Only yesterday it had been 80°F. Now it was much cooler. A cold front moved through overnight, and a fairly strong wind still blew out of the NW, but it wasn’t bad down here. SPHP had just parked the G6 near the intersection of USFS Roads No. 422 and 284.1C (9:54 AM, 47°F). Lupe was 0.33 mile N of Custer County Road No. 284, and 5 miles W of where “The Fort” used to be S of Crazy Horse on Hwy 385. She was about to begin her 100th official Black Hills, SD Expedition!
Lupe and SPHP had an ambitious peakbagging day planned for Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 100. Lupe was going to visit 4 mountains she had never been to before. Her first goal was Round Mountain (6,600 ft.), the N end of which was only 0.5 mile to the W. Lupe and SPHP headed W directly for the mountain.
Lupe started gaining elevation right away, slowly at first, but the mountain grew steadily steeper. The area was all forested, but the forest had been thinned on the lower slopes. Near the top, the forest was much thicker. The climb was pretty easy, and soon Lupe arrived at a break in a line of small limestone cliffs near the N end of the mountain. Lupe and SPHP quickly scrambled up on top.
Round Mountain’s summit ridge is about 0.20 mile long, and runs N/S. The mountain is capped by a layer of limestone. Small cliffs tend to form along the edges of the limestone cap. The summit ridge is quite narrow at the N end, but wider toward the S. Since Lupe and SPHP came up near the N end of the mountain, Lupe checked things out in that direction first.
At the N end of Round Mountain, the narrow limestone ridge ended in small cliffs on all three sides. Pines hid most of the field of vision, but Lupe did get a partial look at Peak 6740 to the N. It was windy and cold here. Lupe didn’t stay long. Lupe and SPHP went back to the little notch in the limestone cliffs to get out of the wind. SPHP checked the topo map. The true summit was supposed to be toward the S.
From the notch, it was easiest to just go S along the base of the W side of the cliffs until another break provided a way up on top again. Lupe and SPHP continued S on the ridgeline. For the most part, the forest blocked the views. At least the forest was providing protection from the wind! Occasionally Lupe could see distant peaks SPHP recognized to the E. All that could be seen to the W was a high forested ridge less than a mile away.
The stroll along the top of the ridgeline was easy and almost level. Lupe gained elevation slowly. She passed over the true summit of Round Mountain, but continued on a little farther to the cliffs at the S end. Lupe found the best views from Round Mountain here. From on high, she could see a very long way S.
After checking out the view, Lupe and SPHP went N back to the true summit. The summit area was very flat and hidden in the forest. A small patch of exposed limestone seemed to be close to the highest point around. Lupe posed for a photo. Round Mountain was her first peakbagging success of Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 100!
Before leaving Round Mountain, Lupe and SPHP returned to the very N end of the summit ridge once again. Lupe posed uncomfortably on the rocks in the cold wind. As soon as her photo op was over, she was anxious to leave! Lupe and SPHP went back to the notch, climbed down to the E, and turned N along the base of the limestone cliffs. Soon Lupe was beyond them and on her way down the N slope of Round Mountain.
Lupe’s next peakbagging objective was Peak 6740, which Lupe had seen part of from the N end of Round Mountain. Peak 6740 was less than a mile away. As the terrain started leveling out, Lupe and SPHP crossed USFS Road No. 241.1C. Continuing N a couple hundred yards, Lupe found another grassy road which must have intersected with No. 241.1C back to the SW.
Like at Round Mountain and many other western Black Hills peaks, a layer of limestone forms the top of Peak 6740. As a result, there are cliffs along most edges. On Peak 6740, the limestone is thicker and the cliffs are higher than at Round Mountain. SPHP scanned the SE facing cliffs, hoping to see a break where Lupe could climb up. There appeared to be a couple of possibilities, but the mountain looked pretty steep. It was hard to tell if there was actually a realistic route up from the SE.
The grassy road Lupe had just reached went N along the lower E slopes of Peak 6740. SPHP decided it might be best for Lupe to stay on the road. Maybe there would be an easier way up from the N? The road was almost level and an easy trek. Very conveniently for Lupe and SPHP, it went past the E side of Peak 6740 and curved around to the N side. The grassy road then started looping down to the NE toward Custer County Road No. 292, which could be seen not too far below.
By the time the grassy road turned NE, Lupe and SPHP could see a broad, thinly forested valley ahead. It rose at a moderate pace toward the SE up to the top of the ridgeline on Peak 6740. Lupe and SPHP left the road and started climbing. Lupe was exposed to the NW wind here, but it was a much easier way up than anything SPHP had seen from the SE.
Lupe climbed up to the highest point at the N end of the ridge. There were great views from the edge of the cliffs here! Time for a break. Lupe had water and Taste of the Wild. She then spent her time sniffing through low juniper bushes with a great deal of interest, although what was so fascinating about them was not apparent to SPHP. While Lupe was thusly entertained, SPHP ate an apple and enjoyed the scenery.
