American Dingo – Page 234 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 210 – Hat Mountain & Green Mountain (10-7-17)

Start – 10:44 AM, 57°F at the Gold Run trailhead near Deerfield Reservoir

Sunny skies, a light S breeze, and pleasant early October temperatures – a great day for a romp in the Black Hills! Lupe would likely get to see some fall colors, too. First things first, though. Loop hadn’t been to Deerfield Reservoir in a while. She may as well take a quick look at the lake before dashing off on her peakbagging adventures.

Only a small portion of the lake was visible from here, but the deep blue waters were a pretty sight surrounded by low pine-covered hills.

Lupe started the day with a look at **Deerfield Reservoir**. The blue lake was a pretty sight. Photo looks N.

After admiring the lake, Lupe set off for her first peakbagging destination of the day. She left Deerfield Reservoir heading SW up a forested embankment. It wasn’t far to Deerfield Road, which she followed W to USFS Road No. 691 (Williams Draw Road). Traveling S along No. 691, Loop came to a small field where she could see Hat Mountain (6,779 ft.) up ahead.

From this small field near USFS Road No. 691, Lupe gets a fairly good view of **Hat Mountain** up ahead. Photo looks SSW.

Hat Mountain was only a mile away, so it wouldn’t take Lupe long to get there. That is, if cows blocking the road could be convinced to get out of the way. Not to worry! The cattle were mightily and speedily impressed by the Carolina Dog’s enthusiastic persuasive abilities. They complied immediately with her wishes.

These cattle on USFS Road No. 691 were quickly convinced to move and let Lupe and SPHP pass. Photo looks SW.

A little farther on, Lupe left the road herself. She started her trek up the lower NE slope of Hat Mountain passing through a beautiful stand of yellow aspens.

Starting up among the yellow aspens. Photo looks SSW.

Above the aspens, Lupe climbed through a pine forest. Above the pines, the upper N slope of Hat Mountain was grassy and treeless.

Looper on the upper N slope of Hat Mountain. Photo looks S.

When Lupe reached the summit, the first thing she did was to go over to the survey benchmark. It was easy to find toward the E side of the flat, barren summit area.

Lupe stands next to the survey benchmark. Part of Deerfield Reservoir, where she had started from, is in view. **Custer Peak (6,804)** (Center) can be seen on the horizon. The huge grassy area in between is **Reynolds Prairie**. Photo looks NNE.

The survey benchmark is so scratched up it’s getting a little hard to read “Hat”.

Next Lupe went to see the sights. She had unobstructed views in every direction. Simply fabulous!

Looking NNW. The grassy area seen straight up from Lupe is part of the **Castle Creek valley**. The most distant peak seen on the R is **Terry Peak (7,064 ft.)**.

**Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** is the distant high point on the L. **Green Mountain (7,164 ft.)** is the high ridge on the R. Photo looks SE.

**Green Mountain**, the long high ridge on the R, would be Lupe’s next peakbagging goal. The summit is near the edge seen almost straight up from Lupe. Photo looks SE.

Most of **Hat Mountain’s** flat, oval-shaped summit area is in view here. Photo looks S from near the N edge.

Near the S end of **Hat Mountain’s** otherwise flat summit is this small depression. Photo looks SW.

Loopster stands next to the small depression. The grassy ground seen in the distance straight up from her back is the upper S slope of **South Castle Rock (6,840 ft.)**. Photo looks N.

Loop stands on a ledge at the S edge of the summit area. A little of the **Heely Creek valley** is seen below. Photo looks SW.

*Kind of windy up here, SPHP! Think I’m going to go hide in the depression as soon as you’ve taken this shot.* Photo looks NE.

Carolina Dogs aren’t fans of wind, and it was rather breezy up on Hat Mountain. The steady 15 mph SW breeze was enough to make Lupe want to look for a sheltered spot. She found that the small depression near the S end of the summit area worked fine. She curled up there and took a little break.

Lupe retreats to the small depression to relax out of the wind. Photo looks SW.

*Take as much time looking at the views as you like, SPHP. Think I’ll take a nap. Wake me when it’s time to go to the next mountain.*

SPHP joined Lupe in the depression for a short break, then left to stroll around the summit again for another look at the views. Meanwhile, Loop dozed off for a few minutes in her sunny, sheltered spot before SPHP announced it was time to move on.

Lupe left Hat Mountain heading S. Green Mountain (7,164 ft.), her next peakbagging goal was still close to 4 miles away even as the crow flies.

Looper stands at the S end of **Hat Mountain’s** summit ready to head down to the grassy slope below. Photo looks S.

