{"id":5458,"date":"2017-09-30T08:10:40","date_gmt":"2017-09-30T14:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=5458"},"modified":"2020-09-21T13:42:48","modified_gmt":"2020-09-21T19:42:48","slug":"black-hills-sd-wy-expedition-no-91-peak-6888-bald-hills-the-weston-county-wyoming-high-point-peak-6645-laird-peak-6-1-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=5458","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD & WY Expedition No. 91 – Peak 6888, Bald Hills, the Weston County, Wyoming High Point, Peak 6645, & Laird Peak (6-1-14)"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s nothing so rare as a day in June, and June had just arrived!\u00a0 Both Lupe and SPHP were raring to go, even though scattered thunderstorms were in the afternoon forecast.\u00a0 The plan was to head way out into the high country of the NW Black Hills for some peakbagging fun.\u00a0 First up were Peak 6888<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and the Bald Hills<\/a> <\/span>(6,690 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, both within a few miles of the Wyoming border.<\/p>\n

Although there were already clouds\u00a0around, the sun was still\u00a0shining\u00a0when SPHP parked the G6\u00a0more than 0.5\u00a0mile W of County Road No. 117 along USFS Road No. 109 (Parmlee Canyon Road) at 9:39 AM (59\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started out taking Bear Canyon Road S from No. 109.\u00a0 Bear Canyon Road was just a dirt road that\u00a0looked like it seldom gets any traffic.\u00a0 It passed through a field in a shallow valley and then entered the forest,\u00a0winding its way up a\u00a0low ridge at a pretty decent clip.<\/p>\n

The climb was a short one.\u00a0 Bear Canyon Road soon leveled out, and reached a clearing where there was an intersection with more faint roads.\u00a0 Several whitetail deer ran off into the forest as Lupe approached the intersection.\u00a0 Peak 6888 is about 0.75 mile S of Parmlee Canyon Road.\u00a0 SPHP\u00a0figured Lupe still had to go a bit farther S to get there.\u00a0\u00a0The road continuing S was marked as USFS Road No. 117.5J.<\/p>\n

Lupe followed No. 117.5J up a couple of little rises.\u00a0 The road leveled out again after each one.\u00a0 When the road seemed to be at its highest point, SPHP stopped to check the topo map.\u00a0 The summit of Peak 6888 was supposed to be a little W of the road.\u00a0 The entire area looked quite level, although the forest did look a bit higher off to the NW.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the road\u00a0exploring the forest to the\u00a0NW,\u00a0while searching for an obvious high point or marker.<\/p>\n

Lupe found neither.\u00a0 A big area was almost as flat as a pancake.\u00a0 Nothing seemed discernably higher or lower than anywhere else.\u00a0 Lupe saw more deer, but summits were scarce.\u00a0 Well, Loop, looks like\u00a0this is all the summit!\u00a0 SPHP encouraged Lupe to hop up onto a big log.\u00a0 This can be your summit photo, Lupe!\u00a0\u00a0Might as well call it good, and go on to the Bald Hills.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe seemed happy enough to call this log the summit of Peak 6888. There were no views in any direction, just more flat forest extending all around.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peak 6888 was now in Lupe’s bag, but it hadn’t been too exciting.\u00a0 At least there was a little excitement when Lupe and SPHP returned to No. 117.5J.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe saw a female elk crossing\u00a0the road.\u00a0\u00a0The elk saw Lupe and SPHP, too.\u00a0 It took off running, but seemed confused on which way it wanted to go.\u00a0 It finally disappeared off to the SE.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP continued S on No. 117.5J.\u00a0 Almost right away, Lupe came to a\u00a0big square mud puddle where the road started angling SW.\u00a0 Lupe ran over to wade around and get a big drink of mineral water.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe discovers the mineral water puddle on Peak 6888.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The mineral water puddle looked like it could have been milk chocolate flavored.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the milk chocolate colored mineral water puddle, No. 117.5J started losing elevation\u00a0slowly, but steadily,\u00a0as it went SW for about 0.75 mile.\u00a0 The road appeared to end in a small valley near a couple of stock ponds.\u00a0 There were several barbed wire fences in the area.\u00a0\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed S\u00a0across the little valley, and climbed up the next low ridge ahead.\u00a0 Up on top, Lupe found USFS Road No. 113 at a green gate.<\/p>\n

