Tag: South Dakota

After passing Rochford Road on the L, SPHP started watching for Terry Summit Road on the R, as the descent on Hwy 85/Alt 14 to Cheyenne Crossing began.  USFS Road No. 549 was supposed to be on the L only 0.2 mile past Terry Summit Road, and sure enough, there it was.

9:19 AM, 53°F, start of USFS Road No. 549 along Hwy 85/Alt 14 –

No sign, but this must be it, Loopster!  You ready?

Absolutely, SPHP!  I can hardly wait!  Seems like forever since it’s been just you and me on a Black Hills expedition.

Way too much truth to that.  The last alone together expedition in the hills had been way back on April 8th, nearly 7 months ago!  About time for that to change.

Alrighty, then!  Onward!  Puppy, ho!

Lupe headed for a nearby gate across No. 549.  There was a bit of snow on the ground as she followed the road W after going under the gate.  The snow was a little surprising given how unseasonably warm virtually the entire month of October had been, but Lupe was happy to see it.

The road soon climbed onto a ridge, where it flattened out and promptly curved SSE, entering a meadow of tall, dry, yellow grass.  There was a glimpse of Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) back to the N from here.

SPHP was more interested in the view toward the SW, where the ridge broadened out in a mix of pines, aspens, bushes, and meadow.

Looks interesting!  Are we going that way, SPHP?

Maybe, Loop.  Thought the road was supposed to go this way, but it doesn’t seem to.  Let me check the map.

Heh, we’re already a little off course, Looper.  No. 549 should have gone right over this ridge.  Think we took a wrong turn as soon as we got up here back at the sharp bend.  Appears we’re on No. 549.1C now.

Want to go back to No. 549, SPHP?  Won’t take but a minute or two.

Nah.  This is OK.  More fun wandering off-road, anyway.  We can visit HP6280 along the way, which is a actually bit higher than the mountain we’re trying to get to.  Maybe we’ll see our objective from there?

Exactly where are we trying to get to, SPHP?  You haven’t said.

We’re on our way to Peak 6200, Loop.  It’s a Lists of John peak with over 300 feet of prominence.  Have several of them that you haven’t been to on our list today, if we have time.  The first two should be pretty easy.  Neither one is much of a climb, although there’s some up and down on the way to this first one.

Leaving No. 549.1C, Lupe roamed SSW through the easy territory up on the ridge.  She soon spotted a small rocky rise off to the NW.  Going over to check it out, the view wasn’t all that dramatic, just some forested ridges that weren’t any higher.  If Peak 6200 was in sight, it didn’t really stand out.

Continuing SW to HP6280, there was scarcely any view at all from there.

As yet unseen, or at least unnoticed, Peak 6200 was now only a mile plus W as the crow flies.  Heading in that general direction, Lupe gradually lost elevation.  Shortly before beginning a steeper descent, she came to another decent view of Terry Peak.

Beyond this viewpoint, the terrain dropped steadily as Lupe continued W, but it was all pretty easy.  A pine-forested slope at first, by the time the Carolina Dog was getting close to the saddle leading to Peak 6200, there were sizeable clearings of tall, yellow grass again.

Having lost over 350 feet of elevation, Loop finally arrived at the saddle leading to Peak 6200.  Broad and quite flat, the saddle was half meadow surrounded by pines.  A grassy lane wide enough to have once been a USFS Road left it heading WNW.  A check of the map showed that this was likely USFS Road No. 549’s old route, although there was no sign of any recent use.

Following the grassy lane, it started uphill again.  Before long, it curved SSW, just like USFS Road No. 549 would have.  Loop should have already passed No. 549.1A on the R, but SPHP hadn’t noticed it.  Still, it was now clear that the Carolina Dog really was back on No. 549.

Got any preference, Loop?  The road is going to make a big detour around the S end of this next ridge before turning N for Peak 6200.  Ought to be a super easy route. Alternatively, we can leave the road here and just climb NW directly to the summit.

How much distance do we save leaving the road, SPHP?

Oh, about 0.75 mile, I’d say.

Let’s just head straight for the mountain then, SPHP.  If you like, we can take the road on the way back.

