{"id":4753,"date":"2016-03-03T08:10:19","date_gmt":"2016-03-03T15:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=4753"},"modified":"2020-09-22T13:26:40","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T19:26:40","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-158-echo-peak-tepee-peak-eagle-mountain-2-28-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=4753","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 158 – Echo Peak, Tepee Peak & Eagle Mountain (2-28-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even though it was\u00a0a gorgeous day, within a minute of\u00a0eagerly hopping out of\u00a0the G6, Lupe hopped right back in.\u00a0 She didn’t want to get back out either.\u00a0 She’d heard gunfire.\u00a0 It was distant, way off to the NW, but almost continuous.<\/p>\n

If there is anything Lupe hates, it is the sound of gunfire.\u00a0 As far as Lupe was concerned, she would rather forego her chance to roam the Black Hills than risk being shot.\u00a0 Lupe felt safe curled up inside the G6.\u00a0 SPHP could just go on without her.<\/p>\n

For a few minutes, SPHP let Lupe be.\u00a0 The G6 was parked at the start of USFS Road No. 366.1 near its junction with South Rockerville Road (11:06 AM, 49\u00b0F).\u00a0 While Lupe hid out, SPHP walked over to take a look at Battle Creek.\u00a0 It wasn’t real big, but did have some flow.\u00a0 Lupe would enjoy getting a drink out of it now and then, once she got going.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Battle Creek near the junction of USFS Road No. 366.1 and South Rockerville Road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even though it was only natural and sensible\u00a0for Lupe to want to hide until the gunfire stopped, there wasn’t any real danger that she was going to get shot.\u00a0 She was 3 miles SSE of an area where people often target practice.\u00a0 It would go on all day, on a nice day like today.\u00a0 Lupe would just have to get used to it.<\/p>\n

SPHP returned to the G6, and opened a door hoping Lupe was ready to go by now.\u00a0 No way!\u00a0 She wasn’t leaving her G6 fortress, not even with SPHP’s encouragement.\u00a0 For a few minutes, Lupe moved from seat to seat trying to stay as far away from SPHP circling the G6 as possible.\u00a0 Finally, SPHP managed to get her out.<\/p>\n

Lupe wanted to get back in, but the doors of the G6 were now shut.\u00a0 SPHP started up the road.\u00a0 Reluctantly, Lupe followed.\u00a0 At least she felt a little safer close to SPHP.\u00a0 All day long she was like SPHP’s shadow.\u00a0 Hardly any running around or exploring on her own, she just stuck to SPHP like glue.\u00a0 Now and then a squirrel managed to get her attention, but not very often.<\/p>\n

Reluctantly or not, Lupe was on her way.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP followed No. 366.1 NW up Tepee Gulch.\u00a0 The whole area was very pretty.\u00a0 Battle Creek flowed down\u00a0a forested valley hemmed in on both sides by\u00a0big rock formations.\u00a0 There were quite a few fords across the creek, but it was easy to just leap over it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe in Tepee Gulch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe’s first peakbagging goal of the day was Echo Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,790 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Echo Peak was only about one mile NNW of the G6, so after Lupe had gone about 0.5 mile along USFS Road No. 366.1, it was time to start looking for it.\u00a0 Down in Tepee Gulch, it was hard to tell which hill might be Echo Peak.\u00a0 Lupe would have to start climbing.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP left USFS Road No. 366.1, crossed Battle Creek and headed N up\u00a0a side road marked No. 6501.\u00a0 This ATV trail was very rough and deeply rutted, but gained elevation as it left Tepee Gulch passing between two hills.\u00a0 When the road looked like it was soon going to level out, Lupe turned NW up a side ravine.\u00a0 She went only a little way up\u00a0the ravine\u00a0before turning N\u00a0to climb up onto the SE end of a ridge.<\/p>\n

