Day 5 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!
Wee hours, Purcell Mountains – A gentle paw woke SPHP up. Again? Yes, again. Lupe wanted out. Although still weary from yesterday’s ascent of Robinson Mountain, this time SPHP joined her. Must still be cloudy. The night was quiet and infinitely black, as SPHP directed the faint beam of the little flashlight. Meanwhile, the restless Carolina Dog sniffed her way both up and down USFS Road No. 7205.
7:52 AM, 54ºF – After being woken up half a dozen times during the night, small wonder that it was practically 8:00 AM when SPHP finally turned the key causing the RAV4 to spring to life. Sad to be leaving this place, but time waits for no Dingo! Funny how quickly one can become attached to a previously unknown spot. Pink Paradise was only a short hike away! Already, the Carolina Dog was leaving it behind.
Upon reaching USFS Road No. 92, SPHP turned W. Paved, but stripeless and narrow, the road wound higher mile after mile before a similar long steady descent began to the Yaak River. After crossing the river, Lupe had a blast barking at deer congregating in a region of homes on small acreages that SPHP mistook for the town of Yaak.
Confusion reigned. An hour got wasted driving back and forth due to poor signage and the absence of a decent map, but the Yaak Mercantile Store finally appeared, and from there it was only 3 miles W on No. 508 to a R turn N onto USFS Road No. 338. After that, the rest was easy.
12:22 PM, 60ºF, USFS Road No. 338 – Already afternoon by the time Lupe reached the Northwest Peak trailhead, but that was alright. A new sign said it was only 2.3 miles to the lookout. Despite having been awake half the night, the American Dingo was rarin’ to go! Crossing the road, Lupe passed a few white boulders as Trail No. 169 curved up into the forest.
Miss Perky ready to set off for Northwest Peak. Photo looks NW.Start of Trail No. 169.
Heading S, a short climb led to an old roadbed which the trail followed W for a little way. Leaving the roadbed behind, a couple of sharp curves brought the Carolina Dog up onto a broad ridge.
The forest had burned. Although there wasn’t as much here as at Pink Paradise on the way to Robinson Mountain yesterday, fireweed added splashes of pink to the scene.
Following the old roadbed. Photo looks W.On the broad, burnt ridge. Photo looks W.
At first, the ridge was flat, but soon Trail No. 169 started climbing at an easy pace. The trail headed W near the S edge of the ridge then veered N. Almost as soon as Lupe made it over to the N side of the ridge, the trail doubled back to the SW.
Getting close to the N side of the ridge. Photo looks N.
Soon Loopster was back along the S side of the ridge again. No. 169 now ran WNW, staying well below the ridgeline. Northwest Peak(7,705 ft.) was already in sight ahead.
Northwest Peak (Center). Photo looks WNW.
S of HP7326, the trail passed along the lower edge of a boulder field. Once beyond the boulders, it wasn’t much farther to the end of the burnt forest. Happy to have the shade of live trees, Lupe soon insisted upon taking a little break. Water and a chocolate coconut bar got shared. SPHP enjoyed a Mott’s blueberry applesauce, too.
Below the boulder field. Photo looks NW.In the live forest. Photo looks WNW.Taking a shady break.
Continuing on, the rate of climb gradually increased. No. 169 went NW, eventually leading to more talus. By then, Loop was already almost as high as HP7326, which was now visible back to the E.
Setting off again. Photo looks WNW.Encountering the next field of talus. Photo looks WNW.HP7326 (Center). Photo looks E.
As the American Dingo kept climbing, the forest thinned. Trail No. 169 wound through increasing amounts of rock. Occasional cairns helped mark the route.
Among the rocks. Photo looks W.On a grassy stretch. Photo looks WNW.Getting higher! Marmot Mountain (6,921 ft.) (Center), HP7326 (R). Photo looks ENE.
Couldn’t be much farther! Near the end, the trail steepened and began trending SW. Few trees remained, until there were none at all. Nothing but talus the rest of the way.
