The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe – Page 331 – North America's Greatest Adventure Dog Blog!

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 144 – Five Points (10-31-15)

What better way for a lucky American Dingo to celebrate Halloween than a day spent exploring the Black Hills? Lupe was certainly in favor of it. When she saw SPHP getting the backpack ready to go, she quickly grew impatient for SPHP to head out the door. Finally, the great moment arrived.

For Lupe’s Black Hills Expedition No. 144, SPHP selected Five Points (6,221 ft.) as her peakbagging goal. Rather than being a single mountain, Five Points is actually a series of small mountains close together along a line running N/S. Five Points is located just a few miles NNE of Hill City in the central Black Hills. Its highest peak is the highest mountain N of Hill City for quite a few miles.

At 10:30 AM, SPHP parked the G6 just off Horse Creek Road (USFS Road No. 243). It was 48°F already, and was going to be quite a warm day for this late in the season. A breeze could be heard up in the trees, but the air was pretty calm down on the ground. Lupe and SPHP headed S on an access road that leads to USFS Road No. 669. Lupe crossed Horse Creek twice along the access road. Horse Creek isn’t a very big stream, but it had more water in it than other times Lupe has been in the area.

The access road is less than 0.5 mile long, so Lupe was soon at the junction with USFS Road No. 669. There is a small stock pond near the junction. In keeping with the theme of slimy ponds like Hidden Slew from Lupe’s Expedition No. 143, here is a photo of the pond:

Lupe reaches the pond near USFS Road No. 669. This is the only pond shot in this entire post, I promise, even though she passed several more going up the valley along No. 669.

Lupe and SPHP headed W on No. 669. The road went up a small, mostly forested valley at an easy pace. There were quite a few aspen trees at the bottom of the valley, but the slopes were mostly pine-covered. There would be no traffic on the road; it was blocked in quite a few places with deadfall timber. Most of the road, however, was open for easy hiking. Lupe explored here and there, just glad to be out running around. The deadfall didn’t bother her.

Up ahead, SPHP saw something odd dangling from an aspen tree. From a distance, it looked like the size of a human head. That would fit in with a Halloween theme, but upon reaching it, SPHP saw that it was an old wasp’s nest. The bottom of it had deteriorated so there was quite a large hole in it. SPHP thought maybe the nest was abandoned, but upon closer inspection, there were still a couple of wasps flying around and entering it.

This wasp's nest wasn't very active, but there were still a couple of bees that flew up into it. — This wasp’s nest wasn’t very active, but there were still a couple of wasps that flew up into it.

Even though the hive wasn’t very active, SPHP figured nothing good could come from hanging around it. There was no reason to stay there anyway. Lupe and SPHP went on up the road. Lupe passed several more little ponds. Toward the upper end of the little valley, the tiny stream that fed the ponds was running right down USFS Road No. 669 beneath an archway of aspen trees.

Some nice tall aspens along USFS Road No. 669.

A tiny creek flows down USFS Road No. 669 beneath an archway of aspens.

The road had turned SW by the time Lupe reached the area where the tiny creek was flowing on it. Eventually the road turned S and left the bottom of the valley. Lupe stayed on a path that continued up the valley. Before long, the path turned W and climbed more steeply up to a saddle along a ridge running N/S. There was lots of deadfall timber on the climb to the saddle, so it was slow going for SPHP.

USFS Road No. 249 was not very far W of the saddle, but Lupe did not go to the road. Lupe and SPHP turned S and followed the ridge. From the top of a small high point along the way, a considerably higher hill with a rocky top could be seen ahead. Lupe and SPHP climbed it. There was quite a lot of rock as Lupe drew near the summit.

From the top there were really nice views all around from the SW to the W, N, and NE. This high up, the wind was really roaring in the trees. The big rocks at the top were an effective barrier against the wind, which was coming out of the SW. Lupe liked it down out of the wind, but SPHP persuaded her to go up on top for a few photos.

Nearing the rocky summit of False North Point.

Lupe at the summit of False North Point. Photo looks N.

