American Dingo – Page 334 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 138 – White Tail Peak (9-19-15)

It was already 11:13 AM on 9-19-15 by the time SPHP parked the G6 at the junction of County Road No. 231 and USFS Road No. 191. Hot weather the previous weekend had prevented SPHP from taking Lupe on one of her Black Hills expeditions, so Lupe had been pretty bored for days. She was most anxious to get going. The cloudless blue sky promised another warm day, but it wasn’t supposed to get as hot as a week ago.

Lupe’s peakbagging goal for the day was to be her 3rd ascent of White Tail Peak (6,962 ft.), one of a long line of peaks along the E edge of the high limestone plateau country of the western Black Hills. Like most of the other “peaks” along this line, White Tail Peak is a long, high forested ridge characterized by limestone cliffs near the top.

It’s easy enough to simply drive to a point just a 10-15 minute walk from the summit on USFS Road No. 190, which passes just to the N of White Tail Peak. Even the G6 can get that far with no problem. With an ATV or high-clearance vehicle, USFS Road No. 190.1Q, a somewhat rough and narrow road, goes right to the summit itself and beyond.

Lupe and SPHP, however, were starting down at the South Fork of Rapid Creek, more than 3 miles away to the ENE as the crow flies. Like most of Lupe’s expeditions in the Black Hills, the idea is to explore the area and see new places, not just check off a peakbagging goal.

Looking W up the valley of the South Fork of Rapid Creek. County Road No. 231 is seen heading towards Black Fox Campground about 4 miles away.

It was calm and 63°F out as Lupe and SPHP set out on USFS Road No. 191 heading S across the South Fork of Rapid Creek. Lupe passed some cows munching on the grass and some old dilapidated outbuildings. The road was shady and pleasant as it headed into the forest at the edge of the main valley. It gradually gained elevation as it went up a smaller side valley. A tiny stream trickled down the valley on its way to join the South Fork of Rapid Creek.

Less than 0.5 mile from County Road No. 231, Lupe came to a road that turned W to continue up the valley. This was USFS Road No. 191.1A leading up Long Draw. SPHP liked the looks of this road. It went in the right direction, so Lupe followed it.

Road No. 191.1A turned W to head up Long Draw.

It was a week or two early for the height of fall colors. In the Black Hills, fall colors mainly consist of groves of aspens with yellow leaves, although some types of bushes or ground cover can turn red or orange to add variety. SPHP hoped to find some aspens that were starting to turn. USFS Road No. 191.1A went around a corner heading SW. Ahead was the prettiest grove of aspens Lupe encountered all day long.

Aspens near USFS Road No. 191.1A. Not really a spectacular example, but these were the best fall colors Lupe found all day.

Not too long after passing the aspens, there was a series of old defunct ponds. The tiny creek that ran through them had silted them in and broken through the low earthen dams. Luxuriant grasses, and sometimes cattails, grew in the soft mud filling the old ponds.

The tiny creek in Long Draw sparkles in the sunlight as it flows through a breach in the old earthen dam. — The tiny creek in Long Draw flows through a breach in the old earthen dam. The small pond that used to be here is silted in. Lush grass grows in the damp mud where the pond used to be. There were several old pond sites like this in succession.

A bit farther up the valley, the creek disappeared. The road grew faint, but could still be followed easily enough. Up ahead was a high ridge with limestone cliffs up at the top. It was in the general direction of White Tail Peak, but SPHP wasn’t certain if this was it or not. Down in the valley, Lupe saw cows ahead.

Ahead to the W is a high ridge that is N of White Tail Peak. Lupe was more interested in the cows at the far end of the valley.

The cows were not used to having company in this remote valley. They really didn’t care for it much. At first, they headed S into the trees. Lupe and SPHP stayed on the road and got past most of them. Suddenly a few of the cows in the trees decided to head W farther up the valley. The others all got the same idea within just a minute or two. (Cows are known for their herd mentality.) They all started running and wound up passing Lupe and SPHP again. They didn’t stop until they were on the road.