By now the sky was completely overcast, and it began to rain steadily.\u00a0 SPHP wore a blue plastic rain poncho,\u00a0but Lupe was doomed to become a progressively more soggy doggie.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP marched W on No. 113 in the mud and rain.\u00a0 The clouds grew darker.\u00a0 The downpour strengthened, and the woods filled with fog.<\/p>\n

Although Lupe ordinarily loves to get wet playing with the garden hose on warm, sunny days, the dreary downpour seemed to dampen her spirits.\u00a0 For 2 miles, Lupe and SPHP\u00a0slogged W on\u00a0No. 113.\u00a0 SPHP began to wonder what ever happened to the “scattered” part of the scattered T-storms in the forecast.\u00a0 It looked like it could rain buckets all day.<\/p>\n

After going 2 miles, Lupe started passing by minor side roads that SPHP was expecting to see, and No. 113 gradually turned S.\u00a0 The road had been fairly level most of the time, but now began to lose some elevation.\u00a0 That didn’t last long.\u00a0 It was soon gaining the elevation back.\u00a0 Lupe reached a high spot on the road as it turned W.\u00a0 The road continued W, but it was clear it was about to lose serious elevation in that direction.<\/p>\n

About this time, the rain stopped.\u00a0 Suddenly the sky was\u00a0getting brighter again.\u00a0 SPHP stopped to check the maps.\u00a0\u00a0The little green hill on the N side of the road had to be the summit of Bald Hills.\u00a0 Lupe was practically there!<\/p>\n

The remains of a campfire were on the N side of the road, too.\u00a0 Unfortunately, trash was scattered all around it.\u00a0 While SPHP collected trash, Lupe sniffed around, encouraged by the rapidly clearing sky.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe just S of the summit of Bald Hills. The top was just up this little green hill. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A rather damp Lupe among pretty yellow flowers S of the summit of Bald Hills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the trash was all gathered up, Lupe and SPHP climbed the little green hill to the summit.\u00a0 The summit area was a bit surprising.\u00a0 It was a big flat open field, completely surrounded by pine trees.<\/p>\n

Trees killed by pine bark beetles were still standing along the W edge of the meadow.\u00a0 When they eventually fall over, the view will improve dramatically.\u00a0 As it was, Lupe and SPHP could only get glimpses of\u00a0Mount Pisgah<\/a><\/span> (6,380 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> five miles\u00a0away in Wyoming.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe in the big flat meadow at the summit of Bald Hills. Photo looks W. The sky is beginning to clear!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe starting to dry out in the sunshine. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The meadow on Bald Hills was quite pretty and full of little flowers.\u00a0 It was kind of a shame there wasn’t a more open view anywhere, but that’s the way it was.\u00a0 As Lupe and SPHP ambled around the field, the last of the storm clouds drifted away to the E, and the sun began to shine.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP left the summit taking what was supposed to be a shortcut back to No. 113 by heading directly E.\u00a0 There proved to be a fair amount of deadfall timber to deal with in the forest.\u00a0 While Lupe might have saved some distance, it was debatable how much time was really saved.<\/p>\n

Once on No. 113 again, Lupe and SPHP followed it back E.\u00a0 Where dark clouds, rain and fog had prevailed only a short time ago, now a sunny, fresh, bright green Dingo Paradise existed.\u00a0 Lupe’s spirits soared!\u00a0 She dashed through the damp woods sniffing excitedly at every tree and bush.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe came to\u00a0a series of small pools scooped out along the road.\u00a0 She made frequent use of them.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>
One of several pools of rainwater along USFS Road No. 113. The day was warming up rapidly. Lupe made frequent quick stops at the pools for refreshing drinks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Lupe reached the green gate across No. 113 again, she turned N leaving the road.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went down off the ridge into the small valley, this time passing above (E of) the higher pond.\u00a0 Lupe returned to No. 117.5J.\u00a0 Soon Lupe and SPHP were back up on Peak 6888 again.<\/p>\n

Lupe took a Taste of the Wild break while resting under a fallen tree trunk.\u00a0 SPHP sat on the tree trunk eating an apple and looking at the maps.\u00a0 After the break, Lupe and SPHP once again wandered around on Peak 6888,\u00a0still looking for an obvious high point, but with the same negative results.\u00a0 Lupe chose a bright green meadow for her 2nd Peak 6888 summit shot of the day.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe near the upper pond on her way back to Peak 6888. This area is a little W of the Beaver Creek Cow Camp on the USFS map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe takes a Taste of the Wild break while resting under a fallen tree on Peak 6888.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe chose this bright green meadow to commemorate her 2nd ascent of Peak 6888 of the day. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had noticed while looking at the maps that 0.33 mile to the NE of Peak 6888 there was a small area enclosed by\u00a0a 6,900 foot contour line.\u00a0 Since that was somewhat\u00a0higher ground, Lupe and SPHP crossed over No. 117.5J to go\u00a0check it out.<\/p>\n

