Brush Creek trailhead – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 229 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Brush Creek to Rapid Creek & Perrin Mountain (5-14-18)

Start – 10:26 AM, 62°F, Brush Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

15 days after reaching Centennial Trail No. 89’s Brush Creek trailhead from the S, Lupe was back. After days of gloomy mist and fog, bright white clouds now floated in a clean blue sky. A pretty morning in May, but the air was humid. Lupe and SPHP were both glad it wasn’t any warmer out than it was.

Lupe returns to the Brush Creek trailhead ready to continue her explorations farther N on **Centennial Trail No. 89**.

111 mile long Centennial Trail No. 89 goes from **Bear Butte** near Sturgis, South Dakota to **Wind Cave National Park** in the southern Black Hills.

The first part of today’s plan was to explore Centennial Trail No. 89 all the way N to the Tamarack Gulch and Rapid Creek trailheads, a distance of 4.9 miles as the trail goes. Lupe started off following the trail NE down Brush Creek canyon.

Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed the road frequently. In some places the trail was practically non-existent, so Lupe simply trotted along right on the road. Most of the time, though, she stayed on the single track trail.

*Yes, the road is close by and easier, but following the trail is more fun!*

Except for a few small pools of water and a tiny trickle of a stream close to the trailhead, Brush Creek was totally dry. The canyon was pretty, though, with some fairly impressive rock walls.

Brush Creek was dry, but the canyon featured some scenic rock walls.

After 3/8 of a mile, Centennial Trail No. 89 left Brush Creek Road for good. The trail turned N and went over a small ridge. On the other side of the ridge, Lupe discovered another creek. This was Prairie Creek, which actually did have flowing water. The Carolina Dog was already interested in a little refreshment.

Centennial Trail No. 89 leaves Brush Creek Road for good here. It continues N over this low forested ridge. Photo looks NE.

*Sure, this may look like it could be Brush Creek, but it’s actually **Prairie Creek**!*

Loopster wouldn’t have had to run down to Prairie Creek right away. Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed the stream 3 times over the next 0.25 mile. The creek crossings were trivial. Stepping stones were available for SPHP’s use. Lupe didn’t bother with them. She preferred to cool her paws off in the shallow stream.

*Nothing to these **Prairie Creek** crossings! Use the stepping stones or cool your paws off, whatever you prefer!*

After the 3rd creek crossing, Prairie Creek veered off into a side canyon. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued NW up Gold Standard Gulch. Lupe gained elevation steadily, but slowly. For a little way, large rock walls were NE of the trail. Farther on, Gold Standard Gulch was simply a pleasant valley. The valley floor was dominated by stands of aspens or small meadows. Ponderosa pines covered the hillsides.

For a little way beyond the last Prairie Creek crossing large rock walls were seen along the NE side of **Gold Standard Gulch**. Photo looks NNW.

Farther on, **Gold Standard Gulch** was simply a nice valley full of bushes and aspens. Ponderosa pines dominated the hillsides. Photo looks NW.

Little changed for nearly 1.5 miles, but eventually the terrain began to steepen. Lupe was gaining elevation faster, but still at only a moderate pace. It became clear, however, that she would soon be coming to some sort of pass or high point.

The aspens gave way to an open pine forest which had been thinned by logging operations. Centennial Trail No. 89 curved N. A dirt logging road brought Lupe to a saddle at the upper end of Gold Standard Gulch. Loop was already over halfway to the Rapid Creek trailhead. The saddle seemed like a good spot to take a short break.

Lupe wasn’t hungry yet. She rested on pine needles atop little rock ledges W of the trail. SPHP had an apple. Not too surprisingly given the humid conditions, the sky had clouded up. Rain was a low probability according to the forecast, but seemed rather likely.

If Lupe hadn’t stopped here, SPHP would have followed the logging road right on over the N side of the saddle. However, while Lupe relaxed, SPHP suddenly realized that there was a Centennial Trail No. 89 marker in the forest on the opposite side of the road. Evidently, the trail left the logging road at this pass.

On the saddle at the upper end of **Gold Standard Gulch**. Centennial Trail No. 89 leaves the logging road here. Lupe is close to the marker. Photo looks NE.

When SPHP was ready, Lupe pressed on. Centennial Trail No. 89 went NE over a small forested hill on a ridgeline. The trail didn’t stay up on the ridge for long. Soon it turned NW and began winding down into Tamarack Gulch. Lupe came to a grassy road, which the trail followed N down the gulch.

