{"id":24963,"date":"2019-12-15T08:10:28","date_gmt":"2019-12-15T15:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=24963"},"modified":"2020-09-25T09:32:12","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T15:32:12","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-254-black-fox-to-crooks-tower-11-24-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=24963","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 254 – Black Fox to Crooks Tower (11-24-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

9:02 AM, 43\u00baF, USFS Road No. 231 just past the turn to Buck Spring<\/em> – Not gonna make it!\u00a0 Getting high-centered in this crusty, rutted snow wouldn’t be good.\u00a0 The G6 had been scraping bottom at intervals for the last 0.25 mile.\u00a0 Didn’t look like the situation was getting any better up ahead.\u00a0 SPHP gladly pulled off No. 231 at a snowy opening on the R.<\/p>\n

Close enough!\u00a0 Black Fox couldn’t be too much farther.\u00a0 Lupe could start from here!\u00a0 Encouraged by conditions on Expedition No. 253, SPHP had been convinced the American Dingo could still get up into the western Black Hills high country, despite the late November date.\u00a0 Might be the last chance Loop would have in 2019.\u00a0 The G6 just wasn’t built to handle much in the way of ice and snow.<\/p>\n

What an incredible morning!\u00a0 Bounding out of the G6, Looper thrashed about on the snow in ecstasy, biting off mouthfuls of the crunchy upper crust.\u00a0 Oh, it was going to be a great day for a romp in the hills!\u00a0 As soon as SPHP was ready, she set off heading SW on USFS Road No. 231.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Waiting for SPHP to get with the program! Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 231 was snow-packed and slippery, but level and an easy trek.\u00a0 The cool fresh air and pine scent were exhilarating!\u00a0 Morning sunlight cast long blue shadows on the glittering white snow.\u00a0 Looked and felt like winter up here already, a winter still young and mild.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Oh, what a fabulous morning! We’re on our way to Black Fox.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

0.5 mile brought Lupe to an intersection.\u00a0 Here she turned L (S) on USFS Road No. 233, almost immediately thereafter crossing a bridge over the S Fork of Rapid Creek.\u00a0 Somewhat surprisingly, she passed several vehicles S of the bridge.\u00a0 Hunters?\u00a0 Probably.\u00a0 No one was around at the moment.\u00a0 Black Fox campground was just around the next bend.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At Black Fox campground<\/strong>, a quiet spot in late November!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Black Fox was closed this time of year.\u00a0 Snow was everywhere.\u00a0 Lupe stopped for a look at the Rhoads Fork of Rapid Creek.\u00a0 The frigid, dark water plunged over a tiny waterfall before flowing deeper into the shady, green forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"
By the Rhoads Fork of Rapid Creek<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 233 went SW up the Rhoads Fork valley, if up is the correct word.\u00a0 For 0.5 mile, the road was flat, or nearly so, all the way to a junction with side road No. 233.2D.\u00a0 A nice, rustic cabin with a sign saying “Minnelusa Tepee” was tucked off in the pines to the L.\u00a0 A deer on the road ahead caught Lupe’s attention, but as soon as it disappeared into the forest, she headed NW (R) on No. 233.2D.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the intersection of No. 233 (L) and No. 233.2D (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Going up Beaver Draw, No. 233.2D climbed steadily.\u00a0 The road was even snowier here.\u00a0 Thankfully, several vehicles had compressed a couple of tracks.\u00a0 Loopster kept a careful watch for squirrels and deer, but had no luck.\u00a0 The trudge up the secluded valley was pleasant and quiet.<\/p>\n

The road eventually curved W.\u00a0 A mile from the junction with No. 233, Beaver Draw began to widen out.\u00a0 Lupe came to a snowy clearing.\u00a0 This wasn’t the top, but it felt like she was starting to get close.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Checking for squirrels in Beaver Draw<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
On No. 233.2D in Beaver Draw<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
At the snowy clearing a mile from No. 233. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road kept climbing longer than expected, although at a diminishing pace.\u00a0 Beaver Draw widened out into a broad amphitheater.\u00a0 To the N, low limestone cliffs came into view.\u00a0 No. 233.2D turned SW, becoming muddy and icy.\u00a0 To facilitate logging operations, the road had recently been graded here.\u00a0 Lupe passed piles of dead trees.<\/p>\n

\"\"
No. 233.2D became icy as Beaver Draw<\/strong> opened up. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Passing a pile of dead trees in upper Beaver Draw<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 233.2D skirted the S side of the amphitheater, climbing faster again.\u00a0 Lupe finally reached some high ground where the terrain leveled out.\u00a0 From here she had her first glimpse of a distant view.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Finally starting to get high enough to see something!<\/em> The distant hills are part of the N end of White Tail Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,962 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As near as SPHP could tell, Lupe was now on a plateau about a mile S of Trebor Draw.\u00a0 There was an unmarked intersection near the viewpoint.\u00a0 One road went N along the W rim of the Beaver Draw amphitheater.\u00a0 However, Lupe took the road going SW.\u00a0 For a while she gained a little more elevation, but after that the terrain was pretty flat, undulating only slightly up or down.<\/p>\n

