{"id":2764,"date":"2015-10-28T08:10:18","date_gmt":"2015-10-28T14:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=2764"},"modified":"2019-04-25T08:31:15","modified_gmt":"2019-04-25T14:31:15","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-143-bald-hills-peak-6888-crows-nest-peak-10-24-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=2764","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 143 – Bald Hills, Peak 6888 & Crows Nest Peak (10-24-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thursday evening, 10-22-15, the Black Hills got some much needed rain.\u00a0 While checking the weather online, SPHP noticed that there was a band of snow shown up in the higher western Black Hills near the border with Wyoming.\u00a0 Lupe loves the snow, so on Saturday morning, 10-24-15, Lupe and SPHP set out for the high country.<\/p>\n

It turned out there wasn’t any snow.\u00a0 Or, at least, if there had been, it was all melted by Saturday.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP did see some areas of frost in the shade of the pines in some areas, but that was it.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t going to get to play in the snow, but she still had a couple of peakbagging goals in the area.<\/p>\n

NW of Redbank Spring, SPHP parked the G6 about 0.25 mile W of USFS Road No. 117 along No. 113.\u00a0 No. 113 would take Lupe to her first destination, which was Bald Hills<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(6,690 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on USFS Road No. 113 shortly after starting out for peakbagging goal Bald Hills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At first, No. 113 headed WNW through a tall grass field, but it soon turned N to enter the forest.\u00a0 In the forest, the road was muddy.\u00a0 SPHP had to leave the road due to the amount of mud clinging to SPHP’s boots.<\/p>\n

Most of the rest of the way to Bald Hills, SPHP walked through the forest.\u00a0 It was pretty easy.\u00a0 This part of the hills is all high ground, but very gently rolling.\u00a0 Lupe was feeling great in the cooler weather.\u00a0 She raced through the forest sniffing everything.<\/p>\n

\"Along<\/a>
Along USFS Road No. 113 was this area of frozen mud. The thin ice was hollow underneath. The water had already soaked into the ground. When Lupe came by again later in the day, the ice had all melted.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bald Hills is a high point near the SW end of a long ridge that extends out to the W.\u00a0 Despite the name “Bald Hills”, the area is nearly all forested.\u00a0 When Lupe reached the high point shown on Peakbagger.com, there was a big level field there.\u00a0 The top was all bald,\u00a0but it was also surrounded by forest.\u00a0 Presumably the trees have\u00a0grown up since the name was given to the area.<\/p>\n

The surrounding band of trees was thinnest to the W.\u00a0 It was\u00a0possible to see between them to catch\u00a0glimpses of Mount Pisgah<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(6,380 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>\u00a05 miles away in Wyoming.\u00a0 Bald Hills is in South Dakota, but only 0.5 mile from the Wyoming border.\u00a0 Some of the surrounding trees had been killed by pine bark beetles.\u00a0 Whenever those trees finally fall over, the view will be better.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP took a break.\u00a0 Both\u00a0had cake and water on Bald Hills.\u00a0 Lupe also had Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 SPHP had carrots from the garden.\u00a0 Afterwards, Lupe posed for a few photos.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the summit of Bald Hills. It not clear which other hills might be considered part of Bald Hills. There were other fingers of the same general ridge off to the N, but Lupe was where all SPHP’s maps showed the location of Bald Hills to be.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The hill might be bald on top, but there isn’t much of a view due to surrounding forests.\u00a0 Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
OK, there was kind of a view to the W toward Mount Pisgah<\/span><\/a> (6,380 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> in Wyoming. Only peakbaggers like Lupe would come way out here for such a mediocre look at the world, though. From Lupe’s point of view the sniffing, squirrels and solitude were great.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Yeah,<\/a>
Yeah, the field on top of Bald Hills was actually pretty big!\u00a0 It would have been a great place for some Squeaker Ball action!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe’s next peakbagging goal was Peak 6888<\/span><\/strong><\/a> off to the NE.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP set off on No. 113 again, retracing Lupe’s route to Bald Hills, but only for a short distance.\u00a0 There were two other fingers of the same ridge that Bald Hills was part of that SPHP thought Lupe should explore along the way.\u00a0\u00a0Side roads\u00a0off USFS Road No. 113\u00a0went along both ridges.\u00a0 The first one Lupe came to was No. 113.1E.<\/p>\n

