Mount Rushmore – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Double Digit Dingo! – Lupe’s 10th Birthday (12-14-20)

9:14 AM, 16ºF, Hwy 244 at the Rushmore profile parking lot – The newly minted Double Digit Dingo leapt out of the G6. Mighty chilly! Worse yet, the monotonous gray sky held out little hope for improvement. Would have to be the coldest day in the entire month of December. Maybe this wasn’t going to work?

Lupe, however, was unfazed. Apparently, she intended to tough it out at least long enough to see the most famous mountain in South Dakota. After all, this was the Carolina Dog’s big chance to do something special in the Black Hills on her 10th birthday!

At the Mount Rushmore profile parking lot.

Not a soul around on a Monday morning in December. After a look at George Washington, the only president visible from here, Lupe started trotting up Hwy 244. The main entrance to Mount Rushmore was 0.25 mile back.

Hardly any traffic along the highway, but there was more activity than SPHP expected up at the main visitor parking lot. Orange plastic fences blocked off various construction zones. Groups of people were coming and going.

SPHP let Lupe go only so far before saying this was good enough. Loop got a nice look at Mount Rushmore (5,725 ft.), but since Dingoes aren’t really welcome here, she wasn’t permitted to linger. A souvenir 10th birthday photo, and she was on her way.

**Mount Rushmore**, South Dakota’s most famous mountain. L to R: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Since Loopster didn’t seem to mind the cold, perhaps she was up for a more substantial 10th birthday adventure? SPHP had just the thing in mind. Having already seen the most famous mountain in South Dakota, maybe she would enjoy climbing South Dakota’s highest mountain, too? A great trailhead providing access to the Black Elk Wilderness was only 4 or 5 miles farther W along Hwy 244.

10:05 AM, 18ºF, Willow Creek trailhead – 2 degrees warmer! Every little bit helped. Lupe stood by the Willow Creek trail No. 8 sign waiting for SPHP to decide which part of the loop to take. SPHP chose the W half, which began by heading S straight for Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.).

At the Willow Creek trailhead. Lupe would take the trail seen on the R. Black Elk Peak (R) visible in the distance. Photo looks S.

Only a skiff of snow was on the ground as Looper set out. Although cold today, the last 1.5 months had been uncommonly warm. The Black Hills had gotten almost no precipitation. Ordinarily, climbing Black Elk Peak on Lupe’s birthday would have been out of the question. Cold and snowy enough to make the journey more ordeal than fun.

Today was different! The awesome thing was that if Lupe made it up Black Elk Peak, this ascent on her 10th birthday would also be her 10th ascent of South Dakota’s highest peak.

The first part of Trail No. 8 was super easy, a nice level trek through the forest. Before long, the trail crossed Willow Creek and quickly came to a junction. Lost Cabin trail No. 2 went R. Lupe went L instead, staying on Willow Creek trail No. 8. Although she’d been on most of the trails in the Black Elk Wilderness at one time or another, the American Dingo had never been on this next section of No. 8 before.

Turned out it wasn’t far to a frozen waterfall on Willow Creek.

A little past the waterfall, Lupe came to two wooden bridges. After the second bridge, Trail No. 8 began a slow, steady climb. A field of dry grass bordered by large dark gray rock formations appeared on the L.

A smaller field appeared a little farther on. Smoke could be seen rising from the trees in the distance. A forest fire in December? No. Took a moment, but SPHP soon realized it was coming from the sawmill a few miles NE of Hill City. Completely normal.

**Five Points (6,221 ft.)** (L). Smoke (Center). Photo looks N.

After a mile on Trail No. 8, Lupe came to another junction, this time with Trail No. 9, which would take her to Black Elk Peak. This intersection was only 0.5 mile from the Willow Creek trailhead as the crow flies, since Trail No. 8 had taken a semi-circular route to the S, E, then NE.

Trail No. 9 went E a little way, then zigzagged S through the forest. At one point, Hwy 244 could be seen not too far away down a steep slope. However, No. 9 soon turned away from the road. From the last big field the trail came to, Black Elk Peak was in sight again. The Carolina Dog was getting closer, but she still hadn’t gained all that much elevation.

