Lupe – Page 247 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 106 – Smith Mountain and Flag Mountain (11-28-14)

Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving. The day everyone celebrates being totally over-stuffed with delicious turkey and all the trimmings by spending a fortune Christmas shopping online or at the mall. Well, not quite everyone. American Dingoes neglect their patriotic duty to keep the economy humming. They prefer to go on adventures instead!

At 10:06 AM (50°F), SPHP parked the G6 at the Newton Lake (a pond, really) trailhead a few miles NW of Hill City just off Deerfield Road. Time to start working off a few zillion calories! The N end of Smith Mountain (5,897 ft.) was immediately to the W. Lupe couldn’t just go W, though, to get there. The Newton Fork of Spring Creek, too big to simply leap across, was in the way.

Lupe and SPHP crossed Deerfield Road and got on the Mickelson Trail heading WNW. The trail was covered with 6″ of snow. Lupe and SPHP trudged along, burning calories already. The trail soon crossed Newton Creek at a very nice bridge. 0.5 mile after Lupe got on the trail, she was a little N of the N end of Smith Mountain. Lupe and SPHP left the Mickelson Trail, climbed up the embankment to Deerfield Road, and crossed over to the S side of the highway.

Smith Mountain was the first of 3 peakbagging objectives Lupe had for the day. The other two, Flag Mountain (5,896 ft.) and Campaign Hill (5,800 ft.), were both S of Smith Mountain. Smith Mountain is a nearly mile long ridge running N/S. Lupe and SPHP started climbing the slope at the N end of the ridge. There was quite a lot of deadfall timber to work past, and snow everywhere, too. By the time Lupe reached the first little saddle where she could see over to the W side of the mountain, the sun was so warm SPHP had to stop and take off a jacket.

Lupe gained the top of the ridge close to the highest point at the very N end of Smith Mountain. If there had been fewer trees blocking the view, she would have gone to the very top of the N high point to take a look at Lowden Mountain (6,055 ft.) a mile to the N. Instead, Lupe headed S along the ridge looking for the true summit of Smith Mountain. She came to a couple of high spots definitely higher than the N high point. SPHP thought the second one she came to was likely the true summit.

Lupe at the 2nd high point S of the northernmost high point on Smith Mountain.

Lupe continued S along the Smith Mountain ridge. This part of the forest had been thinned before the pine bark beetle infestation started. There was far less deadfall timber to contend with. The remaining trees were healthier. More sunlight could reach the ground between them, so there wasn’t nearly as much snow around. It was far easier to move along, and Lupe and SPHP caught better glimpses of the views to E.

The ridge started angling a little more to the SSE. After having lost some elevation, Lupe was climbing again. As Lupe went higher and higher, SPHP began to realize that Lupe hadn’t actually reached the true summit of Smith Mountain yet; it was still ahead.

Lupe didn’t have very far to go to reach it. Soon she was sniffing around much bigger rock formations at the true summit of Smith Mountain. The highest rocks were so huge, she couldn’t actually get up on top of them, but she climbed up almost as high. SPHP lifted her up so she could put her front paws on the highest rock, just a foot or two below the very highest point, which was out of reach to the W.

Lupe at the true summit of Smith Mountain. She climbed higher than shown here, and SPHP lifted her up so her paws could touch the big rocks within just a foot or two of the very top. That was close enough! The American Dingo was claiming a peakbagging success! Dingoes are practical, not purists. Photo looks W.

From the true summit, Lupe and SPHP continued only a little way farther SSE along the ridge before turning more to the SSW to start losing elevation. Lupe stayed high enough on the mountain to avoid a couple of draws that drained W. Eventually the terrain sloped more to the SSW. Lupe and SPHP headed down.

Suddenly there was the sound of gunfire! Hunters were about. Lupe was instantly alarmed. She insisted on stopping. SPHP found a dry spot. Lupe and SPHP took a break just sitting on the pine needles on the forest floor. Lupe wasn’t hungry, but SPHP ate a tangerine and a few carrot sticks. The gunfire had come from quite some distance to the S or SW.

