Perrin Mountain – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 234 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Rapid Creek to Deer Creek (9-22-18)

Start – 10:42 AM, 69 °F, Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

Sad to say it, but Lupe’s many adventures on 3 separate Dingo Vacations during the grand summer of 2018 were over. It was officially fall now, and the American Dingo had been back at home for a whole week. That was more than enough time to get all rested up and start missing those long summer days spent exploring magnificent far away places.

When SPHP suggested it might be time to check out another section of Centennial Trail No. 89 in the Black Hills, Loopster was excited at the prospect of getting back into action. Oh, yeah! She could hardly wait!

Loop had explored some of the 111 mile long Centennial Trail No. 89 back in the spring. It seemed only natural to pick up from where she’d left off at the Rapid Creek trailhead below the Pactola Reservoir dam. The plan was to follow the next section of the trail N all the way to the Deer Creek trailhead, a distance of 5.0 miles.

Lupe happy to be back at the Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 for the first time since spring.

Leaving the trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 goes a short distance W before crossing Rapid Creek on Pactola Basin Road. Instead of crossing the creek right away, though, Lupe continued upstream for a look at the pond at the base of the Pactola Reservoir dam.

Lupe drops by for a look at the scenic pond below the dam. Photo looks WSW.

A couple of ducks flew away as the Carolina Dog approached. At the pond’s outlet, a footbridge provided a way over Rapid Creek. Lupe and SPHP lingered a few minutes admiring the scenic pond before following the creek downstream back to Pactola Basin Road. Along the way, Loop cooled her paws off and helped herself to a drink.

Cooling off in Rapid Creek. The footbridge Lupe had crossed by the pond is in view. Photo looks SW.

Once back at Pactola Basin Road, Lupe followed it NW. The road soon curved to the L (W) to start winding steeply up to the top of the dam. Centennial Trail No. 89, however, took a side road NW up a small valley. Sticking with the trail, Lupe passed by several cabins.

Sticking with Centennial Trail No. 89 after leaving Pactola Basin Road, Lupe passes by the last cabin along a side road. Photo looks W.

Beyond the last cabin, Centennial Trail No. 89 continued NW. The trail was well marked and easy to follow.

Heading up the valley. Part of Pactola Reservoir dam is seen on the L (W).

The trail was clearly marked and easy to follow even though the road soon began to fade. Photo looks N.

The road faded away. Centennial Trail No. 89 was now a single track trail, which began to climb more steeply. Lupe quickly reached the top of a small ridge. The Carolina Dog was now high enough to see Highway 385 and part of Pactola Reservoir off to the W & SW.

The steepest part of Centennial Trail No. 89 the American Dingo would encounter today was just ahead. Even so, the rate of climb remained moderate. The trail snaked up a long slope, passing near a utility line. Higher up, a view began to open up back to the S.

Continuing higher. This next section was the steepest part of Centennial Trail No. 89 that Lupe would encounter today. Photo looks NW.

As Lupe gained elevation, a view to the S began to open up.

After passing through a meadow, Loopster reached a high point where Centennial Trail No. 89 leveled out. The Carolina Dog had gained 500 feet of elevation, and was now 0.75 mile from the Rapid Creek trailhead. This was the end of the first big climb. Directly ahead the trail entered the forest.

Although Lupe had gotten a late morning start, SPHP figured she had plenty of time to get to the Deer Creek trailhead and back before dark. In fact, Lupe probably had enough time to leave the trail and do a little peakbagging. Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.) was less than a mile E.

Centennial Trail No. 89 levels out and enters the forest 0.75 mile NW of the Rapid Creek trailhead. This is the end of the steepest climb on this section of the trail. Photo looks N.

Lupe left the trail setting out for Perrin Mountain. She gained another 100 feet of elevation climbing a forested slope to the NE. This brought her up onto Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge. The Carolina Dog traveled NE across a broad thinly forested saddle to a big rock formation.

Off trail now, Lupe approaches a big rock formation on her way to Perrin Mountain. Photo looks NE.

From the big rock formation, Lupe followed the ridge SE. She passed over several high and low points on the way to Perrin Mountain, but the elevation changes weren’t dramatic. She soon came to a large power line. The clear cut area along the power line provided the best view of Pactola Reservoir thus far.

Looking S toward Pactola Reservoir from the power line that crosses Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge.

The rest of the way to Perrin Mountain, Lupe caught only tree-broken glimpses of the lake. Closing in on the summit, Lupe came to a short stretch of dirt road beyond which a single track trail led to the odd “Hurt Locker” sign at the top of the mountain. The true summit was a small rock outcropping 30 feet to the N.

Lupe arrives at the odd “Hurt Locker” sign on **Perrin Mountain**. Photo looks E.

At Perrin Mountain’s true summit. Photo looks NE.

Perrin Mountain was too heavily forested to see much of anything. Lupe took a short break near the summit before returning to Centennial Trail No. 89 via the same route. The Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.) side trip was Lupe’s only peakbagging success of the day. From now on she would stick to the trail.

Heading back to Centennial Trail No. 89 along Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe made it back to Centennial Trail No. 89 at the same point she’d left it. She now followed the trail N into the forest. It remained level for a little while, before curving W and beginning to lose elevation steadily. Going down a fairly steep forested ravine, Lupe soon reached Highway 385. SPHP helped Lupe cross the busy highway safely.

Starting down toward Highway 385 after reaching Centennial Trail No. 89 again. Photo looks W.

Approaching Highway 385 after losing nearly 300 feet of elevation. Photo looks W.