On the way down **Hat Mountain**. Photo looks SW.

Looking back at the **Hat Mountain** summit from the upper S slope. Photo looks N.

Lupe leaves **Hat Mountain** heading for **Green Mountain**, the high ridge on the L. On the way, she would cross the **Heely Creek valley**, seen below on the R. Photo looks SSE.

The first part of the way to Green Mountain was easy. Lupe descended mostly open ground into the Heely Creek valley where fall colors were on display.

On the way down **Hat Mountain** to cross **Heely Creek**. Photo looks SW.

Fall colors on display in the **Heely Creek valley**. Photo looks SW.

Heely Creek was very small this time of year, only a foot wide and a few inches deep. As soon as Lupe crossed it, her long gradual climb to the top of Green Mountain began.

Once she entered the forest S of Heely Creek, Lupe followed old logging trails and minor USFS roads. Sometimes she was on faint roads abandoned so long ago that pine trees were growing on them. Other times she simply went through the forest not on any road or trail at all.

On the way to **Green Mountain**, still W of USFS Road No. 691. Photo looks SSE.

About 2 miles from Hat Mountain, Lupe reached USFS Road No. 691 again. She followed it S for a mile. When it began angling SW, she left No. 691 going SE up a forested slope with enough deadfall on it to slow progress down for a while. Eventually she came to a minor USFS road, which she was able to follow E the rest of the way to Green Mountain.

Green Mountain (7,164 ft.) is one of the highest points in the entire Black Hills. However, the only distant views available are obtained along the E rim of the mountain. The best views are toward the SE from limestone outcroppings right along the edge.

Lupe reaches the E edge of **Green Mountain**. On the horizon are **Five Points (6,221 ft.)** (L) and **Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** (R). The large grassy area is the S end of **Gillette Prairie**. Photo looks E.

Looking N along the E edge of **Green Mountain**.

A cairn can be seen on the limestone pillar beyond and behind Lupe. The pillar has a commanding view to the E, but is not the actual summit of **Green Mountain**. Photo looks NE.

**Black Elk Peak** (Center) is in view on the horizon. **Copper Mountain (6,290 ft.)** is the much closer forested hill toward the R. Photo looks SE.

While Lupe was enjoying the big views, SPHP noticed a chipmunk. Lupe hadn’t spotted it yet. The chipmunk was scrambling around the limestone, appearing and disappearing right along the brink of the cliffs.

Lupe didn’t notice this chipmunk scrambling around the limestone right along the brink of the cliffs. Sometimes it disappeared over the edge before reappearing again a few feet away.

SPHP kept a watchful eye on the Carolina Dog. These limestone cliffs were no place to go chasing around after chipmunks or anything else! The chipmunk was sure-footed and could cling to the vertical face of the limestone. Lupe could not. Fortunately, she never saw the crafty, quiet “tiny squirrel”.

Lupe perches near the edge of the cliffs where the chipmunk had been scrambling around a few minutes earlier. She never did see it. The big ridge on the R is **High Point 7159**, an unnamed mountain only 5 feet lower than **Green Mountain**. Photo looks SE.

After taking in the views, and enjoying a Taste of the Wild and water break, Lupe agreed to let SPHP give her a boost up onto the limestone pillar where the cairn was. The pillar was an excellent American Dingo display platform with a tremendous view.

On the limestone pillar. **Five Points** is in view on the horizon on the L. Part of **Gillette Prairie** is seen below. Photo looks E.

Ordinarily, Green Mountain offers complete solitude. That wasn’t the case today, however. Upon arrival at the E edge of the mountain, Lupe and SPHP had both seen a hunter perched on the limestone. He had a tremendous view, and was using binoculars to scan a wide swath of territory below. The hunter and SPHP had waved at one another, but did not speak.

Surprisingly, Lupe and SPHP weren’t alone on **Green Mountain**. From his limestone perch, this hunter quietly scanned a broad swath of territory below. **Gillette Prairie** is seen in the distance. Photo looks NE.

Lupe hates gunfire. If that hunter took a shot at anything from so close by, poor Loopster would have been terrified. Having seen the views and had a little break, it was probably best not to tarry here any longer. It was a long way back to Deerfield Reservoir, anyway.

Of course, before leaving Green Mountain, Lupe still needed to visit the true summit to claim her peakbagging success. Lupe and SPHP headed N from the limestone pillar. The highest ground on Green Mountain was somewhere back in the forest only a little W of the E rim.

A fairly large area was nearly level. It wasn’t really possible to identify an exact high point. A variety of potential highest spots existed, none convincingly higher than the others. Most of them featured small mounds of broken limestone. After searching around for a few minutes, it was time to pick one. Close enough for Dingo work!

