August 2016 – Page 3 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 114 – Thrall Mountain (1-10-15)

January 10, 2015, 10:32 AM, 32°F. The first day since New Year’s Day 2015 that wasn’t too cold or windy. SPHP parked the G6 at the Pactola Reservoir overlook next to Hwy 385 at the N end of the dam. This time Lupe wasn’t fooling around. She was going to climb Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.)!

Back on New Year’s Day, SPHP had parked the G6 at the visitor center at the S end of the Pactola Reservoir dam. From there, Lupe and SPHP had gone on a round about route on the way to Thrall Mountain. Due to navigation errors made by SPHP, Lupe’s route had been so round about that she hadn’t even seen Thrall Mountain all day, much less climbed it, even though it was only a little over 2 miles away from Pactola Reservoir.

On the way back to the G6, though, Lupe and SPHP had scouted out a much more direct route to Thrall Mountain from Pactola. Now Lupe was going to take that direct route back to a point only a mile or so from the mountain. From there, Lupe would find and climb Thrall Mountain before doing anything else. If there was additional time left for roaming around exploring, she could do it after claiming her peakbagging success.

Lupe returned to Pactola Reservoir on 1-10-15. This time she would start her trek toward Thrall Mountain from this viewpoint at the N end of the dam, instead of the visitor center at the S end.

Across Hwy 385 from the viewpoint at the N end of the dam, is a road that winds down below the dam to the Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89. If it hadn’t been so icy and snow-packed, SPHP would have just driven down to the TH. Instead, Lupe and SPHP went down the road on paw and foot. Just before reaching the TH, the road crossed Rapid Creek.

Lupe poses on the railing of the bridge over Rapid Creek below Pactola Reservoir dam.

From the Rapid Creek trailhead, Lupe and SPHP followed Centennial Trail No. 89 heading ESE through the big flat meadow below the dam. Rapid Creek meanders through the meadow, and the trail had several nice footbridges crossing it. Lupe and SPHP paused on each bridge to see if there were any trout down in the creek, but saw none.

It didn’t take long to reach the Tamarack Gulch trailhead at the SE end of the meadow. Lupe and SPHP continued SE. Centennial Trail No. 89 climbed a little hill, and reached USFS Road No. 772.1B, a road Lupe had been on back on New Year’s Day. For a short distance, Centennial Trail No. 89 followed this road, but soon left it to continue S up a side road. Lupe left Centennial Trail No. 89 staying on No. 772.1B, which turned E.

Lupe and SPHP were now retracing the route Lupe had scouted out before on New Year’s Day. The snowy road made a long gradual climb up a valley. When it reached a saddle, there was a junction with another road coming in from the N. Lupe stayed on USFS Road No. 772.1B. She followed it down into a snowy little valley where SPHP had taken her picture on Expedition No. 113, and on up to another higher saddle at the upper end of Powerhouse Gulch.

At the saddle was an intersection with another road. SPHP hadn’t seen any marker the last time Lupe was here, but this time saw one identifying the side road as USFS Road No. 772.1C. In a sunny spot where there was no snow, Lupe and SPHP took a brief break. SPHP wanted to check the maps.

No. 772.1C was the right road to take. It would lead Lupe out of the upper end of Powerhouse Gulch over a saddle, and down into a smaller valley SW of Thrall Mountain. Lupe and SPHP set out on No. 772.1C. It climbed NW, turned N and soon reached the saddle. From the saddle, Lupe finally got to see Thrall Mountain, now less than a mile away to the NE.

No. 772.1C started down the N side of the saddle, passed under a power line, made a loop to the N, and then returned S to follow the power line E. As the road drew near Thrall Mountain, it started gaining elevation again. Lupe passed an unmarked minor road that headed off to the NW, but didn’t take it. Near the road’s highest point along the power line, Lupe left No. 772.1C to start climbing toward Thrall Mountain from the SSW.

Lupe on USFS Road No. 772.1C SW of Thrall Mountain. The power line can be seen overhead. This snowy scene was pretty typical along the remote USFS roads Lupe traveled this day. Photo looks E.

The climb grew progressively steeper. Snowy boulder fields forced Lupe around to the SSE side of the mountain. Lupe and SPHP had to climb up through a short section of boulders, but made it without mishap. Lupe was now almost at the top of Thrall Mountain. Just short of the summit, Lupe reached the E viewpoint, one of three good viewpoints on or near the summit of Thrall Mountain.

