{"id":9317,"date":"2017-03-18T08:10:39","date_gmt":"2017-03-18T14:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=9317"},"modified":"2020-09-24T08:51:00","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T14:51:00","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-194-summit-peak-bishop-mountain-3-5-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=9317","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 194 – Summit Peak & Bishop Mountain (3-5-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of course!\u00a0 But, really?\u00a0 Do you mean it?<\/em>\u00a0 You’re not just pulling my curly Dingo tail?<\/em>\u00a0 Lupe was incredulous.\u00a0 SPHP had just asked if she wanted to go up into the mountains?\u00a0 Half the day was almost shot already.\u00a0 Until a moment ago, SPHP hadn’t shown the least inclination to go anywhere.\u00a0 Loop was mentally prepared for another idle day lounging about the house.<\/p>\n

SPHP sprang into action.\u00a0 To the Carolina Dog’s utter amazement and joy, suddenly preparations were underway!\u00a0 The reason?\u00a0 A neighbor had casually mentioned winds gusting to 70 mph tomorrow.\u00a0 Lupe was supposed to go on\u00a0one of her Black Hills\u00a0expeditions tomorrow, not today, but\u00a0SPHP\u00a0had quickly checked the\u00a0forecast.\u00a0 It said more like 30 mph winds with occasional stronger gusts.\u00a0 Not nearly as dramatic, but combined with temperatures in the low 40’s, no picnic either.<\/p>\n

Today was an unseasonably warm\u00a065\u00b0F with a gentle breeze.\u00a0 Given the circumstances, waiting until tomorrow\u00a0was nuts.\u00a0 As late as it was, there wasn’t time to go clear down to the\u00a0southern Black Hills to continue Lupe’s adventures there.\u00a0 That\u00a0would have to\u00a0wait for another day.\u00a0 However, there was still time for some kind of an expedition closer to home.<\/p>\n

Ever ready for adventure, Lupe was soon leaping out of the G6.\u00a0 She found herself\u00a0at the intersection of Old Hill City Road and USFS Road No. 357 (1:06 PM, 57\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

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Lupe near the start of USFS Road No. 357 about 2 miles ESE of Hill City. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe\u00a0began by\u00a0heading SW on No. 357.\u00a0 A big pasture, part of a private ranch, was right next to the road.\u00a0 Lupe’s first peakbagging objective was all on Black Hills National Forest land, however, so she wouldn’t have any access issues.\u00a0 Summit Peak<\/a><\/span> (5,655 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was less than a mile from the G6.\u00a0 Soon Lupe was leaving the road to start her climb.<\/p>\n

In an open forest thinned by logging operations, Lupe came to a spiffy rock outcropping before she had even gained much elevation.\u00a0 She hopped up on the rocks and\u00a0struck\u00a0a\u00a0happy American Dingo explorer pose.\u00a0 Who knew what the top of Summit Peak might be like?\u00a0 From a distance, the mountain was heavily forested.\u00a0 There might not be anything to look at up there except trees.\u00a0 At least this rock formation looked good in a photo.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe astride the spiffy rock outcropping she reached before she’d even gained much elevation on her way up Summit Peak. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe continued upward.\u00a0 She quickly came to another, higher road.\u00a0 This grassy road was apparently seldom used.\u00a0 Instead of charging right up the N slope of Summit Peak, Lupe followed the grassy road.\u00a0 She gained elevation gradually as\u00a0the road\u00a0went SW along the NW flank of the mountain.<\/p>\n

When the grassy road seemed to be getting close to topping out, Lupe left it to start climbing directly up\u00a0a heavily forested hillside.\u00a0 She arrived up on a saddle between rock formations.\u00a0 A rusty barbed wire fence ran along the ridgeline, a hazard for Lupe and an unwelcome sight.\u00a0 SPHP made certain she stayed away from it.<\/p>\n

The topo map showed the true summit of Summit Peak\u00a0at the SW end of the mountain, but Lupe was much closer to the NE end now.\u00a0 Another high point was supposed to be to the NE, so Lupe\u00a0explored that direction first.\u00a0 The rock formation on the ridgeline was much larger and more rugged than it\u00a0initially appeared.\u00a0 Before long, Lupe was forced to make a choice on how best to try to\u00a0reach the NE end of the mountain.<\/p>\n

