Lupe’s 13th Birthday & Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 321 – Crooks Tower (12-14-23)

12-13-23, 2:00 PMC’mon, Loop!  We’ve got to get this party underway.  Hop up onto this chair next to your birthday cake!

Lupe didn’t feel like it.  SPHP had to lift her onto the chair more than once to get her to stay put.  The Carolina Dog looked back questioningly at SPHP.  So soon after this morning’s terrible sadness?  It wasn’t even her real birthday yet!  That wasn’t until tomorrow.  Lupe was still 12.

The Dingo of Honor and her13th birthday cake.

No matter.  Everyone was here!  The champagne was flowing!  This was Lupe’s best attended birthday party ever by far!  People she hadn’t seen in years were here, but not for long.  Erik needed to leave for the airport in just a little while.  With time of the essence, SPHP lit the candles.  The resulting conflagration was more fearsome than ever, making Loopster nervous while the gathered throng sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

Loopster enduring the Trial by Fire! Owen & Emery at R.

Lupe didn’t even have time to make a wish.  The instant Happy Birthday concluded, Owen and Felix blew all the candles out in one mighty joint blast!  Cake and ice cream were served, subject to SPHP’s rule.  No one qualified for cake or ice cream until they appeared in at least one photo with the birthday girl.  Children were granted the opportunity to meet this draconian requirement first.

L to R: Asher, Emery, Lupe, Owen & Felix.

Women were next, followed by the men.  SPHP made certain everyone had to squint into the low December sun.

L to R: Cake & ice cream qualifiers Cassie, Yvonne, Xochitl, Andrea & Mush
L to R: Last, and no doubt least – Lanis, Joe, Steve, David, Erik & Matt

SPHP stayed busy scooping ice cream and serving champagne.  Someone else must have served cake.  Yvonne brought out presents from her and Lanis.  The party was so busy that they, and Lupe, got more or less lost in the shuffle.  The time flew!  Erik needed to go.  A final group photo was in order before he got away!

The whole gang! L to R standing: Steve, Lanis, Erik, Xochitl, Matt, Joe, Andrea, David, Mush. Kneeling and sitting: Yvonne, Felix, Asher, Cassie. Emery & Owen next to Lupe.

Leaving her own 13th birthday party, which was still going strong, Lupe went with SPHP and Erik to the airport.  By the time the American Dingo got back, her party was over.  Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea, and new Cousin Dixie were still here, but by early tomorrow morning they’d be gone, too.

12-14-23, 8:00 AMBack down to just you and me, Loopster.  By the way, Happy Birthday!  You really are 13 now!  So, what did you think of that birthday party yesterday?  Sort of fast and furious, wasn’t it?  More like a blowout celebration of your last day of being 12.

It was fine, SPHP, except for one thing.  I wish Grandma could have been there.  She’s been at every one of my birthdays until this one.

I know, Loop.  Grandma would have loved to be here for you.  Almost made it, too, but we tried practically ever since we got back from Canada & Alaska and couldn’t save her.  Thought she was going to be fine when we had Thanksgiving dinner together.  She was the best she’d been in weeks, and in good spirits. 

Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten so much of her turkey, SPHP?

And all of mine to boot, Looper!  But no, that wasn’t the problem.  She was glad you enjoyed the turkey, and came to see her.

We won’t be seeing Grandma ever again, SPHP?

No, not in this world, Loop.

It’s hard to have your birthday party right after you bury your Grandma, SPHP!

I know, but you’re a source of joy to all of us, Lupe, and everyone was here.  If we’d had your party today, I would have been your only guest.

Promise me you’ll always be at all of my birthdays, SPHP!  And that you’ll stick with me every other day, too!

Silly Dingo!  You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried!

So now what, SPHP?  It’s my real birthday!  Is anything going to happen, or is the fun already all over and done with?

Well, I haven’t written a new post for your blog in months, and I’m way, way behind on countless other tasks, given all the adverse events we’ve run into this fall.

So you’re just going to work, while I stare out the window all day, SPHP?  Sounds like being 13 is going to get off to a crummy start.

Oh, no!  We’re not going to let that happen!  We’ve got the whole day.  How about a Black Hills expedition?

Now you’re talking, SPHP!  Where to?

It’s been super warm.  No snow at all around here.  Bet we can still get up into the high country.  How about Crooks Tower (7,137 ft.)?

Seems like forever since we’ve been to Crooks Tower, SPHP.  Let’s do it!

12-14-23, 10:17 AM, 38°F, Besant Park Road (USFS Road No. 206) – Well, there was a little snow here, but not an awful lot, an inch or two at best.  Lupe was thrilled to see it, and rolled in the frosty snow as soon as she leapt out of the RAV4 despite a chilly SW breeze.  The sullen gray clouds and cold air created a subdued wintry atmosphere, partially relieved by a large patch of blue to the S.

Parked just off Besant Park Road ready to set out for Crooks Tower. Photo looks SW.

You ready yet, SPHP?  Which way we going?

In a moment, Looper.  Crooks Tower is a few miles SW of here.  Rapid Creek Road (USFS Road No. 231) is just ahead.  We’ll take a L there.

Minutes later, SPHP was ready.  Onward!  Puppy, ho! time.  Reaching the junction with Rapid Creek Road, Lupe followed it SSW through a big field, trotting merrily along.  At the far end of the field, the road began losing elevation at a little faster clip as it curved SW into the forest.

At the intersection. Lupe followed Rapid Creek Road to the far end of the field. Photo looks S.
On Rapid Creek Road as it winds into the forest. Photo looks SW.

