Centennial Trail No. 89 – Page 6 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 286 – Peak 4780 & Peak 4760 (12-2-21)

8:06 AM, 50ºF, Centennial Trail No. 89, Alkali Creek trailhead – Kind of a gray day, but pleasantly warm for December.

Centennial Trail No. 89 again, SPHP?

Hah! Yeah. You don’t mind do you, Loop?

Oh, no! I love the Centennial Trail, it’s just that we’ve been here several times recently. I was sort of expecting something different.

Well, you can blame poor planning on my part, Loopster. I should have checked out the Meade County Lists of John peaks before we came down here from the Elk Creek trailhead on Expedition No. 274. Didn’t even think about that. We could have tagged a couple of 300+ foot prominence peaks along the way.

So we’re going back to tag them today, SPHP?

Yup! Shouldn’t be too hard, we’ll be on Centennial Trail No. 89 most of the time. The peaks we’re going to are way back up in the hills, but not too far from the trail.

At the **Alkali Creek trailhead**. Photo looks NW.

Crossing the access road, Lupe set out following Centennial Trail No. 89 WNW through grasslands overlooking scrub oaks down in the Alkali Creek valley. She soon reached I-90, passed through a tunnel beneath it, under a railroad trestle, then up into a big field. From here, the trail headed SW gradually climbing toward the hills.

Setting out on Centennial Trail No. 89 along the **N side of the Alkali Creek valley**. Photo looks WNW.

The railroad trestle just past the tunnel. Photo looks SW.

Looking back toward I-90. Photo looks E.

Right after Centennial Trail No. 89 reached the forest at the base of the hills, Lupe left it venturing a short distance NW to a viewpoint where Alkali Creek passed through a narrow gap between small limestone cliffs. The creekbed was just a dry wash here.

By the limestone gap where Alkali Creek leaves the Black Hills. Photo looks NW.

Once back on Centennial Trail No. 89 again, the trail made a quick loop S before returning to the Alkali Creek valley. Heading SW, Lupe passed a scenic cliff, then entered a two-toned forest – the dark green of all the Ponderosa pines above, and dry orange of dead leaves still clinging to bushes below.

The trail soon left the Alkali Creek valley, turning SE up a side ravine. A layer of limestone cliffs capped the ridge to the NE. Lupe wandered up beneath the cliffs to sniff around and check them out.

A little above the trail, exploring along the base of the cliffs. Photo looks S.

Near the upper end of the ravine, just past the last of the cliffs, Loopster came to Poett’s Corner. By a rickety wooden gate, a poster was attached to a tree. A bell hung below the poster.

Although Lupe had been past Poett’s corner on several other Black Hills expeditions, she had never seen Poett. Poett was nowhere in sight now, either.

Kind of makes you wonder if Poett is still around, doesn’t it, SPHP?

Yes, it does, Looper. No telling what’s happened to Poett. Maybe Poett moved away, or has become bored with this trail and doesn’t come here any more?

Well, whatever happened, I hope Poett’s OK, SPHP! Hate to think that Poett might have gotten lost or stolen, or anything terrible like that.

Me, too, Loop, but seems likely we’ll never know the truth.

Centennial Trail No. 89 curved away from Poett’s Corner. It wound through the forest for a couple more miles, climbing steadily most of the time. At one point there was a view of Bear Butte (4,422 ft.) way out on the prairie to the NNE, but other than that, there was generally little to see except the forest itself.

**Bear Butte**. Photo looks NNE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

Roughly 4 miles from the Alkali Creek trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 reached a ridge where Lupe came to a junction. While No. 89 continued over the ridge, another trail branched off to the R heading farther up it. A sign indicated that this was the way to the Sturgis City Dams.

Which way, SPHP?

Sturgis City Dams, Looper, but let’s have a look at Peak 4760 first.

From a small clearing near the trail junction, an unremarkable hill was visible a mile S. Heavily forested, it didn’t appear much different from countless others in the Black Hills region.

First glimpse of **Peak 4760**. Photo looks S.

Is that it, SPHP?

Yup. Guess we won’t be seeing much from up there by the looks of it. Way too many trees. Oh, well! Carry on, Loopster! Maybe Peak 4780 will be better?

Taking the trail that went past the Sturgis City Dams sign, Lupe headed up the ridge.

Near the trail junction, about to head for Peak 4780. Photo looks WNW.

The trail climbed at an easy pace along the broad ridge. Progress was rapid. Most of the ridge was forested, but sometimes there were views. Bear Butte came into sight again, followed by parts of Sturgis.

Heading W on the Sturgis City Dams trail.