NE of No. 117.5J, Lupe did seem to gain a little elevation, but it didn’t amount to much.\u00a0 Lupe still found no obvious high point.\u00a0 There weren’t any big views anywhere over here either, just more forest.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0went W back\u00a0to Bear\u00a0Canyon Road and\u00a0turned N.\u00a0 By 1:48 PM (65\u00b0F), Lupe was back at the G6.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s next two peakbagging goals were both located 10 miles to the NNW.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP jumped in the G6, and enjoyed a very scenic drive through\u00a0gorgeous Black Hills high country near the Wyoming border.\u00a0 The last part of the drive was along another USFS Road No. 109.\u00a0\u00a0(Not the\u00a0No. 109\u00a0that leads to Parmlee Canyon.)\u00a0 This No. 109 led N out of the Beaver Creek valley.\u00a0 It eventually turned NW toward the Wyoming border.<\/p>\n

SPHP was really hoping there would be some kind of a sign and a fence at the border.\u00a0 Lupe’s third peakbagging goal of the day was the Weston County, Wyoming High Point<\/a><\/span> (6,620 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0The high point\u00a0is located about 0.375 mile S of where No. 109 reaches the Wyoming border.\u00a0 The whole key to finding the Weston County High Point was knowing where the border was.<\/p>\n

The luck of the Dingo prevailed!\u00a0 There was a Wyoming sign at the border.\u00a0 There was also a cattle guard, a fence, and a\u00a0convenient level\u00a0place to park on the South Dakota side (2:28 PM, 57\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the G6, crossed the cattle guard into Wyoming, and headed S along the border fence.<\/p>\n

The entire area was forested and rolling, but without significant elevation changes.\u00a0 Logging trails ran this way and that through the woods.\u00a0 When it seemed easier, Lupe and SPHP just followed the logging trails, but never got very far from the border fence.\u00a0 Pretty soon, Lupe came to two high points right along the state line.\u00a0 One of them had to be the Weston County High Point.<\/p>\n

The two high points were close enough to each other so it was possible to see both at the same time.\u00a0 However, they were so similar in elevation, SPHP wasn’t certain which was truly the\u00a0highest point.\u00a0 The first one Lupe came to, the one to the N, seemed like it was highest, but it was hard to tell for sure.\u00a0 Naturally, Lupe visited both high points.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the N candidate for the Weston County, WY high point. She is sitting just past the border fence on the South Dakota side of the border. SPHP believes this is the true high point, but there was another possible candidate in view a short distance to the S. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the N high point, a small, nearly level ridge extended W about 100 feet into Wyoming.\u00a0 It was possible the Weston County High Point was actually somewhere along this ridge instead of right on the border with South Dakota.\u00a0 Lupe explored the W ridge out to where it ended at 10 foot high limestone outcroppings.\u00a0 SPHP\u00a0was of the opinion\u00a0the actual high point was back at the WY\/SD border, rather than anywhere along the ridge.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe seemed to enjoy looking for the Weston County High Point. Here she is looking happy while exploring the small ridge W of the border and the N high point candidate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Although<\/a>
Although Lupe explored this entire ridge W of the N candidate on the WY\/SD border for Weston County, WY High Point, SPHP didn’t believe the actual high point was anywhere out on this ridge. To SPHP, the land seemed marginally higher right at the border. Lupe never did really come out and say what she thought.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The W end of the ridge ended at these 10 foot high limestone outcroppings. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After exploring the W ridge, Lupe and SPHP went over to the S high point candidate along the Wyoming\/South Dakota border.\u00a0 A small area on the Wyoming side\u00a0near the S high point had been clear cut.\u00a0 There were slash piles laying all around.\u00a0 The S high point was a limestone outcropping right at the border.\u00a0 There wasn’t any ridge extending out to the W here.\u00a0 The ground went downhill immediately W of the high point.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the S candidate along the WY\/SD border for Weston County, WY High Point. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wherever the actual Weston County High Point truly was, Lupe had now been there, having explored both possible candidates, plus the W ridge.\u00a0 The forest blocked any views, so there was no reason to linger.\u00a0 A short distance up a little hill to the E just inside the South Dakota border was Lupe’s fourth peakbagging goal of the day, Peak 6645<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Why Peak 6645 is on Peakbagger.com’s official\u00a0list of Black Hills 6500-foot Peaks<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is completely beyond SPHP.\u00a0 There are numerous other higher points close at hand that are not on the official list.\u00a0 A little over 0.1 mile to the NE is High Point 6651, a mile to the SE is High Point 6807, and a little farther E is High Point 6906.\u00a0 The topo map shows\u00a0many other examples of higher points close at hand, too.\u00a0 Nevertheless, Peak 6645 is on the official list and the others aren’t.<\/p>\n

