South Dakota – Page 24 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 297 – Peak 4741 (3-2-22)

8:59 AM, 45ºF, Centennial Trail No. 89 – Already warm out, but the trailhead was still icy when Lupe leapt out of the RAV4.

The Elk Creek trailhead! We were here last fall with Uncle Joe, Dusty, and new Cousin Laddie when we took them to Peak 5261. Remember, SPHP?

Of course! Peak 5261 isn’t in the works this time, though, Looper. Going to pick off a Lists of John peak we’ve never been to before, Peak 4741!

We’ve been in this area several times in the past year or two, SPHP. Why didn’t we visit Peak 4741 then?

Oh, because we were doing things close to Centennial Trail No. 89, Loop. Peak 4741 is way off the beaten path. Kind of remote. Probably a better way to get to it, but I’m pretty sure we can get there from here.

The first part of the route to Peak 4741 was familiar territory. Lupe left the Elk Creek trailhead following Centennial Trail No. 89 NNE up a little valley. After 0.125 mile, the trail climbed out of the valley on a jaunt NW through a flat area. As the trail started climbing again, No. 89 curved back to the SE, going partway up a hillside before turning NE.

The last time Lupe was in this region with Uncle Joe and cousins Dusty and Laddie, a stone tunnel had been discovered E of the trail. A real oddity! The Carolina Dog ventured over for another look at it.

An icy stretch as Centennial Trail No. 89 heads up the little valley. Photo looks NNE.

Starting up the hillside after crossing the flat region. Photo looks E.

Checking out the mysterious stone tunnel again.

Returning to Centennial Trail No. 89, a moderately steep climb NE led to gentler terrain. 0.75 mile from the Elk Creek trailhead, Lupe left the trail continuing NE up an easy slope to a flat, open ridge. From here, Loop could see part of Forbes Gulch, a heavily forested drainage, and even caught a glimpse of the prairie beyond the Black Hills.

Heavily forested **Forbes Gulch** (Center). Photo looks NE.

Can’t see it yet, Loop, but Peak 4741 is out that way.

How far, SPHP?

From here? Less than 2.5 miles as the crow flies, but the roads we’ll be on wind around a lot more than that.

USFS Road No. 169 was just N of the rise Lupe was standing on. A fun romp down a snowy slope, and the Carolina Dog was there. Although dry where Loop first reached it, most of the road was snow-covered as she followed it along a hillside. The worst spots were soft and muddy.

No. 169 wound around, going first SE, then NE, before ultimately turning S. For 0.75 mile, Loopster trotted along both gradual uphill and downhill stretches. Net elevation change was minimal by the time she reached a saddle where the road divided.

The snowy N slope leading down to USFS Road No. 169. Photo looks N.

Curving SE again after going NE. Photo looks SE.

On a particularly snowy stretch. Photo looks SE.

Which way, SPHP?

Stay L, Loop. Take that upper road going around the hill.

**Pass 4900**, where USFS Road No. 169 divides. Lupe took No. 169.1B, the upper route seen here. Photo looks E.

USFS Road No. 169.1B wound up onto a ridge. Lupe got her first distant view of the day along this stretch. I-90 was in sight way down along the E edge of the Black Hills.

Heading up onto the ridge on USFS Road No. 169.1B. Photo looks NE.

I-90 (R) along the E edge of the Black Hills. Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.

Trending NE, No. 169.1B topped out 0.33 mile from Pass 4900. A minor high point was just N of the road.

Let’s go up there, Loop! It’s about as high as we’ll get today.

On **HP5044** (?) N of No. 169.1B. Photo looks E.

A small limestone outcropping was at the top, and not much else. Although a pleasant spot, too many trees were present to permit a clear view in any direction.

Supposed to be an even higher spot not too far off to the NW, Loop. HP5044, according to the map! Want to check it out?

Sure! How far away is it, SPHP?

Only 400 or 500 feet. Shouldn’t take long to get there.

Huh. Easier said than done. Venturing several hundred feet NNW into a dense forest, Loopster saw no sign of HP5044. In fact, the terrain had been gradually sloping down, a that trend appeared to be accelerating.

Searching for **HP5044**. Photo looks SSE.