A little while after the gunfire ended, SPHP was ready to move on. Reluctantly, Lupe tagged along close by. Almost as soon as Lupe started off again, SPHP spotted a road ahead. SPHP didn’t realize it at the time, but this was USFS Road No. 386.1B. Lupe reached it at a bend at the NE corner of a big clearing. She could follow the road W or S. Lupe and SPHP headed S in the direction of Flag and Campaign mountains. There was quite a bit of snow and ice gradually melting on the road.

Eventually, No. 386.1B began turning E to go around the S end of Smith Mountain. Lupe left the road continuing S. Before long, she reached a big field extending E/W down in the Patterson Creek valley. Lupe crossed the field. Patterson Creek meandered along the S side of the field. It had plenty of water in it, and was flowing along quite nicely. Fortunately, the creek was just small enough to leap over. Both Lupe and SPHP made it across without difficulty.

Near the S side of Patterson Creek was a snowy road going E/W. A quick check to the W revealed a dead end. The road went farther E following the Patterson Creek valley downstream. Lupe went just a little way E on the road, before turning S to start the climb up Flag Mountain. There was quite a bit of snow on the ground here, and some deadfall timber, too. Lupe succeeded in avoiding most of the snow and some of the deadfall timber by climbing up a little ridge approaching Flag Mountain from the NNE.

The last 200 feet of elevation gain up the N slope of Flag Mountain was different. It was fairly steep, full of snow and choked with deadfall. Lupe had lots of time to sniff around in the shattered forest while SPHP struggled up the mountain. Meanwhile, the sunnier skies Lupe enjoyed earlier in the day disappeared. A cold breeze started up out of the WNW. The mood had turned a bit gloomy by the time Lupe and SPHP made it to the top of Flag Mountain.

The summit area was a little surprising. It was as big as several houses, and mostly level. The biggest part was toward the E where the ground was mostly grassy, with trees along the N and NE perimeters. The very highest point was near the W end, where the summit was much rockier and narrower. The rocks weren’t very large. Lupe hopped up on top for a look around. There were quite a few trees around, but she could see Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) to the SE.

Lupe reaches the summit of Flag Mountain. Photo looks SE toward Harney Peak.

Harney Peak (L) with a little help from the telephoto lens.

The most wide open views from Flag Mountain were toward the E and S from the larger E portion of the summit area. There were a few bushes, but no trees along the SE perimeter to block the view. The most impressive view was SE toward Harney Peak, but Lupe also had a pretty good view off to the ENE toward Five Points (6,221 ft.).

Harney Peak from Flag Mountain. Photo looks SE.

Five Points is the wavy ridge on the R. Privately named False North Point is the pointy peak on the L. Looking ENE from Flag Mountain. — **Five Points** is the wavy ridge on the R. Privately named False North Point is the pointy peak on the L. Looking ENE from Flag Mountain.

Lupe had now climbed 2 of her 3 peakbagging goals for the day, Smith and Flag Mountains. Her 3rd goal, Campaign Hill was supposed to be just 0.5 mile S of Flag Mountain, but at first glance, SPHP did not see it. After looking more carefully from the SE edge of the Flag Mountain summit, SPHP saw the E end of a low forested hill to the S. It seemed too low to be Campaign Hill, but after consulting the maps again, that had to be it.

Campaign Hill wasn’t very far away, but the S slope of Flag Mountain was too steep to go directly down that way. SPHP got cold feet. No, really, truly cold feet. SPHP’s old boots leaked badly. After tramping around for hours in melting snow, SPHP’s feet were totally sopping wet. They had been that way essentially the whole day. Now, standing around on Flag Mountain in the cold breeze, SPHP’s feet felt like they were freezing up.

