SPHP only heard Lupe stir once during the night. Even so, when SPHP woke up around 6:00 AM, Lupe was already wide awake. The 3rd day of Lupe’s 2015 Dingo Vacation had dawned. Lupe was hungry! She hadn’t had anything to eat the previous evening after her long trek up Medicine Bow Peak(12,013 ft.). SPHP gave her Taste of the Wild and Alpo for breakfast.
After climbing two big mountains, Laramie Peak (10,272 ft.) and Medicine Bow Peak, on the prior two days, SPHP wasn’t really all that raring to go, even if Lupe was. SPHP wasn’t sure what to do this morning, but at least for a little while, it wasn’t going to be anything too strenuous. After Lupe had eaten, SPHP drove to Snowy Range Pass. There was a round rock observation platform there. Lupe checked it out.
Lupe visits Snowy Range Pass. Medicine Bow Peak (L) and Sugarloaf Mountain (R) in the background. Lupe had climbed Medicine Bow Peak the day before.Lupe checks out the cool round rock Snowy Range Pass observation platform near Hwy 130.
Looking NW back at Medicine Bow Peak (Center) and Sugarloaf Mountain (R) from the Snowy Range Pass observation platform.
To the S of the observation platform was a broad plain dotted with rock outcroppings and clumps of pines. A big pond or small lake could be seen out there. This area is known as Libby Flats. Beyond Libby Flats were mountains in Colorado in the distance.
Libby Flats as seen from the Snowy Range Pass observation platform.
A footpath led from near the round rock observation platform toward another smaller pond down the hill to the E. Lupe wanted to check that out, too. She raced down to the small pond and then came running back with her report. She liked it. SPHP promised her she could come back, but now SPHP was hungry.
Lupe and the Snowy Range Pass observation platform from the footpath to the small pond.
After SPHP had eaten at the nearby Mirror Lake picnic ground, Lupe and SPHP returned to Snowy Range Pass. A trek to both the small nearby pond and the more distant bigger pond was on the agenda now. Despite the Carolina Dog’s enthusiasm, SPHP was feeling none too energetic. Libby Flats sounded good – especially the “flats” part.
Libby Flats proved to be a fun time. It was easy strolling around the various low rock formations and wandering the meadows between the clumps of forest. Lupe went to both of the ponds. Near the N shore of the larger pond, Lupe and SPHP watched clouds, listened to birds sing, insects hum and the breeze blow. SPHP dozed off for a while. The ever-faithful Lupe snoozed next to SPHP.
Lupe explores Libby Flats.
Lupe near the NW shore of the big pond on Libby Flats.A very busy American Dingo at Libby Flats S of Snowy Range Pass in Wyoming.
SPHP woke up feeling considerably recovered – still no where near 100%, but definitely better. Lupe sprang to life. What to do with all this newfound energy? SPHP had a plan – it was time to climb Sugarloaf Mountain(11,300 ft.)! Lupe had more fun exploring Libby Flats on the way back to the G6 at Snowy Range Pass. From there, it was only a short drive to the trailhead near Lewis Lake.
Lupe about to set off from Lewis Lake to climb Sugarloaf Mountain (L). Medicine Bow Peak is seen on the (R).
Lupe set off on the trail that goes between Lewis and Libby Lakes at 3:08 PM. The sky had clouded up to a considerable extent during the nap, and it was a pleasant 61°F out. The trail went along the S shore of Lewis Lake, and then headed up to the pass between Sugarloaf Mountain and Medicine Bow Peak.
Flowers along the trail near Lewis Lake.
Shortly before reaching the junction at the pass where the Lakes Trail meets the Medicine Bow Trail, Lupe and SPHP left the trail from Lewis Lake and started climbing SE towards Sugarloaf Mountain. Lupe reached the top of a small ridge. SPHP sat down on a big rock to study Sugarloaf Mountain for a few minutes.
The N face looked too steep to seriously consider. From perhaps 50 to 75 feet below the summit, a long ridge swept down towards the SW. Most of the ridge looked too steep for SPHP to climb up, too.
However, partway down the ridge there were two large white boulders sitting up on top right at the edge of the ridge. They were larger than any of the other boulders in view on the ridgeline. There were two clumps of greenery – bushes and small trees – near the top of the ridge too. One clump was closer to the summit than the two big white boulders, and the other was farther down the ridge.
It looked like it might be possible to scramble up onto the ridge at either of the clumps of greenery. Lupe and SPHP headed across the small valley toward the base of the ridge below the clump of greenery closest to the summit. Lupe had to cross a boulder field just to get to the base of the ridge. The boulder field extended all the way up to the greenery.