**Bear Butte** (L of Center). Photo looks NNE.

Continuing W along the ridge. Photo looks W.

Parts of Sturgis came into view (beyond Lupe). Photo looks N.

How much farther to Peak 4780, SPHP? And why didn’t we go to Peak 4760 first, since we could already see it back at the junction?

Because we’re already on Peak 4780’s E ridge, Loop! The summit is close to the W end of the mountain, only 0.75 mile from the trail junction. Not much of a climb. We should get there pretty soon at this rate.

More than halfway along the ridge, the Sturgis City Dams trail angled over to the S edge, and began heading down. To the N, abandoned USFS Road No. 139.1E came up the N slope from the E, climbing more steeply than the trail had been as it continued W. The road provided another good look at Bear Butte as Lupe left the trail to follow it higher.

About to take abandoned USFS Road No. 139.1E higher. Photo looks W.

**Bear Butte** again. Photo looks NNE with help from the telephoto lens.

As No. 139.1E topped out, it faded away. Lupe had reached Peak 4780’s summit region, but the exact location of the true summit wasn’t entirely clear yet. A small hill just to the N appeared to be a likely candidate, so the American Dingo climbed it.

In the flat region where USFS Road No. 139.1E faded away.

Up on the first Peak 4780 summit candidate. Photo looks N.

Loopster kept exploring. The terrain rose slowly as she headed farther W. The Carolina Dog finally reached a region near the S edge where the terrain leveled out again. SPHP was pretty certain this had to be the true summit of Peak 4780.

At the **true summit of Peak 4780**. Photo looks NW.

Really nothing to see here except the forest. A fairly large area was very nearly the same elevation. A few tens of feet farther W, Lupe found a bit of a clearing where she had a view of rumpled green hills to to the SW from a little line of broken limestone. It was a sunny spot, and a good place to take a chocolate coconut bar break.

While SPHP dug one out of the pack, Lupe relaxed. Turned out the grass was full of hundreds of ladybugs! Swarming all over Looper’s fur, they must have tickled. She snapped up several ladybugs before turning her attention to the chocolate coconut bar when offered.

At the chocolate coconut bar break spot, which was very nearly as high as the nearby true summit. Photo looks E.

Loop awaiting her share of a chocolate coconut bar.

Lupe followed up the chocolate coconut bar with Taste of the Wild and water while SPHP munched an apple. Once that was gone, it was time to take a little more of a look around. A stump near the spot where Loop had taken her rest break offered a view of Veteran Peak (5,333 ft.).

**Veteran Peak** (L of Center). Photo looks SW.

Part of the slope below the break spot was open and grassy, so Looper ventured down there, too. She was rewarded with a more sweeping view than had been available from up on top, part of which included a really good look at Peak 4760 where she would be heading next.

In the open area below the break spot and true summit. Photo looks S.

**Peak 4760** (L of Center). Photo looks SE.

Unsurprisingly, the view from this new angle didn’t alter SPHP’s opinion that Lupe wouldn’t being seeing much other than trees from Peak 4760, either, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to make the journey. Never know what might be up there or along the way!

Returning to the top of the ridge, the American Dingo paid another brief visit to Peak 4780’s true summit before continuing on. Soon reaching the W end of the mountain, Lupe paused briefly to admire a better view of Veteran Peak before heading down.

On the way back up to the break spot. Photo looks N.

**Veteran Peak** (slightly L of Center) from the **W end of Peak 4780**. Photo looks SW.

Peak 4780’s upper W slope was surprisingly steep. Fortunately a band of cliffs was not continuous. Lupe found a way to get through it. The slope below the cliffs was still fairly steep, but posed no real problem on the way down to a saddle where the terrain leveled out.

Below a cliff at the **W end of Peak 4780**.

Heading down to the saddle. Photo looks W.

Once down at the saddle, Lupe turned SE. At first, she lost a little more elevation, but after running into a trail, she started regaining it again.

This was probably the same trail that went to the Sturgis City Dams, but Loop didn’t stay on it very far this time. Instead, she soon headed S through a field down to USFS Road No. 139.

Back on the trail to the Sturgis City Dams. **Peak 4760** (L of Center). Photo looks SE.

**S of Peak 4780** on USFS Road No. 139. Photo looks ENE.

After a short incline, Lupe followed No. 139 more than 0.75 mile E as it lost elevation, slowly at first, but much more quickly toward the end. In a secluded valley, the Carolina Dog came to a place she recognized.

Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed the road here. Lupe followed the trail S up a hill. It then leveled out and wound around to the W for a bit before turning SE the rest of the way to Bulldog Creek.