The sun was low in the sky, but there were still a couple of hours left before sunset. Lupe and SPHP hadn’t gone all that far as the crow flies, but it had taken a long time to get to Flag Mountain with all the snow and deadfall timber along the way. It might take quite a while to get back, too. SPHP needed to start moving to get the circulation going again. Decision time.

Well, no sense risking frostbite. Campaign Hill would still be there another day. Lupe and SPHP started slowly back down the N slope of Flag Mountain through the snow and deadfall timber again. Lupe went all the way back down the mountain to the Patterson Creek valley again.

Looking W up the Patterson Creek valley on the way back to the G6.

Lupe and SPHP crossed Patterson Creek and went over to the N side of the field. Since there was no need to climb Smith Mountain again, Lupe and SPHP followed the fence along the edge of the field heading W up the valley to see what was there. The field branched out into two even bigger fields, one to the SW and one to the NW. Two big spruce trees stood near an old abandoned cabin where the fields met. It was a pretty spot.

Lupe continued along the NE edge of the field heading N along the fence line. The field soon divided again. One arm of it went off to the W. The other arm turned and went N a long way. SPHP could see a home way up toward the far N end. The fields were probably private property. Lupe and SPHP decided to angle NNE through the forest, hoping to find USFS Road No. 386.1B again somewhere W of Smith Mountain.

Lupe did find No. 386.1B again near the big clearing where she had first reached it earlier in the day on the way to Flag Mountain. This time, Lupe followed No. 386.1B going N. The road wound around a little, but most of the time made steady progress to the N. Along the way, Lupe was exploring new territory W of Smith Mountain. She saw deer and squirrels in the forest, so she was having some fun.

After a little while, SPHP saw an intersection up ahead. As Lupe got close to the intersection, her fun suddenly ended. A shot rang out very close by. Hunters again! This time much, much closer. Lupe wanted to hide near a big tree close to the intersection. SPHP complied. Several more shots rang out. SPHP knew Lupe wasn’t going anywhere until they stopped.

Ten minutes of silence went by. SPHP headed for the intersection. Lupe didn’t want to go, but was scared to be left behind. The side road was marked No. 386.1F. It went NNE and looked like a shortcut back to the G6 compared to No. 386.1B, which would take a very long way around to the NW. From the intersection, SPHP saw the hunter’s pickup truck parked not too far away along No. 386.1F.

Another shot rang out. Lupe and SPHP retreated SW to a big rock. SPHP sat and looked at maps, while Lupe huddled as close as she could get. The maps showed it would have been faster to take No. 386.1B around the E side of Smith Mountain from Patterson Creek. Too late for that! No. 386.1F was definitely a shortcut back to the G6 from here. It would save at least a mile compared to staying on No. 386.1B.

After it had been quiet for a while again, Lupe and SPHP returned to the intersection and started NNE on No. 386.1F. Within a few minutes, Lupe was past the hunter’s pickup truck. The road was snowy and icy. There were lots of tracks in the snow. There must have been quite a few hunters. Lupe saw a couple of them to the E higher up on Smith Mountain. One waved. SPHP waved back, but did not stop. No more shots were heard.

No. 386.1F led down into a big draw NNW of Smith Mountain. Lower down, the road became so choked with deadfall timber, Lupe and SPHP left it. The mountain slopes seemed easier going than the road. The sun set. For just a few minutes, there was a beautifully colored sky to the SW.

It was 4:59 PM (41°F), and getting pretty dark by the time Lupe and SPHP reached the G6 again. SPHP’s feet were still cold, but moving on the long march back had helped. They weren’t as cold as they had been standing around on top of Flag Mountain. Carolina Dogs have great circulation. SPHP felt Lupe’s paws. They were practically burning hot! It felt good just holding them! Lupe just grinned.

Sunset from down in the draw along USFS Road No. 386.1F near the NW end of Smith Mountain.