Lupe got off the rocks to continue NE along the SE side of the\u00a0formation.\u00a0 She soon found herself\u00a0below a solid wall of rock, but had no problem continuing NE along its base.\u00a0 She\u00a0was gaining elevation along the way, but so was the wall of rock.\u00a0 After going hundreds of feet, it became clear that she was nearing the far NE end of the ridge.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, gaps in the rock wall provided the Carolina Dog a relatively easy way to scramble to the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe up on the rocks at the far NE end of Summit Peak. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The rocks at the very NE\u00a0end weren’t the absolute highest.\u00a0 A couple of\u00a0massive rocks only 20 or 30 feet farther SW were clearly the high point.\u00a0\u00a0These rocks were too large for\u00a0Lupe to get up on them from this direction.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The highest rocks, one of which is seen on the L, were a short distance from the NE end of Summit Peak. Lupe couldn’t climb them from this direction. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe had this great view of Ford Mountain<\/strong> from the far NE end of Summit Peak. Photo looks NW with some help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only hope for Lupe to\u00a0climb onto the highest rocks was if there was a route up from the SW.\u00a0 To find out, she\u00a0went down a\u00a0narrow\u00a0gap right next to them.\u00a0 Small bushes grew thickly in the gap, but Lupe had no problem getting through.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe comes down the narrow gap next to the summit rocks on her way to look for a way up from the SW. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The wall of rock was too high for Lupe to climb by herself, but she found a spot where it was possible for SPHP to scramble up.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0waited anxiously\u00a0below while SPHP scouted around above.\u00a0 She didn’t like being left behind, especially when SPHP disappeared from view.<\/p>\n

Yes, there was a way up to the highest rocks\u00a0along the SE side of the rock formation!\u00a0 SPHP came back to tell Lupe the good news.\u00a0 She was mostly relieved that she hadn’t been abandoned.\u00a0 SPHP scrambled down, then lifted Lupe up, giving her the boost she needed to get on the rock wall.\u00a0 SPHP then climbed back up to join her.<\/p>\n

The route to the top was short.\u00a0 To get up on the very highest rocks Lupe needed another boost, but with SPHP’s help she made it!\u00a0 A look back to the SW convinced SPHP that Lupe was now on the true summit of Summit Peak<\/a><\/span> (5,655 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 The topo map showing the true summit at the opposite SW end of the mountain was wrong.\u00a0 SPHP would have bet money on it!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
With a couple of boosts from SPHP along the way, Lupe sits at the true summit of Summit Peak! Some of the rocks she had been on earlier at the far NW end of the ridge are seen not very far away on the L. They weren’t much lower, only a few feet. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loopster on Summit Peak with Five Points<\/a><\/span> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> in view in the distance on the L. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe’s no longer at the very summit here, but close to it on rocks only a little to the SW. Photo looks SW along the ridgeline. The rounded, forested hill on the R is the SW end of Summit Peak. The topo map showed the true summit over there, but SPHP would have bet money Lupe had found the true summit here at the NE end of the mountain no matter what the map said. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP was surprised at the size and length of the rock formations on Summit Peak.\u00a0 Lupe had some terrific views!\u00a0 When she was ready to get down, SPHP helped her off the true summit.\u00a0\u00a0While she\u00a0explored among rocks nearly as high nearby, SPHP took pictures.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
This massive granite formation is shown as Elkhorn Mountain on the topo map. It is part of a long rise toward the summit of Black Elk Peak. Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sweet Loop checking out the views. The summit rock, which she had just been on, is right behind her. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Black Elk Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,231 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the highest mountain in South Dakota, towers over the Palmer Gulch KOA<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>, seen at lower L. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Black Elk Peak using the telephoto lens. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Saint Elmo Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,458 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the high point on the horizon slightly to the R of Lupe.\u00a0 Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bishop Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,706 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R of Center) would be Lupe’s next peakbagging objective when she finished exploring Summit Peak. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After enjoying the impressive views from the summit area, Lupe and SPHP left by the same route Lupe had come up.\u00a0 Loop was willing to\u00a0leap off the rock wall, but SPHP helped\u00a0the Carolina Dog so she wouldn’t risk\u00a0joint damage.<\/p>\n