**Black Elk Peak** (L of Center) from the last field Trail No. 9 goes by. Photo looks SSW.

Re-entering the forest, Trail No. 9 turned sharply, starting to climb again. The next junction was with Willow Creek Rushmore trail No. 5. This intersection was only a little N of the massive granite formations of Elkhorn Mountain (6,381 ft.).

**Elkhorn Mountain** from the intersection of Trails No. 5 & 9. Photo looks S.

Trail No. 5 sign. Lupe stuck with No. 9 instead.

After passing Trail No. 5, the terrain become more rugged. Trail No. 9 went S to Elkhorn Mountain, then SW along its base. A high point was reached, then the trail descended 100 feet to cross a tiny tributary of Willow Creek. After crossing the creek, No. 9 switchbacked steadily higher working its way SE past the W end of Elkhorn Mountain.

The forest was a wreck! Thousands of large pines had been killed by pine bark beetles years ago. Most had fallen over by now, opening up the views to some extent.

Approaching **Elkhorn Mountain** on Trail No. 9. Photo looks S.

Another glimpse of **Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SSW.

**Elkhorn Mountain** from quite a bit higher now. Photo looks E.

The dramatic granite ridge of **Elkhorn Mountain** rises beyond the shattered forest. Photo looks NNE.

After getting nearly as high Elkhorn Mountain, Trail No. 9’s rate of climb decreased. Switchbacks lengthened, then disappeared. No. 9 continued to climb, but more slowly as it worked its way SW.

Lupe was getting close to the most scenic part of the entire journey, other than the summit of Black Elk Peak itself. Granite Flats wasn’t much farther. The first sign she was getting close was an impressive view of a 3-pronged granite knob atop other massive rock formations. This knob might have been Peak 6057, but SPHP wasn’t at all certain about that.

**Peak 6057** beyond Lupe? SPHP didn’t know. Still impressive, whatever it was.

The weather was changing as Lupe approached Granite Flats. Clouds closed in. The air cooled, becoming a little foggy, and it began to snow. Lightly, nothing to be concerned about, but views were disappearing. Suddenly it felt like winter! The cold gray world gradually turning white. So quiet, hidden, and remote!

Starting to snow on the way to Granite Flats. Photo looks SW.

**Black Elk Peak** from **Granite Flats**. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

On one of the Granite Flats rock formations. **Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SW.

After spending a little time exploring Granite Flats, Lupe hurried on her way. Even so, she paused now and then at certain viewpoints.

Lupe on the day she turned 10. **Peak 6735** in the distance. Photo looks SSE.

Getting closer! Old fire lookout tower atop **Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SW.

Not much farther now! Loopster passed the last viewpoint, and the trail was soon switchbacking steeply up a forested slope. Loop gained most of the last few hundred feet of elevation remaining here. The trail then leveled out, proceeding SSE to a junction with the spur trail that goes to the old fire lookout tower on Black Elk Peak.

The spur trail promptly swung around the S end of the summit region to more open ground on the W side of the mountain. Still snowing. Normally sweeping views of some of the most rugged terrain in the Black Hills were reduced to the silent, ghostly presence of nearby peaks. Trotting N now, Lupe reached the entrance to the spiral staircase that winds up to the to the old lookout tower.

The see-through metal grid stairway that used to freak Loop out so much had long since lost its terror. Up the American Dingo went without the least hesitation. She’d made it! The Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) lookout tower was only 50 feet away.

*Come on, SPHP! Nothing to it! We’ve done this a bunch of times, remember?*

After entering the lookout tower, Lupe ventured out onto the viewing platform. No one around. SPHP helped her up onto the wall. Even the views had deserted Black Elk Peak. December’s frigid, snowy solitude was awesome, though!

2:02 PM, 17ºF, Black Elk Peak – Leaving the viewing platform, Lupe had gone down to the basement of the lookout tower and out the back door. Now she was curled up on SPHP’s lap out on the huge granite formations W of the tower with SPHP’s jacket thrown over her for warmth. She was warm, too, despite winter’s grip.

Half an hour enjoying the gray-white solitude. Two chocolate coconut bars shared. A little water. SPHP munched an apple. The Carolina Dog was still toasty warm, but SPHP was getting cold and stiff sitting on the granite. A couple of people waved from up on the viewing platform. The signal to move on.

