Lupe – Page 80 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Sunrise Peak, Cascade Range, Washington (8-21-21)

Days 14-16 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!

8-19-21, 69ºF, 1:15 PM, Upper Dungeness trailhead, Olympic Peninsula – SPHP regained consciousness. A lovely blue sky day!

How you feeling, Loop?

Awake already, SPHP? I’m better, a lot better, but was hoping you’d stay conked out.

How come?

Because I’m not feeling too ambitious. Don’t get me wrong, Grey Wolf Ridge was so worth it, but what a doozy!

Heh. No worries, Looper. No big plans today. Positioning day, or what’s left of it. I assume you have no objections to a scenic drive?

Oh, that sounds great, SPHP! Especially if there are cows and horses!

Doubtful to say the least on that score, Loop. The Olympic Peninsula isn’t exactly cattle country.

Hope you can stay awake while driving then, SPHP. Don’t be surprised if it turns into a snooze fest for me!

8-20-21 – Mount Rainier National Park was a bust. Just a drive through for Lupe in any case, but would have been nice to at least get a good look at mighty Mount Rainier (14,411 ft.). The American Dingo did get to see it from Hwy 410, but practically enveloped in clouds. As the road wound higher, SPHP drove into fog and mist.

A not too scintillating glimpse of **Mount Rainier** from Hwy 410.

E of the park, thousands of feet lower, it was a completely different story. At the turn off Hwy 410 to Bumping Lake, fire fighters had set up barriers. Road closed indefinitely. Raging forest fires in this region. 134 mile long perimeter being defended. Should all be over and done with when the snow flies.

Heh. No choice.

Guess Mount Aix (7,766 ft.) gets the axe, Loopster. Sorry about that!

Back to Mount Rainier National Park, then S for many miles.

8-20-21, 1:16 PM, USFS Road No. 2324 – Got here early enough, but, yeah, this wasn’t happening, either. Not today.

Can’t do Sunrise Peak (5,892 ft.) at sunset anyway, SPHP! Wouldn’t be right, would it?

Rules are made to be broken, Looper! Unless our luck changes in the next few hours, though, looks like this rule is going to hold.

SPHP had parked the RAV4 along a wide spot along USFS Road No. 2324 just past where No. 063 took off to the L curving steeply up a hillside.

Sunrise Peak trailhead is supposed to be up at the end of No. 063, Loop. It’s not very far, not even 0.2 mile. Want to go check it out?

Might as well, SPHP.

A sign at the start of No. 063 revealed that the RAV4 was parked at the trailer trailhead. Probably OK, not a single trailer there at the moment.

Signage at the start of USFS Road No. 063.

A foggy sniff along No. 063 got Loop up to not one, but two small parking areas near the start of Trail No. 262. SPHP was surprised to see that both were nearly full. 4 vehicles at the lower one, and 6 at the upper, where Trail No. 262 took off from the far end of the lot.

At the **upper Sunrise Peak trailhead**.

At the moment, no one was around. A quick look at Trail No. 262, which started off going downhill as it disappeared into the foggy forest, and there really wasn’t anything more to do here.

Guess we’ll head back, Loop. Learned one thing.

What’s that, SPHP?

Unless some trailers show up, no point in bringing the RAV4 up here just to try to cram it in among all these other vehicles.

Back at the RAV4, SPHP worked on the trip journal while waiting for the weather to clear. Soon bored with staring into the fog, Lupe snoozed. Fog was better than smoke! Not as likely to persist, but as the afternoon dragged on, the mood grew darker. A heavy mist developed, dampening hopes. Sunrise Peak was not going to transform into Sunset Peak.

8-21-21, 8:13 AM, Sunrise Peak trailer trailhead – Sunrise at Sunrise Peak hadn’t happened, either. No mist, but still foggy. Frustrating! More trip journal work, then suddenly, the day brightened. A lovely patch of blue sky appeared, furnishing all the encouragement required.

Hey, hey, Looper! We might be in business! Maybe these clouds are finally about to burn off? Wanna try it?

She did.

Blue sky vanished, though, even before Lupe completed the short trek to the upper trailhead. Hmm. Well, no matter. Still hopeful that the clouds would clear out before too long, Lupe ventured into the foggy forest.

After an initial dip of 20 feet followed by a flat stretch, No. 262 started to climb. The trail became quite wide, sort of a big, smooth rut. No stones at all, just soft dirt. Hexagonal or diamond-shaped grids were embedded along some stretches, perhaps to reduce erosion?

Lupe trotted along through the dim, damp forest for 0.25 mile before the trail leveled out at an opening overlooking a 50 foot cliff. Ordinarily, there must have been a view here, but only a soft, featureless, gray was on display now.

Although the American Dingo didn’t see much of anything, she could hear. Something was coming! A roar of engines got louder and louder. Stepping off the trail, 4 dirt bikes raced by. 2 riders had rifles. All wore camouflage.

