{"id":9114,"date":"2017-03-02T08:10:28","date_gmt":"2017-03-02T15:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=9114"},"modified":"2020-09-23T18:49:54","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T00:49:54","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-192-maverick-mountain-battle-mountain-friendshuh-mountain-2-20-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=9114","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 192 – Maverick Mountain, Battle Mountain & Friendshuh Mountain (2-20-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nope!\u00a0 No way!\u00a0 I’m not budging from this spot.\u00a0 Take it off!\u00a0 Take it off, now!<\/em><\/p>\n

Tugging on the leash only made\u00a0Lupe dig in and resist.\u00a0 She wasn’t going anywhere.<\/p>\n

OK, Loop, but you gotta stay close to me.\u00a0 Let me lead the way.<\/em><\/p>\n

The American Dingo had won.\u00a0 SPHP couldn’t drag\u00a0her all the way up the mountain by the neck.\u00a0 The leash came off.\u00a0 Would Lupe follow?\u00a0 Reluctantly she did.\u00a0 Her adventure had hardly begun, and she was already terrified.\u00a0 SPHP had spoken the dreaded word: cactus.\u00a0 Ever since her adventure in the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska with mountaineer, Jobe Wymore<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, cactus has been a greatly feared nemesis.<\/p>\n

Lupe followed right at SPHP’s heels.\u00a0 A very faint remnant of a road led W up the mountain.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t about to go running around off the road,\u00a0or take the lead.\u00a0 She did plod steadily along, however, which was all it would take to ultimately be successful.\u00a0 Onward and upward!<\/p>\n

SPHP had been afraid of this.\u00a0 Lupe was on her way up Maverick Mountain <\/a><\/span>(3,750 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> on the SE edge of the Black Hills.\u00a0 The southern part of the Black Hills region is the driest and lowest.\u00a0 Cactus line (sort of like tree line) tends to be in the 4,500 to 5,000 ft. range.\u00a0 Maverick\u00a0Mountain is well below that, so cactus wasn’t unexpected.<\/p>\n

Lupe had arrived early at the Romney GPA (Game Production Area) parking lot (7:39 AM, 45\u00b0F), which serves as the Maverick Mountain trailhead.\u00a0 On recent expeditions, she has been working on climbing peaks in the southern Black Hills\u00a0that prolific climber Brian Kalet<\/strong><\/a><\/span> visited and added to the Peakbagger.com<\/strong><\/a><\/span> data base in May of 2016.\u00a0 Maverick Mountain was yet another Brian Kalet peak.<\/p>\n

Counterintuitively, being lower meant that climbing Maverick Mountain was a more daunting task for Lupe than the higher Brian Kalet peaks she had been to farther N – all because of the cactus.\u00a0 If Lupe was going to climb Maverick Mountain at all, though, this was the time of year to do it.\u00a0 Once the weather warmed up consistently, another even greater danger might be present.\u00a0 SPHP wouldn’t even consider bringing her here then to risk a prairie rattlesnake bite.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s\u00a0Maverick Mountain adventure had begun only a few minutes ago,\u00a0when she passed\u00a0under a short wooden section\u00a0in an otherwise barbed wire fence near the N end of the Romney GPA parking lot.\u00a0 She’d paused by a fallen steel tower, and then headed straight past it to start up the base of a forested ridge.\u00a0 She’d barely reached the trees when SPHP realized the situation, and spoken the dreaded word that brought Lupe to a screeching halt.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
One of the signs posted along the barbed wire fence at the edge of the Romney GPA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Plaque at the Romney GPA parking lot off Scenic Road. While hunting is the most common use of the Romney GPA, public access is allowed for other uses, too. The summit of Maverick Mountain is in the Romney GPA about a mile W of the parking lot. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the start of her route up Maverick Mountain. She went under the section of wood fence seen here. (It’s near the N end of the parking area.) Beyond it, part of a fallen steel tower is laying on the ground. Lupe started up toward the bare spot on the ridge going to the R of the two big trees. She encountered both cactus, and the faint road leading to the top of Maverick Mountain before reaching the ridgeline. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe near the fallen steel tower. An old road leads up Maverick Mountain from the E. It was essentially non-existent at the start and end of Lupe’s route. However, at one time it apparently went to the L of the 2 big trees seen on the L. Lupe went to the R of the trees, but luckily still found a remnant of the road appearing as an almost indiscernible trail a little farther up the hillside. The old road got better as it went W (toward the L) up Maverick Mountain. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe resumed her trek with trepidation, as SPHP watched carefully for cacti on the way up the first hillside.\u00a0\u00a0The\u00a0Loopster wasn’t at all eager to move quickly, which was good, since there was plenty of cactus\u00a0SPHP needed to\u00a0guide her around.<\/p>\n

