{"id":1305,"date":"2015-06-30T08:25:01","date_gmt":"2015-06-30T14:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1305"},"modified":"2024-04-24T13:09:31","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T19:09:31","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-135-peak-6820-crooks-tower-6-27-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1305","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 135 – Peak 6820 & Crooks Tower (6-27-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lupe started Expedition No. 135 on USFS Road No. 259.2A about 0.25 mile W of Nahant Road.\u00a0 Nahant Road leaves the W side of paved County Road No. 17 about 5 miles N of Rochford in the west central Black Hills of South Dakota.\u00a0 Both Nahant Road and USFS Road No. 259.2A are marked.\u00a0 No. 259.2A leaves Nahant Road about 0.5 mile S of County Road No. 17.\u00a0 There is a small corral near the intersection and two barbed wire gates to go through to gain access to No. 259.2A.<\/em><\/p>\n

After the traumatic finish to Expedition No. 134<\/a><\/strong><\/span> a week earlier, Lupe had been reluctant to even take her nightly walks for a few days.\u00a0 When no more lightning, thunder and hail storms made an appearance, towards the\u00a0middle of the week Lupe regained her confidence and enthusiasm for the outdoors.\u00a0 Although the forecast was for the mid-80’s in the lower Black Hills,\u00a0Saturday was supposed to be clear weather all day long.\u00a0 SPHP thought Lupe might be ready\u00a0for another expedition\u00a0in the higher western Black Hills, where it should at least be a bit cooler\u00a0out.<\/p>\n

Early Saturday morning, Lupe expressed great enthusiasm for “hiking in the mountains”.\u00a0 She was eager to go.\u00a0 Soon Lupe and SPHP were in the G6 and underway. \u00a0It was a very pleasant 60\u00b0F when SPHP parked the G6 at 8:29 AM along USFS Road No. 259.2A just 0.25 mile W of Nahant Road.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP have been here before on at least a couple of prior expeditions, so it was familiar territory.\u00a0\u00a0 SPHP’s plan was to let Lupe enjoy a romp along Tillson Creek in Swede Gulch and then do some peakbagging\u00a0with Peak 6820<\/a><\/span><\/strong> and Crooks Tower<\/a><\/span> (7,137 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> as goals.<\/p>\n

Before too long, USFS Road No. 259.2A basically comes to a dead end where the road reaches Tillson Creek in Swede Gulch.\u00a0 A remnant of the road continues on upstream, but is in poor to non-existent condition in a lot of places.\u00a0 Many pine bark beetle-killed trees have fallen across the route.\u00a0 The main problem this morning though, was that there was a\u00a0lot of marshy, mucky wet ground.\u00a0 (The Black Hills have received nearly 3 times their normal rainfall for the month of June in 2015!)\u00a0 Getting around the soft areas meant frequent detours into the forest up on the sides of the valley and picking a way through the deadfall timber.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe near Tillson Creek in lower Swede Gulch. Lupe traveled upstream on Expedition No. 135.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had fun in Tillson Creek and exploring around Swede Gulch, but Lupe and SPHP weren’t making great time.\u00a0 It didn’t really matter.\u00a0 Despite being a very busy dingo, Lupe has no deadlines to meet.\u00a0 SPHP was really hoping Lupe would get as far as Crooks Tower though, before it got too late in the day.<\/p>\n

