{"id":35457,"date":"2021-12-04T08:10:20","date_gmt":"2021-12-04T15:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=35457"},"modified":"2022-03-24T09:58:23","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T15:58:23","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-282-centennial-trail-no-89-elk-creek-to-peak-5261-10-30-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=35457","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 282 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Elk Creek to Peak 5261 (10-30-21)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The “Ponderosa Hike” along Centennial Trail No. 89 had worked out so well for new Cousin Laddie and Cousin Dusty yesterday, that SPHP had proposed another jaunt along the Centennial Trail this morning.<\/p>\n

What a difference a day made, though!\u00a0 Yesterday had been sunny and warm, almost summer.\u00a0 On the way to the Elk Creek trailhead, Uncle Joe drove under a dark cloud hanging over the hills.\u00a0 Late fall, maybe even early winter, greeted Lupe as she leapt out of the RAV4.\u00a0 Definitely on the chilly side!<\/p>\n

In fact, it was so chilly that the American Dingo soon leapt right back into the warm comfort of the RAV4, staying there until Uncle Joe and SPHP were ready to hit the trail.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A chilly start at Centennial Trail No. 89’s Elk Creek trailhead<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the temperature plunge, everyone was in good spirits!\u00a0 Soon Loop and Cousin Dusty were leading the way as Centennial Trail No. 89 started NNE up a wooded ravine.\u00a0 Before long the trail left the ravine, climbing to a flatter region of open pine forest toward the NW.\u00a0 This flat stretch didn’t last long, either.\u00a0 The trail began climbing again as it curved up a hillside.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In the open forest, starting to climb again.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rounding a sharp bend, the trail resumed a NE course, climbing more steeply.\u00a0 This turn had scarcely been left behind when Uncle Joe spotted a curious rock formation 200 feet off toward the SE.\u00a0 Looked like there was a cave over there!\u00a0 The whole gang ventured over to investigate.<\/p>\n

The rock formation proved to be a high point at the end of a small flat region overlooking a forested ravine.\u00a0 Sure enough, there was a dark opening into the rocks!\u00a0 While caves aren’t all that unusual in the Black Hills, nearly all of them are found in limestone formations.\u00a0 These rocks clearly weren’t limestone, so Uncle Joe’s discovery was a rare find.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the mysterious cave.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cousins Dusty and Laddie weren’t inclined to investigate any further.\u00a0 What if a mountain lion lived there?\u00a0 Lupe, however, wasn’t worried at all.\u00a0 Without hesitating in the least, the Carolina Dog went up to peer into the black opening.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cousins Dusty and Laddie look on, ready to run for it, if Lupe gets eaten by a lion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No need to worry about any mountain lions!\u00a0 If there was one, it’s already escaped out the back.\u00a0 This isn’t a cave, it’s a tunnel!<\/em><\/p>\n

Loopster was right!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the tunnel’s entrance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A tunnel!\u00a0 That was really strange.\u00a0 Uncle Joe and SPHP both took a look.\u00a0 The tunnel was about 20 feet long, perfectly straight, uniform diameter, and slanted somewhat down toward the S.\u00a0 Other than a few loose rocks, the bottom was fairly smooth.<\/p>\n

The rock formation the tunnel went through looked completely natural, but neither Joe nor SPHP could decide if this tunnel was natural, or not.\u00a0 If human-made, what purpose had it served?\u00a0 Dingo-sized, Lupe could have trotted through it with ease, but the tunnel seemed too small for most human projects.\u00a0 No signs of any other construction were round about.\u00a0 Odd, very odd.<\/p>\n

Uncle Joe scrambled around to the back side of the tunnel, which exited the rock formation next to a drop-off.\u00a0 He then tried to entice Lupe to go through the tunnel to join him.<\/p>\n

Maybe even Lupe was starting to get the willies?\u00a0 \u00a0The American Dingo entered the tunnel, but even though she could see Joe at the far end, she refused to go all the way through.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Uncle Joe by the tunnel’s exit above the drop-off.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop partway in, getting spooked despite Joe’s encouragement to come on through!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Joe framed by the tunnel’s exit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether human-made or natural, the tunnel was so unusual that there seemed to be no explanation for its existence.\u00a0 Finding no clues, and in case a mountain lion might be on its way back home, everyone returned to Centennial Trail No. 89 leaving the mystery unsolved.<\/p>\n

Continuing on, the trail climbed a bit steeply, but soon the slope became much more gradual.\u00a0 Eventually the trail began curving N.\u00a0 Abandoning it, everyone headed for a minor ridge to the E for a look around.\u00a0 Not much to be seen up here, so a shortcut was taken down a slope to the N to rejoin Centennial Trail No. 89 at a saddle where it crossed unmarked USFS Road No. 169.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Up on the minor ridge. HP5141<\/span><\/strong> (R). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing the road, the trail began angling WNW along the SW slopes of HP5141<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Before Centennial Trail No. 89 headed back into the forest, there was a bit of a view of hills to the NW, their tops softened and blurred by the low hanging clouds.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
N of USFS Road No. 169. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