At **Green Mountain’s** true summit, or as close to it as Lupe and SPHP could find. Photo looks N.

This was Lupe’s 4th visit to **Green Mountain**.

Although Lupe had been to Green Mountain 3 times before, it was a big place. She’d never explored some of the territory toward the N end. Enough daylight remained today so she could go sniff about over there on her way back to Deerfield Reservoir. Looper headed NW through the forest looking for a couple of sub-peaks shown on the topo map. Both were still over 7,000 feet elevation.

The first hill she would come to was High Point 7062. Plentiful deadfall timber slowed SPHP’s progress, but High Point 7062 eventually did come into view.

**High Point 7062** (L), located 0.625 mile NW of **Green Mountain’s** summit, comes into view. Photo looks NNW.

As it turned out, High Point 7062 was worth visiting. The small summit was capped with a limestone outcropping from which there were 180° views to the N. Lupe climbed up for a look around. She could see the top of Hat Mountain (6,779 ft.) from here.

Up on **High Point 7062**. Photo looks N.

**High Point 7062** was worth visiting! Lupe could see a long way N from here. Photo looks N.

**Hat Mountain**, where Lupe had been earlier in the day, is the grassy, flat-topped hill on the L. Photo looks NW from **High Point 7062** with help from the telephoto lens.

From High Point 7062, Loop could also see her next objective, High Point 7025, more than 0.5 mile to the W. High Point 7025 had a much larger summit area in the form of a 400 to 500 foot long ridge. The fairly narrow ridge was all about the same elevation, but heavily forested. Lupe wouldn’t have much in the way of views over there.

**High Point 7025**, Lupe’s next objective, is the heavily forested ridge seen on the L. Photo looks W.

Even so, when Lupe left High Point 7062, she headed W for High Point 7025. She enjoyed a beautiful early evening trek, while exploring new territory.

Lupe enjoys the evening on her way to **High Point 7025**. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe made it to High Point 7025. She traversed the entire summit ridge from N to S, then back again. As anticipated, there wasn’t much to be seen in the way of views due to the forest.

On the **High Point 7025** ridge. Photo looks SE back toward **Green Mountain**.

The sun was getting low. Deerfield Reservoir was still 4 miles N as the crow flies. Better keep going! Lupe left High Point 7025 heading N. She explored more beautiful territory, saw lots of deer, and eventually found minor roads that led her back to USFS Road No. 691.

Darkness fell on the long road hike back to the G6. Stars glittered above in a moonless sky. The wind had died down hours ago. SPHP tramped along, Lupe trotting nearby. No lights, no traffic, no noise. Everything as it should be when adventure’s done. Quiet time together, then the long drive home. (End – 8:09 PM, 44°F)

Heading down the N slope of **High Point 7025** on the way back to **Deerfield Reservoir**. **Hat Mountain** on the L.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 134 – Copper, Odakota, Green & Hat Mountains Plus the Dragon Caves (6-20-15)

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Muddy Mountain, Laramie Range, Wyoming (6-11-17)

Day 4 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Laramie Range, Wyoming & Beyond!

SPHP got the spare pair of Realtree shoes out of the trunk of the G6. They were old and in bad shape. SPHP muttered while putting them on.

Should have brought these along yesterday, and none of this would have happened!

None of what?

Oh, you know Loop, losing my new boots in La Bonte Creek. The whole purpose of bringing these old Realtree shoes on this trip had been to use them as water shoes for creek crossings. Instead, I forget all about them, then yesterday I manage to lose my brand new 3 day old boots in the creek while trying to be clever and keep them from getting wet.

Well, at least you still have shoes. We’re still going mountain climbing, right?

Nope. Blacktail Peak (8,675 ft.) is out. Not going to risk these old shoes completely disintegrating on me, and having to saunter back barefoot again. Besides, I’m no longer in any mood to ford La Bonte Creek. It looks easy, but the water is too high. You nearly got swept away yourself yesterday. Twice!

So what are we going to do?

Get water at Curtis Gulch campground, then head for Casper so I can buy another pair of boots. Don’t worry, you’ll have a riot barking at all those cows, horses, and antelope again on the way out of here. Come on, let’s get going!

On the drive to Casper, SPHP realized Lupe actually could go mountain climbing today, just not to Blacktail Peak as originally planned. S of Casper was the huge, long ridge of Casper Mountain (8,200 ft.). Lupe had already been to the summit of Casper Mountain once before. However, on the other side of Casper Mountain was another big ridge the American Dingo had never been to – Muddy Mountain (8,300 ft.).

