Lupe – Page 322 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Thunder Butte, Douglas County High Point, Colorado (11-6-15)

Heading S on Hwy 67, SPHP saw a sign that said Teller County. Lupe was too far S! SPHP must have missed the turn for Westcreek. SPHP turned the G6 around, and headed back N looking for it. Between mile markers 91 and 92, SPHP found two turns to Westbrook. Both had green street signs, but there was no other evidence of a community along the highway.

Abbey Road was the first turn, and led a short distance down a hill to Westcreek Road (County Road No. 73), which left Hwy 67 about 0.5 mile farther N. A left turn on Westcreek Road took Lupe past a few buildings, which comprised what there was of the tiny community of Westcreek. Less than a mile after getting on Westcreek Road, there was a junction with County Road No. 68 near a little lake and the Mountain Communities Volunteer Fire Department.

County Road No. 68 was what SPHP had been looking for. Lupe was on her way to climb Thunder Butte (9,836 ft.) , the high point of Douglas County, Colorado. In a couple of miles, No. 68 would lead Lupe past Sheep Nose (8,894 ft.) to 9-J Road. About 1.5 miles in on 9-J Road, there was supposed to be a place to park at a sharp bend where the road turns NW. From there, Thunder Butte would be just a couple of miles to the NNE.

Lupe nears Sheep Nose just off Douglas County Road No. 68. Photo looks W.

Sheep Nose in Douglas County, Colorado. Photo looks W.

At 10:24 AM, SPHP parked the G6 at the bend in 9-J Road. There wasn’t any trailhead or real parking lot, but there were at least a couple of places to pull off the road. It was only 33°F, with a light NW breeze. There were a few small snowflakes in the air. Lupe would get lightly snowed on a few times during the day, but the snow squalls stayed mostly off to the N.

Thunder Butte was in clear view to the NNE. Lupe was going to have a great time climbing it! There was no trail up Thunder Butte, but it looked like a pretty easy trek.

Thunder Butte from near the G6. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe starts her trek to Thunder Butte. Sheep Nose is behind her to the SE. — Lupe starts her trek to Thunder Butte. Sheep Nose is behind her to the SSE.

The first part of Lupe’s journey to Thunder Butte was very easy. She just had to follow a nearly level ridge heading NE. When she got to the edge of Shrewsbury Gulch, she turned N staying on the ridge. It was easiest to just stay to the W of Shrewsbury Gulch until Lupe could get around the N end of it without losing elevation.

Lupe reaches the W edge of Shrewsbury Gulch. From here she headed N staying on the ridge. Thunder Butte, her peakbagging goal for the day is visible ahead the whole way. Photo looks NNE.

Partway N along the W edge of Shrewsbury Gulch, Lupe came to Pedestal Point – a rock carved by nature over millions of years for the sole purpose of serving as a pedestal for the display of an adventurous Carolina Dog with Thunder Butte in the background. Since Lupe was the only Carolina Dog available this day, she hopped right up on Pedestal Point rock.

Lupe poses on Pedestal Point rock. SPHP nicknamed the large rock outcropping seen above Lupe on Thunder Butte the "Snout". This photo shows the long low forested ridge at the N end of Shrewsbury Gulch that led Lupe up to the area below the Snout. — Lupe poses on Pedestal Point rock. SPHP nicknamed the large gumdrop-shaped rock outcropping seen above Lupe on Thunder Butte the “Snout”. This photo shows the long, low forested ridge at the N end of Shrewsbury Gulch that led Lupe up to the area below the Snout.

Getting close to the forested ridge at the N end of Shrewsbury Gulch. Lupe did not climb up to the lowest point of the saddle between the two halves of Thunder Butte. Instead, she climbed up below the Snout to the high point seen just to its right.

The ground along the W edge of Shrewsbury Gulch undulated up and down a little bit, but with little net elevation change. Towards the N end of Shrewsbury Gulch, Lupe started turning slowly E towards Thunder Butte. In some places she found a faint trail, but it quickly disappeared again each time. Lupe worked her way through the forest over to the N side of the ridge. The forest was full of interesting rock formations along the way.

Lupe among the boulders on the forested ridge.

