August 31, 2015, Day 23 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation, was spent getting repositioned from Green River Lakes at the NW end of the Wind River Range down to the Big Sandy Trailhead at the SE end. Early in the morning, Lupe and SPHP went down to take a look at Lower Green River Lake and Squaretop Mountain one last time. There were three moose down there! One was just a youngster.
Momma moose and calf near Lower Green River Lake, Wind River Range, WY. There was a 3rd moose, too, but it quickly disappeared into the forest.Lupe and SPHP said good-bye to Green River Lakes and Squaretop Mountain early on 8-31-15.
All three moose were soon out of sight in the forest. Lupe has now seen 5 moose. One in Canada during her 2014 Dingo Vacation, and four on her 2015 Dingo Vacation.
After a last fond look at Green River Lake and Squaretop Mountain(11,695 ft.), Lupe and SPHP made the long drive along the dusty and very washboardy road following the Green River back to pavement. Lupe and SPHP stopped for a while in Pinedale, WY, and then continued on to the Big Sandy trailhead and campground. This ultimately involved another long drive along another dusty and very washboardy road.
Starting in June, 1930, Finis Mitchell and his wife, Emma, ran a fishing camp at Mud Lake near the Big Sandy opening. As a 4 year old child, Finis had arrived with his parents at the Wind River Range in April, 1906. He spent much of his life in the Winds. Lupe and SPHP went to check out the Big Sandy Lodge near Mud Lake.
Lupe at the Big Sandy Lodge near Mud Lake.Lupe visits Mud Lake, Finis Mitchell’s old base of operations for his fishing camp many years ago.
The Big Sandy Lodge is not related in any way to Finis Mitchell’s old fishing camp, except that it is in the same location. There is no electricity, and the lodge does not accept credit cards. Meals are served in the main building for lodge guests only. The lodge complex features very nice individual cabins. The entire complex is located just S of Mud Lake.
After visiting Big Sandy Lodge and Mud Lake, Lupe and SPHP spent the rest of the day near the Big Sandy campground. There were lots of cars at the very popular trailhead. SPHP spent some time getting ready for Lupe’s big trip up to Jackass Pass and the Cirque of the Towers the next day.
On the first day of Lupe’s 2013 Dingo Vacation, she had spent a night out under the stars on top of Bald Mountain in the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. Lupe had also been tenting on the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone and other places during her Dingo Vacations. But Lupe had never before done what she was going to do the next morning. She had never been on a backpacking trip. This was going to be a very short one, just 3 days and 2 nights, but SPHP was pretty certain she would love it.
September 1, 2015 (Day 24 of Lupe’s 2015 Dingo Vacation) was bright and beautiful. After breakfast at a picnic table, Lupe and SPHP set out on the trail to Big Sandy Lake, about 5 miles to the NE. The first part of the trail was near Big Sandy Creek. Nearly all of the trail goes through forest. Most of it gains elevation at a slow to moderate pace. Lupe had fun exploring the forest, and occasionally barking at squirrels along the way.
Lupe near Big Sandy Creek on her way to Big Sandy Lake.
Although some big mountains could be seen now and then, it didn’t really feel like Lupe was among them until she reached Big Sandy Lake. At Big Sandy Lake there were towering mountains in every direction, except back the way Lupe had come from. Lupe and SPHP stopped for a little break at Big Sandy Lake.
Lupe at Big Sandy Lake. Photo looks NE.
After the break, Lupe and SPHP continued along the trail on the NW side of Big Sandy Lake. Several trails branch out from Big Sandy Lake. Lupe and SPHP were looking for the trail to Jackass Pass, which leaves the area from the NW corner of the lake. The trail to Jackass Pass had no signage at the intersection, but Lupe and SPHP found it without any trouble.
Schiestler Peak from Big Sandy Lake. Photo looks SSE.Haystack Mountain (L), East Temple Peak (pointy mountain peeking up at center), and Temple Peak (highest R of center in distance) from Big Sandy Lake.
