{"id":9791,"date":"2017-04-27T08:10:19","date_gmt":"2017-04-27T14:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=9791"},"modified":"2020-09-24T09:13:02","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T15:13:02","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-199-twin-sisters-twice-castle-rock-4-12-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=9791","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 199 – Twin Sisters Twice & Castle Rock (4-12-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Start (10:25 AM, 54\u00b0F), intersection of Dog Song Road & USFS Road No. 373, 4 miles SE of Pringle.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cool rainy weather, even a skiff of snow, had delayed Expedition No. 199 for several days, but Lupe was finally on her way!\u00a0 Although she had finished\u00a0up the last of the Brian Kalet peaks she was going to climb in the southern Black Hills\u00a0on Expedition No. 198, she was still headed S, just not quite as far S as before.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s\u00a0first peakbagging objective for the day was the high point of the Twin Sisters Range<\/a><\/span> (4,980 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 The Twin Sisters Range\u00a0is really no more than a 2 mile long ridge running E\/W within the Black Hills.\u00a0 For some reason this ridge, which isn’t particularly high even compared to nearby terrain,\u00a0has its own name on the maps while countless similar ridges do not.<\/p>\n

No matter,\u00a0if the Twin Sisters Range\u00a0was on the maps,\u00a0that was good enough for Lupe!\u00a0 After she reached the high point, the plan was to\u00a0explore much of the rest of the ridge.\u00a0 Maybe\u00a0Lupe would even go on to Elk Knob, another minor high point 0.5 mile farther S?<\/p>\n

Approaching the area from the W, it became clear Lupe would not only have an easy time up on the ridge, she would have some great views, too.\u00a0 The Twin Sisters Range looked barren and exposed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The W end of the Twin Sisters Range looked barren and exposed. Lupe was going to have some great views up there! Photo looks E from Dog Song Road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the starting point. The G6 is parked just off Dog Song Road (not pictured). Lupe would follow USFS Road No. 373 to get to the W end of the Twin Sisters Range, about a mile E of here. High Point 5017 is the ridge seen in the background. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the G6, Lupe followed USFS Road No. 373 going E toward the W end of the Twin Sisters Range.\u00a0 This was a super easy, level stroll\u00a0in upper Cold Spring Creek valley.\u00a0 The creek\u00a0must have been underground here.\u00a0 It was nowhere in sight.\u00a0 A steady E breeze made\u00a0the day\u00a0seem cooler than it really was, but meadowlarks were singing cheerfully.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0was cheerful, too!\u00a0 She liked this place.<\/p>\n

Shortly after setting out,\u00a0Loop\u00a0reached a locked gate across\u00a0No. 373\u00a0at the W end of an area serving as the water supply source for Wind Cave National Park<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 The 0.5 mile long area is not connected to the rest of the park,\u00a0located 2 miles\u00a0farther E.\u00a0 No vehicles could go beyond the locked gate, but Lupe could.\u00a0 It didn’t take her long to reach the far\u00a0E end where she found no gate, only\u00a0a cattle guard.<\/p>\n

After passing through the park water supply area, No. 373 angled SE and entered a thinly forested area.\u00a0 Lupe began\u00a0to gain elevation.\u00a0 The W end of the Twin Sisters Range was now close at hand.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Getting close to the W end of the Twin Sisters Range. Photo looks E from USFS Road No. 373.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe followed No. 373 gradually uphill until she was SW of the W end of the Twin Sisters Range.\u00a0 Here, SPHP led her off the road to begin the real climb.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe and SPHP left the road to begin the climb up to the W end of the ridgeline here. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After all the cactus she\u00a0had been having to\u00a0dodge for the last\u00a0couple of months while climbing Brian Kalet<\/strong><\/a><\/span> peaks farther S,\u00a0Loop wasn’t at all certain leaving the road was\u00a0a good idea.\u00a0 In fact, she was pretty positive it wasn’t.\u00a0 This barren ridge looked a lot like some of those cactus-infested areas.\u00a0 She begged SPHP to carry her.<\/p>\n

The Twin Sisters Range\u00a0was a few hundred feet higher than most of the peaks Lupe had been climbing lately.\u00a0\u00a0It was definitely\u00a0sunny and exposed, which is good for cactus, but SPHP hadn’t seen any yet.\u00a0 Maybe this area was high enough to be\u00a0above cactus line?\u00a0 Cactus usually\u00a0disappears somewhere\u00a0in the\u00a04,700 to 5,000 foot range in the Black Hills.<\/p>\n

