The dull, gray cloud cover wasn’t much of an inspiration, but the forecast called for near record highs close to 60°F. In late January that was superb, as good as Lupe was going to get. Despite the boring clouds, this would be fine a day for visiting the remaining Brian Kalet peaks on the NE periphery of the Black Hills which Loop hadn’t been to yet.
Since late 2016, Lupe had been gradually chipping away at a long list of hills in the region which Brian Kalet had added to the Peakbagger.com database since May of that year. SPHP hoped Loop would finally be able to complete the list today. The American Dingo would only need to reach the summits of 3 minor peaks to be successful.
First up was Peak 4340, located NW of the junction of I-90 and Hwy 85 between Whitewood and Spearfish. Peak 4340 has two summits within 4,340 foot contours. Lupe would visit both to make certain she actually made it to the true summit. A 15 mph NW breeze blew gustily as the Carolina Dog set off on her first mission of the day. (9:16 AM, 54°F)
Peak 4340’s SE summit was closest, only half a mile away. SPHP didn’t even bother bringing the backpack or any water. There was a little bit of snow around. Lupe could eat snow if she got thirsty. With such a short distance to go, and only 430 feet of elevation gain required, Loop made rapid progress.
Lupe on her way up the first Brian Kalet peak of the day, Peak 4340, near I-90 between Whitewood and Spearfish. Photo looks S toward the main body of the Black Hills.Loop on Peak 4340’s S ridge. The summit is not in view yet, still beyond the ridge seen here. Photo looks N.
It didn’t take Looper long to reach the SE summit, which proved to be a rocky, rounded high point at the SW end of a much larger area contained within the 4,340 foot contour. An electrical pole sat right on top of this knoll. Lupe had a clear view to the W of both Crow Peak(5,787 ft.) and Lookout Peak(4,478 ft.) near Spearfish.
From Peak 4340’s SE summit, Lupe had this good clear view of Crow Peak (Center) and Lookout Peak (R) near Spearfish. Photo looks W.
From Peak 4340’s SE summit, Lupe could also see her next destination. The NW summit was on a forested ridge less than 0.2 mile away.
Peak 4340’s NW summit is on the forested ridge in the background. Lupe was headed there next. Photo looks NW from the SE summit.
Lupe had barely left the SE summit when she caught a glimpse between the trees of Bear Butte(4,422 ft.) off to the E.
Lupe had barely left the SE summit when she discovered this view of Bear Butte (R in the distance). I-90 is seen below. Photo looks E.
The Carolina Dog saw some deer on the way to Peak 4340’s NW summit, which made her happy. She lost about 70 feet of elevation which she had to regain, but that was easy enough. The NW summit proved to be a large area without any real definite high point.
Lupe reaches Peak 4,340’s NW summit, a much larger area than the SE summit with no clear definite high point. Photo looks N.
Although the NW summit was partly open and grassy, pines rimmed the small meadow blocking any views from what appeared to be the highest spot. However, Lupe could see Crow Peak and Lookout Peak again from rocks along the slightly lower S end of the summit area.
Lupe had views of Crow Peak (L) and Lookout Peak (R) again from big rocks at the S end of the NW summit area. Photo looks W.Crow Peak (L) and Lookout Peak (R) with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks W.
Of course the question arose of which was higher, Peak 4,340’s SE or NW summit? Brian Kalet had selected the NW summit as the true summit in his estimation. SPHP more or less agreed with that assessment, although it was definitely a close call.
Looking back at Peak 4,340’s SE summit from the ridge the NW summit is on. SPHP agreed with Brian Kalet’s assessment that the NW high point is likely the true summit of Peak 4340. Photo looks SE.
Lupe returned briefly to the NW high point, now that it seemed fairly certain it actually was the true summit of Peak4340.
Lupe back at the true summit of Peak 4340. Photo looks SSW.
One down, two more to go! Lupe and SPHP started back, stopping briefly at the SE summit again on the way.
At the SE summit again on the way back to the G6. Photo looks S.
When Lupe got back to the G6 (10:29 AM, 54°F), it was off to the next Brian Kalet peak! Peak 4433 is less than 4 miles NW of Peak 4340 as the crow flies. However, Lupe was going to start out for Peak 4433 from a point 1.5 miles WNW of the mountain. SPHP had to drive the American Dingo over to her intended starting point (11:00 AM, 54°F).
Getting to the summit of Peak4433 proved to be a trickier task than reaching the top of Peak 4340. For an ascent of a minor peak, Lupe faced a lot of up and down, some of it on rather steep slopes or in areas of dense scrub oak.
