{"id":10003,"date":"2017-05-29T08:10:03","date_gmt":"2017-05-29T14:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=10003"},"modified":"2020-09-24T10:20:59","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T16:20:59","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-203-gimlet-creek-to-minnesota-ridge-5-6-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=10003","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 203 – Gimlet Creek to Minnesota Ridge (5-6-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Start 8:23 AM, 50\u00b0F, USFS Road No. 203.5 just off Rochford Road<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe liked the looks of this place – green grass, a bubbling creek, choice of sun or shade.\u00a0 A slice of American Dingo paradise, that’s what it was!\u00a0 Loopster was all smiles.<\/p>\n

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Lupe was all smiles at the start of Expedition No. 203. She anticipated a great day ahead!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Smiles and energy, that is!\u00a0 Lupe took off running.\u00a0 She bounded through the tall grass wet with dew near Gimlet Creek.\u00a0 Of course, she tested the waters\u00a0of the creek itself, too.\u00a0 They\u00a0quickly earned\u00a0the Carolina Dog seal of approval.<\/p>\n

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Lupe’s day started close to the confluence of Gimlet Creek & East Gimlet Creek. Here she tests the waters of East Gimlet Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As SPHP started up USFS Road No. 203.5, Lupe raced through fields on both sides of the creek.\u00a0 Sometimes she scrambled partway up the sides of the valley.\u00a0 She was looking for squirrels, but didn’t find any.\u00a0 A great many of the large\u00a0trees on the hillsides were dead, killed by pine bark beetles.<\/p>\n

Lupe remained hopeful, though.\u00a0 The day was just beginning.\u00a0 Having a creek to follow was simply glorious!\u00a0 Loop loved being able to cool off in the stream.\u00a0 At intervals, the road had big mud puddles, too.\u00a0 Lupe strolled through each one, slurping up cloudy brown water as she went.\u00a0 She was definitely getting her mineral requirements met.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on USFS Road No. 203.5 in lower Gimlet Creek valley. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe got to follow USFS Road No. 203.5 up Gimlet Creek valley for more than 2 miles. Actually, it was SPHP who followed the road. Loop was busy exploring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking downstream in the Gimlet Creek valley. The lower part of the valley was fairly narrow as seen here. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking NNW up the valley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Only a week ago, Lupe had found snow up in the hills on Expedition No. 202.\u00a0 No chance of that today.\u00a0 Not even close.\u00a0\u00a0Beneath a cloudless\u00a0blue sky, the day was warming up fast.\u00a0 In fact, the forecast was for near record temperatures in the 80’s \u00b0F.\u00a0 From winter to summer with scarcely any transition between.\u00a0 Not good, but not that unusual in the Black Hills.<\/p>\n

After 2 miles, the road forded Gimlet Creek.\u00a0 Lupe was already slowing down due to the rising temperatures.\u00a0 She stayed closer to SPHP and the road.\u00a0 Fur coats are wonderful when it’s cool out, but not so great when it’s warm.\u00a0 Lupe’s tongue hung out.\u00a0 She wore a perpetual smile whether she wanted to or not.<\/p>\n

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By the time Lupe reached the Gimlet Creek ford on USFS Road No. 203.5, she was slowing down. The day was warming up fast, and the heat was starting to get to her. The creek and every mud puddle she came to were welcome sights.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond the ford, the valley widened out considerably.<\/p>\n

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The valley had become much wider by the time Lupe reached the ford on Gimlet Creek. Photo looks N across the valley, which curves to the E (R) here for a short distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

About 0.25 mile N of the ford, Gimlet Creek turned E.\u00a0\u00a0From a side valley to the W, a\u00a0smaller tributary stream flowed into a pond before continuing over to its confluence with Gimlet Creek.\u00a0 Several ducks flew away as Lupe\u00a0drew near\u00a0the pond.<\/p>\n

