Rochford – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 260 – Moonshine Gulch, Peak 6205 & Minnesota Ridge (12-8-20)

8:49 AM, 38ºF, Rochford Road 1 mile E of Rochford – 0.25 mile W of Silver Creek Road, a wide valley appeared on the R. Plenty of room! SPHP pulled over and parked the G6. Lupe hopped out and began sniffing around, while SPHP checked the topo map. Yup, this had to be it – Moonshine Gulch!

At the mouth of **Moonshine Gulch**, about a mile E of Rochford. Photo looks WNW.

Loop’s mission today was to explore Moonshine Gulch far enough to reach Peak 6205, which shouldn’t be too hard, since Peak 6205 was only a mile away. The American Dingo set off going WNW up the gulch on a wide dirt and dry grass road. Pathetically easy at first, but that didn’t last. Soon the road narrowed and headed into a thicket of deadfall.

Still near the start of **Moonshine Gulch** on the … uh … road. Photo looks W.

The deadfall was bad for a little way, but the Carolina Dog got beyond it. The road was now all grassy and easy going again, lined on both sides by white-barked aspens. Rather pretty, and already feeling quite secluded. Clearly, no vehicle had been this way in a long time. Moonshine Gulch promptly curved N, leading straight into another big tangle of deadfall.

Among the aspens and pines. Photo looks WNW.

Back into the deadfall. Photo looks SSW.

After scrambling over, under, or around this next batch, Lupe continued N up the valley. Moonshine Gulch narrowed, becoming more V-shaped. A tiny frozen stream appeared. Loop discovered free flowing water only a little farther upstream.

All signs of a road vanished as the region down by the stream became choked with vegetation. Lupe traveled along a bench of somewhat higher ground up on the W slope. The way things were going, Moonshine Gulch might soon become virtually impassable.

The bench eventually ended, but by then a narrow strip of thick grass had appeared E of the stream. Lupe crossed over to it. Continuing up Moonshine Gulch, what was left of the road reappeared, making the trek easier again. The W side of the valley began to broaden out. The road went over that way, then started fading in and out – at times helpful, at others, essentially non-existent.

A small frozen pond appeared. Loopster went down to have a look.

On the exceedingly faint road as **Moonshine Gulch** widens out again.

Some barbed wire was near the frozen pond, but that wasn’t anything good for Dingoes. The march N resumed. The upper end of Moonshine Gulch was supposed to curve sharply W, and it began to look like that was going to happen.

Lupe didn’t really have to go that far N, though, to get to Peak 6205. Since she was coming to more and more deadfall again, maybe it was about time to climb out of Moonshine Gulch? Working NW up the deadfall-laden slope to the W, Lupe got high enough to see a somewhat flatter region where a thick forest of young pines grew beneath a canopy of much older trees.

Hmm. Still some deadfall up here, too, but there didn’t seem to be any reason to go back down into Moonshine Gulch. Climbing slowly, Loop continued NW through the young pines. She soon found that the worst of the deadfall could be avoided without much trouble.

Before long, a small rock formation appeared ahead.

*Not sure this is any better, SPHP? Want to try it?* At the edge of the young pines after climbing out of Moonshine Gulch. Photo looks NW.

On the highest rock of the little rock formation. **HP5880** (Center) in the background. Photo looks NW.

Upon reaching the rock outcropping, Lupe made a surprising discovery. A road went right past it. This was a decent road, too, not all faint and grassy like the one down in Moonshine Gulch. Once again, SPHP checked the old topo map.

So what road is this, SPHP? Looks like a lot easier way to get here than Moonshine Gulch was!

I’ll grant you that, Looper, but I have no idea what road this is. The topo doesn’t show any roads at all in this region. Some USFS Road, no doubt. Tons of ’em in the Black Hills. Might be shown on another map, but I think I know where we are.

OK, I’ll bite! Where are we?

Hey! No biting! I think that hill beyond you is HP5880, and the hill right across the road is our destination, Peak 6205. Doesn’t look high enough, though. Must be more to it than we can see from here.

So, cross the road and head on up the slope?

Might as well, Loopster! Go for it!

The mysterious USFS Road not shown on the topo map. Photo looks S.

**E slope of Peak 6205**. Photo looks WSW.

Lupe climbed and climbed. Really was a lot more to this slope than had been visible down by the mysterious USFS road. Good thing, because the top hadn’t looked any higher than HP5880 from below. Wouldn’t have been any point in climbing the wrong mountain.

Plenty of deadfall to avoid, but nothing out of the ordinary these days. The higher Lupe got, the more the glimpses of views between the trees confirmed that this really was Peak 6205. She was clearly way above HP5880 by the time the slope began to level out. Coming up from the NE, the Carolina Dog arrived near the S end of Peak 6205’s summit region.