No. 113.1E headed WNW.\u00a0 SPHP had hoped it might lead to a clearer viewpoint off to the W.\u00a0 Instead it lost elevation at a steady, moderate pace and stayed in the forest.\u00a0 The road went on and on.\u00a0 SPHP gave up on finding a better view here.\u00a0 When a side road appeared that headed back E, Lupe and SPHP took it.\u00a0 SPHP hoped\u00a0to find a shortcut to road No. 113.1D\u00a0on the next ridge to the NE.<\/p>\n

The side road lost elevation gradually, and came to a sharp bend at a draw.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t want to lose any more elevation.\u00a0 Just above the road was a little earthen dam.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the side road to investigate.\u00a0 There turned out to be a little stock pond behind the dam.\u00a0 There was another even smaller dam and pond above this one.\u00a0 SPHP named the larger pond Hidden Slew, since the water seemed a bit slimy.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
Lupe at Hidden Slew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/a>
Only readers of The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe get to see and learn the secret locations of great things like puny little slimy stock ponds in the Black Hills. What a benefit! This photo shows the very remote side road off No. 113.1E that\u00a0Lupe followed to reach\u00a0Hidden Slew.\u00a0 What a\u00a0treasured find!\u00a0 Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Hidden Slew, Lupe and SPHP started climbing up the NE slope of the draw.\u00a0 Pretty soon, SPHP noticed that along the N side of the draw, it looked like there might be a viewpoint.\u00a0 Going over in that direction, Lupe found a slope heading up to the ridge where No. 113.1D was.<\/p>\n

This slope\u00a0had been pretty heavily logged.\u00a0 Climbing higher, Lupe\u00a0discovered the only spot where there was an opening in the forest\u00a0big enough for a clear distance shot with the camera.\u00a0 Off to the NW was a nice look at Inyan Kara<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(6,360 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"Inyan<\/a>
Inyan Kara (R of Center) is seen here to the NW.\u00a0 This was the only clear distant\u00a0view Lupe found anywhere in the vicinity of Bald Hills.\u00a0 Inyan Kara is in Wyoming.\u00a0\u00a0The mountain\u00a0is on\u00a0a single square mile of isolated Black Hills National Forest land\u00a0totally surrounded by private ranches.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP easily reached the top of the logged slope to find USFS Road No. 113.1D, as expected.\u00a0 Lupe followed\u00a0No. 113.1D\u00a0NW for a while, but it too began to drop into a denser forest.\u00a0 There weren’t going to be any better views continuing in that direction.\u00a0 So Lupe and SPHP turned around, and headed SE back to the junction with No. 113.<\/p>\n

\"It<\/a>
It was possible to get a pretty good look at Sweetwater Mountain<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(6,440 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(the long\u00a0forested ridge in the distance)\u00a0while moving along, but there weren’t any unobstructed views of it for the camera. Sweetwater Mountain is also in Wyoming.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe racing around on USFS Road No. 113.1D.\u00a0 Even though the area had already been heavily logged, it looks like they might just as well have taken down even more trees.\u00a0 Many of the trees still standing are dead, killed by\u00a0pine bark beetles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Back at No. 113, Lupe and SPHP turned E on it again.\u00a0 This time Lupe followed it to the formerly frozen mud so elegantly portrayed earlier in this post.\u00a0 By now, the ice had melted.<\/p>\n

