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

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 236 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Deer Creek to Silver City & Peak 5707 (10-6-18)

Start – 9:45 AM, 41 °F, at the Deer Creek trailhead 0.25 mile from Hwy 385 off Silver City Road

Oh, it was going to be a fabulous day! Blue skies and high thin clouds greeted Lupe upon arrival at the Deer Creek trailhead. The morning air was cool and fresh. Autumn colors were near their height of glory. The American Dingo was excited. Loop was anxious to hit the trail!

Ready to hit the spur trail leaving the Deer Creek trailhead on a glorious fall morning.

This was Lupe’s third time here in as many weekends. The first two times Lupe had been exploring segments of Centennial Trail No. 89. Two weeks ago she had reached this point after starting from the Rapid Creek trailhead 5.0 miles to the S. Last week she had started here and journeyed 3.8 miles N to the Pilot Knob trailhead.

The Carolina Dog certainly intended to continue her adventures along Centennial Trail No. 89, but not today. The Deer Creek trailhead is also the E end of Deerfield Trail No. 40. The far W end of this 23 mile long trail connects with the 11 mile long Lake Loop Trail that circles Deerfield Reservoir in the W central Black Hills.

The plan for the day was to head W on Deerfield Trail No. 40 only as far as the next trailhead at Silver City, a mere 3.7 miles away. That ought to leave enough extra time for a couple of side adventures to Peak 5707 and Pactola Reservoir, as well.

As soon as SPHP was ready, Lupe set out from the Deer Creek trailhead on the now familiar spur trail leading W up a slope. Five minutes on the spur got her to the main trail. Here she turned L, proceeded 100 yards S to Silver City Road, then crossed it. The trail continued S through pine forest to a minor pass about 0.5 mile from the Deer Creek trailhead.

This pass was where Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40 part ways. A sign marked the R turn Looper needed to take to head W toward Silver City.

Lupe at the junction of Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40. This junction is 0.5 mile from the Deer Creek trailhead where she’d started. Loopster headed W toward Silver City from here. Photo looks W.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 initially gained elevation as it headed W from the junction, but soon leveled out. Loop actually lost a bit of elevation as the trail subsequently dipped into a minor drainage. Off to the NE, Lupe could see Silver City Road again not too far down a slope. However, upon reaching the bottom of the drainage, the trail turned SW away from the road. Starting up the drainage Lupe passed between several brightly colored aspens.

Upon reaching this drainage, Deerfield Trail No. 40 follows it uphill. The American Dingo passed between these bright aspens near the start of the climb. Photo looks SW.

A steady climb up the rocky bottom of the drainage ensued as the trail gradually curved W. By the time Lupe was 0.5 mile from the junction with Centennial Trail No. 89, the drainage had faded away. At this point Lupe wasn’t far below the top of a nearby hill to the SW. Meanwhile, Deerfield Trail No. 40 was beginning to level out. Apparently the trail was about to swing around the N side of the hill.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 levels out here not far below the top of a hill to the SW (L). Lupe had already gained 300 feet of elevation from the junction with Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks WNW.

Although Lupe was merely off to a good start as far as getting to Silver City was concerned, the topo map showed she was already fairly close to one of her side objectives. Peak 5707 ought to be only 0.5 mile S of here. A faded remnant of a road entered a small meadow S of the trail. Maybe that was the way to go?

This small meadow next to Deerfield Trail No. 40 looked like a promising start toward Peak 5707. After crossing the meadow, Lupe climbed the forested slope seen on the R. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe abandoned Deerfield Trail No. 40 for the time being to begin her search for Peak 5707. She went S through the small meadow, then turned SW climbing the nearby forested hill. She quickly arrived up on a spacious, virtually flat summit, already at 5,520+ feet elevation.

Up on the flat 5,520+ foot elevation hilltop. Photo looks SW.

Loop headed SW on the broad hilltop until she caught sight of an even higher forested hill a little farther S. That was High Point 5600. Peak 5707 wasn’t in view yet, but ought to be beyond it. Looper lost 80 feet of elevation going down to the saddle leading to High Point 5600.

On the saddle leading to High Point 5600. Photo looks SSW.

After crossing the saddle, the easiest route up High Point 5600 seemed to be to curl around to and up the E slope. Before she even got to the top, Lupe could see Peak 5707 ahead.

From the upper E slope of High Point 5600, Lupe gets her first look at **Peak 5707** (L). Photo looks SSW.