W of Highway 385 the trail lost a bit more elevation. Lupe could soon see the inlet where the N boat launch on Pactola Reservoir is located. The trail got quite close the lake, but stayed 30 feet above the water.

Lupe enjoys some fall colors along Centennial Trail No. 89 after crossing Hwy 385. Photo looks W.

Looking toward the N boat launch on Pactola Reservoir. Photo looks S.

Beyond the N end of the inlet, Centennial Trail No. 89 headed NW up a shallow valley. This was the start of the second notable climb along the trail. This climb was much longer than the first one, but quite gradual the whole way. Occasionally it was interrupted by level or short downhill sections.

After crossing the paved road leading down to the N boat launch, the trail turned back toward the SW. Eventually the boat launch could be glimpsed below to the E. Although Lupe wasn’t far from the main body of Pactola Reservoir here, she couldn’t see it due to the forest. The trail now curved toward the W on high ground SE of Boarding House Gulch.

Where the trail turned N again, Lupe came to a bit of open ground from which she could see part of Pactola Reservoir. This was a good spot to take another break.

Lupe on a bit of grassy high ground SE of Boarding House Gulch with a partial view of Pactola Reservoir. This was a good spot to take a second break. Photo looks SW.

Lupe wasn’t quite halfway to the Deer Creek trailhead yet, so this second rest break was also fairly brief. Upon resuming her trek, Centennial Trail No. 89 wound around high up on a mostly forested slope on the NE side of Boarding House Gulch.

The trail was fairly level along in here. SPHP liked this area since higher ground to the NE screened most of the traffic noise from Hwy 385. Lupe liked it because she was having success finding squirrels to bark at.

Lupe liked racing along level sections of the trail near Boarding House Gulch like this one looking for squirrels.

After winding around quite a bit, Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed over to the other side of Boarding House Gulch. Here the trail was no longer single track. For about a mile it followed a much straighter dirt road climbing slowly, but steadily NW.

Lupe approaching the end of the single track trail in **Boarding House Gulch**. Just ahead Centennial Trail No. 89 crosses to the other side of the valley and starts following a dirt road. Photo looks NW.

Going up **Boarding House Gulch**. Photo looks NW.

Nearing a minor pass at the upper end of **Boarding House Gulch**. Photo looks NNW.

Lupe reached a minor pass at the upper end of Boarding House Gulch. A few buildings could be seen off to the NE. Centennial Trail No. 89 left the dirt road here, heading WNW into Smoker Gulch. The trail reverted to single track once again. Lupe passed through beautiful secluded stands of aspens that were just beginning to show fall colors.

Lupe on the single track trail leading into **Smoker Gulch**. The aspens were just beginning to show some fall colors. Photo looks NW.

Heading W into **Smoker Gulch**. This relatively short section of single track trail was one of the prettiest and most secluded areas Lupe came to.

Leaving most of the aspens behind, the trail soon curved NNW again as it entered the upper portion of Smoker Gulch. For a while the trail closely paralleled yet another dirt road.

Beyond most of the aspens heading farther up **Smoker Gulch**. Photo looks NNW.

Smoker Gulch was only a third as long as Boarding House Gulch had been. Lupe was soon approaching another minor pass at its upper N end. At about 5150 feet, this pass was the high point of the entire section of Centennial Trail No. 89 the Carolina Dog was traveling today. She had gained about 550 feet of elevation from where she’d left the inlet of Pactola Reservoir near the N boat launch.

At this pass, Lupe discovered a clearly marked junction with Deerfield Trail No. 40, which heads W for 23 miles to Deerfield Reservoir. Looper wasn’t going that way today. Instead, she continued N over the pass on a section of trail shared by both Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40. It wasn’t much farther to Silver City Road.

Lupe reaches a junction with **Deerfield Trail No. 40** at the N end of Smoker Gulch. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe continus N on a section of single track trail shared by both Centennial Trail No. 89 & Deerfield Trail No. 40. She passed by the house seen on the R on the way to Silver City Road. Photo looks N.

Loop arrives at **Silver City Road**. Centennial Trail No. 89 & Deerfield Trail No. 40 both cross the road here. Photo looks NW.

100 yards after crossing Silver City Road, Lupe reached another junction, this time with the spur trail leading to the Deer Creek trailhead. SPHP didn’t immediately recognize the junction for what it was. Lupe stayed to the L continuing N on Deerfield Trail No. 89. She didn’t get far before SPHP realized the mistake.

Lupe reaches the junction with the relatively short spur trail to the Deer Creek trailhead. SPHP didn’t immediately recognize this junction for what it was, mistakenly leading Lupe to the L continuing N on Centennial Trail No. 89.

Going the wrong way! Lupe continuing N on Centennial Trail No. 89 when she should have been on the spur trail going E down to the Deer Creek trailhead. She didn’t get much farther than this before turning around. Photo looks NW.

It only took a minute or two to get back to the spur trail. The spur trail itself was only a 5 minute trek down a slope to the E. At the bottom Lupe finally reached the Deer Creek trailhead, her objective for the day.

Lupe reaches the Deer Creek trailhead, her objective for the day. This is the official E end of Deerfield Trail No. 40, as well as an access point for Centennial Trail No. 89.

Except for the empty parking lot, there wasn’t much to see at the Deer Creek trailhead. Lupe didn’t stick around for long. She now had to head S retracing her entire 5.0 mile long trek on Centennial Trail No. 89 back to the Rapid Creek trailhead where the G6 was parked.

Ready to head back! Lupe sits at the start of the spur trail at the Deer Creek trailhead. Photo looks SW.

Back at the junction of the spur trail and Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks S.

