Signal Hill – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 128 – Lithograph Canyon Hillside, East Hell Canyon & Signal Hill (4-25-15)

On Expedition No. 127, Lupe pretty much finished up at least one ascent of all Black Hills, SD mountains she can climb currently in the Peakbagger.com data base. However, there was still one peakbagging goal possible in the area, which was to go to the Lithograph Canyon Hillside (5,820 ft.) . This hillside is not the summit of any peak, but simply the highest point in Jewel Cave National Monument.

Ordinarily the high points of U.S. National Parks and Monuments are off-limits to Lupe, because dogs are not allowed into the back country. However, the topo map available on Peakbagger.com showed that the high point of Jewel Cave National Monument is on the border with the Black Hills National Forest close to the NE corner of the monument. This meant Lupe could get to it by traveling through the national forest.

So at 9:30 AM on this fine morning, SPHP parked the G6 at the intersection of USFS Road No. 278 and No. 278.1E about 0.5 mile S of Hwy 16. This point is approximately 1 mile E and 0.5 mile S of the Jewel Cave National Monument E entrance along Hwy 16. The skies were mostly sunny with a few high clouds, there was a gentle S breeze, and the temperature was 52°F. Conditions were perfect for a day of dingo outdoor adventures.

Still S of Hwy 16 Lupe turned N to climb this hillside in Lithograph Canyon just E of Jewel Cave National Monument. — Still S of Hwy 16 Lupe turned N to climb this hillside adjoining Lithograph Canyon just E of Jewel Cave National Monument. Lupe’s curly tail is sticking up behind a log.

Photo looking NW taken from just SE of E entrance to Jewel Cave National Monument. Hwy 16 is visible on the left. The hillside shown is the route up to the Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point of the national monument. The actual highpoint is not shown. It is a little way above and to the right of the high ground at the right edge of this photo. — Photo looking WNW taken from just ESE of E entrance to Jewel Cave National Monument. Hwy 16 is visible on the left. The hillside shown is the route up to the Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point of the national monument. The actual highpoint is not shown. It is a little way above and to the right of the high ground at the right edge of this photo.

Lupe set off heading W along USFS Road No. 278 down into Lithograph Canyon. This area, along with many others along her exploration route this day, had burned in the 83,000+ acre Jasper fire that was started by an arsonist on August 24, 2000. A little before Lupe had gone a mile, Lupe turned N and went up and over the hillside to arrive at Hwy 16 at the E entrance to Jewel Cave National Monument.

Lupe at the E entrance to Jewel Cave National Monument now just a 20 feet N of Hwy 16. She is ready to head N up the E boundary to the Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point. — Lupe now 20 feet N of Hwy 16 at the E entrance to Jewel Cave National Monument. She is ready to head N up the E monument boundary to the Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point.

Although SPHP doesn’t ordinarily like fences, in this case SPHP was hoping to find a fence marking the E boundary of Jewel Cave National Monument. Lupe could then follow the fence line up the hillside to the Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point.

What Lupe found though, was even better. There was no fence, but there was a series of metal fence posts showing the way. The fence posts were anywhere from about 50 to 200 feet apart. Some of the posts were labeled for the monument boundary and others for the national forest boundary, but it didn’t matter. It was the same boundary. The posts weren’t all lined up perfectly, but close enough for Lupe and SPHP’s purposes.

Shortly before reaching the top of the first rise along the hillside N of Hwy 16, Lupe found this survey marker for the corner of sections 36, 31, 6 & 1.

To get to the Lithographic Canyon Hillside high point of Jewel Cave National Monument, there proved to be two rises N of Hwy 16 Lupe had to ascend. Shortly before reaching the top of the first rise, Lupe came across a section line survey marker at the corner of sections 36, 31, 6 & 1. Continuing N from the top of the first rise, Lupe could see the next rise ahead.

Lupe on top of the first rise. Photo looks N towards the 2nd rise, which is beyond the dead tree near the center of this photo.

