{"id":53153,"date":"2024-04-25T08:10:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T14:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=53153"},"modified":"2024-06-13T09:21:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-13T15:21:13","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-318-slate-creek-10-8-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=53153","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 318 – Slate Creek (10-8-23)"},"content":{"rendered":"

1:20 PM, 68\u00baF, USFS Road No. 530 near the Slate Creek Dam<\/em> – No wind and a bright, blue sky greeted Lupe, Cousin Dixie, Uncle Joe, and SPHP.\u00a0 Such a beautiful, early fall day!\u00a0 Last day in the Black Hills, too, for Joe and Dixie before they’d be heading home to Colorado tomorrow, so the plan was to make the best of it.\u00a0 SPHP had proposed a super easy stroll down the Slate Creek valley however far they wanted to go.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Parked near the Slate Creek Dam<\/strong> along USFS Road No. 530<\/strong>. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Naturally, first and second orders of business were to have a look at the shallow, weedy pond backed up by the dam, and admire the impressive wall of rock just across the road from its N end.\u00a0 Peering into the green water, Uncle Joe was immediately impressed by the size of 2 enormous rainbow trout lurking in the region above the spillway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The weedy pond<\/strong> backed up by the Slate Creek dam<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The big wall of rock N of the pond. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A well-protected hornet’s nest<\/strong>, which also had a rock roof over it, too!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before setting off along Slate Creek, Lupe and Dixie visited the waterfall below both the dam and the bridge where the creek left the pond.\u00a0 After a refreshing drink, the downstream trek began.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Slate Creek<\/strong> just below the dam. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Spur USFS Road No. 530.1C also went downstream, paralleling the creek.\u00a0 Numerous ATV’s roaring up and down it were raising dust and making a lot of noise.\u00a0 Happily, after following Slate Creek for only 0.25 mile, the road crossed it at a ford, then quickly dead-ended.<\/p>\n

Cousin Dixie, who wasn’t quite 6 months old yet, encountered her first plank bridge at this ford.\u00a0 Uncle Joe demonstrated its use, and being a clever Aussie Shepherd, Dixie caught on right away.\u00a0 Lupe was the only one who forded the stream, cooling her paws off in the clear water.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
ATV’s along USFS Road No. 530.1C<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loopster<\/strong> fording Slate Creek<\/strong>. Joe<\/strong> and Dixie<\/strong> already across. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several big boulders and a fence with a narrow gate prevented anyone with wheels from getting too rambunctious and continuing past the No. 530.1C turnaround spot where the road ended.\u00a0 According to a nearby sign, that hadn’t always been the case.\u00a0 At one time, the road had kept going, crossing Slate Creek 25 times in the next 3.5 miles.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe<\/strong> on the “Boulder of Guaranteed Tranquility<\/strong>” beyond which wheeled vehicles couldn’t go. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sign at the start of the single track trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cousin Dixie liked the looks of the quiet valley ahead.\u00a0 Soon she was way out in front of everyone else.\u00a0 However, she did pause to make sure the rest of the gang was coming.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dixie<\/strong> surveying the scene ahead from another Boulder of Tranquility<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dixie<\/strong> leading the way. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An old guy with 2 dogs was coming this way.\u00a0 Joe leashed Dixie up, but the American Dingo wasn’t about to have her freedom wrecked, instead looming over the other dogs as they passed the boulder she was on.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dixie<\/strong> temporarily corralled. Lupe<\/strong>: “Live free or … well, just live free!”<\/em> Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the single track trail wound down the almost pancake flat Slate Creek valley, signs began appearing proclaiming the existence of at least one new mining claim in the area.\u00a0 As a geologist, Joe was interested in some of the recent exploratory digs.\u00a0 SPHP took a somewhat dimmer view of people staking new claims and digging up the Black Hills National Forest as if it was still the late 1870’s, but they were within their rights.\u00a0 At least none of the digs were very big.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By a recent, exploratory dig. Wonder what they found, if anything?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continuing down the valley, yellow aspens added flashes of color among the darker pines.\u00a0 There were plenty more plank bridges to be crossed.\u00a0 Cousin Dixie was rapidly getting to be an expert at it!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At another bridge over Slate Creek<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Cousin Dixie<\/strong> showing off her newly acquired bridge crossing technique.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Along a shady stretch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A bright yellow aspen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dixie<\/strong> and Joe<\/strong> leading the way.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A mile or more beyond the Boulder of Guaranteed Tranquility, the Slate Creek trail reached an intersection with Deerfield Trail No. 40<\/strong><\/span><\/a> in a big meadow.\u00a0 Continuing downstream, now on the Deerfield Trail, Joe soon decided another 0.5 mile was about far enough.\u00a0 An old, fallen tree trunk provided spots for Joe and SPHP to sit, while Lupe and Dixie relaxed or sniffed about in the tall grass.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Joe<\/strong> and Lupe<\/strong> at the break spot\/turnaround point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond being quiet, pleasant, and partially shaded, there was nothing at all remarkable about this particular spot, but it was a nice place to take a break before heading back.\u00a0 Joe had brought a variety of energy\/snack bars to choose from, and SPHP shared a couple of apples.\u00a0 While Dixie eagerly sampled Lupe’s Taste of the Wild, the Carolina Dog preferred a chocolate coconut bar.<\/p>\n

