Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 279 – Devils Bathtub, Spearfish Falls, Roughlock Falls & Roubaix Lake (10-11-21)

10:13 AM, 56ºF – A gorgeous morning, comfortably cool and clear as a bell!  Lupe paused on the Cleopatra Place bridge for a look at Spearfish Creek.  SPHP was surprised by how much water there was even after a summer of drought.  Squaw Creek, a tributary joining in immediately upstream of the bridge, was another matter.  Squaw Creek did look low.  Not a bad thing, since it would have to be rock-hopped a bunch of times on the way to the Devils Bathtub.

Spearfish Creek from the Cleopatra Place bridge. Squaw Creek visible at lower L.

The Carolina Dog had attempted to visit the Devils Bathtub a couple of times in recent years, but had never made it all the way there.  The first time, SPHP thought she had, and didn’t figure out until later that the Devils Bathtub actually must have been farther up Squaw Creek.  The second time, ice and snow had made the rock-hopping so treacherous that SPHP had given up on it.  Lupe wound up climbing Spearfish Peak (5,800 ft.) and Little Crow Peak (5,885 ft.) instead.

Third time a charm?  Hopefully!  Lupe continued on across the Cleopatra Place bridge.  The Devils Bathtub trail, which goes up the Squaw Creek canyon, started just off to the R.  The Carolina Dog quickly arrived at the first and only bridge over the little creek.

On the first (and last) bridge over Squaw Creek.

Although the Devils Bathtub trail would cross Squaw Creek numerous times, right after the bridge it stayed on the SW side of the creek for a while.  Even here near the start, the canyon Lupe was venturing into was fairly narrow and steep-sided.  The entire canyon was full of trees and bushes sporting fall colors.  Loop enjoyed prowling among dead leaves and mossy stones looking for squirrels.

Among the leaves and mossy stones.

It didn’t take too long to get to the first stream ford, a crossing forced by a pinch point where Squaw Creek flowed right next to a wall of rock.  With the water so low this time of year, the ford was an easy rock-hop for SPHP.  Lupe didn’t bother rock-hopping, she just waded on through.

At the first ford.

As Loop continued up the canyon, the cliffs forcing many of the stream crossings became taller and more impressive.  In some places the trail was braided, with viable paths on both sides of Squaw Creek.  None of the frequent fords presented any real difficulties.  Slick, damp stones were the biggest worry for SPHP.  Lupe didn’t worry at all.

The rock walls forcing the stream crossings kept getting taller.
Father upstream at another ford. One of many.

Less than a mile from the start, the canyon narrowed some more.  Lupe reached a spot where Squaw Creek flowed over bedrock at the base of a long cliff.  Hugging the cliff, the Devils Bathtub trail went over shelves of solid rock right next to the stream.

Approaching the start of the continuous rock wall on the NE side of Squaw Creek.
The Devils Bathtub trail goes over these shelves of bedrock along the base of the cliff.

Lupe soon came to a series of waterfalls plunging into pools several feet deep.  Between these pools Squaw Creek raced through narrow chutes carved into the bedrock.  The overall effect was very beautiful.  In lots of places Lupe could leap over Squaw Creek in a single bound.  Even SPHP could just step across.

It didn’t take long to reach the large pool SPHP had mistakenly taken for the Devils Bathtub during Lupe’s first attempt to find it 2 years ago.

Continuing upstream along the cliffs.
On a midstream rock.
Looking downstream.
As far as Lupe had made it on her first attempt to find the Devils Bathtub back in 2019. She’d turned around here when SPHP mistook this pool for the real deal.

A little bit of scrambling around on the rocks had been required shortly before reaching this point.  Somewhat more challenging scrambling was required to go any further.  Nothing too daunting, but Lupe did have to traverse short stretches on narrow ledges 15 or 20 feet above the creek.

Up on a ledge above the Fake Devils Bathtub (L). Photo looks downstream.
Continuing past Fake Devils Bathtub (R).
Just past the Fake Devils Bathtub near the small waterfall that pours into it.

As it turned out, Lupe had almost made it to the real Devils Bathtub two years ago.  Only a few hundred feet upstream of the Fake Devils Bathtub, there it was!

On the ledges approaching the real Devils Bathtub, the upper pool seen here.

Trotting along narrow ledges with complete confidence, Lupe arrived in jig time.  SPHP, on the other paw, crept cautiously along the skinniest parts, but even that delayed arrival only momentarily.

At the Devils Bathtub. The official one!

Congratulations, Loopster, you made it!

So this is the Devils Bathtub, SPHP?  The real one?

Yes, the official one!  No doubt about it this time.

I’m not seeing any devils.  Can’t sniff them, either.  Are they invisible?

Hmm.  Well, I’m not sure, maybe so?  Or maybe it isn’t bath time?  I hear they like to play dirty tricks, so they probably don’t bathe very often.  Maybe just on Saturday nights?

Saturday night doesn’t make much sense to me, SPHP.  I doubt the devils dress up and go to church on Sunday morning!

Good point, Looper.  I really don’t know.  Anyway, this is a beautiful spot, isn’t it?  Let’s have a look around.

The Devils Bathtub wasn’t very big, so the “tour” didn’t take long at all.

Except close to the waterfall that raced down a slippery chute shaped like a waterslide into the Devils Bathtub, most of the pool wasn’t all that deep, just a few feet.  That was plenty deep for a Carolina Dog, though.  Lupe was not inclined to take a bath.  She waded along the edge of the shallow downstream outlet getting her paws wet, but otherwise did not go in.  SPHP avoided the water completely.  July or August was really the time to be here.

The water was cold and clear.  SPHP looked for fish, but they seemed to be just as scarce as devils.

Not all that much to the Devils Bathtub, is there, SPHP?

No, but it’s a scenic spot at the end of a nice hike, and quite a popular place to cool off in the summer.

I suppose its more exciting when the dirty devils show up.  Want to go up by the waterfall, SPHP?

Sure!

To get to the waterfall meant scrambling up on another narrow ledge, but it was no big deal and gave a different perspective.

On the ledge leading to the waterfall that feeds the Devils Bathtub.
Looking down the waterslide chute.

Neither Lupe nor SPHP was inclined to test the waterslide concept.  Might not be as smooth and as slippery a ride as it looked, and it was October, after all.  Would have been an exceedingly brisk experience.