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King’s Hill, Montana & Bald Mountain, Wyoming (9-7-16 & 9-8-16)

Days 40 & 41 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska

Night, Unknown Hour, Pre-dawn on Day 40 – Cold out, but at least Lupe wasn’t going to get snowed in at the Canadian Rockies. Last evening’s rain had stopped. Stars glittered in the black night sky. Back to sleep, if possible, no telling how many hours away dawn was. Lupe wasn’t going anywhere until then, not with the G6’s burnt out R headlight.

Day 40, 6:55 AM, 33°F – Whatever happened to that bright morning sunshine SPHP had expected? The clouds were back. In places there was fog along Icefields Parkway Hwy 93. It hadn’t snowed down here, but mountains visible between the clouds were sporting a dusting of new snow. The mood was more like the onset of winter than a day in early September.

Sadly, Lupe was leaving. Her Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska was all but over. She would have a couple more adventures on the way home, but they wouldn’t take long.

The miles flew by as Lupe watched the scenery from the comfort of the G6. She saw the grandeur of the towering Canadian Rockies. She passed by many a turn leading to fabulous adventures she’d had earlier on this Dingo Vacation or back in 2013 or 2014. As Lupe left the glorious mountains, the sky started to clear and the sun came out.

Lupe wasn’t the least bit sad. As far as she was concerned, the adventure was still on. In fact, it was getting even better! Ahead of her were more than 1,000 miles of farm and ranchlands. That meant one thing to the Carolina Dog – an abundance of cows, horses, haystacks, suspicious barns and outbuildings to bark at while leaping from window to window in the G6! Yes, it was going to be an exciting, busy, exhausting day!

And so it was. Barking at cows and horses from the G6 is a sport Looper never tires of, nor loses interest in. The unsuspecting cows and horses don’t have to do anything more than exist in order to egg her on. Seldom are they even aware of her brief, shrill, distant presence. Doesn’t matter a whit. Loop barks all the harder. The whole experience provides her with a sense of purpose, accomplishment and joy.

The only way to calm the energetic din, is to drive into a town or up into the mountains. Even the mountains can be noisy, but rarely are there enough deer and squirrels present as substitutes to make the experience at all comparable to the pleasures to be had in cattle country.

SPHP was granted a break while driving through Calgary, and another later on in Great Falls, Montana. In Great Falls, SPHP stopped to pick up fried chicken, potato wedges and Almond Joys. For a while SE of Great Falls, the potato wedges and Almond Joys kept Lupe distracted. By the time SPHP stopped at the Al Buck Memorial Park along Highway 89 N of the Little Belt Range, Lupe was too stuffed to share the fried chicken.

Day 40, 7:00 PM, 47°F – Lupe arrived at King’s Hill Pass on Hwy 89 in the Little Belt Mountains of W Central Montana very satisfied with how her day had gone. The excitement of being in cattle country was temporarily over up here, but the sun would be above the horizon for a little while longer. The American Dingo was still bursting with energy and eager for some exercise climbing King’s Hill (8,008 ft.).

From the pass, Lupe went SW through the forest until she reached USFS Road No. 487, which she followed for 0.75 mile going S along the W face of King’s Hill. By the time No. 487 turned E, she was almost up to the S end of the huge, nearly level summit area. Lupe went N along the wide summit ridge, as the last feeble rays of sunlight faded.

Lupe near the S end of the King’s Hill summit near sunset. The highest point on King’s Hill is toward the far end of this meadow. Photo looks NNW.

Lupe traveled NNW across the open ground until she reached the survey benchmark at the true summit near the N end of the mountain. Although the sun was still above the horizon, clouds filtered the remaining sunlight to the point where it was hard to tell it was even present. It certainly did nothing to cut the chill from the W wind sweeping over King’s Hill.

Off to the NNE, Lupe could see Big Baldy Mountain (9,177 ft.), the highest point in the Little Belt Range. Big Baldy already had snow on top!

Off to the NNE, Lupe could see Big Baldy Mountain, the high point of the Little Belt Range. Big Baldy already had snow on top!