Centennial Trail No. 89 follows a grassy road down **Tamarack Gulch**. Photo looks N.

Tamarack Gulch was steeper than Gold Standard Gulch had been. Lupe rapidly lost 400 feet of elevation. Centennial Trail No. 89 didn’t go all the way down Tamarack Gulch, but left it, swinging briefly to the W on a side road on some level ground. After only a few hundred feet, the trail left the side road, too, becoming a single track trail once again heading NW. Another 80+ feet of elevation loss brought Lupe to a cabin just S of the Tamarack Gulch trailhead.

Tamarack Gulch trailhead was nothing more than a turnaround loop for vehicles on a flat open meadow near Rapid Creek. By the time Lupe got there, it was raining. A huge Ponderosa pine next to the creek provided Lupe and SPHP some degree of protection from the rain.

It was raining when Lupe reached the Tamarack Gulch trailhead near **Rapid Creek**. Photo looks N.

Rain fell for 20 minutes while Lupe and SPHP sheltered under the big pine tree. Little trout were leaping in the creek almost the whole time. They were fun to watch. Every now and then a larger trout made an especially big splash.

The rain eased up. Onward! Lupe was now in the broad, flat Rapid Creek valley. The Rapid Creek trailhead was only 0.6 mile away. Two pawbridges over the meandering river would get her there.

Approaching the first pawbridge over **Rapid Creek** near the Tamara Gulch trailhead. Photo looks NNW.

At the first of two pawbridges over Rapid Creek. Photo looks SW.

By the time Lupe reached the second pawbridge, the rain had completely ended. Sunshine was drying the damp Dingo off as she approached the Rapid Creek trailhead.

The rain was completely over by the time Lupe reached the second pawbridge over **Rapid Creek**. Photo looks NW.

Looking downstream from the 2nd pawbridge. Photo looks SE.

Approaching the Rapid Creek trailhead. The Pactola Reservoir spillway is seen on the L. Photo looks W.

*Damp, but not daunted! And not even damp for long. Getting to the Rapid Creek trailhead was easy! Now what, SPHP? Shall we go take a look at the pond below the spillway?*

Upon reaching the Rapid Creek trailhead, Lupe had completed her planned explorations along Centennial Trail No. 89 for the day. Of course, she’d have to take the trail all the way back to the Brush Creek trailhead again, but even so, she had lots of time to spare.

Lupe and SPHP wandered over to have a look at the pond below the Pactola Reservoir spillway. Several ducks flew off as Lupe drew near. Loop climbed up an embankment for a better view of the pond.

The Rapid Creek trailhead is located below the Pactola Reservoir dam. A side road comes down from Hwy 385 up on the dam to the trailhead.

Lupe arrives at the pond below the **Pactola Reservoir spillway** for a look around. She saw a number of ducks, but most of them flew away as she approached.

Another look from up on an embankment. **Pactola Reservoir dam** (L) and the **spillway** (R) are both in view. Photo looks SW.

This pond is only a couple hundred yards from Centennial Trail No. 89’s Rapid Creek trailhead. Worth a look, aye? If you are feeling ambitious, you can go up and take a look at Pactola Reservoir, the largest lake in the Black Hills, too, from up on the dam.

From the pond, Lupe could have gone up onto the dam for a look at Pactola Reservoir, but being more of a peakbagging Dingo than a water Dingo, she had a different adventure in mind. She was going to climb nearby Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.) instead.

*The pond was pretty, but we’re going to go climb a mountain now, right SPHP?*

From the Rapid Creek trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 follows a gravel road NW up a valley as it begins the 5 mile journey to the next trailhead at Deer Creek. Lupe had no intention of going all the way to Deer Creek, but started up the valley. She immediately passed several nice cabins along the way.

*Oh, wouldn’t it be nice if SPHP would buy me a beautiful cabin in the Black Hills like this one?*

Just beyond the last lovely cabin (pictured above), the valley and road both forked. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued up the L fork. Lupe took the road to the R. She followed it only a few hundred feet before turning E and climbing up onto a forested ridge. On the other side of this ridge was another valley. A big power line was down there.

Lupe followed the ridge she was already on climbing steadily N.

Climbing the forested ridge on the way to Perrin Mountain. Photo looks N.