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Getting close to the pond, which isn’t in view quite yet, but isn’t far off to the L. The small tributary stream flows through the fenced-in area seen above Looper on its way to Gimlet Creek on the far R. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe reaches the pond, the biggest water feature she would see on Expedition No. 203. Several ducks had flown off as Lupe approached. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A good bridge crossed the small tributary of Gimlet Creek where it exited the pond. Lupe had come up USFS Road No. 203.5 from the direction seen on the L. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A family of Canadian geese\u00a0had made this pond home.\u00a0 When Lupe arrived, they were out for a stroll on the green grass nearby.<\/p>\n

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Momma and papa goose out for a stroll with their 5 chicks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The little geese were far too young to fly, so when momma and papa saw Lupe, they led the chicks back to the safety of the water.\u00a0 In the meantime, the ducks had already returned.<\/p>\n

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By the time Lupe circled around to the N side of the pond, the ducks had already returned. Photo looks S down the Gimlet Creek valley the way Lupe had come.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The geese returned to the safety of the water while Lupe was around.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a few minutes, Lupe and SPHP enjoyed watching the ducks and geese.\u00a0 Unseen frogs sang a noisy tune.\u00a0 It was a pleasant scene, but Lupe was soon\u00a0eager to press on.<\/p>\n

Immediately N of the pond,\u00a0USFS Road No. 203.5 left\u00a0the valley\u00a0and\u00a0disappeared up\u00a0a forested hillside.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t follow it.\u00a0 Instead, she\u00a0went W on a\u00a0fading side road,\u00a0which paralleled the tributary of Gimlet Creek.\u00a0 She had to go around deadfall timber blocking the road in\u00a0a number of places.<\/p>\n

The side road soon ended at a marshy area where another small valley came down from the N.\u00a0 Lupe crossed the marsh,\u00a0still heading W.\u00a0 She stayed in the valley the tributary of Gimlet Creek flowed through.\u00a0 Eventually this valley turned N, too.<\/p>\n

The tributary of Gimlet Creek was a very small stream, but did have flow.\u00a0 After the valley turned N, Lupe\u00a0came across\u00a0another minor road following this stream.\u00a0 The road forded the tiny creek 5 or 6 times.\u00a0 Lupe was always glad to have another chance to cool her paws off.<\/p>\n

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A minor road Lupe was following upstream forded the little creek 5 or 6 times. Lupe was always glad to have another chance to cool her paws off or get a quick drink. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The tiny stream supported a lush green ribbon of life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was 1.25 miles from the pond when she came to a pole fence across the valley.\u00a0 On the other side was a better road.\u00a0 Lupe went around the fence and\u00a0continued N on this new road.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She met a\u00a0little green snake basking in the sun.\u00a0 Though it was warm out, the snake didn’t move\u00a0even when\u00a0SPHP prodded it with a stick.<\/p>\n

Why\u00a0the snake\u00a0didn’t move wasn’t clear.\u00a0 It looked fine, but perhaps something was wrong with it?\u00a0 The only sign of life it gave was to flicker its tongue when lightly poked.<\/p>\n

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Lupe came to this small green snake basking in the sun on the road. It wouldn’t move other than to flick its tongue now and then.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new road quickly\u00a0brought Lupe to a junction.\u00a0 A sign said Lupe had been on Killoern Springs Road (USFS Road No. 204.1B).\u00a0 The other road at the junction was USFS Road No. 204.1.\u00a0 Lupe sat in the shade of a big pine tree while SPHP checked the maps.<\/p>\n

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Lupe relaxes in the shade of a pine tree while SPHP checks the maps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking NW from the junction of Killoern Springs Road and USFS Road No. 204.1. Pine bark beetle damaged sections of the forest are a common sight in the Black Hills these days.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The maps confirmed that Lupe was now more than 3 miles from where she’d left the G6.\u00a0 She actually did have a peakbagging goal today.\u00a0 She was on her way to Minnesota Ridge<\/a><\/span> (6,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the summit of which was still another 2 miles to the NW.\u00a0 Only a little farther N on No. 204.1 was another junction, this one\u00a0with Minnesota Ridge Road (USFS Road No. 203).\u00a0 In fact, Lupe could see the junction from here.<\/p>\n

