10-5-23, 3:30 PM – Oh, happy day! Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea, and new Cousin Dixie were here, newly arrived from Colorado, and destined to spend the next few days at Hotel Lupe! The American Dingo greeted them all with great enthusiasm, then sort of played with Dixie, mostly watching as her Aussie Shepherd cousin tore around the living room.
Lupe was astounded by new Cousin Dixie’s appearance! Only 3 months ago, Dixie had been a mere puppy – cute and fuzzy, and with an already over-developed and rather annoying herding instinct. Since then, Dixie had been completely transformed! Now she was nearly as big as Lupe, and a whirlwind of energy.
All that new Cousin Dixie energy had to go somewhere! Fortunately, this evening it suddenly dawned on Dixie how her Carolina Dog cousin was able to pass through walls like magic. A doggie door! Once Dixie caught on to how it worked, she was as bad as a cat, letting herself in and out at will to race around the back yard whenever she pleased. Best idea ever!
10-6-23, 10:06 AM, USFS Road No. 144.1A – The Hotel Lupe doggie door to the back yard served as a release for some of Dixie’s hyper-activity, but wasn’t a complete solution by any means. However, a Black Hills, SD expedition might do the trick!
The morning air was clean, clear, and on the crisp side when everyone, minus Aunt Andrea, who had gone to spend the day with Grandma, piled out of the RAV4 at the start of USFS Road No. 144.1A. Lupe and Dixie were both excited, and couldn’t wait to get started.
During Dixie’s first ever visit to the Black Hills at the end of June, she’d had fun on 3 mini-expeditions with Lupe. Now that Dixie was 5 months old, Lupe figured she ought to give her energetic cousin an introduction to peakbagging.
SPHP had suggested Peak 5321 as an easy objective. With less than 300 feet of elevation gain required during a mere 1.4 mile, mostly road hike, approach, Dixie’s first ascent attempt would be a guaranteed success! The journey began with a 0.5 mile romp along USFS Road No. 144.1A.
This easy jaunt got Dixie to a broad minor pass. USFS Road No. 144.1A veered off to the SE here. An unmarked road not shown on the maps that branched off to the R was actually the way to go.
Traversing the W slopes of HP5243, the road gradually gained elevation before turning SW and flattening out. Much to Lupe’s dismay, by now it was clear that Dixie hadn’t gotten over her annoying herding instincts at all. The American Dingo did her best to try not to let it get to her. Most of the time, everyone was in fine spirits on this beautiful early autumn day, but with some regularity, Lupe couldn’t help growling or snapping at her bossy new cousin.
Dixie, of course, was completely unfazed. The herding went on.
From the turn SW, Ash Point, established by the “Yogi Clan” in memory of Shirley and Sonya at the edge of a cliff, was only another 0.33 mile.
10-6-23, 10:34 AM – In addition to a terrific view of Nemo hundreds of feet below, Ash Point featured views of both Green Top (5,360 ft.) and White Mansion (5,340 ft.) 3 miles NW, with Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) and Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) on the horizon.
Not trusting Dixie’s puppy exuberance near a cliff, Joe prudently kept her leashed up.
The Yogi Clan had thoughtfully provided a bench so visitors can relax while enjoying the lovely Ash Point views. However, the Carolina Dog merely stood on it for a minute or two before leaping off. Joe and Dixie then demonstrated how to make better use of a bench.
Peak 5321’s summit was only 0.25 mile SSE of Ash Point. However, the road soon curved way E of it on its way S, so Lupe led everyone off into the forest, taking a direct route up a gentle slope.
10-6-23, 10:50 AM, 47ºF, Peak 5321 – A large flat region buried in trees and full of deadfall, Peak 5321 admittedly wasn’t all that scintillating as summits go. At least there was a sunny semi-clearing, the deadfall made reasonably good seats, and there was no edge nearby that Dixie might inadvertently hurtle herself over.
Dixie was bummed that she didn’t get to share in the chocolate coconut bars that Joe, Lupe, and SPHP all enjoyed in honor of her first official Black Hills peak ascent, but she readily accepted Taste of the Wild and water as a consolation prize.
With no summit views, there wasn’t much reason to linger after a short break. However, Ash Point wasn’t the only viewpoint in this general vicinity. On a prior expedition, Lupe had discovered that American Point was less than another 0.25 mile SW along the same line of cliffs.
Dixie and Joe were both willing to check it out. Heading S to pick up the unmarked road again, it led right to American Point.
10-6-23, 11:27 AM, American Point – Oh, yeah! The cheerful American Flag was still here, waving all red, white and blue in the breeze. From a larger limestone platform above the cliffs than the one at Ash Point, the views were similar here, although oriented more toward the SW. It was now possible to see Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) far to the S.
After hanging out near the American flag admiring the views, that was about it for Cousin Dixie’s first ever Black Hills peakbagging experience. The return involved only a pleasant march back along the unmarked road to USFS Road No. 144.1A, and thence on to the RAV4.
Peak 5321 with its nearby Ash Point and American Peak viewpoints had been a nice outing. Even better, with Uncle Joe and Cousin Dixie still checked in at Hotel Lupe, another Black Hills adventure was sure to be on the agenda tomorrow! (End 10-6-23, 12:23 PM)
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Dixie & Lupe’s Scrollable Peak 5321 GPS Track
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 291 – Peak 4980, Peak 5361 & Peak 5321 (1-17-21)
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