Black Hills – Page 85 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 121 – Custer Mountain, Kruger Peak, Daisy Peak & Northeast Cicero Peak (3-7-15)

After nearly two weeks of weather too cold for a pleasant outdoor experience, Lupe was really, really ready for another Black Hills Expedition. She had been thoroughly bored for days on end. Saturday, March 7th arrived with a forecast high in the low 50’s after a couple of pretty nice days which helped to melt some of the snow around. SPHP was ready to get back into action, too.

Lupe’s main peakbagging goal for the day was to climb Custer Mountain (6,089 ft.), located roughly 3 miles ESE of the town of Custer in the southern Black Hills. (The Black Hills also feature a Custer Peak, which is considerably higher and better known. Custer Peak is in the north central Black Hills.) At 9:01 AM, SPHP parked the G6 near the intersection of USFS Roads No. 342 & 341, just 0.75 mile N of Custer Mountain. Conditions were sunny, calm and 41 degrees F.

Lupe started out heading W on No. 341. She hadn’t gone too far before it was time to leave the road and start climbing the mountain to the S. The climb was moderately steep heading through a Ponderosa pine forest typical of the Black Hills. Due to the northern exposure there was a small amount of snow, not even half an inch, still on the ground.

SPHP could see through the forest that there were two high points above that might be the summit of Custer Mountain. Lupe climbed up to the W high point first, but once there, it didn’t take much exploration to establish that the true summit of Custer Mountain was to the E. After a brief break, Lupe headed past some nice rock outcroppings down into a little saddle that led to the final climb up the rather steep NW slope of Custer Mountain.

Pine bark beetles had killed large numbers of trees. Although there was still a standing forest of living trees, there was a lot of deadfall timber to contend with on the ground too. The climb up to the summit of Custer Mountain was consequently quite slow. The summit itself was a bit surprising. Having seen Custer Mountain from the S back on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 109 on 12-13-14, SPHP had expected a fairly large flat summit area, but instead there was a narrow rocky spine running N/S at the highest point.

Lupe on the highest rock on Custer Mountain.

The rocky spine was easily climbed and Lupe posed for a couple of photos up there. There weren’t any distant views from the actual summit due to the surrounding forest. After a brief time at the top, Lupe climbed down off the rocky spine and headed SE down into a small saddle which led to another close-by high spot. This second high spot was much more level and had some open ground affording some fairly decent views to the SE.

Lupe reaches a high spot SE of the summit of Custer Mountain.

Lupe had already accomplished her main peakbagging goal for the day, which was to climb Custer Mountain. It was still very early in the day, so SPHP paused to consider what the plan might be from here. Originally SPHP had supposed Lupe would next head over to Mt. Coolidge (6,023 ft.), about 2 miles to the ESE. However, the view to the S was more interesting. In that direction were three of the peaks Lupe had climbed back on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 109. Kruger and Daisy Peaks were 1.5 to 2 miles away. Northeast Cicero Peak was 4 miles away.

Between the trees are Kruger Peak (on left) and Daisy Peak (on right), as seen from Custer Mountain.

SPHP decided Lupe would skip Mt. Coolidge in favor of Kruger, Daisy and NE Cicero Peaks. It would be a considerably longer day, but a more challenging and interesting day too. The decision made, Lupe headed SW down off Custer Mountain. After losing nearly all the elevation gained climbing Custer Mountain, she emerged into a valley, where loggers had greatly thinned the forest. She followed a logging road down the valley to USFS Road No. 343.

A 0.25 mile hike along No. 343 brought Lupe to an intersection with USFS Road No. 337. Lupe turned S on USFS Road No. 337. Eventually Lupe left No. 337 to hike through the forest, and then through a field to the base of Kruger Peak (5,838 ft.). She climbed Kruger Peak from the NW. (The photo featured at the start of this post is of Lupe on the upper slopes of Kruger Peak with a view back to the NW towards Custer Mountain.)