This territory was all above 6,700 feet, quite high for the Black Hills.\u00a0 Even so, Lupe came to no more viewpoints.\u00a0 The snow was generally deep enough to make exploring the forest too laborious to be worth the effort.\u00a0 For the most part, the American Dingo stuck to the road, trotting along happily in the fresh air and sunshine.\u00a0 As the day warmed up, the road became increasingly soft and muddy.\u00a0 SPHP marched along the snowy edges whenever possible.<\/p>\n

\"\"
By one of several snowy clearings on the plateau. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road system didn’t match up with SPHP’s old maps.\u00a0 An expected mile long detour to the S and back again, never happened.\u00a0 Thinking Loop was still on No. 233.2D, SPHP was surprised when she came to a sign saying this was actually USFS Road No. 419.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hey, SPHP! Look! We’re already on No. 419!<\/em> Where that had happened was a mystery. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 419 continued SW.\u00a0 After a while, Lupe began to lose elevation.\u00a0 A ridge came into view beyond a snowy side road.\u00a0 Along in here, No. 419 curved W.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog quickly came to two intersections very close to each other at a low pass.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The largest clearing along No. 419. The snow was deep here! Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Still on the high ground along No. 419. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The ridge seen ahead came into view as No. 419 began to curve W. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These intersections were a mess with lots of ground recently torn up by bulldozers.\u00a0 The only marker still evident was for the road coming up from the S, which said No. 189.2.\u00a0 Made sense.\u00a0 SPHP knew where Lupe was now.\u00a0 This minor pass was 0.75 mile N of Bombard Draw.<\/p>\n

Crooks Tower<\/span><\/a> (7,137 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Lupe’s peakbagging objective for the day, was now 1.5 miles NW as the crow flies.\u00a0 The road going N from this pass had to be USFS Road No. 631.\u00a0 Ordinarily No. 631 would be both the quickest and most direct route, however, it was a minor road.\u00a0 Not too likely any traffic would have gone very far that way with so much snow around!\u00a0 SPHP suspected the valley immediately S of Crooks Tower would be full of deep, pristine snow.<\/p>\n

So Lupe took the road leading W, a continuation of No. 189.\u00a0 Leaving the pass, the road curved SW and began climbing along the side of a fairly steep slope.\u00a0 Soon Lupe was getting close to the ridge she had seen from No. 419.\u00a0 However, the road didn’t cross the little valley leading to the ridge.\u00a0 Instead it turned NW proceeding up the near side of the valley.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A closer look at the ridge Lupe had seen from No. 419. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Another view of the same ridge from farther up the valley next to it. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe stuck with No. 189 as it wound higher.\u00a0 Way up here, conditions were even snowier.\u00a0 Small rock outcroppings began to appear.\u00a0 For a while, Loop climbed steadily, but the pace eventually slackened.\u00a0 The road finally turned N and leveled out.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Following No. 189 higher. There was even more snow up here. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Approaching small limestone formations on the R. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
No. 189 leveled out at 7,100+ feet. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Carolina Dog was already at 7,100+ feet, nearly as high as Crooks Tower itself, but still a mile from it.\u00a0 Continuing N, she now lost a bit of elevation.\u00a0 0.33 mile WSW of Crooks Tower, Lupe reached a junction with USFS Roads No. 631.2C and No. 189.4A.\u00a0 As SPHP had suspected, No. 631.2C was buried beneath a thick blanket of pristine snow.\u00a0 Good thing Loopster hadn’t tried to come up that way!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Continuing N on No. 189. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
At the upper end of USFS Road No. 631.2C. Never would have made it coming up this way! Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 189.4A goes almost to the top of Crooks Tower<\/span><\/a> (7,137 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Clearly no one had been this way since the last big snow.\u00a0 Lupe began the trudge E.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the start of No. 189.4A. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
So what is this, training for the Iditarod? Don’t get any big ideas, SPHP! I’m not pulling you on any Dingo sled!<\/em> Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At last, the final 15 foot climb to Crooks Tower’s summit appeared.\u00a0 As hoped, winds had swept part of the summit free of snow.\u00a0 Sweet!\u00a0 Lupe could relax in relative comfort.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Approaching Crooks Tower’s summit<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Luckily, part of the summit was snow-free. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Only mid-afternoon, but November days are so short that it still seemed late.\u00a0 The cheerful sunshine had vanished.\u00a0 Most of the sky was overcast, not darkly, but gray enough to produce a subdued mood.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t seen a soul all day.\u00a0 Despite the relatively easy road hike, Crooks Tower felt isolated and remote.<\/p>\n

