Black Hills – Page 11 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 294 – 1,000,000 Vertical Feet! (1-29-22)

Dark, but not entirely. The yellow crescent moon hanging low in the E was not alone. One bright star nearby. A planet, actually. The morning star, Venus, its identity betrayed by the rosy glow spreading along the horizon As the RAV4 cruised S, Lupe was so happy!

Can’t believe it, SPHP! My Lists of John mini-blitz is really taking off, isn’t it? Black Hills Expeditions 2 days in a row! That hardly ever happens.

Hah! Grand finale! Your Lists of John mini-blitz ends today, Looper!

S of Custer, SPHP kept an eye on the RAV4’s temperature readout. Low 40’s °F when Lupe had left home, but plunging now. Incredible! Why? It was supposed to get into the mid-50’s °F today!

Off highway, after miles of dust and gravel, SPHP pulled over to the side of the road.

Hop on out, Loop. Let’s have a look!

A mile S, a forested ridge resembled a submarine surfaced on a sea of grass.

See that bump in the middle, Looper? Think that’s it!

That’s what, SPHP?

Top of Peak 4480, Loop. Your first Lists of John peak of the day.

**Peak 4480** (R of Center). Photo looks SSE.

7:59 AM, 14ºF, start of USFS Road No. 645 off Red Canyon Road (Fall River No. 15, USFS Road No. 322) –

14ºF! Yowser! Had no idea it would be this cold, Looper. Better start warming up fast, or I’m calling it.

Lupe had no intention of letting that happen! Nothing like a good march higher to get the blood circulating! Without hesitating, the American Dingo took off, heading N up USFS Road No. 645.

USFS Road No. 645 (R) where it leaves Red Canyon Road. Photo looks NW.

Five frosty minutes got Lupe up to where the grade decreased quite a bit. A grassy field was ahead, illuminated by a feeble morning sun. No detectable warmth to it, but just being in sunshine lifted spirits.

Glancing back at **Red Canyon** as No. 645 starts to level out. Photo looks S.

After crossing the field, No. 645 curved NE, climbing faster again. The road wound through a stretch of pine forest up to a larger field. Crusty snow crunched underpaw. Sometimes Lupe could see her breath.

Leaving the first field behind. Photo looks SSW.

Crossing the next field. Photo looks ENE.

So, why is my Lists of John mini-blitz going to end today, SPHP? You never said.

Oh, because today you are officially going to complete your achievement, Looper!

Wow! Really? Will I have climbed all the Lists of John peaks?

Hah! No! That will never happen, Looper! Not even limited to all the ones in South Dakota, or just the ones in the Black Hills.

Why not, SPHP?

Well, because a few of them are simply beyond our capabilities. Others are on private property, or forbidden for other reasons, like Mount Rushmore.

The road kept going. Soon a line of low bluffs appeared ahead. No. 645 went right to them. Near the base of the bluffs, Lupe came to a round water trough. Cursory inspection revealed that it was empty.

Heading for the bluffs (R). Photo looks NE.

From the water trough, No. 645 went SE, climbing more aggressively as it curled around the S end of the bluffs. The road then turned N, taking Lupe up to the territory above them. From here, No. 645 curved NE, still gaining elevation until it finally leveled out at yet another big field. Beyond this field was a long hill.

Above the bluffs now, which are unseen off to the L. Photo looks N.

Approaching the next hill. Photo looks NE.

That’s it, Loopster! Top of Peak 4480!

Looked like an easy climb. Lupe might easily have gone right up the W slope. However, the Carolina Dog stuck with the road, which ultimately swung clear around the S end of the hill. Along the way, No. 645 passed through a gap where a rock on the L had names carved into it.

No one Lupe knew had signed the rock, though, so after a brief pause, she continued on her way. The road dipped, then wound E up onto a large grassy plain.

Going through the gap. Names were carved into the rock wall on the L. Photo looks E.

On the high prairie S of the summit hill. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe followed No. 645 all the way around to where it topped out SE of the summit hill. She then left the road, heading straight for the S end.

Cactus! Loop instantly became reluctant to continue, insisting that SPHP scout the route out first before she would follow. Got a little steep and rocky, but not until the Carolina Dog was already almost up on top.

Getting close to the top of the S end of the summit hill. Photo looks NW.

The S end of the summit hill was lower than the N end, but the views were great! A little different from typical Black Hills fare, Peak 4480 was way off in the far SW part of the hills, a region that was lower and drier. Not as much forest here, so the views were more expansive.

Nearby, grasslands and low forested hills were in sight. To the SW, Lupe could see the plains of Wyoming. Matias Peak (4,780 ft.) was only a couple of miles SE.

**S end of Peak 4480**. Wyoming is in the distance off to the R. Photo looks S.

**Matias Peak** (R of Center). Photo looks SE.

Having seen the sights from the S end, Lupe headed N in search of the true summit. An easy trek higher among a mix of pines, junipers, and small clearings led to a big clearing surrounded by trees. Couldn’t hold a candle to the S end as far as views, because there weren’t any, but Peak 4480’s summit region had a quiet, almost secretive feel to it.

A lone rock not too far from the N edge proved to be the true summit.

Heading N along the summit plateau in search of the true summit. Photo looks N.

The big clearing at the N end. Summit is dead ahead. Photo looks N.

**True summit of Peak 4480**. Photo looks E.

9:13 AM, 25ºF, Peak 4480 – Warmer, but no big heat wave yet. Still chilly. Fortunately, only a slight NW breeze. SPHP dumped the pack against the summit rock, then sat next to Lupe shaking her paw.

Congratulations, Loopster! Your first Lists of John peak of the day!

Thank you, SPHP! How many of them are we going to do?

3, with any luck. 2 might do it as far as your achievement is concerned, but maybe not. Need all 3 to be certain of success. Slam dunk, then.

And what is this grand achievement that we’ve been doing this Lists of John mini-blitz for this month?

Oh, you’ve been working on this achievement a lot longer than just this month, Loop! Lists of John really has nothing to do with it, just a fun way to pick out some new territory to explore while you finish up. In fact, you’ve been working on this achievement practically your whole life.

What does that mean, SPHP? Don’t keep me in suspenders any longer!

Climb all 3 of these Lists of John peaks today, Loopster, and you will have completed over 1,000,000 total vertical feet of elevation gain.

Is 1,000,000 a whole bunch, SPHP?

Sure felt that way on many occasions, Loop. More than 189 miles straight up! Includes all of the peaks that you’ve climbed, whether hard or easy. 1,000,000 isn’t any kind of a record, though, not even close. Sam Grant and Greg Gerlach have each logged nearly 6,000,000 total vertical feet.

Dingo feathers, SPHP! Nobody could have done that much!

Oh, yes! They have! It’s all documented on Peakbagger.com, same place where I’ve documented your climbs. Don’t feel too bad, Loop! Officially, you will be 77th to reach the 1,000,000 mark on Peakbagger.com, if we succeed today. Not too shabby. And your 1,000,000 isn’t even an accurate number. You actually hit 1,000,000 vertical feet long ago. There are a lot of early treks that I never added to Peakbagger.com for you, and even after I started to, for years I only entered net elevation gain, instead of total.

So, you mean I’ve been shortchanged, SPHP? How many total vertical feet have I really climbed?

