South Dakota – Page 41 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 221 – Peak 5800 & New Year’s Eve Peak (1-7-18)

Start – Intersection of Hwy 385 & USFS Road No. 710, 10:26 AM, 40°F

Lupe was late, a whole week late, but it wasn’t her fault. She’d spent the last several days of 2017 in the Denver area visiting babies Felix and Owen, and having adventures with cousin Dusty. The weather had been frigid, anyway, in the Black Hills. It was still 5 below zero when Lupe returned home on New Year’s Eve 2017, and that was the high on New Year’s Day 2018.

Loop had climbed Peak 6046 for the first time on New Year’s Eve 2012 way back when she was barely 2 years old. Since then, returning near the end of each year or the beginning of the next, had evolved into a tradition. As far as the American Dingo and SPHP were concerned, Peak 6046 had become New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.). Now, even though Lupe was a week late, returning to New Year’s Eve Peak seemed like a must for her first Black Hills, SD Expedition of 2018.

It’s odd that it would matter, but this year felt a bit different due to the later date. SPHP decided to shake things up a bit. Lupe would take a slightly different route from her favorite one in recent years. Instead of following USFS Road No. 710 W up a valley N of Peak 5800, Lupe would start by climbing Peak 5800 instead. She’d only been on Peak 5800 once before. She’d climbed the mountain from the W after visiting New Year’s Eve Peak first on New Year’s Day 2016.

Lupe didn’t care what route SPHP wanted to try. The Carolina Dog was just glad that it was finally warm enough to go out on an expedition in the hills! So instead of taking USFS Road No. 710, SPHP had her skip the road entirely and head SW straight for Peak 5800.

Lupe starts out for **Peak 5800** on her first Black Hills, SD Expedition of 2018! Photo looks WSW.

Despite the recent bitter cold temperatures, this part of the Black Hills hadn’t received much snow so far this winter. Several inches blanketed the NE slopes of Peak 5800, but that was only half as much as Lupe was used to seeing in this area in recent years.

Without any definite route in mind, Lupe and SPHP wandered up the mountain. Peak 5800 has two NE ridges. Looper soon chanced upon on the one farthest S, which ultimately leads to the lower SE part of the big main summit ridge. The Carolina Dog was in snowy forest most of the way up. As she got higher, she started coming to rock formations, some of which provided decent viewpoints.

At one of the rock formations Lupe reached early in her ascent. The large patch of prairie below is known as the **Bald Hills**. Photo looks ENE.

Loopster had a good view of several mountains she was familiar with from this snowy ledge. **Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.)** is on the horizon at Center. **Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.)** is to the L. Part of frozen **Sheridan Lake** is straight up from Lupe’s head. The high point beyond the lake is **Calumet Ridge (5,601 ft.)**. Photo looks SE.

Lupe astride a particularly rocky point on the way up **Peak 5800**‘s southernmost NE ridge. Photo looks SW.

Lupe reached the top of Peak 5800’s long, broad summit ridge near a high point close to its SE end. This high point wasn’t the true summit, which was still some distance to the NW. Since the broad ridge isn’t heavily forested, Loop already enjoyed some rather nice panoramas.

Loop on a handy Dingo display rock near the lower SE end of **Peak 5800’s summit ridge**. **Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** (L) and **Five Points (6,221 ft.)** (R) are in view. Photo looks SSW.

Looking SE again. In the distance are **Silver Mountain** (Center), **Boulder Hill** (L) and **Calumet Ridge** (R, beyond **Sheridan Lake**).

A cheerful Dingo with a grand view of her Black Hills from **Peak 5800** on the first expedition of 2018. What a glorious, huge dog park! Photo looks SW.

Lupe at the highest point at the SE end of **Peak 5800’s summit ridge**. The true summit is in view beyond her. **New Year’s Eve Peak** is the highest distant forested hill on the L. Photo looks NW.

After a look around from the SE end of the summit ridge, Looper sniffed her way NW to the true summit. An easy 10 minute stroll and she was there.

Loopster reaches the true summit of **Peak 5800**! The Seth Bullock fire lookout tower is just visible on **Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.)** (L). Photo looks NNW with some help from the telephoto lens.