Although Lupe had gained some elevation in the 5 miles getting to Big Sandy Lake, the real climb began when she started heading N on the trail up toward Jackass Pass. The trail went through forest at first, but the trees became progressively more stunted and scraggly, and the way became rockier as Lupe gained elevation.
War Bonnet Peak(12,369 ft.) on the way to Jackass Pass. Photo looks NW.North Lake and War Bonnet Peak. Photo looks NW.Lupe at North Lake. This lake was not named on SPHP’s maps, but they did show North Creek going through it. Sundance Pinnacle(11,054 ft.) is seen at R. Photo looks S.
The trail to Jackass Pass went past two lakes. In both cases, the trail gained a couple hundred feet of elevation to go around the E side of the lake, only to drop clear back down to lake level before continuing on to regain the lost elevation and more. In some places it was possible to lose the trail among the rocks, but it wasn’t too hard to find it again. Usually a Carolina Dog appeared on it before the search was even begun.
The first lake the trail came to was unnamed on SPHP’s maps, but a backpacker said it was North Lake. This made sense, since the map did show North Creek heading down to Big Sandy Lake from it. The second lake Lupe came to was Arrowhead Lake.
Lupe up high on the rocks E of Arrowhead Lake. Photo looks S back in the direction Lupe has been coming from. From left to right: Haystack Mountain, East Temple Peak(12,600 ft.), Temple Peak(12,972 ft.), Schiestler Peak.
SPHP isn’t exactly sure where Jackass Pass is officially located. Lupe got her first view of the Cirque of the Towers from the high point on the trail as it passed to the E of Arrowhead Lake. Not too far ahead was another ridge of about the same elevation, which is probably technically Jackass Pass.
It was windy up high near Arrowhead Lake and Jackass Pass. Lupe took shelter near these big rocks and had a little rest.From the high ridge E of Arrowhead Lake, Lupe gets her first view of the mighty Cirque of the Towers. Photo looks NW.The 2nd high ridge, which SPHP believes is the official location of Jackass Pass, is seen ahead in the foreground. Photo looks N.Jackass Pass dead ahead.Lupe and the Cirque of the Towers. Two days later as Lupe headed back to the G6, SPHP met a backpacker on the way to Jackass Pass for the 1st time. The backpacker asked if it was worth the effort. SPHP’s response was, “If you don’t like what you see up there, you just don’t like mountains. Try the ocean on your next vacation.”
SPHP believes the 2nd ridge is really Jackass Pass. To get to it, the trail dropped clear down almost to the level of Arrowhead Lake and then went back up again. From the second ridge, there was a huge panoramic view encompassing the Cirque of the Towers, Pingora Peak(11,884 ft.), Lonesome Lake, Texas Pass and Lizard HeadPeak(12,842 ft.). Lupe and SPHP headed for the highest part of the ridge at Jackass Pass to take in the amazing scene.
Looking back at Arrowhead Lake just before Lupe climbed up to Jackass Pass. The main trail passes Arrowhead Lake to the E over high ground to the L of this photo. There is an alternate route around the other side of the lake seen on the R. When Lupe left the Cirque of the Towers two days later, she took the route around the W side of the lake. Lupe had no problems, but the area of large boulders (seen in this photo at the far R side of the lake) slowed SPHP down tremendously. It would have been easier to just stick to the main trail.Lupe at Jackass Pass where she gets her first view of Lonesome Lake. Texas Pass is the low point in bright sunlight on the far ridge near the center of this photo. Photo looks N.Pingora Peak and Lonesome Lake from Jackass Pass. Pingora Peak is the distinctive tall column of rock on the L.Pingora Peak (L), Lonesome Lake, and Texas Pass (R center) from Jackass Pass. Photo looks N.Warbonnet Peak from Jackass Pass. Lupe tries to take shelter from the wind. Photo looks SW.Lupe looks S from Jackass Pass in the direction she came to get here. East Temple Peak is in the sunlight on the L. Temple Peak is the highest mountain in the distance. The lake is Arrowhead Lake. The trail to get to Jackass Pass came over the big rocky ridge shown L of Arrowhead Lake.Cirque of the Towers from Jackass Pass. Near the center of this photo is a brown grassy area just below some big smooth light gray rock. SPHP pitched Lupe’s “tiny house” (the tent) in this brown grassy area. Lupe spent two evenings and nights there. She loved it! Photo looks NW.
