9:45 AM, 45ºF, junction of Vanocker Canyon Road & Runkle Road (USFS Road No. 168) – Another balmy day in January. Lupe was back in action!
Gonna get your Lists of John mini-blitz off to a good start this morning, Loopster! This first peak should be easy!
I’ve noticed that the first one almost always is, SPHP! It’s the ones that come after the first one that always seem to be the challenge.
Peak 5100 certainly started out easy enough, just a stroll down Runkle Road into a minor drainage. After crossing it, the road began to climb. Lupe was barely 0.25 mile from where she’d left Vanocker Canyon Road when SPHP ventured off into the woods. Quickly taking the lead, the American Dingo sniffed her way S through a forest of aspens and pines up to a saddle.
At the saddle, young pines encroached on a grassy clearing.
Which way, SPHP?
Peak 5100 is that hill to the E, Loop. 200 foot climb, and you’re there!
Looked easy. Above the young pines, the forest was all nice and open. Must have been thinned. Lupe trotted up the slope, checking out the scents, while SPHP trudged behind her. No obstacles, not even a rock.
Might not have been any rocks along the way, SPHP, but there’s one up here!
No joke! It was a huge one, too, right at the top! Could Lupe even get up there? First impressions were not good. So much for a trivial ascent, and a quick, easy Lists of John peakbagging success.
Lupe reached Peak 5100’s summit ridge near the N end. Clearly, no way up onto that enormous rock from this direction. The N, E, and W sides were all vertical. Staying toward the W, Lupe explored S.
Turned out that the big rock was really the N end of a 20 to 30 foot high limestone ridge. Loop didn’t have to follow the ridge S very far before coming to a bit of a break where she managed to scramble up onto it. The ridge was narrow with small cliffs on both sides, yet wide enough to make it relatively easy to get to the high point at the far N end.
Congratulations, Loopster! Wasn’t so bad after all, was it? When I first saw this big rock, I thought we were doomed to failure.
So your super simple Peak 5100 threw a scare into you, aye, SPHP?
Yeah, it did! You just never know what might lurk at the top. Thought this was going to be a romp.
Buried in trees, there wasn’t a thing to see up here. Lupe stayed on the summit rock only a couple of minutes. Although it seemed obvious that the Carolina Dog had just been on the true summit, the limestone ridge extended farther S. Better check things out that direction, just in case.
Lupe only got so far before the ridge became discontinuous. More large rock formations were still in sight farther S. Going back N to where she could scramble down again, the American Dingo then followed the base of the ridge S.
Although she didn’t make it up onto the high point near the S end, Lupe was able to scramble partway back up again. By now, it seemed pretty clear that the rock she had been to at the far N end really was the true summit. Beyond the S end of the ridge, a limestone platform offered a nice view overlooking the Elk Creek valley.
Well, Looper, think you’ve done about all we need to here. Certainly been way more interesting than I expected.
Back to the RAV4, then, SPHP?
Yup! (End, 11:12 AM)
11:24 AM, 46ºF, junction of USFS Roads No. 170 and No. 170.3A –
You’ll never guess where we’re going now, Loop!
Probably not. Do tell, SPHP!
Peak 5100!
You’re confused, SPHP. Check that map again! We were just at Peak 5100.
I know! That was kind of a trick question, Loop. This is another, different Peak 5100 that we’re going to now.
So, we’re doing Peak 5100 twice, except they’re different mountains?
Exactly, Looper.
We ought to be giving all these peaks names, SPHP. How about Confusion Hill for this one?
Soon after setting out on USFS Road No. 170.3A, Lupe came to a barbed wire fence across the road. Opening a gate, SPHP let her through.
The road was soft with melting snow, and almost level as it continued N. After 0.3 mile, No. 170.3A curved NE. Lupe left it here, heading NW up onto a little ridge. HP4929 was visible ahead. Aiming for a pass W of HP4929, the Carolina Dog climbed slowly through a pine forest full of thickets of tall bushes with orange leaves.
A valley was ahead. Rather than continue across it toward the pass, Looper turned W and kept climbing. Soon the traverse got so steep that going SSW directly up the slope appeared to be the best option.
It was a long way up, but the terrain finally leveled out. Lupe reached a sunlit forest on a gently rounded hilltop. Ready for a breather, SPHP sat down for a look at the topo map.
Is this the summit, SPHP?
One of ’em, Loop. Three 5100 foot contours on this mountain. This is Peak 5100’s E summit, site of the smallest contour. There is a SW summit 0.25 mile W of here, and another one N of that one. Both of those contours are significantly larger, so the true summit is likely at one of those locations. We’re going to have to visit all three high points to be certain you’ve been to the true summit.