An old board was nailed to a tree, and nearly a dozen rusty cans were strewn about. Remnants of a blue stove with a metal grill sat next to an ancient stone fire ring covered with deadfall. Several large tree trunks had collapsed next to this fire ring. 10 feet N of the ring was a little bench with stone supports and a log seat. Didn’t look like anyone had been here in a long, long time.

Sort of a mess, isn’t it, SPHP?

Someone must have camped out up here once upon a time, Loop.

Nice spot with room enough for a tiny house, although not much in the way of views. Too many trees!

Probably no views at all when all these dead ones were still standing. Wonder who would have come to a lonely peak like this?

Adventurers of old, SPHP! We’re not the only ones, you know!

Heh. No, I guess not. Well, what do you say we clean this place up a bit? Get it a little more ready for adventurers of the future?

No big rush on that from the look of things, SPHP, but fine with me.

Really not that much to do. SPHP dragged all the deadfall off the fire ring and away from the area around it, pitching it all onto the downed tree trunks nearby. At least it was now out of the way. Then all the rusty cans got gathered up and stuffed into a sack. Once home, they could all go to recycling or the garbage. SPHP took the metal grill for the blue stove, too, but didn’t have room for the stove itself.

Just going to leave this blue stove on the fire ring, Loopster, even though it’s no good anymore. Kind of my exterior decorator touch.

Exterior decorator? Don’t quit the day job, SPHP!

Oh, I won’t! This is it! Climbing no name mountains with a nutty Dingo.

Some humans have all the luck, SPHP!

Looper by the remodeled fire ring. Photo looks N.

*Does look a little better, SPHP!* Lupe on the little bench. Photo looks SSE.

Well, it was time for a break, and then a tour! The usual Taste of the Wild, water, an apple, and a couple of small shared chocolate coconut bars. Lupe then went to see the only clear view from the S end of Peak 6205. From a patch of pine needles and grass, Lupe could look out over Moonshine Gulch toward the rumpled hills to the SE.

The true summit of Peak 6205 was NW of the fire ring. Beyond another heaping helping of wretched deadfall was a 40 foot long narrow, stony ridge. The highest rocks were at the NW end.

**Peak 6205’s summit ridge**. Photo looks NW.

Not much in the way of views here, either. The best were toward the W. White Tail Peak (6,962 ft.) and Nipple Butte (6,800 ft.) were the most easily distinguished peaks on the horizon.

At the **true summit of Peak 6205**. Photo looks SSW.

**White Tail Peak** (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks W.

**Nipple Butte** (Center) is the sharpest little blip on the horizon. Photo looks SW.

And that was about it. Nearly an hour after arriving, Lupe returned briefly to the fire ring toward the S end of the summit region before starting back down the mountain the same way she’d come up.

At the more hospitable S end again. Photo looks SSE.

*Pretty snazzy, SPHP! At least compared to how we found it. Think how happy those future adventurers will be!*

Starting down the E slope. Photo looks SW.

12:05 PM – Loopster had barely gotten started down the E slope, when SPHP had a change of heart. The American Dingo had made it to Peak 6205 alright, but now what? Just go back? Seemed sort of early for that.

Hey, Loop! Want to try for Minnesota Ridge (6,240 ft.)?

How far is it?

3+ miles as the crow flies. Somewhat longer in practice.

It’ll be dark then before we get back won’t it, SPHP?

No doubt. Don’t think we’ll have much of a problem, though. Mighty nice out for December. Supposed to be a record high for this date, in fact!

Lupe was fine with it. Carolina Dogs love exploring, especially at dusk. Instead of continuing down the E slope, SPHP went back to the NW end of Peak 6205’s summit ridge. Following the ridgeline NW, Lupe began working her way down the mountain that way. She soon saw White Tail Peak again, and even caught a glimpse of Custer Peak (6,804 ft.).

A glimpse of **Custer Peak** from the NW ridge. Photo looks N.

**Custer Peak** (Center). Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.

A little farther down the ridge, Peak 6205’s N slope opened up a bit. This whole region was full of deadfall. A large grove of aspens was visible W of HP5880 at the bottom of the slope. Leaving the ridgeline, Lupe picked her way down, eventually managing to reach the aspens.

Two grassy lanes through the aspens appeared to be remnants of old roads. One went ESE, passing S of HP5880, apparently destined to link up with the mysterious USFS Road Lupe had run across E of Peak 6205. However, Loop took the other lane, which went ENE.

Near the aspens **W of HP5880** (R). From here, Lupe took the lane at far L. Photo looks E.