The Seth Bullock fire lookout tower on **Scruton Mountain** (L) is easily seen in this photo. **Custer Peak (6,804 ft.)** is the pointy peak R of Center. Photo looks NNW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

Looking SE back along **Peak 5800**‘s broad summit ridge. Sheridan Lake is on the R.

Looking WSW from the summit of **Peak 5800**.

The sweeping views from Peak 5800 were actually grander than what Lupe would see from New Year’s Eve Peak, but Loop was still going on. A chilly W breeze encouraged her not to linger too long at Peak 5800’s summit. She left it heading W, and was soon picking her way down through boulders on the mountain’s W face.

Looking back at **Peak 5800** after picking a way down through the boulders on the mountain’s W face. Photo looks E.

Once below the boulder field, Lupe and SPHP headed NW across rolling fields and hills. This is a favorite area. A fire had burned the forest here years ago. Young pines now dot the landscape in some places, but most of the terrain is grassy. Sharp rock formations exist scattered along the edge of high ground overlooking territory that slopes S down toward the Horse Creek valley.

Lupe on one of the sharp rock formations along the edge of the higher ground. Photo looks W.

Looking S. **Black Elk Peak** (L), **Five Points** (R) and **False North Point** (far R) are in view.

Approaching High Point 5917 from the SE, Lupe rejoined her usual route to New Year’s Eve Peak. She turned W staying S of High Point 5917, and crossed a saddle leading to the SE end of New Year’s Eve Peak’s S ridge. On the W side of the saddle she faced two steep snowy climbs in succession. Neither was particularly long, but the first one was both longest and steepest.

Looper reached Pistol Point, a traditional stopping point on the way to New Year’s Eve Peak. SPHP had named it Pistol Point after a large rock that looks like the handle of a big pistol jutting up out of the ground. The Carolina Dog could see the top of New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.) from here.

Lupe on one of the large rocks in the **Pistol Point** area. The forested summit of **New Year’s Eve Peak** (Center) is seen beyond her. Photo looks NNW.

View to the W from **Pistol Point**. **Pistol Point** is the high point at the SE end of **New Year Eve Peak**‘s S ridge, and a favorite stopping point.

Looper stands next to the pistol handle at **Pistol Point**. Photo looks E.

After climbing around on the rocks checking out the views from Pistol Point, Lupe headed W. She was already on New Year’s Eve Peak’s S ridge, which soon swept around to the N. The ridge became narrower, rockier, and more heavily forested as Lupe continued on, before finally widening out again upon reaching New Year’s Eve Peak’s upper S slope.

A few more minutes and Lupe was there, standing atop the boulder at the summit of New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.).

Looper on **New Year’s Eve Peak**‘s summit boulder. This was her 5th ascent of the mountain. Photo looks WSW.

On top of **New Year’s Eve Peak**. A cairn can be seen behind Lupe. The cairn wasn’t here the first time Lupe climbed the mountain on 12-31-12. She had seen it for the first time on her 1-1-16 ascent. Photo looks N.

The first two times Lupe had climbed New Year’s Eve Peak, the summit area had all been heavily forested. It had been hard to get much more than a glimpse of a view in any direction. New Year’s Eve Peak used to have a shady, dark, gloomy feel to it, an atmosphere which fit in with being here alone at the end of a dying year.

Sometime during 2015, loggers had come. When Lupe had arrived on New Year’s Day 2016, the S end of the summit area and part of the S slope below it had been cleared. Lots of slash and dead logs had been left to stumble around upon. The affected area was relatively small, but the logging created good, open views to the S and SE. Ever since then, the summit has been brighter and cheerier.

Somehow Lupe and SPHP preferred it the old way, yet that didn’t mean there was any reason not to take a look around.

Looking SE from **New Year’s Eve Peak**. **Calumet Ridge (5,601 ft.)** (Center) is seen beyond Sheridan Lake. **Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.)** is on the L, and **Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.)** on the far L.

A chilly 20 mph W wind was blowing. It had been 40°F when Lupe and SPHP left the G6 this morning. It didn’t feel like the day had warmed up a bit since then. Lupe and SPHP sat huddled together at the W edge of the summit facing the cold wind, pondering the beautiful winter scene, the passage of 2017, and start of 2018.

Looking WSW with some help from the telephoto lens.

