Silver City trailhead – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 278 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Silver City to Daugherty Gulch & Peak 5800 (4-28-21)

8:34 AM, 41ºF, Silver City trailhead –

Deerfield Trail No. 40 again, SPHP? We were just here with Cousin Dusty!

I know it, and it was a fun time, too! Pure inspiration! Hope you’re ready for a big adventure today, Loopster.

Aren’t I always? What’cha got in mind?

Silver City to Daugherty Gulch. Roughly 11.25 miles one way, I figure. Then if we still have any moxie left, we’ll tack on another couple of miles to climb Peak 5800 before circling back to Deerfield Trail No. 40 via USFS Road No. 530 and the Slate Creek Dam.

Oh, that is a big day! We better get crackin’!

Five days ago it had been snowing when Lupe had been here with Cousin Dusty and Uncle Joe. What a difference those 5 days had made! Suddenly it was springtime – blue skies, tweeting birds, the whole bit! Progress was rapid on the broad, flat trail. Silver Peak (5,810 ft.) was soon coming into view.

In scenic **Rapid Creek canyon**. Photo looks W.

**Silver Peak** (L of Center). Photo looks SW.

Just beyond the Silver Peak view, Lupe crossed the 4th bridge already over Rapid Creek. The first 3 had been concrete and as wide as a road, but this one was an all wooden pawbridge complete with railings. All the rest of the bridges across Rapid Creek would be like this.

Downstream view of **Rapid Creek** from the first wooden bridge. Photo looks N.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 narrowed after crossing the wooden pawbridge, but was still well-beaten and super easy to follow, remaining flat and rock-free. The trail passed mostly through the forest, but was never far from Rapid Creek.

**Rapid Creek** from Deerfield Trail No. 40. Photo looks SW.

Five minutes from the first pawbridge, Lupe came to her Dingo Cave, a great spot to hang out during a hail storm.

No hail expected today, so the American Dingo went right on by, enjoying the sunshine as the day warmed up. Rapid Creek is the largest stream in the Black Hills, and this beautiful stretch of Deerfield Trail No. 40 along it certainly had to rank among the most scenic hikes in the entire region.

Every now and then, another pawbridge appeared. After the 5th one, Loop reached a big bend in the river not far from where Spurgeon Gulch comes in from the N. W of Spurgeon Gulch, the trail passed through a region of tall, slender bushes. Beyond the bushes was another super scenic trail segment along Rapid Creek.

Ordinarily quite a clear-running stream, Rapid Creek’s color resembled the muddy Mississippi today with all the spring run-off.

Getting close to the Spurgeon Gulch area after crossing the 5th wooden pawbridge. Photo looks N.

At the big bend a little **E of Spurgeon Gulch** and Canyon City. Photo looks E.

Past the bushes **W of Spurgeon Gulch**. Photo looks SW.

Nearly 0.4 mile W of Spurgeon Gulch and Canyon City, Lupe came to a 6th and final pawbridge over Rapid Creek. Crossing it, she followed a long straight stretch of Deerfield Tail No. 40 going WSW on the S side of the creek. In the shade of a mountain, much of this part of the trail was still icy. After 0.33 mile, Lupe came to a big bank of ice at the confluence of Slate Creek and Rapid Creek.

Looper was now 3.33 miles from the Silver City trailhead. Slate Creek, a mere tributary of Rapid Creek, was running as high as SPHP could ever remember seeing it. Something was missing, wasn’t it?

Approaching the 6th and final pawbridge over **Rapid Creek**. Photo looks WSW.

Looking upstream from the 6th pawbridge. Photo looks WSW.

On the straightaway S of the creek. Photo looks WSW.

Confluence of **Slate Creek** (L) and **Rapid Creek** (Center & R). Photo looks NW.

Seems we’ve reached the Slate Creek glacier, SPHP! Watch your step! Might be pretty slippery for you!

So we have, Looper. Say, didn’t there used to be a bridge over Slate Creek here? Not a big pawbridge with railings like the ones over Rapid Creek, just 4 or 5 planks on end bolted together.

Don’t really remember, SPHP. Been a while since we’ve been here, like years! Maybe there was, or maybe we always rock-hopped Slate Creek? Never had this much water in it before!

Well, hard to say. I don’t remember, either, but I was sort of expecting a plank bridge here, since I remember lots of them across Slate Creek farther upstream.

You aren’t saying we’re done already, are you, SPHP? Slate Creek still isn’t very deep! Can’t you wade across it?

Yup! In fact, I even brought water shoes, since I do remember at least one ford farther up Slate Creek. Guess they’re about to come in handy a lot sooner than I thought.

Lupe waited while SPHP switched from boots to water shoes prior to fording Slate Creek. The water shoes were actually SPHP’s old gray and blue Merrell running shoes bought in Haines, Alaska in 2017. When brand new, they were the prettiest shoes SPHP had ever had, almost like dancing slippers, but now they were dingy and falling apart. No matter! As long as they still held together, they were light-weight and perfect for fording streams.