From the E viewpoint, Lupe and SPHP could see Turkey Ridge and Prehistoric Ridge to the NE. To the E, Rapid City could be seen on the edge of the Black Hills. Beyond the town, the yellow plains of western South Dakota stretched to the far horizon. Lupe and SPHP also saw human tracks in the snow! By not reaching Thrall Mountain on New Year’s Day, someone else had beaten Lupe to becoming the first one to climb Thrall Mountain in 2015.

The summit was just 10’s of feet away. Lupe and SPHP strolled over to the summit to claim her Thrall Mountain peakbagging success! Whoever beat Lupe to the summit in 2015 was no longer around. Years ago, there had only been a very small cairn on top of Thrall Mountain. Now the cairn is easily 4 feet high. It is comprised of many small rocks. SPHP wanted Lupe to pose for a couple of photos at the cairn.

Normally Lupe is very cooperative, but coming up the mountain, Lupe had heard gunfire to the S. Gunshots continued to be heard occasionally from that direction. Lupe hates even the faint sound of gunfire. She stuck to SPHP like glue. Finally, the worried Carolina Dog relaxed enough for a couple of quick photos.

Lupe reaches the summit cairn on Thrall Mountain to claim her peakbagging success. Someone else had already beat her to the top of the mountain in 2015, as evidenced by human tracks Lupe and SPHP saw in the snow.

This was actually Lupe's 2nd successful summit of Thrall Mountain. The first time she was here was way back on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 38 on 12-8-12, over two years earlier. — This was actually Lupe’s 2nd successful summit of Thrall Mountain. The first time she was here was way back on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 38 on 12-8-12, over two years earlier.

Lupe and SPHP left the summit to return to the Prehistoric Ridge viewpoint. There were still gunshots going on to the S. Lupe put her paw down. She refused to leave SPHP’s side for another photo. It was simply too dangerous!

Prehistoric Ridge (the largest line of limestone bluffs farthest away) and Turkey Ridge (a much smaller ridge of reddish stone just in front of the right side of Prehistoric Ridge) from Thrall Mountain. The ridge names are private names assigned by SPHP. Photo looks NE.

Looking W at the Thrall Mountain summit from the Prehistoric Ridge (E) viewpoint.

Lupe and SPHP returned to the summit. Lupe was very nervous due to the gunfire. SPHP found a dry spot to sit down. Lupe snuggled right up, looking for reassurance. Together Lupe and SPHP stayed there for a while looking out at the view of Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) to the S. SPHP chatted with Lupe and stroked her, while she gave SPHP a good licking. SPHP ate an apple.

The best views to the S from Thrall Mountain are obtained just S of the summit. SPHP took one photo looking SW at Peak 5800. On a couple of prior occasions, (Expedition No. 77 on 2-16-13, and Expedition No. 80 on 3-23-14) Lupe and SPHP had gotten close enough to Peak 5800 to think about climbing it, but hadn’t actually done so. Seeing Peak 5800 from Thrall Mountain, SPHP resolved that Lupe would climb it someday. (Note: Lupe did eventually climb Peak 5800 on Expedition No. 150 on New Year’s Day 2016!)

Peak 5800 from Thrall Mountain with a bit of telephoto lens assistance.

One of the best views from Thrall Mountain is from a rocky ledge located on a slightly lower ridge a short distance NW of the summit. From the rocky ledge is a view to the NW toward nearby Johnson Siding, and the hills beyond all the way to Custer Peak (6,804 ft.). Lupe was still a bit nervous, but she got up on the rocky ledge despite it all.

A still somewhat nervous American Dingo scans the NW horizon from the rocky ledge a short distance NW of the summit of Thrall Mountain.

By now, Lupe and SPHP had visited all three of the best viewpoints on Thrall Mountain. Lupe finally had her 2015 Thrall Mountain peakbagging success! It was time to move on.

Lupe and SPHP went back down the mountain pretty much the same way they had come up. While still near the top of the mountain, Lupe stepped on a cactus. There was a brief intermission while SPHP pulled a few small cactus spines out of her paw. Fortunately, she seemed none the worse for the wear.

Lupe returned to USFS Road No. 722.1B at the upper end of Powerhouse Gulch via No. 722.1C. Lupe and SPHP could have just returned to the G6, but there were still at least a couple of extra hours of daylight left for exploring around, if Lupe wanted to. She did! Lupe and SPHP went SE a little way into Powerhouse Gulch to a side road that SPHP had by now figured out was USFS Road No. 722.1. This was the road Lupe and SPHP should have taken on New Year’s Day to get from Gold Standard Gulch to Powerhouse Gulch.