Big Baldy Mountain from King’s Hill. Photo looks NNE using the telephoto lens.

Up in the cold wind, late in the day after being cooped up in the G6 so long, the American Dingo started getting ideas. Oh, no! SPHP recognized that look.

Up in the cold wind on King’s Hill late in the day, Lupe started getting ideas. She stood motionless staring steadily at SPHP. In a flash, SPHP realized what was coming. The were-puppy was about to attack! Photo looks SSW.

Suddenly Lupe vanished. In her place appeared the wild, ferocious were-puppy. Without hesitation the were-puppy attacked SPHP!

After a few minutes of struggle, during which the were-puppy lunged and leaped at SPHP with snapping jaws, SPHP managed to fend off the were-puppy. Lupe returned looking as innocent as she could be.

So, I take you adventuring not only to the Canadian Rockies, but way up to the Yukon and even Alaska, and this is what I get?

Why, whatever do you mean, SPHP? Are you feeling well?

Sly dog! Well, the wind was cold, and Lupe had made it to the top of King’s Hill. The sun really would be down behind Porphyry Peak (8,192 ft.) soon. No sense in sticking around waiting for the were-puppy to return. Lupe and SPHP started S toward the road leading back down to the G6.

The lookout tower on Porphyry Peak stands silhouetted against the sky near sundown. Photo looks W.

Shots rang out. Gunfire! Hunters? The same American Dingo which had presented itself as the bold, ferocious, wild and invincible were-puppy only minutes ago, now pleaded with SPHP for reassurance and assistance.

Help! Help! Hide me! Save me! Hold me! Pet me! Love me! Carry me! All of the above me!

Sheesh, such drama! Come on Looper, you’ll be fine. Just stick close by. No harm will come to you.

As promised, Lupe returned safely to the G6, though shaken by her narrow escape (8:19 PM). She leaped into the G6 immediately. SPHP fed her Alpo and Taste of the Wild before putting her blankie over her. Soon the were-puppy was snoring peacefully. Outside, stars shone brilliantly accompanied by a half moon.

Day 41, First Light, 6:13 AM, 41°F – Lupe woke to the sound of rain and wind gusts. A small storm was blowing through. So much for any thought of climbing Porphyry Peak this morning. SPHP had hatched a different plan already, anyway. Look out cows, horses and haystacks, Lupe is on her way!

Lupe left the Little Belt Range behind. S of White Sulphur Springs near the junction of Hwys 12 & 89, Lupe & SPHP got out of the G6 to take a look at the dramatic sky remaining in the aftermath of the storm front.

Lupe in W Central Montana along Hwy 89 near its junction with Hwy 12. The day started off with scattered small storms and wind. A little later on, the sky cleared off completely. Photo looks SE.

Dramatic clouds of a line of small storms boosted the scenic value of Lupe’s early drive through W central Montana. Photo looks SE along Hwy 89.

Cows, horses, haystacks! Lupe had her fun. Ahh, this was the life! Another great day!

E of Lovell, Wyoming, Highway Alt 14 wound steeply up into the last big mountain range of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation. Lupe was back in the Bighorns for the first time since she’d climbed Cloud Peak (13,167 ft.) back in July. Her final peakbagging adventures of this Dingo Vacation would occur here.

A little after noon, on this cool breezy day, Lupe set out from the Bald Mountain campground for Bald Mountain (10,042 ft.) (12:09 PM, 56°F).

Lupe sets out for Bald Mountain. Photo looks SE.

The mostly bare, rounded mountain was an easy climb. The only real obstacle was the SW wind, which blew harder and harder as Lupe gained elevation. Carolina Dogs are not great fans of wind, but Loopster persevered. There was nothing along the way to protect her from the wind, but on the other hand, the views were tremendous!

On the way up. The summit of Bald Mountain is ahead. Photo looks ESE from the S side of the W end of the mountain.