Lupe munched on Taste of the Wild. She had been eating snow, and didn’t want any water. SPHP hadn’t brought anything else.

It’s funny what the mind is capable of. Every other time Loop had been here, the mood had been melancholy, especially when she’d been here right on New Year’s Eve. There was something psychologically depressing about watching the sun sink toward the horizon, and the light of day disappear for the last time on a year that had been part of the unknown future not so long ago. A year now rapidly passing away never to be seen or experienced again.

The years when Loop had been here on New Year’s Day instead of right on New Year’s Eve, some of that sadness still lingered. However, it was already being counterbalanced to a degree by the hope, brilliance and excitement of the new year just beginning.

Perhaps it was partially because Lupe was here earlier in the day today than on previous years, while the sun was still relatively high in the sky. As the Carolina Dog and SPHP sat facing the cold wind, it no longer felt possible to truly mourn the passing of 2017. Surprisingly, with only 2% of 2018 now history, the new year no longer seemed quite as completely bright and shiny as it had been a week ago, either. The mind had already made the adjustment and moved on.

It only felt cold. And like Lupe really had arrived late. Not terribly late, but late. It was good to be here, though, together again, on top of New Year’s Eve Peak peering out at the quiet, familiar wintry scene last gazed upon a little more than a year ago. Loopster’s 2018 adventures were now underway. That was a good thing. 2017 had been a fabulous year, and 2018 was still a 98% clean slate with many adventures to come. Her annual pilgrimage to New Year’s Eve Peak complete, Lupe was ready to press on.

Puppy ho! She was right, no sense sitting in the cold wind too long. Lupe returned briefly to the summit boulder.

Loop on **New Year’s Eve Peak**‘s summit boulder once again. Photo looks N.

Even though this year’s experience wasn’t quite the same, coming here today had been better late than never. Lupe and SPHP bid farewell to New Year’s Eve Peak, promising to return again, hopefully right when New Year’s Eve finally rolled around again many adventures from now. Then Lupe led the way down the mountain’s S slope to retrace her route along the S ridge back to Pistol Point.

On a ledge early on the way down the S slope. Photo looks W.

At an opening along **New Year’s Eve Peak**‘s upper S slope. Photo looks WSW.

Lupe reaches the transition point between the S slope and S ridge. Photo looks S.

**Peak 5800** (Center) from rocks near **Pistol Point**. Photo looks ESE.

It felt good to be moving again. Lower down the W wind was demoted to a mere breeze. The slanting afternoon sunlight highlighted details of the terrain. Growing shadows added contrast. All the way back to the G6, Lupe ran and played in a beautiful world. 2018 was finally off to a good start! (3:42 PM, 33 °F)

Looking S from the S slopes of **High Point 5917**.

On USFS Road No. 710 taking the traditional route back to the G6. **High Point 5917** is on the R. Photo looks W.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Expedition No. 187 – New Year’s Eve Peak (12-30-16)

Expedition No. 242 – New Year’s Eve Peak, Peak 6070 & Peak 6043 (12-17-18)

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out her Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 220 – Storm Hill & Northeast Cicero Peak (12-18-17)

Start: 9:20 AM, 36°F at the Boulder Hill trailhead of Flume Trail No. 50 on USFS Road No. 358 (Boulder Hill Road)

Going to Boulder Hill with Mark and Hillary on Expedition No. 219 had reminded SPHP that while Lupe had been to Boulder Hill half a dozen times, she had never been to nearby Storm Hill. Wasn’t it about time she went?

Of course, Lupe was in favor of any idea that would get her out of the house for another Black Hills adventure! Soon she was setting out for Storm Hill (5,192 ft.) from the same Boulder Hill trailhead of Flume Trail No. 50 where she had so recently been with Mark and Hillary.

Lupe sets out for Storm Hill on Flume Trail No. 50. A spur of the trail goes up to Boulder Hill, but that wasn’t Lupe’s destination today. Photo looks SE.

For the first 0.33 mile, Lupe followed Flume Trail No. 50. The trail went SE up to a saddle between Boulder Hill and Storm Hill. With only an inch of snow on the ground, Lupe could have run around exploring easily enough. Instead, she nervously stuck close to SPHP. Distant gunfire could be heard coming from somewhere off to the W. Someone was doing target practice.