SPHP didn’t carry Lupe, only encouraged her to keep climbing.\u00a0\u00a0She followed somewhat reluctantly.\u00a0 However, her\u00a0confidence\u00a0grew as she made rapid progress up the slope\u00a0without encountering any cacti.<\/p>\n

Shortly before reaching the ridgeline, there was movement on the ground.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe saw a snake!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It was gray-green and smallish, but coiled up\u00a0and surprisingly active.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t know what kind of snake it was, but it was clearly harmless.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe came across this snake as she neared the top of the ridgeline. It was harmless, but surprisingly active on this cool, breezy day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even though the snake was harmless, SPHP was a little concerned about seeing it.\u00a0 The snake seemed plenty lively\u00a0despite the\u00a0cool, breezy day.\u00a0 Snakes are quite rare in most of the Black Hills, but\u00a0are much\u00a0more common at lower elevations.\u00a0 In all her expeditions and adventures in the Black Hills, Lupe has never\u00a0seen a rattlesnake.<\/p>\n

One of the reasons Lupe had been climbing the lower\u00a0Brian Kalet peaks of the southern hills\u00a0early in the year when it was cold out was to avoid encountering rattlesnakes.\u00a0\u00a0Due\u00a0Lupe’s small size, a\u00a0rattlesnake would be much more of a danger to her than to SPHP, and she might not know to stay away if she came to one.<\/p>\n

Lupe\u00a0might be above cactus line here, but seeing\u00a0the\u00a0harmless snake proved she\u00a0wasn’t above snake line yet.\u00a0 SPHP couldn’t ever remember seeing a rattlesnake above 5,500 feet in the Black Hills, but that was more than 500 feet higher than the Twin Sisters Range.\u00a0 Seeing the harmless snake also proved spring had progressed far enough along so snakes were now active.<\/p>\n

Dry, sunny, and topped by a layer of weathered limestone\u00a0undoubtedly offering plenty of little caves and crevasses to hide in, the Twin Sisters Range did look like prime rattlesnake country.\u00a0 Still, seeing a single harmless snake didn’t mean the area was infested.\u00a0 SPHP encouraged Lupe to stay close from now on, though, as she finished her climb.<\/p>\n

It only took Lupe a couple more minutes to reach the top at the\u00a0W end of the ridge.\u00a0 The views were excellent!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the W end of the Twin Sisters Range ridge. The views were excellent! Without any trees around, Loop could see in every direction. Photo looks W at the Cold Springs Creek valley she had traveled through to get here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The high point of the Twin Sisters Range (R) from near the W end of the ridge. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Twin Sisters Range High Point<\/a><\/span> (4,980 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was less than 0.25 mile away.\u00a0 An easy stroll E along the ridge, and Lupe was claiming her first peakbagging success of the day!\u00a0 That was easy!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the summit cairn at the Twin Sisters Range High Point. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the summit cairn. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The lower end of the Cold Spring Creek valley. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the 360\u00b0 view available from the Twin Sisters Range High Point, Lupe could see many mountain peaks she had visited in the past, including a lot of the ones she had been to in the last couple of months in the southern Black Hills.\u00a0 Most of them were many miles away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking N toward Northeast Cicero Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>(Center). Mount Coolidge<\/a><\/span> (6,023 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>(far R) is also in view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
High Point 5017<\/strong> is the large, barren ridge in the foreground. On the far horizon are Parker Peak<\/a><\/span> (4,848 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>(L) and Matias Peak<\/a><\/span> (4,780 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>(Center). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Much of the territory around (and including) the Twin Sisters Range had burned years ago. This photo looks NW at some of the devastation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the summit, Lupe\u00a0could see\u00a0the rest of the Twin Sisters Range ridgeline to the E.\u00a0 She would get to explore\u00a0much of this territory on her way to Elk Knob.\u00a0 It looked like fun!\u00a0\u00a0The Carolina Dog\u00a0would enjoy great views all the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking SE at the rest of the Twin Sisters Range ridgeline. Lupe would have a great time exploring it on her way to Elk Knob! Buffalo Gap is in view in the distance at the edge of the hills a little R of Center. Peak<\/span> 4160<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is the long ridge to the L of\u00a0it at Center. Unkpapa Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,280 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the long ridge to the R. Lupe had been to both only 10 days ago on Expedition No. 198.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After enjoying the views from the breezy summit, Lupe headed SE down the ridge starting her trek to Elk Knob.\u00a0\u00a0For 5 minutes, it\u00a0was fun being able to see so much.\u00a0 In an instant, everything changed.<\/p>\n