Looking S from a narrow ridge near the start of Lupe’s journey to Peak 4433.Lupe was happy to find a this fairly large patch of snow. Although it was January, snow was scarce today.Loopster on an animal trail she found in the woods.A busy Dingo in the scrub oak woods.Not too far from the summit, Lupe came to several large rock formations.
Lupe climbed a steep NW slope to arrive at the summit of Peak 4433. A house was up here! This was private property. No one seemed to be around. Better skedaddle, though. SPHP snapped a few quick photos, and Lupe was on her way back to the G6 again.
Lupe arrives at the top of Peak4433.Looking N from Peak 4433. This was the only view quickly available from the summit. Lupe needed to move on pronto since it turned out Peak 4433 is private property and there was a home nearby.Two Brian Kalet peaks down, one to go! Lupe on the highest rock at the tippy top of Peak 4433.
Lupe made it back to the G6 at 1:20 PM (56°F). Two Brian Kalet peaks down, and only one to go! Loop enjoyed another ride to the next starting point only 0.5 mile SW of the summit of Peak 4000 (1:57 PM, 57°F).
Finally, after more than a year of working on them, the list of Brian Kalet peaks was completed. Lupe stood at the summit of Peak4000. Loopster was free at last! Free to concentrate on other ideas and goals. SPHP was happy the Brian Kalet list was done. To Lupe, it had been just another fun day of exploring.
Lupe at the summit of Peak4000. Photo looks NE.Summit of Peak 4000. Photo looks SW.The Whitewood Creek valley from Peak 4000. Photo looks SE.So this is it, aye? The last of the Brian Kalet peaks I hadn’t been to in the Black Hills region? So do I get like, a prize or a medal or something?Oh, yeah! I did it! 3 down, none to go!
On the way back, Lupe did a little more exploring along Peak 4000’s W ridge, hitting another high point more than 0.25 mile W of the summit.
Lupe explores another high point on Peak 4400 about 0.25 W of the true summit. Photo looks NW.
At 3:09 PM (57°F), Lupe was back at the G6. The American Dingo’s Black Hills adventures following Brian Kalet’s lead were over.
The Brian Kalet peaks might be done, but that doesn’t mean my mountain adventures are over! Hope you return soon to share in the fun!
(Start, 9:11 AM, 37°F, West Cascade Mountain Road a few miles S of Hot Springs, SD off Hwy 71.)
Well, that was easy! Except for the cactus, of course. Lupe hated the cactus! SPHP had had to carry her to the summit of Peak4340 for short stretches where the cactus was worst. Fortunately, the summit had only been a couple hundred yards W of West Cascade Mountain Road. Even carting a Dingo around, it had only taken minutes to get here.
Lupe at the summit of Peak 4340. This was actually the first of two high points she found that were true summit candidates. The other one was a couple hundred yards SW of here. Photo looks NW.
The topo map on Peakbagger.com showed only one contour where the true summit of the mountain could be, but things seemed a little different when actually here. SPHP thought another place a couple hundred yards farther SW looked possibly even a little higher. Naturally, Lupe had to visit that high point, too.
Loop at the 2nd possible location of the true summit. Due to the cactus threat, Lupe demanded that SPHP tote her part of the way over here, too. Photo looks S.
The top of Peak 4340 was a large area of gently rolling terrain and open forest, but offered only teaser glimpses of distant views. Close to a rural housing subdivision, it really wasn’t a terribly interesting place. With cactus around, Lupe didn’t think much of it either, but at least she could now cross another Brian Kalet peak off her list. She only had a couple of them left to visit in the southern Black Hills.
Lupe was happy to put a quick end to her visit of Peak 4340, and return to the G6 (9:41 AM, 38°F).
The trivial trek to both possible summits of Peak 4340 was only a warm-up exercise. Lupe had a much more interesting peakbagging goal in store. Flagpole Mountain(4,320 ft.) sits at the far SE end of the Black Hills, N of the Cheyenne River and W of Angostura Reservoir. Lupe might have some fantastic views far out across the prairies beyond the hills from there.
SPHP’s old USFS map showed that Flagpole Mountain was on USFS land, but surrounded by private property. Before Lupe could begin her climb, SPHP needed to find legal access. The shortest route up Flagpole Mountain would be from the SW. SPHP drove S on Hwy 71 intending to scout out the approach.
On the way, Lupe stopped briefly by Cascade Falls. She had been here before, but it’s always fun to see the falls!