Lupe briefly visited the highest rocks on High Point 5600 before turning S toward Peak 5707. This time she lost only 60 feet of elevation heading down to the saddle. Along the way she came to a couple of spots from which she had quite nice distant views toward the E and SE.

Looper could see both Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.), which she had been to only 2 weeks ago, and Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.). Loop had been to Thrall Mountain, too, but it was getting close to 4 years ago now.

**Peak 5707** (Center) from the upper S slope of High Point 5600. Photo looks S.

The closest distant hill on the L is **Perrin Mountain**. Beyond it a little to the R is **Thrall Mountain**. Photo looks SE on the way to **Peak 5707**.

Similar view zoomed in. Lupe’s ears point up at **Perrin Mountain**. **Thrall Mountain** is at Center. Photo looks SE.

The N slope leading to the top of Peak 5707 really wasn’t much of a climb. Lupe only needed to gain 150 feet of elevation, and the slope was only moderately steep. Due to lots of deadfall timber, it was harder than it should have been, though. Nevertheless, Lupe was soon perched at the true summit on the highest slanty rocks.

Due to the forest, the only really clear view was toward the NW. Close by, Lupe could see Peak 5707’s NW ridge. Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) was on the far horizon.

Success! Lupe at the summit of **Peak 5707**. **Custer Peak** is the distant high point at Center. Peak 5707’s NW ridge is in the foreground. Photo looks NW.

While Lupe had arrived at Peak 5707 from the N, the mountain’s main ridge runs NW/SE. This ridge was quite narrow at the true summit. Slanty rocks and scattered deadfall made the immediate area a bit of a hassle to maneuver on. Once Lupe and SPHP were satisfied with having seen the limited available views, the Carolina Dog set off toward flatter terrain to the SE less encumbered with obstacles.

Lupe discovered a nice, wide flat area only a foot or two lower than the true summit. It was a pleasant spot.

Only a little SE of Peak 5707’s true summit, Lupe found this nice flat area. It was only a foot or two lower than the actual high point, and much easier to move around on. Photo looks S.

The W end of Pactola Reservoir is only a mile S of Peak 5707. SPHP had hoped Lupe would have a nice view of the lake from up here. However, if there were any views, even this nice flat spot was too heavily forested to see them. Lupe and SPHP continued a short distance SE along the ridge hoping to discover a decent viewpoint.

Sure enough, the American Dingo came to a point along the SW edge of the ridge from which it was possible to see Silver City, Rapid Creek, and the far W end of Pactola Lake.

Looking SW from Peak 5707’s SE ridge. **Silver City** is below on the R. The far W end of **Pactola Reservoir** is on the L.

The topo map showed Peak 5707’s SE ridge extending another whole 0.5 mile to come within 0.5 mile of Pactola Reservoir. Maybe there were even better viewpoints somewhere along the way? Eh. Perhaps, but it seemed like a longer trek than SPHP really wanted to make away from Deerfield Trail No. 40 and Lupe’s other objectives. It was decided to explore Peak 5707’s shorter NW ridge instead.

Done with a short, brief exploration of a small part of Peak 5707’s SE ridge, Lupe heads back toward the summit on her way to the NW ridge. Photo looks NW.

Exploring the NW ridge turned out not to be such a hot idea. Most of the ridgeline proved to be a mess due to large amounts of deadfall. Even so, lots of trees were still standing. Lupe didn’t come to any grand views she hadn’t seen before. Fortunately, there were some areas that weren’t too hard to traverse. Lupe did make it out to the high point at the far NW end before turning around.

Looking back at Peak 5707’s summit from the NW ridge. Photo looks SE.

*Not much deadfall here, SPHP! Kind of like a super highway for you!* Photo looks NW.

*Can’t see a darn thing from here, either!* Loopster at the high point at the far NW end of the ridge. She turned around and went back from here. Photo looks NW.

Well, the views from Peak 5707 may have been a bit disappointing, but exploring is always fun. At a minimum, Lupe had scored a peakbagging success. The Carolina Dog headed SE back toward the summit along the NW ridge. Before she got there, Lupe left the ridgeline heading E toward the saddle leading to High Point 5600. Some of the aspen trees were loaded with golden leaves.

Even if there weren’t any dazzling distant views from Peak 5707, Lupe could still appreciate the golden leaves of the aspen trees.

Lupe could have taken a shortcut to Deerfield Trail No. 40 by going down a valley to the NNW before she even reached the saddle S of High Point 5600. However, SPHP thought maybe she should return to the exact same point where she had left the trail. That way Loop would get to see the entire trail, even if it got so late the return trip was in the dark.

