{"id":1875,"date":"2015-09-25T08:10:04","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T14:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1875"},"modified":"2021-12-05T13:35:47","modified_gmt":"2021-12-05T20:35:47","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-138-white-tail-peak-9-19-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1875","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 138 – White Tail Peak (9-19-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was already 11:13 AM on 9-19-15 by the time SPHP parked the G6 at the junction of County Road No. 231 and USFS Road No. 191.\u00a0 Hot weather the previous weekend had prevented SPHP from taking Lupe on one of her Black Hills expeditions, so Lupe had been pretty bored for days.\u00a0 She was most anxious to get going.\u00a0 The cloudless blue sky promised another warm day, but it wasn’t supposed to get as hot as a week ago.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s peakbagging goal for the day was to\u00a0be her 3rd ascent of\u00a0White Tail Peak<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(6,962 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>, one of\u00a0a long line of peaks along the E edge of the high limestone plateau country\u00a0of the western Black Hills.\u00a0 Like most of the other “peaks” along this line, White Tail Peak is a long, high forested ridge characterized by limestone cliffs near the top.<\/p>\n

It’s easy enough to simply drive to a point\u00a0just a 10-15 minute walk from\u00a0the summit on USFS Road No. 190, which\u00a0passes just to the N of White Tail Peak.\u00a0 Even the G6 can get that far with no problem.\u00a0 With an ATV or high-clearance vehicle, USFS Road No. 190.1Q, a somewhat rough and narrow road, goes\u00a0right to the summit itself and beyond.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP, however, were\u00a0starting down\u00a0at the\u00a0South Fork of Rapid Creek, more than 3 miles away to the ENE as the crow flies.\u00a0 Like most of Lupe’s expeditions in the Black Hills, the idea is to explore the area and see new places, not just check off a peakbagging goal.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking W up the valley of the South Fork of Rapid Creek.\u00a0 County Road No. 231 is seen heading towards Black Fox Campground about 4 miles away.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was calm and 63\u00b0F out as Lupe and SPHP set out on USFS Road No. 191 heading S across the South Fork of Rapid Creek.\u00a0 Lupe passed some cows munching on the grass and some old dilapidated outbuildings.\u00a0 The road was shady\u00a0and pleasant as\u00a0it headed into the forest at the edge of the main valley.\u00a0 It gradually gained elevation as it went up a smaller side valley.\u00a0 A tiny stream trickled down the valley on its way to join the South Fork of Rapid Creek.<\/p>\n

Less than 0.5 mile from County Road No. 231, Lupe came to a road that turned W to continue up the valley.\u00a0 This was USFS Road No. 191.1A leading up Long Draw.\u00a0 SPHP liked the looks of this road.\u00a0 It went in the right direction, so Lupe followed it.<\/p>\n

\"Road<\/a>
Road No. 191.1A turned W to head up Long Draw.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a week or two early for the height of fall colors.\u00a0 In the Black Hills, fall colors mainly consist of groves of aspens with yellow leaves, although some types of bushes or ground cover can turn red or orange to add variety.\u00a0 SPHP hoped to find some aspens that were starting to turn.\u00a0 USFS Road No. 191.1A went around a corner heading SW.\u00a0 Ahead was the prettiest grove of aspens Lupe encountered all day long.<\/p>\n

\"Aspens<\/a>
Aspens near USFS Road No. 191.1A. Not really a spectacular example, but these were the best fall colors Lupe found all day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not too long after passing the aspens, there was a series of old defunct ponds.\u00a0 The tiny creek that ran through them had silted them in and broken through the low earthen dams.\u00a0 Luxuriant grasses, and sometimes cattails, grew in the soft mud filling the old ponds.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The tiny creek in Long Draw\u00a0flows through a breach in the old earthen dam.\u00a0 The small pond that used to be here\u00a0is silted in.\u00a0 Lush grass grows in the damp mud where the pond used to be.\u00a0 There were several old pond sites like this in succession.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A bit farther up the valley, the creek disappeared.\u00a0 The\u00a0road grew faint, but could still be followed easily enough.\u00a0 Up ahead was a high ridge with limestone cliffs up at the top.\u00a0 It was in the general direction of White Tail Peak, but SPHP wasn’t certain if this was it or not.\u00a0 Down in the valley, Lupe saw cows ahead.<\/p>\n

\"Ahead<\/a>
Ahead to the W is a high ridge that is N of White Tail Peak. Lupe was more interested in the cows at the far end of the valley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cows were not used to having company in this remote valley.\u00a0 They really didn’t care for it much.\u00a0 At first, they headed S into the trees.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP stayed on the road and got past most of them.\u00a0 Suddenly a few of the cows\u00a0in the trees\u00a0decided to head W farther up the valley.\u00a0\u00a0The others all got the same idea within just a minute or two.\u00a0 (Cows are known for their herd mentality.)\u00a0 They all started running and wound up passing Lupe and SPHP again.\u00a0 They didn’t stop until they were on the road.<\/p>\n