Minnesota Ridge Road wouldn’t take Lupe all the way to the summit, but it would get her reasonably close.\u00a0 Lupe headed for it.<\/p>\n

The march up Minnesota Ridge Road was sunny.\u00a0 The day was very hot for early May.\u00a0 The little stream Lupe had been following had completely disappeared.\u00a0 Lupe panted.\u00a0 Her\u00a0tongue hung out as she plodded along the dusty road behind SPHP.\u00a0 A couple of times, SPHP stopped to give her water.<\/p>\n

The road didn’t climb all that steeply, but it was steep enough.\u00a0 The heat sapped both Lupe’s and SPHP’s energy.\u00a0 A mile from the last junction, the road finally began to level out.\u00a0 Lupe reached another intersection with Greens Gulch Loop.<\/p>\n

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The road leveled out about the time Lupe reached this intersection with Greens Gulch Loop (unseen to the L). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP checked the maps again.\u00a0 Lupe could go either way, W on Greens Gulch Loop or N on Minnesota Ridge Road.\u00a0 No matter which way she went, she\u00a0would have to leave the road before long.<\/p>\n

Loop stayed on Minnesota Ridge Road for\u00a0another 0.25 mile.\u00a0 She reached a big mud hole where frogs were singing noisily.<\/p>\n

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Frogs singing in this mud hole on the E side of Minnesota Ridge Road ceased their din when Lupe appeared. Lupe was far enough N now. It was time to leave the road to look for the summit of Minnesota Ridge. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe\u00a0left the road\u00a0heading WNW through the forest.\u00a0 The true summit of Minnesota Ridge might be as much as 0.5 mile away or even a little more.\u00a0 SPHP was more concerned with how difficult it might be to find the summit, than how far away it was.\u00a0 The topo map showed only a gradual rise in the terrain toward the W.\u00a0 The top of Minnesota Ridge was likely to be flat, forested, and cover a lot of territory.<\/p>\n

Although many trees were still green and growing, the forest floor\u00a0was thick with beetle-killed\u00a0deadfall timber.\u00a0 Lupe wound around trying to avoid the worst of it.\u00a0 At least it was clear Lupe actually\u00a0was gradually gaining elevation as she continued WNW.\u00a0 Nothing except more forest was in view in any direction.<\/p>\n

After a long wandering way, Lupe started catching glimpses of distant ridges miles away to the W.\u00a0 She was nearing the W edge of Minnesota Ridge, which was the steepest\u00a0side of the mountain.\u00a0 As she reached what seemed to be the highest terrain, Lupe found a series of boulders scattered\u00a0along a line running roughly N\/S.<\/p>\n

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Tree broken views of distant ridges farther W appeared as Lupe reached the W “edge” of Minnesota Ridge. A line of boulders ran N\/S. Maybe one of them was the true summit? Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had hardly seen any rocks in the forest until now.\u00a0 Maybe this was Minnesota Ridge’s summit area?\u00a0 It seemed likely.\u00a0 Perhaps one of these boulders would be clearly higher than all the others?\u00a0 Maybe it wasn’t going to be as hard to find the true summit as SPHP expected.<\/p>\n

Lupe explored\u00a0S\u00a0along the line of boulders.\u00a0 She didn’t have to go too far before it became clear the terrain was definitely going to start dropping off if she went any farther this way.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on the last big boulder at the S end of the highest terrain. A short exploration to the S from here confirmed that Lupe would lose elevation going any farther that way. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once it was established that there was no point in going any farther S, Lupe turned N again.\u00a0 She followed the line of scattered boulders looking for the highest one.<\/p>\n