Heh! Yes, you’ve been shortchanged. Never realized we would be doing all this when you started out, or I would have kept better track. How many vertical feet have you really done? Who knows? Hundreds of thousands more for sure that I could estimate, if I just took the time to do it, because I do have some old journals. Maybe another 1,000,000 or 2,000,000, if we’d had a way to track all the endless running around you did, that I didn’t, but we don’t. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Tracking statistics like this is just for fun. No big prize.

Well, that’s disappointing! 1,000,000 total vertical feet of elevation gain that you make such a fuss about, and then there’s no big prize, SPHP? Humans are crazy! Any chance of a small prize as an early installment? How about a chocolate coconut bar?

Eh, I’m saving those for later. You can have a couple of MarroBone treats, though.

The MarroBones didn’t survive any longer than a chocolate coconut bar would have. Hoping to find a viewpoint, SPHP wandered a little way down the NW slope, but didn’t go very far since it was all forested. Lupe returned to the big clearing near the summit rock. Even without any distant views, it was pretty up here.

Returning to the summit (R) after a quick foray down the NW slope. Photo looks E.

In the lovely clearing. Summit rock (R). Photo looks SW.

25 minutes shot by. If Looper was going to get her 1,000,000 today, she should probably move on, especially if she wanted to explore the big loop she could take back to the RAV4.

What do you think, Loop? Want to explore the big loop, or head right back to the RAV4? Completing the loop would be about 2.5 times as far, but its mostly a downhill road hike. Ought to be easy.

We’re here now, SPHP! Let’s see what there is to see!

Leaving Peak 4480’s summit, Lupe headed NNE. A short, forested slope led down to a smaller clearing. Although also rimmed with trees, at the far N end, a few rocks offered a view of the red dirt prairie below, and Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.) on the NW horizon.

In the **smaller clearing NNE of the true summit**. Photo looks NNE.

**Elk Benchmark** (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks NW.

After enjoying the view, Lupe went back S a little way looking for a good spot to descend the fairly steep slope to the E. Finding one, she ventured down through the forest to a big snowfield below it. Several deer went racing away to the NE, providing some excitement.

Crossing part of a big tableland, Loop reached USFS Road No. 685 again, happily without experiencing the pain of any cacti mishaps.

**Peak 4480** from USFS Road No. 645 again. Photo looks W.

The big loop was worth seeing! Initially heading NE away from Peak 4480, USFS Road No. 645 soon began curving SE, then S. At first, Lupe was out on the big open tableland. As she got farther S, the road ran along the edge of the canyon separating Peak 4480 from Matias Peak. Views from the rim of the canyon were lovely.

Passing a weather station (R). Photo looks SSE.

**Matias Peak** (R of Center) across the canyon. Photo looks SE.

**Matias Peak** (Center) with a little help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks ESE.

Eventually the road began a long, winding descent SE along the edge of the canyon. Near the end, No. 645 led into USFS Road No. 379, which in turn soon got Lupe back to Red Canyon Road.

Descending into the canyon. Photo looks SE.

Winding down to USFS Road No. 379 (L). Photo looks SE.

Shortly after starting the 0.75 mile trek N on Red Canyon Road back to the RAV4, a brown and white sign was down in the ditch to the W.

Near the sign along Red Canyon Road. Photo looks WNW.

What does this sign say, SPHP?

Well, let’s see, Looper. It says: Deadwood – Custer Cheyenne Stage Route, 1875-1877, Metz Family Massacred Here, April 24, 1875

Massacred! The whole family? Right here, SPHP?

Guess so, or hereabouts. Anyway, that’s what it says, Loop.

That’s terrible! And twice in a row now! I don’t like it.

Twice in a row? What are you talking about?

Don’t you remember, SPHP? Only yesterday, on Expedition No. 293 we came to James Fernando Shepard’s grave. Murdered for a mining claim!

Oh, yeah! That’s right!

I’ve got a bad feeling about this SPHP! Let’s go! It’s a warning!

A warning! The Metz family was massacred even longer ago than poor Mr. Shepard was murdered. Doesn’t have anything to do with us. You’re being ridiculous, Loop!

How can you be so sure, SPHP? What if we’re cursed?

Cursed? Why would we be cursed?

Have I reached 1,000,000 vertical feet of elevation gain yet, SPHP?

Officially? No, but you must be real close to it by now.

How close?

Oh, more than 999,000 feet for sure.

We’re never going to make it to 1,000,000 vertical feet, SPHP! Something terrible is going to happen! We’ve come to a murder, then a massacre. We’re next!

For pity sake, Looper! Get a grip! We’ll be just fine.

It’s been nice knowing you, SPHP. Maybe we should just go home instead of tempting fate?

Oh, no we’re not. We going to the RAV4, then on to the next mountain. Not going to get this close, then quit climbing mountains, curse or no curse! (End 11:25 AM)

The doomed Dingo on Red Canyon Road, almost back to the RAV4. Photo looks NW.

The next mountain wasn’t very far away. On the way to it, SPHP stopped for a look at a striking red rock butte capped by a layer of white. Around the next bend, SPHP stopped again to consider a big ridge to the SW.

The beautiful red rock butte, actually part of a long, continuous wall. Photo looks NNW.

The big ridge around the bend. Photo looks SW.

That’s Peak 4400, Loop! Your next Lists of John peak.

Could have climbed Peak 4400 from the N easily enough, but not without crossing private ranch lands. The American Dingo would have to go for it from the W, where there was USFS access.

11:50 AM, 45ºF, USFS Road No. 316 – Day was half-shot already! Had warmed up nicely, though. Lupe trotted E down No. 316 to the turn by the entrance to the Hey Ranch. Leaving the road, she continued E along a fence to a first little hill on the L, which she then climbed.

Nice view of the RAV4 and forested ridges back to the W from here, but the ridge to the NE was of more interest. Big rocks were along the steep upper rim. Not a problem! Gaps were visible among them. Lupe could get up there easily enough. The American Dingo pressed on.

**W side of the Peak 4400 ridge** from USFS Road No. 316. Photo looks ENE.

By the **entrance to the Hey Ranch**. Lupe didn’t go in. Photo looks SSW.

Following the fence to the first hill (L). Photo looks E.

Looking back from the first hill. Photo looks WSW.

Next ridge from the first hill. Photo looks ENE.

Once up on top, the view from the ridge was a bit surprising. This was more of a second hill than part of the main Peak 4400 ridge, which was still farther E. Looked like Lupe had started climbing too soon. Might have been better to go around both of these hills before starting up.

Live and learn! A little late for that now!

*Made it!* Up on the second hill. Photo looks NW.

The main ridge from the second hill. Photo looks SE.

Closest part of the main ridge from the second hill. Photo looks NE.

Deadfall left over from a forest fire made maneuvering difficult. Just took a little time. Soon Lupe was through it, heading down to a saddle that connected with the closest part of the main ridge. After crossing the saddle, another steep climb got the Carolina Dog up onto the W rim.

**Robinson Ranch** from near the top. Photo looks W.

Except that this wasn’t actually part of Peak 4400’s main ridge, either! Just a third hill. Rinse and repeat! Crossing this third hill, Lupe went down to another saddle leading to yet another climb.

At last, the steep part of the ascent was over. The American Dingo was now up on Peak 4400’s enormous summit plateau, but way out W on a lower part of it near the N end, still 0.5 mile WSW of the true summit. To the E, the terrain still rose, but at a much easier pace. Going over a little rise, a moderately higher part of the plateau was ahead.