Lupe had initially started up toward a bare spot on the ridgeline ahead.\u00a0 Before she even got that far, she came across a trail angling to the W (L) that was so faint, at first, that\u00a0SPHP wasn’t even certain it wasn’t imaginary.\u00a0 However, it quickly improved and soon proved to be the old dirt road leading to the summit.<\/p>\n

The road became easy to follow.\u00a0 Fortunately, there wasn’t any cactus on it.\u00a0 Lupe’s confidence began to return.\u00a0 Although she now trotted ahead on the old road, she was careful not to leave it.\u00a0 She understood perfectly well that the horrible cactus was waiting for her off the road.<\/p>\n

Things were going well, again.\u00a0 Lupe gained elevation steadily.\u00a0 The road passed through a mixed forest of Ponderosa pines and junipers.\u00a0 Spiny Yucca plants grew in sunny spots between the trees.\u00a0 Occasional open views of the prairie to the E improved rapidly.\u00a0 The highlight was the Cheyenne River sparkling in the morning sunlight.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Maverick Mountain is on the SE edge of the Black Hills. As Lupe climbed W, she had long distance views of the western SD prairies back to the E. The highlight of the view was the Cheyenne River sparkling in the morning sun. 4-lane Hwy 79 is seen down by the river, and crosses it on the R. Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Getting higher. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once\u00a0Lupe found the old road going W up Maverick Mountain, it\u00a0was typically easy to follow.\u00a0 Where it wasn’t, straight ahead was always a good assumption.\u00a0 The road kept\u00a0progressing steadily\u00a0W, with few twists or turns.<\/p>\n

Fairly high up on the mountain,\u00a0Angostura Reservoir came into view to the S.\u00a0 Only on the edge of the Black Hills, and not actually in them, Angostura Reservoir\u00a0is the largest lake in the entire Black Hills region.\u00a0\u00a0Popular for fishing and boating, the\u00a0lake was\u00a0created by a dam on the Cheyenne River.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Fairly high up on Maverick Mountain, Lupe had this view of still frozen Angostura Reservoir. Located on the far SE edge of the Black Hills, it is the largest lake in the region. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The old road faded\u00a0away as it leveled out neared the top of Maverick Mountain.\u00a0 Ahead of Lupe was an open field.\u00a0 A dried up stock pond was in the middle of the field toward the S.\u00a0 Trees rimmed the N and W edges of the field.\u00a0 A small hill straight ahead was clearly the location of the true summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Almost there! The road faded out here with the summit of Maverick Mountain in view at the top of the small hill toward the R. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was worried about cactus when the road disappeared.\u00a0 She had good reason.\u00a0 Even though the cactus had been worse lower down,\u00a0there was still some scattered around.\u00a0 Lupe followed SPHP closely across the field.\u00a0 She made it to the summit of Maverick Mountain<\/a><\/span> (3,750 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> without incident.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A cluster of several big Ponderosa pines grew right at the true summit of Maverick Mountain. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Success! Despite it’s cacti defenses, Loopster arrives at the summit of Maverick Mountain! Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Comin’ for you Brian Kalet!<\/em> Maverick Mountain was another southern Black Hills peak Brian Kalet<\/strong><\/a><\/span> had entered into the Peakbagger.com data base in the spring of 2016. Lupe has been climbing as many of them as she can lately.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ordinarily, Lupe would have lingered on top of the mountain for a little while, exploring the summit area and seeing what there was to see.\u00a0 With cactus on the mountain, though, she wasn’t about to get too rambunctious, or hang around\u00a0for very\u00a0long.\u00a0 The views toward higher hills to the N and W were almost completely blocked by trees, anyway.<\/p>\n