Lupe eventually began to get tree broken views of Pactola Reservoir back to the SW. When she had gone over 0.5 mile and gained 500 feet of elevation, she reached the power line. From here she had her first and only clear view of Pactola Reservoir on her way up Perrin Mountain.

When Lupe reached the power line, she got her only clear view of **Pactola Reservoir** on the way up Perrin Mountain. Photo looks SW.

Lupe went under the power line climbing NNE. The ridge was steep here, but remained so only until she reached a large rock formation.

Not far from the power line, Lupe reaches the largest rock formation she came to while climbing Perrin Mountain. Photo looks SSW.

Another 0.1 mile brought Lupe to a grassy high point. This high point was both the far N end of the ridge she had been following and part of Perrin Mountain’s main W ridge. The summit was still 0.5 mile away off to the ESE. Loop would only need to gain another 230 feet of elevation on the way there.

The American Dingo headed E for the summit. The gradual uphill trek on the broad ridge was fun and easy. Lupe passed many upright tilted rock formations only a few feet high. Glimpses of Pactola Reservoir were available between the trees almost the entire time, but the forest was thick enough so the views didn’t really grab or hold attention.

More than halfway to the summit, Lupe came to a dirt road. The road soon ended at a campfire ring made of stones. Neanderthals had been here! They’d left broken glass and beer cans as evidence of the power and glory of their civilization. For the moment, Lupe and SPHP left this fabulous archeological discovery undisturbed .

At the Neanderthal archeological site on Perrin Mountain.

A single track trail led to the summit of Perrin Mountain (5,212). Lupe had been here once before more than 2 years ago, so she knew what to expect. No views, and only a small rock outcropping at the true summit.

On the single track trail leading to the top of **Perrin Mountain**. The summit isn’t far from here! Photo looks SE.

Back on top of **Perrin Mountain** for the 1st time in more than 2 years. Photo looks E.

*So what, if you can’t see much from here? This still counts as another successful ascent in the peakbagging world!* Photo looks SE.

*Centennial Trail No. 89 is fun, but I like to spice it up with a bit of peakbagging along the way whenever possible!* Photo looks NE.

As soon as Lupe reached the top of Perrin Mountain, she heard thunder off to the N. The sunshine had disappeared again a while ago. More rain was on the way. The plan had been to take an extended break up on Perrin Mountain, but maybe that wasn’t such a great idea?

Things didn’t seem too threatening yet, though. Loop and SPHP lounged about for a while. The Carolina Dog was hungry. The Taste of the Wild supply disappeared. The last apple vanished, too. Thunder rumbled off to the N every few minutes, as a reminder not to get too complacent.

Not much had changed up on Perrin Mountain in the past 2 years, which was a good thing, of course. The Hurt Locker sign was still attached to a tree a little SE of the true summit. SPHP still thought it must refer to a first aid locker, but none was to be seen.

Perhaps this sign refers to a first aid kit that used to be here?

A stroll around Perrin Mountain’s summit area didn’t reveal much. Lupe could see a short stretch of Hwy 44 off to the NE. She had badly tree broken views of Pactola Reservoir to the SW. That was about it. The most interesting thing was a huge dead tree NW of the true summit.

The Perrin Mountain summit area was pleasantly secluded. Not too exciting, however, except for the rumble of thunder. The true summit is seen on the R. Photo looks N.

This big dead tree NW of the true summit was the most dramatic thing to be seen. Photo looks NNW.

Half an hour after arriving, Lupe left the summit of Perrin Mountain. She now had to retrace the entire journey here all the way back to the Brush Creek trailhead where she’d started. On the way, she stopped by the Neanderthal site where SPHP looted the priceless treasures.

On an upright rock formation on Perrin Mountain’s W ridge. Photo looks WNW.

The next rain shower caught Lupe on Centennial Trail No. 89 out in the open between the Rapid Creek and Tamarack Gulch trailheads. The rain fell harder this time, but fortunately wasn’t a deluge. The shower ended as Lupe reached the big pine tree next to Rapid Creek at the Tamarack Gulch trailhead. The little trout were still jumping, so Loop and SPHP hung out beneath the big tree for a few minutes to watch them.

A couple of Canadian geese were wandering about checking out the local real estate on offer. Apparently it had been looking promising. Rapid Creek and the rain shower were both desirable features. However, they sauntered away when they saw a Carolina Dog in the neighborhood. Who wants to live next to such riffraff?