The gradual downhill road trek was super easy.  Didn’t take long for Lupe to reach an intersection with USFS Road No. 631.

Hang a R here Loop, and just keep going until we get to No. 631.1C.

At the start of USFS Road No. 631. Photo looks W.

No. 631 led WNW up the upper South Fork of Rapid Creek valley, but there wasn’t any surface water to be seen here.  Regaining lost elevation, Lupe passed both No. 631.1A and No. 631.1B on the R before reaching the spot where No. 631.1C split off about a mile from where she’d left Rapid Creek Road.

Heading up USFS Road No. 631. Photo looks WNW.
Approaching the junction with USFS Road No. 631.1B (R). Photo looks NW.
At the start of No. 631.1C (R). Photo looks NW.

Go R on No. 631.1C, SPHP?

Yup!  This is the start of the big loop we’re going to make, Loopster.  Later on we’ll be coming back to this point from the L.

No. 631.1C was a much more primitive route than Rapid Creek Road had been.  The clouds overhead were starting to break up.  Lupe was often in sunshine.  There seemed to be more potential for excitement here, but other than a soft breeze, the forest was quiet.  Nothing stirred.

Exploring USFS Road No. 631.1C. Photo looks NW.

After roughly 0.33 mile, a long, 20-30 foot high limestone escarpment was visible ahead on the R.  USFS Road No. 631.1C angled toward it, but by the time Lupe got to the escarpment, it and the road had pretty much vanished.  A tiny climb led up to a flat region.

Approaching the limestone escarpment (R). Photo looks NW.
Entering the flat region up on top. Photo looks W.

The roads gone, SPHP.  Now we’re in for some real exploring!

Been a very long time since we’ve been here, Loop, but if I remember right, there’s an old road somewhere nearby that’s not shown on the maps.  Let’s angle W.

Sure enough, Lupe ran into another road almost immediately.  Following it W, SPHP called a halt upon reaching a clearing.

At the edge of the clearing. Photo looks W.

OK, Loop.  I believe there’s a viewpoint we’ve been to at least a couple of times before off to the NW from here.  Nothing too magnificent, but we can head over to it for a look around, if you like, and take a little break.  Not too far away.  What do you think?  Want to do that?

Sure, SPHP!  Might as well, if we’re already close.  Leave the road here?

Yes.  Angle off to the R, Looper.

Heading off in search of the viewpoint. Photo looks NW.

Exploring happily, Lupe sniffed her way through a maze of trees, bushes, and open lanes.  Roughly 600 feet from the road, she came to the edge of a limestone escarpment.  Miles N, the top of Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) was in sight.  On the NW horizon, a forested ridge rose above others nearby.

Is that Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.) in Wyoming, SPHP?

I’ve sometimes thought so, Loop.  You can see that ridge from Crooks Tower, too.  Seems too far away to be Laird Peak (6,906 ft.), and too close to be Warren Peaks (6,650 ft.), but I just don’t know.  I’ve never been able to figure it out.

At the viewpoint 1.33 miles N of Crooks Tower. Mystery Ridge (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks NW.

Well, it didn’t really matter.  For 15 minutes, SPHP sat there enjoying the view while munching an apple.  Meanwhile, Lupe gobbled down some Taste of the Wild.  Checking the Carolina Dog’s GPS track on the iPhone, it said she’d gone 3.3 miles already.

Wandering farther W along the edge of the escarpment, Lupe discovered a stone fire ring.  Piles of gray branches nearby would have provided plenty of fuel for another fire.

By the stone fire ring. Photo looks WSW.

SPHP fished several Lupe treasures out of the fire ring.

Nice spot.  Wish people would pack out what they bring in.

Many do, SPHP!

Many don’t, too.  Well, we better keep going.  Back to the road, Loopster!

Returning to the road, Lupe followed it S.  When it turned W and started losing elevation, she left it to wander through clearings full of tall, brown grass.  Soon a forested ridge was visible ahead.

Back at the unmarked road. Photo looks SSE.
In one of the grassy clearings. Photo looks SE.
Approaching the ridge. Photo looks S.

That’s the N end of Crooks Tower, Loop.  We’re getting close!

The forested ridge was the steepest climb of the entire journey, but other than a fair amount of deadfall scattered across the slope, the ridge really wasn’t that much of an obstacle.  Before long, Lupe was standing below the N face of a 25 foot high rock formation.

Crossing USFS Road No. 189.4F on the way to the ridge. Photo looks SSW.
Steepest part of the ridge. Not bad at all! Photo looks SSW.
Below the 25 foot tall knob of rock. Photo looks SSE.

Is this Crooks Tower, SPHP?  It’s not the way I remember it.

Oh, we’ve been here at least once before, Loop.  Looks like we’re at Crooks Tower’s NNE summit.  The generally accepted true summit is a bit farther.

Scooting around the W side of the big rock formation, the American Dingo found a relatively easy way to scramble up to the top, where a loose pile of rocks apparently served as a cairn.

So this is the NNE summit, SPHP?  Can’t really see anything except trees.

Yes, this is it.  Get up on those rocks, Looper, so I can get a picture.  I sort of remember this cairn, and that we couldn’t see much last time we were here, either.  Might even be worse now that the trees have grown.

On Crooks Tower’s NNE summit. Photo looks NNE.

Five minutes was about as long as Lupe lingered.  Tree-broken glimpses of distant views were all the cramped NNE summit had to offer.  Not even a hint of the true summit, even though it really wasn’t far off at all.