Heading E on USFS Road No. 139 as it starts losing elevation. Photo looks E.

At the junction with Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks S.

Centennial Trail No. 89 on the way to Bulldog Creek. Photo looks SE.

Bulldog Creek was very small, but at least had some water in it when Lupe was last here back on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 274. Now the creekbed was bone dry. Abandoning Centennial Trail No. 89, Loopster followed the creekbed downstream.

Many branches hung over the creekbed. SPHP often had to duck. More problematic, some deadfall was across it, too. Following the creekbed E, Lupe soon came to a towering wall of rock that forced the stream S.

Approaching the wall of rock that forced Bulldog Creek S. Photo looks E.

Around this bend, Bulldog Creek was a total mess. Deadfall choked the creekbed, which actually had some standing water in it here. Loopster helped herself to a drink, while SPHP thrashed around trying to force a way through.

Loop standing in the pool of water where she managed to get a drink.

SPHP’s progress was dreadfully slow. Fortunately, Lupe didn’t need to follow Bulldog Creek much farther. It quickly turned E again. When it did, Lupe continued S, leaving the wretched stream behind.

Loop was now entering a valley in a very remote region. No sign that anyone ever comes this way! The plan was to follow the valley 0.33 mile S up to a saddle directly W of Peak 4760’s summit, then turn E making a direct assault. However, the floor of the valley was so thick with bushes, that SPHP found it easier staying toward the E.

The terrain forced Lupe higher and higher above the valley floor. SPHP finally realized that it would probably be easier to head SW straight up the mountain right here than try to traverse the increasingly steep slope leading to the saddle W of the summit.

The climb got steeper and steeper. SPHP was on the verge of clinging to trees, and paused repeatedly to gasp for breath. At one point there was a little open spot where Lupe could look back and see Peak 4780, but mostly it was just trees, trees, and more trees.

After gaining hundreds of feet of elevation, the rate of climb diminished slightly. The American Dingo persevered, finally reaching Peak 4760’s N ridge. She was already very high on the mountain. Beginning a search for the true summit, Lupe turned S.

Up on **Peak 4760’s N ridge**. Photo looks SW.

It wasn’t much farther. A sunny lane led right to it.

Approaching **Peak 4760’s summit**. Photo looks SSW.

In a flash, Lupe was there!

At **Peak 4760’s true summit**. Photo looks SSW.

2:11 PM, 65ºF, Peak 4760 true summit – The summit was a surprising place. Despite its prior densely forested appearance, a clearing ran along a short ridge. Although only a partial glimpse of Peak 4780 was available, Veteran Peak (5,333 ft.) was in sight again.

Surprisingly, in sunshine instead of shade. Photo looks NW.

The steep climb had made a genuine rest break a high priority. Before checking out the views, SPHP dug another chocolate coconut bar out of the pack, while Lupe laid down. Ladybugs were holding a convention in the unbelievably warm early December sunshine here, too, but there weren’t as many of them as there had been at Peak 4780.

Although Peak 4760 felt very remote, Lupe clearly wasn’t the only one to ever be here. However, the last visitors might have left a mighty long time ago. Five exceedingly rusty cans and a broken plastic spoon were grouped together right at the true summit.

After devouring her remaining Taste of the Wild, Looper slurped some water. SPHP polished off the last apple. Not much exploring to be done up here, but the time had come for it.

Heading S, the summit ridge soon began to slope lower, broadening out somewhat as it did so. There were scattered trees, but open ground, too. In fact, the best views from Peak 4760 were over this way.

Exploring S along the **summit ridge**. Photo looks NNE.

Toward the S, the ridge widened out and had some open space. Photo looks N.

Best view from the summit region. **Veteran Peak** (R of Center). Photo looks SW.

December afternoons are short. It was a long way back to Alkali Creek. Lupe lingered only 20 minutes up on Peak 4760 before SPHP grabbed the 5 rusty cans and broken spoon, and tossed them in the pack. Loop then started down the N ridge.

Lupe hadn’t lost much elevation yet, when she came to a place where a limestone platform jutted out toward the NW. From the end, there was a nice view of Peak 4780.

Then it was down, down, down Peak 4760’s N ridge! Lupe scrambled around a few rock formations, and dodged deadfall. When the N ridge eventually broadened out, becoming less distinct, Loop stayed toward the W, which put her on steep terrain.

After a long descent, Lupe reached Bulldog Creek 0.33 mile downstream of where she’d left it earlier. It was completely dry here. After crossing the creekbed, she had to scramble 40 feet up a steep bank to reach USFS Road No. 139 again.

