Crooks Tower – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 345 – Peak 6821, Peak 6823, Crooks Tower & Peak 7148 (5-30-25)

9:03 AM, 61ºF, Tillson Creek – SPHP backed the RAV4 into a roomy spot just off USFS Road No. 234. Perfect! Moments later, the American Dingo was out, excitedly surveying the scene.

**USFS Road No. 234** near Tillson Creek. Photo looks SE.

About time, SPHP! Finally a Black Hills expedition! What’s it been since our last adventure with Poppy, HV & LV? A month? That’s way too long!

I know it, Loop, but the news is even better than you think. June is right around the corner. Before long, you’ll be setting off on your Summer of 2025 Dingo Vacations.

Oh, that’s more like it, SPHP! Certainly hope we’ve got a good Black Hills romp on the agenda today as a prelude to a summer of non-stop action.

We’ll be visiting 4 peaks, Looper. Nothing too difficult, but I have a hunch that you’ll be satisfied with the workout. Onward! Puppy, ho!

After taking USFS Road No. 234 over Tillson Creek, Lupe trotted under a closed forest service gate. The road immediately began a slow curve S. A gradual 0.5 mile climb along a dandelion-strewn stretch brought the Carolina Dog to a flat, open area where USFS Road No. 234.1D headed off to the E. Didn’t look like it ever saw much traffic these days. Not at all surprising. A large blue plastic water trough SW of the junction was far more unexpected.

Starting up **USFS Road No. 234**. **Tillson Creek valley** (R). Photo looks WNW.

Heading for the junction with No. 234.1D. Photo looks S.

**Water trough** near the **junction of USFS Roads No. 234 & No. 234.1D**. Photo looks SE.

What’s this, SPHP? A giant kid’s swimming pool?

Sure looks like it, Loopster.

Got any water in it, SPHP?

Yeah, about a foot. Not all that wonderful, though. You’re not getting in there, I’m telling you that.

Not even for a drink, SPHP?

Yuck! No. I brought clean water, if you want some, Loop.

Already warm in the morning sunshine, the American Dingo did. After a quick water break, SPHP led Lupe toward a meadow W of the junction.

The **off-road adventure** begins. Photo looks SW.

Crossing the meadow, Lupe entered the forest. The ground ahead sloped up toward the WNW. Encountering a typical Black Hills mess of deadfall and large bushes mixed in among the live trees, Lupe explored narrow, relatively open lanes that made a reasonable rate of progress possible along a winding route. The slope steadily steepened, soon bringing the Carolina Dog to the base of a limestone bluff.

Circling around the S side, Lupe quickly discovered a spot where she could scramble to the top. Beneath a cloudless, suspiciously gray sky, Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) was visible far to the SE.

**Black Elk Peak** (L of Center) on the horizon. Photo looks SE.

Is that smoke in the air, SPHP?

Sure looks like it. I hear that Canada is already on fire, Looper.

Seriously? It isn’t even summer yet, SPHP! Is another Arctic Apocalypse going to happen this year?

Who knows? Hope not, Loopster, but the way things seem to be going, Arctic Apocalypses may become an annual event.

Continuing WNW along the high ground, it wasn’t far to a second bluff. Lupe again scrambled up from the S. Even though this bluff was higher, trees completely hid whatever views there might have been.

Following a broad ridge, Lupe kept wandering WNW through the forest, enjoying occasional, tree-broken glimpses of distant views. Happily, the American Dingo seldom ran out of open lanes that avoided most of the bushes and deadfall. Near HP6695, she reached a small clearing.

In the **clearing near HP6695**. Photo looks WNW.

Sure haven’t been many scenic highlights on this expedition so far, SPHP. Nothing to see here, either, except trees.

Not expecting much in the way of scenic highlights for a while, Loopster. We’re heading for Peak 6821. You’ve been there before, many moons ago. Even way back then, there was never much to see other than another clearing surrounded by more pines.

Peak 6821, SPHP? Doesn’t even ring a bell.

That’s because Peak 6821 is the new name based on Lidar data. It used to be Peak 6820.

So glad that we’ve got a one foot difference to add some confusion, SPHP! I think I do remember Peak 6820. Didn’t we hide from a storm in a cave somewhere on the NW slope once?

Yeah, I have a vague recollection of that, too, Loop, now that you mention it. You were the only one that fit in that little cave, though, I got soaked. So long ago now, that I’m not even sure that it happened at Peak 6820. Maybe it was somewhere else?

HP6695 seemed to be a spot just beyond the the small clearing, and a bit SW. Hard to tell for sure, because the surrounding terrain was so flat. In any case, it was buried in pines. A little farther W, though, Lupe broke out of the forest, reaching the start of a larger meadow.

Entering the **meadow W of HP6695**. Photo looks W.

Scattered pines were distributed throughout this bigger meadow. Lupe made excellent progress on the super easy, mostly open terrain. Losing minor elevation as she explored SW, the meadow didn’t end until the ground began to rise again.