Are we going any farther up the canyon, SPHP?  Looks like we could!

No, think this is it, Loop.  I went up there once a long time ago, before you were even around.  Don’t really remember too much about it.  There was a big old mine high on a steep hillside, the Cleopatra Mine, if memory serves, but the structure was crumbling away and dangerous even back then.  From what I can remember, the Devils Bathtub is the last of these scenic larger pools along Squaw Creek.

If we aren’t going any farther then, SPHP, why don’t we relax right here for a while?  Maybe we’ll get to see a devil!

Fine with me, but do you actually want to see a devil?  They’re evil you know.  Might be pretty dangerous if one comes along.

Oh, don’t worry about that, SPHP!  I’ll bite any devils that try to give us a hard time.

That’s why I always travel with a Carolina Dog!  You’re the best, Loopster!

A chocolate coconut bar, the American Dingo’s portion instantly inhaled, was shared at a sunny spot overlooking the Devils Bathtub.  Sadly, not a single devil turned up for Lupe to do battle with before it was time to start back down the canyon.

At the outlet from the Devils Bathtub, ready to head back to the RAV4.

12:10 PM, 61ºF, Devils Bathtub trailhead along Hwy 14A, Spearfish Canyon –  The return trek was just as gorgeous as the journey to the Devils Bathtub had been, but seemed to go even faster.  It was barely even lunchtime when Lupe arrived back at the RAV4.

What now, SPHP?  We aren’t done for the day already are we?

Oh, no!  Want to visit Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls while we’re in the area?  The trailheads aren’t that far away, just a few miles up Spearfish Canyon at Savoy.

The American Dingo was fine with that.  SPHP was soon parking the RAV4 at the Latchstring Restaurant.  The restaurant grounds bordered Spearfish Falls, but to actually get a good look, it was necessary to take a short trail down to the bottom of Spearfish Canyon.

A huge bald eagle was sitting on a stump out in front of the restaurant.  Before hitting the trail, Lupe went over to take a look at it.

Checking out the bald eagle in front of the Latchstring Restaurant in Spearfish Canyon.

Although a handsome specimen, the eagle proved none too lively, sitting completely motionless on its stump.  The action-oriented Carolina Dog quickly lost interest.  Heading over to the Spearfish Falls trail, she started the short journey down to the canyon floor.

The Spearfish Falls trail leaves the Latchstring Restaurant grounds just ahead on the L.
Sign at the trailhead.
View from a bench along the descent to the canyon floor.

The sign posted at the trailhead claimed that the Spearfish Falls trail was moderate difficulty and 1.5 miles round trip.  Both were exaggerations.  The wide, well-beaten path was mighty easy for Lupe, and it hardly seemed possible that it could have been 0.75 mile one way to the falls.  Once down to the canyon floor, a short trek brought Lupe to a bridge over Spearfish Creek.  The falls were only a little farther.

Spearfish Falls.
Spearfish Falls is on Little Spearfish Creek, which joins Spearfish Creek at the base of the falls. Got that?

Spearfish Falls may well be the tallest and most impressive waterfall in the entire Black Hills region.  Certainly worth the minor effort required to go see it!  Even at SPHP’s relaxed pace, the round trip took just a half an hour.

Next up was Roughlock Falls, only a mile away on USFS Road No. 222, which took off from Hwy 14A over by the Latchstring Inn across from the restaurant.  The Carolina Dog still had plenty of time left in the day, though.  Instead of driving all the way, SPHP merely moved the RAV4 over to the Roughlock Falls trailhead just past the inn.

The Roughlock Falls trail was broad and smooth.  Most of it was flat, or nearly so.  Super easy!  It went up the scenic side canyon carved by Little Spearfish Creek.  The trail generally wasn’t all that close to the creek, but shortly after Lupe set out, there was an opportunity to head down to it.

Little Spearfish Creek was cold, clear, and several feet deep.  Below the surface, dark green plants swayed in a swift current.  Small trout darted from one hiding spot to the next.

By Little Spearfish Creek. Photo looks upstream.
Same spot, looking toward the limestone cliffs across the creek. Photo looks N.

A mile went by fast.  Loop was soon standing on the boardwalk next to the cascades below Roughlock Falls.  From down here there was a great view of the cascades, but only a glimpse of the main waterfall could be seen at the far end of a narrow gorge.

On the lower boardwalk with a view of the cascades below Roughlock Falls.

For the best views of Roughlock Falls itself, Looper needed to get to the upper viewing platforms.  Crossing a nice bridge over Little Spearfish Creek, a short stroll along a sidewalk quickly brought her to the first of the upper viewpoints.

Looking downstream from the bridge over Little Spearfish Creek.
Roughlock Falls from the first upper viewpoint.

To get to the final viewpoint, Lupe crossed another bridge just upstream of the falls.  This viewpoint overlooked the brink of the falls.

Crossing Little Spearfish Creek again, this time just upstream of the falls.
Near the brink.

After enjoying Roughlock Falls from all these different vantage points, Loopster completed her tour by wandering through the picnic ground immediately upstream.

Little Spearfish Creek from the Roughlock Falls picnic area.

It was mid-afternoon when Lupe got back to the RAV4.  The sky had been clouding up on the way to Roughlock Falls, but it was getting sunnier again now.  The Carolina Dog had completed everything planned in the Spearfish Canyon area for today, so what now?  Tomorrow snow was in the forecast.  It would be a shame to just go home instead of enjoying what remained of this beautiful day.

This Black Hills Expedition seemed to be all about water.  Since Lupe had never been to Roubaix Lake before, SPHP decided a relaxing drive through the central hills to go see it might be just the ticket.

On the way, a stop was made up on Minnesota Ridge (6,240 ft.).  Lupe enjoyed a short romp looking for squirrels while SPHP had a look at the fall colors.

Enjoying a romp on Minnesota Ridge.
Fall colors.

Then it was on to Roubaix Lake!

Roubaix Lake wasn’t very big, sort of a glorified pond, but it did feature a campground with a sandy beach, plus a trail that went about halfway around the lake.

Arriving at Roubaix Lake, which is just a mile off Hwy 385 in the central Black Hills.

The trail started at a bridge over the outlet for Middle Box Elder Creek.  After crossing both the bridge and the dam, the trail headed SW right along the shoreline.