There is a fairly flat area up on the top of Kruger Peak with a couple of rocky high points at the E and W ends. Lupe visited both high points since neither was noticeably higher than the other. SPHP and Lupe paused for a little while to enjoy the Kruger Peak views, and take a water and Taste of the Wild break.

After Kruger Peak, Lupe headed for Daisy Peak (5,948 ft.). She lost about 100 feet of elevation heading down the saddle at the SW end of Kruger Peak. From there she climbed up the N slope of Daisy Peak to arrive on top of the ridge extending NW from the summit. SPHP had Lupe go to the end of the ridge for a few photos back towards Custer Mountain. A five minute stroll SE along the narrow ridge then brought Lupe to the broader, grassy, rounded summit of Daisy Peak.

Custer Mountain (on left) and Harney Peak (center) from end of NW ridge on Daisy Peak.

At the summit of Daisy Peak there was a bit of a breeze out of the SW. The sky was also starting to cloud up a bit more, although it was still mostly clear. Lupe and SPHP spent some time enjoying the views, which were unobstructed in most directions except the NW. Lupe obliged SPHP by posing for an assortment of photos. Then it was time to move on towards NE Cicero Peak, still 2 miles to the S.

Lupe and the dead tree at the summit of Daisy Peak.

Kruger Peak is the nearby low ridge. From Daisy Peak it doesn't look too impressive. — Kruger Peak is the nearby lower ridge. From Daisy Peak it doesn’t look too impressive.

Northeast Cicero Peak is the highest point towards the left of this photo taken from Daisy Peak. — Northeast Cicero Peak is the highest point towards the left center of this photo taken from Daisy Peak.

Lupe headed S down off Daisy Peak following along or just W of the ridge line. At the saddle between Daisy Peak and a smaller hill to the S, Lupe turned SW and proceeded to work her way S around the smaller hill. She reached a faint road which she followed up to the SE. The road faded into just a single track trail which reached a broad level saddle area in the forest. The trail then linked up with USFS Road No. 337.1A (unmarked) just S of the smaller hill.

Lupe followed No. 337.1A heading E and gradually losing elevation as the saddle area was left behind. Before long Lupe reached the intersection with No. 337.1B (marked). No. 337.1B headed S up a long valley towards a high ridge about 0.5 mile N of NE Cicero Peak. SPHP was impressed with the scenery in this valley back on Black Hills Expedition No. 109 when Lupe had come down the valley from the S, and enjoyed the trip up the valley from the N as well.

Looking S up USFS Road No. 337.1B from near the intersection with 337.1A.

Part way up the valley, No. 337.1B is overgrown with young pine trees. It soon dissolves into a single track trail. Lupe and SPHP headed up the trail towards the closest prominent rocky point along the high ridge to the S. Lupe left the trail to turn a bit to the E and climbed up to the top of the high ridge just E of the prominent rocky point. At the rocky point, SPHP took another photo or two looking back towards Daisy and Kruger Peaks.

Lupe on the high rocky point N of NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks N towards Daisy Peak (bare hill on the right) and Custer Mountain (forested hill near center In front of distant Harney Peak). — Lupe on the high rocky point N of NE Cicero Peak. Photo looks N towards Daisy Peak (bare hill on the right) and Custer Mountain (forested hill near center in front of distant Harney Peak).

From the high ridge, Northeast Cicero Peak (6,240 ft.) was back in view again. This ridge sweeps around to the SE and then turns SW to head up to the summit of NE Cicero Peak. The whole ridge has only a few living trees on it, so the views are great. There are rock outcroppings scattered along the ridge, some deadfall timber, and plenty of rocks hidden in the grass. Lupe followed this ridge all the way around to gain the summit of Northeast Cicero Peak.

Looking SE along the high ridge from near the rocky point. NE Cicero Peak is on the right.

Northeast Cicero Peak. Lupe climbed it via the ridge sweeping up from the NE (at the left of this photo).