Lupe passed under a barbed wire fence running E/W at the base of the 2nd rise, but what that fence signified was unknown. It was not the Jewel Cave National Monument boundary. SPHP spotted another boundary marker ahead to the N high up on the edge of the 2nd rise. When Lupe got up to it, more boundary markers could be seen nearby still farther N. From the edge of the 2nd rise, Lupe continued N along nearly level ground close to 200 feet and found a couple of Black Hills National forest boundary markers.

NE corner of Jewel Cave N. M. according to USFS markers. A dead tree has fallen right over the spot where SPHP believes the survey corner pin must be. Photo looks a bit E of S back towards the edge of the 2nd rise.

A dead tree had fallen in between two Black Hills National Forest boundary posts right across where SPHP presumes the survey corner pin must be for the NE corner of Jewel Cave National Monument. There were also two metal signs on bearing trees nearby with survey information on them. One was on a tree 33 feet away to the N and slightly to the W. The other was attached to a stump 17 feet almost due E of the corner.

Still at the NE corner of Jewel Cave N. M. as per Forest Service markers. The metal survey information sign on the “bearing stump” is visible as a yellow square 17 feet beyond the corner and Lupe’s head. Photo looks E.

SPHP wasn’t thinking too clearly. At first SPHP was thinking that by finding the NE corner of Jewel Cave National Monument, Lupe had also reached the actual high point of the monument. While looking back S along the E boundary of the monument towards the edge of the 2nd rise, SPHP suddenly realized the corner was not necessarily the absolute highest point. Lupe and SPHP headed back S along the E boundary looking for the very highest point.

Lupe sitting near a collection of rocks with a piece of a post laying on them. SPHP thought this also looked like the very highest point along the E boundary of Jewel Cave N.M. — Lupe sitting near a collection of rocks with a piece of a post laying on them. SPHP thought this looked like the very highest point along the E boundary of Jewel Cave N.M. Photo looks NNW.

SPHP came across a little pile of rocks with a piece of an old post sticking out of it where the ground seemed to be the highest. Lupe got her picture taken here, since once again SPHP was satisfied that Lupe was now at the Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point and the highest spot in Jewel Cave National Monument. SPHP was still thinking the high point was along the E boundary.

The prettiest view was from the post near the edge of the 2nd rise along the E boundary. Photo looks SE. — The prettiest view was from the post near the edge of the 2nd rise N of Hwy 16 along the E boundary of Jewel Cave National Monument. Photo looks SE.

Lupe and SPHP went NW up(!) to a log so SPHP could sit down and take a break while thinking about where to go next. It hadn’t taken terribly long for Lupe to get up here. SPHP had been thinking Lupe might spend the rest of the day exploring East Hell Canyon farther to the N, and wanted to consult some maps. Meanwhile, Lupe had some water and a little Taste of the Wild.

Gazing S from the log, SPHP suddenly realized the ground for a little way to the W of the E monument boundary line was obviously HIGHER than the E boundary itself. The Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point of Jewel Cave National Monument was along the N boundary, not the E boundary!

So Lupe sniffed around while SPHP went back to find the N boundary of Jewel Cave National Monument and the highest point along it. Interestingly, SPHP found that there was a line of Jewel Cave National Monument border posts heading W, but that they did not line up with the NE corner of the monument as indicated by the national forest boundary markers Lupe had already visited. Just pacing it off, the national monument border posts for the N boundary were about 55 feet S of where the national forest corner indicated they should be. The first national monument border post was about 20 feet W of the E boundary and had a partially burned flat piece of wood still clinging to it.

This Jewel Cave National Monument boundary marker with a partially burned piece of sign clinging to it is the first marker W along the N boundary. It is about 20 feet W of the E boundary. — This Jewel Cave National Monument boundary marker with a partially burned flat piece of wood clinging to it is the first marker W along the N boundary. It is about 20 feet W of the E boundary and about 55 feet S of the NE corner of the monument as indicated by the National Forest survey markers.

