8:28 AM, 41ºF, start of USFS Road No. 216.1, 0.5 mile SE of Custer Peak – Bright and breezy when Lupe hopped out of the G6. Such a long time since she’d been here! Snow! Only yesterday, deadfall had been her bane on the way to Peak 5316 in the southern Black Hills. Snow was much more to the American Dingo’s liking.
To what do I owe this great honor, SPHP?
What honor is that, Loop?
2 Black Hills Expeditions in a row. Been forever since we’ve done that!
Ahh! Easily explained. This is the last warm day before a long cold snap moves in. We’ve been spoiled! Real winter is on the way. Subzero every night! A few more days until it gets that bad, but the deterioration is supposed to start this evening with a chilly wind out of the NW. Sort of surprised at how breezy it is already.
Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad we’re here! C’mon, SPHP, I’ll race you to the top!
Heh. Might as well chalk another one up for the Carolina Dog right now. SPHP started the trudge WNW, snow crunching underpaw.
This was familiar territory. Looper’s 7th ascent of Custer Peak, in fact. Want the best views in the N central Black Hills? The under 2 mile road trek up to the fire lookout tower on Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) is where to go. Dominant views of the entire region! Judging by how breezy it was down here, though, might be a gale up there today.
For nearly a mile, USFS Road No. 216.1 gradually steepened as it curved NW on the way to the saddle between Peak 6600 and Custer Peak. The E face of Peak 6600 came into sight less than halfway there. It wasn’t until Lupe got to the saddle region that she had her first really good look at Custer Peak.
USFS Road No. 216.1 curved sharply SSE shortly before Lupe got to the saddle. However, No. 216.2A continued right on up to the saddle, where SPHP was surprised to see a new outhouse. New in the 4.5 years since Lupe had last been here, that is. At the saddle, No. 216.2A turned toward Custer Peak. The road would go nearly all the way to the top.
At SPHP’s insistence, Lupe paused early on the No. 216.2A trek for a good look at the NE face of Peak 6600.
Didn’t take Loopster long to get to where No. 216.2A approached the base of Custer Peak. From here, the road climbed steadily, ultimately completing a clockwise circuit of the entire mountain. The views were fabulous where unobstructed, as they were most of the way up.
Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) to the NW was the most impressive sight, but the Carolina Dog was happier on the E and S sides of the mountain, where she was protected from the gusty wind which continually strengthened as she gained elevation.
No. 216.2A dead-ended 100 feet below the summit. Exposed to the wind, Lupe did not enjoy the path that switchbacked the rest of the way to the top. SPHP paused to examine a new plaque near the fire lookout tower, but the Carolina Dog was anxious to get out of the breeze.
The wind wasn’t all that terrible, but SPHP had to agree that life was more pleasant on the sunny E side of the lookout tower. To Loopster’s joy, this time SPHP hadn’t forgotten to bring the chocolate coconut bars. She curled up on SPHP’s lap, inhaling her share, then munched some Taste of the Wild.
After a pleasant 10 or 15 minutes peacefully enjoying the views, it was time to brave the wind and take a few photos between major gusts.
Terry Peak (7,064 ft.), framed between Deer Mountain (6,652 ft.) and Bald Mountain (6,617 ft.), was the big view, but Lupe could also see all the way S to Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), and W to the limestone plateau country.
One or two laps around the lookout tower was about all the American Dingo was willing to put up with. She didn’t get any respite from the wind yet, though. After descending the tower steps, SPHP searched for the Custer survey benchmarks near the N side of the foundation.
Lupe’s Custer Peak tour concluded with a look at the views from a short ridge SW of the tower.
40 minutes! After a 4.5+ year absence, hardly seemed enough to do justice to Custer Peak, but the wind wouldn’t let up, and the Carolina Dog was anxious to go. Plenty more to do today, anyway, down where the breeze wouldn’t be so stiff. Lupe started her descent leaving the summit as she’d found it, bathed in sunshine and battered by the wind.
Once back to the road, SPHP paused briefly for another look at Peak 6600, then it was on down around to the leeward side of the mountain.
You sure seem interested in Peak 6600 today, SPHP!
That’s because that’s where we’re going next!
We are? I thought we might be done with the wind and all.
The wind’s not that bad, Loop, especially down below. More adventures in store! We’re going to climb Peak 6600, since it’s got such a fabulous view of Custer Peak, then head NW a few miles to climb Peak 6480.
Peak 6480?
Yes, another 300+ foot prominence peak from Lists of John. Sort of been thinking maybe we ought to start working the 300+ foot prominence lists this year, since you’ve been to just about every named peak in the Black Hills that we can legally climb. Quite a few of them more than once. Gives us new places to explore!
I’m all for exploring, SPHP! Sounds good!
By the time Lupe got back around to the windy N side of Custer Peak, a line of gray clouds could be seen approaching from the NW.
Wonder if that’s the lead edge of the front coming in, Loop? Didn’t think it was supposed to get here until this evening. Hope the wind doesn’t get too much stronger.
Started out OK, but sure hasn’t warmed up any today, either, SPHP.
