Tag: American Dingo

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 146(a) – Roughlock Falls (11-22-15)

Xochitl flew in from Chicago to spend nearly a week in the Black Hills over Thanksgiving.  Naturally, she wanted to spend a little time adventuring in the hills with Lupe.  Steve had some time off, so he wanted to come along, too.  So Lupe had quite a pack along with her when she set off on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 146(a) on 11-22-15.

Since Xochitl needed a little time to acclimate to the elevation, Lupe started her off easy.  Real easy – the first stop was at Cheyenne Crossing in Spearfish Canyon for buffalo burgers and dessert.  Lupe got to sit waiting patiently in the G6 while Xochi, Steve & SPHP dined acclimated in cozy warm comfort.

Lupe at Cheyenne Crossing in Spearfish Canyon. Lupe had to wait in the G6 while Xochitl, Steve and SPHP acclimated inside the restaurant.
Lupe at Cheyenne Crossing in Spearfish Canyon. Lupe had to wait in the G6 while Xochitl, Steve and SPHP acclimated inside the restaurant.

The buffalo burgers disappeared, and there wasn’t much left of Steve’s mountain medley berry pie and ice cream when the meal was over.  However, Xochi had ordered carrot cake for dessert.  It arrived drizzled with caramel, which she doesn’t really care for, so about 2/3 of the carrot cake was left over.  The patient American Dingo was in luck!  A big piece of carrot cake went into a Dingo box for later on.

From Cheyenne Crossing, Lupe’s pack headed N for Savoy farther downstream in the heart of Spearfish Canyon.  Savoy is the site of the Latchstring Inn & Restaurant.  Near Savoy are two waterfalls.  From opposite ends of the Latchstring Restaurant parking lot, there is a short (0.5 mile?) loop trail that goes down to Spearfish Falls.  Little Spearfish Creek enters Spearfish Creek at the base of the falls.

Limestone cliffs near the Latchstring in at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
Limestone cliffs near the Latchstring Inn at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
Lupe near the Latchstring Inn at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
Lupe near the Latchstring Inn.

Lupe wasn’t going to Spearfish Falls, though.  Instead, Lupe and her pack of humans were taking the trail to Roughlock Falls.  Roughlock Falls is up the side canyon Little Spearfish Creek flows through.  The trailhead is near the Latchstring Inn parking lot.

The Roughlock Falls trail is no more than about a mile long, and involves very little elevation gain.  It was going to be a nice stroll, with views of the creek and limestone cliffs along the way.

Lupe was just happy to be on a snowy trail again.

Little Spearfish Creek a short distance upstream of the Latchstring Inn.
Little Spearfish Creek a short distance upstream of the Latchstring Inn.
Continuing up Little Spearfish Creek.
Lupe on her way to Roughlock Falls.
Steve, Xochitl & Lupe on the Roughlock Falls trail.
Sunlit cliffs on the N side of the canyon.

In the summer, the Roughlock Falls trail is popular and busy.  On this cool day in late November, Lupe & company had the trail to themselves.  When Lupe reached the falls, it was time for some pictures with Xochitl and Steve.

Roughlock Falls on Little Spearfish Creek.
Roughlock Falls on Little Spearfish Creek.
Lupe, Steve & Xochi at Roughlock Falls.
Lupe, Steve & Xochi at Roughlock Falls.
Years ago, it was possible to wade up Little Spearfish Creek right into Roughlock falls. The water was always cold, even on the hottest summer days. Now safety railings and signs prevent such adventures. November wouldn’t have been such a good time for it, anyway.

The Roughlock Falls trail continued on across a bridge over Little Spearfish Creek, and up to a picnic ground just above the falls.  Various little walkways with railings led to a number of viewpoints along both sides of the falls and creek.  Lupe, Xochi and Steve checked them out.

The main falls. Roughlock Falls is only a mile or so from the Latchstring Inn at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
The brink of Roughlock Falls.
The brink of Roughlock Falls.

A look downstream from the falls.
We interrupt this episode of The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe to bring you this scene from The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends. Starring Xochitl as Bullwinkle and Steve as Rocky. (Steve, your Rocky still needs a bit of work!)
“Lupe, look, is moose & squirrel!”  We interrupt this episode of The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe to bring you this scene from The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends – starring Xochitl as Bullwinkle the Moose, and Steve as Rocky the Flying Squirrel. (Steve’s Rocky still needs a bit of work.  Steve, how about a jet pack so you can zoom around in the air a bit, or if that’s too expensive, at least a pair of aviator goggles?)