On the way up to the saddle between Boulder Hill and Storm Hill. Photo looks SE.

At the saddle, Lupe was between Boulder Hill to the SW, and Storm Hill to the NE. A spur of Flume Trail No. 50 goes all the way up to the top of Boulder Hill, but there isn’t any trail going up Storm Hill. Lupe would have to bushwhack through the forest.

Carolina Dogs love bushwhacking! Despite the distant gunfire, Lupe grew bolder after leaving the Flume Trail. She followed the saddle NE over to Storm Hill. She was going away from the gunfire, which helped her confidence.

On the saddle leading to Storm Hill. Photo looks NE.

Upon reaching the SW slope of Storm Hill, Lupe traveled right on up a rocky spine of the mountain. The climb would have been easier if she had simply avoided the rocks. However, she did get glimpses of Boulder Hill from the rocks she wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Partway up the rocky SW spine of Storm Hill. Photo looks E.

Although climbing the rocky SW spine of Storm Hill was harder and slower than avoiding the rocks would have been, Lupe did get some views of nearby Boulder Hill (L) she wouldn’t have otherwise had. Photo looks WSW.

The top of **Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.)** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

Boulder Hill (Center) is only 0.5 mile SW of Storm Hill. Lupe had been there half a dozen times, but she’d never been to Storm Hill before. Photo looks SW.

The SW spine of the mountain topped out near the S end of a broader ridge. This broader ridge was also quite rocky, but wasn’t as steep. Lupe gained elevation more slowly as she followed it N. To the E, Loop could see little but forest. However, she did come across places where she had views off to the SW or W.

The SW spine of the mountain led to this broader ridge, which was still quite rocky. Lupe gained elevation more slowly than before as she followed this ridge N. Photo looks N.

Another look at Boulder Hill (R) from the broader ridge. The top of **Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.)** (L) can be seen sticking up between the trees. Photo looks SW.

Getting closer to the summit! Loop along the W edge of the broad ridge. Photo looks N.

The summit of Storm Hill was close to the N end of the broad ridge. A fairly large summit area, perhaps 30 or 40 feet in circumference, was the highest part of the mountain. Pine trees obscured the views in some directions. However, Lupe enjoyed a panoramic view to the N and NE from the top of small cliffs.

At the summit of Storm Hill. Photo looks NNE.

From the top of small cliffs along the edge of the summit area, Lupe had a panoramic view to the N and NE. Photo looks NE.

By moving around the summit area, Lupe found at least partial views in other directions.

**Custer Peak (6,804 ft)** (R of Center) with a lot of help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NW.

Storm Hill has a double summit. Two widely separated areas contained within 5,160 foot contours are on the topo map. Lupe was at the W high point where a site elevation of 5,192 feet was shown. SPHP presumed this was the true summit of Storm Hill. It was hard to get much of a look at the E high point, but there was a spot from which it could be seen.

The E high point was a long, skinny ridge. It was steeper and more rugged-looking territory. The highest parts of the E ridge appeared to be about as high as where Lupe was, but SPHP was pretty certain they weren’t any higher. Satisfied that Lupe had actually reached the true summit of Storm Hill, SPHP didn’t make her spend the extra hour it might have taken to visit the E ridge, too.

This rough skinny ridge E of Storm Hill’s true summit looked almost as high. Much of it was also within a 5,160 foot contour on the topo map. Photo looks E.

Lupe returned to the true summit of Storm Hill, before taking a little break. Meanwhile, SPHP took a few more photos of the views.

After an initial look around, Lupe returns to the true summit of Storm Hill. Photo looks N.

Looking NE with help from the telephoto lens. The opening in the far ridgeline seen on the R is the area known as “The Gap” in Rapid City.

Baker Park (Center & L) is the grassy open area down below. Photo looks NW.

Boulder Hill (L), **Mount Warner (5,889 ft.)** (R), and **Saint Elmo Peak (6,458 ft.)** (Center in the distance) from Storm Hill. Photo looks SW.

Lupe spent 20 minutes enjoying the summit of Storm Hill before moving on. The Carolina Dog started back retracing her route S along the broad ridge. She soon left the ridge, however, veering SW to explore easier terrain in the forest below. She reached Flume Trail No. 50 again well N of the saddle where she’d originally left it.