Waiting for SPHP prior to fording **Slate Creek**. Photo looks SW.

Slate Creek was frigid, but the water shoes worked perfectly. Once across, there was another delay as SPHP sat in the sun swapping back over to boots. As soon as that was accomplished, Loopster hit the trail again. Deerfield Trail No. 40 abandoned Rapid Creek. For the next 4.25 miles, it would follow Slate Creek upstream instead.

Starting up the **Slate Creek valley**. Photo looks SW.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 had been flat and smooth all along Rapid Creek, but going up the smaller Slate Creek valley, it soon became rockier and started gaining elevation. Still an easy trek, but not quite the total cake walk it had been before.

Within 5 minutes, Loopster came to another stream crossing. Just like SPHP remembered, a sturdy plank bridge went over Slate Creek.

As the Carolina Dog continued up the valley, Deerfield Trail No. 40 kept crossing Slate Creek at short intervals in a narrow gorge. The 2nd and 3rd crossings also had plank bridges, but approaching the 4th crossing Lupe discovered that the bridge had washed out.

**3rd Slate Creek crossing** beyond the confluence with Rapid Creek.

The bridge at the **4th crossing** was washed out.

Water shoe time! SPHP donned them again prior to fording the stream. Then it was back to putting on the boots once more before Lupe could keep going.

Fording **Slate Creek** at the **4th crossing**.

Didn’t take long to became apparent that the whole process of constantly switching footwear was a ridiculous waste of time. The bridges were out everywhere! Sick of it, and now used to the cold water, SPHP relegated the boots to the pack, marching along in water shoes as Lupe came to one ford after another.

SPHP kept count of the number of times Deerfield Trail No. 40 crossed Slate Creek after starting up the valley. After the 9th crossing, the trail climbed 50 feet above creek level. On the way up the steep hillside, Loop found another glacier slowly melting away in the shade of a bend. This second Slate Creek glacier was centered on the trail, and treacherously sloped and slippery, but SPHP managed to get over it without mishap.

Beyond the glacier, the trail flattened and stayed well above Slate Creek for a little way, but Lupe was soon fording it again. It wasn’t until Loop got to the 12th crossing that she found another bridge intact.

Fording **Slate Creek** for the 8th time in a row at the **11th crossing**.

On the plank pawbridge at the **12th crossing**.

No bridge at the 13th crossing, but after that none were washed out for a while. In fact, there were 2 bridges at both the 15th and 17th crossings. By the time Lupe got past the 16th crossing, the Slate Creek valley was widening out to a considerable degree.

At the **13th crossing**, the last ford for a while.

The **14th crossing**, where intact bridges finally began to consistently appear again.

The **Slate Creek valley** opened up beyond the 16th crossing.

At the **17th crossing**, where there were 2 bridges.

The journey up the narrow gorge had been scenic with a very secluded feel to it. As the valley opened up, that sense of seclusion diminished, and the stream crossings were more spaced out. After the 17th crossing, Lupe reached the Flannigan cabin. Not much was left of it mouldering away beneath a stand of ancient spruce trees.

Doesn’t take an American Dingo long to inspect a wreck like that! A brief examination, and Lupe pressed on. Deerfield Trail No. 40 crossed Slate Creek for the 18th time beyond the confluence with Rapid Creek just past the cabin. A green gate in a pole fence led to a circular drive where USFS Road No. 606 dead-ended at the lower end of Spaw Gulch.

N end of USFS Road No. 606 which comes down Spaw Gulch.

Lupe went through another green gate on far side of the circle. Beyond it was a sign about an old road that used to follow Slate Creek, crossing it 25 times in 3.5 miles!

Only 25, SPHP? At the rate we’re going, we’re going to beat that record!

Sure enough, Lupe continued to come to more stream crossings. Since there had been perfectly good plank bridges over all of them for some time now, a short break was taken after No. 20 while SPHP abandoned the water shoes, exchanging them for boots again. A chocolate coconut bar got shared before following the trail up over a little ridge.

On the other side of the ridge, Loop came to a place that looked sort of like a campsite. 5 sections of big logs stood arranged in an “X” pattern out in the middle of this area. Lupe got up on the center log.

She was still standing there, when SPHP noticed a hole resembling an old mining dig over in the hillside to the E. Further inspection revealed a short tunnel through the ridge.

Venturing in, the tunnel opened up at the far end at a spot overlooking Slate Creek. Inside the tunnel, some filthy ancient plywood shelves were arranged like bunk beds along one side. Attached to the shelves was a clear plastic sleeve containing an astonishing bright new sheet of paper.

In this rat hole out in the middle of nowhere? You have got to be kidding me!

What’s it say, SPHP?

It’s says the world has completely lost it’s mind, Looper!

Nonsense! It does not! What does it really say?

It’s a warning notice about Covid-19, Loop. Talks like this is the Holiday Inn or something.

Here? Doesn’t look like anyone has been here in ages!