Up on the platform, Lupe and SPHP met a young couple from Boston. A friendly 15 minute chat, and it was time to leave them to the solitude, something they said was near impossible to come by in the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont where they normally went.

A few more photos, and Looper was on her way.

Lupe trotted down the metal stairs. Nearly an hour had shot by up top! That bright spot in the clouds would set in 30 minutes.

The long trek back was utterly deserted. Much whiter than the journey up had been. So beautiful! What an experience being a Double Digit Dingo was turning out to be! The most famous mountain in South Dakota, and the highest one, too, on the very first day.

Near **Elkhorn Mountain** again during the return.

5:41 PM, 17ºF, Willow Creek trailhead – Dark and still snowing! SPHP hadn’t had to bring out the little flashlight until Lupe had gotten all the way back to the wooden bridges over Willow Creek. Now the adventure was over. SPHP turned the key, and the G6 sprang to life.

Lupe curled up for the ride home. To her great surprise that wasn’t the end of things. At home, SPHP made a couple of trips loading stuff into the G6. Then it was off to see Grandma!

Visiting Grandma was a Dingo birthday tradition. However, Grandma had moved to a senior living facility early this year, even before Lupe and SPHP had helped her get her big, old house sold. At the time she’d moved in, Grandma thought that Lupe wouldn’t be allowed in the senior living center, but that had turned out not to be true. Loopster had been there lots of times.

7:15 PM, Grandma’s apartment – The party animal had arrived! Lupe dashed in all excited to see Grandma! She barked and wagged her tail like mad, then raced over to hop up on the comfy white couch. Grandma was so happy to see Lupe, too!

No dilly-dallying! SPHP was famished. A chocolate coconut bar and an apple all day were no longer cutting it. Birthday presents were piled up around Lupe right there on the couch. One of the presents wasn’t even wrapped. Lupe’s buddy Dave Covill had sent her a package of Smart Cookie Rabbit & Pumpkin regional bites all the way from Colorado. They weren’t wrapped because Loopster hadn’t been able to wait. She’d been gobbling them up all week long.

On the comfy couch surrounded by presents.

Without delay, SPHP produced a birthday cake.

A Double Digit Dingo cake with candles! So incredibly many candles that Grandma could heat her apartment with it. The Carolina Dog was leery of the fearsome fiery spectacle.

*Another trial by fire! Why do I have to go through this every year?*

There was singing! Happy Birthday! It was happy, too!

Grandma’s girl on Double Digit Dingo day.

SPHP helped Lupe choose the first present to open. It sniffed good!

While the T-bone steak was broiling, Lupe opened the rest of her presents. She got 3 new Kong squeaker balls, and lots of good things to eat! Speaking of eating, she devoured the rest of the Smart Cookie Rabbit & Pumpkin regional bites that Dave Covill had sent. They served as T-bone steak appetizers. Although there was nothing wrong with Loopster’s appetite, she loved the whole concept.

Smart Cookie Rabbit & Pumpkin regional bites from Dave Covill. Bon appetit!

At last the T-bone was ready! While Lupe had steak, Grandma and SPHP had cake and ice cream.

While there was still some meat on it, SPHP saved the T-bone itself. The big bash ended with Lupe giving Grandma a live demonstration of what to do with a Purina Busy Rib Hide.

Nearly 10:00 PM by the time Lupe got home again. Double Digit Dingo day had been a blast, but a long one. Loopster hopped up on the bed. While SPHP read, the Carolina Dog got to munch away on that still meaty T-bone SPHP had saved for her.

Crunching away was so satisfying! By the time the light went out, only a stubby, little white T remained.

Double Digit Dingo day, **Black Elk Peak**, Black Hills of South Dakota, 12-14-20

Links:

Lupe’s 9th Birthday (12-14-19)

Lupe’s 11th Birthday (12-14-21)

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 124 – Mt. Rushmore & Gap Lode Peak (3-28-15)

Lupe has been on Peakbagger.com since May, 2014 when SPHP first discovered that site. Peakbagger.com has maps and many great features for tracking ascents of mountains, hills, state and county high points, etc. One of the first things Lupe and SPHP started doing once Lupe had her free Peakbagger.com account set up, was to start climbing all of the peaks shown on Peakbagger’s list of Black Hills 6500-foot peaks. Although Lupe and SPHP had already climbed a number of the peaks on this list, it was fun to work towards completing it.