A look at the view to the SE at territory to the E of NE Cicero Peak. — A look towards the SE (still along the high ridge) at territory to the E of NE Cicero Peak.

The summit of Northeast Cicero Peak is broad, flat and grassy. There is a single big rock at the NE end which is the highest point and true summit. Perhaps 30 feet to the W is a low flat row of exposed rocks running N/S which is nearly as high. At this row of rocks, Lupe was ready for a rest. She had water and ate the rest of her Taste of the Wild. It was getting cloudier. A cool breeze out of the SW was getting stronger. Perhaps 1.5 hours or a bit more remained before sunset.

Lupe sitting on the highest rock on Northeast Cicero Peak. — Lupe sitting and squinting on the highest rock on Northeast Cicero Peak.

Lupe stands on the low row of rocks on NE Cicero Peak. The prairie E of the Black Hills is in sunlight.

Lupe posed for more photos on NE Cicero Peak. She then left the summit area heading SW. At the end of the ridge to the SW was an exposed grassy area with the best views to the S of Cicero Peak. SPHP took a couple more photos here, before heading NW down into the forest. The going was a bit slippery since there was still some snow in this part of the forest. Lupe headed down towards a ridge forming a saddle between NE Cicero Peak and the next hill to the W.

Cicero Peak (at right) from Northeast Cicero Peak. — **Cicero Peak (6,166 ft.)** (the highest point at center right) from Northeast Cicero Peak.

Lupe headed N down over the ridge and entered a big valley heading W. She lost lots of elevation as she went NW towards the valley floor. Eventually she picked up a jeep trail or USFS road which was much more level. The road headed N for a while and then turned NW starting to lose elevation again. It came to an open field where there was another road that ended in a big flat turn-around area at its E extremity.

Lupe left the road she was on to head N past the turn-around circle. A single track path disappeared into a forested valley. Lupe followed that path which continued gradually losing elevation. After 0.25 mile at most, the path reached a larger valley. USFS Road No. 337 was along the W side of this valley. Lupe followed No. 337 or paths paralleling it in the nearby fields and forests all the way back to USFS Road No. 343.

By the time Lupe reached USFS Road No.343, it was dark out. Lupe turned E on No. 343. She followed it and then USFS Road No. 342 the rest of the way back to the G6. The stars were blazing in the night sky by the time Lupe reached the G6 at 7:32 PM. It was now 35 degrees out.

After a mere 10.5 hours, Lupe still wasn’t ready to get in the G6. SPHP backed it out and turned the G6 around while Lupe sniffed the air for a few more minutes. As mysterious and exciting as the night air and sounds were, Lupe finally decided she was ready. She hopped into the G6 and curled up for a fitful snooze during the ride home.

Daisy Peak in the last weak rays of sunlight before sunset.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 118 – Redfern Mountain & Signal Knob (2-7-15)

February 7, 2015 was the second day in a row of record high temperatures in the Black Hills region. Lupe couldn’t miss an opportunity like that in what is normally winter, so she and SPHP headed out into the central Black Hills for a little peakbagging. Redfern Mountain (6,075 ft.) and Signal Knob (6,200 ft.) were the goals for Expedition No. 118.

It was already 55 degrees at 9:55 AM when SPHP parked the G6 just off Mystic Road only 0.33 mile E of Redfern Mountain. Lupe headed W straight up the mountain. There was almost no snow around, so Lupe and SPHP had an easy climb up through the forest.

Conditions were very pleasant at the top of Redfern Mountain – sunny, calm and, of course, unseasonably warm. Surprisingly, the summit area was level, mostly open ground. Consequently there were nice views of the central Black Hills region in almost every direction. For some reason there were 3 US Geological survey benchmarks in close proximity to one another all marked “Redfern” and “1950”, plus a sign on a post.

Looking SSE from Redfern Mountain. Harney Peak is the highest point towards the left.

Lupe’s second objective of the day, Signal Knob, was visible over 4 miles off to the WNW. It looked like a fairly low pine-covered hill rising above some immediately surrounding open prairie ground, although most of the intervening terrain from Redfern Mountain was pine forest. Quite a bit of snow was visible on the slopes of Signal Knob.