Hunters? This time of year? On noisy dirt bikes? Made no sense.

Guess they do things differently here in Washington, Loop.

The hunters vanished as quickly as they’d appeared, the roar of their bikes fading away after them. The Carolina Dog returned to the trail, which now trended SW. She was soon climbing again, but before too long came to more level terrain, and even a minor downhill stretch.

Lupe wasn’t much beyond the cliffs when the trail went past a stand of strange plants with 3 – 5 foot tall stalks that shot up from a base of long, thin, grass-like leaves. These plants resembled sort of a tropical or rain forest version of a yucca plant.

Bushes with clusters of bright red berries added color to the gray day, but the plants that interested SPHP the most bore dark purple berries.

Not another blueberry trap, SPHP!

Heavens, no! Banish the thought, Looper! This is a huckleberry trap!

Oh, and were the huckleberries ever scrumptious! Plump, ripe, fresh and juicy! Progress slowed so much that Lupe took to simply laying on the dirt path wearing an expression of boredom and disgust.

Meanwhile, intent upon conducting a thorough huckleberry taste survey of statistically significant sample size, ol’ purple fingers munched away.

And why not? What’s the rush? Sunrise Peak was a mere 2 miles from the trailhead. The longer it took Lupe to get there, the more likely the fog would clear off. Still, SPHP did make some progress in a dawdling sort of way. Every now and then more dirt bikers appeared. Lupe kept having to scoot off into the bushes until they roared by.

Loop was on a flat section of trail when she finally came to a junction where an old wooden signpost was leaning against a tree.

Lacking arrows, the signs attached to the post were initially confusing. Trail No. 262, which Lupe had been on ever since leaving the trailhead, wasn’t even mentioned.

Happily, the topo map sorted it out. Trail No. 262 continued straight for another 0.33 mile to Trail No. 261, which could then be followed either N to Juniper Ridge (5,611 ft.), or S to Jumbo Peak (5,801 ft.). Both were potential destinations on a sunnier day.

However, neither were today’s main objective. Lupe needed to turn R here, taking Trail No. 262A roughly 0.75 mile to a second junction with Trail No. 261A, where another R turn would get her to Sunrise Peak (5,892 ft.).

Trail No. 262A climbed more aggressively and relentlessly than No. 262 had. Trending NW now, Lupe passed more of the tall stalk plants. To SPHP’s delight, plenty of delicious huckleberries, too! Although starting out as another big rut full of tire tracks, no dirt bikers came this way.

The forest began thinning out. Soon Lupe was traversing a steep slope with only scattered trees. Still foggy, but directly ahead a blue tinge was visible along the rough outline of a big rock formation.

Approaching the rock formations (Center & R). Photo looks NW.

Hopes for sunshine were immediately dashed. By the time Lupe got to the rock formation, the fog was thicker again.

Turning W along the base of the rock formation, Trail No. 262A topped out. From here, the trail dipped then leveled out as it curved N.

At No. 262A’s high point S of the rock formation. Photo looks W.

Looking back. Loop still at No. 262A’s high point. Photo looks ESE.

Two minutes from the high point, Lupe reached the junction with Trail No. 261A. A L turn would have been a shortcut to Trail No. 261 and Juniper Ridge. Staying R, Loop continued her ascent of Sunrise Peak.

Junction with Trail No. 261A. Lupe again went R. Photo looks N.

Not much farther now! The summit was only another 300 feet higher. In forest again, Trail No. 261A switchbacked tightly up the NW slope.

Near the top, the trail broke out of the trees, heading SE across an open slope. Lupe could see her shadow! Blue-tinged fog had returned, and a bright white disk glowed in the clouds above!

Trail No. 261A, way up on the almost sunny slope. Photo looks SE.

Luck of the Dingo! Might have timed this just about perfectly, Loopster!

Oh, I hope you’re right, SPHP! What do you think we’ll see up here?

Great question! Magnificent sights, Loop! On a clear day, 3 enormous peaks. Mount Rainier (14,411 ft.) is due N. Mount Adams (12,276 ft.) is SE. And to the SW, a mountain you haven’t seen since your first Dingo Vacation way back in 2012.

When we went to the West Coast with Lanis?

Exactly right, Loop! Remember when we went to see Mount Saint Helens (8,333 ft.), and you met Gary Rosenquist who had been in the area taking pictures of the massive violent eruption on May 18, 1980?

Oh, yes I do, SPHP! The volcano that blew its top!

Yup. Rainier and Adams are volcanoes, too! Just haven’t blown their tops off recently.

Sounds like Sunrise Peak is volcano central, SPHP! Maybe we’ll see some fireworks?

Heh. No doubt we would, if we could hang around on a geological time scale. Today, I’ll be thrilled if the fog disperses.

