Start 10:06 AM, 67°F, USFS Road No. 304 near the lower end of Tree Draw, about 4 miles S of Deerfield Road
Well, this was it! Lupe trotted happily along the road leading up Tree Draw. At least there was some shade. It was already warm out. Only a few little white clouds dotted the sunny blue sky. Lupe’s pink tongue dangled so far out of her mouth, it looked like it ought to belong to a considerably larger Dingo.
Lupe was destined to spend a good deal of the day panting. Summer was here! Due to the heat, Expedition No. 207 would be her last Black Hills Expedition until cooler weather arrives in the fall.
Miss Enormous Pink Tongue on the way up Tree Draw on her last Black Hills expedition until cooler weather comes in the fall. Photo looks WNW.At least the trees in Tree Draw provided some welcome shade. Photo looks WSW.
The road went W for 0.5 mile, then turned S for 0.375 mile. Lupe was now approaching the upper end of Tree Draw. The road angled SW and started climbing more steeply. It faded away entirely at a barbed wire fence. Lupe ducked under the fence, and quickly reached a minor pass. This was the saddle NNW of Peak6720, her first peakbagging destination for the day.
A broad, gently rounded ridge led SSE up to the top of the mountain. On the way, Lupe dodged scattered deadfall timber. Near the summit, the deadfall was worse and had fallen over the barbed wire fence, which unfortunately came up here, too. SPHP lifted Lupe over the dangerous downed fence.
At the saddle on the ridge above Tree Draw. Lupe followed this broad ridge right on up to the top of Peak6720, which is dead ahead. Photo looks SSE.
At the N end of the first sizable rock outcropping she came to, Lupe reached the true summit of Peak6720.
Lupe on the true summit of Peak 6720. Photo looks NW.Astride the highest rock formation at the N end of the summit ridge. Photo looks NNW.Dingo on the Rocks.
The summit ridge sloped gradually down toward the SSE. Beyond a gap of relatively level ground were more rock formations. Lupe left the true summit to explore them, too.
Lupe went over to explore slightly lower rock formations farther along the ridge. Photo looks SSE.The rock layers along the spine of Peak 6720 were tilted nearly straight up. A jumble of loose rocks lay scattered immediately below the highest ones. Photo looks SSE.
Fewer trees grew around the rock formations S of the true summit. Lupe enjoyed better views from here, even though she wasn’t quite as high on the mountain as before. She could see Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) off to the SE where she’d been only a week ago on Expedition No. 206.
Lupe liked scrambling around on the rocks strung out along the spine of Peak 6720. Here she’s at the top of the S high point. Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) where she had been only a week ago on Expedition No. 206 is seen on the horizon right behind her. Photo looks SSE.Loopster enjoying being up on the S high point. Why not? The views were terrific! Photo looks SE.
Looking NNW back along the jagged spine of Peak 6720.Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) (R of Center) from Peak 6720 with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SE.Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) (L) and Peak6733 (highest point on the far ridge on the R) from Peak 6720. Lupe had been to both on Expedition No. 206. Photo looks SSE.
It hadn’t taken long to get to Peak 6720, so Lupe wasn’t ready for much of a break yet. She remained on the summit ridge only 20 minutes. That was long enough to get a drink, scramble around on the rocks some, and see the views.
Medicine Mountain(6,878 ft.), 2 miles to the SSW, was next on the Carolina Dog’s peakbagging agenda. Lupe left Peak 6720 heading straight on down the SW slope. Progress was slow at first. SPHP had to navigate a band of loose rock directly below the spine of the mountain. This was followed by a much longer band of deadfall timber. The deadfall was considerably worse here than on the way Lupe had gone up.
Loose rocks and deadfall were left behind, though, well before Lupe reached the floor of the valley to the W. A dirt road in the valley headed straight for Medicine Mountain.
Leaving Peak 6720 behind. Photo looks back to the NE.Down in the valley on the dirt road leading straight for Medicine Mountain(6,878 ft.). Photo looks SSW.
Loop had about a mile to go to reach USFS Road No. 297 down by Negro Creek, but the dirt road she was on veered off onto the W (R) slope of the valley after only half that distance. The Carolina Dog left the road to remain in the valley instead. Following an old cow path, she went around the E side of a large fenced area on the valley floor.
When a spring and small creek appeared, Lupe made good use of them.
In the lower part of the valley. Photo looks WSW.
Lupe reached USFS Road No. 297. She was halfway from Peak 6720 to Medicine Mountain. Negro Creek, a small stream, but much larger than the tiny tributary in the valley she’d just come through, was flowing through an interestingly shaped pond on the other (SW) side of the road. The pond was home to a family of Canadian geese.
Negro Creek flows through this interestingly shaped pond N of Medicine Mountain (Center). Photo looks S.A family of Canadian geese made the pond on Negro Creek their home.
Lupe and SPHP trudged S on USFS Road No. 297 far enough to get past a barbed wire fence before leaving the road to cross Negro Creek. While SPHP jumped across, Lupe hopped right in the creek and laid down. She then got up, and strolled up and down the creek a few times while drinking the cold water. When the Carolina Dog felt sufficiently refreshed, she leapt out of the creek to start climbing Medicine Mountain.
The day was hot. At least, it was hot for climbing mountains. Despite her revitalizing dip in Negro Creek, Lupe’s tongue was soon hanging out again. The heat sapped SPHP’s energy. Most of the mountain was forested, but Lupe came to a few sunny fields on the way up, too. Lupe and SPHP made numerous short rest stops in shady places.
Lupe explored the forest while SPHP kept chugging slowly up Medicine Mountain. There wasn’t much deadfall until almost to the top. Lupe arrived at the base of a narrow rock outcropping after coming up the N ridge. The outcropping looked only 20 feet high. A route existed where SPHP might be able to scramble directly up.
No problem with the little scramble, but the first 20 feet led only to a false summit. However, Lupe didn’t have much more to go. Loop and SPHP worked a little higher along the E side of a rocky ledge, while proceeding S. In a couple of minutes, Lupe was at the top of Medicine Mountain’s N summit. A line of rocks of roughly equal elevation along the ledge provided terrific views to the N.