The ridge was so heavily forested, it wasn’t possible to see anything except trees.\u00a0 SPHP thought Echo Peak still had to be somewhere off to the NW, so Lupe started off in that direction.\u00a0 Within just a few minutes, SPHP spotted a relative high point toward the W where there was a rock outcropping.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went over to investigate.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the big rock outcropping at the first high point. Echo Peak is seen on the R. Way in the distance on the L is a side view of Mt. Rushmore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Off to the W was a somewhat higher forested hill.\u00a0 It didn’t look terribly impressive, but SPHP was pretty certain it must be Echo Peak.\u00a0 There was no direct route to it, but it\u00a0appeared that\u00a0Lupe could continue NW and then turn SW to get over there.<\/p>\n

More interesting than Echo Peak, was the view to the SW.\u00a0 Off in the distance was a side view of Mt. Rushmore<\/a><\/span> (5,725 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Mt.<\/a>
Mt. Rushmore (R) from the high point E of Echo Peak. Photo looks SW using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP left the first high point continuing NW through the forest.\u00a0 Pretty soon, Lupe reached another high point where there was another rock formation, but the views weren’t as good as\u00a0from the first high point.\u00a0 However, it did look pretty easy to traverse a little saddle to the SW\u00a0to reach Echo Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe among the rocks at the 2nd high point NE of Echo Peak. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This second high point also featured\u00a0some more big rocks\u00a0a bit farther NW.\u00a0 Lupe went to check them out.\u00a0 There were partial views off to the NW, but for a really clear view, Lupe would have to climb up on the scariest high rocks.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP decided to skip it, and just continue on to Echo Peak.<\/p>\n

It didn’t take long for Lupe and SPHP to get there.\u00a0 The mountain had looked so heavily forested from the first high point, SPHP wasn’t at all certain there would be any decent views from Echo Peak, but it turned out there were.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the summit of Echo Peak! Echo Peak featured some nice views after all. This photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Silver<\/a>
Silver Mountain from Echo Peak. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A beautiful American Dingo surveys the situation from up on Echo Peak. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Silver<\/a>
Silver Mountain (L) and Boulder Hill (R). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe could see quite a long way to the S and SE from the top of\u00a0Echo Peak.\u00a0 There was another nice view of Silver Mountain<\/a><\/span> (5,405 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Boulder Hill<\/a><\/span> (5,331 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> off to the NW.\u00a0 The most important view, though, was off to the W.\u00a0 Lupe had two more peakbagging objectives in that direction.\u00a0 Until SPHP saw the view to the W,\u00a0it still wasn’t even certain yet that\u00a0Lupe was actually on Echo Peak.<\/p>\n

She was!\u00a0 Off to the W were the two mountains SPHP had hoped to see – Tepee Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,800 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and Eagle Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,254 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 There was no doubt now that Lupe was on Echo Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Eagle<\/a>
Eagle Mountain (Center) and Tepee Peak (R) from Echo Peak. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tepee<\/a>
Tepee Peak is in the foreground on the R. Eagle Mountain dominates on the L. The view of Eagle Mountain was a bit concerning. Would Lupe be able to climb that big rock formation to the top? Photo taken with the telephoto lens looking W from Echo Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tepee Peak is almost the exact same elevation as Echo Peak, and looked like an easy climb.\u00a0 Eagle Mountain, however, was 450 ft. higher.\u00a0 The huge rock outcropping at the N end was concerning.\u00a0 It didn’t look like anything Lupe could climb.\u00a0 Maybe there was a way up, though.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP would just have to check it out when Lupe got there.<\/p>\n