A couple of Canadian geese were out inspecting local real estate at the Tamarack Gulch trailhead.

**Perrin Mountain** (Center) from the **Tamarack Gulch trailhead**. The geese saunter off as Lupe pretends not to notice the insult. Photo looks N.

Once Lupe had regained 500 feet of elevation going up Tamarack Gulch to reach the saddle at the upper end of Gold Standard Gulch, the rest of the return trip was easy. Thunder continued to rumble for a while, but eventually faded away. It never did rain again. The sun even came out for a few seconds now and then.

Going down Gold Standard Gulch was fun! Squirrels in the aspen trees provided plenty of excitement and entertainment. All too soon, the first of the three Prairie Creek crossings appeared indicating the approaching end of the good times in Gold Standard Gulch.

The return trek down **Gold Standard Gulch** was fun and easy. Photo looks E.

*Come on, SPHP! This is prime squirrel territory! Let’s go find some.* Photo looks E.

*Well, this has been fun, hasn’t it? And to think that we have the whole place all to ourselves!*

Loop reaches **Prairie Creek** again nearing the lower end of **Gold Standard Gulch**. 2 more creek crossings to go! Photo looks NE.

While going up Brush Creek canyon on the last part of the return trip, Lupe scared up a bird along the trail. It flew up from the ground only a little way to sit on a low branch. Neither Lupe nor SPHP had ever seen a bird quite like it anywhere in the Black Hills before.

*Of course, I know what kind of bird it is, Loop! That’s a brown crested whatchamacallit.*

The strange bird provided the evening’s final bit of excitement. Lupe was soon back at the Brush Creek trailhead and the G6. (6:45 PM, 53°F)

The last of the American Dingo’s three adventures along Centennial Trail No. 89 in the spring of 2018 were now complete. They had been fun, but summer was coming! Lupe had a couple more adventures ahead of her in the western high country of the Black Hills before June, but after that her summer of 2018 Dingo Vacations to exotic and remote locations far from home would begin.

*Oh, don’t worry Centennial Trail fans! I’ll be back in the fall for more great adventures along Centennial Trail No. 89, so stay tuned!*

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Next Trail Section South:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 227 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Spring Creek to Twin Peaks & Brush Creek (4-29-18)

Next Trail Section North:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 234 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Rapid Creek to Deer Creek (9-22-18)

Centennial Trail No. 89 Map & Brochure

Lupe treasures gathered – 18 aluminum cans and some broken glass.

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. 227 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Spring Creek to Twin Sisters & Brush Creek (4-29-18)

Start – 9:09 AM, 68°F, Spring Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

Half a dozen vehicles were at the Spring Creek trailhead off Sheridan Lake Road when Lupe arrived. Apparently the day was going to get off to a busy start, at least by the Carolina Dog’s standards.

Lupe didn’t mind having an opportunity to meet a few people and sniff with other dogs. They were all likely to be concentrated around this first part of the trail along Spring Creek and Sheridan Lake. She would have plenty of solitude soon enough. Loop was eager to get going, and was underway as soon as SPHP was ready.

The Spring Creek trailhead provides access to Flume Trail No. 50 and the 111 mile long Centennial Trail No. 89. A spur trail follows Spring Creek upstream for a mile to Sheridan Lake where intersections with both of the main trails are found. Spring Creek is one of the larger streams in the Black Hills. The upstream trek is easy and beautiful.

By **Spring Creek** only a short distance from the trailhead.

Several beam bridges cross Spring Creek on the way to Sheridan Lake. Before the first bridge a shortcut to the Dakota Point trailhead appears on the R. This seldom used side route is easy to miss, if not looking for it. The shortcut avoids the rest of Spring Creek and Sheridan Lake entirely.

Lupe wasn’t looking for a shortcut now. Water in all its forms lends beauty and tranquility to almost any scene. The American Dingo had plenty of time to take the scenic route. She skipped the shortcut and went on to the first bridge.

On the first beam bridge across **Spring Creek**. Lupe would cross a couple more of these bridges on her way to Sheridan Lake.

Lupe did meet several people and a couple of dogs, but only briefly. A fisherman hadn’t had any luck fishing Spring Creek. Although the sky was overcast, everyone was enjoying the unseasonably warm day.