Peakbagger’s list of Black Hills 6500-foot peaks has 24 ranked peaks with at least 280 feet of prominence, plus another 20 unranked peaks lacking the minimum prominence required to be ranked. On November 6, 2014, Lupe and SPHP climbed Peak 6733, which completed all of the peaks on the list that SPHP thought Lupe would be able to climb. A few Black Hills peaks are beyond Lupe’s ability, since they would require rock climbing equipment (or wings), or climbing them is prohibited for one reason or another.

After November 6, 2014 there were only 4 peaks remaining of the 44 peaks total on the Peakbagger.com Black Hills 6500-foot peak list that Lupe had never climbed. Only 1 of them was a ranked peak, which was Peak 6920, a huge granite outcropping between Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) and Little Devil’s Tower (6,960 ft.) which looks from afar like it has sheer cliffs for sides.

The other 3 unranked peaks were the Cathedral Spires (6,840 ft.) (rock-climbing equipment clearly required), Thunderhead Mountain (6,567 ft.) (the privately owned mountain where the Crazy Horse Memorial carving has been underway for decades – climbing it is prohibited without special permission from the owners), and Gap Lode Peak (SPHP was never certain from afar which granite outcropping might be the summit of Gap Lode Peak (6,560 ft.) , but judged it likely that rock climbing equipment would be necessary).

SPHP had been thinking recently that Lupe really ought to go get her picture taken at the most famous mountain in South Dakota and the Black Hills, which she has been past many times. That mountain is also well known both nationally and internationally – Mt. Rushmore. SPHP knew that dogs would likely be prohibited in most of the areas near Mt. Rushmore, so there wouldn’t be much for Lupe to do there once a couple of photos were obtained.

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 124 would need another objective in addition to Mt. Rushmore. Since Gap Lode Peak is a relatively short drive from Mt. Rushmore, SPHP decided that Lupe may as well go and take a close look at Gap Lode Peak to see if there was any way she could climb it. If she could, Lupe could claim an ascent of one more peak on Peakbagger’s list of Black Hills 6500-foot peaks!

The first stop on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 124 was at the little parking lot along Hwy 244 just 0.25 mile past the entrance to Mt. Rushmore (5,725 ft.). There was only one other vehicle at this parking lot when Lupe and SPHP arrived. This parking lot has the great advantage of being free, unlike the parking garage in front of Mt. Rushmore. Another advantage is a very nice view of George Washington’s profile between a gap in the steep granite rock outcroppings near Mt. Rushmore.

Lupe as far as they would let her in at Mount Rushmore.

Lupe and SPHP walked along Hwy 244 back up to the entrance to Mt. Rushmore. Just past the grand entrance was a no dogs sign. A park ranger promptly came over to make certain SPHP had seen the sign. Lupe could go no further, but the ranger at least allowed SPHP to take a few photos of Lupe with Mt. Rushmore in the distance. That pretty much concluded Lupe’s limited exploration of Mt. Rushmore, although she did get quite a bit of attention from some of the tourists who wanted to pet her. She was a bit nervous about it at first, but sat obligingly still while making some new friends.

On the way back to the G6, Lupe and SPHP climbed up on some rocks across Hwy 244 where there was another view of Mt. Rushmore from another angle. A couple of pictures here and Lupe’s little photo op trip to Mt. Rushmore was complete. Once back at the G6, Lupe and SPHP headed out on the 10-15 minute drive to the Palmer Creek trailhead. The sky was totally clear and it was an incredibly warm (for March) 70 °F out at 11:10 AM when Lupe and SPHP started the trek to Gap Lode Peak.

Palmer Creek is so small you don't see it in the grass from this angle. St. Elmo Peak visible in the distance up the valley. — Palmer Creek is so small you don’t see it in the grass from this angle. St. Elmo Peak visible in the distance up the valley.