Sounds like a plan, Loopster!

Abandoning No. 549, the American Dingo headed WNW into the woods.

Got a little steep, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Loopster sniffed her way through a pine forest containing quite a few white-barked aspens, already leafless and naked in early November.

The steepest section came just before reaching a clearing up on another saddle.  Still unseen, Peak 6200’s summit was now only 100 feet higher, and 0.15 mile farther NW.  Didn’t take long to get there.

10:47 AM, 57ºF, Peak 6200 – The wind was 15-20 mph out of the SW when Lupe arrived at what seemed to be the highest point of a large nearly flat region.  Not so breezy at ground level, but conditions in the swaying treetops were clearly different.

A skinny, 2-foot high rotting tree stump appeared to be the true summit of Peak 6200.  Not very exciting, but at least there was a decent glimpse of Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) again between the trees.  No views in any other direction.

Congratulations on your successful ascent of Peak 6200, Loopster!  May I shake your paw?

Of course you can, SPHP.  This was so easy!  Hardly worthy of a chocolate coconut bar, but let’s have one anyway!

Bad news on that front, Loopster.  I forgot to bring any, but you can have some Taste of the Wild and water.  Let’s go over closer to the view of Terry Peak, and find a spot to relax for a few minutes.

No chocolate coconut bars, SPHP?  You’re slipping!

Sitting in the cool breeze on what would otherwise have been a pleasant day, a short rest break was taken on a log offering a slightly better view of Terry Peak.  Lupe did have some Taste of the Wild, but she really wasn’t all that hungry yet.

Not much to Peak 6200!  Think I’m ready to move on, SPHP.

Oh, we’re not quite done with Peak 6200 yet, Loop.  We’ve been to where Lists of John shows the true summit, but there a couple more small 6,200 foot contours a bit farther N on the topo map that we ought to check out before departing.

Fine with me, SPHP, but let’s get at it then.

The next high point farther N was only a few hundred feet away, and didn’t seem to be quite as high as where Lupe had just been.  Several big trees were here, but not much in the way of views.

The map actually seemed to indicate this middle high point ought to be a little farther W, but a quick reconnaissance was conclusive.  Nothing any higher over that way, so it was on to the last summit candidate to the N.  More of a dip led to it, followed by a bigger rise, too.  A roomy elevated platform above some limestone outcroppings proved to be the top.

With its bit of relief, this N high point was definitely the most interesting of the 3, but it was hard to say if it was any higher, since neither of the others were visible from here.  At first, SPHP thought this might actually be Peak 6200’s true summit, but later revised that opinion.

Well, shucks, Loop.  Thought we might get a view of Spearfish Canyon near Cheyenne Crossing from here.  No such luck!

Onward then, SPHP!  We’ve got more mountains to climb!

Heading S again, there actually was a view of Deer Mountain (6,652 ft.) from an opening near the N high point.  Lupe paused for a look, before continuing back to Peak 6200’s S high point, which SPHP suspected really was the true summit.

During the return, the American Dingo actually did take the long way around on USFS Road No. 549, exploring new territory.  In fact, although hard to follow in a few sections rapidly reverting back to nature, Lupe stuck with the road all the way back to the RAV4.

12:20 PM, 62ºF, back at the RAV4 –

Well, that was fun!  What’s next, SPHP?  Another Lists of John peak?

Yup!  Peak 5960.  Going to be a bit of a drive, though, it’s pretty remote.

That’s OK, SPHP.  Hoping this next one will have a bit more in the way of views, though.

Not sure that’s going to be the case, Looper, but we’ll know soon enough.  Should actually be even easier than Peak 6200 was.

I’ve got nothing against easy, SPHP.  Drive on!

SPHP didn’t drive far.  It was only 2 miles down to Cheyenne Crossing, where SPHP thought Loop might like a drink out of Spearfish Creek.  Stopping at the general store, it turned out to be closed.  Apparently there had been a fire, although most of the building appeared to be undamaged.

Spearfish Creek was scenic, but Lupe wasn’t thirsty.