Getting steeper. Photo looks SW.Despite all the rock, Trail No. 169 remained easy to follow. Photo looks SW.Close to the top. Photo looks WSW.
Hardly any rock-hopping required! Good trail the entire way. Lupe was heading SW, when a lookout and a tall cairn came into view.
Approaching the summit. Photo looks SW.
2:31 PM, 50ºF, Northwest Peak(7,705 ft.) – Next to a huge cairn, Lupe stood squinting into the sun, not really caring for the unexpected gusty 20 mph wind sweeping over the mountain. Hadn’t even been breezy on the way up! Tall as the cairn was, it could easily have been much larger.
Enough rock up here to build a pyramid, SPHP!
No doubt, but forget that! Building pyramids is a lot of work. Someone must have had an awful lot of time on their paws just to build that cairn.
By the cairn. Photo looks NE.
Northwest Peak’s summit plateau was a sea of talus. Not a tree, bush, or even a blade of grass, anywhere. The gigantic cairn was more than 100 feet NNE of the lookout cabin, which sat up at the true summit near the S end of the plateau. A flagless flagpole stood just S of the lookout, with a second, much smaller cairn nearby.
Definitely break time again, but with all the rock, there was nowhere comfy for the Carolina Dog to curl up.
Let’s check out the lookout cabin, SPHP! Maybe it’s unlocked like the one on Robinson Mountain(7,321 ft.)?
You just want to get out of the wind, don’t you!
It’s the sensible thing to do, SPHP!
Heading over to the lookout cabin. Photo looks SSW.By the flagpole. Photo looks ENE.
The door wasn’t locked. Lupe went right in. The lookout here was about the same size as the one on Robinson Mountain, but cleaner and better furnished. Almost everything was painted green. 3 wooden beds were next to the walls. In the middle of the room stood a tall table. A deck of cards was on it.
Sitting together on the bed closest to the door, SPHP shook Looper’s paw, congratulating her on her successful ascent of Northwest Peak. This feat, plus escaping the wind, was celebrated with the disappearance of the last chocolate coconut bar.
All the windows were closed, just like at Robinson Mountain. In addition to the beds and table, there were two desks and a bench. A clear plastic bin with a blue cover was resting on one of the desks. Unsnapping the cover revealed a nicely folded American Flag plus instructions on how to fold it. There was also a registry.
In the snug lookout cabin.
After entering Lupe’s name, SPHP read some of the other entries.
Anything interesting, SPHP?
Seems that most of these entries are by people hiking the PNT, Looper. Apparently Northwest Peak is part of it.
The PNT? What’s that?
The Pacific Northwest Trail. 1,200 miles long running E/W through Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Guess we should have brought the sleeping bags, Loopster! Quite a few people spend the night here.
Oh, that would have been fun!
After a bit, it was time to have a look at the views. Venturing outside again to brave the wind, Lupe first had a look S. The air was kind of hazy with smoke from distant forest fires, but it wasn’t too bad. From Northwest Peak, a long ridge extended S to Davis Mountain (7,583 ft.), then W over to Canuck Peak(6,934 ft.).
Apparently, that was the way the PNT went.
Out in the wind again. Photo looks NE.Northwest Peak’s S Ridge. Davis Mountain (L), Canuck Peak (L of Center). Photo looks SW.Davis Mountain (L) and Canuck Peak (R) with help from the telephoto lens.
NW of the lookout cabin an outhouse sat not too far from the mountain’s W edge. Lupe went that way next. Burke Benchmark (7,461 ft.) was in sight beyond the outhouse, and past it, fabled, forbidden Canada, dimly seen through the smoke. American Mountain(6,591 ft.) was 3 miles W.
Burke Benchmark (Center). Photo looks N.American Mountain (R of Center) is the long ridge at mid-range. Photo looks W.
Returning to the lookout cabin, shelter was again sought from the wind. After spending a little more time perusing the registry, SPHP broke out the deck of cards that was sitting on the table.