Hmm. This doesn’t look right, Loop. Starting to think the map is wrong. Maybe you’ve already been to HP5044?

You mean that last little hill by the road, SPHP?

Yeah. Let’s call it, and go back. Doesn’t really matter, anyway. Even if there really is a HP5044 somewhere out here, which seems unlikely, not going to be able to see anything from it in this thick forest.

Returning to the hill by the road, a break was taken before continuing on. No. 169.1B turned SE, going downhill before leveling out at a big clearing where there was an intersection with USFS Road No. 169.1I.

At the junction with USFS Road No. 169.1I. Photo looks SE.

No. 169.1I was less developed, literally the road less taken.

Can we go this way, SPHP? Looks more interesting!

Go for it, Looper! Actually a shortcut compared to No. 169.1B.

No. 169.1I was destined to play out in less than 0.5 mile, but that didn’t matter. Lupe followed it NNE all the way to the end.

Exploring USFS Road No. 169.1I. Photo looks NE.

At the end of No. 169.1I, a short climb N through open forest got Lupe to the top of a ridge. HP4827, the next hill N, and the next objective, was less than 0.25 mile away. However, the slope going down to the saddle that led to HP4827 was densely forested and choked with deadfall.

Heading up to the ridge N of where No. 169.1I ended. Photo looks NNE.

N of the ridge, on the way down to the saddle leading to **HP4827**. Photo looks E.

Conditions seemed slightly better toward the E, allowing Lupe to work her way down to the saddle, where she came to a small clearing. The S slope of HP4827 was more open, so it didn’t take long to get up to a big boulder along the HP4827 ridge.

In the small clearing at the **saddle S of HP4827**. Photo looks WNW.

On the first big rock reached along the **HP4827 summit ridge**. Photo looks NW.

HP4827‘s forested summit ridge was hundreds of feet long. Whether this first big rock was the true summit wasn’t clear. A boulder off to the WNW that was barely visible through the trees appeared to be about the same elevation. Loopster went over to check it out. Hard to tell if it was really any higher, but this was definitely the last high point to the W.

On the boulder at the **W end of the HP4827 ridge**. Photo looks WNW.

Exploring the summit ridge E, Lupe came to a double rock formation that seemed definitely higher than either of the first two boulders she’d visited. Too many trees to see much, but this was apparently the true summit of the entire ridge.

**True summit of HP4827**. Photo looks NNE.

Continuing E, Lupe came to a clearing at the E end of the ridge. Looked like a good spot to take another short break.

**E end of the HP4827 ridge**. Photo looks NE.

HP4827‘s N slope proved fairly steep when Lupe started down. Progress was slow. Patches of snow made the going slick, as SPHP picked a way through copious deadfall laying perpendicular to the descent. On the bright side, so many trees were down that Lupe enjoyed a good view of Peak 4760. Looking small from here, Bear Butte (4,422 ft.) was even in sight way out on the plains.

**Peak 4760** (L), **Bear Butte** (Center) and **Peak 4642** (R). Photo looks NNE.

**Bear Butte**. Photo looks NNE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

The rate of descent slowly diminished. After losing 400 feet of elevation, Lupe turned E toward a broad, flat saddle with considerable open space. After crossing a field, and passing through another stretch of forest, an unimpressive hill was ahead.

Approaching the saddle region after descending from **HP4827**. Photo looks E.

A pile of logs left over from a logging operation. Photo looks ESE.

Passing through another stretch of open forest. Photo looks E.

The unimpressive hill ahead. Photo looks E.

Hey, we’re getting there, Looper! That must be USFS Road No. 169.1D, with Peak 4741 beyond it!

That’s Peak 4741, SPHP? Are you sure? Doesn’t look like much! What’s so special about it?

According to Lists of John, 351 feet of prominence. Ranked 160th out of only 278 peaks in South Dakota with at least 300. Don’t think we’re seeing the actual summit yet. Taller than it appears from here.

Well, we’ll see. Looks like a snap to me, SPHP!

The American Dingo headed down to USFS Road No. 169.1D, intent upon following it at least a short distance toward Peak 4741. However, the day had warmed up quite a bit. Melting snow and ice made the road a soft, mucky mess. Better just tromping through the fields beside it.

