Black Hills Expeditions – Page 43 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 217 – Peak 4400, Peak 4240 & Lookout Peak (11-26-17)

That Brian Kalet! He does get around. Lupe’s 2017 had started off with visits to a number of southern Black Hills peaks Brian had added to the Peakbagger.com data base in the spring of 2016. SPHP hadn’t noticed until months later that about the same time Lupe was climbing in the southern hills, Brian had been visiting even more peaks along the NE edge of the Black Hills and adding them to the database, too.

So Lupe’s 2017 was going to end more or less the way it began, on the cold trail of Brian Kalet’s footsteps.

Loop had already been to one of the NE Brian Kalet peaks when she visited Peak 3950 near Sturgis a couple of weeks ago on Expedition No. 215. Today she would tackle two more near Whitewood. SPHP parked the G6 at Whitewood City Park (9:18 AM, 47°F).

Looper set off in search of Peak 4400 about 1.5 miles to the SW. She crossed a ravine, then started up a forested hill. She soon came to a dirt road, and followed it higher to a better one.

Loop on the first road she came to early on her journey to **Peak 4400**. Photo looks S.

Higher up near the better road. Photo looks SW.

The better road took Lupe SW up to a level area where there was a big meadow. Loop was close to High Point 4238 on the topo map. Everything was going fine until Lupe heard gunfire. Hunters? The gunfire originated from somewhere off to the W, but sounded quite far off.

Lupe hates gunfire or explosions of any sort no matter how faint or far away. She was instantly a nervous wreck and wanted to forget all about Peak 4400. When the gunfire continued sporadically every few minutes, SPHP was certain it wasn’t from hunters. Someone must be doing some target practice. SPHP persuaded Lupe to continue, though she had lost all her enthusiasm. She slunk along, staying close to SPHP.

A maze of minor dirt roads went through the forest. Eventually, SPHP figured Lupe must be getting close to Peak 4400, and stopped to consult the topo map. Suddenly a man appeared, walking straight toward Lupe through the woods.

The man hailed SPHP. It turned out he was an employee of a company that leases 2,500 acres in this area. He said this was all private property, not national forest land. He was out with his young son checking cameras set up to monitor wildlife. Lupe was right next to one. The gunfire was indeed coming from a shooting range not terribly far NW of here.

The man was friendly, but insisted on taking Lupe and SPHP in his ATV winding N through the forest to a road that led out of the leased acreage down a valley to the E. He and his son then roared away in the ATV.

Well, shucks. Lupe started down the road to the E. She hadn’t made it to the top of Peak 4400. She hadn’t been too far SE of it either, from what SPHP had been seeing on the topo map. Now she was 0.5 mile N of it. Decisions. Maybe it wasn’t the thing to do, but Loopster was already here. This was the one and only time she would ever be, given the situation. Lupe and SPHP left the road, heading S through the forest.

It didn’t take long for the American Dingo to reach a hilltop that looked like it might be the summit of Peak 4400. This was just a high spot in the forest devoid of views, but Lupe posed on a tree stump for a couple of photos anyway.

Loop reaches a high point SPHP initially thought might be the summit of **Peak 4400**. Photo looks S.

Lupe had scarcely left the hilltop when she caught a glimpse of Bear Butte (4,433 ft.) through a small opening in the trees.

Lupe had scarcely left the high point, when she caught a glimpse of **Bear Butte** through a small opening between the trees. Photo looks E.

The topo map showed quite a large area inside the 4,400 foot contour on Peak 4400. In fact, there were two such areas 0.25 mile apart. Lupe was in the N one now, which was where Brian Kalet had placed the true summit without further comment.

Maybe Lupe should look around here a bit more, just to make sure she’d reached the actual high point in the N contour? She could then go check out the terrain in the S contour. It wouldn’t take long.

A short search of the N contour area did show a higher point than where Lupe had been on the tree stump. The true summit was actually a little farther SW, near the W edge of the mountain.

At the true summit of the N 4,400 foot contour. Photo looks SW.

Still at **Peak 4400’s N summit**, but now looking SSE.

Lupe was happy at the true summit of the N 4,400 foot contour. SPHP hadn’t told her about the S contour yet.

Satisfied that she’d reached the true summit of Peak 4400, because SPHP congratulated her and told her so, Loop was surprised to learn that she still had to visit a S 4,400 foot contour before she would be completely done with Peak 4400. However, she was glad to head off in that direction, because it meant getting farther away from the sporadic gunfire still heard coming from the shooting range.

Off Lupe went, heading SE. She reached the saddle leading to the S 4,400 foot contour, and crossed it. Soon she was at the S edge of the mountain, where the terrain dropped away rather sharply. Peak 4400’s S summit was nearby, close to a fence on a section line.

The S summit didn’t have much of a view, but shortly before reaching it Lupe had gotten a good look at Crook Mountain (4,930 ft.), and her next objective, Peak 4240.