0.25 mile beyond USFS Road No. 169, a small clearing was reached at a second pass between HP5141<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and HP5212<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 A sign indicated that it was a mile back to the Elk Creek trailhead.\u00a0 The trail continued W from here traversing a steep slope, but remained fairly level.<\/p>\n

Once past the S end of HP5212<\/span><\/strong>, Centennial Trail No. 89 gradually began to curve N.\u00a0 The trail first lost, then regained some elevation, eventually going over another minor pass.\u00a0 Meanwhile, the sky was darkening as the gray clouds blanketing the region slowly crept down the hillsides.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dusty, Joe, and Laddie leading the way SW of HP5212<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Getting colder out!\u00a0 A barely detectable mist began.\u00a0 The trail widened as it reached an old roadbed.\u00a0 Patches of snow left over from a prior storm added to an increasingly wintery feel.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Patches of snow added to a wintery atmosphere as the sky darkened and a light mist began.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Winding along the mountainside, the trail continued N.\u00a0 Uncle Joe began to wonder if maybe it wasn’t getting to be time to turn back?\u00a0 However, Lupe had been here before.\u00a0 SPHP was convinced that it wasn’t much farther to a junction with a trail that went to the Sturgis Reservoirs, and that junction was very close to Peak<\/span> 5261<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, today’s peakbagging objective.<\/p>\n

The chilly march went on and on.\u00a0 The trail junction was farther than SPHP remembered, but it finally appeared.\u00a0 From here, Centennial Trail No. 89 curved E, climbing 60 feet up to a broad grassy pass.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the junction with the trail to the Sturgis Reservoirs. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued up to the R (E) from here. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Up at the pass N of Peak 5261<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peak 5261 was only 0.2 mile S of this pass.\u00a0 The trail didn’t go up there, but the N slope was only moderately steep.\u00a0 Cousins Dusty and Laddie couldn’t get this close and not go to the top to claim their Peak<\/span> 5261<\/span><\/a><\/strong> peakbagging success, could they?\u00a0 That would be a shame!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 5261<\/strong> from the pass. Nothing to it! Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following a long snowbank, Lupe started up first, leading the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading up Peak 5261<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peak 5261’s summit was only 120 feet higher than the pass.\u00a0 Soon the N slope was leveling out.\u00a0 The top of the mountain could be seen a short distance ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 5261’s summit region<\/strong>. Joe heading for the true summit. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, everyone got there.\u00a0 Cousins Dusty and Laddie secured their second Black Hills peakbagging success in two days.\u00a0 Unfortunately, this ascent wasn’t as successful in other respects.\u00a0 Cold and foggy with a chill, damp breeze, conditions were none too pleasant.<\/p>\n

Back at home this morning, the day had been sunny and bright.\u00a0 SPHP had chosen this destination partly because getting here wouldn’t be too hard for Cousin Dusty, who was now 15, but also in part for the views of Custer Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,804 ft.<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span> and Bear Butte<\/span><\/a> (4,422 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Cousin Dusty had made it, but the views were a disappointing no show.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
We made it, but the views didn’t! Sorry about that!<\/em> Joe and Lupe at Peak 5261’s summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Joe strikes a dramatic pose pointing out the fabulous display of nothing but fog while Lupe and Laddie gather round.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Too miserable out to linger!\u00a0 Plans for a summit celebration involving chocolate coconut bars, Kinkaid bars, and apples were cancelled.\u00a0 A few minutes at the top, and the whole pack headed back down Peak 5261’s N slope to pick up Centennial Trail No. 89 again.<\/p>\n

Merely a postponement!\u00a0 The Peak 5261 ascent celebration actually did come off due to popular demand a mile later at a more sheltered spot.\u00a0 Not to be denied, Lupe, Dusty and Laddie all got their chocolate coconut bar rewards.<\/p>\n

Then it was back through the wintery fog, all the way past the Tunnel of Mystery to the Elk Creek trailhead.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow was Halloween!\u00a0 Sadly, Uncle Joe, Dusty and Laddie would all be heading back home to Colorado.\u00a0 Meeting cousin Laddie and getting to introduce him to the Black Hills had been fun, and it had been terrific to hit the trail with Joe and Dusty again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Joe, Dusty, and new cousin Laddie on Peak 5261<\/strong>, Black Hills of South Dakota 10-30-21<\/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 \u00a0Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 274 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Elk Creek to Alkali Creek (4-10-21)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Centennial Trail No. 89 Brochure & Map<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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

The “Ponderosa Hike” along Centennial Trail No. 89 had worked out so well for new Cousin Laddie and Cousin Dusty yesterday, that SPHP had proposed another jaunt along the Centennial Trail this morning. What a difference a day made, though!\u00a0 Yesterday had been sunny and warm, almost summer.\u00a0 On the way to the Elk Creek … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 282 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Elk Creek to Peak 5261 (10-30-21)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35449,"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":[105,9,106,527,146,1405,451,1464,104,1407,304],"class_list":["post-35457","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-centennial-trail-no-89","tag-dusty","tag-elk-creek-trailhead","tag-joe","tag-laddie","tag-lupe","tag-peak-5261","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3110.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\/35457","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=35457"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38772,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35457\/revisions\/38772"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}