{"id":5071,"date":"2017-09-10T08:10:29","date_gmt":"2017-09-10T14:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=5071"},"modified":"2020-09-21T14:29:46","modified_gmt":"2020-09-21T20:29:46","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-98-the-northern-hills-day-of-deterioration-10-2-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=5071","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 98 – The Northern Hills Day of Deterioration (10-2-14)"},"content":{"rendered":"

About 5 miles SW of Lead in the northern Black Hills, SPHP found a spot to park the G6 (9:59 AM, 45\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe started\u00a0Expedition No. 98\u00a0along the E side of USFS Road No. 194 a short distance N of Hwy 85.\u00a0 The skies were blue, the air was calm, and the cool morning air felt good.\u00a0 The forecast called for a high in the low 60’s \u00b0F (although at lower elevations) with an outside chance (20%) of rain.<\/p>\n

Deer Mountain<\/a><\/span> (6,652 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, site of a local downhill ski resort, was only 0.5 mile away.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP followed No. 194 N gaining elevation,\u00a0but soon left\u00a0the road to turn NE and head up through the forest toward the summit.\u00a0 The climb was moderately steep, but not terribly long.\u00a0 The day had hardly started when\u00a0Lupe and SPHP arrived\u00a0on top of Deer Mountain.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe arrives at the chair lift on top of Deer Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
There was quite a view to the NE toward the town of Lead, SD from the top of Deer Mountain. The view might be particularly impressive when conditions are all white and right for skiing. Since Carolina Dogs hardly ever go skiing, Lupe was happier with this beautiful, sunny morning. The only thing disappointing about Deer Mountain to Lupe was that there weren’t any deer. However, she did see a jackrabbit. Lupe now thinks of Deer Mountain as Jackrabbit Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Although<\/a>
Although Deer Mountain at 6,652 ft. is a pretty high peak for the Black Hills, Terry Peak 2 miles to the N is even higher at 7,064 ft. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP left Deer Mountain heading N back down to USFS Road No. 194.\u00a0 Terry Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,064 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, site of another downhill ski resort just 2 miles N of Deer Mountain, was Lupe’s next peakbagging goal.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the N slopes of Deer Mountain with Terry Peak in the background. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Terry<\/a>
Terry Peak using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP followed No. 194 almost all the way up to the top of Terry Peak.\u00a0 It would have been possible to drive up, although the road did deteriorate some toward the end.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking SSE from USFS Road No. 194 a little below the summit of Terry Peak. Custer Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the pointy peak on the L. Harney Peak<\/a> <\/span>(7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is on the far horizon near the center. Deer Mountain is the rounded hill in the foreground on the R.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The top of Terry Peak is cluttered with assorted towers, metal buildings, and power lines.\u00a0 The ski facilities are a bit lower down toward the NE.\u00a0 An apparently abandoned\u00a0lookout tower sits at the very summit.\u00a0 A\u00a0huge observation deck with 2 different stairways up to it\u00a0crowned the entire building.<\/p>\n

The lookout tower’s appearance\u00a0was suffering from a lack of maintenance, but there wasn’t anything wrong with the views from the\u00a0platform on top!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe up on top of the Terry Peak lookout tower. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Low<\/a>
Low gray clouds were starting to pass over the Terry Peak lookout tower while Lupe was up on the observation deck. It became quite windy and cool as each cloud sailed by overhead. This photo looks WNW. The long distant ridge on the R is part of the Black Hills in Wyoming known as the Bear Lodge Mountains.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking N at the Terry Peak lookout tower after Lupe came down off the viewing platform. Some of the clouds were starting to look pretty dark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP enjoyed 360\u00b0 views from the huge observation deck.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP lingered up there for a while, but the weather started to deteriorate.\u00a0 The skies had been\u00a0mostly clear earlier in the morning, but now puffy white clouds were sailing by.\u00a0 Some of them were pretty big.\u00a0\u00a0Each cloud brought a\u00a0cold wind with it.\u00a0 The sky started to darken.\u00a0 The clouds kept getting bigger and grayer.<\/p>\n

Lupe wanted to get down out of the wind.\u00a0 SPHP finally agreed.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the observation deck, and\u00a0wandered over to the base of a\u00a0tall tower to the N for a look at a couple of Lupe’s next peakbagging goals without towers in the way.<\/p>\n

