek area.

This view of the Wilcox Pass area looks NW in the direction of Tangle Creek.

However, the spectacular panoramic view Lupe had come to see, was not in the direction of Tangle Creek. Instead, Lupe turned SW at Wilcox Pass and followed an unmaintained trail which climbed a little bit before reaching the edge of a ridge 1,400 feet above the Icefields Centre. Here Lupe stopped to rest and survey the breathtaking scene.

Lupe and SPHP spent a long time gazing out at Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, the Athabasca Glacier, Snow Dome, and Mt. Kitchener. The Icefields Centre, the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93, and the parking lot for the hike to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier were all in view, too. Special buses designed for glacier tours were crawling slowly like little black caterpillars up towards and onto the Athabasca Glacier. A portion of the huge Columbia Icefield from which the Athabasca Glacier descends loomed above the glacier.

P1050381 — Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda & the Athabasca Glacier. 7-29-14

Lupe and SPHP spent quite a bit of time at this glorious viewpoint. Lupe had some water, some Taste of the Wild and posed for photos. She soon spotted a strange creature she had never seen before coming towards her from the southern end of the Wilcox Peak area to the NNW. It was a large mountain goat! Lupe watched intently, but silently, as the mountain goat strolled very calmly on by heading SE. The mountain goat seemed completely unfazed by Lupe’s presence and eventually disappeared over a little ridge.

This large mountain goat approached from Mt. Wilcox. Lupe watched in amazement, but did not even bark. 7-29-14 — The large mountain goat approaching from Mt. Wilcox. Lupe watched in amazement, but did not even bark. 7-29-14

When it was finally time to leave this most glorious viewpoint, Lupe headed a little way up towards Wilcox Peak to see if a view of the huge Sunwapta River valley heading NW and the mountains beyond it could be easily reached. Reaching the spine of the ridge coming down from Wilcox Peak, Lupe saw that only a partial view was possible in that direction without a considerable further climb. Instead of doing that, Lupe headed ESE back down towards the country to the NW of the Wilcox Pass high point.

Lupe near Wilcox Pass. Athabasca Glacier and Snow Dome beyond her.

A new goal was in SPHP’s mind, and that was to go see Wilcox Lake, which is tucked in a cirque to the NW of Nigel Peak. Lupe crossed over to the NE side of the Wilcox Pass area. To get to Wilcox Lake, it was necessary to climb over a large ridge extending NW from Nigel Peak.

SPHP studied the ridge as Lupe approached it, looking for the best route up and over, without having to do too much climbing. Selecting a likely route that appeared to have some sort of trail leading up it, Lupe and SPHP were soon climbing up the ridge, which seemed quite a bit higher than it had looked like from afar.

P1050368 — Lupe, Mt. Athabasca (L) and Mt. Andromeda (R) from near Wilcox Pass.

The main problem though, was that the ridge consisted of extremely sharp rocks. SPHP began to worry that Lupe would cut up the pads on her paws on the jumble of extremely sharp rocks. Lupe did get to the spine of the ridge, but the view on the other side to the SE in the direction of Nigel Peak was discouraging. Wilcox Lake was nowhere in sight. A beautiful, but very barren rocky terrain lay in the direction where Wilcox Lake had to be.

If the rocks hadn’t been so sharp, Lupe would have pressed on to Wilcox Lake. However SPHP didn’t want her paws to get cut up and gave up on the idea of reaching the lake. SPHP now made an error in judgment. (Not exactly the first time!) Instead of just going back down the steep scree slope Lupe had just climbed, SPHP led her NW down a more gradual slope that looked like it would be an easier route down. Unfortunately, the sharp rocks continued in that direction too, and it proved to be quite a long hike NW before an easy way down off the ridge presented itself.

P1050375 — Lupe, Snow Dome & Mt. Kitchener from near Wilcox Pass. 7-29-14

Once back down on the heather, it was an easy matter to hike back to Wilcox Pass. Lupe drank from streams, and cooled off in shallow ponds on the way. Amazingly, the pads on her paws looked just fine after all those sharp rocks, and she showed no signs of discomfort. Quite the contrary, Lupe was full of energy and rambunctious.