Lupe did roam around enough, though,\u00a0to see the highlights of what views Maverick Mountain had to offer off to the S and E.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking E toward the prairies of western SD beyond the Black Hills. You’d be happy too, if you managed to get all the way to the top of Maverick Mountain without getting stabbed in the paw by a cactus spine!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Cheyenne River from Maverick Mountain. An old windmill that had fallen over on the mountain S of the dried up stock pond is sort of in view beyond and to the L of Lupe. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The fallen over windmill is now on the R. The dried up stock pond is behind the closest pine tree L of Center. The way back down the mountain is off to the far L side of this photo. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a 15 or 20 minute stay\u00a0up on\u00a0the Maverick Mountain\u00a0summit, Lupe headed E back across the N side of the field where the dried up stock pond was\u00a0to start her trip back down the mountain.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was eager to get off this pin cushion!<\/p>\n

Besides, Lupe had other higher peaks to climb not too far away near Hot Springs, SD.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On her way back down Maverick Mountain, Lupe was facing the great views of the Cheyenne River far below. Photo looks SE using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The old road is rather faint here, but Lupe is almost right on it. Maverick Junction where Hwys 79, 18 & 385 meet 5 miles E of Hot Springs, SD is seen far below on the L. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Lupe reached the last hillside at the bottom of the mountain, SPHP made her stop and stay put.\u00a0 Due\u00a0her fear of\u00a0cactus, she didn’t dare disobey.<\/p>\n

SPHP started searching around.\u00a0 Earlier, SPHP had noticed Lupe wasn’t wearing her pink collar.\u00a0 She’d had it on when she started out.\u00a0 Where had it gone?\u00a0 After some thought, SPHP had decided it must have come off in this area during all the commotion with the cactus and the leash right near the start of Lupe’s excursion.<\/p>\n

The search was a failure.\u00a0 Lupe’s pink collar was nowhere to be seen.\u00a0 Lupe stood motionless wondering what was going on?\u00a0 An idea!\u00a0 SPHP took the leash out of a pocket.\u00a0 Hah!\u00a0 There it was!\u00a0 Lupe’s pink collar had\u00a0gotten tangled up with the leash, and been in SPHP’s pocket all along.\u00a0 Doh!<\/p>\n

Sorry, about the wait Looper.\u00a0 Guess I’m losin’ it.\u00a0 Come on, let’s go!<\/em>\u00a0 Lupe was more than ready.\u00a0 She returned to\u00a0the G6, leaving Pin Cushion Mountain behind forever!\u00a0 Even Brian Kalet couldn’t get her to\u00a0come back\u00a0a second time. \u00a0(9:25 AM, 48\u00b0F)<\/p>\n

Maverick Mountain had only been a warm-up.\u00a0 Lupe had other higher peaks to climb not too far away near Hot Springs, SD.\u00a0 Soon SPHP was parking the G6 on Sheridan Street in the N part of Hot Springs.\u00a0 (9:40 AM, 50\u00b0F)\u00a0 A stroll S to the end of the block brought Lupe to the start of Battle Mountain Road.<\/p>\n