So that’s what Looper did. She went back over High Point 5600 and the 5520+ foot hill, and all the way back down to the small meadow where she reached Deerfield Trail No. 40 again. As expected, a level stretch of trail took Lupe around the N side of the 5520+ foot hill, then turned SW.

Lupe back on Deerfield Trail No. 40 again as it rounds the N side of the 5520+ foot hill. Photo looks SW.

Once W of the 5520+ foot hill, Deerfield Trail No. 40 began to steadily lose elevation. At first Lupe was traveling through pine forest, but she soon came to a long stretch with many aspens mingled in that was quite beautiful this time of year.

As the trail wound SW, Lupe came to a long beautiful stretch of forest with many aspens mingled in among the pines.

*Sure is pretty along in here, SPHP. Hope it stays like this all the way to Silver City!*

So, where is this place on the map, SPHP? …. Remember when you were up at the high spot at the far end of Peak 5707’s NW ridge, Loop? I think we are just N of there now, but several hundred feet lower.

Looking up, SPHP eventually saw that Lupe was rounding the far NW end of Peak 5707’s NW ridge. Deerfield Trail No. 40 emerged from the aspens about this time and curved S. The forest was all pines now, with virtually no other vegetation. Pine needles covered the trail and littered the forest floor.

Lupe started having success finding squirrels to bark at. Most of the time she stayed busy roaming off trail eagerly looking for the next one.

After leaving the aspens behind, Deerfield Trail No. 40 wound S in a solid Ponderosa pine forest. Photo looks SSW.

*Well, those aspens were pretty, but when it comes to excitement, you just can’t beat squirrels!* Lupe had considerable success finding squirrels in the pine forest.

The trail wound around a bunch, but overall kept working its way S. Most of the time Lupe was still losing elevation, but after a while she came to level and even uphill sections, too. The pine forest went on and on. Lupe was somewhere on the lower W slopes of Peak 5707, but many hundreds of feet below the now unseen summit.

The pine forest finally began to open up. Grass appeared. Lupe had lost a lot of elevation. She would soon reach a gravel road leading to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground near Pactola Reservoir.

Grass appeared when the pine forest finally opened up. Loop had lost many hundreds of feet of elevation by now. Photo looks S.

If there weren’t so many squirrels down here as before, it didn’t matter. As Deerfield Trail No. 40 approached the gravel road to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground, Lupe spotted a new source of keen interest right across the road. Cows! Big, beautiful, black cows. So tempting!

Approaching the gravel road to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground, Lupe spotted a new source of interest on the other side. Big, beautiful, black cows! Photo looks SSW.

Don’t even think about it, Loopster! Be good! Leave those cows alone.

SPHP settled for 2 out of 3. Lupe was good. She didn’t chase the cows. Even after the trail crossed the road and she was mighty close to them. However, Loop sure did think about it. It was simply impossible not to. Just the look in that Dingo’s eyes made the cows decide the grass was greener farther up the valley as Lupe approached. A few decided there was some urgency in the matter, and set off at a lively trot.

Where the cows had just been, a rather rotten old tree trunk served as an official Deerfield Trail No. 40 bridge across a tiny creek.

The tempting cows departed of their own volition leaving Lupe in command of their field. She crossed the rotten tree trunk seen on the R, which still served as a bridge over a tiny creek. Photo looks SSW.

Beyond the creek, Deerfield Trail No. 40 headed SSW through the field to the base of a forested hillside. It continued in this direction with the hill on the W and the field to the E until beyond the hillside. The trail then turned W gaining elevation slowly as Lupe went through open forest and meadows.

After getting around the S end of a forested hill, Lupe follows the trail W through an area of meadows and open forest.

Lupe soon came to a short climb up and over a small ridge. On the other side, water was in sight at the bottom of a steep slope. Deerfield Trail No. 40 turned NNW heading down the slope. After losing most or all of the elevation Lupe had gained going over the little ridge, the trail turned W again as the terrain began to level out.

After crossing the small ridge on the L, the terrain leveled out. Rapid Creek flows into the W end of Pactola Reservoir on the far side of the wetlands on the R. Photo looks S.

The American Dingo was only 0.5 mile from Silver City now. Soon the red roof of the Silver City Community Hall was in sight beyond a field. Lupe was thrilled to see a magnificent herd of black cows munching away at the tall grass.

Nearing Silver City, Lupe was thrilled to see an even bigger and more magnificent herd of black cows ahead. **Silver Peak (5,810 ft.)** is in the distance. Photo looks SW.