Lupe had been here before, but quite a long time ago. Her first trip here had been on her first Black Hills expedition of 2013 on New Year’s Day. (Expedition No. 42, 1-1-13) Back then, SPHP had thought Lupe was up on the northernmost summit of Five Points. Accordingly, SPHP had named this mountain North Point.

Lupe had returned to the same area just 5 days later on Expedition No. 43 on 1-6-13. She had actually climbed up to the highest point of Five Points on Expedition No. 43. SPHP realized then that this mountain was not part of the Five Points grouping. This mountain was too far to the NNW. So SPHP changed the name to False North Point. The topo maps on Peakbagger.com show its elevation as 6,130 feet.

Lupe near the highest rocks on False North Point.

The view to the SSE from False North Point toward Five Points was partially blocked by the forest. SPHP snapped a quick photo in that direction, and then Lupe was ready to get out of the wind.

Lupe and SPHP headed back to the NE end of the summit area on False North Point, which looked like the easiest way down to the saddle over to the ridge N of Five Points. Before Lupe lost much elevation, there was a place where an opening in the forest permitted a look to the E toward Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.).

Looking SSE at Five Points from False North Point. The real North Point is hidden behind the trees at the L side of the photo. The true summit of Five Points is in clear view. To the right, Harney Peak is seen in the distance. The road is USFS Road No. 249, which is coming N from China Gulch.

Looking E from False North Point. A portion of Sheridan Lake is in view. Beyond the lake, the rocky high point is Boulder Hill.

Lupe and SPHP headed down from False North Point. SPHP led Lupe down a bit farther N than would have been ideal. She had to go S climbing up through an aspen forest just to reach the saddle over to the ridge N of Five Points. Instead of climbing up onto the ridge, Lupe and SPHP stayed W of it, gaining elevation slowly. SPHP was hoping to arrive at the saddle along the ridge just N of the real North Point. That’s exactly where Lupe did arrive, too.

The climb up the N face of the real North Point was the most challenging of the day. Near the top was a big boulder field. It was fairly steep. Lupe and SPHP went straight on up it, but repeatedly came to false summits. Each time it looked like Lupe was about to come out up on top, another set of rocks going 20 feet higher appeared.

The roaring wind made the climb seem more daunting than it really was. SPHP climbed slowly and carefully. Lupe wished SPHP would move in a more lively fashion. She had no trouble maneuvering among the rocks.

Lupe climbing North Point, the real one, not the false one. She isn't really as close to the top as this photo makes it look. There are more rocks higher up than seen here. — Lupe climbing North Point, the real one, not the false one. She isn’t really as close to the top as this photo makes it look. There are more rocks higher up than seen here.

Looking NW during the climb up North Point.

Finally, Lupe and SPHP were within 10 or 12 feet of the top of the boulder field. The last part of the climb was a rock wall. It looked like there were plenty of hand holds, but SPHP decided against it. Lupe had to go back down about 20 feet to get to a shelf that led around to the W side of the mountain. Over there she came to an easier way up.

The actual summit of North Point was still a bit S of where Lupe and SPHP came up. Before going over there, though, Lupe and SPHP went N to the top of the rock wall which SPHP had decided against climbing. There was an excellent clear view back to the NNW of False North Point where Lupe had just come from.

Looking NNW at False North Point from the top of the rock wall on the real North Point. — Looking NNW at False North Point (above Lupe’s head) from the top of the rock wall on the real North Point.

False North Point (L) from North Point. Photo looks NNW.

After taking a look back at False North Point, Lupe and SPHP went to see what the true summit of Five Points to the S looked like from North Point. Lupe also visited the summit of North Point.

The true summit of Five Points is now in view from North Point. Photo looks S.

Lupe very near the summit of North Point. Photo looks S. The small patch of open ground in the distance is part of Hill City.

The summit of North Point was along the W side of the mountain where the highest ridge of rock provided a commanding 180° view to the W. North Point also featured a slightly lower and wider ridge that extended out to the E. Lupe and SPHP explored this lower ridge to its eastern end.

