9:10 AM, 44ºF, Spring Creek Road W (USFS Road No. 305) –
This is really cool, SPHP!
You can say that again, Loopster! Going to be downright frigid!
After parking the G6, Lupe and SPHP had taken a short walk up the road. A wall of rock on the other side of Spring Creek had inspired Lupe’s reaction. No bridge across the stream had inspired SPHP’s.
SPHP took another look at the topo map. Yeah, this had to be the place, didn’t it? Did appear to be some sort of faint road on the other side of Spring Creek. Kicking boots off, SPHP waded across the stream. Not hard, not deep, but numbingly cold.
C’mon over, Loop!
Lupe ran anxiously back and forth along the bank, but refused to brave little ole Spring Creek. No amount of encouragement could persuade her to make the plunge. SPHP sat down, and started putting boots back on. Suddenly, Loop was right here! A tree trunk formed a partial bridge a little upstream, maybe she had run across it? Whatever she’d done, the Carolina Dog looked pretty pleased with herself.
Oh, aren’t you the foxy one, Miss Dry Paws?
An adventure right off the bat! Ready, Looper? Let’s find out what else Peak 6360 has in store for us!
Loopster turned and trotted up what SPHP hoped was what remained of USFS Road No. 305.1H.
Up a little rise, and the road leveled out in a meadow. For a moment it seemed the road had already vanished, but Lupe quickly found it again heading WNW up a little valley past a stand of naked aspens. No. 305.1H must have been abandoned a long time ago. Among the aspens stood the remains of an ancient cabin that had been, too.
Just past the cabin, the road made a big snowy curve S, starting to climb out of the valley along a forested hillside. Matched up perfectly with the map. This was USFS Road No. 305.1H, alright!
Passing tall pines and spruce, the air was comfortably warm, but a light breeze sometimes carried a fresh coolness aloft. Still snow-covered, the road soon turned E. Lupe trotted ahead without ever breaking through the crust, while SPHP plodded along behind.
Wonder how long it’s been since anyone’s been back here, SPHP?
No telling, Loop. Seems super secluded, doesn’t it?
Rounding the E end of a ridge, USFS Road No. 305.1H curved WSW along the N edge of a hidden valley. Scattered pines and a stand of tall aspens decorated a grassy lowland enclosed by forested ridges. Snow clung to the N slopes. Large rock formations could be seen at several high points way up on the ridgelines. Peak 6360 was somewhere up there!
What an awesome place, SPHP! This is amazing!
I’ll say! No one ever sees this, Loop. We are so lucky!
No. 305.1H wound along the N, then W edge of the valley. A junction where USFS Road No. 305.1K continued S, and No. 305.1H curved away to the W, was barely recognizable. Lupe got on No. 305.1K, following the road until it faded away near the S end of the wonderful valley.
No. 305.1K was on the E side of the valley, just starting to climb, when it finally disappeared completely. A huge rock formation way up on the ridge looked like it might be a problem to get around, so Lupe began her ascent of Peak 6360 aiming S of it. A modest amount of deadfall during the initial part of the climb soon became a wretched relentless jumble.
Enthusiasm was not dimmed. SPHP toiled after her, as Lupe leapt over one obstacle after another. Views kept improving. The sense that Peak 6360 might prove to be a spectacular summit by Black Hills standards kept growing.
The climb took an inordinate amount of time for the amount of distance covered, but the steepness eventually began to diminish. Lupe reached the ridgeline right where she’d been aiming, a little S of the big rock formation.
Crossing the narrow ridge, the American Dingo came to a gorgeous view of Saint Elmo Peak (6,458 ft.) and Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.).
Wowee! What a fabulous view, SPHP!
Yeah, it’s incredible, Loop! This is a new perspective! Seems different from what we’ve grown used to, doesn’t it?
It does! Can’t wait till we get to the top! Wonder what we’ll see then?
The top of Peak 6360. A gnawing fear had existed ever since Lupe first saw this ridge from way down in the hidden valley. All these big rock formations up along the ridgeline! If the summit was like that, some huge vertical clump of stone, getting to the top might be an issue. Peak 6360 might be beyond the Carolina Dog’s capabilities, and that would be really sad, especially when this whole experience had been so fabulous so far.
Lupe was high on Peak 6360’s N ridge, and probably not too far from the summit. A glance to the S only reinforced the fear of possible failure. 3 rock formations dominated the view. The 2 closest were spiky, but of no concern, since they clearly weren’t the top. The most distant formation, which might well be the true summit, was different. From here it looked exactly like “some huge vertical clump of stone”. Not good!
Loopster! Scramble up on that closest spiky formation. Let’s see how things look from there.
Hmm. Not any better. The view from the first spike only reinforced the notion that Peak 6360 might well be nigh impossible for a Dingo without genuine rock climbing skills. Looking back N at the rock formation Lupe had avoided by coming up S of it wasn’t much of a confidence booster, either, if that was a sample of what lay ahead.