No harm in having a chocolate coconut bar right here, is there, SPHP?
Oh, I don’t suppose so.
Not much to be seen up here with all the trees. SPHP’s pack was soon one chocolate coconut bar lighter as the American Dingo continued on, heading W in search of the true summit. A rounded ridge led down to a shallow saddle where a forested hillside was ahead.
Did seem like Lupe had maybe gained a little more elevation than she’d lost on the way over here by the time she reached a single modest-sized rock near the W end of a small, flat ridge.
1:52 PM, 46ºF, SW summit of Peak 5100 – Lupe stood on the SW summit. Again, not much to see. Narrow glimpses of Veteran Peak (5,333 ft.) and Custer Peak (6,804) were about it for views.
Soooo, SPHP! How about a chocolate …
Oh, no you don’t, gluttonous Dingo! You’re not getting 3 chocolate coconut bars out of this mountain. Didn’t even bring that many. Have some Taste of the Wild, instead. Better for you.
Taste of the Wild was graciously accepted. SPHP munched an apple. A pleasant enough spot, but not much reason to linger here, either. As soon as the apple disappeared, Lupe headed N.
Another forested slope led gradually down to a broad saddle where the terrain began to rise again. Peak 5100’s N summit region proved to be rockier than the other two high points. A little ridge of gray stone rose several feet above the rest of the region. The high point was toward the N end, beyond a big bush.
Congratulations, Looper! You’ve done it! Climbed your second Peak 5100 of the day.
Thank you, SPHP! Is this the true summit?
Hah! No idea, Loop. Might be. These high points all have too many trees, are too far apart, and too close to the same elevation to tell. You’ve been to all three, though, so mission accomplished somewhere along the way.
Exploring farther N along the N ridge, Lupe eventually came to a saddle. Turning W here, she wandered down to USFS Road No. 171.
Once on No. 171, Looper went S. The road curved around the end of a short W ridge, then down to an area SW of Peak 5100 where 2 men were setting up for target practice. Knowing that gunfire would make Lupe super nervous, SPHP didn’t stop to chat, instead taking a shortcut SE down to USFS Road No. 170.
Heading E along No. 170, SPHP collected Lupe treasures during the 0.7 mile return to the RAV4. (End 2:36 PM)
3:13 PM, 48ºF, Whitewood Peak Road off 76 Ranch Road –
I don’t know about this, Loopster. Thought we would find better access. Maybe this isn’t such a hot idea? Dark before we get back for sure. Might be dark before we even get to Peak 5177. Still want to try it?
The Carolina Dog was game. Alright then. Advisable or not –
Onward, Puppy, ho!
Lupe set out on a short flat stretch of road that the map showed going through private property to USFS land. Not posted, not even fenced, and no tracks in the snow. Probably no big deal. No harm done in any case.
Took Loop only a few minutes to get to a USFS sign. The road continued NW toward a green gate. More private property beyond it. Lupe was far more interested in several deer staring at her from beyond the gate.
Nope, not going that way! Going to stick with USFS land the rest of the way. At this point, that meant heading N. Surprisingly, a faint dirt road covered with pine needles started up in the right direction.
The road climbed fairly aggressively for almost 200 feet, when off to the L, a strange structure came into view. Having never seen one quite like it before, Lupe went over to check it out.
A wooden wigwam! Although in good condition, the wigwam was poorly furnished. Two short sections of a log served as seats, but that was it. How long it had been here, who had built it, and whether or not they might return was an archeological mystery. The wigwam would be a good landmark, though, on the way back from Peak 5177.
Heading NW from the wigwam, Lupe discovered a single track path. The path persisted all the way to a fence at the NE corner of private property. Just N of the fence on USFS land was another road, a better one than the faint road Lupe had abandoned near the wigwam.
Following this new road W, it went over a little rise, then led to a small, sunny clearing. A short distance beyond the clearing, the Carolina Dog arrived at a fork. The better road remained quite level as it headed off to the NW. A fainter road angled W up a slope.
Which way, SPHP?
Keep going W, Loop. Stay to the L.
A short trek on the faint road got Lupe up onto a ridge. The road turned S here, heading downhill. Before long, the American Dingo came to a pile of branches laid across the road in line with a fence.
Alrighty, I think I know where we are again, Loop. Still private property S of us here, so we need to follow this fence W to wherever it ends.
Following the fence W, Lupe continued losing elevation while traversing a fairly steep slope covered with slick pine needles. No problem for the Carolina Dog, but inconvenient for SPHP. Entirely manageable, but not much fun.