The E ridge was forested, but there were some openings in the forest. Several rock outcroppings provided great views. Most views were to the N, but it was possible to see to the SE in a couple places, too. There was even a clearer view to the S toward the true summit of Five Points than Lupe had found near the summit of North Point.

From the E ridge on North Point, Lupe found this view of the True Summit of Five Points. It can be seen that there are actually two of the Five Points over there. The high point on the left is South Point. South Point is not quite as high as the True Summit on the R. Photo looks S.

After exploring North Point, it was time for Lupe to head over to the True Summit of Five Points. Although the way initially looked steep, it really wasn’t hard going down North Point into the saddle to the S.

SPHP expected another rocky climb up to the True Summit. Lupe stayed mostly to the E of a spine of rock heading up the N slope. The way up was pretty steep, but Lupe didn’t have to climb any big boulder fields to get up on top. It was an easier climb than going up North Point had been.

Looking N back at North Point (R) and False North Point (L) from the N end of the ridge on the True Summit of Five Points.

Up on top of the True Summit of Five Points was a rocky ridge oriented N/S, just like on the other peaks Lupe had already climbed. The rocks toward the S end were much larger than at the N end. Lupe had to pass just below the big rocks on the E side of the mountain to work her way over to the S end of the ridge. Near the S end, she found a steep grassy ramp that led right on up to the very top of the mountain.

Separated by less than 100 feet, there were two high clusters of rock. The grassy ramp brought Lupe up between them. Lupe went first to the S rock cluster. It had a great view toward Harney Peak (7,242 ft.). The N rock cluster was the very top of the mountain, and the True Summit of Five Points. It was only a few feet higher than the S cluster. There were views to the W, N, and E from here.

Since the most impressive view was to the S toward Harney Peak (7,242 ft.), Lupe and SPHP returned to the S rock cluster to take a break. SPHP had carrots and apple crisp. Lupe had Taste of the Wild and plenty of water. She got to lick the remaining apple crisp sauce out of the plastic container, too. Carolina Dogs like apple crisp!

Looking S toward Harney Peak from the S rock cluster at the top of the True Summit of Five Points. This photo shows two more of the Five Points. They are the rocky hills in the foreground L of Lupe. Both are clearly lower. Lupe did not go to either of those summits.

Lupe up on the North rock cluster. These are the very highest rocks on the True Summit of Five Points. Photo looks N. — Lupe up on the North rock cluster. These are the very highest rocks on the True Summit of Five Points. Lupe reached her Five Points peakbagging goal here. She had been here once before on Expedition No. 43 way back on 1-6-13. Photo looks N.

It was still windy out while Lupe and SPHP were taking the break on the True Summit of Five Points. However, the wind had shifted a bit and was now coming out of the W. It finally seemed to be weakening a bit. After eating, Lupe curled up for a few minutes in a spot where the rocks protected her from the wind.

Lupe had now climbed North Point and the True Summit of Five Points to achieve her peakbagging goal for the day. There were still 3 of the Five Points unclimbed. False North Point didn’t count, since it wasn’t really part of the official group. The sun was starting to get low. SPHP debated whether or not Lupe should climb any more of the Five Points mountains.

The 2nd highest mountain of the Five Points group was separated from the True Summit by a saddle extending off to the SE. SPHP was calling this mountain South Point, even though there were two lower points of the Five Point group farther S. South Point really wasn’t very far away.

The saddle to South Point didn’t lose much elevation, but there was a lot of deadfall timber and some pretty big rock outcroppings visible along the way. If Lupe could get by the rocks and deadfall, it wouldn’t take long for her to reach the summit of South Point.

As always, Lupe was willing to try it. So Lupe and SPHP went back down the steep grassy ramp and headed SE toward the saddle to South Point. It really wasn’t hard to cross the saddle area. The deadfall timber was more of a problem than the rocks were. Lupe succeeded in reaching the top of South Point. She found the highest rocks near the SE end of the ridge. The best views were from a rock platform at the very SE end.

Looking S from South Point. Harney Peak (L) and Hill City (R) are in view.

Lupe on the rock platform at the far SE end of South Point. Photo looks SE.