This time, break first – then views. Lupe had water and Taste of the Wild. An apple, as usual, for SPHP. Lupe curled up in the shade of a tree, surrounded by delicate white wildflowers. Medicine Mountain was a busy place. Flies buzzed, bees hummed, butterflies chased each other in dizzying circles.
A variety of butterflies chased each other in dizzying circles. This one landed briefly to take a break with Lupe.Relaxing in the shade among the wildflowers.
After a 10 minute rest, Loop and SPHP were ready for a look around. From the rocks of the N ledge, Lupe could see in every direction except S. The best views were toward the N & W.
After her break, Lupe went out on the rocks of the N ledge for a look around. She could see Odakota Mountain(7,200 ft.) (L) the 2nd highest in all of South Dakota. Green Mountain(7,164 ft.) is the high point in the distance to the R of Lupe. Photo looks NW.The view to the NNW. Green Mountain(7,164 ft.) again in sunlight on the far L. Copper Mountain(6,920 ft.) is the ridge L of Center.Peak6680 is the lower hill to the L of Lupe. Looper would be going there next after leaving Medicine Mountain. Photo looks W.Gillette Prairie, an area of grasslands within the Black Hills, is in view on the R. Distant ridges along the E edge of the high limestone plateau country lie beyond it. The closest ridge on the L is Copper Mountain(6,920 ft.). Lupe hoped to get there, too, before her day was over. Photo looks NNW.Odakota Mountain (R of Center) and Peak 6680 (L). Photo looks WNW.
So far, Lupe had only made it to the lower N summit of Medicine Mountain. If she wanted to see the views to the S and complete her peakbagging goal, she would have to go to the mountain’s true summit. A saddle with considerable deadfall timber led over to the higher S summit, which wasn’t far off. Lupe could be there in minutes.
Lupe ready to head for Medicine Mountain’s S summit (Center). Photo looks S.
Once she was across the saddle, Lupe found a short, faint trail leading up the NW side of the S summit. The highest point on Medicine Mountain(6,878 ft.) proved to be occupied by a young aspen tree.
The young aspen tree on the right sprawled out over all the very highest rocks on Medicine Mountain. As far as Lupe was concerned, this was close enough. Photo looks NWOdakota Mountain(7,200 ft.) (L) from the true summit of Medicine Mountain. Photo looks WNW.
The best views from the S summit were toward the rugged country around Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) to the SE.
Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) (Center) and Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) (R).Black Elk Peak (straight up from Lupe) with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SE.
Looper could see a long way to the S.
Looking S from Medicine Mountain’s true summit. Atlantic Hill(6,393 ft.) is the bump on the horizon straight up from Lupe. Northeast Cicero Peak(6,240 ft.) is the highest point far off at Center L. Photo looks S.
Lupe spent a little while near the true summit of Medicine Mountain. However, if she wanted to have enough time to actually get to Peak 6680 and Copper Mountain, she couldn’t dilly dally too long. Disappointingly, a little sniffing around revealed no medicine on Medicine Mountain, so Lupe moved on. She took the faint path leading back to the saddle, and began a descent down the mountain’s W slope.
The W slope was moderately steep and full of deadfall timber. Lupe was nearly down to a huge field in the next valley before she was out of it. She continued W across the field, and headed for a saddle ESE of Peak 6680. The saddle and much of the rest of the way up were covered with a forest of dense young pines 10 to 15 feet high.
The young pine forest would have been difficult to travel through, but fortunately, a series of lanes free of trees existed by which it was possible to weave up the mountain mostly unhindered. As Lupe approached the summit of Peak 6680, she came to an older forest and started seeing rock outcroppings.
Lupe saw a great many wild irises on Expedition No. 207. She found these on the W slope of Medicine Mountain on her way to Peak 6680.Approaching Peak6680‘s summit ridge from the ESE.
Lupe had been to Peak6680 once before, way back on Expedition No. 96 on 9-20-14. It had been so long ago, SPHP couldn’t remember what the summit was like. Lupe rediscovered a 150 foot long summit ridge oriented E/W with large rocks scattered along the N edge where the slope below was steepest. This whole ridge was forested, but a few spots offered Loop glimpses of distant views.
The rocks at the far E and W ends of Peak 6680’s summit ridge seemed to be the two highest points on the mountain. Here Lupe is at the E high point. Medicine Mountain(6,878 ft.) can be glimpsed beyond Lupe. Farther away, Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) is in view on the R. Photo looks E.Lupe out on a slightly lower ledge near the E high point. Odakota Mountain(7,200 ft.) in view beyond her. Photo looks NW.Medicine Mountain (6,878 ft.) with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks E.
Lupe had come up at the E end of Peak 6680’s summit ridge. The ridge was roughly level, but with slightly higher points at each end. Lupe could see a rock at the far W end which looked like it might be the true summit.
Naturally, the American Dingo had to go check it out.
Looking W along the summit ridge from near the E end. The rock that is the high point at the far W end can be seen between the trees straight up from Lupe’s nose.Up on the highest rock at the W end of the ridge. This might have been the true summit of Peak 6680, but it was hard to tell for sure. In any case, Lupe had already been to the E high point, so she was here to claim another peakbagging success! Photo looks N.Not a bad perch!
Although it wasn’t really clear if the E or W high point was the true summit of Peak 6680, Lupe had now been to both. She could now claim peakbagging successes at 3 different mountains today. SPHP was pretty certain she still had time to get to Copper Mountain, too.
Copper Mountain was 2 miles due N. Loop wasted no time getting started. She went E back a little beyond the rocks at Peak 6680’s E high point, before turning N. She traveled down to a very wide saddle leading to the long S ridge that would take her to Copper Mountain. It was a bushwhack all the way through the forest until she came to a dirt road upon attaining the S ridge.