Lupe on Redfern Mountain. Signal Knob is low snowy hill surrounded by prairie visible in the distance.

After enjoying the views on Redfern Mountain, Lupe headed down the NW slope to start the trek to Signal Knob. On the way to Signal Knob, Lupe had to cross Slate Creek. Slate Creek is a small stream, only a few feet wide in most places, but had pretty good flow in it. Fortunately, the creek was still frozen over in places, and Lupe easily crossed the creek via the ice.

Looking back at Redfern Mountain after Lupe crossed Slate Creek.

Beyond Slate Creek, Lupe climbed through the forest all the way up to a high point shown on SPHP’s topo map as Peak 6099, less than 2 miles E of Signal Knob.

From Peak 6099, Lupe had to lose a fair amount elevation again as she continued on heading generally W or NW. She regained most of it by the time she reached the high prairie surrounding Signal Knob.

The summit area on Signal Knob was clogged with deadfall timber. A short distance to the N, there was some private property where a couple of 5th wheel trailers were parked. Fortunately, the true summit was on USFS land.

Lupe took a Taste of the Wild break on Signal Knob. She used her nose to bury a couple of pieces of a granola bar SPHP offered her, apparently planning a return expedition in the not too distant future. Despite all the deadfall timber, enough pine trees were still standing to prevent there from being any really decent views. At least the pines helped to block the wind which was by now starting to pick up out of the NW.

After a brief rest break at the summit, it was time to start heading back to the G6. However, being the intrepid dingo that she is, Lupe naturally wanted to explore more new ground along the way. So instead of heading E, she headed W into a rather stiff NW breeze on Slate Prairie Road to USFS Road No. 187.

The sky was now rather dark and even threatening looking off to the W. As Lupe headed N along No. 187 towards Deerfield Trail No. 40, a light rain started. Lupe turned E on Deerfield Trail No. 40 and followed it for at least a couple of miles. The rain continued intermittently for a while, but it never became heavy and eventually just quit.

Lupe had explored the entire Deerfield Trail No. 40 back in 2012. So at the 2nd of two rock quarries that she came to along the N side of the Deerfield Trail, she left it to take USFS Road No. 241.1B (unmarked) heading S up a low ridge. By the time the top of the ridge was gained, however, there was so much deadfall timber everywhere, that No. 241.1B was completely lost in the debris. Lupe stayed fairly high up on the ridge and worked her way S through the deadfall timber. For SPHP it was dreadfully slow going.

Fortunately, before too long Lupe came to another road, which was marked No. 241.1C. No. 241.1C very quickly met up with No. 241 (unmarked at this point), which was free of deadfall timber, but covered with snow and ice for quite a distance as it wound down a narrow little valley.

Lupe followed No. 241 a good mile and a half, all the way down through Dougherty Gulch back to Mystic Road. The valley was beautiful even in February. After passing a junction with No. 241.1A, there was even a small creek.

SPHP really enjoyed the hike along No. 241. Daugherty Gulch seemed quite remote. The valley was beautiful even in February. The valley became broader and more open as Lupe continued heading downstream.

Lupe at the E (lower) end of scenic Daugherty Gulch.

When Lupe reached Mystic Road at the E end of Daugherty Gulch, she was still about 3 miles N of where the G6 was parked. Lupe crossed Mystic Road to the E and got on the Mickelson Trail. Lupe followed the Mickelson Trail S for a bit over a mile to USFS Road No. 530. There she left the Mickelson Trail and completed a somewhat dull hike along the wide gravel Mystic Road the rest of the way back to the G6.

It was 5:48 PM, but still 52 degrees out, by the time Lupe reached the G6. It was getting dark, but not quite dark enough yet to see any stars. Lupe had a big drink of water before hopping in the G6 for the ride home. Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 118 was over.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 119 – Meade County High Point & Custer Peak (2-13-15)

After a couple of weeks of very warm weather (including two straight record setting days), colder weather was on its way to the Black Hills. So Friday, February 13, 2015 was Lupe’s last chance for a while to get out for an expedition on an unseasonably warm day.