To avoid the cattle as much as possible, SPHP led Loop along the lower SE side of the field near the edge of wetlands. Although the Carolina Dog didn’t bark and behaved quite nicely, the closest cows were unnerved by her predatory stares. Most returned to the safety of the larger herd.

The rest was easy. Deerfield Trail No. 40 took Lupe across the last part of the field to Silver City Road. Loopster briefly dropped by the Silver City Community Hall. From a lawn liberally decorated with cow pies, she had a great view back toward Peak 5707 off to the NE.

Lupe reaches Silver City. Photo looks SW.

At the **Silver City Community Hall**. Note the snazzy red roof. Photo looks W.

Looking back at **Peak 5707** (Center) from the Silver City Community Hall lawn. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.

On the other side of Silver City Road a scenic cliff was in view beyond Rapid Creek. Lupe wandered over for a closer look.

Rapid Creek is somewhere near the base of this scenic cliff downstream of Silver City. Photo looks SE.

A 0.5 mile level stroll to the Silver City trailhead was all that remained for Lupe to complete her Deerfield Trail No. 40 objective for the day.

Lupe on Silver City Road. The main part of Silver City is off to the L (S) on the opposite side of Rapid Creek (hidden by bushes). Deerfield Trail No. 40’s Silver City trailhead is still 0.5 mile away down the road on the R. Photo looks W.

Loop by Rapid Creek near the bridge to the main part of Silver City. Lupe didn’t need to cross this bridge. The Silver City trailhead is on this same (N) side of the creek farther along the road on the R. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe made it to the Silver City trailhead, just a wide spot at the end of a gravel road. Her mission accomplished, the Carolina Dog went a little farther exploring the near bank of Rapid Creek upstream to another bridge providing access farther up the canyon.

Lupe gets a drink from Rapid Creek near the Silver City trailhead. Photo looks ESE.

Exploring a little farther up Rapid Creek toward the next bridge. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe got up on the bridge over Rapid Creek. Deerfield Trail No. 40 crosses this bridge on its way farther up the canyon. This was it, though. Lupe wasn’t going any farther today.

The Carolina Dog had been this way before. In fact, long ago the Silver City trailhead and this same bridge had been the starting point for Lupe’s very first adventures in the Black Hills. Both of her Black Hills, SD Expeditions No. 1 & No. 2 had begun right here in January, 2012. Barely 2 years old then, Lupe had been so very excited by the mysterious Black Hills backcountry, and had such wonderful times! That was way back in the days before SPHP even thought to bring a camera.

A short distance beyond the Silver Creek trailhead, once again on the bridge over Rapid Creek to a life of adventures! Both of Lupe’s first two Black Hills, SD Expeditions had started right here way back in January, 2012.

It was mid-afternoon. This was a good place to take a break. Lupe curled up with a view of Rapid Creek by the end of the bridge. She had some Taste of the Wild, then spent a few minutes resting. Perhaps, like SPHP, she was reflecting upon those first adventures so long ago.

Taking a break near Rapid Creek where it all began once upon a time. Photo looks ESE.

Ten minutes only, before the American Dingo was ready for action again! Lupe and SPHP started back along the road. Loop would return to the Deer Creek trailhead retracing the same route along Deerfield Trail No. 40.

Leaving Silver City heading toward **Peak 5707** (Center) again. Photo looks NE.

On the way back, Lupe made two side trips off Deerfield Trail No. 40. First, she left the trail to visit the Jenny Gulch picnic ground. Here she had access to parts of the N shore of Pactola Reservoir. Lupe and SPHP spent a little time exploring the area.

Lupe reaches **Pactola Reservoir** at the lower end of Jenny Gulch. Photo looks ESE.

Overlooking part of the W end of **Pactola Reservoir** near Jenny Gulch. A squirrel has Lupe’s attention. Photo looks WSW.

**Pactola Reservoir** is the largest lake in the Black Hills. Only a small portion is in view here. Photo looks W.

Later on, as evening approached, Lupe left Deerfield Trail No. 40 again to attempt a second ascent of Peak 5707. Loopster used the exact same route she had taken this morning. It was cloudier and cooler out now than it had been earlier.

S of High Point 5600 on the way back to Peak 5707 for a 2nd time. Photo looks ESE.

Lupe succeeded in reaching Peak 5707 a second time. Sadly, a hoped for beautiful sunset wasn’t going to happen. Lupe and SPHP hung around for 20 minutes anyway, enjoying the solitude and limited views. Most of this time was spent relaxing on the flat area SE of the true summit.