Now Lupe and SPHP could make good time. The dirt road followed the top of the ridge to Sixmile Road (USFS Road No. 301), a major gravel road. Lupe crossed No. 301 continuing N before eventually turning E. The sun was getting low, but would still be up for another hour or so, when Lupe reached the cliffs at the SE end of Copper Mountain(6,920 ft.).
The last time Lupe had been here was 14 months ago, when she’d first met her mountaineering friend Jobe Wymore. Jobe had used Lupe’s Black Hills scouting services, and come all the way from the west coast to visit Odakota Mountain. Lupe and SPHP had then gone with Jobe all the way to the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska.
Fun times, and it was fun to think about them again now! Neither Lupe nor SPHP had ever met a real mountaineer before. Jobe had turned out to be such a great guy with so many interesting tales to tell! Lupe hadn’t seen Jobe since that day, but it was possible she was going to see him again on one of her 2017 Dingo Vacations this summer!
Medicine Mountain is the conical peak on the R. Photo looks SE.Looking SW at Odakota Mountain(7,200 ft.) from Copper Mountain. Jobe Wymore had come all the way from the W coast to peak bag Odakota Mountain, because it is the 2nd highest in South Dakota. (Jobe had already climbed the highest mountains in all 50 states.) After Odakota, Lupe had also brought Jobe here to Copper Mountain where the views are better.Lupe at the far SE end of the cliffs on Copper Mountain. Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) is on the L. Medicine Mountain(6,878 ft.) is on the R. Negro Creek with the pond where the Canadian geese live is in the valley with the green grass seen near Lupe’s head. Photo looks SE.A closer look with the telephoto lens at the Negro Creek valley. Photo looks SE.Looking N across Copper Mountain’s summit area from the high point at the edge of the cliffs.Looking N across Gillette Prairie. Terry Peak(7,064 ft.) (L) and Custer Peak(6,804 ft.) (Center) are faint on the far horizon.
The evening views from Copper Mountain were beautiful. Lupe and SPHP stayed a little while admiring them, talking about Jobe, and remembering. The sun was getting lower, though, and Lupe had a bit of a bushwhack ahead of her to get back to the saddle above Tree Draw near Peak 6720.
Lupe’s return trip went fine. The heat of the day was gone. Lupe and SPHP were both energized. Lupe saw many deer, a few squirrels, and one giant deer (elk) on the way. She had a blast! She made such good progress, she even had time for a quick side trek back up to the top of Peak 6720 to see the sun set.
Expedition No. 207 marked the end of Lupe’s Black Hills expeditions for a while. The first of her splendid Summer of 2017 Dingo Vacations full of more distant adventures would be starting soon! (9:11 PM, 52°F)
On the tippy top of Peak 6720 again at sunset.Expedition No. 207 nears its conclusion.On the jagged spine of Peak 6720.
Day 39 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska
6:20 AM on this beautiful early September morning found Lupe already on the road, heading SE on Yellowhead Highway No. 16. Ever since leaving Alaska, Lupe had made her 450 mile daily quota or a little more. Today she didn’t need to go so far. She could spent part of the day visiting some favorite places in the Canadian Rockies.
Lupe’s first stop came before mid-morning when she reached her favorite picnic ground in Jasper National Park. For some unknown reason, there’s no signage for this great picnic area right along the E bank of the mighty Athabasca River. It’s located 5 or 6 miles S of Athabasca Falls along the W side of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.
The Athabasca River was much lower than Lupe had ever seen it before, but until today she had never been here this late in the season. Previously, the river had always come right up to the bank at the edge of the picnic ground. Now a wide expanse of riverbed was exposed beyond the bank. Lupe went down to the riverbed, and trotted over rounded stones to the water’s edge.
Lupe had never seen the Athabasca River so low before. She went way out across exposed riverbed to this boulder. Photo looks upstream (SE).Loop at the Athabasca River near her favorite picnic ground.
Every other time Lupe had seen the Athabasca River, it had been a light gray color, running high, and full of silt. Now the river was a beautiful blue.
When the Athabasca River is running higher, it is a light gray color and full of silt. Today the river was running low and a beautiful blue. Photo looks downstream (NW).
Time for a late breakfast. After checking out the river, Lupe returned to the picnic ground. While SPHP heated up soup and Swiss Miss, Lupe had a fine time barking at squirrels in the trees. When breakfast was ready, Lupe helped SPHP devour the soup. She didn’t get any Swiss Miss.
Lupe got to spend nearly 2 hours at the picnic ground. She took short walks through the forest along the river with SPHP, barked at squirrels, and returned to the Athabasca River.
Looking upstream again toward Mount Christie(10,236 ft.). Photo looks S.Happy times at the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park! Mount Christie in the background. Lupe’s still keeping a sharp eye out for squirrels up in the trees on the riverbank. Photo looks S.
Late in the morning, another vehicle pulled in to the picnic ground. No doubt more would be coming as lunch time approached. Lupe and SPHP hit the road again. Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 through the majestic Canadian Rockies is always a spectacular drive.
Lupe and SPHP enjoyed the scenery, passing by many gorgeous places Lupe had explored on her 2013 and 2014 Dingo Vacations. Lupe didn’t stop again, however, until she reached the trailhead for Parker Ridge(7,612 ft.). By now it was early afternoon, and the trailhead parking lot was packed. SPHP had to wait for a parking spot to open up.
Parker Ridge is Lupe and SPHP’s favorite short day hike in the Canadian Rockies. A well-traveled trail switchbacks up the side of the ridge. On the other side is a tremendous view of the huge U-shaped valley carved long ago by the Saskatchewan Glacier. The glacier can still be seen in the upper part of the valley flowing down from the Columbia Icefield. The trail gains over 800 feet of elevation on its way to the ridgeline.
The Parker Ridge Trail was very busy, but the glorious view of the Saskatchewan Glacier from the other side of the ridge made dealing with the crowd totally worthwhile.
Once over the ridgeline, Lupe had fantastic views of the Saskatchewan Glacier. Photo looks SW.The Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge. Photo looks SW using the telephoto lens.