Lupe turned E on Battle Mountain Road.\u00a0 The road climbed relentlessly all the way up to almost the top of, you guessed it, Battle Mountain<\/a><\/span> (4,434 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!\u00a0 A short\u00a0ascent up a jeep trail and rotting wood-framed steps brought Lupe to the rocks at the S end\u00a0of the\u00a0summit near the old fire lookout tower.\u00a0 Looper got up on the rocks for a look around.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe up on rocks near the very top of Battle Mountain. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looper checks out the views from Battle Mountain. The high ridge on the L is part of the Seven Sisters Range. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had been up on top of Battle Mountain once before, nearly two years ago on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 126<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 Back then a tribe of Neanderthals, still hanging around Hot Springs long after the woolly mammoths Hot Springs, SD is famous for (see Mammoth Site of Hot Springs<\/strong><\/a><\/span>) were gone, had left a lot of trash including broken glass strewn around the summit.\u00a0 Due to all the sharp broken glass, SPHP had had to carry Lupe all around the summit area.<\/p>\n

The summit of Battle Mountain was in considerably better condition today.\u00a0 Almost no trash around.\u00a0 Although there was still some broken glass, it looked weathered and old,\u00a0lacking sharp, stabby points and edges.\u00a0 SPHP was still cautious about letting Lupe get near the worst of it, but for the most part she could roam the top of Battle Mountain at will.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The big tower seen here was visible from down on Sheridan Street in Hot Springs where the G6 was parked. It isn’t quite at the top of the mountain, however. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loopster on the old Battle Mountain fire lookout tower. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Battle Mountain has a collection of towers on it. They partially obstruct the view of Angostura Reservoir from the summit. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The reason for Lupe’s return to Battle Mountain didn’t seem to be in view from the summit.\u00a0 Pine trees blocked the views to the NE.\u00a0\u00a0Less than 2 miles that way was where Lupe’s next peakbagging goal was.\u00a0 Friendshuh Mountain<\/a> <\/span>(4,450 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was barely higher than Battle Mountain.\u00a0 Lupe would have to go considerably farther than 2 miles\u00a0to get there.\u00a0 Dudley Canyon was in the way.<\/p>\n

Friendshuh Mountain wasn’t actually another Brian Kalet peak.\u00a0\u00a0 Gustav Sexaur<\/strong><\/a><\/span>\u00a0added it to the Peakbagger.com data base.\u00a0 However, Gustav had never been there.\u00a0 So far, Brian Kalet was the only Peakbagger.com account holder to have ever actually climbed Friendshuh Mountain.\u00a0 Either way, it was another red circle\u00a0on Lupe’s\u00a0Black Hills map that needed to turn green!<\/p>\n

Lupe left the Battle Mountain summit heading N into the forest.\u00a0 She was barely below the summit’s limestone cap when a glimpse of Friendshuh Mountain appeared between the pines.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Friendshuh Mountain from just below the limestone cap at the N end of the Battle Mountain summit. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Friendshuh Mountain isn’t in the Black Hills National Forest.\u00a0 Neither is Battle Mountain.\u00a0 Both are in the Battle Mountain GPA (Game Production Area), however, so there is public access.<\/p>\n

Coming down the N slope of Battle Mountain, SPHP was looking for the Battle Mountain GPA access road, which leads to the N end of Dudley Canyon close to Friendshuh Mountain.\u00a0 Lupe found a way down off the limestone escarpments she ran into along the way, and very quickly came to a road.\u00a0 Was this it?\u00a0 The road headed E through a cut in the mountain.\u00a0 SPHP was pretty certain this wasn’t the right road.<\/p>\n

As Lupe\u00a0had\u00a0come\u00a0up Battle Mountain Road, fairly close to the top of the mountain there had been 3 roads she could have taken.\u00a0 None of them had any signs.\u00a0 The first (lowest)\u00a0turned N and went by a small building with a tower or big antenna next to it.\u00a0 The second road also angled N, and\u00a0came only 100 or 150 feet before Battle Mountain Road turned sharply S\u00a0on its final\u00a0short leg to the summit.<\/p>\n

Where Battle Mountain Road had turned S, a\u00a0third road had continued E uphill and then turned N.\u00a0 Lupe was on this\u00a0third, highest\u00a0road.<\/p>\n