Lupe makes an early evening return to the true summit of **Peak 5707**. Photo looks SSE.

Relaxing up on **Peak 5707**. Photo looks N.

Light was fading. Lupe went back to the highest rocks a final time. One more look around. Then it was Puppy, Ho! Onward!

One more mile of adventure! Half a mile back to Deerfield Trail No. 40. Another half mile to the Deer Creek trailhead. It’s not over until it’s over!

Lupe made the most of every moment as darkness descended upon her Black Hills and Expedition No. 236 drew to a close. (End – 7:07 PM, 42 °F)

Final moments at the top of **Peak 5707**, 10-6-18.

Lupe treasures gathered: 18 aluminum cans, 2 plastic bottles, 3 glass bottles.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Deerfield Trail No. 40 brochure & map

Next Trail Section W:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 163 – Deerfield Trail No. 40 – Silver City to Canyon City (3-23-16)

Centennial Trail No. 89 brochure & map

Next Trail Section S:

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

Next Trail Section N:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 235 – Centennial Trail No. 89 – Deer Creek to Pilot Knob (9-29-18)

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 235 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Deer Creek to Pilot Knob (9-29-18)

Start – 10:40 AM, 46 °F, Deer Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

A week had shot by since Expedition No. 234 when Lupe had arrived at the Deer Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 on a warm, sunny afternoon. Now she was back. A cool, light S breeze rustled the newly yellow leaves of the aspen trees. The Carolina Dog was in high spirits! She was eager to continue her explorations along the Centennial Trail.

Lupe returns to the Deer Creek trailhead. The aspen trees were much yellower than they had been only a week ago. Even so, the fall colors didn’t appear to be quite at the season’s height yet.

Lupe lost no time setting off from the trailhead on the spur trail that winds W up a slope to the main trail.

Heading up the spur trail to the main trail. Photo looks W.

Five minutes on the spur trail brought Looper up to the junction with the main trail. She took the branch to the R (N) having already explored to this point from the S a week ago. Centennial Trail No. 89 started out crossing a relatively open area. Loop was still gaining elevation, though more gradually than on the spur trail.

Lupe reaches Centennial Trail No. 89 at the upper end of the spur trail. Here the main trail gains elevation more gradually as it crosses this open area. Photo looks WNW.

As Centennial Trail No. 89 entered the forest beyond the open area, Lupe passed by a small rock outcropping on the R. The trail leveled out here and turned NW roughly paralleling Highway 385. The highway was a good 0.25 mile away down in a broad valley to the E. Lupe could easily hear the traffic, and could sometimes see the busy highway.

After Looper passed by a small rock outcropping on the R (E), Centennial Trail No. 89 leveled out and headed NW.

Not much of a sense of solitude here! Even so, Lupe had a great time. She was having good luck finding squirrels! The American Dingo raced happily through the open forest, stopping frequently to check out trees hoping to spot more squirrels. Running was fun, too! Lupe encountered very little of the usual annoying slash or deadfall timber so common in much of the Black Hills.

Centennial Trail No. 89 bounced along a slope with little net elevation change as Lupe followed it NW. Often the trail was almost perfectly level. Even where it wasn’t, the route was never steep. To the SW, the terrain rose toward an unseen ridge 200 or 300 feet higher than where the trail ran. The forest always kept the ridgeline hidden from view.

Open forest and gently undulating terrain make this one of the easiest areas to explore along the entire Centennial Trail system. Loopster had a fabulous time charging around looking for squirrels.

The 3.8 miles between the Deer Creek and Pilot Knob trailheads is one of the shortest and easiest sections of the 111 mile long Centennial Trail. Lupe made rapid progress. The gently undulating terrain provided little in the way of distant views. Most of the way Lupe was traveling through pine forest. Occasional stands of yellow aspens provided at least some scenic variation.

Although this part of Centennial Trail No. 89 provided little in the way of views, Lupe didn’t care. She was having lots of fun racing around in the forest. Photo looks NW.

Stands of yellow aspens provided at least some scenic variety.

Happy Lupe at one of the prettiest spots.

Loggers had thinned the forest at some point years ago. They had done an unusually nice job of cleaning up any slash and deadfall.

The trail seemed to be slowly drifting farther away from Highway 385, which was sort of nice. After Loopster had gone more than 1.5 miles, though, it curved E. The noisy highway was soon in view again. Nearing the highway, Centennial Trail No. 89 turned N shortly before crossing it.

