{"id":11920,"date":"2018-01-20T08:10:23","date_gmt":"2018-01-20T15:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=11920"},"modified":"2020-09-24T12:06:45","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T18:06:45","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-219-twin-sisters-range-high-point-elk-knob-12-10-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=11920","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 219 – Twin Sisters Range High Point & Elk Knob (12-10-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Start: 12:24 PM, 58\u00b0F at the intersection of Song Dog Road & USFS Road No. 373 <\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe hopped out of the G6.\u00a0 20 expeditions and almost 8 months ago, she had come here to climb the Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/span><\/a> (4,980 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 She’d made it to the top easily enough, but when she’d gone farther E to explore more of the area, the buzz of an unseen rattlesnake had put a quick end to that notion.<\/p>\n

Even though it was an incredibly warm day for December, rattlesnakes weren’t likely to be stirring now.\u00a0 Lupe should be able to do all the exploring she wanted to today.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog started out heading E on USFS Road No. 373.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on USFS Road No. 373 approaching the W end of the Twin Sisters Range. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A mile from the G6, Lupe left the road and started the short, but steep climb up a SW slope to the W end of the Twin Sisters Range.\u00a0 Despite a few brief stops for SPHP to catch breath, Looper was soon at the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe begins her trek up the short, but steep SW slope. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe arrives up on top at the far W end of the Twin Sisters Range. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A dangerous, rusty barbed wire fence was laying on the ground.\u00a0 SPHP made certain Lupe didn’t get into it.\u00a0 A 20 mph wind blew out of the NW.\u00a0 Normally, it would have been frigid here in December with a wind like that.\u00a0 Today, though, it was so warm out the wind was only a nuisance.<\/p>\n

Much of this area had burned in a forest fire years ago.\u00a0 As a result, Lupe had sweeping views of barren, forlorn vistas.\u00a0 Dull, dry, dead grass covering the land did little to add any cheer.<\/p>\n

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The sweeping views Lupe had looked barren and forlorn. High Point 5017<\/strong> is seen on the L. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The actual high point of the Twin Sisters Range was still another 0.25 mile E.\u00a0 After enjoying the views from the W end of the ridge, Lupe and SPHP set off for the cairn at the summit.<\/p>\n

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The summit of the Twin Sisters Range<\/strong> (R) was still another 0.25 mile to the E. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looper starts for the summit (L). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The stroll to the summit was easy.\u00a0 Lupe had great views the whole time from the open ridge.\u00a0 It wasn’t long before Loop was at the summit cairn.\u00a0 Of course, the NW wind was blowing here, too.\u00a0 Not enjoying the wind, Lupe stayed only long enough at the summit for photos by the cairn, and a fairly quick look at the sights.<\/p>\n

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Looper by the cairn at the top of the Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/span><\/a> (4,980 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. It hadn’t taken her long to get here, but the NW wind was as bad as ever. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking SE from the summit cairn. Buffalo Gap<\/strong> is seen in the distance on the L. Elk Knob<\/strong> is the partially forested low hill seen straight up from Lupe’s head (R).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking W back along the ridge Lupe had just traveled across.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
High Point 5017<\/strong> is on the far L. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking SE farther along the the Twin Sisters Range<\/strong>. Buffalo Gap<\/strong> (Center) is near the horizon. Elk Knob<\/strong> is the low mostly forested hill on the far R.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The pine-dotted hill on the R is at the lower E end of the Twin Sisters Range<\/strong>. Photo looks E with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop and SPHP left the Twin Sisters Range High Point continuing E down to a lower part of the ridge.\u00a0 Loop regained some lost elevation climbing up to High Point 4872.\u00a0 High Point 4872 was windy, too, but Lupe paused briefly for a few photos.<\/p>\n

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Looking back at the Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/strong> (seen straight up from Loop) from High Point 4872<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Elk Knob<\/span><\/a> (4,752 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R) from High Point 4872<\/strong>. Lupe would be going to Elk Knob<\/strong> next. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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High Point 4820<\/strong> is on the L. Buffalo Gap<\/strong> is R of Center. Looking SE from HP 4872<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At High Point 4872, Lupe was already well beyond where she’d been back in April on Expedition No. 199.\u00a0 The topo map showed another lower hill a mile off to the SE known as Elk Knob<\/span><\/a> (4,752 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Elk Knob became Lupe’s next objective.\u00a0 She started down High Point 4872’s S slope, and was quite happy when she finally reached a valley where the wind was barely stirring.<\/p>\n