SPHP hadn’t expected Lupe would get to Muddy Mountain (8,300 ft.) so soon on this trip. However, the unforeseen need for new boots was bringing her to the vicinity, so why not do it now? She’d have plenty of time to visit the mountain this afternoon.

After new boots were procured, and lunch was consumed in Washington Park, Lupe and SPHP drove S over Casper Mountain on Casper Mountain Road. The long, partially forested ridge of Muddy Mountain came into view.

The long, high ridge of Muddy Mountain comes into view from the S slope of Casper Mountain. Photo looks S.

SPHP had seen on the topo map that a road went all the way to the top of Muddy Mountain. Driving to the summit wasn’t the plan, however. Too easy. So lame for a peakbagging Carolina Dog! To enjoy the trek and get to really experience Muddy Mountain, Lupe would climb it from the low point in the valley between Casper and Muddy mountains.

This way, Lupe would get to enjoy a remote, lonely backroad trek up Muddy Mountain while gaining over 1,000 feet of elevation. At least, that was what SPHP expected. Reality was rather different. Driving down the S slope of Casper Mountain, SPHP was surprised by how much traffic there was. Casper Mountain Road turned to gravel and became Circle Drive, yet vehicles still passed by at regular intervals.

Not good. The wind was blowing. Getting a face full of dust every time a vehicle went by wasn’t the least bit appealing. The gravel road was no minor backcountry lane, either. Big, wide, and busy, it wasn’t a terribly charming place for a stroll. Lupe was going to have to leave the road and wander up Muddy Mountain through the fields and forests, if this was going to be much fun. No worries, though, that looked easy enough.

SPHP parked the G6 at the low point between the big ridges. A few other vehicles were parked here, too, but no one was around. Nearby, Circle Drive turned W, while Muddy Mountain Road continued S on up Muddy Mountain’s N slope. As SPHP got everything ready to go, more vehicles streamed by raising clouds of dust (2:34 PM, 67°F).

Lupe and SPHP crossed over Muddy Mountain Road entering a giant green field full of purple lupines. The sun was shining. The lupines danced in a lively breeze. Loopster took the lead, sniffing happily. Her destination was 4 or 5 miles away, somewhere along the N rim of the long ridge. Muddy Mountain was going to be fun after all!

NO, IT WASN’T! That sound! Lupe must have passed within 4 or 5 feet of where it was coming from. She was scarcely 25 feet from Muddy Mountain Road when an angry buzzing started as she went by. SPHP looked cautiously around for the deadly source. Oh, yeah. There it was, still rattling down in a small depression, ready to strike. A fairly big one.

Lupe had scarcely started on her way up **Muddy Mountain** when she passed close by this fairly large rattlesnake hidden in a small depression.

Lupe was already a good 15 feet beyond the rattler. She was fine.

Loopster! STAY, SIT! Don’t move! Good girl! Stay right there!

Lupe waits for SPHP to come and guide her safely back around the rattlesnake. Her trek up **Muddy Mountain** was over almost before it began. This was as far as she got, not much more than 40 feet from Muddy Mountain Road. Photo looks SE.

SPHP sounded so serious, Lupe obeyed instantly.

Umm, what’s up? What’s wrong?

A rattlesnake, a pretty big one, you just went right by it. This hike is over, sweetheart! Wait there, I’ll lead you back around the evil serpent. It’s poisonous and very dangerous, even for an American Dingo.

We’re not going to Muddy Mountain?

Yes, yes we are. But suddenly I’ve been seized with a desire to drive every inch of the way to the top. Easy, squeezy-like, and hopefully serpent-free.

Only 10 minutes after starting out, the Carolina Dog was back at the G6 (2:44 PM, 67°F). A nice dusty drive clear to the top of Muddy Mountain ensued. To SPHP’s great surprise, a campground was right at the summit, complete with a big deck overlooking the view to the N. It turned out there was a fairly extensive trail system in the area, too. No wonder the road was so busy! The old topo map hadn’t shown all this.

Lupe and SPHP checked out the view of Casper Mountain from the observation deck.

Although not shown on the old topo maps, Lupe discovers **Rim campground** at the summit of **Muddy Mountain**. SPHP had expected **Muddy Mountain** to be lonely and remote. Instead it’s a popular spot!

Near Rim campground, right along the N rim of **Muddy Mountain**, is this big observation deck with a view of **Casper Mountain** to the N. Photo looks NNW.

Part of the huge **Casper Mountain** ridge as seen from the observation deck. (Summit not pictured to the L of this photo.) Photo looks NNW.

