{"id":2526,"date":"2015-10-19T14:34:41","date_gmt":"2015-10-19T20:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=2526"},"modified":"2020-09-21T21:58:02","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T03:58:02","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-142-castle-peak-10-17-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=2526","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 142 – Castle Peak (10-17-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 140 down Bittersweet Creek<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, Lupe and SPHP had failed to find a way to get down to Castle Creek when USFS Road No. 429 disappeared into a tangle of deadfall timber.\u00a0 Lupe’s peakbagging goal had been to reach Castle Peak<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (6,358 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> that day.\u00a0 Since Lupe and SPHP did not find a Northwest Passage to it from No. 429, it was time to take another approach.<\/p>\n

SPHP parked the G6 just 0.25 mile N of Mystic at the intersection of USFS Road No. 428 and Mystic Road.\u00a0 It was a beautiful sunny day with hardly a cloud in the sky.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started up Pony Gulch following No. 428.\u00a0 Pony Gulch and the road wound around some, generally heading W.\u00a0 The road gained elevation steadily, at an easy to moderate pace.<\/p>\n

When Lupe spotted a mud puddle ahead on the road, she ran to get a drink.\u00a0 She was shocked to find that the water cracked beneath her paws – the puddle was frozen!\u00a0 This was the first ice Lupe had encountered on her Black Hills expeditions this fall.\u00a0\u00a0This puddle\u00a0proved to be the only puddle that was frozen, but\u00a0Lupe didn’t come to very many other puddles.\u00a0 It has been a very dry\u00a0autumn so far in the Black Hills of South Dakota.<\/p>\n

Lupe was happy to soon discover a little\u00a0stream, which had evidently gone underground before reaching the lower end of Pony Gulch where the G6 was parked.\u00a0 The little stream was close to the road for a while, but then went up a side canyon.\u00a0 Another little stream appeared farther up Pony Gulch, but it soon disappeared underground at both ends.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The first (lower) tiny stream in Pony Gulch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On USFS Road No. 428 exploring Pony Gulch NW of Mystic, SD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the upper end of Pony Gulch there was an intersection.\u00a0 It wasn’t marked, but this was USFS Road No. 238, also known as Divide Road, probably because it winds around hills up on a ridge dividing the Rapid Creek and Castle Creek drainages.\u00a0 Rapid Creek is the largest stream in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Castle Creek is its largest tributary.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP followed No. 238.\u00a0 It continued climbing, but very slowly.\u00a0 Lupe was now out of Pony Gulch and up pretty high.\u00a0\u00a0There were some open points with nice views off to the S.\u00a0 The road then wound around to the N side of the\u00a0ridge, but\u00a0the forest hid\u00a0the views in that direction.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe pauses along No. 238 where there were views of distant hills to the S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The fall colors are virtually done now in the Black Hills. This small stand of aspens with a few yellow leaves still clinging to the trees along USFS Road No. 238, was the best remaining example Lupe found on her way to Castle Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe eventually came to the intelligence test intersections along No. 238.\u00a0 Of course, this\u00a0Carolina Dog passed both tests with flying colors!\u00a0 No, she didn’t want to take USFS Road No. 184 to a place called Bloody Gulch.\u00a0 And no, she wasn’t taking any dead ends to Poverty Gulch either.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the 2nd Intelligence Test intersection. Not really all that difficult to figure out. No, Lupe did not want to take any dead ends into Poverty Gulch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shortly after passing the Dead End to Poverty Gulch test, Lupe reached USFS Road No. 238.1A, which goes 0.75 mile\u00a0all the way up to the top of Castle Peak from the N.\u00a0 Lupe was soon there.\u00a0 Although Castle Peak is heavily forested, the summit featured an open area clear of trees.\u00a0 There were good views SE toward Harney Peak<\/a> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Custer Peak<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was visible\u00a0to the N.\u00a0 Trees around the open\u00a0area still\u00a0blocked the views in other directions.<\/p>\n

At one time there must have been a fire lookout tower on Castle Peak, but nothing remains of it except a bit of the foundation.\u00a0 There was a USGS Survey Benchmark set into solid rock.\u00a0 The benchmark did not show the elevation, but did say “Castle Peak” and “1950”.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The USGS Survey Benchmark on Castle Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Someone had built a crude, but effective,\u00a0bench out of some rocks and a board.\u00a0 There were also three poles lashed together so they stood up like a big tripod.\u00a0 Lupe used the bench as a platform for a few pictures.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the bench. Photo looks SE toward Harney Peak<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(7,242 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> , the highest point in the distance on the left.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another bench shot. This one looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Custer Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the high point in the distance. The USGS Survey Benchmark is at lower right. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on Castle Peak. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After spending a little time at the summit, Lupe and SPHP headed SW through the forest.\u00a0\u00a0Before long,\u00a0Lupe reached a viewpoint where it was possible to see to the W.\u00a0 On the horizon, a number of peaks and high ridges Lupe visited earlier in 2015\u00a0were in sight.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the viewpoint SW of the Castle Peak summit. White Tail Peak<\/strong><\/span><\/a> (6,962 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> is the high ridge on the horizon. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Whitetail Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,962 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> from Castle Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking WSW. The N end of Reynolds Prairie is the grassland in the distance. Beyond it to the WSW is Nipple Butte<\/span><\/a> (6,800 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> (L of Lupe’s ears). Flag Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,937 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is to the W (R of Lupe’s ears).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was hungry and thirsty.\u00a0 She took a break at the viewpoint SW of the Castle Peak summit.\u00a0 Water and Taste of the Wild were on the menu, as usual.\u00a0 While Lupe dined, SPHP considered Lupe’s options from here.\u00a0 Her next objective was to reach the Castle Peak campground along USFS Road No. 181.\u00a0 It wasn’t far away at all, only 0.5 mile S as the crow flies.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe chows down on some Taste of the Wild on Castle Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe isn’t a crow, though, and neither is SPHP.\u00a0 There were cliffs to the S.\u00a0 The way down to the campground was through a valley just W of the SW viewpoint.\u00a0 How\u00a0would Lupe get\u00a0down there, though?<\/p>\n