A short trek on the grassy lane led to a better road beyond the aspens. Lupe followed this new mystery road as it curved N. After 0.25 mile, she came to a “T” intersection. A brown wand identified the road Loop had just taken as USFS Road No. 513.1B, no doubt a spur off No. 513.1, which she had apparently just reached.

On the better road beyond the aspens. **HP5880** (L) up in the pines. Photo looks ESE.

Glancing back at **Peak 6205**. Photo looks S.

Wand near the junction of USFS Roads No. 513.1B & No. 513.1. Photo looks SSW.

No. 513.1 was a better road yet. SPHP figured it was probably the same one Lupe had come to E of Peak 6205. In that case, it ought to connect by swinging around the N and E sides of HP5880. To test this theory, Lupe turned R at the junction, heading ENE.

Sure enough, No. 513.1 began to curve E, then SE. Most of this territory was flat, but when No. 513.1 started losing elevation, Looper left the road to climb nearby HP5900, the next hill 0.5 mile NNE of HP5880. HP5900 wasn’t much of a climb at all coming from the W, but the Carolina Dog did get a halfway decent look back at Peak 6205 from it.

**Peak 6205** (L) from **HP5900**. Photo looks SSW.

On the way over here, Lupe had passed USFS Road No. 513.1C, another spur off No. 513.1 which went N, the general direction she needed to go. Since No. 513.1C wasn’t too far back and would be a lot easier than a trek through the forest, Loop returned to it.

At the start of USFS Road No. 513.1C where it leaves No. 513.1. Photo looks N.

No. 513.1C was clearly marked as a dead end, but Lupe followed it for nearly 0.5 mile. A long, gradual descent led to a slow rise. Near the end, No. 513.1C split, with one branch curving off to the E. Lupe left the road near this intersection, continuing to wander N through the forest.

Passing over a broad, gentle saddle, the American Dingo reached the start of a forested slope lower. The terrain steepened and forced her to turn NE, staying SE of a deepening ravine. After losing a fair amount of elevation in the trackless forest, Lupe came to a spot where she could easily cross over to the N side of the ravine. Here she came to an animal trail going NE down the slope.

Near the bottom of the valley Lupe was entering, the animal trail crossed another mysterious old road. The trail then turned NNE passing through a short section of forest. Having lost a good 200 feet of elevation, Looper finally emerged on the W side of a broad, grassy valley.

Moonshine Gulch, Peak 6205, and all of today’s explorations since then had all been territory Lupe had never been to before, but she had been here years ago. Loopster had made it to the Silver Creek valley. Greens Gulch, the way to Minnesota Ridge (6,240 ft.), split off to the NE only 0.33 mile farther upstream.

*We’ve been here before! This is the **Silver Creek valley**.* Photo looks N.

Silver Creek was a small stream, small enough to leap over. Lupe did so on her way to USFS Road No. 203.1F on the E side of the valley. Upon reaching the road, Loop followed it N, then NE into Greens Gulch. 0.33 mile trek up Greens Gulch brought the Carolina Dog to an intersection she recognized from Black Hills expeditions long ago.

By **Silver Creek** after leaping over it. Photo looks NW.

In **Greens Gulch**, approaching a familiar intersection. Photo looks NE.

SPHP remembered at least one wand, maybe two, marking the roads at this junction, but none were to be seen now. Checking the maps, it was clear Lupe needed to keep going E up Greens Gulch on USFS Road No. 203.1D, the only road she’d never taken before from this intersection. No. 203.1D would get her up to a saddle SE of Minnesota Ridge.

Starting up No. 203.1D, Lupe came to a brilliantly lit field of dry grass. At the far end, the road entered the forest and climbed more steeply. After gaining more than 200 feet of elevation, Looper still hadn’t come to the saddle yet, but she’d reached another smaller field and the terrain was beginning to level out. The road continued SE from here, but Lupe left No. 203.1D taking a shortcut straight E.

5 minutes led to a 15 foot high embankment. Climbing it, Lupe reached the SW rim of Minnesota Ridge. Turning NW, she quickly came upon a minor rock outcropping.

In the brilliantly lit field along USFS Road No. 203.1D. Photo looks ESE.

At the upper field, still on No. 203.1D. Photo looks NW.

First minor rock outcropping along the **SW edge of Minnesota Ridge**. Photo looks NE.

Minnesota Ridge encompasses a large, elevated region of pine forest. Nearly all of it is gently sloping, except along the SW edge where the rim of a long escarpment features rock formations ranging from only a few feet to as much as 30 feet high.

