Storm Hill – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 268 – Flume Trail No. 50: Coon Hollow to Boulder Hill & Loop B (3-7-21)

7:14 AM, 42ºF, Coon Hollow trailhead off Silver Mountain Road –

Yes, indeedy, Looper! We’ll finish it up today!

With a little peakbagging on the side, I suppose?

You know it! After all, you’ve got your reputation to think of.

At the **Coon Hollow trailhead** near Rockerville.

This plan met with instant approval. And why not? Carolina Dogs aren’t picky about outdoor adventures, as long as there are some. Flume Trail No. 50 would be easy, and climbing a mountain or two along the way would provide a Dingo’s-eye view of the scenery.

Flume Trail No. 50 set out heading NW along the side of a pine-forested slope, but soon curved NE down into Rockerville Gulch. A little stream at the bottom was covered with ice so thick it even supported SPHP. Crossing the stream, the trail went N to a steep, rocky slope.

Entering **Rockerville Gulch**. Photo looks NNE.

Already, a rare steep spot along Flume Trail No. 50! Photo looks NNW.

Not much of a climb at all! Steep, but short. The trail didn’t even go to the top of the ridge. Instead, halfway up, it turned E and leveled out.

Lupe could have save a bunch of distance by simply continuing N up and over the ridge, which wouldn’t have been hard at all. Flume Trail No. 50 was going to wind around the entire E end of the ridge before turning W, but the American Dingo was here to enjoy the trail, so she stuck with it. Didn’t take too long to get about as far E as the trail was going to go.

At the E end where the trail starts winding N. Photo looks NW.

The E end of the ridge was broad and gently sloping. The trail curved N, and wound along it in that general direction. Before long, Lupe reached a cut where the trail made a sharp turn W. The cut was a sure sign she had reached part of the original 1880 Spring Creek to Rockerville flume bed that the trail was named after.

After going through the cut, Flume Trail No. 50 wound a little farther N, before finally making a decisive turn W. For the first time, Lupe had a distant view only partially blocked by the pines. Mostly just forested hills no higher than where she was now, but it was something.

Storm Hill’s E ridge, a more impressive sight, came into view only a few minutes later.

**Storm Hill’s E ridge**. Photo looks WNW.

Heading W, Flume Trail No. 50 led to a dirt road, which apparently also served as a mountain bike trail. On the far side of the road, some of the rock work of the old flume bed was on display. After crossing the road, Lupe came to a particularly rocky stretch that was pretty much intact.

On the edge of the flume bed after crossing the dirt road.

An impressive rocky stretch of the 1880 flume bed. Photo looks NW.

Before long, the Flume Trail turned SW traversing fairly steep SE slopes of the Coon Hollow valley. Still following the 1880 flume route, the trail itself remained almost perfectly level the entire time. Soon another road could be seen down in the valley. Just before the trail met up with it, the pine forest gave way to a grove of aspens.

Heading into **Coon Hollow**. Photo looks SW.

*Doesn’t get much easier than this, does it?* Photo looks SSW.

*We’ve reached the aspens in **Coon Hollow**!* Photo looks SW.

USFS Road No. 676 was a much better road than the first one Flume Trail No. 50 had crossed. 40 feet downhill, a brown wand and a “50” diamond on an aspen tree showed where the trail continued on the other side.

After crossing USFS Road No. 676 (R), the trail goes off to the L here. Photo looks N.

Now on the NW side of Coon Hollow, Flume Trail No. 50 headed NE. The trail remained flat, but the hillside it was traversing was much rockier and even steeper than on the other side of the valley, almost a cliff. In some places, parts of the old flume bed had collapsed.

On the **NW side of Coon Hollow**. Photo looks N.

The flume bed suddenly ended at a knob of rock. The trail climbed 20 feet up to Air Force Vista. An old trail system map, yellow with age, but still legible, was posted here.

Closer look at the relevant part of the map.

Air Force Vista wasn’t much of a viewpoint. No doubt the trees had grown up over the years. However, a narrow opening between the pines still provided a distant view to the NE.

*So, this is it! The big view from **Air Force Vista**!* Photo looks NE.

From Air Force Vista, the trail bent sharply SW along the side of a small, rocky ridge, and soon turned NW going over it. Dropping back down to the old flume bed, which reappeared on the other side, the trail headed W into a side canyon off Coon Hollow. An enormous, nearly vertical rock formation on the N side of this canyon was hard to miss.

Back to the flume bed in the canyon W of Air Force Vista. Photo looks WNW.

Impressive rock formation on the N side of the canyon.

Before long, the flume bed once again came to an abrupt end at a point overlooking a 15 foot dip into a little drainage. The flume bed actually continued over on the N side of the canyon, but wasn’t in sight from here, and wasn’t where Flume Trail No. 50 was headed anyway.

In the drainage where the Flume Trail left the flume bed.

After crossing the dip, the Flume Trail continued W up the canyon. Lupe passed through a woods still sporting autumn’s dead brown leaves, and came to a tiny stream where she got a cold drink.

Crossing the stream, Lupe followed the trail higher. The canyon became a gentler valley, gradually widening out as the American Dingo gained elevation. Loop came to a sign of the style found at Air Force Vista that spoke of an old log bridge, but virtually nothing was left of it.

Approaching the “Log Bridge” sign (L of Center) in the upper valley. Photo looks SW.