\"Foley<\/a>
Foley Mountain hardly even looks like a hill looking down from Terry Peak. The top of Foley Mountain was in the trees beyond and to the R of the white building near the center of this photo. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bald<\/a>
Bald Mountain at least looked like a hill from Terry Peak. It is the rounded hill with all the dead trees on it just R of center in the foreground. The hill beyond it is Mount Theodore Roosevelt<\/a><\/span> (5,680 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had originally planned for Lupe to head down the N slope of Terry Peak to Foley Mountain<\/a> (6,640 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span>, but there appeared to be a lot of private property in the area.\u00a0 The weather continued to deteriorate, too.\u00a0 Maybe it was best not to get too far from the G6.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP returned to USFS Road No. 194, and followed it all the way back to the G6 (1:24 PM, 54\u00b0F).\u00a0 Along the way, Lupe was pelted a number of time with crusty, round snow granules.\u00a0 None of these snow showers lasted very long, and there was no accumulation.\u00a0 The snow granules all melted as they hit the ground.<\/p>\n

SPHP had been gathering Lupe Treasures along No. 194.\u00a0 After depositing them in the trunk of the G6 for future recycling, Lupe and SPHP got in and headed NW on Hwy 85 to Nevada Gulch Road.\u00a0 SPHP drove all the way up to the Barefoot Resort<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, which had been visible from Terry Peak.<\/p>\n

The Barefoot\u00a0Resort seemed to\u00a0be quite close to the top of Foley Mountain.\u00a0 SPHP found an empty parking lot behind a long, low\u00a0building and parked the G6\u00a0(1:41 PM, 45\u00b0F).\u00a0 Almost as soon as Lupe and SPHP left the car, someone started shooting guns close by.\u00a0 Lupe bolted back into the safety of the G6.\u00a0 Fortunately, the gunfire didn’t last long.\u00a0 After a few minutes of silence, SPHP managed to persuade the doubtful Dingo to come back out.<\/p>\n

The long building seemed to be abandoned.\u00a0 Although there was a nice big gravel parking lot behind it, when Lupe and SPHP went around to the front to get a look at Terry Peak, the yard was nothing but thistles and tall weeds.\u00a0 There was a pretty good close-up view of Terry Peak from the NNW, though.<\/p>\n

\"Terry<\/a>
Terry Peak from the NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP went back behind the building.\u00a0 A gravel road\u00a0headed uphill going N out of the\u00a0parking lot into the forest.\u00a0\u00a0After about 100 yards, the road ended near more buildings.\u00a0 There was still slightly higher ground to the N, so Lupe left the road\u00a0and went on\u00a0through the forest.<\/p>\n

After about 5 minutes, Lupe reached a fairly big rock outcropping.\u00a0 This appeared to be the summit of Foley Mountain.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP scrambled up easily enough.\u00a0 From up on top, it was clear that this rock formation was, indeed, the summit.\u00a0 A 3″ diameter capped pipe stuck up out of the ground at the very highest point.\u00a0 Lupe got up next to it to claim her 3rd peakbagging success of the day.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the summit of Foley Mountain. The summit area was all forested, so there weren’t any views.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since the top of Foley Mountain was all forested, there weren’t any clear views.\u00a0 There was little reason for Lupe and SPHP to linger.\u00a0 After peering between the trees as much as possible, it was time to go.\u00a0 Lupe scrambled back down off the rock formation.\u00a0 Within 10 minutes, she was back at the G6 (2:16 PM, 44\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on her way down the rock formation at the top of Foley Mountain. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By now the sky was overcast.\u00a0 A chill breeze blew.\u00a0 Lupe still had a 4th peakbagging goal, Bald Mountain<\/a><\/span> (6,617 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Bald Mountain was only a mile to the E, but Wharf\u00a0Resources had gold mining operations between Bald Mountain and Foley Mountain.\u00a0\u00a0SPHP would have to drive to a better access point.\u00a0 Along the way, Lupe and SPHP stopped at a pullout along Nevada Gulch Road\u00a0with a good view of Bald Mountain.<\/p>\n

\"Bald<\/a>
Bald Mountain from a pullout near Foley Mountain along Nevada Gulch Road. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had to drive quite a distance down Nevada Gulch Road to find a decent place to park the G6.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started back up Nevada Gulch Road on paw and foot.\u00a0 It wasn’t too far to a side road with a sign for Lost Miner’s Lodge.\u00a0 After a short trek along this side road, Lupe turned N\u00a0climbing up the forested S slope of\u00a0Bald Mountain.\u00a0 Lupe crossed a couple more roads along the way, but they appeared to be seldom, if ever, used.<\/p>\n

