South Dakota – Page 28 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD & WY Expedition No. 62 – Cement Ridge (6-8-13)

8:15 AM, 58ºF, Old Baldy Mountain trailhead off USFS Road No. 134 – The skies were clouding up. Looking like rain again, although any rain was supposed to end later this morning, chased away by 20 to 30 mph winds expected to kick up this afternoon.

The American Dingo was here for the 2nd time in 6 days. Since Lupe had already visited Old Baldy Mountain (6,096 ft.) last time around, that wasn’t her destination today. Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.), 4 miles WNW, was the goal, and perhaps some wandering after that.

The air was humid and still at the moment, but it would be good to get to Cement Ridge before the wind. Lupe left the vacant trailhead heading W on Trail No. 66, this time ignoring the turn for the E route of the No. 66 loop she had taken to Old Baldy Mountain 6 days ago.

The weather had been super wet for weeks. Must have had yet another substantial rain here again last night. Verging on mucky, the level trail wound W through a mixed forest of dark pines and white-barked aspens sporting newly sprouted light green leaves.

Lupe soon reached the place where the W half of the Trail No. 66 loop turns N toward Beaver Creek. Instead of making this turn, Lupe took an old abandoned side road that went SW down into Schoolhouse Gulch. Picking up USFS Road No. 222 here, the Carolina Dog headed N.

Where Lupe reached No. 222, a lush green meadow was visible beyond a thin line of trees W of the road. A large stock pond brimming with water was seen only a little farther N. As Lupe drew even with the pond, a man driving an ATV stopped to chat.

Introducing himself as “Hank”, the man said he was on his way to mend fences on property he owned nearby. Noting SPHP’s interest in the stock pond, Hank said he knew the owner, and had even requested permission to fish there. The owner readily granted that permission, but told Hank there weren’t any fish to catch. Although he had once stocked the pond with 2,000 trout, the pond froze solid, winter-killing all of them.

Hank commented that he didn’t see many hikers in this area, and was curious about where Lupe was going and where she’d started from. When SPHP relayed that information, Hank said he needed to be more active in the hills himself. Wishing Lupe success, he drove off.

The **stock pond in Schoolhouse Gulch** W of USFS Road No. 222. Photo looks WSW.

Soon another vehicle came along. This time it was the driver of a pickup truck that stopped to chat. He said he was on his way to fix fences with a friend, and was surprised when SPHP told him that Hank was already there waiting for him.

The pickup truck driver also owned property in this region, 270 acres in all, in 2 separate parcels. 160 acres were back in the forest W of USFS Road No. 222, land that had been in his family since the early 1900’s. He had grown up there, although the old cabin was now in such a state of disrepair that it was unusable.

This driver also commented on how seldom they saw hikers here, and wondered where Lupe was going? When SPHP said Cement Ridge, he replied that she had a long walk ahead of her. A neighbor had told him they’d gotten 17 inches of rain in the last 2 storms up that way, the most water received in such a short period of time since the floods of 1965.

Before he drove off, SPHP assured the pickup driver that Lupe had all day, and would have no problem at all getting to Cement Ridge.

For 0.5 mile, No. 222 proceeded NNW, sloping gradually downhill to the confluence of 2 major tributaries of Beaver Creek. Joining forces at a low point just W of the road, the combined stream turned E flowing through a culvert.

Once past Beaver Creek, Lupe started gaining elevation. Hank was soon spotted doing something near a spring in a field W of the road. The pickup driver, who had supposedly been on the way to help him mend fences, was nowhere in sight, but Hank waved and shouted a friendly greeting to Lupe and SPHP.

Climbing steadily, USFS Road No. 222 curved W. Scattered patches of blue sky appeared amid lots of puffy white, and sometimes gray, clouds. A light and airy breeze sprang up. SPHP collected Lupe treasures from the ditches, while Lupe ran sniffing through the woods investigating whatever seemed interesting.

A moment of relaxation on the way to Cement Ridge.

After winding W for more than a mile, USFS Road No. 222 turned N again upon reaching its high point. No. 103, little more than a jeep trail, took off to the L here. Leaving No. 222, Lupe took No. 103, which quickly turned S. For 0.5 mile, the road was fairly straight and level.

Although this region was forested, the trees were young. Lupe was high enough to get some decent glimpses of views to the E. She trotted along, drinking from little streams and mud puddles, while SPHP continued to gather Lupe treasures. No. 103 started to wind SW. Lupe passed a sign saying a permit was required for off-road vehicles in Wyoming. She had left South Dakota.