The return trip was pleasant and easy. Except for the big climb after crossing Highway 385, it was mostly downhill. Lupe sniffed and ran. She barked at squirrels. She saw several deer and even a couple of elk. She did not revisit Perrin Mountain, staying on Centennial Trail No. 89 the whole way.

The sun was about to disappear by the time the American Dingo reached the Rapid Creek trailhead again. (End – 6:51 PM, 63 °F) It had been a fun day on Centennial Trail No. 89, but Lupe was ready to head home. She hopped into the G6. SPHP drove up Pactola Basin Road to the junction with Highway 385 near the N end of the dam.

Lupe’s return home had to be delayed! From the dam, a gorgeous sunset could be seen over Pactola Reservoir. SPHP drove across the highway to a viewpoint overlooking the lake. Together Lupe and SPHP watched until the blazing display faded to gray.

*Oh, I guess we better hang around for this!*

*That was quite a show! You don’t see many sunsets like this one. SPHP and I are going to hang around a while longer. Thanks for joining us on Centennial Trail No. 89! Bye for now!*

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Next Trail Section S:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 229 – Centennial Trail No. 89 – Brush Creek to Rapid Creek & Perrin Mountain (5-14-18)

Next Trail Section N:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 235 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Deer Creek to Pilot Knob (9-29-18)

Centennial Trail No. 89 brochure & map

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

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 229 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Brush Creek to Rapid Creek & Perrin Mountain (5-14-18)

Start – 10:26 AM, 62°F, Brush Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

15 days after reaching Centennial Trail No. 89’s Brush Creek trailhead from the S, Lupe was back. After days of gloomy mist and fog, bright white clouds now floated in a clean blue sky. A pretty morning in May, but the air was humid. Lupe and SPHP were both glad it wasn’t any warmer out than it was.

Lupe returns to the Brush Creek trailhead ready to continue her explorations farther N on **Centennial Trail No. 89**.

111 mile long Centennial Trail No. 89 goes from **Bear Butte** near Sturgis, South Dakota to **Wind Cave National Park** in the southern Black Hills.

The first part of today’s plan was to explore Centennial Trail No. 89 all the way N to the Tamarack Gulch and Rapid Creek trailheads, a distance of 4.9 miles as the trail goes. Lupe started off following the trail NE down Brush Creek canyon.

Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed the road frequently. In some places the trail was practically non-existent, so Lupe simply trotted along right on the road. Most of the time, though, she stayed on the single track trail.

*Yes, the road is close by and easier, but following the trail is more fun!*

Except for a few small pools of water and a tiny trickle of a stream close to the trailhead, Brush Creek was totally dry. The canyon was pretty, though, with some fairly impressive rock walls.

Brush Creek was dry, but the canyon featured some scenic rock walls.

After 3/8 of a mile, Centennial Trail No. 89 left Brush Creek Road for good. The trail turned N and went over a small ridge. On the other side of the ridge, Lupe discovered another creek. This was Prairie Creek, which actually did have flowing water. The Carolina Dog was already interested in a little refreshment.

Centennial Trail No. 89 leaves Brush Creek Road for good here. It continues N over this low forested ridge. Photo looks NE.

*Sure, this may look like it could be Brush Creek, but it’s actually **Prairie Creek**!*

Loopster wouldn’t have had to run down to Prairie Creek right away. Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed the stream 3 times over the next 0.25 mile. The creek crossings were trivial. Stepping stones were available for SPHP’s use. Lupe didn’t bother with them. She preferred to cool her paws off in the shallow stream.

*Nothing to these **Prairie Creek** crossings! Use the stepping stones or cool your paws off, whatever you prefer!*

After the 3rd creek crossing, Prairie Creek veered off into a side canyon. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued NW up Gold Standard Gulch. Lupe gained elevation steadily, but slowly. For a little way, large rock walls were NE of the trail. Farther on, Gold Standard Gulch was simply a pleasant valley. The valley floor was dominated by stands of aspens or small meadows. Ponderosa pines covered the hillsides.

For a little way beyond the last Prairie Creek crossing large rock walls were seen along the NE side of **Gold Standard Gulch**. Photo looks NNW.

Farther on, **Gold Standard Gulch** was simply a nice valley full of bushes and aspens. Ponderosa pines dominated the hillsides. Photo looks NW.

Little changed for nearly 1.5 miles, but eventually the terrain began to steepen. Lupe was gaining elevation faster, but still at only a moderate pace. It became clear, however, that she would soon be coming to some sort of pass or high point.

The aspens gave way to an open pine forest which had been thinned by logging operations. Centennial Trail No. 89 curved N. A dirt logging road brought Lupe to a saddle at the upper end of Gold Standard Gulch. Loop was already over halfway to the Rapid Creek trailhead. The saddle seemed like a good spot to take a short break.

Lupe wasn’t hungry yet. She rested on pine needles atop little rock ledges W of the trail. SPHP had an apple. Not too surprisingly given the humid conditions, the sky had clouded up. Rain was a low probability according to the forecast, but seemed rather likely.

If Lupe hadn’t stopped here, SPHP would have followed the logging road right on over the N side of the saddle. However, while Lupe relaxed, SPHP suddenly realized that there was a Centennial Trail No. 89 marker in the forest on the opposite side of the road. Evidently, the trail left the logging road at this pass.

On the saddle at the upper end of **Gold Standard Gulch**. Centennial Trail No. 89 leaves the logging road here. Lupe is close to the marker. Photo looks NE.