Entering a denser forest, there was more deadfall here, much of it bigger diameter than what Lupe had run into earlier. SPHP’s progress slowed considerably.

Look off to the R, SPHP. Isn’t that an old road?

Sure enough, toward the W there was a strip of land that might have once been a road. Unfortunately, it, too, was clogged with deadfall.

Start of the **old road**. Photo looks SW.

Does sort of look like a road, Loopster. Fat lot of good it does us, though. It’s no better than roaming through the forest.

Not entirely true. Circling around the initial deadfall clog, a clear stretch was beyond it.

The old road enabled a brief spurt of progress, but more deadfall soon appeared across it. The Carolina Dog was back to roaming S though the forest. Hardly mattered. She didn’t have much farther to go.

11:00 AM, 65ºF, Peak 6821 – Lupe stood smiling and blinking in the sun, her front paws on the little cairn she hadn’t seen in more than 8 years. The first time the she’d been here, there hadn’t been a cairn at all.

At the **Peak 6821 summit cairn**. Photo looks W.

I do remember Peak 6821, SPHP. Not much up here, is there?

Nope. A flat summit with a long, narrow clearing running in a crescent along the S and W sides is about it, Loop. Sort of the middle of nowhere.

That’s why I always liked it. Peak 6821 seemed so mysterious and remote.

SPHP shook Lupe’s paw.

I always liked it here, too, Loopster. Congratulations on your successful return. You look hot. How about some water?

Sitting in the shade of the pines that completely surrounded the clearing, Lupe eagerly lapped up the water SPHP provided, gobbled down a bit of Taste of the Wild, and inhaled a couple of bacon and cheese flavored Canine Carryouts. SPHP peeled an orange.

One mountain down, three to go, Loopster!

Peak 6821 was easy, SPHP. What’s next?

Next one should be easy, too, Loop. Only 0.75 mile SW of here, the map shows a high point with an elevation of 6,801 feet. Lidar says it’s actually Peak 6823, which is high enough to give it 301 feet of prominence.

Barely exceeding our 300 foot cut-off, SPHP.

Precisely! We’ve been in that vicinity quite a few times before, way back when we used to come here, Looper. However, I don’t recall whether we ever visited the high point. Peak 6821 was on the list of Black Hills 6500-foot peaks as Peak 6820 back then, but Peak 6823, as Peak 6801 without much prominence, wasn’t.

A little confusing, SPHP, but whatever.

It’s all due to Lidar, Loop. Just keep climbing mountains, and don’t worry about it.

With 4 peaks on the agenda, staying for a full traditional summit hour on each one wasn’t going to work. Half an hour enjoying the tranquil solitude of Peak 6821 had to suffice. Following the clearing over to the W end of the summit region after leaving the cairn, SPHP encouraged Lupe to sniff down the NW slope a little way, hoping to spot the cave where she had once hidden from a storm.

No luck. The territory didn’t look the least bit familiar. Maybe that cave had been somewhere else? With the tremendous amount of deadfall in the forest after leaving Peak 6821’s summit region, SPHP quickly gave up on finding the cave. Turning SSW, Lupe soon rediscovered an old jeep trail that SPHP remembered. It had always had some deadfall across it, but was even worse now.

Another **deadfall-laden road**. Photo looks SW.

The American Dingo spent more time off-road than on it, as she tried to follow the jeep trail down to the saddle leading to Peak 6823. The road vanished completely before she got there. Although the saddle had lots of deadfall, too, the forest was much more open here.

Crossing the **saddle leading to Peak 6823**. Photo looks SW.

Beyond the saddle, the forest closed in again as Lupe started regaining elevation. Abundant long, big diameter deadfall frequently blocked the way. The slope Lupe was climbing wasn’t all that steep, except at two points where she came to 20 foot high rock outcroppings. Scrambles to the top of each, revealed only more thick forest and deadfall ahead.

On a rock at the **top of the first scramble**. Photo looks SW.

Progress remained slow until the forest finally began opening up a bit. Coming across a game trail, the situation changed completely. The trail was obstacle-free, and soon led to meadows.

Got it made now, Loopster! We’re almost there.

12:26 PM, 66ºF, Peak 6823 – Approaching from the ESE, Lupe simply marched up a gentle slope onto a limestone outcropping with 3 N-facing lobes along a line of 20 foot cliffs. Several tall, slender, Ponderosa pines grew right out of the rock.

SPHP dropped the pack on the W lobe, which seemed marginally higher than the others, and even offered a bit of a view toward the NW. Had the Carolina Dog ever been here before? SPHP didn’t think so.

Congratulations once again, Loopster. This is it, Peak 6823!

I like it, SPHP! At least we’ve got a nice breeze, and can see something.

Repeating the Peak 6821 routine, SPHP shook Lupe’s paw, then offered water, Taste of the Wild, and a couple more bacon and cheese Canine Carryouts. SPHP consumed a second orange, then it was time to wander about the summit region a bit, which took only a few minutes.