Up on the **Peak 4400 plateau**. Photo looks ENE.

The vast plateau was interesting territory. No cactus at all! Lupe liked that. Mostly grassland, but at one time there had been a fair amount of forest up here, too. Nearly all of it had burned.

Looper trotted E, enjoying the sense of elevated spaciousness. Weird rock formations were concentrated near the edge, but also scattered across the plain.

Such strange and wonderful territory, SPHP!

Yeah! This is awesome, isn’t it, Loop? Not many places in the Black Hills like this. Be fun to camp up here on a starry night!

On the upper plateau, Lupe came to a particularly strange formation. It was so cool!

At the **Dingo Throne**! A 2-seater for king and queen. Photo looks SE.

Gently rolling terrain flattened further as Lupe finally drew near the E side of the summit plateau, and was nearly as flat as a pancake by the time she turned N.

The topo map showed the true summit way out near the NE end of the mountain. Did look like there might be slightly higher ground over that way as the Carolina Dog got closer. On the way there, Lupe came to a low region bordered by walls of rock.

Along the **SW edge of the low region**. True summit somewhere on the other side. Photo looks NE.

Fortunately, the small cliffs along the NW end of the low region were not continuous. Loopster was able to get across. Once on the other side, it wasn’t far to a collection of rocks that appeared to be the true summit of Peak 4400. Located right along the edge of an even larger low region to the NW, this was a very scenic spot!

At the **apparent true summit of Peak 4400** (R). Photo looks NE.

**True summit**. Another angle. What a unique view! Photo looks NNW.

Of course, on a mountain as flat as Peak 4400, there were other rocks nearby that appeared to be in contention for the title of true summit, as well. Before visiting them, it was time for a break.

Hey, Looper! Why don’t we go find a spot along the NE edge to relax? Should be some pretty sweet views!

Fine with me, SPHP!

1:30 PM, 45ºF, Peak 4400 –

Congratulations, once again, Loopster! Another Lists of John peak climbed!

Two down and one to go! Then my Lists of John mini-blitz will be over, right, SPHP?

Yeah, that’s right, Loop.

Do you think I’ve officially hit 1,000,000 feet of total vertical gain yet?

Not sure. Maybe. If you haven’t, you’re extremely close. No more than 100 or 200 feet away. Might have hit it already. Tell you what. How about we celebrate right now just in case? We’ll split a chocolate coconut bar, and you can have another couple of MarroBones. How’s that?

Not a hard sell. The enthusiastic Dingo made short work of it all, then curled up on SPHP’s lap, crunching Taste of the Wild from her silver bowl, while SPHP munched an apple. The views were splendid!

Along the NE edge on a rock by the rest spot. Photo looks NW.

**Loopster at 1,000,000 total vertical feet**, or very close to it. Photo looks NW.

**Peak 4480** (L), where Lupe had just been, in front of **Matias Peak**. Photo looks SSE.

A peaceful, happy, half hour drifted away.

You know, SPHP, since this is both such a scenic mountain and momentous occasion, we really ought to do some more exploring up here before we have to go!

You’re absolutely right, Loop! Looks like there is still some fun stuff a little farther NW of here. Let’s sniff around over that way for a little bit.

Fabulous rock formations along the NE edge. Photo looks NW.

Overlooking the NW low region (L). Photo looks NW.

About as far N as Loop got along the edge of the escarpment. Photo looks NW.

Lupe had a fun time scrambling around among the rocks. Could have spent many hours roaming around up here, but that was not to be. She was a Dingo on a mission. One more Lists of John peak to go!

Starting back, Loopster visited another rock in contention for title of true summit that wasn’t far from the one SPHP actually thought was it.

On the contender. **SPHP’s anointed true summit** (far L). Photo looks SW.

The NW low region from the contender rock. Photo looks NW.

An hour after arriving, Lupe left the true summit rock for the last time. The angle of the sun warned against any more dilly-dallying. Peak 4400 had been a big, scenic success. Confidence and joy were in the air as the American Dingo worked her way around the NW end of the low region bordered by cliffs again.

And then she saw it.

SPHP, look! The curse! We’re doomed! 1,000,000 vertical feet will be the end of us!

How strange! Lupe had found another rock formation reminiscent of the Dingo Throne. This throne was only a one-seater though, and that seat was occupied. The ruler was right there – a twisted, entirely black tree. A vision of evil!

A death tree, SPHP!

The **death tree** – evil, enthroned ruler, and Dingo curser of Peak 4400. Photo looks SE.

Guess we better say our prayers, Looper! We’re a goner for sure now!

Well, what else could SPHP say? Anyone would know a death tree when they saw one. No denying it! And yet, the nervous Dingo’s return went well overall. Going down the W slope, a promising path led off to the N and got Loop stuck among a giant patch of obnoxious deadfall, but that was the only aggravation. She soon made it down to USFS Road No. 316 somewhat N of the Robinson Ranch.

From there, it was just a pleasant afternoon stroll along the road back to the RAV4. (3:21 PM, 53ºF)

Getting close to where Lupe would have to head down the W slope. Photo looks SW.

3:51 PM, Dewey Road (Custer County No. 769) – Cows! Despite having barked hysterically at every cow in sight from the G6, and now the RAV4, zillions of times over the years, cows were coming to see Lupe!

Although hesitant, at first, the cows seemed genuinely happy to see the pesky Carolina Dog. They were gathering from all across their huge field. Amazed, Lupe didn’t bark, but stood watching their approach.

Lupe, the cheering cows, and **Peak 4440** (Center). Photo looks S.

Wow, Lupe! Look at this! All the abuse you’ve doled out to them, yet the cows are coming to cheer you on to 1,000,000 total vertical feet! Hear all that mooing? They love you!

Well, it was either that, or perhaps the cows were hoping SPHP still had plenty of chocolate coconut bars to distribute? Who knew? In any case, Lupe was as happy and excited to see all the lovely black cows, as they were to see her.

I’m shocked! You must be right, SPHP! That’s so kind of them. I don’t know what to say. I’m humbled!

Unfortunately, the cows were a bit of a problem. Peak 4440, Lupe’s last Lists of John peak of the day, was in sight beyond their field. Clearly, wandering through a whole herd of cows eager to make the American Dingo’s acquaintance would never do. Furthermore, there was no sign of USFS Road No. 394.2A which was supposed to go due S through this field to USFS land providing the quickest access to Peak 4440.

There was another way, but it would take longer. Better get with it!

Come on, Loopster! Back to the RAV4! We’re going to have to drive a little farther W.

Lupe started to come, but suddenly began limping terribly, hopping about with her L rear paw in the air.

Ow! Ow! Ow! I can’t, SPHP! It’s the curse!

What on earth? What happened, Loop? What’s wrong with you?

I just told you, SPHP! I’m stricken by the murdered, massacred, death tree curse of 1,000,000 total vertical feet! We’re never going to get there! My paw is broken! Oh, it hurts! Ow, ow, ow!

Hold still! Lemme, see that paw, Loop. Uh-huh! How’s that?

Lupe was stunned. An instant cure! Her paw was fine again.

You can remove curses, SPHP? I never knew! All these years you’ve been a wizard incognito? Fantastic disguise, by the way.

Oh, yes! Remove curses all the time! Provided that the curse is that you’ve stepped on a burr.