Lupe headed SW exploring the\u00a0NW side of the rock wall\u00a0along the ridgeline.\u00a0\u00a0The rocks were even more impressive over here than on the SE side she had investigated earlier.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop on her way down on the NW side of the rock wall. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The amount of rock on Summit Peak was totally unexpected! Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Working along the base of the rock wall was sometimes slow work due to the number of boulders scattered around. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once beyond the long rock wall, Lupe continued SW along the ridgeline.\u00a0 SPHP was convinced she had already been to the true summit, but she was going to see what the official summit\u00a0according to\u00a0the topo map was like.\u00a0 Was there any chance it actually was higher?<\/p>\n

Lupe had to dodge the rusty barbed wire fence a couple of times again.\u00a0 SPHP wondered for the 10 millionth time, why it was so common to find barbed wire fences so incredibly high up on rugged mountains and ridges in the Black Hills?\u00a0 These hazardous fences were\u00a0useless and silly.\u00a0 They always had been.\u00a0 No cow or horse would ever attempt this kind of terrain of its own free will!<\/p>\n

As Lupe continued SW, she\u00a0came to more high points.\u00a0\u00a0Near the first\u00a0big one was a very odd rock formation.\u00a0 The rocks formed a\u00a0large square surrounding a depression full of boulders, branches and pine needles.\u00a0 Strange!\u00a0 SPHP decided to name this formation Box O’ Rocks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the next significant high point SW along the ridge. SPHP was certain this wasn\u2019t as high as where she\u2019d been earlier. The Box O\u2019 Rocks formation was only a little farther SW from here. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looper sits at the NE end of Box O’ Rocks. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had lost quite a bit of elevation coming down from the NE, but she eventually regained a fair amount of it.\u00a0 After a\u00a0fairly big\u00a0climb, she arrived at a\u00a0high point SPHP suspected might be the location of the (erroneous)\u00a0true summit shown on the topo map<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Trees made it hard to see much in most directions, but the nice flat rock at the top did offer\u00a0lovely, clear views to the N and\u00a0NW.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0had a great look at both Bishop and Ford mountains, her next peakbagging objectives.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe sits on the flat rock that SPHP suspected might be the (erroneous) true summit near the SW end of Summit Peak indicated on the topo map. She had a great view of Bishop Mountain (L) and Ford Mountain (R), both of which she still hoped to climb on Expedition No. 194. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe still at what SPHP suspected might be the SW summit. Although she had a great view of Bishop and Ford Mountains and a few other peaks from here, this view was more typical of what she could see in most directions. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Years ago, Storm Hill was a beautiful green, but a forest fire changed that. Photo looks N using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Five Points<\/a><\/span> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) and the mountain Lupe knows as New Year’s Eve Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,046 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (on the horizon\u00a0on the R). Humbolt Mountain<\/a><\/span> (5,722 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the lower peak in front of\u00a0and a bit L\u00a0of Five Points. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had to\u00a0retreat off this\u00a0possible SW summit\u00a0going back down toward the NE.\u00a0 She then circled around the SE side of the ridgeline to continue SW.\u00a0 She went some distance before finding an easy\u00a0way over to the NW side of the ridge.\u00a0 SPHP was again surprised at the size of some of the rock formations that continued SW from here.<\/p>\n

When Lupe made it over to the NW side of the ridge, she started working her way down the mountain.\u00a0 Looking back up, SPHP began to have doubts if Lupe had actually been to the true SW high point.\u00a0\u00a0Maybe one\u00a0of those towering rocks was actually it?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe below some of the towering rocks of the SW end of the ridge. She’s already starting down the mountain. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe continued on down\u00a0for 10 minutes while SPHP dithered.\u00a0 Finally, SPHP decided Lupe had better go back up\u00a0to check it out.\u00a0 It’s a good thing American Dingoes have a lot of patience and a forgiving nature.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t complain in the least about having to return to the ridge.\u00a0 She didn’t bite SPHP even once.<\/p>\n

SPHP wasn’t even certain Lupe could make it to the top of the towering rocks, but investigation revealed a surprisingly easy route.\u00a0 Lupe was soon perched at the highest point.\u00a0 She was maybe a couple hundred yards SW\u00a0of the last high point she’d been at.\u00a0 SPHP could sort of see the other high point between the trees, but not clearly.\u00a0 This final spot seemed to be about as high.<\/p>\n