Hard to say. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as it looked? Closer inspection was in order. Picking a way slowly through the interminable deadfall, Loop continued S, working up to and past the 2nd spike.
Ugh! More big rocks, more deadfall ahead. The summit block looked more intimidating with each step toward it.
Peak 6360 was still very cool, though! Although problematic, the rock formations were beautiful and unique. In addition to Saint Elmo Peak and Black Elk Peak, Lupe had a grand view of Elkhorn Mountain (6,381 ft.), Gap Lode Peak (6,560 ft.), Little Devils Tower (6,960 ft.) and Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.), too.
11:43 AM, 52ºF, Peak 6360 – The sky had been clear, a bright blue, when the Carolina Dog set out from Spring Creek, but was mostly cloudy now. Sort of surprising, since the forecast yesterday had been for clear skies all day. Every few minutes, the situation changed from sunlight to shadow or back again.
Lupe had made it to a patch of grass at the intersection of Peak 6360’s 3 main ridges. A glorious spot, but the news could hardly be worse for a peakbagging Dingo. The N ridge was of no concern. That was the way Loop had come up. The true summit clearly wasn’t anywhere along it.
The main problem was just to the SE, right at the start of Peak 6360’s long E ridge. That “huge clump of stone” Loop had seen from the N ridge did appear to be the true summit.
Not happening, is it, SPHP? Looks impossible!
Yeah, sorry Loopster! Most disappointing, but not entirely unexpected as we have seen. Doesn’t appear to be much hope that the other side is any better, either. Probably worse.
500 or 600 feet out on the SW ridge was another, smaller high point. Might have been a glimmer of hope for Loopster, since it looked to be possibly in contention for title of true summit, but to be honest, it didn’t really look like it from here. Had to be close, though!
Cold comfort! The SW high point appeared to be a tight collection of long rocks standing on end. “Fail” written all over it, too.
Well, might as well see what we can do here, Loop. Looks like you can get pretty close to the top. Maybe there actually is a way up?
The American Dingo headed for the E summit block and began to climb.
Loopster got pretty high, but not all the way to the top. A snow-covered shelf on the N side of the formation was as far as she could go.
SPHP had tagged along, of course. No way to boost Lupe any higher. The rock walls were simply too tall. No safe route back, even if she could get higher. Yeah, this was it.
How much farther is it to the top, SPHP? Can you tell?
Eh, I’d say at least 10 feet, Loop, no more than 20.
So, what now?
Guess we’re done. No sense breaking our necks doing something stupid. Stay here, I’ll go back down and take your picture.
As SPHP turned to head down, a sudden gust of wind ripped SPHP’s hat off. It went tumbling down the S side of the rock formation.
My Alaska cap!
Can you still see it, SPHP?
Yeah, about 15 feet down.
15 feet! Can you still get to it?
Not from here, Loop! However, looks like I can climb up to it from down around the S side. Anyway, stay where you are. I’ll get that picture!
Alrighty! Got it!
Lupe came bounding down, rejoining SPHP at the little grassy patch.
Shall we go get your cap, SPHP?
Naw, not yet. It’s on the lee side now, so it isn’t going anywhere for the time being. Let’s take a break.
A chocolate coconut bar. A little Taste of the Wild. That was about it for refreshments. The sky darkened. A few snowflakes sailed by. Nothing serious. Lupe and SPHP sat on the grass contemplating the unbeatable E summit block. In addition to the magnificent views to the ENE, there were interesting sights in other directions, too.
A line of big ridges along the E edge of the limestone plateau country was visible off to the W. Some of the highest ground in the Black Hills was over that way. The fire lookout tower on Bear Mountain (7,166 ft.) was visible to the naked eye, but didn’t show up on a photo. Zimmer Ridge (6,600 ft.) was 3 miles NNE.
Cap time, SPHP?
Yeah, let’s go get it. Don’t want to lose my Alaska cap!
To get to the cap, Lupe first had to go down the S side of the ridge a little way. The views in this direction were also quite impressive! Wasn’t that Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.) on the far horizon? SPHP was almost certain it was. Lots of rugged terrain closer by, too.
While Lupe waited below, SPHP managed to climb 25 feet up a narrow chute, successfully retrieving the Alaska cap. A little farther down to the SE was a fairly large rock formation that looked like it might be worth visiting just for fun. However, the American Dingo had barely started toward it, when SPHP noticed another chute heading up the S side of the E summit block.
The chute was long, and very steep, but maybe doable! And weren’t those little trees visible at the upper end the same ones that Lupe had seen from the other side that were right up on top?
Loopster! Let’s check this out! Maybe, maybe, baby!
Getting a little scary, but not much farther to go. 15 feet? Lifting Lupe, SPHP held her aloft.
Climb, Loop, climb! You can do it!
A tiny little spot where she could sit was just ahead, but the American Dingo absolutely refused to try for it.
Your certifiable, SPHP! Put me down! NOW!
Lupe scampered lower as soon as SPHP complied.
Alright! Stay there, Loop. We’re a team! I’ll go up and tag it for the both of us.