4:02 PM, 52ºF, Dewey Road, SSW of Walsh Well – Gotta hurry! Getting late on a January afternoon, and Peak 4440 was 1.5 miles SE. And that was just to the base of the mountain. Lupe would still have to climb it!

Onward! Puppy, ho!

As Lupe followed a fence S, a little luck. A walk-in area! The American Dingo could save some time cutting across the big field to the E. No need to go clear around the SW corner to stay on USFS land.

**Peak 4440** (R) from the walk-in area sign. Photo looks ESE.

The shortcut brought Lupe to a nearly level plain sloping gradually SE. Peak 4440 was directly ahead, but Lupe was already in shadow. A race against time was on, but some caution had to be used. Scattered patches of large-spined cactus thrived here. SPHP kept an eye out for danger, as Miss Bare Paws made for the mountain.

Hurrying across the plain. **Peak 4440** (Center). Photo looks SE.

Discovery of a cactus-free, two-track road, perhaps some remnant of USFS Road No. 391.2A, helped speed things along. When the two-track got close to a wide drainage, Lupe abandoned the road, crossed the drainage, and headed straight for Peak 4440’s NW slopes.

On the cacti-free super highway. **Peak 4440** (L). Photo looks SSE.

About to cross the odd, almost artificial-looking drainage. Photo looks N.

Peak 4440 has two summits, N and S, the N one being highest. The plan was to head up to the saddle between them, then turn N. However, Lupe had started up before going far enough S. This mistake wasn’t evident until she’d already gained considerable elevation. The terrain forced her toward the mountain’s N ridge.

Too late to do anything about it! Just hope it works! The Carolina Dog was already committed, barely keeping up with the last rays of the sun.

Climbing **Peak 4440**. **N (true) summit** (Center) dead ahead. Photo looks SE.

The sun was gone by the time Looper reached the N ridge. Twilight was coming on. Amid rocks and junipers, Lupe went up the steep narrow ridge, staying toward the E sometimes, because both the ridgeline and the W slope were just too difficult.

At an open spot where Lupe first reached the N ridge. Photo looks N.

By the time a top appeared, the light was so dim that the camera could barely compensate without producing fuzzy images. Lupe had made it, though! The summit was only seconds away!

5:19 PM, 43ºF, Peak 4440 – Curse or no curse, 1,000,000 total vertical feet, a once in a lifetime achievement, complete! In twilight, Lupe stood atop Peak 4440’s N and true summit. Hard to believe it was over. No doubt at all about it now, though. The American Dingo had done way more than enough.

From the E, a night sky was approaching. To the W, high thin clouds were still on fire, a brilliant orange glow.

Congratulations, Lupe! May I shake your paw? 1,000,000+ total vertical feet! It’s official now. Don’t think too many Dingoes have ever done that!

Offering her sweet little paw, Lupe looked expectantly up at SPHP.

Alright! Yes, I have another chocolate coconut bar for you, but it will have to wait a few minutes. We better get some pictures to commemorate the occasion while we still can.

**Wyoming** on the horizon. Photo looks W.

Most of the **N summit ridge**. Photo looks S.

OK, that’s about it Loop. Thank you!

What a remote and odd little mountain Peak 4440 was! Such an unlikely spot to be celebrating 1,000,000 total vertical feet. Unlikely time of year, too. Almost the end of January? Hardly the heart of climbing season, yet here Lupe was.

In the dying light, two earnest, trusting eyes gazed up at SPHP.

Have I done well, SPHP?

Oh, sweet puppy! Yes! Yes! Yes! You’ve been magnificent all these years! You’re the greatest ever! I love you so much!

Another chocolate coconut bar met its devourer. 2 MarroBones suffered a similar fate. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap to watch the world go dark. Far below, cows were mooing, cheering Lupe’s success!

Cows weren’t the only ones cheering for Lupe. Before the first silver stars appeared, suddenly there was a forlorn yipping synonymous with the Old West.

The wild dogs, SPHP!

They must be happy for you, too, Looper!

The coyotes sang to Lupe, but only a few verses before they were done.

6:06 PM – Cows, coyotes, a slight rustling of the wind, but mostly silence, and a million memories. 45 minutes atop Peak 4440, and the universe glittered overhead. Below, a black void. Time to go.

Maybe there really was a curse? Despite the aid of an experienced Dingo guide, and the tiny flashlight, SPHP had a terrible time trying to find the way back down in the dark. Everything was so steep! Nothing worked! Took a long, weary time to get back down to the two-track road well S of where Lupe had left it.

Still more than a mile to go! As crusty snow crunched underpaw, the Big Dipper and North Star showed the way. Cold now. Lupe was tired, SPHP was tired, but it would all be over soon. What a day! (8:17 PM, 22ºF)

2-4-22 – Six days later, SPHP did throw a 1,000,000+ Total Vertical Feet party for Lupe. It was held at Grandma’s apartment, and was she ever surprised! Steve, Xochitl, Felix, and Asher all came. Cake, candles, ice cream, a Busy Rib Hide, and Beggin’ Strips! The whole nine yards! What more could a peakbagging Dingo ever want?

The fabulous **1,000,799 vertical feet cake**!

The star of the show, and her guests. L to R: Felix, Steve, Asher, Xochitl & Grandma.

The guest of honor’s moment of flaming trepidation.

What more could I ever want, SPHP? So glad you asked! Better get some paper and a pencil so you can write it all down. For my 2,000,000 total vertical feet party, I’d suggest …

**Peak 4400**, Black Hills of South Dakota on **1,000,000+ Total Vertical Feet Day**, 1-29-22

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 293 – Peak 4900 & Peak 5160 (1-28-22)

12:01 PM, 47ºF, start of USFS Road No. 359.3C along Playhouse Road – Wow! What a gorgeous day! Didn’t seem like January at all. Scarcely even any snow around. Perfect conditions had Lupe out in the hills again. Her Lists of John mini-blitz was in full swing. Going around a gate, she headed SE on USFS Road No. 359.3C through a sunlit forest.

About to set out on USFS Road No. 359.3C.

The road descended gradually to a meadow where Loopster made a somewhat unusual discovery. An old abandoned house was closed off by a pole fence around its perimeter. Fairly large, it must have been quite the place once upon a time, but was in a sad state of affairs now.

After a good sniff around the house, Lupe returned to the road. Curving NE, it quickly led to a fork. SPHP checked the topo map. Didn’t quite match up with what the Carolina Dog was seeing.

At the fork. USFS Road No. 359.3D goes L. Photo looks E.

Which way, SPHP?

Not entirely sure, Looper. Think we’re already on USFS Road No. 359.3D, which should get us in a roundabout way close to Peak 4900, if we stay to the L here. This other road looks like it might go over toward the Spokane Mine, but doesn’t seem to be in the right place. Should have been a road going that way closer to the house, but I never saw it.

Well, maybe the map is wrong, SPHP?

Yeah, maybe. Usually I’m the one that’s wrong, though.

Do we have time to go see the Spokane Mine, SPHP?

Oh, I think so. Shouldn’t be very far. Want to do that, Loop?

She did. Taking the road to the R, Lupe slowly gained elevation going ESE up a shallow valley. The road soon faded to a single track trail.

The trail led up to a fairly level region where more trails headed off in various directions. Turning S, because that was where the Spokane Mine ought to be, Lupe went over a small rise. On the other side was a sunny little clearing. No sign yet of the Spokane Mine, but there was something else.

A grave!