In the broad upper end of the valley, the Flume Trail reached a dirt road which led almost immediately to an intersection. The main trail headed NW from here, still climbing as a single track. The other choice was to follow the dirt road SW up to a gently sloping saddle.

At the intersection, looking up the dirt road. Photo looks WSW.

I presume we’re climbing Boulder Hill this time, aren’t we, SPHP?

Spot on, Looper! Take the road.

Heading for Boulder Hill! Photo looks SW.

This intersection was only 0.25 mile E of Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.), but the Flume Trail spur to the summit wrapped 0.9 mile clear around the S side of the mountain to approach it from the SW. The first part of the spur followed the dirt road over the saddle that was already in sight. 150 yards down the other side, Lupe reached a wand and a 50 diamond marking the point where the spur left the road as a single track.

The spur trail was easy going until Lupe got clear around to the SW side of the mountain. It then turned NE directly up a grassy slope passing through open forest. Moderately steep, but no worse than that.

Shortly before reaching another dirt road, Loop discovered an enormous squirrel tree. An absolute giant for a ponderosa pine! The squirrel was so high that the Carolina Dog quickly gave up barking at it as an exercise in futility.

Upon reaching the road, Lupe followed it around a bend. It promptly ended at the base of Boulder Hill’s rocky summit. The spur trail angled off toward the S end of the summit ridge, turning N almost as soon as Loop started climbing.

At the base of Boulder Hill’s rocky summit. Photo looks NNE.

The ascent was fun! A nice route wound among big rocks with views at every turn.

The Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) summit region consists of 2 separate rock platforms almost equally high separated by a minor dip 30 or 40 feet wide. Lupe checked out the sunny S platform first, where the views were unobstructed except to the N.

Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.) and more distant Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) were the big attractions, but Storm Hill’s E ridge with the prairies of western South Dakota miles beyond it was interesting, too.

**Silver Mountain** (L) and **Black Elk Peak** (R). Photo looks SW.

**Silver Mountain**. Photo looks SSW with help from the telephoto lens.

**Black Elk Peak**. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

**Storm Hill’s E Ridge** (L of Center). Photo looks ENE.

Break time! Before checking out the N platform, SPHP decided an apple had to go bye-bye. Lupe wasn’t interested in that, but made certain she got her fair share when SPHP brought out a chocolate coconut bar.

Once the chocolate coconut bar was gone, Loopster was ready to move on, too. She posed briefly atop the otherwise unremarkable rock that SPHP considered Boulder Hill’s true summit and another one at the N end of the S platform, then ventured over to the N platform.

At Boulder Hill’s scintillating **true summit**. Photo looks NNW.

On the N rock of the S platform. Photo looks NW.

The N platform had more trees, but fewer distant views. With lots more of the Flume Trail to explore, Lupe didn’t stay long. She did have a look around, though, before saying sayonara to Boulder Hill.

On **Boulder Hill’s N platform**. Photo looks NW.

The survey benchmark is visible toward the R. Photo looks SE.

A glimpse of the S platform (Center) from the N one. Photo looks SE.

Retracing her entire route along the Boulder Hill spur, Lupe returned to the intersection with the main Flume Trail. A relatively short uphill trek got Loop to the crest of a pass to the NW. Downhill all the way from then on for nearly 0.5 mile to the Boulder Hill trailhead.

*Gotta admit that’s a mighty nice view of **Black Elk Peak**!* Descending **Boulder Hill**. Photo looks SW.

Heading down to the Boulder Hill trailhead. Photo looks NNW.

Arriving at the **Boulder Hill trailhead**.

Lupe had been here only 4 days ago. On Expedition No. 267, she’d started her exploration of the W half of Flume Trail No. 50 from this trailhead. First, though, she’d climbed Peak 5048 just 0.2 mile NW.

So, do I get another chocolate coconut bar, if I climb Peak 5048 again, SPHP?

I’ll split one with you, Looper! That enticing enough?

It was. Lupe was soon back up at Peak 5048’s best viewpoint, just a bit below the summit region’s SE high point. After a good look at Boulder Hill, Silver Mountain, and Black Elk Peak, she continued on to the true summit to collect her share of the promised chocolate coconut bar.

**Boulder Hill** (far L), **Silver Mountain** (L of Center) and **Black Elk Peak** (far R) from **Peak 5048**. Photo looks SSW.

*Alright, I’m here! Now about that chocolate coconut bar!* **True summit of Peak 5048**. Photo looks N.

*Oh, yes! It was delicious!* **Peak 5048 summit region**. Photo looks SE.

After a brief stay on Peak 5048, Lupe went back down. Picking up Loop B of Flume Trail No. 50 a short distance NE of the Boulder Hill trailhead, she began following it N.

On Flume Trail No. 50 again, this time on Loop B. Photo looks NNE.

Loop B (aka the Spring Creek Loop), along with Section 2 of the Flume Trail, together comprise a 4.4 mile long loop circumnavigating Peak 5048 and a hilly region to the N. Going counter-clockwise, the first part of this loop was all super easy, mostly a stroll through ponderosa pine forests. (Flume Trail map)

A sunny clearing **NE of Peak 5048**. Photo looks NNE.

Passing a rock formation. Photo looks NNW.

Typical stretch among the tall pines. Photo looks W.

For a while, the scenery didn’t change much. 20 minutes went by before the first partial semi-distant view appeared, a cliff along a hill to the E.

On a relatively sunny stretch. Photo looks NE.