Although Lupe had explored portions of Minnesota Ridge on a number of different occasions, the only other time she had come looking for the summit she had discovered a series of slightly higher rocks as she’d headed NW along the edge of the escarpment. This time it wouldn’t be necessary to visit all those false “summits”, since the true summit was now known to be nearly 0.5 mile from here.

Gunfire! Hunters to the NE! Still unseen, they couldn’t be too far away. Instantly transformed into a Chicken Dingo, Looper slunk quietly NW, sticking to SPHP like glue. More shots were heard at intervals of several minutes before the incident ended. By then, Lupe had come to a more open region along the escarpment. Peak 6205 was visible 3 miles SSW.

*Successfully eluded death and destruction! There’s **Peak 6205** (Center)*. Photo looks SSW.

The last time Lupe had been here, the area close to the true summit had been a deadfall jungle. The Carolina Dog reached a couple of rocks that looked familiar near the SE end of this region, getting up on both for a look around. The deadfall was still here, and matters were now further complicated by dense young pines springing up amidst it all.

*Pretty sure I’ve been on this rock before.*

The true summit wasn’t much farther, only a few hundred feet of little pines and deadfall left to weave through. When Lupe reached another line of rocks, she knew she was about there.

The true summit was off to the NE, 30 or 40 feet from the escarpment in a part of the forest that was still happily largely deadfall-free. Loop and SPHP tromped about this slightly elevated flat region, but as before, nothing stood out as the clear high point. Face it – the true summit of Minnesota Ridge was a roomy, but not terribly interesting place.

Weren’t there bigger rock formations where we saw huge birds flying around here last time, SPHP?

Yes! There were, Loop. Turkey vultures, if I remember right. That’s a little lower ground, but not too far from here, just a bit farther NW.

Well, that was a lot more scenic, SPHP! Why don’t we go over there?

Good idea! We can hang out for a little while, and see if the big birds are still circling by.

NW of the true summit where the largest rock formations of the entire escarpment are. Photo looks NW.

The big rock formations were easily found. No turkey vultures this time, though. The sun was already quite close to the horizon. A short break was all Lupe had time for. Taste of the Wild, the last apple and chocolate coconut bars all disappeared.

Trees had grown up enough to pretty much hide whatever limited views had been here years ago. Looper did what she could, though. Exploring the rim of the escarpment, she gazed out toward the setting sun, or peered into the forest below.

*Sort of makes you wonder what ever happened to them?*

The sun was down well before Lupe got back to USFS Road No. 203.1D near the SE end of Minnesota Ridge. As dusk deepened, she followed the road W. Stars twinkled above by the time she’d retraced her journey on No. 203.1F through Greens Gulch back down to the Silver Creek valley.

SPHP had a bright idea. Instead of following No. 203.1F S down Silver Creek, why not go W? The topo map showed a road going all the way to USFS Road No. 17, the highway N of Rochford. No. 17 was only a little over a mile away. Although a longer route back to the G6 overall, the rest of the march would be easy.

So from Greens Gulch, Lupe took a dirt road that went NW. It curved W, as the map showed, crossed a muddy low spot containing the remnant of Silver Creek, then proceeded W on a long abandoned route.

It all went as planned until lights appeared ahead. Avoiding private property, Lupe took a single track trail up a grassy draw that went S or SW. After gaining a fair amount of elevation, she topped out. In the weak beam of the little flashlight, no further route W could be seen. However, the single lane track continued S, or maybe SE. Hard to tell what to do in the dark, but sticking with the trail seemed the best option.

Exactly where Lupe went on this black December night is now a matter of conjecture. Somehow she wound up following a road, probably USFS Road No. 217.1A, back down into the Silver Creek valley. She eventually reached a private road leading to Silver Creek Road (No. 204), passing a number of homes decorated with cheery Christmas lights along the way.

A half moon was up by the time the American Dingo reached Rochford Road. Not far now. Only 0.25 mile W to the G6 still silently waiting at the start of Moonshine Gulch. (7:14 PM, 51ºF)

Sunset from USFS Road No. 203.1D near Minnesota Ridge, Black Hills of South Dakota, 12-8-20

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 203 – Gimlet Creek to Minnesota Ridge (5-6-17)

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 78 – The Experimental Forest & Minnesota Ridge (3-9-14)

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 253 – Poverty Gulch, Castle Peak & Peak 6244 (11-19-19)

You can’t be serious! You’re joking, right SPHP?

No, really Loop. It’ll be fine. You’ll see. You don’t object, do you?

Object? Why should I object? Every Carolina Dog dreams of a chance to revel in the splendors of Poverty Gulch! My, you sure know how to show a Dingo a good time, don’t you?

Oh, come on! It’s just a name. Keeps the riff-raff out.