The views were tremendous, but it was really windy up at Jackass Pass. Lupe tolerated SPHP hanging around up there looking at the scenery only so long. She was ready to get out of the wind. It was time to go pitch Lupe’s “tiny house” (the tent). Lupe and SPHP crossed over the pass, and headed down into the glorious Cirque of the Towers.
Lupe exploring the Cirque of the Towers in the Wind River Range, WY. Wolf’s Head(12,160 ft.) (L) and Pingora Peak (R). Photo looks NNW.Wolf’s Head (Center) and Pingora Peak (R). Cirque Lake is out of sight to the L of the base of Wolf’s Head. Lupe would go up to see Cirque Lake the next day.Lupe near Pingora Peak in the Cirque of the Towers.Just as Squaretop Mountain is SPHP’s favorite at the NW end of the Wind River Range, Pingora Peak is SPHP’s favorite mountain at the SE end of the range. Both Mountains have distinctive shapes and are in outstanding settings.Lizard Head Peak(12,842 ft.) from the Cirque of the Towers. Photo looks NE.
Down in the Cirque of the Towers there was a little breeze, but nothing like the wind up at Jackass Pass. Lupe and SPHP traversed much of the Cirque of the Towers to get to a grassy area close to the side valley up to Cirque Lake. There SPHP pitched Lupe’s tiny house.
Years ago, SPHP had been to the Cirque of the Towers once before. On that previous trip, which had been in early August, SPHP would have traded all of the food in the pack for a single can of bug spray. The mosquitoes had been horrendous. On this first day of September, though, there were none at all. It was going to be a spectacular evening without any bugs.
Once the tiny house was up, Lupe and SPHP poked around exploring here and there near by, surrounded by magnificence in every direction. Lupe was having a blast! The evening couldn’t have been better or more fun, or could it?
Lupe by her tiny house in the Cirque of the Towers. Pingora Peak in the background.
When the light faded and the stars came out, SPHP went into the tiny house. Lupe came into the tiny house, too, and laid down on her sleeping bag. It had been a long day’s journey up to the Cirque of the Towers, and she was tired. As she rested, though, it began to dawn on her – there wasn’t going to be any long trek back to the G6 this evening. SPHP intended for her to stay right here in the Cirque of the Towers all night.
The American Dingo lifted her head up. There was a sparkle in her eyes. Lupe was gone. The Wild Dingo of the Night was here. It was going to be a long night!
War Bonnet Peak from Lupe’s Tiny House in the Cirque of the Towers.
SPHP had been expecting it, but hoping it wouldn’t happen. Naturally, it did. Lupe and SPHP had already successfully crossed South Boxelder Creek at least 5 times. This time the creek was too wide. There wasn’t any way SPHP could get across here, other than to wade the creek. Nope, not doing that – not in January!
Lupe at South Boxelder Creek. This was as far upstream as Lupe could go down in the deep valley. The creek was too wide for SPHP to cross here.
With the stream blocking the way forward, Lupe and SPHP couldn’t go any farther up the canyon. Getting to Crystal Mountain(5,680 ft.) really was going to be an adventure now. The question was, how hard would it be for Lupe and SPHP to climb up out of the canyon? The canyon walls weren’t cliffs, but they looked pretty steep, maybe too steep. Lupe and SPHP started backtracking downstream along the trail. There was a place not too far back that might work.
Lupe’s day had gotten off to a good start. SPHP had parked the G6 (8:46 AM, 32°F) at Boxelder Forks campground at the confluence of North and South Boxelder Creeks, about 3 miles (as the road goes) W of Nemo. From there, Lupe and SPHP had set off walking along the snow-packed access road beyond the campground. The road wound its way upstream past some nice cabins (one of which is for sale) in the South Boxelder Creek canyon.
Lupe’s Expedition No. 154 started at Boxelder Forks campground, about 3 miles W of Nemo.