At last, a bit of a view! Photo looks NE.

The trail turned NW, and Storm Hill (5,192 ft.) briefly came into sight back to the SE. Tree-broken views of other hills were soon seen ahead. At the N end of Loop B, Lupe came to a lingering patch of snow and ice.

**Storm Hill** (Center). Photo looks SE.

More hills appear ahead. Photo looks NW.

About the only icy spot Lupe encountered all day. Photo looks W.

Most of Loop B followed the old Spring Creek to Rockerville flume route. Nearly perfectly flat, the trail wound along the mountainsides for miles. Lupe was already clear around to the NW side of the loop when a break in the trail’s continuity appeared at a rocky spot.

*Looks like the flume bed might have partially collapsed here!* Photo looks S.

Beyond the rocky section, Loop B made a foray SE, skirting the edges of a shallow valley W of Peak 4972.

*Oh, isn’t this nice!* In the **valley W of Peak 4972**. Photo looks WSW.

Leaving the lovely valley behind, the trail curved S. Baker Park could be glimpsed to the W between the trees. Lupe soon reached a fence where Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) was in sight again.

**N end of Baker Park**. Photo looks WNW.

**Boulder Hill** reappears. Photo looks SSE.

**S end of Baker Park**. **Peak 5040** (R). Photo looks W.

Seeing Boulder Hill again meant Lupe was close to completing Loop B. 10 more minutes, and the trail suddenly went down an embankment.

An abrupt end to the level part of Loop B. Photo looks N.

USFS Road No. 358 was at the bottom of the slope. Loop B continued across the road, descending slightly as it headed into a small valley. A short level stretch led to a little creek issuing from an algae-filled pond behind an earthen dam. The tiny pond was only slightly above Loop B’s low point. Despite the slimy algae, it was sort of a scenic spot.

Crossing USFS Road No. 358. Photo looks SSE.

Loopster arrives at the tiny pond. Photo looks S.

*Actually quite pretty here, isn’t it?* Photo looks SW.

After crossing the dam, Loop B made a short climb up a forested hill. Lupe reached a junction. This was the end of Loop B. The Carolina Dog could now take either Section 1 of the Flume Trail W to Sheridan Lake, or Section 2 back to the Boulder Hill trailhead.

Intersection of Loop B, and Section 1 (R) or Section 2 (L). Photo looks SW.

To complete her circumnavigation of Peak 5048, Loop took Section 2. She’d been through this area 4 days ago. The trail went gently uphill nearly all the way. Both Boulder Hill and Peak 5048 were in sight.

**Boulder Hill** (Center) from Section 2 of the Flume Trail. Photo looks SE.

A clearer view. **Boulder Hill** (L). Photo looks SE.

Upon reaching the Boulder Hill trailhead again, Looper had completed her explorations of Flume Trail No. 50 for the day, but still had to go all the way back to Coon Hollow.

The Carolina Dog’s return route retraced all she’d done earlier, except that this time she didn’t take the side trip to Boulder Hill. Instead, when she reached the pass between Boulder Hill and Storm Hill, she left the trail heading NE into the forest.

After climbing the S end of Storm Hill’s long N/S ridge, Lupe headed N for the summit.

Chocolate coconut bar time again! Fortunately, SPHP had one left. The views from Storm Hill (5,192 ft.) were somewhat limited due to all the trees, but a nice level platform provided a good view to the NW. SPHP sat facing this view with Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap. Expectations were high! SPHP didn’t disappoint.

The last chocolate coconut bar appeared, only to vanish. Taste of the Wild for Lupe, and an apple for SPHP. Plenty of water for all, too.

For a while, Lupe and SPHP gazed down on Peak 5048 and Baker Park. Toward the horizon, plenty of other recognizable peaks out there, too.

**Baker Park** (far L), **Peak 5048** (L) above Lupe’s rump, **Peak 5171** (Center) above her shoulder. Photo looks NW.

The increasing slant of the sunlight eventually broke the mutual trance. A quick tour of the other views available, and the American Dingo was on her way back to the pass.

Looking NE toward Rapid City with help from the telephoto lens.

**Storm Hill’s E ridge** (R). Photo looks E.

**Storm Hill’s summit region**. Lupe at the **true summit**. Photo looks NNW.

Traveling **Storm Hill’s S ridge**. Photo looks S.

Rejoining Flume Trail No. 50 at the pass leading to Boulder Hill, it was down to Air Force Vista and back to Coon Hollow.

A perfect evening! End of a perfect day.

Well, I guess this is about it for Flume Trail No. 50, Loop! 2 consecutive Black Hills expeditions, and you’ve got it done.

Fun times, SPHP! Nice to do something easy, for once. Got any more trails like this for us in the future?

The Flume Trail is sort of special, Loop. Plenty of nice long flat stretches because so much of it follows the old flume route. The Mickelson Trail is flat, too, since it follows an old railroad grade, but perhaps we should try to finish up the parts of Deerfield Trail No. 40 and Centennial Trail No. 89 that you don’t have posts on yet?