At the picnic grounds upstream of Roughlock Falls, a dramatic love scene was re-enacted starring Lupeo & Xochiet.

Lupio
Lupeo
Xochiet
Xochiet
"Lupio, O' Lupio, wherefore art thou O' Lupio?"
“Lupeo, O’ Lupeo, wherefore art thou O’ Lupeo?”
"Sitting right in front of you, Xochiet, here beside Little Spearfish Creek at the picnic grounds just above Roughlock Falls. To get here take Hwy 14A from Spearfish, SD to Savoy. Turn right at the Latchstring Inn and park at the trailhead, or just drive 1 mile up USFS Road No. 222. You can also get here by taking Hwy 85 SW of Lead, SD to Cheyenne Crossing. At Cheyenne Crossing take Hwy 14A going N to Savoy.... blah, blah, blah...."
“Why, I’m sitting right in front of you, Xochiet, here right beside Little Spearfish Creek at the picnic grounds just above Roughlock Falls. To get here take Hwy 14A from Spearfish, SD to Savoy. Turn right at the Latchstring Inn and park at the Roughlock Falls trailhead, or just drive 1 mile up USFS Road No. 222. You can also get here by taking Hwy 85 SW of Lead, SD to Cheyenne Crossing. At Cheyenne Crossing take Hwy 14A going N to Savoy.  On the other hand, if you’re coming from Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.) , take …. blah, blah, blah….”  Xochiet is pretty sure Lupeo doesn’t know his lines….

Lupe and Xochitl had two different impressions of the Roughlock Falls picnic grounds.  To Lupe, the place was a frozen wilderness full of exciting smells, danger and mystery.  Here she conveys a feeling of being lost and alone in the 1.2 million acre Black Hills National Forest:

A lone Carolina Dog sits lost in the vast Black Hills National Forest on a cold wintery day next to a wild, rushing stream.
A lone, brave Carolina Dog sits lost in the vast Black Hills National Forest on a cold wintery day next to a wild, rushing stream.
Along Little Spearfish Creek just upstream of the picnic ground.

Although Xochitl makes a good living as a computer engineer in Chicago, she is always ready to explore new opportunities.  To her, the time spent in a different setting at Roughlock Falls along Little Spearfish Creek brought new possibilities to mind.  She practiced auditioning for Vanna White’s job on Wheel of Fortune.

Xochitl auditions for Vanna White's job on the TV game show Wheel of Fortune. Here she demonstrates what contestants who simultaneously buy the consonants S, T, R, M and vowels E & A will get. When she gets to where she can do this without Steve propping her up, Vanna White had better look out!
Xochitl auditions for Vanna White’s job on the TV game show Wheel of Fortune. Here she demonstrates what contestants who simultaneously buy the consonants S, T, R, M and vowels E & A will get. She does seem to be getting the hang of it.  When she gets to where she can do this without Steve propping her up, Vanna White had better look out!

Down in the canyon, the sun disappears from view pretty early this time of year.  Soon it was time for Lupe, Xochitl, Steve & SPHP to take the snowy trail back to the G6.

USFS Road No. 222 near Roughlock Falls.

Much later, back at home, SPHP offered Xochitl’s uneaten Cheyenne Crossing carrot cake to Lupe.  Turns out Carolina Dogs love carrot cake AND caramel!  A few nanoseconds later, Lupe was licking the Dingo box clean of any remaining morsels.

“Lupeo, O’ Lupeo, wherefore art my carrot cake, O’ Lupeo?”

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Belcher Hill & Upper White Ranch Park, Colorado (11-8-15)

On Sunday afternoon, 11-8-15, Joe and Dusty were free to join Lupe and SPHP for a little adventure in the mountains W of Arvada, Colorado.  Joe suggested hiking some of the trails in upper White Ranch Park, which wasn’t too far away.  Unlike the trails in the lower part of the park, the trails in upper White Ranch Park don’t lose or gain an awful lot of elevation.  It would be a pleasant, relaxing afternoon outing.

Naturally, Lupe and cousin Dusty were both eager to go.  Everyone piled into the G6.  Even though the Broncos were playing, it was such a nice afternoon for November that lots of people were already at the park when Lupe and Dusty arrived.  The parking lot closest to the old ranch headquarters was completely full.  Luckily, Joe did find an empty spot for the G6 in the parking lot near the Belcher Hill trail.

The first, and longest, trail that Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP took was a clockwise circuit of the entire Rawhide trail, which makes a loop.  At the far N end of the trail is a bench with a little roof over it.  There was a view toward a high snow-capped peak far to the N from the bench.