It was now getting later in the day and most people had already left the Wilcox Pass area, although the sun was still well up in the sky. A few puffy white clouds were drifting by in a sea of blue. On this beautiful and amazingly warm early evening, Lupe started heading back across the open heather. She passed well to the E of the high point on the Wilcox Pass trail, but eventually worked her way back to the trail for the hike back down.

It was 6:58 PM and still 75 degrees F when Lupe reached the trailhead again. Lupe had been gone almost 7 hours, but had spent several extra hours enjoying the most glorious viewpoint and on her unsuccessful exploration up to the ridge in the direction of Wilcox Lake.

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2014 Canadian Rockies & Beartooths Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 122: Bear Den Mountain, Anchor Hill, Dome Mountain & Pillar Peak (3-14-15)

After a week of above average temperatures and with a near record high in the 70’s forecast for this Saturday, it was definitely time for Lupe to head out for another Black Hills expedition. SPHP decided Lupe would go back to the Pillar Peak area (see Expedition No. 120) where there were three more mountains listed on Peakbagger.com that Lupe could climb: Bear Den Mountain, Anchor Hill and Dome Mountain.

SPHP parked the G6 at the big Camp 5 Trailhead parking lot located just S of Hwy 14A between Sturgis and Deadwood, SD at 9:19 AM. It was already 47 degrees F out under sunny skies. Lupe started out heading S along USFS Road No. 306.1. Within a few minutes she reached the dry creek bed of Boulder Creek and just beyond it came to an intersection with USFS Road No. 172.1. Lupe took No. 172.1 which headed WSW for about half a mile before turning S.

No. 172.1 gained elevation steadily, but at an easy pace. The road was damp from recently melted snow. Only at a few shaded curves in the road was there any snow or ice still on it. The road wound along the lower E slopes of a high hill for over a mile before entering Lost Gulch. Lupe could have followed No. 172.1 up Lost Gulch, which would have brought her to the general vicinity of all three of her peakbagging goals.

However, up to this point, No. 172.1 had not been too interesting. It was not a major gravel road, but was in good enough shape so that SPHP could have driven the G6 up it without much of a problem. Lupe and SPHP both prefer a more remote and secluded feel than No. 172.1 was exuding. Stopping briefly to check the maps, SPHP found that an intersection with USFS Road No. 567.1F wasn’t too far ahead. It might be more of a challenge.

Lupe at the start of USFS Road No. 567.1. Before long this road faded away to the point where it was essentially non-existent.

Lupe passed an intersection with No. 172.1F, which did look interesting, but another look at the maps showed it ultimately curved around to the NE – the wrong direction. Lupe stayed on No. 172.1 and about 0.25 mile later reached No. 567.1F. No. 567.1F was covered with snow and long branches of bushes were reaching out over the road. There were no tracks in the snow. It looked like No. 567.1F was likely impassable to vehicles, which made it a great choice for Lupe and SPHP.

Lupe clearly enjoyed No. 567.1F. While on No. 172.1, she had just trotted along at SPHP’s heels most of the time. On No. 567.1F, however, she started branching out and exploring the forest in every direction, while SPHP struggled along through the increasingly numerous obstacles on the long abandoned road. No. 567.1 headed generally SW up a fairly big side gulch off to the S of Lost Gulch. The road gradually deteriorated as it went up the gulch. Parts of it were completely wiped out at the bottom of the gulch due to erosion.

Deadfall timber, growing trees and bushes, rocks and snow eventually made it impractical to try to stay on the faint remains of No. 567.1F any longer. So Lupe and SPHP started climbing up the steep slopes of the NW side of the gulch. After a while the terrain leveled out quite a bit and became more open. There was a high point visible off to the SE, but SPHP checked the maps and it looked like the summit of Bear Den Mountain (5,642 ft.), Lupe’s first peakbagging goal of the day, should be off to the SW.

