11:02 AM, 53ºF, Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 –
Hurry up, SPHP! It’s a gorgeous day!
That’s why we’re here, Looper. Last nice day before your birthday.
My birthday is coming? When?
In only 3 more days, Loop. Supposed to be a snowstorm, though, so we won’t be doing anything in the Black Hills then. Today will have to suffice as your birthday adventure served up a bit early, I’m afraid.
Better late than never, SPHP! And better early than late!
As soon as SPHP was ready, Lupe set out on Centennial Trail No. 89, which began flat as a pancake running SE parallel to Rapid Creek, but a little way from it. At first, tall dry grass and bushes hid the stream, but 5 minutes was all it took to reach a bridge.
After crossing the spiffy bridge over Rapid Creek, even more bushes lined the trail, which still bore a skiff of snow along in here.
5 minutes from the first bridge, a second one appeared. After crossing it, too, the Tamarack trailhead was only a short distance farther. From the trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 ran E along a barbed wire fence for a little way. After passing an old cabin to the S, the trail went through the fence, then turned SE again. A steady climb through pine forest ensued.
After gaining 120 feet of elevation, Centennial Trail No. 89 leveled out at a small clearing where there was a junction with USFS Road No. 165.1A.
Taking the road ENE (L), it almost immediately curved S, and began a steady descent. Another road junction was soon in sight. Toward the R, Centennial Trail No. 89 continued S, following USFS Road No. 165.1D up Tamarack Gulch.
Don’t go that way, Loop! Go L instead.
We’re leaving Centennial Trail No. 89, SPHP? Where are we off to then?
Thought it might be fun to climb Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.), Loop. Kind of a favorite spot, and we haven’t been there in a long, long time.
Oh, that sounds good, SPHP!
That’s what I like about you, Looper! You’re never picky as long as we’re going somewhere.
Sticking with USFS Road No. 165.1A, Lupe turned L at the junction, soon passing the remains of an ancient cabin on the L. Beyond it, the road curved SE and began climbing steadily up a fairly narrow valley.
After nearly 0.5 mile, No. 165.1A finally topped out at a lumpy spot. This was Pass 4780. A junction with USFS Road No. 722.1B was just beyond this high point.
Which way now, SPHP? L or R?
Thrall Mountain is R, Looper, but we’ve got plenty of time. Peak 5040 is only 0.25 mile N, and we’ve never been there before. Might have a decent view of Thrall from up there, or even catch a glimpse of Pactola Reservoir. Want to climb Peak 5040?
Fine with me, SPHP! Exploring is fun! L then?
Yup!
No 722.1B wound around a bunch on the way up Peak 5040. No distant views present until the American Dingo reached a break in the forest where a power line running E/W crossed the upper S slope. The top of Thrall Mountain was visible from here, but Lupe wasn’t high enough to see much more than that.
No. 722.1B continued N beyond the power line. Although almost certain the forest was going to block any better views, SPHP figured Lupe might as well finish her Peak 5040 ascent. Didn’t take long to reach the road’s high point. Leaving the road, a short climb WSW got Loopster to the summit.
As expected, no views. After standing on the highest rock formations, it was time for a break.
Pleasant enough, but Peak 5040 isn’t honestly all that scintillating, SPHP.
They can’t all be magnificent, Looper. Nice, quiet spot, though. How about we share a chocolate coconut bar? Would that be scintillating enough?
A vast improvement, I’m sure. Bring it on, SPHP!
After supplementing the chocolate coconut bar with a little Taste of the Wild and water, the Carolina Dog was ready to move on. Rather than immediately returning to the road the way she came up, Lupe sniffed SW through the forest for a little way.
Turning S, Loop soon came to the power line again. A bit farther W now than she had been earlier, there actually was a view of Pactola Reservoir from here, as well as another glimpse of Thrall Mountain.
Continuing to explore S, Lupe eventually rejoined USFS Road No. 722.1B. Following it back to Pass 4780, this time she continued ESE down a long valley. Crusty old snow lingering on the shaded road crunched loudly beneath SPHP’s boots.
0.5 mile from Pass 4780, the valley opened up. The road bottomed out amid a sunlit meadow bordered by stands of leafless aspens.
This is a pretty spot, SPHP! Very secluded.
Yes, it is, Loopster. Seems familiar, too. Almost certain I remember being here with you late on a snowy winter afternoon. We were on our way back from Thrall Mountain. Such a long time ago, almost like a dream!
Crossing the low spot, USFS Road No. 722.1B started uphill again, first curving N then switchbacking sharply S before resuming a SE course. After a steeper, steady climb, the road turned NE and promptly leveled out. A side road took off to the N, and another power line running N/S was visible a little farther E. SPHP checked the map.
Alrighty, Loop! This must be Pass 4730. We need to take No. 722.1C now. That’s the road going N.
Abandoning USFS Road No. 722.1B, Lupe followed No. 722.1C 0.2 mile N to Pass 4850. The power line she’d seen at Pass 4730 crossed this pass just a little E of the road. Going over to it, Lupe enjoyed a better view of Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.) than the one she’d had from Peak 5040.
Returning to No. 722.1C, Lupe continued N into the next valley, passing under the power line coming E from Peak 5040 on the way. Quickly looping S back to it again, the road turned E following the power line right-of-way, which now provided a direct route to the base of Thrall Mountain’s S slope.
After passing a faint remnant of USFS Road No. 722.1D, which curved off to the NW, Lupe began angling NE, starting her ascent.
