10:09 AM, 42ºF, USFS Road No. 291 – A roomy flat spot on the L in front of several big stones placed to prevent any vehicle traffic on abandoned USFS Road No. 291.4H was a perfect spot to stash the RAV4. Lupe leapt out as soon as SPHP opened the door.
Mild, no wind, a few wispy clouds in a bright blue sky, and a little snow on the ground. What more could you want on a November day in the Black Hills high country?
Looks like a fabulous day ahead of us, SPHP! What’s the plan?
It’s pretty simple, Loop. We’ll wander E up the Heely Creek valley from here until we’re S of Hat Mountain (6,783 ft.), then explore farther S. Goal is to tag 3 peaks near the E edge of the limestone plateau country, then circle back past Ditch Creek campground and the Dragon Caves.
Apparently approving this plan, the Carolina Dog set off. Following a remnant of USFS Road No. 291.4H, Lupe quickly came to a fallen tree trunk blocking the road. Going around it, the way ahead was open. A single track trail along the N side of Heely Creek led up a grassy valley.
The valley turned S, then curved NE for a little way, before broadening out and heading E. On the shadier S side of Heely Creek, 3 or 4 inches of crusty snow covered the ground. The sunny N side of the creek where the trail was had little, if any, snow at all.
An old road not shown on the map appeared over on the S side of Heely Creek. Venturing over there, Lupe had no problem walking on the snow covering this road. Hat Mountain (6,783 ft.) was in sight off to the NE.
However, the crusty snow wasn’t strong enough to hold SPHP’s weight. Breaking through the surface with every step required more effort than it was worth. After a little bit of that, SPHP returned to the N side of the Heely Creek. The trail was muddy along in here, but walking on the grass next to it was easy enough.
Before long, the trail joined another road not shown on the map. Staying on the grass was the best bet here, as well. The valley was very wide and shallow as Lupe followed this road ENE toward Peak 6612.
S of Hat Mountain, the muddy dirt road led to a junction with ATV route No. 6069. After pausing briefly for a look back down the scenic valley, Lupe headed S on No. 6069. The road soon crossed Heely Creek, then led up into the forest.
In the forest on a N slope, the roads were even muddier and often snowy or icy. A relatively short climb SW on No. 6069 led to a junction with No. 6004 (USFS Road No. 691.1I). Turning E (L) on No. 6004, a short level stretch quickly led to a junction with ATV route No. 6005.
No. 6004 continued E on the level, while No. 6005, the snowiest road yet, climbed somewhat steeply S.
We go up, SPHP?
You know it, Sweet Puppy!
No. 6005 climbed to yet another junction. Leveling out here, No. 6005 turned W. The other road, which was also fairly flat, went E. This road was unmarked and appeared to be long abandoned.
Now what, SPHP?
Hmm. Not sure, Looper. We may have reached the level of old USFS Road No. 691.1D. If so, maybe we should head W (R) on No. 6005. If No. 6005 is No. 691.1D’s current designation, it will curve up around to the region SW of Peak 6927, dead-ending at around 6,700 feet. That wouldn’t leave us much of an off-road climb.
And if we go E (L)? Where will that take us, SPHP?
0.33 mile would get us to USFS Road No. 691, aka Williams Draw Road.
Going W (R) made more sense, but No. 691.1D, if that’s what it really was, was muddy that way. Toward the E (L), the road was grassy to the point of almost not being a road at all. Much more appealing!
Eh, we’ll get to to Peak 6927 either way. Let’s head E, Loopster.
At first, travel on No. 691.1D was easy. The American Dingo followed the grassy remnant with ease, but soon the road started angling downhill into a region thick with deadfall, essentially disappearing among it. The now rather steep snowy slope to the S also had quite a bit of deadfall.
We zigged when we should have zagged, SPHP.
A fine tradition, Loopster. Guess we start your first ascent in earnest here.
As Lupe climbed S through the slippery obstacle course, a glance at the topo map, which had finally loaded on the iPhone, persuaded SPHP that angling SW might actually be better. Lupe had no objections. She was having a blast exploring the forest.
Reaching a stand of aspens amid the pine forest, the aspens were not only much easier to travel through, but conveniently extended SW in the very direction Lupe needed to go. A gradual climb soon led to a snowy clearing, which appeared to be the turnaround point at the end of yet another unmarked road that came in from the E.
What road is this, SPHP?
I have no idea, Loop. Must come from No. 691, though, and we don’t need to go that way at this point.
Keep exploring SW, then?
Yup. Peak 6927, or bust, Loopster!
The aspens gave out shortly after leaving the dead-end clearing. Pines thick with low bushes made progress more difficult. Often blocked by dense forest to the SW, the easiest route kept being more directly S, but this was putting the Carolina Dog on steeper and steeper terrain.
Gads! We’re about to wind up on the steepest part of the mountain, Loop.
Your innate navigation skills strike again, SPHP, despite your acquisition of that iPhone and GPS!