On the bridge over the outlet for Middle Box Elder Creek. Photo looks SE.
Along the SE shore after crossing the dam. Photo looks W.
Getting a drink not far from the dam. Photo looks N.

Middle Box Elder Creek enters Roubaix Lake over at the far SW end.  The trail began to fade away as Lupe drew near.  This part of the lake looked very shallow, full of mud and thick stands of tall reeds.  Late afternoon sunlight highlighted the reeds’ colors, making them glow.

By the colorful, glowing reeds. Photo looks SW.
SW end of Roubaix Lake. Photo looks W.

The trail went on, but appeared destined to disappear entirely.  Probably about time to call it a day by now, anyway.  A squirrel provided several minutes of excitement on the way back to the RAV4.

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 279 had been a success!  Getting all the way to the Devils Bathtub for time ever had been the main objective, and Lupe had made it.  Third time had been a charm!  Really hadn’t been hard at all.  Spearfish Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Roubaix Lake were all just icing on the cake.

A lovely Black Hills autumn day, but tomorrow, a first taste of winter!

Roubaix Lake, Black Hills, SD 10-11-21

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition                  Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 251 – Bridal Veil Falls, the Devils Bathtub trail, Spearfish Falls & Roughlock Falls (10-17-19)

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 61 – Roughlock Falls & Old Baldy Mountain (6-2-13)

10:47 AM, 66ºF, Latchstring Inn trailhead for Roughlock Falls at Savoy – So much for getting all the way to Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.) today!  SPHP turned L on USFS Road No. 222 at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon, only to find the road blocked.  Suddenly looking like Lupe would have to settle for Old Baldy Mountain (6,096 ft.) as an ultimate destination, instead of merely a preliminary goal.

The intention had been to drive past Roughlock Falls to a trailhead 5 miles away off USFS Road No. 134.  From there, Lupe could have started out much closer to Old Baldy Mountain where Cement Ridge would have been within range, too.  Oh, well!  SPHP parked the G6 at the trailhead just beyond the Latchstring Inn instead.

Although Cement Ridge was not to be, the American Dingo didn’t care.  Lupe was thrilled just to be out and about.  Bounding out of the G6, she was soon on the pleasant one mile trail paralleling Little Spearfish Creek that went to Roughlock Falls.  Good thing the trail was well above creek level!  A week of cold, rainy weather had normally clear-running Little Spearfish Creek muddy and way out of its banks.

Little Spearfish Creek with USFS Road No. 222 beyond it on the way to Roughlock Falls. Photo looks NW.

Turned out, flood damage was the reason USFS Road No. 222 was closed in the first place.  Roughlock Falls had tremendous flow when Lupe got there.  Little Spearfish Creek was still flooding the picnic area above the falls, and the road damage was apparent up here.

Roughlock Falls with several times normal flow.
A popular Black Hills destination, Roughlock Falls seldom appears this robust.

Lupe took advantage of this opportunity to cavort in Little Spearfish Creek on what is normally dry ground.

Cooling off in Little Spearfish Creek. Not as “little” as it used to be!
Little Spearfish Creek was in the process of returning to its banks, but still flowing around this picnic table.

Continuing W beyond the Roughlock Falls picnic ground, Lupe and SPHP trudged along right on USFS Road No. 222.

Without a cloud in the sky, it was soon getting hot.  After about a mile, SPHP noticed a trail N of the road.  Turned out there were 2 trails.  One went steeply uphill toward the canyon wall.  Lupe took the other trail, which followed Little Spearfish Creek upstream, enjoying shady relief from the sun provided by trees growing along the trail.

After 0.5 mile, Lupe reached the Rod & Gun campground.  Beyond the campground, the trail soon forked.  Lupe took the Rimrock Trail, which climbed steadily up a side canyon leaving Little Spearfish Creek behind.

The upper rim of the canyon wasn’t much farther when a deer was seen fleeing through the forest.  Upon reaching the place the deer had taken off from, a spotted fawn was seen laying quietly right beside the trail, its slender legs folded beneath it.

The fawn was alive, but remained completely motionless as Lupe and SPHP approached.  Whether it was injured or not, was hard to say.  The fawn was distressingly thin, with practically no meat on its bones.  Its ribs stuck out a great deal.  Was it starving?  Without moving at all, the fawn regarded Lupe and SPHP with with sad brown eyes.

While it was tempting to examine the fawn more closely to determine its true condition, SPHP felt its chances were almost certainly best with its mother.  The faster Lupe and SPHP left the area, the more quickly and likely she would return.  Hard to abandon the defenseless, spotted fawn, but Lupe and SPHP paused only a moment before moving on.

10 minutes past the fawn, the terrain leveled out.  A junction appeared with another trail shown as No. 76 on SPHP’s old Black Hills USFS map.  A short break was taken here in the shade of a large pine tree.  Lupe had Taste of the Wild, while SPHP consumed an orange.

After the break, Lupe headed W on Trail No. 76.  It wound through the forest S of an area where there seemed to be a quarry or old mine, but Lupe didn’t stop to investigate.

On Trail No. 76.

A meadow surrounded by aspens appeared.  Lupe came to USFS Road No. 134 just beyond it.  A sign indicated that after crossing the road, the trail continued on to the Old Baldy Mountain trailhead, precisely where the American Dingo needed to go.

Happy Lupe in the meadow near USFS Road No. 134.

15 minutes after crossing No. 134, Lupe reached the Old Baldy Mountain trailhead.  No vehicles.  Not a soul here.  SPHP paused long enough to take a look at a posted map.

The map showed 2 trails going to Old Baldy Mountain (6,096 ft.), still nearly 1.5 miles NW.  An E route and a W route linked up again not too far from the mountain near a small lake named Baldy Lake.  SPHP’s USFS map also showed a Trail No. 66 with two routes, and an unlabeled tiny blue speck close to where they rejoined.

At first, it wasn’t clear where to go.  The only trail that left the trailhead went W, so Lupe followed it.  The E route to Old Baldy Mountain soon split off to the R.  Deciding to go that way, SPHP led the Carolina Dog N.

Trail No. 66 went uphill a bit before leveling out.  Turning NE, it then started downhill.  With all the recent wet weather, Lupe began coming to marshy areas feeding numerous little streams.  Despite brief uphill sections, she lost elevation most of the time.

Aspens sprouting new leaves along the E route of the Trail No. 66 loop.