By the mysterious grave. Photo looks SSW.

The lone grave was outlined with rocks. A flat headstone was so covered with memorabilia that SPHP had to move some of it to reveal the name.

What does it say, SPHP?

James Fernando Shepard. Says he was born on February 3, 1850, and died on June 21, 1908. Get this, Loopster! He was murdered for a mining claim! This headstone was set in memory from his grandchildren.

Murdered! For a mining claim! Must have been for the Spokane Mine, SPHP! Let’s get out of here!

Silly Dingo! He was murdered more than 113 years ago. Nothing to worry about now. Besides, we don’t have anything to do with any mining claims, for the Spokane Mine, or any other one.

Not taking any chances, SPHP! Forget the Spokane Mine. Let’s vamoose!

Slinking E through the forest, Lupe came to another abandoned house. This one was also large and surrounded by a pole fence, but appeared to be in considerably better shape.

By the second abandoned house. Photo looks NE.

This is giving me the willies, SPHP! Why all these abandoned homes?

Oh, I don’t know, Loopster. The mine probably played out, and Spokane became a ghost town.

Ghost town! We’re in a ghost town?

Well, sort of seems that way, doesn’t it?

What mountain are we going to, anyway, SPHP?

Peak 4900, Loop. Only 0.25 mile E of here, although we still have a mile to go, if we want to take advantage of USFS Road No. 359.3D.

Well, let’s get there before a ghost comes. I don’t care what route we take.

Heading N from the second abandoned house, Lupe traveled through open forest and occasional meadows. Big rock formations could be seen to the E high on Peak 4900’s W slope, which was quite steep. Eventually a minor pass appeared ahead. The Carolina Dog went up to it.

Looked feasible to go E from here, so Lupe kept climbing. Shortly after the terrain began leveling out she reached USFS Road No. 359.3D again. The road was fainter up here, but still easy to follow. It dipped a little, then flattened, as Loop followed it first S, then SE.

At the pass, about to head up the slope. Photo looks ENE.

No. 359.3D eventually went by a big field. Shortly after that, Lupe came to a small clearing where the road appeared to end. A couple of trails left this point. Following the one that went straight, it soon disappeared. By now, Peak 4900’s summit couldn’t be too much farther SW.

Turning W, the American Dingo began climbing again. The ground started getting rocky as Peak 4900’s N ridge appeared ahead.

The small clearing at the end of USFS Road No. 359.3D. Photo looks S.

Approaching the N ridge. Photo looks SW.

Upon gaining the ridge, Lupe turned S. The climb was relatively easy. Soon a high point was directly ahead.

1:11 PM, 50ºF, Peak 4900 – Lupe had come up at the NW end of a 400 foot long summit region. This was the highest part of the mountain. One of these flat, blocky boulders had to be the true summit, but several were nearly the same elevation. Hard to say for certain exactly which one was it.

So many trees were around, that views were extremely limited. To the NW, a narrow look at Mount Rushmore (5,725 ft.) was available from one of the likeliest true summit candidates. Other than that, a partial view of big forested ridges to the SW was about it.

On what might well have been the **true summit**. **Mount Rushmore** (L) in the distance. Photo looks NW.

**Mount Rushmore** with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

Chocolate coconut bar time, SPHP!

As usual, after taking a seat on one of the big rocks, and congratulating Lupe on her successful ascent, SPHP split one with her.

At the short rest break rock. Photo looks N.

Gone in an instant.

Sheesh, Loop. Do you always have to wolf it down like that?

Dingo it down, you mean, SPHP. And yes, as a matter of fact, I do!

Whatever. Guess I sill have all my fingers. Anyway, see that biggest hill to the SW, Loopster? I bet that’s Peak 5160, where we’ll be going next.

Don’t rush me, SPHP. I’m not done with this mountain yet. We are going to explore Peak 4900’s summit ridge, aren’t we?

Of course! Ready whenever you are, Loop.

Ready to explore **Peak 4900’s summit ridge.** Photo looks ESE.

SPHP harbored hopes that Peak 4900 had some better viewpoints, but Lupe got all the way to the lower SE end of the summit ridge without catching more than glimpses in this or that direction. Rocks near the SE end offered limited views of the prairie beyond the Black Hills, but no sweeping panoramas.

A glimpse of the prairie from the **SE end of the summit region**. Photo looks E.

**Western South Dakota prairie** beyond the E edge of the Black Hills. Photo looks E with help from the telephoto lens.

Pleasant enough, but nothing too amazing. Ready to head back, Looper?

Soon Lupe was back at Peak 4900’s true summit. After lingering briefly to admire what views did exist and bask in the Peak 4900 ambience for the last time, the Carolina Dog headed back down the N ridge.

Back at the **NW end near the true summit**. Photo looks WNW.

This time Lupe explored farther N along the ridge before leaving it for USFS Road No. 359.3D. Found a nice viewpoint along the way where both Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) and Mount Rushmore were in sight.

**Black Elk Peak** (L), **Mount Rushmore** (far R). Photo looks NW.

Once on No. 359.3D, Looper stuck with it until the road entered posted private property, which forced a detour. Lupe wound up wandering so far S on various trails through the forest that she got quite close to the grave again. From there she retraced her earlier route back to the first abandoned house and No. 359.3C.

Despite this second foray past the ghost town of Spokane, the luck of the Dingo held. No ghost materialized to haunt her.

On an unmarked trail leading back to the ghost town of Spokane. Photo looks SW.

We didn’t get murdered, either, SPHP! Made it back to the RAV4 in one piece. Don’t forget that!

Oh, thanks for the reminder, Loop. A crucial point! (End 2:26 PM)

2:35 PM, 47ºF, start of USFS Road No. 753.1A along S Playhouse Road – Having escaped the terrors of Peak 4900, Lupe was ready to take on her second Lists of John peak of the day. There was another gate to get by, and beyond it was a road less traveled. A mere grassy lane, USFS Road No. 753.1A turned S just past the gate.

By the gate at the start of USFS Road No. 753.1A. Photo looks SE.

On the road less traveled. Photo looks SSE.

Loop had barely gotten started on No. 753.1A, when No. 753.1B branched off to the E. That was the way to Peak 5160, but the road didn’t look all that promising. A short distance from No. 753.1A, No. 753.1B was choked with deadfall as it curved SE entering a narrow, shaded valley.

On USFS Road No. 753.1B after getting past the deadfall. Photo looks SE.

Continuing up the narrow valley. Photo looks SE.

After almost 0.25 mile, the valley broadened out. The road was fainter here. If not for the topo map, SPHP wouldn’t even have realized that there was a fork. USFS Road No. 753.1C branched off to the NE (L), going up a sunlit hillside. No. 753.1B turned S (R), continuing up the valley.

USFS Road No. 753.1B continues almost straight ahead here, but slightly to the R.

The Carolina Dog stuck with No. 753.1B, which improved and started to climb more aggressively. Soon there were glimpses of towering granite formations off to the E. Kind of a red flag! Although a bit farther S, Peak 5160 was in that general direction. If it looked like that, Lupe was never going to be able to get to the top.

Yikes! Peak 5160 better not look like that! Photo looks E.

A gate in a wire mesh fence was ahead. Would have been a problem, since the gate was locked, but a gap near one of the posts allowed Lupe to slip through.

Think we’re in Custer State Park now, Looper.

Gate at the **N boundary of Custer State Park**. Photo looks S.

