Start – 8:41 AM, 43°F along Norris Peak Road 0.75 mile from Nemo Road
So was this someone’s driveway or USFS access? Hard to say. No signs, no mailbox. A single set of days old tire tracks was evident on a snowy road that went up a short hillside before curving L out of sight. Lupe and SPHP got out of the G6. Wouldn’t hurt to go see what was around that bend, would it?
No worries! A USFS gate was beyond the curve. The Carolina Dog was good to go! Looper trotted on up past the gate.
Beyond the gate, the road curved NNW and entered a flat, grassy field. Lupe came to a faint 4 way intersection. Only the road to the R was marked. An old brown wand said this was USFS Road No. 166.1I. Lupe went straight ahead. She was on No. 166.1B, though the designation wasn’t known at the time.
No. 166.1B led up a shallow valley. After gaining some elevation, the road wasn’t quite as steep as it curved first NW, then W. The road faded away as Lupe approached what appeared to be the top of a ridge.
Upon reaching the high ground, Lupe found herself on a broad, gently sloping grassy area thinly forested with tall pines. The American Dingo was up on a big ridge alright, but this wasn’t the top. A forested hill was 150 yards or more off to the NW.
Lupe did not climb the hill yet. SPHP wasn’t entirely certain where she was on the topo map. Loop stayed on easier, flatter terrain S of the hill traveling NW among the tall pines.
After less than 0.2 mile, Lupe reached the end of the ridge. She could see Nemo Road down in the Boxelder Creek valley.
SPHP now understood exactly where Lupe was. The forested hill she had just skirted was High Point 4700, summit of the big ridge she was on. Peak 5136, her peakbagging objective, was 1.5 miles due W.
Since Lupe was only a little W of High Point 4700, she might just as well go back and pay it a visit before heading on. She only needed to gain 50 or 60 feet of elevation to reach the top.
At the NW end of High Point 4700, a rock ledge provided views to the N. Pines hid the views in all other directions.
Satisfied she had seen what there was to see, Lupe headed back down to the tall pines. Staying close to the NW end of the ridge, she traveled SW through the sunny tall pines area.
Beyond the tall pines, Loopster came to a more densely forested steep embankment. Only a little snow was on the ground here, which made it slick going for SPHP. However, Lupe easily made it down to a saddle leading to another forested ridge ahead.
Once across the saddle, the climb up onto the next ridge was the steepest of the day. Lupe regained all of the elevation she had lost since leaving High Point 4700 and more. She only had to gain 200 feet, though, before the ridge leveled out.
Lupe continued W along the ridgeline. The ridge narrowed, becoming rocky and rough. A couple of times Loop had to down climb a bit.
After 0.2 mile, Lupe came to a very minor saddle. Beyond this saddle, the ridge widened again and rose steadily. Another 200 feet of elevation gain brought the Carolina Dog to a roomy hilltop. Lupe had reached High Point 4990. She was now only a mile E of Peak 5136.
The last mile was easy. This was Lupe’s favorite part of the entire trek. From High Point 4990 on, the ridge was broad and reasonably level to moderately sloping the whole way. The American Dingo had plenty of room to run around exploring the forest. She had no views, but was happy roaming anyway.
From High Point 4990, the ridge went 0.5 mile NW to High Point 5040. Lupe discovered a snow-covered trail. SPHP followed it much of the way. High Point 5040 proved to be a 10 foot high wall of rock. Kind of odd. Lupe hadn’t passed any similar rock formations since leaving High Point 4990.
For the final 0.5 mile from High Point 5040 to Peak 5136 the broad ridge went WSW. Lupe sniffed wherever she wanted to. SPHP stayed mostly on the trail. When glimpses of blue sky appeared between the trees ahead, it was clear Lupe was nearing her destination.
Lupe arrived at the SW edge of the mountain a little SE of the summit. A great view of the Bogus Jim Creek valley was spread out before her.
A clearing near the W end of the mountain proved to be the true summit of Peak 5136. Lupe had that same terrific view of the Bogus Jim Creek valley from here, but that was about it. Forest hid everything else. SPHP was disappointed that Green Mountain (5,240 ft.) couldn’t be seen.
A narrow, slightly lower rocky ridge continued W. Lupe went partway along it. She found a spot where there was less snow to take a break. She relaxed here, devouring the entire Taste of the Wild supply SPHP had brought along.
While Lupe was relaxing, SPHP noticed Green Mountain actually could be seen between the trees. Only a little piece was visible, but that had to be it! The ridge looked a bit treacherous farther W, but maybe it wasn’t that bad? Maybe there actually was a clearer view of Green Mountain, if Loop could follow the ridge far enough?
So when the American Dingo was ready to move on, the first thing she did was to explore the narrow ridge as far W as she could. She lost more elevation, but the ridge didn’t become impassable. However, no views of Green Mountain materialized until, after going perhaps another 200 feet, Lupe arrived way out at the point at the absolute end. Then sure enough there it was! Green Mountain (5,240 ft.)!
Once upon a time, Lupe had been to Green Mountain. That was 4 years ago now. The summit had been a single rock so high that she needed a boost from SPHP to get up on top. The day had been windy. Loop really hadn’t enjoyed being up there. However, it had been a memorable day. Lupe had seen a rainbow off to the N! In January, no less!
It was fun seeing Green Mountain again from Peak 5136.
Lupe sat out at the end of the point in a strong breeze. Sheltered by the forest on the way to Peak 5136, a gusty 20 mph N wind had barely been noticeable. Loop quickly tired of being exposed to its full force. She’d seen Green Mountain. Enough already! The Carolina Dog headed E back along the narrow ridge.
From the summit, Lupe explored farther SE along the edge of Peak 5136. She came to a spot where she could see Norris Peak (4,982 ft.), Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.), Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) and other high points she recognized far to the S & SE.
Then it was time to depart. Lupe returned to the trail through the snowy woods. She went by High Points 5040 and 4990 again.
Beyond High Point 4990, Lupe altered her return route. From the minor saddle W of the skinny ridge, she descended into a big valley to the SE. Near the floor of this valley she picked up a faint road, which improved as Loop gradually lost elevation.
As SPHP suspected, this road eventually brought Lupe back to the first 4 way intersection she had come to early in the day. She had been on USFS Road No. 166.1H.
Lupe headed back to the USFS gate and the G6. Her adventure to Peak 5136 was over. Peak 5136 hadn’t been a particularly long, difficult, or exciting expedition, but the American Dingo had explored new territory, and seen some places she hadn’t been to in a while.
In the dead of winter, a warm day like this one was a day to cherish. The Carolina Dog had made good use of it. (1:21 PM, 50°F)
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 116 – Green Mountain, Northern Rainbows & High Point 5219 (1-24-15)
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!