After visiting Peak 4400’s N summit, Lupe headed SE looking for the S one. Here she’s approaching the saddle between them. Photo looks SE.

Nearing Peak 4400’s S summit, Lupe had this good look at both **Crook Mountain**, the high forested ridge in the background, and **Peak 4240**, the mostly barren lower ridge in the foreground. Peak 4240 would be her next objective. Photo looks SE.

At **Peak 4400’s S summit**. **Terry Peak (7,064 ft.)** is seen way off on the horizon in the narrow opening between the trees. Photo looks SW.

Well, Lupe had done it. She had been to the true summit of Peak 4400. Whether the N or S summit had been highest was uncertain. Due to the forest, they couldn’t be seen from one another. Brian Kalet had picked the N summit as the highest. Both Loop and SPHP were happy enough to go along with that choice, right or wrong.

In any case, Lupe had been to both the N and S summits. Better skedaddle, and leave Peak 4400 once and for all! Going clear back to the road to the N that the nice man had shown SPHP as being the best route out of here would have been the long way around now. Instead, Loop returned to Whitewood on a route pretty similar to the way she’d come up.

Lupe’s journey back to Whitewood from **Peak 4400** was pleasant and uneventful. She seldom had any views, but did catch this one of **Bear Butte**. Photo looks E.

Once back at the G6 (12:33 PM, 65°F), Lupe and SPHP left Whitewood driving SW on Crook City Road. SPHP parked the G6 again near the start of Oakbrook Road (12:45 PM). Lupe’s next peakbagging goal, the summit of Peak 4240, was scarcely 0.25 mile SE of here. Loop and SPHP took a stroll down Oakbrook Road looking for a way up.

At the W end of Peak 4240, an ATV trail left Oakbrook Road heading E up the narrow ridge straight for the summit. Perfect!

The ATV trail started out in pine forest climbing steadily. Soon Lupe came to a line of small S facing cliffs. The ATV trail stayed a little N of them. The cliff tops provided progressively better views, as the Carolina Dog journeyed up the hill.

Looper near the W end of **Peak 4240** at the start of the line of small S facing cliffs. Photo looks ESE.

The short climb didn’t take Lupe long. Soon she was at the top of the mountain. As she’d seen from Peak 4400, the top of Peak 4240 was mostly bare. The forest didn’t extend quite all the way to the summit. Even though Peak 4240 wasn’t as high as nearby surrounding hills, the views were pretty decent.

Lupe arrives at the summit of **Peak 4240** after a short trek up from the W. Heavily forested **Crook Mountain (4,930 ft.)** is in view. Photo looks SE.

Still at the summit. **Whitewood Peak (5,140 ft.)** is in view on the R. Photo looks SW.

**Bear Butte (4,433 ft.)** (R) peeks over a ridge. Photo looks ENE.

Lupe squints in the sunlight. **Elkhorn Peak (4,524 ft.)** is the bare hill on the horizon at Center. The SW face of **Peak 4400**, where Lupe had just come from, is the high ridge on the R.

A little W of Peak 4240’s actual summit was this view of **Pillar Peak (5,469 ft.)** (L of Center). Photo looks S.

**Pillar Peak** (R) from **Peak 4240** with help from the telephoto lens. **Pillar Peak** is sort of a special place to Lupe. Her very first blog post was about her Expedition No. 120 ascent of **Pillar Peak** on 2-20-15. Photo looks S.

It was fun to see so many mountains Lupe had been to before from Peak 4240! She lingered, admiring the views. Loopster couldn’t stay too long, though, if she wanted to climb another mountain today. After a Taste of the Wild snack, the Carolina Dog was ready to move on.

Loopster near the cliffs, shortly before starting down **Peak 4240**. **Whitewood Peak** is on the far L. Photo looks WSW.

The last mountain Lupe would be climbing today wasn’t a Brian Kalet peak. Lookout Peak (4,478 ft.) had been added to the Peakbagger.com data base a long time ago by Doug Melton, another prolific peakbagger. Lookout Peak is the dominant mountain E of I-90 at Spearfish, SD. When Lupe got back to the G6 (1:29 PM), SPHP drove her to Spearfish.

Late November, yet it was an amazing 72°F when SPHP parked the G6 at a little park at the S end of Saddle Horn Drive (1:57 PM). Lupe hopped out. Very few of her mountain ascents had ever started in a town, but this one was going to. Lupe and SPHP strolled 0.5 block N on Saddle Horn Drive, before turning W on Branding Iron Drive.

SPHP had no idea what the situation was on access to Lookout Peak, but on the way in from the SE had seen a road zigzagging up the mountain’s S slope above a residential subdivision. There were towers on Lookout Peak, so there must be a way up somewhere. Loop wasn’t far from that zigzagging road now. Would it really be as easy as simply sauntering through the neighborhood to get to it?

Branding Iron Drive curved SW. Loop took a R on Pony Express Lane. Ahead, at the upper end of this short street, a dirt road curved L out of sight. Most promising! When Lupe got to the end of the street, a sign showed that this was the access road to Lookout Mountain Park. The sign listed a few simple rules, none prohibiting Dingoes.