Harney Peak from South Point. Photo looks S. — Harney Peak from South Point. The two points of the Five Points group that Lupe did not climb on Expedition No. 144 are seen in the foreground. (Only the rocks at the very top of the lowest point are seen at the lower R.) Photo looks S.

The summit of South Point. Lupe is surrounded here by the highest rocks on South Point. Photo looks NW. The True Summit of Five Points isn’t very far away to the NW, but is hidden by the forest.

When Lupe reached the summit of South Point, she had climbed the 3 highest mountains in the Five Points group, plus False North Point. It was time to start heading back to the G6. Somewhat surprisingly, it wasn’t difficult to just continue down off South Point continuing to the SE.

Lupe was losing a lot of elevation. As soon as the terrain permitted, SPHP led Lupe to the SW and then W. Lupe was going to go clear around to the W of the True Summit and North Point. It was a fairly long march through the forest, made longer by the steepness of the slope, deadfall timber, and big patches of thistles and thorny plants. Lupe had a great time, though. There was now room to run around in the forest. She sped around, happy to not be so confined up on high rocky places.

When Lupe had gone quite a long distance to the W, she came to a big square-shaped rock outcropping, which SPHP promptly dubbed Block ‘O Rock. Not too long after reaching Block ‘O Rock, the terrain leveled out and Lupe was able to head N. She was far enough W to see USFS Road No. 249 down the hill to the W, but she did not go down to the road.

Lupe continued N through the forest until she was just S of False North Point again. There a faint road went almost all the way up to the saddle she had crossed earlier in the day heading for North Point. Lupe continued N over the saddle and descended into an aspen filled valley. At first there was a path, but as Lupe continued on, the path became choked with deadfall timber.

A look back at North Point (L) and the True Summit (R) of Five Points. Photo looks SE.

It really wasn’t terribly far (0.5 mile?) to reach another saddle NE of False North Point that would take Lupe back to USFS Road No. 669. The forest was a mess, though. The deadfall was so thick it even slowed Lupe down. The sun disappeared. A little later, the last sunlight remaining on the peaks disappeared. It wouldn’t be good to be stuck out in this tangle at night. The moon wasn’t due to rise for several hours.

SPHP was confident, though. Lupe made it to the saddle while there was still twilight. She picked up USFS Road No. 669 again. Once on No. 669, it was easy to just retrace the early part of the day’s journey back to the G6. The stars were out by the time Lupe got there at 6:39 PM. It was 38°F. The wind was almost gone. A slight breeze was heard in the treetops.

Lupe and SPHP stood under the stars for a few more minutes. Then it was time for Lupe to go to her Grandma’s house for Halloween. When she got there, Lupe raced into the house, and up the stairs wagging her tail and whining in excitement. Grandma was very happy to see her! Time for ice cream!

The pathway into the aspen filled valley before it becomes choked with deadfall timber. — Heading back. The pathway into the aspen-filled valley before it becomes choked with deadfall timber.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Mount Zirkel, Colorado (8-17-15)

On the morning of 8-16-15, Day 8 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation, SPHP originally planned on climbing Bears Ears Peaks (10,577 ft.) with Lupe. Bears Ears Peaks is only 6 or 7 miles E of Black Mountain, which Lupe had climbed the day before. It was a good plan and SPHP should have stuck with it. Instead, SPHP started thinking about going to Mount Zirkel (12,180 ft.).

So Lupe’s day started with a long ride in the G6, much of it on dusty, gravel roads. Lupe headed back N to Hwy 70. There she went E, got to tour a 3 mile dead end road near the Little Snake River, and finally left Hwy 70 for the final time to go SE on route No. 710/129. No. 710/129 started out paved, but soon turned to gravel. The road followed the Little Snake River. Along the way, Lupe passed by multi-millionaire David Pratt’s impressive Three Forks Ranch.

Mountains along the way back to Hwy 70. These may be Bible Back Mountain (center) and Camel Back Mountain (R), but SPHP isn't certain about that. — Mountains along the way back to Hwy 70. These may be Bible Back Mountain (R Center) and Camel Back Mountain (Far R), but SPHP isn’t certain about that.