While you take it easy, Loop, think I’m going to play a little solitaire. Soon as I win a game, we’ll head out! How does that sound?
Fine with me, SPHP! I like this cabin. Really a shame you didn’t bring the sleeping bags!
I know it. Wish I had.
Time passed. SPHP played several games before putting the cards away.
Finally won one, SPHP?
Let’s just say it’s a good thing we stick to climbing mountains. There’s a reason you’ve never been to Vegas, Looper.
You lost every game?
0-4, if you must know. I’ve lost interest in it. Odd, I know. C’mon, let’s see if we can get a glimpse of the Hawkins Lakes before we go!
Rather reluctantly, the Carolina Dog left the nifty lookout cabin for the last time. Heading N along the summit plateau, it was slow going on all the talus as Lupe gradually lost elevation. The Hawkins Lakes did not come into view, and it began to look like Loop might have to go quite a bit farther before they might.
Eh. Too windy! Losing interest in this project, too, Loopster. Maybe we ought to just head back to the trail?
Leaving the lookout cabin for the last time. Photo looks SW.About as far N as Lupe got. Burke Benchmark (Center). Photo looks N.Looking S toward the summit.
The American Dingo had no objection. Returning to the tall cairn and the region near the lookout cabin, she gazed for the final time from the top of windy Northwest Peak upon HP7326 and the long ridge she was about to head back down.
Marmot Mountain (far L), HP7326 (L), and the ridge Trail No. 169 comes up (R). Photo looks E.
Relief from the wind came almost immediately after leaving the summit plateau. With a good trail that wasn’t all that steep, the return was fun. Leading the way, Lupe trotted happily along, sniffing and exploring both on and off trail at will. Before long it was time for that last glance back at Northwest Peak.
On the way back. Northwest Peak (L). Photo looks WNW.
Oh, things that might have been! It could have been done! Lupe made it back to the RAV4 with hours of daylight left. The Carolina Dog still might have spent this night listening to the wind moan in the lookout cabin, but she never did persuade SPHP to grab those sleeping bags and head back up to lonely, remote Northwest Peak(7,705 ft). (5:19 PM, 65ºF)
Thrilled that the Lists of John mini-blitz had her back in action again so soon, Lupe didn’t mind the cold at all. Going to warm up a little later on anyway. A skiff of snow that had fallen last night was barely enough to turn USFS Road No. 149 white as she set out heading SE.
Parked at the start of USFS Road No. 149. Photo looks SE.Setting out on No. 149. Photo looks SE.
Gaining a little elevation, Loop soon made it to a high spot where the road curved E. Sunlight streaming through the pines strengthened the notion that it really would begin to warm up soon. Beyond the curve, No. 149 dipped entering a small valley.
At the sunny curve. Photo looks SE.Heading into the valley. Photo looks ESE.
Before long, the road bottomed out and began climbing toward a pass. Some stretches of No. 149 had recently been improved along in here by the addition of coarse new gravel.
Pass 4762 ahead. Photo looks NE.
Upon arriving at Pass 4762, Lupe found herself back in the sunshine at a 4-way intersection.
Which way, SPHP? Where are we going?
We’re on our way to Peak 4980, Loop! Go S on No. 149.2A here. Not too far, though. Should see No. 149.2B on the R before we get up to the top of this next rise. We’ll want to take 2B over to the saddle NE of HP4950.
2B, or not 2B, that is the question!
Hah! Clever, Loop, but no question about it. Most definitely, 2B! But not until after 2A.
A short stint S on 2A, and 2B appeared on the R, as anticipated. 2B went W, then SW, to the saddle NE of HP4950. From here, the road continued down into the valley SW of the pass. Instead of going that way, Lupe abandoned the road, traveling WSW through gently rolling territory straight to HP4950 itself, which turned out to be nothing more than a large flat region in the pines with no distinct high point.
At the turn onto No. 149.2B. Photo looks SW.No. 149.2B. The saddle NE of HP4950 is in the trees just ahead. Photo looks SW.At the saddle. Loop headed off to the WSW (R) from here.Bound for HP4950. Photo looks SW.At HP4950. Photo looks S.