Exactly my point, except, of course, for whoever thought this joint needed a Covid-19 notice. If Covid-19’s here, they must have brought it with them!

Whether the notice was totally Looney Tunes, or not, Loopster didn’t have a reservation at this 0 star establishment, and it was still a long way to Daugherty Gulch. The American Dingo pressed on.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 continued to wind SW following Slate Creek. Lupe came to several more creek crossings with plank bridges. After No. 23, a brown wand marking the route pointed off toward the R, away from the obvious trail. Evidently a re-route up a less traveled path in order to avoid another couple of creek crossings ahead.

The official route climbed 60 feet before topping out near a rocky point overlooking the next part of the Slate Creek valley. Part of USFS Road No. 245.1A was in sight. The topo map showed a short section of the road paralleling Slate Creek before leaving the valley.

At the **Slate Creek valley** overlook. Photo looks SSW.

Continuing back down into the valley, the trail now led to a set of stairs with rock walls. However, the stairway was virtually unusable due to an enormous spruce tree which had collapsed along the length of it. Even so, Loop was soon through this obstacle, and approaching an impressive natural rock wall towering next to Slate Creek.

The huge rock wall was quite a scenic spot! Nearby was a 24th crossing of Slate Creek. No bridge, but paving stones made for a super easy ford as SPHP employed the water shoes again.

Approaching the scenic wall of rock. Photo looks S.

As seen from the **24th Slate Creek crossing**. Photo looks E.

Beyond the impressive rock wall, the Slate Creek valley was even more open. A 25th stream crossing, another ford with paving stones instead of a bridge, wasn’t far from the 24th one, but that was the last ford.

Wasn’t the last stream crossing, though! The crossings were farther apart now, but the count continued to rise as the Carolina Dog crossed one bridge over Slate Creek after another. Meanwhile, she was seeing lots of deer and having a fabulous time!

Approaching **crossing No. 26**, another one with 2 bridges. Photo looks S.

Near **crossing No. 29**. Photo looks NNE.

A curious dilapidated structure between crossings No. 30 and 31.

Wading just for fun at **crossing No. 32**.

The trail went on and on. Lupe finally arrived at a fork. A brown wand along a path going SW across a big field indicated that this was the way Deerfield Trail No. 40 went. At the far end of the field, Slate Creek ran along the base of a forested hill. The last bridge over the steam, crossing No. 35, if SPHP hadn’t lost count somewhere along the way, was visible from the divide.

About to leave the **Slate Creek valley** via the bridge seen at the base of the hill. Photo looks SW.

Crossing the field and the last bridge, Lupe left the Slate Creek valley. Deerfield Trail No. 40 started steeply up a slope, but quickly turned L and began to switchback less aggressively higher. Near the top of a ridge, the trail ran W along the N side before crossing over to the S.

For the first time today, the cheerful sound of flowing water was absent and missed, but Lupe had gained enough elevation to get a distant view of some forested hills, the higher ones still sporting a little snow. Not a spectacular scene, but a pleasant one.

On the N side of the ridge. Photo looks SW.

First distant view of the day. Photo looks SW.

How much farther to Daugherty Gulch, SPHP?

Still a ways, Loop. About 3.67 miles from where we left Slate Creek.

Trending W or SW, the trail leveled out as it began winding along the top of the ridge. Lupe visited a couple of high points separated by 0.33 mile, the second one a bit higher than the first.

The high points had only a minor drop between them, but Loop came to a larger drop after passing the second one. During the descent, the trail went by an old horizontal mining shaft. Turned out it wasn’t very big, and the Carolina Dog didn’t find anything of interest in it.

Losing 160 feet of elevation heading S into a valley, the trail bottomed out at a junction with an abandoned road. Deerfield Trail No. 40 turned W again here, but not for long. The road kept going W, but within a few hundred feet, the trail veered SW up a steeper drainage. Before long it was curving NW. Upon regaining all the elevation she’d just lost, Lupe arrived at a minor pass.

Near the low point in the valley, starting up the abandoned road. Photo looks W.

Going over the pass, a smaller drop of 50 feet ensued. Soon USFS Road No. 245 could be seen ahead. The trail turned W, paralleling the road for a little way before merging with it just before the road came to another pass. At about 5,500 feet, this pass was the high point of Deerfield Trail No. 40 between Silver City and Daugherty Gulch.

At the high point of USFS Road No. 245 and this segment of Deerfield Trail No. 40. Photo looks NW.

From the pass, No. 245 went NW down Lind Gulch for more than a mile. A bit muddy at first, the road hike was super easy, although not terribly interesting. After losing 400 feet of elevation, Lupe finally reached a gate where the Mickelson Trail crossed the road.

Heading down **Lind Gulch**. Photo looks NW.

More than halfway down **Lind Gulch** it became a little more scenic.

Junction of USFS Road No. 245 and the Mickelson Trail. Photo looks NW.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 abandoned USFS Road No. 245, turning SW along the Mickelson Trail. Site of a former railroad line, the Mickelson Trail curved W on a gradual incline that led to a tunnel that trains used to run through many years ago. The tunnel was pretty cool!