With a name like that, it probably draws riff-raff like flies! Why on earth would we want to go to Poverty Gulch, anyway?

It’s just an alternate route up to Castle Peak (6,358 ft.), Looper. Since we didn’t get there last time out, I thought we might try another approach?

And Poverty Gulch was the best you could come up with? What’s wrong with Middle-Class Meadows or Luxury Lane?

Well, there’s Brown Jug Draw, which is actually closer, but I don’t think the G6 can get back in there this time of year.

Brown Jug Draw? That sure sounds highfalutin! I suppose we’re doomed then. At least the castle part sounds good!

Upon reaching Rochford in the central Black Hills, how to get across Rapid Creek to the lower end of Poverty Gulch was itself a question. Lupe wound up having a chance to visit parts of the greater Rochford metropolitan area. The stores were closed this early in the day, but Rochford seemed to be making a good impression on the American Dingo.

Loop was a few days early for the Rochford Mall’s big Christmas Bazaar & Bake Sale.

And hours early for Happy Hour at the Moonshine Gulch Saloon.

Maybe we should just skip Poverty Gulch, SPHP? We could hang out here in Rochford and wait for the saloon to open!

Why, Loopster what’s this change of attitude? You weren’t impressed with Brown Jug Draw. Moonshine Gulch doesn’t sound any more highfalutin than that.

It does when you put “saloon” behind it! Sounds downtownish, in an Old West sort of way. If we stay, we can check out the Rochford mall while we wait for Happy Hour. Ought to open pretty soon. No harm in looking, even if the Christmas Bazaar hasn’t started yet, is there?

Disappointingly, SPHP persisted in wanting to go up Poverty Gulch. It turned out that Lupe could get across Rapid Creek by taking a short stretch of the Mickelson Trail. The Rochford trailhead was just E of town. (9:07 AM, 30ºF)

Near the Rochford trailhead of the Mickelson Trail.

Short history of Rochford on display at the trailhead.

The Mickelson Trail bridge over Rapid Creek is just beyond the gate.

The Mickelson Trail went past a number of private homes and cabins. After 0.25 mile or so following Rapid Creek upstream, Lupe came to a frozen pond. The ravine coming down out of the hills next to it had to be Poverty Gulch!

By the pond near the start of fabled Poverty Gulch! Photo looks SW.

An old cabin sat up on a little rise at the mouth of Poverty Gulch. A small, snowy side road passed just below it heading up the valley. The topo map showed a trail going up Poverty Gulch, but there weren’t any signs for it, or fences around the old cabin. Hmm. Who knew? Maybe not completely kosher, but Lupe left the Mickelson Trail trotting past the old cabin and up the valley.

In the lower reaches of **Poverty Gulch**.

Poverty Gulch wasn’t wide or particularly deep. A tiny stream could be heard gurgling away next to the road, which soon narrowed to no more than an ATV trail. A power line went up the valley, but there was no sign that anyone had come this way since at least the last snow.

A good foot of snow, crunchy hard from days of thawing and freezing, was on the road. Lupe could usually stand on it, but the snow didn’t hold SPHP’s weight. Although the trail was never steep, the all-uphill post-holing trudge was wearying and slow. The Moonshine Gulch Saloon was sounding better with every step.

For what seemed like a long way, but probably wasn’t much more than 0.5 mile, there were no tracks in the snow other than occasional animal tracks. Eventually, Lupe came to a more open spot where the trail widened out. This was the dead end of USFS Road No. 238.1B. Some vehicle with big knobby tires had come this far from the S. The tires had compressed the snow, but so much so that it had become ice.

Didn’t really help speed things up much.

Continuing up **Poverty Gulch** shortly after the ATV-sized trail widened to a road.

Farther up, looking N back down **Poverty Gulch**.

The snowy scenery was pretty, the solitude unbroken. After deepening to 1.5 feet, the snow pack began to diminish. As Poverty Gulch gradually broadened out, the road gained elevation at a relaxed pace. The broken trunks of Ponderosa pines killed years ago by pine bark beetles dotted surrounding hills only moderately higher than the road.

On and on it went, the road winding its way S. Lupe came to no more cabins. The power line must have ended or veered off somewhere along the way. At one point Lupe and SPHP sat on a log together, taking a 10 minute breather. A gorgeous day for a workout in the hills!

Like genuine poverty, **Poverty Gulch** went on and on! Photo looks WSW.

Couldn’t be much farther! At last it was clear that the road was about to reach the top of a rise. When Lupe got there, sure enough, she had been here before. SPHP recognized the sign. Loop had reached USFS Road No. 238 (Divide Road). Her long trek up Poverty Gulch was over!