About 2 miles from the end of the good road, Lupe reached the confluence of Tillson Creek and a good-sized tributary coming in from the W.\u00a0 Shortly after passing the confluence, it became necessary to cross Tillson Creek.\u00a0 While on past occasions, SPHP had always managed to cross Tillson Creek without getting wet boots, this time there was so much flow in the creek nothing could be done except to just wade right in and ford it.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
Lupe cools off in Tillson Creek just below the confluence of Tillson and a major tributary coming in from the W. Although hidden by the grass, the main flow of Tillson Creek is coming in from the right side of this photo looking W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The creek had to be forded several more times as Lupe progressed up Swede Gulch.\u00a0 Lupe loved the fords, and frequently waded into Tillson Creek to cool off and drink even where it wasn’t necessary.\u00a0 SPHP was now resigned to marching soggily along in wet boots.\u00a0 SPHP splashed right on into Tillson Creek at each ford without hesitation.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Tillson Creek is smaller by the time it gets here. This photo looks NNW up Hallorans Draw. The main flow of Tillson Creek comes from a valley to the W (L side) of this photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
With all the recent rains (8.40″ so far in June), Lupe found a little temporary waterfall on the N side of Swede Gulch. It will probably be gone in a very short period of time, but was fun to see.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eventually Lupe heard a great deal of mooing going on up ahead.\u00a0 Where USFS Road No. 234\u00a0crosses Tillson Creek, there was a herd of cattle out on the road.\u00a0 Beyond the road is some private land, but these cattle were outside of the fence in the Black Hills National Forest.\u00a0 This is not uncommon as grazing permits are available in the national forest.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP took a little break near No. 234, while the cattle decided maybe it would be best to mosey on along, since they preferred their own company to that of dingoes.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP left Tillson Creek and headed S\u00a0on No. 234, which started climbing the hillside.\u00a0 After a bit, the road leveled out and then curved SW.\u00a0 A high point became visible ahead.\u00a0 SPHP stopped to check the maps and give Lupe a little water and Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 Lupe rested in the shade of a spruce tree and snapped at flies.<\/p>\n

The topo map SPHP had printed out from Peakbagger.com showed that Peak 6820 was about 1 mile due W of Lupe’s location.\u00a0 A draw heading WNW would be the least steep approach.\u00a0 Lupe could curve back to the SW for the last little bit of the climb.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP backtracked just a little bit to go through a gate up into the draw.\u00a0 There was a faint remnant of a road heading up the draw.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP followed it.\u00a0 SPHP repeatedly lost the remnant road and then found what looked like what might be it again.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe started seeing these striking flowers scattered in open areas in the woods on the E slopes of Peak 6820.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The plan worked.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0had been to Peak 6820 once before, back on Expedition No. 99 on 10-08-14.\u00a0 Arriving on flat terrain that seemed to be the top of the mountain, SPHP recognized a particular mud puddle toward the W end of the summit area.\u00a0 Lupe happily went over to lay down in it and have a drink of mineral water.\u00a0 A cool, wet, muddy dingo is a happy dingo!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe enjoys her mud puddle on top of Peak 6820.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although a high point, Peak 6820 is all forested and there aren’t really any decent views, since they are blocked by all the trees.\u00a0 The top of the mountain is very flat.\u00a0 There is a fairly large summit area rather than any discernable peak or highest point.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP explored around for just a few minutes before SPHP was satisfied there really wasn’t much more to be done up here.\u00a0 Then it was time to continue on to Crooks Tower where the views would be better.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe on the summit of Peak 6820. The summit area is pretty large and flat. There is no discernable definite highest point. The views look pretty similar in every direction due to the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP went back to the mud puddle and then down an old road heading SW from the W end of the summit area of Peak 6820.\u00a0 The first time Lupe had climbed Peak 6820, she had come up this road.\u00a0 SPHP remembered it as being pretty choked with deadfall timber along most of its length near the top.\u00a0 Things really hadn’t changed.\u00a0 It still was.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP were off the road more than on it.<\/p>\n

