Cicero Peak – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 109 – Cicero, Northeast Cicero, Daisy & Kruger Peaks (12-13-14)

Lupe was up before dawn. SPHP hadn’t gotten up early enough for Expedition No. 108 to take Lupe to Cicero Peak (6,166 ft.), and wasn’t going to make the same mistake again. The sun had yet to make an appearance, but sunrise was coming as Lupe and SPHP headed out in the G6.

Lupe hoping the early Carolina Dog gets the squirrel!

By the time Lupe and SPHP turned onto USFS Road No. 338, the sun was well up above the horizon. SPHP soon regretted turning onto No. 338. A high clearance vehicle wouldn’t have had any problem, but the G6 just wasn’t built to take this kind of abuse.

The narrow road wasn’t steep, but it was littered with rocks large enough to worry about getting a hole torn in the bottom of the G6’s oil pan. Some of the rocks were loose, but many were firmly attached to the mountain. No. 338 wound an excruciatingly long 1.5 miles up to a little parking lot near the top of Cicero Peak.

The G6’s oil pan survived, but the bumpy ride couldn’t have done the alignment, suspension system or tires any good. SPHP was by now firmly resolved that this was the G6’s one and only trip up Cicero Peak. Never again! At least there hadn’t been any traffic on the narrow road. There had been only one possible place to turn around other than the little parking lot near the top.

Lupe, of course, was unconcerned. She was eager to get out, and get going. It was 8:43 AM (45°F), when she hopped out of the G6. The first order of business, of course, was to go the very short remaining distance (30 feet of elevation) up to the summit. In just a few minutes, Lupe was there sniffing around a little building near the base of a tower at the top.

The tower and small building at the top of Cicero Peak.

It turned out there were a few rocks W of the tower that were a little bit higher than where the tower sat. Lupe went over and stood on them to claim her first peakbagging success of the day. Not much of an accomplishment, really. The G6 had done all the real work. Still, Lupe was here, up at the top of Cicero Peak!

Lupe on the highest rocks on Cicero Peak.

Although the top of Cicero Peak was pretty heavily forested, there were places not far below the summit where there were some pretty nice views. From the little parking lot, Lupe could see off to the E. S of the summit was a great open view to the S. Except for a few peaks far to the W, Cicero Peak is the last peak this high this far S in the Black Hills. Lupe could see a long way, clear into Nebraska.

Lupe could see a long way S from Cicero Peak.

USFS Road No. 338 was a lousy road to the top for the G6, but it made a great hiking trail. After taking a shortcut down through the forest W of the summit, Lupe and SPHP followed No. 338 most of the way back down the mountain.

Near the only possible vehicle turnaround point along No. 338, Lupe and SPHP left the road to climb a grassy slope. There were good views from here both back S toward Cicero Peak, and NE toward Lupe’s next peakbagging objective, Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.).

Lupe's next objective, Northeast Cicero Peak, is actually higher than Cicero Peak. Flynn Creek Road can be seen at the base of the mountain, especially toward the R. Photo looks NE. — Lupe’s next objective, Northeast Cicero Peak, is actually higher than Cicero Peak. Flynn Creek Road can be seen at the base of the mountain, especially toward the R. Photo looks NE.

From the grassy slope, Lupe headed directly toward Northeast Cicero Peak. She went down the grassy slope, crossed USFS Road No. 338, and cut through a field dotted here and there with pines. She entered the forest again shortly before reaching USFS Road No. 336 (Flynn Creek Road).

After crossing Flynn Creek Road at the bottom of the valley, Lupe started climbing NNW along a ridgeline. After a while, it was became apparent that this ridge was not going to be a very direct route up Northeast Cicero Peak. Lupe left the ridge, going down into the upper end of a draw. The draw was forested lower down, but mostly open territory at the upper end where Lupe entered it. Lupe found a trail to follow NNE up the other side of the draw. She ultimately arrived up on a saddle ridge running ESE/WNW.