HP4950 wasn’t as dull a spot as an initial impression might lead a Dingo to believe. Cliffs were only a few tens of feet W of what appeared to be the marginally highest ground, but so many trees grew right up to the edge that it wasn’t possible to see much.
Venturing S not too far from the brink, the Carolina Dog went in search of a viewpoint. She soon came to one where SPHP was surprised to see two cairns. The smaller cairn had a narrow view of a mountain less than a mile NW that Lupe had been to before.
We haven’t been there in years! Wonder if Pugg’s Keep is still up there?
Hah! I wonder if Pugg ever came back to clean up his unkept keep?
Steamboat Rock (Center) from the small cairn. Photo looks NW.
From the larger cairn, Loop caught a first glimpse of her destination. Peak4980, a rounded hill with a cliff to the W just like HP4950, was only 0.5 mile S. Green Mountain(5,240 ft.) was also in sight a little farther away. Peering over the edge near the cairn, Box Elder Creek could be seen way down by Nemo Road.
Peak 4980 (Center). Photo looks SSW.Peak 4980 (L), Green Mountain (Center), and Box Elder Creek (R). Photo looks SSW.
Heading S from HP4950, Looper traveled down a gradually narrowing ridge. Another surprise was in store when she came to a flat open area right along the edge of the cliffs. In addition to a more sweeping view, a flagpole jutted up from a third cairn. No flag, though.
Steamboat Rock (Center), Nemo Road and Box Elder Creek (L) from the flagpole. Photo looks NW.
As Lupe closed in on the saddle leading to Peak 4980, the limestone ridge she was on began to break up. Soon it was too rough to remain up on top, but that didn’t present any serious obstacle. Staying somewhat E of, and below the ridgeline, the American Dingo managed to get past the saddle to where she could start climbing Peak 4980’s NE slope.
The climb was steep, but relatively short, and not difficult. At one point, Lupe could see an interesting little summit off to the SE. Near the top of the steep part, she went by a big limestone outcropping. Above it, the terrain leveled out to a large degree. An easy stroll to another forested, flat, featureless summit region was all that remained.
By a limestone wall as the ridge S of Peak 4950 begins to break up. Peak 4980 (L). Photo looks SW.Starting up Peak 4980. Photo looks SW.A distinctive HP (Center) off to the SE.Entering the summit region. Photo looks SSW.
9:58 AM, 45ºF, Peak4980 – What passed for the summit, as near as SPHP could determine it, was none too scintillating. However, only marginally lower, less than 100 feet away, were some sweet views from cliffs along the S and W edges of the mountain. A brief stop at the high point, and Lupe proceeded right to the cliffs to enjoy a rest break featuring a shared chocolate coconut bar along with the lovely panoramas.
Peak 4980 true summit. Photo looks SW.Along the edge. Green Mountain (Center). Photo looks SW.Looking NNE back at HP4950 (Center).Steamboat Rock (L). Photo looks NW.
In addition to Steamboat Rock and Green Mountain, a few other peaks could be identified among the many rolling hills. Peak5701 stood out off to the NW. To the S, Peak5136‘s long E ridge was in sight.
Peak 5701 (R of Center). Photo looks WNW.Peak 5136 (beyond Lupe). Photo looks S.
The day was already warming up nicely. In relative comfort, Lupe and SPHP sat together admiring the views, but not for long. The Lists of John mini-blitz must go on, ya know! Soon the Carolina Dog was heading back down Peak 4980’s NE slope.
The return was fun and easy! Loopster had seen lots of deer on the way to Peak 4980, and they continued to amuse on the way back. Skipping HP4950 this time, Lupe explored the valley to the E, eventually picking up USFS Road No. 149.2B again. Once back at the saddle NE of HP4950, the rest of her route back was identical. (11:21 AM)
On USFS Road No. 149.2B, approaching the saddle NE of HP4950 (L of Center). Photo looks NE.