Oh, well. It didn’t matter. Trudging almost due S straight up a steep slope full of snow, trees, and deadfall, sunlight appeared between the pines ahead, indicating a top. Steepest part of the mountain, or not, the American Dingo was going to succeed in making it up onto a ridge.
Approaching the crest of the ridge, limestone formations were visible only a short distance W.
Let’s go over that way, SPHP! Maybe there’s a view from those rocks?
Reaching the first limestone outcropping, Lupe scrambled up onto it. From the top of a cliff, she enjoyed a view of Hat Mountain (6,783 ft.) and part of the Heely Creek valley. Terry Peak (7,069 ft.) was visible on the horizon in the same direction, but was very far away.
More limestone cliffs were nearby, a little higher than the formation Lupe had scrambled up onto. She did some exploring near them, too, but without discovering a better, readily accessible viewpoint.
These cliffs were slightly below the end of Peak 6927’s NW ridge. The sunlit ridge was broad and dry where Lupe first reached it, pine needles and plenty of deadfall covering a region of otherwise open forest.
About time we found the summit, Looper. We’re not that far from it.
Picking a way through the deadfall, a gradual climb SE soon led to half a foot of snow in a much shadier region.
12:26 PM, 55ºF, Peak 6927 – What a mess! Lupe arrived at the summit to find it dominated by juniper bushes, deadfall, shattered trees, and snow. Despite how many trees had fallen, enough were still standing to reduce what might otherwise have been excellent views to mere glimpses.
Standing in exactly the right spot, Hat Mountain’s summit and a slice of Deerfield Reservoir were in sight at the same time. Narrow glimpses of other mountains were possible, too, but moving around was so difficult that it was hardly worth the effort.
Gently shaking Lupe’s paw, SPHP congratulated the American Dingo on her successful ascent, then looked for a place to sit down. Brushing the snow off a fallen tree trunk provided a halfway decent perch, but Lupe was left standing, paws in the snow, half-buried in bushes.
Sorry, Loopster. Not the best situation for you, is it?
A chocolate coconut bar would help, SPHP.
After sharing the eagerly anticipated chocolate coconut bar, and having some Taste of the Wild, Lupe laid down on the snow.
Oh, you poor thing! You know, tradition, or not, we don’t have to spend an entire hour here, Looper. No sense in freezing your tummy. With 3 peaks on the agenda, if we spend 20 minutes at each one, that would amount to an hour. In fact, with days as short as they are this time of year, we really can’t afford to spend an entire hour on each mountain.
Cheating, but I like how you think, SPHP. Let me know when 20 minutes is up!
20 minutes shot by. Satisfied that she’d enjoyed an entirely sufficient Peak 6927 experience, the Carolina Dog headed SE. The ridge was broad and nearly level going this way. Soon past the worst of the snow, bushes, and deadfall, Lupe came to a significantly better view than any to be had back at Peak 6927’s summit. Peak 7062 and Gillette Prairie were in sight.
Peak 7062 looks like a better summit, SPHP. Will we get that far today?
Oh, it is better, Loop. We were there once a long time ago after visiting Green Mountain (7,176 ft.), but no, we aren’t going to get that far.
Too bad, SPHP. What’s next?
Peak 7031, Looper. It’s only 0.5 mile S of here.
Meandering S through a maze of bushes, kinnikinnick, deadfall, and young doghair pines, progress was fairly decent at first, but after hitting a low point on a broad saddle, Lupe encountered much more snow and deadfall as the terrain sloped up again.
1:25 PM, 56ºF, Peak 7031 – After what seemed like a ridiculously tough, slow slog up a gentle N slope, the terrain leveled out as Lupe reached a large, nearly flat region. Peak 7031’s summit was a mess, too, but not quite as badly cramped with obstacles as Peak 6927 had been.
A couple pieces of deadfall stacked one on the other initially seemed to be at about the true summit, but wandering roughly 150 feet farther W, the ground proved to be marginally higher.
I like this summit better, SPHP. More room to move around. Still doesn’t have any views, though.
Yes, another nice, quiet place in the forest is about all Peak 7031 amounts to, Loop. Let’s see if we can find a spot where there isn’t so much snow to sit down.
Going only 5 feet down a nearby S slope, some snow-free terrain met the basic requirements for a decent break spot. After dumping the pack, SPHP shook Lupe’s paw for the 2nd time today.
Congratulations, Loopster! You’ve bagged another peak. A harder one than the topo map led us to believe.
SPHP munched on an apple. Lupe had more Taste of the Wild. After a short rest on the nice, dry forest floor, the Carolina Dog suddenly leapt to her paws and started barking up several nearby trees. A bit puzzling, since SPHP couldn’t detect anything unusual among the treetops.
What’s this ruckus all about, Loop? Just practicing barking at squirrels? I don’t see or hear any.