When the road dead-ended, Lupe and SPHP had continued on upstream following a single track trail. Almost right away, SPHP knew there was going to be trouble. The trail crossed South Boxelder Creek almost as soon as it left the road. There wasn’t any bridge, but since the creek was frozen over there, Lupe and SPHP had been able to cross without difficulty.
Lupe starting along the trail in South Boxelder Creek canyon. This photo was taken just beyond the end of the access road, and looks W (upstream).
Lupe’s primary peakbagging goal for the day was Crystal Mountain, situated on the N side of South Boxelder Creek canyon, about 2.5 miles W of the campground as the crow flies. To get there, SPHP had planned for Lupe to follow South Boxelder Creek upstream a little over 1.5 miles, and then take a logging road up a side valley to the N. From there she could work her way over to Crystal Mountain.
No bridge over the creek at the very first crossing had been a red flag. South Boxelder Creek isn’t very big, but it’s too big to jump over most places and deep enough to get feet soaking wet. If the creek had to be crossed too many times, sooner or later, there wouldn’t be a way across.
The trail went through a very pretty forest. Lupe was having a wonderful time sniffing around and exploring. Unfortunately, the trail repeatedly crossed the creek. Each time there had been a way across – thick ice, a downed tree, stepping stones, something. And then finally, inevitably really, came the time when there wasn’t.
South Boxelder CreekLooking W up South Boxelder Creek canyon. The place SPHP couldn’t cross the creek is just ahead. Lupe climbed N (R) out of the canyon from near this point.
Lupe was less than a mile upstream from where the trail started when she came to the place where SPHP couldn’t get across. She still had at least another 0.5 mile to go to get to the logging road where SPHP had intended for her to leave the canyon. SPHP checked the maps. According to the topo map, Lupe was in the narrowest, steepest part of the whole canyon. Just lovely!
Give up and go back, or climb? Silly question. Lupe would at least try to climb up out of the canyon! There was probably a reasonable route somewhere. If not, then Lupe and SPHP would have to admit defeat from this approach. Lupe wasn’t defeated yet, though! Lupe and SPHP began to climb up the N slope of the canyon. At first it wasn’t too bad. Before long, Lupe made it up to a rock platform with a view.
Lupe quickly climbed up the N slope of South Boxelder Creek canyon to reach this rock platform. She still had a lot of climbing left to do. Photo looks W.
SPHP could have backtracked a little farther down in the canyon and found a better spot to climb out, though. Lupe had started up following a spine of rock coming down from the N. As Lupe climbed, the rocks got bigger. Soon rock formations repeatedly blocked further advance along the spine. To the W were cliffs. SPHP sensibly chose to angle up along the E side of the spine, but this side of the spine was getting steeper, too.
Of course, an American Dingo wouldn’t have had any problem getting across the creek down below. And an American Dingo was having no problem wandering all over the steep side of the canyon. Lupe was, in fact, having a great time. She kept appearing above SPHP, looking down to see what was the matter.
“You coming, SPHP? This place is awesome!”
Being human was the matter. As the side of the canyon got steeper, SPHP tried to stay near the spine of rock. At least the rocks provided some handholds and footholds. Slowly, slowly SPHP was gaining elevation using rocks, trees, bushes, whatever there was for support. Little patches of snow here and there didn’t make things any easier.
Lupe had 4 paws powering her up the side of the canyon. SPHP mimicked her and crawled when necessary. Crawling isn’t very fast under the best of circumstances. Lupe cheerily sprinted this way and that to show SPHP how to use 4 limbs to advantage. SPHP was a dang slow learner.
Little teeny rocks like the ones shown here kept blocking what should have been an easy route up the ridge, forcing SPHP onto the steep E slope.
Over and over again, it looked like it was just another 10 or 20 feet higher to where SPHP could get back up on the ridge where the terrain wasn’t so steep. Each time, after gaining the 10 or 20 feet and more, the situation looked the same. Now and then, SPHP had to retreat. Some places were just too steep, or snow was in the way making it too slippery. Each time, SPHP found a way around lower down, and then made another assault up the slope.