More and more water seeped from the hillsides.  The trail became a small creek.  Every drainage Lupe passed had its own stream running down it.  These were all seasonal streams which wouldn’t ordinarily have had more than a trickle, if that.  Lupe enjoyed splashing along through all the water, free to get a drink whenever she felt like it.

Trail No. 66 finally turned NW and went down a steepish, soggy slope.  Upon reaching a low point, the trail bounced up and down, still winding along in the same general direction.  SPHP concluded that the trail was destined for a particular mountain to the W that didn’t look very high.

No. 66 eventually started down a slope where the forest gave way to a lush, green field.  Two streams, one from the SW and one from the SE, merged immediately upstream of a small earthen dam.  The combined stream had succeeded in eroding a gap right through the dam, which no longer backed up any water.

So much for Baldy Lake!

Overlooking the broken earthen dam that used to back up Baldy Lake. Photo looks W.

As if to remove any doubt, a sign saying “Baldy Lake” still stood along the edge of the meadow.  Even while in good repair, the earthen dam couldn’t have ever held back much water.  In the best of times, Baldy Lake must not have been any bigger than a typical stock pond.

Due to the circuitous route the E half of Trail No. 66 had taken, a check of SPHP’s USFS map showed that Old Baldy Mountain was still more than 0.5 mile away.  Crossing a small bridge below the broken dam, Lupe went W up the hillside beyond it, as the trail took her up into a stand of aspens.  After going over a ridge, the Carolina Dog reached the junction where the W branch of the Trail No. 66 loop joined in again.

Taking the spur to Old Baldy Mountain, Lupe followed a long stretch of trail serving double duty as a mucky stream bed.  Once beyond this area, the trail began climbing.  Near the end, Lupe gained more elevation than SPHP thought she would, as the trail switchbacked higher.

By the spur trail to the summit.
Wildflowers along the way.
Beaver Creek (L) from a switchback near the top. Photo looks SSW.

The top of Old Baldy Mountain (6,096 ft.) was forested and plenty roomy enough to move around quite comfortably.  A sign stood at the end of the trail.  From here, the summit area extended somewhat farther SW.  Exploring out that way, Lupe could see Beaver Creek down in a big meadow to the S, a scene she had caught glimpses of on the way up.

On Old Baldy Mountain. Photo looks W.

From along the summit’s W edge, Lupe saw the deep forested canyon that Beaver Creek drains into sinking N toward a spot where tall cliffs of dark rock were visible along the upper rim of the gorge.  Several ridges significantly higher than Old Baldy Mountain were in sight off to the W.  SPHP spotted the Cement Ridge fire lookout tower on the ridge farthest N.  It looked dauntingly high and far away.  Clearly, Lupe wasn’t going to get that far today.

Relaxing in the shade, Lupe snapped at flies while having more Taste of the Wild.  SPHP ate some fruit.  Too bad Lupe didn’t have enough time to continue on to Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.), but the distant start due USFS Road No. 222 being closed had pretty much put it out of reach.

On the return trip, Lupe explored the W portion of the Trail No. 66 loop.  Shortly after splitting off from the E route, the trail entered the huge meadow Lupe had seen S of Old Baldy Mountain.  The Carolina Dog was nearly across the meadow when she came to a little stream that drained W into Beaver Creek.  Leaving the trail, Lupe went down to have a look at the much larger stream.

By Beaver Creek. Photo looks NW.

Much of the ground near Beaver Creek was marshy, or just plain under water.  Side streams with good volume were pouring in from every little valley and low spot.

Looking upstream. Photo looks W.

After enjoying the view of Beaver Creek, Lupe turned SW toward a side valley where yet another tributary could be heard, but not seen.  Upon reaching the valley, she turned SE climbing into the forest.  This hillside was also full of springs, but Lupe quickly found the trail again.

No. 66 proceeded S steadily gaining elevation, before eventually turning E and winding its way back to the Old Baldy Mountain trailhead.  From the trailhead, Lupe proceeded E to USFS Road No. 134, crossing it at the same place as she had earlier in the day.

Flowers along the trail E of the Old Baldy Mountain trailhead.

Instead of getting on Trail No. 76 again, Lupe took a logging trail farther N that SPHP thought might be a shortcut.  Heading E, the logging trail climbed over a modest hill past a series of little ponds where frogs sang cheerfully until the entire choir would suddenly go silent when the American Dingo got too close.

The shortcut worked.  Lupe made it back to Trail No. 76 again not too far from the junction with the Rimrock Trail.  Another short rest break was taken here beneath the same big pine tree as before.

Although curious, SPHP didn’t think it was a good idea to take Lupe past the spotted fawn again.  Instead of going down that way, Lupe continued E on Trail No. 76, staying on high ground for another 0.75 mile.  At that point, the trail suddenly turned sharply NW, whereupon it immediately turned E again, descending a big gulch.

Partway down, the American Dingo came to an unexpected divide.  The clearest trail headed uphill over a ridge to the ENE, while a more faded path continued down the gulch.  When SPHP started on the higher trail, Lupe raced ahead, but SPHP was soon having second thoughts.  Probably should have gone down the gulch in search of USFS Road No. 222.

Returning to the lower path, it curved SE into a narrow gorge.  Lupe came to a very secluded and private place where water dripped down tall rock walls covered with moss.  Only a short stretch was flanked on both sides with scenic rock walls like that, but it was very cool.

Going around a bend, the roar of Little Spearfish Creek was suddenly heard down in the much larger canyon.  Descending a forested slope, Lupe found herself at the same point where she had left USFS Road No. 222 to take the shady trail to the Rod & Gun campground much earlier in the day.

The rest of the return was identical to the route Lupe had taken this morning.  SPHP collected Lupe treasures along No. 222, coming up with quite a few of them in short order.  At the Roughlock Falls picnic ground, the water had receded from where it had been this morning, leaving mud drying in the evening sun.

Heading back on USFS Road No. 222.

7:32 PM, 62ºF, Latchstring Inn trailhead at Savoy – Expedition No. 61 was over and done with except for the drive home.  Old Baldy Mountain had been a fun day, but the skinny spotted fawn’s fate would forever remain a mystery.  At home, Lupe was happy to see Guille’s car, and rushed into the house to greet her.