Lupe was now WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak. From the saddle ridge, another higher ridge was visible to the ENE. Most of that ridge was barren. It looked like it had been ravaged by a forest fire at some point in the past. Was that barren ridge Daisy Peak (5,948 ft.), Lupe’s 3rd peakbagging objective of the day? It seemed to be too close, but the ridge led N to a forested hill, which might well be Kruger Peak (5,838 ft.), Lupe’s 4th peakbagging goal of the day.

Lupe reaches the saddle ridge WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak. Photo looks ENE at another higher ridge that SPHP initially mistook for Daisy Peak.

This photo shows High Point 5999 (on the Peakbagger.com topo maps), which SPHP initially mistook for Kruger Peak. Photo looks N from the saddle ridge WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak.

The saddle ridge WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak also provided a great view toward higher mountains to the N and NW.

Looking NNW from the saddle ridge WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak. Some of the highest peaks of the Black Hills are in view.

After taking in the views from the saddle area, it was time for Lupe to continue on up Northeast Cicero Peak. From Cicero Peak, SPHP had noticed a large grassy area that extended high up onto the SW part of the mountain. It couldn’t be too far away from where Lupe was now. Lupe and SPHP set off heading SE to look for it.

After crossing a level open area, Lupe had to climb steeply up through a thick forest of young trees where there was snow on the ground. Lupe emerged above the forest not far from the open area SPHP had seen from a distance. A short trek to the SW brought Lupe to it. There was a great view to the S of Cicero Peak.

Lupe SW of the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak. Photo looks S toward Cicero Peak.

Back at Cicero Peak, SPHP had also caught a glimpse through the trees of an interesting little hill to the W capped by a rock that looked very much like a broken tooth. SPHP had dubbed it “Cracked Molar”. From where Lupe was now, SW of the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak, there was a clear view of Cracked Molar.

"Cracked Molar" from the SW slopes of Northeast Cicero Peak. — “Cracked Molar” from the SW slopes of Northeast Cicero Peak.

From the SW viewpoint, a 10 minute trek took Lupe up to the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak. The summit area was pretty broad and flat. Most of it was grassy, open ground. There was a little ridge of rocks just a few feet high, and several large boulders sitting around. There were great views in every direction, except to the S and SE where trees were in the way.

Lupe on the little rock ridge on top of Northeast Cicero Peak. The boulder that is the true summit, can be seen beyond Lupe near the trees. Photo looks ENE.

Looking W from Northeast Cicero Peak. SPHP still hasn't figured out what mountains those high peaks seen above Lupe's back on the far horizon are. — Looking W from Northeast Cicero Peak. SPHP still hasn’t figured out what mountains those high peaks seen above Lupe’s back on the far horizon are.

Lupe perches comfortably up on the boulder that is the true summit of Northeast Cicero Peak. Beyond Lupe on the L side of the photo is a half forested (L side), half barren (R side) hill, which was Lupe's next peakbagging goal, Daisy Peak. Mt. Coolidge is seen just L of the dead tree on the R side of this photo. Photo looks NE. — Lupe perches comfortably up on the boulder that is the true summit of Northeast Cicero Peak. Beyond Lupe on the L side of the photo is a half forested (L side), half barren (R side) hill, which was Lupe’s next peakbagging goal, Daisy Peak. Mt. Coolidge is seen just L of the dead tree on the R side of this photo. Photo looks NE.

Daisy Peak (L) and Mt. Coolidge (R) from NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks NE.

Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) (L) is the highest point on the horizon as seen from Northeast Cicero Peak. Custer Mountain is the forested hill seen just below and slightly to the R of Harney Peak. Daisy Peak is on the R side of the photo. Photo looks N. — **Harney Peak** **(7,242 ft.)** (L) is the highest point on the horizon. Custer Mountain is the forested hill seen just below and slightly to the R of Harney Peak. Daisy Peak is on the R side of the photo. Photo looks N.