Fortunately, Lupe lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not the Himalayas. There is a reasonable limit to how much elevation one must gain to reach the top of even the largest mountains around here. Nearing the top of the canyon, SPHP finally made it back up on the ridgeline. Whew! No more clinging and crawling. It was January, but SPHP was sweating. It felt good to just walk upright again.
If Lupe felt any different, she didn’t show it. She’d had a great time climbing out of the canyon. Lupe and SPHP continued on up a much gentler slope. The first order of business now was to find a high point where SPHP could figure out where Lupe was.
Lupe came to an area near the top of a hill where loggers had really thinned out the forest. The place was kind of a mess. The highest ground seemed to be a bit of a march off to the SW near the edge of the canyon again. Lupe and SPHP left the logged area to go over there.
Along the way, Lupe and SPHP followed a ridge from which there were partial views off to the NW between the trees. Well beyond a fairly high forested hill, Custer Peak(6,804 ft.) and even more distant Terry Peak(7,064 ft.) could be seen. With snow on them, they both looked rather grand. Lupe visited a couple of high points along the ridge, and finally arrived at the highest spot of all at the SW end.
Lupe reaches the SW high point at the end of the ridge after climbing up out of South Boxelder Creek canyon. Was that flat ridge seen to the W, Crystal Mountain? Photo looks WSW.
New problem. Or, perhaps just a restatement of the former problem. The question really wasn’t, where is Lupe? Lupe was right here. The real question was, where is Crystal Mountain? It seemed like Lupe and SPHP ought to be able to see it from up here. There was a high flat ridge off to the W, or maybe WSW, but was that it? It didn’t seem right. It looked too big, flat, and not quite high enough. Nothing else really stood out as a possibility, though.
Lupe and SPHP moved around a bit to another vantage point, but the view was to the S across South Boxelder Creek canyon. Pretty, but most definitely the wrong direction to look for Crystal Mountain. Time to take a break and review the maps. Lupe wasn’t hungry yet. SPHP munched an apple.
The break spot. Photo looks S across South Boxelder Creek canyon. Pretty, but Crystal Mountain wasn’t in this direction.
After devouring the apple, admiring the view to the S, and studying the maps, the exciting conclusion was that SPHP didn’t know where Crystal Mountain was. That big flat ridge Lupe had seen might be it, but still didn’t seem right. Lupe was just going to have to head NW. Crystal Mountain hadn’t moved. It was out there somewhere.
Going NW meant losing a lot of hard won elevation, but there was no way to avoid it. There was quite a bit of snow on the ground as Lupe and SPHP entered another section of recently logged mountainside and started down the slope. Custer Peak and Terry Peak were back in view. And so was that fairly high forested mountain in the foreground.
SPHP stopped. Earlier, SPHP hadn’t paid too much attention to it. It had seemed too far N. Maybe it wasn’t. The longer SPHP looked at it, the more obvious it seemed that the forested mountain had to be Crystal Mountain. Nothing else around was as high or shaped right. Lupe’s peakbagging goal was in sight! For some reason, it seemed like a thrilling discovery.
Crystal Mountain. Terry Peak is seen on the horizon on the R. Photo looks WNW.
Lupe still had quite a trek ahead of her to get to Crystal Mountain. As Lupe went down the snowy slope, the mountain disappeared from view. Lupe lost over 300 feet of elevation, and then crossed a road a short distance S of a saddle between ridges. The road was the one SPHP had originally intended for Lupe to take up from South Boxelder Creek.
Lupe and SPHP climbed up onto the next ridge to the NW. The area was fairly heavily forested, so there weren’t any clear views of Crystal Mountain, but there were often glimpses of it between the trees. Lupe had a wonderful time following the ridge. She ran and ran. There were patches of snow to roll in, and lots of scents to follow. There was a lot of up and down along the way, but no serious elevation changes.
The ridge started off heading N, but slowly swept around to the NW and then W. By the time Lupe was close to Crystal Mountain, she was approaching it from the NE. Lupe finally reached an open field where there was a clear view of Crystal Mountain ahead. It wasn’t too far away now!