From here, Lupe had some fabulous views.\u00a0\u00a0She could also clearly see there weren’t any higher points farther SW along the ridge.<\/p>\n

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The wide open views from the final SW high point Lupe reached along the ridge were fabulous! Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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So, satisfied yet, SPHP? Is this the true summit? … Yes, my curiosity is satisfied now Loop! Thank you! This might or might not be higher than the last spot you went to, but I still believe the true summit was way back near the NE end of the mountain. Fantastic views here, though, aye?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe could see clearly there weren’t any higher points along the ridge farther SW than where she was now. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP was\u00a0now completely satisfied that Lupe had been to every possible location of the true summit on Summit Peak.\u00a0 So much time had been spent on the mountain, it was\u00a0doubtful Lupe had time to climb any others.\u00a0 Maybe she could still try to make it up Bishop Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,706 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>?<\/p>\n

Lupe went back down to the NW side of the ridge.\u00a0 She\u00a0resumed following the ridgeline SW, but was\u00a0losing elevation steadily.\u00a0 Large rock formations continued much farther than SPHP expected, but\u00a0there was no need to climb any of these rocks.\u00a0 None were\u00a0as high as where\u00a0Lupe had already been.\u00a0 When she finally reached the end of the rock formations, Lupe turned NW descending\u00a0as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

Bishop Mountain was less than 2 miles NW, but Lupe first had to detour nearly a mile to the WSW to get around private property.\u00a0 She was now making\u00a0rapid progress, but SPHP had made her dilly-dally\u00a0a long time\u00a0up on Summit Peak.\u00a0 By the time she was approaching Bishop\u00a0Mountain, it was clear she wouldn’t\u00a0have any time to waste\u00a0here.<\/p>\n

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Approaching Bishop Mountain from the S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe started up Bishop Mountain.\u00a0 At first her course aimed between two high points midway up, but she eventually drifted over to the E to reach the S ridgeline.\u00a0 As soon as she was on the ridge, she came to big rock formations.\u00a0 Due to the forest, good viewpoints were rare,\u00a0but Lupe came to\u00a0a few\u00a0along the way.<\/p>\n

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One of the good viewpoints Lupe came to climbing the S ridge of Bishop Mountain. Black Elk Peak is in the distance. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The higher Lupe went, the more rock formations she encountered.\u00a0 However, they did not form continuous walls like on Summit Peak.\u00a0 Lupe could wind around among them\u00a0easily enough while\u00a0working\u00a0her way higher.\u00a0 Loopster was quite high on the mountain, but not at the summit yet, when she saw the golden glow in the W.\u00a0 The sun had already set.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sunset from Bishop Mountain. Good chance this photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sky had been almost totally overcast for a while.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t seen sunshine since leaving Summit Peak.\u00a0 However, there must have been a small break in the clouds.\u00a0 Off to the S, suddenly Elkhorn Mountain and Black Elk Peak were\u00a0aglow in the final rays of sunlight on those higher peaks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Elkhorn Mountain glows in the last rays before sunset. Photo looks SE using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Black Elk Peak. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With light fading fast, Lupe pressed on looking for the true summit of Bishop Mountain.\u00a0 The top of the mountain was a fairly big area dotted with large rock outcroppings.\u00a0 The farther N Lupe went, the higher the rock formations were.\u00a0 She’d made it quite a long way N when one rock formation appeared higher than all the others so far.<\/p>\n

Looper scrambled to the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe scrambled to the top of this rock formation, which SPHP briefly thought might be the true summit of Bishop Mountain. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hwy 16 S of Hill City is seen below from Bishop Mountain. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The true summit of Bishop Mountain proved to be\u00a0a less dramatic place.\u00a0 Only a little farther, way at the N end of the mountain, Lupe came to a\u00a0modestly sloping area with a couple of minor high points so\u00a0nearly equal\u00a0in elevation that either might have been the true summit.\u00a0 She also discovered 3 cement pillars.\u00a0 The pillars were\u00a0likely part of the foundation of some former structure, though they looked almost new.<\/p>\n