The fence went on for quite a long way before Lupe finally came to what seemed to be a corner. Whether it really was one or not, wasn’t entirely clear. The fence didn’t go any farther W, but more USFS boundary posts could still be seen at intervals that way.
Maybe Loop ought to go a little farther W? She needed to cross a valley to the S, though, to get to Peak 5177, and the farther W she went, the more elevation she would have to lose. Passing another USFS boundary marker, Lupe continued W down to a saddle leading to a small hill. Here she turned S, descending into the valley.
By the time Lupe reached the valley floor, she had already lost hundreds of feet of elevation. About time to start regaining it, and then some! First, though, Loop went a little farther W, looking for an opening in the trees and bushes on the S side of the valley.
Before long, she found one. Scrambling only a little higher, Lupe came to yet another road. It went gradually downhill as it went farther W, but at least it was a fast route. Loop followed this new road, hoping it would turn SW and lead up to the saddle just E of Peak 5177.
No such luck! The road soon dead-ended at a turn-around loop.
Well, shucks. A big steep climb was unavoidable now. Turning S, Lupe started up a slope thick with bushes and white-barked aspens. Since this was a N slope, in some places snow made the going slick. At the top of this long climb was yet another road.
By now, the sun was close to the horizon.
Turning W again, this latest road soon brought Lupe to a small clearing. Just to the S was a better road. Taking it W, it immediately went down to the saddle leading to Peak 5177. On the way, Lupe passed another USFS boundary sign. Apparently, the American Dingo hadn’t gone far enough W before turning S, but nothing to be done about that now.
After crossing the saddle, the road continued W, winding higher through an increasingly gloomy forest. Lupe hurried on, finally reaching Peak 5177’s N ridge.
A chilly 10-15 mph NW wind was blowing. Still some light in the sky, but the world looked dark. Rock formations along the W edge of the ridge provided a big view of both Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) and more distant Deer Mountain (6,652 ft.) beyond the lights of Deadwood.
Wow, quite a view, SPHP!
It is! Kind of a unique vantage point. Too bad, it’s so dark already. The camera overcompensates in these low light conditions, making things much brighter than they really are, but fuzzy, too.
Use the flash then, SPHP!
Heh. That only works close up, Looper. Can’t light up the entire Black Hills!
Still rising, the road Lupe had been following curved N. The topo map, however, marked Peak 5177’s presumed true summit 0.2 mile farther S at the SW end of the mountain.
Pines swayed in the breeze as Loop roamed S through the woods looking for it. Coming to a small ridge a bit higher than the rest of the mountain, SPHP encouraged her to leap up onto the highest rock.
5:18 PM, 40ºF, Peak 5177 – It wasn’t much farther to another minor high point about where the true summit was supposed to be. Maybe this was it? Hard to say for sure in the dark forest. Probably was, if that last little high point hadn’t been it. 20 feet away, surrounded by cliffs on 3 sides, a tall pole stood on a level platform of limestone that jutted out to the W.
Oh, look at that view, SPHP! Highlight of the day! A shame we didn’t get here while the sun was still up.
That’s the way it goes, Loopster. Guess we knew it might get dark on us. Just such a long, winding, up and down route to get here trying to avoid all that private property, that it chewed up all of our daylight.
Not entirely dark yet, though. As Lupe ventured out onto the platform, the last fiery glow of sunset was still fading on the horizon.
Although the view from the platform was awesome, the cold NW wind made it an uncomfortable spot to relax. Heading a little farther S, Lupe came to a grassy slope sheltered from the wind. Looking S, residential lights twinkled in an otherwise black abyss, while off to the SW, it was still possible to see the lights of Deadwood, and silhouettes of Terry Peak and Deer Mountain against the sky.
Well, quite a day, Loopster! 3 Lists of John peaks climbed! Peak 5177 has been a rather memorable one, too. Ready for that last chocolate coconut bar now?
Silly question, SPHP. I’ve been ready, and you know it!
The last chocolate coconut bar vanished. So did most of the remaining Taste of the Wild supply, and the last apple.
Oh, it was a long dark trek back! In the faint beam of the little flashlight, the American Dingo explored a somewhat different route. Although she must have passed close to the wooden wigwam again at some point, SPHP never could find it again, getting lost in the inky black forest while wandering a maze of unfamiliar, unmarked roads to who knew where?
At last, the lights of a big house appeared to the S. Lupe crossed a huge field, and there, near the end, was the RAV4.
All’s well that ends well, Loop! Couple more outings and your Lists of John mini-blitz will be complete!
Is that all, SPHP? I’m that close to my achievement?
Oh, yeah! Not much more to do now! You go, Dingo! (7:16 PM, 44ºF)
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Lupe treasures gathered – 3 plastic bottles, 16 aluminum cans.
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