Looking N from Northeast Cicero Peak, SPHP really began to doubt that the high barren ridge and forested high point Lupe had seen from the saddle ridge down WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak were really Daisy and Kruger Peaks. They were just too close and easy to reach. On the other hand, if they weren’t Daisy and Kruger Peaks, where were they? Nothing else really stood out.

SPHP pondered the point as Lupe headed NE following a ridge down off Northeast Cicero Peak. The going was kind of slow. Rocks, dead timber, and scattered patches of snow were hidden in the grass. About halfway down to the next ridge (the one mistaken for Daisy Peak), SPHP stopped to check the maps. Lupe curled up near some rocks to enjoy the sunshine and get out of the breeze sweeping W across the ridgeline.

Lupe takes a sunny break out of the wind NE of Northeast Cicero Peak while SPHP checks the maps.

A look at the maps left no doubt. There was no way the high barren ridge Lupe was approaching was Daisy Peak, nor was the forested hill beyond it Kruger Peak. They had to be farther N, but another look in that direction left SPHP uncertain exactly which hills Lupe needed to head for. For a couple of minutes, SPHP considered just having Lupe turn around and return to the G6.

Nah! Lupe wasn’t going to turn around. The area was scenic and interesting. SPHP would figure out where Daisy and Kruger Peaks were eventually. It was an adventure, in any case, and Lupe was having fun. Onward!

The open ridge was a great place to be. There were views in every direction. Even well below the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak, Lupe was still quite high compared to much of the immediately surrounding terrain. There continued to be numerous rocks in the grass, though, and lots of fallen timber, too. To avoid tripping, SPHP had to stand still to look around.

Lupe reached the SSE end of the barren ridge. Lupe and SPHP headed for a small rocky prominence toward the NE. Time for a break. SPHP ate an apple, studied maps, and looked around trying to figure out where Daisy Peak was. Lupe had some Taste of the Wild.

Lupe at the break spot near the SSE end of the barren ridge. Photo looks NW.

OK. SPHP had it figured out. Daisy Peak was in sight off to the N. It had to be that hill well N beyond the forested hill SPHP had originally mistaken for Kruger Peak (actually High Point 5999). Kruger Peak wasn’t in view, but it was lower and probably hidden behind Daisy Peak. Now that it had been properly identified, from now on Daisy Peak was going to be easy to recognize. It was a rounded hill forested on the W side, and barren on the E side.

Daisy Peak was still quite a long way off. Time to get moving. Lupe and SPHP set off following the barren ridge NNW along the E side. Lupe eventually worked her way up to the highest point on the ridge. She continued NNW along the ridgeline from there.

The highest part of the barren ridge came to an end. Lupe and SPHP went W down a rocky slope toward a saddle leading up to High Point 5999. Partway down into the saddle, where the terrain became less rocky and not as steep, Lupe and SPHP paused. There were good views back S toward Northeast Cicero Peak, and N toward Daisy Peak.

Looking SSW back at Northeast Cicero Peak from partway down into the saddle over to High Point 5999. Part of the ridge Lupe and SPHP had followed coming down to the NE from Northeast Cicero Peak is seen toward the L.

Daisy Peak is easily identifiable on the L. Lupe went all the way down to the bottom of the valley seen here on her way to climb Daisy Peak. Mt. Coolidge is the highest point on the R. Photo looks NNE.

SPHP could see that if Lupe continued following the spine of the saddle area up to High Point 5999, Lupe was going to have a long trek over a lot of rough ground. She would eventually have to lose elevation anyway, to get to Daisy Peak. Instead of climbing High Point 5999, Lupe and SPHP left the saddle area going N down into a big valley.

At first the route down was steep, rocky and full of dead timber. Gradually the going got easier. As Lupe approached a small forest in the valley, she came to a road. The road had been abandoned years ago. Trees were growing on it, but it made a great trail.