Lupe on the **middle lobe** along the **line of cliffs**. Photo looks ENE.

Most of the **summit region** from the **E lobe**. Photo looks WSW.

Somehow 45 minutes had slipped away by the time Lupe stood below the summit, enjoying a final look at Peak 6823 from the N.

**Peak 6823** from below. Photo looks SSE.

2 peaks down already, and only 2 more to go, SPHP. We’re doing great!

Yeah, but it’s a lot farther to the next one, Looper.

Which one is that, SPHP? Crooks Tower (7,133 ft.)?

Yup. Planning on hitting the viewpoint N of it first, though, Sweet Puppy.

Heading WNW through the forest, Lupe soon popped out on USFS Road No. 206.2D. The road made life easy as the American Dingo followed it N, since it was wide and virtually obstacle-free. However, after 0.5 mile, taking a shortcut NW to Besant Park Road (No. 206) seemed like a good idea, so it was right back into the forest again.

On **USFS Road No. 206.2D**. Photo looks NW.

Back to exploring **another forest**. Photo looks WNW.

The map showed a spring along in here, and SPHP kind of wanted to see it, but when Lupe got close, that area was so full of deadfall that trying to find the spring didn’t seem worth the effort. Continuing NW, Lupe broke out of the forest into an enormous green field. Visiting a fenced area a bit farther N, Lupe saw a pond, but couldn’t get to it.

Entering the **huge green field**. Photo looks NW.

Near the **off-limits pond**. Photo looks NNE.

Well, phooey! We never got to the spring, and now I can’t get a drink from the pond, either, SPHP.

No worries, Loop. Besant Park Road is right across this field. We’ll find a spot in the shade over there, and you can wet your barker.

Besant Park Road was a major gravel road, and a correspondingly dull, hot trudge as Lupe followed it SW to a spot where the promised water break took place. Continuing on, Lupe soon abandoned the road to sniff through an open forest with few obstacles. Before long, the junction with South Rapid Creek Road (No. 231) appeared ahead.

**Besant Park Road** (L), **South Rapid Creek Road** (Center & R). Photo looks SSW.

Lupe had often taken South Rapid Creek Road SSW from here on the way to Crooks Tower, but today SPHP was in the mood for something different.

Let’s go W, Loopster.

The trudge along South Rapid Creek Road wasn’t much better than Besant Park Road had been. Between the trees, another inviting green field was visible S of the road. Lupe eventually went down to it. Sadly, no cows to be seen, but following an old cow path was fun!

Following the **spiffy cow path**. Photo looks NW.

At the NW end of the field, Lupe reached USFS Road No. 231.5C. Starting out obstacle-free, this road took her gradually uphill as it wound SW. Naturally, No. 231.5C eventually faded away, lost beneath deadfall. By then, the Carolina Dog was already within sight of a grassy slope leading up to a ridge. A short, steepish climb, and Lupe was on it.

**USFS Road No. 231.5C**. Photo looks SW.

There’s another road up here, SPHP.

I’m not surprised, Loopster. It isn’t shown on the map, but I believe we’ve been on this road before, not right here, but farther W.

This assessment turned out to be correct. More than a mile WSW along the gently undulating, unmarked road brought Lupe to a familiar spot. Abandoning the road here, she wandered 600 feet NW through a region of open forest and scattered bushes to the edge of a small cliff.

At the **viewpoint N of Crooks Tower.** Photo looks NW.

3:29 PM, 70ºF – Exposed to a 10 mph NW breeze along the cliff edge, the air felt pleasantly cooler than back in the forest. Although slightly out of the way, the American Dingo had often stopped by this viewpoint. 1.33 miles due N of Crooks Tower, it was a favorite spot. Lupe was glad to be here again today.

Water, Loop? Taste of the Wild?

Yes, please, SPHP, with a bacon and cheese flavor Canine Carryout chaser.

SPHP produced the desired repast.

What, no orange? You aren’t having anything, SPHP?

Forgot that we’d be dropping by here, Looper, so I didn’t bring anything for it. I still have a couple of vanilla Equates, but I’m saving them for your last 2 peaks of the day.

Feel free to have some of my Taste of the Wild then, SPHP.

Thanks, Loopster. Very kind of you, but water should be sufficient.

Due to the trees, all distant views were either N or W. SPHP had always suspected that an elevated ridge visible on the far NW horizon might be Cement Ridge (6,669 ft.), but whether that was true, or not, remained an unsolved mystery.

Treating this viewpoint as if it were another peak, Lupe lingered for half an hour. Toward the end of her stay, she checked on the stone campfire ring someone had built near the W edge years ago. It was still here, along with a small stack of wood clearly intended for a future fire.

By the **campfire ring**. Photo looks WSW.

Looks like we’re all set, if we’re ever get stuck here in the winter, SPHP.

Not unless Carolina Dogs are great at rubbing 2 sticks together, Loop. I don’t carry any matches. No point in it. Campfires are illegal in a spot like this.