The high point of the Lithograph Canyon Hillside was roughly 100 feet W of the E boundary along the N boundary line. SPHP took a photo of Lupe standing on a log about 1.5 feet above the high point along the N boundary as indicated by the Jewel Cave National Monument border posts. However, with all the detailed survey work that seems to have been done by the national forest at the NE corner (two corner posts, a bearing tree and a bearing stump, and probably a survey pin under the dead tree), SPHP suspects the real high point is 55 feet farther N.

Another Jewel Cave National Monument N border post is seen to the W of Lupe. Probably about 55 feet S of the true Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point of the monument.

Of course, Lupe also went to the high point 55 feet back to the N in line with the national forest survey. This was most likely the true Lithograph Canyon Hillside high point of Jewel Cave National Monument, but SPHP did not bother to take another photo of Lupe there. SPHP already had enough photos of the area, and this spot didn’t look much different. Lupe was getting bored with SPHP’s obsession with marching back and forth over the same little patch of ground. None of it was all that remarkably different in elevation, views or any other aspect. (If some reader with GPS ever gets up here, SPHP would still like to hear their opinion on the location of the true high point!)

As far as Lupe was concerned, it was mission accomplished and time to press on to the N to explore East Hell Canyon. SPHP agreed. Lupe headed N continuing up the now increasingly gentle slope. The terrain made her turn first to the NNE and then back to the NNW to stay on the high ground. After going a good 0.5 mile N, Lupe started heading down a big draw leading into East Hell Canyon from the ESE.

Lupe on her way down the draw leading into East Hell Canyon. There were at least 3 elk and a few deer in this area.

Lupe had a much better time in East Hell Canyon than whoever named the place. Near the bottom of the canyon there was a big thick patch of a variety of tall thorny bushes, but that was as bad as it got. The canyon floor looked very wild where Lupe first reached it. Fortunately there was a remnant of a road in the canyon for SPHP to follow. (SPHP didn’t know it at the time, but this was USFS Road No. 284.2L.) Lupe and SPHP turned N again to explore.

Lupe entered East Hell Canyon just S (R) of this cliff on the E side of the canyon.

Heading N along the “road” (No. 284.2L) in East Hell Canyon.

Lupe in East Hell Canyon a little way E of Short Fork Draw.

Lupe came to better roads at a canyon junction in Section 30. Here the canyon was trending to the NE, but the way directly ahead was blocked by a canyon wall with a big crack in it. A road going E toward Windmill Draw was marked USFS Road No. 681. Lupe stayed on 284.2L which turned NNW.

Looking N at the cracked canyon wall where USFS Roads No. 681 and 284.2L meet. — Looking NE at the cracked canyon wall where USFS Roads No. 681 and 284.2L meet. Lupe on the run!

Lupe just S of the cracked canyon wall near the canyon junction. Photo looks SW towards the cliffs. — Lupe just SW of the cracked canyon wall near the canyon junction. Photo looks W towards the cliffs.

So far Lupe hadn’t come to any creek or stream in East Hell Canyon, but pretty soon she did come to a round plastic livestock watering tank. There was only an inch of amazingly clear water in it. SPHP picked Lupe up and put her in it. She immediately laid down and had a nice drink. Then she spent a minute or two wading around surprised to have her own wading pool. When she was done, she easily jumped out. Lupe started coming to more watering tanks even though Lupe never saw any livestock in East Hell Canyon. Lupe did not get into any of the other watering tanks.

Still no creek or stream, but Lupe did come to this round livestock water trough, which she used as her wading pool. Lupe saw no livestock anywhere in East Hell Canyon. Though only an inch deep, the water was remarkably clear. Most water tanks contain some pretty disgusting stuff.

USFS Road No. 284.2L ended at a canyon junction just W of Windmill Draw. A sign here said it was still 3 miles to Custer Limestone Road (No. 284). Lupe could have turned NE on No. 284.2B, but instead continued NNW on No. 284.2A.