Peak 6740 has an unusual shape, rather like an anchor. The bottom of the anchor is positioned to the SE. The main shaft extends to the NW. From the bottom of the anchor, prongs curve to the W and NE. The topo map shows five particularly high spots on the mountain – two along the main shaft, one at the bottom of the anchor, and one near the end of each prong. All of these high spots are connected by long broad ridges that are only marginally lower.
Lupe had reached the top of the ridge at the high spot near the end of Peak 6740’s NE prong. However, it wasn’t clear if this was the true summit of Peak 6740, or not. The high points are separated from each other by as much as 0.5 mile. Due to the forest and the terrain, the high points aren’t all in view from one another. The Peakbagger.com topo map shows the high points are very close to the same elevation.
To make certain Lupe reached the true summit, she was going to have to visit the other high spots on the mountain, too. Lupe and SPHP left the NE prong heading for the SE high point near the bottom of the anchor. Along the way, Lupe found there was a small break in the cliffs. She really could have come up the mountain from the SE! It would have been a much shorter and steeper route than the one she actually took by circling around to the N.
The cliffs at the very SE tip of the Peak 6740 anchor provided a great look back to the S at Round Mountain.
From the cliffs at the SE tip of Peak 6740, Lupe and SPHP went NW up a modest slope and found the closest high spot at the base of the anchor. It seemed at least as high as the NE prong had been, and maybe a bit higher. From here, SPHP could also see the high spot at the W prong. It looked almost as high, but instead of going directly to the W prong, Lupe went NW to explore the main shaft of the Peak 6740 anchor.
The main shaft of the anchor was more heavily forested than the rest of the mountain. At first, the terrain didn’t look promising. Lupe started out losing elevation. After 5 or 10 minutes, though, she came to two high spots along the way. The first high spot was a flat, elevated limestone outcropping. The second high spot was close enough to be seen ahead a bit farther to the NW. It looked like a 5 foot high limestone rock.
When Lupe and SPHP got close to the second high spot, Lupe discovered that the rock was actually three pillars of limestone very close together, all about 5 feet high. Lupe and SPHP continued NW beyond the limestone pillars until it became clear there wasn’t any higher ground ahead. The forest had been thinned in this area, and Lupe could see the high point at the NE prong of the anchor. It looked every bit as high as where Lupe and SPHP were, and probably higher.
Lupe and SPHP returned to the limestone pillars high point. Lupe got up on top of one of the pillars for a photo.
SPHP peered through the forest out over a small valley back toward the W prong. Even though Peakbagger.com marks the true summit of Peak 6740 at the middle of the main shaft of the anchor, the W prong looked higher than the high points along the main shaft. Lupe had better visit the W prong, too! It didn’t take Lupe all that long to get there.
By now, Lupe had been to all five of the high points on the Peak 6740 anchor. Wherever the true summit was, she had been there. If SPHP had to guess, the SE high spot at the bottom of the anchor was the true summit. The W prong was a close second. If Lupe thought differently, she didn’t say so.
It was time for Lupe to press on to her next peakbagging goal, Limestone Hill (6,620 ft.). To get there, Lupe left the W prong of Peak 6740 taking a shortcut N down into a small valley. She then climbed back up to the three pillars high point on Peak 6740. She went a little farther NW, and then turned W following a lower ridge down through a dense forest of young trees.
Limestone Hill was only 0.33 mile away. Lupe soon came to a shallow saddle where there was a jeep trail. Lupe and SPHP followed the old jeep trail to a slight rise, which was the summit of Limestone Hill. The summit area ended at a band of low limestone cliffs to the W.
Getting to Limestone Hill from Peak 6740 had been a snap! SPHP took a break. Lupe could have taken one, but she was too busy. A chipmunk had taken refuge in a patch of low bushes at the edge of the cliff. Lupe searched excitedly for it, but the chipmunk had all the advantages. SPHP ate an apple and checked the maps. Lupe’s final peakbagging objective for the day was Elliot Ridge (6,700 ft.), about 3 miles NW as the crow flies.
Lupe couldn’t go to Elliot Ridge as the crow flies, though. Down in the broad open valleys to the W and N of Limestone Hill, the fields were all private property. Lupe would have to go S to get around it. Lupe and SPHP returned to the jeep trail and started following it SE.
The jeep trail turned out to be USFS Road No. 284.1I. It wound around quite a bit to the W of Peak 6740, but eventually turned S and arrived at Custer County Road No. 284. Lupe and SPHP followed it 0.25 mile W to its junction with the S end of USFS Road No. 291 (Ditch Creek Road). As soon as Lupe and SPHP reached the junction, gunfire erupted off to the N.
Someone had started target practice up at the Bear Mountain quarry. The plan had been to go N on No. 291, but Lupe would have to pass by quite close to the quarry. Since Lupe hates the sound of gunfire, SPHP stopped to consult the maps. Was there another way around to Elliot Ridge?
Yes, there was, but it wasn’t as direct. Unfortunately, it was too late in the day to consider the long route. SPHP encouraged Lupe to head N on No. 291. Lupe did her best to convince SPHP deadly danger awaited.
With Lupe constantly insisting it was wise to turn back, progress going N on USFS Road No. 291 was slow until a couple of squirrels and some free range cattle diverted Lupe’s attention from the gunfire. Fortunately, target practice ended before too long. Lupe was then happy to trot right along.