A short spur trail from the Palmer Creek trailhead took Lupe to Lost Cabin Trail No. 2, part of the fairly extensive trail system in the Black Elk Wilderness area. Harney Peak, the highest mountain in the Black Hills and South Dakota is in the Black Elk Wilderness area, which lies between Mount Rushmore National Monument to the NE and a small section of Custer State Park to the SW. Lupe took Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 climbing all the way up to a high saddle area. There were increasingly nice views as Lupe gained elevation.

Lupe at the first good viewpoint near Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 on the way up. St. Elmo Peak in the distance (center left). — Lupe at the first good viewpoint near Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 on the way up. **St. Elmo Peak** **(6,458 ft.)**to the W in the distance (center left).

Lupe still in the area of the first good viewpoint along Lost Cabin Trail No. 2. This photo looks ENE towards Elkhorn Mountain.

At the saddle, SPHP stopped to consult the topo maps printed out from Peakbagger.com. They showed that Gap Lode Peak was less than 0.5 mile to the SW from this saddle area. Even though it was only 0.5 mile away at most, SPHP knew it was going to take quite a while for Lupe to get to Gap Lode Peak. Pine bark beetles have caused extremely heavy damage in this portion of the Black Hills. Lupe would need a lot of patience while SPHP slowly worked through a jungle of deadfall timber as soon as the trail was left behind.

Lupe's and Gap Lode Peak. This photo shows the E high point and very likely the true summit of Gap Lode Peak. — Lupe and Gap Lode Peak. This photo shows the E high point and very likely the true summit of Gap Lode Peak, but could Lupe really get to the top? Photo looks SW.

The first task was to find Gap Lode Peak. SPHP left the trail and began working through all the deadfall up a reasonably gentle slope to the W. Reaching some granite outcroppings, SPHP was encouraged to see a higher hill of granite in the right direction and about the right distance away to be Gap Lode Peak. Clearly it was not anything Lupe could climb from the E or the S. However, a long slope led up toward the big granite rocks at the top from the N or NW. Perhaps Lupe could climb Gap Lode Peak from that direction?

A rather steep ravine was between Lupe and the N or NW slope leading up to Gap Lode Peak. Lupe would have to lose a fair amount of elevation to get over there. It was abundantly apparent there was going to be nothing but endless deadfall timber the whole way too. SPHP dithered. Was it worth struggling through this mess only to very likely be confronted just short of the goal by a summit too rugged for Lupe to reach it? There were other nice peak objectives reachable by trail in the area.

Lupe passed just below this unlikely looking rock down at the bottom of the ravine on the way to Gap Lode Peak.

For 5 or 10 minutes SPHP headed slowly towards Gap Lode Peak half convinced it was really smarter to just turn around. What could be seen of Gap Lode Peak looked like Lupe could eventually get close to the top of it from the N or NW, but she probably couldn’t get to the summit. Once SPHP started losing elevation down into the ravine, however, the decision was made. Lupe was going to climb Gap Lode Peak or at least know for sure why she couldn’t.

Typical of the deadfall timber Lupe and SPHP had to work through all the way from Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 to Gap Lode Peak.

It took a very long time for the amount of distance covered for SPHP to get through all the deadfall timber down to the bottom of the ravine, and then back up on the N or NW slope that headed up to Gap Lode Peak. Even Lupe was having to work to get through the maze of dead trees, although she was much better and faster at it than SPHP. Still she was having to go over, under or around a lot of stuff. The going got a little bit easier though, since the ground was more level, as Lupe approached the summit.

Lupe getting close to the E summit of Gap Lode Peak. Is that rock wall climbable? — Lupe getting close to the E summit of Gap Lode Peak. Can Lupe climb that rock wall?

It turned out that the N or NW slope led Lupe to a place where there were two possible candidates for the true summit of Gap Lode Peak. The first one SPHP had seen was now to the ESE, and the other newly discovered possibility was to the SW. The first one still seemed likely to be the highest, so Lupe headed in that direction first. It looked from a distance like a granite wall with no way for Lupe to climb it. However, as Lupe got closer, SPHP started seeing that there were some clefts in the rock that might make it possible to get up there safely.

Lupe shortly before climbing the E summit of Gap Lode Peak. The W high point is visible beyond her.