After reaching the Mickelson Trail, Deerfield Trail No. 40 follows it the rest of the way to the Daugherty Gulch trailhead. Photo looks SSW.

Beyond the tunnel, the trail continued W on a slight incline for nearly 0.33 mile before starting to curve S. A trailhead sign appeared ahead. Soon Lupe was going through a green gate, down a little slope to the W, over a tiny tributary of Castle Creek, and across Mystic Road.

Continuing W beyond the tunnel. Photo looks W.

Getting close to the end. Photo looks SW.

Leaving the Mickelson Trail. Photo looks ENE.

Success! At the **Daugherty Gulch trailhead**. Photo looks NW.

3:38 PM, 58ºF, Daugherty Gulch trailhead –

Congratulations, Loopster! We made it!

Thank you, SPHP! Such a beautiful trek, especially the parts along Rapid Creek and Slate Creek. Really wonderful!

Yes, indeed! Best part of the entire Deerfield Trail, if you ask me, although the loop around Deerfield Reservoir is mighty nice, too.

7 hours, though, SPHP! We sure took our sweet time getting here! Are we still going to climb Peak 5800, too? Do you have it in you?

Sure! We’ll share another chocolate coconut bar up there. Maybe that will spur me on? Wha’dya say?

Last one there is a human!

Not much doubt about that! Some things never change. 5 minutes after arriving at the Daugherty Creek trailhead, the Carolina Dog headed back to the Mickelson Trail. Turning S, the trail slowly, relentlessly, continued uphill.

Heading S on the Michelson Trail. Photo looks S.

Keeping an eye on Mystic Road to the W, SPHP watched for side roads. USFS Road No. 241 came first. It went SW up Daugherty Gulch. For some odd reason, the Daugherty Gulch trailhead was actually located at Whitetail Gulch. No logical explanation seemed possible other than that someone was confused when they named it.

The next road was the critical one. When USFS Road No. 231.1A came into sight, that was the signal to start looking SE. Looper would start her ascent of Peak 5800 following the next ridge the Michelson Trail went by in that direction.

Worked great! Climbing from the WNW, the Carolina Dog was soon on top of the mountain.

Heading up **Peak 5800’s WNW ridge**. Photo looks ESE.

4:48 PM, 55ºF, Peak 5800 – Peak 5800’s summit proved to be a large flat area of open forest with no obvious absolute high point. SPHP dropped the pack beneath a big Ponderosa pine with many branches that seemed to be about where the highest ground was. Nearby stood a weathered tree stump. 4 feet tall, it was almost as if it were a post deliberately set to mark the summit location.

By the weathered tree stump. Photo looks NW.

Congratulations were once again in order! Praising Lupe, SPHP shook her paw, but wasn’t going to get off that easy. The chocolate coconut bar had to be delivered as promised, along with a silver bowl full of Taste of the Wild. SPHP ate the last of two apples, the first one having met its fate hours ago.

For a while Lupe and SPHP just sat there, looking WSW across a barren spot. Never know what you might see when you climb a new peak in the Black Hills. As it turned out, there were enough trees on Peak 5800 to mar the views in all directions. Sometimes that’s the way it goes. Plenty of glimpses of hills and ridges, but no clear views.

After resting for 20 minutes, it was time to get up and move around. The summit region was big, and there weren’t that many trees! Surely Lupe could find some decent viewpoints, if she looked for them.

The viewpoints were all toward the S, somewhat below the summit’s perimeter. To the SW were high ridges difficult to identify from here. Peak 6167 and Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.) were in sight to the ESE. To the SSE, Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) made Lowden Mountain (6,055 ft.) look like a little hill.

**Old Bald Peak** (R) and **Peak 6167** (far R). Photo looks E.

**Lowden Mountain** in front of **Black Elk Peak** (Center). Photo looks SSE.

Shadows were lengthening. A long way back. 40 minutes after reaching Peak 5800, Lupe headed down the S slope. Here she came upon the best view yet, a lovely panorama due S. Black Elk Peak, Lowden Mountain, Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.), and Redfern Mountain (6,075 ft.) on display!

**Black Elk Peak** and **Lowden Mountain** (far L), **Sylvan Peak** (R of Center), **Redfern Mountain** (far R). Photo looks S.

After losing some elevation, Lupe turned E down into a valley that led to USFS Road No. 530. Loop had never been on this part of it before. In the evening light, No. 530 was a scenic journey and downhill practically all the way. A good thing, since there was now a need for speed!

With only few hours of daylight left, the race was on. SPHP wasn’t keen on doing close to 40 Slate Creek crossings via narrow plank bridges or outright fords in the dark, even if the stream wasn’t all that big.

The American Dingo showed great energy, often racing ahead. Herds of deer kept her excited. Progress was limited only by SPHP’s pace. Still took nearly an hour to get to the little lake at the Slate Creek Dam.