At the far N end of the valley, Lupe reached an intersection with another road going E/W. A marker showed that Lupe had been on USFS Road No. 337.1B. She had just reached USFS Road No. 337.1A, although there was no marker saying so. Lupe turned W (L) following No. 337.1A past a hill (High Point 5706) just to the N.

By the time Lupe was SW of High Point 5706, she was back in the forest. Here No. 337.1A turned SW, but Daisy Peak was still off to the N beyond High Point No. 5706. Lupe and SPHP left the road, and started climbing up the SW slope of High Point 5706. The terrain grew increasingly steep, and it became easier to just travel N along the slope.

Lupe and SPHP made it around High Point 5706 to the saddle that led up to Daisy Peak. Lupe went right on up the S slope to arrive at the summit. The true summit of Daisy Peak was out in the open near the S end of the summit ridge. There were good views from this grassy area in every direction except to the W and NW. Mt. Coolidge (6,023 ft.) was notable off to the NE.

Lupe on Daisy Peak. Photo looks NE toward Mt. Coolidge.

Northeast Cicero Peak from Daisy Peak. Photo looks SSW.

Looking N from Daisy Peak, Lupe could finally see Kruger Peak. It wasn’t far off at all now, less than 0.5 mile. After a short rest break, Lupe headed N along the Daisy Peak summit ridge. Most of the ridge was forested, but at the very N end there was a great view of the big Glen Erin Creek valley and Custer Mountain (6,089 ft.) beyond it.

From Daisy Peak, Lupe could finally see Kruger Peak. It is the next hill over, and about 110 feet lower than Daisy Peak. Harney Peak is the highest point on the horizon. Photo looks N.

Kruger Peak is the next mostly barren ridge dotted with small trees seen here to the N. The summit is in the larger trees toward the L side of this photo. Lupe was going over there next! Mt. Coolidge is seen on the R. Photo looks NNE from Daisy Peak.

Custer Mountain is the forested hill seen on the L beyond the big Glen Erin Creek valley. Photo looks NNW from the N end of Daisy Peak.

To get to Kruger Peak, Lupe and SPHP started directly down the N slope of Daisy Peak. The going was slow, since the slope was fairly steep, snowy, and yet again there was a considerable amount of dead timber laying around. Lupe came across an old road down in the saddle area between Daisy and Kruger Peaks, but didn’t follow it. Instead, she just continued right on up to a high rocky point at the W end of the Kruger Peak summit.

Lupe perched on the highest rocks at the W end of Kruger Peak. This may not have been the true summit. Pictured between the trees is some ground to the E that looks slightly higher.

The rocks at the W end of Kruger Peak may not have been the true summit. There was an area a short distance E through the forest that was probably a little higher. Lupe went over there, too, to make certain she had reached the very top of the mountain. There were some rocks at the E high point, but they weren’t as impressive as those to the W.

By climbing Kruger Peak, Lupe had completed her 4th and final peakbagging goal of the day. She wasn’t going to go any farther N beyond Kruger Peak. The G6 was now 4 miles to the SSW as the crow flies. The E high point (and probable true summit) of Kruger Peak seemed like a good place to stop and take a break.

There was another reason to stop, too. Coming up Kruger Peak, Lupe had started hearing gunfire from down in the Glen Erin Creek valley to the W. It made her nervous, and she had been begging SPHP to stop and hide. So SPHP stopped and covered Lupe with a jacket so she would feel better. Lupe was happy and felt safe curled up under the jacket. SPHP ate an apple, checked the maps again, and took in the panoramic views to the E.

Daisy Peak from near the true summit of Kruger Peak. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe liked hiding under the jacket on Kruger Peak, but soon it was time to go. As SPHP led her down the E spine of the mountain, Lupe kept trying to persuade SPHP to stop again. Those big soft Carolina Dog ears could still hear gunfire far off to the W. The sun was starting to get low, though, and it was a long winding way back to the G6. Lupe and SPHP had to press on.