Since Peak 6645 was on the official Black Hills 6500-foot Peaks list, Lupe was going to visit it.\u00a0 At least it had the great virtue of being\u00a0located very conveniently\u00a0close to the Weston County, WY High Point.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0made the\u00a0short trek up the hill.\u00a0\u00a0Between the trees\u00a0was a hint of a view off to the WSW, but that was all.\u00a0 Nevertheless,\u00a0Lupe seemed completely happy with Peak 6645.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>
One cheerful Carolina Dog on Peak 6645! Photo looks WSW at a little meadow. Lupe is about 30 feet W of the actual highest point on the hill, but it was only 4 or 5 feet higher than where she is here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the very highest part of Peak 6645. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The actual summit of Peak 6645 was an otherwise unremarkable 5 foot high mound in the woods.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe sniffed around for a couple of minutes, but even she didn’t find anything particularly fascinating.\u00a0 While Lupe was sniffing around, clouds were moving in again.\u00a0 Thunder started rumbling off to the NW.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP hurried NE on to High Point 6651.<\/p>\n

From High Point 6651, Lupe was able to see USFS Road No. 109 just below to the NE.\u00a0 Instead of going right on down to the road, though, Lupe and SPHP turned NW, following the ridge.\u00a0 The ridge soon played out, and sloped on\u00a0down to No. 109 closer to the G6.\u00a0 A quick 0.25 mile road trek, and Lupe was back at the G6 (3:17 PM, 57\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

Hwy 85 near Buckhorn was only a couple of miles NW on USFS Road No. 809 (the road number changes from No. 109 at the Wyoming border), but it was already raining\u00a0again by the time Lupe reached the highway.\u00a0 Another\u00a0 thunderstorm was passing through.\u00a0 SPHP stopped in at the Buckhorn Bar & Grill to grab a hamburger.\u00a0 Lupe stayed in the G6,\u00a0entertained by\u00a0barking at black cows across the road.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe sniffs around outside the Buckhorn, WY Bar & Grill.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The owner and the cook\/waitress were the only people in the Buckhorn Bar & Grill.\u00a0 They were both friendly, and after a reasonable delay produced a pathetic-looking over-priced hamburger, which didn’t even come with fries or chips.\u00a0 SPHP took the sad little thing out to the G6 to share it with\u00a0Lupe while waiting\u00a0for the rain to stop.\u00a0 Lupe’s opinion of\u00a0the hamburger was far different from SPHP’s.\u00a0 She greeted it with enormous enthusiasm, and\u00a0would have eagerly\u00a0consumed far more than her fair share, if SPHP had permitted.<\/p>\n

The hamburger was gone in a flash.\u00a0 Lupe retired to the back seat of the G6 for a nap, while the rain continued outside.\u00a0 SPHP munched an apple and\u00a0looked at the maps.\u00a0 Lupe’s 5th and final peakbagging goal for the day was Laird Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,906 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which was only 6 or 7 miles to the NE, and less than a mile from Hwy 85.\u00a0 Climbing Laird Peak wouldn’t take long.\u00a0 Gradually a new plan came to mind.\u00a0 Lupe could go on into Wyoming\u00a0to Inyan Kara<\/a><\/span> (6,360 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, a more isolated and interesting peak!<\/p>\n

However, the rain went on and on.\u00a0 Thunder rumbled repeatedly from very dark clouds overhead.\u00a0 Lupe snoozed contentedly full of hamburger.\u00a0 The windows of the G6 fogged up.\u00a0 SPHP finally\u00a0decided that if the storm didn’t end by 6 PM, Lupe would have to forget about Inyan Kara.<\/p>\n