**USFS Road No. 530** close to where Lupe first reached it. Photo looks E.

Approaching the Slate Creek Dam. Photo looks NE.

By the little lake at the Slate Creek Dam. Photo looks S.

After a look at the lake, Lupe turned WNW on USFS Road No. 530.1C, which followed Slate Creek.

A little over 0.25 mile, and No. 530.1C ended. No problem! A single track trail continued down the valley. Over the course of a mile, Lupe crossed 4 or 5 more plank bridges, one of which didn’t extend all the way across the stream, before getting back to Deerfield Trail No. 40.

The last rays of sunlight disappeared from the hilltops about the time Lupe reached the fords back at the 25th and 24th Slate Creek crossings. Dusk arrived and deepened as she hurried on.

Still some light in the sky, but everything was turning pitch black down in Slate Creek’s narrow gorge by the time she got there. The flashlight had to come out before attempting to cross the slippery glacier between crossings No. 10 and No. 9.

It all went well! Every bridge, every ford! Better than expected. Once Lupe got across Slate Creek at its confluence with Rapid Creek, success was assured. Flat trail and bridges with railings the rest of the way.

Yet still miles to go in the night! In the black as eternity canyon, Rapid Creek rushed noisily downstream as silver stars glittered in a narrow band of sky visible above. On the deep space edge of the weak beam ahead, a curly tail waved, confidently leading the way. (10:30 PM, 34ºF)

**Deerfield Trail No. 40**, Black Hills of South Dakota 4-28-21

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Next Trail Section W:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 256 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Daugherty Trailhead to Signal Knob & Deerfield Lake (10-30-20)

Next Trail Section E:

Black Hills SD Expedition No. 236 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Deer Creek to Silver City & Peak 5707 (10-6-18)

Deerfield Trail No. 40 – Map & Brochure

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 236 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Deer Creek to Silver City & Peak 5707 (10-6-18)

Start – 9:45 AM, 41 °F, at the Deer Creek trailhead 0.25 mile from Hwy 385 off Silver City Road

Oh, it was going to be a fabulous day! Blue skies and high thin clouds greeted Lupe upon arrival at the Deer Creek trailhead. The morning air was cool and fresh. Autumn colors were near their height of glory. The American Dingo was excited. Loop was anxious to hit the trail!

Ready to hit the spur trail leaving the Deer Creek trailhead on a glorious fall morning.

This was Lupe’s third time here in as many weekends. The first two times Lupe had been exploring segments of Centennial Trail No. 89. Two weeks ago she had reached this point after starting from the Rapid Creek trailhead 5.0 miles to the S. Last week she had started here and journeyed 3.8 miles N to the Pilot Knob trailhead.

The Carolina Dog certainly intended to continue her adventures along Centennial Trail No. 89, but not today. The Deer Creek trailhead is also the E end of Deerfield Trail No. 40. The far W end of this 23 mile long trail connects with the 11 mile long Lake Loop Trail that circles Deerfield Reservoir in the W central Black Hills.

The plan for the day was to head W on Deerfield Trail No. 40 only as far as the next trailhead at Silver City, a mere 3.7 miles away. That ought to leave enough extra time for a couple of side adventures to Peak 5707 and Pactola Reservoir, as well.

As soon as SPHP was ready, Lupe set out from the Deer Creek trailhead on the now familiar spur trail leading W up a slope. Five minutes on the spur got her to the main trail. Here she turned L, proceeded 100 yards S to Silver City Road, then crossed it. The trail continued S through pine forest to a minor pass about 0.5 mile from the Deer Creek trailhead.

This pass was where Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40 part ways. A sign marked the R turn Looper needed to take to head W toward Silver City.

Lupe at the junction of Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40. This junction is 0.5 mile from the Deer Creek trailhead where she’d started. Loopster headed W toward Silver City from here. Photo looks W.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 initially gained elevation as it headed W from the junction, but soon leveled out. Loop actually lost a bit of elevation as the trail subsequently dipped into a minor drainage. Off to the NE, Lupe could see Silver City Road again not too far down a slope. However, upon reaching the bottom of the drainage, the trail turned SW away from the road. Starting up the drainage Lupe passed between several brightly colored aspens.

Upon reaching this drainage, Deerfield Trail No. 40 follows it uphill. The American Dingo passed between these bright aspens near the start of the climb. Photo looks SW.

A steady climb up the rocky bottom of the drainage ensued as the trail gradually curved W. By the time Lupe was 0.5 mile from the junction with Centennial Trail No. 89, the drainage had faded away. At this point Lupe wasn’t far below the top of a nearby hill to the SW. Meanwhile, Deerfield Trail No. 40 was beginning to level out. Apparently the trail was about to swing around the N side of the hill.

Deerfield Trail No. 40 levels out here not far below the top of a hill to the SW (L). Lupe had already gained 300 feet of elevation from the junction with Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks WNW.