Oh, so we’re at a hotbed of illegal activity, SPHP?

Apparently, literally so, at least once upon a time, Looper. Anyway, we’ve still got a long way to go. We better get back in gear.

Returning to the unmarked road, Lupe now followed it S. When it began losing elevation and angling more to the W, she left the road to continue S through a series of meadows strung out along the high ground.

Approaching **Crooks Tower**. Photo looks S.

After reaching and crossing USFS Road No. 189.4F, the forested N slope of Crooks Tower was directly ahead. Staying a little more toward the W than Lupe usually did here proved beneficial. The slope wasn’t quite as steep, and there were more open lanes through the forest. As a bonus, once the terrain leveled out, the Carolina Dog ran into a jeep trail SPHP knew would get her to USFS Road No. 189.4A very close to the summit.

On the **jeep trail** leading to **USFS Road No. 189.4A**. Photo looks SE.

5:06 PM, 68ºF, Crooks Tower (7,133 ft.) – After circling around the S side of the summit block on No. 189.4A to climb it via a path coming up from the SW, Lupe stood on a 30 foot wide platform of limestone she’d now been to a dozen times.

SPHP shook Lupe’s paw.

Congratulations, Loopster! Back on Crooks Tower. Remember the last time we were here? It was on your 13th Birthday!

Always good to be here, SPHP, despite Crooks Tower’s deceptive name.

Yeah, for being some of the highest ground in the entire Black Hills, Crooks Tower lacks a certain pizzaz to it that the name conjures up. Not much in the way of views from here, is there, Loop?

At least we can see Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) way off to the SE, SPHP, and maybe even Cement Ridge (6,669 ft.) to the NW.

**Black Elk Peak** (R of Center) in the distance. Photo looks SE.

**Cement Ridge** (R) on the horizon? Photo looks NW.

Actually, White Tail Peak (6,971 ft.) and Green Mountain (7,167 ft.) are both in sight, too, Loop, although neither looks at all dramatic from this vantage point.

Crows Nest Peak (7,052 ft.) has to be the most deceptively named peak in the Black Hills, SPHP. Can’t see anything at all from there! Can’t even tell you’re on a mountain.

Hah! Yeah, so true. But we love Crooks Tower and Crows Nest anyway, don’t we, Looper? Despite appearances, they’re both high and remote.

We do, SPHP, and some of us would also love something more to eat after climbing 3 mountains. Got any more bacon and cheese Canine Carryouts in that pack?

I do! In fact, I’ve even got a chocolate coconut bar. Only one, though. I was going to save it for your last peak today, but want to split it here?

Never procrastinate when it comes to chocolate coconut bars, SPHP. Bring it on!

Snacks consumed, Lupe relaxed for a while. All too soon, another half hour had flown. Already time to move on.

Taking it easy on **Crooks Tower**. **Green Mountain** (L) between the trees. Photo looks S.

A final glimpse of **Cement Ridge** (Center) before departure. Photo looks NW.

Returning to USFS Road No. 189.4A, it was full of large mud puddles as Lupe followed it W. Naturally, the American Dingo waded through each puddle, sampling a few licks of the opaque, brown water.

**USFS Road No. 189.4A**. Photo looks WSW.

It’s a wonder you never get sick doing that, Loopster.

Mineral water is good for you, SPHP. You ought to try some.

I’ll pass, thank you. Maybe in a pinch someday.

Going downhill for 0.5 mile, it didn’t take long to reach a junction with USFS Road No. 189. Several other roads branched out from this area, too, including No. 189.5B and No. 631.2C.

At the **junction with USFS Road No. 189**. Photo looks WNW.

So, which way, SPHP? Where is this last peak we’re going to, anyway?

Head S on No. 189, Loopster. As a result of the new Lidar data, Peak 7148 has stolen nearly all of Crooks Tower’s former purported prominence, so it’s about time you tagged it.

For most of the 2 miles it took to get there, Lupe simply followed No. 189, then No. 189.3G when she came to it, both of which did seem to be going slightly uphill most of the way. No. 189.3G led to a region that was like a park. Leaving the road, Lupe began her search for the highest ground.

**Miss Mineral Water Paws** on **USFS Road No. 3G**. Photo looks S.

Roaming S through a vast, flat area of mixed forest and meadows, deer flitted off in various directions, exciting Lupe. Near the Carolina Dog’s ultimate destination, the terrain tilted slightly higher toward the SW.

Approaching the **Peak 7148 summit region**. Photo looks SSW.

7:01 PM, 62ºF, Peak 7148 – Impossible to ascertain the exact true summit location in such flat territory, but it didn’t feel like Lupe stopped going up until she reached the edge of a cliff that might have been a 30 or 40 foot drop. Looking around, a nearby stone appeared to be a bit higher than anything else.

Along the edge. The **cliff** is right behind **Lupe**. Photo looks SE.