Approaching Highway 385. The trail crosses the highway here, then heads N near the power line. Photo looks N.

After crossing Highway 385, Centennial Trail No. 89 continued N in a strip of forested land 50 to 150 feet wide between a power line to the E and USFS Road No. 202 to the W. Here, Lupe came to a splendid thistle. It was big and prickly and extraordinarily healthy. The splendid thistle sported a huge, beautiful, purplish pink blossom.

Ordinarily Lupe and SPHP aren’t all that terribly keen on thistles, but this one was truly a splendid specimen!

Lupe was slowly gaining elevation. Before long the trail and power line both crossed USFS Road No. 202. The road subsequently turned E and disappeared into the forest. The trail took Lupe up an open strip of ground beneath the power line toward a minor pass.

Following the power line to a minor pass. Photo looks N.

Cresting the pass revealed steeper terrain ahead. Centennial Trail No. 89 went down an otherwise abandoned dirt road for much of the descent into the Jim Creek valley. Lupe was fast closing in on the Pilot Knob trailhead, now only 0.25 mile away.

Continuing N after cresting a minor pass, Centennial Trail No. 89 follows this dirt road as it begins losing elevation heading down into the Jim Creek valley. Photo looks N.

In the valley, Centennial Trail No. 89 skirted the E edge of a cattle ranch. Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.) was in view off to the WNW. Loopster was more interested in a big black bull standing out in the field beyond the fence.

Down in the Jim Creek valley, Centennial Trail No. 89 skirts the E side of this cattle ranch. **Pilot Knob** (Center) is in view off to the WNW. Lupe was more interested in the big black bull beyond the fence. Photo looks WNW.

For the most part, the trail stayed in the pines a little up the slope E of the fence line as Lupe passed by the ranch. It then led down to a bridge over Jim Creek. USFS Road No. 208 (Merritt Road) could be seen only a short distance beyond the creek.

Crossing Jim Creek. USFS Road No. 208 (Merritt Road) is in sight. Photo looks SW.

After crossing Jim Creek, it took only a few minutes to reach the Pilot Knob trailhead on the other (N) side of Merritt Road.

Loop arrives at the **Pilot Knob trailhead** along USFS Road No. 208 (Merritt Road). Photo looks NNE.

That was about it. Success! Lupe had completed the entire 3.8 mile long trek from the Deer Creek trailhead to the Pilot Knob trailhead. This easy segment of Centennial Trail No. 89 really hadn’t taken her very long. It was still early afternoon. Instead of simply heading back by the same route, the American Dingo was up for more of a challenge.

Time to get a little peakbagging in while making a loop back to the G6! Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.), was 0.75 mile due W. It would serve nicely as a first objective. Rather than start back S on Centennial Trail No. 89, Lupe continued N, as if she intended to head for the South Boxelder Creek trailhead.

Right away, Centennial Trail No. 89 swung sharply W heading up a slope. It soon curved N again, and Lupe found herself E of another cattle ranch. Pilot Knob was in view beyond a grassy field. At the far end of the field a small cabin nestled at the edge of the pines.

**Pilot Knob** (L) from Centennial Trail No. 89 N of the Pilot Knob trailhead. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.

Lupe continued N. Centennial Trail No. 89 turned E before too long at Boodleman Spring. Just E of the spring, Lupe left the trail turning N yet again. She followed a dirt road up a small valley until she was N of the cattle ranch fence line. The Carolina Dog then scrambled up out of the valley heading W.

Once out of the valley, Lupe was confronted with open forest on rolling terrain. Trying to stay on high ground instead of crossing ravines meant heading more NW than due W. For a while Pilot Knob wasn’t even in view due to all the trees, but Loop eventually caught sight of it again.

In the forest N of the cattle ranch. Photo looks WNW.

At a small clearing, Lupe catches sight of **Pilot Knob** again. Photo looks SW.

The **Pilot Knob** summit with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

SPHP eventually lost patience with trying to stay on the high ground. Lupe was having to go too far NW to get to Pilot Knob’s N ridge. Simply crossing the last intervening valley was easier and faster. Looper was soon closing in on Pilot Knob’s rocky summit from the N.

Loop reaches the N end of Pilot Knob’s rocky summit ridge. Photo looks SE.

The summit ridge was a good 40 feet high or more. The N end was very steep and not a good place to attempt an ascent. Way back in January, 2016, Lupe had climbed Pilot Knob once before. SPHP remembered that about the only relatively easy way up started at the SW end of the ridge. Lupe headed that way.