Despite the lack of a sign, SPHP was pretty sure that the second road was actually the Battle Mountain GPA access road Lupe needed to be on.\u00a0 Instead of going E through the cut, Lupe followed the high road S and then W back down to the intersection with Battle Mountain Road.\u00a0 When she reached the second road, she turned and\u00a0started following it N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the start of the 2nd road leading N from Battle Mountain Road near the top of Battle Mountain. This turned out to be the correct choice. This is the Battle Mountain GPA access road leading to the N end of Dudley Canyon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For about 0.25 mile, the road was quite level.\u00a0 It headed N on the W side of Battle Mountain.\u00a0 When the road started curving NE\u00a0making its\u00a0way around the NW slope of Battle Mountain, Lupe was surprised and happy to find snow and ice.\u00a0 From here on, she came to frequent stretches of snow, ice and mud wherever the road was shaded.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe was surprised and happy to find snow and ice on the road where it curved NE around the NW slope of Battle Mountain. She came to many snowy, icy, muddy stretches from here on wherever the road was heavily shaded. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the N side of Battle Mountain, the road began to lose elevation, going all the way down to about 4,080 ft.\u00a0 There it crossed a saddle heading ENE toward Dudley Canyon.\u00a0 This was the first drop.<\/p>\n

By now SPHP was certain Lupe was on the correct road.\u00a0 It began winding around to the N and sometimes NW, slowly regaining nearly all of the elevation Lupe had just lost.\u00a0 The road stayed on the upper W slopes of Dudley Canyon.\u00a0 Due to the forest, most of the time the canyon wasn’t even in view.\u00a0 Lupe had fun.\u00a0 She found a few squirrels to bark at.<\/p>\n

The Battle Mountain GPA access road eventually turned E.\u00a0 When it did, Lupe started losing elevation again.\u00a0 She had barely started down when Friendshuh Mountain came into view to the SE.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Shortly after the road turned E, and before it had lost much elevation again, Friendshuh Mountain came into view to the SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop on the Battle Mountain GPA road as it starts its second significant elevation loss. From here, the road soon turned NE (L) and dropped down into the N end of Dudley Canyon. Friendshuh Mountain is in view ahead. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road turned briefly toward Friendshuh Mountain before turning back to the NE\u00a0and making\u00a0its second and final significant drop down into the N end of Dudley Canyon.<\/p>\n

At around 4,135 ft. elevation, Lupe reached the bottom of\u00a0Dudley Canyon.\u00a0 Next to the road, a map was posted of the Battle Mountain Game Production Area.\u00a0 Apparently not enough game was being produced.\u00a0 The map itself had been a frequent target.\u00a0 It was riddled with bullet holes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The N end of Dudley Canyon was mostly open ground with scattered stands of pines. Lupe reached the bottom of the canyon down by the pines on the R. She would eventually continue on up the other side of the canyon in the draw seen beyond them. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
This bullet hole riddled map of the Battle Mountain GPA is posted down at the bottom of the N end of Dudley Canyon. The Friendshuh Mountain GPA adjacent to the N is shown, too. A parking area was just S of this map. A dirt road nearby continued N through an open gate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A parking area was S of the map, and a dirt road headed N through an open gate.\u00a0 Lupe followed\u00a0the road\u00a0100 yards to a double gate which was padlocked shut.\u00a0 Another dirt road headed ESE up the draw behind it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
100 yards N of the map was this double gate, which was padlocked shut. A dirt road beyond it went up the draw seen on the right. Lupe went through the gate and up the draw. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP went under and over the double gate respectively.\u00a0 Lupe followed the dirt road up the draw.\u00a0 Part of the road shaded by pines was snowy and muddy, but it wasn’t long before Lupe was up on a sunny hillside.\u00a0 The road now went E along the N side of a barbed wire fence.<\/p>\n