The way the terrain is configured, Lupe’s view of the Saskatchewan Glacier actually improved as she followed the trail on the other side of Parker Ridge away from the glacier. More of the toe of the glacier could be seen from here.
The farther Lupe followed the trail away from the Saskatchewan Glacier, the more she could see of the glacier’s toe and the pond below it. Photo looks SW.Looking W along Parker Ridge. On the other side of these mountains is Jasper National Park and another impressive glacier. The Athabasca Glacier can be seen from Icefields Parkway Hwy 93, but for a truly amazing view of it, Lupe recommends taking the trail to Wilcox Pass.The Saskatchewan Glacier flows down from the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in North America’s Rocky Mountains.
Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge using the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.An even closer look at the toe of the Saskatchewan Glacier through the telephoto lens.Across the huge valley carved by the Saskatchewan Glacier, Lupe saw high peaks and impressive snowfields. Photo looks SSW.
Lupe followed the Parker Ridge trail far enough away from the Saskatchewan Glacier to where she could see its entire toe.
Lupe with a view of the entire toe of the Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge.A close-up showing the entire toe of the glacier.
Several groups of people had gone this far along the trail, too. Everyone was hanging around enjoying the glacier view. After several minutes, Lupe realized people and Carolina Dogs weren’t the only ones interested in being here. A mountain sheep wandered up the steep side of Parker Ridge from the valley below, likely more interested in finding something to eat than the grand view.
After all, mountain sheep are so used to splendid scenery they pretty much take it for granted. A good meal can be harder to come by.
A mountain sheep wandered up to the Parker Ridge trail from the deep valley below. The sheep seemed used to people, but rather alarmed to be confronted with the presence of an American Dingo!When the mountain sheep saw Lupe, it hesitated before coming any farther up. Lupe and the mountain sheep were both extremely interested in each other, but for different reasons.For mountain sheep in the Canadian Rockies, spectacular scenery is easy to come by. Photo looks ESE from close to the end of the Parker Ridge trail.
For a few minutes, Lupe and the mountain sheep had a stare down. Lupe was a very good American Dingo. She did not bark or lunge at the sheep. She wouldn’t have gotten anywhere anyway, since she was on her leash.
Lupe and the mountain sheep stared each other down for several minutes before the sheep decided it was safe to come farther on up Parker Ridge.
When Lupe didn’t do anything except stare in rapt attention, the mountain sheep decided maybe it was safe to come farther on up Parker Ridge. It turned out this sheep was an advance scout. Several more mountain sheep suddenly made their appearance.
The first mountain sheep was only a scout. When the scout decided it was OK to advance despite Lupe’s presence, the rest of the flock started appearing. Six sheep ultimately came into view.
A total of six mountain sheep came up onto Parker Ridge from below. Lupe still didn’t bark, but the sight of all these mountain sheep wandering around nearby was almost more than she could bear. The Carolina Dog was trembling with excitement from nose to tail. She kept glancing up at SPHP pleading to be turned loose. She was absolutely 110% certain fresh mutton would taste better than the soup she’d had for breakfast.
This situation wasn’t going to be sustainable. To Lupe’s enormous disappointment, SPHP insisted that she head back away from the mountain sheep. She was most reluctant to comply, but in the end, she had no choice. Parker Ridge had certainly been an exciting adventure, but oh, how much better it might have been!
Lupe on Parker Ridge on the way back to the G6. Mount Wilcox(9,462 ft.) is in view at Center. To the R is Wilcox Pass, where there are tremendous views of the nearby Athabasca Glacier. Photo looks NW.
Lupe and SPHP returned to the G6 (3:48 PM, 48°F). Lupe continued S on Icefields Parkway Hwy 93. Her biggest adventure for the day up on Parker Ridge was over, but she still had some fun ahead of her. Overcome with drowsiness from the gorgeous, relaxing drive, SPHP eventually parked the G6 at Lupe’s favorite picnic ground in Banff National Park on the SE side of Bow Lake.
After an hour’s nap, Lupe got to go see wonderful Bow Lake.
Lupe at beautiful Bow Lake. Photo looks W from near the picnic ground.The red roof of the Num Ti Jah Lodge is in view at the foot of Mount Jimmy Simpson(9,731 ft.) across Bow Lake. Photo looks NW.Looking S along the shore.On a path at the picnic ground. No one else was around. Lupe and SPHP had the whole place to themselves.
The picnic ground was completely deserted, even though it was dinnertime. After a good look at Bow Lake, SPHP prepared dinner at a table near the shore. At this late stage of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation, supplies were almost completely exhausted. Lupe and SPHP shared the last of the soup and sardines.
Good thing Lupe was well on her way home! Swiss Miss and tea was all that remained to sustain SPHP, though Lupe still had some Taste of the Wild and Alpo in reserve.
By the time this feast was over it was 7:00 PM, but there was still light in the sky. Lupe and SPHP drove over to the Num Ti Jah Lodge at the N end of the lake. Lupe went down to the shore and saw a curious thing. A piece of wood was swimming around as if it were alive!
Near Num Ti Jah Lodge, Lupe saw a curious sight. A piece of wood was swimming around in Bow Lake as if it were alive!
Lupe had spotted a beaver! The beaver paddled around near the shore completely unconcerned by Lupe’s presence. Lupe wasn’t really certain why that piece of wood seemed so lively, but finally lost interest in it since it never came out of the water where it could be properly sniffed and inspected.
The beaver paid Lupe no attention. Since it never left the lake, Lupe eventually lost interest in it.The beaver had a short stick it was gnawing the tender thin bark off of.After a few minutes, the stick didn’t have much bark left. The beaver looked quite satisfied with this treat.After a few minutes, the lively piece of wood (seen beyond Lupe) swam away. Photo looks SSE across Bow Lake. Part of the Crowfoot Glacier is in view R of Center beyond the opposite shore.Lupe, the beaver, Bow Lake & the Crowfoot Glacier.
The beaver eventually swam away farther out into the lake. Lupe never did figure out what made that floating piece of wood so much livelier than any other she’d ever encountered.
