9:14 AM, 41ºF, Pactola Reservoir S boat launch – Several people were out on frozen Pactola Lake when the Carolina Dog sprang from the G6.
Ice fishing! Are we going ice fishing, SPHP?
That would be a new one, wouldn’t it? But no ice fishing for us, Loopster! Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to find and climb Peak 5581. Maybe a couple of other peaks, too, if that goes well.
Mission impossible, unless you brought a map, SPHP. Never heard of Peak 5581 before.
I just so happen to have a topo map of the relevant territory, lucky Dingo! Peak 5581 is only about a mile SW of here. Shall we?
A mile SW? Follow me, SPHP!
Taking the boat launch access road, Lupe headed SW back up through the Pactola campground, then plunged into the forest.
Shortly after leaving the pavement, Lupe came across a faded remnant of a road on the SE side of a sloping, grassy valley. Following it farther up into the forest, she soon had a decision to make. Directly ahead was a very steep hill. L or R to try to get around it? SPHP consulted the map.
Go R, Looper!
This is going to be easy with the map, isn’t it, SPHP?
Should be! That’s why I almost always bring one.
The terrain steepened as Lupe turned W. More hills boxed in the upper valley. A ravine toward the S looked like the best route higher. The first part of the ravine was full of small pines. Before long they gave way to rock outcroppings and more open terrain toward the N.
A minor saddle soon appeared on the N side of the ravine. Lupe went up to it. Some flat ground, and a small rocky hill to the E. Very little in the way of views due to the trees, but this spot was identifiable on the map.
Trending WSW from the saddle, Lupe sniffed her way higher staying N of the ravine. No big rock formations along in here, but plenty of rocks were strewn about the forest.
The trek became easier and easier. Making good progress, Loop came to Kinnikinnick Park, a gently sloping region where the forest must have been thinned years ago.
After crossing Kinnikinnick Park, the terrain steepened again. By now the ravine had disappeared. Entering denser forest, Looper climbed nearly to the top of a ridge. Reaching some rock formations at the SE end, Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) and Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.) were on the SE horizon.
A point of more immediate interest was visible 0.5 mile SSW.
Peak 5581! That has to be it, doesn’t it, SPHP?
Yup! I think so, Looper. You’ve found it, all we need to do now is climb it!
200+ feet of elevation had to be lost to get over to the base of Peak 5581. The map showed a steady march down to a saddle along the mountain’s N flank, but reality was more complicated than that. A descent of only 100 feet led to an initial low point. Surprisingly, this was followed by an ascent of a modest intervening hill not shown on the map.
A second descent of at least 100 feet ensued. This region seemed to be very remote, but loggers must have been scoping out the area recently. Many of the larger trees were marked with fresh orange or pink paint. Following a line of pink trees, Loop reached the saddle immediately N of Peak 5581, where hundreds of tiny pines were growing in a clearing.
Glimpses of Peak 5581’s upper N face on the way over here had looked pretty steep. SPHP thought the NW ridge might be somewhat easier, so the American Dingo angled toward it as she began her ascent.
A fairly steep rocky spine ran straight up the NW ridge. With her 4 on the floor, Lupe had no problem, but 0.5″ of snow was enough to make the ascent slippery for SPHP.
The rocky spine went all the way to the top. The Carolina Dog reached a 100 foot long summit ridge that sloped up to the SE. Loopster was on her way to the high point when she came to a nice opening with a great view of Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.) and New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.).
Going all the way to the SE end of the ridge, the true summit turned out to be a skinny rock standing on end that stuck up several inches higher than any of the others. Lupe tapped the top of it with her paw, but it was much too small to stand on. Bigger rocks nearly as high had to serve for her summit photos.
The best spot to sit near the true summit was just past the highest rocks. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap. The big view from here was of Boulder Hill and Silver Mountain miles beyond the barren Bald Hills.
So is Peak 5581 one of your Lists of John peaks, SPHP?
Yes, it is, Loop. Not bad, is it? Bet hardly anyone ever comes here!
How much prominence?
321 feet. So, not much above our 300 foot minimum cutoff. Want to split a chocolate coconut bar to celebrate your successful ascent, Looper?
Thought you’d never ask!
Supposed to be sort of a warm day, but it sure wasn’t up here. Not much above freezing. The sky was now completely overcast, and every time the SW breeze stirred it felt rather chilly. 45 minutes went by. Plenty of time yet. Loop might as well have a go at Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.).