Continuing on, Lupe made her way first S, then SW, through thick forest and deadfall.  Breaking out into the open, she reached the big field SE of the Crooks Tower summit block.  A quick stroll around to the SW, and a short, familiar path led to a 40 foot diameter top covered with scattered big pines, pine needles, and exposed rock.

Part of the field SE of the summit. Photo looks S.
On Crooks Tower. Photo looks S.

12-14-23, 1:18 PM, 41°F, Crooks Tower (7,137 ft.) Clear skies now!  The clouds were gone, but it hadn’t warmed up much at all.  A 10 mph SSW breeze still made it feel rather chilly.  After polishing off most of the rest of her Taste of the Wild, Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap.

I do remember this place, SPHP.  We used to come here almost every year.

That’s right, Loop!  Even though the views are limited, Crooks Tower is one of the highest peaks in the Black Hills and long been a favorite.  This is your 11th ascent, and on your 13th birthday, too!  Makes it even more special.

I’m glad to be back, SPHP!  Seems like an awfully long time since the last time we were here.

SPHP smiled.

I looked it up before we came, sweet puppy.  Last time we were here was more than 4 years ago – on my birthday.  And now we’re here on yours.

Although still early afternoon, shadows cast by the sunlight filtering through the pines were already lengthening.  Not even mid-afternoon yet, and it already felt late.  As SPHP sat there stroking Lupe’s soft ears while gazing at the old familiar views, a certain sadness crept in.  Did Lupe feel it, too?  She was mighty quiet.

Dusty, Laddie, and now Grandma, all in less than 15 months.  Our world’s grown colder lately, hasn’t it, Loop?

It’s filling up with ghosts, SPHP.  I wish it weren’t!

Me, too, Looper.  Me, too.

The Crooks Tower region had another summit candidate more than a mile SW, plus a 7130 High Point nearly a mile S of that.  Now that Lupe was here for the first time in over 4 years, though, it seemed better to simply stay put and enjoy it rather than dash off.  The Carolina Dog had already traveled 4.7 miles, and going much farther would mean getting back to the RAV4 well after dark.

In any case, congratulations were in order!  Without getting up, SPHP shook Lupe’s paw, praising her for her 13th birthday ascent of Crooks Tower, then split an eagerly received chocolate coconut bar with her.

After that, no one moved.  SPHP wrapped the red rain jacket around Lupe to help hold in some warmth.  Minutes lost in thought ticked away.  Ghosts and days gone by!  Mere memories now, yet still so vivid, and seemingly perfectly real, it felt as if they could return anew even after long absence as easily as Lupe had returned to lay here on SPHP’s lap on Crooks Tower again today.

Gosh, look at the sun!  Can’t sit here too long, Loop!  Your summit hour is getting close to an end.  Let’s get some pictures before it’s time to go.

Upper end of the summit region. Photo looks ESE.
Near the N edge. Photo looks NNE.
Black Elk Peak (Center) from Crooks Tower. Photo looks SE.
A little below the summit. Photo looks NNE.
View to the ESE.
At the summit. Photo looks N.
Looking NNW.
New teenager Lupe on Crooks Tower. Photo looks NNW.
Looking SSW from the summit.

The best views were of Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) far to the SE.  Swinging toward the S, Green Mountain (7,164 ft.) stood out.  The only other real views were N in the general direction of the Mystery Ridge.

Black Elk Peak (L), Green Mountain (R). Photo looks SSE.
Mystery Ridge (L) on the horizon. Photo looks N.

So how was that, SPHP?  Get enough pictures?

Oh, I think so.  Well done, Loopster!

After a more than 4 year absence, an hour on Crooks Tower didn’t seem like nearly enough.  Nevertheless, at 2:18 PM, precisely an hour after she arrived, Lupe headed back down the short path to the SW.

Leaving Crooks Tower. Photo looks SW.

Instead of going back the way she’d come, though, just for fun, it was time to make the big loop SPHP had mentioned earlier.  Less than 0.5 mile WSW on USFS Road No. 189.4A got the American Dingo over to a big intersection with No. 189, the closest really good road to Crooks Tower, and No. 631.2C.

About to set out along USFS Road No. 631.2C. Photo looks SE.

A longer route than Lupe’s ascent, the return was otherwise even easier.  In brilliant sunshine, at first, Loopster enjoyed the long gradual descent along No. 631.2C.

Part of the easy trek along USFS Road No. 631.2C. Photo looks SE.
Loopster enjoying the romp. Photo looks NW.

By the time Lupe got back to No. 631, the sun was behind the mountains.  A bit farther on, Lupe passed the turn she had once taken into Trebor Draw where she’d been injured years ago.  Continuing N beyond this point, another ancient memory stirred in SPHP’s mind.

You know, Loop, I seem to remember a fairly well-formed arch up on one of these hillsides to the L somewhere along this road.  Help me keep an eye out for it, would you?

Sure thing, SPHP!  Arches are rare in the Black Hills.  I’ll let you know if I see one.

It wasn’t until Lupe was well past a junction with USFS Road No. 631.1E that there it was, an arch up on the hillside to the L!  The Carolina Dog went up to it for a closer look.

It’s an arch alright, SPHP! Photo looks NNW.

Well, I’ll be!  The arch really is here, Looper.  My memory of it was so faint that I wasn’t even sure this was the right road.

You were right, SPHP!

Imagine that!  Does happen now and then.

The sun was down, but it was still light out when Lupe reached Rapid Creek Road again.  No traffic at all.  In fact, Lupe hadn’t seen anyone, not even any animals, other than a few small birds, all day long.

On the final stretch near day’s end. Photo looks N.