Off to the SW, part of Bow Glacier and Bow Glacier Falls were in view. A trail that Lupe took once before on her Summer of 2013 Dingo Vacation goes all the way to the base of Bow Glacier Falls. It would be dark long before Lupe could do that again, but there was still time to follow the trail partway along the N shore of Bow Lake.
Beyond Bow Lake, part of the Bow Glacier and Bow Glacier Falls were in view. Photo looks SW.Bow Glacier & Bow Glacier Falls using the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.Too bad there wasn’t time to take the trail all the way to Bow Glacier Falls again, but it would be dark before Lupe could get there. It’s a great, easy, scenic hike with a good trail and very little elevation gain along the way. Lupe highly recommends it!Num Ti Jah Lodge is at the N end of Bow Lake. The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts here. Photo looks N.This hefty, wooden bridge crosses a small creek entering Bow Lake near Num Ti Jah Lodge. Photo looks SSE.Bow Glacier flows down from the Wapta Icefield. Another small lake exists out of sight below Bow Glacier above the falls. Neither the small upper lake, nor the glacier are visible from the base of Bow Glacier Falls. However, a distant view of both, plus part of the enormous Wapta Icefield can be seen from Cirque Peak(9,820 ft.). Photo looks SW.
Lupe and SPHP only took the trail to Bow Glacier Falls along the N shore of Bow Lake for 20 minutes. Lupe hadn’t even made it to the end of the lake yet when the time came to turn around. Darkness was coming, maybe rain, too. The sky was clouding up.
Lupe on the trail to Bow Glacier Falls. She would have to turn around in another 10 minutes due to oncoming darkness. Crowfoot Mountain is on the L.Clouds were rolling in and starting to hide the mountains. The sky looked increasingly like rain was a possibility. Photo looks SSW using the telephoto lens toward a peak S of Bow Glacier.Bow Glacier & Bow Glacier Falls through the telephoto lens from the point of Lupe’s farthest advance along the trail.The upper portion of Bow Glacier Falls with the telephoto lens cranked up.
On the way back to the Num Ti Jah Lodge, a gentle steady rain did start falling. The lodge was lit up and looked inviting when Lupe returned. The soggy Carolina Dog couldn’t go in, though. She had to return to the G6.
Num Ti Jah Lodge was lit up and looked inviting when Lupe returned in the rain from the Bow Glacier Falls trail. The soggy Carolina Dog couldn’t go in, though. Back to the G6!
Around 8:30 PM, SPHP parked the G6 for the final time. The steady rain was coming down harder. The temperature was only 38°F. Maybe Lupe was going to get snowed in overnight in the Canadian Rockies? It sure seemed like a possibility.
Lupe had only made 250 miles today, but that was OK. She’d spent a lovely day in the Canadian Rockies. Maybe it wasn’t the most spectacular day she’d ever spent here, but she’d seen many beautiful sights, gone to some favorite places, and had several pleasant, relaxing outings.
Lupe’s only regret was that with supplies running desperately low, SPHP hadn’t allowed her to secure a great new supply of fresh mountain sheep mutton!
Sigh … Carolina Dogs try to be man’s best friend. They really do. Humans are hard to understand, though. Sometimes they don’t have any sense at all.Note: The Parker Ridge trailhead is located at a pullout right along the southbound side of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 several miles S of Sunwapta Pass, the border between Banff & Jasper National Parks.
Start 7:35 AM, 46°F, USFS Road No. 352 just NW of the end of Sylvan Hill’s N ridge.
Expedition day! Lupe was excited! She frolicked and rolled in tall green grass, wet from overnight rain showers. Before SPHP was even ready to set out, Loop was already a soggy doggie, but happy as a clam. She led the way, trotting S on perfectly good USFS Road No. 352, expecting SPHP to follow.
Instead, SPHP left the road right at the G6, climbing a slope to the SE to begin the 1.75 mile trek up Sylvan Hill’s N ridge. The Carolina Dog doubled back. This was more good news! Loop loves off-road, off-trail exploring most of all.
Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) is the high point of Custer County, SD. Situated only 3 miles SW of Black Elk Peak(7,131 ft.), the highest mountain in South Dakota, and a mile W of Sylvan Lake, it lies near the heart of the most rugged territory in the Black Hills, an area characterized by large ancient granite formations.
As the Custer County high point, Sylvan Hill gets climbed more frequently than many Black Hills peaks. The vast majority of ascents are made by the shortest route possible starting from a dirt parking lot off Hwy 87/89 located 0.5 mile W of Sylvan Lake Lodge in Custer State Park.
From the dirt parking lot, a short trek up a switchback on a gated side road ends at a sod-covered water storage facility. A subsequent steep climb WSW through the forest skirts around the S end of a big granite formation, and leads to a saddle on a ridgeline with more granite to the S (High Point 6849). The summit of Sylvan Hill lies less than 0.25 mile NW of this saddle along a deadfall infested ridge.
This popular route from the E is no more than 0.75 mile one way, and involves less than 800 feet of net elevation gain. The first time Lupe climbed Sylvan Hill slightly more than 3 years ago on Expedition No. 89 (5-17-14), she had also used this route. Not today, though! Now she was intent upon exploring the longer N ridge.
Lupe gained a little under 200 feet of elevation going up the slope to the first high point on the N ridge. Scattered boulders were at the top, but no large rock formations. Lupe angled S, losing a little elevation. Off to the W, a short stretch of USFS Road No. 352 was in sight again a little lower down. Lupe had been right, it would have been easier to follow the road this far. Ahh, well. Que sera.
Continuing on, Lupe’s climb resumed. This next section was shorter, and led to more boulders strung out along a higher part of the ridge. Lupe got up on one of the biggest boulders offering a partial view of what lay ahead.
Lupe on her way up the N ridge of Sylvan Hill. Her route eventually took her up to the high ground seen on the R. Photo looks S.