Lupe and SPHP explored No. 722.1 heading SW. Lupe passed by a junction with No. 722.1E, she reached a high ridge where she could look back at Thrall Mountain, she went on to Gold Standard Gulch and Centennial Trail No. 89 again. Just roaming around exploring the back roads without any goal in mind was rather fun. Of course, the sun eventually sank toward the SW horizon. Time to start heading back to the G6.

The sun was down, but it was still somewhat light out when Lupe reached the G6 at 4:48 PM (27°F). Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 114 to Thrall Mountain was over, but Lupe’s fun wasn’t! Back at home, SPHP gave Lupe a big ham bone left over from a Christmas ham Guille had bought. There was still plenty of good ham, fat and gristle attached to it. Lupe’s eyes grew big as she gingerly accepted this treasure.

For several hours, Lupe gnawed energetically away on the precious ham bone. She stripped it of every shred of ham, fat and gristle. Her gnawing fangs reduced most of the ham bone itself to rubble. She ate almost the entire bone. During this time of Carolina Dog bliss, Lupe growled if SPHP got too close. She still loved SPHP, but some things are just sacred, ya know!?

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Yellowstone Falls, Old Faithful Geyser & Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (8-12-12)

Day 5 of Lupe’s 2012 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast.

Yellowstone National Park was close to where Lupe was staying on the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. After a wonderful long day spent out in the Beartooth Mountains going to Beauty and Becker Lakes the day before, Lupe was going to get to tour Yellowstone, the first National Park in the whole world!

Lupe entered Yellowstone National Park at the NE entrance W of Cooke City, MT. The highway followed Soda Butte Creek downstream to its confluence with the Lamar River. As frequently happens in Yellowstone, suddenly there were vehicles stopped ahead on the highway. The cause was soon clear. A herd of buffalo was using the highway, too!

Buffalo approach along the highway unaware that the Honda Element is protected by a ferocious predator.

Lupe was astonished to see the herd of huge buffalo coming right for the Element. This alarming situation demanded immediate action! Lupe’s hackles rose up from her head to her tail. She sprang to the defense of the Honda Element, as it became completely engulfed by the buffalo herd. She leaped wildly from one window to the next barking like a Dingo possessed.

Lupe loves to bark at cows. She may have thought the buffalo were cows. If so, these cows weren’t acting right. None of them ran away. In fact, none of them seemed to pay the least bit of attention to the frenzied Carolina Dog just a few feet away as they ambled by the Element.Lupe was undeterred. She gave it everything she had. She bounded back and forth. She scrunched herself up on the dashboard in front of the steering wheel, barking till she foamed at the mouth. The only real result was that Lanis got battered by a wildly swinging Dingo tail.The buffalo herd passed on by. The proud American Dingo could finally rest. Her barker was totally dry. She needed a drink! Who knew Yellowstone would be so exciting? The place was just swarming with gigantic, dangerous wild beasts!

The proud American Dingo that chased away an entire herd of buffalo and saved Lanis, SPHP and the Honda Element rests satisfied with a job bravely performed. — The proud American Dingo that chased (well, ambled) away an entire herd of buffalo thereby saving Lanis, SPHP and the Honda Element rests satisfied with a job bravely performed.

Lanis turned S at the Tower-Roosevelt junction. Lupe, Lanis and SPHP soon stopped at Tower Falls. Regulations in Yellowstone don’t allow dogs on any trails, or in the back country. Unfortunately, that meant that Lupe wasn’t going to get to see all the glories of Yellowstone up close. The entire time Lupe was in Yellowstone, Lanis and SPHP were going to have to take turns staying with Lupe while the other checked out Yellowstone’s scenic wonders.

SPHP stayed with Lupe, while Lanis checked out Tower Falls.

Tower Falls was nothing to sneeze at, but it wasn’t anything to compare to what was soon coming up a short drive to the S – Lower Yellowstone Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Looking down on Lower Yellowstone Falls from the N rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

The Yellowstone River just above Lower Yellowstone Falls rushes toward a clearly (final) class VI whitewater rafting experience! NOT recommended for ages 0-120.

Lower Yellowstone Falls plunges 308 feet into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Don't let a disastrous failure of a poorly conceived and executed erosion control program turn your farm or ranch into this! (Unless you want to be able to sell tickets.) — Don’t let a disastrous failure of a poorly conceived and executed erosion control program turn your farm or ranch into this! (Unless you want to be able to sell tickets.)

An American Dingo wasn’t the only dangerous canine in Yellowstone National Park on this day. Right beside the highway, not far from Lower Yellowstone Falls, a black wolf was non-chalantly sniffing around. At least, it looked like a black wolf to Lupe, Lanis and SPHP. If it was really someone’s lost Fifi, it sure was doing a convincing impression of a black wolf.