Without meaning to be, Lupe and SPHP were now on a cattle drive. Every time the American Dingo drew near, the cows took off trotting farther ahead up the road. Lupe thought it was all very interesting. She liked being a cow Dingo. Since the cows persisted in staying on the road, SPHP finally took Lupe off the road and into the trees. Efforts to pass the cows by going around them through the forest failed. The cows kept pace heading up the road. By now the road had turned S. It seemed to be reaching some kind of minor pass.

Before reaching the pass, Lupe came to a side road that headed NW. It was marked as No. 125.1D. There was a 4 foot tall boulder near the junction. Lupe and SPHP climbed up on it and took a little break.

Lupe had water and Taste of the Wild. SPHP gave her two pieces of chocolate chip cookie. Lupe buried them for future use. Lupe often does this when she isn’t really hungry yet. She has cookies, dog treats, pieces of meat, sandwiches and similar supplies stashed at lots of different places in the Black Hills. She is getting ready for a famine, but SPHP can only think of one time she ever returned to reclaim one of her treasures. It wasn’t in the best of shape, but Lupe gobbled it down anyway.

During the break, one cow stood on the road staring at Lupe and SPHP through the trees. It finally got bored and moved on. SPHP wanted to follow No. 191.1A up to the little pass to see what was on the other side, but there were still lots of cows up there. Lupe headed NW on the side road, No. 125.1D. It was a nice little road through the forest. The cows got left behind. Things were going fine, when suddenly No. 125.1D ended.

The high ridge Lupe and SPHP had seen was still to the SW. Lupe and SPHP continued through the forest heading W. Lupe followed various game trails. SPHP did too, still gradually gaining elevation. SPHP was hoping to find USFS Road No. 190 coming down from a high pass just to the N of White Tail Peak, but Lupe didn’t come across any roads at all. SPHP caught a glimpse of an elk crashing through the forest ahead.

Eventually, Lupe and SPHP came to a wall of rock blocking the way towards the NW. The wall wasn’t terribly high, perhaps 30 or 40 feet. The terrain forced Lupe and SPHP to turn more to the WSW. The rock wall gradually diminished until Lupe and SPHP reached a pass. There was no road. To the NW was the big canyon where Black Fox Campground is located.

Lupe was clearly too far N. She had to climb the steep slope to the S to get up on the high ridge. She could then continue S towards White Tail Peak. Lupe and SPHP climbed 200 or 300 feet up the forested slope. It started out steep and got steeper. SPHP hoped Lupe wouldn’t find cliffs near the top, but of course that was exactly what Lupe ran into.

At the top of the steep slope, Lupe’s advance was blocked by this cliff. SPHP had forgotten to bring her Super Dingo Cape in the pack, so she wasn’t able to just fly up to the top.

The cliff wasn’t terribly high. SPHP hoped to find a break in the cliff wall that would let Lupe get up on top. First Lupe tried going right (W). Almost immediately, she found a way up. In a flash, Lupe was at the top of the cliff staring back down at SPHP. It was steep, but there were trees and rocks to hang onto. Soon SPHP was up above with the intrepid Dingo.

Up on top of the cliff there were a number of viewpoints. Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) could be seen to the N. To the NE was Custer Peak (6,804 ft.). To the NW was the canyon where Black Fox Campground is located. Lupe was at the very N end of the high ridges to the N of White Tail Peak. Lupe now had to head S to reach her peakbagging goal. SPHP wasn’t sure how far Lupe S would have to go. It was certain she would come to USFS Road No. 190 somewhere along the way. Then SPHP would be sure exactly where she was.

At the far N end of the high ground N of White Tail Peak. Photo looks NW.

The trek to the S was longer than SPHP expected. Lupe stayed near the cliffs at the E side of the long ridge. In some places there were clear 180° views to the E. Lupe kept going up and down small hills along the way, but overall she continued to gain elevation.

Near the cliffs well N of White Tail Peak’s summit. Photo looks S.