Upon reaching the two clefts just a couple of feet apart, SPHP abandoned the backpack. It turned out that the climb up wasn’t bad at all. Before long Lupe was up on top of Gap Lode Peak! SPHP was very pleased and Lupe looked pretty happy about it too. There were some really nice views towards Harney Peak and Little Devils Tower. Far to the S, even Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.) was in view. There was a huge amount of Black Hills territory in view off to the N towards Custer (6,804 ft.) and Terry (7,064 ft.) Peaks.

Lupe on the E summit of Gap Lode Peak. Photo shows the view to the N.

Harney Peak from the E and likely true summit of Gap Lode Peak. Photo looks E.

Lupe still at the top of the E summit of Gap Lode Peak. Photo looks SE. Lupe is looking W and probably thinking: “There’s that W high point on Gap Lode Peak. I bet that crazy SPHP is going to make me go over there next. When’s lunch anyway?”

Lupe just a few feet away from the E summit of Gap Lode Peak. Sylvan Hill in the background. W high point of Gap Lode Peak not too far away on the right. — Lupe just a few feet away from the E summit of Gap Lode Peak. **Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.)** is the ridge in the background. W high point of Gap Lode Peak not too far away on the right edge of the photo.

Looking to the W, the other high point which might be the true summit of Gap Lode Peak could be seen. It looked just about even with where Lupe was already. SPHP still thought the high stuff to the W didn’t look quite as high, but the difference couldn’t be much. Perhaps it was even a bit higher? It was hard to tell for certain. Naturally, SPHP decided it had taken so long to work through the deadfall timber to get to Gap Lode Peak, Lupe might just as well go and explore the W high point too. After all, Lupe was already very close to it. So after climbing down from the E high point, Lupe headed W.

Lupe reaches the W high point on Gap Lode Peak. The E high point and likely true summit is in the background. Photo looks E. — Lupe reaches the W high point on Gap Lode Peak. The E high point which SPHP believes is the true summit (though not by much) is in the background.

Lupe perched way up on some of the very highest rocks of the W high point of Gap Lode Peak. Photo looks SSE. — Lupe perched way up on some of the very highest rocks of the W high point of Gap Lode Peak. Photo looks SE.

Lupe climbed up on some of the highest rocks at the W high point. After seeing both high points from one another, SPHP concluded they were so very near the same elevation, it was impossible to say for certain which was the absolute highest, but it still seemed that the E high point Lupe had visited first was the true summit of Gap Lode Peak. Regardless, Lupe had succeeded in reaching both! She could claim a successful summit.

Lupe explores Gap Lode Peak. St. Elmo Peak is the pointy hill in the center of the photo just left of Lupe's ear. — Lupe explores Gap Lode Peak. St. Elmo Peak is the pointy hill in the center of the photo just left of Lupe’s ear.

There was more to do near the W high point. The area had nice granite outcroppings with pretty green kinnikinnick growing in many places between the rocks. The granite also extended some distance off to the W and SW without losing much elevation. Lupe went and explored some of this area, which was fun to climb around in. There was still deadfall timber to deal with, but not as much of it as in other areas. There were even better views to the W from some of the rock outcroppings than Lupe had seen from either of the two high points of Gap Lode Peak.

Lupe and another view to the W from Gap Lode Peak.

As the afternoon started wearing on, what had been a breezy day up until now started to get pretty windy. SPHP knew that high winds were in the forecast for this evening. It was time to get going. There were still plenty of dead trees standing which might fall over in a high wind situation. So after a good time exploring Gap Lode Peak, Lupe started the return trip to the G6. She retraced the same short, but time consuming trek back to the saddle area to get back to Lost Cabin Trail No. 2 that she had made to reach Gap Lode Peak. Once on the trail again, it became an easy hike back down to the Palmer Creek trailhead.

Harney Peak from the Palmer Creek trailhead.

Lupe arrived back at the G6 at 5:48 PM. It was 71 °F – just amazing for late March. The skies were still totally clear, but way down here there really wasn’t even much of a breeze. It seemed premature to be heading home before dark, but Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 124 had been a success. Lupe made a few new friends and had her picture taken at Mt. Rushmore. She had even found and climbed Gap Lode Peak. SPHP now wonders if she shouldn’t go take a closer look at Peak 6920…

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

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