Fine! Have at it! Be my personal representative, SPHP.
A few feet higher, and hmm. The Dingo was right. Any halfway decent rock climber could do this, but SPHP didn’t have those credentials. Not even a wannabe. Too scary. Not a high enough percentage play. SPHP retreated. So close, but defeated again!
Congratulations, SPHP! You do have a few brain cells left!
Yeah, maybe one or two. Let’s go take a look at that other formation now, just for kicks.
The lower formation was a very scenic spot.
Peak 6360 has been quite the experience, SPHP, but are we about done?
Almost. One more thing though, Looper! We ought to at least go over to the SW high point and poke around a bit.
Point “Fail”, you mean?
Hah! Yeah, that’s the one. Shouldn’t take long.
Except for the deadfall. Every movement up here on Peak 6360 took a month of Sundays, but Lupe was willing, so the slog began.
Holy smokes, Loopster! You can’t be far from the top! Stay right there. I’m coming up!
Lupe sat among bare-branched little bushes in a cleft way up on the NE side of the SW high point. Much to SPHP’s surprise, it hadn’t been that hard to get this far.
SPHP scrambled up next to Looper. Hardly any room, but what a view! An exciting one to be sure. Lupe appeared to be just as high, if not a bit higher than that dang E summit block!
Careful, Loop! Don’t move! You’ve got some big drops right next to you!
SPHP stood next to a couple of skinny rocks jutting higher. Couldn’t reach the top of either of them with a hand, but tapped both tops easily enough with a broken hiking pole that was only 2.5 feet long.
Cheating! And not good enough, at that. Just a little farther SW were more rocks a few feet higher yet. So close, but no way to get to them. A crying shame! Probably Peak 6360’s true summit. SPHP would almost bet money on it.
Lupe was in a precarious spot. Better get down! SPHP retreated.
Lupe picked her way down to a viewpoint S of Point Fail. Great stuff, but by now SPHP was more interested in the view of Point Fail itself from this direction.
Another go at it, SPHP?
Yes! Let’s try it from the SW!
Through the deadfall, then another scramble higher. Nope.
Wrong route. A better one existed closer to the highest rocks, but clearly Lupe’s last chance! Before going over there, another rest break was in order. This time the Carolina Dog put a serious dent in the Taste of the Wild supply.
Atlantic Hill (6,393 ft.) was in sight. The original plan had been to climb it, too.
Ready to do this, Loopster?
The American Dingo was, but she couldn’t. Climbing right along the SW side of the SW summit block, Lupe got up to a decent-sized shelf that was probably just as high as the cleft she had reached on the other side of the formation, but could go no higher. Within 10 or 15 feet of the top and right next to it, but that was it.
Lupe was done.
Her personal representative wasn’t.
The wall of rock next to the shelf had a few narrow little footholds. The rock was super solid with decent handholds, too.
Stay here, Loop! I’ll give it a go!
A little bit of rock climbing, and SPHP’s head was right next to and a foot higher than the highest rock on Peak 6360.
Woot! Peak 6360! We did it, Looper! At least, we’re claiming it!
Are you at the top, SPHP?
I’m looking right at my R hand gripping the top of the highest rock.
Oh, that’s excellent! Close enough for Dingo work! Enjoy the view, then come on down!
No letting go! One-handed, SPHP snapped a few pics.
2:39 PM, Peak 6360’s SW ridge – Well, it was over. After going a little way down the S side of Peak 6360’s SW ridge, Lupe had found a pass through the rocks. She now stood looking at the descent back down to the hidden valley. It was an awesome view!
Medicine Mountain (6,878 ft.) and the lofty ridges of the E edge of the limestone plateau were to the NW. Almost directly N, Peak 6720 and Peak 6600 were in sight, too.
Too late in the day to consider trying to go all the way to Atlantic Hill. Sad, because it looked like a fun trek, but Peak 6360 had chewn up too much time. Worth it, though! What a memorable peak 6360 had been!
This was a different route down, a steep N slope with 2 feet of snow in addition to all the deadfall. The descent took a long time, but there was no hurry, and Lupe got to enjoy the views until they sank out of sight.
Past the last of the deadfall, the trek back through the hidden valley was a joy. Easy, beautiful, and Peak 6360 had ultimately been a success! The only bad part was that the delightful return was over way too soon.
4:01 PM, 54ºF, Spring Creek –
Oh my gosh, Lupe! Are you alright? Is that how you did this before?
Right through Peru, baby! Upon reaching Spring Creek again, SPHP had waded across without the slightest hesitation. No bothering with taking boots off this time. They weren’t waterproof, and with all the snow on Peak 6360’s N slope, SPHP’s feet were already soaking wet.
Immediately after getting across, though, SPHP had turned to see Lupe, anxious because left behind, take a running start and hurl herself in one mighty leap over the stream. She barely made it, and landed with a hard thud against the bank.
Did you break a rib, Loop?
Nope! The Carolina Dog looked a bit sheepish, but she was fine. Peak 6360 adventure complete! Onward, puppy ho!
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