Elk Benchmark – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 167 – Surveyor’s Hill, Red Butte, Yellow Butte & the Elk Mountain Benchmark (4-20-16)

SPHP wasn’t very well organized. It took longer than it should have to get going. Finally, at noon, Lupe and SPHP were on their way in the G6.

Lupe was already expecting great things! She was riding up high on a small mountain of gear, blankets and pillows, as if she was starting off on one of her Dingo Vacations. That wasn’t what was happening, but this was going to be a special overnight outing. Lupe was going to get to do two Black Hills, SD Expeditions in a row!

Lupe’s peakbagging goals were all clustered in the SW Black Hills, not too far from the Wyoming border. First up was an easy one, Surveyor’s Hill (5,640 ft.). SPHP parked the G6 at a curve in USFS Road No. 668 down in Hay Draw (1:48 PM, 58°F). All Lupe had to do to get up to Surveyor’s Hill was follow a side valley NW for 0.375 mile. Surveyor’s Hill was a minor hill sitting up on a larger ridge that lost elevation as it went SW.

Lupe started off doing just fine, following an animal trail at the bottom of the side valley. However, when SPHP left the animal trail to start gaining elevation faster on the NE side of the valley, Lupe hesitated. She remembered all the cactus around on her recent trip to the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska with mountaineer Jobe Wymore. There had also been cactus around on her last couple of Black Hills, SD Expeditions, too.

Lupe didn’t want to leave the safety of the animal trail. Even though SPHP didn’t see any cactus, it took some persuading to convince Lupe to keep going. Lupe repeatedly sat down and lagged behind. She only came when SPHP got too far away, or stopped to sit down and “check the maps”. A few times, SPHP had to carry her.

Fortunately, it wasn’t far to Surveyor’s Hill, and there really didn’t seem to be any cactus around. Lupe gradually regained her confidence. Once she was up on the ridge at the base of Surveyor’s Hill, she started feeling secure enough to lead SPHP the rest of the way up.

Lupe nears Surveyor's Hill. Photo looks WNW. — Lupe nears Surveyor’s Hill. Photo looks WNW.

For such a small hill, the scenic rewards when Lupe reached the top were very nice. The forest on Surveyor’s Hill completely burned away in the Jasper Fire in August, 2000. As a result, Surveyor’s Hill has a commanding 360° view. Some of the best views were off to the SW.

Lupe reaches the summit of Surveyor's Hill. Her next 2 peakbagging goals are in sight. Red Butte (5,500 ft.) is the partly forested hill L of Center. Yellow Butte (5,460 ft.) is the little knob seen straight above Lupe's tail. Wyoming is on the far horizon. Photo looks W. — Lupe reaches the summit of Surveyor’s Hill. Her next 2 peakbagging goals are in sight. **Red Butte (5,500 ft.)** is the partly forested hill L of Center. **Yellow Butte (5,460 ft.)** is the little knob seen straight above Lupe’s tail. Wyoming is on the far horizon. Photo looks W.

Two more of Lupe's peakbagging goals are seen here. Wildcat Peak (5,500 ft.) is on the L. Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.) is the high point on the R closest to Lupe's ear. Photo looks SW. — Two more of Lupe’s peakbagging goals are seen here. **Wildcat Peak (5,500 ft.)** is on the L. **Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.)** is the high point R of Center. Photo looks SW.

Red Butte from Surveyor's Hill using the telephoto lens. Photo looks W. — Red Butte from Surveyor’s Hill using the telephoto lens. Photo looks W.

Yellow Butte from Surveyor's Hill using the telephoto lens. Photo looks WNW. — Yellow Butte from Surveyor’s Hill using the telephoto lens. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe liked it up on Surveyor’s Hill. She really didn’t want to follow SPHP down the S slope when it was time to go. She still suspected she was being lured back down into dangerous cactus country. SPHP went a long way down before Lupe finally decided she didn’t want to risk being left behind.

Lupe felt better remaining high up on her Surveyor's Hill vantage point. When SPHP got too far away, she reluctantly decided to come down. Photo taken looking NNW using the telephoto lens. — Lupe felt better remaining high up on her Surveyor’s Hill vantage point. When SPHP got too far away, she reluctantly decided to come down. Photo taken looking NNW using the telephoto lens.