11:31 AM, 49ºF, junction of Merritt Estes Road (County Road No. 208) and USFS Road No. 208.1I –
One peak climbed! So, what’s next, SPHP?
Peak5163, Looper. In fact, that ridge to the E is where Lists of John shows the summit.
Oh, snap! This is going to be easy then, SPHP!
Eh, not quite as easy as you’re thinking, Loopster. The topo map also shows a cluster of 4 small 5,160 foot contours a little over 0.5 mile SSE of the Lists of John summit location. To really be certain you’ve actually hit the mountain’s high point, we’re going to have to check them out, too.
At the start of USFS Road No. 208.1I. Photo looks SE.
Striking out for Peak 5163, Lupe followed USFS Road No. 208.1I SE up a broad, shallow valley. Although the map didn’t show the road going very far, it actually went all the way up to a saddle 0.25 mile SSW of the summit, and beyond. Leaving the road at the saddle, Loop headed up the slope to the NE.
On the way up to the saddle. Photo looks SE.At the saddle, about to venture up the slope on the L. Photo looks E.
An easy climb, and not a very long one! Near the top, Lupe passed some rock formations. Above them, the terrain remained somewhat rocky for a little way as it began leveling out. It wasn’t far to a lone 2 foot high boulder out in the middle of a large flat region.
Among the rock formations near the top of the slope. Photo looks NNE.Starting to level out. Photo looks NE.
Hop up on that rock, Loop!
Is this the true summit already, SPHP?
Might be. We’ve got to be close to where Lists of John shows the high point, and I don’t see anything higher.
Atop the fearsome summit block. Photo looks W.
Whoooeeee, SPHP! Peak5163! What a climb! How about a hard-earned chocolate coconut bar to celebrate?
Seems a little premature, doesn’t it, Looper?
Oh, cruel one of mine! You aren’t going to make me go to all the contours way down S running on empty, are you?
Hmm. I suppose not, Miss Drama Dingo. But don’t expect another one down there, even if we come to a clearly higher point. This is it for the chocolate coconut bar supply today.
Sitting together next to the towering apparent summit, the last chocolate coconut bar had just performed it’s vanishing act when suddenly there was gunfire to the S. Not good! The Carolina Dog wasn’t going to want to go that way now.
Hunters! Let’s hide, SPHP!
Why? You’ll be fine, Loop. Just stay close to me.
Now, SPHP! Something’s coming!
Something was coming! 200 yards SE, a red pickup truck cautiously crept into view, then stopped partially hidden by trees. A few minutes later, several deer came racing by, greatly exciting the Carolina Dog, but she didn’t bark. Maybe hanging around where hunters were really wasn’t such a hot idea?
Can we just go, SPHP?
Yeah. We can sneak S now that they’ve come up this way, Loop, but first we ought to have a look around farther N. Still a fair amount of territory over that way we haven’t ruled out as the summit yet.
Good thing Lupe went N! She hadn’t gone far when a big rock formation near the WNW edge of the mountain came into sight 300 feet ahead. Seemed to be the only one of its kind, and definitely Peak 5163’s N high point. Quite likely the mountain’s true summit, too!
Peak 5163 true summit. Photo looks N.Yes! This does seem more like the top of a mountain! Photo looks W.Another view. Photo looks NW.Definitely higher than anything over this way. Photo looks NE.
Satisfied yet, SPHP?
Yes, I think so! This is at least the mountain’s N summit.
On the way S, the Carolina Dog stayed close to the mountain’s W edge, giving the hunters a wide berth, and passing a few views along the way.
Looking SW.View to the NW.
Once S of the red pickup’s position, Lupe headed SE through open forest down a gradual slope. Upon reaching an area where the terrain leveled out, she discovered a road not shown on the map. Must be how that truck got up here!
Sneaking off to the S end of the mountain. Photo looks SSE.At the unexpected road. Photo looks S.