Muddy USFS Road No. 169.1D. Photo looks NE.

Shortly after the road curved SE, Lupe left it to head E up a grassy slope dotted with young pines. The slope soon led to denser forest. At 4,600 feet, she passed a vertical rock formation prior to reaching a flat region.

Starting up **Peak 4741’s W slope**. Photo looks E.

As exciting as it got at 4,600 feet. Photo looks W.

The flat region led to another easy climb. Exploring E after the terrain leveled out again revealed a modestly elevated ridge. A stump next to the first limestone outcropping Lupe came to was the true summit.

**True summit of Peak 4741**. Photo looks SE.

1:05 PM, 57ºF, Peak 4741 – The true summit was located at the NW end of a 150 foot long ridge that was only slightly lower toward the SE. The only view was of a long ridge to the S. Still, it was something. Another small rock outcropping 20 or 30 feet farther SE that was at essentially the same elevation as the true summit was a better spot to see it, and was where Lupe and SPHP took a break.

At the rest break outcropping. Note the small cairn (L) on a stump. Photo looks SE.

View of the long ridge (R) to the S. Photo looks S.

So this is it, SPHP? Peak 4741?

Afraid so, Loopster. Pleasant enough, but admittedly not too dramatic.

Mellow indeed, but it’s still a Lists of John peak, right?

Absolutely! You’ve chalked up another one, Loop!

And we went over both HP5044 and HP4827, too, right, SPHP?

Yes, although a tiny bit of doubt remains about HP5044 since we didn’t go quite all the way to where it should have been.

That’s because you concluded that the map was nuts, SPHP.

True enough, Loop. So, what are you driving at?

Blimey! You’re a little slow on the draw, SPHP. After coming all this way over hill and dale, isn’t it about time for a chocolate coconut bar?

Oh, of course! I’ve got some Taste of the Wild for you, too!

Traffic noise from I-90 was easily heard over the crunching and munching of Taste of the Wild after the chocolate coconut bar vanished. There actually was more to see along Peak 4741’s summit ridge once Lupe was finished. Only slightly lower, the limestone formations along the SE end of the ridge were larger and more interesting than the true summit had been. Worth a look!

**SE end of the summit ridge**. Photo looks SE.

Looking back the other way. Photo looks NNW.

Inspection of the SE limestone formations complete, Lupe returned to the break spot to relax a little longer before visiting the cairn nearby.

*Standing by a cairn helps make any ascent more official, you know!*

Half an hour after arriving, the American Dingo was once again back at the true summit, departure imminent.

Back at **Peak 4749’s true summit**. Photo looks NE.

The forest N of the true summit wasn’t much lower, and looked dark and mysterious. Before leaving Peak 4741 for good, Lupe explored it as far N as it remained flat, but finding nothing worth noting, finally headed back down the mountain to USFS Road No. 169.1D.

Final moments on **Peak 4741** with the dark forest to be explored next in the background. Photo looks N.

Upon reaching the road, Lupe varied her return route, following 169.1D SE for more than a mile before leaving it to venture up the steep upper W end of Breakneck Gulch. This shortcut brought her straight back to the intersection of USFS Roads No. 169.1I and No. 169.1B again.

3:11 PM – Taking No. 169.1B NW to where it topped out, Lupe revisited HP5044, or perhaps its imposter, N of the road. Still a couple of pleasant miles to go retracing her morning route, but Loop and SPHP took a few minutes to relax here and reflect on the day.

Peak 4741 wasn’t all that scintillating, Loop, but we had fun didn’t we?

Of course! Always fun to explore new territory, SPHP, and we’d never been through this area before.

I’ll kind of miss doing these Lists of John peaks when we run out of them. Never know what to expect.

What? Are we really going to run out of them, SPHP?

Yup. Not yet, but pretty soon. At least the ones with public access here in the Black Hills National forest.

What are we going to do then, SPHP?

Oh, don’t worry about that, Loop. We can revisit some of our favorite named peaks, explore more trails, or even go back to following streams and valleys like we used to do way back when we first started your Black Hills expeditions. Plus there are countless hills and ridges we’ve never been to that aren’t on any lists that might still be worth seeing.