Lupe is great at picking her way through boulder fields. She is fast, too. Lupe had plenty of time to strike dramatic poses and survey the surroundings from various big boulders, while SPHP slowly climbed the ridge. SPHP eventually reached the greenery and arrived up on the ridgeline. The hardest part of climbing Sugarloaf Mountain was done.
Off to the S and E, a long line of showers could be seen about 10 miles away. What had been an increasingly overcast day was now starting to look like rain. Still, SPHP figured the showers would probably move away off to the E. SPHP turned and looked up the length of the ridgeline toward the summit. A cairn was on a big rock nearby. It seemed unnecessary. The way up was pretty obvious – a continuous scramble through boulders all the way.
Looking NE from the highest big patch of greenery on the ridge that sweeps down to the SW from the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain.
The boulder field up the SW ridge really wasn’t bad at all. Soon Lupe reached some green mossy areas between the boulders. Most of the way SPHP was able to avoid the boulders and just walk normally along the mossy areas up to the top of the ridge. There the mossy areas ended. The last 50 to 75 feet up really was just a scramble up the big pile of boulders leading to the summit. Soon Lupe was there – on top of Sugarloaf Mountain!
Lupe on Sugarloaf Mountain. Part of the “Great Wall of Sugarloaf” is just behind her. Browns Peak is on the right.
At the top of Sugarloaf Mountain was a little curved wall built of loose rock that someone had built up there. It was rather cool. SPHP dubbed it the “Great Wall of Sugarloaf”. The summit area was narrow in the NW/SE direction, but quite long in the SW/NE direction. There was plenty of room to walk around and enjoy the fabulous views.
Looking N from Sugarloaf Mountain. Browns Peak(11,722 ft.) is on the (R). Of the 3 largest lakes on the (L) side of the photo, Klondike Lake is the closest and South Gap Lake is the most distant.Looking W towards Medicine Bow Peak from Sugarloaf Mountain. Lupe had been up on Medicine Bow Peak less than 24 hours earlier!
Less than a minute before Lupe reached the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, it had started to sprinkle. It sprinkled on and off while Lupe was on the summit. There was an E breeze up on Sugarloaf. Oddly and unexpectedly, the line of showers to the E & S was getting closer instead of moving farther away. Lupe and SPHP were having fun up on Sugarloaf when suddenly the sprinkles turned to rain. The rocks were getting wet and slippery fast. Even though Lupe had only been up on the summit for 10 or 15 minutes, it was time to head down.
By the time Lupe and SPHP were back down to the top of the SW ridge below the summit, the rain had stopped. It was back to just sprinkling intermittently again. SPHP wished Lupe had been able to spend more time up on the summit. However, since she was already on her way down, there was no sense in going back up. The rain could start in again any time.
Lupe had a blast on the way back to the G6. So did SPHP. It was fun scrambling around on the rocks. It sprinkled now and then, but it didn’t really rain. Sugarloaf Mountain had been just the right difficulty and height to make it challenging enough to be fun, but not another long exhausting trip.
Lupe reached the G6 at 6:57 PM. Inside the G6 she had another good meal of Alpo and Taste of the Wild. Within just a few minutes it started raining again – this time harder and more steadily. Nice and dry, and with a full belly, the Carolina Dog zonked out for a good long snooze on her pile of pillows and blankets.
With a forecast high near a ridiculously hot 90°F on Saturday, 9-26-15, SPHP postponed Lupe’s Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 139 to Sunday, when it was supposed to be about 10°F cooler. Even 80°F is warmer than either Lupe or SPHP like for long days outdoors, but by going far enough W to some of the highest ground in the Black Hills, the heat would at least be tolerable.
Lupe and SPHP got off to a pretty early start. In a bit of an unusual twist, there was time for a Lupe photo op at the cool Tyrannosaurus Rex outside the Dinosaur Museum on Hwy 16 S of Rapid City, SD.
Lupe drops by the T Rex at the Dinosaur Museum on Hwy 16 S of Rapid City, SD. SPHP notes that American Dingoes make much better companions than Tyrannosaurs.
NW of Deerfield Reservoir in the west central Black Hills, SPHP parked the G6 at the last pullout overlooking Castle Creek before reaching USFS Road No. 157. It was 8:10 AM, and a very pleasant 53° F under totally clear blue skies. Lupe and SPHP headed NW to reach USFS Road No. 157.