No. 753.1B continued higher, but was looking like it would soon level out. The road curved SSE, then W, as Lupe neared a sunlit ridge. Near a saddle, the road forked again. One branch went back to the NNW, the other continued S over the saddle, and on down into another valley.

More big granite formations were in this region.

Approaching the sunlit ridge. Photo looks S.

More rock formations ahead. Photo looks SSE.

A massive rock formation SE of the saddle was concerning. Even if it wasn’t the true summit of Peak 5160, it might well be an indication of what to expect. A check of the topo map showed the summit NE of here. Oddly enough, it also showed USFS Road No. 753.1B dead-ending. None of these other branches of the road appeared on the map.

No choice, but to press on. Leaving the saddle, and all of the roads, Lupe passed N of the enormous granite formation heading E. Surprising SPHP, she soon came to a wide, forested ramp leading higher.

Heading up the lovely ramp. Photo looks ENE.

Oh, yeah! The news got even better! At the upper end of the ramp, Lupe came to a grassy field. Off to the NNE, it slanted up to an obvious high point, right where Peak 5160’s summit was supposed to be.

Nothing to it, SPHP! We’ll be there in just a couple of minutes!

3:32 PM, 45ºF, Peak 5160 – And so it was. A quick trek to the top, and there was Loopster, poised on the very highest rock.

Hah! Knock me over with a feather, Looper! Thought we were doomed!

Duck soup, SPHP! About time for another chocolate coconut bar, isn’t it?

That it was. Rather rocky up on this little ridge, but SPHP found a spot to sit down. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap.

The views were very nice! Nothing to the E was as high as Peak 5160. Lupe could see way out to the prairie beyond the Black Hills, a genuine panorama this time, not merely a glimpse. Peak 4900 was in sight off to the NE, but looked like a mere twerp of a hill from here. Due N on the horizon, Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.), Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) and Storm Hill (5,192 ft.) were all on display.

The distant prairie panorama. Photo looks E.

**Silver Mountain**, **Boulder Hill** and **Storm Hill** on the horizon. Photo looks N.

**Silver Mountain** (L), **Boulder Hill** (Center) and **Storm Hill** (R). Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.

The chocolate coconut bar vanished in an instant. SPHP offered Lupe some Taste of the Wild, but she didn’t seem interested until a helicopter appeared, flying this way out of the SW. At that point, Loopster gobbled all the Taste of the Wild down as quick as she could so the helicopter wouldn’t steal it, a maneuver which worked brilliantly. The famished helicopter flew away, cruelly disappointed.

Careful examination of the topo map showed two more tiny 5,160 foot contours along the ridge Peak 5160 was part of. Lupe was where Lists of John showed the true summit, but was that really the case?

The most distant of the competing contours represented the top of a hill visible 0.5 mile SSE. From here, that hill looked definitely lower.

SPHP judged the **competing high point** (R of Center) definitely lower. Photo looks SSE.

However, the second tiny contour represented the top of the massive rock formation that Lupe had gone by on the way up. Trees hid the high point over that way from the summit where Lupe was, but it was visible from only a little way down the S slope.

The **competing rock formation** (R) from a little way down the S slope. Photo looks S.

Another look from a little farther down the slope with help from the telephoto lens.

Hmm. I don’t know, Looper. Mighty close call! In fact, if I had to put money on it, think I’d bet on that rock formation being the true summit.

Maybe so, SPHP, but that’s rock climber territory. We’ll never get up there!

Yeah, sure looked that way. Not even going to attempt it. Completely kosher or not, this was good enough for Dingo work. Lupe was claiming her second Lists of John success of the day!

Nearly an hour after arriving, Loopster was on her way back down the ramp. Upon reaching the roads over at the saddle near the problematic rock formation, she took a little time to sniff around exploring among the big rocks near its base. This was pretty cool territory! Might be fun to come back sometime for another look around.

Below the massive rock formation. Photo looks ESE.

More interesting territory in the area. Photo looks S.

But the sun was almost down, and the Carolina Dog ought to be, too. After a little fun among the big rocks, she returned to the saddle. This time, instead of taking USFS Road No. 753.1B again, Lupe explored the road going NNW.

Taking an alternate, unmarked route back. Photo looks NW.

The road soon wrapped around the end of the ridge. Curving W, it started a steep descent.

SPHP suspected this route might ultimately lead back to USFS Road No. 753.1A again, but it didn’t. Instead, Lupe reached S Playhouse Road 150 feet S of the N boundary of Custer State Park. An easy downhill trek along the paved road was all that remained.

Two more peaks climbed! No ghosts, and didn’t get murdered! Lupe’s Lists of John mini-blitz was going well. Little did the American Dingo suspect that it would all come to an end tomorrow. (5:05 PM, 36ºF)

**Peak 5160**, Black Hills of South Dakota 1-28-22

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 292 – Peak 5100 Twice & Peak 5177 (1-23-22)

9:45 AM, 45ºF, junction of Vanocker Canyon Road & Runkle Road (USFS Road No. 168) – Another balmy day in January. Lupe was back in action!

Gonna get your Lists of John mini-blitz off to a good start this morning, Loopster! This first peak should be easy!

I’ve noticed that the first one almost always is, SPHP! It’s the ones that come after the first one that always seem to be the challenge.

Peak 5100 certainly started out easy enough, just a stroll down Runkle Road into a minor drainage. After crossing it, the road began to climb. Lupe was barely 0.25 mile from where she’d left Vanocker Canyon Road when SPHP ventured off into the woods. Quickly taking the lead, the American Dingo sniffed her way S through a forest of aspens and pines up to a saddle.

Following **Runkle Road**. Photo looks SE.

At the saddle, young pines encroached on a grassy clearing.

Which way, SPHP?

Peak 5100 is that hill to the E, Loop. 200 foot climb, and you’re there!

Looked easy. Above the young pines, the forest was all nice and open. Must have been thinned. Lupe trotted up the slope, checking out the scents, while SPHP trudged behind her. No obstacles, not even a rock.

**Peak 5100’s W slope** from the saddle. Photo looks E.

Might not have been any rocks along the way, SPHP, but there’s one up here!

No joke! It was a huge one, too, right at the top! Could Lupe even get up there? First impressions were not good. So much for a trivial ascent, and a quick, easy Lists of John peakbagging success.

The problematic summit rock. Photo looks SE.

Same rock as seen from the N. Photo looks S.

Lupe reached Peak 5100’s summit ridge near the N end. Clearly, no way up onto that enormous rock from this direction. The N, E, and W sides were all vertical. Staying toward the W, Lupe explored S.

Turned out that the big rock was really the N end of a 20 to 30 foot high limestone ridge. Loop didn’t have to follow the ridge S very far before coming to a bit of a break where she managed to scramble up onto it. The ridge was narrow with small cliffs on both sides, yet wide enough to make it relatively easy to get to the high point at the far N end.

Up on the summit ridge. Photo looks SSE.

Near the N end, not far from the top. Photo looks N.

On the second highest rock. Photo looks NNW.

Success! **Peak 5100 true summit**. Photo looks N.

Congratulations, Loopster! Wasn’t so bad after all, was it? When I first saw this big rock, I thought we were doomed to failure.

So your super simple Peak 5100 threw a scare into you, aye, SPHP?

Yeah, it did! You just never know what might lurk at the top. Thought this was going to be a romp.