Looking downstream along the Little Snake River. — Looking upstream along the Little Snake River. The Little Snake River is a tributary of the Yampa River. Its confluence with the Yampa River is in NW Colorado not far from the E boundary of Dinosaur National Monument.

Lupe went through the Three Forks Ranch on her way to Mount Zirkel. — Lupe went by David Pratt’s fabulous Three Forks Ranch on her way to Mount Zirkel.

Lupe also got to see a rather impressive looking mountain that may be Hahn’s Peak.

Lupe and **Hahn’s Peak (10,839 ft.)** (?). Photo was taken along road No. 129 and looks S or SE.

At Columbine, SPHP was glad to reach paved roads again. Shortly before reaching Clark, SPHP found Seed House Road No. 64, which soon becomes No. 400. This road goes 12 miles ENE to the Slovenia Trailhead where Lupe would start for Mount Zirkel. Seed House Road was paved for 6 miles, and then became 6 miles of dusty and very washboardy gravel.

When Lupe arrived at the Slovenia Trailhead it was packed. Cars were parked alongside the road for quite a distance even prior to reaching the trailhead. This was just a scouting trip anyway. It was already too late in the day for Lupe to start for Mount Zirkel. There was another consideration, too. A large dark thunderstorm out of the NW had been following Lupe and SPHP for several hours. It was now getting close to Mount Zirkel.

The rest of the 16th was spent basically just resting up for Mount Zirkel the next day. The dark storm thundered twice, then left the area still heading SE without doing anything. Lupe got to cool off in the Middle Fork of the Elk River. SPHP chatted with the campground host at the Seed House campground, who was very pleasant, but knew nothing about the trail to Mount Zirkel. Lupe filled up on Filet Mingon flavored Alpo and snoozed.

Lupe cools off in the middle fork of the Elk River. — Lupe cools off in the Middle Fork of the Elk River.

Early the next morning, there were two big white dogs outside the G6. Lupe went to sniff with them. They were much bigger and outnumbered her, so after a minute she growled a low Dingo growl, just to let them know not to mess with her. Lupe tends to be friendlier to smaller dogs.

The two white dogs had wandered through looking kind of lost the evening before. SPHP was rather concerned about them. They had collars, but no tags. They seemed like older dogs and were kind of shy. SPHP gave each of them a Cheesy Barkin’ Beggin’ Strip, half a can of Alpo, and some Taste of the Wild. Both dogs seemed to enjoy the little feast and hopeful for even more, although they didn’t act like they were famished.

Lost or abandoned old dogs? SPHP thought maybe they were.

A couple of members of the canine clean plate club.

Lupe and SPHP went to the Seed House campground. SPHP talked to the campground host again and told him about the two white dogs. He had seen them the evening before, too. However, he didn’t know what to do about it. SPHP decided to wait to see if the dogs were still around after Lupe climbed Mount Zirkel to do anything further about them.

When Lupe arrived at the Slovenia trailhead, there was a poster showing a picture of a big white dog exactly like the ones Lupe and SPHP had seen. The poster said they were Livestock Protection Dogs trained to herd sheep. They should not be reported lost or stray, and should not be taken to town. That settled that, except it still seemed odd to SPHP that the two dogs hadn’t been anywhere near any sheep or sheepherder. Maybe they’d made a career change, figuring they could make a better living panhandling from dumb tourists.

In any case, at 7:55 AM (8-17-15, Day 9, 46°F, clear and calm) Lupe set off on Gold Creek Lake Trail No. 1150 for Mount Zirkel. The trail headed E through the forest along Gold Creek, which rushed down to the W with very good flow. Lupe soon crossed the creek on a good wooden bridge. Later there was a place where there was no bridge, just a big log across the creek. Lupe just trotted across, and even SPHP managed not to take a plunge. The highlight of the trail on the way to Gold Creek Lake was a lovely waterfall.

The good wooden bridge across Gold Creek near the start of the Gold Creek Lake Trail.