12-14-23, 4:50 PM, 30ºF – The light was fading fast when Lupe’s 11.4 mile 13th birthday round trip journey to Crooks Tower came to an end.  She’d had a great day up in the high country of the western Black Hills, and as it turned out, more excitement and festivities were still ahead.

During the dark drive home, a herd of nearly 20 giant deers suddenly ran across the road right in front of the RAV4, provoking a hysterical barking attack.  Once home, SPHP suggested another photo session with Lupe’s presents, the two that Lanis and Yvonne had given her yesterday during all the commotion of the big birthday bash, plus one that SPHP had been holding out on.

Loopster with her presents from Yvonne & Lanis.
Biscuit Bistro all-natural gingerbread dog treats. One turned out to be a snowman, the other was Santa.
A big roll of Red Barn grain-free, beef recipe rolled dog food.
Loop with her T-bone steak from SPHP.
1.41 pounds of delicious!

Oh, you did remember, SPHP!  My birthday T-bone steak!  Can I have it now?

Yes, ma’am!  Right after I broil it for you.

Then hop to it, SPHP!  I’m starving after spending all day roaming around up at Crooks Tower.

You’re wish is my command, Teeny-Bopper, Dingo!

Lupe on her 13th birthday at Crooks Tower, Black Hills of South Dakota 12-14-23
With Grandma on Lupe’s 1st birthday. 12-14-11.

Links:

Lupe’s 12th Birthday

Next Black Hills Expedition               Prior Black Hills Expedition

Want more Lupe adventures?  Check out Lupe’s Dingo Tales Adventure Index, Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!

Klahowya Campground, the Sol Duc River & the Battle with Big Paw, Olympic Peninsula, Washington (8-21-12)

Day 14 of Lupe’s 2012 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast.

Lupe’s day began uneventfully enough.  She woke up on a soft bed at a motel in Tacoma.  Before checking out, SPHP gave her a bath.  Afterwards, Lupe and SPHP spent part of the morning at the same park where Lupe had played Frisbee the evening before.  Next was a boring stop at a laundromat.  When the clothes were all clean, the interesting part of the day began.  Lupe, Lanis and SPHP left Tacoma on Hwy 16, and headed for the Olympic Peninsula.

It had been sunny and warm out in Tacoma, but by the time Lupe was crossing the Hood Canal on Hwy 104, the sky was overcast.  After a while, a light mist began, but it was intermittent and didn’t amount to much.  The Olympic Peninsula is mountainous, but between the clouds and the tall forest that lined both sides of the highway, there wasn’t much to be seen.

From the Port Angeles vicinity, there were views of the ocean off to the NE.  SPHP had been looking forward to taking Hwy 112 W along the N shore of the Olympic Peninsula, but Hwy 112 was closed due to road construction.  Instead, Hwy 101 took Lupe into the N end of Olympic National Park.  After Yellowstone and Glacier, Lanis and SPHP now knew better than to bother stopping anywhere in a U.S. National Park.  Dingoes just weren’t allowed in the backcountry.

Lupe, though, knew this place was different.  For here, in the towering old rain forests of the misty mountains, is the home of a creature from a forgotten age.  Seldom spoken of by American Dingoes and Carolina Dogs, and even then just in low growls and whines, is a race of ancestral Dingoes known only as Big Paw!  U.S. National Park or not, no human has ever been able to find, capture or record Big Paw.

Hwy 101 left Olympic National Park and entered the Olympic National Forest.  In the national forest, Lupe would be less restricted.  Lanis and SPHP started looking for a place to camp, and soon arrived at the Klahowya campground.  Klahowya campground was in a forest full of ferns and moss.  It had a real jungle look to it.  There were plenty of open sites in the campground, too, some of them next to the Sol Duc river.

Lupe's campsite at the Klahowya campground in the Olympic National Forest looked like a real jungle.
Lupe’s campsite at the Klahowya campground in the Olympic National Forest looked like a real jungle.

Lanis and SPHP selected a site, and set up Lupe’s tiny house.  Lupe was still sitting in the Honda Element.  She wasn’t so sure about things.  What if Big Paw was lurking somewhere out there?

Lupe in the safety of Lanis' Honda Element, but still on the alert for Big Paw!
Lupe in the safety of Lanis’ Honda Element, but still on the alert for Big Paw!

Eventually, Lupe came out of the Element to inspect the campsite.  Klahowya campground really was a very impressive place.  Lupe’s tiny house was set up in a jungle setting unlike any place Lupe had ever camped before.  Lupe, Lanis and SPHP took a short walk through the jungle down to the Sol Duc river.

From the size of the exposed rocky riverbed, it was easy to see that even though there was a fair amount of water in the Sol Duc now, normally it was a much larger river.  However, a dry spell and the late August season meant the river was quite low.   Lupe sniffed around in the bushes and young trees growing near the rocky riverbed.  She was having a good time exploring.

The Element parked in the Klahowya CG.
The Element parked in the Klahowya CG.

Element and tent at Klahowya CG, WA 8-21-12

Lupe's tiny house at Klahowya CG.
Lupe’s tiny house at Klahowya CG.
Lupe arrives to inspect the campsite.
Lupe arrives to inspect the campsite.

After spending a little time down along the Sol Duc river; Lupe, Lanis and SPHP returned to the campsite for a picnic.  When the meal was done, Lanis and SPHP thought it might be fun to find a trail.  Everyone got back into the Element.  Lanis drove back to Hwy 101, and turned W.  In just a few miles, there was a side road to the N that looked promising.