Lupe could try to go directly down the steep W slope of Castle Peak, or backtrack to the summit and go\u00a0down on USFS Road No. 238.1A the way she had come up.\u00a0 About 0.5 mile to the N, Lupe would\u00a0reach No. 238.1E, which did\u00a0curve around to the W and down into the valley, but it was a rather long detour.\u00a0 SPHP took a couple more pictures before having Lupe explore the options.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A last look at White Tail Peak from Castle Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking W from Castle Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking down the steep W slope of Castle Peak, it looked like a long way down to the valley floor.\u00a0 It appeared possible to go that way, but it would be slow going.\u00a0 SPHP decided Lupe may as well take the long, but easy route.\u00a0 Lupe returned to the summit of Castle Peak and headed N on No. 238.1A.\u00a0 She turned W on No. 238.1E when she reached it.<\/p>\n

The maps had shown No. 238.1E heading W and then turning S into the valley W of Castle Peak, only to dead end in the valley.\u00a0 However, another road, No. 181.1A, came up into the lower end of the\u00a0same valley from Castle Creek not far from the campground.\u00a0 It also dead ended in the valley before reaching No. 238.1E, so that there was a gap between the roads.\u00a0 All Lupe had to do when No. 238.1E ended was\u00a0continue on down the valley and find No. 181.1A.<\/p>\n

So that’s what Lupe did.\u00a0 When No. 238.1E ended, Lupe just kept going down the valley.\u00a0 The valley became rocky and narrow with a deep gully in the valley floor.\u00a0 There was a lot of deadfall timber in the way for quite some distance, too.\u00a0 It wasn’t too terrible, though, and eventually Lupe reached No. 181.1A.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, a small creek had appeared.\u00a0 No. 181.1A had a lot of deadfall timber on it at first, but finally it pretty much ended.\u00a0 The little creek then flowed on the road, but was too small to cause any problems.\u00a0 Lupe enjoyed splashing through the cold water.\u00a0 No. 181.1A linked up with Castle Peak Road (No. 181) very close to the campground.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches Castle Peak\u00a0campground.\u00a0 The Castle Peak campground is located in a remote part of the central Black Hills.\u00a0 It is one of the nicest campgrounds in the hills, but has only 9 campsites.\u00a0 All of the campsites are next to Castle Creek, which is one of the largest streams in the Black Hills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP walked through the campground.\u00a0 It looked very nice.\u00a0 All of the sites\u00a0are level, spacious and right next to Castle Creek.\u00a0 There was plenty of grass beneath the shade of big pines and spruce trees.\u00a0 The campground was deserted, except for two guys living the good life at one of the sites.\u00a0 They had a campfire going.\u00a0 Although the sun wouldn’t set officially for a couple of hours, there wouldn’t be sunlight down in the valley much longer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe checks out a campsite at Castle Peak campground. Hidden in the trees, Castle Creek flows at the base of the cliffs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a long way back to the G6 – 8 miles along Castle Peak Road back to Mystic Road.\u00a0 Another 2 miles along Mystic road would take Lupe to Mystic.\u00a0 The G6 was 0.25 mile N of Mystic.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started the long trek back.<\/p>\n

Down in the valley there were no distant views, but Castle Creek flowed merrily along.\u00a0 Above the valley floor, rocks and hills were still in sunlight.\u00a0 Gradually the sunlight retreated up the slopes until it disappeared altogether.<\/p>\n

There was no traffic along the road.\u00a0 None whatsoever.\u00a0 Twilight came on.\u00a0 An owl hooted far away.\u00a0 Except for the soothing sound of flowing water, it was quiet.\u00a0 Lupe explored the forests and fields until darkness, then she traveled close to SPHP.\u00a0 There was another break for Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 SPHP got out the flashlight and put on a sweater.<\/p>\n

The flashlight wasn’t really needed.\u00a0 A crescent moon, low in the SW, put out an amazing amount of light.\u00a0 Another expedition ended the way many of them do, with Lupe and SPHP traveling the road together beneath\u00a0a night sky full of shimmering stars.<\/p>\n

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

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

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span> , Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, 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":"

On Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 140 down Bittersweet Creek, Lupe and SPHP had failed to find a way to get down to Castle Creek when USFS Road No. 429 disappeared into a tangle of deadfall timber.\u00a0 Lupe’s peakbagging goal had been to reach Castle Peak (6,358 ft.) that day.\u00a0 Since Lupe and SPHP did … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 142 – Castle Peak (10-17-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2538,"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":[105,9,106,386,104,304],"class_list":["post-2526","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-castle-peak","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P1070350.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\/2526","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=2526"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21257,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2526\/revisions\/21257"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}