For a while, the ridge narrowed considerably. The edge was steeper than before. Sometimes Lupe could go over the top of rock formations she came to. Other times, it was easier to go around. SPHP often expected Lupe was about to have to lose some elevation, but she seldom lost much. A way through to higher ground always seemed to appear.
The ridge widened out again, and Lupe came to an abandoned road. The road was switchbacking its way up, so Loop followed it. Why not? It was the easiest way.
Lupe on the faded, abandoned road. Yellow flowers like these grew scattered in the forest, but were more abundant along the road’s edge.
The road didn’t take Lupe very far. It ended at what appeared to be an old prospecting site where a hole had been blasted in the side of the ridge.
The abandoned road ended at this old prospecting site where part of the ridge had been blasted away. Photo looks E.
With the forest also blown away in this area, Lupe would have her first real shot at some distant views from rocks she could see above the blast site. Loop scrambled up for a look around. She had a nice look back to the N at Saint Elmo Peak(6,458 ft.) and Zimmer Ridge(6,600 ft.).
Above the blast site, Lupe had a nice view to the N. Zimmer Ridge(6,600 ft.) is seen on the L. The G6 was parked back near the base of closer Saint Elmo Peak(6,458 ft.) (R).
Dingo, ho! Lupe was climbing steadily now. The ridge was getting steeper. The longest, steepest part of her journey up the N ridge was underway. Loop was approaching the high forested area she had seen from the first big boulder early on. Before the final big push, she reached another high point with a view.
Shortly before starting the longest, steepest push up Sylvan Hill’s N ridge, Lupe arrived at this high point with a view. Photo looks NNW.
Onward! Up and up. After several hundred feet of sharp elevation gains, the terrain began to level out. Lupe was still going up, but at a more moderate pace. The forest started thinning out. Lupe came to meadows with minor high points a short distance off to the SSW. She went over near the top of the first one.
Lupe had her first view of Sylvan Hill’s true summit ahead.
After the last big steep push up Sylvan Hill’s N ridge, the true summit (L) came into view from the first minor high point Lupe came to. Photo looks S.
The rest of the way was easy. The slope of the terrain was gradual. Lupe romped through open fields. To the E, she had views of impressive rock formations and many peaks she had been to before. The true summit wasn’t far off now.
Getting closer! Lupe reaches another minor high point along the way. Photo looks SSE.Sylvan Hill summit from the NW.
The NW slope of the knobby summit would have been an easy climb, but was full of deadfall timber amid a thick stand of young aspens. Lupe found it easier to circle around to the SW, where she faced a momentary scramble between a few big rocks. A couple of bounds up, and she was there! Lupe sat comfortably on a small grassy spot on top of Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) for the first time in over 3 years.
A short bounding scramble between a few boulders brought Lupe to the top of Sylvan Peak for the first time in over 3 years. Photo looks NE.
The views from Sylvan Hill were magnificent! Lupe could see far off in every direction. The summit area was small, but not the least bit scary. The American Dingo had plenty of room to relax and take life easy. First, though, it was time to enjoy those views!
The cairn at the top of the mountain had been considerably improved upon since the last time Lupe had been here on Expedition No. 89. She got up near it for a good look around.
Black Elk Peak(7,131 ft.) (L) is seen straight up from Lupe’s head. Straight up from the tip of her tail is Little Devils Tower(6,960 ft.). The Cathedral Spires(6,840 ft.) are on the horizon a little L of the cairn in the same area. Photo looks ENE.Lupe’s ear on the L points to Black Elk Peak. Little Devils Tower is up and to the R of the tip of her tail. Photo looks ENE with help from the telephoto lens.Looking E. Little Devils Tower (L) and Cathedral Spires (a little to the R of LDT) are in view on the horizon. Hwy 89/87 is seen below. The dirt parking lot for the shortest and most used route to the top of Sylvan Hill from the E is on the R side of the closest part of the Hwy seen here. A sliver of Sylvan Lake is even in view on the L. (Click photo to expand.)Mount Coolidge(6,023 ft.) is on the horizon between Lupe and the cairn. Photo looks SSE.Looking S across the small, but perfectly adequate summit area.Another look SSE. Mount Coolidge(6,023 ft.) is on the L. Farther away, Northeast Cicero Peak(6,240 ft.) peers around the R side of the cairn.
N of the true summit was another rock ledge Lupe could comfortably pose on. She happily agreed to get up on it for a few photos in this direction, too.
Lupe on the N ledge. Zimmer Ridge(6,600 ft.) (L) is the closest big ridge beyond Lupe. Saint Elmo Peak(6,458 ft.) is on the R. The big hill on the far horizon straight up from Lupe’s tail is Terry Peak(7,064 ft.) (Center). Also on the far horizon, the largest of the smallest bumps above the W (L) flank of Saint Elmo Peak is Custer Peak(6806 ft.). Photo looks N. (Click photo to expand.)Some of the territory Lupe traversed along Sylvan Hill’s N ridge to get here is seen below on the L. Photo looks NW.Lupe could see Thunderhead Mountain(6,567 ft.), site of the Crazy Horse Memorial carving from Sylvan Hill. Crazy Horse is a major tourist attraction in the Black Hills. Photo looks W using the telephoto lens.When Lupe first caught sight of Sylvan Hill’s summit on the way up, the big granite formation on the L was also in view. At first it appeared to be as high as Sylvan Hill. By the time Lupe reached the summit, the big rock formation was clearly significantly lower. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.
Before taking her break, Lupe returned to the summit cairn for another look. Of all the grand views available from Sylvan Hill, the best was toward Black Elk Peak, South Dakota’s loftiest mountain.
The best of all the views from Sylvan Hill was the rugged scene culminating at Black Elk Peak (R), South Dakota’s loftiest mountain. Photo looks NE.Black Elk Peak (L), Little Devils Tower (Center) and the Cathedral Spires (a little to the R) are all on display. Sweet! Photo looks ENE.
That was a bunch of pictures. Lupe was ready for her break. She curled up to enjoy her usual Taste of the wild. SPHP had nectarines instead of the usual apple. After devouring both nectarines, SPHP wandered around the summit a bit more while Lupe continued chilling out.