**Peak 7148 true summit**, to the extent it could be determined. Photo looks SSE.

Congratulations once again, Loopster! Mission accomplished as far as I can tell. You’ve reached Peak 7148!

This would be another Crows Nest Peak, SPHP, if not for the sudden cliff, and lack of a deceptive name.

We could give it a name, Looper. What would you suggest?

How about something descriptive instead of deceptive, SPHP? Pancake Peak!

Makes sense, I guess, except for the cliff part. Apparently, this mountain is so flat that the original cartographers didn’t even realize how high it was, Loop, or this might have been Crooks “Tower” all along.

Whatever. In any case, it had taken all day to get to Pancake Peak. Lupe and SPHP were both ready for a break. Water, Taste of the Wild, bacon and cheese Canine Carryouts for the American Dingo, and the last vanilla Equate for SPHP.

Relaxing on **Pancake Peak**. Photo looks WNW.

Other than gazing down into the region below the cliff, there was really nothing worth mentioning in the way of views from Peak 7148, at least not from this part of it. Lupe sniffed a few tiny, deep pink flowers 10 feet from the edge.

Been quite a day, Loopster. Think I’ll make a cairn.

The Carolina Dog practically laughed out loud.

You haven’t built a cairn in years, SPHP! Do you even remember how?

*You’re going to build a cairn, SPHP? That’s hilarious! Tell me another one!* Photo looks ENE.

Oh, you’d be surprised. I believe I still retain the required technological and advanced engineering skills necessary to pull it off, Looper.

A Doubting Dingo gazed back at SPHP.

*Well, don’t just stand there then, SPHP. Let’s see you do it!* Photo looks WSW.

7:40 PM, Peak 7148 – The sun was near the horizon by the time the mighty feat was accomplished, and Lupe stood next to a very modest monument recognizable as a primitive cairn. The Taj Mahal of cairns, it was not, but SPHP pronounced it a success. Even the American Dingo admitted the cairn was convincing evidence of SPHP’s Stone Age skills.

By the **hand-crafted Peak 7148 cairn**. Photo looks N.

Can’t tell you how impressed I am, SPHP, but the sun is getting low, and it’s a long way back to the RAV4. Shouldn’t we be moseying along?

No denying it, Loopster. We’re done here. Onward! Puppy, ho!

As shadows lengthened, Lupe explored more of the Peak 7148 plateau, venturing clear over to the E edge where she enjoyed a bit of a view, and sniffed many pink wildflowers.

Along the **E edge** of the **Peak 7148 region**. Photo looks S.

On the way back to USFS Road No. 189.3G, a giant deer running through the forest provided a final episode of excitement. The rest of the return was simply a long march along a series of USFS roads, while the sun set, and dusk deepened into an ever weaker twilight. For a couple of hours, a yellow crescent moon cast a pale glow over all, before it, too, vanished into the W, and only silver stars remained in the black void above. (End 5-31-25, 12:58 AM, 45ºF)

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Lupe’s 13th Birthday & Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 321 – Crooks Tower (12-14-23)

12-13-23, 2:00 PM – C’mon, Loop! We’ve got to get this party underway. Hop up onto this chair next to your birthday cake!

Lupe didn’t feel like it. SPHP had to lift her onto the chair more than once to get her to stay put. The Carolina Dog looked back questioningly at SPHP. So soon after this morning’s terrible sadness? It wasn’t even her real birthday yet! That wasn’t until tomorrow. Lupe was still 12.

The **Dingo of Honor** and her13th birthday cake.

No matter. Everyone was here! The champagne was flowing! This was Lupe’s best attended birthday party ever by far! People she hadn’t seen in years were here, but not for long. Erik needed to leave for the airport in just a little while. With time of the essence, SPHP lit the candles. The resulting conflagration was more fearsome than ever, making Loopster nervous while the gathered throng sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

**Loopster** enduring the **Trial by Fire**! **Owen** & **Emery** at R.

Lupe didn’t even have time to make a wish. The instant Happy Birthday concluded, Owen and Felix blew all the candles out in one mighty joint blast! Cake and ice cream were served, subject to SPHP’s rule. No one qualified for cake or ice cream until they appeared in at least one photo with the birthday girl. Children were granted the opportunity to meet this draconian requirement first.

L to R: **Asher**, **Emery**, **Lupe**, **Owen** & **Felix**.

Women were next, followed by the men. SPHP made certain everyone had to squint into the low December sun.

**L to R:** Cake & ice cream qualifiers **Cassie**, **Yvonne**, **Xochitl**, **Andrea** & **Mush**

**L to R:** Last, and no doubt least – **Lanis**, **Joe**, **Steve**, **David**, **Erik** & **Matt**

SPHP stayed busy scooping ice cream and serving champagne. Someone else must have served cake. Yvonne brought out presents from her and Lanis. The party was so busy that they, and Lupe, got more or less lost in the shuffle. The time flew! Erik needed to go. A final group photo was in order before he got away!