Sounds good to me, SPHP! You know I’m up for just about anything, as long as you don’t forget the chocolate coconut bars! (End 5:10 PM, 52ºF)

**Flume Trail No. 50**, Black Hills of South Dakota, 3-7-21

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills Expedition No. 267 – Flume Trail No. 50: Boulder Hill to Sheridan Lake (3-3-21)

Flume Trail No. 50 – Map & Brochure

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. 220 – Storm Hill & Northeast Cicero Peak (12-18-17)

Start: 9:20 AM, 36°F at the Boulder Hill trailhead of Flume Trail No. 50 on USFS Road No. 358 (Boulder Hill Road)

Going to Boulder Hill with Mark and Hillary on Expedition No. 219 had reminded SPHP that while Lupe had been to Boulder Hill half a dozen times, she had never been to nearby Storm Hill. Wasn’t it about time she went?

Of course, Lupe was in favor of any idea that would get her out of the house for another Black Hills adventure! Soon she was setting out for Storm Hill (5,192 ft.) from the same Boulder Hill trailhead of Flume Trail No. 50 where she had so recently been with Mark and Hillary.

Lupe sets out for Storm Hill on Flume Trail No. 50. A spur of the trail goes up to Boulder Hill, but that wasn’t Lupe’s destination today. Photo looks SE.

For the first 0.33 mile, Lupe followed Flume Trail No. 50. The trail went SE up to a saddle between Boulder Hill and Storm Hill. With only an inch of snow on the ground, Lupe could have run around exploring easily enough. Instead, she nervously stuck close to SPHP. Distant gunfire could be heard coming from somewhere off to the W. Someone was doing target practice.

On the way up to the saddle between Boulder Hill and Storm Hill. Photo looks SE.

At the saddle, Lupe was between Boulder Hill to the SW, and Storm Hill to the NE. A spur of Flume Trail No. 50 goes all the way up to the top of Boulder Hill, but there isn’t any trail going up Storm Hill. Lupe would have to bushwhack through the forest.

Carolina Dogs love bushwhacking! Despite the distant gunfire, Lupe grew bolder after leaving the Flume Trail. She followed the saddle NE over to Storm Hill. She was going away from the gunfire, which helped her confidence.

On the saddle leading to Storm Hill. Photo looks NE.

Upon reaching the SW slope of Storm Hill, Lupe traveled right on up a rocky spine of the mountain. The climb would have been easier if she had simply avoided the rocks. However, she did get glimpses of Boulder Hill from the rocks she wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Partway up the rocky SW spine of Storm Hill. Photo looks E.

Although climbing the rocky SW spine of Storm Hill was harder and slower than avoiding the rocks would have been, Lupe did get some views of nearby Boulder Hill (L) she wouldn’t have otherwise had. Photo looks WSW.

The top of **Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.)** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

Boulder Hill (Center) is only 0.5 mile SW of Storm Hill. Lupe had been there half a dozen times, but she’d never been to Storm Hill before. Photo looks SW.

The SW spine of the mountain topped out near the S end of a broader ridge. This broader ridge was also quite rocky, but wasn’t as steep. Lupe gained elevation more slowly as she followed it N. To the E, Loop could see little but forest. However, she did come across places where she had views off to the SW or W.

The SW spine of the mountain led to this broader ridge, which was still quite rocky. Lupe gained elevation more slowly than before as she followed this ridge N. Photo looks N.

Another look at Boulder Hill (R) from the broader ridge. The top of **Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.)** (L) can be seen sticking up between the trees. Photo looks SW.

Getting closer to the summit! Loop along the W edge of the broad ridge. Photo looks N.

The summit of Storm Hill was close to the N end of the broad ridge. A fairly large summit area, perhaps 30 or 40 feet in circumference, was the highest part of the mountain. Pine trees obscured the views in some directions. However, Lupe enjoyed a panoramic view to the N and NE from the top of small cliffs.

At the summit of Storm Hill. Photo looks NNE.

From the top of small cliffs along the edge of the summit area, Lupe had a panoramic view to the N and NE. Photo looks NE.

By moving around the summit area, Lupe found at least partial views in other directions.

**Custer Peak (6,804 ft)** (R of Center) with a lot of help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NW.

Storm Hill has a double summit. Two widely separated areas contained within 5,160 foot contours are on the topo map. Lupe was at the W high point where a site elevation of 5,192 feet was shown. SPHP presumed this was the true summit of Storm Hill. It was hard to get much of a look at the E high point, but there was a spot from which it could be seen.

The E high point was a long, skinny ridge. It was steeper and more rugged-looking territory. The highest parts of the E ridge appeared to be about as high as where Lupe was, but SPHP was pretty certain they weren’t any higher. Satisfied that Lupe had actually reached the true summit of Storm Hill, SPHP didn’t make her spend the extra hour it might have taken to visit the E ridge, too.

This rough skinny ridge E of Storm Hill’s true summit looked almost as high. Much of it was also within a 5,160 foot contour on the topo map. Photo looks E.

Lupe returned to the true summit of Storm Hill, before taking a little break. Meanwhile, SPHP took a few more photos of the views.

After an initial look around, Lupe returns to the true summit of Storm Hill. Photo looks N.

Looking NE with help from the telephoto lens. The opening in the far ridgeline seen on the R is the area known as “The Gap” in Rapid City.

Baker Park (Center & L) is the grassy open area down below. Photo looks NW.

Boulder Hill (L), **Mount Warner (5,889 ft.)** (R), and **Saint Elmo Peak (6,458 ft.)** (Center in the distance) from Storm Hill. Photo looks SW.

Lupe spent 20 minutes enjoying the summit of Storm Hill before moving on. The Carolina Dog started back retracing her route S along the broad ridge. She soon left the ridge, however, veering SW to explore easier terrain in the forest below. She reached Flume Trail No. 50 again well N of the saddle where she’d originally left it.