At 5:30 PM, a tiny white spot appeared in the clouds to the NW.\u00a0 For a few minutes, the white spot grew.\u00a0 A\u00a0little patch of blue appeared.\u00a0 Maybe the storm was about over?\u00a0 SPHP started the G6 and drove SW on Highway 85.\u00a0 Within a few miles, it was clear that the storm was passing.\u00a0 By the time Lupe reached Four Corners, the rain had stopped.\u00a0 Growing patches of blue sky were off to the W.\u00a0 SPHP turned NW on Hwy 585.<\/p>\n

The drive toward Inyan Kara was gorgeous.\u00a0 The sun\u00a0broke through the\u00a0clouds to shine\u00a0on the mountains and high plains, all fresh and green from the rain. \u00a0Inyan Kara was still shrouded\u00a0by dark clouds, but they were likely to dissipate soon.\u00a0 SPHP initially missed the turn W on County Road No. 198, but came back to it.<\/p>\n

A lot of rain had fallen.\u00a0 County Road No. 198 was muddy.\u00a0\u00a0Despite the mud, the G6\u00a0made it 1.5 miles W\u00a0of the highway to an intersection.\u00a0 SPHP took the sharp turn N and drove down a hill.\u00a0 From the G6, Lupe barked at cows grazing in the green fields.\u00a0\u00a0The road turned W again at some corrals shortly before disappearing beneath an enormous puddle.\u00a0 Beyond the puddle, SPHP could see deep muddy ruts in the road.<\/p>\n

No way the G6 would get through this!\u00a0 SPHP parked near the corrals.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0began a march\u00a0W around the huge puddle, and then along the mucky road.<\/p>\n

\"Inyan<\/a>
Inyan Kara is dead ahead! Lupe is on the muddy access road, which goes to two private ranches. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a longer march that it looked like at first.\u00a0 Even where the road looked good, it was very soft.\u00a0 It was a beautiful evening, though.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP enjoyed the trek, despite the mud.\u00a0 When Lupe finally got close to Inyan Kara, she reached a fork in the road.\u00a0 To the W were some buildings and a “No Trespassing” sign.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0tried the\u00a0other fork\u00a0going NNW down a hill first.<\/p>\n

Lupe hadn’t gone very far, when she came to a sign saying the county road ended here.\u00a0 It also said “No Trespassing without Owner’s Permission”.\u00a0 A yellow house was in view not much farther down the road.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP continued on to beg the owner’s permission to cross the private ranch to Inyan Kara.<\/p>\n

A bluish dog about Lupe’s size\u00a0started barking\u00a0as Lupe and SPHP got close to the fenced yard around the house.\u00a0 The bluish dog was all excited.\u00a0 He\u00a0whined and wanted to play with Lupe.\u00a0 SPHP petted him,\u00a0but Lupe just growled.\u00a0 No one came out of the house.\u00a0 SPHP yelled a few helloes, but there was no response.\u00a0 Too bad, this was the best place to gain access to Inyan Kara.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP left the disappointed bluish dog behind to go back and try the W fork of the road.\u00a0 The results were much the same.\u00a0 Two dogs were at the house at the end of that road, but again no people.\u00a0 A fat little Corgi stayed up on a deck and barked.\u00a0\u00a0A white and black dog barked as it\u00a0came running up to meet Lupe.\u00a0 As soon as it got close enough,\u00a0the white and black dog\u00a0promptly peed on SPHP’s boot.\u00a0 Lupe growled again, this time with more justification.<\/p>\n

Sigh.\u00a0 That was it.\u00a0 No one was\u00a0around at either place to grant permission to access Inyan Kara.\u00a0 So much for that idea.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed back on the muddy road toward the G6.\u00a0 It was still a beautiful trek.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe E of Inyan Kara on her way back to the G6. Looking N from the county road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Lupe and SPHP neared the corrals where the G6 was parked, there was a bit of a surprise.\u00a0 A herd of 30 or 40 black cows\u00a0was congregated\u00a0on the road near the G6.\u00a0 Lupe would have to go right past them.\u00a0 SPHP put Lupe on the leash.\u00a0 Lupe tried to be good, but it was just too much temptation.\u00a0 When she got very close to the cows, she started barking.\u00a0\u00a0She felt amazingly powerful and ferocious when the\u00a0whole herd stampeded away.<\/p>\n

Well, not quite the whole herd.\u00a0 One cow was unfazed by Lupe.\u00a0 When Lupe and SPHP went right on by, the bold cow decided to follow.\u00a0 In fact, the bold cow had apparently decided that SPHP must have something good to eat.\u00a0 It started trotting along eager to partake of whatever delicious repast SPHP had stuffed in the backpack.\u00a0 The cow completely ignored Lupe, who was somewhat startled by the notion that barking at this cow made it want to come toward her instead of running away.\u00a0 Up close, it was an awful lot bigger than the\u00a0noisy\u00a0Carolina Dog!<\/p>\n