The drive down Nevada Gulch Road had lost a lot of elevation.\u00a0 Lupe had to gain over 850 feet to reach the summit of Bald Mountain.\u00a0 As Lupe neared the\u00a0top\u00a0of the mountain,\u00a0the terrain started to level out.\u00a0 Meanwhile, snow showers started in again.\u00a0 This time they were heavier and lasted longer than the ones after Lupe left Terry Peak.\u00a0 There still wasn’t any accumulation, however.<\/p>\n

Finally, Lupe reached the top of Bald Mountain.\u00a0 It really hadn’t been a bad climb.\u00a0 Although traffic could be heard from down on Nevada Gulch Road,\u00a0Bald Mountain still\u00a0seemed much wilder than anywhere else Lupe had been this day.\u00a0 Quite a few trees on the summit had fallen over, killed by mountain pine bark beetles.\u00a0 Consequently, it was possible to get a bit of a view in some directions.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on top of Bald Mountain. She collected a lot of burrs in her tail on the way up! Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe seems to have thought of something absolutely hilarious, but she didn’t let SPHP in on the joke.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The top of Bald Mountain also featured a 3″ diameter pipe. This pipe was taller than the one on Foley Mountain, painted white, and uncapped. Photo looks SW toward Terry Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The summit\u00a0area on\u00a0Bald Mountain was large and flat.\u00a0 It was hard to tell where the exact highest point might be.\u00a0 Lupe found a pipe sticking up out of the ground.\u00a0 Just like on Foley Mountain, the pipe seemed to be at about the highest point around.<\/p>\n

The views\u00a0from Bald Mountain weren’t the greatest.\u00a0 Too many trees were still standing.\u00a0 Pretty soon, it was time to leave.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started back down the S slope again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe shortly after starting back down the S slope of Bald Mountain. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The snow showers held off while Lupe was up on top of\u00a0Bald Mountain, but shortly after she started back down, the snow started in again.\u00a0 This time the snow showers persisted much longer.\u00a0 The ground started to turn white.<\/p>\n

As Lupe lost elevation, though, the snow turned to rain.\u00a0 Lupe was cold and soaking wet by the time she got back to the G6 (4:33 PM, 39\u00b0F).\u00a0 SPHP turned on the heater full blast, and put a jacket over Lupe to help her warm up.<\/p>\n

The burrs in Lupe’s tail must have been bugging her.\u00a0 As SPHP drove to Lead, Lupe started tearing burrs out of her fur with her teeth.\u00a0 SPHP found a place to park in Lead, and commenced to help Lupe\u00a0get rid of the pesky\u00a0burrs.\u00a0 Lupe had a few hundred burrs in her fur, so it took quite a while.\u00a0 By the time de-burring operations were over, the windows of the G6 were all fogged up.\u00a0 De-fogging operations began.<\/p>\n

It was still raining.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP stopped by a Subway in Lead.\u00a0 After sharing a sandwich, despite the conditions, Lupe and SPHP made a quick trip up one more mountain.\u00a0 It was cold, windy and snowing hard when Lupe left the G6 at 5:45 PM (32\u00b0F).\u00a0 The mountaintop wasn’t far away, but by the time Lupe reached it, blizzard conditions had set in.<\/p>\n

Snow was piling up fast.\u00a0 The wind absolutely howled.\u00a0\u00a0Fog and\u00a0developing darkness made it hard to see, especially while being pelted by the driven snow.\u00a0 Lupe flattened her soft ears and posed for one last peakbagging photo.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP were both freezing.\u00a0 A mad dash back to the G6 ensued (6:16 PM, 32\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

Well, Loopster, that was quite a day!\u00a0 Five peaks climbed!\u00a0 Think we will call this one the Northern Hills Day of Deterioration!<\/em><\/p>\n

A cold, sodden Carolina Dog stared back at SPHP.\u00a0 Think I’ll just call you nuts!<\/em>\"Lupe<\/a><\/p>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

About 5 miles SW of Lead in the northern Black Hills, SPHP found a spot to park the G6 (9:59 AM, 45\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe started\u00a0Expedition No. 98\u00a0along the E side of USFS Road No. 194 a short distance N of Hwy 85.\u00a0 The skies were blue, the air was calm, and the cool morning air felt … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 98 – The Northern Hills Day of Deterioration (10-2-14)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5069,"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":[105,149,9,106,350,598,104,304,597],"class_list":["post-5071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-bald-mountain","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-deer-mountain","tag-foley-mountain","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-terry-peak"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/P1050546.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\/5071","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=5071"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21712,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5071\/revisions\/21712"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}