When SPHP was ready, Lupe pressed on. Centennial Trail No. 89 went NE over a small forested hill on a ridgeline. The trail didn’t stay up on the ridge for long. Soon it turned NW and began winding down into Tamarack Gulch. Lupe came to a grassy road, which the trail followed N down the gulch.

Centennial Trail No. 89 follows a grassy road down **Tamarack Gulch**. Photo looks N.

Tamarack Gulch was steeper than Gold Standard Gulch had been. Lupe rapidly lost 400 feet of elevation. Centennial Trail No. 89 didn’t go all the way down Tamarack Gulch, but left it, swinging briefly to the W on a side road on some level ground. After only a few hundred feet, the trail left the side road, too, becoming a single track trail once again heading NW. Another 80+ feet of elevation loss brought Lupe to a cabin just S of the Tamarack Gulch trailhead.

Tamarack Gulch trailhead was nothing more than a turnaround loop for vehicles on a flat open meadow near Rapid Creek. By the time Lupe got there, it was raining. A huge Ponderosa pine next to the creek provided Lupe and SPHP some degree of protection from the rain.

It was raining when Lupe reached the Tamarack Gulch trailhead near **Rapid Creek**. Photo looks N.

Rain fell for 20 minutes while Lupe and SPHP sheltered under the big pine tree. Little trout were leaping in the creek almost the whole time. They were fun to watch. Every now and then a larger trout made an especially big splash.

The rain eased up. Onward! Lupe was now in the broad, flat Rapid Creek valley. The Rapid Creek trailhead was only 0.6 mile away. Two pawbridges over the meandering river would get her there.

Approaching the first pawbridge over **Rapid Creek** near the Tamara Gulch trailhead. Photo looks NNW.

At the first of two pawbridges over Rapid Creek. Photo looks SW.

By the time Lupe reached the second pawbridge, the rain had completely ended. Sunshine was drying the damp Dingo off as she approached the Rapid Creek trailhead.

The rain was completely over by the time Lupe reached the second pawbridge over **Rapid Creek**. Photo looks NW.

Looking downstream from the 2nd pawbridge. Photo looks SE.

Approaching the Rapid Creek trailhead. The Pactola Reservoir spillway is seen on the L. Photo looks W.

*Damp, but not daunted! And not even damp for long. Getting to the Rapid Creek trailhead was easy! Now what, SPHP? Shall we go take a look at the pond below the spillway?*

Upon reaching the Rapid Creek trailhead, Lupe had completed her planned explorations along Centennial Trail No. 89 for the day. Of course, she’d have to take the trail all the way back to the Brush Creek trailhead again, but even so, she had lots of time to spare.

Lupe and SPHP wandered over to have a look at the pond below the Pactola Reservoir spillway. Several ducks flew off as Lupe drew near. Loop climbed up an embankment for a better view of the pond.

The Rapid Creek trailhead is located below the Pactola Reservoir dam. A side road comes down from Hwy 385 up on the dam to the trailhead.

Lupe arrives at the pond below the **Pactola Reservoir spillway** for a look around. She saw a number of ducks, but most of them flew away as she approached.

Another look from up on an embankment. **Pactola Reservoir dam** (L) and the **spillway** (R) are both in view. Photo looks SW.

This pond is only a couple hundred yards from Centennial Trail No. 89’s Rapid Creek trailhead. Worth a look, aye? If you are feeling ambitious, you can go up and take a look at Pactola Reservoir, the largest lake in the Black Hills, too, from up on the dam.

From the pond, Lupe could have gone up onto the dam for a look at Pactola Reservoir, but being more of a peakbagging Dingo than a water Dingo, she had a different adventure in mind. She was going to climb nearby Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.) instead.

*The pond was pretty, but we’re going to go climb a mountain now, right SPHP?*

From the Rapid Creek trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 follows a gravel road NW up a valley as it begins the 5 mile journey to the next trailhead at Deer Creek. Lupe had no intention of going all the way to Deer Creek, but started up the valley. She immediately passed several nice cabins along the way.

*Oh, wouldn’t it be nice if SPHP would buy me a beautiful cabin in the Black Hills like this one?*

Just beyond the last lovely cabin (pictured above), the valley and road both forked. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued up the L fork. Lupe took the road to the R. She followed it only a few hundred feet before turning E and climbing up onto a forested ridge. On the other side of this ridge was another valley. A big power line was down there.

Lupe followed the ridge she was already on climbing steadily N.

Climbing the forested ridge on the way to Perrin Mountain. Photo looks N.

Lupe eventually began to get tree broken views of Pactola Reservoir back to the SW. When she had gone over 0.5 mile and gained 500 feet of elevation, she reached the power line. From here she had her first and only clear view of Pactola Reservoir on her way up Perrin Mountain.

When Lupe reached the power line, she got her only clear view of **Pactola Reservoir** on the way up Perrin Mountain. Photo looks SW.

Lupe went under the power line climbing NNE. The ridge was steep here, but remained so only until she reached a large rock formation.

Not far from the power line, Lupe reaches the largest rock formation she came to while climbing Perrin Mountain. Photo looks SSW.

Another 0.1 mile brought Lupe to a grassy high point. This high point was both the far N end of the ridge she had been following and part of Perrin Mountain’s main W ridge. The summit was still 0.5 mile away off to the ESE. Loop would only need to gain another 230 feet of elevation on the way there.

The American Dingo headed E for the summit. The gradual uphill trek on the broad ridge was fun and easy. Lupe passed many upright tilted rock formations only a few feet high. Glimpses of Pactola Reservoir were available between the trees almost the entire time, but the forest was thick enough so the views didn’t really grab or hold attention.

