{"id":5561,"date":"2016-05-10T08:10:37","date_gmt":"2016-05-10T14:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=5561"},"modified":"2023-11-26T10:54:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T17:54:09","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-169-boulder-hill-4-22-16-4-23-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=5561","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 169 – Boulder Hill (4-22-16 & 4-23-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joe and cousin Dusty were in town!\u00a0 That meant another Black Hills Expedition was in the cards for Lupe.\u00a0 Joe was in the mood for a nice, easy trail hike where the dogs could romp around in the forest.\u00a0 SPHP suggested taking the loop N of Boulder Hill on Flume Trail No. 50.\u00a0 The loop was only a few miles long, and much of it was nearly level.\u00a0 Joe thought that sounded fine.<\/p>\n

A short time later, Joe was parking the G6 at the Boulder Hill trailhead (4-22-16, 2:00 PM,\u00a0upper 70’s \u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP all piled out.\u00a0 Although there were maps posted\u00a0at the trailhead, only the W part of the Flume Trail loop was shown.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t think it mattered.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had explored the entire Flume Trail, including the loop,\u00a0back in 2012.\u00a0 The loop\u00a0was a piece of cake!<\/p>\n

SPHP led everyone SE on Flume Trail No. 50, going almost 0.5 mile up a long steady rise to a saddle area between Boulder Hill<\/a><\/span> (5,331 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> to the SW and Storm Hill (5,192 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> to the NE.\u00a0 Boulder Hill had been visible from the trailhead, and SPHP had mentioned to Joe that a spur of Flume Trail No. 50\u00a0went up to the top.\u00a0 Although Joe hadn’t initially seemed too interested in Boulder Hill, when the junction with the spur trail was reached just over the saddle, Joe asked about it again.<\/p>\n

When SPHP said the spur trail to the top was only 0.25 to 0.375 mile long, and the route up involved\u00a0only minor exposure\/scrambling, Joe wanted to try it.\u00a0 Dusty and Lupe were both game, too, of course!<\/p>\n

It had been nearly 4 years since Lupe\u00a0was last here\u00a0on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 19 on 5-13-12.\u00a0 SPHP’s memory was less than\u00a0perfect.\u00a0 The spur trail was more like 0.5 mile long, and SPHP lost it for a while\u00a0taking a short cut.\u00a0 Nevertheless, the trail was soon found again near the end of\u00a0a spur road to Boulder Hill off USFS Road No. 358.\u00a0 From here, the scramble up the rocky path to the summit began.<\/p>\n

The path\u00a0started\u00a0at the SW end of the mountain.\u00a0\u00a0It wasn’t long, although it was\u00a0longer than SPHP remembered.\u00a0 The little bit of scrambling and exposure involved were easily navigated.\u00a0\u00a0Only partway up, Joe was already becoming\u00a0impressed with the views.<\/p>\n

\"Joe<\/a>
Joe and Dusty partway up Boulder Hill. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only problem encountered\u00a0on the way\u00a0to the summit was a considerable amount of broken glass on the trail, evidence of the existence of a local\u00a0band of Neanderthals.\u00a0 Fortunately, Lupe and Dusty made it past all the broken glass without incident.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0path\u00a0approached\u00a0the\u00a0summit from the W between two high points roughly equal in elevation.\u00a0 Dusty, Lupe, Joe and SPHP went to check out the S summit area first.\u00a0 The S area is mostly level, open and pretty much solid rock.\u00a0 It features concrete blocks and a concrete step that must have once been part of a previously existing lookout structure.<\/p>\n