Looper, you OK?!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, of course!\u00a0 You were right, no cactus up here.\u00a0 Makes life a lot more pleasant!\u00a0 This is way better than some of those other mountains.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, but we’re not staying.\u00a0 Time to go!\u00a0 There’s worse things than cactus.\u00a0 Hear that buzzing?<\/em><\/p>\n

With these big soft Dingo ears, how could I not hear it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, remember that sound.\u00a0 That’s a rattlesnake.\u00a0 Poisonous, perhaps deadly to Dingoes if\u00a0one bites you!\u00a0 We must have passed within a few feet of it seconds ago.\u00a0 It’s right over there somewhere.\u00a0 Stay here!\u00a0 Don’t go over there.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yikes!\u00a0 Are you serious?<\/em><\/p>\n

Very.\u00a0 Two snakes in what, maybe 20 minutes, up here?\u00a0 One of them poisonous.\u00a0 It changes everything.\u00a0\u00a0We aren’t\u00a0going to spend hours strolling around\u00a0on Rattler Ridge courting disaster.\u00a0 Forget that.\u00a0 If you like this place, we can come back another time, like on a warmish day in\u00a0December or January.\u00a0 Won’t be any snakes then.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, suddenly I’m thinking this place would look gorgeous with a couple inches of snow on the ground!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup, exactly, let’s skedaddle, but stay close till we’re down off this ridge.<\/em><\/p>\n

The buzzing had lasted maybe 20 seconds before it stopped.\u00a0 SPHP pitched 8 or 10 rocks back toward the source, but\u00a0the buzzing\u00a0didn’t start up again.\u00a0 SPHP walked a little closer, but saw nothing.\u00a0 Maybe the snake had slithered into some hole?\u00a0 Didn’t matter, there wasn’t any doubt.\u00a0 A rattler had been there.\u00a0 Elk Knob wasn’t happening.\u00a0 Not today.\u00a0 No way!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking NW back up at the Twin Sisters Range High Point. This was as far as Lupe got on her way to Elk Knob due to the rattlesnake she’d heard only a few minutes ago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe didn’t go back up to the Twin Sisters Range summit.\u00a0 She took a shortcut going SW down off the ridge.\u00a0 This route was more direct and less steep than the way she’d come up.\u00a0 She came to no more snakes.<\/p>\n

The return trip to USFS Road No. 373 was uneventful.\u00a0 SPHP did see the one and only cactus patch of the day, but it was easily avoided.\u00a0 The most exciting thing Lupe encountered along the way was some sort of huge ant festival going on at a rotting log.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe starts down the S side of the ridge. If you want a good idea of what prime rattlesnake territory looks like, this is it. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe saw no more snakes. The most exciting thing she saw coming down off the ridge was this big ant festival being held at a rotten log.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All’s well that ends well.\u00a0 Loopster reached USFS Road No. 373.\u00a0 At least she had made it to the top of the Twin Sister’s Range High Point!\u00a0 Elk Knob could wait.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the way back to the G6 along USFS Road No. 373. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The stroll back to the G6 along the road was nice and relaxing.\u00a0 The whole journey to the Twin Sisters Range High Point hadn’t taken long, only a little over\u00a0an hour and a half\u00a0(12:07 PM, 54\u00b0F).\u00a0 There was oodles of time left in the day.<\/p>\n

That was OK! \u00a0SPHP had a backup plan.\u00a0 There was another Twin Sisters on the maps Lupe could visit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the way back to Hwy 89 on Dog Song Road, SPHP stopped the G6 for this look back at the Twin Sisters Range High Point (L). Goodbye Rattler Ridge!<\/em> Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, Loopster, that was it!\u00a0 We are done\u00a0with this low country stuff now until it gets cold again in the fall.\u00a0 No more cactus.\u00a0\u00a0No more snakes.\u00a0\u00a0We are staying high.\u00a0 If we manage not to fall off of anything\u00a0and can avoid the\u00a0barbed wire, we should be golden.\u00a0 Of course, there’s always mountain lions, and hunters,\u00a0but oh well, never mind.\u00a0 We’ll be fine.<\/em><\/p>\n

