{"id":4141,"date":"2016-08-30T08:10:27","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T14:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=4141"},"modified":"2020-09-21T17:05:13","modified_gmt":"2020-09-21T23:05:13","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-109-cicero-northeast-cicero-daisy-kruger-peaks-12-13-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=4141","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 109 – Cicero, Northeast Cicero, Daisy & Kruger Peaks (12-13-14)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lupe was up before dawn.\u00a0 SPHP hadn’t gotten up early enough for Expedition No. 108\u00a0to take Lupe to Cicero Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,166 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, and wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.\u00a0 The sun had yet to make an appearance, but sunrise was coming\u00a0as Lupe and SPHP headed out in the G6.<\/p>\n

\"Sunrise<\/a>
Sunrise on 12-13-14.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe hoping the early Carolina Dog gets the squirrel!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time Lupe and SPHP turned onto USFS Road No. 338, the sun was well up above the horizon.\u00a0 SPHP soon regretted turning onto No. 338.\u00a0 A high clearance vehicle wouldn’t have had any problem, but the G6 just wasn’t built to take this kind of abuse.<\/p>\n

The narrow road wasn’t steep, but it was littered with rocks large enough to worry about getting a hole torn in the bottom of the\u00a0G6’s\u00a0oil pan.\u00a0 Some of the rocks were loose, but many were firmly attached to the mountain.\u00a0 No. 338 wound an\u00a0excruciatingly long 1.5 miles up to a little parking lot near the top of Cicero Peak.<\/p>\n

The G6’s oil pan survived, but the bumpy ride couldn’t have done the alignment, suspension system or tires any good.\u00a0 SPHP was by now firmly resolved that this was the G6’s one and only trip up Cicero Peak.\u00a0 Never again!\u00a0 At least there hadn’t been any traffic on the narrow road.\u00a0 There\u00a0had been\u00a0only one possible place to turn around other than the little parking lot near the top.<\/p>\n

Lupe, of course, was unconcerned.\u00a0 She was eager to get out, and get going.\u00a0 It was 8:43 AM (45\u00b0F), when she hopped out of the G6.\u00a0 The first order of business, of course, was to go the very short remaining distance (30 feet of elevation)\u00a0up to the summit.\u00a0 In just a few minutes, Lupe was there sniffing around a little building near the base of a tower at the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The tower and small building at the top of Cicero Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It turned out there were a few rocks W of the tower that were a little bit higher than where the tower sat.\u00a0 Lupe went over and stood on them to claim her first peakbagging success of the day.\u00a0 Not much of an accomplishment, really.\u00a0 The G6 had done all the real work.\u00a0 Still, Lupe was here, up at the top of Cicero Peak!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the highest rocks on Cicero Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the top of Cicero Peak was pretty heavily forested, there were places not far below the summit where there were some pretty nice views.\u00a0 From the little parking lot,\u00a0Lupe could see off\u00a0to the E.\u00a0 S of the summit was a great open view to the S.\u00a0 Except for a few peaks far to the W, Cicero Peak is the last peak this high this far S in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Lupe could see a long way, clear into Nebraska.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe could see a long way S from Cicero Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

USFS Road No. 338 was a lousy road to the top for the G6, but it made a great hiking trail.\u00a0 After\u00a0taking a shortcut\u00a0down through the forest W of the summit, Lupe and SPHP followed\u00a0No. 338\u00a0most of the way back down the mountain.<\/p>\n

Near the only possible vehicle turnaround point\u00a0along No. 338, Lupe and SPHP left\u00a0the road to climb a grassy slope.\u00a0 There were good views from here both back S toward Cicero Peak, and NE toward Lupe’s next peakbagging objective, Northeast Cicero Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe N of Cicero Peak. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe's<\/a>
Lupe’s next objective, Northeast Cicero Peak, is actually higher than Cicero Peak. Flynn Creek Road can be seen at the base of the mountain, especially toward the R. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the grassy slope, Lupe headed directly toward Northeast Cicero Peak.\u00a0 She went down the grassy slope, crossed USFS Road No. 338, and cut through a field dotted here and there with pines.\u00a0 She entered the forest again shortly before reaching USFS Road No. 336 (Flynn Creek Road).<\/p>\n