Without meaning to be, Lupe and SPHP were now on a cattle drive.\u00a0 Every time the American Dingo drew near, the cows took off trotting farther ahead up the road.\u00a0 Lupe thought it was all very interesting.\u00a0 She liked being a cow Dingo.\u00a0 Since the cows persisted in staying on the road, SPHP finally took Lupe off the road and into the trees.\u00a0 Efforts to pass the cows by going around them through the\u00a0forest failed.\u00a0\u00a0The cows kept pace heading up the road.\u00a0 By\u00a0now the road had\u00a0turned S.\u00a0 It seemed to be reaching some kind of minor pass.<\/p>\n

Before reaching the pass, Lupe came to a side road that headed NW.\u00a0 It was marked as No. 125.1D.\u00a0 There was a 4 foot tall boulder near the junction.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP climbed up on it and took a little break.<\/p>\n

Lupe had water and Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 SPHP gave her two pieces of chocolate chip cookie.\u00a0 Lupe buried them for future use.\u00a0 Lupe often does this when she isn’t really hungry yet.\u00a0 She has cookies, dog treats, pieces of meat, sandwiches and\u00a0similar supplies\u00a0stashed at lots of different places in the Black Hills.\u00a0 She is getting ready for a famine, but SPHP can only think of one time she ever returned to reclaim one of her treasures.\u00a0 It wasn’t in the best of shape, but Lupe gobbled it down anyway.<\/p>\n

During the break, one cow stood on the road staring at Lupe and SPHP through the trees.\u00a0 It finally got bored and moved on.\u00a0 SPHP wanted to follow No. 191.1A up to the little pass to see what was on the other side, but there were still lots of cows up there.\u00a0 Lupe headed NW on the side road, No. 125.1D.\u00a0 It was a nice little road through the forest.\u00a0 The cows got left behind.\u00a0 Things were going fine, when suddenly\u00a0No. 125.1D\u00a0ended.<\/p>\n

The high ridge Lupe and SPHP had seen was still to the SW.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP continued through the forest heading W.\u00a0 Lupe followed various game trails.\u00a0 SPHP did too,\u00a0still gradually\u00a0gaining elevation.\u00a0 SPHP was hoping to find USFS Road No. 190 coming down from a high pass just to the N of White Tail Peak, but Lupe didn’t come across any roads at all.\u00a0 SPHP caught a glimpse of an elk crashing through the forest ahead.<\/p>\n

Eventually, Lupe and SPHP came to a wall of rock blocking the way towards the NW.\u00a0 The wall wasn’t terribly high, perhaps 30 or 40 feet.\u00a0 The terrain forced Lupe and SPHP to turn more to the WSW.\u00a0 The rock wall gradually diminished until Lupe and SPHP reached a pass.\u00a0 There was no road.\u00a0 To the NW was the big canyon where Black Fox Campground is located.<\/p>\n

Lupe was clearly too far N.\u00a0 She had to climb the steep slope to the S to get up on the high ridge.\u00a0 She could then continue S towards White Tail Peak.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe and SPHP climbed 200 or 300 feet up the forested slope.\u00a0 It started out\u00a0steep and got steeper.\u00a0 SPHP hoped Lupe wouldn’t find cliffs near the top, but of course that was exactly what Lupe ran into.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the top of the steep slope, Lupe’s advance was blocked by this cliff. SPHP had forgotten to bring her Super Dingo Cape in the pack, so she wasn’t able to just fly up to the top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cliff wasn’t terribly high.\u00a0 SPHP hoped to find a break in the cliff wall that would let Lupe get up on top.\u00a0 First Lupe tried going right (W).\u00a0 Almost immediately, she found\u00a0a\u00a0way up.\u00a0 In a flash, Lupe was at the top of the cliff staring back down at SPHP.\u00a0 It was steep, but there were trees and rocks to hang onto.\u00a0 Soon SPHP was up above with the intrepid Dingo.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe finds the way up!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Up on top of the cliff there were a number of viewpoints.\u00a0 Terry Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,064 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> could be seen to the N.\u00a0 To the NE was Custer Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0To the NW was the canyon where Black Fox Campground is located.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0was at the very N end of the high ridges\u00a0to the\u00a0N of White Tail Peak.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0now had\u00a0to head S to reach her peakbagging goal.\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t sure how far Lupe S would have to go.\u00a0 It was certain she would come to USFS Road No. 190 somewhere along the way.\u00a0 Then SPHP would be sure exactly where she was.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the far N end of the high ground N of White Tail Peak. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trek to the S was longer than SPHP expected.\u00a0 Lupe stayed near the cliffs at the E side of the long ridge.\u00a0 In some places there were clear 180\u00b0 views to the E.\u00a0 Lupe kept going up and down small hills along the way, but overall she continued to gain elevation.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A look S along the cliffs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Near the cliffs well N of White Tail Peak’s summit. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Cliffs<\/a>SPHP was beginning to wonder if Lupe was ever going to find USFS Road No. 190.\u00a0 The line of cliffs went on and on.\u00a0 It was the same line of cliffs Lupe and SPHP had seen from down in the valley where the cows were.\u00a0 Finally, Lupe reached an especially high hill.\u00a0 It was all forested, so there wasn’t much to be seen.\u00a0\u00a0 Shortly after starting down the SW slope of this hill, USFS Road No. 190 came into view.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP crossed it and climbed up the next hill.\u00a0 Lupe was all excited when a helicopter flew low right overhead.\"Helicopter<\/a>It wasn’t far now\u00a0to the true summit of White Tail Peak.\u00a0 The summit is actually at a small clearing surrounded by trees.\u00a0 USFS Road No. 190.1Q goes right through it.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP followed the narrow road to the summit.\u00a0 Since there really wasn’t much\u00a0to be seen there, Lupe and SPHP\u00a0and continued on the road heading SE.\u00a0 The road led through the forest\u00a0to a limestone cliff where there are some views.<\/p>\n