After a short break on Echo Peak, Lupe and SPHP started NW on the way to Tepee Peak, Lupe’s next peakbagging objective.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A final look at the summit area of Echo Peak before Lupe departed. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Going NW down Echo Peak started out just fine, but as Lupe lost elevation, the mountain got steeper and steeper.\u00a0 SPHP decided it looked easier going SW instead.\u00a0 It was better, but still pretty steep for a while.\u00a0 Lupe lost about 350 ft. of elevation going down Echo Peak before she reached Battle Creek again\u00a0down in the valley.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe hopped into Battle Creek right away for a good long drink.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Battle Creek in the valley between Echo and Tepee Peaks. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After getting a good long drink out of Battle Creek, Lupe crossed it and started climbing Tepee Peak from the E.\u00a0 Parts of Tepee Peak were not nearly as heavily forested as Echo Peak had been.\u00a0 There were signs of fire on some of the trees.\u00a0 Fewer trees meant better views.\u00a0 The best view as Lupe climbed up the E slope was of Silver Mountain and Boulder Hill to the N.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking N at Silver Mountain (L) and Boulder Hill (R) from the upper E slopes of Tepee Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As anticipated, it was a pretty easy trek up to the top of Tepee Peak.\u00a0 Lupe approached the summit from the NE.\u00a0 The top of the mountain was forested to the N, but there were good views in other directions.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP shared a chocolate coconut granola bar, while enjoying the views.\u00a0 The\u00a0big rock formation at the summit of Eagle Mountain didn’t look any easier to climb from here than it had from Echo Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the summit of Tepee Peak. Harney Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(L) is seen in the distance to the SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Eagle<\/a>
Eagle Mountain from Tepee Peak. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Echo Peak (L) from Tepee Peak. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Echo<\/a>
Echo Peak is in the foreground just R of center. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had now completed 2 of her 3 peakbagging objectives for the day, Echo Peak and Tepee Peak.\u00a0 Her most challenging objective, Eagle Mountain, was still ahead.\u00a0 SPHP was really beginning to have doubts whether Lupe could actually reach the true summit of Eagle Mountain.\u00a0 Even if she couldn’t, though, it was clear she could get pretty close easily enough.<\/p>\n

There wasn’t an easy way down off Tepee Peak going W.\u00a0 It was just too steep in that direction.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went down heading SE.\u00a0 Lupe had to lose quite a bit of elevation before reaching the valley to the S.\u00a0 Once she got there, she turned NW and started following a faint road up to the saddle just W of Tepee Peak.<\/p>\n

When Lupe reached the saddle, there were barbed wire fences.\u00a0 A camper could be seen parked a short distance ahead\u00a0among the trees.\u00a0 Lupe was more interested in the 4 deer that scampered away up the barren hill to the W.\u00a0 She had to stay and wait for SPHP, though.\u00a0\u00a0SPHP was busy picking up beer cans and a couple of broken bottles.\u00a0\u00a0Beer drinkers are the messiest\u00a0and most adventurous people alive.<\/p>\n

From the saddle just W of Tepee Peak, Lupe and SPHP climbed up along the mostly barren rocky ridge line.\u00a0 SPHP lifted Lupe over one dangerous downed barbed wire fence.\u00a0 There must have been a considerable amount of private property in this region.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started seeing private homes and cabins down in the valley to the N, and later on to the W.<\/p>\n

Lupe crossed two good gravel roads.\u00a0 From the second and higher one, Eagle Mountain was now looming close to the NW.\u00a0 It still didn’t look encouraging.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Near the 2nd and higher gravel road, Eagle Mountain loomed just to the NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"That<\/a>
That summit block just didn’t look encouraging. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe crossed the second good gravel road and followed a steep jeep trail up the SE slope of Eagle Mountain.\u00a0 The jeep trail ended before reaching the top.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP continued climbing.\u00a0 Lupe’s first objective was the high point at the S end of Eagle Mountain.\u00a0 It clearly wasn’t going to be as high as the summit block at the N end, but it wasn’t all that much lower.\u00a0 It might be as high as Lupe could get.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the high point at the S end of the summit ridge on Eagle Mountain. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Lupe reached the high point at the S end of the summit ridge, the situation didn’t look any more encouraging.\u00a0 The summit ridge wasn’t all that long, but it was\u00a0quite rocky, and not very wide.\u00a0 After spending a little time relaxing at the S end, it was time for Lupe to go N.\u00a0 Lupe had often found that there were ways up rock formations that looked pretty imposing from most directions.<\/p>\n

Lupe came to a place where there was a\u00a0nice glimpse to the W toward Hardesty and Samelius Peaks, and Mount Warner.<\/p>\n