SPHP decided on the Meade County, SD High Point (5,460 ft.) as the main objective for Lupe on Expedition No. 119. Although the roads remained quite muddy, much of the snow had melted so that only scattered large patches were still around. SPHP parked the G6 at the intersection of USFS Roads No. 151 (Old Ridge Road) and No. 151.2G . This point is at least a couple miles SW of the Meade County HP. (There are much closer and better access points, but SPHP often parks miles from the intended destination so Lupe can enjoy the fun of exploring the region.) It was 48 degrees when Lupe set out from the G6 at 10:34 AM under mostly clear skies.

Lupe followed No. 151 heading N for about 1.5 miles. Here she left the road and went ENE through a still snowy forest (northern exposure) down towards the saddle at the W end of Virkula Gulch, which was snow-free.

P1050910 — Lupe near the saddle at the W (upper) end of Virkula Gulch.

After crossing the saddle, Lupe started the climb up the hill shown in the above photo. Close to the first high point, she came to some rocks where there was a view back to the WNW towards Terry Peak (7,064 ft.).

The snow on the ski runs at Terry Peak to the WNW can be seen beyond Lupe in the distance.

Near the rocks, a jeep trail headed E. It made a short climb up to a big nearly level area above 5,400 feet which was heavily forested.

SPHP hadn’t checked the maps and initially thought the Meade County HP was somewhere around here, not realizing Lupe was still in Lawrence County. Consequently Lupe explored the thick forest looking for the highest point. Towards the E side of this area Lupe found a rocky jeep trail. She followed it N to where there was a cliff with a very nice unobstructed view of the big valley Elk Creek runs through.

Still in Lawrence County, Lupe stands near the edge of the N cliff. Elk Creek flows through the valley below.

A NW wind made it quite breezy here, although back in the forest the breeze had been barely noticeable. Even though the view was better here, SPHP led Lupe back S to a point along the S edge of the high ground with a sunny and less windy view of Virkula Gulch. While SPHP chomped an apple and surveyed the view of Virkula Gulch, Lupe took a little Taste of the Wild break.

Finally consulting the maps, SPHP suddenly realized the Meade County HP was still close to 0.75 mile farther E. So once the break was over, Lupe headed E back to the rocky jeep trail. She followed it SE down off the high ground. Before Lupe had lost much elevation, the big limestone rock outcropping at High Point 5401 came into view. Lupe left the jeep trail and made the easy climb up HP 5401 from the W. The views from HP 5401 are the best available in the general vicinity of the Meade County HP.

P1050913 — The rock at the left is the summit of High Point 5401. The W end of Virkula Gulch is beyond Lupe. **Custer Peak** **(6,804 ft.)** is the sharp peak on the far horizon near the center of the photo.

From HP 5401 it was also easy to see the heavily forested hill close at hand to the E which is the site of the Meade County HP. (Due to thick forest, this hill had NOT been visible from the hill W of HP 5401.) Lupe left HP 5401 and headed E to climb this hill. Although the hilltop seemed fairly level, it had been easy to see from HP 5401 that the highest point on this hill was towards the N. This also agreed with the topo map SPHP had printed out from Peakbagger.com showing the Meade County HP near the NNW end of the hill.

Towards the far N end of the hill was a small area noticeably 2 or 3 feet higher than the rest of the ground around it. On this high ground stood two large pine trees about 10 or 12 feet apart. The bases of their trunks seemed to be on the very highest ground. Just a few feet NW from the easternmost tree was a very small whitish limestone cairn. Lupe posed for a photo next to the cairn, which as near as SPHP could tell, appeared to mark the Meade County HP. (This is the photo featured at the start of this trip report.) Before leaving, SPHP lifted up and then carefully replaced several of the larger rocks forming the cairn hoping to find a survey marker, but there was nothing.