The whole gang! L to R standing: **Steve**, **Lanis**, **Erik**, **Xochitl**, **Matt**, **Joe**, **Andrea**, **David**, **Mush**. Kneeling and sitting: **Yvonne**, **Felix**, **Asher**, **Cassie**. **Emery** & **Owen** next to **Lupe**.

Leaving her own 13th birthday party, which was still going strong, Lupe went with SPHP and Erik to the airport. By the time the American Dingo got back, her party was over. Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea, and new Cousin Dixie were still here, but by early tomorrow morning they’d be gone, too.

12-14-23, 8:00 AM – Back down to just you and me, Loopster. By the way, Happy Birthday! You really are 13 now! So, what did you think of that birthday party yesterday? Sort of fast and furious, wasn’t it? More like a blowout celebration of your last day of being 12.

It was fine, SPHP, except for one thing. I wish Grandma could have been there. She’s been at every one of my birthdays until this one.

I know, Loop. Grandma would have loved to be here for you. Almost made it, too, but we tried practically ever since we got back from Canada & Alaska and couldn’t save her. Thought she was going to be fine when we had Thanksgiving dinner together. She was the best she’d been in weeks, and in good spirits.

Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten so much of her turkey, SPHP?

And all of mine to boot, Looper! But no, that wasn’t the problem. She was glad you enjoyed the turkey, and came to see her.

We won’t be seeing Grandma ever again, SPHP?

No, not in this world, Loop.

It’s hard to have your birthday party right after you bury your Grandma, SPHP!

I know, but you’re a source of joy to all of us, Lupe, and everyone was here. If we’d had your party today, I would have been your only guest.

Promise me you’ll always be at all of my birthdays, SPHP! And that you’ll stick with me every other day, too!

Silly Dingo! You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried!

So now what, SPHP? It’s my real birthday! Is anything going to happen, or is the fun already all over and done with?

Well, I haven’t written a new post for your blog in months, and I’m way, way behind on countless other tasks, given all the adverse events we’ve run into this fall.

So you’re just going to work, while I stare out the window all day, SPHP? Sounds like being 13 is going to get off to a crummy start.

Oh, no! We’re not going to let that happen! We’ve got the whole day. How about a Black Hills expedition?

Now you’re talking, SPHP! Where to?

It’s been super warm. No snow at all around here. Bet we can still get up into the high country. How about Crooks Tower (7,137 ft.)?

Seems like forever since we’ve been to Crooks Tower, SPHP. Let’s do it!

12-14-23, 10:17 AM, 38°F, Besant Park Road (USFS Road No. 206) – Well, there was a little snow here, but not an awful lot, an inch or two at best. Lupe was thrilled to see it, and rolled in the frosty snow as soon as she leapt out of the RAV4 despite a chilly SW breeze. The sullen gray clouds and cold air created a subdued wintry atmosphere, partially relieved by a large patch of blue to the S.

Parked just off **Besant Park Road** ready to set out for Crooks Tower. Photo looks SW.

You ready yet, SPHP? Which way we going?

In a moment, Looper. Crooks Tower is a few miles SW of here. Rapid Creek Road (USFS Road No. 231) is just ahead. We’ll take a L there.

Minutes later, SPHP was ready. Onward! Puppy, ho! time. Reaching the junction with Rapid Creek Road, Lupe followed it SSW through a big field, trotting merrily along. At the far end of the field, the road began losing elevation at a little faster clip as it curved SW into the forest.

At the intersection. Lupe followed **Rapid Creek Road** to the far end of the field. Photo looks S.

On **Rapid Creek Road** as it winds into the forest. Photo looks SW.

The gradual downhill road trek was super easy. Didn’t take long for Lupe to reach an intersection with USFS Road No. 631.

Hang a R here Loop, and just keep going until we get to No. 631.1C.

At the start of **USFS Road No. 631**. Photo looks W.

No. 631 led WNW up the upper South Fork of Rapid Creek valley, but there wasn’t any surface water to be seen here. Regaining lost elevation, Lupe passed both No. 631.1A and No. 631.1B on the R before reaching the spot where No. 631.1C split off about a mile from where she’d left Rapid Creek Road.

Heading up **USFS Road No. 631**. Photo looks WNW.

Approaching the junction with **USFS Road No. 631.1B** (R). Photo looks NW.

At the start of **No. 631.1C** (R). Photo looks NW.

Go R on No. 631.1C, SPHP?

Yup! This is the start of the big loop we’re going to make, Loopster. Later on we’ll be coming back to this point from the L.

No. 631.1C was a much more primitive route than Rapid Creek Road had been. The clouds overhead were starting to break up. Lupe was often in sunshine. There seemed to be more potential for excitement here, but other than a soft breeze, the forest was quiet. Nothing stirred.

Exploring **USFS Road No. 631.1C**. Photo looks NW.

After roughly 0.33 mile, a long, 20-30 foot high limestone escarpment was visible ahead on the R. USFS Road No. 631.1C angled toward it, but by the time Lupe got to the escarpment, it and the road had pretty much vanished. A tiny climb led up to a flat region.