Over on the N side of the low forested ridge, there was a little meadow with views to the NW. Here Lupe turned to the E and headed directly up toward the Snout. On the way, she emerged from the living forest and climbed up through young aspens growing in a previously burned area.

This seemed to be the easiest way up. There was some deadfall timber, but it wasn’t too bad. There were quite a few dead trees still standing, however. At some point in the future when more of them fall over, the easiest route up will likely be through the living forest.

Lupe starts the climb up to the E towards the Snout. Here she is a few hundred feet N of the living forest (not pictured) on the low ridge. Photo looks E.

Approaching the Snout (R)from the W. The summit of Thunder Butte is seen on the L. — Approaching the Snout (R) from the W. The summit of Thunder Butte is seen on the L.

A look over to the lower S peak of Thunder Butte as Lupe climbed up toward the Snout. Photo looks S.

When Lupe got pretty close to the base of the Snout, she stayed to the S of it. She was now above the living forest in an area that had been pretty thoroughly burned back in 2003. Although that meant the immediate surroundings weren’t too pretty, it also meant there were some terrific views off in the distance.

The terrain near the Snout was fairly steep, but not dangerously so. Lupe sniffed around, while SPHP trudged slowly up the mountain. Lupe and SPHP arrived at a rocky outcropping to the SSE of the Snout. From here, Lupe could get a clear view of the saddle area between the two summits of Thunder Butte. The lower summit was to the S. The true summit was to the N.

Lupe reaches the rocks at the high point SSE of the Snout. This photo looks S toward the lower half of Thunder Butte.

Looking W now. The low forested ridge is now way down there on the L. Lupe is almost as high as the Snout, seen on the R. — Looking W. The low forested ridge is now way down there on the L. Lupe is almost as high as the Snout, seen on the R.

Looking S toward the lowest part of the saddle over to the lower S summit of Thunder Butte.

Looking W from the rocks at the high point SSE of the Snout.

The beautiful remaining climb to the N up to the true summit of Thunder Butte.

Lupe and SPHP did a bit of exploring around the rocky high point SSE of the Snout. SPHP wanted to see if there was an easy way up here from the lowest part of the saddle between the two halves of Thunder Butte. It turned out there was a break in the rocks with a wide grassy pass between them. The pass led down to the saddle. It looked kind of steep, but was certainly a feasible route up or down.

In this pass, Lupe and SPHP also discovered the Most Interesting Rock of Thunder Butte. The Most Interesting Rock stuck out over part of the pass from the W. SPHP liked the unusual shape of the rock and its overhanging positioning. Lupe agreed to strike a dramatic American Dingo pose on the Most Interesting Rock.

An American Dingo poses dramatically upon the Most Interesting Rock on Thunder Butte.

Lupe on the Most Interesting Rock. Photo looks SE.

From the Most Interesting Rock, Lupe and SPHP started the climb to the N up to the true summit of Thunder Butte. Shortly before getting there, Lupe reached a ridge that led the last little way to the NW up to top. Soon Lupe was sitting on the highest rocks on Thunder Butte next to a registry. SPHP entered Lupe’s name on the registry for her, and signed in as well.

After registering, it was time for a break. Lupe chowed down on some Taste of the Wild, while SPHP consumed an apple. Then there was plenty of time for admiring views, and taking some pictures. There were great views to the SE, S, W, and NW. A small area of living forest mostly hid the views to the N, NE and E.

Lupe gains the ridge that leads the last little bit of the way up to the NW to the true summit of Thunder Butte.

Lupe reaches the register on Thunder Butte, successfully completing her 2nd peakbagging goal of her November, 2015 vacation to Colorado. — Lupe reaches the registry on Thunder Butte, successfully completing her 2nd peakbagging goal of her November, 2015 vacation to Colorado. Photo looks S.

Lupe gets speckled with a bit of snow as she enjoys some Taste of the Wild on Thunder Butte.

Looking S from the top of Thunder Butte. The lower S summit is seen in the foreground. SPHP believes the high mountain in the clouds in the distance is Pikes Peak. — Looking S from the top of Thunder Butte. The lower S summit is seen in the foreground. SPHP believes the high mountain in the clouds in the distance is **Pikes Peak (14,110 ft.)**.