Lupe getting close to Crystal Mountain. Photo looks SW.
For a little while as Lupe headed directly toward Crystal Mountain, SPHP was worried she might not be able to climb it. The mountain looked very rocky. Big rock walls could be seen up along the top of the ridgeline. There was quite a bit of snow on the NE side of the mountain. The last part of the way up looked steep.
Lupe climbing the NE slope of Crystal Mountain. It was actually pretty easy and not a long climb.
As it turned out, the climb wasn’t bad at all. Climbing out of South Boxelder Creek canyon had been much tougher. Lupe reached the E summit ridge at an opening separating two huge rock formations. Fortunately this gap provided easy passage between them. Once beyond the rock formations, Lupe and SPHP could see there was another summit ridge farther W, too.
The top of Crystal Mountain was really interesting. The E summit ridge ran NW/SE and had some tall vertical rock walls. If not for the opening in the wall Lupe had climbed up to, it would have been very hard to scale the mountain from the NE. The rock formations were large and impressive. There were cliffs with overhanging rocks. Some of the rocks were quite colorful.
Lupe on the SW side of the rock wall a short distance NW of the gap she came up through. These rocks are part of the E summit ridge.Colorful rocks were decorated with even more colorful lichens.
Lupe’s first task on Crystal Mountain was to explore the E ridge, where it seemed likely the true summit could be found. The highest rocks were to the SE of where Lupe came through the opening between rock formations, but how to get to up on top? A very high rock wall extending to the SE looked like it would be impossible for Lupe to climb. Almost as soon as Lupe started following it SE, though, she came to a break in the wall where there was an easy path to the top.
Lupe’s easy path up to the top of the E ridge. She accessed this path from the SW. The rocks SPHP believes are most likely the true summit of Crystal Mountain are close by. Lupe is almost there!
In practically no time at all, Lupe was on top of Crystal Mountain! Lupe agreed to pose for a couple of photos to commemorate her success. Lupe looked great, as usual, but the views were rather disappointing. There were a lot of trees around, including a fair number of big dead ones. When they eventually fall over, the views will improve. As it was, about the only distant view was a narrow one off to the S.
It seemed like it had been a long journey to Crystal Mountain. Break time! SPHP was surprised that Lupe still wasn’t hungry. She only ate a little Taste of the Wild. What she really wanted to do was curl up in the sun and doze. While Lupe relaxed, SPHP studied the topo maps again.
Lupe reaches the very top of Crystal Mountain. This is the high point farthest N along the E ridge. SPHP believes Lupe is at the true summit here, but there were two other candidates for the honor on the mountain, too. Lupe visited both of them as well. Photo looks NW.Lupe still at the first high point (northernmost on the E ridge) on Crystal Mountain. Photo looks S.“Nope, you got 2 photos already up here! Enough already! I’m leaving to take a little nap in the warm sun.”
This first high point Lupe had reached wasn’t the only possible location of the true summit on Crystal Mountain. According to the topo map, the W ridge and a small area farther to the SE on the E ridge all reached the same contour. It was possible the true summit was over at one of those alternate locations. To really claim a 100% certain peakbagging success, Lupe would need to go check them out.
Pretty soon, Lupe was ready to go again. SPHP and Lupe went back down her path up to this place, and headed farther SE along the big rock wall. Soon, SPHP saw a cairn ahead sitting up on a big boulder. This was the 2nd possible location of the true summit along the E ridge. SPHP didn’t think it was quite as high as where Lupe had just been, but hoped there was a way to get up to the cairn. Continuing SE along the rock wall, Lupe very quickly arrived at a place where she could easily climb up.
The path up to the cairn at the SE high point. There were some great open views off to the NE and E from up on this part of the ridge. Photo looks N.Lupe on her way up to the SE cairn.
The big boulder the SE cairn was on was at the very NW end of Lupe’s route up to it. Lupe got right up on the boulder next to the cairn without any problem. While SPHP doesn’t think this cairn is at the actual true summit, it’s possible it is. Due to the forest, the three highest points on the mountain can’t be seen from one another, making it hard to tell with certainty which high point is the true summit.