Lupe came to another set of double gates, both of which were standing wide open.\u00a0 Friendshuh Mountain was in view beyond them directly to the S only 0.33 mile away.\u00a0 Lupe was almost there!<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog didn’t head directly for Friendshuh Mountain, however.\u00a0 The top of the barren ridge the road had\u00a0been\u00a0climbing\u00a0was only a little farther uphill.\u00a0 An interestingly shaped\u00a0flat rock up there looked like it might offer a great unobstructed view of whatever was over on the E side of the ridge.\u00a0 SPHP wanted to go see the views.<\/p>\n

Lupe was a little reluctant to leave the road.\u00a0 Her concern was justified.\u00a0 On the way to the odd flat rock, SPHP saw her nemesis again.\u00a0 Cacti were scattered on the dry, sunny ridge.\u00a0 Not as many as at Maverick Mountain, but enough to be a concern.\u00a0 Still, it was a good thing Lupe had come this way.\u00a0 Upon reaching the odd flat rock, she made a\u00a0discovery even more interesting than the sweeping views to the N and E.<\/p>\n

Long, long ago,\u00a0something else had come this way.\u00a0 Something gigantic and dangerous!\u00a0 Pressed deep into the rock\u00a0next to\u00a0the odd flat rock was a dinosaur track!\u00a0 Other similar depressions were nearby, but none were so clear as this one.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on top of the odd flat rock on the ridge. She had come to see the big sweeping views to the N and E, but discovered something even more interesting – the huge dinosaur track pressed into the rock below. (The depression on the L.) Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dingoes may rule the earth now, but that wasn’t always true! Another look at the dinosaur track. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The huge dinosaur track was pretty cool, and the wide open views on the barren ridge were great, too.\u00a0 The summit of Friendshuh Mountain was covered with pines, so the views might be limited up there.\u00a0 Why not take a break here?\u00a0 Lupe was happy with that idea.\u00a0 She curled up inside the dinosaur track while SPHP ate an apple.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Daring Dingo dallies in dino depression! Lupe actually curled up and rested for 10 minutes in the dinosaur track.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop back on top of the odd flat rock next to the dino track (out of sight just to the R). The open gates in the fence line Lupe would go through to finish her trek to Friendshuh Mountain are in view. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After\u00a0her brief rest stop in the dinosaur track next to the odd flat rock, Lupe returned to the road and went S through the open gates.\u00a0 The dirt road went up a gradual slope heading almost straight for Friendshuh Mountain.<\/p>\n

Lupe soon\u00a0arrived at a large water tank, which had plenty of water in it.\u00a0 Here the dirt road angled SE going over a gentle pass on its way around the E side of Friendshuh Mountain.\u00a0 To the SW, a faint single track trail went up toward the trees N of the summit.\u00a0 Information SPHP had previously found online indicated that the two routes made a loop around Friendshuh Mountain, but didn’t go to the summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe arrives at the water tank. She’s very close to the summit of Friendshuh Mountain now! Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe didn’t like the area near the water tank. Scattered cacti grew in the grassland around here. She didn’t get into the cactus, but she did get a few painful, sharp thorns from some other kind of plant stuck in her right front paw. SPHP had to pull the thorns out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The area near the water tank was Lupe’s least favorite part of the journey to Friendshuh Mountain.\u00a0 Cacti grew in scattered clumps in the grassland.\u00a0 Some other plant with thorns was around, too.\u00a0 Lupe had a couple of painful thorns in her right front paw by the time she reached the water tank.\u00a0 SPHP pulled them out, but Lupe wasn’t happy.\u00a0 She demanded to be carried from here.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the summit of Friendshuh Mountain was very close by now.\u00a0 SPHP carried Lupe up the faint trail to the SW. \u00a0From the top of a little ridge N of the mountain, Lupe could see that the trail soon became a dirt road a little farther to the SSW.\u00a0 The views to the W and SW were quite nice here.\u00a0 SPHP put Lupe down for a couple photos.\u00a0 She seemed a little more confident again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe just N of the top of Friendshuh Mountain. Battle Mountain and the towers on it (L) are in view. SPHP wonders if the small hill in the far distance on the R isn’t Matias Peak<\/a><\/span> (4780 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>? Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking WNW. SPHP would have liked to explore the rocky ridge in the foreground, but with cactus around, it just wasn’t worth the worry and potential pain for Lupe. The ridge remains unexplored by American Dingoes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe made the final climb from the trail up to the summit of Friendshuh Mountain<\/a><\/span> (4,450 ft.)<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>on her own.\u00a0 She felt safer and\u00a0more confident among the trees than out on the open grasslands.\u00a0 She came to no cactus up on the summit area, but she did find a limestone summit cairn next to a big melting snow bank.\u00a0 The cold snow felt good on sore paws.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Success! Lupe reaches the summit cairn of Friendshuh Mountain. The cold snow felt good on sore paws. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Friendshuh Mountain was defended not only by cacti, but dinosaurs, too! Even so, a wily Carolina Dog managed to reach this summit cairn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Friendshuh Mountain had a roomy, flat summit area about 250 or 300 feet long N\/S.\u00a0 It sloped gradually down\u00a0toward the E.\u00a0 The top was open forest, but around the\u00a0edges, the forest was thicker and effectively blocked the views in most directions.<\/p>\n