The side road wound around in the woods.  It emerged from the forest at a large clearing where there were some old abandoned buildings.  The road went past the buildings, and soon ended at a trailhead.  No other vehicles were there.  Lanis parked the Element.  A very wide, level trail led Lupe, Lanis and SPHP into a dense forest.  Perhaps 30 – 50 feet down a steep embankment to the right, flowed the Sol Duc river.

The wide level trail. It turned out this trail was an old roadbed mostly hidden beneath the leaves of the undergrowth on both sides of the apparent trail.
The wide level trail. It turned out this trail was an old roadbed mostly hidden beneath the leaves of the undergrowth on both sides of the apparent trail.

After a little while, SPHP realized the wide trail was actually an abandoned road.  Under the leaves on the trail was a layer of pavement, occasionally exposed at the edges where the where the old road was starting to crumble away.  From the left, small streams trickled down a mountainside.  Lupe, Lanis and SPHP came to a single track trail that led up the mountain.  A sign said it led to Snider Peak, elevation 3,055 ft.

Lupe, Lanis and SPHP took the single track trail, although how far it was to Snider Peak, no one knew.  The trail switch-backed up the mountainside until it was out of view of the abandoned road below.  Although the trail was in seemingly good condition, no one else at all appeared.  Lupe was having fun exploring the forest, but Lanis and SPHP eventually decided Lupe had gone far enough.  It was time to return.

Back down at the old abandoned road, it was still early enough out so Lupe, Lanis and SPHP continued farther along the abandoned road instead of returning to the Element.  Through the trees were glimpses of the Sol Duc river down the embankment on the right, which was steeper and higher here than before.  The river was now 50 – 100 feet below the road.

The river curved away from the old road, and the road began to climb through an exceptionally shady and gloomy portion of the forest.  At the top of the rise, the road leveled out at the edge of a clearing.  On the opposite side of the clearing was a decaying old mobile home, and some dilapidated outbuildings.  No one was around, but a flag was flying – a black flag with the skull and crossbones on it.  Lupe had come to a pirate hideout!

Lanis and SPHP didn’t think it wise to tangle with pirates, and retreated back through the gloomy forest down the wide trail to the bend in the Sol Duc river.  There was no sign of pursuing pirates, but the hair on Lupe’s haunches was up.  She was staring down the abandoned road ahead.  On the side of the trail opposite the river, up on the mountainside, a dark form was moving at high speed through the trees – and coming closer.

Lupe growled deeply.  Suddenly, out of the forest and onto the abandoned road ahead, leaped the approaching menace.

It was huge, as tall as either Lanis or SPHP!  Its long, shaggy fur was mostly dark gray with silver streaks, but where Lupe sports a beautiful white vest on her chest, the creature had a vest of ebony.  A huge curly tail arched high over its back.  The creature’s large soft ears were flattened against its head.  Its gray eyes glowed with a distinctly reddish hue.  Saliva dripped from its fangs and gigantic pink tongue.  Big Paw!

With a low, snarling growl, Big Paw bounded to the attack!  There was no escape.  Lanis and SPHP faced certain doom.  A brown and white flash streaked toward Big Paw.  It was Lupe, barking wildly!  Big Paw paused to consider this noisy, tiny Carolina Dog for only a moment.  Big Paw lunged at Lupe, but she was too fast.

Lupe circled around and around Big Paw, biting his heels and harassing him.  Big Paw snapped at her again and again.  At times Lupe dashed into the trees to get away, with Big Paw hot on her tail.  Lupe barely escaped.  Once, Big Paw was so close, his slavering jaws snapped shut on the upper end of her tail, ripping her fur there away.

Lupe darted between the trees like lightning.  Big Paw crashed into several of them trying to catch her.  Finally, Big Paw hit one of the trees so hard, it leaned and then plummeted down to the Sol Duc river below.  As its roots tore away from under the old abandoned road, a big chunk of the road gave way.  It too, went crashing down into the Sol Duc river.  Lupe and Big Paw almost fell with it, but both managed to scramble back away from the crumbling bank.

Lupe was panting hard.  She had put up a valiant fight, but Big Paw was too fast and strong.  Only Lupe’s agility was saving her, but her energy was fading with each daring escape from Big Paw’s jaws.  Finally Big Paw had her cornered.  He snarled and lunged, but Lupe lunged first.  Her fangs sank into Big Paw’s neck.  She clamped her jaws shut, and hung on tightly.

Blood streaked Big Paw’s fur.  He howled with rage and pain.  Big Paw shook his head violently, but the little Carolina Dog dangling from his neck refused to let go.  Big Paw couldn’t shake himself free of Lupe!

Big Paw took off into the forest, retreating back up Snider Peak, howling in pain the entire time.  Lupe hung on.  For how long she didn’t know.  It seemed like an eternity, but may have been for just a minute or two, if that.  Big Paw made a mighty leap over a giant old tree trunk laying horizontal on the forest floor.  As he did, Lupe crashed into the tree trunk, smashed between Big Paw and giant tree.  She lost her grip and fell dazed to the ground.

When Lupe woke up, Big Paw was gone.  She was alone in the terrifying forest.  Big Paw might return hunting her at any moment!  Suddenly, she heard voices rising faintly up the mountainside.  Lanis and SPHP were calling her, and looking for her.  Lupe staggered to her paws, and took off running down the mountain.

Soon Lupe was back with Lanis and SPHP.  Both shouted with joy at seeing her alive.  They petted her, and hugged her, and kept congratulating her on her most stupendous victory ever in all of American Dingo or Carolina Dog history!  SPHP promised her endless treats, steak and ice cream.  Lanis said he had captured her entire battle with Big Paw on film.  She was going to be rich and famous!