Lupe well down the E spine of Kruger Peak. Daisy Peak is seen on the R. Lupe traveled from here down into the valley below and over the saddle seen E (L) of Daisy Peak.

After losing quite a bit of elevation, Lupe and SPHP left the E spine of Kruger Peak. Lupe headed S down into a valley where she saw lots of deer. She headed for a saddle E of Daisy Peak. On the other side of the saddle, the land was forested and lost elevation again. Lupe had found a trail leading up to the saddle on the N side, and it continued down into the forest on the S side.

The trail eventually led to USFS Road No. 337.1A. Lupe turned WSW (R) on it. She passed the junction with No. 337.1B, which she had come down earlier before climbing Daisy Peak. Lupe and SPHP just stayed on No. 337.1A all the way until it reached the main road, USFS Road No. 337. Although the sun was down by now, there were still a few active squirrels in the trees along the way, so Lupe had some exciting times barking as twilight closed in.

Just prior to reaching No. 337, Lupe came to half a dozen bearded men standing around a pickup truck. These were the first people Lupe and SPHP had seen since leaving the G6. The men were drinking beer, and for some reason, putting little branches of spruce trees in the empty beer bottles so they stuck out as if they were Christmas trees.

The men said they were from Custer. They weren’t hunters, just out drinking and talking in the woods having a good time. They were quite friendly. They treated Lupe kindly and offered SPHP a beer, which was politely declined. SPHP chatted with them for a few minutes. They seemed truly surprised to find out where Lupe had been.

Somewhere along USFS Road No. 337, Lupe got something stuck in her right ear. She kept shaking her head and scratching. SPHP tried to help her, but even with a flashlight couldn’t see anything in her ear. SPHP scratched it for her, which she enjoyed, but it didn’t really help. Lupe kept scratching it herself whenever SPHP stopped for more than a moment. Her ear bothered her off and on the rest of the day.

No. 337 led to No. 336 (Flynn Creek Road). No. 336 led to No. 338, the rocky road up to Cicero Peak. It was pitch dark by the time Lupe and SPHP reached No. 338. A red light could be seen up on the tower on Cicero Peak. As Lupe and SPHP made the trek up the mountain, SPHP threw 100 – 200 large loose rocks off to the side of the road, hoping to make the trip back down less traumatic for the poor, abused G6.

Before leaving Cicero Peak, Lupe and SPHP went all the way back up to the very highest rocks on the mountain, so Lupe could claim a 2nd ascent. At 6:06 PM (48°F), Lupe jumped into the G6 for the ride home. Despite SPHP’s rock clearing efforts, it still took 25 minutes to carefully drive the 1.5 miles back down the mountain, but the G6 emerged unscathed.

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 109 was over. It was the last expedition for SPHP and the 3 year old Carolina Dog. Tomorrow was Lupe’s 4th birthday. Lupe’s last day being 3 years old had been quite a day!

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 165 – Matias Peak & Cicero Peak (4-4-16)

Lupe was on her way home from her adventures in western Nebraska. It wasn’t the end of her adventures on this trip, though. There was still time for one of Lupe’s Black Hills, SD Expeditions on the way! As Hwy 18 climbed into the southern hills NE of Edgemont, SPHP was looking for USFS Road No. 379. Lupe was going to climb Matias Peak (4,780 ft.).

Before reaching the top of the long hill, SPHP spotted a road heading into the trees on the N side of Hwy 18. There was room to park the G6 there, too. (11:52 AM, 59°F) Good! This was it, USFS Road No. 379! A marker proved it. Matias Peak was no more than 2 miles away as the crow flies. SPHP’s old USFS map showed no road to it, but No. 379 was supposed to get within a mile SW of the summit.