SPHP was hoping to find again a strange little area in the saddle between Peak 6820 and a ridge to the SW.\u00a0 Lupe had found it on Expedition No. 99.\u00a0 There was a\u00a0big water tank\u00a0and a tall deteriorating wooden tower, plus a nearby\u00a0opening in the forest completely fenced in and covered by metal sheeting just 6″ off the ground.\u00a0 SPHP thought the metal sheeting\u00a0might serve as a safety cover for a large open mine shaft, but wasn’t sure.\u00a0 In any case, Lupe didn’t find it again this time.\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t sure it was worth spending extra time looking for it either.\u00a0 If the metal sheeting did cover a mine shaft, it might just be best for Lupe to stay away from it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The strange wooden tower and water tank Lupe found on Expedition No. 99 on 10-8-14. Lupe did not find it again on Expedition No. 135.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This<\/a>
This photo from Expedition No. 99 shows the sheet metal cover on the ground Lupe found SW of Peak 6820 on 10-8-14.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP crossed the saddle area and climbed a ridge SW of Peak 6820.\u00a0 Lupe headed W along the ridge and came to a high spot.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe’s immediate goal was to get to South Rapid Creek Road (USFS Road No. 231).\u00a0 The terrain seemed to push Lupe and SPHP\u00a0farther N than SPHP really wanted to go despite crossing a couple of ridges.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t want to go too\u00a0far S\u00a0either.\u00a0\u00a0The topo map showed some pretty steep terrain and even small cliffs to the S.\u00a0 With no views and no roads or\u00a0paths to follow, it was hard to know just where Lupe would come out.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe stands near a collection of the pretty orange flowers. This was the biggest group of them Lupe found all in one spot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It took quite a while, but Lupe eventually emerged from the forest\u00a0just E of the intersection of USFS Road No. 231 and\u00a0Besant Park Road (No. 206).\u00a0\u00a0Lupe had been here quite a few\u00a0times before.\u00a0\u00a0From the intersection, Lupe and SPHP headed S near the\u00a0edge of the forest\u00a0W of No. 231.\u00a0 The grass was so tall in the big meadow, Lupe had a hard time seeing over\u00a0it.\u00a0 She bounded along to see where she was going.\u00a0 The meadow eventually narrowed.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP walked on No. 231 for the last part of the distance to USFS Road No. 631.1.<\/p>\n

The start of No. 631.1 was the low elevation point on Lupe’s journey from Peak 6280 to Crooks Tower.\u00a0 From here on, the rest of the way was up, although mostly at a moderate pace.\u00a0 Lupe went W up No. 631.1 until reaching No. 631.1B.\u00a0 She followed No. 631.1B NW up a side gully, but after gaining some elevation left the road to travel W through the forest.\u00a0 Loggers had stacked a big pile of tree trunks up near the top of the ridge.\u00a0 Once there, Lupe followed the logging trail heading generally WSW.\u00a0 The logging trail was pretty flat and easy, but gained a little elevation as it went along.<\/p>\n

Perhaps a mile or less N of Crooks Tower is a flat ridge that extends out to the WNW.\u00a0 At the end of the ridge from some small cliffs is a very nice overlook with good views off to the NW.\u00a0 Lupe has been to this viewpoint on several occasions before.\u00a0 As SPHP expected, the logging trail passed\u00a0just to the\u00a0SE of this ridge and Lupe was able to trot on over to the WNW for another look.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe at the end of the overlook located about a mile N of Crooks Tower. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP took a break in the shade of a small tree at the end of the ridge.\u00a0 Lupe had a bit more Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 Both Lupe and SPHP enjoyed the views.\u00a0 Miles off to the NW was a high ridge which might be Cement Ridge.\u00a0 Far off to the N a sharper peak stuck up above the rest of the Black Hills.\u00a0 This might be Crow Peak\u00a0W of\u00a0Spearfish.\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t certain in either case.<\/p>\n

Lupe went back to the logging road and followed it S a short distance farther.\u00a0 The logging road started turning to the W and losing elevation.\u00a0 Lupe left it before it lost any elevation and continued S through the forest.\u00a0 At times there were remnants of roads to follow, and at other times there weren’t.\u00a0 Crooks Tower could sometimes be seen ahead at openings in the forest.\u00a0 It was now only a couple hundred feet higher than where Lupe was.\u00a0 Lupe came to a road, which was probably USFS Road No. 189.4F.\u00a0 She crossed it continuing S.<\/p>\n