And it was as easy as that! Lupe trotted up Lookout Peak’s S slope on the zigzagging road. The road brought Loop to a forested high point ESE of the summit. From there, it continued across a saddle to the base of the summit knob.

Approaching Lookout Peak’s summit knob. This access road starts at the end of Pony Express Drive in Spearfish. Photo looks W.

**Crow Peak (5,787 ft.)** (far L), the dominant mountain W of Spearfish, is on the horizon. Photo looks WSW.

At the base of the summit knob, a trail left the road going right on up to the top. The trail was rocky and a bit scrambly, but short. In minutes, Lupe was approaching the towers at Lookout Peak’s summit.

These towers and little buildings are right at Lookout Peak’s true summit, near the E end of the summit knob.

The area right around the true summit was crowded with towers and buildings. Approaching from the E, the summit had appeared like a big knob, but once Lupe was on top, she could see it was more elongated and ridge-like toward the W. The terrain sloped down in that direction, yet looked like it might be the best place to check out the views.

Lupe trotted W past the true summit to see what she would find.

Lupe WNW of the true summit on **Lookout Peak**. **Crow Peak** is in view beyond the city of Spearfish. Photo looks WSW.

**Peak 4433**, the high ridge in the distance, is another Brian Kalet peak of interest to Lupe. She wasn’t going to get there today, though. Photo looks NE.

The city of Belle Fourche is barely visible beyond the distant low pine-covered hills on the L. Photo looks N.

Looking up the path to the true summit from the lower W portion of the summit ridge. Lupe may not have been quite as high here, but this area was prettier without all the towers and buildings around. Photo looks SE.

Lupe came to exposed ledges of large flat rocks at the far WNW end of the summit ridge. Although at the low point of the entire summit area, the ledges provided some of the finest views from Lookout Peak.

On the way back to the G6, Lupe stopped by the true summit for a photo. Then it was all downhill from here. Some of the views on the way down were really nice, too.

Starting down the short scrambly trail to the access road. The mouth of famed **Spearfish Canyon** is in view beyond I-90 toward the R. Photo looks SSW.

View to the SSW from **Lookout Peak**. **Spearfish Peak (5,800 ft.)** is at Center. Similarly shaped, but more distant **Little Crow Peak (5,885 ft.)** is toward the R. The mouth of **Spearfish Canyon** is on the far R.

While Loop had been up at the summit, she’d had the whole mountain to herself. Apparently, this was just a lucky fluke, at least on a gorgeous day like today. On the way down, she started meeting lots of people and dogs coming up. Lupe enjoyed all the sniffing that went on. She wagged her curly tail at the little dogs, and growled at the big ones.

**Whitewood Peak (5,140 ft.)** is the high point on the far horizon on the L. Closer by at Center is **Green Mountain (5,325 ft.)**. Immediately to its R is **Polo Peak (5,410 ft.)**. The highest point even farther R is **Mount Theodore Roosevelt (5,680 ft.)**. Photo looks SE.

The sun was still up, when Lupe got back to the G6 (3:34 PM, 62°F). Loop and SPHP spent the remaining hour of daylight driving around scoping out Peak 4433, another Brian Kalet peak of interest in the area. Perhaps someday Lupe will return to climb it, too. But that will be another Black Hills, SD Expedition and a different adventure.

Lookout Peak from the NE at the end of the day, 11-26-17.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 216 – Boulder Hill (11-18-17) & Tunnel Ridge (11-19-17)

Lucky Dingo! Expedition No. 216 was going to have two parts. Mark and Hillary were in the Black Hills! Their time was limited, but they could spend a few hours hiking with Lupe and SPHP. Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) would be a good destination. A trail goes all the way to the rocky top, and the summit offers some pretty nice views for moderate effort.

Loop and the gang arrived at the Boulder Hill trailhead of Flume Trail No. 50 before noon. Everyone hit the trail, heading SE through a Ponderosa pine forest which had been greatly thinned since the last time Lupe and SPHP were here. Only 0.33 mile from the trailhead, a saddle was reached between Boulder Hill and Storm Hill to the NE.

Beyond the saddle, a spur off Flume Trail No. 50 followed a dirt road S. The spur soon left the road, leading around the S side of Boulder Hill to the SW. Although Boulder Hill was only 0.5 mile S of the trailhead where Lupe had started, by the time she had circled around to the SW base of the rocky summit ridge, the Carolina Dog had already gone more than 0.75 mile.

The fun part of the climb was all that was left now! The trail leading up the ridge wound around among the rocks, passing near numerous viewpoints along the way.

Mark, Hillary & Lupe near the start of the short, but fun climb up the rocky ridge on top of **Boulder Hill**. Photo looks N.

Lupe at one of the first vantage points. Photo looks NE.

Hillary gazes toward **Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** (L). Photo looks WSW.