On the short trek back to the G6, Lupe’s confidence continued to build. Instead of encountering cactus, she saw a squirrel! All the painful thoughts of cactus disappeared, wiped out in an instant by the exciting squirrel. With the squirrel’s help, by 2:34 PM (58°F) Lupe was back at the G6, and on her way to Red Butte (5,500 ft.).

SPHP parked the G6 again down in Gillette Canyon, at the junction of USFS Roads No. 281 & No. 281.1V. Red Butte was only a little over 0.5 mile WNW as the crow flies. On the first part of the journey, Lupe and SPHP followed No. 281.1V. Red Butte was soon in sight across a big field.

Red Butte from near USFS Road No. 281.1V. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe and SPHP stayed on No. 281.1V as it crossed a big field heading for Red Butte. When the road reached the trees, it started gaining elevation. Lupe and SPHP stayed on the road only until it started curving NE, then Lupe left it climbing NW directly up the forested ridge.

Once again, Lupe was reluctant to follow SPHP off the road. Her fear of cactus returned. Again and again, she stopped and watched while SPHP plodded away. When SPHP got too far ahead, she waited for SPHP to stop and look back at her. Then she ran to catch up. In this manner, Lupe and SPHP progressed steadily, though more slowly than normal.

When Lupe reached the top of the ridgeline, she turned WSW following the ridge toward the summit of Red Butte. SPHP still saw no cactus around. Lupe’s confidence grew.

The steepest part of the climb came at the end. The summit of Red Butte was up on top of a hill thickly covered with 3 foot high bushes. Lupe liked the bushes, and the many pathways between them. She forgot all about cactus, sniffing her way through the bush maze. For SPHP, the bushes were more of a pain to navigate, but soon both Lupe and SPHP stood on the summit of Red Butte.

Lupe at the summit of Red Butte. Wildcat Peak (5,500 ft.) (L) and the Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.) (seen above Lupe) are in view to the SW. — Lupe at the summit of Red Butte. **Wildcat Peak (5,500 ft.)** (L) and the **Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.)** (seen above Lupe) are in view to the SW.

The highest parts of Red Butte were covered with a thick maze of bushes. Lupe liked them! Photo looks NE.

Lupe stands at the top of a small limestone outcropping on the E side of Red Butte. Photo looks N.

The true summit of Red Butte was near the ENE end of the short summit ridge close to where Lupe initially reached the top. However, there was another high point off to the WSW. After visiting the true summit, Lupe and SPHP headed over to this second high point to take a look at things from there. On the way, SPHP suddenly spied a large patch of cactus ahead.

Right away, SPHP stopped Lupe and put her leash on. Lupe had been so engrossed with exploring the maze of bushes, she didn’t yet realize there was any cactus around. To make certain Lupe didn’t have a bad experience, SPHP carried her over the cactus patch to reach the second high point.

Lupe on the slightly lower WSW high point of Red Butte. Photo looks ENE back toward the true summit. The only cactus Lupe and SPHP came to all day was a big patch located between these two high points.

With cactus around, Lupe and SPHP didn’t stay long on the WSW high point. It was quite close to the true summit, so the views weren’t much different anyway. SPHP carried Lupe back over the cactus patch to the true summit again. A break between the trees provided a look at nearby Yellow Butte (5,460 ft.), where Lupe would be headed next.

Yellow Butte from Red Butte using the telephoto lens. Photo looks N.

Lupe and SPHP left Red Butte heading back down the way Lupe had originally come up. Lupe followed the ridgeline NE back to USFS Road No. 281.1V. Lupe came to no more cactus, and although SPHP kept a careful lookout, SPHP saw no more cactus the rest of the day.

Crocuses were blooming on the ridge ENE of Red Butte.

When Lupe reached USFS Road No. 281.1V again, she followed it N for about 0.33 mile. She then came to an intersection where she turned W. She soon passed by No. 281.1A coming up Hop Draw. From this point, No. 281.2Y led Lupe W the rest of the way to Yellow Butte. In this manner, Lupe effectively went around the E end of Hop Draw coming from Red Butte.