Lupe and SPHP reached the intersection with USFS Road No. 293, which goes NNE to Bear Mountain. On the other side of No. 291, a jeep trail led W into the forest. SPHP was eager to leave No. 291, and hoped the jeep trail would turn NW toward Elliot Ridge. It soon turned SW instead. Lupe and SPHP left the jeep trail heading NW through the forest.
It wasn’t far to a small valley. USFS Road No. 472 was down there, but Lupe just crossed it and continued NW up onto the next ridge. From the top, Lupe and SPHP could see the larger Bear Spring Creek valley. The other side of the valley was all barren. This area had burned in the Jasper Fire back in August, 2000.
The story is that back on August 8, 2000, a woman stopped along the highway a couple miles W of Jewel Cave National Monument to pee. For some reason, she thought it would be a good idea to light a match and drop it on the ground. Before departing, she watched as pine needles caught fire and the fire started to spread. The resulting Jasper Fire burned 83,000 acres of the Black Hills. Elliot Ridge is in the burn area.
Lupe and SPHP headed down to Bear Spring Creek. SPHP was surprised to see it was still flowing this time of year. Lupe a long cool drink from the tiny creek. It was the only stream she had come to all day. From the creek, Lupe and SPHP continued NW up the other side of the valley. Partway up, Lupe came to a dirt road, which may have been USFS Road No. 469.1A. Lupe and SPHP followed the road SW a short distance, but left it at its high point to turn NW again and keep climbing.
As Lupe gained elevation, she started coming to rock outcroppings at high points along the way. It was slow going. There were many dead tree trunks and branches laying on the ground, bleached by years in the sun. Even though the area is all in the Black Hills National Forest, Lupe kept coming upon barbed wire fences, too. Lupe finally reached the top of the ridge. Despite the unbroken views, SPHP was uncertain which way Lupe needed to go to reach Elliot Ridge.
It was still windy and getting progressively cooler out. SPHP consulted the maps, but the wind was a real pest. SPHP finally concluded that Lupe was far enough N. Elliot Ridge was off to the SW from here. Lupe and SPHP headed SW staying on the highest ground possible. Out in the open, Lupe saw several herds of deer, both mule deer and whitetails. Of course, they also always saw Lupe and SPHP and bounded away.
The first big hill Lupe climbed heading SW proved to be a false summit, but the true summit of Elliot Ridge could be seen ahead from the top. Lupe and SPHP continued on, and Lupe finally arrived at the summit of Elliot Ridge.
Elliot Ridge itself was not very beautiful with all the dead trees laying around. The fire had certainly opened up the views, though. In the cool wind, everything looked and felt stark and desolate. Lupe could see far to the SW into Wyoming. SPHP could even make out Laramie Peak (10,272 ft.) very faintly on the farthest horizon.
Lupe and SPHP continued S from the summit of Elliot Ridge. Lupe came to a series of minor high points as she followed the ridgeline. As the sun started sinking in the W, the wind finally began to die down. It was really beautiful out. The sense of isolation was inspiring. On the E side of the ridge, there was a great view of the S end of the Bear Springs Creek valley N of Custer Country Road No. 284.
SPHP hoped for a great sunset, but it didn’t develop. Too many clouds moved in off to the W. There was never more than just a little color that could be seen. The world turned gray.
When the sun disappeared, Lupe and SPHP descended from the ridgeline heading SE down into the Bear Springs Creek valley. Twilight was already well advanced by the time Lupe reached Custer Country Road No. 284 at the S end of the valley. Lupe was still 5 or 6 miles from the G6. Lupe and SPHP started trudging SE on No. 284.
It was dark out by the time Lupe had gone over a mile to the southernmost point on No. 284 where it turns NE. A guy named Mitch came by in a pickup truck. Mitch very kindly offered Lupe and SPHP a ride. Lupe accepted immediately! She thought a ride was a splendid idea! She leaped way up into the big truck without the least bit of hesitation.
Mitch had a cabin somewhere farther W, but he was on his way E to his father’s ranch near Crazy Horse to get his hunting dog. Mitch was a hunting guide, and had been out hunting coyotes. The wind had ruined his calls, however, and the hunt had been unsuccessful. Secretly, Lupe and SPHP were glad. Lupe and SPHP are on the coyotes’ side.
SPHP asked to be dropped off at Round Mountain. Mitch soon stopped the truck so Lupe and SPHP could get out. As Mitch drove off, SPHP realized the drop off point didn’t look familiar. The night was blacker than black. SPHP couldn’t see anything – not the road, not a hand held in front of SPHP’s face, nothing except a few stars. Good thing SPHP had brought the little flashlight!
Lupe was puzzled. For 45 minutes, SPHP wandered repeatedly back and forth along the same stretch of No. 284 and a side road. Which way was it to the G6? Finally SPHP figured it out. Lupe arrived back at the G6 at 8:26 PM (43°F).
It had been a long day. Part of the night would have been long too, if Mitch hadn’t come along! Expedition No. 100 had been a 4 mountain peakbagging success. Time to head home for a big bowl of Alpo and a nice long snooze!
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