\"Success!<\/a>
Success! Joe, Dusty & Lupe on the old concrete steps at the summit of Boulder Hill. Photo looks SSW at Silver Mountain<\/a><\/span> (5,405 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Joe<\/a>
Joe & Lupe. Silver\u00a0Mountain is seen beyond Joe. Harney Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is in the distance on the R. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dusty<\/a>
Dusty toward the slanting N end of the S summit area. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe near the N end of the S summit area. Part of the N summit area is visible\u00a0in the trees. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After looking around\u00a0the S summit,\u00a0everyone\u00a0went over to the N summit area to check it out, too.\u00a0 The N summit area was more wooded, uneven and natural looking.\u00a0 There was another lower high point a\u00a0little\u00a0farther N, but no one went over to it.\u00a0 The views were fine from on\u00a0high.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the N summit. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Boulder Hill survey benchmark was on one of the high rocks of the N summit area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Joe and SPHP were done looking at the views, it was time to head down.\u00a0 There was still plenty of time remaining\u00a0to go around the loop back at Flume Trail No. 50.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe perches high up on a rock of the S summit area close to where the trail heads down.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Joe<\/a>
Joe and Dusty shortly after starting down. This photo looks W from close to the top of the mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Dusty goes down the path on the W side of Boulder Hill. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once down off the rocky path to the summit, Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP followed the Flume Trail spur back to the main trail.\u00a0\u00a0From the\u00a0junction, SPHP led everyone E on the\u00a0main trail, which lost elevation steadily.\u00a0 The trail soon appeared to follow an old road.<\/p>\n

The road went\u00a0past\u00a0a strange, decaying structure a little way off to the SE in the forest.\u00a0 This proved to be an odd\u00a0water collection device.\u00a0 A “V” shaped metal roof sloped down to a water trough in the middle.\u00a0 A sign said it was supposed to help\u00a0provide a source of water for wildlife.\u00a0 Well, maybe for short wildlife.\u00a0 The roof over the trough was only 1.5 feet high.\u00a0 The whole thing was fenced in, neglected and falling apart.\u00a0\u00a0Very strange.<\/p>\n

Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP returned to the road\/trail.\u00a0\u00a0Before long it came to a dead end.\u00a0 There was no sign of the Flume Trail continuing beyond the end of the road.\u00a0 Hmm.\u00a0 Mysterious.\u00a0 It was time to backtrack.\u00a0 The spur trail to Boulder Hill was in view again by the time Joe found where SPHP had missed a turn earlier.\u00a0\u00a0Finally back on the correct route, everyone headed E again.<\/p>\n

Flume Trail No. 50\u00a0lost elevation steadily.\u00a0 SPHP kept expecting\u00a0it\u00a0to level out and curve around to the N.\u00a0 It didn’t.\u00a0 Finally, part of the old man-made rock foundation that supported the flume back in the early 1880’s came into view on the N side of the valley.\u00a0 The trail didn’t go toward it.\u00a0 Instead it continued E on the S side of the valley.<\/p>\n

This just didn’t seem right.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the trail to go over to the man-made rock foundation, hoping to\u00a0find the loop trail.\u00a0 Joe and Dusty stayed on the main trail, exploring it a little farther E.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP found no sign of the loop trail, but Joe and Dusty almost immediately came to a map posted along the main trail.\u00a0 The map explained everything.<\/p>\n

SPHP had led Lupe, Dusty and Joe completely astray.\u00a0 This was Flume Trail No. 50 alright, but this part of the trail was\u00a0going to the trail’s E\u00a0end at Coon Hollow near Rockerville.\u00a0 The loop trail actually turned N way back at the E edge of the Boulder Hill trailhead where the G6 was parked!<\/p>\n

Well, that was that!\u00a0 There was nothing to do, but return to the G6.\u00a0 Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP turned around and were back by 5:15 PM.\u00a0 Sure enough, there was the start of the Flume Trail loop, just a few paces E of the trailhead parking lot.\u00a0 From the very start, there had been no reason to head toward Boulder Hill.<\/p>\n

Except, of course, that everyone\u00a0enjoyed Boulder Hill.\u00a0 Joe liked it so much, he proposed coming back the next day to hike the\u00a0Flume Trail loop\u00a0and climb Boulder Hill again!<\/p>\n

So that’s what happened.\u00a0 The next afternoon, Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP returned to the Boulder Hill trailhead (low 80’s \u00b0F).\u00a0 Perhaps to prevent another fiasco to the E, Joe suggested\u00a0taking the trail\u00a0W toward the Baker Park area to hike the loop clockwise.<\/p>\n