Although Yellow Butte is a little lower than either Surveyor’s Hill or Red Butte, it is a much craggier, and therefore more interesting peak. In fact, SPHP wasn’t at all certain that Lupe would find a way up to the summit. As Lupe approached Yellow Butte, there appeared to be a reasonably safe way up near the S end of the E face, but SPHP didn’t really like the looks of it all that much.

Approaching the E face of Yellow Butte on USFS Road No. 281.2Y. It looked like it might be possible to climb up the big cracks on the L, but SPHP preferred to look around for an easier route up.

Instead of heading toward the big cracks in the rocks toward the S end of the E face, Lupe and SPHP went to check out the N end first. The N end of the E face wasn’t encouraging at all.

The N end of the E face of Yellow Butte gave Lupe no encouragement at all. She could only get up this part of the mountain with Dingo Wings, which she didn't happen to have on her at the time. Photo looks WSW. — The N end of the E face of Yellow Butte gave Lupe no encouragement at all. She could only get up this part of the mountain with Dingo Wings, which she didn’t happen to have on her at the time. Photo looks WSW.

Yellow Butte was certainly well named! The entire mountaintop appeared to consist of a massive very yellow rock outcropping with near vertical, and in some places overhanging, walls. The narrow N end of the mountain featured beautiful yellow, overhanging cliffs.

Lupe perches on rocks beneath the yellow overhanging cliffs at the narrow N end of Yellow Butte. Photo looks S.

The northern portion of the W face of Yellow Butte was a towering, vertical yellow rock wall.

The northern part of the W face of Yellow Butte was a continuous yellow cliff. Photo looks N.

It was starting to look like Lupe and SPHP might have no choice. The large steep cracks in the rocks on the E face might be the only possible way up. However, as Lupe drew near the S end of the W face, suddenly there was a break in the sheer cliff wall. A ramp of relatively easy terrain led all the way up to the top of the massive rock formation.

Surprisingly, the first rocks Lupe encountered on top were not yellow at all. The true summit, which is closer to the S end of the mountain, consisted of a very different, but interesting gray-pink rock full of holes, lines and pockets.

Lupe on a dead tree very close to the summit of Yellow Butte. Red Butte (Center) is seen beyond Lupe. Photo looks SSE.

Lupe at the top of Yellow Butte. This photo clearly shows the unusual pink gray stone at the summit, and part of the broad flat top of the yellow rock toward the N end of the mountain. Photo looks N.

After visiting the summit, Lupe went to explore the flat top of the yellow rocks toward the N end of the mountain. Exposed rock covered most of a fairly large area, but scattered trees and bushes grew here and there, too. Cliffs were to the W, N and E.

Lupe out on the relatively flat top of the yellow rocks at the N end of Yellow Butte. Photo looks S toward the summit.

Yellow Butte was quite an interesting place. SPHP was glad Lupe had found an easy way up. Before departing, Lupe briefly returned to the summit one more time. Then she headed back down the relatively easy ramp near the S end of the W face.

A closer look at the interesting pink-gray rocks forming the summit. Photo looks ESE.

A final look at the yellow cliffs on the W face of Yellow Butte on Lupe's way down. Photo looks N (and up!). — A final look at the yellow cliffs on the W face of Yellow Butte on Lupe’s way down. Photo looks N (and up!).

Lupe returned to USFS Road No. 281.2Y. She followed it E to No. 281.1V again, which she stayed on all the rest of the way back to the G6 (5:49 PM, 55°F).

SPHP’s original plan had been for Lupe to head on over to Wildcat Peak (5,500 ft.) next, but the very late start earlier in the day meant it was already too late now for that adventure. Lupe would get a chance to climb Wildcat Peak tomorrow. In the meantime, Lupe had another fun alternative close to Wildcat Peak. She could go to the Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.).

Lupe had been to the Elk Benchmark once before, a little over a year ago on Black Hills SD Expedition No. 125. Both Lupe and SPHP had a great time there then. The Elk Benchmark is located at the NW corner of Elk Mountain, a high ridge on the border with Wyoming. The ridge runs N/S for several miles. The S end of the ridge is heavily forested, but years ago a forest fire burned virtually all the trees off the N end.