After a mile or so on No. 103, a long switchback turned first SE, then sharply NW, going more steeply uphill. At the upper end, Lupe reached a saddle where No. 103 linked up with USFS Road No. 850, which had come up past Guidinger Spring from Rattlesnake Canyon.

No. 850 was a much better road, and went NW a little over a mile to the fire lookout tower on Cement Ridge. Rather than follow the road, Lupe stayed up on higher ground NE of it, traveling the crest of the ridgeline through open forest and fields of wildflowers.

Wildflowers on the way to the Cement Ridge fire lookout tower.

So beautiful! The wildflowers were nice, too!

A healthy specimen of the “yellow wildflower” category.

Wildflowers were beautiful and abundant! The air – breezy, light, and fresh. Big clouds sailed overhead, and the views improved with each passing moment. A bicyclist soon appeared on No. 850, pedaling for the summit. Before long, another one was spotted, and more kept appearing after that. At first, the bicyclists were all on their way up to the lookout, but soon some were seen coasting down No. 850, too. Something must be going on!

The Cement Ridge lookout tower came into view. People were gathered near a canopy set up along the road SW of the tower, but Lupe headed straight to the top.

Approaching the **Cement Ridge fire lookout tower**. Photo looks NW.

After giving Lupe some Taste of the Wild, SPHP relaxed at a picnic table near the NW corner of the lookout tower and began eating an orange. Tremendous views by Black Hills standards in nearly all directions!

Sundance Mountain (5,824 ft.) and Warren Peaks (6,650 ft.) were in sight to the WNW. Inyan Kara (6,360 ft.) was off to the SW. Looking back into South Dakota, both Crow Peak (5,787 ft.) to the NNE, and Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) to the E, were easy to spot.

**Inyan Kara Mountain** (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks SW.

**Terry Peak** (R of Center). Photo looks E.

Low overhead, an endless procession of big clouds raced by from out of the W. Although Lupe was sometimes in sunshine, most of the time she was in shadow. The darker clouds spit a little rain as they passed. SPHP had only been at the picnic table for 10 minutes when suddenly a NW wind kicked up, coming in 20 to 30 mph gusts, as forecast.

Moving to the more sheltered SE side of the lookout tower, SPHP worked on an apple. Accepting pieces of a Pop Tart, Lupe promptly decided to bury them for future use, but found it tough to do so in the hard-packed gravel surrounding the tower.

Although the wind was a bit annoying, once the snack break was over, Lupe and SPHP headed down to the canopy to find out what was going on. A young man and woman, both smartly dressed in genuine western outfits, were busy grilling burgers and hot dogs to go along with water or beer for 140 contestants in a 110 mile long bicycle race that started and ended in Spearfish. Cement Ridge, 40 miles along the course, was one of the main support stops along the way. A photographer with a fancy camera was taking pictures of contestants that made it this far.

Curiosity satisfied, Lupe head over to another picnic table for a final look around before returning briefly to the lookout tower. She would have stayed longer, but Carolina Dogs aren’t fond of wind. Lupe was soon heading SE back down the ridgeline overlooking USFS Road No. 850, where bicyclists continued to stream by.

A windy and impressively cloudy day at **Cement Ridge**. Photo looks E.

Despite the wind, Lupe would have gone up to the top of the tower, if it had been open.

Lupe was nearly back to the saddle where USFS Road No. 103 joined No. 850, when she suddenly became very interested in something hidden in deep grass amid a tight group of young trees. Taking a look, SPHP saw a dead chipmunk.

Picking the chipmunk up to prevent Lupe from eating it, SPHP was in the process of examining the chipmunk, when it suddenly sprang up, leapt back into the grass, and began scurrying away. The American Dingo was on it in a flash! SPHP made Lupe release the chipmunk more than once in a span of only seconds, but the episode ended in tragedy with the poor, innocent chipmunk laying motionless in the grass.

Terrible! Fearing Lupe had killed the harmless chipmunk, SPHP again picked it up, checking for injuries. Promptly awakening and biting SPHP, the chipmunk made another mad dash for freedom. This time SPHP managed to prevent Lupe from going after it. So much for handling “dead” wild animals!

USFS Road No. 103 was just ahead. Not even noon yet. The Carolina Dog had the rest of the day to wander now, if she wanted to. 6 days ago on Expedition No. 61, a line of almost equally high ridges had been visible S of the Cement Ridge fire lookout tower. This was a great opportunity to explore them!