Devil’s Slide Mountain(3,965 ft.) from the Cascade Falls picnic ground. Photo looks NE.Cascade Falls is more of a rapids. Wading in Cascade Creek which plunges into a deep swimming hole is a locally popular summer activity. Cascade Falls is only a mile N of the Cheyenne River at the far S end of the Black Hills.Devil’s Slide Mountain from Cascade Creek a little upstream of the falls. Photo looks NE.
For some reason, Cascade Creek always seems to have good flow, no matter what the season. Cascade Falls was looking good today, too, but it was too chilly out to stay and enjoy it. The middle of July is better for that! Lupe and SPHP continued S on Hwy 71.
Just N of the Cheyenne River, a gravel road headed ESE from Hwy 71. The road wound around to the SE for more than a mile. It deteriorated at the end of a short stretch that went E. A log-sided home was on the N side of the road. Before SPHP even got out of the G6, a man opened the door of the house.
His name was Mike. When SPHP told Mike that Lupe would like permission to cross his land to climb Flagpole Mountain, the answer was flatly “no”. Mike didn’t exactly come right out and say it, but his attitude was clearly “Get Off My Property”. Mike didn’t want to talk about it. The matter was not up for discussion.
Mike was still helpful, however. He told SPHP that 5 or 6 years ago, the state of South Dakota had purchased land leading to the national forest on the other side of the mountain. Lupe would have legal access from Sheps Canyon.
That was good news! Well, at least pretty good news. Sheps Canyon was an alternate route that SPHP had intended to check on if things didn’t work out here. The route to Flagpole Mountain from Sheps Canyon would be a lot longer than if Lupe had been able to start from Mike’s ranch.
No is no. SPHP thanked Mike for the tip. Lupe left his property.
Driving down Sheps Canyon was not initially encouraging. Lupe passed by housing developments and more ranches. “No Trespassing” signs were all along the S side of the road at frequent intervals. Lupe was all the way down to the lower end of the canyon not too far from Angostura Reservoir before SPHP spotted the Hill Ranch Game Production Area. This had to be the legal public access Mike had mentioned!
Lupe at the entrance to the Hill Ranch Game Production Area. This entrance is easy to spot on the S side of Sheps Canyon Road in the lower part of the canyon. Photo looks SSE and was taken late in the day.The Hill Ranch Game Production Area is mostly used by hunters, but is open to public access for other uses like hiking, too.
A good dirt and gravel road led into the Hill Ranch GPA. SPHP parked the G6 at a curve at the far E end of the road only a short distance from Sheps Canyon Road (10:48 AM, 43°F). Lupe could regain her confidence trotting along the cactus-free road for a while.
The road went steadily uphill at a moderate pace, heading W for the most part. Lupe passed by a parking pullout and then a small lodge. The lodge appeared to be closed. A couple of parking pullouts farther, Lupe had quite a good view of Angostura Reservoir.
Angostura Reservoir from the Hill Ranch GPA. Photo looks E.
The road went 2 miles before ending near a couple of gates at the edge of the national forest. (Even the G6 would have made it this far easily enough, if SPHP had chosen to drive to this point.) A map of the Hill Ranch GPA was posted here.
This map of the Hills Ranch GPA was posted at the end of the road. The national forest was just W of here beyond a couple of gates.
Lupe went through the smaller gate, continuing W into the Black Hills National Forest. The good road was behind her. She followed faint traces of an old jeep trail, still gaining elevation steadily.
Angostura Reservoir is still in view as Lupe continues W now on Black Hills National Forest ground. Photo looks E.
A ridge coming in from the ENE soon merged with the ground Lupe was traveling. Shortly after that, she came to a place where she had a great view to the N. She could see Peak4310, which she had visited only a couple of expeditions ago. Today the scene wasn’t all snowy like it had been then.
Lupe reaches the first viewpoint to the N. Peak 4310 is the barren distant high point extending farthest toward the center of the photo from the R. Lupe had been there only 2 expeditions ago. Photo looks N.
From this first viewpoint looking far to the N, the faint trail turned SW. It soon came to a saddle between two hills. Flagpole Mountain was in view!
Flagpole Mountain (Center) came into view at a saddle between two hills. It was only 1.5 miles away, but Lupe would have to go a lot farther than that to get there. Green Canyon was in the way! Photo looks SW.
Flagpole Mountain was only 1.5 miles off to the SW when Lupe first saw it. However, she would have to go a lot farther than that to get there. Green Canyon was in the way.
