{"id":5043,"date":"2016-03-31T08:10:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-31T14:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=5043"},"modified":"2020-09-22T14:14:10","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T20:14:10","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-163-deerfield-trail-no-40-silver-city-to-canyon-city-3-23-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=5043","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 163 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Silver City to Canyon City (3-23-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 4 years ago, when Lupe was just 13 months old, SPHP took her on her very first Black Hills, SD Expedition on 1-15-12.\u00a0 Lupe got to explore Deerfield Trail No. 40 from the Silver City trailhead going W up Rapid Creek past Canyon City all the way to the confluence of Rapid Creek and Slate Creek.\u00a0 Lupe had such a wonderful time, that Lupe and SPHP returned\u00a0to repeat the journey again a week later on 1-22-12.<\/p>\n

No photos exist from those earliest Black Hills, SD Expeditions, because SPHP hadn’t\u00a0brought\u00a0a camera along.\u00a0 However, Lupe and SPHP have returned to this portion of Deerfield Trail No. 40\u00a0a couple of times since then, simply because it is such a pleasant, easy (virtually no elevation gain), and scenic path along the largest stream in the Black Hills.<\/p>\n

On 3-23-16, Xochitl was back in the Black Hills.\u00a0 She wanted to go on a hike somewhere with Lupe and SPHP.\u00a0\u00a0Overnight, a spring snowstorm had dropped several inches of heavy, wet snow.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The initial plan was to\u00a0head\u00a0N from\u00a0the Deer Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89, but when\u00a0SPHP failed to\u00a0notify Xoch in time\u00a0to make the\u00a0turn to the Deer Creek trailhead, it seemed like a good idea to just continue on to Silver City, anyway.<\/p>\n

The sky was still gray and thickly overcast when Xochi, Lupe and SPHP reached the Silver City trailhead of Deerfield Trail No. 40.\u00a0 The scene was\u00a0a winter wonderland.\u00a0\u00a0Fresh, clean, white\u00a0snow\u00a0clung heavily to the dark pines. \u00a0Lupe got to blaze the way along the pristine path, sniffing along with her nose and half of her face buried down in the cold, white stuff.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe in a winter wonderland on Deerfield Trail No. 40, shortly after setting out from the Silver City trailhead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Xochitl<\/a>
Xochitl joined Lupe and SPHP on Expedition No. 163. It was really her idea to go!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Xoch<\/a>
Xoch looking good on the trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deerfield Trail No. 40 crosses Rapid Creek a number of times on the way from Silver City\u00a0to Canyon City.\u00a0 Very nice sturdy\u00a0bridges are at each crossing.\u00a0\u00a0The bridges make it\u00a0possible to go all the way\u00a0to Canyon City and beyond to the confluence of Slate Creek and Rapid Creek without fording the stream.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on one of the sturdy, wide footbridges over Rapid Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Rapid Creek from the bridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Xoch, Lupe and SPHP were in no particular rush.\u00a0 It’s only a\u00a0little more than 2 miles on the trail from the Silver City trailhead to Canyon City.\u00a0 There was plenty of time to enjoy the quiet solitude and snowy\u00a0scenes.\"Deerfield<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Xoch in her new North Face coat and boots. She was plenty warm and comfortable. Temps were in the upper 20’s \u00b0F, not too far below freezing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another bridge over Rapid Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Xoch sends greetings to SPHP and all of Lupe’s fans.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Xoch<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A look along the length of the bridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loopster on the same bridge, but looking back the other direction.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maybe half way to Canyon City, there is a lovely American Dingo cave right along Deerfield Trail No. 40.\u00a0 The cave doesn’t look natural.\u00a0 It was probably excavated\u00a0in connection with some\u00a0exploratory mining dig many years ago.\u00a0 The cave only goes back 20 feet or so into the rock, but that’s plenty of room to keep a Dingo out of inclement weather.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking out from the American Dingo cave.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe agrees this Dingo cave has lots of good features including 20 feet of solid rock protection from inclement weather, a beautiful view, and convenient location along Deerfield Trail No. 40, plus fresh running water year round from Rapid Creek! Even so, Lupe indicated she wanted to know a little more about the local squirrel population before deciding to move in.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shortly before reaching Canyon City, there is one minor side channel of Rapid Creek to be crossed without the benefit of a bridge.\u00a0 Once across, Canyon City is only another couple hundred yards upstream.<\/p>\n

\"Xoch<\/a>
Xoch and Lupe arrive at the edge of the little side channel (L) of Rapid Creek prior to reaching Canyon City.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe gets some love from Xoch. Carolina Dogs give lots of love, and enjoy being on the receiving end, too.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although it might be tricky crossing the side channel when water levels are unusually high, there were plenty of snow-covered stepping stones providing an easy way across this day.\u00a0 Xochi, Lupe and SPHP all crossed, and were soon at Canyon City.<\/p>\n

There’s nothing really at Canyon City these days, except an intersection with a trail coming down to Deerfield Trail No. 40 and Rapid Creek from the end of USFS Road No. 142 about 0.25 mile to the N\u00a0in\u00a0Kelly Draw.\u00a0 The confluence of Rapid Creek and Slate Creek was another 0.33 mile upstream, but Canyon City was as far as Xochitl, Lupe and SPHP went on Expedition No. 163.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Xochitl near a big rock formation at Canyon City.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Xochi<\/a>
Xochi and Lupe at Canyon City. Photo looks N along the trail to USFS Road No. 142 in Kelly Gulch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Xochitl, Lupe and SPHP returned to the G6 back along the same route on Deerfield Trail No. 40.\u00a0 Lupe found a bird or squirrel to bark at up in some trees along the way.\u00a0 A little Carolina Dog barking echoing in the canyon helped make the day complete.<\/p>\n

The trek back in the peaceful, secluded woods was both beautiful and relaxing.\u00a0 Lupe, Xochitl and SPHP shared a great time together on the trail at winter’s end.\u00a0 Lots of new changes, challenges and adventures were in store ahead, but for a little while, none of that mattered yet.\"Xoch<\/a>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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Deerfield Trail No. 40<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than 4 years ago, when Lupe was just 13 months old, SPHP took her on her very first Black Hills, SD Expedition on 1-15-12.\u00a0 Lupe got to explore Deerfield Trail No. 40 from the Silver City trailhead going W up Rapid Creek past Canyon City all the way to the confluence of Rapid Creek … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 163 – Deerfield Trail No. 40: Silver City to Canyon City (3-23-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5041,"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":[105,9,595,106,593,104,594,304,596],"class_list":["post-5043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-canyon-city","tag-carolina-dog","tag-deerfield-trail-no-40","tag-lupe","tag-silver-city","tag-south-dakota","tag-xochitl"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_0542.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\/5043","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=5043"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5043\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28285,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5043\/revisions\/28285"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}