By 11:06 AM (42°F), Loop was back at the G6. Storm Hill had been fun, but had taken her less than 2 hours. Plenty of time left in the day for more adventures! SPHP drove S. Lupe had fun barking at cows, horses, and eventually even some buffalo.At 1:52 PM (41°F), SPHP parked the G6 at the mouth of a grassy valley N of USFS Road No. 336 (Flynn Creek Road) less than a mile S of Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.). Lupe had been to Northeast Cicero Peak twice before, but her most recent ascent was now more than 2.75 years ago. For fun, she would try a new route up.

Lupe started out climbing NW up a thickly forested ridge on the W side of the grassy valley. She eventually emerged from the trees. An open hilltop was only a short distance away. Loop went to the top for a look around. She was a little S of High Point 5821. Cicero Peak (6,166 ft.) was in view not quite a mile to the SW.

Lupe reaches the hilltop S of HP 5821. Cicero Peak (Center) is in view. Photo looks SW.

On her journey up NE Cicero Peak, Lupe would head for the high grassy area seen on the L before turning toward the summit on the R. Photo looks NNE.

Continuing onward, Lupe skirted High Point 5821 to the NE. The partially forested slope was so steep, she might just as easily have gone to the top of High Point 5821, but she didn’t. Upon reaching the saddle N of High Point 5821, the American Dingo turned N. She climbed a mostly open slope up to a high grassy area with a commanding view.

Lupe reaches a high grassy area SW of NE Cicero Peak’s summit. From here she had a commanding view of Cicero Peak (Center). Photo looks SW.

From the high grassy area, Lupe headed NE gaining elevation at a slower pace. Most of this part of her climb was in a forest containing scattered lumpy rock outcroppings. In the shade of the pines, snow was several inches deep.

The final approach to the summit from the WSW was a gentle climb up a grassy slope. A N/S running rock ledge only 2 or 3 feet high was at the top of the mountain. A lone boulder sat a short distance beyond the ledge. That boulder, which appeared to be slightly higher than the ledge, was the true summit of Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.).

Lupe reaches a rock ledge only a couple of feet high at the top of NE Cicero Peak. The true summit appeared to be the lone boulder seen on the L. Photo looks E.

Lupe on NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks E towards the plains of western South Dakota with help from the telephoto lens.

Up on the lone boulder, the true summit of NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks N.

The summit area was large and grassy. A few pines along the N edge blocked views to the NW, while a dense forest hid views to the S and SE. In other directions, Lupe could see big swaths of the Black Hills. The most interesting views were of higher country to the N.

**Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** is the highest peak on the L. Closer, but also on the L, is heavily forested **Custer Mountain (6,089 ft.)**. **Peak 6735** is the middle of the 3 high points seen just R of Center. Photo looks NNE.

Same scene, but with more help from the telephoto lens. Custer Mountain is in the foreground. Black Elk Peak on the L in the distance. Peak 6735 is the middle high point on the R. Photo looks NNE.

Looking NE now. **Mount Coolidge (6,023 ft.)** is in the distance on the R.

Mt. Coolidge (L) with help from the telephoto lens. Lupe had recently visited Mt. Coolidge for the first time in over 5.5 years on Expedition No. 218.

A cool W breeze blew. A low, weary sun, partially obscured by a bank of clouds, dangled listlessly above the horizon. Northeast Cicero Peak felt forlorn, sad. Mid-afternoon, but it felt late. Late in the day. Late in the year. Winter solstice was only 3 days away. Christmas soon after that. A week later, 2017 would be over. Another year gone forever. A depressing thought.

Neither Lupe nor SPHP knew it yet, but Northeast Cicero Peak was the last mountain Lupe would climb in 2017.

At the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak, the last mountain Lupe would climb in 2017. Photo looks E.

Back on the small ledge. Cicero Peak is visible on the L. Photo looks WSW.

Cicero Peak (Center) from the higher summit of NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks SW.

Northeast Cicero Peak was the highest mountain this far S in the Black Hills. The views were impressive. Yet the somber mood of the mountain made SPHP restless after only 10 minutes on top. Maybe action would add some cheer? Lupe set off into the forest, intent on exploring the mountain’s S ridge on the way down.

The S ridge wasn’t a very good route. It was full of obstacles. Dense stands of young pines, slick snowy spots, rough rock outcroppings, deadfall timber, all the usual rigamarole except fences to deal with. Not much in the way of views as compensation, either. For what seemed like a long way, the Carolina Dog didn’t lose much elevation.

The summit of Cicero Peak with help from the telephoto lens on the way down NE Cicero Peak’s S ridge. Photo looks SW.

Lupe finally came to a rare open spot in the forest where the going was easier. Beyond it, the descent began in earnest.

After a slow trek along NE Cicero Peak’s upper S ridge, Lupe reached this rare open spot in the forest. Her descent became much steeper beyond this point. Photo looks S.

Once the descent really got going, it was one steep slope after another. Lupe avoided rocky areas as much as possible, which became progressively easier the lower she went. She eventually turned SW, ultimately reaching the floor of the valley W of the S ridge. Here, the American Dingo found a faint road leading back to the G6 (4:08 PM, 36°F).

The last of 33 Black Hills, SD Expeditions in 2017 was over.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

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. 202 – Ford Mountain, Storm Hill & Ingersoll Peak (4-29-17)

Start – Old Hill City Road near the 1880 Train crossing NNE of Ford Mountain (10:13 AM, 40°F).