As Lupe got closer to Crooks Tower, the terrain became steeper.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP worked their way on up the forested slope.\u00a0 Upon gaining the top of the ridgeline, Lupe followed the ridge SE still gaining elevation.\u00a0 When SPHP saw some 15 foot\u00a0tall limestone outcroppings ahead, SPHP thought Lupe was practically at the summit.\u00a0 Lupe skirted around the W side of the outcroppings and found an easy way to the top.\u00a0 Nothing was familiar to SPHP.\u00a0 This wasn’t the true summit of Crooks Tower.<\/p>\n

The question was, since this wasn’t it, where was it?\u00a0 It couldn’t be too far away, but there were no views through the forest.\u00a0 Lupe was either too far E or too far W.\u00a0 SPHP decided to head SW hoping to find USFS Road No. 189.4A, which passes just S of the summit of Crooks Tower.\u00a0 (You can practically drive to the summit of Crooks Tower, if you want to.\u00a0 USFS Road No. 189.4A comes in from the W.)\u00a0 Within just a minute or two, SPHP knew where Lupe was.\u00a0 She was just NE of Crooks Tower.<\/p>\n

A platform of limestone about 20 feet high forms the summit of Crooks Tower.\u00a0 A path leads to the top from the W side.\u00a0 Lupe headed around the S side of the summit passing a couple with two young children picnicking in the shade of a spruce tree below the summit.\u00a0 In just a few minutes Lupe was at the top of Crooks Tower.\u00a0 She had completed both her peakbagging goals of the day!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on Crooks Tower. Photo looks SE toward Harney Peak barely seen as a faint blue line\u00a0in the distance above Lupe’s head.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A forested\u00a0ridge nearly as high as Crooks Tower itself lies not far away to the E.\u00a0 (Lupe had initially climbed up to the N end of this ridge.)\u00a0 The ridge blocks any views farther to the E.\u00a0 Similarly, to the W the forest blocks any views in that direction where the land is nearly as high as Crooks Tower.\u00a0 There are nice views to the N, though, and even better views to the S.\u00a0 Harney Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> can be seen in the distance to the SE.<\/p>\n

Crooks Tower<\/a><\/span> (7,137 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is the highest point in Lawrence County, SD, and the 4th highest ranked peak in the Black Hills of South Dakota on Peakbagger.com<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 [Green<\/strong> Mountain<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (7,164)<\/span><\/strong> feet is actually the 4th highest point, but unranked since it lacks the required 280 feet of prominence.\u00a0 Lupe had been to Green Mountain twice just a week ago on Expedition No. 134<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.]<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on Crooks Tower. This photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP stayed up on Crooks Tower for a little while.\u00a0 SPHP ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.\u00a0 Lupe helped out with the sandwich and had some Taste of the Wild, too.\u00a0 The young couple left with their children in tow heading W on USFS Road No. 189.4A.\u00a0 Soon SPHP heard their vehicle start up and move away.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had Crooks Tower to themselves.\u00a0 The sun was still high in the sky.\u00a0 While there were still some hours of daylight left, SPHP knew most of the day had already shot on by.\u00a0 It was a long way back to the G6.\u00a0 Lupe couldn’t stay up on Crooks Tower too long.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe on the tippy top of Crooks Tower 6-27-15<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP thought it was unwise to try to head back to the G6 the same way Lupe had come to Crooks Tower.\u00a0 It was going to get dark long before Lupe could be back.\u00a0 SPHP did not like the idea of trying to go back down Swede Gulch through all the mud and deadfall timber in the dark.\u00a0 Instead, Lupe would go down Trebor Draw to South Rapid Creek Road.\u00a0 Lupe could follow South Rapid Creek Road SE\u00a0past the turn for Black Fox Campground, and then miles more to the E until reaching USFS Road No. 259.\u00a0 No. 259 would take Lupe N through Telegraph Gulch a few miles to Nahant and the G6.<\/p>\n

At first, it all went fine.\u00a0 Lupe left Crooks Tower\u00a0following No. 189.4A around the S end of the ridge to the E.\u00a0 E of the ridge, it headed N for longer than SPHP had remembered, but finally did turn SE winding steeply down the mountain to No. 631.2.\u00a0 A short jog to the S on No. 631.2 brought Lupe to a virtually abandoned USFS road (signed as an administrative road only) at Trebor Draw.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed NE down into Trebor Draw.<\/p>\n