Instead of heading back on No. 103, Lupe left the saddle climbing S up a forested slope.

Approaching the saddle where USFS Roads No. 850 (R) and No. 103 meet. The **true summit of Cement Ridge** is visible (R of Center). Photo looks S.

Upon reaching level terrain on top of the first ridge S of the roads, Lupe went WNW a little way exploring toward the highest point, ultimately reaching a spot where she had a view of the fire lookout tower more than a mile NW. SPHP didn’t realize it until nearly a year later, but Lupe was now at the true summit of Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.).

Without any real plan other than to explore whatever high ground she might come to, Lupe headed S through the forest. Didn’t seem to be any pine bark beetle infestation up here, so there wasn’t much deadfall to contend with. Juniper bushes growing on the forest floor were about the only impediment, and these were usually easily avoided.

The terrain sloped gradually lower. SPHP eventually encouraged Lupe to turn SE, losing a bit more elevation as she went down to a meadow in a small valley. Lupe found a logging road and followed it S. Before long, she came to a spring bubbling up from a 4″ hole in the road. The day was getting sunnier and warmer, so she helped herself to a big drink.

Going over a series of hills, Lupe worked her way S, generally heading SE while up on top, then turning SW when the hill or ridge played out to head over to the next one. She crossed a road, which might have been USFS Road No. 804, where 2 bicyclists from the race appeared, but they were the last ones Lupe saw. SPHP kept hoping for some distant views, but the hills were all forested, and little could be glimpsed except the next rise ahead.

Exactly where Lupe went, is now impossible to say. The American Dingo followed various old logging roads up on the ridges, and occasionally crossed USFS roads in the valleys. None of these roads were marked. Lupe saw many deer, and once, when the sky darkened for a little while, she saw 2 giant deers (elk) near a dense pine forest.

The sky brightened again. After crossing a road that went E/W, Lupe came to a small vigorous stream that flowed W. She laid right down in it to cool off, emerging greatly refreshed. Pausing to check the old Black Hills NF map, SPHP figured this might be the stream S of USFS Road No. 805 that drains into Wagon Canyon. A beautiful cloud appeared over the next hill. It never developed into anything threatening.

The stream that Lupe cooled off in. Photo looks W.

The magnificent cloud sailed off to the E. Lupe continued S. A logging road took her up to a high point where the forest had been thinned enough to permit a view of the top of Inyan Kara Mountain (6,360 ft.), still many miles to the SW.

Going S along a ridge from the high point, the sky darkened again. Tiny hailstones fell for several minutes before morphing into a 10 minute rain shower. A shallow green valley appeared ahead with a faint road going through it. Upon reaching the road, a minor pass could be seen 200 yards to the NW.

Lupe ventured up to the pass, where SPHP was surprised to see a brown wand identifying this road as USFS Road No. 393.1. Nearby to the S was a little hill with lots of pine trees. Climbing up to see what could be seen from here, the answer was, not much. SPHP sat down next to a pine tree for another look at the map, while Lupe rested on a bed of pine needles looking like she was truly enjoying this aimlessly wandering adventure.

No. 393 was shown on the map, but No. 393.1 wasn’t. Lupe must have drifted far enough E to be back in South Dakota, but how far S she was wasn’t clear. Taking a short break, Lupe and SPHP stayed on the little hill for a while. Couldn’t stay long. A few hours of daylight remained, but the sun was starting to sink toward the horizon.

Returning to No. 393.1, Lupe followed it SE. The shallow green valley led to a larger valley with a better road that turned NE, the direction Lupe needed to go to get to the G6. At this turn, another marker showed that Lupe had just come down USFS Road No. 106.1A. Confusing! SPHP still wasn’t certain where the American Dingo was.

The shallow green valley Lupe had just come down from the No. 106.1A wand. Photo looks WNW.

The evening stroll down the larger valley was gorgeous! Fabulous clouds drifted by on a cool, light breeze. Birds sang the happy songs of late spring. Lupe trotted along, pausing for drinks from each puddle she came to, while SPHP began finding and gathering Lupe treasures again. Another wand appeared saying that this was USFS Road No. 134.3B, which was on the map. For the first time in hours, SPHP knew exactly where Lupe was.

On USFS Road No. 134.3B. Photo looks NNE.

After a mile or two, the valley came to an abrupt end. For the next 0.25 mile, No. 134.3B passed through a narrow gap flanked by limestone walls. The road was badly eroded in here. Rocks, silt, and gravel had been washed away and deposited farther down the mini-gorge.