Nearing the viewpoint, SPHP heard voices ahead.\u00a0 A couple of guys with ATV’s were already there.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP stayed hidden in the forest a little way off to let them enjoy\u00a0White Tail Peak\u00a0in peace.\u00a0 In the meantime, Lupe had more Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 SPHP ate chocolate chip cookies, an apple and some pudding.\u00a0 The feast lasted long enough for the ATV guys to leave.\u00a0\u00a0Soon they\u00a0roared off to the NW along the road.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP went to the viewpoint.\u00a0 It was a bit disappointing, because there weren’t many places with\u00a0unobstructed\u00a0views.\u00a0 The limestone was surrounded by dead trees killed by pine bark beetles.\u00a0 Where there weren’t dead trees, there were live ones.\u00a0 When the dead trees eventually fall over, there will be great views.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on White Tail Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Looking N at the line of cliffs that Lupe had traveled along to reach White Tail Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking NE towards Custer Peak (highest point on\u00a0horizon towards the left)\u00a0from White Tail Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe lost interest in the views as soon as she noticed a squirrel.\u00a0 She dashed off to give it a good barking at.\u00a0 The tree the squirrel was taking refuge in wasn’t terribly tall, so Lupe was very enthusiastic about\u00a0her prospects\u00a0for barking the squirrel right out of the tree.\u00a0 The squirrel refused to cooperate, however.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dingo and Squirrel tree on White Tail Peak. If you were looking for Moose and Squirrel, that must be a different blog.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
Lupe, the ever-hopeful American Dingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a while, SPHP persuaded Lupe to give the beleaguered squirrel a break.\u00a0 It was time for a last photo to commemorate Lupe’s 3rd summit of White Tail Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on White Tail Peak on 9-19-15. This was her 3rd time here. The first time was over 3 years ago when she was only 1.5 years old.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the views enjoyed, the squirrel sufficiently annoyed, and Lupe’s peakbagging goal accomplished, it was\u00a0time to head back to the G6.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP returned to USFS Road No. 190.\u00a0 After a\u00a0brief exploration to the NW, Lupe and SPHP headed E along No. 190 over the pass and then down into the shadow of White Tail Peak.<\/p>\n

On the return trip, Lupe\u00a0made a loop by taking\u00a0USFS Roads No. 190, 190.1B, and 191.\u00a0 Along No. 190, SPHP hoped to get a clear view back W towards White Tail Peak, but only glimpses came into view through the forest.\u00a0 However, there was a place with a nice\u00a0view to the SW toward Flag Mountain<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(6,937 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking SW from USFS Road No. 190 toward Flag Mountain (L).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sun\u00a0had just set\u00a0when Lupe saw a giant deer (elk)\u00a0ahead.\u00a0 It saw Lupe and SPHP too, and quickly disappeared into the forest.\u00a0 A little later on, Lupe started barking at a big tree right next to the road.\u00a0 SPHP figured she was taking another squirrel to task.\u00a0\u00a0Instead, a huge owl flew out of the tree.\u00a0 Near the G6,\u00a0cows were still grazing near the dilapidated old outbuildings.<\/p>\n

Lupe reached the G6.\u00a0 It was 7:14 PM and 44\u00b0F.\u00a0 The day was done.\u00a0 Twilight was coming on.\u00a0 For a few minutes, Lupe stayed relishing the moment.\u00a0 She sniffed the cool air, decoding\u00a0the secret messages borne\u00a0by the slightest of breezes.\"P1070250\"<\/a><\/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\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 209 – White Tail Peak (10-1-17)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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

It was already 11:13 AM on 9-19-15 by the time SPHP parked the G6 at the junction of County Road No. 231 and USFS Road No. 191.\u00a0 Hot weather the previous weekend had prevented SPHP from taking Lupe on one of her Black Hills expeditions, so Lupe had been pretty bored for days.\u00a0 She was … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 138 – White Tail Peak (9-19-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1895,"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":[105,9,106,104,304,281],"class_list":["post-1875","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-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-white-tail-peak"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/P1070247.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\/1875","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=1875"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35781,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875\/revisions\/35781"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}