Trebor Draw was in the shade of the mountain.\u00a0 The grass was thick, tall and green.\u00a0 Lupe could not see over it, so it was like a complete jungle to her.\u00a0 The administrative road went on for some distance, then faded to a single track before disappearing altogether.\u00a0 The valley narrowed and led into a thick forest to the E.\u00a0 Lupe had been here once before, but that time SPHP had not taken her through the forest, instead leading her up over the high ridge to the N.<\/p>\n

South Rapid Creek Road was to the E.\u00a0 This time Lupe had to continue on down Trebor Draw through the dense forest.\u00a0 At least it couldn’t be much more than 0.5 mile further to the road.\u00a0 The going was very slow.\u00a0 A lot of deadfall timber had fallen down into the narrow valley.\u00a0 It was bad, but Lupe and SPHP have dealt with worse.\u00a0 Lupe steadily made progress down Trebor Gulch.\u00a0 A very narrow\u00a0cow trail appeared.\u00a0 (What cows would have been doing in this mess, SPHP had no clue, but the trail was there with an occasional cow pie to prove it.)\u00a0 Lupe was able to run along the cow trail.<\/p>\n

SPHP saw the danger just before tragedy struck.\u00a0 An old barbed wire fence had fallen over the trail.\u00a0 Five strands of barbed wire lay in wait for Lupe who raced right into them.\u00a0 SPHP called out to Lupe and heard her hit the fence.\u00a0\u00a0A moment\u00a0later SPHP saw Lupe standing on the trail.\u00a0\u00a0The barbed wire had\u00a0cut a big bloody gash across the whole front of her left front leg.\u00a0 Her fur was hanging open to reveal the bare flesh beneath the skin.\u00a0 SPHP was horrified.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe on South Rapid Creek Road (USFS No. 231) with a nasty gash from a fallen barbed wire fence in nearby Trebor Gulch. The heroic dingo partly walked and was partly carried by SPHP to Black Fox campground to find help.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fortunately, the barbed wire had only just nicked the muscle beneath the fur.\u00a0 At first Lupe didn’t even seem to realize anything really bad had happened.\u00a0 She could still walk, even run.\u00a0 It wasn’t bleeding much, but it looked ghastly and\u00a0had to hurt.\u00a0 Quickly SPHP dug through the whole backpack.\u00a0 Matches, plastic bags, flashlight, extra batteries, gloves, hat, sunscreen, gloves, toilet paper and a plastic raincoat were all there.\u00a0 But not the little\u00a0first aid kit.\u00a0 Major mistake!\u00a0 It had been a long time since SPHP had\u00a0even thought about checking on the first aid kit.\u00a0 No telling now how long it had not been in the pack.\u00a0 Probably removed and forgotten during a cleaning months ago.\u00a0 The kit wouldn’t have had much to treat such a large wound in any case.<\/p>\n

Lupe needed to get to a veterinarian and soon.\u00a0 SPHP picked her up and started to carry her.\u00a0 It was hard on the uneven ground with obstacles.\u00a0 SPHP carried her part of the time and she walked part of the time.\u00a0 Fortunately, within 10 minutes or so, Lupe reached South Rapid Creek Road.\u00a0 As much as possible, SPHP carried Lupe, but she walked as much as she was carried and probably more.\u00a0 She occasionally seemed to realize something was wrong with her bloody leg and would pause to lick it.\u00a0 SPHP stopped her from doing that.\u00a0 She must not have felt too horrible.\u00a0 She still sometimes wanted to run off into the forest, or up a hillside off the road to bark at a squirrel.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t permit that either.<\/p>\n