When Lupe emerged from the gap, the junction with USFS Road No. 134 was just ahead. Another check of the map. Still 5 splendid miles to go!

8:26 PM, 52ºF, Old Baldy Mountain trailhead – Lupe’s journey to Cement Ridge, and her long wanderings S along both sides of the seldom visited South Dakota – Wyoming border had been a success, a fabulous 12 hour excursion! 76 Lupe treasures gathered, too! A new record.

A terrific day, but the sort of one that works up an appetite. About time for some cheeseburgers! SPHP stopped at McDonald’s in Spearfish and bought 4. The famished American Dingo made sure she got 2 of them before curling up to snooze the rest of the way home.

**Miles S of Cement Ridge**, Black Hills National Forest 6-8-13

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD & WY Expedition No. 141 – Old Baldy Mountain & Cement Ridge (10-11-15)

Black Hills, SD & WY Expedition No. 205 – Balm of Gilead Gulch & Cement Ridge (5-20-17)

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

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 278 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Silver City to Daugherty Gulch & Peak 5800 (4-28-21)

8:34 AM, 41ºF, Silver City trailhead –

Deerfield Trail No. 40 again, SPHP? We were just here with Cousin Dusty!

I know it, and it was a fun time, too! Pure inspiration! Hope you’re ready for a big adventure today, Loopster.

Aren’t I always? What’cha got in mind?

Silver City to Daugherty Gulch. Roughly 11.25 miles one way, I figure. Then if we still have any moxie left, we’ll tack on another couple of miles to climb Peak 5800 before circling back to Deerfield Trail No. 40 via USFS Road No. 530 and the Slate Creek Dam.

Oh, that is a big day! We better get crackin’!

Five days ago it had been snowing when Lupe had been here with Cousin Dusty and Uncle Joe. What a difference those 5 days had made! Suddenly it was springtime – blue skies, tweeting birds, the whole bit! Progress was rapid on the broad, flat trail. Silver Peak (5,810 ft.) was soon coming into view.

In scenic **Rapid Creek canyon**. Photo looks W.

**Silver Peak** (L of Center). Photo looks SW.

Just beyond the Silver Peak view, Lupe crossed the 4th bridge already over Rapid Creek. The first 3 had been concrete and as wide as a road, but this one was an all wooden pawbridge complete with railings. All the rest of the bridges across Rapid Creek would be like this.

Downstream view of **Rapid Creek** from the first wooden bridge. Photo looks N.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 narrowed after crossing the wooden pawbridge, but was still well-beaten and super easy to follow, remaining flat and rock-free. The trail passed mostly through the forest, but was never far from Rapid Creek.

**Rapid Creek** from Deerfield Trail No. 40. Photo looks SW.

Five minutes from the first pawbridge, Lupe came to her Dingo Cave, a great spot to hang out during a hail storm.

No hail expected today, so the American Dingo went right on by, enjoying the sunshine as the day warmed up. Rapid Creek is the largest stream in the Black Hills, and this beautiful stretch of Deerfield Trail No. 40 along it certainly had to rank among the most scenic hikes in the entire region.

Every now and then, another pawbridge appeared. After the 5th one, Loop reached a big bend in the river not far from where Spurgeon Gulch comes in from the N. W of Spurgeon Gulch, the trail passed through a region of tall, slender bushes. Beyond the bushes was another super scenic trail segment along Rapid Creek.

Ordinarily quite a clear-running stream, Rapid Creek’s color resembled the muddy Mississippi today with all the spring run-off.

Getting close to the Spurgeon Gulch area after crossing the 5th wooden pawbridge. Photo looks N.

At the big bend a little **E of Spurgeon Gulch** and Canyon City. Photo looks E.

Past the bushes **W of Spurgeon Gulch**. Photo looks SW.

Nearly 0.4 mile W of Spurgeon Gulch and Canyon City, Lupe came to a 6th and final pawbridge over Rapid Creek. Crossing it, she followed a long straight stretch of Deerfield Tail No. 40 going WSW on the S side of the creek. In the shade of a mountain, much of this part of the trail was still icy. After 0.33 mile, Lupe came to a big bank of ice at the confluence of Slate Creek and Rapid Creek.

Looper was now 3.33 miles from the Silver City trailhead. Slate Creek, a mere tributary of Rapid Creek, was running as high as SPHP could ever remember seeing it. Something was missing, wasn’t it?

