Pilot Knob trailhead – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 237 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Pilot Knob to South Boxelder Creek (10-18-18)

Start – 8:55 AM, 50 °F, Pilot Knob trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

The first half of October had been cold and wet, but that was history now. This morning was clear and bright, and it was already 50 °F when Lupe and SPHP arrived at the Pilot Knob trailhead along USFS Road No. 208 (Merritt Road). The air was calm down here at the trailhead, but Lupe could hear a breeze up in the pines.

Lupe arrives at the Pilot Knob trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89. It was going to be a great day with highs near 60°F expected. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe was eager to get started, which was a good thing. Days are getting short by the second half of October, and she had a long way to go. The South Boxelder Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 near Nemo was 7.6 miles away, a 15.2 mile round trip. And that was if Loop stayed on the trail, which she wouldn’t, because a little off-trail peakbagging was part of the plan for the day, too.

*It’s 7.6 miles one way to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead from the Pilot Knob trailhead – 15.2 miles round trip. And that’s if you don’t climb any mountains on the side along the way!*

Only a few minutes on the trail got Loopster up the first forested slope and around the bend to the N where she could see Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.) beyond a big field. Pilot Knob didn’t look like much from here, but Loop had been there recently on Expedition No. 235. Pilot Knob was actually a fun little climb and the views from the top had been surprisingly good.

*Hey, SPHP! There’s Pilot Knob (L) again! We were just up there not too long ago, remember?* Photo looks WNW.

Lupe followed Centennial Trail No. 89 NNW along the E side of the big field. Near the end of the field, the trail curved NE and went past a sign for Boodleman Spring, which didn’t seem to have much in the way of water. The trail got steeper after passing Boodleman Spring, and soon turned N again going up a forested valley.

After passing under a big power line, Centennial Trail No. 89 bent NW paralleling the power line. When the power line reached a high point, the trail curved away to the E. Lupe briefly left the trail to check out this high point, but there really wasn’t much to see.

Returning to the trail, Loop and SPHP followed it around the S end of a nearby hill to the E.

Going around the S end of the hill E of the power line’s high point. Photo looks E.

Lupe had been gaining elevation ever since leaving the Pilot Knob trailhead. However, as Centennial Trail No. 89 curved back around to the N on the E side the hill, the trail reached a high point, too.

Ahead was a limited view of a high ridge beyond a deep valley. Several high points could be seen along this ridge, which extended off toward the NNW. The topo map revealed that the closest high point was Peak 5701, the highest spot along the entire ridge.

**Peak 5701** (Center) is in view as Centennial Trail No. 89 descends into the valley of the West Fork of Estes Creek. Photo looks NNE.

Although Peak 5701 and the rest of the ridge it was on looked intriguing, Centennial Trail No. 89 wasn’t going up there. The trail went toward Peak 5701, but upon reaching the floor of the deep valley it turned E at the base of the mountain.

The American Dingo had entered the valley of the West Fork of Estes Creek. Looper soon came to a large puddle where Estes Creek crossed Centennial Trail No. 89. The creek itself was a mere trickle only an inch or two deep.

Lupe reaches the puddle where the West Fork of Estes Creek crosses Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks ESE.

For 0.5 mile, Lupe continued E going down the valley on the N side of the West Fork of Estes Creek. The creek gained some flow along the way, but remained quite a small stream. NW of High Point 5452 the trail left the valley floor climbing up onto a small rise. From here, the trail turned N gaining elevation gradually as it wound around the SE end of Peak 5701.

Lupe at a junction of Centennial Trail No. 89 and ATV trail No. 8251 shortly after leaving the West Fork of Estes Creek. Centennial Trail No. 89 is also an ATV trail all the way from Pilot Knob to South Boxelder Creek. In fact, it’s possible to go even farther on an ATV all the way to the Dalton Lake trailhead. Photo looks NNW.

Going around Peak 5701’s E ridge. Photo looks ENE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 eventually brought Lupe around E of Peak 5701. For 0.75 mile, the trail now headed NNW roughly paralleling the long ridge between Peak 5701 and Peak 5628.

While the first part of this area was forested, farther on Lupe came to meadows, too. The Carolina Dog reached a spot where she had a fairly clear view of Peak 5440 off to the NE.