Near\u00a0by was a side road, No. 113.1G, which headed N down into Bear Canyon.\u00a0 It looked like it was going to turn NE, and head up into the upper end of Bear Canyon, which was where Lupe needed to go to reach Peak 6888.\u00a0 So Lupe and SPHP left No. 113 again to\u00a0check\u00a0out No. 113.1G.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This high up in the Black Hills, the fall colors are now completely done. All the leaves have fallen off these aspen trees along No. 113.1G. The leaves on the ground have all turned a dull brown.\u00a0 Everywhere Lupe went this day, it was the same.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 113.1G did turn NE, and did lead Lupe to the upper reaches of Bear Canyon, where there were three stock ponds in a row.\u00a0 Beyond the upper stock pond was a big open field.\u00a0 Lupe posed for a photo near the middle stock pond, which SPHP judged to be most beautiful of all.\u00a0 Then Lupe continued following the road, which now headed NNE toward Peak 6888.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe amidst the scenic splendor of the middle stock pond in upper Bear Canyon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP isn’t sure where the transition from USFS Road No. 113.1G\u00a0occurred, perhaps it was at the stock ponds, but Lupe was now on Bear Canyon Road.\u00a0 When Lupe reached the high point on Bear Canyon Road, she was essentially at the summit of Peak 6888.<\/p>\n

The topo map from Peakbagger.com showed the official summit location of Peak 6888 a little way off to the W of the road.\u00a0 The whole area was so flat, it hardly made any difference, but Lupe and SPHP wandered off the road to the W to see what\u00a0might be\u00a0a little higher than everything else.\u00a0 This area had also been pretty heavily logged.\u00a0 SPHP thought a particular stump looked like it was at the highest point.\u00a0 Lupe posed for her obligatory\u00a0summit of Peak 6888 photos.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the stump at the tip top of Peak 6888.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another goal of interest only to peakbaggers. Peak 6888 was so flat that even with nearly all the trees cut down there weren’t any views. This photo looks E toward Bear Canyon Road, near the big pile of dead trees. The logging must have occurred fairly recently. Many of the trees that had been cut down still had green needles on them.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had now completed both of her peakbagging goals for the day.\u00a0 She headed N on Bear Canyon Road to reach USFS Road No. 109.\u00a0 She followed\u00a0No. 109\u00a00.5 mile E to No. 117.\u00a0 Lupe was now a little over 3 miles N of where No. 113 left No. 117.\u00a0 The G6 was parked back\u00a0along No. 113.<\/p>\n

The sun was still fairly high in the sky, though.\u00a0 Lupe had time to revisit Crows Nest Peak<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(7,048 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>, which she had just been to on Expedition No. 139 on 9-27-15.\u00a0 Crows Nest Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,048 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was only\u00a0about 2 miles to the NE.\u00a0 Lupe could reach it from a new direction this time, which meant more exploring, more squirrels, and more fun!<\/p>\n

So off she went.\u00a0 Lupe followed No. 117 a little farther N to get past a fence line.\u00a0 She\u00a0then turned NE, crossed a field near another stock pond of immense interest (sadly not pictured), and plunged up into the forest.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the intersection of Bear Canyon Road and USFS Road No. 109.\u00a0 The forested ridge in the background is part of Peak 6888.\u00a0 Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe along No. 117. She would soon cross the big field at the right close to another stock pond, mercifully not pictured here.\u00a0 Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It had been SPHP’s intention that Lupe would just climb up the ridge to the NE, and then try to stay on high ground while heading directly for Crows Nest Peak.\u00a0 However, partway up the ridge, there was a really nice level road.\u00a0 It wound its way N and E along the side of the ridge.\u00a0 It looked so easy and inviting, Lupe followed\u00a0it\u00a0instead of climbing to the top of the ridge.\u00a0 Eventually, this road reached another.\u00a0\u00a0A\u00a0marker showed that Lupe had been on No. 695.1A.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on No. 695.1A just before it ended at No. 695. Since No. 695 went the wrong direction, Lupe left the roads to cross the field shown in sunlight and head into the forest again.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 695.1A ended at No. 695, which went SE, not the direction Lupe needed to go.\u00a0 Lupe left the roads, and crossed a sunlit field covered with dark brown bushes.\u00a0 She then entered the forest again.\u00a0 SPHP had the same plan as before, just climb to the top and stay on high ground heading NE\u00a0to Crows Nest Peak.<\/p>\n