Black Fox Campground was about 2 miles from where Lupe reached South Rapid Creek Road.\u00a0 It really didn’t take too long to get there, but it seemed endless to\u00a0SPHP.\u00a0 Fortunately there were people camping at Black Fox.\u00a0\u00a0SPHP asked for help for Lupe.\u00a0\u00a0Four\u00a0people with two dogs (Achilles and Lily – naturally SPHP has forgotten\u00a0the kind people’s names) had a first aid kit.\u00a0 Lupe got a generous dose of antibacterial gel.\u00a0\u00a0Then\u00a0her leg was wrapped with a gauze bandage and taped up.\u00a0 Another kind man named Jim, who lives in the Wonderland Homes subdivision near Black Hawk and Piedmont,\u00a0SD\u00a0gave Lupe and SPHP a ride in his\u00a0Ford pickup truck all the way back to the G6.<\/p>\n

Lupe liked Jim’s Ford pickup.\u00a0 She didn’t want to get out.\u00a0 Maybe she was just afraid SPHP was going to make her\u00a0walk some more.\u00a0 SPHP thanked Jim for the ride, gathered Lupe up and got her in the G6 as fast as possible.\u00a0 It was 8:30 PM.\u00a0 Without Jim’s help it would have been well after midnight before Lupe could have gotten back to the G6, even if she had been totally well.<\/p>\n

Somewhere around 10:00 PM, SPHP brought Lupe into the Animal Clinic of Rapid City, also known as the Emergency Veterinarian Hospital<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 The Emergency Veterinarian Hospital has a veterinarian on duty 24\/7.\u00a0 Even though it was late on a Saturday night, lead emergency veterinarian Dr. Erin Brown was on duty.\u00a0 Soon Lupe was being anesthetized in preparation for stitches.\u00a0 Dr.\u00a0Brown\u00a0stitched Lupe’s leg up\u00a0and put a drain in to help prevent serious infection.\u00a0 An hour after disappearing into the operating room, Lupe walked back to SPHP.\u00a0 There were tears in her eyes, but she was smiling.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe's<\/a>
Lupe’s wounded front leg the morning after lead emergency veterinarian Dr. Erin Brown stitched it up. The plastic is a drain to help prevent a serious infection. 6-28-15<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Wounded dingo the morning after when it still really hurt. Thank you Dr. Erin Brown for your skillful and timely help late on a Saturday night!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Heroic<\/a>
Heroic dingo Lupe struggles to survive! Somehow Dr. Brown forgot to mention treats and vanilla ice cream as a pain killer and antibiotic delivery system, but SPHP took care of it. Lupe was certain treats had to be part of any decent “treat”ment plan.\u00a0 6-28-15<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many thanks to Jim and the other good people who helped Lupe at Black Fox campground, and especially to veterinarian Dr. Erin Brown.\u00a0 Lupe is going to be OK!\u00a0 She is on pain medication and antibiotics, but less than 48 hours after seeing Dr. Brown, she is back to running around and barking at the garbage truck, recycling truck and\u00a0Lupe’s long-suffering mailman.<\/em><\/p>\n

There will be no more new Black Hills, SD Expeditions until Lupe is fully healed up (and a new much beefed up first aid kit is in SPHP’s pack).\u00a0 While Lupe recuperates, The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe will continue in July with new posts on some of her previously unpublished prior adventures in the Canadian Rockies, Beartooth Mountains and Bighorn Mountains.<\/em><\/p>\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 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lupe started Expedition No. 135 on USFS Road No. 259.2A about 0.25 mile W of Nahant Road.\u00a0 Nahant Road leaves the W side of paved County Road No. 17 about 5 miles N of Rochford in the west central Black Hills of South Dakota.\u00a0 Both Nahant Road and USFS Road No. 259.2A are marked.\u00a0 No. … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 135 – Peak 6820 & Crooks Tower (6-27-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1323,"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":[105,264,9,106,206,211,265,104,207,304],"class_list":["post-1305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-animal-clinic-of-rapid-city","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-crooks-tower","tag-dr-erin-brown","tag-emergency-veterinarian-hospital","tag-lupe","tag-peak-6820","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/P1060446.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\/1305","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=1305"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53358,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1305\/revisions\/53358"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}