By 11:06 AM (42°F), Loop was back at the G6. Storm Hill had been fun, but had taken her less than 2 hours. Plenty of time left in the day for more adventures! SPHP drove S. Lupe had fun barking at cows, horses, and eventually even some buffalo.At 1:52 PM (41°F), SPHP parked the G6 at the mouth of a grassy valley N of USFS Road No. 336 (Flynn Creek Road) less than a mile S of Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.). Lupe had been to Northeast Cicero Peak twice before, but her most recent ascent was now more than 2.75 years ago. For fun, she would try a new route up.

Lupe started out climbing NW up a thickly forested ridge on the W side of the grassy valley. She eventually emerged from the trees. An open hilltop was only a short distance away. Loop went to the top for a look around. She was a little S of High Point 5821. Cicero Peak (6,166 ft.) was in view not quite a mile to the SW.

Lupe reaches the hilltop S of HP 5821. Cicero Peak (Center) is in view. Photo looks SW.

On her journey up NE Cicero Peak, Lupe would head for the high grassy area seen on the L before turning toward the summit on the R. Photo looks NNE.

Continuing onward, Lupe skirted High Point 5821 to the NE. The partially forested slope was so steep, she might just as easily have gone to the top of High Point 5821, but she didn’t. Upon reaching the saddle N of High Point 5821, the American Dingo turned N. She climbed a mostly open slope up to a high grassy area with a commanding view.

Lupe reaches a high grassy area SW of NE Cicero Peak’s summit. From here she had a commanding view of Cicero Peak (Center). Photo looks SW.

From the high grassy area, Lupe headed NE gaining elevation at a slower pace. Most of this part of her climb was in a forest containing scattered lumpy rock outcroppings. In the shade of the pines, snow was several inches deep.

The final approach to the summit from the WSW was a gentle climb up a grassy slope. A N/S running rock ledge only 2 or 3 feet high was at the top of the mountain. A lone boulder sat a short distance beyond the ledge. That boulder, which appeared to be slightly higher than the ledge, was the true summit of Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.).

Lupe reaches a rock ledge only a couple of feet high at the top of NE Cicero Peak. The true summit appeared to be the lone boulder seen on the L. Photo looks E.

Lupe on NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks E towards the plains of western South Dakota with help from the telephoto lens.

Up on the lone boulder, the true summit of NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks N.

The summit area was large and grassy. A few pines along the N edge blocked views to the NW, while a dense forest hid views to the S and SE. In other directions, Lupe could see big swaths of the Black Hills. The most interesting views were of higher country to the N.

**Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** is the highest peak on the L. Closer, but also on the L, is heavily forested **Custer Mountain (6,089 ft.)**. **Peak 6735** is the middle of the 3 high points seen just R of Center. Photo looks NNE.

Same scene, but with more help from the telephoto lens. Custer Mountain is in the foreground. Black Elk Peak on the L in the distance. Peak 6735 is the middle high point on the R. Photo looks NNE.

Looking NE now. **Mount Coolidge (6,023 ft.)** is in the distance on the R.

Mt. Coolidge (L) with help from the telephoto lens. Lupe had recently visited Mt. Coolidge for the first time in over 5.5 years on Expedition No. 218.

A cool W breeze blew. A low, weary sun, partially obscured by a bank of clouds, dangled listlessly above the horizon. Northeast Cicero Peak felt forlorn, sad. Mid-afternoon, but it felt late. Late in the day. Late in the year. Winter solstice was only 3 days away. Christmas soon after that. A week later, 2017 would be over. Another year gone forever. A depressing thought.

Neither Lupe nor SPHP knew it yet, but Northeast Cicero Peak was the last mountain Lupe would climb in 2017.

At the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak, the last mountain Lupe would climb in 2017. Photo looks E.

Back on the small ledge. Cicero Peak is visible on the L. Photo looks WSW.

Cicero Peak (Center) from the higher summit of NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks SW.

Northeast Cicero Peak was the highest mountain this far S in the Black Hills. The views were impressive. Yet the somber mood of the mountain made SPHP restless after only 10 minutes on top. Maybe action would add some cheer? Lupe set off into the forest, intent on exploring the mountain’s S ridge on the way down.