The week after Joe & cousin Dusty headed back home to Colorado was overcast and cold. On the 25th, Lupe stared bored out the window all day as light snow fell. Winter’s last blast didn’t amount to much, but snowflakes were still sailing on the breeze the next morning. Although only an inch or two had fallen, once again Lupe’s world was all white.

By afternoon, the snow ended. By evening, it had warmed up enough to melt almost everything that had fallen. The world reverted to green, but gray clouds remained. The next few days weren’t much warmer. Now and then a cold rain or mist fell.

When Lupe finally got to venture up into the Black Hills again, it wasn’t surprising Expedition No. 202 got off to a snowy start. The snow hadn’t melted yet up here. Lupe, of course, was delighted! She frolicked and cooled off on the clean new snow with enormous enthusiasm. It was a great start to her journey up Ford Mountain (5,641 ft.).

Lupe was delighted to find a couple inches of snow to frolic on as she set out for Ford Mountain.

The snow was only a couple of inches deep, but it was everywhere on the N slope. Fortunately, the slope wasn’t too steep. SPHP was able to follow Lupe up despite the slick snow. Before long, Lupe had gained enough elevation to see another mountain she hoped to climb today. Storm Hill was off to the NE.

Storm Hill, another mountain Lupe hoped to visit today, came into view as she climbed Ford Mountain. Photo looks NE.

At first, going up Ford Mountain was easy. Less than 1/3 of the way up, though, Lupe reached a zone covered with a lot of deadfall timber. Progress up the mountain slowed considerably.

Lupe arrives at the zone of heavy deadfall timber. The deadfall greatly slowed SPHP’s progress up the mountain. Photo looks SSE.

The deadfall didn’t diminish until Lupe neared the top of Ford Mountain’s NE shoulder. The NE shoulder featured scattered rock outcroppings. Lupe got up on the highest one, but the forest was so thick she didn’t have any distant views. She could barely make out Ford Mountain’s summit off to the SW.

Lupe on the highest rock outcropping on Ford Mountain’s NE shoulder. The mountain’s summit is barely discernable between the trees beyond her. Photo looks SW.

Lupe lost only a little elevation traversing the snowy saddle leading to the final climb. Deadfall was a problem here, too, though not quite as bad as earlier on. This climb was noticeably steeper, making footing more difficult for SPHP with the snow around.

The final 50 feet up was much rockier than the rest of the mountain had been. Lupe still had an easy time of it, while SPHP scrambled slowly to the top.

The last 50 feet to the top were steeper and much rockier than the rest of Lupe’s route up had been. Photo looks SSW.

When Lupe reached the top of Ford Mountain (5,641 ft.), she found a roughly circular summit area 100 feet in diameter. The area was nearly flat, but slightly higher toward the center. All along the edge, from the NE around to the E and S, an uneven rock ledge perched above cliffs offered sweeping unobstructed views.

Lupe close to where she first reached the summit area. **Five Points (6,221 ft.)** (R) is the highest mountain seen beyond her. **Union Hill (6,120 ft.)** is the snowiest high point on the far L. Photo looks N.

**Storm Hill (5,656 ft.)** is on the L. Farther away R of Center is **Mount Warner (5,889 ft.)**. **Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.)** is on the far R. Photo looks ENE.

**Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)**, the highest mountain in South Dakota, is straight up from Lupe on the horizon. Photo looks S.

**Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.)** is the most distant peak L of Center. **Saint Elmo Peak (6,458 ft.)** is the smaller, snowy mountain in the distance beyond Lupe. Photo looks SSW.

After checking out the splendid views, Lupe visited Ford Mountain’s true summit. The center of the summit area was so flat, she really didn’t find any one point that looked noticeably higher than the rest. No cairn or survey benchmark was to be seen either, but Lupe did find something way cooler than that – a stone fortress!

Another look at Black Elk Peak. This photo shows more of Ford Mountain’s summit. Photo looks S.

No cairn or survey benchmark could be found on Ford Mountain, but Lupe did find this cool stone fortress! Photo looks WNW.

On her many adventures in the Black Hills, Lupe sometimes comes across small structures which could serve as Dingo Outposts, but seldom anything as elaborate as the Dingo Fortress on Ford Mountain. Someone had spent a lot of time moving a lot of heavy rocks building it.

An opening to the WNW served as a doorway. Lupe went inside to inspect her latest Black Hills Dingo Bastion.

Yes, a Carolina Dog would be safe in this solid stone fort. It was almost a Dingo Castle! Photo looks E.

The stone fort met with Lupe’s approval. Best, most elaborate summit cairn ever! After sniffing around the interior a bit, Lupe came out to see what else there was to see up here.Part of Hill City was in view off to the NW.

The NE end of Hill City is in view in the valley below. The highest peak on the R is **Union Hill (6,120 ft.)**. Photo looks NW.

The view of Bishop Mountain (5,706 ft.) to the SW was partially blocked by the forest, and wasn’t that impressive. So that was about it. Lupe made a final tour of the sights from the cliff edge.

A nice look S all the way from Black Elk Peak (L) over to Sylvan Hill (far R).

Storm Hill, Lupe’s next peakbagging objective. She would travel up the W slope seen on the L. An intense fire on the mountain destroyed most of the forest some years ago. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.