After about 2.5 miles, Lupe reached Gold Creek Lake.

Lupe reaches Gold Creek Lake. Photo looks E.

The trail continued ENE past the N shore of Gold Creek Lake. Soon after leaving the lake, Lupe passed a junction with the Wyoming Trail No. 1101. Shortly after that, the trail crossed Gold Creek again. This time there wasn’t any bridge, not even a log. Gold Creek was already quite a bit smaller than it was a couple of miles downstream. Lupe and SPHP easily just forded it. In the springtime or early summer, this might be a treacherous or impossible crossing.

Lupe enjoys fording Gold Creek. SPHP gets soaking wet boots and feet, and is a bit less enthused about the experience.

After the ford, Gold Creek passed through a narrow gap in the canyon perhaps a mile from Gold Creek Lake. The trail went through the same gap on the N side of the creek, but now well above it. On the E side of the gap, there was a huge valley which gradually curved towards the N. Gold Creek Lake Trail started climbing the N side of the valley. Pretty soon it reached a junction with the Gilpin Trail No. 1161.

Beyond the junction with the Gilpin Trail, the Gold Creek Lake Trail went NE without much change in elevation for about 0.70 mile until it reached Red Dirt Pass Trail No. 1142. At this junction, the Gold Creek Lake Trail turned SE to cross the huge valley and climb up to Ute Pass. Lupe, however, needed to take the Red Dirt Pass Trail to reach Mt. Zirkel.

Lupe emerges from the narrow gap into this wide valley. Photo looks ESE.

Here Lupe is still on the Gold Creek Lake Trail, now NE beyond the junction with the Gilpin Trail. Flattop Mountain lies ahead. Photo looks NE.

The W side of Flattop Mountain from the Gold Creek Lake Trail. Photo looks NE.

Lupe at the junction of the Gold Creek Lake and Red Dirt Pass trail junction. — Lupe at the junction of the Gold Creek Lake and Red Dirt Pass trails.

The Red Dirt Pass Trail headed N for a couple of miles to reach Red Dirt Pass at the upper end of the huge valley. The forest gradually thinned out and then disappeared along the way. The E side of the valley was the impressive steep W side of Flattop Mountain. During the last part of the climb to Red Dirt Pass, the trail climbed steeply up long switchbacks. Although the air had been calm down in the forest, it was very windy when Lupe arrived up at Red Dirt Pass.

Red Dirt Pass came into view to the N up ahead as Lupe followed the Red Dirt Pass Trail. — Red Dirt Pass came into view ahead to the N as Lupe followed the Red Dirt Pass Trail.

Lupe looks N at the scene to the W of Red Dirt Trail. SPHP considered having Lupe climb up to the high point shown here as a shortcut to Mt. Zirkel, but decided to stay on the Red Dirt Pass Trail instead. — Lupe looks N at the scene to the W of Red Dirt Pass Trail. SPHP considered having Lupe climb up to the high point shown here as a shortcut to Mt. Zirkel, but decided to stay on the Red Dirt Pass Trail instead.

Lupe getting closer to Red Dirt Pass seen ahead. Photo looks N.

Red Dirt Pass. To the left of the pass is the way to Mt. Zirkel. To the right is the way to Flattop Mountain.

Looking SE from Red Dirt Pass Trail along the W side of Flattop Mountain. — Looking SE from Red Dirt Pass Trail along the W side of **Flattop Mountain (12,118 ft.)**.

Lupe reaches Red Dirt Pass. Dang, it's windy here! Photo looks W where Lupe will have to go next on her way to Mount Zirkel. — Lupe reaches Red Dirt Pass. Dang, it’s windy here! Photo looks NW where Lupe will have to go next on her way to Mount Zirkel.

A look back to the S at the big valley Lupe came up to reach Red Dirt Pass.

The other side of Red Dirt Pass. This photo looks NNE.