Evening in Little Spearfish Creek canyon.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition                      Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD & WY Expedition No. 141 – Old Baldy Mountain & Cement Ridge (10-11-15)

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 251 – Bridal Veil Falls, the Devil’s Bathtub trail, Spearfish Falls & Roughlock Falls (10-17-19)

Should have had a plan B!  Yesterday evening a landowner had refused Lupe permission to cross their property this morning to access a mountain that would have been a fun trek.  SPHP was welcome, but no pesky Dingoes allowed!  Heh.  No dice!  If the Dingo couldn’t, SPHP wouldn’t.

Hence the sudden need for a Plan B.  Plenty of options to choose from in the Black Hills, perhaps too many.  None seemed to stand out as the thing to do.  Better decide soon, though.  The morning was shooting by.  Lupe wasn’t going to be happy if SPHP let indecisiveness waste away this beautiful day for her first Black Hills Expedition of the fall season.

Under the circumstances, maybe something quick and easy was called for?  Lupe didn’t always have to climb a mountain, did she?  How about a scenic drive up Spearfish Canyon?  Loopster had never been to the Devil’s Bathtub, a lovely remote swimming hole beneath a waterfall hidden up a side canyon.  SPHP had thought about taking her there many times, but it was best visited in the hot summer months when the cool, clear water would be refreshing, not frigid.

The Devil’s Bathtub would still be a beautiful short trek, though, and the Carolina Dog wasn’t much into swimming, anyway.  Lupe would have plenty of time to visit the 3 best waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon today, too.  Why not?  SPHP felt kind of lazy.  So be it!  Lupe was in for an easy day touring the watery wonders of Spearfish Canyon.  She was all for it, desperately eager to get going right this very minute!

Coming up Spearfish Canyon on Hwy 14A, Lupe’s first stop was at Bridal Veil Falls.  (11:41 AM, 55ºF)  Bridal Veil Falls was conveniently right next to the highway.  Maybe a bit too conveniently?  SPHP was surprised by the number of people milling about.  Lupe had to wait for a turn on the viewing platform.

At Bridal Veil Falls just off Hwy 14A in Spearfish Canyon.
Bridal Veil Falls.

Bridal Veil Falls was lovely, but the American Dingo was soon ready for more action than simply hanging around a viewing platform next to the highway provided.  Only a couple miles farther up Spearfish Canyon was a turn onto Cleopatra Place, which used to be where to park to get to the Devil’s Bathtub.  However, Lupe arrived to find that parking along Cleopatra Place was now prohibited.

No problem!  0.25 mile farther up Spearfish Canyon a new parking area right along Hwy 14A now serves as the Devil’s Bathtub trailhead.  The new parking lot was on the L (E) just before the old Homestake Mining Company Hydroelectric Plant No. 2.  Since the historic old building was so close by, Lupe went to see it.

Loop by Spearfish Creek near Hydroelectric Plant No. 2.
Homestake Mining Company Hydroelectric Plant No. 2 is just upstream of the new parking lot serving as the Devil’s Bathtub trailhead.

It doesn’t take an American Dingo long to look at an old building, either!  Not overly impressed, Lupe returned to the trailhead, then followed a muddy path near Spearfish Creek down to the Cleopatra Place bridge.

There’s the Cleopatra Place bridge now! It’s not far from the new trailhead at all.
SPHP says you used to be able to park right here, but not any more! Loop about to cross the Cleopatra Place bridge.
Spearfish Creek. Photo looks upstream from the Cleopatra Place bridge.

Once over the Cleopatra Place bridge, Lupe followed a broad trail near Squaw Creek, a small stream that joins Spearfish Creek just upstream of the bridge.  This was the start of the unmaintained trail that goes to the Devil’s Bathtub.  The trail quickly led to a ford of Squaw Creek.

Ordinarily Squaw Creek wouldn’t have much flow this late in the year, but 2019 has been unusually wet in the Black Hills.  Squaw Creek was looking surprisingly healthy.  With snow still lingering from a recent early snowstorm, SPHP wasn’t eager to get cold, wet feet fording the stream.  That might easily have been the end of Looper’s Devil’s Bathtub aspirations right then and there, but glancing upstream from the ford, a footbridge was in sight.

The primitive trail to the Devil’s Bathtub quickly led to this ford of Squaw Creek. Fortunately, a footbridge is in sight a little farther upstream.
On the footbridge over Squaw Creek.

Beyond the footbridge, a braided trail led through the forest up Squaw Creek canyon.  Lupe had a great time sniffing and exploring!  However, the canyon wasn’t terribly wide.  Squaw Creek meandered from side to side, forcing additional stream crossings at frequent intervals.  No more footbridges, either – the first one was the only one.

For SPHP all the stream crossings were rock hops.  With the water level as high as it was, they were trickier than expected.  Many rocks were wet and slippery.  Snow or ice clung to some.  SPHP had forgotten the trekking poles back at the G6, and was soon wishing they had been brought along.  In summer, fording the little stream would have been simply refreshing and not an issue.  Now it was a bigger deal.

Of course, Lupe had no problems crossing Squaw Creek.  She bounded over rocks, or splashed through shallow spots as she pleased.

Squaw Creek crossing No. 2. Plenty of big rocks in the stream made this one easy.
Even though it was a warm day for mid-October, in some places a fair amount of snow was on or near the trail.
Logs formed a crude bridge at crossing No. 3. The logs were slick, but still served the purpose.
On a snowy log at crossing No. 4.
Crossing No. 5.

The 6th crossing of Squaw Creek was more problematic than any of the prior ones.  Initially it didn’t appear possible without resorting to simply fording the stream.  Still hoping not to get wet feet, SPHP scrambled up a steep, snowy slope following footprints left by others in an attempt to avoid this ford completely.

The path dead-ended well above stream level.  Well, phooey!  SPHP was forced to retreat.  However, during the slippery descent it turned out to be possible to get at least a little farther upstream.

It was enough.  The creek was easier to cross here.

Loop close to where she managed to cross Squaw Creek for a 6th time.

Lupe had now reached the base of a dramatic horizontally-layered cliff.  She stood on a ledge of bedrock next to Squaw Creek.  The overall effect was very cool.  What a scenic spot!

Between Squaw Creek and the towering horizontally-layered cliff.
What a cool spot!

Not much farther to the Devil’s Bathtub now, Looper!

How do you know that, SPHP?