As long as there’s always another adventure waiting in the wings, I’ll be happy, SPHP, no matter where we go!

Me too, Loop! Me, too.

**HP5044** on the way back from **Peak 4741**, Black Hills of South Dakota 3-2-22

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 296 – Peak 5440, Peak 5360 & Big Rock (2-19-22)

9:22 AM, 37ºF, Custer State Park Road No. 8 –

Badger Hole again, SPHP? Hey, wait! You missed the turn!

SPHP drove only another 0.1 mile before turning R off CSP Road No. 8 at a big lot where a few small mounds of snow-covered gravel were stored. A bit nippy in the breeze, yet a lovely morning for mid-February. The sunny, clear blue sky held out hope for additional warmth soon enough.

No, we’re not returning to Centennial Trail No. 89 today, Loop, but do you remember that cool peak we saw from Pass 5180 last time out?

Yes, of course! Looked like fun! Are we climbing it today, SPHP?

Yup! I looked it up. It’s Peak 5440, another Lists of John peak with 400 feet of prominence. We’ll climb it today along with Peak 5360, which is only another mile or so NNW.

Loopster was fine with that. The American Dingo trotted over to CSP Road No. 8, and turned SE. After a few hundred feet, the road curved S. Abandoning it, Lupe headed straight into the forest. From the top of a small rise, part of Peak 5440’s long SW ridge was already in sight.

**Peak 5440’s SW ridge** (Center) from the first rise. Photo looks ENE.

Might as well have stuck with the road a bit farther! A shallow valley was directly ahead. Angling E, Lupe passed S of a metal building, then followed the road that went to it S almost to the very end of Peak 5440’s SW ridge. A short climb got her up to the ridgeline.

The ridge was mostly forested, plenty wide, and only moderately steep.

Descending into the shallow valley. Photo looks ENE.

In the valley. **Start of Peak 5440’s SW ridge** (Center & L). Photo looks SSE.

**Start of Peak 5440’s SW ridge**. Photo looks NE.

Going to be a snap, Looper! Just follow this ridge NE. 0.5 mile and 500 feet of elevation gain ought to about do it!

Lupe started climbing. The ridge she was on melded into another ridge farther E. As the American Dingo gained elevation, she paused now and then, allowing SPHP to gasp for air while she admired the views that were already beginning to appear. Mount Coolidge (6,023 ft.) was in sight a couple of miles back to the SW.

At a sunny spot while approaching the **next ridge E** (R). Photo looks NE.

**Mount Coolidge** (L of Center). Photo looks SW.

Snowy hills bordering the **Galena Creek valley**. Photo looks SE.

**Mount Coolidge** (Center) again from a little higher up. Photo looks SW.

Soon HP5200 was visible out along Peak 5440’s SE ridge. Looked like a nice, mostly open, vantage point, but Lupe didn’t go over there. Instead, she continued climbing along the SW ridge, which was getting rockier and starting to narrow down.

Continuing up the **SW ridge**. Photo looks NE.

The ridge narrowed a great deal, developing a rocky spine. From an open spot, a high point appeared ahead. Perhaps the summit?

Approaching a high point (L of Center). Photo looks NNE.

Up here, the wind was gusting a brisk 20 mph out of the NW. Loop didn’t much care for that! Nevertheless, the Carolina Dog pressed on. She was now high enough to catch a glimpse of Little Devils Tower (6,960 ft.), the Cathedral Spires (6,840 ft.), and Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.).

Bracing against the wind. Photo looks NE.

Looking back along the ridge. Photo looks SSW.

**Little Devils Tower** (L), **Cathedral Spires** (L of Center) and **Black Elk Peak** (far R). Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

The spine of rock extended all the way up to the high point Looper had seen. She arrived at a snowy, scenic spot, nicely sheltered by the forest from the NW wind.

Following the rocky spine higher. Photo looks SSW.

*What a beautiful spot!* Photo looks SSW.

Turned out, Lupe still hadn’t reached Peak 5440’s true summit. Leaving the snowy high point, the ridge widened as Loop continued NE down to a saddle leading to the final ascent.

