On February 3rd, the temperature started dropping and never looked back. February, 2019 was easily the coldest, snowiest month of Lupe’s whole life! Many days were 20, or even 30°F, below normal. “Normal” now merely constituted a temporary heat wave before the next frigid onslaught.
The first half of March wasn’t much better. Day after day, Lupe stared out the front window. Heaps and mounds of pure white global warming were stacked along the sidewalk. Attacking the snow shovel became the highlight of most days.
The weather finally began to improve in the 2nd half of March, but it wasn’t until nearly a week into April that SPHP said those magic words. Did Lupe want to go hiking in the mountains?
The Carolina Dog could hardly believe her big, soft Dingo ears! More than 2 months had gone by since her last Black Hills Expedition. She’d pretty much come to the conclusion that her life of adventures was over, finished, kaput! Oh, but it was on again, at least for today! Lupe didn’t hesitate a nanosecond. She leapt about barking a most joyful, emphatic yes! She was ready to go this instant! Had been for what seemed like forever.
8:45 AM, 38°F – The trailhead for Crow Peak (5,787 ft.), the prominent peak W of Spearfish, South Dakota, was 4 miles up Higgins Gulch Road (USFS Road No. 214) less than a mile ESE of the summit. Only one other vehicle was in the huge parking lot when Lupe leapt out of the G6. The American Dingo had been here once before on Black Hills Expedition No. 123, but that was more than 4 years ago now.
With a good trail to follow all the way to the top of Crow Peak, Lupe was going to have an easy time getting back into the swing of adventuring. The trail started at a brown metal gate on the W side of the trailhead.
Information about the trail was posted 100 feet into the forest.
The trail started off heading SW paralleling Higgins Gulch. Lupe gained elevation gradually on a sunny hillside. The trail gradually curved W.
Near the S end of the mountain, the trail made a big curve back to the NE. Before long, it looped around to the N and then back to the W again. The forest provided more shade in this area. The trail became either icy or mucky. Lupe found a patch of snow to cool off on.
On the S side of the mountain, Lupe came to a place where some of the trees were burnt. Wonder when that happened? SPHP didn’t remember any burnt areas on Crow Peak 4 years ago back on Expedition No. 123, but maybe there were? In any case, whenever the fire had occurred, it had opened up a view of a high ridge to the SW.
Beyond the burnt area, the trail curved N on its way around a ravine. Lupe could now see some rock formations high up on the S side of Crow Peak, although it was hard to tell how close they might be to the summit.
Continuing on, the trail headed W, then gradually curved NW. Lupe came to a small stream. This was the only water available along the whole trail.
After heading NW for a while, the trail curved E along the side of a ridge. A long shady stretch was buried in snow. Lupe had no problem getting through the snow, and soon reached a sunnier region.
Leaving the sunny region, the trail turned NW along the side of a big slope. A W subpeak of Crow Peak could soon be seen off to the WNW.
Although it was never steep, the trail kept heading higher. Lupe started coming to rocky stretches, and for the first time, she began to get distant views from occasional openings in the forest. Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.), Sundance Mountain (5,824 ft.) and Warren Peaks (6,650 ft.), all far away in Wyoming, came into sight.
At last, Lupe did come to a steep spot. Having been headed N, the trail suddenly made a sharp bend back to the SE climbing directly up the rocky spine of a narrow ridge. The steep section was short. Beyond it, the trail left the spine of the ridge to head E traversing a big N slope where another part of the forest had burned.
The trail was narrow along in here, and buried under 2 feet of snow. Some places were icy, but the steep slope made it necessary to go right over them. Lupe had no problems with the icy trail, and hiking poles made the trek a lot easier for SPHP.
The good news was that Lupe was getting close to the top of Crow Peak! The summit ridge was now in sight dead ahead.
The trail stayed snowy until it began making a big sweeping curve NNW. Lupe was still climbing, but now heading away from the top of the mountain.
Everything was going fine until the trail headed straight at a 10 foot high rock formation and appeared to end. A big knob of rock was off to the L (W). A steep forested slope was to the R (E). Which way?