Lupe willingly leapt up on each boulder SPHP thought might be the true summit of Minnesota Ridge<\/a><\/span> (6,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, but\u00a0the process soon\u00a0became somewhat of a comedy.\u00a0 Each time SPHP believed Lupe had been at the true summit, another boulder that seemed clearly a little higher would be found hidden in the forest another 20 to 50 feet farther N.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on the 1st boulder SPHP declared the true summit. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the 2nd “true summit”. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the 3rd “true summit”. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe on the 4th “true summit”. This one was well back from the W edge of the mountain, and had an interesting knob of different colored rock firmly fastened on top. There was even a clearing in the forest nearby. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The 5th “true summit” rock had its own little ecosystem growing on it. SPHP named this one Garden Rock. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looper on the 6th “true summit”, the highest and farthest N in the line of boulders. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally after standing on\u00a06 different\u00a0“true summit” boulders, the line of boulders faded away.\u00a0 The ground to the N seemed to\u00a0dip slightly, so No. 6 was probably it. To be certain, though, Lupe continued N\u00a0near the W edge of\u00a0the mountain.\u00a0 Only when it was clear that the terrain was going to start dropping off decisively would Lupe\u00a0claim her peakbagging success.<\/p>\n

It didn’t happen.\u00a0\u00a0Beyond the slight dip, the ground rose slowly again.\u00a0 Lupe went hundreds of feet N before coming\u00a0to\u00a0another area where\u00a0the terrain\u00a0leveled out.\u00a0 She was almost certainly higher now than she had been back at boulder No. 6.\u00a0\u00a0This large area of flat ground\u00a0was\u00a0sunny and open.\u00a0\u00a0Most of the\u00a0trees had been killed by pine bark beetles, and had\u00a0subsequently snapped and fallen over.<\/p>\n

SPHP didn’t like it.\u00a0 This area now had to be considered the true summit, but the place lacked charm.\u00a0 All the deadfall\u00a0was just plain ugly.\u00a0 A couple of modest-sized rocks about equal in elevation were now joint contenders for true summit.\u00a0 Once again, Lupe willingly got on each one.<\/p>\n

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Boulder No. 7 in contention for the title of true summit. However, No. 8 only 25 feet away was about the same elevation, too. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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“True summit” No. 8 was in an ugly place with lots of deadfall. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“True summits” 7 and 8 were\u00a0in such a hideous place, there was no point\u00a0in lingering.\u00a0\u00a0The terrain to the N was still flat,\u00a0so Lupe needed to explore it too, in order to make certain this was\u00a0actually the top of the mountain.<\/p>\n

The deadfall was bad for hundreds of feet.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP made slow progress, but nearing the end of it, a rock ledge appeared ahead.\u00a0 It was definitely at least 5 feet higher than anywhere Lupe had been yet!\u00a0 SPHP was glad.\u00a0 Lupe worked her way over to it.<\/p>\n

From the S end of the rock ledge, Lupe could see that the ledge continued on to the NNW for some distance.\u00a0 Lupe was at the top of a line of small cliffs which became larger off to the NNW, but only because the terrain below the cliffs\u00a0was dropping off faster than the ledge above.\u00a0 The S end of the ledge where Lupe first reached it appeared to be the highest point.<\/p>\n

The rock ledge\u00a0definitely made\u00a0a better looking “true summit” No. 9.\u00a0 Lupe perched on top while SPHP scrambled down through rocks and deadfall to get her official Minnesota Ridge<\/span><\/a> (6,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0summit photo.<\/p>\n

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Lupe perches on “true summit” No. 9 at the S end of the rock ledge. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe even enjoyed a bit of a view from the ledge, making it even more worthy of being the summit.<\/p>\n

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The view to the W wasn’t spectacular, but was much better than a bunch of collapsed dead trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP explored a little farther to the NNW along the rock ledge.\u00a0 The ledge lost elevation gradually in this direction, but continued onward.<\/p>\n

Beneath the shade of a big pine tree, not far from “true summit” No. 9 at a point where the views to the W were pretty good,\u00a0Lupe and SPHP took a break.\u00a0 Lupe crunched some of her\u00a0Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 SPHP munched an apple.\u00a0 The water in the water bottles was icky warm now, but\u00a0that couldn’t be helped.\u00a0 Warm water or none at all.\u00a0 Take it or leave it.<\/p>\n

After 5 or 10 minutes, a couple of large birds came sailing by.\u00a0 They circled and soared in updrafts\u00a0near the ledge.\u00a0 They circled around many times, but were moving so fast through the small patch of sky where Lupe had a clear view of them between the pines, it was hard for SPHP to get a good photo.<\/p>\n