Even more startling, was the reaction of the rest of the herd.\u00a0 When the other cows\u00a0saw that\u00a0the bold cow was not being devoured by an American Dingo, but\u00a0was actually anticipating\u00a0a delicious\u00a0treat from SPHP, they suddenly decided they were about to miss out on something good.\u00a0 The whole herd came thundering back, anxious to partake in whatever happy event was about to unfold.<\/p>\n

SPHP wasn’t too keen on being crushed by a herd of overly enthusiastic hungry\u00a0cattle.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP made a run for the G6, barely getting inside before being completely\u00a0surrounded.\u00a0 Whew!\u00a0 Back inside the safety of the G6, Lupe regained her confidence and\u00a0resumed barking furiously at the herd pressing in on every side.\u00a0 By now, though, the cows were totally unimpressed.\u00a0 They went back to munching grass, feeling a bit put out.<\/p>\n

Slowly and cautiously, SPHP eased the G6 through the herd, stopping every few seconds to wait for another opening a little farther forward.\u00a0 Lupe continued having her fruitless conniption fit the whole time.\u00a0 Nearly all the cows continued totally ignoring her.\u00a0 After a few minutes, the G6 broke free of the herd.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP escaped back to the highway.<\/p>\n

The Inyan Kara jaunt had been a failure.\u00a0 There was still time, though, to return to the original plan.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed for Laird Peak.\u00a0 A mile W of O’Neil Pass on Hwy 85, SPHP turned N on USFS Road No. 106.\u00a0 Less than a mile from the highway there was a big open area on the E side of No. 106, shortly before reaching\u00a0a junction with Willow Springs Road coming in from the W.\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6 in the open area (8:04 PM, 47\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP started\u00a0out going E up a little valley along\u00a0a\u00a0grassy road.\u00a0 Lupe passed a small stock pond on the S side of the road, and\u00a0soon came to a water tank.\u00a0 Water was overflowing the tank, creating a small muddy stream that ran down to the stock pond.\u00a0 One of SPHP’s maps showed Tom Spring in this location.<\/p>\n

Beyond Tom Spring, the grassy road disappeared for a stretch.\u00a0 Lupe soon found it again, now angling NE up into the trees.\u00a0 The road climbed until it reached a flat area where a number of roads converged.\u00a0 Lupe was already quite high here.\u00a0 Despite the forest,\u00a0it was possible to get a glimpse over the other side of the mountain toward the SE.<\/p>\n

At the intersection, Lupe took\u00a0a good road N until it passed a fence.\u00a0 She then left the road to follow the fence E toward a 50 foot rise where SPHP expected to find the summit of Laird Peak.\u00a0 Near the top, Lupe and SPHP caught a last look at the fiery sun about to drop below the horizon.<\/p>\n

\"Sunset<\/a>
Sunset on Laird Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sun sank below the horizon within minutes, but Lupe had no problem finding the survey marker and benchmark\u00a0at the summit of\u00a0Laird Peak to complete her 5th and final\u00a0peakbagging success of the day.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Laird Peak survey marker and benchmark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached the G6 again at 9:00 PM on the dot (47\u00b0F).\u00a0 She’d had quite a big day in the NW Black Hills.\u00a0 Four mountains climbed for the first time, plus\u00a0a Wyoming county highpoint reached!\u00a0 Perhaps the most memorable mountain, though, was Inyan Kara, the one she didn’t get to climb!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on Laird Peak at dusk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

There’s nothing so rare as a day in June, and June had just arrived!\u00a0 Both Lupe and SPHP were raring to go, even though scattered thunderstorms were in the afternoon forecast.\u00a0 The plan was to head way out into the high country of the NW Black Hills for some peakbagging fun.\u00a0 First up were Peak … Continue reading Black Hills, SD & WY Expedition No. 91 – Peak 6888, Bald Hills, the Weston County, Wyoming High Point, Peak 6645, & Laird Peak (6-1-14)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5442,"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":[105,415,9,106,626,104,624,416,304,625,275],"class_list":["post-5458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-bald-hills","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-laird-peak","tag-lupe","tag-peak-6645","tag-peak-6888","tag-south-dakota","tag-weston-county-high-point","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/SDC11546.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\/5458","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=5458"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22527,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5458\/revisions\/22527"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}