SPHP was beginning to wonder if Lupe was ever going to find USFS Road No. 190. The line of cliffs went on and on. It was the same line of cliffs Lupe and SPHP had seen from down in the valley where the cows were. Finally, Lupe reached an especially high hill. It was all forested, so there wasn’t much to be seen. Shortly after starting down the SW slope of this hill, USFS Road No. 190 came into view. Lupe and SPHP crossed it and climbed up the next hill. Lupe was all excited when a helicopter flew low right overhead.It wasn’t far now to the true summit of White Tail Peak. The summit is actually at a small clearing surrounded by trees. USFS Road No. 190.1Q goes right through it. Lupe and SPHP followed the narrow road to the summit. Since there really wasn’t much to be seen there, Lupe and SPHP and continued on the road heading SE. The road led through the forest to a limestone cliff where there are some views.

Nearing the viewpoint, SPHP heard voices ahead. A couple of guys with ATV’s were already there. Lupe and SPHP stayed hidden in the forest a little way off to let them enjoy White Tail Peak in peace. In the meantime, Lupe had more Taste of the Wild. SPHP ate chocolate chip cookies, an apple and some pudding. The feast lasted long enough for the ATV guys to leave. Soon they roared off to the NW along the road.

Lupe and SPHP went to the viewpoint. It was a bit disappointing, because there weren’t many places with unobstructed views. The limestone was surrounded by dead trees killed by pine bark beetles. Where there weren’t dead trees, there were live ones. When the dead trees eventually fall over, there will be great views.

Looking N at the line of cliffs that Lupe had traveled along to reach White Tail Peak.

Looking NE towards Custer Peak from White Tail Peak. — Looking NE towards Custer Peak (highest point on horizon towards the left) from White Tail Peak.

Lupe lost interest in the views as soon as she noticed a squirrel. She dashed off to give it a good barking at. The tree the squirrel was taking refuge in wasn’t terribly tall, so Lupe was very enthusiastic about her prospects for barking the squirrel right out of the tree. The squirrel refused to cooperate, however.

Dingo and Squirrel tree on White Tail Peak. If you were looking for Moose and Squirrel, that must be a different blog.

The ever-hopeful American Dingo. — Lupe, the ever-hopeful American Dingo.

After a while, SPHP persuaded Lupe to give the beleaguered squirrel a break. It was time for a last photo to commemorate Lupe’s 3rd summit of White Tail Peak.

With the views enjoyed, the squirrel sufficiently annoyed, and Lupe’s peakbagging goal accomplished, it was time to head back to the G6. Lupe and SPHP returned to USFS Road No. 190. After a brief exploration to the NW, Lupe and SPHP headed E along No. 190 over the pass and then down into the shadow of White Tail Peak.

On the return trip, Lupe made a loop by taking USFS Roads No. 190, 190.1B, and 191. Along No. 190, SPHP hoped to get a clear view back W towards White Tail Peak, but only glimpses came into view through the forest. However, there was a place with a nice view to the SW toward Flag Mountain (6,937 ft.).

Looking SW from USFS Road No. 190 toward Flag Mountain (L).

The sun had just set when Lupe saw a giant deer (elk) ahead. It saw Lupe and SPHP too, and quickly disappeared into the forest. A little later on, Lupe started barking at a big tree right next to the road. SPHP figured she was taking another squirrel to task. Instead, a huge owl flew out of the tree. Near the G6, cows were still grazing near the dilapidated old outbuildings.

Lupe reached the G6. It was 7:14 PM and 44°F. The day was done. Twilight was coming on. For a few minutes, Lupe stayed relishing the moment. She sniffed the cool air, decoding the secret messages borne by the slightest of breezes.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 209 – White Tail Peak (10-1-17)

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Laramie Peak, Wyoming (8-9-15)

A post about August 9, 2015, Day 1 of Lupe’s grand Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation which took her to parts of Wyoming, Colorado and a new Lupe state – Utah!

Finally the long-delayed day for the start of Lupe’s grand Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation arrived! The trip had been postposed by the terrible injury Lupe suffered to her left front leg on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 135 to Peak 6820 & Crooks Tower (7,137 ft.) on 6-27-15. She had run straight into a downed 5-strand barbed wire fence in Trebor Draw and gotten all cut up. Thankfully, lead emergency veterinarian Dr. Erin Brown at the Emergency Veterinarian Hospital in Rapid City was available late that Saturday night to stitch up the gaping wound on Lupe’s leg.