Hillary leading Mark on the way up. The trek to the top only takes 5-10 minutes. Photo looks S.

The trek to the top only took 5 or 10 minutes, plus a little time spent checking out views along the way. Although this was Lupe’s 6th ascent of Boulder Hill, Mark and Hillary had never been here before. They both seemed pretty happy with the interesting hike up, and the views available from the summit.

Of course, Lupe and SPHP never tire of seeing the world from a nice high point like Boulder Hill. Having Mark and Hillary’s company was a big added bonus!

Lupe was glad Mark & Hillary had taken the time to visit Boulder Hill with her. Their company was a rare treat! Photo looks NW.

Boulder Hill has two separate summit areas. They are practically right next to each other, and of about equal height. Naturally, Lupe, Mark, Hillary & SPHP visited both. It was only about 40°F and a chilly breeze was blowing, so the stay on top of the mountain was fairly brief. Soon everyone started down again.

Mark & Hillary start down. Photo looks NNW.

Lower down, on part of the ridge better protected from the breeze, everyone stopped to relax and have a longer look around. Mark & Hillary had brought sandwiches. SPHP had apples and chocolate chip cookies. Lupe had Taste of the Wild.

Surprisingly, it turned out that Lupe wasn’t the only Carolina Dog conducting tours of Boulder Hill today. Another Carolina Dog named Legos appeared! Legos was snappily dressed, and leading a man and a girl up the trail. In an odd coincidence, it turned out Mark and Hillary had met the man at a store only yesterday.

Lupe wasn’t the only Carolina Dog giving tours of Boulder Hill today! Snappily dressed in orange & gray, Legos appeared during break time. Legos was leading a man and a girl up the mountain.

Legos eventually led his party on up the trail. Mark and Hillary needed to get going, too. They had a social engagement this evening, and would return home to Colorado tomorrow. Except for the return trip to the trailhead, Lupe’s trip to Boulder Hill was over.

Lupe had enjoyed the outing, and SPHP really had fun visiting with Mark and Hillary. They’d had a good time, too, and felt Boulder Hill had been a great choice for the amount of time they’d had available.

The next morning the lucky Dingo was back in action, again! Things were back to normal. Just Loop and SPHP set out on Deerfield Trail No. 40 going up Rapid Creek from Silver City (10:13 AM, 41°F).

Lupe has been on this section of the Deerfield Trail many times. In fact, she first came here in January, 2012 on both Black Hills, SD Expeditions No. 1 & No. 2. In a sense, this was where her life of adventures began. SPHP had a new peakbagging destination in mind for her today, but the first part of the journey along Rapid Creek, was familiar territory.

On Deerfield Trail No. 40 near Silver City. This was familiar territory! Lupe’s first two Black Hills, SD expeditions way back in January, 2012 had been here.

One of several fine footbridges across Rapid Creek upstream of Silver City.

Loop on the bridge. Though there were quite a few footprints in the thin layer of snow, Lupe saw no one on or off the trail all day long.

Lupe had a great time exploring the forests alongside the trail. She was mainly looking for squirrels to bark at, and found a few, which made her very happy. Loop checked out the views along Rapid Creek, and visited an old abandoned horizontal mining shaft which she ventures into every time she comes this way. The shaft is only 20 or 25 feet long, but would make a great Dingo shelter in wet weather.

Going upstream from Silver City, Deerfield Trail No. 40 is never far from Rapid Creek, the largest stream in the entire Black Hills.

Lupe at the entrance to the horizontal mining shaft. This mining shaft is only a few feet off Deerfield Trail No. 40, and makes a great Dingo cave!

Looking out from near the end of the shaft.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 is a beautiful, easy trek along Rapid Creek. After she’d gone about 2 miles, though, Lupe was getting close to the Canyon City area where she would leave the trail.

Shortly after crossing yet another bridge, Lupe arrived at this bend in Rapid Creek. She was almost to Canyon City and would soon leave Deerfield Trail No. 40.

This little swampy area comes just before Kelly Gulch close to Canyon City.

No town or much of anything else is at Canyon City these days. It’s only a spot along the trail, and a point on the map. About 0.25 mile before she got there, Lupe left Deerfield Trail No. 40 and Rapid Creek behind. She turned N following a path up Kelly Gulch.

Following the snowy path up Kelly Gulch. Photo looks N.

Kelly Gulch was the start of Lupe’s search for her peakbagging goal for the day, the summit of Tunnel Ridge (5,905 ft.). Loop wasn’t in Kelly Gulch very long, though. After only 0.2 mile, she came to a little parking area. Two roads left this point. The better road continued on up Kelly Gulch. Lupe took USFS Road No. 142.1D up Spurgeon Gulch instead.

On USFS Road No. 142.1D going up Spurgeon Gulch. Photo looks NNW.

Lupe had gained very little elevation down along Rapid Creek. She gained some coming up Kelly Gulch. Her climb really began in earnest, though, here in Spurgeon Gulch. The Carolina Dog gained elevation steadily now. She came to an unmarked intersection where a side road turned W, but she continued straight ahead. USFS Road No. 142.1D, if that’s what it still was, deteriorated and steepened.