Hmm? Did I doze off? Was I dreaming? Uh, yeah guys, you just go ahead and sleep in the tiny house without me. Think I want to stay here in the Honda Element tonight. Mind locking the doors for me, Lanis, before you turn in? In fact, leave me the keys if you would, please! And maybe pull the blankie back over my head before you go?
Hmm? Did I doze off? Was I dreaming? Uh, yeah guys, you just go ahead and sleep in the tiny house without me. Think I want to stay here in the Honda Element tonight. Mind locking the doors for me, Lanis, before you turn in? In fact, leave me the keys if you would, please! And maybe pull the blankie back over my head before you go?

It doesn’t happen often in that distant land of mist, but on the night of the full moon, when the wind is right and blows the clouds clear away from the mountains, as the pale light filters through the ancient rain forest, if you go to the old abandoned road above the bank of the Sol Duc river, and follow it to the start of the single track trail to Snider Peak, then there the Dingoes say, you can still hear Big Paw howling with rage far up the mountain.

And, if you continue on in the moonlight, on the abandoned old road, you will come to a wide open view of a curve in the Sol Duc river where the road and forested bank caved in during the Battle of Big Paw.  But unless you are looking for trouble, don’t continue on the road up to the pirate hideout, or worse yet, go up the single track trail to Snider Peak.

And, if you ever meet Lupe, the American Dingo, you will know why the fur on the top of the tip of her curly tail is missing to this day.Klahowya CG, Olympic NF, WA 8-21-12Links:

Next Adventure                       Prior Adventure

Want more Lupe adventures?  Choose from Lupe’s 2012 West Coast Adventure Index, Dingo Tales Index or Master Adventure Index.  Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Guilty as Charged!

Note: This post is the third and concluding post in a series that started with “How to Choose the Perfect Puppy” followed by “My Perfect Puppy – The Arrival of Lupe“.  All three posts can be found in the Dingo Tales category on the homepage main menu.

The reader may recall from an earlier post entitled “How to Choose the Perfect Puppy” that I had discouraged my spouse in January, 2011 from even getting a puppy with a rather long list of objections.  However, as related in a subsequent post “My Perfect Puppy – The Arrival of Lupe”, I was over-ruled and on February 11, 2011 became the unwilling new co-owner of Lupe, who converted me over in a single evening from not wanting a puppy at all to being delighted at becoming Lupe’s new best friend.

Despite this joyful near instant conversion to Lupe’s side, there was merit to many of the objections I originally presented to getting a puppy.  Having Lupe around made for all sorts of interesting new developments, some unforeseen and many others much as I had predicted.  My spouse had read a number of books about dogs prior to getting Lupe and worked quite diligently toward training her.  I, however, was not much interested in books and training and discipline.  I preferred to just have fun with the puppy.

Which do you prefer?  Discipline and training, or having fun?  Lupe took to my methods like a duck to water, and my spouse’s diligent training efforts suffered because of it.  Of course, some of the puppy problems were unavoidable.  It took a little while to house-break Lupe, our old cat fled to the basement and lived self-exiled in needless fear, and we had vet and other expenses associated with having a dog.  However, some problems were made worse, much worse, by my endless frolicking and rough-housing with Lupe.  I was teaching Lupe bad habits.  She loved them.

Lupe chewed.  She chewed holes in shoes and socks.  I egged her on by using old socks for games of tug-of-war with her.  As a result, anytime I carelessly left a sock on the floor, it was doomed to destruction at the enthusiastic jaws of the puppy.  Many a time I wound up trying to catch Lupe, who had just discovered a perfectly good new and unprotected sock, before she could chew a hole in it.

Lupe thought this was the best game in the world.  She raced with a mouthful of sock up and down the stairs, dashing in and out of various rooms, and leading me on a merry chase.  When I got too close, she usually disappeared under the bed where she promptly chewed a big hole in her latest victim before I could rescue it.  My brother-in-law could scarcely contain his mirth when one day I took off a shoe to unexpectedly reveal four toes sticking out of a huge hole at the end my sock.  It was about the best pair of socks I had left.

Lupe and her favorite nemesis, Mr. Woof, the pink puppy of Peace & Love.
Lupe and her favorite nemesis, Mr. Woof, the pink puppy of Peace & Love.

Lupe ate my feather-filled slippers and feathers were everywhere.  Lupe chewed my hands while we engaged in mock battles.  She grew so strong I had to get gloves, and then she shredded and devoured the gloves.  One day when Lupe was bored, I found her chewing a big chunk out of the drywall in the living room.  Lupe chewed holes in pillows which then leaked even more feathers.  Nightly she enjoyed ripping the stuffing out of the comforter on the bed and chewing holes in the blankets.  I awoke some mornings to find she had eaten embarrassing holes in my pajamas while I slept.  With great gusto, Lupe chomped and destroyed the dog toys my spouse got for her.

Chewing wasn’t all that Lupe did, though.  Dingoes are high-strung and loud.  Lupe right away understood the concept of territory.  She barked at anything that came anywhere near the house.  She barked at other dogs.  She barked at squirrels.  She ran full speed barking underneath birds flying over the yard.  She barked at our good neighbors, even though they gave her treats.  She learned to eagerly await the arrival of the mail lady, and barked in such a frenzy it seemed certain she was going to burst through the front window and go after her.

Lupe had certain fetishes that set her off too.  She was deeply suspicious of drapes and attacked them whenever someone attempted to open or close them.  She attacked shovels, rakes, the lawn mower and the garden hose.  It became impossible to get anything done in the yard when Lupe was around.