More than halfway to the summit, Lupe came to a dirt road. The road soon ended at a campfire ring made of stones. Neanderthals had been here! They’d left broken glass and beer cans as evidence of the power and glory of their civilization. For the moment, Lupe and SPHP left this fabulous archeological discovery undisturbed .

At the Neanderthal archeological site on Perrin Mountain.

A single track trail led to the summit of Perrin Mountain (5,212). Lupe had been here once before more than 2 years ago, so she knew what to expect. No views, and only a small rock outcropping at the true summit.

On the single track trail leading to the top of **Perrin Mountain**. The summit isn’t far from here! Photo looks SE.

Back on top of **Perrin Mountain** for the 1st time in more than 2 years. Photo looks E.

*So what, if you can’t see much from here? This still counts as another successful ascent in the peakbagging world!* Photo looks SE.

*Centennial Trail No. 89 is fun, but I like to spice it up with a bit of peakbagging along the way whenever possible!* Photo looks NE.

As soon as Lupe reached the top of Perrin Mountain, she heard thunder off to the N. The sunshine had disappeared again a while ago. More rain was on the way. The plan had been to take an extended break up on Perrin Mountain, but maybe that wasn’t such a great idea?

Things didn’t seem too threatening yet, though. Loop and SPHP lounged about for a while. The Carolina Dog was hungry. The Taste of the Wild supply disappeared. The last apple vanished, too. Thunder rumbled off to the N every few minutes, as a reminder not to get too complacent.

Not much had changed up on Perrin Mountain in the past 2 years, which was a good thing, of course. The Hurt Locker sign was still attached to a tree a little SE of the true summit. SPHP still thought it must refer to a first aid locker, but none was to be seen.

Perhaps this sign refers to a first aid kit that used to be here?

A stroll around Perrin Mountain’s summit area didn’t reveal much. Lupe could see a short stretch of Hwy 44 off to the NE. She had badly tree broken views of Pactola Reservoir to the SW. That was about it. The most interesting thing was a huge dead tree NW of the true summit.

The Perrin Mountain summit area was pleasantly secluded. Not too exciting, however, except for the rumble of thunder. The true summit is seen on the R. Photo looks N.

This big dead tree NW of the true summit was the most dramatic thing to be seen. Photo looks NNW.

Half an hour after arriving, Lupe left the summit of Perrin Mountain. She now had to retrace the entire journey here all the way back to the Brush Creek trailhead where she’d started. On the way, she stopped by the Neanderthal site where SPHP looted the priceless treasures.

On an upright rock formation on Perrin Mountain’s W ridge. Photo looks WNW.

The next rain shower caught Lupe on Centennial Trail No. 89 out in the open between the Rapid Creek and Tamarack Gulch trailheads. The rain fell harder this time, but fortunately wasn’t a deluge. The shower ended as Lupe reached the big pine tree next to Rapid Creek at the Tamarack Gulch trailhead. The little trout were still jumping, so Loop and SPHP hung out beneath the big tree for a few minutes to watch them.

A couple of Canadian geese were wandering about checking out the local real estate on offer. Apparently it had been looking promising. Rapid Creek and the rain shower were both desirable features. However, they sauntered away when they saw a Carolina Dog in the neighborhood. Who wants to live next to such riffraff?

A couple of Canadian geese were out inspecting local real estate at the Tamarack Gulch trailhead.

**Perrin Mountain** (Center) from the **Tamarack Gulch trailhead**. The geese saunter off as Lupe pretends not to notice the insult. Photo looks N.

Once Lupe had regained 500 feet of elevation going up Tamarack Gulch to reach the saddle at the upper end of Gold Standard Gulch, the rest of the return trip was easy. Thunder continued to rumble for a while, but eventually faded away. It never did rain again. The sun even came out for a few seconds now and then.

Going down Gold Standard Gulch was fun! Squirrels in the aspen trees provided plenty of excitement and entertainment. All too soon, the first of the three Prairie Creek crossings appeared indicating the approaching end of the good times in Gold Standard Gulch.

The return trek down **Gold Standard Gulch** was fun and easy. Photo looks E.

*Come on, SPHP! This is prime squirrel territory! Let’s go find some.* Photo looks E.

*Well, this has been fun, hasn’t it? And to think that we have the whole place all to ourselves!*

Loop reaches **Prairie Creek** again nearing the lower end of **Gold Standard Gulch**. 2 more creek crossings to go! Photo looks NE.

While going up Brush Creek canyon on the last part of the return trip, Lupe scared up a bird along the trail. It flew up from the ground only a little way to sit on a low branch. Neither Lupe nor SPHP had ever seen a bird quite like it anywhere in the Black Hills before.

*Of course, I know what kind of bird it is, Loop! That’s a brown crested whatchamacallit.*

The strange bird provided the evening’s final bit of excitement. Lupe was soon back at the Brush Creek trailhead and the G6. (6:45 PM, 53°F)

The last of the American Dingo’s three adventures along Centennial Trail No. 89 in the spring of 2018 were now complete. They had been fun, but summer was coming! Lupe had a couple more adventures ahead of her in the western high country of the Black Hills before June, but after that her summer of 2018 Dingo Vacations to exotic and remote locations far from home would begin.

*Oh, don’t worry Centennial Trail fans! I’ll be back in the fall for more great adventures along Centennial Trail No. 89, so stay tuned!*

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Next Trail Section South:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 227 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Spring Creek to Twin Peaks & Brush Creek (4-29-18)

Next Trail Section North:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 234 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Rapid Creek to Deer Creek (9-22-18)

Centennial Trail No. 89 Map & Brochure

Lupe treasures gathered – 18 aluminum cans and some broken glass.