USFS Road No. 118 passes very close to the true summit at Elk Benchmark on its way to the Elk Mountain Lookout Tower (5,662 ft.), so it’s possible to drive almost right to it. However, a year ago Lupe and SPHP had found it much more fun to travel the broad treeless portion of the ridge on paw and foot. Lupe enjoyed chasing the numerous rabbits, and SPHP loved the big sweeping views.

Since USFS Road No. 118 traverses the entire length of Elk Mountain, Lupe and SPHP could stay out long after dark without worrying about getting lost. Repeating Lupe’s prior journey to the Elk Benchmark would be a perfect way to end the day! So when Lupe reached the G6 again after her visit to Red and Yellow Buttes, it was time to press on to Elk Mountain.

By 6:30 PM (54°F), SPHP was parking the G6 at the junction of USFS Roads No. 118 and No. 118.1C. This junction was up on top of the Elk Mountain ridge at the S end of the burned area. Elk Benchmark was still at least 2 miles N. Before heading N, Lupe and SPHP made a short trek over to the E side of the ridge for a look at Wildcat Peak to the S.

Wildcat Peak is seen in the sunlight straight above Lupe. She would get a chance to climb it the next day. Photo looks S from Elk Mountain.

After a good look at Wildcat Peak, Lupe and SPHP went back to No. 118 to start following it N. Lupe quickly rediscovered the existence of rabbits up on Elk Mountain. The enthusiastic Carolina Dog bounded away. She was off and running! Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any cactus to worry about. Even though the rabbits had all the advantages on their home ground, Lupe had an exhilarating time sniffing excitedly for them and giving chase.

Meanwhile, SPHP was enjoying the tremendous views. To the W, a broad swath of eastern Wyoming could be seen. To the E, the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. Far away, almost indiscernibly faintly on the SSW horizon, SPHP could even see Laramie Peak (10,272 ft.).

Lupe at the E edge of the Elk Mountain ridge. The Elk Mountain Lookout Tower is faintly visible in the distance just to the R of Lupe's head. The Lookout Tower is just 7 feet lower than the Elk Mountain's true summit at the Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.). Photo looks N. — Lupe along the E edge of Elk Mountain. The Elk Mountain Lookout Tower is faintly visible in the distance just to the R of Lupe’s head. The Lookout Tower is just 7 feet lower than Elk Mountain’s true summit at the **Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.)**. Photo looks N.

Lupe now on the W side of Elk Mountain. Photo looks N toward the true summit at the Elk Benchmark (L of Center). USFS Road No. 118 is seen on the R.

Looking N at Elk Benchmark. There are two USGS markers on the rocks at the top. The one toward the S has an arrow pointing NNW toward the one with the elevation stamp, which is just a few steps away.

Lupe and SPHP barely made it to the Elk Benchmark summit before sunset. The world was all aglow with a soft yellow-orange light. Off to the SE, the Elk Mountain Lookout Tower stood on another high point almost as high as where Lupe was.

Lupe reaches the Elk Benchmark just before sunset. One of two USGS markers is right below her near her front paws. (This is the S one with the arrow on it.) Slightly lower Elk Mountain Lookout Tower is seen in the distance. Photo looks SE.

The S USGS marker with the arrow on it pointing toward the N marker a few paces away.

The N USGS benchmark with the 5,669 foot elevation stamp.

Lupe on Elk Benchmark at sunset. The N USGS benchmark with the elevation stamp is seen near her. A metal post sticks up out of the ground to its R. Photo looks S along the W side of the Elk Mountain ridge.

Lupe and SPHP took a break at the Elk Benchmark while the sun sank below the horizon. On Lupe’s trip here more than a year earlier on 4-4-15, Lupe and SPHP had gone on to see the Elk Mountain Lookout Tower, and another nearby high point featuring the Most Colorful Rock. This time, it would have gotten dark before Lupe could get over there, so there wasn’t any point in going.

Lupe and SPHP just relaxed enjoying the glorious view until the light started fading from the clouds.