To get to Flagpole Mountain, the plan was to go around the W end of Green Canyon. Lupe would follow a couple of long ridges shown on the topo map. The first ridge went first W then NW for nearly 1.5 miles. The map showed a substantial part of this ridge as being very skinny. SPHP wasn’t certain what Lupe might encounter along the way.
Lupe turned W and started around the S side of the highest little hill in this area. The hill was the first part of the ridge leading W. The ridge wasn’t narrow here, but going around the S side of the hill quickly proved to be a mistake. The grassy open ground below the forested summit was full of cactus! Lupe was immediately seized with fear.
Although the hill wasn’t all that big, it took a while to get past it. Lupe was scared to move. The cactus had her mentally paralyzed. SPHP had to carry her repeatedly.
Once beyond the hill, the ridge narrowed considerably, but was still plenty wide. Cactus continued to be a near constant problem, but Lupe gradually made progress. SPHP had to carry her less and less.
Nearly a year ago, Lupe had developed a system on her way up Matias Peak(4,780 ft.) for dealing with cactus. She would wait in one spot while SPHP scouted the area ahead. When SPHP sat down, she considered it a signal that all the ground to that point was cactus-free. She then came running.
Now Lupe wanted SPHP to do the same thing. Doing a good job of scouting was important, so Loop would continue to have confidence in the system. This process was sort of slow, but much easier than carrying the Carolina Dog any significant distance. Stop, scout, go. Stop, scout, go. Lupe progressed along the ridge.
Lupe wasn’t any closer to Flagpole Mountain yet, but the route was beautiful. Loop could see Flagpole Mountain almost the entire time. She often had grand views to the N, or down into Green Canyon. She came to a place with huge boulders, and many more places with interesting rock formations. The route was up and down, but none of the elevation changes were too drastic.
Another look to the N from the ridge Lupe was following W.Looking across Green Gulch. The high point seen straight up from Lupe is not Flagpole Mountain, but Lupe would go by it on her way there. Photo looks SW.
The part of the ridge that angled NW was the skinniest. Up and down one narrow little hill or rock formation after another. At one point, Lupe had to do a teensy bit of scrambling, but only once and it hardly amounted to anything. Eventually, the much, bigger, wider hill at the NW end of the ridge came into view. Lupe was almost there!
The much bigger, wider hill at the NW end of the ridge came into view. Lupe was getting there! Photo looks NW.
Soon she was there. Lupe didn’t go quite all the way to the top. She stayed in the trees a little S of the summit. Loop went over to the W edge of another ridgeline heading S from here. She had her first look at a vast new territory to the W and SW.
Lupe could see a vast territory off to the W and SW after reaching the big hill at the NW end of the long ridge she had been following. Photo looks SW.
Going 1.5 miles along the skinny W and NW ridge hadn’t brought Lupe any closer to Flagpole Mountain as the crow flies, but she was now past the W end of Green Gulch and could turn S. A much broader ridge went SSW from here. The W edge of this ridge dropped steeply, but sloped much more moderately toward Green Canyon to the E.
Going S meant traversing several more drops and hills along the way. These were larger than the bumps Lupe had gone over along the skinny ridge, but she didn’t have climb to the top of each one. At the bottom of the first drop was good news. A dirt road climbed up to this point from the W. It turned S here, just the direction Lupe needed to go. Lupe could follow the road!
Reaching the road quickly restored Lupe’s confidence. She wasn’t afraid of cactus on the road. Suddenly she was making great progress. SPHP didn’t have to carry her, or play the scouting ahead game at all. Lupe trotted right along. It wouldn’t take her long to get to Flagpole Mountain at this pace!
Lupe was able to follow this road on the big ridge heading SSW. Unafraid of cactus on the road, she was making great progress! Her destination, Flagpole Mountain is in view on the L. Photo looks SSW.
The road stayed E of the top of the ridgeline most of the time, but was occasionally near it. At once place, Lupe went over to the W edge for another look at the big views.
The weather had been changing in the short time she’d been traveling S. The light NW breeze present earlier, had turned into a gale! Lupe did not like the fierce wind at the W edge of the ridge, but the views were still excellent.
Lupe did not like the fierce NW wind now gusting up the W side the of ridge, but the views were still excellent! The near slope is part of Horseshoe Bend. Photo looks W.Looking WNW.
The helpful road Lupe had been following ended a little before reaching the S end of the ridge, but had brought the Carolina Dog a long way. She was getting close to Flagpole Mountain, but now nervous about cactus again. She was right to be. More patches of dreaded cactus were scattered here and there. SPHP had to resume cactus scouting operations. Once again, Lupe got carried over the worst of it.