After a short exploration, Lupe spent most of her time on Friendshuh Mountain at the S end of the summit area\u00a0where there were fewer trees, and the best views were on display.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP rested here, enjoying the scene and simply being together in the warm sunshine.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Frozen Angostura Reservoir was partially in view to the S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The big ridge on the horizon is part of the Seven Sisters Range (Center). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A glimpse between the trees off toward the ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a pleasant half hour on Friendshuh Mountain, the time came to think about beginning the return trip to the G6.\u00a0 Before leaving the mountain, Lupe returned briefly to the area near the summit cairn.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Before leaving Friendshuh Mountain, Lupe returned briefly to the area near the summit cairn. Here she is at the W edge of the summit. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop enjoyed the feel of the cold snow on her paws near the summit cairn one more time. The cairn is in the shadows on the R. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was fine going down the forested N slope of Friendshuh Mountain on her own.\u00a0 However, when SPHP wanted to cut directly across the open land back to the road leading to the gates near the dinosaur track, it was a different story.<\/p>\n

Carolina Dogs have no fear of dinosaurs, but cacti are another matter.\u00a0 SPHP had to carry Lupe all the way down to the road.\u00a0 Even then, she wasn’t thrilled about being put down again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
While Lupe was being carted across the open ground on the way down to the road, she had this sweeping view off to the NNW. Black Elk Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,231 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R) is on the horizon. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Couldn’t you at least carry me back to the forest?<\/em> The open gates N of Friendshuh Mountain are seen ahead. After going through the gates, the odd flat rock and dinosaur track are off to the R (E). The way back to Dudley Canyon is to the L (W).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since it was a little later in the day, SPHP wanted to return to the odd flat rock and the dinosaur track.\u00a0 The sun would be lighting up\u00a0more of the dino track now.\u00a0 Loopster was dubious about wisdom of leaving the road, even\u00a0for such a short distance.\u00a0\u00a0When she managed to trot over to the dino track without incident, she cheered up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe cheered up when she reached the dinosaur track again without encountering any cactus. She wasn’t the least bit concerned about encountering the dinosaur. The track was obviously quite old. That dinosaur had to be many miles away by now. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Now that it was later in the day, the dinosaur track was better lit up by the sun. From the orientation of the claw marks, the dinosaur had been on its way from Wind Cave National Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a> to the Badlands National Park<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. Probably a tourist, or in search of one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looper seemed to enjoy being in the dinosaur track. She returned to her old resting place again, but this time she just sat there watching instead of curling up. Perhaps she was hoping to get a glimpse of the next dinosaur to come this way.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Come on, SPHP! Sing along with me! Oh, give me a home, where the dinosaurs roam, and the deer and the antelope play! Where never is seen, a cactus that’s green, and your paws won’t get stabbed all day!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the odd flat rock and the dinosaur track, it was about 4.0 miles back to the G6 in Hot Springs.\u00a0 Lupe got to follow the road back the entire way, retracing her earlier route to Friendshuh Mountain.<\/p>\n