Reaching the saddle leading to Peak 6600, Lupe left the road, plunging right into the dense, snowy forest. A 260 foot climb almost due S would get her up to the 6600 foot contour at the NW end of the summit ridge.
As expected, the route steadily steepened. Some rocks, some deadfall, but mostly just trees and snow. Lupe had done this once before, nearly 6 years ago, and been rewarded with a fantastic view of Custer Peak. Best one possible, in fact, since Peak 6600 was the easily the highest point anywhere close to Custer Peak, and the summit ridge had a nice rocky spot where an unobstructed view could be obtained.
Lupe wasn’t far from the top when the forest darkened. Overhead, the sky was now a soft gray. What happened to all the sunshine? Loop was right! Felt colder out, too.
C’mon, Looper! The front must be here early! Let’s get up to where we can get a couple of nice shots of Custer Peak before the weather deteriorates any further.
Didn’t take long. A few more minutes, and Loopster was there, standing in the cold wind on the rocky viewpoint at the NW end of Peak 6600.
An hour had gone by since Lupe had left Custer Peak. What a change! Not only had all hint of sunshine utterly vanished, but a massive soft gray cloud hung low over everything. Only on the far horizon did a brighter line indicate the already distant edge of the monstrous cloud.
Custer Peak was still in view, except for the top 50 or 100 feet, where fog was now streaming by. All in shadow now, instead of lovely sunshine, but nothing to be done about that.
Be ready, Loopster! As soon as the fog clears from the summit, we’ll grab a quick photo of Custer Peak before things get any worse.
Bad decision! Should have snapped one right away. The Carolina Dog was ready, but the summit didn’t clear even for an instant. Instead, the cloud suddenly swallowed the entire mountain. Moments later, even Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), far to the S, was gone.
Oh, come on! Really? It’ll clear, if we have a bit of patience, Loop. Got to be a little break before too long.
Lupe seemed unconvinced, but was willing to curl up on SPHP’s lap for the warmth, if nothing else. Another chocolate coconut bar didn’t hurt a thing, either.
No break in the cloud. Peak 6600 became an island in a gray oblivion, the only place left standing in the whole world. 15 minutes ticked away. Tiny snowflakes filled the air.
OooooK! Even I can take a hint, if ya knock me over the head with a 2 x 4! Custer Peak photo isn’t happening, Loop. Wha’dya say we go in search of the true summit of Peak 6600? After that we can see about Peak 6480.
Best idea you’ve had in the last hour, SPHP! Let’s do it!
The summit ridge dipped a bit as Lupe traveled SE along it. Pines and fog hid whatever was ahead until she was almost upon it. After going several hundred feet or more, a sizable rock formation appeared. Possibly the true summit, although no telling in this fog.
Circling around to the SE, Loop found a spot where she could scramble to the top, which proved to be kind of a weird jagged area.
Nope! Not the true summit. Continuing SE only a little farther, Lupe went up a slope to definitely higher terrain. The American Dingo was almost at the SE end of the summit ridge. Congratulations were in order! SPHP was almost certain the elevated line of rock Lupe had reached was the true summit of Peak 6600.
There didn’t seem to be any reason to linger on Peak 6600, especially if Loop still hoped to get to Peak 6480 when the forecast was for steadily deteriorating conditions. A couple of minutes at the top, and Lupe was on her way down the S ridge.
Not too far to USFS Road No. 216.1! The descent went well, and in less than 0.25 mile, Lupe picked the road up again a little SE of a high point. (Point 6427 on the topo map) Looper headed for it, reaching an open gate at the top in a thin fog and light snow.
Continuing NW on the snowy road, Lupe soon came to an intersection at a low spot. A map was posted here. SPHP took a look.
What’s it say, SPHP?
Nothing helpful to us, Looper. It’s a large scale snowmobile trail map.
The way things are going, we’ll be needing a snowmobile before this is over.
That had a ring of truth to it. SPHP looked down at the American Dingo standing patiently on the snowy road, earnestly returning SPHP’s gaze. All around, the forest was a mystery of fog and tiny swirling flakes. Treetops swayed in the wind, releasing occasional cascades of fresh accumulations. Snowing harder. Even Loop was starting to turn white.
Not really that bad out. Barely cold enough for snow, but the temp was supposed to drop, the winds increase. Would it even be possible to find Peak 6480 in the fog? Suppose Lupe did, what then? Not going to see a thing.
What do you think, Loop?
About?
Call it, or go on? We can come back, and do Peak 6480 another time.
Awesome out here in the snowy woods, isn’t it, SPHP?
Absolutely! But possibly pointless, too. Not sure it’s worth trying to go all the way to Peak 6480. Might not recognize it, even if we find it.
Whatever you want to do, SPHP! You know I’ll be there!
Truer words never spoken. Not spoken now either, only conveyed by those completely trusting eyes. No sense in letting a friend like that catch pneumonia!
So, Expedition No. 265 came to an early end. Part success, part failure. 1.5 miles back to the G6. A beautiful time in fog and snow, enjoying winter’s silence and solitude together. (End 1:07 PM, 31ºF)
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How awesome of an adventure! Thank you for sharing
So glad you enjoyed it, Mike!