Peak 5440 didn’t look too impressive. It was just a flat-topped forested hill. Yet with 360 feet of prominence, Peak 5440 was the most prominent mountain along the entire route Lupe would be traveling today. So the plan was to take a little off-trail side trip to climb Peak 5440. After seeing it, though, expectations were none too high. Loop probably wouldn’t be able to see anything but trees from up there.

Despite technically being the most prominent peak along this section of Centennial Trail No. 89, Peak 5440 didn’t look too impressive. Lupe intended to climb it anyway. Photo looks NE.

Continuing on, Looper soon had views of Peak 5701 again and the long ridge going NNW from it to Peak 5628. That big ridge looked a lot more intriguing than Peak 5440 did. Despite not having as much prominence, it was higher and appeared to at least offer some views. Peak 5701 even had a little snow.

**Peak 5701** (L) looked more interesting than Peak 5440, and even had some snow. Photo looks SW.

The trail gradually curved toward the NE. Stands of aspens sported a few yellow leaves, the last of 2018’s autumn colors. Approaching Peak 5440, Lupe came to a couple of ponds surrounded by wooden fences.

Lupe comes to a fenced-in pond as Centennial Trail No. 89 approaches **Peak 5440**. Photo looks NE.

Beyond the ponds, Centennial Trail No. 89 curved N again. This was as close as the trail was going to get to Peak 5440. Looper left the trail and began to climb, heading first E, then SE as she got higher up.

Lupe soon reached a grassy area on the W face of Peak 5440 that she had seen earlier from a distance. This was the only place she was likely to see much from Peak 5440. She actually had a rather nice view of Peak 5701 and the long ridge to Peak 5628 from here.

**Peak 5701** (L) and **Peak 5628** (R) from the upper W slope of Peak 5440. Photo looks SW.

**Peak 5701** from Peak 5440. SPHP sort of wished Lupe was climbing Peak 5701 instead. It looked far more interesting. Photo looks SW.

From the grassy area with a view, Lupe still faced the steepest part of the climb up Peak 5440, but even so, it wasn’t difficult and didn’t take her long. The terrain soon began to level out. The topo map showed two 5,440 foot contours on the mountain. Lupe headed NE through dense forest looking for the first one, which contained by far the smallest area. A single large boulder proved to be the clear high point of this contour.

Lupe on the big boulder which appeared to be the high point of the first and smallest 5,440 contour shown on the topo map. Photo looks NW.

The area contained by the larger 5,440 foot contour was only a couple hundred yards farther NE. Loopster traveled through dense forest the entire way. She seemed to gain at least some elevation. This larger area was almost certainly higher than the big boulder, and had to be the location of the true summit.

No big boulder or other definite high point existed here, however. The true summit might have been any of a number of smallish rocks located on nearly flat terrain that sloped only very gradually toward the SE. The most interesting thing about this place was actually a 15 or 20 foot high escarpment along the NW edge of the area. Forest blocked all views, but the escarpment featured some interesting rock formations.

*The true summit of **Peak 5440** is right around here somewhere!* Photo looks N.

*Hardly matters which of these rocks is the **true summit of Peak 5540**. Can’t see a thing except trees from any of them anyway! I’m calling this good enough for Dingo work!*

*This escarpment along the NW edge of the summit area is cool, though!* Photo looks N.

Exploring is always fun, but Peak 5440 was the sort of place Lupe was only likely to get to once. Might as well linger a while to enjoy whatever the experience had to offer. It was time for a short break, anyway. The usual fare was on offer. Water and Taste of the Wild for Lupe. An apple for SPHP.

When break time was over, it was back to Centennial Trail No. 89 by the same route Lupe had taken up. Upon reaching the trail, Lupe continued N. She soon came to a sign saying it was 4.5 miles to Nemo or 3.5 miles back to Pilot Knob. Nemo was about a mile beyond the South Boxelder Creek trailhead, so this was about the halfway point.

Lupe reaches a sign near the halfway point between the Pilot Knob and South Boxelder Creek trailheads. Photo looks E.

It wasn’t much farther to another high point. Centennial Trail No. 89 had been gaining elevation, albeit quite gradually, ever since leaving the West Fork of Estes Creek. N of Peak 5440, however, the trail went over a broad, gentle pass. On the other side Lupe was soon losing elevation faster than she had gained it. She was entering the upper reaches of yet another valley.