Lupe and SPHP didn’t start back toward the G6 until 10 or 15 minutes after the sun disappeared. Then Lupe led the way, resuming her futile, but enormously entertaining rabbit hunts. Darkness grew in the E. The orange glow in the W faded. Gradually it became harder and harder for SPHP to see the happily roaming Carolina Dog. She became a phantom of the night, disappearing and reappearing at will.

A huge, white moon obliterated most stars and cast ghostly shadows. Tomorrow the moon would be full. The long trek back was marvelous. At 9:08 PM, it was over. Lupe and SPHP were back at the G6, but to Lupe’s delight, she wasn’t going home. Together, Lupe and SPHP would spend this night on Elk Mountain!Links:

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 125 – Atlantic Hill, Signal Hill & Elk Benchmark (4-4-15)

To start off this week’s peakbagging expedition, SPHP parked the G6 at 9:58 AM near the intersection of County Road No. 284 and USFS Road No. 284.1E, a point about 1.25 miles SSW of Lupe’s first goal of the day, Atlantic Hill (6,393 ft.). Except for a few high thin clouds, the skies were clear. It was a lovely 44°F out with a cool light N breeze. Lupe was excited and ready to go!

Lupe about to start for Atlantic Hill seen in the background. She was ready for action, although looking into the sun made her squint.

Instead of heading towards Atlantic Hill, USFS Road No. 284.1E first took Lupe W for half a mile up a ravine before turning back to the NE. As 284.1E wound around to the NE it slowly lost the elevation Lupe had just gained. The area Lupe was traveling through was nearly all forested, with a mix of ponderosa pines and aspens. There were interesting rock outcroppings on the hillsides that tended to be anywhere from a few feet to 10 – 15 feet tall.

As Lupe approached Atlantic Hill, she left USFS Road No. 284.1E and headed directly through the forest. She soon came to open ground down in a valley where there was a small creek, just a foot or so wide, but with marshy ground along it. This was Ruby Creek, and it had surprisingly good flow for its size. Set against a rock wall was a small pond with a few ducks on it that flew off as Lupe approached.

The better to lick you with, my dear! Lupe near the rock wall pond in Ruby Creek valley. — The better to lick you with, my dear! A big-tongued Lupe near the rock wall pond in Ruby Creek valley.

Once across the little Ruby Creek valley, Lupe headed into the forest and started the climb up Atlantic Hill. After gaining a bit of elevation, SPHP looked back and saw two more ponds back down in Ruby Creek valley, one upstream and one downstream from the pond next to the rock wall.

Part way up Atlantic Hill was this view to the W of Peak 6740, the high ridge on the horizon at center left. — Part way up Atlantic Hill was this view to the W of **Peak 6740**, the high ridge on the horizon at center left.

A typical rock outcropping seen while climbing Atlantic Hill.

Atlantic Hill was pretty easy to climb. There were quite a few rock outcroppings to work around on the way up and they were bigger than the ones along USFS Road No. 284.1E had been. The easiest path up was to avoid getting up on the rocks, and just keep heading up through the forest between the rocky spines of the mountain.

Lupe near the S high point on Atlantic Hill. The best views were toward Crazy Horse to the NE. — Lupe near the S high point on Atlantic Hill. The best views were toward **Crazy Horse** to the NE (the whitish rock up at center left).

Lupe reached a small saddle area between high points near the top of the hill. First she went to the S high point to check things out from there. Then she went to the N high point, and a short climb brought her up to the true summit of Atlantic Hill. The views at the high points were mainly toward the E. The most interesting thing to be seen was Thunderhead Mountain (6,567 ft.) where the carving of Crazy Horse is located, about 4 miles to the ENE. Although there had been views to the N and W at various places on the climb up, the forest blocked those views near the top.

Lupe reaches the summit of Atlantic Hill.

Looking back at the summit of Atlantic Hill.

Lupe had some water and a little Taste of the Wild at the summit. After a short rest break, SPHP led her to the N going down the mountain. A fairly steep slope brought Lupe down to a saddle connecting Atlantic Hill to a rocky sub-peak which was perhaps 100 feet higher than the saddle area. There Lupe turned W and headed down a less steep and mostly grassy draw with scattered trees. A couple of cabins with blue roofs came into view to the NW, but Lupe reached a dirt road before she got too close to the cabins.