There is no trail from Red Dirt Pass the rest of the way to Mt. Zirkel. Fortunately, it was easy to climb up to the NW from the pass to the high ground leading to Mt. Zirkel. The way up wasn’t too steep. It was a mix of boulders and heather. Lupe was glad to leave windy Red Dirt Pass. Above and away from the narrow pass, the wind died down to just a light breeze.

Lupe leads the way from Red Dirt Pass toward Mt. Zirkel. Photo looks NW.

Hurry it up, SPHP! I can see Mt. Zirkel from here!

Once up on the high ground NW of Red Dirt Pass, Mt. Zirkel was finally in view. A long, broad ridge of heather and boulders swept around to the W and turned N to reach the summit. The summit itself had four separate prongs to it. Three of them appeared to be very nearly the same height. SPHP was glad the fourth prong was definitely lower. It was way too rugged for Lupe and SPHP to climb.

Lupe's first view of Mt. Zirkel from the high ground above Red Dirt Pass. Photo looks NW. — Lupe’s first view of Mt. Zirkel from the high ground above Red Dirt Pass. Photo looks NW.

The way to Mt. Zirkel was obvious – just follow the big ridge and stay away from the cliffs. Lupe loved it up here and ran around exploring with great enthusiasm and energy. SPHP was very enthusiastic, too. There were fantastic views all around.

Looking W at rugged Big Agnes. — Looking W at rugged **Big Agnes Mountain (12,040 ft.)**.

A look S towards Point 12,006, the more distant high point on the right.

While Lupe was approaching the summit of Mt. Zirkel, SPHP was looking at the three prong summit trying to decide which prong was highest. From various angles, different prongs looked slightly higher than the others. At first, SPHP thought the middle prong was the highest. Later the left prong looked higher. In the end, they were all of such similar height, it hardly mattered which prong Lupe climbed.

A guy from Steamboat Springs passed SPHP on the way. SPHP watched to see which prong he climbed. He climbed the pointy one at the far left. He returned to report that it was an easy scramble with amazing views. When asked, he said the other prongs looked a bit higher from the top, but not enough to make much difference.

SPHP had already learned from Lupe’s trip up Browns Peak (11,722 ft.) that whichever high point Lupe climbed, the others would inevitably look higher. SPHP decided Lupe would climb the pointy left prong, too, and call it good.

Getting there! Lupe on her way up the left prong of Mt. Zirkel.

Lupe and SPHP reached the top of the left prong of Mt. Zirkel. For Lupe, it was a new record! Mt. Zirkel at 12,180 feet was now the highest mountain she had ever climbed, surpassing Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft.), which she had climbed only a week before. The views were stunning.

Looking towards the middle prong from almost the top of the left prong. — Looking towards the middle prong of the Mt. Zirkel summit from almost the top of the left prong.

Looking S from the summit towards Gilpin Lake.

Big Agnes from Mt. Zirkel summit. Photo looks W. — Big Agnes Mountain from Mt. Zirkel summit. Photo looks W.

Lupe holed up in a safe spot in the rocks just below the very top of the left prong.

There wasn’t room to do anything at the pointy top of the left prong. It wasn’t even possible to get up on top of the highest rock without exposure to some tremendous cliffs. After a few minutes up there, Lupe and SPHP retreated down about 30 feet of elevation to where there was a place with a little cave-like area and room to move around a bit while enjoying the views. Lupe and SPHP took a break and hung out here for a while.

Lupe looks SE back along the ridge towards Red Dirt Pass and Flattop Mountain. — Lupe looks SE back along the ridge towards Red Dirt Pass and **Flattop Mountain (12,118 ft.)**.

SPHP had two options in mind for Lupe on the way back. The first, and preferred option, was for Lupe to climb the other side of Red Dirt Pass to get up on Flattop Mountain. The second option was for Lupe to go back down to the Gilpin Trail and take it to Gilpin Lake. SPHP pondered the merits of each choice. Meanwhile, Lupe happily romped around the heather as she again traversed the broad ridge leading back to Red Dirt Pass.

Lupe after starting on her way back to Red Dirt Pass. — Starting back to Red Dirt Pass.

Another peek at Big Agnes to the W. — Another peek at Big Agnes Mountain to the W.