Most of the stuff Lupe destroyed was old anyway.  No one got hurt, though my hands regularly got roughed up a bit.  Through it all, I laughed and had fun playing with Lupe.  I followed her path of destruction, picking up after her when needed.  I looked on it all as just normal puppy stuff.  There was no doubt though that Lupe was guilty as charged.  She did most of the stuff I had predicted.  What I hadn’t predicted was that I would also be equally guilty right along with her.  I was her accomplice and sidekick.  Together we led a life of puppy crime and had a great time doing it.

No doubt Lupe would be a better mannered doggie today, if my spouse had been free to discipline and train her without my constant bad influence.  Nevertheless, I’m glad it all happened the way it did.  I’m pretty certain Lupe is too.

Who me? I'm innocent! What do you think I am, your sock's keeper?
Who me? I’m innocent! What do you think I am, your sock’s keeper?

Want more Lupe adventures?  Choose from Lupe’s Dingo Tales Index or Master Adventure Index.  Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

My Perfect Puppy – The Arrival of Lupe

This is a continuation of the previously published Dingo Tale post “How To Choose The Perfect Puppy

On the evening of February 11, 2011, my spouse arrived home with the puppy I didn’t want.  I was still unhappy, and did not even go look at the puppy when I first heard it was here.  After a while, I did go take a brief look at it.  I had to admit that I really liked the looks of this puppy.  My spouse had named it Lupe.

Lupe was adorable – full of energy with bright hopeful eyes, an inquisitive black nose, ears with tips that flopped over just a bit, little freckled paws, and a curly tail.  She was friendly and wanted to lick me with her pink tongue.  Lupe looked like she would only grow to be a smallish medium-sized dog.  I liked the notion that she wouldn’t be too big or too small.  In fact, I liked everything about the puppy, but still spent only a few minutes with Lupe before retreating back upstairs.

Lupe & Mr. Woof
Lupe & Mr. Woof

The confrontation came later on that evening.  It was time for bed.  My spouse had locked Lupe in her transport cage for the night.  The cage was downstairs in the dark kitchen covered with a blanket.  I went to bed.  And then it began – the whimpering, pleading, begging, crying, sorrowful tiny voice of the lonely, scared 2-month old puppy.  Torn away for the first time ever just a few hours ago from her mother, siblings, and the cats with which she had lived outside enduring the cold winter ever since being born in December, Lupe was suddenly now confused, lost and alone.  Worst of all she was trapped, a prisoner abandoned and forgotten in a strange dark cage.

Young Lupe in February 2011
Young Lupe in February 2011

Soon I could not bear to hear Lupe crying.  I wanted to go get her out of that cage and let her sleep with us.  This was not permitted.  My spouse had been reading books by famous professional “dog whisperers”.  The cage was Lupe’s “den”.  She would soon learn to feel safe and secure alone there.  In the meantime, Lupe had to cry herself to sleep.  Apparently all dog whisperers understand this is just a part of normal best practices dog training.  If I didn’t believe it, I could have a look at the books myself.

I knew if I looked at those books, my spouse would be proven right.  I did not avail myself of the opportunity.  I am not a dog whisperer.  Something in me rebelled at being told a cage was the same thing as a safe, secure den.  I really didn’t care what the dog whisperers recommended.  Mentally I speculated that if I could throw the whole lot of dog whisperers in jail every night, there might be some revised opinions on how wonderful it all was, although I didn’t dare voice such sentiments.  But, right or wrong, I was going to set the sad puppy free!

Young Lupe
My precious little sweet, Lupe

And I did!  Perhaps it was an evil thing to do, but I abandoned my spouse for the night and spent it in another room with the happiest, most grateful, little puppy ever.  Lupe licked me 10,000 times.  Lupe was not sleepy.  It was a long night of puppy love, if ever there was one.  In one evening I had gone from a sullen, resentful new puppy owner to madly in love.  From now on, it was Lupe and me against the world!

The third post in this Dingo Tales series  is Guilty As Charged!

Want more Lupe adventures?  Choose from Lupe’s Dingo Tales Index or Master Adventure Index.  Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

How to Choose the Perfect Puppy

The following techniques which I used to select and acquire Lupe, my perfect puppy, are admittedly unorthodox and may not be for everyone.  Nevertheless, I find it difficult to argue with proven success.  I wish only the best to anyone intent upon finding their own perfect puppy, and share my methods with the hope they may prove both enlightening and helpful.  However, I leave it to you to judge the suitability of these methods in your own situation.  – SPHP

Actually, it was remarkably easy for me to choose Lupe, my perfect puppy and best friend now for over 4 years.  I used a simple 3-Step program:

(1) Get married.

(2) Subscribe to cable TV.

(3) Wait a very long time.*   (*as in years)

All 3 steps were essential to my success.  For, you see, I had no intention of ever getting a puppy.  I had never had a dog in my whole life.  I had always been a cat person.  The thought of getting a dog never entered my mind.

Our family has always had cats.  Cats are beautiful and generally undemanding creatures, if you regularly feed them the one and only food in the whole world they ultimately decide they are willing to accept.  It’s soothing when they purr.  Their fur is soft and fun to stroke, until they get tired of it and decide to slash you.  Cats can be amusing and fun to play with, but seldom play for long, leaving you free to move on to other activities.  Cats are not as needy as dogs.  Their air of quiet superiority and independence is an admirable trait, if you want a companion who doesn’t demand too much of you.  I still love cats.