Approaching the 6th and final pawbridge over **Rapid Creek**. Photo looks WSW.

Looking upstream from the 6th pawbridge. Photo looks WSW.

On the straightaway S of the creek. Photo looks WSW.

Confluence of **Slate Creek** (L) and **Rapid Creek** (Center & R). Photo looks NW.

Seems we’ve reached the Slate Creek glacier, SPHP! Watch your step! Might be pretty slippery for you!

So we have, Looper. Say, didn’t there used to be a bridge over Slate Creek here? Not a big pawbridge with railings like the ones over Rapid Creek, just 4 or 5 planks on end bolted together.

Don’t really remember, SPHP. Been a while since we’ve been here, like years! Maybe there was, or maybe we always rock-hopped Slate Creek? Never had this much water in it before!

Well, hard to say. I don’t remember, either, but I was sort of expecting a plank bridge here, since I remember lots of them across Slate Creek farther upstream.

You aren’t saying we’re done already, are you, SPHP? Slate Creek still isn’t very deep! Can’t you wade across it?

Yup! In fact, I even brought water shoes, since I do remember at least one ford farther up Slate Creek. Guess they’re about to come in handy a lot sooner than I thought.

Lupe waited while SPHP switched from boots to water shoes prior to fording Slate Creek. The water shoes were actually SPHP’s old gray and blue Merrell running shoes bought in Haines, Alaska in 2017. When brand new, they were the prettiest shoes SPHP had ever had, almost like dancing slippers, but now they were dingy and falling apart. No matter! As long as they still held together, they were light-weight and perfect for fording streams.

Waiting for SPHP prior to fording **Slate Creek**. Photo looks SW.

Slate Creek was frigid, but the water shoes worked perfectly. Once across, there was another delay as SPHP sat in the sun swapping back over to boots. As soon as that was accomplished, Loopster hit the trail again. Deerfield Trail No. 40 abandoned Rapid Creek. For the next 4.25 miles, it would follow Slate Creek upstream instead.

Starting up the **Slate Creek valley**. Photo looks SW.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 had been flat and smooth all along Rapid Creek, but going up the smaller Slate Creek valley, it soon became rockier and started gaining elevation. Still an easy trek, but not quite the total cake walk it had been before.

Within 5 minutes, Loopster came to another stream crossing. Just like SPHP remembered, a sturdy plank bridge went over Slate Creek.

As the Carolina Dog continued up the valley, Deerfield Trail No. 40 kept crossing Slate Creek at short intervals in a narrow gorge. The 2nd and 3rd crossings also had plank bridges, but approaching the 4th crossing Lupe discovered that the bridge had washed out.

**3rd Slate Creek crossing** beyond the confluence with Rapid Creek.

The bridge at the **4th crossing** was washed out.

Water shoe time! SPHP donned them again prior to fording the stream. Then it was back to putting on the boots once more before Lupe could keep going.

Fording **Slate Creek** at the **4th crossing**.

Didn’t take long to became apparent that the whole process of constantly switching footwear was a ridiculous waste of time. The bridges were out everywhere! Sick of it, and now used to the cold water, SPHP relegated the boots to the pack, marching along in water shoes as Lupe came to one ford after another.

SPHP kept count of the number of times Deerfield Trail No. 40 crossed Slate Creek after starting up the valley. After the 9th crossing, the trail climbed 50 feet above creek level. On the way up the steep hillside, Loop found another glacier slowly melting away in the shade of a bend. This second Slate Creek glacier was centered on the trail, and treacherously sloped and slippery, but SPHP managed to get over it without mishap.

Beyond the glacier, the trail flattened and stayed well above Slate Creek for a little way, but Lupe was soon fording it again. It wasn’t until Loop got to the 12th crossing that she found another bridge intact.

Fording **Slate Creek** for the 8th time in a row at the **11th crossing**.

On the plank pawbridge at the **12th crossing**.

No bridge at the 13th crossing, but after that none were washed out for a while. In fact, there were 2 bridges at both the 15th and 17th crossings. By the time Lupe got past the 16th crossing, the Slate Creek valley was widening out to a considerable degree.

At the **13th crossing**, the last ford for a while.

The **14th crossing**, where intact bridges finally began to consistently appear again.

The **Slate Creek valley** opened up beyond the 16th crossing.

At the **17th crossing**, where there were 2 bridges.