Buried in trees, there wasn’t a thing to see up here. Lupe stayed on the summit rock only a couple of minutes. Although it seemed obvious that the Carolina Dog had just been on the true summit, the limestone ridge extended farther S. Better check things out that direction, just in case.

Lupe only got so far before the ridge became discontinuous. More large rock formations were still in sight farther S. Going back N to where she could scramble down again, the American Dingo then followed the base of the ridge S.

As far S up on the ridge as Lupe made it before having to retreat. Photo looks SSE.

Down below now, following the ridge S. Photo looks SSE.

Although she didn’t make it up onto the high point near the S end, Lupe was able to scramble partway back up again. By now, it seemed pretty clear that the rock she had been to at the far N end really was the true summit. Beyond the S end of the ridge, a limestone platform offered a nice view overlooking the Elk Creek valley.

**S end of Peak 5100’s summit ridge**. Photo looks N.

**Elk Creek valley** from the S end of the mountain. Photo looks SSE.

Well, Looper, think you’ve done about all we need to here. Certainly been way more interesting than I expected.

Back to the RAV4, then, SPHP?

Yup! (End, 11:12 AM)

11:24 AM, 46ºF, junction of USFS Roads No. 170 and No. 170.3A –

You’ll never guess where we’re going now, Loop!

Probably not. Do tell, SPHP!

Peak 5100!

You’re confused, SPHP. Check that map again! We were just at Peak 5100.

I know! That was kind of a trick question, Loop. This is another, different Peak 5100 that we’re going to now.

So, we’re doing Peak 5100 twice, except they’re different mountains?

Exactly, Looper.

We ought to be giving all these peaks names, SPHP. How about Confusion Hill for this one?

Start of USFS Road No. 170.3A. Photo looks NNE.

Soon after setting out on USFS Road No. 170.3A, Lupe came to a barbed wire fence across the road. Opening a gate, SPHP let her through.

The road was soft with melting snow, and almost level as it continued N. After 0.3 mile, No. 170.3A curved NE. Lupe left it here, heading NW up onto a little ridge. HP4929 was visible ahead. Aiming for a pass W of HP4929, the Carolina Dog climbed slowly through a pine forest full of thickets of tall bushes with orange leaves.

Heading N on USFS Road No. 170.3A. Photo looks N.

About to leave the road to start up the slope ahead. Photo looks N.

**HP4929** (R). Lupe headed for the pass (L) from here. Photo looks NW.

A valley was ahead. Rather than continue across it toward the pass, Looper turned W and kept climbing. Soon the traverse got so steep that going SSW directly up the slope appeared to be the best option.

Close to **HP4929** (Center), but with a valley ahead. Photo looks NNW.

Turning W to avoid the valley. Photo looks W.

Going straight up the slope. Photo looks SSW.

It was a long way up, but the terrain finally leveled out. Lupe reached a sunlit forest on a gently rounded hilltop. Ready for a breather, SPHP sat down for a look at the topo map.

Is this the summit, SPHP?

One of ’em, Loop. Three 5100 foot contours on this mountain. This is Peak 5100’s E summit, site of the smallest contour. There is a SW summit 0.25 mile W of here, and another one N of that one. Both of those contours are significantly larger, so the true summit is likely at one of those locations. We’re going to have to visit all three high points to be certain you’ve been to the true summit.

No harm in having a chocolate coconut bar right here, is there, SPHP?

Oh, I don’t suppose so.

**Peak 5100’s E summit**. Photo looks WSW.

Not much to be seen up here with all the trees. SPHP’s pack was soon one chocolate coconut bar lighter as the American Dingo continued on, heading W in search of the true summit. A rounded ridge led down to a shallow saddle where a forested hillside was ahead.

Did seem like Lupe had maybe gained a little more elevation than she’d lost on the way over here by the time she reached a single modest-sized rock near the W end of a small, flat ridge.

Starting down the rounded ridge. Photo looks, WSW.

At the **saddle between the E and SW summits**. Photo looks W.

**Peak 5100’s SW summit**. Photo looks WSW.

1:52 PM, 46ºF, SW summit of Peak 5100 – Lupe stood on the SW summit. Again, not much to see. Narrow glimpses of Veteran Peak (5,333 ft.) and Custer Peak (6,804) were about it for views.

**Veteran Peak** (Center). Photo looks SE.

**Custer Peak** (Center). Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

Soooo, SPHP! How about a chocolate …

Oh, no you don’t, gluttonous Dingo! You’re not getting 3 chocolate coconut bars out of this mountain. Didn’t even bring that many. Have some Taste of the Wild, instead. Better for you.

Taste of the Wild was graciously accepted. SPHP munched an apple. A pleasant enough spot, but not much reason to linger here, either. As soon as the apple disappeared, Lupe headed N.

**Peak 5100 SW summit**. Another angle. Photo looks E.

About to leave the **SW summit region**. Photo looks N.

Another forested slope led gradually down to a broad saddle where the terrain began to rise again. Peak 5100’s N summit region proved to be rockier than the other two high points. A little ridge of gray stone rose several feet above the rest of the region. The high point was toward the N end, beyond a big bush.

First rock formation encountered on the way to the N summit. Photo looks NNW.

On **Peak 5100’s N summit ridge**. Photo looks N.

Congratulations, Looper! You’ve done it! Climbed your second Peak 5100 of the day.

Thank you, SPHP! Is this the true summit?

Hah! No idea, Loop. Might be. These high points all have too many trees, are too far apart, and too close to the same elevation to tell. You’ve been to all three, though, so mission accomplished somewhere along the way.

Exploring farther N along the N ridge, Lupe eventually came to a saddle. Turning W here, she wandered down to USFS Road No. 171.

Exploring **N of the N summit**. Photo looks NNE.

On the way down to USFS Road No. 171. Photo looks NW.

Once on No. 171, Looper went S. The road curved around the end of a short W ridge, then down to an area SW of Peak 5100 where 2 men were setting up for target practice. Knowing that gunfire would make Lupe super nervous, SPHP didn’t stop to chat, instead taking a shortcut SE down to USFS Road No. 170.

**W of Peak 5100** on USFS Road No. 171. Photo looks WSW.

Shortcutting down to USFS Road No. 170. Photo looks SE.

Heading E along No. 170, SPHP collected Lupe treasures during the 0.7 mile return to the RAV4. (End 2:36 PM)

3:13 PM, 48ºF, Whitewood Peak Road off 76 Ranch Road –

I don’t know about this, Loopster. Thought we would find better access. Maybe this isn’t such a hot idea? Dark before we get back for sure. Might be dark before we even get to Peak 5177. Still want to try it?

The Carolina Dog was game. Alright then. Advisable or not –

Onward, Puppy, ho!

Lupe set out on a short flat stretch of road that the map showed going through private property to USFS land. Not posted, not even fenced, and no tracks in the snow. Probably no big deal. No harm done in any case.

On the USFS access road. Photo looks NW.

Took Loop only a few minutes to get to a USFS sign. The road continued NW toward a green gate. More private property beyond it. Lupe was far more interested in several deer staring at her from beyond the gate.

Nope, not going that way! Going to stick with USFS land the rest of the way. At this point, that meant heading N. Surprisingly, a faint dirt road covered with pine needles started up in the right direction.

On the fortuitous faint road. Photo looks NE.

The road climbed fairly aggressively for almost 200 feet, when off to the L, a strange structure came into view. Having never seen one quite like it before, Lupe went over to check it out.