1:55 PM, 61ºF, junction of Higgins Gulch Road & USFS Road No. 214.1B –

Remembering that USFS Road No. 222 had been closed last spring, SPHP had taken the long way around to get here.  Probably didn’t matter at all, since Peak 5960 was only about a mile away, and likely to be about it for the day.  Although it was comfortably warm for an early November day, a 20 mph W wind could still be heard in the treetops as Lupe set out along No. 214.1B.

Lupe’s ascent was only going to involve 200 feet of elevation gain over the course of the entire mile with scarcely a dip along the way, about as easy as it could possibly get.  Starting out heading SW, the stroll along No. 214.1B was a pleasant one with open forest on both sides of the road.

The steepest part of the entire ascent, which didn’t amount to much, led to a flat region where Lupe passed a bottle stuck upside down on a tree branch as No. 214.1B curved WNW.  A little farther on, the road more or less ended at the edge of a big field.

After crossing the field, Lupe continued roaming WNW through open forest, slowly gaining elevation again.

Before long, the American Dingo reached an enormous flat region.  This was location of the SE 5960 foot contour.  However, a partial view of the NW 5960 foot region confirmed that it was definitely a bit higher.  Loop continued toward it.

2:34 PM, 60ºF –  A stump toward the SW edge of another huge flat region seemed to be the true summit of Peak 5960.  Similarly high ground was visible to the SSW, the direction of Old Baldy Mountain (6,096 ft.), but once again, nothing really stood out.  A glimpse of more distant ridges to the NW completed the scenic wonders visible from Peak 5960.

Congratulations, Loopster, on your second Lists of John peak of the day!

Certainly easy enough to get here, but it’s not exactly Everest, is it, SPHP?

Uh, no.  You do realize, Loop, that we visit these Lists of John peaks simply because they provide destinations we’ve never been to before.  Mere 300+ foot prominence peaks aren’t all necessarily going to be the site of scenic splendors.  We’ve got to take ’em as we find them.

Oh, I know, SPHP!  Each one is unique, and we always have fun exploring, no matter how they turn out.

That’s the spirit, Looper!  Besides, we ought to appreciate each one.  One of these days before too long, we’re going to run out of Lists of John peaks in the Black Hills.  You’ll have been to every one not on private property.

What will we do then, SPHP?  Our Black Hills expeditions won’t be over will they?  Say it isn’t so!

Of course, not!  We’ll always have something we can do in the Black Hills.  There’s tons of places we’ve never been to before.  We can explore ridges and valleys that aren’t necessarily peakbagging objectives like we used to in the old days, or revisit favorite places we haven’t been to in years.  We could do 3,000 Black Hills expeditions instead of just 300, and still never see it all!

3,000 expeditions, SPHP?  Don’t go loony tunes on me!  We would certainly have seen all the big Black Hills highlights long before then.

Yeah, but we’ll never get tired of the Black Hills, will we, Loop?

No, we won’t, SPHP.  Good point!  So, what’s left for today, anyway?  Are we done, or do we still have another Lists of John peak to go?

Had another one in mind, Loop, but it’s too far away and getting too late in the day.  However, we still have time enough for a couple of other options.  Iron Creek Lake is only a couple of miles SE of here.

A stroll along the lake shore sounds nice, SPHP.  What’s the other choice?

The Needles (5,880 ft.) is NNW.  We were there once long ago.  It’s a more dramatic summit than our Lists of John peaks have been today.  Last time we were there, ladybugs were holding a big convention on the summit.  There are some cool rock formations close to the top, and we saw a terrific sunset, too!

Want to do that, SPHP?  Sounds pretty spiffy!

We won’t get back before dark, though, Loop.  You OK with that?  Should be close to a full moon.

A moonlit return?  Even better, SPHP!

A spur of the moment decision, but The Needles was next.  After a short break on Peak 5960, Lupe headed N.

Going to The Needles meant crossing the Beaver Creek valley.  The initial plan was to continue N from Peak 5960 far enough to reach USFS Road No. 222.1C, then follow it W down a side drainage into the main valley.  However, Loopster soon discovered a grassy lane near Point5806 that took a more direct route lower.

Eh, why not?