At the junction with USFS Road No. 238 (Divide Road). No. 238.1B, which goes most of the way down Poverty Gulch, is on the R. Photo looks NNW.

Castle Peak (6,358 ft.) was still 0.75 mile S of this junction. Lupe took No. 238 heading SW. The road quickly curved W, where a tree-broken view of Castle Peak was on offer from a hillside S of the road.

**Castle Peak** (Center) from just S of USFS Road No. 238. Photo looks S.

Returning to the road, it curved NW and started going downhill. A side road, USFS Road No. 238.1A, soon appeared on the L (SW). This was the same road Lupe had taken twice before when she’d gone to Castle Peak. It would get her nearly all the way to the summit.

Taking No. 238.1A, Lupe soon went past No. 238.1E on the R (W), which looked like it would curve down into Brown Jug Draw. Ignoring it, she stuck with No. 238.1A. Another snowy trek, steeper toward the end than anything back in Poverty Gulch, finally brought the American Dingo to the top of Castle Peak.

Just below the summit where USFS Road No. 238.1A ended. Photo looks SW.

Castle Peak used to be the site of an old fire lookout tower, long gone years ago. Now the summit is an open area rimmed by pines. The views are disappearing as the trees keep growing. Lupe couldn’t see Peak 6216 a mile to the E, which she had visited 10 days ago, but there were still some views in other directions.

Time for a break! After taking a look at both Custer Peak (6,801 ft.) and Terry Peak (7,064 ft.), the most prominent mountains to the N, Lupe and SPHP sat down on a snow-free patch of ground. The best views from the summit of Castle Peak were on display off to the S.

Looking NNE. **Custer Peak** (L) is visible in the distance.

**Custer Peak (6,801 ft.)** (Center) still has an active fire lookout tower. Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.

**Terry Peak (7,064 ft.)** (Center). Photo looks NNW.

**Black Elk Peak** (L). Photo looks SSE.

**Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** (Center) and **Sylvan Peak (7,000 ft.)** (R) both on the horizon. Photo looks SE.

*The big ridges on the horizon are part of the Limestone Plateau and some of the highest ground in South Dakota!* Photo looks S.

Lupe had some Taste of the Wild. Since she’d been eating snow, she wasn’t interested in water. SPHP munched an apple. A light S breeze blew. The late November sun was bright, but felt feeble. Not cold out, but not all that warm either. Comfortably cool.

More than 4 years gone by since the last time the Carolina Dog had been here, nearly 7 since her first time on Castle Peak. Hard to believe. The thought was faintly disturbing.

So, we just going to sit here all day, SPHP?

Nah! Beautiful spot, though, isn’t it Looper? If you’re ready, we can go check out the views to the W.

From the top of Castle Peak, pines hide the views to the W. However, past experience had shown that a few small rock formations several hundred feet SW of the summit provide great views in that direction. Miles of the E edge of the limestone plateau country can be seen, including South Castle Rock (6,840 ft.), Castle Rock (6,783 ft.), Nipple Butte (6,800 ft.), Flag Mountain (6,937 ft.), Peak 6962, and White Tail Peak (6,962 ft.).

When Loopster got there, the bright white snow enhanced the already terrific panorama, making the hills seem higher and more splendid.

The big snowy field is **Reynold’s Prairie**. Beyond it, **Castle Rock** & **South Castle Rock** are part of the same ridge straight up from Lupe’s head. **Nipple Butte** is straight up from her rump. Photo looks SW.

Along the horizon: **South Castle Rock** & **Castle Rock** (L), **Nipple Butte** (L of Lupe’s ears), **Flag Mountain** (R of Lupe’s ears), and **part of Peak 6962** (far R). Photo looks SW.

*Oh, this is fabulous, isn’t it? Classic Black Hills!*

The view of White Tail Peak was of particular interest. Between here and White Tail Peak was a smaller mountain, Peak 6244. The Carolina Dog might be going there next, so SPHP wanted to get a look at it and the surrounding territory.

**Flag Mountain** (L by the stump), **Peak 6962** (L of Lupe’s head), and **White Tail Peak** (R). **Peak 6244** is the small hill on the R. Photo looks W.

Peak 6244 didn’t look like much, just a small forested hill slightly over 1.5 miles away. It took SPHP several minutes of studying the topo map and comparing it to the terrain to pick Peak 6244 out for certain from similar hills nearby.

**White Tail Peak** is the distant high ridge on the L. **Peak 6244** is the much closer and smaller hill also on the L. Photo looks NW.

**White Tail Peak** (Center) and **Peak 6244** (R). Photo looks WNW.

I don’t know, Loop. Might not see much of anything except trees from over there. Want to do it?