The spur trail was practically level almost all the way to Sheridan Lake. Near the dam the trail became steeper, but not for long. Loop was soon up on the S end of the dam. She had reached Centennial Trail No. 89.

Lupe arrives at **Sheridan Lake** near the S end of the dam. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe could have taken Centennial Trail No. 89 SE along Sheridan Lake from here. Alternatively, Flume Trail No. 50 branches off just S of the dam. However, the plan was to explore the Centennial Trail N to the Brush Creek trailhead, a distance of nearly 8 miles.

The American Dingo trotted across the dam heading N. At the far end, a winding stone stairway led to the top of a small hill.

Looking S at the Sheridan Lake dam. The hill on the R is **Bluelead Mountain (5,170 ft.)** where Lupe had seen a mountain lion on Leap Day in 2016. The more distant higher hill R of Center is **Calumet Ridge (5,601 ft.)**.

E end of **Sheridan Lake**. Photo looks SW.

Leaving Sheridan Lake behind, Lupe crossed a footbridge over the Spring Creek outlet.

This footbridge spans the narrow chasm where Spring Creek flows out of Sheridan Lake. Lupe crossed it on her way to the Dakota Point trailhead.

After crossing this last bridge over Spring Creek, Lupe had nearly a mile to go on Centennial Trail No. 89 to get to the Dakota Point trailhead. This entire route was on an old road through the forest. For the first 0.5 mile, the road went N up a valley until it reached a saddle. At the saddle, the road leveled out and turned W the rest of the way.

No vehicles were at the Dakota Point trailhead. The road hike from Sheridan Lake to get here had been a bit dull. However, Lupe still had 6.8 miles to go to get to the Brush Creek trailhead, and the trail was about to get more interesting. The trail crossed a gravel road becoming a single track going downhill on the other side.

Being on the single track was more fun. The trail went both up and down in a forest that had been thinned. Overall, Loopster lost a little net elevation by the time she reached Sheridan Lake Road 0.5 mile NW of the Dakota Point trailhead.

After passing the Dakota Point trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 becomes a single track for 0.5 mile on the way to Sheridan Lake Road. Photo looks NW.

Once Lupe crossed Sheridan Lake Road, Centennial Trail No. 89 took her NW up a long valley. This was the start of a much more private and less traveled region.

Lupe had hardly gotten started up the valley when she crossed a tiny trickle of a stream. The day was quite warm, very warm if wearing a fashionable fur coat like Lupe was. The tiny stream featured a small, rather slimy green waterhole. The American Dingo was not shy about helping herself to a slimy drink, and a quick slimy, cooling bath.

*Slime? What slime? This is great! Nice and cool!*

Centennial Trail No. 89 followed an abandoned USFS Road up the long valley. The grassy road seemed like a part of nature.

Going up the long valley. Photo looks NW.

The trail continued NW or N following a maze of old roads. Most of this area was forested, but Lupe passed a few meadows, too. At one point she went by a large rock formation on the R. It was the only one, though. This wasn’t rough territory.

Lupe gained elevation steadily at a modest pace. A mile from Sheridan Lake Road she reached a minor crest. Beyond the crest the trail brought her to a large power line.

About a mile from Sheridan Lake Road, Lupe reaches a big power line. Centennial Trail No. 89 follows the power line for a couple hundred yards before disappearing back into the forest on the R. Photo looks NE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 turned NE here, following the power line for 200 yards before heading E back into the forest. Lupe quickly crossed a small saddle before losing elevation slowly as the trail entered a more open region. Stands of aspens were common.

After leaving the power line and crossing a small forested saddle, Lupe enters a shallow valley where aspens were common among the pines. Photo looks ESE.

Much of the Centennial Trail sees only light use. Trail maintenance is spotty. In many places trail markers are missing, have faded or fallen over. Unless some degree of alertness is maintained, it can be easy to miss turns. SPHP sensed Lupe might be approaching one of these places. The trail was going E or even SE. Somewhere around here, it would have to turn N again fairly soon.

The grassy road the trail followed took Loop well into the aspens before she reached the turn N. Fortunately, this turn was marked. Otherwise it would have been so easy to keep following the grassy road SE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 turns N (L) here. Fortunately, the turn is marked by an arrow on the brown wand (R). Photo looks ESE.