That sounds, great!\u00a0 I can’t tell you how sick I was getting of cactus.<\/em><\/p>\n

No doubt, but you were getting better at handling it, too.\u00a0 We had fun!\u00a0 Saw some great stuff.<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe, not nearly enough squirrels, though.\u00a0 So where we going now?<\/em><\/p>\n

Twin Sisters again.\u00a0 Another Twin Sisters<\/a><\/span> (5,920 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, a different one.\u00a0 These next\u00a0Twin Sisters<\/em> are W of Custer.\u00a0 They are nearly 1,000 feet higher than the ones we just left.\u00a0 Should be plenty of trees, no cactus, no snakes, and maybe you will see some squirrels.<\/em><\/p>\n

I hope you’re right.\u00a0 Strange that both places have the same name.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, actually, there is a third set of Twin Sisters<\/a><\/span> (5,244 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0in the Black Hills, too.\u00a0 It’s even farther N, between Pactola and Sheridan Lakes, practically right off the Centennial Trail<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 You’ve already been there, but it was a long time ago.\u00a0 You weren’t even 14 months old yet.\u00a0 So after this next set, you will have visited 3 different Twin Sisters in the Black Hills.<\/em><\/p>\n

Like a whole litter of sisters!<\/em><\/p>\n

You could say that.<\/em><\/p>\n

When Lupe jumped out of the G6 again at Comanche Park campground off Hwy 16, she knew instantly this place was more to her liking (12:59 PM, 52\u00b0F).\u00a0 She sniffed the air briefly, then took off running in circles.\u00a0 It was true!\u00a0 No more cactus!\u00a0 One of the first trees she checked even had a squirrel in it!\u00a0 Things were definitely\u00a0looking up.<\/p>\n

The new Twin Sisters were less than 2 miles\u00a0away.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed S through\u00a0Comanche Park\u00a0campground.\u00a0\u00a0A little beyond it,\u00a0a few houses were around, part of some subdivision, but the private property wasn’t hard to avoid.\u00a0 Most of the area was national forest land.<\/p>\n

The terrain Lupe traveled through was rolling and forested.\u00a0 Much of the forest had been thinned, so it was quite open and easy to see what was ahead.\u00a0 Before long, the N Twin Sister<\/a><\/span> (5,920 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was in view.\u00a0 It was the highest of the two.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The N Twin Sister comes into view S of Comanche Park campground. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe headed straight for the mountain.\u00a0 As she got closer, it looked like it might be best to start up\u00a0along the NW ridge.\u00a0 The climb wasn’t difficult, although it became steeper as Lupe got higher up.<\/p>\n

When\u00a0she\u00a0was already fairly high,\u00a0Lupe reached a prominent point capped by some unusual looking rocks.\u00a0 The rocks formed a couple of platforms, one large and one small.\u00a0 Lupe got up on both to look around.\u00a0 From the smaller platform, she had a decent view to the NNE.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the small platform of cool rocks on her way up the N Twin Sister. She was already high enough to have a pretty decent view from here. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A happy finally-out-of-cactus-country American Dingo on the smaller platform. Sylvan Hill<\/a><\/span> (7,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the distant ridge on the R. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trees blocked the\u00a0views from the larger platform. \u00a0Still, it was fun climbing around on the interesting rocks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe below the highest rocks of the larger platform.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe finished\u00a0her climb following the N ridge.\u00a0\u00a0The route\u00a0was modestly steep, but not difficult.\u00a0 Soon Looper was standing on a stump at the very top of the N Twin Sister.\u00a0 Since this was the highest sister, she’d already accomplished her peakbagging goal here.\u00a0 Easy, squeezy!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ta da! Lupe stands on a stump at the summit of the N Twin Sister. Since this was the highest one, she was able to claim another Dingo peakbagging success! The S Twin Sister is in view beyond her. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The summit area was plenty roomy.\u00a0 Three prongs radiated out from the central high point.\u00a0 One off to the N, one to the E.\u00a0 The third and longest prong sloped down to the SW.\u00a0 The views were best from the two shorter prongs, due to breaks in the forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking NNW from the N prong.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the edge of the E prong. Northeast Cicero Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) is the high point on the horizon. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The summit area on the N Twin Sister was plenty roomy. This photo looks W from the E prong, and shows more than half of the summit area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP took a break near the summit.\u00a0 Lupe had her Taste of the Wild and water.\u00a0 SPHP consumed an apple.<\/p>\n