After crossing Flynn Creek Road at the bottom of the valley, Lupe started climbing NNW along a ridgeline.\u00a0 After a while, it was became apparent that this ridge was not going to be a very direct route up Northeast Cicero Peak.\u00a0 Lupe left the ridge, going down into the upper end of a draw.\u00a0 The draw\u00a0was forested lower down, but mostly open territory at the upper end where Lupe entered it.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0found a trail to follow\u00a0NNE up the other side of the draw.\u00a0\u00a0She ultimately arrived up on a saddle ridge running ESE\/WNW.<\/p>\n

Lupe was now WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak.\u00a0 From the saddle ridge, another higher ridge was visible to the ENE.\u00a0 Most of that ridge was barren.\u00a0 It looked like it had been ravaged by a forest fire at some point in the past.\u00a0 Was that\u00a0barren ridge\u00a0Daisy Peak<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(5,948 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>, Lupe’s 3rd peakbagging objective of the day?\u00a0 It seemed to be too close, but the ridge led N to a forested hill, which might well be Kruger Peak<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(5,838 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>, Lupe’s 4th peakbagging goal of the day.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the saddle ridge WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak. Photo looks ENE at another higher ridge that SPHP initially mistook for Daisy Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This<\/a>
This photo shows High Point 5999 (on the Peakbagger.com topo maps), which SPHP initially mistook for Kruger Peak. Photo looks N from the saddle ridge WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The saddle ridge WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak also provided a great view toward higher mountains to the N and NW.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking NNW from the saddle ridge WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak. Some of the highest peaks of the Black Hills are in view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After taking in the views from the saddle area, it was time for Lupe to continue on up Northeast Cicero Peak.\u00a0 From Cicero Peak, SPHP had noticed a large grassy area that extended\u00a0high up onto the SW part of the mountain.\u00a0 It couldn’t be too far away from where Lupe was now.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP set off heading SE to look for it.<\/p>\n

After crossing\u00a0a level\u00a0open area, Lupe had to climb steeply up through a thick forest of young trees where there was snow on the ground.\u00a0 Lupe emerged above the forest not far from the open area SPHP had seen from a distance.\u00a0 A short trek to the SW brought Lupe to it.\u00a0 There was a great view to the S of Cicero Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe SW of the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak. Photo looks S toward Cicero Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Back at Cicero Peak, SPHP had also caught a glimpse through the trees of an interesting little hill to the W\u00a0capped by a rock that looked very much like a broken tooth.\u00a0 SPHP had dubbed it “Cracked Molar”.\u00a0 From where Lupe was now, SW of the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak, there was a clear view of Cracked Molar.<\/p>\n

\""Cracked<\/a>
“Cracked Molar” from the SW slopes of Northeast Cicero Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the SW viewpoint, a 10 minute trek took Lupe up to the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak.\u00a0 The summit area was pretty broad and flat.\u00a0 Most of it was grassy, open ground.\u00a0 There was a little ridge of rocks just a\u00a0few feet high, and\u00a0several large boulders sitting around.\u00a0 There were great views in every direction, except to the S and SE where trees were in the way.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the little rock ridge on top of Northeast Cicero Peak. The boulder that is the true summit, can be seen beyond Lupe near the trees. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking W from Northeast Cicero Peak. SPHP still hasn’t figured out what mountains those high peaks seen above Lupe’s back on the far horizon are.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe perches comfortably up on the boulder that is the true summit of Northeast Cicero Peak. Beyond Lupe on the L side of the photo is a half forested (L side), half barren (R side) hill, which was Lupe’s next peakbagging goal, Daisy Peak. Mt. Coolidge is seen just L of the dead tree on the R side of this photo. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Daisy<\/a>
Daisy Peak (L) and Mt. Coolidge (R) from NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Harney<\/a>
Harney Peak<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (7,242 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> (L) is the highest point on the horizon. Custer Mountain is the forested hill seen just below and slightly to the R of Harney Peak. Daisy Peak is on the R side of the photo. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking N from Northeast Cicero Peak, SPHP really began to doubt that the high barren ridge and forested high point Lupe had seen from the saddle ridge down WNW of Northeast Cicero Peak were really Daisy and Kruger Peaks.\u00a0 They were just too close and easy to reach.\u00a0 On the other hand, if they weren’t Daisy and Kruger Peaks, where were they?\u00a0 Nothing else really stood out.<\/p>\n