Apparently USFS Road No. 142.1D sees little use these days. As Lupe followed it up Spurgeon Gulch, she came to places where the road was totally blocked by deadfall.

After going 0.75 mile up Spurgeon Gulch, Lupe arrived at a saddle in a small grassy open area where the road reached a “T” intersection. Some heavily forested hills could be seen from here. They weren’t far away, and the terrain seemed confusing. SPHP wasn’t certain which way Lupe should go.

Loop needed to work her way N, but straight N went down into another deep ravine. Staying on the roads, she had her choice of NE or W. The American Dingo tried the road going NE first. This road climbed gradually and seemed promising, but it soon turned R wrapping around a hillside until the position of the sun told SPHP that Loop was going S.

Lupe reaches the saddle at the upper end of Spurgeon Gulch. She had come up from the R. The road she’d been on came to a “T” intersection here. Photo looks NE along the branch Lupe explored first.

Going S wasn’t going to work at all. Lupe had a decent view of the hills nearby. It didn’t look like there was any way this road could turn N without losing a bunch of elevation.

The first road Lupe tried from the saddle went NE. It soon curled around a hillside and turned S leading to this view. This was definitely the wrong way. Photo looks SE.

Loop turned around and returned to the saddle. Time to try the road going W. Almost immediately, it angled NW and started gaining elevation steadily. Promising once again, but Lupe hadn’t gotten too far before she reached a bend where this road curved sharply around to the S, too. Hmm. What now?

At the bend, the ravine the road had been climbing continued NW. Lupe could see a stand of large brown-barked Ponderosa pines on a slope below rock outcroppings. Why not keep going that way? It seemed like the best option. Lupe left the road, continuing NW up the ravine.

Lupe among the large brown-barked Ponderosa pines after leaving the road. Photo looks N.

Loop only had to follow the ravine a little way before she appeared to be approaching the upper end of it. She turned N, scrambling up between the rock formations to reach a small ridge. On the other side, not very far below her, Loop saw another road heading NW. That was promising! Lupe worked her way down to the road and followed it.

Loopster was still gaining elevation, though more slowly than before. Eventually this new road joined another one heading NNW, exactly the direction Lupe needed to go.

Lupe at the intersection with another road that went NNW. She had come up the road seen on the L. NNW is toward the camera, and just the direction Loop needed to go. Photo looks SSE.

The road leading NNW gained only a little more elevation before topping out. The terrain ahead was now mostly flat to rolling. Lupe had succeeded in reaching the top of Tunnel Ridge, but exactly what part of it wasn’t clear yet.

Tunnel Ridge (5,905 ft.) is roughly 3 miles long N/S, and as much as 0.50 to 0.75 mile wide E/W. It was all forested, so it was hard to see very far ahead. There didn’t seem to be any definite ridge line to follow. Loop was probably only 0.33 to 0.50 of the way from the S end. The true summit was near the N end, which meant it was probably 1.5 to 2 miles N of Lupe’s position.

The road eventually bent NW and started going downhill. By now, Lupe had seen occasional glimpses of higher ground perhaps a mile or more to the NNW. Trying not to lose elevation, Lupe left the road traveling N through a level forest, hoping this area would connect somehow with the higher ground she’d seen in the distance.

Somewhere up on Tunnel Ridge, Lupe left the road to head N through this forest looking for the summit. This proved to be a dead end. Photo looks N.

Instead, Loop eventually found that the terrain dropped off rather steeply. This was a dead end. She had to return to the road. This happened once more, a little farther on. The road went NW downhill again, and Lupe made another foray off the road. She climbed N toward a high point, but on the other side, the terrain dropped steeply.

From the high point, Lupe went NW down a long slope, rejoining the road again at a gate near a saddle. At the saddle was a “T” intersection with another road passing E/W over the mountain. No road continued N from here, but the land sloped up, so Lupe left the road a third time.

Continuing N off road for the 3rd time. Photo looks NNW.

Lupe was only partway up when she saw the high point to the N again. She was definitely getting closer.

As Lupe continued her climb, the higher ground she had seen a while ago came back into view. She was definitely getting closer! Photo looks N.

By now, SPHP was confident Lupe was closing in on the summit of Tunnel Ridge. The topo map showed 4 separate areas enclosed within 5,880 foot contours. The central contour enclosing the most area contained a site elevation of 5,905 feet, which was likely the true summit. On the way there, Lupe explored the SW 5,880 foot contour, which contained the 2nd largest amount of territory.

The terrain within the SW 5,880 foot contour was pretty flat, but Lupe found a spot with a view toward Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.).

Lupe at the high point of the 5,880 foot contour SW of the true summit. This was pretty flat territory! Photo looks W.

A glimpse toward **Black Elk Peak** (R on horizon) from the SW 5,880 foot contour. Photo looks SSE with help from the telephoto lens.