The knob of rock was out of the question. Obviously, too steep that way. Clearly, the Carolina Dog either had to climb up over the rock formation, or go R. Lupe easily made the 10 foot scramble up the rock formation. Yes, this was the way! The trail continued on from the top.
Once past the slightly confusing point, the trail began to bend to the E. It soon brought Lupe up to the N end of Crow Peak’s long summit ridge. All Loop had to do now was follow the ridgeline S to the true summit.
Snow drifts several feet deep covered much of the trail along the summit ridge. Lupe avoided most of the snow by staying toward the W (R). This was actually quite a bit easier than trying to stick with the trail.
Before reaching the absolute top of the mountain, Lupe came to a place where the summit ridge flattened and broadened out. Instead of forest, most of this area was grassy or covered with low bushes. Views to the N and E were already great. Immediately to the S, a snowy ridgeline went up a last little hill to the top of Crow Peak (5,787 ft.).
The summit of Crow Peak was a ridge about 100 feet long. Grass and small rocks covered most of a narrow spine. At the S end, a sign gave the elevation as 5,780 feet. The ridge dropped away steeply to the E, less so toward the W where a thicket of tall bushes grew. Only a few trees grew right up on the ridgeline or close to it. Commanding views to the N and E extended far out onto the prairies beyond the Black Hills.
The most spectacular mountain view was of Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) to SSE. Spearfish Peak (5,800 ft.) was easy to pick out, too, off to the ESE. Bear Butte (4,422 ft.) could be seen just about due E, but looked small and far away.
Lupe hadn’t seen anyone on the way up Crow Peak until reaching the N end of the summit ridge. A young guy had been starting back down the mountain there. However, she hadn’t been at the top of Crow Peak for more than a few minutes before a man from Belle Fourche came along with a large brown dog that was part pit bull.
The most popular viewpoint on Crow Peak is at the S end of the ridge where the sign and big view of Terry Peak are. Lupe and SPHP moved off to the N to let the man and his dog enjoy the view. However, the dog was more interested in Lupe and her Taste of the Wild. Lupe became snarly, so SPHP led her farther N.
The sun was high, temperature in the low 50’s. In sunshine with only a slight S breeze, conditions were quite comfortable. Lupe had water and finished her Taste of the Wild in peace. SPHP munched an apple.
After a while, the man from Belle Fourche and his dog left. Since Lupe had Crow Peak all to herself again, she went back closer to the sign for another look around from the S end of the summit.
Two young women appeared. Lupe and SPHP again retreated N. After a while, they started taking photos. SPHP offered to take a few with both of them in the picture. They accepted, and returned the favor for Lupe and SPHP.
So Lupe got to meet Taylor and Brooke. As it turned out, Taylor and Brooke were cousins. Taylor was about to graduate from Black Hills State University in Spearfish with a degree in Education. She was going to be teaching 3rd grade next fall near Brookings, SD. Brooke’s degree was in nursing. She had spent time in Guatemala, which she loved.
Taylor and Brooke had both gotten their feet wet in the deep snow drifts coming up the N summit ridge. When they were ready to go back down, Lupe showed them how to avoid most of the snow by staying to the W. Since Taylor and Brooke were so friendly and happy, Lupe and SPHP continued down the Crow Peak trail with them.
By now, lots of people and dogs were coming up the mountain. On this beautiful day, everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Taylor and Brooke were pleasant company. Once past the icy narrow part, going down the winding trail was nice and easy. Time flew by. When Lupe got back to the G6, the trailhead was full of vehicles. Taylor and Brooke each gave Lupe a pat before saying good-bye. (2:45 PM)
Mid-afternoon. Hours of daylight left. Lupe and SPHP took a drive up Spearfish Canyon, then S through the western hills. Up on Minnesota Ridge (6,240 ft.), SPHP stopped to let Lupe roam for a little while. Feet of snow were melting in the forest. The American Dingo felt frisky, and enjoyed a good romp on muddy USFS roads.
In town, SPHP stopped in at Culvers restaurant. On the way home, Lupe sat happily munching french fries with SPHP.
Oh, yeah! Felt so good to be back in the adventuring business again! Crow Peak had been fun!
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 123 – White Rocks, Mt. Roosevelt & Crow Peak (3-21-15)
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