A number of birds were flying around.\u00a0 The Bluebird of Happiness showed up and hung around for quite a while.\u00a0 Lupe was glad to see him!\u00a0 She\u00a0was certain now that her past few months of cactus ordeals were over.\u00a0 The Bluebird of Happiness would never steer you wrong, would he?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Bluebird of Happiness paid Lupe a visit up on the N Twin Sister. It had been a year since she’d last seen him up on Twin Buttes<\/a><\/span> (4,949 ft.) <\/span><\/strong>during\u00a0Expedition No. 166<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 Maybe the Bluebird of Happiness had a thing for twins?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the break, Lupe went down into the saddle leading to the S Twin Sister.\u00a0 It was an easy jaunt down a modestly steep slope.\u00a0 The climb up the S Twin Sister was steeper, but not bad.\u00a0 A lot more rocks were over here.\u00a0 Lupe went up along the NW side since there were cliffs on the N and NE sides.<\/p>\n

Lupe got up on the cliffs for a look back at the N Twin Sister.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On top of the cliffs along the NE edge of the S Twin Sister. The N Twin Sister where she had just been is in view. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>The S Twin Sister\u00a0had a much larger\u00a0summit area\u00a0than the\u00a0N Twin Sister.\u00a0 There were two high points, one to the N and one to the S.\u00a0 The N one seemed to be\u00a0a little higher than the S one, but Lupe found great viewpoints from both.\u00a0 Trees always blocked the views to the NW, but it was possible to see in any other direction from some part of the mountain.<\/p>\n

Lupe took a tour of the entire summit area.\u00a0 She\u00a0enjoyed lots of fabulous views.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the edge of the S rim of the S Twin Sister. Parker Peak<\/a> <\/span>(4,848 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L) and Matias Peak<\/a><\/span> (4,780 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) are barely in view in the haze on the horizon. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peak<\/span> 5846<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is the closest big ridge on the R. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe stands at the SW end of the S Twin Sister. A lower rock platform seen on the R stuck out a little farther to the W. A small connecting saddle made it possible to get onto the lower platform. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking down across a gap toward the lower platform. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The view through the gap between the platforms. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looper on the lower platform. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Can I come down yet? …. Sure, that was great Loop, thank you!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the S high point of the S Twin Sister. The topo maps give the elevation here as 5,889 ft. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After touring the whole area near the S high point, Lupe returned to the cliffs near the N high point for a final look around.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The N Sister (L) from the cliffs at the N end of the S Sister. The large gray rock formation sticking up out of the forest on the R is Castle Rock. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop on top of the cliffs along the far NE edge of the S Sister. Peak 5846 (Center) is the first big ridge seen in the distance beyond her. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking S across the summit area of the S Twin Sister from near the N end.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Having completed her explorations of the S Twin Sister summit, Lupe went back down the NW slope and crossed the saddle over to the N Twin Sister.\u00a0 Down in the saddle she found a pretty grouping of crocuses.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Crocuses (officially Pasque flowers) are the state flower of South Dakota. They bloom in early spring in the Black Hills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe returned briefly to the summit of the N Twin Sister before heading down the N ridge.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe back at the summit of the N Twin Sister. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way down the N ridge, Lupe could sometimes see a large, gray rock formation off in the forest to the NNE.\u00a0 This was Castle Rock<\/a><\/span> (5,600 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 SPHP had also caught a glimpse of\u00a0Castle Rock\u00a0off to the E on\u00a0Lupe’s way to the Twin Sisters.\u00a0 It wasn’t terribly high, but the sides looked like nearly vertical walls – not anything a Dingo could climb.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Castle Rock as seen on Lupe’s way down the N ridge of the N Twin Sister. Photo looks NNE using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite not being any larger than hundreds, maybe thousands, of similar rock formations in the Black Hills, Castle Rock had its own name and was shown on the maps.\u00a0 Since it was kind of on the way back to the G6, SPHP thought Lupe might as well go check it out.\u00a0 Even if she couldn’t climb Castle Rock, she could say she’d been there.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, when Lupe arrived, it looked fairly easy to climb at least partway up from the S end.\u00a0 Lupe began climbing.\u00a0 She needed a boost at one scrambly spot, but to SPHP’s amazement, she made it all the way to the top of Castle Rock!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
To SPHP’s amazement, Lupe made it all the way to the top of Castle Rock. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Castle Rock wasn’t all that tall, but it jutted up high enough to be well above the surrounding forest.\u00a0 Consequently, Lupe had views in every direction.\u00a0 The true summit of Castle Rock was near the N end of\u00a0the formation\u00a0where several large boulders\u00a0sat on the rest of the granite.\u00a0 Lupe got up on one of these boulders.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on one of the huge boulders at the true summit near the N end of Castle Rock. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Hah! And you thought I couldn’t do it, SPHP. Not a bad Dingo perch either, I can see for miles!<\/em> Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After scanning the forest below for deer and squirrels from her lofty perch, Lupe got off the big boulder to explore the summit area some more.\u00a0 It wasn’t very large, but was kind of dramatic with all the huge rocks around and cliffs to the E & W.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe exploring the summit area. Twin Sisters are in view on the L. The highest boulder of all on Castle Rock is seen on the R. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, the Twin\u00a0Sisters where Lupe had just been\u00a0were in view to the SSW.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Twin Sisters (Center) from Castle Rock. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a brief summit area inspection, Lupe returned to the huge boulder.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe returns to her lofty perch. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>After a few more minutes enjoying the views from her favorite lofty perch, it was time to go.\u00a0\u00a0Retreating back down the S end the way she had come up was the only feasible route.\u00a0 Soon Lupe was down and on her way back to the G6.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking back at Castle Rock from the W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Expedition No. 199 should have been over now for all practical purposes, but by the time Lupe made it back to the G6 (5:34 PM, 52\u00b0F), SPHP had hatched a new plan.<\/p>\n