Loop on her way S beside Pilot Knob’s vertical W face. Photo looks N.

The Pilot Knob summit ridge is several hundred feet long. On the W side of the ridge near the far S end, Lupe found the way up.

*Come on, SPHP! This is the way up!* About the only easy way to the top of Pilot Knob starts here at the SW corner of the very rocky summit ridge. Photo looks S.

Once up on the lower S end of the ridgeline, a bit of scrambling was required almost immediately to begin heading N toward the still unseen true summit. SPHP thought Lupe might need help at a couple of points, but she always managed to get up all by herself.

The W edge of the ridgeline became a sheer vertical drop. To keep going N, Lupe had to stay toward the E. This route was fine, except for small pines that made it unnecessarily difficult for SPHP to pass.

Lupe up on the summit ridge after the first bit of scrambling. She is just E of the highest rocks where it was possible to continue N. Loop had no trouble at all getting by these small pines, but they slowed SPHP down. Photo looks N.

Once beyond the pines, thorny bushes among lots of jumbled rock kept progress slow. A vertical drop existed to the E, too, but at least there was some room up here to maneuver a little W of the edge.

Getting close to the summit, still E of the highest rocks. Photo looks N.

After fighting through the bushes, another short scramble and Lupe was up! For the first time in more than 2.5 years, the American Dingo stood at the top of Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.).

For the first time in more than 2.5 years, Lupe stands once again on the highest rocks up on **Pilot Knob**. Photo looks N.

*Oh, I made it up here again, SPHP. And without any help from you, I might add!*

*Say, these views are surprisingly impressive aren’t they?*

Pilot Knob’s summit was so rocky there were hardly any trees around. Even though Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.) hadn’t seemed like much of a climb, the views were rather impressive.

Time for a break. A snack while enjoying the scenery was in order. Lupe had water and Taste of the Wild. SPHP munched an apple. Lupe could see and hear the traffic on nearby Highway 385, but it was all far enough below so the mood was still largely one of tranquility up here on Pilot Knob.

On the highest rock. The cattle ranch Lupe had gone past on Centennial Trail No. 89 down in the Jim Creek valley is seen on the L. Hwy 385 is on the R. Photo looks SE.

The rounded forested high point toward the L at the far end of the near ridge (close to Hwy 385) is **Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.)**. Lupe would be heading there next. Rochford Road is on the R. Photo looks S.

This big patch of orange and purple rock gives the summit of **Pilot Knob** a distinctive look. Photo looks NNW.

Looking down the ragged rocky N end of the summit ridge. Photo looks N.

View to the NW with help from the telephoto lens and a peakbagging Carolina Dog.

Rochford Road from Pilot Knob. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

Loopster wasn’t going to get better views than this from anywhere else today, so the American Dingo wasn’t in any hurry to leave Pilot Knob. She lingered with SPHP up at the summit for more than 40 minutes. By then it seemed like time move on if Lupe still wanted to get to Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.), her second and final peakbagging objective.

*Hate to leave Pilot Knob, SPHP, but maybe we better get going, if we still want to have time to reach **Merritt Peak** (Center)*. Photo looks S.

After a slow, careful descent off of Pilot Knob’s summit ridge, Loopster headed S through the forest. Down, down! The SW side was the steepest part of the main mountain, but Lupe wanted to get down to Highway 385 as fast as possible. It wasn’t far, only about an eighth of a mile. Near the bottom, a ravine to the W that wasn’t too steep got her there.

The busy highway wasn’t a fun place to be. Lupe and SPHP headed S in the ditch as cars and trucks roared by. Near Merritt Road, Lupe crossed over to the W side of Highway 385. She passed through the parking lots of the Sugar Shack and other businesses. If they would have welcomed Dingoes, Looper would surely have begged SPHP to take her into the Sugar Shack for a burger. Sadly, that wasn’t in the cards.

Loop and SPHP hurried along. After 0.50 mile, it was a relief to reach USFS Road No. 672 and escape all the highway traffic. Peaceful No. 672 wound its way SW steadily gaining elevation.

Lupe was glad to get to USFS Road No. 672, safely away from all the Highway 385 traffic. Photo looks SW.

After 0.5 mile on USFS Road No. 672, Lupe reached an intersection at the top of a pass. From here No. 672 continued S down into Broad Gulch. Loop didn’t need to go that way. Instead, she turned E on Trail No. 6237.

Loop left USFS Road No. 672 here at the top of a minor pass. Trail No. 6237 would take her SE along the ridge leading to Merritt Peak.