Lupe and SPHP set out on No. 379. Instead of heading NNE toward Matias Peak, the road wound its way downhill into a dry canyon to the WNW. Once it reached the bottom of the canyon, No. 379 turned N and started back uphill. Soon Lupe came to an unmarked intersection. She took the right branch, which led NE.

Lupe hadn’t followed the right branch very far when Matias Peak came into view at a minor pass.

Matias Peak in the southern Black Hills as seen from a minor pass along USFS Road No. 379. Photo looks NE.

Lupe and SPHP stayed on No. 379, and went over the pass. Lupe had already lost 100 feet of elevation when SPHP realized No. 379 was going turn NW away from the mountain and continue losing elevation. A look around at the terrain showed it would have been better to leave the road back at the pass. From there, Lupe could climb the ridge to the E.

Lupe and SPHP turned around and returned to the pass. Lupe left No. 379 and started climbing. Soon she was a very unhappy Carolina Dog. There was cactus! Lupe didn’t want to go this way. She sat down and wouldn’t move. She lifted a front paw pathetically begging SPHP for help and mercy.

SPHP checked her paws. She didn’t seem to have cactus spines in any of them. SPHP knew her paws weren’t really that sore. Just a couple of hours ago, she had been racing around having a great time at Toadstool Geological Park in Nebraska. Maybe she could smell the cactus?

In any event, whether Lupe had stepped on any or not, it was clear she knew cactus was around. She wanted to go back to the road, or be carried. The road wasn’t going to take Lupe to Matias Peak. Going back meant giving up. On the other hand, Matias Peak was still 1.5 miles away. SPHP wouldn’t be able to carry her that far, and then all the way back again.

For a couple minutes, Lupe rested while SPHP pondered. Well, let’s try it and see how it goes. There’s quite a bit of forest, and there shouldn’t be much cactus in the forest. SPHP picked Lupe up and started carrying her on up the ridge. SPHP tried to stay in the forest as much as possible, but there were still sunny little openings harboring more cactus.

Where there were boulders, Lupe was willing to scramble up on her own power for short stretches. Mostly SPHP had to carry her. After a somewhat steep, rocky section, Lupe and SPHP reached the flat top of the ridge. There was a nice view to the N.

Well, at least some progress had been made. SPHP hoped that this ridge would just sweep around to the NE right on up to Matias Peak. For a while it looked promising as SPHP carried Lupe E along the top of the ridge. It all ended at a big steep drop. SPHP put Lupe down and told her to stay, a completely unnecessary command. She wasn’t about to budge.

SPHP scouted around looking for a view between the trees. Low cliffs were just ahead. Down below was a large field. On the other side was another forested ridge. That was probably the ridge that would lead N to Matias Peak. SPHP returned to Lupe. Time for a water and rest break!

SPHP studied the topo map printed out from Peakbagger.com. It was a bit confusing at first, since the topo map was too old to show the correct location of Hwy 18, where Lupe and SPHP had started from. In a few minutes, though, SPHP was pretty certain where Lupe was. She was now at the E end of a small ridge marked toward the W end as 4,355 ft. elevation. Lupe needed to cross the field down below, and head NE toward the next ridge. That ridge would lead her N to Matias Peak.

It took a long time. SPHP carried Lupe down off the ridge, finding a way down toward the S. Then it was a long trek in the sun carrying Lupe across the field. However, Lupe was willing to climb the far ridge on her own. SPHP just kept an eagle eye out to help her avoid the occasional cactus.

Once up on the ridge, it was a steady climb, but a fairly gradual one most of the rest of the way up Matias Peak. There were small cliffs on the W side of the ridge, which provided very nice viewpoints in that direction in many places. Most of the time, Lupe and SPHP stayed near the cliffs to enjoy the views.