After crossing Castle Creek, No. 157 turned and went SE for 0.5 mile at the edge of the forest in Castle Creek valley. The road then turned W and went up a side canyon for several miles. Lupe ran around following game trails and exploring the forest. She ran down to Silver Creek to cool off and get a drink.
Silver Creek near USFS Road No. 157.Lupe cooled off in Silver Creek.
Eight days earlier, on Lupe’s Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 138 to White Tail Peak, there weren’t many fall colors yet. Now nearly all the aspens had turned to yellow blazes of glory. Although Ponderosa Pines are by far the most dominant tree species in the Black Hills, aspens are probably the next most numerous. They are pretty widespread in scattered groups in the central and northern hills. Lupe saw many beautiful golden aspen trees, a treat that doesn’t last very long.
Lupe saw lots of aspens with beautiful yellow leaves this day. These were along USFS Road No. 157.
USFS Road No. 157 came to an intersection with USFS Road No. 655. No. 655 went left. No. 157 went right. Lupe and SPHP went straight ahead towards the WNW on the faint track of an old logging trail. There were more pretty aspens and tall grass. Lupe eventually reached No. 157 again near an intersection with No. 157.1F.
Aspens along the shortcut to USFS Road No. 157.1F.
SPHP checked the maps. No. 157.1F would eventually dead end in Fulton Draw, but the first 0.5 mile or so went N, which would help Lupe get closer to Crows Nest Peak(7,048 ft.), her peakbagging goal for the day. A quick scouting of No. 157.1F proved disappointing, however. The road started losing elevation, and looked like it would continue to do so. SPHP thought it would be better to go back and stay on higher ground.
Backtracking nearly to No. 157, Lupe and SPHP headed W into the forest. A wicked looking 6-strand barbed wire fence blocked any advance to the NW. SPHP kept Lupe away from that fence. The terrain looked like it dropped in that direction anyway. Between the fence and the terrain, Lupe and SPHP were slowly forced to keep turning more and more toward the SW. Lupe was essentially just paralleling USFS Road No. 157, which wasn’t far to the S.
Lupe had been to this same area before on prior expeditions long ago. On at least a couple of those occasions, she had been trying to reach Crows Nest Peak from the S. Too much snow and lack of time had prevented her from reaching it. SPHP found a deflated helium party balloon that had flown all this way from somewhere just to welcome Lupe back to the region.
Lupe is welcomed back to the region near USFS Road No. 157 by an errant balloon.
Lupe and SPHP hadn’t gone too far SW, when Lupe came to a road heading W. It had no marker, but since Lupe needed to go NW to reach Crows Nest Peak, it was a better choice than No. 157 at this point. Lupe followed the unnumbered road W. Pretty soon she came to a small pond with some cattails growing in part of it.
Aspens seen from the unmarked road to the little pond with cattails.Lupe reaches the cattail pond.
There was a game trail heading N into the forest from the cattail pond. Since Lupe seemed to be far enough W so that the land no longer lost much elevation heading N, Lupe left the unmarked road. Lupe and SPHP followed the game trail N for quite a long way through the forest. Just E of the trail was a barbed wire fence. A little way off to the W there was a small ridge of higher ground.
The forest went on and on. Eventually an eastern spur of the ridge to the W forced Lupe and SPHP to climb up on the ridge. Once up on the ridge, Lupe turned away from the fence to head NW, allowing her to stay up on the highest ground.
Lupe was excited to see some of her giant deers (elk) up on the ridge. The giant deers saw Lupe, too. They weren’t any happier with the companionship of a Carolina Dog than they would have been with a Tyrannosaurus. The giant deers disappeared farther into the forest. Lupe saw more elk and white tail deer now and then as she continued onward.
Lupe was up in the high limestone plateau country of the western Black Hills. It is rolling territory, mostly forested, characterized by a maze of ridges usually no more than a few hundred feet higher than the intervening valleys. In this kind of terrain, there aren’t typically many places where there are clear long distance views. Although it was possible to catch glimpses of more high ridges a little farther off through the trees, Lupe and SPHP were more or less lost wandering in the forest.
Of course, SPHP knew roughly where Lupe was, but the area was unfamiliar. Just navigating by the sun, it wasn’t easy to know for certain which way to go. Fortunately, the Black Hills are full of various USFS Roads, ATV trails, and logging roads. Sooner or later Lupe would reach one. In the meantime, she just needed to keep heading NW.
The ridge ended. Lupe still had not come to any road. Finally she found a logging road heading NW, the direction she needed to go. It soon ended at an intersection with another logging road. There were more golden aspens nearby, some quite nice specimens, but none of the roads continued N or NW. Lupe took the logging trail heading W, but didn’t stay on it long. SPHP thought she should continue NW through the forest. A 10 minute trek NW brought Lupe to a long, broad open field.