The observation deck was sunny and bright.

A couple of large rocks sat a short distance E of the observation deck. They appeared to be the absolute highest point around. The American Dingo strolled over for a super easy peakbagging success. Peakbagging Muddy Mountain turned out to be scarcely any more effort than Prairie Dog Hill (6,400 ft.) had been yesterday.

Another cheap peakbagging success. Lupe stands on the natural summit of **Muddy Mountain**. Part of the observation deck is seen on the L. Photo looks NW.

*Hey, it wasn’t a cheap peakbagging success! I braved a huge rattlesnake to get here!*

Checking out the view from the observation deck and tagging the summit hadn’t taken long. Lupe still had one more task to perform up on Muddy Mountain, though. She could go look for the Muddy Mountain survey benchmark. The topo map showed it wasn’t actually at the summit, but at another slightly lower high point about 0.75 mile W.

SPHP drove over that way, parking the G6 along the road slightly E of where it seemed the survey benchmark ought to be. Lupe hopped out. She headed W exploring a narrow strip of open ground between the road and N rim of the mountain. SPHP followed, nervously keeping an eye out for rattlesnakes, while searching for the benchmark.

As Lupe sniffed her way along, she came to a nice view to the WNW.

While searching for the **Muddy Mountain** survey benchmark, Lupe came to this pretty view to the WNW. Circle Drive is seen on the R.

Lupe went about 600 feet from the G6. No sign of the survey benchmark. The terrain was gradually dropping now, too. The benchmark wouldn’t be any farther W than this. Might as well turn around.

The Carolina Dog headed back E. Again SPHP followed, trying to search more thoroughly. Nothing. Lupe arrived back at the G6. Now what? SPHP checked the topo map again. It was possible the benchmark was a bit E of here.

SPHP had parked the G6 a little W of a few pine trees close to the N side of the road. Beyond them to the E was a nearly level field rimmed by pines to the N. The field, which was full of purple and yellow wildflowers, widened out to the E in the shape of a long triangle. Better go look over there, too.

Lupe scarcely got past the first few pine trees when she found it! The survey benchmark was right there, fixed in concrete, barely 50 feet from the G6 and only 10-12 feet N of the road. Sweet!

The **Muddy Mountain** survey benchmark is only 10-12 feet N of the road about 0.75 mile W of Rim campground.

Well, that was that. What now? Maybe it would be fun to go take a look at the map of the trail system on Muddy Mountain. The main trailhead was nearly 0.5 mile E at an intersection on the S side of the road. Lupe was fine with going back to check it out, so SPHP drove over to the trailhead. A large map was on display.

This map of the trail system on **Muddy Mountain** is on display at a trailhead on the S side of the road about 0.25 mile W of the turn for the Rim campground.

The trail system map revealed that Muddy Mountain Road made a big loop from here. A little S of this trailhead was another campground, Lodgepole campground. Several different trails offered a variety of possible loops between Lodgepole and Rim campgrounds. The trails were all relatively easy. None involved more than a couple hundred feet of elevation change, if that.

No doubt there was little danger, but that rattlesnake was still too fresh on SPHP’s mind. Loop was going to skip any exploration of the Muddy Mountain trail system. More challenging things would soon be in store for the Carolina Dog, anyway. In the meantime, she could stop and look at some of the views from Muddy Mountain on the way back to Casper.

Loop along the N rim of **Muddy Mountain** on the way back to Casper. Photo looks NW.

At another rock along the N rim. Photo looks NE.

Checking out some rocks S of Muddy Mountain Road. Photo looks SW.

On the way up Casper Mountain (8,200 ft.), Lupe stopped for a final look back at Muddy Mountain (8,300 ft.). In the late afternoon sun, the views were beautiful. Off to the SW, light rain showers were seen in the distance. More mountains could be seen beyond the Laramie Range.

Lupe would eventually be headed that way, but not quite yet.

The lower W end of the long **Muddy Mountain** ridge is seen on the L. Beyond it are mountains of the **Shirley Range**. Photo looks SW.

A final look back at **Muddy Mountain** from Circle Drive on the lower S slopes of **Casper Mountain**. Photo looks SE.

In Casper, SPHP grabbed a couple of cheeseburgers. Lupe shared in the cheeseburger feast on the drive E back to Douglas along I-25. Day ended with a gorgeous evening drive once again SW of Douglas on Hwy 91. Ahead Lupe could see where she would be adventuring next.

Tomorrow Lupe would try to climb both Squaw Mountain (9,313 ft.) and Buffalo Peak (9,387 ft.). Hopefully it was going to be a fabulous day!