The S ridge wasn’t a very good route. It was full of obstacles. Dense stands of young pines, slick snowy spots, rough rock outcroppings, deadfall timber, all the usual rigamarole except fences to deal with. Not much in the way of views as compensation, either. For what seemed like a long way, the Carolina Dog didn’t lose much elevation.

The summit of Cicero Peak with help from the telephoto lens on the way down NE Cicero Peak’s S ridge. Photo looks SW.

Lupe finally came to a rare open spot in the forest where the going was easier. Beyond it, the descent began in earnest.

After a slow trek along NE Cicero Peak’s upper S ridge, Lupe reached this rare open spot in the forest. Her descent became much steeper beyond this point. Photo looks S.

Once the descent really got going, it was one steep slope after another. Lupe avoided rocky areas as much as possible, which became progressively easier the lower she went. She eventually turned SW, ultimately reaching the floor of the valley W of the S ridge. Here, the American Dingo found a faint road leading back to the G6 (4:08 PM, 36°F).

The last of 33 Black Hills, SD Expeditions in 2017 was over.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out her Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 219 – Twin Sisters Range High Point & Elk Knob (12-10-17)

Start: 12:24 PM, 58°F at the intersection of Song Dog Road & USFS Road No. 373

Lupe hopped out of the G6. 20 expeditions and almost 8 months ago, she had come here to climb the Twin Sisters Range High Point (4,980 ft.). She’d made it to the top easily enough, but when she’d gone farther E to explore more of the area, the buzz of an unseen rattlesnake had put a quick end to that notion.

Even though it was an incredibly warm day for December, rattlesnakes weren’t likely to be stirring now. Lupe should be able to do all the exploring she wanted to today. The Carolina Dog started out heading E on USFS Road No. 373.

Lupe on USFS Road No. 373 approaching the W end of the Twin Sisters Range. Photo looks E.

A mile from the G6, Lupe left the road and started the short, but steep climb up a SW slope to the W end of the Twin Sisters Range. Despite a few brief stops for SPHP to catch breath, Looper was soon at the top.

Lupe begins her trek up the short, but steep SW slope. Photo looks NE.

Lupe arrives up on top at the far W end of the Twin Sisters Range. Photo looks WNW.

A dangerous, rusty barbed wire fence was laying on the ground. SPHP made certain Lupe didn’t get into it. A 20 mph wind blew out of the NW. Normally, it would have been frigid here in December with a wind like that. Today, though, it was so warm out the wind was only a nuisance.

Much of this area had burned in a forest fire years ago. As a result, Lupe had sweeping views of barren, forlorn vistas. Dull, dry, dead grass covering the land did little to add any cheer.

The sweeping views Lupe had looked barren and forlorn. **High Point 5017** is seen on the L. Photo looks WSW.

The actual high point of the Twin Sisters Range was still another 0.25 mile E. After enjoying the views from the W end of the ridge, Lupe and SPHP set off for the cairn at the summit.

The **summit of the Twin Sisters Range** (R) was still another 0.25 mile to the E. Photo looks ENE.

Looper starts for the summit (L). Photo looks E.

The stroll to the summit was easy. Lupe had great views the whole time from the open ridge. It wasn’t long before Loop was at the summit cairn. Of course, the NW wind was blowing here, too. Not enjoying the wind, Lupe stayed only long enough at the summit for photos by the cairn, and a fairly quick look at the sights.

Looper by the cairn at the top of the **Twin Sisters Range High Point (4,980 ft.)**. It hadn’t taken her long to get here, but the NW wind was as bad as ever. Photo looks E.

Looking SE from the summit cairn. **Buffalo Gap** is seen in the distance on the L. **Elk Knob** is the partially forested low hill seen straight up from Lupe’s head (R).

Looking W back along the ridge Lupe had just traveled across.

Looking SE farther along the the **Twin Sisters Range**. **Buffalo Gap** (Center) is near the horizon. **Elk Knob** is the low mostly forested hill on the far R.

The pine-dotted hill on the R is at the lower E end of the **Twin Sisters Range**. Photo looks E with help from the telephoto lens.

Loop and SPHP left the Twin Sisters Range High Point continuing E down to a lower part of the ridge. Loop regained some lost elevation climbing up to High Point 4872. High Point 4872 was windy, too, but Lupe paused briefly for a few photos.