Looking NW. Portions of Cheesman Lake are visible.

Looking S toward Pikes Peak. Sheep Nose is visible on the R.

Lupe and SPHP had a fun time up on the summit of Thunder Butte. The views were magnificent, and the solitude complete. Sadly, eventually, it was time to go. On the way down, SPHP tried to get some pictures of the views to the NE which weren’t available from the summit.

Looking NE from Thunder Butte. SPHP believes Turtle Mountain is shown here. — Looking NE from Thunder Butte. SPHP believes **Turtle Mountain (8,882 ft.)** is shown here.

Going SE down the ridge from the summit.

Looking S at the lower S peak of Thunder Butte. Sheep Nose is on the R. At lower R is the top of the Snout. Pikes Peak in the distance.

Lupe and SPHP retraced their route up back down Thunder Butte. Once down to the low forested ridge, Lupe did some sniffing around in the forest among the interesting rock formations. The sun was starting to get low in the W. However, there was still plenty of time to get back to the G6. Lupe and SPHP had some fun among the rocks.

Lupe went SW from this rock formation along the low, forested ridge N of Shrewsbury Gulch. Photo looks SW.

Looking NE at the turning point rock. — Looking back NE at the rock after Lupe passed it.

Looking S at Sheep Nose from the low, forested ridge W of Thunder Butte.

Lupe's route back to the G6 went along the W side of Shrewsbury Gulch almost directly toward Sheep Nose. — Lupe’s route back to the G6 went along the W side of Shrewsbury Gulch almost directly toward Sheep Nose.

The S sub-peak of Thunder Butte. Photo looks E.

Lupe found her way to the G6, but SPHP called her away again. It was so nice out, SPHP wanted to go a little closer to Sheep Nose for a better look. Earlier in the day, SPHP had ruled out trying to climb Sheep Nose, which looked like it might require some technical climbing skills and equipment. Sheep Nose was still an interesting looking peak. Maybe it looked less troublesome from closer up.

Lupe near Sheep Nose. Not a huge peak, but still fairly rugged and quite interesting looking. Photo looks SSE. Interested in living near Sheep Nose? Go back to the first photo of Sheep Nose near the start of this post. The roof of a mobile home can be seen. The home was for sale by owner when Lupe went by it this day.

Looking toward Pikes Peak from the W side of Sheep Nose.

Lupe and SPHP returned to the G6 at 4:00 PM exactly. It was 35°F, and a beautiful calm late afternoon. Lupe’s trek to Thunder Butte had been a fun day, and a great success!

There had been easy parts on nearly level ground near Shrewsbury Gulch, and harder parts climbing steeply up the mountain. Lupe had seen and/or explored cool rock formations like Pedestal Point rock, the Snout, the Most Interesting Rock, and the boulders along the low forested ridge. There had been great views from the top of the mountain, and at many points on the way up.

Lupe did have one complaint, though. She never found a single squirrel in the forest the whole day long.

Thunder Butte, CO, the Douglas County high point from N of Sheep Nose. — Thunder Butte, the Douglas County, Colorado high point from N of Sheep Nose.

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Black Hills, WY Expedition No. 145 – Sundance Mountain, Warren Peak, Sheep Nose Mountain & Devils Tower (11-15-15)

SPHP had been thinking about taking Lupe on an expedition to the Bear Lodge Mountains in Wyoming for a couple of months. Checking the weather forecast early on 11-15-15, SPHP saw that it was going to be an extraordinarily warm day for mid-November in the Black Hills. It was probably now or never, if Lupe was going to go to the Bear Lodge Mountains in 2015.

Lupe was soon on her way, barking enthusiastically at cows and horses along I-90 who were too far away to even notice her passing by. Shortly after reaching Wyoming, Lupe and SPHP made a quick stop at a very nice information center just N of I-90. Lupe got out of the G6 for a few pictures to commemorate the occasion.

Although it hadn’t been windy at all back home, it was plenty windy here in Wyoming. A pretty stiff breeze was blowing out of the W across the high prairie. Lupe took shelter behind the Wyoming welcome sign.