Following the road higher. Photo looks N.

By the mysterious wooden wigwam. Photo looks NW.

A wooden wigwam! Although in good condition, the wigwam was poorly furnished. Two short sections of a log served as seats, but that was it. How long it had been here, who had built it, and whether or not they might return was an archeological mystery. The wigwam would be a good landmark, though, on the way back from Peak 5177.

Heading NW from the wigwam, Lupe discovered a single track path. The path persisted all the way to a fence at the NE corner of private property. Just N of the fence on USFS land was another road, a better one than the faint road Lupe had abandoned near the wigwam.

Following this new road W, it went over a little rise, then led to a small, sunny clearing. A short distance beyond the clearing, the Carolina Dog arrived at a fork. The better road remained quite level as it headed off to the NW. A fainter road angled W up a slope.

Which way, SPHP?

Keep going W, Loop. Stay to the L.

The big tree (R) is the NE corner post of the fence NW of the wigwam. Photo looks NW.

Approaching the sunny clearing. Photo looks WNW.

At the fork. Loop took the fainter road to the L. Photo looks WNW.

A short trek on the faint road got Lupe up onto a ridge. The road turned S here, heading downhill. Before long, the American Dingo came to a pile of branches laid across the road in line with a fence.

At the pile of branches that the fence lined up with. Photo looks S.

Alrighty, I think I know where we are again, Loop. Still private property S of us here, so we need to follow this fence W to wherever it ends.

Following the fence W, Lupe continued losing elevation while traversing a fairly steep slope covered with slick pine needles. No problem for the Carolina Dog, but inconvenient for SPHP. Entirely manageable, but not much fun.

The fence went on for quite a long way before Lupe finally came to what seemed to be a corner. Whether it really was one or not, wasn’t entirely clear. The fence didn’t go any farther W, but more USFS boundary posts could still be seen at intervals that way.

Passing below a big rock outcropping. Photo looks N.

The apparent corner at the W end of the fence. Photo looks NW.

Maybe Loop ought to go a little farther W? She needed to cross a valley to the S, though, to get to Peak 5177, and the farther W she went, the more elevation she would have to lose. Passing another USFS boundary marker, Lupe continued W down to a saddle leading to a small hill. Here she turned S, descending into the valley.

Beyond the fence, heading down to the saddle (Center). Photo looks W.

By the time Lupe reached the valley floor, she had already lost hundreds of feet of elevation. About time to start regaining it, and then some! First, though, Loop went a little farther W, looking for an opening in the trees and bushes on the S side of the valley.

Before long, she found one. Scrambling only a little higher, Lupe came to yet another road. It went gradually downhill as it went farther W, but at least it was a fast route. Loop followed this new road, hoping it would turn SW and lead up to the saddle just E of Peak 5177.

No such luck! The road soon dead-ended at a turn-around loop.

On the road discovered just S of the valley floor. Photo looks WNW.

At the turn-around loop. Photo looks WNW.

Well, shucks. A big steep climb was unavoidable now. Turning S, Lupe started up a slope thick with bushes and white-barked aspens. Since this was a N slope, in some places snow made the going slick. At the top of this long climb was yet another road.

By now, the sun was close to the horizon.

On the next road at the top of the big climb. None of these roads, other than the short one at the start, were shown on the topo map. Photo looks W.

Turning W again, this latest road soon brought Lupe to a small clearing. Just to the S was a better road. Taking it W, it immediately went down to the saddle leading to Peak 5177. On the way, Lupe passed another USFS boundary sign. Apparently, the American Dingo hadn’t gone far enough W before turning S, but nothing to be done about that now.

Heading down to the saddle immediately E of Peak 5177. Photo looks W.

After crossing the saddle, the road continued W, winding higher through an increasingly gloomy forest. Lupe hurried on, finally reaching Peak 5177’s N ridge.

A chilly 10-15 mph NW wind was blowing. Still some light in the sky, but the world looked dark. Rock formations along the W edge of the ridge provided a big view of both Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) and more distant Deer Mountain (6,652 ft.) beyond the lights of Deadwood.

Wow, quite a view, SPHP!

It is! Kind of a unique vantage point. Too bad, it’s so dark already. The camera overcompensates in these low light conditions, making things much brighter than they really are, but fuzzy, too.

Use the flash then, SPHP!

Heh. That only works close up, Looper. Can’t light up the entire Black Hills!

**Terry Peak** (Center) and **Deadwood** (L). Blurry Dingo (R). Photo looks SW.

Still rising, the road Lupe had been following curved N. The topo map, however, marked Peak 5177’s presumed true summit 0.2 mile farther S at the SW end of the mountain.

Pines swayed in the breeze as Loop roamed S through the woods looking for it. Coming to a small ridge a bit higher than the rest of the mountain, SPHP encouraged her to leap up onto the highest rock.

At what might have been **Peak 5177’s true summit**. Photo looks ESE.

5:18 PM, 40ºF, Peak 5177 – It wasn’t much farther to another minor high point about where the true summit was supposed to be. Maybe this was it? Hard to say for sure in the dark forest. Probably was, if that last little high point hadn’t been it. 20 feet away, surrounded by cliffs on 3 sides, a tall pole stood on a level platform of limestone that jutted out to the W.

**Peak 5177’s SW high point** and **likely true summit**. Photo looks W.

Oh, look at that view, SPHP! Highlight of the day! A shame we didn’t get here while the sun was still up.

That’s the way it goes, Loopster. Guess we knew it might get dark on us. Just such a long, winding, up and down route to get here trying to avoid all that private property, that it chewed up all of our daylight.

Not entirely dark yet, though. As Lupe ventured out onto the platform, the last fiery glow of sunset was still fading on the horizon.

Out on the platform near the true summit. Photo looks NW.

**Terry Peak** and the **lights of Deadwood** (L). Photo looks WSW.

About the same spot using the flash. Photo looks WSW.

Although the view from the platform was awesome, the cold NW wind made it an uncomfortable spot to relax. Heading a little farther S, Lupe came to a grassy slope sheltered from the wind. Looking S, residential lights twinkled in an otherwise black abyss, while off to the SW, it was still possible to see the lights of Deadwood, and silhouettes of Terry Peak and Deer Mountain against the sky.

Well, quite a day, Loopster! 3 Lists of John peaks climbed! Peak 5177 has been a rather memorable one, too. Ready for that last chocolate coconut bar now?

Silly question, SPHP. I’ve been ready, and you know it!

The last chocolate coconut bar vanished. So did most of the remaining Taste of the Wild supply, and the last apple.

Oh, it was a long dark trek back! In the faint beam of the little flashlight, the American Dingo explored a somewhat different route. Although she must have passed close to the wooden wigwam again at some point, SPHP never could find it again, getting lost in the inky black forest while wandering a maze of unfamiliar, unmarked roads to who knew where?

At last, the lights of a big house appeared to the S. Lupe crossed a huge field, and there, near the end, was the RAV4.

All’s well that ends well, Loop! Couple more outings and your Lists of John mini-blitz will be complete!

Is that all, SPHP? I’m that close to my achievement?

Oh, yeah! Not much more to do now! You go, Dingo! (7:16 PM, 44ºF)

**Deer Mountain** & **Terry Peak** from **Peak 5177**, Black Hills of South Dakota 1-23-22

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Lupe treasures gathered – 3 plastic bottles, 16 aluminum cans.

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