Looking N at Five Points (Center) using the telephoto lens. The peak on the L is known to Lupe as False North Point.

Lupe retraced her original route up on the way down Ford Mountain. She was surprised when she arrived at G6 and SPHP walked right on by without even stopping. She was even more surprised when SPHP started following train tracks on the other side of Old Hill City Road. It was the first time she’d ever followed train tracks.

SPHP knew they would lead her to the base of Storm Hill.

Lupe was surprised to be following train tracks on her way to Storm Hill.

Lupe wouldn’t see a train today, but the tracks aren’t abandoned. They only see use during the summer, when the 1880 Train runs from Hill City past Oblivion to Keystone and back. The round trip is a popular sightseeing excursion for tourists. A few more weeks, and the 1880 Train would be running again.

Fortunately, there was something else Lupe didn’t see as she was busy sniffing along the tracks in the first gap the railroad passed through. The bunny saw Lupe, though. It remained absolutely still on a bank only a few feet above the tracks.Lupe followed the 1880 Train tracks for 0.5 mile to the base of Storm Hill.

Lupe left the railroad tracks here where they turned SE. The back side of Mt. Rushmore is seen in the distance. Photo looks SE.

The first part of Lupe’s ascent went through a gently sloping pine forest. The day had warmed up enough so the snow on the ground was melting. Lupe ate snow and had a fun romp in the open forest as she headed NE toward a saddle.

Upon reaching the saddle, Loop turned E. The mountain was getting progressively steeper and rockier. Lupe reached the part of the forest that had burned years ago. With less shade, the snow was vanishing fast here.

The real climb began when Lupe reached the charred forest. Photo looks ENE.

So many dead trees were still standing that the amount of deadfall timber laying on the ground wasn’t too bad yet. Lupe could still easily run around exploring.

Lupe exploring the charred W slope of Storm Hill.

Of course, it got rockier and steeper the higher up Lupe went. However, her route was never too difficult, even for SPHP. As Lupe neared the top of Storm Hill, she could see a tower and a solar panel up there.

As Lupe neared the top of Storm Hill, she could see a tower and solar panel at the summit.

It turned out that by coming up from the W, Lupe arrived at the true summit right away without having to traverse any of the summit ridge. Most of the summit ridge was off to the E and notably lower. The area around the true summit was very rocky and much, much smaller than on Ford Mountain.

Ropes and guy wires supported the small tower. Electrical wires were around, too. At first, it wasn’t clear if they were live or not.

Lupe reaches the top of Storm Hill. It wasn’t initially clear if the tower, solar panel, and all the wires running around still served a purpose, or not. Photo looks SW.

The true summit of Storm Hill was quite a small area dominated by the tower and associated paraphernalia perched on top. Photo looks SW.

Lupe and SPHP approached the tower cautiously paying special attention to electrical cords and wires. Lupe made it up onto the highest rocks with no problem. Although someone had gone to considerable effort to set all this stuff up, nothing appeared to be in working condition. It was all dead.

The view of **Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** still sporting a dusting of snow at the end of April was gorgeous. **Summit Peak (5,655 ft.)** is the lower forested ridge to the L of Lupe’s ears. Lupe had been there on **Expedition No. 194**. Although the topo maps show the true summit of Summit Peak at the SW (R) end of the ridge, Lupe remains quite certain it is at the NE (L) end. Photo looks S.

The solar panel appeared to have been meant to charge a bank of 7 batteries. What purpose the tower used to serve wasn’t clear. All the wires and equipment around made moving about the summit a bit tricky.

The solar panel was probably meant to charge this bank of 7 batteries.

Lupe enjoys a bit of shade from the solar panel. **Ford Mountain (5,641 ft.)** is the closest rock-capped hill on the L. **Bishop Mountain (5,706 ft.)** is the ridge immediately beyond it. Photo looks SW.

Loopster on the very highest rock on Storm Hill. The EverStart battery appeared more likely to be a NeverStart battery at this point in time.

Part of the notably lower portion of Storm Hill’s summit ridge is seen on the L. On the horizon, **Mount Warner (5,889 ft.)** is the highest point straight up from Lupe’s head. **Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.)** is the high point straight up from her tail. Photo looks E.

After taking a look around from the true summit, Lupe and SPHP retreated a little down off the high point just to get away from the wires and equipment. It was time for a break. At least SPHP thought so, but Lupe wasn’t hungry. She was happy enough to curl up for a rest, though, while SPHP consumed the usual apple.

Since Lupe wasn’t really into it, break time didn’t last any longer than the apple did. When it was over, Lupe briefly returned to the true summit. SPHP took a few more photos before Lupe started back down the mountain.

Looking N. Hwy 385/16 E of Hill City is seen below. Part of Mitchell Lake is, too. The highest peak on the L is Five Points.

Once again, Lupe returned to the G6 (1:52 PM) by the same route she had taken to the mountain. This time SPHP let her in. She still had plenty of time to climb another peak, but a ride was in order to get closer to her next objective. Lupe enjoyed barking at several cows and horses along the way.

SPHP parked the G6 again 3 or 4 miles farther E where Centennial Trail No. 89 crosses Old Hill City Road (2:07 PM, 46°F). Ingersoll Peak (5,356 ft.) was Lupe’s next destination. It was somewhere not too far off to the NE, but SPHP wasn’t completely certain exactly how far away it was. A mile or two, maybe? The plan was to follow Centennial Trail No. 89 going N a little way before leaving it to turn E to search for the peak.