Near Mount Rushmore\u00a0is another\u00a0mountain shown on the maps\u00a0called Old Baldy Mountain<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(5,605 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lupe had never been there, even though it was in the Peakbagger.com data base.\u00a0 SPHP had always assumed based on its location near many other\u00a0impossible-for-a-Dingo-to-climb soaring granite formations that Lupe wouldn’t be able to climb Old Baldy.<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0Loopster’s unexpected success reaching the top of Castle Rock made SPHP start thinking maybe\u00a0she could also get to the summit of Old Baldy Mountain?\u00a0 Time to check it out!<\/p>\n

On the way home, Lupe dropped by the Wrinkled Rock Climbing Area<\/strong><\/a><\/span> (6:09 PM, 50\u00b0F).\u00a0 A short walk along one of the paths brought Lupe to a view of Old Baldy Mountain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Forget about this one, SPHP, unless you’re ready to spring for a helicopter ride! This one’s not happening!<\/em> Old Baldy Mountain (Center). Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Directions:<\/em><\/p>\n

Twin Sisters Range High Point:\u00a0Dog Song Road (USFS Road No. 682.1) leaves Hwy 89\u00a01.7 miles S of Pringle.\u00a0 The junction with USFS Road No. 373 is 3 miles from the highway.<\/em><\/p>\n

Twin Sisters (W of Custer): Comanche Park campground where Lupe started\u00a0is 6 miles W of Custer on the S side of Hwy 16.\u00a0 However, it\u00a0may be possible (and necessary when the campground is open)\u00a0to start much closer on an alternate route from the E.\u00a0 Click here<\/strong><\/a><\/span> for details.<\/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 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0 Check out her Black Hills, SD & WY\u00a0Expeditions\u00a0Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, or subscribe free to new Lupe <\/strong><\/span>adventures<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a>!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Start (10:25 AM, 54\u00b0F), intersection of Dog Song Road & USFS Road No. 373, 4 miles SE of Pringle. Cool rainy weather, even a skiff of snow, had delayed Expedition No. 199 for several days, but Lupe was finally on her way!\u00a0 Although she had finished\u00a0up the last of the Brian Kalet peaks she was … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 199 – Twin Sisters Twice & Castle Rock (4-12-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9785,"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":[105,9,106,176,104,304,824,823],"class_list":["post-9791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-castle-rock","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-twin-sisters","tag-twin-sisters-range-high-point"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/IMG_4325.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\/9791","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=9791"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28386,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9791\/revisions\/28386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}