Although Lupe was merely off to a good start as far as getting to Silver City was concerned, the topo map showed she was already fairly close to one of her side objectives. Peak 5707 ought to be only 0.5 mile S of here. A faded remnant of a road entered a small meadow S of the trail. Maybe that was the way to go?

This small meadow next to Deerfield Trail No. 40 looked like a promising start toward Peak 5707. After crossing the meadow, Lupe climbed the forested slope seen on the R. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe abandoned Deerfield Trail No. 40 for the time being to begin her search for Peak 5707. She went S through the small meadow, then turned SW climbing the nearby forested hill. She quickly arrived up on a spacious, virtually flat summit, already at 5,520+ feet elevation.

Up on the flat 5,520+ foot elevation hilltop. Photo looks SW.

Loop headed SW on the broad hilltop until she caught sight of an even higher forested hill a little farther S. That was High Point 5600. Peak 5707 wasn’t in view yet, but ought to be beyond it. Looper lost 80 feet of elevation going down to the saddle leading to High Point 5600.

On the saddle leading to High Point 5600. Photo looks SSW.

After crossing the saddle, the easiest route up High Point 5600 seemed to be to curl around to and up the E slope. Before she even got to the top, Lupe could see Peak 5707 ahead.

From the upper E slope of High Point 5600, Lupe gets her first look at **Peak 5707** (L). Photo looks SSW.

Lupe briefly visited the highest rocks on High Point 5600 before turning S toward Peak 5707. This time she lost only 60 feet of elevation heading down to the saddle. Along the way she came to a couple of spots from which she had quite nice distant views toward the E and SE.

Looper could see both Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.), which she had been to only 2 weeks ago, and Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.). Loop had been to Thrall Mountain, too, but it was getting close to 4 years ago now.

**Peak 5707** (Center) from the upper S slope of High Point 5600. Photo looks S.

The closest distant hill on the L is **Perrin Mountain**. Beyond it a little to the R is **Thrall Mountain**. Photo looks SE on the way to **Peak 5707**.

Similar view zoomed in. Lupe’s ears point up at **Perrin Mountain**. **Thrall Mountain** is at Center. Photo looks SE.

The N slope leading to the top of Peak 5707 really wasn’t much of a climb. Lupe only needed to gain 150 feet of elevation, and the slope was only moderately steep. Due to lots of deadfall timber, it was harder than it should have been, though. Nevertheless, Lupe was soon perched at the true summit on the highest slanty rocks.

Due to the forest, the only really clear view was toward the NW. Close by, Lupe could see Peak 5707’s NW ridge. Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) was on the far horizon.

Success! Lupe at the summit of **Peak 5707**. **Custer Peak** is the distant high point at Center. Peak 5707’s NW ridge is in the foreground. Photo looks NW.

While Lupe had arrived at Peak 5707 from the N, the mountain’s main ridge runs NW/SE. This ridge was quite narrow at the true summit. Slanty rocks and scattered deadfall made the immediate area a bit of a hassle to maneuver on. Once Lupe and SPHP were satisfied with having seen the limited available views, the Carolina Dog set off toward flatter terrain to the SE less encumbered with obstacles.

Lupe discovered a nice, wide flat area only a foot or two lower than the true summit. It was a pleasant spot.

Only a little SE of Peak 5707’s true summit, Lupe found this nice flat area. It was only a foot or two lower than the actual high point, and much easier to move around on. Photo looks S.

The W end of Pactola Reservoir is only a mile S of Peak 5707. SPHP had hoped Lupe would have a nice view of the lake from up here. However, if there were any views, even this nice flat spot was too heavily forested to see them. Lupe and SPHP continued a short distance SE along the ridge hoping to discover a decent viewpoint.

Sure enough, the American Dingo came to a point along the SW edge of the ridge from which it was possible to see Silver City, Rapid Creek, and the far W end of Pactola Lake.

Looking SW from Peak 5707’s SE ridge. **Silver City** is below on the R. The far W end of **Pactola Reservoir** is on the L.

The topo map showed Peak 5707’s SE ridge extending another whole 0.5 mile to come within 0.5 mile of Pactola Reservoir. Maybe there were even better viewpoints somewhere along the way? Eh. Perhaps, but it seemed like a longer trek than SPHP really wanted to make away from Deerfield Trail No. 40 and Lupe’s other objectives. It was decided to explore Peak 5707’s shorter NW ridge instead.

Done with a short, brief exploration of a small part of Peak 5707’s SE ridge, Lupe heads back toward the summit on her way to the NW ridge. Photo looks NW.

Exploring the NW ridge turned out not to be such a hot idea. Most of the ridgeline proved to be a mess due to large amounts of deadfall. Even so, lots of trees were still standing. Lupe didn’t come to any grand views she hadn’t seen before. Fortunately, there were some areas that weren’t too hard to traverse. Lupe did make it out to the high point at the far NW end before turning around.

Looking back at Peak 5707’s summit from the NW ridge. Photo looks SE.

*Not much deadfall here, SPHP! Kind of like a super highway for you!* Photo looks NW.