Hurrying S, in case the hunters decided to try their luck back this way again, Lupe soon came to where the road curved W before starting down the mountain. Abandoning it, she kept going S, starting an easy climb. It wasn’t too far to the top of a high region that was fairly flat. Those 5,160 foot contour areas had to be somewhere around here!
Heading for the high ground at the S end of the mountain. Photo looks SSW.
Starting toward the SE, then working her way back NW, the Carolina Dog did find 4 marginally higher points than the surrounding territory. The forest was so dense that it was impossible to say for certain which one might have been highest, but SPHP got the impression that the farther NW she went, the higher the terrain.
Who knew for sure, though? Any slope was minimal, and with so many trees, none of the high points were clearly visible from any of the others.
But, SPHP! We found a cairn at the 3rd high point! Remember?
Yeah, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything, Loop. People every bit as lost and confused as I am build plenty of cairns.
At the far SE high point. Photo looks NE.On the not quite as far SE high point. Photo looks NW.By the cairn at the sort of NW high point. Photo looks NW.The far NW high point. Photo looks E.
Lupe had done as much as she possibly could on Peak 5163. Somewhere along the way, she must have visited the true summit. Seemed like the big rock formation way back at the N end of the mountain was probably it, but whether it was or not hardly mattered.
After congratulating Loopster on yet another Lists of John peak climbed, it was time to return to the RAV4. Heading NNE back to the road she’d discovered, Lupe took it W. She lost a fair amount of elevation on the way down to a valley where she eventually reached USFS Road No. 201.
The valley SW of Peak 5163. Photo looks SW.
No. 201 led back to Merritt Estes Road at a point 0.6 mile SSW of the RAV4. The remaining road hike went quickly. Two peaks complete! (1:51 PM)
2:03 PM, 50ºF, junction of Piedmont Road (USFS Road No. 144) and USFS Road No. 144.1A – Still early afternoon, but mid-January shadows were already lengthening. Time enough for one more mountain, though! Lupe’s List of John mini-blitz continued, as the American Dingo set out heading SE on No. 144.1A.
There was snow underpaw until Lupe reached a sunny turn where the road curved SW. Sunlight streamed through the pines. The road soon curved again, this time heading S. Loop quickly arrived at a fork not shown on the topo map.
About to set out on USFS Road No. 144.1A (R). Photo looks SE.Signage at the start. Photo looks SSE.In shadow on snowy No. 144.1A. Photo looks SE.At the sunny turn. Photo looks WSW.
The fork in the road was actually good news. As expected, No. 144.1A curved away to the E here, but that wasn’t the way Lupe needed to go. Happily, ATV Trail No. 8276, the road not shown on the map, went SSW, which was great! Apparently, the Carolina Dog wasn’t going to have to do much bushwhacking to get to Peak5321.
Taking No. 8276, the road climbed slowly on the way over to the W side of HP5243, where it leveled out and turned SW. At first, it looked like No. 8276 might head straight to Peak 5321’s summit, but well before Lupe got that far, it turned WNW.
Eh, that was OK. Lupe was gaining at least a little elevation again. Sticking with the road was the easiest thing to do. Maybe No. 8276 would end up approaching Peak 5321 from the N?
At the unexpected fork where ATV Trail No. 8276 (R) leaves USFS Road No. 144.1A (L). Photo looks SSW.On No. 8276 heading around to the W side of HP5243 (L). Peak 5321 is the forested hill on the R. Photo looks S.
Soon the amount of sunlight filtering through the pines indicated that Lupe must be approaching the NW end of the mountain. She was almost there when Trail No. 8276 turned SSE toward the summit. However, off to the W, there was a platform of limestone with a terrific view. There was even a bench nearby. Gotta check this out!
Lupe had reached Ash Point.
Getting close to the NW end of the mountain. Photo looks WNW.Ash Point was established by the “Yogi Clan” according to the plaque.Ash Point. Custer Peak (R of Center) and Terry Peak (R) faintly on the horizon. Photo looks WNW.