Going W\u00a0worked just fine.\u00a0 It was a bit warm out, but everyone except Lupe enjoyed the pleasant, easy stroll around the Flume Trail No. 50 loop.\u00a0 Lupe would have liked it, too, but the sound of distant target practice gunfire concerned her.\u00a0 She was in no danger despite her worries.\u00a0 Dusty paid no attention to the gunfire at all.<\/p>\n

\"Dusty<\/a>
Dusty takes a break along the Flume Trail No. 50 loop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Dusty<\/a>After completing the loop, everyone hopped back in the G6.\u00a0 Joe still wanted to climb Boulder Hill again.\u00a0 The rest of the gang was in favor, too.\u00a0 By repositioning the G6\u00a00.75 mile farther S up at the high point on USFS Road No. 358, the hiking distance up Boulder Hill was considerably reduced.<\/p>\n

Lupe, Dusty, Joe and\u00a0SPHP followed a\u00a0rough spur road\u00a0off\u00a0No. 358\u00a0up to the path at the start of the scramble to the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe WSW of Boulder Hill. Photo taken from close to the spur road off USFS Road No. 358 that ends near the path to the top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This time, SPHP was better prepared with a couple of plastic grocery bags for collecting broken glass and other Lupe Treasures.\u00a0 Joe helped with the cleanup efforts.\u00a0 There was quite\u00a0a lot of broken glass not only on the trail, but\u00a0up on top, too. \u00a0The cleanup job wasn’t perfect by any means, but at least there weren’t any large, sharp pieces of glass on the trail by the time Joe and SPHP finished.<\/p>\n

\"Dusty<\/a>
Dusty on one of the rock ledges that are part of the path to the top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Joe<\/a>
Joe & Dusty return to the summit of Boulder Hill for a 2nd day in a row!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Joe<\/a>
Joe & Dusty up on the S summit area. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe and Joe on the S summit. Four-lane Hwy 16 (Center) is seen in the distance. Part of Storm Hill (5,192 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is on the L. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a good time picking up broken glass and admiring the views from both the N and S summit areas, it was time to head down again.\u00a0 On the way back, SPHP intended to gather up Lupe Treasures discarded in the ashes of a big campfire ringed by stones.\u00a0 The\u00a0campfire was\u00a0in the middle of the turn-around loop at the end of the spur road.<\/p>\n

Apparently, it hadn’t been long since the Neanderthals’ last celebration.\u00a0 The campfire ashes were still quite warm!\u00a0 Lupe Treasures were scattered all over the place, way more than fit in two little plastic grocery sacks.\u00a0 Joe and SPHP picked up what could be carried, but far more had to be left behind.<\/p>\n

Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP returned to the G6, and headed to grandma’s house.\u00a0 Lupe’s Expedition No. 169 to Boulder Hill twice in two days\u00a0had been a\u00a0success!\u00a0 Joe and Dusty\u00a0proclaimed Boulder Hill one of\u00a0their favorite short hikes in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Best of all, Lupe had left the mountain in a little better shape than she found it.<\/p>\n

\"Joe,<\/a>
Joe, Dusty & Lupe on Boulder Hill, 4-23-16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe Treasures collected:\u00a05 plastic bottles, 6 glass bottles, 10 aluminum cans, lots of broken glass and other assorted trash.<\/em><\/p>\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 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe 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<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Joe and cousin Dusty were in town!\u00a0 That meant another Black Hills Expedition was in the cards for Lupe.\u00a0 Joe was in the mood for a nice, easy trail hike where the dogs could romp around in the forest.\u00a0 SPHP suggested taking the loop N of Boulder Hill on Flume Trail No. 50.\u00a0 The loop … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 169 – Boulder Hill (4-22-16 & 4-23-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5543,"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":[105,9,633,106,146,451,104,304],"class_list":["post-5561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-boulder-hill","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dusty","tag-joe","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/DSC02238.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\/5561","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=5561"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49512,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5561\/revisions\/49512"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}