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One of the two large birds soaring on updrafts near the long ledge. The birds circled around to swoop by many times during Lupe’s break.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hawks or eagles? SPHP wasn’t sure. They didn’t seem quite large enough to be eagles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe on a big rectangular rock at the edge of the ledge. Her break area was just off to the L. True summit No. 9 is only a short distance beyond her. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the same rectangular rock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the big birds soared away for the final time, Lupe’s break was over.\u00a0 She returned briefly to “true summit” No. 9.\u00a0 Since the terrain 30 to 50 feet back\u00a0from the edge of the ledge seemed to be\u00a0slightly higher, Lupe\u00a0resumed her search for the absolutely highest point.<\/p>\n

Nothing really stood out as being the exact spot, so Lupe chose a small rock that looked as high as anything else around for her final “true summit” No. 10 photo.\u00a0 If this wasn’t the real deal, SPHP was convinced it had to be within a foot or two of the actual high point, which might be hidden anywhere among all the deadfall nearby.\u00a0 This was close enough as far as Carolina Dogs are concerned!<\/p>\n

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True summit No. 10. Even if this wasn’t the actual tippy top of Minnesota Ridge it had to be close. Certainly close enough as far as Carolina Dogs are concerned. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ten true summits were more than enough for any mountain.\u00a0 Lupe claimed her peakbagging success.\u00a0 Now what?\u00a0 The sun was still high in the sky.\u00a0 Hours and hours of daylight remained.\u00a0 May as well explore NNW along the rock ledge to see how far it went.\u00a0 Maybe there were places with better views than Lupe had seen so far?<\/p>\n

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Lupe explores farther NNW along the rock ledge. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe did come to a few places where the rock ledge provided better views!\u00a0 All of the views were to the W where Lupe could see the edge of the higher limestone plateau country of the western Black Hills.\u00a0 She could see Nipple Butte<\/a><\/span> (6,800 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Flag Mountain<\/a><\/span> (6,937 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and other high points she had been to before on prior expeditions, but they were all miles away.<\/p>\n

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Looking SW from the ledge toward the higher limestone plateau country of the western Black Hills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe out on the largest rock platform she found along the entire ledge. Nipple Butte and Flag Mountain are in view on the horizon straight up from her, but they are very far away. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The rock ledge eventually petered out.\u00a0 The views were gone.\u00a0 It was clear Lupe really had been to the summit.\u00a0 She had lost enough elevation by now so there was no doubt.\u00a0 With all the time left in the day, Lupe could still do some exploring.<\/p>\n

Years ago, back during the days of her early expeditions, Lupe had come to the Minnesota Ridge area on several different occasions, although she had never sought out the summit before today.\u00a0 Somewhere to the W was a road she had followed as a very\u00a0young Dingo\u00a0a\u00a0couple of different times.\u00a0 It would be fun to travel it again.\u00a0 Somewhere to the N was a road she had been on before that would lead her to it.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP went N looking for the road.\u00a0 Lupe was losing elevation steadily now.\u00a0 She came to a big field that didn’t seem familiar.<\/p>\n

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Lupe came to this big field somewhere on the N slope of Minnesota Ridge. SPHP didn’t recognize it. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The big field led down to another good-sized field, where Lupe discovered an American Dingo display stand.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on the American Dingo display stand. What else could it be?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the American Dingo display stand, Lupe\u00a0headed NW.\u00a0 She picked up a faint road she had never been on before.\u00a0 Eventually it turned W and led her to the USFS road SPHP remembered W of Minnesota Ridge.<\/p>\n

Lupe traveled S on this road, which ultimately proved to be USFS Road No. 204.1A.\u00a0 It was fun to recognize a few places along the way.\u00a0 Lupe took a short break at a tiny creek she had been to years\u00a0before.\u00a0\u00a0This creek\u00a0flows down into Greens Gulch, but Lupe did not follow it as she had done on one prior occasion.<\/p>\n