Lupe resumed climbing and looking for the summit of Bear Den Mountain. From Pillar Peak on Expedition No. 120 on 2-20-14, SPHP had seen that there were a number of roads on the upper slopes of Bear Den Mountain. Lupe started running into and crossing them. SPHP’s old USFS map showed that the summit of Bear Den Mountain was surrounded by private property, but Lupe came to no development other than the roads, not even any fences or signs.

Past the first high point, Lupe is now on the ridge leading to the summit of Bear Den Mountain. Custer Peak is visible in the distance.

Lupe did come to a high spot, also reached by a jeep trail, which at first SPHP thought might be the summit of Bear Den Mountain. A look around soon convinced SPHP that there was likely still higher terrain some distance to the W. Exploring in that direction, Lupe did clearly gain some elevation and arrived at the summit of Bear Den Mountain.

Lupe nearing the summit of Bear Den Mountain from the E. A forest fire burned the area some years ago.

Lupe at or near the summit of Bear Den Mountain. Photo looks SE. — On top of Bear Den Mountain. Photo looks SE.

Lupe on Bear Den Mountain. Pillar Peak at far left is less than 2 miles to the N. — Lupe on Bear Den Mountain. **Pillar Peak** **(5,469 ft.)** at far left is less than 2 miles to the N.

Lupe on Bear Den Mountain. Photo looks W at hill SPHP mistook for Anchor Hill. Terry Peak visible as distant snowy highest point (left of center). It was this photo and topo maps available on Peakbagger.com that convinced SPHP two days later that the forested hill in the background, which Lupe did climb next, was actually about 0.5 mile NNE of and higher than Anchor Hill.

Having reached the summit of Bear Den Mountain, after a short Taste of the Wild and water break, it was time for Lupe to head for her next peakbagging goal – Anchor Hill (5,720 ft.). Lupe headed SSW down a long ridge extending out from Bear Den Mountain. She then turned WNW and followed a mile long saddle between Lost Gulch to the N and Butcher Gulch to the S.

Lupe heading down the SSW ridge from Bear Den Mountain. Photo looks W. Custer Peak and what SPHP believes to be the old Gilt Edge Gold Mine in view. — Lupe heading down the SSW ridge from Bear Den Mountain. Photo looks SW. **Custer Peak (6,804 ft.)** and what SPHP believes to be the old Gilt Edge Gold Mine are in view.

Bear Den Mountain from the WSW along the ridge between Lost & Butcher Gulches. Bear Butte visible out on the prairie. — Bear Den Mountain from the WSW along the ridge between Lost & Butcher Gulches. **Bear Butte (4,422 ft.)** visible out on the prairie.

Lupe cools off in the snow on the way to Anchor Hill.

Lupe did climb the high forested hill that SPHP had seen from Bear Den Mountain and had assumed was Anchor Hill. Only two days later did SPHP realize that the hill Lupe climbed was not really Anchor Hill, but a slightly higher hill about 0.5 mile to the NNE of the real Anchor Hill. On three expeditions, No. 119, No. 120 and now No. 122, silly little Anchor Hill has eluded Lupe and SPHP.

Lupe reached this pile of loose rocks at the summit of the fake Anchor Hill.

Break time for Lupe on the fake Anchor Hill. Notice the brown pipe sticking up near a tree toward the right side of the photo.

After a rest break on the fake Anchor Hill, Lupe headed NE for Dome Mountain. Coming down the NE slopes of the ridge connected to fake Anchor Hill, the snow was 2 to 3 feet deep. Lupe crossed the saddle ridge between fake Anchor Hill and the ridge Dome Mountain is on. It was a real mess for a long stretch due to deadfall timber as a result of a fire years ago.

Lupe looks NNE towards Dome Mountain. Pillar Peak pokes up above the trees in the distance.

P1060006 — Oh, delightful! The last stretch of the saddle ridge leading NE towards the E end of the Dome Mountain ridge. Actually the hike across it wasn’t too bad as the dead trees were fairly small.

Once Lupe was across the saddle ridge and into the living forest, it was much easier going as she headed W towards the rocky point that is the summit of Dome Mountain.