Gotta love that buffalo on the Wyoming state flag!

The Bear Lodge Mountains are already in view off to the W.

The Bear Lodge Mountains are a small mountain range in NE Wyoming separated from the main body of the Black Hills of South Dakota by no more than 15-20 miles of grasslands. The Bear Lodge Mountains are part of the Black Hills National Forest. Lupe was going to get to climb a couple of mountains in the range, and visit a couple more as part of Expedition No. 145.

Lupe’s first goal was to climb Sundance Mountain (5,824 ft.) located just S of I-90 and the town of Sundance, WY. It was 10:04 AM, 54°F and windy out of the W, as Lupe set off to climb Sundance Mountain from the SE. She soon reached a 4WD jeep trail that took her all the way up to the top of the mountain. There were plenty of towers and various small buildings up at the summit.

Sundance Mountain as seen from the ENE near I-90.

Lupe sets out from SE of Sundance Mountain.

Partway up Sundance Mountain along the jeep trail is this view of Inyan Kara Mountain on the S horizon.

The biggest, most impressive tower at the top of Sundance Mountain.

Looking N at I-90 and the town of Sundance, WY from Sundance Mountain.

Looking NE at Green Mountain. Crow Peak W of Spearfish, SD is seen on the horizon just R of center.

Although there were some pretty nice views of Sundance, WY and Green Mountain (5,283 ft.) from the summit, the view SPHP liked best was hidden by the forest. Somewhat below the summit, a short dead-end side road covered with weeds provided an expansive view to the S toward Inyan Kara Mountain (6,360 ft.).

Inyan Kara Mountain from Sundance Mountain. Photo looks S. — Inyan Kara Mountain (L) from Sundance Mountain. Photo looks S.

Lupe faced two dangers on Sundance Mountain. The first one was a patch of cactus growing on a grassy ridge just below where Lupe first reached the jeep trail. The second danger was a cliff on the N side of the mountain. The cliff was situated just below a tree Lupe ran down a very steep bank to, in order to bark at a squirrel. Fortunately, Lupe returned to the G6 unscathed by either cacti or cliffs.

Lupe on "Cactus Ridge" on the SE slopes of Sundance Mountain. Green Mountain is seen behind her to the NE. SPHP helped guide Lupe so she didn't step on any cacti. — Lupe on “Cactus Ridge” on the SE slopes of Sundance Mountain. Green Mountain is seen behind her to the NE. SPHP helped guide Lupe so she didn’t step on any cacti.

The most rugged parts of Sundance Mountain are to the N and W. This photo was taken from the W. — The most rugged parts of Sundance Mountain are to the N and W. The towers at the summit are seen to the L in this photo taken from the W.

After climbing Sundance Mountain, Lupe’s next stop was Warren Peak (6,650 ft.), the highest mountain in the Bear Lodge range at 6,656 feet. Lupe had been up on Warren Peak (6,650 ft.) once before on the first day of her 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies and the Beartooths.

Getting to the top of Warren Peak 7 miles NNW of Sundance, WY is super easy. A short gravel road off USFS Road No. 838 (Warren Peak Road accessed off Hwy 14 a mile from I-90) winds its way up to a lookout tower at the top. It was 12:16 PM and 50°F with a gale blowing out of the W, when Lupe reached the top of Warren Peak. The views were great, but the wind was really annoying. Lupe stayed on Warren Peaks only long enough for a few quick photos.

Lupe not enjoying the wind too much on Warren Peak. Photo looks SE toward the Black Hills of South Dakota. Terry Peak is the highest point in the center on the far horizon. Crow Peak is the rounded mountain on the horizon on the L. — Lupe not enjoying the wind too much on Warren Peak. Photo looks SE toward the Black Hills of South Dakota. **Terry Peak** **(7,064 ft.)** is the highest point in the center on the far horizon. **Crow Peak** **(5,787 ft.)** is the rounded mountain on the horizon on the L.

Looking NW from Warren Peak. There is a series of high barren hills near Warren Peak. Collectively they are sometimes called Warren Peaks. This photo looks NW from the summit of Warren Peak at other hills in this group. Lupe went over there to investigate, but found the area was fenced off as US Government property with No Trespassing signs.