*Can’t see a darn thing from here, either!* Loopster at the high point at the far NW end of the ridge. She turned around and went back from here. Photo looks NW.

Well, the views from Peak 5707 may have been a bit disappointing, but exploring is always fun. At a minimum, Lupe had scored a peakbagging success. The Carolina Dog headed SE back toward the summit along the NW ridge. Before she got there, Lupe left the ridgeline heading E toward the saddle leading to High Point 5600. Some of the aspen trees were loaded with golden leaves.

Even if there weren’t any dazzling distant views from Peak 5707, Lupe could still appreciate the golden leaves of the aspen trees.

Lupe could have taken a shortcut to Deerfield Trail No. 40 by going down a valley to the NNW before she even reached the saddle S of High Point 5600. However, SPHP thought maybe she should return to the exact same point where she had left the trail. That way Loop would get to see the entire trail, even if it got so late the return trip was in the dark.

So that’s what Looper did. She went back over High Point 5600 and the 5520+ foot hill, and all the way back down to the small meadow where she reached Deerfield Trail No. 40 again. As expected, a level stretch of trail took Lupe around the N side of the 5520+ foot hill, then turned SW.

Lupe back on Deerfield Trail No. 40 again as it rounds the N side of the 5520+ foot hill. Photo looks SW.

Once W of the 5520+ foot hill, Deerfield Trail No. 40 began to steadily lose elevation. At first Lupe was traveling through pine forest, but she soon came to a long stretch with many aspens mingled in that was quite beautiful this time of year.

As the trail wound SW, Lupe came to a long beautiful stretch of forest with many aspens mingled in among the pines.

*Sure is pretty along in here, SPHP. Hope it stays like this all the way to Silver City!*

So, where is this place on the map, SPHP? …. Remember when you were up at the high spot at the far end of Peak 5707’s NW ridge, Loop? I think we are just N of there now, but several hundred feet lower.

Looking up, SPHP eventually saw that Lupe was rounding the far NW end of Peak 5707’s NW ridge. Deerfield Trail No. 40 emerged from the aspens about this time and curved S. The forest was all pines now, with virtually no other vegetation. Pine needles covered the trail and littered the forest floor.

Lupe started having success finding squirrels to bark at. Most of the time she stayed busy roaming off trail eagerly looking for the next one.

After leaving the aspens behind, Deerfield Trail No. 40 wound S in a solid Ponderosa pine forest. Photo looks SSW.

*Well, those aspens were pretty, but when it comes to excitement, you just can’t beat squirrels!* Lupe had considerable success finding squirrels in the pine forest.

The trail wound around a bunch, but overall kept working its way S. Most of the time Lupe was still losing elevation, but after a while she came to level and even uphill sections, too. The pine forest went on and on. Lupe was somewhere on the lower W slopes of Peak 5707, but many hundreds of feet below the now unseen summit.

The pine forest finally began to open up. Grass appeared. Lupe had lost a lot of elevation. She would soon reach a gravel road leading to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground near Pactola Reservoir.

Grass appeared when the pine forest finally opened up. Loop had lost many hundreds of feet of elevation by now. Photo looks S.

If there weren’t so many squirrels down here as before, it didn’t matter. As Deerfield Trail No. 40 approached the gravel road to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground, Lupe spotted a new source of keen interest right across the road. Cows! Big, beautiful, black cows. So tempting!

Approaching the gravel road to the Jenny Gulch picnic ground, Lupe spotted a new source of interest on the other side. Big, beautiful, black cows! Photo looks SSW.

Don’t even think about it, Loopster! Be good! Leave those cows alone.

SPHP settled for 2 out of 3. Lupe was good. She didn’t chase the cows. Even after the trail crossed the road and she was mighty close to them. However, Loop sure did think about it. It was simply impossible not to. Just the look in that Dingo’s eyes made the cows decide the grass was greener farther up the valley as Lupe approached. A few decided there was some urgency in the matter, and set off at a lively trot.

Where the cows had just been, a rather rotten old tree trunk served as an official Deerfield Trail No. 40 bridge across a tiny creek.

The tempting cows departed of their own volition leaving Lupe in command of their field. She crossed the rotten tree trunk seen on the R, which still served as a bridge over a tiny creek. Photo looks SSW.

Beyond the creek, Deerfield Trail No. 40 headed SSW through the field to the base of a forested hillside. It continued in this direction with the hill on the W and the field to the E until beyond the hillside. The trail then turned W gaining elevation slowly as Lupe went through open forest and meadows.

After getting around the S end of a forested hill, Lupe follows the trail W through an area of meadows and open forest.

Lupe soon came to a short climb up and over a small ridge. On the other side, water was in sight at the bottom of a steep slope. Deerfield Trail No. 40 turned NNW heading down the slope. After losing most or all of the elevation Lupe had gained going over the little ridge, the trail turned W again as the terrain began to level out.

After crossing the small ridge on the L, the terrain leveled out. Rapid Creek flows into the W end of Pactola Reservoir on the far side of the wetlands on the R. Photo looks S.