SPHP pondered the point as Lupe headed NE following a ridge down off Northeast Cicero Peak.\u00a0 The going was kind of slow.\u00a0 Rocks, dead timber, and\u00a0scattered patches of snow were hidden in the grass.\u00a0 About halfway down to the next ridge (the one mistaken for Daisy Peak), SPHP stopped to check the maps.\u00a0 Lupe curled up near some rocks to enjoy the sunshine and get out of the breeze sweeping W across the ridgeline.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe takes a sunny break out of the wind NE of Northeast Cicero Peak while SPHP checks the maps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A look at the maps left no doubt.\u00a0 There was no way the high barren ridge Lupe was approaching was\u00a0Daisy Peak, nor was\u00a0the forested hill beyond it Kruger Peak.\u00a0 They had to be farther N, but another look in that direction left SPHP uncertain exactly which hills Lupe needed to head for.\u00a0 For a couple of minutes, SPHP considered just having Lupe turn around and return to the G6.<\/p>\n

Nah!\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t going to turn around.\u00a0\u00a0The area was scenic and interesting.\u00a0 SPHP would figure\u00a0out where Daisy and Kruger\u00a0Peaks were eventually.\u00a0 It was an adventure, in any case, and Lupe was having fun.\u00a0 Onward!<\/p>\n

The open ridge was a great place to be.\u00a0 There were views in every direction.\u00a0 Even well below the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak, Lupe was still quite high compared to much of the immediately surrounding terrain.\u00a0 There\u00a0continued to be\u00a0numerous rocks in the grass, though, and lots of fallen timber, too.\u00a0 To avoid tripping, SPHP had to\u00a0stand still\u00a0to look around.<\/p>\n

Lupe reached the SSE end of the barren ridge.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed for a small rocky prominence toward the NE.\u00a0 Time for a break.\u00a0 SPHP ate an apple, studied maps, and looked around trying to figure out where Daisy Peak was.\u00a0 Lupe had some Taste of the Wild.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the break spot near the SSE end of the barren ridge. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OK.\u00a0 SPHP had it figured out.\u00a0 Daisy Peak was in sight off to the N.\u00a0 It had to be that hill\u00a0well N beyond the forested hill SPHP had originally\u00a0mistaken for\u00a0Kruger Peak (actually High Point 5999).\u00a0 Kruger Peak wasn’t in view, but it was lower and probably hidden behind Daisy Peak.\u00a0 Now that it had been properly identified, from now on Daisy Peak was going to be easy to recognize.\u00a0 It was a rounded hill forested on the W side, and barren on the E side.<\/p>\n

Daisy Peak was still quite a long way off.\u00a0 Time to get moving.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP set off following the barren ridge NNW along the E side.\u00a0 Lupe eventually worked her way up to the\u00a0highest point on the ridge.\u00a0 She continued NNW along the ridgeline from there.<\/p>\n

The highest part of the barren ridge came to an end.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went W down a rocky slope toward a saddle leading up to High Point 5999.\u00a0 Partway down into the saddle, where the terrain became less rocky and not as steep, Lupe and SPHP paused.\u00a0 There were\u00a0good views back S\u00a0toward Northeast Cicero Peak, and N toward Daisy Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking SSW back at Northeast Cicero Peak from partway down into the saddle over to High Point 5999. Part of the ridge Lupe and SPHP had followed coming down to the NE from Northeast Cicero Peak is seen toward the L.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Daisy<\/a>
Daisy Peak is easily identifiable on the L. Lupe went all the way down to the bottom of the valley seen here on her way to climb Daisy Peak. Mt. Coolidge is the highest point on the R. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP could see that if Lupe continued following the spine of the saddle area up to High Point 5999, Lupe was going to have a long trek\u00a0over a lot of rough ground.\u00a0 She would eventually have to lose elevation anyway, to get to Daisy Peak.\u00a0 Instead of climbing High Point 5999, Lupe and SPHP left the saddle area going N down into a big valley.<\/p>\n

At first the route down was steep, rocky and full of dead timber.\u00a0 Gradually the going got easier.\u00a0\u00a0As Lupe approached a small forest in the valley, she came to a road.\u00a0 The road had been abandoned years ago.\u00a0 Trees were growing on it, but it made a great trail.<\/p>\n

At the far N end of the valley, Lupe reached an intersection with\u00a0another road going E\/W.\u00a0 A marker showed that Lupe had been on USFS Road No. 337.1B.\u00a0 She had just reached USFS Road No. 337.1A, although there was no marker saying so.\u00a0 Lupe turned W (L) following No. 337.1A past a hill (High Point 5706)\u00a0just to the N.<\/p>\n