Say, there's an idea! Lupe wonders if she might be an even scarier stealth predator as a black Dingo? Think of the possibilities! — Say, there’s an idea! Lupe wonders if she might be an even scarier stealth predator as a black Dingo? Think of the possibilities!

From Yellowstone Falls, Lupe, Lanis and SPHP headed S toward Yellowstone Lake. SPHP stayed with Lupe at several stops along the way, so Lanis could get a look at some geothermal features. Lupe got to see the ones that were close to the highway and visible from parking areas.There were warnings signs for those who thought ideas like whitewater rafting above Yellowstone Falls would be a great experience. Despite the graphic depictions, a buffalo wasn’t too worried about it.Lupe got to visit Yellowstone Lake, a huge natural lake at 7,733 feet elevation. Yellowstone Lake, which has a very interesting shape and would be great fun to explore, is the largest body of water above 7,000 feet in North America. Lupe, Lanis and SPHP waded out to some rocks near the shore for a good look.

Lupe & Lanis at Yellowstone Lake. Lupe tasted the lake. It seemed to be constructed entirely of water.

No trip to Yellowstone is complete without stopping by Old Faithful geyser. Lupe got to see it, too, from a distance.

Old Faithful doesn't disappoint. — Old Faithful doesn’t disappoint.

Old Faithful Inn. Despite being called an Inn, Lupe stayed Outt. — **Old Faithful Inn**. Despite being called an Inn, Lupe stayed Outt.

From Old Faithful, Lupe, Lanis and SPHP headed N toward some other geyser basins along the Firehole River. Poor Lupe was kind of left out, since many of the geysers weren’t close enough to the parking lots or the highway where she could see them. A few were, though. Lupe did get to sniff around near the Element some, and she seemed happy enough with the situation. Lanis and SPHP took turns staying with her.

Excelsior Geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin was a highlight of the geyser basin tour. The Excelsior Geyser was once the largest geyser in the world, but its last known major eruptions occurred in the 1880’s. Back then it spouted boiling water 300 feet into the air. Now it is a large blue pool of water which boils up vigorously at frequent intervals, and then dies down again without really erupting.

The Excelsior Geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin is a steaming hot spring these days.

Water near the boiling point flows at 4,050 gallons per minute from the Excelsior Geyser into the Firehole River.

Lupe didn't get to see the Excelsior Geyser, but she did see the hot water from it entering the Firehole River. — Lupe didn’t get to see the Excelsior Geyser, but she did see the hot water from it entering the Firehole River.

Near the Excelsior Geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin was another very impressive hot spring. Grand Prismatic Spring is best viewed from above, from which vantage point it appears as a large steamy blue sun rimmed with greens and yellows. Orange flames radiate outward wherever water overflows the pool’s edges.

The different colors are caused by different types of algae and organisms that thrive in different temperature bands. It’s hard to get a good impression of the whole from the ground, since Grand Prismatic Spring is so large.

A fiery colored arm of the Grand Prismatic Spring.

Near the Firehole River, Lupe waits for the return of SPHP from the Midway Geyser Basin.

The sun was getting low by the time Lanis and SPHP were done taking tours of the Midway Geyser Basin. There were way more basins, trails and rare thermal features, even in just this little section of Yellowstone National Park, than could possibly be visited in a single day.

The last area Lupe, Lanis and SPHP visited before sunset was the Lower Geyser Basin. Again, Lanis and SPHP took turns staying with Lupe while the other toured the walkways to see fantastic sights found few other places on earth.

The Fountain Paint Pots are steaming, moist mud. Where there is enough moisture, the mud gloops and blurps and bubbles continuously.

Some pretty pools of water steam endlessly away, seldom or never erupting.

Some vents don't have any pool of water at the surface. Steam just hisses out of the ground. — Some vents don’t have any pool of water at the surface. Steam just hisses out of the ground.

The Lower Geyser Basin featured some pretty active small geysers that erupted frequently. The steaming, erupting, sulfuric waters against the setting sun made for a scene that might easily have been from another world.

Why, there's an alien being here right now! — Why, there’s an alien being here right now!

Back at the parking lot, while Lupe waited, the sun sank behind dead trees cooked by a change in the flow of waters heated by the giant Yellowstone caldera. The Yellowstone caldera is the site of a supervolcano which has erupted at intervals of roughly 650,000 years three times in the last 2 million years. The last eruption was 640,000 years ago, so on a geological time scale, the next Yellowstone supervolcano eruption is coming due soon.