Lupe reached the survey benchmark at the true summit. The wind was worst here. She didn’t like it, but the Carolina Dog stayed long enough for photos. Lupe had been here before. Twice in 2012, once in 2013. More than 3 years had gone by since her last ascent.

The survey benchmark at the summit of Bald Mountain.

Hwy Alt 14 is seen on the L. **Hunt Mountain (10,162 ft.)** is on the R. Photo looks SE.

**Medicine Mountain (9,962 ft.)** (L) from Bald Mountain. The round white dome on Medicine Mountain is part of an FAA air traffic control installation, and is often visible from great distances. Photo looks NW.

Looking WNW. Medicine Mountain on the R.

Lupe patiently endures the wind at the summit of Bald Mountain. Photo looks NNW.

Well, this was it. Lupe had done it. She had reached the summit of Bald Mountain. Only one task remained – to go find the place of names, and make the necessary repairs. Lupe’s name has been immortalized in stone on Bald Mountain since July 11, 2013.

It had been more than 3 years since Lupe and SPHP were here last, but the place of names was found with relatively little difficulty. Lupe waited in the wind for an hour, while SPHP fixed things up. Finally, it was done.And that was that. There was nothing left to do. Enough of this wind! Lupe and SPHP began the easy trek back to the G6 with a grand view of Medicine Mountain ahead.

Lupe about to start the return journey down to the G6. Bald Mountain CG where the G6 was parked is at the closest large clump of trees down on the R. Medicine Mountain is at Center. Photo looks NW.

Medicine Mountain using the telephoto lens.

About 1.25 miles beyond the summit of Medicine Mountain, is the **Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark**. No details of the Medicine Wheel’s origins are known, other than that it was built by Native Americans. Considered a sacred site, visitors are allowed to visit the Medicine Wheel when not in use by Native Americans, but Lupe did not go there today.

The wind was still blowing when Lupe reached the G6 at the Bald Mountain campground (3:13 PM, 53°F), but not as strongly as up on the mountain. She stayed in the area for more than an hour before heading E again on Highway Alt 14A toward Burgess Junction.

Later in the day, E of the magnificent Bighorn Range, Lupe resumed her happy duty watching for cows and horses to bark at along I90. She kept it up as long as there was light to see by. Yes, this really was the life, all these splendid days adventuring on and off the long road to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska and back, every minute spent with sweet Lupe!

After an adventure spanning 9,126 miles, 41 days & 40 nights, Lupe returned to her home in the Black Hills of South Dakota at 10:50 PM on 9-8-2016. She had gone thousands of miles farther than she had ever been before, seen countless magnificent sights, and had wonderful adventures all the way up to the Yukon and far into Alaska.

In the Brooks Range of northern Alaska, Lupe went her last mile N reaching the confluence of the Dietrich River and a stream NW of Dillon Mountain. From there she saw a mountain, farther N yet, privately designated the Mountain of the Midnight Sun. Whether Lupe ever sees the Mountain of the Midnight Sun and adventures in Alaska again is, at this moment, part of the unknown, uncertain future.

So long as Lupe is alive and well, hope remains that some day the Dingo of the Midnight Sun will return to roam and play once more beneath the pale blue Arctic sky.

The dark blue Mountain of the Midnight Sun (R).

The Owl & The Pussycat

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money, wrapped up in a five pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above, and sang to a small guitar,

“O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, what a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are, what a beautiful Pussy you are.”

Pussy said to the Owl “You elegant fowl, how charmingly sweet you sing. O let us be married, too long we have tarried; but what shall we do for a ring?”

They sailed away for a year and a day, to the land where the Bong-tree grows, and there in a wood, a Piggy-wig stood, with a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose. With a ring at the end of his nose.

“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?” Said the Piggy, “I will.”

So they took it away, and were married next day by the Turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince, and slices of quince, which they ate with a runcible spoon.

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon.

They danced by the light of the moon.

– Edward Lear, first published 1871

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