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

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 152 – Perrin Mountain, Merritt Peak & Pilot Knob (1-13-16)

A forecast high near 50°F in the Black Hills was only supposed to last one day before colder temperatures returned. Lupe and SPHP were going to make good use of the opportunity. Lupe realized what was up. She followed SPHP around impatiently, urging action at the soonest possible moment. Lupe couldn’t wait for her next Black Hills, SD Expedition to begin!

At 8:47 AM (35°F), SPHP parked the G6 just off Hwy 44W about 1/8 mile SE of USFS Road No. 167 (the road to Placerville Camp). Lupe and SPHP marched along a fence line outside of a big open field to get to No. 167. When Lupe reached the road, she made a sad discovery.

A small deer was laying dead and frozen on the ice over Deer Creek. Its hind quarters were badly damaged. Perhaps the poor deer had been hit by a car on Hwy 44, and had managed to drag itself only this far before succumbing to the traumatic injury.

Lupe ready to start Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 152. She would climb the hill in the background on the way to Perrin Mountain. This hill was the first of two high points she reached along the way. Photo looks SW.

Lupe found this poor frozen dead deer laying on iced-over Deer Creek.

Lupe’s first peakbagging goal of the day was Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.). Although SPHP originally had another route in mind, it looked pretty easy and enticing to just start up the N ridge.

Lupe on the N ridge on her way to Perrin Mountain. Here she is about to climb up to the first of two high points along the way. Photo looks S.

There were a couple of high points along the easiest route up to Perrin Mountain from the N. The topo map showed a NW/SE running ridge at the first one, with the highest point at the NW end. When Lupe got up there, it looked like just another spot in the forest. There were a few rocks about a foot high around, but that was about it.

Peering SE through the forest, though, it looked like there might be something more interesting over there. Lupe and SPHP followed the short ridge to its SE end, where there was a large blocky rock formation. In fact, the rock formation at the SE end of the ridge is almost certainly a little higher than the map’s supposed highest point to the NW. Lupe and SPHP explored around to the SE end of the rocks, by going around the N side.

Lupe reaches the interesting rock formation at the SE end of the ridge at the first high point on her way to Perrin Mountain. Photo looks E.

Lupe at the SE end of the first high point ridge. Photo looks S at Perrin Mountain, her first peakbagging goal of the day.

The second high point on the way to Perrin Mountain was about 0.25 mile SW of the first one. There were some interesting rock formations on the way to the second high point, but nothing too spectacular at the top.

Lupe at the top of the second high point on the way to Perrin Mountain. The rocks here weren’t nearly as impressive as at the SE end of the ridge at the first high point.

Lupe went a little farther SW from the second high point, losing some elevation. Shortly after she started climbing up to the main Perrin Mountain ridge, she came to a snowy little road. It headed SE toward the summit, but didn’t go all the way there. At the end of the road, Lupe and SPHP were surprised to see a Subaru. Someone was inside it, too. Whoever it was, had car camped overnight.

That really was pretty extraordinary. In all of Lupe’s Black Hills, SD Expeditions, this was the first time she had come to anyone camped anywhere outside of a designated campground in the national forest. Since the person didn’t seem to be entirely up yet, Lupe and SPHP didn’t stop to chat, even though it would have been interesting to know more about the hardy soul who chose to car camp in January.

SPHP was surprised when Lupe found a trail leading from the end of the road to the top of Perrin Mountain. The faint trail looked like it didn’t get much use these days, but wasn’t hard to follow. The trail went all the way up to the summit. Actually, it went to a sign nailed to a tree just SE of the summit. The sign had the cryptic message “Hurt Locker”. If Lupe knew what the sign meant, she wasn’t saying. SPHP could divine no relevant meaning, since there was no locker of any sort in sight.

Hurt Locker? Would have made more sense if a locker had been evident somewhere, but Lupe and SPHP found none.

The summit of Perrin Mountain was maybe 25 feet NW of the odd Hurt Locker sign. There were a few rocks a couple of feet high there, but nothing more dramatic than that. The forest blocked the view in every direction.

Perrin Mountain is less than a mile NE of Pactola Reservoir, the largest lake in the Black Hills. It was rather disappointing that there weren’t any clear views of the reservoir from the summit, or on the way to it. However, the trail continued SE on past the Hurt Locker sign. Although it was losing elevation along the way, maybe there would be a viewpoint from somewhere in that direction?

Lupe and SPHP followed the trail all the way down to where it ended, which wasn’t far from the summit. There were a couple of viewpoints along the trail, not wide open views, but better than anywhere else Lupe had found on Perrin Mountain. To the S, it was possible to see the large flat meadow Rapid Creek flows through E of the dam. To the SW, there was one spot with a pretty good look at part of Pactola Reservoir and the dam.

Looking S from the SE end of Perrin Mountain. The large flat meadow where Rapid Creek flows below the dam is seen below.

Pactola Reservoir and dam from the SE end of Perrin Mountain. Photo looks SW.

Lupe and SPHP climbed back up the trail heading NW to return to the summit. Lupe posed for another photo there, before starting on the way back to the G6.

On Perrin Mountain. The rocks on the R are the true summit. Photo looks NW.

There were other routes Lupe could have taken back to the G6, but the way Lupe had come up Perrin Mountain had been pretty cool. It was a nice, easy bit of wandering in the forest on ridges and saddles between high points. SPHP thought it might be fun to chat with the Subaru person on the way back, but by the time Lupe and SPHP got back to the little road, the Subaru was gone.