By the time Lupe was SW of High Point 5706, she was back in the forest.\u00a0 Here No. 337.1A turned SW, but Daisy Peak was still off to the N beyond High Point No. 5706.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the road, and started climbing up the SW slope of High Point 5706.\u00a0 The terrain grew increasingly steep, and it became easier to just travel N along the slope.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP made it around High Point 5706 to the saddle that led up to Daisy Peak.\u00a0 Lupe went right on up the S slope to arrive at the summit.\u00a0 The true summit of Daisy Peak was out in the open near the S end of the summit ridge.\u00a0 There were good views from this grassy area\u00a0in every direction except to the W and NW.\u00a0 Mt. Coolidge<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (6,023 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was notable off to the NE.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on Daisy Peak. Photo looks NE toward Mt. Coolidge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mt.<\/a>
Mt. Coolidge from Daisy Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Northeast<\/a>
Northeast Cicero Peak from Daisy Peak. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking N from Daisy Peak, Lupe could finally see Kruger Peak.\u00a0 It wasn’t far off at all now, less than 0.5 mile.\u00a0 After a short rest break, Lupe headed N along the Daisy Peak summit ridge.\u00a0\u00a0Most of the ridge was forested, but at\u00a0the very\u00a0N end there was a great view of the big\u00a0Glen Erin Creek valley and Custer Mountain<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (6,089 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0beyond it.<\/p>\n

\"From<\/a>
From Daisy Peak, Lupe could finally see Kruger Peak. It is the next hill over, and about 110 feet lower than Daisy Peak. Harney Peak is the highest point on the horizon. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kruger<\/a>
Kruger Peak is the next mostly barren ridge dotted with small trees seen here to the N. The summit is in the larger trees toward the L side of this photo. Lupe was going over there next! Mt. Coolidge is seen on the R. Photo looks NNE from Daisy Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Custer<\/a>
Custer Mountain is the forested hill seen on the L beyond the big Glen Erin Creek valley. Photo looks NNW from the N end of Daisy Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To get to Kruger Peak, Lupe and SPHP started directly down the N slope of Daisy Peak.\u00a0 The going was slow, since the slope was fairly steep, snowy, and yet again\u00a0there was a considerable amount of dead\u00a0timber laying around.\u00a0 Lupe came across\u00a0an old road down in the saddle area between Daisy and Kruger Peaks, but didn’t follow it.\u00a0 Instead, she just continued right on up to a high rocky point at the W end of the Kruger Peak summit.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe perched on the highest rocks at the W end of Kruger Peak. This may not have been the true summit. Pictured between the trees is some ground to the E that looks slightly higher.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The rocks at the W end of Kruger Peak may not have been the true summit.\u00a0 There was an area a short distance E through the forest that was probably a little higher.\u00a0 Lupe went over there, too, to make certain she had reached the very top of the mountain.\u00a0 There were some rocks at the E high point, but\u00a0they weren’t\u00a0as impressive as those to the W.<\/p>\n

By climbing Kruger Peak, Lupe had completed her 4th and final peakbagging goal of the day.\u00a0\u00a0She wasn’t going to go any farther N beyond Kruger Peak.\u00a0 The G6 was now 4 miles to the SSW as the crow flies.\u00a0\u00a0The E high point (and probable true summit) of Kruger Peak seemed like a good place to stop and take a break.<\/p>\n

There was\u00a0another reason to stop, too.\u00a0\u00a0Coming up Kruger Peak, Lupe had started hearing gunfire from down in\u00a0the Glen Erin Creek valley to the W.\u00a0 It made her nervous, and she\u00a0had been begging\u00a0SPHP to stop and hide.\u00a0 So SPHP stopped and covered Lupe with a jacket so she would feel better.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0was happy and felt safe curled up under the jacket.\u00a0 SPHP ate an apple, checked the maps again,\u00a0and\u00a0took in\u00a0the\u00a0panoramic views\u00a0to the E.<\/p>\n