P1060007 — Looking W at Dome Mountain while still on the saddle ridge. This ridge separates Lost Gulch to the E from the big gulch that sweeps around the S and W sides of Dome Mountain.

P1060009 — Looking SW at the rocky summit of Dome Mountain. Fake Anchor Hill in the background.

Up on Dome Mountain (5,512 ft.), there was a fairly stiff breeze out of the NW. The blue skies of the early morning had long ago clouded up with an indefinite overcast haziness. The highest rock outcropping which is the summit of Dome Mountain was easily climbed. Lupe finished the rest of her Taste of the Wild up on the summit, although she didn’t care much for the wind.

P1060012 — Looking W towards **Terry Peak (7,064 ft.)** from Dome Mountain summit.

P1060014 — Looking NE towards Pillar Peak from summit of Dome Mountain. Lupe is ready to get off the windy summit and hoping SPHP hurries up with the photo session.

Having climbed Dome Mountain, SPHP was under the delusion that Lupe had achieved all three of her peakbagging goals for Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 122. (Not realizing that Lupe had climbed a false Anchor Hill.) It was time to start heading back to the G6, but SPHP also thought Lupe might have time to climb Pillar Peak (5,469 ft.) once again, which was not too out of the way. The key to being able to do so was to follow along the saddle ridge between Dome Mountain and Pillar Peak.

Lupe left the Dome Mountain summit area heading E through the living forest. When she got near the edge with Lost Gulch, she turned N trying to stay on the high ground. This was successful for a while, but the high ground she was following eventually dropped off. She had to go a considerable distance down into a ravine and climb back up to the N again to get back up on the saddle. SPHP was starting to get weary and almost decided against climbing up again in favor of just heading down into Lost Gulch. This would have meant giving up on Pillar Peak.

Fortunately, SPHP managed to summon the energy to climb back up on the ridge. Lupe continued on to Pillar Peak. The wind out of the NW was even stronger and gustier than it had been on Dome Mountain as Lupe climbed up the final stretch. The gusting wind and late hour made the stay up on Pillar Peak a short one. SPHP took a few photos and Lupe was on her way again.

P1060019 — Getting very close to Pillar Peak while approaching from the SW.

P1060020 — Lupe reaches the summit of Pillar Peak not long before sunset. The snowy ski runs on Terry Peak to the W visible in the distance (left).

Lupe left the summit of Pillar Peak and headed toward a slightly lower forested high point on Pillar Peak a short hike to the E. Just before reaching it, she headed SE down a steep slope. Like much of the day’s journey, it was slow going for SPHP picking a way down through all the deadfall timber, rocks and bushes. After losing 500 feet of elevation, Lupe found a road. It headed up in both directions. Lupe followed it S. It eventually went over a saddle. On the other side of the saddle was another road, which may have been No. 172.1H.

Lupe followed this road for a while hoping to lose elevation, but it stayed high up on the slopes of the mountain it was going around. It eventually just ended. About 150 feet lower another road could be seen. Lupe headed down to it. This road did the same thing, heading around the mountain while maintaining elevation. It also dead ended. Again another road could be seen farther below, this time near the valley floor. SPHP by now had to pick a way down the slope very carefully, for the sun had set a while ago and with the cloud cover, even twilight was fading fast.

The lowest road continued on down Lost Gulch. Even here it was a bit tricky going in the dark. The road was covered with snow and ice for a long way. Finally Lupe reached the intersection with USFS Road No. 567.1 again. SPHP recognized it and was now certain Lupe was on USFS Road No. 172.1, which she could follow essentially the rest of the way back to the G6.

It was quite dark by now. SPHP was feeling pretty played out. Even though it was downhill almost all the rest of the way, SPHP had to stop on one of the short uphill stretches for a rest. Lupe was still bright and alert. However, once back at the G6, she hopped right in as soon as SPHP was ready for her. It was 8:59 PM and still an amazing 61 degrees out. Lupe curled up and went to sleep almost instantly.

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 122 was a success, but it wasn’t a complete success. SPHP didn’t realize it yet, but Anchor Hill had once again eluded Lupe.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.