Lupe near the aspens close to the intersection of logging trails.Fall colors, yellow aspens in particular, seem to be a theme of Lupe’s Expedition No. 139 to Crows Nest Peak. Lupe is seen near this magnificent stand close to where she left the logging road to head NW again.Lupe reaches the long, broad open field. Photo looks SW. Lupe had been to the far end of the field seen here on a previous expedition long ago.
While Lupe had never been to this exact place before, SPHP was pretty certain she had been to the far SW end of this same field on a previous expedition while trying to find Crows Nest Peak from the S. Back then SPHP had wanted to explore up this way, but there hadn’t been time. Lupe had plenty of time left to explore today, though.
Lupe continued NW across the field and went into the forest on the other side. Before too long, she came to a road heading N. She followed it until SPHP noticed some unusual fall colors to the NE. Lupe was happy to go take a look. What had caught SPHP’s eye were some aspens that were not the usual yellow – their leaves had turned a light orange. Some of their leaves were even rather reddish.
Wow! Orange aspens. Not your typical aspen fall color. What made these trees turn a different color?Lupe poses near the biggest stand of orange aspens.Although Lupe saw many groves of beautiful yellow aspens on Expedition No. 139, the only orange ones were in this one area near Crows Nest Peak.
From the orange aspens, Lupe and SPHP went NNW and reached the road again. The road continued N. It arrived at an intersection that seemed familiar. The road heading W from the intersection was marked No. 377.1B. Lupe had been here back on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 86 on 5-3-14. Expedition No. 86 was the only time Lupe had ever actually succeeded in getting to Crows Nest Peak before. That time she had approached from the N. Crows Nest Peak wasn’t far to the W from here.
SPHP remembered that back on Expedition No. 86, Lupe had come to a pond E of Crows Nest Peak. SPHP thought it was close by just a little to the NE. Lupe took the road NE from the intersection. She didn’t find any pond, but she did come to another intersection with No. 377.1A, which SPHP definitely recognized. Just N of that intersection was a white water tank that SPHP remembered, too.
Lupe near the white water tank along USFS Road No. 377 just N of its intersection with No. 377.1A.
From the white water tank, Lupe and SPHP cut through the forest heading SW back to No. 377.1B. SPHP thought maybe the pond was hidden in the forest, but it wasn’t. There were more lovely aspens, though.
Aspens in the forest SW of the white water tank, but where was the pond SPHP remembered?
SPHP decided the pond had to be farther W along No. 377.1B, closer to Crows Nest Peak. So Lupe followed No. 377.1B heading W. Both Lupe and SPHP abandoned the road to walk near it in the forest. The road was covered with a couple of inches or more of very fine powdery dust. The area really needed rain to settle that awful dust down. SPHP didn’t want Lupe breathing it.
The pond came into view. A flock of small birds flew off as Lupe approached. Crows Nest Peak wasn’t far away now.
Lupe at the pond near Crows Nest Peak. This one is ESE of the peak. There is a smaller pond even closer to the peak, just 200 feet W of the US Geological Survey Benchmark.
Lupe and SPHP returned to follow No. 377.1B farther W. When higher ground appeared off to the NW, Lupe left No. 377.1B behind and went through the forest to climb as high as possible. She reached the top of the low hill and came to a big flat area that had been logged recently. There was slash on the ground everywhere. There was a small pond. Lupe had reached Crows Nest Peak for the 2nd time.
With the trees cut down and all the slash around, Crows Nest Peak wasn’t very pretty, certainly not as pretty as the last time Lupe was here on Expedition No. 86. It couldn’t have been very long since the loggers had been through here. The pine needles on the slash were still green. SPHP hoped the loggers hadn’t gone as far E as the U. S. Geological Survey Benchmark for Crows Nest Peak. Lupe had found it under 6″ of snow on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 86, its position revealed by a survey post.
Lupe and SPHP went to look for the Crows Nest Peak benchmark. SPHP remembered it as being a couple hundred feet E of the little pond. Lupe found it again. The loggers hadn’t come quite that far E. It was still there. The benchmark said “Crow” and “1912”.
The Crows Nest Peak U.S. Geological Survey benchmark was still there. Loggers hadn’t disturbed it.Lupe on Crows Nest Peak near the survey marker post. The U.S. Geological Survey benchmark is very close to the post. Photo looks E. Lupe is clearly happy with her 2nd ascent of Crows Nest Peak.Lupe on Crows Nest Peak 9-27-15. This photo looks W.
