{"id":51736,"date":"2024-03-25T08:10:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T14:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=51736"},"modified":"2024-06-13T09:22:04","modified_gmt":"2024-06-13T15:22:04","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-317-minnesota-ridge-to-greens-gulch-10-7-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=51736","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 317 – Minnesota Ridge to Greens Gulch (10-7-23)"},"content":{"rendered":"

10:31 AM, 57\u00baF<\/em> – It was the 2nd day of Cousin Dixie, Uncle Joe, and Aunt Andrea’s stay at Hotel Lupe.\u00a0 As usual, once Andrea left to spend the day with Grandma; Joe, Dixie, Lupe, and SPHP had all piled into the RAV4.\u00a0 Now it was parked near the N end of USFS Road No. 203, a little S of the junction with No. 256.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Near the N end of USFS Road No. 203<\/strong>, aka Minnesota Ridge Road<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although signed as Minnesota Ridge Road, No. 203 wouldn’t actually get anywhere near the summit.\u00a0 Didn’t really matter, since today’s romp didn’t necessarily envision a peakbagging goal, anyway, although that was obviously an option.\u00a0 Greens Gulch was the chosen destination, an easy road hike all the way.<\/p>\n

It was a beautiful, bright, warm early fall day, as everyone set off across a flat region heading SSE along No. 203.\u00a0 The road then began a gradual descent before bottoming out 0.5 mile from the RAV4 at a junction with No. 203.1B.\u00a0 Here, 5 month old Cousin Dixie was amazed to see large black animals roaming the forest.<\/p>\n

Lupe knew what they were!\u00a0 Cows!\u00a0 For some reason these cows were wandering through the forest instead of hanging out in some grassy meadow.\u00a0 Dixie was keenly interested in this phenomenon, prompting Joe to leash her up lest any real excitement ensue.\u00a0 The cows themselves didn’t seem all that eager to make any non-bovine acquaintances, and hastily ventured off even deeper into the forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dixie discovers cows<\/strong> (center). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 203 wound E from here over a small rise, soon leading to a glimpse of the gently sloping N end of Minnesota Ridge<\/span><\/a> (6,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Beyond this view, the road dipped again heading SE into another stretch of forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A glimpse of the N end of Minnesota Ridge<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another nicely shaded stretch of USFS Road No. 203<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before long, the road was regaining elevation again as it broke out of the forest into a giant meadow dotted with aspens sporting yellow leaves.\u00a0 A larger herd of black cows was sensibly busy grazing in this field.\u00a0 Most of these cows were far enough away to pay little attention to Lupe and her new Aussie Shepherd cousin side-kick.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cows grazing on the NW slopes of Minnesota Ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road turned S, and flattened out.\u00a0 A lone ghoul tree stood ominously in this area.\u00a0 Lupe went over to investigate.\u00a0 In broad daylight, the ghoul tree didn’t seem that scary, but Halloween was only a few weeks away.\u00a0 No telling what frightening events might take place here then!<\/p>\n

Custer Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was now in sight nearly 5 miles back to the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the ghoul tree<\/strong>. Custer Peak<\/strong> (far L). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Somewhere in the vicinity of the ghoul tree, USFS Road No. 203 turned into No. 203.1C.\u00a0 It was all quite odd.\u00a0 Maps showed No. 203 continuing SSE, but from an unconnected point nearly a mile E.\u00a0 Perhaps there had once been a connecting road segment?<\/p>\n

In any event, this minor mystery hardly mattered.\u00a0 After continuing SSE across another large, flat region on No. 203.1C, another gradual descent began.\u00a0 Nearly a mile from the ghoul tree, a junction with USFS Roads No. 203.1D and No. 203.1E was reached.<\/p>\n

This intersection was in the upper regions of Greens Gulch.\u00a0 No. 203.1C turned SW here, heading farther down the valley.\u00a0 That was the way to Silver Creek in the prettiest part of Greens Gulch.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the intersection in upper Greens Gulch<\/strong>. USFS Road No. 203.1E<\/strong> (L) continues S going uphill. No. 203.1C<\/strong> turned R farther into Greens Gulch<\/strong>. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the valley broadened out during the stroll on No. 203.1C deeper into Greens Gulch, Lupe trotted along sniffing wherever she pleased.\u00a0 Dixie alternately explored, or tried to herd Lupe without much success.\u00a0 As a geologist, Uncle Joe often paused to stare at the ground.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading farther into Greens Gulch<\/strong> on USFS Road No. 203.1C<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Greens Gulch<\/strong> starts widening out. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