Crooks Tower is one of the highest peaks in the Black Hills, yet this area wasn’t rugged.\u00a0 Consequently the views weren’t all that impressive.\u00a0 The best was a distant look at Black Elk Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,231 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> far to the SE.\u00a0 Miles to the NW was a high ridge that might have been Laird Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,906 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Forest blocked the views in other directions.<\/p>\n

Lupe went to the highest spot, a flat area toward the N.\u00a0 After claiming her peakbagging success, she took a quick look at the best views before curling up on SPHP’s lap facing Black Elk Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the true summit of Crooks Tower<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
SPHP thought the high ridge in the distance (L) might be Laird Peak<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Hmm. Didn’t really look like Laird Peak with help from the telephoto lens. Might actually be Cement Ridge<\/span><\/a> (6,674 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
At the slightly lower S end of the summit area. Black Elk Peak<\/strong> (L of Center) is in view on the horizon. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Black Elk Peak<\/strong> (L) with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pines sighed in a 10 mph NW breeze.\u00a0 Far to the E, a big patch of blue sky lingered out over the unseen plains beyond the hills.\u00a0 Everywhere else the mood was subdued beneath the gray smudge of wintery clouds.\u00a0 Cool out, but not cold.\u00a0 40\u00baF?<\/p>\n

The view was familiar.\u00a0 Crooks Tower is a favorite place.\u00a0 In fact, Lupe had been to Crooks Tower more times than to any other mountain.\u00a0 This was her 10th ascent.\u00a0 Yet Loop hadn’t been here in more than 2.5 years.<\/p>\n

Snow, silence, solitude.\u00a0 It felt good to be back, if only for a little while.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe near the spot where she took a break on SPHP’s lap. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The N end of the summit region. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The S end. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Looking E toward a ridge nearly as high as the top of Crooks Tower.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For nearly 40 minutes, Lupe remained up on Crooks Tower.\u00a0 It would be dark before the American Dingo reached the G6 again.\u00a0 Before departing she returned briefly to the true summit.\u00a0 A final glance at the familiar views to the NW and SE, and that was it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Back at the true summit. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Last moments at the S end. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Leaving the summit, Lupe had scarcely reached USFS Road No. 189.4A, when gunfire erupted somewhere to the N.\u00a0 Hunters!\u00a0 The courageous Carolina Dog begged SPHP for protection.\u00a0 Not to worry.\u00a0 She was fine.\u00a0 A few shots, and that was it.\u00a0 Silence returned, and the snowy trek back to the main road began.\u00a0 It didn’t seem as far going downhill.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Starting back on USFS Road No. 189.4A. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The return trip was otherwise uneventful.\u00a0 Lupe went back the same way she had come.\u00a0 Such a beautiful, quiet time following these remote USFS roads!\u00a0 Up here it already felt and looked like Christmas.\u00a0 Of course, the light eventually began to fail.\u00a0 Going down Beaver Draw, twilight faded.\u00a0 In darkness, Lupe passed Black Fox.\u00a0 Expedition No. 254 was over.\u00a0 (5:31 PM, 41\u00baF)<\/em><\/p>\n

A visit to Crooks Tower had been long overdue!\u00a0 SPHP was glad Lupe had done it.\u00a0 Six days later, on the last day of November, a blizzard struck the Black Hills dumping 2 additional feet of snow.\u00a0 Expedition No. 254 really had been her last chance to visit the western high country of the Black Hills in 2019.\u00a0 Fortunately, Lupe had made the most of it!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Returning from her 10th ascent of Crooks Tower, Black Hills of South Dakota, 11-24-19<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Black Hills, SD\u00a0 Expedition No. 204 – Clayton Pond, Crooks Tower & Peak 6820 (5-13-17)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 135 – Peak 6820 & Crooks Tower (6-27-15)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 99 – Peak 6820 & Crooks Tower (10-8-14)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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

9:02 AM, 43\u00baF, USFS Road No. 231 just past the turn to Buck Spring – Not gonna make it!\u00a0 Getting high-centered in this crusty, rutted snow wouldn’t be good.\u00a0 The G6 had been scraping bottom at intervals for the last 0.25 mile.\u00a0 Didn’t look like the situation was getting any better up ahead.\u00a0 SPHP gladly … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 254 – Black Fox to Crooks Tower (11-24-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[105,1201,1200,9,106,206,104,304],"class_list":["post-24963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-beaver-draw","tag-black-fox","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-crooks-tower","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IMG_6172-scaled.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\/24963","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=24963"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28457,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24963\/revisions\/28457"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}