Looking WSW from the S ridge leading up to Matias Peak. USFS Road No. 379 can be seen coming down through the trees on the L. (That's the part of it Lupe and SPHP did not continue on beyond the pass. The pass is near the L edge of this photo.) Wyoming is on the horizon! — Looking WSW from the S ridge leading up to Matias Peak. USFS Road No. 379 can be seen coming down through the trees on the L. (That’s the part of it Lupe and SPHP did not continue on beyond the pass. The pass is near the L edge of this photo.) Wyoming is on the horizon!

Lupe relaxes on one of SPHP's many rest breaks going up Matias Peak. — Lupe relaxes on one of SPHP’s many rest breaks going up Matias Peak.

SPHP took many rest breaks on the way up Matias Peak. Lupe would never have made it to the top, except for the gradual development of a technique Lupe seemed willing to go along with, despite her trepidation over the scattered cactus.

The technique went as follows: SPHP carried Lupe for a little way, and then put her down. SPHP then left without her, continuing on up the mountain, scouting around to make sure there wasn’t any cactus along the way. Lupe always watched with concern as SPHP marched off, but she wouldn’t move.

After going a suitable distance, SPHP would stop, turn around and shout back to Lupe that it was “time to check the maps”. Lupe seemed to take this to mean that SPHP had somehow magically eliminated all the cactus in her way. She immediately came running full tilt to catch up.

Of course, Lupe knows what checking the maps normally involves, so SPHP had to actually sit down, get out the maps and take a look at them for a few minutes each time. Then it was time to carry Lupe for another stretch, before putting her down again. Rinse and repeat. Over and over. It was slow, but not nearly as slow as trying to carry Lupe the entire distance.

Fortunately, Lupe never did run into any cactus. She continued to believe in the power of checking the maps. As Lupe and SPHP got nearer the summit, an unmarked dirt road appeared, temporarily curving closer to the W from somewhere off to the SE. Lupe was perfectly willing to trot along without fear on this road. Lupe and SPHP began to make rapid progress toward the summit.

Near the end of the climb, Lupe had to leave the road again, which now curved back around to the E of the summit. The field to the NW had quite a bit of cactus in it, especially higher up. SPHP went back to carrying Lupe all the time, but it wasn’t too far to the forest at the base of the final short steep climb to the summit.

There didn’t seem to be any cactus around on the final stretch up through the rocks and trees. Lupe climbed up under her own power. The top of Matias Peak is a flat forested ridge of moderate length running SW/NE. Lupe found the very highest rocks to be somewhat closer to the NE end.

Lupe makes it to the top of Matias Peak! She is standing next to the very highest rock. There were a couple of other rocks around almost as high, one of which is the rock in the foreground. Photo looks NE.

Lupe on another rock contending for the highest point on Matias Peak. This one was a bit to the W of the other two, and had a view off to the WNW in the general direction of **Pilger Mountain (4,788 ft.)**.

Lupe and SPHP were pleased to find that although the entire summit ridge was forested, there were several good viewpoints from Matias Peak.

Parker Peak (4,848 ft.) (Center) is the high point of Fall River County. Photo looks SE. — **Parker Peak (4,848 ft.)** (Center) is the high point of Fall River County. Photo looks SE.

Looking SSE at a truck going over a bridge on Hwy 18. It turned out there was a much easier route up Matias Peak than the one Lupe and SPHP took starting out on USFS Road No. 379. The easier route begins on an unmarked dirt road that leaves Hwy 18 from the big flat grassy area seen to the R of the bridge. This is the same road that Lupe and SPHP encountered not far from the summit.

The best view from Matias Peak was toward Wildcat Peak (5,500 ft.) (L of Center) and Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.) (R). Photo looks NNW using the telephoto lens. — The best view from Matias Peak was toward **Wildcat Peak (5,500 ft.)** (L of Center) and **Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.)** (R of Center). Photo looks NNW using the telephoto lens.

Lupe and SPHP lingered up on Matias Peak for a while. When it was time to go, Lupe’s confidence had returned to the point where she was running around like normal in the forest. She came down off the short steep part at the SE end of the summit under her own power. However, when she reached the grassy area where SPHP had seen quite a few cactus on the way up, SPHP insisted on carrying Lupe the rest of the way down to the dirt road.