I’ve been there, years before you were even born, sweet Dingo!  All we have to do now is follow along the base of this cliff.  Somewhere not too far past it we’ll come to the Devil’s Bathtub.  Don’t remember exactly how much farther it is.  Not too far, though.  I’ll know it when I see it.  We’ll take a break when we get there.

Sounds great!  This place is awesome!  Let’s keep going!

Lupe continued upstream following shelves of bedrock along the base of the cliff.  Once or twice when Squaw Creek came right up against the cliff, she briefly leapt over to the other side in a single bound.  This whole stretch was gorgeous and fun!

Following the cliff upstream.
Temporarily forced over to the R side of Squaw Creek. Photo looks upstream.
Looking downstream.
Another look downstream from slightly farther on.

The trek along the base of the cliff wasn’t long.  A couple hundred yards, maybe?  After rounding a corner, Lupe could see a series of pools in Squaw Creek ahead.  The largest pool with a small waterfall plunging into it was hidden beyond a big snow-covered boulder at the upper end.  The Devil’s Bathtub!

Approaching the snow-covered boulder.
The waterfall and large pool beyond the boulder.
Lupe above the little waterfall.
Closeup of the waterfall.

Or was it?

Above the little waterfall, Squaw Creek spilled from a shallow pool down a  channel worn smooth – a natural waterslide.  SPHP joined Lupe above the waterfall for a look around.  Beyond the waterslide and upper pool Squaw Creek came down a straight, narrow valley strewn with rocks.  No more stunning cliffs in sight or big pools of water.  No trail evident, and all the tracks in the snow seemed to stop here.

Huh.

Huh, what?  Is this it, SPHP?  Have we reached the Devil’s Bathtub?

I’m not sure Loop.  Maybe.

I thought you said you’d been here before, and would recognize it?

Yeah, I thought I would.

So, what’s the problem?

Well, this Devil’s Bathtub doesn’t look quite right to me – at least not the way I remember it.  Everything else seems fine, but the waterfall isn’t as high or steep as I recall.  Not that it was all that high to begin with, it wasn’t.  The bathtub below the falls seems to be shaped differently, too.

Maybe it has changed over the years?

I suppose, but isn’t that rather unlikely?  It’s carved into bedrock!  More likely my memory is faulty.  Sometimes things get built up in one’s mind over time beyond what they ever really were.  I’ve had that happen before.  I don’t remember the Devil’s Bathtub being too far past the awesome cliffs.  From what we can see, it doesn’t look like there is anything promising nearby upstream from here.  Judging from the tracks in the snow, no one else has been venturing any farther than this in the past few days, either.  Maybe this really is the Devil’s Bathtub?

So what now?  Want to keep going farther, just to be sure?  I’m game!

Hah!  I knew you would be, Loopster!  Makes sense, but I don’t know.  If I’m wrong, we won’t find anything no matter how far we go.  Then you might not have time to visit Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls today.  This is a gorgeous spot!  Let’s ponder the situation while we take a break.

Lupe was fine with that.

At the upper end of the chute above the waterfall.
Overlooking the Devil’s Bathtub candidate from the break area.
Closeup from the brink of the waterfall.

Voices!  No sooner had the break begun than a family of five appeared downstream.  Lupe and SPHP relaxed listening to the soothing sound of the water while watching them scramble by up past the falls.  They went on past the waterslide, disappearing beyond the upper pool, but were soon back.  After a few minutes, SPHP asked the wife if this was really the Devil’s Bathtub, or not?  We were going to ask you, came the reply!  They’d never been here before, but thought that it was.

A bit later, another group of 7 or 8 people came along.  They didn’t go any farther than Lupe had, either.  Everyone thought this beautiful spot was the Devil’s Bathtub, but no one was completely certain.  A pleasant half hour shot by.

This has been fun, but it’s decision time, Loop.  Keep going or return to the G6?

Lupe didn’t say.  As usual, the Carolina Dog was ready for anything.

Alrighty then, Loopster.  Tell ya what.  I’m feeling a bit lazy.  Mind if we just go back to the G6 to continue your Spearfish Canyon waterfall tour?  This might well be the Devil’s Bathtub.  If not, it’s been a very similar experience to the one I dimly remember.  Promise I’ll try to research it online after we get home.  Should have done that to begin with, but I thought I knew what I was doing.  If it turns out this isn’t really it, we’ll come back someday.  The old Cleopatra mine is on a steep hillside farther up this canyon.  Maybe we can check it out, too, then?

Seems silly to leave without knowing for certain if we made it to the Devil’s Bathtub or not SPHP, but if you promise to bring me back again sometime if we didn’t, that’s fine.

It’s a deal!  Onward!  Puppy, ho!

Lupe at the start of the path back.

The trek back to the G6 went faster than going up Squaw Creek had.  SPHP was better at the rock hop crossings, and staying on the most direct route.  Lupe explored and sniffed as she had earlier, still enjoying this most natural and remote trail of the day.  However, she made it back to the G6 so fast (2:20 PM, 70ºF), that it again raised doubts in SPHP’s mind whether Looper had actually made it to the Devil’s Bathtub.

No time to worry about that now, though!  The American Dingo was already on to the next great thing!  Spearfish Falls was next up.  Five miles farther up Spearfish Canyon, SPHP parked the G6 at the Latchstring Inn Restaurant(2:30 PM, 69ºF)  Spearfish Falls was down in the lower canyon the restaurant overlooked.  In fact, Lupe could look down on the falls from an observation deck at the S end of the restaurant grounds.

Out in front of the Latchstring Inn Restaurant at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
Looking down from the brink of Spearfish Falls (R).

The view from above was nice, but the falls were better seen from down below.  The Spearfish Falls trail used to make a loop down to the falls from either end of the restaurant grounds.  That had changed.  Now the trail is only accessible from the opposite N end of the Latchstring Inn Restaurant property.

This close up of the posted trail map was taken near the S falls overlook. The trail to the falls starts from N of the restaurant as shown, not at the red “You are Here” star.
At the start of the Spearfish Falls Trail just N of the Latchstring Inn Restaurant.

The Spearfish Falls trail started out as a broad path which switch-backed down to the lower canyon floor.  Once it leveled out, the trail meandered a bit before quickly leading to a sturdy footbridge over Spearfish Creek.

A few minutes going down gentle switchbacks brought Lupe to the lower canyon floor.
On the Spearfish Falls trail at Savoy.
The excellent footbridge over Spearfish Creek.
Looking up Spearfish Creek from the bridge.