Lupe returned to both of the high points N of Perrin Mountain on her return to the G6. The only memorable event of the return trip was when she spotted a squirrel on her way from the second high point back to the first. The squirrel eluded her near an interesting rock outcropping, but Lupe didn’t give up easily. She sniffed around there for a while trying to figure out where that squirrel had disappeared to. SPHP finally made her move on before she had time to resolve the mystery.

Lupe returned to both of the high points N of Perrin Mountain. Here she is back at the 2nd one (actually the closest to Perrin Mountain).

By 12:01 PM (50°F), Lupe was back at the G6. There were a number of Lupe treasures scattered around, so SPHP picked most of them up for disposal later. With this much time left in the day, Lupe had at least one more peakbagging goal ahead of her. First though, Lupe and SPHP went to see if it would be possible to get a photo of Perrin Mountain from Pactola Reservoir.

SPHP parked the G6 at the viewpoint at the N end of the dam near the spillway. The view of Perrin Mountain from near the spillway was none too impressive. It was a good thing Lupe went there, though. The place was kind of a mess. There were Lupe treasures all over the place. SPHP filled 5 plastic grocery bags full of them.

Lupe near Pactola Reservoir. Photo looks W.

Mighty Perrin Mountain towers over the surrounding country NE of the Pactola Reservoir spillway. Well, maybe "towers" isn't the word. At least this photo shows why it wasn't very easy to get a clear shot of Pactola from Perrin Mountain. — Mighty Perrin Mountain towers over the surrounding country NE of the Pactola Reservoir spillway. Well, maybe “towers” isn’t the word. At least this photo shows why it wasn’t very easy to get a clear shot of Pactola from Perrin Mountain.

When SPHP was done collecting Lupe treasures at Pactola, Lupe and SPHP drove N on Hwy 385. SPHP turned W on Broad Gulch Road (USFS Road No. 676) about 0.5 mile S of the Sugar Shack. There was a place to park the G6 on the left, right after crossing a cattle guard close to Hwy 385.

At 12:53 PM (50°F), Lupe set out on her second peakbagging quest of the day. Her new goal was Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.). The first part of the journey was just a walk up snowy Broad Gulch Road. Lupe followed the road until it reached its highest point at a saddle.

Lupe and SPHP left Broad Gulch Road at the saddle, heading E into the forest. Surprisingly, there was a trail going this way, too. The trail went to the N end of the long ridge of which Merritt Peak is a part. It then turned and followed the ridge line S. Lupe and SPHP stayed on the trail all the way to Merritt Peak. The trail didn’t go quite all the way up to the top, instead passing just to the E of the summit.

The trail appeared to continue on to the S, but Lupe and SPHP left it to climb the remaining short distance up to the top of Merritt Peak. The summit proved to be a ridge a few hundred feet long, and quite flat. There were small rock outcroppings scattered along the ridge. It was hard to tell which rock might be the highest point on the mountain. There were lots of possible candidates, none much higher than any of the others.

Merritt Peak was pretty heavily forested, but here and there it was possible to get a little bit of a view off into the distance in one direction or another. Enough could be seen between the trees so that it did seem like Lupe was up on a mountain, and not just in a thick forest. Lupe and SPHP came up near the S end of the ridge, so Lupe explored that end of the mountain first.

A glimpse to the SW from the S end of Merritt Peak.

Lupe at one of the highest points near the S end of Merritt Peak. Photo looks NNW along the ridge.

Buck Mountain (5,553 ft.), where Lupe had gone on Expedition No. 151 on 1-5-16, from Merritt Peak. Buck Mountain is about 4 miles E of Merritt Peak. (With help from the telephoto lens.) — **Buck Mountain (5,553 ft.)**, where Lupe had gone on Expedition No. 151 on 1-5-16, from Merritt Peak. Buck Mountain is about 4 miles E of Merritt Peak. (Taken with help from the telephoto lens.)

The N end of Merritt Peak was a bit rockier than the S end. Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) could be seen in the distance to the NNW. Minnesota Ridge was off to the NW. It was time to take a short break. Lupe was hearing gunfire off to the N, and was getting a little scared. She was hungry, too. She ate some Taste of the Wild. Whenever she heard the guns, though, she wanted to be right next to SPHP.

SPHP shared a jacket with Lupe. She was trembling a little bit, probably due to the gunfire, but the light N breeze was a bit cool, too.

Lupe at the N end of Merritt Peak. This might have been the highest point on the mountain. It was hard to tell for sure.

Lupe had some Taste of the Wild at the N end of the Merritt Peak summit ridge.

Lupe had now achieved two peakbagging goals so far on Expedition No. 152. Both Perrin Mountain and Merritt Peak had turned out to be pretty fun, easy peaks. Originally, SPHP had a third possible peakbagging goal in mind for Lupe, but it was probably too late in the day to attempt that one.

However, there was another mountain pretty close by that Lupe might still have time to climb. Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.) was less than 3 miles N of Merritt Peak. SPHP knew the top of Pilot Knob was pretty rocky looking, maybe Lupe wouldn’t be able to climb it at all? In any case, there was enough daylight left to find out. Lupe would make an attempt on Pilot Knob.

After the break up on Merritt Peak, Lupe and SPHP went back down to the trail and headed N. Lupe didn’t turn W to go back to Broad Gulch Road when the trail did. Instead she continued N through the forest. Eventually she wound up down on Broad Gulch Road again, anyway. When she reached the G6, it was 2:43 PM (50°F).

On her way to the Pilot Knob trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89, Lupe stopped by for a photo op at the Sugar Shack.