The journey up the narrow gorge had been scenic with a very secluded feel to it. As the valley opened up, that sense of seclusion diminished, and the stream crossings were more spaced out. After the 17th crossing, Lupe reached the Flannigan cabin. Not much was left of it mouldering away beneath a stand of ancient spruce trees.

Doesn’t take an American Dingo long to inspect a wreck like that! A brief examination, and Lupe pressed on. Deerfield Trail No. 40 crossed Slate Creek for the 18th time beyond the confluence with Rapid Creek just past the cabin. A green gate in a pole fence led to a circular drive where USFS Road No. 606 dead-ended at the lower end of Spaw Gulch.

N end of USFS Road No. 606 which comes down Spaw Gulch.

Lupe went through another green gate on far side of the circle. Beyond it was a sign about an old road that used to follow Slate Creek, crossing it 25 times in 3.5 miles!

Only 25, SPHP? At the rate we’re going, we’re going to beat that record!

Sure enough, Lupe continued to come to more stream crossings. Since there had been perfectly good plank bridges over all of them for some time now, a short break was taken after No. 20 while SPHP abandoned the water shoes, exchanging them for boots again. A chocolate coconut bar got shared before following the trail up over a little ridge.

On the other side of the ridge, Loop came to a place that looked sort of like a campsite. 5 sections of big logs stood arranged in an “X” pattern out in the middle of this area. Lupe got up on the center log.

She was still standing there, when SPHP noticed a hole resembling an old mining dig over in the hillside to the E. Further inspection revealed a short tunnel through the ridge.

Venturing in, the tunnel opened up at the far end at a spot overlooking Slate Creek. Inside the tunnel, some filthy ancient plywood shelves were arranged like bunk beds along one side. Attached to the shelves was a clear plastic sleeve containing an astonishing bright new sheet of paper.

In this rat hole out in the middle of nowhere? You have got to be kidding me!

What’s it say, SPHP?

It’s says the world has completely lost it’s mind, Looper!

Nonsense! It does not! What does it really say?

It’s a warning notice about Covid-19, Loop. Talks like this is the Holiday Inn or something.

Here? Doesn’t look like anyone has been here in ages!

Exactly my point, except, of course, for whoever thought this joint needed a Covid-19 notice. If Covid-19’s here, they must have brought it with them!

Whether the notice was totally Looney Tunes, or not, Loopster didn’t have a reservation at this 0 star establishment, and it was still a long way to Daugherty Gulch. The American Dingo pressed on.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 continued to wind SW following Slate Creek. Lupe came to several more creek crossings with plank bridges. After No. 23, a brown wand marking the route pointed off toward the R, away from the obvious trail. Evidently a re-route up a less traveled path in order to avoid another couple of creek crossings ahead.

The official route climbed 60 feet before topping out near a rocky point overlooking the next part of the Slate Creek valley. Part of USFS Road No. 245.1A was in sight. The topo map showed a short section of the road paralleling Slate Creek before leaving the valley.

At the **Slate Creek valley** overlook. Photo looks SSW.

Continuing back down into the valley, the trail now led to a set of stairs with rock walls. However, the stairway was virtually unusable due to an enormous spruce tree which had collapsed along the length of it. Even so, Loop was soon through this obstacle, and approaching an impressive natural rock wall towering next to Slate Creek.

The huge rock wall was quite a scenic spot! Nearby was a 24th crossing of Slate Creek. No bridge, but paving stones made for a super easy ford as SPHP employed the water shoes again.

Approaching the scenic wall of rock. Photo looks S.

As seen from the **24th Slate Creek crossing**. Photo looks E.

Beyond the impressive rock wall, the Slate Creek valley was even more open. A 25th stream crossing, another ford with paving stones instead of a bridge, wasn’t far from the 24th one, but that was the last ford.

Wasn’t the last stream crossing, though! The crossings were farther apart now, but the count continued to rise as the Carolina Dog crossed one bridge over Slate Creek after another. Meanwhile, she was seeing lots of deer and having a fabulous time!

Approaching **crossing No. 26**, another one with 2 bridges. Photo looks S.

Near **crossing No. 29**. Photo looks NNE.

A curious dilapidated structure between crossings No. 30 and 31.

Wading just for fun at **crossing No. 32**.

The trail went on and on. Lupe finally arrived at a fork. A brown wand along a path going SW across a big field indicated that this was the way Deerfield Trail No. 40 went. At the far end of the field, Slate Creek ran along the base of a forested hill. The last bridge over the steam, crossing No. 35, if SPHP hadn’t lost count somewhere along the way, was visible from the divide.