The same thing happened again.\u00a0 Lupe came to another nice level road which wound around to the N, but mostly to the E.\u00a0 This road proved to be No. 266.1A, which linked up to No. 266.\u00a0 No. 266 had been recently graded and was a muddy mess, but it\u00a0took Lupe right on up to Crows Nest Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on No. 266.1A on her way to Crows Nest Peak. This was a pleasant, level, sunlit stroll.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Aspen<\/a>
Aspen trees S of No. 266 on the approach to Crows Nest Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Thought<\/a>
Thought you would get away without seeing any more ponds or mud puddles, aye? Well, here is Lupe now at the pond on Crows Nest Peak\u00a0just 200 feet W of the USGS Benchmark at the summit. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the survey marker post next to the USGS Benchmark on Crows Nest Peak. This was Lupe’s 3rd time on Crows Nest Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe didn’t stay long on top of Crows Nest Peak.\u00a0 The sun would only be up for another 30 or 40 minutes, at most.\u00a0 The G6 was now 5 miles away.\u00a0 Lupe left Crows Nest Peak heading S on No. 266.\u00a0 Instead of turning W along with the road, she continued S through the forest.\u00a0 She found a trail that took her SSW, and then SW.\u00a0 It was an interesting area.\u00a0 In the rapidly fading light, it seemed very remote and wild.<\/p>\n

It was dark by the time Lupe and SPHP reached USFS Road No. 117 again, still\u00a0at least\u00a0a couple of\u00a0miles from the G6.\u00a0 The moon,\u00a0more than\u00a03\/4 full, was\u00a0shining brilliantly in the clear sky.\u00a0 Only the brightest stars could be seen.\u00a0 Suddenly\u00a0Lupe heard them – the wild dogs who live in the forests and fields – the coyotes.<\/p>\n

Lupe sat next to SPHP listening very intently.\u00a0 The coyotes yipped and howled and sang.\u00a0 This was the biggest coyote choir Lupe had ever heard.\u00a0 A whole pack was out there.<\/p>\n

SPHP told Lupe about how the coyotes live wild and free all the time, doing whatever they please, while roaming the Black Hills at will.\u00a0 SPHP also mentioned that they were often cold and tired and hungry.\u00a0 Lupe thought things over.\u00a0 Living free sounded wonderful, but so did a steady diet of Taste of the Wild, Alpo, treats, and a comfy soft, warm bed.<\/p>\n

The coyotes sang for just a few minutes.\u00a0 They stopped\u00a0as abruptly as they had started.\u00a0 Lupe decided to continue on with SPHP to the G6 beneath the\u00a0silent, silver\u00a0moon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hey, another pond shot! Trees are reflected in the tiny pond on Crows Nest Peak half an hour before sunset.<\/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\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/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<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, or Master Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thursday evening, 10-22-15, the Black Hills got some much needed rain.\u00a0 While checking the weather online, SPHP noticed that there was a band of snow shown up in the higher western Black Hills near the border with Wyoming.\u00a0 Lupe loves the snow, so on Saturday morning, 10-24-15, Lupe and SPHP set out for the high … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 143 – Bald Hills, Peak 6888 & Crows Nest Peak (10-24-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2746,"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":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,415,9,106,303,104,416,304],"class_list":["post-2764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-bald-hills","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-crows-nest-peak","tag-lupe","tag-peak-6888","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P1070365.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\/2764","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=2764"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22473,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2764\/revisions\/22473"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}