Leaving the snowy high point. Photo looks SW.

On the way down to the saddle that leads to the summit. Photo looks NE.

10:43 AM, 42ºF, Peak 5440 – A broad, thinly-forested ramp made for an easy romp up to a surprisingly large summit region. The true summit proved to be a steeply tilted rock on a small rise along the SE edge. The big, unobstructed view was of snowy hills off to the SE. They were all lower than Peak 5440.

Almost there! Heading up the broad ramp. Photo looks NE.

Entering the **summit region**. Photo looks NE.

At **Peak 5440’s true summit**. Photo looks SSW.

Pines along the NW edge only partially blocked the wind. Actually felt like winter at the true summit! Retreating down the SE slope to escape the breeze helped a great deal. Springtime here!

On the more hospitable **SE slope**. Photo looks WSW.

Springtime, and time for a chocolate coconut bar, too, SPHP!

Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap, eagerly accepting her share of the much anticipated chocolate coconut bar. Really quite comfortable out of the wind. Snow on the lower hills to the SE contrasted pleasingly with the dark Ponderosa pines.

Off to the SSE was a view of some barren hills that SPHP suspected might include Peak 5120, which Lupe had been to less than 2 weeks ago during Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 295. Couldn’t positively identify it, though.

Relaxing on **Peak 5440**. Photo looks SE.

Same view with help from the telephoto lens.

Inertia set in. The day finally seemed to be warming up. Cozy here, and the view was excellent. 45 minutes drifted by before Loopster decided she’d had enough. Returning briefly to Peak 5440’s true summit, she then continued NE, starting for the next saddle leading to Peak 5438.

Along the way, she once again caught sight of Little Devils Tower, the Cathedral Spires, and Black Elk Peak.

Back on **Peak 5440’s true summit**. Photo looks S.

**Little Devils Tower** (far L), **Cathedral Spires** (L), and **Black Elk Peak** (far R). Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

**Peak 5438** (L of Center). Photo looks NE.

Almost as soon as Lupe left Peak 5440, the ridge going to the saddle over to Peak 5438 became rocky and narrow. Kind of rough ground! Before Loop even got close to the saddle, SPHP was ready to ditch this route.

Heading down the rocky ridge. Photo looks NNE.

Hey, Loop! We’re on our way to Peak 5360 now, so forget Peak 5438. Let’s get off this goofy ridge.

The American Dingo began angling NNW. At first, the fairly steep slope she was descending was rocky, too. Looper lost quite a bit of elevation before getting below the rocks, but even that didn’t really help much. The forest had recently been thinned down here, and a lot of still green slash was on the ground.

Starting down off the ridge. Photo looks S.

The rate of descent gradually diminished, but progress remained slow as SPHP kept maneuvering to avoid as much slash as possible. After losing 300 feet of elevation, the situation changed with the discovery of a road.

The snowy road was level and ran NE at first, but soon started to curve NW and lose elevation. Lupe eventually made it down to a sunny field, where a different road ran N/S in the valley N of Peak 5440.

On the helpful snowy road. Photo looks NE.

In the **valley N of Peak 5440**. Photo looks NNE.

Following this road N to the trees, it then began to climb and angle off to the NE.

Hmm. SPHP checked the topo map. Didn’t show any of these roads, but Lupe clearly didn’t need to go NE. Abandoning the road, Lupe continued N, deeper into the forest.

Should be a relatively short drainage going NW somewhere along in here, Loop. We can follow it down to Hwy 16A.

Sure enough, the Carolina Dog soon came to a ravine. A little rougher, and more V-shaped than SPHP expected, but it all went well. Before long, Lupe was crossing Hwy 16A.

About to enter the ravine. Photo looks NNW.

A moderately steep slope N of Hwy 16A presented no real obstacles, making it a relatively easy climb. Quickly gaining 200 feet of elevation, Lupe reached a minor saddle along a flat ridge that extended E. From here, she had quite a nice view of Peak 5440, where she’d just been.

Climbing toward the saddle (Center). Photo looks NNW.