From the SW high point, Lupe headed for the true summit. As she got close, she reached yet another unmarked road.

Approaching the true summit, Lupe came to this road. Photo looks NNE.

A short trek on this latest road led Lupe gradually up to a flat area which had to be the true summit. No views, really. The summit of Tunnel Ridge (5,905 ft.) was just another slightly higher spot in the woods.

Success! Loop at the true summit of **Tunnel Ridge**. Photo looks E.

About all there was for a view from the top of **Tunnel Ridge** was this tree-broken glimpse of a distant ridge to the S.

Partly to check out another small area enclosed within a 5,880 ft. contour, and partly just to see what was there, Lupe left the true summit to explore a broad ridge to the SE. Loop went all the way to the end. The terrain was all lower than where she’d just been.

At the end of the ridge SE of the summit. Photo looks SE.

There wasn’t anything much different to see on the SE ridge, so Lupe returned to the true summit. On the way, she posed on a mighty, massive rock outcropping.

Oh, OK, so it wasn’t a mighty, massive rock outcropping – just a minor one. Lupe still looked pretty good on it!

It was only mid-afternoon, but the sun was already low in the sky. The G6 was 5+ miles away. Loop needed to get going. There wasn’t much reason to hang around the summit, anyway. On the way back, Lupe retraced virtually the exact same route she’d taken to Tunnel Ridge, minus some of the unnecessary forays that led to dead ends in the forest.

Starting back, still close to the summit.

At the saddle where a road goes E/W across the mountain. All the roads Lupe came to on Tunnel Ridge were unmarked. The one leading back to Spurgeon Gulch is seen beyond Looper. Photo looks SW.

Looper’s journey to Tunnel Ridge had been a peakbagging success. She’d made it up onto the ridge and found the true summit. Of course, other than the pretty spots down along Rapid Creek, she hadn’t really come to much in the way of views. Due to the forest, Tunnel Ridge didn’t have much to offer in the way of scenic rewards.

A rare distant view on the return trip. Photo looks SE.

Yet the journey to Tunnel Ridge had been a good day. The maze of unmarked roads and promising routes that led nowhere had been confusing, but solving the puzzle was a fun challenge. Lupe and SPHP enjoyed unbroken peace and solitude from start to finish. And now a previously unknown part of the map was at least partially explored.

Just being on the move, exploring and sharing this cool day outdoors in the pine forest, made Lupe’s journey to Tunnel Ridge another adventure worth remembering (5:14 PM, 35°F).

Back on Deerfield Trail No. 40, heading for home.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 215 – Peak 3950, Oyster Mountain & Sly Hill (11-12-17)

Start – Fort Meade National Cemetery near Sturgis, 8:46 AM, 35°F

Lupe arrived at Fort Meade National Cemetery the day after Veteran’s Day. The cemetery was officially closed this time of year. Loop wouldn’t have gone in even if it wasn’t. Some might consider an American Dingo prancing around a cemetery disrespectful, even though she wouldn’t have done any harm.

Lupe arrived at the Fort Meade National Cemetery the day after Veteran’s day on a bright, crisp morning.

Lupe was actually here to visit a few peaks near Sturgis she’d never been to before. Once SPHP was ready, she crossed the road W of the cemetery, and started climbing along a ridgeline through a pine forest. She didn’t have far to go before reaching a broad meadow of tall grass.

W of Fort Meade Cemetery, Lupe reaches a meadow of tall grass near the start of her way up **Peak 3950**. Photo looks W.

In the meadow, Loop happened upon a dirt road that curved SW. She followed it higher back up into the forest. A huge dead tree had fallen over the road, blocking it completely. From the trunk of the dead tree, Lupe could see Bear Butte (4,422 ft.) off to the NE rising dramatically from the surrounding prairie.

From the trunk of the dead tree, Lupe saw **Bear Butte** rising dramatically from the surrounding prairie. Photo looks NE.

**Bear Butte’s summit** is the N end of **Centennial Trail No. 89** which winds 111 miles through eastern portions of the Black Hills all the way to **Wind Cave National Park**.

The road climbed steadily through the forest. Before long, though, the terrain began to level out. The forest became more open and park-like, and the road curved NW.

Off to the SW, it looked like there might be views from the edge of the mountain. Lupe left the road to explore in that direction. Several deer fled as she approached the edge. Loop had a nice view of the valley S of Sturgis.

Lupe came to this nice view of the valley S of Sturgis. Photo looks SSW.

Peak 3950 was Lupe’s destination. The summit was only 0.5 mile NW from here. Lupe traveled NW near the sharp SW edge of the mountain. At first, the terrain was level or rolling. The American Dingo had her choice of staying in the pine forest or out on another tall grass meadow, and did some of both. Bear Butte was still in view from the meadow.

On the way to the summit of **Peak 3950**, Lupe spent part of her time in this big tall grass meadow, from which she could still see **Bear Butte**. Photo looks NE.