Approaching the **limestone escarpment** (R). Photo looks NW.

Entering the flat region up on top. Photo looks W.

The roads gone, SPHP. Now we’re in for some real exploring!

Been a very long time since we’ve been here, Loop, but if I remember right, there’s an old road somewhere nearby that’s not shown on the maps. Let’s angle W.

Sure enough, Lupe ran into another road almost immediately. Following it W, SPHP called a halt upon reaching a clearing.

At the edge of the clearing. Photo looks W.

OK, Loop. I believe there’s a viewpoint we’ve been to at least a couple of times before off to the NW from here. Nothing too magnificent, but we can head over to it for a look around, if you like, and take a little break. Not too far away. What do you think? Want to do that?

Sure, SPHP! Might as well, if we’re already close. Leave the road here?

Yes. Angle off to the R, Looper.

Heading off in search of the viewpoint. Photo looks NW.

Exploring happily, Lupe sniffed her way through a maze of trees, bushes, and open lanes. Roughly 600 feet from the road, she came to the edge of a limestone escarpment. Miles N, the top of Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) was in sight. On the NW horizon, a forested ridge rose above others nearby.

Is that Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.) in Wyoming, SPHP?

I’ve sometimes thought so, Loop. You can see that ridge from Crooks Tower, too. Seems too far away to be Laird Peak (6,906 ft.), and too close to be Warren Peaks (6,650 ft.), but I just don’t know. I’ve never been able to figure it out.

At the viewpoint **1.33 miles N of Crooks Tower**. **Mystery Ridge** (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks NW.

Well, it didn’t really matter. For 15 minutes, SPHP sat there enjoying the view while munching an apple. Meanwhile, Lupe gobbled down some Taste of the Wild. Checking the Carolina Dog’s GPS track on the iPhone, it said she’d gone 3.3 miles already.

Wandering farther W along the edge of the escarpment, Lupe discovered a stone fire ring. Piles of gray branches nearby would have provided plenty of fuel for another fire.

By the stone fire ring. Photo looks WSW.

SPHP fished several Lupe treasures out of the fire ring.

Nice spot. Wish people would pack out what they bring in.

Many do, SPHP!

Many don’t, too. Well, we better keep going. Back to the road, Loopster!

Returning to the road, Lupe followed it S. When it turned W and started losing elevation, she left it to wander through clearings full of tall, brown grass. Soon a forested ridge was visible ahead.

Back at the unmarked road. Photo looks SSE.

In one of the grassy clearings. Photo looks SE.

That’s the N end of Crooks Tower, Loop. We’re getting close!

The forested ridge was the steepest climb of the entire journey, but other than a fair amount of deadfall scattered across the slope, the ridge really wasn’t that much of an obstacle. Before long, Lupe was standing below the N face of a 25 foot high rock formation.

Crossing **USFS Road No. 189.4F** on the way to the ridge. Photo looks SSW.

Steepest part of the ridge. Not bad at all! Photo looks SSW.

Below the 25 foot tall knob of rock. Photo looks SSE.

Is this Crooks Tower, SPHP? It’s not the way I remember it.

Oh, we’ve been here at least once before, Loop. Looks like we’re at Crooks Tower’s NNE summit. The generally accepted true summit is a bit farther.

Scooting around the W side of the big rock formation, the American Dingo found a relatively easy way to scramble up to the top, where a loose pile of rocks apparently served as a cairn.

So this is the NNE summit, SPHP? Can’t really see anything except trees.

Yes, this is it. Get up on those rocks, Looper, so I can get a picture. I sort of remember this cairn, and that we couldn’t see much last time we were here, either. Might even be worse now that the trees have grown.

On **Crooks Tower’s NNE summit**. Photo looks NNE.

Five minutes was about as long as Lupe lingered. Tree-broken glimpses of distant views were all the cramped NNE summit had to offer. Not even a hint of the true summit, even though it really wasn’t far off at all.

Continuing on, Lupe made her way first S, then SW, through thick forest and deadfall. Breaking out into the open, she reached the big field SE of the Crooks Tower summit block. A quick stroll around to the SW, and a short, familiar path led to a 40 foot diameter top covered with scattered big pines, pine needles, and exposed rock.

Part of the field SE of the summit. Photo looks S.

12-14-23, 1:18 PM, 41°F, Crooks Tower (7,137 ft.) – Clear skies now! The clouds were gone, but it hadn’t warmed up much at all. A 10 mph SSW breeze still made it feel rather chilly. After polishing off most of the rest of her Taste of the Wild, Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap.

I do remember this place, SPHP. We used to come here almost every year.

That’s right, Loop! Even though the views are limited, Crooks Tower is one of the highest peaks in the Black Hills and long been a favorite. This is your 11th ascent, and on your 13th birthday, too! Makes it even more special.

I’m glad to be back, SPHP! Seems like an awfully long time since the last time we were here.