Looking back at the **Twin Sisters Range High Point** (seen straight up from Loop) from **High Point 4872**. Photo looks NW.

**Elk Knob (4,752 ft.)** (R) from **High Point 4872**. Lupe would be going to **Elk Knob** next. Photo looks SE.

**High Point 4820** is on the L. **Buffalo Gap** is R of Center. Looking SE from **HP 4872**.

At High Point 4872, Lupe was already well beyond where she’d been back in April on Expedition No. 199. The topo map showed another lower hill a mile off to the SE known as Elk Knob (4,752 ft.).

Elk Knob became Lupe’s next objective. She started down High Point 4872’s S slope, and was quite happy when she finally reached a valley where the wind was barely stirring.

On the way down **High Point 4872’s S slope**. The **Twin Sisters Range High Point** is in view on the R. Photo looks NW.

The trip up Elk Knob was easy. Lupe first went to a saddle N of the hill, then followed the N slope up. The hill was heavily forested, until she got near the top. Lupe liked being in the forest on Elk Knob a lot better than on the bare, windy Twin Sisters Range ridge. She had a good time racing around sniffing and exploring.

The summit of Elk Knob proved to be a big, flat grassy area rimmed with pines. The pines were dense toward the N, but more sparse elsewhere. For a fairly low hill in this area, Elk Knob had some pretty good views. The wind wasn’t too bad, either, except near the more exposed W end.

Lupe on the big, flat grassy summit of **Elk Knob**. Photo looks S.

The view to the S was surprisingly open and nice. Lupe could see quite a long way from here. Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.

Here Lupe is down a little off the summit on **Elk Knob’s upper W slope**. It was windier here than elsewhere, but she could see the **Twin Sisters Range High Point** (on the R straight above her head), and much of the territory she’d just traveled through. Photo looks NW.

Lupe took a break on Elk Knob. The usual water and Taste of the Wild, with an apple for SPHP. Then it was time for more exploring. Loop went NE down off Elk Knob, before turning E and SE. She wandered along several dirt roads. Only one had a sign, which said she was on USFS Road No. 373.1D.

The Carolina Dog ventured down into a fairly deep canyon. She followed a faint remnant of a road at the bottom, but it eventually ended. Loop climbed up the NE side of the canyon, and reached a ridge she took SE. The sun was getting low by the time she reached a big fence. This had to be the fence along the W side of Wind Cave National Park.

Lupe explored territory E of **Elk Knob** until she got to this big fence somewhere along the W boundary of **Wind Cave National Park**. Photo looks SE.

The fence was as far E as Lupe could go. It was getting late enough so she needed to start back anyway. On her return trip she avoided the canyon by staying farther N. She eventually passed back over the saddle N of Elk Knob heading NW.

The sun wasn’t quite down yet as Lupe neared the Twin Sisters Range again. Why not return to the summit? Well, there was the wind, for one thing. It wasn’t bad at all down here, but was still blowing up there. However, seeing the sunset from a mountaintop seemed more important. Up Lupe went.

Climbing the **Twin Sisters Range** again, this time from the S. Photo looks NW.

Nearing the **Twin Sisters Range High Point** (L) for a second time today. Photo looks N.

The last bit of the sun was disappearing behind High Point 5017 when Lupe reached the Twin Sisters Range High Point (4,980 ft.) again. The sky was almost completely clear, with only a few small clouds to the W. With so few clouds, the sunset never really got a chance to develop into anything special.

Lupe reaches the **Twin Sisters Range High Point** for the 2nd time today, just as the last bit of the sun slips below **HP 5017**. Photo looks W.

For a little while, Lupe and SPHP sat together in the wind on the barren, forlorn mountaintop, watching the light fade until hopes for a colorful sky died old and gray. Time to go.

Being on the move again felt good. It was fun picking a way down the steep rocky slope, and marching across a field back to the road. Next came a mile of shared silence and solitude beneath a darkening sky. At the G6, a few stars glittered above. Water, a little more Taste of the Wild, and Lupe was homeward bound. (5:03 PM, 46°F)

On the **Twin Sisters Range High Point** right after sunset, 12-10-17

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 199 – Twin Sisters Twice & Castle Rock (4-12-17)

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