Lupe at the turn off USFS Road No. 838 (Warren Peak Road) to the lookout tower.

Just N of the turn to the US Government property, USFS Road No. 838, which had been paved, turned to gravel. Shortly after turning to gravel, there was a bend in the road where there was a glimpse of an intriguing view to the NW. There was a large pullout along the side of the road at this point, so Lupe and SPHP stopped to get a photo.

Devils Tower and Missouri Buttes from USFS Road No. 838 a short distance N of Warren Peak. — **Devils Tower** **(5,112 ft.)** and **Missouri Buttes** **(5,374 ft.)** from USFS Road No. 838 a short distance N of Warren Peak. Photo looks NW.

A look back to the S at Warren Peak from USFS Road No. 838.

After checking out the awesome, but distant view of Devils Tower and Missouri Buttes, Lupe and SPHP continued onward. Lupe’s next peakbagging goal was a peak neither she nor SPHP had ever been even close to before. It wasn’t even in the Peakbagger.com data base. Peakbagger.com’s topo maps showed it simply as Sheep Mountain. SPHP’s old USFS maps showed it as Sheep Nose Mountain (5,829 ft.). It lies about 4 miles ENE of Warren Peak on the E edge of the Bear Lodge Mountains.

Winding USFS roads led Lupe and SPHP to a trailhead that SPHP almost missed. Driving by, SPHP just caught a glimpse of a small sign saying “Sheepnose Trail”. There was a roomy parking area, and a map posted at this remote trailhead. The map showed two Sheepnose Trails. One was trail “M” (2.3 miles long), which led to the mountain. The other was trail “L”, which was longer (5.8 miles), branched off from trail “M”, and did not actually quite reach the mountain.

There was no obvious “trail”, just an old unmarked USFS road that headed E from near the posted map at the trailhead. Lupe and SPHP set out on this road, which appeared to be seldom used. A mile from the trailhead, it turned SE where Lupe found it was still marked as USFS Road No. 831.1C. There was an odd-shaped metal gate blocking the way to motorized vehicles. Markers from here onward showed that this was indeed Sheepnose Trail “M”.

Lupe's first look at Sheep Nose Mountain from the NW. This view was 50 feet S of old USFS Road No. 831.1C before it reached the metal gate barring motorized traffic. — Lupe’s first look at Sheep Nose Mountain from the NW. This view was 50 feet S of old USFS Road No. 831.1C well before it reached the metal gate barring motorized traffic.

The trailhead and Sheep Nose Mountain are at about the same elevation. Most of the way to Sheep Nose Mountain, the terrain was quite level. Old USFS Road No. 831.1C did dip down almost 250 feet, though, partway to the mountain. At a saddle there was a small clearing, and an intersection with the longer Sheepnose Trail “L”. Sheepnose Trail “L” was another old USFS Road, which branched off from Trail “M” heading W.

Lupe stayed on trail "M" heading for Sheep Nose Mountain. Sheepnose trail "L" headed R from here to parts still unknown to Lupe and SPHP. — The trail intersection. Lupe stayed on trail “M” heading for Sheep Nose Mountain. Sheepnose trail “L” headed R (W) from here to parts still unknown to Lupe and SPHP.

Of course, Lupe had to regain all of the elevation lost going down to the trail intersection. Sheep Nose Mountain trail “M” wound around on the N side of the mountain regaining elevation. It turned back to the W side of the mountain, and then headed S. There was a big canyon to the W, but it couldn’t be seen through the forest from the trail.

The rocky little ridge at the summit of Sheep Nose Mountain came into view up a sparsely treed slope to the E. Lupe and SPHP left the road to climb straight up to it. It later turned out that the road doesn’t go all the way to the summit (although it gets close). The road and Sheepnose Trail “M” end at cliffs SE of the summit.

Lupe just below the rocky ridge at the summit of Sheep Nose Mountain, WY.

The summit of Sheep Nose Mountain felt lonely and remote, just the way Lupe and SPHP like it. It looked like an area very few people (or American Dingoes) ever see. Warren Peak could be seen to the WSW. Other than forest, not much could be seen to the N, but there were wonderful views to the S and E.