There were no views from the cairn in any direction other than the thick forest. Lupe did scout around a short distance to the N, but it was soon clear there wasn’t any higher ground on this hill anywhere farther N. Before heading S to see what could be seen from the S end of the hill, Lupe returned briefly once more to the Meade County HP cairn so SPHP could retrieve the backpack. Soon Lupe was at the S end of the hill, which presented a pretty view of the E end of Virkula Gulch.

Lupe above the E end of Virkula Gulch at the S (opposite) end of the hill the Meade County HP is located on.

Having achieved her main objective by reaching the Meade County High Point, it was time for the return trip to the G6. Lupe returned by nearly the exact same route. She didn’t climb HP 5401 again, but did go to the N end of the hill to the W where the cliffs with the view of Elk Creek valley were for one more look.

It was 50 degrees and only 3:36 PM when Lupe arrived back at the G6. There were still a couple of hours of daylight left. Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 119 was not over! SPHP thought it might be interesting to explore USFS Road No. 151.2G to the W, but just before setting out on it, Lupe heard a gunshot from that direction. Lupe hates gunfire and immediately hopped into the G6.

SPHP knew Lupe wasn’t about to hop back out of the G6 again here with gunfire around. So the idea of heading NW towards the Strawberry Hill area on Hwy 385 came to mind. From there Lupe might find a way to Anchor Hill (5,800 ft.) which she has never climbed before. Lupe got to have a nice long ride in the G6 while hanging her head out the window, which is great good fun!

Upon reaching Strawberry Hill, SPHP turned onto Gilt Edge Road. It was only a couple of miles to Anchor Hill, but the area was full of homes and private property. Gilt Edge Road ended down in a deep valley at what appeared to be an EPA superfund site connected with the old Gilt Edge gold mine. It was clear Lupe wasn’t going to find easy access to Anchor Hill from anywhere along Gilt Edge Road. SPHP turned the G6 around, drove back to Hwy 385, and headed S.

SPHP had one more idea for Expedition No. 119. Lupe could climb Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) which she had seen from HP 5401 earlier in the day. At 4:42 PM, SPHP parked the G6 at the sharp turn in USFS Road No. 216 about 0.5 mile SE of Custer Peak. No. 216 to the NW was closed to vehicles from here for the season by a gate across the road. It was 44 degrees out when Lupe hopped out of the G6. The sun was still shining up on Custer Peak.

Lupe headed NW on No. 216 up the E side of a scenic valley that is one of SPHP’s favorites. About a mile from the G6, she left No. 216 and crossed over a saddle beyond which she turned E. A spur road heads toward Custer Peak and eventually winds clock-wise around the mountain on up to the summit. However, the spur was covered with so much snow it made the hike difficult for SPHP. It was actually easier going directly up the W slope of Custer Peak, even though it meant working through a considerable amount of deadfall timber. (Pine bark beetles killed the trees a few years back.)

Lupe actually got up into the sunlight while on the upper slopes of Custer Peak, but by the time she reached the old abandoned lookout tower at the summit, the sun had set. A steady breeze was blowing out of the NW. SPHP had hoped for a dramatic sunset, but the sky was almost totally clear. Everything just faded unspectacularly into twilight. Lupe posed for a few photos to document her ascent, but they didn’t turn out that great in the low light conditions.

Lupe on the rock wall around the old lookout tower on Custer Peak shortly after sunset.

On the way back, SPHP didn’t want to have to try to scramble down through the deadfall timber in the dark, so Lupe took the spiral road from the summit back down the mountain. There were feet of snow on much of the road and it was slow going for SPHP, although Lupe could mostly trot along on top of the snow without breaking through.

The stars were out and the Milky Way was on brilliant display by the time Lupe reached the G6 again at 6:55 PM. It was 39 degrees and calm. Lupe stood sniffing the air for a few extra minutes and then hopped into the G6 for the ride home.

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