More interesting than the cairn was the sweeping panoramic view off to the E. Crystal Mountain is higher than anything else off in that direction, making it a great vantage point. Lupe could see Green Top(5,360 ft.) where she had been on Expedition No. 153 just 5 days earlier. Parts of White Mansion(5,340 ft.) were visible, too, but Green Top hid most of it. They were both so far away, they didn’t look too impressive from Crystal Mountain.
Lupe at the cairn at the SE high point of the E ridge on Crystal Mountain. Photo looks N.
It was clear there weren’t any higher spots farther SE from the cairn, but the ridgeline was so interesting, Lupe and SPHP followed it all the way to the end. The rock formations along the way seemed unusual. To the NE was a cliff, but to the SW the rocks formed a couple of big terraces, with plenty of room to walk along each level.
Even using the telephoto lens, Harney Peak(7,242 ft.) looks pretty far away from Crystal Mountain. Photo looks S.At the SE end of the E ridge. Photo looks SE across the South Boxelder Creek canyon.
After having a look at the views from the very SE end of the E ridge, it was time for Lupe to go check out the last possible location of the true summit of Crystal Mountain over at the W ridge. She journeyed NW back along the rock terraces, and turned W when the terrain allowed. Soon she was up on the W ridge.
The S end of the W ridge was much wider than the N end. The S end featured a clearing full of grass and small rocks where the ground sloped off toward the SW. There weren’t any views, since the clearing was pretty much surrounded by trees. The N end of the ridge looked much more interesting. It was much narrower and very rocky. At the highest point, a couple of rocks could be seen displayed against the sky.
There should be some great views from there! Lupe and SPHP headed for the promising high point of the W ridge.
Lupe reaches the top of the W ridge on Crystal Mountain.Whether or not the high point of the W ridge was the true summit, it was certainly the most dramatic high point on the mountain.
A big rock formation extended farther out to the NW beyond the highest rocks. The W summit certainly provided some big views to the N and NE. SPHP was a bit disappointed that a few poorly placed trees blocked Lupe’s view of Custer Peak to the NW. Lupe and SPHP climbed down onto the ledge to the NW, but never got a clear view of Custer Peak, though it might have been possible to gain one with more scrambling around.
Looking W from the W ridge.
Lupe had now been to all three possible locations of the true summit of Crystal Mountain. She could legitimately claim a peakbagging success. Crystal Mountain had been a lot of fun to explore, and Lupe had spent quite a bit of time up here. The position of the sun was now indicating Lupe’s time on Crystal Mountain should be drawing to a close.
Before leaving the mountain, Lupe and SPHP did a little more exploring among some of the dramatic rock formations NW of the gap in the E ridge where she had originally climbed up. Then it really was time to go.
Lupe returns to the SW side of the rock wall on the E ridge.Among the rocks NW of the gap in the E ridge.
Lupe and SPHP left Crystal Mountain the same way she came up. Most of Lupe’s journey back to the G6 was along the same general route she had taken to get to Crystal Mountain. But SPHP didn’t want to go back down the same steep rocky spine that Lupe had climbed coming out of South Boxelder Creek canyon. An alternate route down a valley farther E proved to be a little less steep, and significantly easier.
Down in the canyon, Lupe found herself far enough E so she only had to cross South Boxelder Creek twice to reach the road back to the G6. At 4:46 PM (44°F), Lupe was back at Boxelder Forks campground. Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 154 to Crystal Mountain had taken exactly 8 hours. SPHP noticed that it really wasn’t dark out yet. Not as dark as it would have been a month ago. Time goes by.
A Carolina Dog hopped in the G6 and looked at SPHP expectantly. “Yeah, time sure does go by. I haven’t eaten hardly a thing all day! Now, I’m famished! How about taking me home for some Alpo?”
Lupe had fun on the way back from Crystal Mountain, too! There’s a squirrel way up there. Exciting times!
All three moose were soon out of sight in the forest. Lupe has now seen 5 moose. One in Canada during her 2014 Dingo Vacation, and four on her 2015 Dingo Vacation.