My nephew Ryan cites a joke he once read demonstrating the differences between dogs and cats.  It reads like maybe it’s from an old Far Side cartoon.  The joke consists of samples from the diary of a dog and the diary of a cat:

Dog’s diary:

Day 1 – Today we went to the park.  I barked at squirrels!  My favorite thing!

Day 2 – Today we played ball.  I ran away with the ball!  My favorite thing!

Day 3 – Today we went for a ride in the car.  I hung my head out the window in the wind!  My favorite thing!

Day 4 – Today we went hunting.  I chased pheasants!  My favorite thing!

Cat’s diary:

Day 1437 of Captivity – Last night I hunted down a field mouse, ripped open its belly and ate its head.  I left the bloody entrails in the hall to show them what I am capable of.  Tomorrow I plan to weave between their legs at the top of the stairs…..

So anyway, after completing Steps 1 & 2 above, eventually (see Step 3) my spouse took to watching shows on cable TV that seldom interested me, but which we still sometimes watched together.  On occasion these shows provided me with a certain degree of amusement, although of a form different from that intended by the producers.  I found cable TV to be a source of insight into our constantly evolving culture.  Cable TV was showing me how much the world is changing.

History used to be about the rise and fall of nations, wars and economics, great leaders and social movements, exploration and scientific discoveries.  Or at least I thought it was.  However, we had the History Channel, which made it clear that history now has virtually nothing to do with any of these things.  Instead, history is about Ice Road Truckers – diehard rednecks who attempt to disprove global warming theories by driving heavily laden semi-trucks across (hopefully) still frozen remote rivers in the Yukon or Alaska, or better yet, some part of the Arctic Ocean.

On the History Channel, you could also learn about “Ancient Aliens” – highly advanced space travelers who have visited earth over thousands of years to help ancient peoples build all kinds of mysterious and once (perhaps still?) powerful structures, but nothing so practical as a McDonald’s hamburger stand.  Presumably only a massive ongoing US government cover-up spanning decades has been able to conceal the astonishing truth about these visitors from space and the global extent of their activities.

Of course, the History Channel just scratched the surface of the possibilities for unusual and unique programming destined to dominate the cable waves.  There were shows about “Bridezillas” (flee for your life young man!); shows where people weep and wail because they need to clean their house and might have to get rid of a fraction of the mountain of belongings they literally walked on every day because it was all “put away” in gigantic heaps strewn over all the furniture and floors throughout their entire home; still more shows featured night vision gear and all manner of scientific instruments you can use to detect ghosts which, as it turns out, are virtually everywhere.  And so it goes, channel after channel, as though the National Enquirer has achieved full control of the entire cable TV industry.

One of the cable TV shows my spouse started watching was about dogs and “dog whisperers”.  Typical of this channel were stories about rich neurotic women living in Manhattan skyscrapers, who had little to do in life other than spoil their cutesy little lap dogs.  They did things like throw birthday parties in their luxury apartments for “Fifi” where they would invite 15 or 20 other women and their yapping little dogs over to wear costumes, eat cake and lap up champagne.

When the whole birthday party fiasco was over, the hostess would tearfully hire a highly paid “dog whisperer” to learn why Fifi snapped viciously at her doggie guests, went wee-wee on the cake, bit the high-powered attorney’s wife’s ankles causing her to curse and bleed profusely, and in general did not seem to enjoy herself as anticipated.  Naturally the “dog whisperer” was always ready with all kinds of helpful advice on dog psychology, training and discipline certain to restore doggie control, happiness and tranquility until the next episode.

(I was always interested in seeing the sequel to these shows where the woman’s Wall Street investment banker husband arrived home from work only to be horrified to learn what had just happened.  I wanted to see how he managed to get himself out of this fix regarding the high-powered attorney’s wife’s bloody ankles, but apparently the channel carrying the “Attorney Whisperer” is a premium channel I never subscribed to.  It’s a pity, for you never know when, due to some sudden unexpected tragedy resulting in personal liability, you might really need an attorney whisperer.)

The upshot of all this was that one day in early January 2011, seemingly out of the blue (but not actually, as my 3-Step program had been long at work), my spouse asked me what I thought about getting a puppy.

My reaction was instant, and I quickly made the following extraordinarily valid objections:

  1. We did not need, and I did not want a puppy.
  2. A puppy would have to be house-broken, and would poop and pee on everything until it was.
  3. A puppy would chew up everything not out of reach.
  4. Our old cat would be scared to death.  It would be cruel to subject a very old cat to such treatment.
  5. We did not have a fenced yard to keep the puppy in where it could run and play.
  6. Dogs are typically larger, eat a lot more than cats, and would cost more to sustain.  There would be the usual vet bills.  We didn’t need these unnecessary expenses.
  7. Dogs are much more active and social animals than cats.  They need attention and get bored easily.  Someone would have to at least walk the dog every day.  I certainly didn’t want to do it.
  8. Once the cat was gone, which couldn’t be too far off in the future, we would have one less thing to worry about whenever we wanted to travel.  We would be pet free.
  9. The puppy would bark and annoy all our good neighbors.

After this fine, exceptionally persuasive speech, there was no more discussion.  Not a peep.  It was settled.  No puppy for us.  Until 6:30 AM on February 11, 2011 when heading out the door on the way to work, my spouse said, “I’m picking up the puppy tonight!”

Easy 3-Step plan complete!

This dingo tale continues with the post: My Perfect Puppy – The Arrival of Lupe

Want more Lupe adventures?  Choose from Lupe’s Dingo Tales Index or Master Adventure Index.  Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.