0.5 mile on No. 139 brought Lupe back up to where Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed it. This time she took the trail N, eventually reaching the same junction where the trail to the Sturgis City Dams split off toward Peak 4780’s summit. Downhill essentially all the way back to the Alkali Creek trailhead from here.

Getting late, though! Light was fading as SPHP was finally able to pick up the pace. Considerable progress had been made down the mountain when suddenly there was movement in the deepening gloom ahead.

A dog! Not just any dog, either. Tail slowly wagging, Poett stood alone on the trail, waiting to greet Lupe!

They sniffed. Then Poett joined the procession, preferring to fall in at the end of the line. Still some distance down to Poett’s Corner. SPHP was glad when Poett began to fall behind. Evidently, Poett was going to be content to return home, instead of following Lupe past his gate and bell.

What a way to end the day, Loopster! You finally got to meet Poett, canine celebrity of the N Centennial Trail!

We were lucky, SPHP! I’m so glad to see that Poett’s well and still actively patrolling his part of Centennial Trail No. 89!

And who knows? If you head up into the Black Hills from the Alkali Creek trailhead, Poett may be there still. (End 5:31 PM, 51ºF)

**Poett** at dusk, Centennial Trail No. 89, Black Hills of South Dakota 12-2-21

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Centennial Trail No. 89 Map & Brochure

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 274 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Elk Creek to Alkali Creek (4-10-21)

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 282 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Elk Creek to Peak 5261 (10-30-21)

The “Ponderosa Hike” along Centennial Trail No. 89 had worked out so well for new Cousin Laddie and Cousin Dusty yesterday, that SPHP had proposed another jaunt along the Centennial Trail this morning.

What a difference a day made, though! Yesterday had been sunny and warm, almost summer. On the way to the Elk Creek trailhead, Uncle Joe drove under a dark cloud hanging over the hills. Late fall, maybe even early winter, greeted Lupe as she leapt out of the RAV4. Definitely on the chilly side!

In fact, it was so chilly that the American Dingo soon leapt right back into the warm comfort of the RAV4, staying there until Uncle Joe and SPHP were ready to hit the trail.

A chilly start at **Centennial Trail No. 89’s Elk Creek trailhead**.

Despite the temperature plunge, everyone was in good spirits! Soon Loop and Cousin Dusty were leading the way as Centennial Trail No. 89 started NNE up a wooded ravine. Before long the trail left the ravine, climbing to a flatter region of open pine forest toward the NW. This flat stretch didn’t last long, either. The trail began climbing again as it curved up a hillside.

In the open forest, starting to climb again.

Rounding a sharp bend, the trail resumed a NE course, climbing more steeply. This turn had scarcely been left behind when Uncle Joe spotted a curious rock formation 200 feet off toward the SE. Looked like there was a cave over there! The whole gang ventured over to investigate.

The rock formation proved to be a high point at the end of a small flat region overlooking a forested ravine. Sure enough, there was a dark opening into the rocks! While caves aren’t all that unusual in the Black Hills, nearly all of them are found in limestone formations. These rocks clearly weren’t limestone, so Uncle Joe’s discovery was a rare find.

Cousins Dusty and Laddie weren’t inclined to investigate any further. What if a mountain lion lived there? Lupe, however, wasn’t worried at all. Without hesitating in the least, the Carolina Dog went up to peer into the black opening.

Cousins Dusty and Laddie look on, ready to run for it, if Lupe gets eaten by a lion.

No need to worry about any mountain lions! If there was one, it’s already escaped out the back. This isn’t a cave, it’s a tunnel!

Loopster was right!

A tunnel! That was really strange. Uncle Joe and SPHP both took a look. The tunnel was about 20 feet long, perfectly straight, uniform diameter, and slanted somewhat down toward the S. Other than a few loose rocks, the bottom was fairly smooth.

The rock formation the tunnel went through looked completely natural, but neither Joe nor SPHP could decide if this tunnel was natural, or not. If human-made, what purpose had it served? Dingo-sized, Lupe could have trotted through it with ease, but the tunnel seemed too small for most human projects. No signs of any other construction were round about. Odd, very odd.

Uncle Joe scrambled around to the back side of the tunnel, which exited the rock formation next to a drop-off. He then tried to entice Lupe to go through the tunnel to join him.

Maybe even Lupe was starting to get the willies? The American Dingo entered the tunnel, but even though she could see Joe at the far end, she refused to go all the way through.

Uncle Joe by the tunnel’s exit above the drop-off.

Loop partway in, getting spooked despite Joe’s encouragement to come on through!