As soon as the trail turned N, Lupe began gradually regaining the nearly 100 feet of elevation she had lost on the way down into the aspens. She regained it all and more before reaching another saddle in a pine forest. This saddle was SE of High Point 5302 and SW of High Point 5331.

It was time for a short break. Small rock outcroppings a little SE of the trail seemed like a good spot. Lupe had water. She wasn’t interested in her Taste of the Wild yet, but was quite happy to help SPHP out with that chocolate granola bar.

Although there had been sections of downhill on the way here, none of them had been too significant. For the most part, Lupe had been gaining elevation. She was now at 5,200 feet, the highest point she would reach while actually on Centennial Trail No. 89 all day.

At the high point of Centennial Trail No. 89 between the Brush Creek trailhead and Sheridan Lake. Lupe’s at 5,200+ feet here. Photo looks N.

When break time was over, Lupe started the first significant downhill stretch she’d come to all day. At first, on the steepest part of the decline, Centennial Trail No. 89 followed an old road. Once Looper had lost 200 feet going generally N, the trail swung E while losing another 150 feet.

After losing more than 200 feet of elevation from the high point, Centennial Trail No. 89 leaves the road here to skirt the hillside on the L. Photo looks E.

Although the Black Hills are full of deadfall timber resulting from a pine bark beetle infestation, Lupe came to very little deadfall on the portion of Centennial Trail No. 89 that she explored today. This short stretch was an exception. Photo looks ENE.

0.75 mile from the high point where Lupe had taken her short break, Centennial Trail No. 89 bottomed out. It now started up a valley that led NNE. Lupe was about to enter the Bald Hills, an area of grasslands covering 2+ square miles within the Black Hills National Forest. She soon arrived at a saddle E of Twin Sisters (5,244 ft.).

Centennial Trail No. 89 passes right by the **Twin Sisters**. The **E Twin Sister** is the hill seen here. Photo looks WSW.

The E Twin Sister is the highest, and sits along the edge of the Bald Hills. Centennial Trail No. 89 goes right by it. This was an opportunity for Lupe to get a little peakbagging in! Loop and SPHP left the trail and made the short climb to the top.

Loop arrives at the summit of the **E Twin Sister**. **Peak 5800** is seen on the L. The lower grasslands are part of the area known as the Bald Hills. Photo looks WNW.

**Peak 5800** is on the L. The most distant forested hill R of Center is the mountain Lupe knows as **New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.)**. Photo looks WNW.

The summit of the E Twin Sister was a short ridge running N/S. Deadfall timber littered the entire N end, and part of the S end, too. A patch of ground right at the true summit was open and only a bit rocky. Many dead trees had fallen over, but enough dead and live pines were still standing to mar the views in most directions.

Still, this wasn’t a bad vantage point. Lupe could see a number of peaks she had been to before. She also enjoyed a commanding view of the Bald Hills to the E.

**Five Points (6,221 ft.)** (L of Center) is on the horizon. The nearest ridge beyond Lupe is the lower **W Twin Sister**. Photo looks SW.

Lupe liked this commanding view of the **Bald Hills**. Photo looks E.

The temperature must have been in the 70’s °F. The physical exertion of following the trail and climbing E Twin Sister was enough to make it seem very warm. Lupe and SPHP were both ready for water and a longer break. The Carolina Dog thought maybe it would be best to eat the other chocolate granola bar right now before the chocolate melted. That seemed like a good idea, and the deed was done.

The heat made Loop and SPHP lazy. Twin Sisters was a nice spot with at least some views. Why not relax a bit? Lupe laid down next to SPHP. She enjoyed being petted while scanning the Bald Hills below for any signs of movement. A few insects buzzed by. The warm air and light breeze felt good when you weren’t doing anything.

SPHP woke up. The American Dingo was still right there. She hadn’t moved a muscle. The sky had been overcast when Lupe arrived up on Twin Sisters, but now it was sunny. That really had been a nice break, but it was time to get going. Loop and SPHP headed NE down toward Centennial Trail No. 89.

After a nice long break up on Twin Sisters, Lupe heads back down to Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks NE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 headed NE losing elevation as it crossed the Bald Hills. It looked like it was going to go down a long valley, but instead curved E. The trail climbed again staying in the Bald Hills a little longer before turning N and heading for the trees. Before it reached the forest, Lupe took another look back at Twin Sisters.

Looking back across the Bald Hills toward **Twin Sisters** (L), **Peak 5800** (Center) & **New Year’s Eve Peak** (R). Photo looks SW.