When\u00a0Lupe got to the forest on the W side of Dudley Canyon again, she forgot all about cactus when she saw a squirrel.\u00a0 She dashed off into the forest without a moment’s hesitation.\u00a0 From then on, she left the road to roam through the forest whenever she felt like it.\u00a0 Although there were still a few cacti scattered around, she didn’t step on any and had a great time.<\/p>\n

Since the side trip up to the top of Battle Mountain<\/a><\/span> (4,434 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was so short,\u00a0Lupe returned to the summit again when she got back to Battle Mountain Road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On her way back to the G6, Lupe made the short side trip up to the top of Battle Mountain again. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
I’ll have a Dingo on the rocks, please!<\/em> A great way to end any long day. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wow, it was 62\u00b0F out when Lupe reached the G6 (4:08 PM)!\u00a0 What a fabulous, warm, bright day it had been for February!\u00a0 Despite repeated cactus concerns, overall\u00a0Expedition No. 192 had been a fun time\u00a0with several\u00a0more peakbagging successes for the Looper.<\/p>\n

On the way home, Lupe got a ride in the G6 through beautiful Wind Cave National Park.\u00a0 She did see a few buffalo roaming, but not a single dinosaur.\u00a0 Dinosaurs\u00a0just aren’t that common any more, even way out here in the remote Black Hills of western South Dakota.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on Battle Mountain near the end of Expedition No. 192. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trailhead Directions:<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Maverick Mountain<\/strong><\/span> – The parking lot for the Romney\u00a0GPA serves as the trailhead.\u00a0 From Maverick Junction (intersection of Hwys 18, 79 & 385 about 5 miles E of Hot Springs, SD), go 0.7 mile W on Hwy 18\/385.\u00a0 Turn S (L)\u00a0on Scenic Road\u00a0immediately after crossing Fall River.\u00a0 Follow Scenic Road 1 mile S to the Romney GPA parking lot on the R (W).<\/em><\/p>\n

Battle\u00a0& Friendshuh Mountains<\/strong><\/span> – A few blocks E of Evans Plunge<\/a><\/span><\/strong> in Hot Springs, SD, Hwy 385 turns N on its way to Wind Cave National Park.\u00a0 Take Thompson Avenue E (R)\u00a0just N of the turn.\u00a0 A couple of blocks to the E, Thompson\u00a0Avenue feeds straight into Battle Mountain Road (also known as Skyline Road), which goes\u00a01.2 miles to the summit of Battle Mountain.\u00a0 Another 2.5 miles on the unsigned Battle Mountain\u00a0GPA access road leads to the parking area\u00a0at the bullet hole riddled map about 0.5 mile NW (as the crow flies)\u00a0of Friendshuh Mountain.\u00a0<\/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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Maverick Mountain<\/span><\/a><\/strong> on SummitPost.org
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Friendshuh Mountain<\/span><\/a> <\/strong>on SummitPost.org<\/em><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/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":"

Nope!\u00a0 No way!\u00a0 I’m not budging from this spot.\u00a0 Take it off!\u00a0 Take it off, now! Tugging on the leash only made\u00a0Lupe dig in and resist.\u00a0 She wasn’t going anywhere. OK, Loop, but you gotta stay close to me.\u00a0 Let me lead the way. The American Dingo had won.\u00a0 SPHP couldn’t drag\u00a0her all the way … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 192 – Maverick Mountain, Battle Mountain & Friendshuh Mountain (2-20-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9163,"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":[105,113,9,106,795,1102,104,794,304],"class_list":["post-9114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-battle-mountain","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-friendshuh-mountain","tag-hot-springs","tag-lupe","tag-maverick-mountain","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_3904.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\/9114","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=9114"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28378,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9114\/revisions\/28378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}