Lupe set out crossing the 1880 Train tracks and Battle Creek immediately N of Old Hill City Road. She continued N on Centennial Trail No. 89. The trail led gradually up a side valley where a mix of pines and aspens lined both sides of the trail.

After crossing the 1880 Train tracks and Battle Creek, Lupe followed Centennial Trail No. 89 going N up a gentle side valley. A mix of pines and aspens lined both sides of the trail. It was now close to mid-afternoon. Only a little melting snow remained. Photo looked NNE.

Lupe hadn’t gone too far when a logging road left Centennial Trail No. 89 heading up the ridge to the E. Why not follow it to see if Ingersoll Peak could be seen from up there? Lupe took the logging road.

The logging road faded away before even reaching the top of the ridge. Lupe kept going, though, and managed to get there. The forest had been thinned, but not enough to see much off to the E. However, it appeared the ridge gained more elevation to the NE, which seemed to be the right direction to go.

Lupe struck off following the ridgeline. It had minor ups and downs, but on the whole she was gaining elevation. After reaching a couple of high spots where there still wasn’t much to see, she finally came to a rock outcropping on the E side of the ridge where there was a view. Ingersoll Peak was in sight, but farther away than SPHP expected.

From this rock outcropping, Lupe got her first look at Ingersoll Peak. It was farther away than SPHP expected. Photo looks E.

It took a while to get there. Lupe tried to go around the N end of an intervening valley to avoid losing elevation, but it didn’t work. The valley was too long. She wound up turning E and going down into two sizable valleys separated by a lower ridge before the terrain allowed her to climb out again and regain all her lost elevation.

Once she was out of the second valley, Loop came across a dirt road leading NE toward even higher ground. Before long it curved around to the SE and brought her to the base of Ingersoll Peak’s W slope. Here Lupe followed an abandoned side road that made a big switchback to the NE and then S, gaining more elevation along the way.

The side road leveled out near a huge rock, turned SE and looked like it was about to start losing elevation. Lupe left the side road near the huge rock to climb Ingersoll Peak’s W slope. The slope was heavily forested, so it wasn’t possible to see very far ahead. After gaining 200 feet of elevation, suddenly the slope leveled out rapidly.

A rock formation 50 feet away looked higher than anything else around. Subsequent exploration proved this rock formation was the true summit of Ingersoll Peak (5,356 ft.). Lupe needed a boost from SPHP to get up on the highest rocks.

Lupe reaches the summit of Ingersoll Peak! The mountain was so heavily forested she didn’t have much of a view. Photo looks NW.

On the very highest rock. Photo looks N.

Ingersoll Peak was so heavily forested, Lupe didn’t have much of a view. She saw no reason to dawdle on the highest rocks, preferring to explore the summit area as soon as SPHP told her it was OK to jump down.

More of the summit rock formation is seen here. The highest rocks are just to the L of Lupe and a bit behind her. Photo looks NNW.

Most of the large summit area was off to the E. It was so heavily forested, a couple inches of snow remained up here. Lupe didn’t find any views, but sunlight filtered by the trees created a pleasing pattern of shadows and highlights on the snow. The top of Ingersoll Peak felt secluded and still a bit wintery.

Looking back toward the true summit (hidden by the trees on the R) from near the NE end of the larger summit area. The dense forest, snow, shadows, and filtered sunlight made Ingersoll Peak feel secluded and remote. Winter still lingered here. Photo looks SW.

The wily Snow Dingo on secluded Ingersoll Peak.

When exploration confirmed Lupe had already been to the true summit, Lupe returned to it. This time she didn’t want to get up on the highest rocks where there wasn’t any room to move around. However, she did agree to hang out among the slightly lower rocks for a few more photos.

Among the rocks of the summit formation. Photo looks WSW.

Lupe left the summit of Ingersoll Peak going back down the W slope. She had already lost substantial elevation when she came to a rock outcropping where she could see Storm Hill off to the NW.

From this rock outcropping well down the W slope, Lupe got her only decent view from Ingersoll Peak. **Storm Hill (5,656 ft.)** is in the distance straight up from Lupe. **Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.)** is the high point on the R. Photo looks NW.

Lupe came to the abandoned road near the huge rock again. She followed the switchback down to the lower road, which she took back to the area where she first found it. W of the road was a barren hill strewn with scattered deadfall. Lupe went over there for a look at the view, which was far better than any she’d had from Ingersoll Peak.

From this barren hillside, Lupe had a much better view than she’d found anywhere on Ingersoll Peak. The rugged terrain near **Black Elk Peak** (Center) can be seen. Photo looks SW.

Lupe returned to the road. She wasn’t going to cross the two valleys to the W this time. Instead she followed the road down into a long valley.

Lupe near the start of the road’s descent into the long valley. Photo looks SW.

At the end of the valley, Lupe arrived at Old Hill City Road again. For more than a mile, she followed the 1880 Train tracks as they wound around toward the W. Along the way, she saw a single Canadian goose floating on a tiny pond. The lonely goose honked a hopeful greeting.

From the 1880 Train tracks on the way back to the G6, Lupe saw this solitary Canadian Goose floating on a tiny pond. It honked at Lupe, but didn’t fly away.

Canadian geese and Carolina Dogs aren’t likely to become best of friends. SPHP encouraged Lupe to keep trotting right on by. (End 5:52 PM, 44°F)

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