Despite hopeful signs, the fog hadn’t dispersed yet. Trail No. 261A soon led up to Sunrise Peak’s final rocky summit knob, approaching it from the SW. At one time there had been a fire lookout on Sunrise Peak. An old metal railing still provided assistance getting to where the lookout once stood.

Approaching the summit block. Photo looks N.

The Carolina Dog scrambled up without any such assistance. SPHP made full use of it, glad the railing was there.

10:40 AM, 65ºF, Sunrise Peak (5,892 ft.) – Various anchor bolts stationed around the perimeter of a flat summit 25 feet in diameter were all that remained of the old fire lookout. Sheer cliffs were present along all edges, except where the railing came up, which was mighty steep, too.

Another massive knob of rock 4 or 5 feet higher was instantly visible less than 100 feet away. That other knob was actually the apparent current summit of Sunrise Peak, although before the mountain was decapitated to accommodate the lookout, the natural true summit might well have once been where Lupe was now.

Peering over the edge of the gap separating these high points revealed a drop of 30 or 40 feet. Even if there was an easy way to get to the base of that other high point, it was much steeper than anything Lupe or SPHP could attempt.

Don’t be a fanatic, SPHP! This is close enough for Dingo work. We’re not going over there!

**Sunrise Peak summit** from the railing.

The nearby apparent current **true summit knob**.

The top of Sunrise Peak was roomy enough, but wasn’t up to American Dingo standards as far as comfort was concerned. Small rocks, gravel, and bits of broken glass covered the roughly leveled solid rock site. Not terrible, but certainly not soft or cushiony, either.

With nothing else in sight, Lupe made do as best she could while waiting for the fog to clear, an eagerly anticipated event expected any time now.

Waiting for the big volcano show to begin.

Lupe waited and waited. SPHP shook her paw, congratulating her on her ascent of Sunrise Peak. She shared the only chocolate coconut bar SPHP had brought along, then had some Taste of the Wild. When the rocks got too uncomfortable, Loopster curled up on SPHP’s lap.

Still no sign of any volcanoes, or anything else, either. The air was calm. Clouds moved slowly, if at all. Now and then a light mist fell. Later on, the sky above was so blue, and the rays of the unseen sun felt so warm, that SPHP applied sunscreen.

Suddenly, there was movement! Right along the edge, over toward the true summit, a tiny visitor appeared.

Fortunately, the chipmunk vanished before Lupe saw it. The innocent little creature made SPHP uneasy. If Lupe had seen it, she would have raced over to the brink of the cliff in an instant, abandoning all caution. Could have been a disaster!

More dangerous than a bear!

Sorry, SPHP! I’ve been dozing. What did you say? Something about a bear?

Oh, nothing. Just muttering to myself, Loop. I ought to comb my hair.

Up here? Why? That’s silly! Seen any volcanoes yet, SPHP?

Not a one, Looper. You’ll be the first to know, if I do.

45 minutes of staring into the whiteness drifted on by. Several times, the top of the cloud deck had been briefly visible far off to the NW, but other than that, nada. However, a large region of hazy territory could now be seen to the W and NW. No volcanoes, it was all lower than Sunrise Peak, but this vision persisted long enough to encourage an extension of Lupe’s usual summit hour.

Another 5 or 10 minutes, and it all vanished again.

Sunrise Peak isn’t quite high enough, SPHP!

I know it, Loop! Another 1,000 feet would do it. Bet we’d be above this soup with a grand view of 3 massive volcanoes floating on a sea of white.

Oh, that would be awesome, SPHP!

No doubt, but that wasn’t the case. Not quite high enough, was. Several more times fleeting glimpses of distant lower hills and ridges appeared to the W and NW, followed by a dim view E.

Lupe’s wait continued, but an hour and a half after arriving, the clouds welled up. Blue tinged sky vanished, replaced by a darker, somber gray.

Guess we can’t win them all, Loopster. Not happening! Too bad!

Between smoke and fog, winning any at all couldn’t be taken for granted on this Dingo Vacation. Gray Wolf Ridge had been a big win, but other than that, Lupe was having to settle for a lot of partial victories.

Nothing to be done about it, except face reality and keep trying. Lupe had come tantalizingly close here on Sunrise Peak, but the reality was that it was time.

Onward, puppy ho!

The return was fast and easy. On departure, Sunrise Peak looked the same way it had when Lupe arrived. Foggy, but like it might not last forever.

Still foggy now, though, was all that mattered. Descending the winding path, Lupe was soon back in the darker, foggier forest.

It was an amazing place, too! Towering trees! Ripe huckleberries! Tall stalk plants! Dripping, brooding silence. The wonder and mystery of what else might be out here?

Until, of course, the roar of engines approaching, warning that dirt bikes were on their way. Better get off the trail! (1:44 PM, 52ºF)

**Sunrise Peak**, Cascade Range, Washington 8-21-21

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

GPS Track by Joanne Najdzin (11-2-19)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacations to New Mexico, Wyoming & the West Coast Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

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

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!