Upper White Ranch Park from the Rawhide trail. Photo looks SE.
Upper White Ranch Park from the Rawhide trail. Photo looks SE.
A high, snow-capped peak is seen far away from the bench at the N end of the Rawhide trail in upper White Ranch Park.
A high, snow-capped peak is seen far away barely poking up over the ridge line.  This photo was taken from in front of the bench at the N end of the Rawhide trail in upper White Ranch Park.  The bench is about 2.5 miles from the parking lots.  Photo looks N.

Joe and SPHP sat on the bench contemplating the view and munching apples, while water from a bit of melting snow on the roof dripped in front of them.  Lupe and Dusty shared some Taste of the Wild, which Dusty devoured with special relish since she doesn’t ordinarily get it.  Dusty polished off the apple cores, too, when they became available.  As far as Lupe was concerned, Dusty could have the apple cores.

The E section of the Rawhide trail stayed more in the forest than the W part of the trail had.  Along the NE section of the trail, there were occasional views across the deep Ralston Creek valley toward the high rocky ridge to the E.  Lupe passed by another bench commemorating a visit by Princess Anne.  Trees had grown up to mostly obscure the view from there.

Looking ENE across the deep Ralston Creek.
Looking ENE across the deep Ralston Creek valley.
The rocky ridge across the Ralston Creek valley from the E portion of the Rawhide Trail in upper White Ranch Park. Photo looks NE.
The rocky ridge beyond Ralston Creek from the E portion of the Rawhide Trail in upper White Ranch Park. Photo looks ENE.

A little way S of the Princess Anne bench was a nice view to the SE toward North Table Mountain (6,566 ft.).

North Table Mountain from the Rawhide trail in upper White Ranch Park, Colorado. Photo looks SE.
North Table Mountain from the Rawhide trail in upper White Ranch Park, Colorado. Photo looks SE.
Lupe, Joe & Dusty on the Rawhide trail. Photo looks WNW.

Except near the N end, the Rawhide trail was pretty busy.  There were hikers, runners, dogs, and especially mountain bikers.  By the time Lupe was getting close to the parking lots again, though, the crowds were beginning to thin out.

Upper White Ranch Park from the Rawhide trail.
Upper White Ranch Park from the Rawhide trail.
Lupe near the Rawhide Trail not far from the parking lots.
Lupe near the Rawhide Trail not far from the parking lots.

When Lupe reached the parking lot again, the sun was starting to get low in the W.  Since it would still be up for at least another hour, SPHP suggested taking the trail to Belcher Hill (7,949 ft.).  Joe, Dusty and Lupe were all up for it.  From the parking lot near the old ranch headquarters, Lupe took the Sawmill trail to the Belcher Hill trail.  There were views of the ranch headquarters and North Table Mountain along the way.

Looking N at the White Ranch headquarters from the Sawmill trail.
Looking N at the White Ranch headquarters from the Sawmill trail.
North Table Mountain from the Sawmill trail. Downtown Denver, CO is seen on the L.
North Table Mountain from the Sawmill trail. Downtown Denver, CO is seen on the L.

From the Sawmill trail, the Belcher Hill trail headed WNW up a forested ridge.  The trail eventually leveled out near the high point on the ridge.  Lupe climbed up on the highest rocks on the ridge to claim another peakbagging success.

These highest rocks were in the forest, so there wasn’t much of a view from the top.  However, back closer to the trail, there were some lower rocks along more open ground.  From these lower rocks were pretty views from the S around to the W.

Lupe on the highest rocks on the Belcher Hill ridge.
Lupe on the highest rocks on the Belcher Hill ridge.
Looking WNW from rocks near the Belcher Hill trail.
Looking WNW from rocks near the Belcher Hill trail.
Looking SW from Belcher Hill, CO.
Looking SSW from Belcher Hill, Colorado.

From the high point on the ridge, it was a short pleasant stroll through the forest to the junction with the Mustang trail.

Lupe and Dusty at the trail junction.
Lupe and Dusty at the trail junction.

From the junction with the Mustang trail, the Belcher Hill trail headed N down the ridge to the parking lot.  There was just enough packed snow on the trail on the N side of the ridge to make things a bit slippery.  It didn’t take long to reach the parking lot, but the sun was down behind the mountains by the time Lupe and Dusty got there.

Back at Dusty’s house in Arvada, it turned out that Lupe, Dusty, Joe & SPHP had a better afternoon at upper White Ranch Park than the Denver Broncos had in Indianapolis.  The Colts defeated the previously unbeaten Broncos 27-24.

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