Whether human-made or natural, the tunnel was so unusual that there seemed to be no explanation for its existence. Finding no clues, and in case a mountain lion might be on its way back home, everyone returned to Centennial Trail No. 89 leaving the mystery unsolved.

Continuing on, the trail climbed a bit steeply, but soon the slope became much more gradual. Eventually the trail began curving N. Abandoning it, everyone headed for a minor ridge to the E for a look around. Not much to be seen up here, so a shortcut was taken down a slope to the N to rejoin Centennial Trail No. 89 at a saddle where it crossed unmarked USFS Road No. 169.

Up on the minor ridge. **HP5141** (R). Photo looks N.

After crossing the road, the trail began angling WNW along the SW slopes of HP5141. Before Centennial Trail No. 89 headed back into the forest, there was a bit of a view of hills to the NW, their tops softened and blurred by the low hanging clouds.

N of USFS Road No. 169. Photo looks WNW.

0.25 mile beyond USFS Road No. 169, a small clearing was reached at a second pass between HP5141 and HP5212. A sign indicated that it was a mile back to the Elk Creek trailhead. The trail continued W from here traversing a steep slope, but remained fairly level.

Once past the S end of HP5212, Centennial Trail No. 89 gradually began to curve N. The trail first lost, then regained some elevation, eventually going over another minor pass. Meanwhile, the sky was darkening as the gray clouds blanketing the region slowly crept down the hillsides.

Dusty, Joe, and Laddie leading the way **SW of HP5212**. Photo looks NW.

Getting colder out! A barely detectable mist began. The trail widened as it reached an old roadbed. Patches of snow left over from a prior storm added to an increasingly wintery feel.

Patches of snow added to a wintery atmosphere as the sky darkened and a light mist began.

Winding along the mountainside, the trail continued N. Uncle Joe began to wonder if maybe it wasn’t getting to be time to turn back? However, Lupe had been here before. SPHP was convinced that it wasn’t much farther to a junction with a trail that went to the Sturgis Reservoirs, and that junction was very close to Peak 5261, today’s peakbagging objective.

The chilly march went on and on. The trail junction was farther than SPHP remembered, but it finally appeared. From here, Centennial Trail No. 89 curved E, climbing 60 feet up to a broad grassy pass.

At the junction with the trail to the Sturgis Reservoirs. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued up to the R (E) from here. Photo looks NE.

Up at the **pass N of Peak 5261**. Photo looks SE.

Peak 5261 was only 0.2 mile S of this pass. The trail didn’t go up there, but the N slope was only moderately steep. Cousins Dusty and Laddie couldn’t get this close and not go to the top to claim their Peak 5261 peakbagging success, could they? That would be a shame!

Following a long snowbank, Lupe started up first, leading the way.

Heading up **Peak 5261**. Photo looks S.

Peak 5261’s summit was only 120 feet higher than the pass. Soon the N slope was leveling out. The top of the mountain could be seen a short distance ahead.

**Peak 5261’s summit region**. Joe heading for the true summit. Photo looks S.

Of course, everyone got there. Cousins Dusty and Laddie secured their second Black Hills peakbagging success in two days. Unfortunately, this ascent wasn’t as successful in other respects. Cold and foggy with a chill, damp breeze, conditions were none too pleasant.

Back at home this morning, the day had been sunny and bright. SPHP had chosen this destination partly because getting here wouldn’t be too hard for Cousin Dusty, who was now 15, but also in part for the views of Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) and Bear Butte (4,422 ft.). Cousin Dusty had made it, but the views were a disappointing no show.

*We made it, but the views didn’t! Sorry about that!* Joe and Lupe at Peak 5261’s summit.

Joe strikes a dramatic pose pointing out the fabulous display of nothing but fog while Lupe and Laddie gather round.

Too miserable out to linger! Plans for a summit celebration involving chocolate coconut bars, Kinkaid bars, and apples were cancelled. A few minutes at the top, and the whole pack headed back down Peak 5261’s N slope to pick up Centennial Trail No. 89 again.

Merely a postponement! The Peak 5261 ascent celebration actually did come off due to popular demand a mile later at a more sheltered spot. Not to be denied, Lupe, Dusty and Laddie all got their chocolate coconut bar rewards.

Then it was back through the wintery fog, all the way past the Tunnel of Mystery to the Elk Creek trailhead.

Tomorrow was Halloween! Sadly, Uncle Joe, Dusty and Laddie would all be heading back home to Colorado. Meeting cousin Laddie and getting to introduce him to the Black Hills had been fun, and it had been terrific to hit the trail with Joe and Dusty again.