For the last 0.25 mile to the summit, the ridgeline turned SE. Lupe was high on broad open terrain where she had expansive views to the S. To the N was forest. The sight of several deer running on another minor ridge excited her so much she forgot all about the cactus and dashed about unsure how to get over there. Fortunately, she didn’t run into any cacti.
The top of Flagpole Mountain(4,320 ft.) appeared ahead. A short, grassy slope led to a summit crowned by big rocks, bare bushes and a few pine trees. In a flash, Lupe was there. She stood on the highest boulders at the very SE end of the Black Hills with a grand sweeping view of miles and miles of desolate territory stretching to the horizon.
Lupe reaches the summit of Flagpole Mountain! Photo looks ESE.Despite a long, winding route, countless cacti, and a wild NW wind, a bold American Dingo stood atop Flagpole Mountain for the very first time. Photo looks ESE.The grand view to the SW. Lupe had hoped to come up the mountain from this direction, which would have been a much shorter trek, but she was refused permission to cross Mike’s ranch. Part of Coffee Flat near the Cheyenne River is seen far below. Photo looks SW.Neither wind, nor miles, nor cacti can keep an American Dingo from its appointed peakbagging! Looper atop Flagpole Mountain. Photo looks SW.A series of snow squalls swept over Flagpole Mountain while Lupe was here. Another one is on its way. Each time a squall hit, Lupe took refuge at the base of these rocks, where she was sheltered from the raging NW wind. Photo looks WNW.
Although partially protected by pines trees to the N, the top of Flagpole Mountain was windy. A powerful NW wind was blowing a series of snow squalls over the mountain. Each time a line of clouds passed over, a brief, but exciting snowstorm developed. The wind raged at the height of its fury beneath an ominous sky.
When the squalls hit, Lupe took shelter at the base of the big rocks at the S end of the summit. She nestled on SPHP’s lap, wrapped in a fuzzy blue pullover sweater, enjoying the incredible views and dramatic weather.
Lupe relaxes sheltered from the wind as she awaits the start of the next exciting snow squall. Photo looks S.The next snow squall begins. Photo looks S.
Though each squall was exciting and began impressively, the snow flakes were tiny and melted as soon as they hit the ground. The squalls never lasted more than a few minutes. Gorgeous blue skies reappeared as soon as they were over, and the winds calmed down somewhat.
Between squalls, Lupe explored the summit area, while SPHP enjoyed the views from various vantage points. By going only a little down the S or SE side of the mountain, it was possible to almost entirely escape the wind. The day felt pleasant, warm and sunny.
Looking ESE toward the SW end of Angostura Reservoir. The Cheyenne River can be seen flowing into it from the R.Lupe back on the summit of Flagpole Mountain between squalls, though another one is in the works. Photo looks WNW.Your Carolina Dog guide to the Black Hills on another mountaintop! Photo looks WNW.Looking down on Coffee Flats (R) next to the Cheyenne River. The more distant flat, grassy highland on the L is Stage Hill. Photo looks SSW with a little help from the telephoto lens.Between snow squalls, the skies cleared to a gorgeous, fresh blue. Photo looks NW.
Lupe and SPHP stayed for an hour or more at the summit of Flagpole Mountain. Although the trek here had been amazing and beautiful, the presence of so much cactus meant it might be a long time, if ever, before Lupe would return. These distant views beyond the Cheyenne River across the vast, lonely prairies were a rare treat.
Taken from the summit of Flagpole Mountain, this photo looks SE down toward Tepee Mountain(3,790 ft.), the low forested ridge on the R beyond the Cheyenne River.Looking W from the summit.Lupe a little SE of the summit (R). Photo looks W.The SW end of Angostura Reservoir is in the distance on the L. The Cheyenne River flows into it from the R. Photo looks ESE.A closer look at where the Cheyenne River flows into Angostura Reservoir. Photo looks ESE using the telephoto lens.Distant snow squalls sweep the plains of western South Dakota beyond Angostura Reservoir. Photo looks E.Lupe at the far SE end of the greater Flagpole Mountain summit area. The low, darkly forested ridge is Tepee Mountain(3,790 ft.), which lies just on the other side of the Cheyenne River. Photo looks SE.Flagpole Mountain had a few cacti down the SE slope. Here Lupe waits for the all clear signal from SPHP before feeling safe to come this way. Photo looks S.Forest hid the views to the N from Flagpole Mountain’s summit, but by going down the SE slope a little way, Lupe came to this great viewpoint. (It was very windy here!) The long W and NW ridge she had taken on her way to Flagpole Mountain is seen extending nearly all the way across the photo. On the way back, Lupe would have to traverse it again going from L to R. Photo looks N.