In the meadow, Loop came upon the road again. She followed it NW back into the forest, gaining elevation at a moderate pace. Lupe stayed on the road until she was close to Peak 3950’s summit. The final part of the climb was an easy romp through the woods.

On the road again getting close to the top of **Peak 3950**. Photo looks NW.

Peak 3950’s summit area was large and relatively level. The highest part was near the N end. No single point stood out as the exact location of the true summit, but Lupe was satisfied. Climbing Peak 3950 had been easy and fun.

Lupe at the top of **Peak 3950**. Climbing the mountain had been quick and easy. Photo looks SSE.

On Peak 3950’s flat summit. Photo looks E.

At the top of Peak 3950, trees hid the views in most directions. However, along the edge of the steep W slope, Lupe found rock outcroppings from which she could see the town of Sturgis.

From rocks along the W rim, Lupe could see the town of Sturgis. Photo looks WNW.

Sturgis, SD from **Peak 3950**. Photo looks NW.

A look at the downtown area with a little help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NW.

Lupe could also see her next two peakbagging objectives. Oyster Mountain and Sly Hill were both in sight to the NW.

Lupe’s next peakbagging objectives were in view. Oyster Mountain (4,040 ft.) is the forested ridge on the L. **Sly Hill (3,920 ft.)** is straight up from the blue water tank on the R. Photo looks NW.

Names, dates, and initials had been carved into the rocks Lupe was standing on. One rock S of the summit area even had a whole phrase carved into it.

Many names, dates, and initials were carved into rocks along the W edge of the mountain. Someone had gone to the trouble of carving the phrase “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” into this rock.

Lupe lingered on Peak 3950 for a little while, but didn’t stay terribly long. She still had more peakbagging to do. After sniffing around some and enjoying the views, it was time to head back to the G6.

On her way back down, Lupe returns to the upper tall grass meadow SE of Peak 3950’s summit. Photo looks SE.

Once Loop made it back to the G6 (10:41 AM), SPHP drove into Sturgis looking for a way to Oyster Mountain or Sly Hill. A mile NW of town, a road went N over a saddle on the ridge connecting the two mountains. A mile beyond the saddle, SPHP parked the G6 again (11:10 AM, 49°F).

Lupe got out ready to climb Oyster Mountain’s NE ridge. At first, she was in a mixed oak and pine forest, but she didn’t have far to go before reaching a meadow. Bear Butte was once again in view.

Lupe at the first meadow she came to on the way up **Oyster Mountain**. Photo looks SW.

**Bear Butte (4,422 ft.)** from the lower slopes of Oyster Mountain’s NE ridge. Photo looks NE.

Just like on Peak 3950, Lupe found a dirt road in the meadow which took her higher and back into the forest. Loop followed this road SW most of the way up Oyster Mountain’s NE ridge. Sometimes she had glimpses of views along the way, but usually there were too many trees to see much of anything.

The road eventually reached a saddle. Loop would start losing elevation if she stayed on the road, so she left it. She headed W, still climbing steadily.

Before long, the Carolina Dog arrived at the top of a small hill. Maybe this was Oyster Mountain’s summit? SPHP wasn’t certain. The topo map had been forgotten in the G6.

Not long after leaving the dirt road, Lupe reached the top of this small hill. At the time, SPHP thought this might possibly be Oyster Mountain’s summit. Photo looks WSW.

Lupe continued W from the small hill, and soon reached a slightly higher hill. A ridge nearly the same height was in view to the SW across a small valley. The valley drained toward a depression to the W.

SPHP remembered the topo map had shown a depression close to Oyster Mountain’s true summit. Loop ought to be able to find the summit by crossing the valley, then following the ridge on the other side.

So that’s what she did. When Lupe made it up onto the ridge, she could see I-90 in the valley below on the other side.

After crossing the small valley, Lupe climbed up onto this ridge where she could see I-90 below. Photo looks SW.

Lupe followed the ridge WNW. The terrain was nearly level for a little way, but soon Loop saw slightly higher ground ahead. The summit had to be over there.

Oyster Mountain’s S slope from the ridgeline. The summit isn’t much farther ahead in the trees on the R. Photo looks WNW.

Shortly before reaching the top of Oyster Mountain (4,040 ft.), Loop came to a sparsely forested sunny hillside. Snow was visible on Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) on the far horizon. Closer by, Lupe had a nice view of heavily forested Crook Mountain (4,930 ft.).

Snow is visible on **Terry Peak’s ski runs** on the far horizon (L). Heavily forested **Crook Mountain** is in view on the R. I-90 is seen in the valley below. Photo looks SW.

Oyster Mountain’s summit proved to be a relatively narrow, 150 foot long, flat ridge. Forest blocked any views. Minor rock outcroppings that didn’t amount to much were on the S side near the far W end.

Lupe on top of **Oyster Mountain (4,040 ft.)**. Photo looks ESE.