At the Atlantic Hill N saddle looking towards Crazy Horse through the aspens.

Since Lupe had gone down Atlantic Hill to the N of where she had climbed it, SPHP led her S along the dirt road until it ended. Then Lupe headed the rest of the way down into Ruby Creek valley, which she entered just S of the northernmost pond. There were fences on both the E and W sides of the valley here, so this may have been private land. Lupe hurried across it and headed W back up into the trees. Soon she found USFS Road No. 284.1E again, which she followed back to the G6, arriving at 1:42 PM. It was now 56°F out.

Lupe and SPHP headed W on County Road No. 284 towards the next peakbagging objective – Signal Hill. The hike to Signal Hill began at the intersection of No. 284 with USFS Road No. 747. At the start of No. 747, Summit Hill was already in view a very short distance to the S. It was an easy stroll with little elevation gain.

Signal Hill (6,483 ft.) apparently used to have a lookout tower on it. However, the whole area had burned in the 83,000 acre Jasper fire back in August, 2000. SPHP doesn’t know if the lookout tower burned in that fire or was torn down before then. Lupe posed for a photo sitting on what little was left of the foundation for whatever had been there long ago.

The view of Signal Hill from the N close to where the G6 was parked.

Not much left of the old lookout tower foundation on Signal Hill.

The view from Signal Hill towards Elk Mountain (long ridge on the horizon) on the Wyoming/South Dakota border from Signal Hill. — The desolate view from Signal Hill towards Elk Mountain (long ridge on the horizon) on the Wyoming/South Dakota border.

Signal Hill felt quite forlorn and desolate. A cool breeze was blowing out of the W. Being totally exposed, there were views in all directions, but the best view was off to the SW toward the high ridge near the Wyoming border which was Elk Mountain 12-13 miles away. Lupe and SPHP spent a few minutes looking around for a USGS benchmark, but found none. Lupe was back to the G6 by 3:08 PM, just 29 minutes after leaving it. The temperature was 51°F.

Lupe had now completed her two main peakbagging goals of the day – Atlantic Hill and Signal Hill, but there was still plenty of daylight left. Lupe and SPHP headed S on USFS Road No. 282 reaching US Hwy 16 just W of Jewel Cave National Monument. SPHP turned E on Hwy 16 and drove to the E side of the park. SPHP was thinking Lupe might be able to go to the Lithograph Canyon Hillside (5,820 ft.) where the highest point in Jewel Cave National Monument is located just 0.33 mile N of Hwy 16 at the NE corner of the park.

There were signs along Hwy 16 at the E boundary of Jewel Cave National Monument, but there was no place to park the G6 anywhere close. Furthermore, the terrain to the N of the Hwy was very steep. SPHP began to reconsider. After a couple more passes back and forth along Hwy 16, SPHP decided it might be hard to find the right spot on the Lithograph Canyon Hillside that is the true NE corner and high point of Jewel Cave National Monument without doing some more research before making the attempt.

A new idea came to SPHP, which was to drive W towards Elk Mountain on the border with Wyoming. So Lithograph Canyon Hillside was left behind and Lupe headed W on Hwy 16. Just a mile and a half NE of Elk Mountain (5,669 ft.), SPHP turned the G6 S on Dewey Road, County Road No. 769. Lupe barked at cows from the G6 for a good deal of the 3 miles S to a right turn to the W on Elk Mountain Road (No. 123). There were longhorn cattle loose on the road at this point, which sent Lupe into a joyful barking frenzy.

No. 123 climbed slowly at first and then steeply up the Elk Mountain ridge. The road was narrow, but not too rough, so the G6 had no problem reaching the top of the ridge. At a junction there, SPHP turned N on USFS Road No. 118 looking for a place to park. At first there wasn’t anywhere to park, but after a mile or so there was a side road that went W or NW off No. 118. Next to the side road was a nice open grassy level spot. Lupe and SPHP continued on paw and foot from here. (It was by choice SPHP stopped here, there was no reason SPHP couldn’t have driven along No. 118 all the way to the lookout tower since the road was in decent shape all the way.)