\"Daisy<\/a>
Daisy Peak from near the true summit of Kruger Peak. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe liked hiding under the jacket on Kruger Peak, but soon it was time to go.\u00a0 As SPHP led her down the E spine of the mountain, Lupe kept trying to persuade SPHP to stop again.\u00a0 Those big soft Carolina Dog ears could still hear gunfire far off to the W.\u00a0 The sun was starting to get low, though, and it was a long winding way back to the G6.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had to press on.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe well down the E spine of Kruger Peak. Daisy Peak is seen on the R. Lupe traveled from here down into the valley below and over the saddle seen E (L) of Daisy Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After losing quite a bit of elevation, Lupe and SPHP left the E\u00a0spine of Kruger Peak.\u00a0 Lupe headed S down into a valley where she saw lots of deer.\u00a0 She headed for\u00a0a saddle E of Daisy Peak.\u00a0 On the other side of the saddle, the land was forested and lost elevation again.\u00a0 Lupe had found a trail leading up to the saddle on the N side, and it continued down into the forest on the S side.<\/p>\n

\"Daisy<\/a>
Daisy Peak from the NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail eventually led to USFS Road No. 337.1A.\u00a0 Lupe turned WSW (R) on it.\u00a0 She passed the junction with No. 337.1B, which she had come down earlier before climbing Daisy Peak.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP just stayed on No. 337.1A all the way until it reached the main road, USFS Road No. 337.\u00a0 Although the sun was down by now, there were still a few active\u00a0squirrels in the trees along the way, so Lupe had some exciting times barking as twilight closed in.<\/p>\n

Just prior to reaching No. 337, Lupe came to half a dozen bearded men standing around a pickup truck.\u00a0 These were the first people Lupe and SPHP had seen since leaving the G6.\u00a0 The men\u00a0were drinking beer, and for some reason, putting little branches of spruce trees in the empty beer bottles so they stuck out as if they were Christmas trees.<\/p>\n

The men said they were from Custer.\u00a0 They weren’t hunters, just out drinking and talking in the woods\u00a0having a good time.\u00a0 They were\u00a0quite friendly.\u00a0 They\u00a0treated Lupe kindly and offered SPHP a beer, which was politely declined.\u00a0 SPHP chatted with them for a few minutes.\u00a0 They seemed truly surprised to find out where Lupe had been.<\/p>\n

Somewhere along USFS Road No. 337, Lupe got something stuck in her right ear.\u00a0 She kept shaking her head and scratching.\u00a0 SPHP tried to help her, but even with a flashlight\u00a0couldn’t see anything in her ear.\u00a0 SPHP scratched it for her, which she enjoyed, but it didn’t really help.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe kept scratching it herself whenever SPHP stopped for more than a moment.\u00a0\u00a0Her ear bothered her off and on the rest of the day.<\/p>\n

No. 337 led to No. 336 (Flynn Creek Road).\u00a0 No. 336 led to No. 338, the rocky road up to Cicero Peak.\u00a0 It was pitch dark by the time Lupe and SPHP reached No. 338.\u00a0 A red light could be seen up on the tower on Cicero Peak.\u00a0 As Lupe and SPHP made the trek up the mountain, SPHP threw 100 – 200 large loose rocks off to the side of the road, hoping to make the trip back down less\u00a0traumatic for the poor, abused G6.<\/p>\n

Before leaving Cicero Peak, Lupe and SPHP went all the way back up to the very highest rocks on the mountain, so Lupe could claim a 2nd ascent.\u00a0 At 6:06 PM (48\u00b0F), Lupe jumped into the G6 for the ride home.\u00a0 Despite SPHP’s rock clearing efforts, it still took 25 minutes to carefully drive the 1.5 miles back down the mountain, but the G6 emerged unscathed.<\/p>\n

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 109 was over.\u00a0 It was the last\u00a0expedition for SPHP and the 3 year old Carolina Dog.\u00a0 Tomorrow was Lupe’s 4th birthday.\u00a0 Lupe’s last day being 3 years old had been quite a day!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on her 4th birthday, 12-14-14.<\/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 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> or Master Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lupe was up before dawn.\u00a0 SPHP hadn’t gotten up early enough for Expedition No. 108\u00a0to take Lupe to Cicero Peak (6,166 ft.), and wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.\u00a0 The sun had yet to make an appearance, but sunrise was coming\u00a0as Lupe and SPHP headed out in the G6. By the time Lupe … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 109 – Cicero, Northeast Cicero, Daisy & Kruger Peaks (12-13-14)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4116,"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":[105,106,551,54,53,104,55,304],"class_list":["post-4141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-cicero-peak","tag-daisy-peak","tag-kruger-peak","tag-lupe","tag-northeast-cicero-peak","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/P1050739.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\/4141","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=4141"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28248,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4141\/revisions\/28248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}