SPHP smiled.

I looked it up before we came, sweet puppy. Last time we were here was more than 4 years ago – on my birthday. And now we’re here on yours.

Although still early afternoon, shadows cast by the sunlight filtering through the pines were already lengthening. Not even mid-afternoon yet, and it already felt late. As SPHP sat there stroking Lupe’s soft ears while gazing at the old familiar views, a certain sadness crept in. Did Lupe feel it, too? She was mighty quiet.

Dusty, Laddie, and now Grandma, all in less than 15 months. Our world’s grown colder lately, hasn’t it, Loop?

It’s filling up with ghosts, SPHP. I wish it weren’t!

Me, too, Looper. Me, too.

The Crooks Tower region had another summit candidate more than a mile SW, plus a 7130 High Point nearly a mile S of that. Now that Lupe was here for the first time in over 4 years, though, it seemed better to simply stay put and enjoy it rather than dash off. The Carolina Dog had already traveled 4.7 miles, and going much farther would mean getting back to the RAV4 well after dark.

In any case, congratulations were in order! Without getting up, SPHP shook Lupe’s paw, praising her for her 13th birthday ascent of Crooks Tower, then split an eagerly received chocolate coconut bar with her.

After that, no one moved. SPHP wrapped the red rain jacket around Lupe to help hold in some warmth. Minutes lost in thought ticked away. Ghosts and days gone by! Mere memories now, yet still so vivid, and seemingly perfectly real, it felt as if they could return anew even after long absence as easily as Lupe had returned to lay here on SPHP’s lap on Crooks Tower again today.

Gosh, look at the sun! Can’t sit here too long, Loop! Your summit hour is getting close to an end. Let’s get some pictures before it’s time to go.

Upper end of the summit region. Photo looks ESE.

**Black Elk Peak** (Center) from Crooks Tower. Photo looks SE.

A little below the summit. Photo looks NNE.

New teenager **Lupe** on **Crooks Tower**. Photo looks NNW.

The best views were of Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) far to the SE. Swinging toward the S, Green Mountain (7,164 ft.) stood out. The only other real views were N in the general direction of the Mystery Ridge.

**Black Elk Peak** (L), **Green Mountain** (R). Photo looks SSE.

**Mystery Ridge** (L) on the horizon. Photo looks N.

So how was that, SPHP? Get enough pictures?

Oh, I think so. Well done, Loopster!

After a more than 4 year absence, an hour on Crooks Tower didn’t seem like nearly enough. Nevertheless, at 2:18 PM, precisely an hour after she arrived, Lupe headed back down the short path to the SW.

Instead of going back the way she’d come, though, just for fun, it was time to make the big loop SPHP had mentioned earlier. Less than 0.5 mile WSW on USFS Road No. 189.4A got the American Dingo over to a big intersection with No. 189, the closest really good road to Crooks Tower, and No. 631.2C.

About to set out along **USFS Road No. 631.2C**. Photo looks SE.

A longer route than Lupe’s ascent, the return was otherwise even easier. In brilliant sunshine, at first, Loopster enjoyed the long gradual descent along No. 631.2C.

Part of the easy trek along **USFS Road No. 631.2C**. Photo looks SE.

Loopster enjoying the romp. Photo looks NW.

By the time Lupe got back to No. 631, the sun was behind the mountains. A bit farther on, Lupe passed the turn she had once taken into Trebor Draw where she’d been injured years ago. Continuing N beyond this point, another ancient memory stirred in SPHP’s mind.

You know, Loop, I seem to remember a fairly well-formed arch up on one of these hillsides to the L somewhere along this road. Help me keep an eye out for it, would you?

Sure thing, SPHP! Arches are rare in the Black Hills. I’ll let you know if I see one.

It wasn’t until Lupe was well past a junction with USFS Road No. 631.1E that there it was, an arch up on the hillside to the L! The Carolina Dog went up to it for a closer look.

*It’s an arch alright, SPHP!* Photo looks NNW.

Well, I’ll be! The arch really is here, Looper. My memory of it was so faint that I wasn’t even sure this was the right road.

You were right, SPHP!

Imagine that! Does happen now and then.

The sun was down, but it was still light out when Lupe reached Rapid Creek Road again. No traffic at all. In fact, Lupe hadn’t seen anyone, not even any animals, other than a few small birds, all day long.

On the final stretch near day’s end. Photo looks N.

12-14-23, 4:50 PM, 30ºF – The light was fading fast when Lupe’s 11.4 mile 13th birthday round trip journey to Crooks Tower came to an end. She’d had a great day up in the high country of the western Black Hills, and as it turned out, more excitement and festivities were still ahead.

During the dark drive home, a herd of nearly 20 giant deers suddenly ran across the road right in front of the RAV4, provoking a hysterical barking attack. Once home, SPHP suggested another photo session with Lupe’s presents, the two that Lanis and Yvonne had given her yesterday during all the commotion of the big birthday bash, plus one that SPHP had been holding out on.