0.5 mile from the intersection, the start of the widest, most scenic part of Greens Gulch began coming into view.\u00a0 By now, a diminutive tributary of Silver Creek ran alongside No. 203.1C.\u00a0 There was more to see ahead, but unfortunately, it was already about time to take a break before heading back.\u00a0 Checking out a couple of hillside spots on the N side of the valley, the second one proved to be the better choice.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
N end of the most scenic part of Greens Gulch<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near the tiny tributary of Silver Creek<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
With Uncle Joe<\/strong> and Cousin Dixie<\/strong> at the break spot on the N side of Greens Gulch<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12:32 PM, Greens Gulch<\/em> – Not a cloud in the sky!\u00a0 Warm in the sun, Dixie and Lupe both appreciated the shade of a few pines along the edge of the forest.\u00a0 Downfall provided seats for Joe and SPHP.\u00a0 Although no peak had been climbed, for the 2nd day running, Lupe, Joe, and SPHP all enjoyed chocolate coconut bars while Dixie had to settle for Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 Joe generously also provided SPHP with a tasty fruit and nut bar from his selection.\u00a0 Water for all, of course!<\/p>\n

Far, far away, another war had started in the Middle East this morning.\u00a0 No such strife here!\u00a0 Serene and lovely, Greens Gulch was indisputably a much better place to be.<\/p>\n

The inevitable return was another pleasant trek, although mostly uphill this time.\u00a0 Retracing the same route, a little snake, somewhat rare in the Black Hills, was sunning itself on the road.\u00a0 A dangerous pleasure!\u00a0 Sadly, farther on, another young snake had been run over by one of the ATV’s that occasionally roared by.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Returning to USFS Road No. 203.1C<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The little snake, a completely harmless variety.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The herd of black cows N of the ghoul tree had gone elsewhere by the time Lupe got back to where they’d been.\u00a0 While Dixie, Lupe, and SPHP entered their pasture to get a better look at Custer Peak, Joe stood quietly contemplating the scene from a gate close to the road, unaware that he was solving a mystery in the process.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Custer Peak<\/strong> (L) from the field where the cows had been. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Joe pondering the scene. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why, of course!\u00a0 SPHP still didn’t realize it until much later, but that gate was obviously a USFS gate.\u00a0 Even though only the faintest signs of a road remained now, that gate must have been where the missing connecting portion of USFS Road No. 203 had once split off to join the rest of No. 203 E of Minnesota Ridge.<\/p>\n

Not exactly an earthshaking discovery.\u00a0 The return trek resumed, and later that evening Aunt Andrea brought Grandma over to Hotel Lupe to partake of the spaghetti dinner SPHP whomped up for everyone, human or canine, that might be so inclined.\u00a0 (End 1:53 PM, 64\u00baF)<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lupe & Dixie’s Scrollable GPS Track<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Expedition No. 203 – Gimlet Creek to Minnesota Ridge (5-6-17)<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Expedition No. 78 – The Experimental Forest & Minnesota Ridge (3-9-14)<\/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><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

10:31 AM, 57\u00baF – It was the 2nd day of Cousin Dixie, Uncle Joe, and Aunt Andrea’s stay at Hotel Lupe.\u00a0 As usual, once Andrea left to spend the day with Grandma; Joe, Dixie, Lupe, and SPHP had all piled into the RAV4.\u00a0 Now it was parked near the N end of USFS Road No. … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 317 – Minnesota Ridge to Greens Gulch (10-7-23)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51728,"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":[105,9,106,1683,1684,451,104,808,304],"class_list":["post-51736","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-dixie","tag-greens-gulch","tag-joe","tag-lupe","tag-minnesota-ridge","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_3192-scaled.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\/51736","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=51736"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54786,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51736\/revisions\/54786"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/51728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=51736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=51736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}