Lupe dropped by the Sugar Shack along Hwy 385. The Sugar Shack is a popular spot known for great hamburgers. Lupe would have loved to go in for a burger, but no doubt the health department wouldn't have approved. Health departments just don't understand that American Dingoes are way healthier than most people. The Sugar Shack business is currently for sale, so the future is a bit uncertain. — Lupe dropped by the Sugar Shack along Hwy 385. The Sugar Shack is a popular spot known for great hamburgers. Lupe would have loved to go in for a burger, but no doubt the health department wouldn’t have approved. Health departments just don’t understand that American Dingoes are *way* healthier than most people. The Sugar Shack business is currently for sale, so the future is a bit uncertain.

Despite having a Pilot Knob trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 does not actually go to Pilot Knob. The trail stays about a mile E of it. Lupe and SPHP started for Pilot Knob on Centennial Trail No. 89, but eventually had to leave it to turn W near Boodleman Spring.

Lupe and SPHP wandered through the forest in the general direction of Pilot Knob. There was a maze of little roads going this way and that. Lupe and SPHP took them when they seemed to be going the right direction. Often they weren’t. As Lupe got closer to Pilot Knob, the ground got steeper.

What Lupe found approaching the summit from the E was surprising. SPHP had expected the top of Pilot Knob to be rocky, but the E face was a vertical cliff. It looked like the rock had been sliced with a knife. There was no way Lupe and SPHP could go up the E face of the mountain! Would there be another way?

The E face of Pilot Knob was just a wall of rock. No way Lupe and SPHP could climb that!

Since Lupe reached Pilot Knob near the SE end of the mountain, Lupe and SPHP went around the S end over to the W side. The wall of rock really wasn’t terribly thick, so it wasn’t very far to get over there. Most of the W face of Pilot Knob was every bit as high and vertical as the E face had been, but at the SW corner there was an area of broken rock that didn’t look too bad.

Broken rock at the SW end of Pilot Knob.

Lupe and SPHP started climbing. There was some snow and ice in the shady spots, so it was slick in some places. Lupe and SPHP succeeded in getting up on the very S end of the ridge. SPHP abandoned the backpack at a cleft in the rock. The ridge was only 10 or 12 feet wide at the S end, with sheer drops to the E and W, but there were good hand and foot holds. Lupe seemed to have no trouble at all. SPHP climbed slowly and deliberately.

The solid rock ridge got wider and higher as Lupe climbed toward the N. The E & W cliffs got taller, too, but there was more space to stay away from them. The easiest way up proved to be along the E side of a rock wall up on the ridge. If the climb had been much more challenging, SPHP would have just given up on it. As it was, it was a pretty fun little Class 3 scramble. Lupe and SPHP made it to the summit to claim Lupe’s third peakbagging success of the day!

Lupe on the summit of Pilot Knob. Photo looks N.

Unlike Perrin Mountain and Merritt Peak, Pilot Knob was enough of a rocky crag to provide unobstructed 360° views!

Since Pilot Knob was so rocky, there were unobstructed 360° views from the top. The views were the best of the day! SPHP was loving it, but Lupe wasn’t. Somewhere there was construction going on not too far away, with a lot of banging going on. There was also a considerable amount of gunfire off to the W. Someone must have been doing some target practice, since it went on and on.

SPHP persuaded Lupe to get up on some of the rocks for photos, but the gunfire made her quite nervous. Mostly she just wanted to lay right on SPHP’s lap being petted. That was OK! Pilot Knob was a great place to sit and take in the views. Lupe and SPHP stayed up there at least half an hour gazing at the pretty world. Pilot Knob turned out to be a great way to end a successful day of peakbagging!

Merritt Peak is the rounded forested high point at the center. Photo looks S from Pilot Knob.

Lupe on one of the highest rocks on Pilot Knob. Hwy 385 is seen toward the right. Photo looks SSE.

The sun was very low on the horizon. SPHP considered staying for the sunset, but there were quite a few clouds off to the W. Maybe the sun was just going to sink into the clouds without putting on a show. Since it was a bit tricky getting up here, perhaps it was best for Lupe to get down off the rocky summit while the light was still good. Still, Lupe and SPHP would have stayed up there, if the sunset had been more promising.

Getting down was slow, but really no problem. SPHP retrieved the backpack. Lupe and SPHP circled around the mountaintop to the W and N, just to see what it all looked like. The W face was even more impressive than the E face. There might be an easy way up at the N end of the mountain, but SPHP had doubts it was any easier than Lupe’s route had been.

As Lupe and SPHP left Pilot Knob behind, heading E again through the forest, the clouds to the W developed a rosy glow. What little Lupe could see of the sunset looked pretty. It was better than most, but wasn’t particularly brilliant. In 10 or 15 minutes, it was all over. The rosy glow faded from the sky.

Expedition No. 152 ended like so many others, with another march through darkening forests and fields back to the G6. It had been a fun day. Three peaks climbed. All different, but each one a good time in its own way.

Lupe was already back on Centennial Trail No. 89 not far from the G6, when she heard them. The wild dogs, the coyotes, were howling out there somewhere to the S. Several times, Lupe stopped and stood still with her ears straight up listening. She made no sound. SPHP wondered what she was thinking.

At 5:38 PM (38°F), Lupe was back at the G6. After eating snow all day, she wanted water. When she’d had enough, she hesitated just a moment before getting in the G6. SPHP asked if she wanted to stay out and live with the coyotes? In January? At the very thought, the Carolina Dog jumped up into the G6. Maybe another time. Tonight – Alpo, a soft bed and warm blankie!

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