Loop hadn’t gone far beyond the high point when she reached a sign for Caryl Spring. Caryl Spring consisted of several inches of standing water full of fallen leaves. Lupe cooled her paws off, and helped herself to a drink.

As Lupe headed toward the pass N of Peak 5440, she caught sight of this high ridge N of Peak 5628. Photo looks WSW.

Loopster at the high point of Centennial Trail No. 89 N of Peak 5440. There was a major road junction here, but not much in the way of signage. Photo looks E.

Starting down into the next valley. Caryl Spring is right around the bend.

Lupe standing paw deep in **Caryl Spring**, which did have a few inches of water.

From Caryl Spring the trail continued E farther down the valley, but not for long. When the valley turned N, Centennial Trail No. 89 took off to the SE up a side draw. Lupe gained close to 100 feet of elevation going over a minor ridge extending NNE from Peak 5440. The Carolina Dog was soon over this ridge and starting a descent that would take her into Blue Draw.

Loop reached a sign indicating the South Boxelder Creek trailhead was only a mile ahead.

Gaining elevation again going over the minor ridge NNE of Peak 5440. Photo looks SE.

Beginning the descent into Blue Draw after crossing the ridge. Photo looks ESE.

Getting there! Only a mile to go to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead!

A junction existed where Centennial Trail No. 89 reached Blue Draw. It wasn’t clear where the road heading SW was going other than farther up the draw. Where it went didn’t really matter. Loop just needed to head down the valley. At the lower end of Blue Draw she would find the South Boxelder Creek trailhead. The trail headed NE at first, then E the rest of the way.

Approaching a seasonal stream in **Blue Draw**. It was just a puddle today.

The trek down Blue Draw was shady and pleasant, but it seemed like Lupe had gone more than a mile since seeing the sign about the trailhead. Finally she saw a ramp for ATV’s and a gate ahead. Just beyond the gate was the bridge over Boxelder Creek. This was it! Looper had reached the trailhead!

*Oh, look! There’s the gate and ATV access ramp. We’re just about to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead!*

Loop on the bridge over **Boxelder Creek**. Photo looks NE.

**Boxelder Creek** looking downstream (SE) from the bridge.

Lupe reaches her Centennial Trail No. 89 destination for the day, the **South Boxelder Creek trailhead**. Photo looks ESE in the direction of Nemo, which is out of sight about a mile away.

Despite Lupe’s side trip to Peak 5440, she had made fairly good time getting to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead. Her Centennial Trail No. 89 explorations were complete for the day, although she still had to repeat the experience going all the way back to Pilot Knob again.

Not yet, though! Time for another rest break. Lupe and SPHP relaxed for a while on a grassy bank by the creek.

*So we made it! That wasn’t so hard now, was it? And look at this beautiful stream and scenic bridge to adventure!*

*Guess that’s about it unless we come up with some other grand scheme on the way back to Pilot Knob!*

Well, that would have been it, but on the way back to Pilot Knob the American Dingo made such excellent progress that when she reached the pass N of Peak 5440 again, SPHP realized that the sun wouldn’t set for at least another couple of hours.

*So what do you say, SPHP? Still want to explore that big ridge going from **Peak 5628** (R) to **Peak 5701** (L)?* Photo looks SW.

The big ridge with Peak 5701 at the S end and Peak 5628 at the N end was now in sight. Seemed like Lupe had enough daylight left to explore it. The American Dingo was willing, so why not?

Lupe and SPHP left Centennial Trail No. 89 heading SW for a saddle N of Peak 5628.

Lupe now off trail on her way to the saddle N of Peak 5628. Photo looks SW.

At first, the way was easy. The terrain gained elevation slowly. Lupe came to few obstacles. For a while, SPHP even thought Loop might be on a long abandoned road, but it was hard to tell for certain.

As the Carolina Dog got closer to the saddle, though, the going got tougher. No road here! Lupe passed through a very dense pine forest. Beyond that was an area of mixed pines and aspens thick with deadfall timber. Loop didn’t have much farther to go to reach the saddle, but progress in the middle of this mess was slow, slow, slow.

The map showed a road going up to the saddle. Lupe ought to come to it, but for a long way she didn’t. SPHP had about decided the road didn’t exist any more, when suddenly there was Lupe, standing right on it. Loop headed W on this road until it was clear she was due N of Peak 5628 and wasn’t going to gain any more elevation sticking with the road.