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Lupe drank again from this tiny stream that flows into Greens Gulch. It had been years since she’d last been here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road went up and down.\u00a0 It was surprising how much of it still seemed familiar, despite the years gone by.\u00a0 The uphill stretches weren’t that long or difficult, but made the heat\u00a0more oppressive.\u00a0 Lupe had plenty of time.\u00a0 After climbing past one uphill stretch, Lupe and SPHP took a water break.<\/p>\n

Yes, the water was warm, but it did feel good to sit down and rest a bit.\u00a0 A few clouds were drifting through the blue sky.\u00a0 Lupe seemed content to lay panting on the ground, watching and listening.\u00a0 Why not?\u00a0 SPHP stretched out, too.\u00a0 The heat made being lazy easy.<\/p>\n

SPHP watched clouds.\u00a0 Lupe listened to birds and watched for signs of activity in the forest.\u00a0 Half an hour went by.\u00a0 Then Lupe spotted a deer peering at her through the forest.\u00a0 For a couple of minutes,\u00a0Lupe and the deer\u00a0stared at each other.\u00a0 When the deer finally looked away and started moving, it was too much for Lupe.\u00a0 Instinct took over and she was off like a shot.\u00a0 A minute later she was back.\u00a0 Lazy day break time was over.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s trek along the road continued.\u00a0 She soon came to a familiar\u00a0intersection where she turned E on USFS Road No. 204.1.\u00a0 She completed\u00a0her big\u00a0loop around the W side of Minnesota Ridge and arrived\u00a0back\u00a0at Killoern Springs Road.<\/p>\n

On the remaining 3 miles back to the G6, Lupe retraced her route\u00a0taken earlier in the day.\u00a0 The ducks and Canadian geese were still at the pond.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP stopped to watch them for\u00a015 minutes before pressing on S\u00a0down Gimlet Creek valley.<\/p>\n

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Nearing the pond again. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Canadian geese were still at the pond. Lupe and SPHP watched them for a little while before pressing on.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The G6 wasn’t far from the confluence of Gimlet Creek and East Gimlet Creek.\u00a0 On her last exploration of the day, Lupe visited\u00a0the confluence.\u00a0 She drank the refreshing cold water, and cooled her paws off one more time in the combined stream.<\/p>\n

Expedition No. 203 had been different from most in recent years.\u00a0 It was more of a throwback to the long treks of\u00a0Lupe’s early years, with less emphasis on peakbagging.\u00a0 Lupe had really enjoyed Gimlet Creek, the pond, and the easy strolls through\u00a0the long valleys.\u00a0 She still made it to the top of Minnesota Ridge, and got to\u00a0see territory she hadn’t been to in years.<\/p>\n

The unseasonal heat showed one thing, though.\u00a0 It was soon\u00a0time to think about heading to higher ground and cooler climes.\u00a0 For a little while yet, that still meant higher terrain in\u00a0Lupe’s Black Hills.\u00a0\u00a0However, it\u00a0wouldn’t be long\u00a0before more distant adventures beckoned.<\/p>\n

The start of Lupe’s grand summer of 2017 was fast approaching.<\/p>\n

(End 6:04 PM, 77\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

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At the confluence of East Gimlet Creek (L) and Gimlet Creek (R) at the end of the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0 Check out her Black Hills, SD & WY\u00a0Expeditions\u00a0Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, or subscribe free to new Lupe <\/strong><\/span>adventures<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a>!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Start 8:23 AM, 50\u00b0F, USFS Road No. 203.5 just off Rochford Road Lupe liked the looks of this place – green grass, a bubbling creek, choice of sun or shade.\u00a0 A slice of American Dingo paradise, that’s what it was!\u00a0 Loopster was all smiles. Smiles and energy, that is!\u00a0 Lupe took off running.\u00a0 She bounded … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 203 – Gimlet Creek to Minnesota Ridge (5-6-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,9,106,826,104,808,304],"class_list":["post-10003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-gimlet-creek","tag-lupe","tag-minnesota-ridge","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_4555.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10003"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28391,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10003\/revisions\/28391"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}