Lupe reaches the intersection of USFS Roads No. 284.2A and No. 284.2B just W of Windmill Draw. She continued N on No. 284.2A. — Lupe reaches the end of USFS Road No. 284.2L and intersection of USFS Roads No. 284.2A and No. 284.2B just W of Windmill Draw. She continued NNW on No. 284.2A.

Maps showed that Bear Spring Creek flows through this portion of East Hell Canyon where No. 284.2A goes, but there was still no sign of any creek or stream. As Lupe and SPHP continued on up East Hell Canyon, gradually the canyon walls had fewer and smaller cliffs. Eventually the canyon felt less like a canyon and more like just a valley.

Lupe finally reaches Bear Springs Creek flowing across No. 284.2A just 0.25 mile S of No. 284.

Lupe had already gone a long way when she came to a place where the dry creek bed was green with new shoots of grass. The dark soil looked moist. Finally Lupe came to Bear Springs Creek. By then she was only about 0.25 mile S of County Road No. 284 (Custer Limestone Road).

Going uphill to find water is not at all uncommon in the Black Hills. The area is semi-arid and the geology of the Black Hills region is such that the hills are surrounded by a ring of limestone and other porous rock formations. Few creeks or steams have sufficient flow to remain above ground as they leave the Black Hills. The entire flow of most simply sinks into the ground. Over the ages, these underground creeks and streams have charged regional aquifers. In some places they dissolved the limestone to create long complicated caves like Wind Cave and Jewel Cave.

When Lupe reached County Road No. 284, SPHP debated what to do next. After checking the maps, SPHP settled on Signal Hill (6,483 ft.) . Lupe had recently climbed Signal Hill for the first time back on Expedition No. 125, but SPHP decided it was worth doing again. From there, Lupe could explore USFS Road No. 747 heading back to the S.

A somewhat dull 2.75 mile trudge towards the NW along No. 284, a major gravel road, ensued. SPHP picked up some of the trash in the ditch to pack out. At last Lupe reached No. 747 and turned S towards Signal Hill, a 10 minute hike away. This time, instead of going directly up the N slope, SPHP circled around the NW side of the hill to an area enclosed by an 8 foot tall wire mesh fence. Just before reaching the fence Lupe spotted a shallow stock pond with little water, but lots of dark reddish brown mud in it off to the NW. Naturally she ran over to lay down in the mud and have a drink of mineral water.

At the S end of the fenced enclosure, SPHP turned and made the short climb from the W up Signal Hill. A rainstorm was in progress off to the WSW at Elk Mountain. It was almost certainly heading this way. Nevertheless, Lupe and SPHP lingered on Signal Hill for a little while. The air was cool and felt good. The views were pretty nice, although also barren and forlorn. Lupe finished her Taste of the Wild while SPHP enjoyed the moment.

Lupe props herself up on the remains of the old lookout tower foundation on Summit Hill. Lupe left Summit Hill heading SE in the direction this photo is looking. — Lupe props herself up on the remains of the old lookout tower foundation on Signal Hill. Lupe left Signal Hill heading SE in the direction this photo is looking. The little road she went to is barely visible at the upper left.

Lupe and SPHP couldn’t stay for too long up on Signal Hill. The storm was coming and it was many miles back to the G6 now. SPHP had intended to have Lupe explore No. 747 on the way back to the S, but mistakenly assumed it was the little road visible to the SE from the summit. (Actually No. 747 heads SSW from the W side of Signal Hill.) Lupe and SPHP went SE down the hill. Upon reaching the little road, Lupe followed it. Before long it curved around to the NE and promptly dead-ended at another livestock watering tank.

Lupe on the little road that was not No. 747. Photo looks back to the NW at Summit Hill. — Lupe on the little road that was not No. 747. Photo looks NW back at Signal Hill.