Lupe had then spent a mostly very dull July and early August encouraged to do as little as possible while her leg was healing. Other than a trip to Cascade Falls on Xochitl’s birthday, nothing very fun had happened to the increasingly discouraged Dingo. So Lupe was surprised and hopeful, when SPHP got up a little after 4:00 AM on the morning of 8-9-15, and started loading the G6 with the small mountain of supplies that had been sitting in the living room.

Packing the G6 seemed to take a long time. SPHP kept remembering additional things that needed to be brought along or done before departure. Lupe, already perched up on her stack of supplies, pillows and blankets in the G6 began to wonder if anything was really going to happen or not.

Lupe became bored in the G6 waiting for her great summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation to begin while SPHP kept thinking of more things to do before departure.

It was nearly 10:00 AM, by the time SPHP backed the G6 out of the driveway. Although Lupe’s perch in the front passenger seat was arranged the way it normally was on Lupe’s prior vacations, at first Lupe didn’t seem to remember that this meant something great was about to happen. It was over a year since returning from her 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies and Beartooth Mountains, a very long time to Lupe. She didn’t start getting excited until she was already on the highway and saw cows to bark at. She sprang into action with her usual deafening enthusiasm.

The sky was overcast in the Black Hills, but Lupe and SPHP drove into sunshine leaving the hills. At Mule Creek Junction in Wyoming, SPHP stopped long enough at the rest area to snap a quick photo of Lupe and the cloud still hanging over the Black Hills in the distance.

Lupe at Mule Creek Junction, Wyoming. A last look back towards home at the big cloud still hanging over the Black Hills, SD in the distance.

Lupe by-passed Lusk, WY by taking the more scenic Hwy 270 to Lance Creek and then S to Manville, WY. A few miles before reaching Manville, Lupe and SPHP stopped for a short break at some interesting rock formations.

Lupe near the rock formations along Hwy 270 N of Manville, WY.

From Manville, Lupe went to Douglas, WY and then S on Hwy 94. Hwy 94 turned into a gravel road well before reaching Esterbrook. Lupe was on her way to her first peakbagging goal of her Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation – Laramie Peak (10,272 ft.), the highest mountain in the Laramie Range.

Lupe near Laramie Peak. Photo looks SSE.

Lupe W of Laramie Peak, Wyoming. — Lupe WNW of Laramie Peak, Wyoming.

Lupe N of **Eagle Peak (9,167 ft.)**, which is about 4 miles W of Laramie Peak.

Shortly before reaching Friend Park Campground, there was a left turn that led up a hill to the Friend Park Trailhead. Only 2 other vehicles were at the dusty trailhead when Lupe arrived. The owners of one vehicle returned while Lupe was still at the trailhead. They told SPHP they had gone quite a distance up the trail to Laramie Peak, but they had children with them and had to turn back before reaching the summit. There was a $5.00 fee required to hike the trail.

It was 4:02 PM when Lupe started up the Laramie Peak Trail. The trail goes through a pine forest nearly all the way to the summit. The first half mile or so on the way to Friend Creek was relatively flat, and may have even lost a little elevation. Although the area looked like it had been very dry recently, Lupe and SPHP were glad to see that Friend Creek still had pretty good flow in it.

Soon after crossing the bridge over Friend Creek, the trail started to climb steadily. Switchbacks helped to slow the rate of ascent to some degree, but the trail was fairly steep all the rest of the way up the mountain. Occasional very small streams crossed the trail, and at one more point the trail came near Friend Creek again. A sign said something about a waterfall, but there weren’t any notable falls apparent from the trail.

As Lupe gained elevation, now and then there were views of a high ridge to the NW. It wasn’t until well up on the mountain that some glimpses of a large valley to the SW came into view. Most of the time, the forest hid the views pretty effectively. About 3/4 of the way up, Lupe met a couple of women coming down the mountain with a little black and white dog named Decker.

Decker liked Lupe and didn’t want to leave when the women continued down the mountain after chatting briefly with SPHP. Lupe wasn’t terribly gracious. She didn’t want to be sniffed. Lupe growled at Decker. Decker wasn’t discouraged. The women had to come back up to retrieve Decker before they could continue on down. Decker and the two women were the only other party Lupe and SPHP encountered anywhere along the trail.