Oh, there’s more?

Yes. I was thinking we could visit that little mountain, Peak 6244.

Sure! Why not? We’ve been on Castle Peak an hour already. I wouldn’t mind doing some more exploring.

Well, one reason not to is that there isn’t any road that I know of most of the way. Between the snow and the deadfall we’d likely encounter, getting there might prove a lot tougher than it looks.

So do you want to, or not, SPHP? We’d better get going, if you do. The sun is already sinking!

Eh, the Carolina Dog had a point. Better quit dithering and get with it!

Loop and SPHP returned briefly to the summit of Castle Peak before heading back down USFS Road No. 238.1A.

On the way back to the summit of Castle Peak. **Five Points (6,221 ft.)** is visible in the gap between trees on the L. Photo looks SE.

At the **summit of Castle Peak** prior to departing for Peak 6244.

Going down was definitely easier than going up. Didn’t take long to get back past the turn for USFS Road No. 238.1E. Shortly before reaching Divide Road again, Lupe came to the top of a small rise. Time to leave the road! To the W, dead trees stood spaced out on a gentle slope thickly covered with young pines.

On USFS Road No. 238.1A after leaving Castle Peak.

Lupe left No. 238.1A here, crossing the slope seen behind her. Photo looks W.

The idea was to travel almost due W through the forest staying as much as possible up on the high ground of a hilly, poorly defined ridge. By staying toward the S, Lupe ought to be able to avoid the deepest snow. Like most of the Black Hills these days, though, the forest looked heavily damaged by a pine bark beetle infestation. The going might get really tough, if the Carolina Dog came to a lot of deadfall.

Things started off pretty well. Right away, Lupe found an animal trail going W through the young pines. Beyond them she wound up on the N side of a small hill, but the snow wasn’t that deep. She did come to some deadfall timber, but not enough to be much more than a nuisance.

A look back at **Castle Peak** from the young pines. Photo looks SSE.

Exploring the hilly ridge. Not much snow where the sun could get at it. Photo looks W.

All seemed well when Loop reached the broad flat top of an expected hill. No snow or deadfall here. The only problem was telling exactly which way to go as the ground sloped down to the W. The forest was featureless, and the tree-broken views of surrounding hills all looked about the same.

In the open forest on the broad, flat top of a 6,100 foot hill. Photo looks WNW.

Well W of the hill, Lupe came to a faint, unmarked road.

On the faint road. Which way? This road wasn’t shown on the map. Photo looks SW.

Ignoring the road, Lupe crossed it and went over a small rise. On the other side, the terrain resumed a steady descent. Several big rocks were here, the only ones she’d seen since leaving USFS Road No. 238.1A.

Peak 6244 was only 1.33 miles due W of where Lupe had left No. 238.1A. The American Dingo must have traveled most of that distance by now. Ahead was a valley, and beyond it were higher hills. Very difficult to tell with all these trees, but it looked like maybe there was higher ground connected to those hills off to the SW. Had Lupe wandered too far N?

Seemed like that might be the case. From the big rocks, a snowy clearing to the S could be seen down in another part of the same valley Lupe was coming to. She headed down to it. On the way, she came to another road that went by the clearing. Nearby was a junction with what must have been the lower end of the faint road Lupe had just crossed. A marker said the faint one had been USFS Road No. 238.1C.

By the road next to the snowy clearing. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe needed to get up on the ridge beyond (SW) the clearing. Following the road S up to the ridgeline seemed like a reasonable course of action. Probably was, but SPHP became anxious to turn W again, and had Lupe leave the road before getting all the way to the top.

The snow quickly deepened on the upper N side of the ridge. Loop came to another area thick with young pines. No animal trails here! Instead, deadfall timber was everywhere. The trek became a terrible struggle trying to force a way through the young pines, deep snow, and unending tangle of deadfall.

Progress virtually ground to a halt. In deep snow, stuck down among the little pines, Lupe valiantly leapt over or snuck under hundreds of dead trees. Exhausting! The sun was sinking. This was taking forever! At last, Lupe made it over to the SW side of the ridge where there was less snow and deadfall timber. What had to be Peak 6244 was now in sight.

The easiest way to get there appeared to be to head NW to a subpeak NE of Peak 6244. The ridge Lupe was on led to minor dip at the base of the subpeak. Beyond the dip, she came to yet another unmarked road.

Unfortunately, the road didn’t go up the mountain. After crossing it, the Carolina Dog continued NW up the slope leading to the subpeak. At first, this was easy terrain. No snow, little deadfall.

Starting up the slope leading to the subpeak. Photo looks NW.