Beyond the bridge was a short stroll through a park-like forest.  A terrific view of Spearfish Falls was just ahead.

In the forest beyond the bridge.
Spearfish Falls comes into sight.
Lupe at Spearfish Falls.

Spearfish Falls was impressive!  The beautiful falls had excellent flow, and had to be one of the very tallest in the entire Black Hills.  A large viewing deck provided a fantastic look at it.

Wow, Spearfish Falls is really worth seeing isn’t it? So easy to get to, too!
Look up above and you can see the roof of the Latchstring Inn Restaurant. It’s just that close!
One of the biggest and best waterfalls in the whole Black Hills!

After spending a little time appreciating Spearfish Falls, Lupe headed back along the trail.  This time she saw several deer along the way.  Soon, though, she was back at the start.

On the way back, Lupe was excited to see several deer just around this bend.

One more waterfall to go!  Roughlock Falls was only a mile away up the side canyon of Little Spearfish Creek, the same creek that Spearfish Falls was on.

SPHP could have driven USFS Road No. 222 to the Roughlock Falls picnic ground which was practically right at the falls.  However, a scenic trail also went to Roughlock Falls from the Spearfish Canyon Lodge located right across Hwy 14A from the Latchstring Inn Restaurant.  More fun to do that!

The Spearfish Canyon Lodge is right across Hwy 14A from the Latchstring Inn Restaurant.

After crossing the highway, Lupe went past the Spearfish Canyon Lodge then through a large parking lot to a smaller one.  She picked up the trail here at a short bridge over Little Spearfish Creek.  Once over the creek, the Roughlock Falls trail followed it upstream.  A trail map showed that Lupe could have accessed the trail from right in front of the Spearfish Canyon Lodge.  Oh, well!

Roughlock Falls trail map.

The popular trail was sort of icy, but otherwise easy.  By now, the sun was getting low.  Most of the trail was shady, but S facing canyon walls were still in brilliant sunshine.

The Roughlock Falls trail was a bit icy.
The trail went past this pond created by a small dam on Little Spearfish Creek.
Loop a bit off trail next to Little Spearfish Creek.
Little Spearfish Creek canyon. USFS Road No. 222 is on the R. The Roughlock Falls trail on the L.
Exploring the trail.

One measly mile didn’t take long.  Soon Lupe was on the boardwalk leading to the lower Roughlock Falls observation deck.

Looking back from the boardwalk leading to the lower falls observation point.
Roughlock Falls from the lower observation deck.

After seeing Roughlock Falls from down here, Lupe continued on up to the picnic area above the falls.

Little Spearfish Creek up at the Roughlock Falls picnic area.
Hey, isn’t this where I gave my famous Lupeo & Xochiet performance some years back? … Yes, it is Loop!
The Roughlock Falls picnic area is one of the prettiest in the Black Hills.

Upon completing her quick tour of the picnic area, Lupe checked out the views from the upper observation decks overlooking Roughlock Falls.

The upper observation decks next to the picnic ground are as close to Roughlock Falls as it’s possible to get these days. Wading up Little Spearfish Creek right into the falls is no longer permitted.
On the brink of Roughlock Falls.
Another perspective.
Roughlock Falls.
Looking down on the lower cascade. The lower observation deck is in sight, too.
Hard to say which I like better, Roughlock Falls or Spearfish Falls. They are both wonderful!

Lupe had about seen what there was to see at Roughlock Falls.  Time to head back.  The American Dingo returned to the lower observation deck for a final look before departing.

Heading back down.
Limestone cliffs overlooking the trail.
Final look at Roughlock Falls from the lower observation deck.

All that remained to complete the day was the pleasant, easy trek back to the G6.  Lupe enjoyed every minute of it.

Back on the Roughlock Falls trail.
Glancing up at the towering cliffs.
Well, that’s about it for Expedition No. 251! No mountains climbed, but hope you enjoyed this watery tour of Spearfish Canyon. I sure did!

10-17-19, 5:13 PM – A happy Carolina Dog arrived at the G6 ready to go home.  Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 251 had been a complete success!  Or had it?

10 days later, SPHP searched online for images of the Devil’s Bathtub.  Plenty of photos of the spot Lupe had reached appeared.  Then, Bingo!  SPHP recognized it in an instant.  The Devil’s Bathtub!  There it was, just as SPHP remembered it.  The American Dingo hadn’t gone far enough on Expedition No. 251 to reach the true Devil’s Bathtub after all.

How much farther was it?  Only 10 minutes according to one account.  So Lupe will be going back to the Devil’s Bathtub trail again someday.  After all, SPHP promised.  But that’s another expedition and adventure!

Devil’s Bathtub trail, Black Hills of South Dakota, 10-17-19

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 146(a) – Roughlock Falls (11-22-15)

Xochitl flew in from Chicago to spend nearly a week in the Black Hills over Thanksgiving.  Naturally, she wanted to spend a little time adventuring in the hills with Lupe.  Steve had some time off, so he wanted to come along, too.  So Lupe had quite a pack along with her when she set off on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 146(a) on 11-22-15.

Since Xochitl needed a little time to acclimate to the elevation, Lupe started her off easy.  Real easy – the first stop was at Cheyenne Crossing in Spearfish Canyon for buffalo burgers and dessert.  Lupe got to sit waiting patiently in the G6 while Xochi, Steve & SPHP dined acclimated in cozy warm comfort.

Lupe at Cheyenne Crossing in Spearfish Canyon. Lupe had to wait in the G6 while Xochitl, Steve and SPHP acclimated inside the restaurant.
Lupe at Cheyenne Crossing in Spearfish Canyon. Lupe had to wait in the G6 while Xochitl, Steve and SPHP acclimated inside the restaurant.

The buffalo burgers disappeared, and there wasn’t much left of Steve’s mountain medley berry pie and ice cream when the meal was over.  However, Xochi had ordered carrot cake for dessert.  It arrived drizzled with caramel, which she doesn’t really care for, so about 2/3 of the carrot cake was left over.  The patient American Dingo was in luck!  A big piece of carrot cake went into a Dingo box for later on.

From Cheyenne Crossing, Lupe’s pack headed N for Savoy farther downstream in the heart of Spearfish Canyon.  Savoy is the site of the Latchstring Inn & Restaurant.  Near Savoy are two waterfalls.  From opposite ends of the Latchstring Restaurant parking lot, there is a short (0.5 mile?) loop trail that goes down to Spearfish Falls.  Little Spearfish Creek enters Spearfish Creek at the base of the falls.