Looper curls up to enjoy her Taste of the Wild.The summit of Sylvan Hill sported two varieties of yellow wildflowers. Lupe had seen quite a few of these on the way up the N ridge.SPHP hadn’t noticed any of these on the way up, but this nice specimen was at the top.Looking SE from the summit. This is the direction most climbers ultimately approach Sylvan Hill from when starting at Hwy 87/89 to the E. The rugged, rocky stuff seen here is easily avoided, but bountiful deadfall timber still makes this last part of the approach a real pain. Fortunately the distance traversed along this upper SE ridge is less than 0.25 mile.
The weather had been becoming increasingly unsettled while Lupe came up the N ridge. After 20 minutes at the summit, the first of a series of squalls blew in. Suddenly, Lupe really was chilling out. SPHP feared a cold, drenching shower was imminent, but none materialized.
What did materialize was a snow storm! The micro-blizzard was dramatic, and came on driven by a frigid, stiff N breeze. The snow wasn’t flakes, but arrived as tiny pellets. Neither the Carolina Dog nor SPHP was particularly pleased with this turn of events, but snow was better than a bone-chilling rain.
The Sylvan Peak micro-blizzard lasted all of 3 or 4 minutes before it began to taper off again. Typical in this country. More squalls would come, but in the meantime, Lupe would have 20 minutes or more when the skies would clear somewhat and the sun might shine.
Loop was ready to move on. A few more minutes at the summit, and SPHP was ready, too.
The snow pellets of the micro-blizzard melted the instant they hit the ground. When it was all over, Lupe was ready to move on. The plan was for her to traverse the near ridge seen beyond her from L to R. It was part of the route to her next objective, Peak 6733. Photo looks S.Last moments at the summit of Sylvan Hill. Black Elk Peak on the R. Photo looks NE.Loop awaits the signal from SPHP that it’s OK to come on down. Photo looks N.
Lupe’s next peakbagging goal for Expedition No. 206 was Peak6733, located nearly 1.5 miles SW of Sylvan Hill across the upper end of Bear Gulch. The plan wasn’t to head directly for it, but to explore the entire length of the long, undulating ridge going all around the S end of Bear Gulch.
The first part of Looper’s route to Peak 6733 would follow the same SE ridge which is the last segment of the popular route to Sylvan Hill from Hwy 87/89. SPHP remembered this trek from Lupe’s Expedition No. 89 as being dreadfully slow due to all the deadfall timber killed by pine bark beetles.
The deadfall situation hadn’t improved at all over the last 3 years.
Yuck! The deadfall was just as thick as ever on the ridge SE of Sylvan Hill. Photo looks SE.Lupe would face at least a couple of massive granite formations that might pose difficulties on her way along the ridge leading to Peak 6733. High Point 6855, the knob of rock in the sunlight on the R, was one of them. Photo looks SW.
Fortunately, it wasn’t nearly as far to the first big granite formation SE of Sylvan Hill as SPHP remembered. Despite the deadfall, Lupe made her way over there fairly quickly. She climbed most of the way up the granite into a narrow crack between nearly vertical walls.
Lupe reaches the crack in the first big granite formation SE of Sylvan Hill. Somehow she needed to get over or around the rock wall seen on the R. Photo looks ESE.
Lupe was near High Point 6849 on the Peakbagger.com topo map. She needed to get past the highest vertical wall of granite blocking her way S. SPHP didn’t see an easy way over it, and was fearful of the potential drop that might be waiting for Lupe on the other side.
Looking NW back at Sylvan Hill from the vicinity of High Point 6849.
After a half-hearted search for a way over, Lupe and SPHP gave up. Lupe went W looking for a way around High Point 6849.
Looking SW at High Point 6855, the next big obstacle on the ridge as Lupe starts down to the W (R) to go around High Point 6849, which had her blocked.
Loop had to lose more elevation than SPHP expected, but she did get around the W end of High Point 6849. Good thing Lupe went around it, and hadn’t tried too hard to go over the top! Looking back after regaining the ridgeline on the other side, it was clear that going around had been the only feasible option.
Going around the W end of High Point 6849. Lupe was on her way to the ridgeline seen ahead. Photo looks SSE.Lupe regains the ridgeline S of High Point 6849, the wall of rock seen on the R. Clearly going around it had been Lupe’s only real option. Sylvan Hill is in view on the L. Photo looks NNW.
Now that she was past High Point 6849, Lupe followed the ridge SW. The ridge was broad, and the terrain wasn’t bad at all, with no big climbs or drops. Lupe still had excellent views to the S.
Despite these advantages, the ridge walk wasn’t fun. Deadfall timber was strewn so thickly about, Lupe’s progress was excruciatingly slow. She did reach one area that was kind of cool. A lumpy platform of solid granite had a few big puddles on it, and was free of the aggravating deadfall.
This cool granite platform offered some great views, but the rest of Lupe’s trek along the ridge was infested by annoying amounts of deadfall timber. Photo looks SSW.
The views were great, but beyond the platform, Lupe was forced right back into the deadfall infested forest. Up ahead, High Point 6855 loomed as the next obstacle. It really didn’t look like Lupe could get all the way to the top, but she could clearly get quite high. She shouldn’t have a hard time finding a way past the summit.
Another squall came and went. Cold N breeze, same deal as before, except this time it was a mix of snow then rain. As before, it didn’t last long. These squalls might come and go for hours. If they turned completely to rain and got worse, Lupe’s long trek around the deadfall infested ridge was going to be unpleasant. She still had a long way to go to Peak 6733.
Upon reaching a saddle leading to the now imminent climb up High Point 6855, the American Dingo discovered a faint road. Lupe was doing fine, but SPHP was fed up with all the deadfall on the ridge. Come on, Looper, let’s just take this road down into Bear Gulch. Even though you’ll have to regain a lot more lost elevation, we’ll get to Peak 6733 way faster.