About to leave the **Slate Creek valley** via the bridge seen at the base of the hill. Photo looks SW.

Crossing the field and the last bridge, Lupe left the Slate Creek valley. Deerfield Trail No. 40 started steeply up a slope, but quickly turned L and began to switchback less aggressively higher. Near the top of a ridge, the trail ran W along the N side before crossing over to the S.

For the first time today, the cheerful sound of flowing water was absent and missed, but Lupe had gained enough elevation to get a distant view of some forested hills, the higher ones still sporting a little snow. Not a spectacular scene, but a pleasant one.

On the N side of the ridge. Photo looks SW.

First distant view of the day. Photo looks SW.

How much farther to Daugherty Gulch, SPHP?

Still a ways, Loop. About 3.67 miles from where we left Slate Creek.

Trending W or SW, the trail leveled out as it began winding along the top of the ridge. Lupe visited a couple of high points separated by 0.33 mile, the second one a bit higher than the first.

The high points had only a minor drop between them, but Loop came to a larger drop after passing the second one. During the descent, the trail went by an old horizontal mining shaft. Turned out it wasn’t very big, and the Carolina Dog didn’t find anything of interest in it.

Losing 160 feet of elevation heading S into a valley, the trail bottomed out at a junction with an abandoned road. Deerfield Trail No. 40 turned W again here, but not for long. The road kept going W, but within a few hundred feet, the trail veered SW up a steeper drainage. Before long it was curving NW. Upon regaining all the elevation she’d just lost, Lupe arrived at a minor pass.

Near the low point in the valley, starting up the abandoned road. Photo looks W.

Going over the pass, a smaller drop of 50 feet ensued. Soon USFS Road No. 245 could be seen ahead. The trail turned W, paralleling the road for a little way before merging with it just before the road came to another pass. At about 5,500 feet, this pass was the high point of Deerfield Trail No. 40 between Silver City and Daugherty Gulch.

At the high point of USFS Road No. 245 and this segment of Deerfield Trail No. 40. Photo looks NW.

From the pass, No. 245 went NW down Lind Gulch for more than a mile. A bit muddy at first, the road hike was super easy, although not terribly interesting. After losing 400 feet of elevation, Lupe finally reached a gate where the Mickelson Trail crossed the road.

Heading down **Lind Gulch**. Photo looks NW.

More than halfway down **Lind Gulch** it became a little more scenic.

Junction of USFS Road No. 245 and the Mickelson Trail. Photo looks NW.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 abandoned USFS Road No. 245, turning SW along the Mickelson Trail. Site of a former railroad line, the Mickelson Trail curved W on a gradual incline that led to a tunnel that trains used to run through many years ago. The tunnel was pretty cool!

After reaching the Mickelson Trail, Deerfield Trail No. 40 follows it the rest of the way to the Daugherty Gulch trailhead. Photo looks SSW.

Beyond the tunnel, the trail continued W on a slight incline for nearly 0.33 mile before starting to curve S. A trailhead sign appeared ahead. Soon Lupe was going through a green gate, down a little slope to the W, over a tiny tributary of Castle Creek, and across Mystic Road.

Continuing W beyond the tunnel. Photo looks W.

Getting close to the end. Photo looks SW.

Leaving the Mickelson Trail. Photo looks ENE.

Success! At the **Daugherty Gulch trailhead**. Photo looks NW.

3:38 PM, 58ºF, Daugherty Gulch trailhead –

Congratulations, Loopster! We made it!

Thank you, SPHP! Such a beautiful trek, especially the parts along Rapid Creek and Slate Creek. Really wonderful!

Yes, indeed! Best part of the entire Deerfield Trail, if you ask me, although the loop around Deerfield Reservoir is mighty nice, too.

7 hours, though, SPHP! We sure took our sweet time getting here! Are we still going to climb Peak 5800, too? Do you have it in you?

Sure! We’ll share another chocolate coconut bar up there. Maybe that will spur me on? Wha’dya say?

Last one there is a human!

Not much doubt about that! Some things never change. 5 minutes after arriving at the Daugherty Creek trailhead, the Carolina Dog headed back to the Mickelson Trail. Turning S, the trail slowly, relentlessly, continued uphill.

Heading S on the Michelson Trail. Photo looks S.

Keeping an eye on Mystic Road to the W, SPHP watched for side roads. USFS Road No. 241 came first. It went SW up Daugherty Gulch. For some odd reason, the Daugherty Gulch trailhead was actually located at Whitetail Gulch. No logical explanation seemed possible other than that someone was confused when they named it.