About 45 minutes before sunset, Lupe and SPHP finally reached the top of Laramie Peak. It was disappointing to see how much human junk was there. There were metal sheds, antennas, solar panels, wires and cables left behind from apparently abandoned communications systems. Fortunately there didn’t appear to be any broken glass, although there were a few boards with nails sticking out of them.

A lot of human debris from old communication systems greets the eye on the approach to the summit of Laramie Peak. A disappointing find!

Lupe on Laramie Peak. This photo looks S.

Fortunately the summit of Laramie Peak was very rocky and the forest did not extend up onto the rocks. The summit was pretty rugged. There were big rounded boulders of reddish rock at the very top. Lupe and SPHP worked around the various boulders and rock outcroppings exploring different parts of the summit area. Since there weren’t trees at the top, there were some really great views in most directions.

View to the SSW from Laramie Peak. — View to the SSW.

Looking NE from Laramie Peak. A high ridge of solid rock and boulders separated the E side of the summit area from the W. Unfortunately more junk marred the otherwise terrific view.

Lupe couldn’t get up to the very tippy-top of Laramie Peak, because the last couple of boulders at the top were just way too large for her to jump up onto. She did get very close though. Close enough for Dingo work to claim success! Lupe seemed very pleased to have climbed Laramie Peak, a considerable trek for the first mountain of her Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation with nearly 2,800 feet of elevation gain.

Lupe near the some of the very highest boulders on Laramie Peak. Photo looks N.

Yeah, Lupe didn't quite make it up there. Shown are the very top boulders on Laramie Peak. Photo looks E. — Yeah, Lupe didn’t quite make it up there. Shown are the very top boulders on Laramie Peak. Photo looks E.

There was one structure up on Laramie Peak that looked very interesting. A short distance to the NW of the very summit was what appeared to be a viewing platform with a metal ladder leading up to it. The platform would have been a great place from which to take a look around. It would offer great views to the NW, a direction difficult to see from where Lupe and SPHP were.

Lupe started heading toward the viewing platform, but the way was full of really big boulders separated by equally big drops. With the sun due to set soon, SPHP decided it wasn’t going to be worth the effort to get over there. Even though the platform wasn’t very far away, there was no sense getting stranded away from the trail in the dark. The terrain was just too rough for that!

Lupe stayed up on top of Laramie Peak while the sun set. The view struck SPHP rather strangely. Around the mountain were still largely unspoiled scenes from the Old Wild West, conjuring up in the mind images of vast empty tracts of land where huge buffalo, deer and antelope herds roamed free. It couldn’t have looked much different during the days of Indians, tipis, cowboys, covered wagons, cavalry and forts. But those storied days, which still really aren’t all that long ago, will never return. They have passed into a history no one has any living memory of now.

Contrasting with the images of the Old Wild West was the debris on the mountain. Among it all, an abandoned American flag hung limply from an old antenna. Now and then the sun lit the flag up, as it fluttered briefly in a breeze, only to droop again as if it were exhausted. None of this stuff served any purpose any more. It was a monument to the wasteful despoiling of the natural world by humanity for temporary gain. It looked and felt like national decline and the end of the American dream.

An abandoned American flag droops among the debris at the top of Laramie Peak at sunset.

The sunset was still pretty, though. Lupe and SPHP spent the last few moments together watching the sun disappear from view. When it was gone, it was time to start down the mountain.

A final look back toward the summit of Laramie Peak after Lupe and SPHP started down the trail.

About 1/3 of the way down, twilight had faded to the point where SPHP had to bring out the little flashlight. It was 10:54 PM when Lupe reached the G6 again.

In the middle of the night, Lupe finally seemed to understand that her great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation had really begun. She was all excited, and not the least bit sleepy. She ran around sniffing like a Dingo possessed in a huge dark field surrounded by even blacker forests. Stars blazed above her in a moonless sky.

At last, she was done. Lupe returned to SPHP. She fell asleep on SPHP’s lap. The night grew chilly. A warm Dingo felt good.

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