Right there near the U. S. Geological Survey marker post and benchmark, Lupe enjoyed water and Taste of the Wild to celebrate her 2nd ascent of Crows Nest Peak. SPHP had an apple and applesauce. It was quite the celebration. Lupe, of course, was the life of the party. Soon she lay panting and resting in the shade of a small tree to recover. It sure was warm out. It felt like the mid 70’s °F. Pretty hot for way up here at almost the end of September.
Ordinarily, this is where photos of the towering summit and fabulous distant views from the highest prominences of Crows Nest Peak would appear. Lupe has none to offer. Despite its name and the fact that Peakbagger.com lists Crows Nest Peak at 7,048 feet as the 7th highest point on the list of Black Hills 6,500+ foot peaks, it is hardly what one thinks of as a “peak” at all.
Crows Nest Peak is the high point on a hill not an awful lot higher than much of the surrounding country. The summit area is big and flat. Even after the loggers thinned the forest, there just aren’t any unobstructed mountain views. From the W edge of the hill, it is possible to see some more high ridges off to the W or NW, but nothing too impressive.
Nevertheless, Lupe and SPHP both love Crows Nest Peak. It is up in the remote and beautiful limestone plateau country of the western Black Hills. Not far from Crows Nest Peak, in the broad open fields between the forested ridges, seasonal streams appear in the spring when the snow is melting. By late May and June, the green fields are filled with wildflowers. Few people come here. It is far from the famed tourist attractions (think Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Spearfish Canyon) of the Black Hills.
Lupe did return to the little pond a couple of hundred feet W of the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark.
Lupe at the small pond on Crows Nest Peak. Photo looks W.
By the time it was time to leave Crows Nest Peak, the sky was starting to cloud up. Lupe and SPHP headed NE through the forest, taking a shortcut to USFS Road No. 377. SPHP was planning on taking Lupe along No. 377.1C toward Knutson Spring. Unfortunately, No. 377.1C was unmarked, and hardly exists any longer where it branches off from No. 377. SPHP didn’t even recognize it when Lupe found the right spot.
In the end, Lupe went down No. 377.1A from near the white water tank, which she passed again on the way. No. 377.1A took her down into Bjornland Draw and E several miles back to Castle Creek. No. 377.1A went a couple of miles, but faded out completely a mile before Lupe was back at the main road along Castle Creek. Several times it threatened to rain while Lupe was in Bjornland Draw, but the clouds could only muster a few drops.
You did want to see more fall colors, right? These aspens were near USFS Road No. 377.1A at the upper end of Bjornland Draw.Exploring Bjornland Draw.
After leaving Bjornland Draw, it was about 3 miles SE along Castle Creek back to the G6. Part of the way Lupe and SPHP were on the main gravel road, but wherever possible stayed down closer to the creek. The creek was prettier, and vehicles on the main road raised a lot of dust.
Lupe on a rock near the main road on the way back to the G6.
At 5:48 PM (69°F), Lupe got back to the G6. At first, Lupe wasn’t sure she wanted Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 139 to be over yet. She liked the soothing sound of the water flowing by in Castle Creek. She only jumped in the G6 when SPHP promised her Alpo when she got home. (American Dingoes don’t live by Taste of the Wild alone!) On the way, she barked at lots of cows, deer and horses. There were even a few wild turkeys along the way! Rest assured they got the same enthusiastic treatment.
Lupe hopes you will return again to The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe. More dingo adventures are coming soon!
Crows Nest Peak is most easily reached from USFS Road No. 117 which passes by about a mile to the W. There is a road off No. 117 which goes to the summit. High clearance vehicles will have no problem reaching Crows Nest Peak. While Lupe and SPHP enjoy peakbagging, Lupe often purposely starts far from her peakbagging goals to explore the surrounding area and enjoy the day.
Shortly before reaching the junction at the pass where the Lakes Trail meets the Medicine Bow Trail, Lupe and SPHP left the trail from Lewis Lake and started climbing SE towards Sugarloaf Mountain. Lupe reached the top of a small ridge. SPHP sat down on a big rock to study Sugarloaf Mountain for a few minutes.
NW of Deerfield Reservoir in the west central Black Hills, SPHP parked the G6 at the last pullout overlooking Castle Creek before reaching USFS Road No. 157. It was 8:10 AM, and a very pleasant 53° F under totally clear blue skies. Lupe and SPHP headed NW to reach USFS Road No. 157.