Limestone cliffs near the Latchstring in at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
Limestone cliffs near the Latchstring Inn at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
Lupe near the Latchstring Inn at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
Lupe near the Latchstring Inn.

Lupe wasn’t going to Spearfish Falls, though.  Instead, Lupe and her pack of humans were taking the trail to Roughlock Falls.  Roughlock Falls is up the side canyon Little Spearfish Creek flows through.  The trailhead is near the Latchstring Inn parking lot.

The Roughlock Falls trail is no more than about a mile long, and involves very little elevation gain.  It was going to be a nice stroll, with views of the creek and limestone cliffs along the way.

Lupe was just happy to be on a snowy trail again.

Little Spearfish Creek a short distance upstream of the Latchstring Inn.
Little Spearfish Creek a short distance upstream of the Latchstring Inn.
Continuing up Little Spearfish Creek.
Lupe on her way to Roughlock Falls.
Steve, Xochitl & Lupe on the Roughlock Falls trail.
Sunlit cliffs on the N side of the canyon.

In the summer, the Roughlock Falls trail is popular and busy.  On this cool day in late November, Lupe & company had the trail to themselves.  When Lupe reached the falls, it was time for some pictures with Xochitl and Steve.

Roughlock Falls on Little Spearfish Creek.
Roughlock Falls on Little Spearfish Creek.
Lupe, Steve & Xochi at Roughlock Falls.
Lupe, Steve & Xochi at Roughlock Falls.
Years ago, it was possible to wade up Little Spearfish Creek right into Roughlock falls. The water was always cold, even on the hottest summer days. Now safety railings and signs prevent such adventures. November wouldn’t have been such a good time for it, anyway.

The Roughlock Falls trail continued on across a bridge over Little Spearfish Creek, and up to a picnic ground just above the falls.  Various little walkways with railings led to a number of viewpoints along both sides of the falls and creek.  Lupe, Xochi and Steve checked them out.

The main falls. Roughlock Falls is only a mile or so from the Latchstring Inn at Savoy in Spearfish Canyon.
The brink of Roughlock Falls.
The brink of Roughlock Falls.

A look downstream from the falls.
We interrupt this episode of The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe to bring you this scene from The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends. Starring Xochitl as Bullwinkle and Steve as Rocky. (Steve, your Rocky still needs a bit of work!)
“Lupe, look, is moose & squirrel!”  We interrupt this episode of The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe to bring you this scene from The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends – starring Xochitl as Bullwinkle the Moose, and Steve as Rocky the Flying Squirrel. (Steve’s Rocky still needs a bit of work.  Steve, how about a jet pack so you can zoom around in the air a bit, or if that’s too expensive, at least a pair of aviator goggles?)

At the picnic grounds upstream of Roughlock Falls, a dramatic love scene was re-enacted starring Lupeo & Xochiet.

Lupio
Lupeo
Xochiet
Xochiet
"Lupio, O' Lupio, wherefore art thou O' Lupio?"
“Lupeo, O’ Lupeo, wherefore art thou O’ Lupeo?”
"Sitting right in front of you, Xochiet, here beside Little Spearfish Creek at the picnic grounds just above Roughlock Falls. To get here take Hwy 14A from Spearfish, SD to Savoy. Turn right at the Latchstring Inn and park at the trailhead, or just drive 1 mile up USFS Road No. 222. You can also get here by taking Hwy 85 SW of Lead, SD to Cheyenne Crossing. At Cheyenne Crossing take Hwy 14A going N to Savoy.... blah, blah, blah...."
“Why, I’m sitting right in front of you, Xochiet, here right beside Little Spearfish Creek at the picnic grounds just above Roughlock Falls. To get here take Hwy 14A from Spearfish, SD to Savoy. Turn right at the Latchstring Inn and park at the Roughlock Falls trailhead, or just drive 1 mile up USFS Road No. 222. You can also get here by taking Hwy 85 SW of Lead, SD to Cheyenne Crossing. At Cheyenne Crossing take Hwy 14A going N to Savoy.  On the other hand, if you’re coming from Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.) , take …. blah, blah, blah….”  Xochiet is pretty sure Lupeo doesn’t know his lines….

Lupe and Xochitl had two different impressions of the Roughlock Falls picnic grounds.  To Lupe, the place was a frozen wilderness full of exciting smells, danger and mystery.  Here she conveys a feeling of being lost and alone in the 1.2 million acre Black Hills National Forest:

A lone Carolina Dog sits lost in the vast Black Hills National Forest on a cold wintery day next to a wild, rushing stream.
A lone, brave Carolina Dog sits lost in the vast Black Hills National Forest on a cold wintery day next to a wild, rushing stream.
Along Little Spearfish Creek just upstream of the picnic ground.

Although Xochitl makes a good living as a computer engineer in Chicago, she is always ready to explore new opportunities.  To her, the time spent in a different setting at Roughlock Falls along Little Spearfish Creek brought new possibilities to mind.  She practiced auditioning for Vanna White’s job on Wheel of Fortune.

Xochitl auditions for Vanna White's job on the TV game show Wheel of Fortune. Here she demonstrates what contestants who simultaneously buy the consonants S, T, R, M and vowels E & A will get. When she gets to where she can do this without Steve propping her up, Vanna White had better look out!
Xochitl auditions for Vanna White’s job on the TV game show Wheel of Fortune. Here she demonstrates what contestants who simultaneously buy the consonants S, T, R, M and vowels E & A will get. She does seem to be getting the hang of it.  When she gets to where she can do this without Steve propping her up, Vanna White had better look out!

Down in the canyon, the sun disappears from view pretty early this time of year.  Soon it was time for Lupe, Xochitl, Steve & SPHP to take the snowy trail back to the G6.

USFS Road No. 222 near Roughlock Falls.

Much later, back at home, SPHP offered Xochitl’s uneaten Cheyenne Crossing carrot cake to Lupe.  Turns out Carolina Dogs love carrot cake AND caramel!  A few nanoseconds later, Lupe was licking the Dingo box clean of any remaining morsels.

“Lupeo, O’ Lupeo, wherefore art my carrot cake, O’ Lupeo?”

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