The American Dingo was only 0.5 mile from Silver City now. Soon the red roof of the Silver City Community Hall was in sight beyond a field. Lupe was thrilled to see a magnificent herd of black cows munching away at the tall grass.

Nearing Silver City, Lupe was thrilled to see an even bigger and more magnificent herd of black cows ahead. **Silver Peak (5,810 ft.)** is in the distance. Photo looks SW.

To avoid the cattle as much as possible, SPHP led Loop along the lower SE side of the field near the edge of wetlands. Although the Carolina Dog didn’t bark and behaved quite nicely, the closest cows were unnerved by her predatory stares. Most returned to the safety of the larger herd.

The rest was easy. Deerfield Trail No. 40 took Lupe across the last part of the field to Silver City Road. Loopster briefly dropped by the Silver City Community Hall. From a lawn liberally decorated with cow pies, she had a great view back toward Peak 5707 off to the NE.

Lupe reaches Silver City. Photo looks SW.

At the **Silver City Community Hall**. Note the snazzy red roof. Photo looks W.

Looking back at **Peak 5707** (Center) from the Silver City Community Hall lawn. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.

On the other side of Silver City Road a scenic cliff was in view beyond Rapid Creek. Lupe wandered over for a closer look.

Rapid Creek is somewhere near the base of this scenic cliff downstream of Silver City. Photo looks SE.

A 0.5 mile level stroll to the Silver City trailhead was all that remained for Lupe to complete her Deerfield Trail No. 40 objective for the day.

Lupe on Silver City Road. The main part of Silver City is off to the L (S) on the opposite side of Rapid Creek (hidden by bushes). Deerfield Trail No. 40’s Silver City trailhead is still 0.5 mile away down the road on the R. Photo looks W.

Loop by Rapid Creek near the bridge to the main part of Silver City. Lupe didn’t need to cross this bridge. The Silver City trailhead is on this same (N) side of the creek farther along the road on the R. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe made it to the Silver City trailhead, just a wide spot at the end of a gravel road. Her mission accomplished, the Carolina Dog went a little farther exploring the near bank of Rapid Creek upstream to another bridge providing access farther up the canyon.

Lupe gets a drink from Rapid Creek near the Silver City trailhead. Photo looks ESE.

Exploring a little farther up Rapid Creek toward the next bridge. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe got up on the bridge over Rapid Creek. Deerfield Trail No. 40 crosses this bridge on its way farther up the canyon. This was it, though. Lupe wasn’t going any farther today.

The Carolina Dog had been this way before. In fact, long ago the Silver City trailhead and this same bridge had been the starting point for Lupe’s very first adventures in the Black Hills. Both of her Black Hills, SD Expeditions No. 1 & No. 2 had begun right here in January, 2012. Barely 2 years old then, Lupe had been so very excited by the mysterious Black Hills backcountry, and had such wonderful times! That was way back in the days before SPHP even thought to bring a camera.

A short distance beyond the Silver Creek trailhead, once again on the bridge over Rapid Creek to a life of adventures! Both of Lupe’s first two Black Hills, SD Expeditions had started right here way back in January, 2012.

It was mid-afternoon. This was a good place to take a break. Lupe curled up with a view of Rapid Creek by the end of the bridge. She had some Taste of the Wild, then spent a few minutes resting. Perhaps, like SPHP, she was reflecting upon those first adventures so long ago.

Taking a break near Rapid Creek where it all began once upon a time. Photo looks ESE.

Ten minutes only, before the American Dingo was ready for action again! Lupe and SPHP started back along the road. Loop would return to the Deer Creek trailhead retracing the same route along Deerfield Trail No. 40.

Leaving Silver City heading toward **Peak 5707** (Center) again. Photo looks NE.

On the way back, Lupe made two side trips off Deerfield Trail No. 40. First, she left the trail to visit the Jenny Gulch picnic ground. Here she had access to parts of the N shore of Pactola Reservoir. Lupe and SPHP spent a little time exploring the area.

Lupe reaches **Pactola Reservoir** at the lower end of Jenny Gulch. Photo looks ESE.

Overlooking part of the W end of **Pactola Reservoir** near Jenny Gulch. A squirrel has Lupe’s attention. Photo looks WSW.

**Pactola Reservoir** is the largest lake in the Black Hills. Only a small portion is in view here. Photo looks W.

Later on, as evening approached, Lupe left Deerfield Trail No. 40 again to attempt a second ascent of Peak 5707. Loopster used the exact same route she had taken this morning. It was cloudier and cooler out now than it had been earlier.

S of High Point 5600 on the way back to Peak 5707 for a 2nd time. Photo looks ESE.

Lupe succeeded in reaching Peak 5707 a second time. Sadly, a hoped for beautiful sunset wasn’t going to happen. Lupe and SPHP hung around for 20 minutes anyway, enjoying the solitude and limited views. Most of this time was spent relaxing on the flat area SE of the true summit.