The next road was the critical one. When USFS Road No. 231.1A came into sight, that was the signal to start looking SE. Looper would start her ascent of Peak 5800 following the next ridge the Michelson Trail went by in that direction.

Worked great! Climbing from the WNW, the Carolina Dog was soon on top of the mountain.

Heading up **Peak 5800’s WNW ridge**. Photo looks ESE.

4:48 PM, 55ºF, Peak 5800 – Peak 5800’s summit proved to be a large flat area of open forest with no obvious absolute high point. SPHP dropped the pack beneath a big Ponderosa pine with many branches that seemed to be about where the highest ground was. Nearby stood a weathered tree stump. 4 feet tall, it was almost as if it were a post deliberately set to mark the summit location.

By the weathered tree stump. Photo looks NW.

Congratulations were once again in order! Praising Lupe, SPHP shook her paw, but wasn’t going to get off that easy. The chocolate coconut bar had to be delivered as promised, along with a silver bowl full of Taste of the Wild. SPHP ate the last of two apples, the first one having met its fate hours ago.

For a while Lupe and SPHP just sat there, looking WSW across a barren spot. Never know what you might see when you climb a new peak in the Black Hills. As it turned out, there were enough trees on Peak 5800 to mar the views in all directions. Sometimes that’s the way it goes. Plenty of glimpses of hills and ridges, but no clear views.

After resting for 20 minutes, it was time to get up and move around. The summit region was big, and there weren’t that many trees! Surely Lupe could find some decent viewpoints, if she looked for them.

The viewpoints were all toward the S, somewhat below the summit’s perimeter. To the SW were high ridges difficult to identify from here. Peak 6167 and Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.) were in sight to the ESE. To the SSE, Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) made Lowden Mountain (6,055 ft.) look like a little hill.

**Old Bald Peak** (R) and **Peak 6167** (far R). Photo looks E.

**Lowden Mountain** in front of **Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SSE.

Shadows were lengthening. A long way back. 40 minutes after reaching Peak 5800, Lupe headed down the S slope. Here she came upon the best view yet, a lovely panorama due S. Black Elk Peak, Lowden Mountain, Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.), and Redfern Mountain (6,075 ft.) on display!

**Black Elk Peak** and **Lowden Mountain** (far L), **Sylvan Peak** (R of Center), **Redfern Mountain** (far R). Photo looks S.

After losing some elevation, Lupe turned E down into a valley that led to USFS Road No. 530. Loop had never been on this part of it before. In the evening light, No. 530 was a scenic journey and downhill practically all the way. A good thing, since there was now a need for speed!

With only few hours of daylight left, the race was on. SPHP wasn’t keen on doing close to 40 Slate Creek crossings via narrow plank bridges or outright fords in the dark, even if the stream wasn’t all that big.

The American Dingo showed great energy, often racing ahead. Herds of deer kept her excited. Progress was limited only by SPHP’s pace. Still took nearly an hour to get to the little lake at the Slate Creek Dam.

**USFS Road No. 530** close to where Lupe first reached it. Photo looks E.

Approaching the Slate Creek Dam. Photo looks NE.

By the little lake at the Slate Creek Dam. Photo looks S.

After a look at the lake, Lupe turned WNW on USFS Road No. 530.1C, which followed Slate Creek.

A little over 0.25 mile, and No. 530.1C ended. No problem! A single track trail continued down the valley. Over the course of a mile, Lupe crossed 4 or 5 more plank bridges, one of which didn’t extend all the way across the stream, before getting back to Deerfield Trail No. 40.

The last rays of sunlight disappeared from the hilltops about the time Lupe reached the fords back at the 25th and 24th Slate Creek crossings. Dusk arrived and deepened as she hurried on.

Still some light in the sky, but everything was turning pitch black down in Slate Creek’s narrow gorge by the time she got there. The flashlight had to come out before attempting to cross the slippery glacier between crossings No. 10 and No. 9.

It all went well! Every bridge, every ford! Better than expected. Once Lupe got across Slate Creek at its confluence with Rapid Creek, success was assured. Flat trail and bridges with railings the rest of the way.

Yet still miles to go in the night! In the black as eternity canyon, Rapid Creek rushed noisily downstream as silver stars glittered in a narrow band of sky visible above. On the deep space edge of the weak beam ahead, a curly tail waved, confidently leading the way. (10:30 PM, 34ºF)