About 100 feet along No. 118, Lupe came to a new yellow sign with red lettering and a red pheasant logo on it marking the South Dakota border. Apparently the G6 was parked just into Wyoming. Lupe and SPHP continued N for about 0.25 mile, reaching the end of the forest and start of the big burn area that encompasses all of the N end of Elk Mountain. It was still another 2.5 to 3 miles to the lookout tower along the road.

A look back to the S along the long Elk Mountain ridge. — A look back to the S along the long E side of Elk Mountain ridge.

The view N towards the Elk Mountain lookout tower shortly after Lupe left the forested portion of the ridge. — The view N towards the Elk Mountain lookout tower, faintly seen above Lupe’s head, shortly after Lupe left the forested portion of the ridge.

Getting closer. Hopefully it will rain soon. Elk Mountain would look better green.

Although Elk Mountain itself is now rather ugly and barren, the forest fire had certainly opened up the views. All the way to the lookout tower there was either a great view to the W into Wyoming or to the E into South Dakota. At the very highest parts of this broad ridge there were wonderful views in both directions. Lupe had a great time sniffing around and exploring. She also seemed to enjoy peering over at the views from the edges of some of the cliffs.

At the base of the lookout tower, but not quite the highest point on Elk Mountain.

The view towards the NW from close to the lookout tower. The high point in the distance is the true summit and where there are 2 USGS survey benchmarks on the rocks.

The Elk Mountain lookout tower stands at the NE end of the ridge. No one was around when Lupe arrived. In fact, Lupe met no one at all during her entire time on Elk Mountain. There was a single picnic table at the base of the lookout tower. The lookout tower was high, but not quite on the highest ground on the mountain. In view nearby to the W was a somewhat higher spot. Farther away at the NW corner of the ridge is the true summit of Elk Mountain where two USGS benchmarks are located up on rocks just a few feet from each other.

Lupe on the magnificently colored boulder on top of the W high point not far from the lookout tower.

A look back at the lookout tower from near the magnificently colored boulder. — A look E back at the lookout tower from near the magnificently colored boulder.

After prowling around at the base of the lookout tower for a few minutes and getting a couple of pictures taken, Lupe headed over to the higher ground to the W. She was soon there. A magnificently colored boulder about 5 or 6 feet tall was at the very top. SPHP helped Lupe up onto it for a photo. From there SPHP and Lupe went over to the true summit at the NW corner of Elk Mountain and found the two USGS benchmarks. Lupe had now been to all three of the highest points on Elk Mountain. SPHP agreed with the maps that the highest spot was at the Elk Benchmarks, although the magnificently colored rock not far W of the lookout tower was a very close 2nd.

The most interesting views on Elk Mountain were off to the NW from the Elk Benchmarks towards Newcastle, WY where the mountains looked more rugged than the high flat ridges to the E and SE. Some fairly deep canyons could also be seen to the N. Far away to the SSW, however, so barely visible that SPHP frequently had to stop and just stare in order to see it, was the top of Laramie Peak (10,272 ft.) . A few of the mountain tops S of I-25 between Douglas and Casper, WY could be just faintly seen too.

The best view from Elk Mountain was this one to the NW towards Newcastle, WY. Lupe is near the Elk Mountain benchmarks in this photo.

On the way back to the G6, SPHP was hoping a nice sunset would develop. However, although there was some open sky to the SW, most of the sky had clouded up by now. The sun sank slowly down just 5 degrees N of the clear skies. There were a few small breaks in the clouds in that direction, but despite a few moments of promise, a colorful sunset never really developed. Too bad, as Elk Mountain would have provided a dramatic vantage point.

The sun was still up, but must have been very low on the horizon and obscured by clouds when Lupe reached the G6 at 7:36 PM. It was still 50°F. Lupe had reached the summits of three new mountains during the day. Lupe and SPHP both agreed that the most fun of all had been Elk Mountain. SPHP loved the solitude, easy nearly level ground, and splendid views. Lupe loved racing over the open ground sniffing and exploring through the tall grass and around the many interesting rocks.

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