Lupe posed for some pictures. Then Lupe and SPHP took an apple and Taste of the Wild break on top of the mountain. Fortunately, the strong W wind Lupe had experienced up on Warren Peak was greatly diminished by now. Only a gentle breeze remained.

Lupe on the highest rock on Sheep Nose Mountain. Photo looks N.

Lupe and SPHP took their break on Sheep Nose Mountain here. Lupe didn't like the location much. It was too rocky to get comfortable laying down. What a view to the S though! — Lupe and SPHP took a break on Sheep Nose Mountain here. Lupe thought it was a poor choice for a break location. It was too rocky for a Carolina Dog to get comfortable laying down. What a view to the S though!

After the break, Lupe and SPHP left the summit of Sheep Nose Mountain going SE down a gradual slope to where old USFS Road No. 831.1C (Sheepnose trail “M”) had headed. Shortly after reaching the road again, Lupe found it ended at scenic cliffs.

The gentle slope to the SE from the Sheep Nose Mountain summit.

Looking S from the cliffs. Green Mountain is the low forested hill surrounded by prairie in the distance on the L. Sundance Mountain, pokes above other ridges on the R. Far in the distance is the faint outline of Inyan Kara. — Looking S from the cliffs. Green Mountain is the low forested hill surrounded by prairie in the distance on the L. Sundance Mountain pokes above other ridges on the R. Far in the distance is the very faint outline of Inyan Kara.

Looking E along the S cliffs. Crow Peak is seen in the distance on the R.

After seeing the views from the S cliffs, SPHP was almost certain the following photo taken earlier in the day from just N of I-90 is a view of Sheep Nose Mountain from the S.

Looking N from near I-90 at Sheep Nose Mountain.

Lupe and SPHP both enjoyed the return trip along the same route from Sheep Nose Mountain back to the G6. There were squirrels and deer in the woods. There was silence and solitude. The whole trip to Sheep Nose Mountain and back took only 2 hours and 14 minutes. It was the best part of the day.

It was 3:18 PM and still 52°F when Lupe got back to the G6. There was still a little time left before sunset for more fun in the Bear Lodge Mountains. Lupe and SPHP took a drive through the mountains, exploring down toward Hulett, WY on USFS Road No. 849.

No. 849 followed Blacktail Creek out of the Bear Lodge Mountains. Once the road was out of the Black Hills National Forest, it passed through private ranch lands where the creek valley was wide and grassy. The slanting rays of the sun lit up the rocky edges of the low forested hills on the NE side of the valley. In the shadow of the hills to the SW, down in big fields near Blacktail Creek, deer were grazing.

Lupe could hardly believe her eyes. There wasn’t just a deer or two or three over there by the creek. There were herds of them. There were more deer than Lupe, or even SPHP, had ever seen before in one place. Every field had at least 50 deer grazing in it.

As SPHP drove along, Lupe must have barked at 1,000 deer or more. Some of the deer heard her, and dashed off across the fields into the trees. Others just continued grazing. By the time Lupe reached Hwy 24 S of Hulett, she was desperately thirsty and worn to a frazzle.

One of the deer Lupe and SPHP saw along the way had come to a bad end, though it wasn’t because of Lupe. A hunter was busy trying to pull a dead deer he had just shot up into the back of a pickup truck, as SPHP drove by. No doubt the hunter was happy and within his rights, but seeing the beautiful deer which had lost its life only minutes ago just felt terribly sad.

The last rays of the sun were about to fail by the time Lupe reached her last stop of the day. Devils Tower loomed in stony silence as the gloom of night approached. The big convenience store and KOA campground just E of the entrance to Devils Tower National Monument were both closed and deserted.

SPHP parked the G6 at the store. Lupe and SPHP wandered out onto the lawn for a quick photo of Lupe and Devils Tower. Before SPHP could take it, a loud shot rang out from somewhere not very far to the N. Lupe raced for safety back toward the G6. It took SPHP a few minutes to convince her she wasn’t going to wind up like the poor dead deer.