Don't forget to sniff the flowers! — Don’t forget to sniff the flowers!

Lupe takes a last look back at Mt. Zirkel before heading down to Red Dirt Pass. — A last look back at Mt. Zirkel before heading down to Red Dirt Pass. Lupe really had a fun time on Mt. Zirkel!

Time was getting to be a factor, but the main issue to decide whether or not Lupe would climb Flattop Mountain was how steep the other side of Red Dirt Pass looked.

Looking across Red Dirt Pass from the Mt. Zirkel side towards Flattop Mountain. Should Lupe go up there? — Looking across Red Dirt Pass from the Mt. Zirkel side towards Flattop Mountain. Should Lupe go up there, or go to Gilpin Lake?

The ridge heading up to Flattop Mountain was much narrower and somewhat steeper than the one Lupe had climbed to reach Mt. Zirkel. It looked especially steep near the top where it was narrowest. There was no doubt Lupe could do it, but SPHP might have a hard time. SPHP chickened out. Lupe would just have to tell everyone she would have climbed Flattop Mountain, if SPHP hadn’t been tagging along.

Lupe and SPHP took the Red Dirt Pass Trail back down into the huge valley. Going down it was easier to see and appreciate the beautiful scenery along the way.

The upper end of the U-shaped valley. High Point 12,006 is at the left end of the ridge. Photo looks W from the Red Dirt Pass Trail. — The upper end of the U-shaped valley. That’s probably High Point 12,006 at the left end of the ridge. Photo looks W from the Red Dirt Pass Trail.

The W side of Flattop Mountain. Photo looks SE.

Once down past the switchbacks, Lupe and SPHP wandered exploring some of the valley to the W of Red Dirt Pass Trail. Eventually Lupe returned to the trail and followed it back to the Gold Creek Lake Trail. When she reached the Gilpin Trail, she took it. By taking the Gilpin Trail, Lupe would make a loop on the rest of the way back to the Slovenia Trailhead and get to see new sights.

The Gilpin Trail climbed pretty steeply up to a pass that Lupe had to go over to see Gilpin Lake. On the way up the switchbacks on the Gilpin Trail, a strange thing happened. SPHP heard a tree growl. It was a rather low and threatening growl. SPHP turned to look at Lupe. Lupe looked up at SPHP. The tree growled again. It definitely wasn’t Lupe growling.

The tree was about 15 feet from the trail. Lupe and SPHP were already a bit past it. Slowly SPHP backed on up the trail a little farther beyond the tree. Lupe followed. The tree didn’t growl again. Instead there were cracking and tearing noises. Odd behavior for a tree, to say the least. Yet Lupe seemed calm and SPHP could see nothing else. Cracking, tearing and popping sounds went on for a couple of minutes. SPHP decided the best thing to do was let it remain a mystery. Lupe continued on up to the pass.

Once over the pass, Gilpin Lake came into view. Gilpin Lake was considerably larger than Gold Creek Lake had been. The surrounding scenery was even more rugged and beautiful, too. Lupe followed the trail down to Gilpin Lake.

Lupe reaches the pass. Gilpin Lake is now visible to the N.

By the time Lupe reached Gilpin Lake, it was getting close to sunset. This photo looks S back toward the pass Lupe had just come over.

Gilpin Lake in the Zirkel Wilderness. The pass over to the Gold Creek Lake Trail is at the far left.

It was still several miles from Gilpin Lake back to the Slovenia Trailhead. With the sun starting to get low, it was soon time for Lupe to continue on down the trail. Although there had been people along the trails earlier in the day, Lupe and SPHP had seen no one since meeting the guy from Steamboat Springs shortly before Lupe reached Mt. Zirkel.

A cloud to the S threatened to rain, but only sprinkled a bit. The sun went down and twilight came on. The rushing waters of Gilpin Creek were the only sound. The scenery faded into darkness. Only the solitude and an American Dingo remained with SPHP in the beautiful valley.

Gilpin Creek, Mount Zirkel Wilderness, Colorado.

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2015 Wyoming, Colorado & Utah Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.