Trail No. 6237 quickly brought Lupe up onto a ridgeline leading SE to Merritt Peak. The forest had been thinned in recent years, but the pines were still dense enough to mar any distant views. Even so, traveling along the ridge was fun. Lupe enjoyed looking down the forested slopes on both sides for deer or squirrels.

On the ridge leading to **Merritt Peak**. Photo looks SE.

After following the ridge for 0.25 mile, SPHP figured Lupe had to be getting close to Merritt Peak. However, Trail No. 6237 suddenly made a big curve down to the W leaving the ridgeline. That didn’t seem right at all! Back in January, 2016 when Lupe had climbed Pilot Knob for the first time, she had also come this way and climbed Merritt Peak, too. SPHP didn’t remember the trail leaving the ridge back then. Loop certainly hadn’t.

Instead of following Trail No. 6237 down off the ridge, Lupe continued SE looking for another trail. Almost right away, she found the trail SPHP remembered.

In 2016, the trail had not gone clear up to the top of Merritt Peak, but had passed only 30 or 40 feet below the summit ridge on the E side of the mountain. Sure enough, this trail gained elevation before leveling out E of higher ground. SPHP was certain this had to be it. The Carolina Dog left the trail and climbed the slope to the top. Yes, this was Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.) alright!

Lupe reaches the S end of Merritt Peak’s 200 foot long summit ridge. Photo looks NNW.

Lupe had come up near the S end of Merritt Peak’s 200 foot long summit ridge. The whole ridge was pretty close to level. A small rock outcropping seemed to be the high point at this end. The N end of the summit ridge was rockier and had seemed perhaps slightly higher back in 2016. May as well go check it out again.

Eh. Maybe the N end was a little higher. Still seemed that way, but not super convincingly so. Really not much difference one way or another. Lupe and SPHP sat down together just below the highest rocks to take another break.

The N end of Merritt Peak’s summit ridge might have been a bit higher than the S end. Still seemed that way, but not by much. It was certainly rockier. Photo looks N.

If not the true summit, this is mighty close to it. Photo looks NNE.

*So this is it, isn’t it, SPHP? I’ve bagged myself a 2nd ascent of Merritt Peak, haven’t I? …. Yeah, congratulations Looper, we’re calling this good.*

Lupe had also taken a break at this very same spot in 2016. Even though the forest had been thinned since then, there still weren’t any decent views from Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.). Seemed like there had been at least a fairly good look at Minnesota Ridge (6,240 ft.) off to the NW from here before. Even that view was now marred by a couple of trees that had grown up in the meantime.

Still, SPHP was glad Lupe had returned. More than 2.5 years gone by. Made you think. SPHP hugged Lupe close. For a while Lupe huddled there with SPHP content just sitting and watching.

Time is relentless. That precious commodity was slipping away even as it was being pondered. The sky had been totally overcast all afternoon. It wasn’t possible to tell how close the sun was to setting. No more than an hour from now, maybe less? Lupe still had close to 2 miles to go to get back to the Deer Creek trailhead. SPHP stood up.

Come on, Looper, let’s finish exploring this ridge!

Lupe was on it. She was ready.

The ridge SPHP was referring to wasn’t Merritt Peak’s summit ridge. Lupe had already seen that. However, she had never been any farther on the long ridge extending SE from Merritt Peak. This was the same ridge that had been unseen and higher up to the W during much of the early part of today’s journey along Centennial Trail No. 89.

The American Dingo returned to the nearby trail. The easiest thing to do would have been to head directly down to Centennial Trail No. 89, which couldn’t have been more than 0.5 mile away. Instead, Lupe stuck with the high ground traveling SE along the ridgeline.

A network of seldom traveled trails crisscrossed the ridge. None were marked. Up and down! From one high point to the next the Carolina Dog continued her explorations. For more than a mile whatever trail she was on was in good shape. After that it began to fade. Eventually there didn’t seem to be a trail at all.

Finally, Lupe saw Silver City Road just ahead down at Pass 5307. Time to begin her descent. Loop headed E off the ridge. It wasn’t dark yet, but certainly dim when she reached Centennial Trail No. 89 at the edge of the pines by the rock outcropping where the trail had first leveled out this morning.

Lupe’s big loop on and off Centennial Trail No. 89 today was complete. Ten more minutes of sniffing would bring her back to the Deer Creek trailhead and the G6. Another day, a fun one, gone forever. At least her precious time had been well spent. End – 6:21 PM, 42°F