Lupe didn’t mind. In fact, she preferred the road, too. The road went by meadows where she could run around, instead of wasting her energy hopping over dead trees. The faint road led to a better one, which ultimately brought Lupe down into the upper end of Bear Gulch from the E.
From down in the upper end of Bear Gulch, Lupe could see Peak 6733 ahead. Photo looks WSW.
Lupe came to USFS Road No. 352 again 2.5 miles S of where the G6 was parked along it. Nearby, a little stream crossed the road. Lupe crossed the road, too, staying S of the creek. Boggy forested terrain interlaced with small rivulets trickling through it all forced her SW.
Loop drank from the rivulets. She loved the feel of the soft, damp, boggy ground on her paws. SPHP was less enthused by the mud, but managed to avoid the worst of it. Before long, the Carolina Dog was beyond the bog and climbing a hillside. She had skipped past a big part of the long ridge to Peak 6733, but now she needed to get back up there again. SPHP had her aim for the saddle between High Point 6627 and Peak 6733.
About the time Loop regained the ridgeline, a third squall hit. This squall was mostly dark clouds and wind, accompanied by only a little rain. Apparently the squalls were weakening instead of strengthening. Good! Lupe turned NW following the ridge. She still needed to regain another 300 feet of elevation to reach Peak 6733’s summit.
In keeping with its annoying tradition, the upper part of the ridge was strewn with deadfall. At least it wasn’t quite as bad here as before.
Getting close! The upper part of the ridge leading to Peak 6733 was also strewn with deadfall timber, but wasn’t quite as bad as the deadfall Lupe had faced earlier. Photo looks NW.
The summit of Peak6733 is a block of granite with small cliffs facing NE. Lupe had an easy time scrambling up from the SE. The views were superb in most directions, except to the W toward Thunderhead Mountain(6,567 ft.) and the Crazy Horse Memorial where trees interfered.
Lupe on her way up Peak 6733’s summit block. Crazy Horse on Thunderhead Mountain is seen on the L. Photo looks NW.Success! Lupe stands atop Peak 6733. Sylvan Hill (Center) is seen beyond her. High Point 6855, which she skipped going to, is on the R. Photo looks NE.Another look. Sylvan Hill is now on the L. High Point 6855 is at Center. The upper portion of Bear Gulch, which Lupe had come through to get here, is down below on the L. The summit cairn was new since the last time Lupe had been here on Expedition No. 103 on 11-6-14. Photo looks E.Northeast Cicero Peak(6,240 ft.) is the highest point on the R. Photo looks SSE.Looking S.
After a look around, Lupe and SPHP took a break. Lupe had water and more Taste of the Wild. SPHP had foolishly devoured both nectarines back on Sylvan Hill.
By the time Lupe’s break was over, another squall could be seen coming in from the N.
Lupe at the N end of Peak 6733’s summit area, which was adequate, but not terribly big. High Point 6634 (Center) is beyond Lupe in the sunlight. Meanwhile, the next squall is approaching Zimmer Ridge(6,600 ft.), the dark ridge on the R. Photo looks NNW.Lupe at the N end of the summit area as the next squall approaches. Most of Peak 6733’s summit is in view here. Photo looks SE.The view to the NW.
This fourth squall was the weakest and final one of any note. The sun soon came out again. Lupe made another tour of Peak 6733’s summit before beginning her descent.
Saint Elmo Peak(6,458 ft.) is in sunlight on the L. Five Points(6,621 ft.) lies in shadow at Center. Peak5800 is in sunlight far away on the far R. Photo looks NNE using the telephoto lens.Looper poses dramatically atop the N end of the summit once again. Sunshine was on the way now that the last squall had blown on by, but hadn’t arrived quite yet. Photo looks NE.In sunshine again back at the summit cairn. Part of the long ridge Lupe had climbed on her way up Sylvan Hill is seen on the L. Photo looks ENE.
The easiest way down seemed to be to the SE back the way Lupe had come up.
Loopster ready to begin her descent. Photo looks NW.Crazy Horse with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks W.
Once Lupe was down off the summit, she stopped briefly by another high point a little to the SE. It was somewhat lower, of course, but offered a final, unobstructed view of Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) and Bear Gulch.
Sylvan Hill with the upper end of Bear Gulch below. High Point 6855 on the R. Photo looks ENE.Another look showing more of Bear Gulch and a great deal of the long N ridge Lupe had climbed earlier on her way up Sylvan Hill. Photo looks NE.
From here, Lupe headed N, passing below Peak 6733’s summit along the base of the NE facing cliffs.
Once beyond the cliffs, Lupe and SPHP stayed on the N ridge making a long trek through a battle zone of deadfall timber. The terrain was easy enough, but the deadfall was horrid the entire way. Lupe finally reached a road at a gated pass immediately S of High Point 6634.
Peak 6733 from the horrid deadfall infested N ridge. Photo looks S.
Once again, Lupe was glad to reach the road! She made another descent into Bear Gulch. The road took her a long way back to the SE, before eventually curving N again. Lupe didn’t care. She was free of the deadfall. Now she could have fun sniffing around. She was entertained by numerous deer she saw along the way.
The road finally reached USFS Road No. 352 down by the creek at the bottom of Bear Gulch. Here, the side road Lupe had been following was marked as No. 352.2B. The G6 was still a good 2 miles N along No. 352.
It was only mid-afternoon. The sun would be up for hours. However, Lupe had gotten off to an early start this morning, and the long stretches of deadfall had been wearying. The Carolina Dog turned N on No. 352, and headed for her ride home. (5:01 PM, 59°F)
In Bear Gulch on USFS Road No. 352.
Note: USFS Road No. 352 (marked by a brown fiberglass wand) leaves the W side of Hwy 87/89 in Sunday Gulch (S of Hill City) less than 0.25 mile S of privately owned Horse Thief Campground & RV Resort just as the highway begins a 3 mile climb up to Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park.
Stay to the L at a “Y” where No. 352 levels out. Park along the road here (like Lupe did), or go a little farther to a small parking area at a locked gate in Bear Gulch less than a mile from the highway. High clearance vehicle not required.