SPHP wasn’t really looking forward to going back down Peak 5581’s slick NW ridge, but the rest of the mountain was even steeper. Staring down the S slope, though, SPHP got the idea that maybe it wasn’t all that bad? No snow with the S exposure, which would make a huge difference, and a more direct route to Scruton Mountain, too.
Lupe started down.
Loose, flat stones and steep for a long way, but the S slope went fine. Lupe angled toward the saddle W of Peak 5581. Once SPHP got there, the Carolina Dog crossed the saddle and began climbing SW up the next ridge. Upon reaching the ridgeline, she turned SE. Still climbing, Loop made it to a high point where there was a sizable rock formation.
The ridge headed SSW from here. At first, Loopster lost elevation as she followed the ridge through the forest, but soon found herself climbing to another even higher spot. A line of rocks at this second high point wasn’t as impressive.
A deeper dip in the ridge lay beyond this second high point, but Lupe soon regained part of this elevation loss, too. The ridge turned SE again, and became a narrow line of layered boulders inclined at a sharp angle.
The American Dingo leapt among the boulders toward a higher, wider part of the ridge. However, SPHP tired of the scramble, and dropped down to easier terrain SW of the ridgeline.
The situation was much better below. Heading SSE, Loop reached a flat region between the ridge she’d been on and Scruton Mountain. SPHP paused beneath a pine tree, taking another break. Lupe was content to rest for a while, but was ready to go when SPHP began to stir again.
By now Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.) was only 0.4 mile SW as the crow flies. If Lupe went just a little SE, she would run into an access road that wound more than twice that far up to the Seth Bullock fire lookout tower on top. However, it seemed more fun to explore the territory N of the mountain than to trudge along a road. Loop headed SW into the forest.
At first it was pretty easy, but large quantities of deadfall were an issue as Lupe got closer to the mountain. Scruton’s NW slope wasn’t quite as steep as the N face, so the Carolina Dog worked her way over to it. Still a fairly steep climb with plenty of deadfall, but Loop made it to the top.
A tall, chain-link fence denied access to the lookout tower. Lupe had come up W of it, but it looked like there was higher ground on the other side. Circling around the S side of the fence, Loop scrambled up to the highest rocks just E of the tower. Here she had a great view to the S of New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.) and False North Point (6,130 ft.).
The rocky ridge Lupe was on extended another 200 feet SE. Looked like the highest rocks were somewhere over close to the far end. Scrambling all the way back down and heading in that direction, Looper discovered a trail to the true summit.
Tucked back in among a few trees, the true summit was a rock barely any higher than some of the others. Judging from some old stone steps and various concrete supports and pads, there must have been a cabin and some other USFS installations up here at one time.
Far more interesting were the views of Peak 5581 and the Seth Bullock lookout tower. Surprisingly little of Pactola Reservoir was in sight from Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.), only the part near the dam.
Chocolate coconut bar time, SPHP!
Sounds like a plan, Loop!
The chocolate coconut bar wasn’t the only victim as Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap. Most of the Taste of the Wild and the last apple disappeared, too. Plenty of water leftover, though. Lupe had been eating snow, and it was still chilly enough so that SPHP didn’t need much water, either.
After being overcast for hours, the sun was trying to break through the clouds. Scattered patches of blue sky were slowly spreading. Whenever the sun shone on Scruton Mountain, Lupe and SPHP hopped up hoping to get some better photos.
Opportunities were fleeting. More often than not, the favorable light vanished almost immediately. Loopster had some success, including a particularly nice look at Peak 5800 and Peak 5917.
Peak 6070 might have been in the cards, if it had been a little warmer out. Late enough now, though, so that would have inevitably meant a long march back in darkness. Still would have been feasible, since roads went all the way back to Pactola Lake. SPHP dithered before deciding against it.
So Lupe lingered on Scruton Mountain in a chilly SW breeze enjoying the peace, views, and solitude. An hour and 20 minutes after arriving, the Carolina Dog again stood W of the lookout tower. Starting down the access road, she stopped at a beautiful view of green pine-scented hills stretching away to the NW.
Look at that, SPHP! We’ll always have more to explore in the Black Hills, won’t we!
Forever and ever, sweet Dingo! Happy days! (End 5:59 PM, 38ºF)
Lupe treasures collected along the roads on the way back to Pactola Lake: 1 glass bottle, 8 aluminum cans, 1 tin can, 2 metal filter housings.
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Scruton Mountain on SummitPost.org
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