Rather than retrace Lupe’s scenic, but slow approach route, SPHP decided Lupe should just stay on the dirt road to see where it went. Lupe didn’t worry about cactus while on the road, but was still cautious enough not to make forays off to either side. SPHP didn’t have to carry Lupe at all.

The dirt road wound around a little bit, but eventually straightened out and headed due S across open fields. It reached Hwy 18 at the top of the long hill NE of Edgemont just W of a bridge over a deep ravine. There was a big paved pullout on the N side of Hwy 18 where the dirt road reached it. Even at the highway, the dirt road wasn’t marked with any sign or number.

If Lupe and SPHP would have started up Matias Peak from this point, instead of on USFS Road No. 379, Lupe would have had a much easier, though less scenic time reaching the summit. The dirt road headed almost straight toward the summit gaining elevation at an easy pace. Only the last little part of the climb would have been off the road.

At the pullout on the N side of Hwy 18 where the easiest and most direct route to Matias Peak (seen in the background) begins. Photo looks N.

The last part of the return trip from Matias Peak was a not-so-fun trek W along busy Hwy 18 for about 0.75 mile as the highway slowly curved SW. It was all a gradual downhill slope, which was fortunate, since Lupe wanted to be carried part of the time. SPHP had to oblige.

Lupe didn’t like the highway traffic, or the scattered cacti and broken glass waiting for her on the shoulder and in the ditch. SPHP was in complete agreement. Both Lupe and SPHP were quite happy when the G6 finally came back into view (4:17 PM, 70°F).

Before completing the drive home, Lupe had one final mission. When Lupe’s trip to western Nebraska had started just 2 days ago, the last peak Lupe had climbed with new friend Jobe Wymore before leaving the Black Hills was Cicero Peak (6,166 ft.). SPHP had been so interested in Jobe’s mountaineering stories, SPHP had forgotten the camera case up on top of the mountain. Now Lupe was going to go back up Cicero Peak to see if it was still there.

SPHP parked the G6 at the start of USFS Road No. 338 (Cicero Peak Road) (4:55 PM, 60°F). Somehow Lupe knew right away. Maybe the air smelled different. Maybe she remembered from being here before. However she knew, Lupe was certain there wasn’t any cactus here! Suddenly she was free to race happily through the forests again without a care in the world.

Lupe explored, while SPHP hiked the 1.5 mile road back up to the summit of Cicero Peak. It was a gradual, easy climb. Near the top, Lupe discovered what may be the last snow she will find in the Black Hills this spring. There wasn’t much left, and the snow was melting fast, but it was clear Lupe loved it. She ate big mouthfuls. She rolled on it to cool off. The snow tasted and felt great!

As Lupe neared the summit, the question was, would the camera case still be there? SPHP wasn’t even completely certain that was where it had been left behind.

Lupe reaches the tower on top of Cicero Peak. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe went around to the highest rocks just W of the summit tower. Sure enough, Lupe found the camera case laying among the highest rocks! The carrying strap looked like a squirrel had nibbled on one edge of it. The squirrel hadn’t done it much harm, though. Apparently camera case carrying straps lack that nutty taste squirrels crave.

Lupe finds the camera case resting among the summit rocks of Cicero Peak, right where SPHP had left it 2 days earlier. A squirrel had chewed the strap a little, but had done little damage.

Finding the camera case again made Lupe’s Cicero Peak mission a complete success! All that was left was the descent back down the mountain.

On the way down, Lupe saw smoke from a forest fire to the SE. She saw Matias Peak, where she had just been, looking small and insignificant far away on the S edge of the Black Hills. She glimpsed the strange rock to the NW that Lupe and SPHP know as “Cracked Molar” (officially Beecher Rock?). Sharp-eyed Jobe had noticed it two days ago.