0.5 mile NE of Twin Sisters, Centennial Trail No. 89 entered the forest once more. Lupe lost elevation gradually over the next 0.5 mile. The trail rounded a ridge and came to a tiny Dingo-sized forest.

Approaching the tiny forest. Photo looks NNW.

After climbing through the tiny forest, Lupe reached a saddle where she crossed a gravel road. On the other side Centennial Trail No. 89 began losing elevation again. The Carolina Dog was now on the final stretch approaching Brush Creek.

Near the start of the final stretch leading down to Brush Creek. Photo looks N.

*I’ll have you know this was a very exciting part of the trail. I found a squirrel!* Photo looks N.

Before long, Lupe was at Brush Creek. Brush Creek didn’t amount to much. Hardly a trickle. However, there were a couple of nice pools of water. The Carolina Dog was glad to see them!

*I was so thirsty after barking at that squirrel!*

*Maybe we should follow streams all the time now that it’s getting warm out? So nice to be able to cool off!*

The Brush Creek trailhead was across a gravel road from Brush Creek. One vehicle was here, but no one was around. The trailhead featured a map and information about Centennial Trail No. 89.

Centennial Trail No. 89 winds 111 miles from Bear Butte near Sturgis, SD to Wind Cave National Park in the southern Black Hills.

At the Brush Creek trailhead, Lupe was somewhere around 8.5 miles from where she’d started out at the Spring Creek trailhead this morning. This was far enough for one day, since she now had to go all the way back. When SPHP was done looking at the posted map and information about the trail, Lupe set off again. This time she was heading S.

By the time Loopster made it back to the Bald Hills, the sunny day had vanished. A thunderstorm was approaching out of the SSW.

A thunderstorm was approaching out of the SSW by the time Lupe made it back to the **Bald Hills**. The **E Twin Sister** is dead ahead. Photo looks SW.

Loop and SPHP left the trail to take a shortcut across the Bald Hills to Twin Sisters (5,244 ft.). The original plan had been to climb both the E and W Twin Sisters on the return trip, but with the storm approaching, Lupe would be lucky to beat it to just the E Twin Sister.

People were shooting guns somewhere off to the E not too far away. Lupe couldn’t see them, but the sound of gunfire so close by made her a nervous wreck. She wanted to find a place to hide, but SPHP urged her on toward the E Twin Sister.

Pasque flowers, the state flower of South Dakota, were blooming out on the Bald Hills.

When Loopster reached the summit of the E Twin Sister again, she felt better. The gunfire was far away now. She really wasn’t as safe as she thought, though. Trees swayed in a gusty S wind, light rain was falling, thunder rumbled, and occasional lightning flashes could be seen only a few miles away.

Back at the summit of **E Twin Sister** for the 2nd time today. Photo looks NW.

**Five Points** on the horizon seen through light rain. Photo looks SW.

**Five Points (6,221 ft.)**. Photo looks SW.

Although the storm wasn’t bad yet, due to the lightning SPHP was eager to leave the summit almost as soon as Lupe arrived. All thoughts of climbing the W Twin Sister had gone out the window, too.

When SPHP started down, Lupe didn’t follow. She wanted to stay. She felt safe from the gunfire here, and apparently had fond memories of the earlier nap on E Twin Sister. Clearly, the Carolina Dog was hoping for a repeat performance.

Despite the storm, Loopster wanted to stay up here on **E Twin Sister**. She was looking forward to another nap!

Loopster still had a long way to go. Even if there hadn’t been a storm, there wasn’t time for another nap. SPHP coaxed Loop into returning to the trail.

The storm struck only a glancing blow. It rained, but never too hard. After a while the sun came out. The air was cool now. It was evening. The secluded trek along Centennial Trail No. 89 was wonderful. Loop saw deer and wild turkeys. She went on and on, sniffing happily.

Another storm came and went, striking another glancing blow. Lupe got wet, but not soaked. Near the end of the day, she took the shortcut leading down to the spur trail near the first bridge over Spring Creek. The sun was down and light was fading by the time Lupe was closing in on the Spring Creek trailhead again. It wasn’t dark when she arrived back at the G6, but would be soon. (8:06 PM, 52°F)

Time to head home for Alpo, and a night dreaming of days yet to come on Centennial Trail No. 89.