The grassy lane went only partway down into the valley, but that was OK.  Lupe enjoyed exploring NW through the forest the rest of the way.  Soon enough, she reached USFS Road No. 222.1C, already way down on the E side of the valley.

Following No. 222.1C N, it wasn’t far to where the road curved E up the drainage Lupe was originally supposed to have come down.  From here, a fainter road continued NNW.  Taking it, this road soon faded away, but not until the American Dingo was getting close to Beaver Creek.

Lupe waded Beaver Creek, while SPHP easily rock-hopped it.  Once on the W bank, the journey N continued another 0.25 mile down the valley.  A couple of ponds down along the creek came into sight off to the NE about the time a gentle side valley appeared to the NW.

Heading up this side valley, Loop soon ran into USFS Road No. 222.1R, which went up over a saddle into Saffron Gulch.  Curving E around the uppermost reaches of the gulch, the road turned N, went past a big rock formation, and climbed to a flat region where a forested hill 0.25 mile NNE was partially obscured by trees.

That’s it, Looper!  The Needles!

Leave the road, SPHP?

Yup, head right for that hill.

Didn’t take long to get there!  The final push to the summit was a short, steep climb up a boulder-strewn slope.  No wondering where the exact true summit was here!  Lupe reached a lofty little perch above a rock bearing a “Needles” survey benchmark.

4:19 PM, 55ºF, The Needles (5,880 ft.) – Some places stick in your mind.  It had been over 6 years since Lupe had first been to The Needles in late September, 2016, but this summit still seemed so familiar.  The highest rock, which had been crowded by the branches of a nearby tree, was even more encroached upon by them now.  Loopster still got up on it, though, with a little help from SPHP.

I don’t know why, but I like this place.  Remember the ladybugs, Loop?  None here now, but there were thousands of them last time we were here.

You’re an odd one, SPHP.  Sentimental about an insect swarm?

Ladybugs are cool!  Colorful red shells with black spots, and they never hurt anything.

Aphids aren’t so fond of them, SPHP.  Ladybugs eat aphids.

Their tough luck.  Ladybugs have to eat something.

After congratulating Lupe on her final ascent of the day, a break was taken below the summit, facing SSW where Cement Ridge (6,674 ft.) was visible on the horizon just across the Wyoming border.  Getting late enough so that the day was cooling off.  The wind that had been blowing all day seemed slightly diminished.

Recalling the amazing sunset last time Lupe was here, some time was spent just enjoying the quiet solitude while waiting to see if another one would develop.  In the meantime, Loop polished off the rest of the Taste of the Wild.  To the SE was a distant view of Terry Peak, and NE a limited one of the prairie beyond the Black Hills, but pines blocked the line of sight in most directions.

The cluster of unusual rock formations that The Needles is named after was WSW, a little lower than the break spot.  Lupe went down there to sniff and play among these rocks, most scenic feature of the mountain.

5:20 PM, The Needles –  An hour had slipped by up on The Needles.  As the sun sank behind a bank of clouds, hopes for another dramatic sunset were dashed.  For the last time, the American Dingo returned briefly to the summit before starting down the mountain.

During the return, Lupe saw 4 whitetails near the upper end of Saffron Gulch, as light began to fade.  After crossing Beaver Creek, she returned to USFS Road No. 222.1C, this time taking it E up the side canyon.  By the time the road topped out near a junction with USFS Road No. 130, it was dark, a few stars twinkling in the eternal night of space.

While Lupe trotted along USFS Road No. 130, a huge, pale, orange-tinted moon rose in the E.  Snow early on, exploring 2 new Lists of John peaks, the wind in the trees, a spur of the moment return to the remote, lonely spires of The Needles by way of the quiet Beaver Creek valley, and now this dark moonlit journey on an improbably warm November evening.

It had been a great day!  (End 6:58 PM, 46ºF)

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition              Prior Black Hills Expedition

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 175 – Citadel Rock, Beartown Hill, Iron Creek Lake & The Needles (9-28-16)

Lupe’s GPS track – Peak 6200 Ascent

Lupe’s GPS track – Peak 5960 & The Needles

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