**Peak 5438** (far L) and **Peak 5440** (R). Photo looks SSE.

The view to the NW wasn’t nearly as pleasing. Loopster was already partway up Peak 5360’s SE slope. However, the forest had also been thinned here, although not as recently as over by Peak 5440. Brown slash littered the entire slope. Yuck!

**Peak 5360’s SE slope**. Photo looks NW.

Consisting almost entirely of small diameter stuff, the slash wasn’t all that terrible, but it wasn’t much fun, either. Lupe patiently picked her way through it, as SPHP trudged along behind. Slash, slash, and more slash! Loop never got above it. The slash extended almost 400 feet higher, all the way to the top of the mountain.

Amid the slash, getting close to the top. Photo looks NW.

1:16 PM, 44ºF, Peak 5360 – The wind was still out of the NW, but only at 15 mph now, as Lupe reached a flat, triangular summit region roughly 25 feet across. The true summit, only a foot or two higher, if that, was a rocky area toward the W partially covered with slash.

Despite the forest having been thinned, there were still way too many trees up here to have any real views. Glimpses of Peak 5733 to the W, and the very top of Black Elk Peak to the NW were about it.

**Peak 5733** (beyond Lupe). Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.

Top of **Black Elk Peak** (L of Center) in the distance. Photo looks NW.

Lupe sat down in the snow next to a big tree.

This is it, SPHP? The top of Peak 5360?

Afraid so, Loopster.

Peak 5438 would have been better than this, and a lot easier to get to, too!

Yeah, but this is a Lists of John Peak with more prominence, Loop.

Your prominence is all fine and dandy, SPHP, but what good is it, if we can’t see anything? Especially, when the whole mountain is just a pile of slash! Kind of takes the fun out of getting here.

Most of it, maybe, but we can still enjoy the peace, solitude, and tranquility.

And maybe another chocolate coconut bar, SPHP?

Oh, sure! You can have some Taste of the Wild, too.

Thinking deep thoughts by the big tree. Photo looks E.

The chocolate coconut bar vanished in a flash. Loopster then crunched away at her Taste of the Wild. SPHP threw a sweater over her to protect against the wind.

Every mountain is unique – a unique place on the earth’s surface, and on any given day, a unique experience. Peak 5360 wasn’t the splendid sort of mountain the American Dingo was likely to return to someday, but it had taken a while to get here. Since Lupe wasn’t in any big rush, it seemed appropriate to linger for a while.

Slowly dying, the wind came in gusts. The camaraderie was great, even if the views weren’t. Nothing like being on another mountain with your best friend, ever! Half an hour of together aloneness ebbed away.

As Lupe stood on the true summit for the last time, for the first time, SPHP noticed another view due N.

Hey, how about that, Looper! George and Abe are here!

On **Peak 5360’s true summit**. Photo looks E.

**Mount Rushmore**. Photo looks N with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

Leaving Peak 5360, Lupe headed SW. Definitely the way to go! Soon she was out of the slash. Gently sloping terrain, and reasonably open forest made for a pleasant, easy descent.

About to leave **Peak 5360’s true summit**. Photo looks SW.

Getting past most of the slash. Photo looks SW.

It wasn’t far to a power line that ran N/S. Going S, the terrain dropped steeply. Lupe followed the power line only a short way before veering off to the SW again, where she soon picked up a road that wound down to a saddle where the road divided. Still descending, Loopster took the branch going S. Eventually a field appeared off to the W that led to Hwy 87 near its junction with Hwy 16A.

On the road discovered shortly after abandoning the power line. Photo looks WNW.

Following the field to Hwy 87. Photo looks W.

The rest was easy. Lupe followed Hwy 16A to Legion Lake. Below the dam, a shortcut got her back to CSP Road No. 8 and the RAV4.

3:04 PM, 46ºF – Well, that was a nice day, SPHP! Glad we did this!

See! Peak 5360 wasn’t so bad!

No, it wasn’t, SPHP. The descent was lovely, and a chocolate coconut bar had been waiting at the top, so I’m happy. Peak 5440 was better, though, you have to admit that.

Yeah, Peak 5440 was fun, Looper! Not that hard, yet an interesting route, plus that grand view SE from the top. Doubt Big Rock will be any better.

Big rock? What big rock are you talking about, SPHP?