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On the way down High Point 4872’s S slope<\/strong>. The Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/strong> is in view on the R. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trip up Elk Knob was easy.\u00a0 Lupe first went to a saddle N of the hill, then followed the N slope up.\u00a0 The hill was heavily forested, until she got near the top.\u00a0 Lupe liked being in the forest on Elk Knob a lot better than on the bare, windy Twin Sisters Range ridge.\u00a0 She had a good time racing around sniffing and exploring.<\/p>\n

The summit of Elk Knob proved to be a big, flat grassy area rimmed with pines.\u00a0 The pines were dense toward the N, but more sparse elsewhere.\u00a0 For a fairly low hill in this area, Elk Knob had some pretty good views.\u00a0 The wind wasn’t too bad, either, except near the more exposed W end.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on the big, flat grassy summit of Elk Knob<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The view to the S was surprisingly open and nice. Lupe could see quite a long way from here. Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Happy Lupe on Elk Knob<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Here Lupe is down a little off the summit on Elk Knob’s upper W slope<\/strong>. It was windier here than elsewhere, but she could see the Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/strong> (on the R straight above her head), and much of the territory she’d just traveled through. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
View to the NNE from Elk Knob<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe took a break on Elk Knob.\u00a0 The usual water and Taste of the Wild, with an apple for SPHP.\u00a0 Then it was time for more exploring.\u00a0 Loop went NE down off Elk Knob, before turning E and SE.\u00a0 She wandered along several dirt roads.\u00a0 Only one had a sign, which said she was on USFS Road No. 373.1D.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog ventured down into a fairly deep canyon.\u00a0 She followed a faint remnant of a road at the bottom, but it eventually ended.\u00a0 Loop climbed up the NE side of the canyon, and reached a ridge she took SE.\u00a0 The sun was getting low by the time she reached a big fence.\u00a0 This had to be the fence along the W side of Wind Cave National Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Lupe explored territory E of Elk Knob<\/strong> until she got to this big fence somewhere along the W boundary of Wind Cave National Park<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fence was as far E as Lupe could go.\u00a0 It was getting late enough so she needed to start back anyway.\u00a0 On her return trip she avoided the canyon by staying farther N.\u00a0 She eventually passed back over the saddle N of Elk Knob heading NW.<\/p>\n

The sun wasn’t quite down yet as Lupe neared the Twin Sisters Range again.\u00a0 Why not return to the summit?\u00a0 Well, there was the wind, for one thing.\u00a0 It wasn’t bad at all down here, but was still blowing up there.\u00a0 However, seeing the sunset from a mountaintop seemed more important.\u00a0 Up Lupe went.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Climbing the Twin Sisters Range<\/strong> again, this time from the S. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nearing the Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/strong> (L) for a second time today. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last bit of the sun was disappearing behind High Point 5017 when Lupe reached the Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/span><\/a> (4,980 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> again.\u00a0 The sky was almost completely clear, with only a few small clouds to the W.\u00a0 With so few clouds, the sunset never really got a chance to develop into anything special.<\/p>\n

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Lupe reaches the Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/strong> for the 2nd time today, just as the last bit of the sun slips below HP 5017<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a little while, Lupe and SPHP sat together in the wind on the barren, forlorn mountaintop, watching the light fade until hopes for a colorful sky died old and gray.\u00a0 Time to go.<\/p>\n

Being on the move again felt good.\u00a0 It was fun picking a way down the steep rocky slope, and marching across a field back to the road.\u00a0 Next came a mile of shared silence and solitude beneath a darkening sky.\u00a0 At the G6, a few stars glittered above.\u00a0 Water, a little more Taste of the Wild, and Lupe was homeward bound.\u00a0 (5:03 PM, 46\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

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On the Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/strong> right after sunset, 12-10-17<\/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\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 199 – Twin Sisters Twice & Castle Rock (4-12-17)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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

Start: 12:24 PM, 58\u00b0F at the intersection of Song Dog Road & USFS Road No. 373 Lupe hopped out of the G6.\u00a0 20 expeditions and almost 8 months ago, she had come here to climb the Twin Sisters Range High Point (4,980 ft.).\u00a0 She’d made it to the top easily enough, but when she’d gone … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 219 – Twin Sisters Range High Point & Elk Knob (12-10-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11903,"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":[105,9,106,877,104,304,823],"class_list":["post-11920","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-elk-knob","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-twin-sisters-range-high-point"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_8375.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\/11920","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=11920"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28409,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11920\/revisions\/28409"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}