Thrall Mountain’s S slope was nearly all forested. A fairly gentle grade soon became quite steep as Lupe climbed among scattered rocks and deadfall. Higher up, there was less deadfall, but more rock. Loop came to a boulder field, but by then she was already getting close to the top.
2:08 PM, 52ºF, Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.) – Lupe reached the summit region on a ridge a little bit E of the true summit. SPHP was gazing NNE toward Turkey Ridge and Prehistoric Ridge, when the American Dingo made a quiet announcement.
SPHP!
Hmm? What is it, Loop?
We’re not alone!
What? Not alone? Unheard of! That was the last thing SPHP expected. At least, not on a Black Hills peak without a road or maintained trail to the top. Thrall Mountain had neither, yet glancing W toward the true summit, SPHP saw that Lupe was right. Someone was sitting there next to a huge cairn!
So Loopster met Donovan. Turned out that meeting him wasn’t quite as enormous a coincidence as SPHP first thought. Donovan had lived in the nearby Johnson Siding region since 1995. He’d lost track of exactly how many times he’d climbed Thrall Mountain, but was pretty certain this was somewhere around his 1,100th ascent!
Donovan was friendly and most gracious. SPHP enjoyed a nice 10 or 15 minute chat with him. Having been up here so many times, Donovan said he usually didn’t stay long. He’d been about ready to start back down when Lupe showed up. Before departing, Donovan mentioned a registry hidden within the cairn, then he was on his way.
Did you hear that, SPHP? Donovan has been up here 1,100 times!
Yes, I did. Simply amazing! Another 1,097 ascents of Thrall Mountain, and you’ll have caught up with him, Loop. Provided, of course, that he never comes back, which seems like a decidedly poor bet.
Oh, I’m not doing that, SPHP! Nothing against Thrall Mountain, it’s lovely, but I’m not climbing any mountain 1,100 times. I don’t mind coming back to favorite places now and then, but I’d usually rather explore new ones.
Good! I feel the same way. Unless I really ace a creative writing course, I suspect 1,097 repeats wouldn’t make for a very spell-binding blog, anyway, so that’s probably for the best, Loopster.
Unsurprisingly, the registry tube contained a big notebook chock full of entries, no doubt nearly all by Donovan. Nevertheless, after reading a few, SPHP entered Lupe’s name, temporarily breaking the pattern.
You know what, SPHP? I bet Donovan built this huge cairn all by himself! All he would have had to do would have been to put a rock in his pocket every time he comes up here, and add it to the collection.
I bet you’re right, Loop! Most of these cairn rocks don’t look like anything naturally up here already. Who else would have built it? Building it this big would have been quite a project for anyone who hadn’t been here 1,100 times, which includes everyone in the whole world other than Donovan.
Yes, it’s an impressive cairn, but I still like your method better, SPHP.
Huh? What are you talking about, Loop? I almost never build cairns, and rarely tote any rocks. Seems like work. Unnecessary work, at that!
I’m not talking about rocks, SPHP, or even cairns. I’m talking about what you actually do bring up mountains. In fact, I’m really hoping you’ve brought another one up this mountain!
Oh, I get it, sly Dingo! Hint, hint, aye?
Evidently, time for another break, or at least, another chocolate coconut bar! Pines blocked the views in almost every direction, but exploring a little way down the S slope, there was a decent place to sit with a nice view of Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) on the horizon.
The chocolate coconut bar vanished. Lupe lingered, enjoying the view. Mid-afternoon, but the December sun was already low. SPHP wanted to check out another favorite Thrall Mountain viewpoint, a ridge of big rocks over-looking a steep, extensive boulder field on the upper NNW slope. After returning to the summit cairn, Lupe headed that way.
The views were much more open here, a sweeping panorama to the N and W. Hat Mountain (4,883 ft.) wasn’t very high or big, but it’s circular shape made it easy to pick out. A bit farther E, Norris Peak (4,982 ft.) stood out a lot more.
Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) was discernable on the far NW horizon. Much closer, many other peaks were visible among the rumpled forested hills to the W and NW, but with the exception of Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.), few were as readily identifiable. Still, it was a pretty scene, and Lupe was having fun scrambling around on the big rocks.
3:28 PM, Thrall Mountain – How times flies! Hat Mountain, Norris Peak, Perrin Mountain, Lupe had been to all of them, but years ago now. Good to see them again, if only from a distance. Now Lupe sat in the slanting rays of what passed for late afternoon sun in December, the magnificent cairn built by Donovan behind her.
You’re beautiful Lupe, and I love you! Guess this is about it for your last adventure while you’re still 11. Did you enjoy coming to Thrall Mountain?
Oh, yes! Of course, I did, SPHP! We even met the King of Thrall Mountain. That doesn’t happen every day.
Lupe hadn’t made it very far down the S slope when SPHP noticed both New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.) and Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.) in a gap in the trees.
Your birthday, Christmas, then weather permitting, New Year’s Eve Peak, Loop! Won’t be long before we’re way over there! 2023 will be upon us!
Don’t rush it, SPHP! Every day is precious. Let’s enjoy them all while 2022 is still here!
With the exception of skipping Peak 5040, the American Dingo’s return route was the same. Following these seldom visited old USFS roads as light faded, it was up and down the long quiet valleys, and over all the minor passes. Evening gloam grew. The brightest stars twinkled. It was all wonderful, every moment alone together, as always. (4:59 PM, 38ºF)
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Lupe’s Thrall Mountain GPS Track (12-11-22)
Lupe’s 12th Birthday! (12-14-22)
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 113 – The Search for Thrall Mountain (1-1-15)
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 114 – Thrall Mountain (1-10-15)
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!