SPHP had no clue what had happened to No. 747 and didn’t want to bother with looking at maps. To the S was a long stretch of high ground that had burned in the Jasper fire. SPHP decided to just head S trying to maintain elevation. SPHP and Lupe both really enjoyed this section of the journey. There was some deadfall timber to deal with, but it wasn’t too bad. There were lots of animal trails to follow for long stretches. The air was clean and cool. There were pleasant distant views from the open high ground.

Lupe reaches the White Water Tank about 2 miles S of Signal Hill just as the rain starts.

Long before reaching it, a white water tank was visible off to the S. Lupe and SPHP headed for it. The rain started about the time Lupe reached the white water tank, which was probably a bit less than 2 miles S of Signal Hill. There was a road running E/W just N of the white water tank. SPHP knew it could likely be followed E to County Road No. 282 (Mud Springs Road), but didn’t want to do that. Lupe was having more fun just roaming the open lands.

SPHP and Lupe climbed the big hill just S of the white water tank. SPHP found a piece of thin metallic foil, evidently part of a helium balloon from a child’s birthday party and picked it up. SPHP wondered how many miles it had drifted through the sky to arrive way out here. Another big hill came into view farther off to the S, although some of the intervening ground was forested. Lupe and SPHP just kept wandering. SPHP wanted to go SSE, but the terrain kept forcing Lupe back to the SSW. There were elk and deer in the area. SPHP heard, but did not see, wild turkeys.

The rain wasn’t very heavy. Lupe got damp, not soaked. Luckily, the storm had split and most of the rain had gone either N or S of Lupe. It rained the hardest for 15 minutes as the sun came out and the last of the storm passed. A double rainbow formed off to the E, but only the ends of the rainbow existed, there wasn’t anything where the upper portions of the arches should have been.

There was more forested land and fewer burn areas as Lupe continued S. Lupe entered the damp gloomy forest. Finally Lupe came to a nice valley she had to go down into before climbing up another big ridge she had seen from afar. At the top of this ridge was a good gravel road. Lupe followed it ESE since it was staying on the high ground.

A vehicle came along heading ESE. With all the dang, confounded traffic, SPHP decided to leave the road and parallel it from a little way to the S. The road eventually proved to be County Road No. 283 (Antelope Creek Road) as signs proved where it intersected No. 282 (Mud Springs Road). Lupe and SPHP turned S on the ever-so-charmingly named Mud Springs Road.

The sun sets on Expedition No. 128 and another fabulous Dingo Day. Here Lupe is just off Mud Springs Road with a good 6 miles or more to go before reaching the G6 again.

By now it was getting quite late in the day. SPHP hoped that with some clouds off to the W, there might be a colorful sunset. For a few minutes the sun was a golden ball between a break in the clouds. SPHP should have snapped a photo then. The pinks, oranges, reds and purples never developed. The western sky turned gray. SPHP took a final photo as the light faded.

Lupe had more than 6 miles still to go to get back to the G6. There was a half moon, but it was often obscured by clouds. Lupe followed Mud Springs Road S to Hwy 16, turned E and followed Hwy 16 all the way through Jewel Cave National Monument. At one point park personnel drove by, stopped and asked if Lupe and SPHP needed help. No sir. Other vehicles came along every few minutes. A mile E of Jewel Cave National Monument, SPHP was glad to get away from the highway and turn S for the last 0.5 mile on No. 278.

Lupe was kind of tired. She had been running around for almost 13 hours. It was 10:18 PM and 42°F when Lupe reached the G6. She didn’t hesitate like she often does. She jumped right in and curled up. On the way home she only jumped up to bark frantically whenever SPHP said “deer!” Other than that she snoozed and dreamed dingo dreams all the way home.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A typical rock outcropping seen while climbing Atlantic Hill.

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

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

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

Lupe reaches the summit of Atlantic Hill.

Looking back at the summit of Atlantic Hill.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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