Time to start up Peak 5628! Lupe and SPHP left the road heading S up a fairly steep slope.

Lupe reaches the road leading to the saddle N of Peak 5628. Photo looks SW.

Loop in the saddle N of Peak 5628. She left the road here. Photo looks SW.

The hardest part of the climb was the very beginning. The slope was steepest here, and again full of deadfall timber. Once Lupe was above the deadfall, the rest of the way was much easier. The elevation gain from the saddle to the top of Peak 5628 was only about 300 feet, so it didn’t take long.

Close to the summit, Lupe discovered a platform of rock with a good view of Custer Peak (6,804 ft.). A nearby rock formation proved to be the true summit of Peak 5628. Looper had no problem getting up onto the highest rock.

This platform of rock near the true summit of Peak 5628 provided a distant view of **Custer Peak** (Center). Photo looks NW.

Lupe at the summit of **Peak 5628**. Photo looks N.

*Oh, I’m glad we came here, SPHP! Quite a few trees around, but the views are most definitely better from here than they were at Peak 5440!* Photo looks E.

Quite a few trees grew near the top of Peak 5628, so views were limited. However, this was definitely better than Peak 5440 had been. Not only could Lupe see Custer Peak, but a little way S of the summit was an open area where she had a good look at Peak 5701 at the opposite end of the ridge.

Looper could also see a broad expanse of territory to the S and W. Even Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) was in view, although it was quite far away.

*There’s our next peakbagging objective, **Peak 5701** (Center)!* Photo looks SE.

A broad expanse of Black Hills territory was visible to the S & W. Photo looks S.

Looking back toward the summit of **Peak 5628** from the S.

SPHP had expected Lupe would have an easy time traveling along the ridgeline from Peak 5628 to Peak 5701. However, the highest part of the ridge was capped by large rock formations. Large quantities of deadfall timber existed in some places, too.

Traveling the highest part of the ridge would have taken too much time. Lupe made far faster progress staying somewhat lower on the W side of the ridge. She avoided the much steeper E side.

Loop heading S along the ridge from Peak 5628 to Peak 5701. The highest part of the ridgeline was too rocky for efficient travel. Photo looks SE.

The climb up Peak 5701 was short, but fairly steep and rocky. The top of the mountain had quite a bit of rock, too. The summit area was forested, but breaks in the trees provided some views. The highest point was toward the SE at the edge of an uneven rocky platform.

The sun was getting low by the time Lupe reached **Peak 5701**. Photo looks SW.

Looking back over the ridgeline Lupe had just traversed toward **Peak 5628** (Center). Photo looks NW.

Looper reaches the true summit of **Peak 5701**. Photo looks ESE.

Lupe and SPHP took the last rest break of the day up on Peak 5701. The best views were toward the N and E from a rocks a little below and SE of the true summit. Lupe could see both of the other mountains she had climbed today, and a big expanse of territory she had passed through on Centennial Trail No. 89.

Looking down on **Peak 5440** (Center) from Peak 5701. Photo looks NE.

**Peak 5628** (Center) from Peak 5701. Photo looks NW.

The sun was still up when Lupe headed N off Peak 5701 back down to the ridge leading to Peak 5628. She went only far enough to reach a slope she could easily descend into the valley to the W. This valley drained S into the valley of the West Fork of Estes Creek, but SPHP wasn’t certain which direction Lupe ought to go once she got there.

Which way to Centennial Trail No. 89? The sun had set. Light was now fading fast. A decision needed to be made quickly. When a brief foray to the E didn’t reveal anything that looked familiar, the Carolina Dog turned and went W.

W proved to be the wrong direction. No matter. Lupe continued up the valley of the West Fork of Estes Creek until she reached the power line she had been to much earlier in the day. Following the power line SE got Loop back to Centennial Trail No. 89.

Since striking out for Peak 5628, Lupe’s return route had bypassed most of the trail. Less than a mile remained to the Pilot Knob trailhead. It had been a great day, and was now a beautiful evening. Darkness reigned. Stars twinkled. A coyote howled. Puppy, ho! Onward! Almost there. (End 6:38 PM, 44°F)

Lupe on **Peak 5701**, Black Hills, South Dakota 10-18-18

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Next Trail Section S

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

Next Trail Section N

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 238 – Centennial Trail No. 89: South Boxelder Creek to Dalton Lake (10-28-18)

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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