An hour went by. It had been a while since the last snow squall had blown through. Apparently they were all over and done with. Sadly, it was time for Lupe to leave Flagpole Mountain. She had to take the same long route all the way back to the G6.
On the way back, SPHP took a few minor shortcuts, but they saved only a little time. More time was saved by staying on the N side of slopes where there were fewer cacti. Lupe’s increased confidence in SPHP’s cacti scouting skills saved the most time of all. She still appreciated being carried for short distances wherever the cacti was worst.
The trek back along the ridges was beautiful, and went faster the second time around. Lupe had time to stop and sniff the air at various places along the way.
On the way back, Lupe took the road going N along the first wider ridge. One of the bigger hills along this route is in view ahead. Lupe didn’t have to go all the way to the top of the hill. The road went around the E (R) side of it. Photo looks N.Looking down on Horseshoe Bend (the near slope) NW of Flagpole Mountain. Photo looks WNW.Looking over Horseshoe bend. The Cheyenne River is seen in the distance. The Cheyenne flows into South Dakota from Wyoming and winds around the S end of the Black Hills on its way to Angostura Reservoir. From Angostura it flows NE all the way to the Missouri River. Photo looks W.Making progress around Green Canyon. The S (R) side of the little high point L of Center is where Lupe encountered the worst of the cactus on the whole trek to Flagpole Mountain. On the way back, Lupe stayed in the forest going around the N (L) side of the hill. She came to a few snowbanks there, but almost no cacti. Definitely the way to go! Photo looks ENE.A final look back at Flagpole Mountain (seen above Lupe) from the area of big boulders on the first ridge Lupe had taken W, then NW. Photo looks SSW.In the area of big boulders. Lupe had originally reached this area fairly early on her way to Flagpole Mountain, but here she’s on her way back to the G6. Photo looks WNW.Looking N on the way back. Peak 4310 is the high bare ridge extending farthest toward Center from the R.
Lupe’s cactus worries were all behind her before she even reached the good dirt road at the Hill Ranch Game Production Area. The rest of the trek was a long, relaxing downhill stroll all the way. Lupe stopped by the same boulder with a view of Angostura Reservoir again.
Back in the Hill Ranch GPA, Lupe stopped by the same boulder with the view of Angostura Reservoir again. It was still windy out. Photo looks E.
Lupe was content to trot along the good road all the way through the Hill Ranch GPA to the G6 (5:38 PM, 37°F). Her Flagpole Mountain adventure was over, but it was the first day of Daylight Savings Time in 2017. The sun would still be up for another 1.5 hours.
SPHP used the extra hour of evening daylight to drive Lupe down to Angostura Reservoir. She had seen it from afar from several different mountains on recent expeditions. Now she would get to see it up close.
The drive was beautiful. SPHP was surprised to find a good gravel road winding S for miles along the W shore of the lake. Lupe stopped at a boat ramp. The wind was out of the NE here and still strong. The temperature was in the 30’s and dropping. It felt cold out. Waves crashed into the shore. Lupe drank a little water out of the lake, then got up on the swaying dock. Tepee Mountain, which she had seen earlier from Flagpole Mountain, was in view in the distance.
Lupe at Angostura Lake for the first time ever after having seen it in the distance from several mountains on recent expeditions. Tepee Mountain is in view in the distance. Photo looks SW.
SPHP was curious. How far did this road go? Lupe and SPHP drove farther SW. The road went by many great campsites up on the bank above the shore of the lake. Lupe stopped at another place offering lake access.
Looking NE across Angostura.The view to the SE.Looking SW.
Lupe and SPHP drove all the way to the end of the road. Surprisingly, at the end was a horse camp. Maps and information at the horse camp said a riding trail went 5.1 miles farther along the lake and up the Cheyenne River. Horses were restricted to the trail while in the Sheps Canyon Outdoor Recreation Complex, but the trail went all the way to the Black Hills National Forest, where horses could be ridden anywhere.
It was a beautiful area. The trail along the lake and up the river would be an awesome place to ride horses. Once to the national forest, maybe horses could even climb Flagpole Mountain? One thing was for certain, an American Dingo could!
With a new route to explore, maybe someday a Carolina Dog will stand in the breeze far above the Cheyenne River on Flagpole Mountain again.