Oh, Big Rock is where we’re going next, Loop.

What! We aren’t done, SPHP? Is Big Rock another Lists of John peak you’ve dredged up?

No, not a Lists of John peak, Loop. Big Rock (5,655 ft.) is just a hill along the S edge of Custer that Arthur Caverly added to Peakbagger.com a few years ago. Don’t really know anything about it. Shouldn’t take us long to tag it, though.

3:21 PM, 46ºF, Custer Chamber of Commerce – SPHP parked the RAV4 at the Custer Visitor Center on Washington Street. Out front, a snazzily painted buffalo depicted General Custer firing a pistol while wearing a freshly punctured arrow shirt.

By the painted buffalo at the Custer Visitor Center.

Harbach Centennial Park and the Mickelson Trail were right across the street. Taking the Mickelson Trail E to South 8th Street, Lupe turned S, starting up a hill. South 8th Street ended at a turn E onto Canal Street.

At this turn, the Big Rock trail continued S up the hill. However, Lupe had to check out an amazing sight before taking the trail. A whole herd of painted buffalo was grazing in a nearby vacant lot!

Part of the painted buffalo herd at the S end of S 8th Street. Photo looks E.

The painted buffalo were awesome! Each bison bore a different colorful design. Lupe and SPHP both favored the one with mountain goats on it.

The Carolina Dog would have been even more impressed, if the painted buffalo herd had been a little more lively. Since she’d apparently come across the bison during a period of inactivity, Lupe started up the Big Rock trail.

The snowy trail climbed at an easy pace. Lupe passed several benches. Heading S at first, the trail eventually curved W. Getting rather late for a February afternoon! Low angle sunlight filtered through the trees.

On the way to Big Rock. Photo looks WSW.

The trail nearly flattened out as Lupe headed W. Other trails took off in various directions. After crossing a road, the Big Rock trail led to a long stairway.

Starting up the stairs. Photo looks WSW.

The long stairway led to the base of Big Rock’s massive summit block. Solid rock, of course! A second stairway went up to a viewing platform.

At the base of the summit block. Photo looks W.

3:57 PM, 45ºF, Big Rock (5,655 ft.) – Still windy! Looper stood blinking in bright sunshine. Big Rock’s true summit was tantalizingly close, right behind her. However, no access to it without leaving the platform for a dicey scramble.

Guess we won’t be getting up there! At least, I’m not. Be my guest, if you want to go for it, SPHP!

Think I’ll pass, Loop. Apparently, Big Rock is one of those “good enough for Dingo work” peaks where we fall a bit short of the true summit, yet still claim a successful ascent.

And a chocolate coconut bar, SPHP!

Nope! Not this time, overly-sweetened Dingo of mine! None left, and we don’t really deserve one in this case, anyway.

No chocolate coconut bar? That, and the chilly wind, dampened the mood, but the views were sweet! Buckhorn Mountain (6,330 ft.) was just N of Custer. Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.) and Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) were also in sight to the NNE, but much farther away.

Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.) was the eye-catcher off to the SSE.

**Buckhorn Mountain** (L of Center) beyond Custer. **Sylvan Hill** (R). Photo looks N.

**Buckhorn Mountain** (L), **Sylvan Hill** (L of Center), and **Black Elk Peak** (R). Photo looks NNE.

**Northeast Cicero Peak** (Center). Photo looks SSE.

The Big Rock viewing platform was small. Not much to do up here, other than the forbidden scramble. 5 or 10 minutes taking a good look around was sufficient.

On the way back, Lupe visited Sunrise Point, which offered a closer, but almost identical view of Custer. From here, she completed a loop via the Skywalk Trail back down to Harbach Centennial Park right across the street from the RAV4.

**Big Rock Park trail map** posted at the Skywalk trailhead.

4:24 PM, 45ºF, Custer Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center –

So are we done now, SPHP?

Yup. That’s it for Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 296, Loop! Any thoughts? What was your favorite part?

Well, Peak 5440 was the best mountain with that snowy high point, plus the great view to the SE, but you know what, SPHP? The mountain goat painted buffalo is hard to beat!

By the **mountain goat buffalo**, Custer, South Dakota 2-19-22

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