\"Hardesty<\/a>
Hardesty Peak<\/a><\/span> (5,562 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L), Samelius Peak<\/a><\/span> (5,856 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) and Mount Warner<\/a><\/span> (5,889 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R) from Eagle Mountain. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe lost a little elevation as she followed the summit ridge N.\u00a0 She came to a rocky spire that forced her around to the W.\u00a0 When Lupe got around the rocky spire, she was confronted by Eagle Mountain’s N summit block.\u00a0 It was probably 25-30 ft. higher than where Lupe had been at the S end of the mountain.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe with a crazed look in her eyes as she nears the N summit block on Eagle Mountain. “You don’t seriously expect me to climb that thing, do you SPHP?” Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP reached\u00a0the S end of the N summit block.\u00a0 Any decent rock climber could probably go right on up, but it looked beyond anything Lupe and SPHP could tackle.\u00a0 The E side of the summit block was even worse, a sheer drop that was\u00a0completely out of the question.\u00a0 However, it looked like there might possibly be a\u00a0route up from the W.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP scrambled over to the W side of the summit block.\u00a0 It turned out the possible route up was an illusion.\u00a0 There was no way up.\u00a0 A glance toward the N didn’t look the least bit promising either.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t going to get to the true summit of Eagle Mountain.\u00a0 That success would have to await some adventurous rock climber on another day.<\/p>\n

\"Eagle<\/a>
Eagle Mountain summit block from the SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"From<\/a>
From the W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
From the S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, that was it.\u00a0 No Eagle Mountain summit success for Lupe, although she probably got within 25 feet of the top.\u00a0 Well, 2 out of 3 peakbagging goals accomplished wasn’t too bad.<\/p>\n

Lupe seemed cheerful enough.\u00a0 She was as bright-eyed and happy as ever.\u00a0 Exploring Eagle Mountain had still been an adventure!\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP returned to the S end of the summit ridge for a final look.\u00a0 Then it was back down the SE slopes the way Lupe had come up.<\/p>\n

\"Silver<\/a>
Silver Mountain from along the Eagle Mountain summit ridge. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking SE from the SE slopes of Eagle Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP followed the same route back until Lupe was getting close to the saddle area just W of Tepee Peak.\u00a0 There, she left the ridgeline, and headed SE down into a little draw filled with young aspens.\u00a0 SPHP lifted her over the dangerous downed barbed wire fence again.<\/p>\n

\"Silver<\/a>
Silver Mountain from the SE slopes of Eagle Mountain. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tepee<\/a>
Tepee Peak from the aspen-filled draw. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Lupe the best part of the day was just beginning.\u00a0 The sun was getting low, and the gunfire was finally\u00a0starting to taper off.\u00a0 She was now going away from it, and down where she couldn’t hear it as clearly.\u00a0 Lupe resumed her normal behavior on a Black Hills expedition.\u00a0 She ran through the forest, going up and down the hills, sniffing and checking for squirrels.<\/p>\n

SE of Tepee Peak, Lupe and SPHP reached Battle Creek again.\u00a0 As Lupe continued downstream, she came to a road which started as a rough trail, but gradually improved.\u00a0 The quiet valley was beautiful in the fading light.\u00a0 Lupe found several really nice dispersed camping sites along Battle Creek.\u00a0 SPHP collected plenty of Lupe Treasures in the form of\u00a0beer cans and other trash.<\/p>\n

Battle Creek led Lupe back to USFS Road No. 366.1 again.\u00a0\u00a0Now it was an easy stroll back to the G6\u00a0(5:34 PM, 41\u00b0F).\u00a0\u00a0The\u00a0reluctant\u00a0American Dingo\u00a0had made it to the top of Echo and Tepee Peaks, but Eagle Mountain\u00a0still belongs to the eagles.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\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<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span>.<\/em><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even though it was\u00a0a gorgeous day, within a minute of\u00a0eagerly hopping out of\u00a0the G6, Lupe hopped right back in.\u00a0 She didn’t want to get back out either.\u00a0 She’d heard gunfire.\u00a0 It was distant, way off to the NW, but almost continuous. If there is anything Lupe hates, it is the sound of gunfire.\u00a0 As far … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 158 – Echo Peak, Tepee Peak & Eagle Mountain (2-28-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4724,"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":[105,9,106,576,574,104,304,575],"class_list":["post-4753","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-eagle-mountain","tag-echo-peak","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-tepee-peak"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_0353.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\/4753","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=4753"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28280,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4753\/revisions\/28280"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}