Carolina Dogs are rarely seen on **Oyster Mountain**. However, the mountain’s odd and mysterious name was part of the allure that brought Lupe here. **Oyster Mountain** seems an unlikely name for a mountain in the Black Hills. Lupe was about as far from an ocean here as you can get in North America.

Loopster took her only Taste of the Wild break of the day up on Oyster Mountain. The shady summit ridge was a pleasant place. Traffic noise from I-90 only partially marred the sense of isolation.

On the way back to the G6, Lupe stopped by the sunny slope E of the summit again for a final look. She then left the ridgeline, cutting down to the depression in the small valley. The depression was bone dry now, but looked like a seasonal pond forms here during wet periods.

As she left **Oyster Mountain**, Loop swung back by this sunny slope E of the summit for a final look. Photo looks S.

Lupe near the depression on **Oyster Mountain**. The depression was bone dry now, but looked like a seasonal pond must form here during wet periods. Photo looks W.

After leaving the depression, the American Dingo retraced her route up all the rest of the way down. Lupe had fun running and sniffing around, but it was only 1.25 miles back to the G6. It didn’t take her all that long to get there. (1:09 PM)

Loop still had one more peak to climb near Sturgis. SPHP drove to the saddle between Oyster Mountain and Sly Hill, parking near a fence surrounding a “rubble site” (1:16 PM, 52°F). A sign nearby indicated Dingoes might not be entirely welcome on Sly Hill, the top of which was only 0.5 mile to the SE. Hmmm.

American Dingoes can be quite foxy, and the name of her objective was Sly Hill, after all. Lupe wouldn’t hurt a thing. Off she went, slinking through the forest. It didn’t take her long to reach a wide flat meadow rimmed with pines. The topo map showed this area as the true summit of Sly Hill (3,920 ft.).

Lupe at the official top of **Sly Hill** according to the topo map. SPHP was skeptical that this was actually the true summit. Photo looks NW.

The Sly Dingo on **Sly Hill** feeling pretty foxy.

Near the S rim of **Sly Hill**, a bit SW of the official summit according to the topo map. Photo looks WSW.

The topo map showed another high point on Sly Hill only 0.25 mile to the SE. High Point 3917 was supposed to be almost as high as the official summit. Maybe Lupe should go on over there to check it out while she was still in the area? It seemed like the thing to do.

Off Lupe went. She lost a bit of elevation exploring a narrower part of the ridge that forms Sly Hill. Soon Loop was approaching High Point 3917, a far smaller area that came to much more of a definite peak than the official summit. She caught a glimpse of Bear Butte as she began the short climb.

Looking back along the ridge linking **Sly Hill’s official summit** and **High Point 3917**. Photo looks NW toward the official summit.

As Lupe started the short climb up to **High Point 3917**, she caught this glimpse of **Bear Butte**. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.

On the way up to **High Point 3917**. Photo looks SE.

Climbing High Point 3917 was easy. Lupe got up on the top rocks at the foot of a big pine tree. Up until now, SPHP hadn’t been totally certain where Lupe was on Sly Hill, but the views from here confirmed her position. Parts of Sturgis could be seen, though trees obscured some of the town.

Loopster on the highest rocks at **High Point 3917** on **Sly Hill**.

Western parts of Sturgis are in view here from **High Point 3917**. Photo looks S.

Looking SE from **High Point 3917**. A small portion of eastern Sturgis is in view on the R.

Lupe’s exploration of Sly Hill was now complete, except for one thing. On the way to the official summit shown on the topo map, Lupe had passed N of some high ground that seemed like it might actually have been higher than the official summit.

So Lupe returned to Sly Hill’s official summit, then proceeded W looking for the high ground she’d bypassed earlier. She climbed a heavily forested narrow ridge. The official summit could not be seen from here, but SPHP would have bet money that this high point to the W was actually the true summit of Sly Hill.

Lupe on top of the high point W of the official summit. SPHP would have bet money that this was actually the true summit of **Sly Hill (3,920 ft.)**. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe had done about all there was to do up on Sly Hill. The Carolina Dog left the W high point (and likely true summit) traveling NW along the ridgeline. This proved to be the most rugged terrain she’d come to on Sly Hill. She went by several interesting rock formations on the way down.

Loop on one of the rock formations she came to on the way down. Photo looks S.

On the most impressive rock. Photo looks NW.

The Sly Dingo of Sly Hill made it back to the G6 without incident (2:34 PM). At least a couple of hours of daylight remained. With visions of Lupe making one more peakbagging attempt at yet another modest, seldom-visited hill, SPHP drove Lupe to the Whitewood area. She even got close to Spearfish. However, she had no luck at any other hills or mountains.

So Sly Hill was Lupe’s final peakbagging success of Expedition No. 215. That didn’t bother the Carolina Dog at all. She didn’t mind riding around barking at deer, cattle and horses at all! She had a blast the whole time, yipping and yapping until it was way too dark to see.

Looking across the saddle separating Sly Hill from Oyster Mountain (Center). Photo looks NW.

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