Lupe made no response. Evidently, she was convinced something was up there, because the shrill bark of the Dingo rang through the forest for several more minutes before she came over to lie down next to SPHP.
A pleasant 25 minutes on Peak 7031, and the American Dingo was on her way again. Only one more peak to go!
Venturing SW on terrain that didn’t have quite so many obstacles, Lupe soon reached a barbed wire fence. Immediately beyond the fence, a road cut through a small clearing.
Wonder where this road goes, SPHP? Does your map show it?
Yup. This is USFS Road No. 691.1C, Loopster. It won’t take us where we want to go, but if we turn L (SE) here, we can follow it a little way.
A short, easy stint on No. 691.1C helped speed things along a bit before Lupe abandoned the road to return to the forest.
After leaving No. 691.1C, a gradual climb SW led to a region within a large 7,000 foot contour on the topo map. Turning SSE, Lupe went over the highest spot shortly before reaching a flat clearing. A dip beyond the clearing brought her to another unmarked road (ATV route No. 6010).
Continuing SE after crossing this road, Lupe reached another high spot in the forest after a slight, gradual climb. The high ground angled S, but the forest was more open a little farther E, so the Carolina Dog lost a bit of elevation in exchange for easier travel.
Shadows were lengthening when Lupe came to another road.
Almost there, Loop!
Almost where, SPHP?
Peak 6987, Loopster, final summit of the day. Can’t be much farther.
Maybe not, but the road didn’t go that way.
2:40 PM, 55ºF, Peak 6987 – Most of the route here from Peak 7031 really hadn’t been bad, but the last 0.1 mile was once again a struggle amid bushes and deadfall. The true summit proved to be a small, flat, slightly elevated region bordered by juniper bushes. Situated along the E edge of a broad ridge, the summit was only marginally higher than the rest of the terrain in other directions.
Upon arrival, Lupe continued S beyond the true summit, hoping to get a better view of Peak 7025 and Peak 7062 off to the ENE. However, the Carolina Dog couldn’t find a completely unobstructed view.
Returning to the true summit, Lupe laid down, facing the slanting rays of the late afternoon sun.
Great job, Loop! 3 peaks in one day! How many hundreds of dead trees and branches did you have to leap over to get here?
Lupe didn’t say much, but the tired look on her face said plenty.
Chocolate coconut bar, SPHP?
Yes, I have one more.
SPHP shook Lupe’s paw, then split the second, final chocolate coconut bar of the day with her. Lupe then had more Taste of the Wild, while SPHP drank a vanilla Equate.
Peaceful, quiet, remote. Although high territory for the Black Hills, by most standards, none of the peaks Lupe visited today really had much to commend them. They offered little in the way of views or particularly interesting terrain, and were needlessly difficult to get to due mainly to the annoying amount of deadfall.
Yet it had been fun exploring, not seeing anyone the entire day. Sitting alone here together, late on a November afternoon amid the colors and minute details of nature suddenly felt sublime. A moment in time to be cherished, in a place seldom seen.
3:03 PM, Peak 6987 –
We must have been here 20 minutes by now, SPHP. The sun is sinking.
Yup, a little more than that, Loop. Suppose we better skedaddle.
Leaving Peak 6987, likely forever, Lupe headed back N through the bushes and deadfall. When she reached the last road she’d come to on the way here, it was that magical time of day when the sunlight filtering through the trees made the forest glow.
Beautiful! Still plenty of fun exploring to do, too, Loopster. Let’s see where this road will take us. Too late to wander back off-road.
I like the sound of that, SPHP. Follow me!
A short, easy rise and the road leveled out. Lupe soon came to a signed junction. The road she’d just been on was ATV route No. 6009, and she’d just reached No. 6010 (USFS Road No. 612.1C).
Heading SW on No. 6010, Lupe descended a long, mostly open slope. SPHP had to stay on the grass again much of the time due to all the mud. After losing substantial elevation, a junction appeared where No. 6010 veered L. Lupe went R on a flat, grassy route that was more appealing.
The grassy route didn’t pan out. The road soon turned NE and started to climb. Lupe did get to see a small herd of deer here, which was exciting, and making a course correction was easy. Turning SW, the Carolina Dog left the road, beginning a gradual descent through a long valley.
Near the start of USFS Road No. 612.1B, Lupe passed a large, white water storage tank. Crossing the road, the valley continued SSW, eventually leading to a junction where ATV route No. 6008 (USFS Road No. 612.1A) branched off to the L, heading SE. Intercepting ATV route No. 6010 (USFS Road No. 612) again here, it went R.
Taking No. 6010, the road soon turned NW. A long, icy descent was ahead. Still the better part of a mile back to USFS Road No. 291, and from there, more than 3 miles back to the RAV4. Passing the deserted Ditch Creek campground, and eventually the turn to the Dragon Caves in the growing gloom, there was no traffic at all, only the sound of snow crunching beneath boot and paw as night came on. (End 5:15 PM, 33ºF)
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