Nearly the entire way here, Dixie had kept on with her rather annoying youthful habit of trying to herd Lupe, which the American Dingo had done her best to ignore, despite her frequent warning growls providing absolutely no relief.<\/p>\n

On the way back, though, a gleam in Dixie’s eye hinted at a new game dawning in the Aussie Shepherd’s mind.\u00a0 With Joe calling her from the opposite bank, Dixie suddenly realized that it might be fun to forget both herding and the bridge business, and dash right on through Slate Creek.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dixie<\/strong> suddenly realizing that she doesn’t have to do either herding or the bridge thing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Charging into Slate Creek<\/strong>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This new sport of making a huge splash in Slate Creek, then spraying Joe with water as she shook herself off was so much fun, that Dixie repeated it several times.\u00a0 However, that didn’t mean Dixie had completely given up on bridges.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe<\/strong> sets up a blockade. Not letting you by until you promise to quit harassing me, Dixie<\/strong>!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe’s bridge blockage was completely unsuccessful as far as getting Dixie to quit herding her, but everyone else managed to enjoy the rest of the return unmolested.\u00a0 Even Lupe got a few breaks now and then when Dixie’s attention wandered.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading back up the Slate Creek valley<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Along Slate Creek<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A pleasant afternoon. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3:32 PM<\/em> – Despite a leisurely pace, the return hardly seemed to take any time at all on this beautiful Black Hills afternoon.\u00a0 Before long, everyone was back at the pond above the Slate Creek dam, peering into the green water.\u00a0 At least for the moment, the ATV’ers were gone and tranquility reigned here, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Back at the pond above the Slate Creek dam<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another angle. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP had a lot of fun with Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea, and Cousin Dixie the last few days.\u00a0 Sadly, bright and early tomorrow morning they would all be on their way back to Colorado.\u00a0 However, unsuspected at the time, Cousin Dixie would be back for more Black Hills adventures with Lupe much sooner than anyone expected.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe<\/strong> and Dixie<\/strong> by the pond above the Slate Creek Dam<\/strong>, Black Hills of South Dakota, 10-8-23<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/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":"

1:20 PM, 68\u00baF, USFS Road No. 530 near the Slate Creek Dam – No wind and a bright, blue sky greeted Lupe, Cousin Dixie, Uncle Joe, and SPHP.\u00a0 Such a beautiful, early fall day!\u00a0 Last day in the Black Hills, too, for Joe and Dixie before they’d be heading home to Colorado tomorrow, so the … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 318 – Slate Creek (10-8-23)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53150,"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":[105,9,106,1675,104,1693,304,1285],"class_list":["post-53153","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-cousin-dixie","tag-lupe","tag-slate-creek","tag-south-dakota","tag-uncle-joe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_3234-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\/53153","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=53153"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54785,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53153\/revisions\/54785"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/53150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=53153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=53153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=53153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}