It was already so dark out when Lupe arrived, even the highly light sensitive camera lens had a hard time producing a clear image.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the first candidate for true summit of Bishop Mountain. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop on the tallest cement pillar. They all looked new, but SPHP believed they were supports for some former structure. The top of Ford Mountain can be seen between the trees L of Lupe. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe on the sloping rock that was the 2nd candidate for true summit of Bishop Mountain. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sheesh! Trying to make me leap out of my fur?\u00a0Lemme know before you do that! … Sorry Looper, just seeing if things look any better using the flash.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Part of the Bishop Mountain summit area. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With darkness growing by the minute, it was time to get off the mountain.\u00a0 The G6 was less than 1.5 miles to the E, so the return trip seemed like an easy, done deal.\u00a0 SPHP became careless about the route Lupe would take back.\u00a0 Down, down the mountain she went, but SPHP missed the saddle between the two high points to the S.<\/p>\n

Suddenly there were houses ahead.\u00a0 Somehow Lupe was on private property instead of USFS land.\u00a0 What had happened?\u00a0 The realization grew that SPHP had taken Lupe\u00a0in totally\u00a0the wrong direction.\u00a0 The best guess was that she was now somewhere SW of Bishop Mountain.\u00a0 In the dark with an overcast sky, it was hard to know exactly where she might be, or what direction she was headed.<\/p>\n

So the wandering began.\u00a0 Back up away from the homes, then up and down over ridge after ridge.\u00a0 Lupe came to lots of little dirt roads in the forest, but none had any signage.\u00a0 In the darkness, the mountains loomed much higher than\u00a0seemed possible.\u00a0 How much elevation had Lupe lost?\u00a0 Nothing\u00a0was familiar.\u00a0 Peachy.<\/p>\n

Lupe was still having fun!\u00a0 She loved prowling around in the night.\u00a0 Fortunately she stuck close to SPHP.\u00a0 On and on.\u00a0 SPHP thought Lupe was now heading mostly\u00a0N or E, but wasn’t sure.<\/p>\n

Finally, the Carolina Dog came to a big power line up on a hill.\u00a0 The USFS map showed a power line going NE\/SW about a mile E of Hill City.\u00a0 A few stars were now out, so it was possible to be more certain which way Lupe was going.\u00a0 She followed the power line NE.\u00a0 At least it went straight, although the route was still up and down.<\/p>\n

Lupe eventually left the rugged power line route.\u00a0 She\u00a0wound up in Hill City!\u00a0 She\u00a0had been considerably\u00a0farther S than SPHP believed.\u00a0\u00a0The poor American Dingo\u00a0had to traipse the entire boring length of the town to get back to Old Hill City Road.\u00a0 Sadly, it was Sunday, so the Alpine Inn<\/strong><\/a><\/span> was closed.\u00a0 If it had been open, Lupe have been delighted to stop in for a delicious filet Mignon steak.<\/p>\n

Still two miles to the G6!\u00a0 Funny how things work out.\u00a0 Clouds dissipated from the night sky.\u00a0 Stars and a half moon lit the way through the quiet countryside.\u00a0 Lupe trotted along alertly checking fields for signs of deer or wild animals.\u00a0\u00a0Truth was, the happy Carolina Dog\u00a0may have been a little sad when her beautiful moonlit stroll and Expedition No. 194 came to an end.\u00a0 (9:21 PM, 37\u00b0F)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe scrambled to the top of this rock formation, which SPHP briefly thought might be the true summit of Bishop Mountain. Photo looks SE.<\/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 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>.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Of course!\u00a0 But, really?\u00a0 Do you mean it?\u00a0 You’re not just pulling my curly Dingo tail?\u00a0 Lupe was incredulous.\u00a0 SPHP had just asked if she wanted to go up into the mountains?\u00a0 Half the day was almost shot already.\u00a0 Until a moment ago, SPHP hadn’t shown the least inclination to go anywhere.\u00a0 Loop was mentally … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 194 – Summit Peak & Bishop Mountain (3-5-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9290,"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":[105,805,9,106,104,304,806],"class_list":["post-9317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-bishop-mountain","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-summit-peak"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_3985.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\/9317","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=9317"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28380,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9317\/revisions\/28380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}