The situation soon deteriorated. Loop didn’t have to go all the way to the top of the subpeak, but all the territory between it and Peak 6244 was another region of young pines, snow, and a tangled mess of deadfall. Trying to turn toward Peak 6244 before reaching the saddle leading to it from the subpeak proved futile.

Up at the saddle, things were somewhat better. Not much snow. Still plenty of deadfall, but most of it was neatly arranged perpendicular to the route Lupe had to take. She still had to go over it all, then climb Peak 6244’s snowy NE slope, but the top of the mountain wasn’t much higher than where Lupe was now. Shouldn’t take too long.

Up on the saddle. Still lots of deadfall to cross, but this wasn’t too bad. **Peak 6244** dead ahead! Photo looks SW.

On the snowy NE slope, approaching the summit.

Approaching from the NE, Peak 6244 seemed to be coming to a pointy top. Rocks were up there! Maybe Lupe actually would have some views from the summit? That would be really nice after all this effort!

The summit region was surprisingly roomy. Ground covered with pine needles connected two slightly higher rocky areas, one to the E and the other to the W. The true summit was a big rock at the NE end. Looper went first to some other rocks almost as high that offered a nice view to the S. Not bad at all!

**Reynolds Prairie** from Peak 6244. Photo looks SW.

The rock at the true summit provided a view of less interesting territory off to the NE, plus a tree-broken glimpse of Castle Peak.

At the **true summit of Peak 6244**. Photo looks NE.

**True summit of Peak 6244**. Photo looks NE.

The rocky area to the W was worth exploring, too. Lupe went there next, stopping briefly for another look at Reynolds Prairie on the way.

That nice view toward **Reynolds Prairie** (R) again. Photo looks SSW.

On the rocks at **Peak 6244’s W edge**. Photo looks W.

**Flag Mountain (6,937 ft.)** (L). The ridge beyond Lupe is **Peak 6962**. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.

Lupe’s journey to Peak 6244 had been a success! Really shouldn’t stay, though. The day was almost shot, the sun a mere glow in clouds near the horizon. Getting stuck out here in the dark surrounded by snow and deadfall would not be good! Yet the Carolina Dog did stay for a little while, hanging out by the W rocks.

More Taste of the Wild disappeared. SPHP’s last apple vanished. Such a nice spot! Peak 6244 was way better than anticipated after that first look at it from Castle Peak.

Peak 6244’s summit region. The true summit is hidden by trees just L of Center. Photo looks E from the W rocks.

25 minutes flew by. Alright. Better get going. Lupe leapt up on the W rocks one more time.

Final moments on **Peak 6244**. Photo looks NNW.

She then started down the mountain heading S along the W edge. Oh, there was that view of Reynolds Prairie again! Worth pausing for.

**South Castle Rock** & **Castle Rock** (L), **Nipple Butte** (Center), and **Flag Mountain** (R). Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

Enough already. Time to skedaddle.

Onward! Puppy, ho!

Heading S, Lupe quickly circled WNW as soon as the terrain permitted. Going back E the way she had come up was out of the question. Way too late for a return to Poverty Gulch. Had to get to a road before it got pitch dark! Finding a quick route to S Rochford Road less than 0.5 mile W of Peak 6244 was the only hope.

Starting down from the W rocks. Photo looks N.

Turned out it was easy. The W slopes of Peak 6244 weren’t that difficult. Not much snow or deadfall. Loopster lost elevation rapidly. Before long she reached another USFS Road by a tree marked “BT” in purple paint, whatever that meant.

At the purple BT tree and yet another unmarked USFS road. Photo looks W.

Lupe followed the road N. SPHP hoped it would lead to S Rochford Road. Nope. Instead the road wound along the W slopes of Peak 6244, neither gaining nor losing elevation. Fortunately, S Rochford Road soon appeared off to the L (NW) down a fairly steep slope.

Easily manageable! 5 minutes and Lupe was standing in a snowy field next to S Rochford Road. A rosy glow to the SW! Sunset, such as it was. The glow strengthened momentarily, then faded even faster.

Down by S Rochford Road (No. 306). Photo looks SW.

The sky was clearing. Stars appeared. The temperature plunged. Quiet, dark. Maybe 3 miles back to Rochford? Not any more than that. Long stretches of the road were icy and slick. Where it wasn’t smooth, the ice crunched loudly underpaw.

Lights were on at the Moonshine Gulch Saloon! Through the window, the joint looked packed. Good for the saloon, but too bad for Lupe. If it hadn’t been so busy, maybe she really could have snuck in? At least, SPHP would have let her try.

Oh, well. Only a little farther to the G6. (6:09 PM, 32ºF)