Ash Point was cool! To the W, the limestone platform had a grand view overlooking Nemo. Custer Peak(6,804 ft.) and Terry Peak(7,064 ft.) were on the WNW horizon. A great look at Green Top(5,360 ft.) and White Mansion(5,340 ft.) was off to the NNW.
Nemo from Ash Point. Custer Peak (R) and Terry Peak (far R) on the horizon. Photo looks W.Greentop (L of Center) and White Mansion (R of Center). Photo looks NNW.
Impressive! Glad we stopped by Ash Point, Loop!
Scenic highlight of the day, so far, SPHP!
Agree, but you still have a mountain to climb. Shall we?
Returning to ATV Trail No. 8276, Lupe followed it SSE climbing steadily up the gentle slope leading to Peak 5321’s forested summit. However, the road soon veered more to the ESE. Not really the right direction. When deadfall started appearing across it, that was the last straw.
Abandoning the road, the Carolina Dog explored SW in search of the summit. Couldn’t be too much farther. A short romp higher through a deadfall-infested mess, and the terrain leveled out. Continuing WSW, a marginally higher region with no clear high point seemed to be about it.
Up top, searching for the true summit. Photo looks S.Peak 5321 summit. Photo looks SW.
So this is it, aye, SPHP? The true summit of Peak5321?
Near as I can tell, Looper. Congratulations on attaining your third Lists of John peak of the day!
Thanks, SPHP! Ash Point was way better, though.
Well, Ash Point is part of this same mountain, kind of a package deal. In any case, want to relax here for a bit? Out of chocolate coconut bars, but you can still have some Taste of the Wild, if you want it.
A W breeze sighed in the pines, as Lupe enjoyed her Taste of the Wild. SPHP sat munching an apple.
At the rest spot. Photo looks NE.
After finishing the apple, SPHP stood up.
Ready to call it a day, Loopster? Too late for any more mountains. We can visit Ash Point on the way back again. One other option, though, if you’d rather keep going.
What do you have in mind? Keep going where, SPHP?
Oh, just a hunch that might be fun to check out. Been looking at the map. Those cliffs at Ash Point run N/S all along the W side of this mountain. Can’t see them from here, because we’re back in the trees. On the map, it looks like there is a big level platform S of here, about 100 feet lower than where we are now. Want to check it out? Might be another viewpoint down there.
How far away is this platform, SPHP?
Not even 0.25 mile. Won’t take long. Might not be anything there, though.
Now or never, SPHP! Why not?
Leaving Peak 5321’s summit and heading S, Lupe soon came to a road. Probably Trail No. 8276 again, but that wasn’t entirely clear. In any case, the road wound SSW right on down to the level region the Carolina Dog intended to explore. Things were looking pretty promising as the road headed for an edge just ahead.
Exploring the platform. Photo looks SSW.
American Point, SPHP! You were right! Glad we came! This is awesome!
On a limestone platform, slightly below the road level along the edge of the mountain, an American Flag waved in the breeze.
Boxelder Creek from American Point. Photo looks SSW.
The views from American Point were similar to those from Ash Point. Nemo and most of the same peaks were visible from a slightly different angle. Far to the S, Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) was in sight, too.
Black Elk Peak (L) on the far horizon. Photo looks SSW.Nemo (L), Custer Peak (far L) and Terry Peak (L) on the horizon. Photo looks NW.Greentop (L edge), White Mansion (L) and Peak5300 (Center). Photo looks N.
American Point was along the W edge of Peak 5321, but not at the far S end of the big platform. Completing her explorations, the Carolina Dog went the rest of the way S, where she found another viewpoint which was also sweet, but not quite as dramatic.
Black Elk Peak (Center) from the S end of the big platform. Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.
Three Lists of John peaks visited! The American Dingo’s mini-blitz was going well! On the way back, Lupe revisited all of Peak 5321’s highlights, including American Point, the summit, and Ash Point, and still made it back to the RAV4 before dark.
It had been a great day! (4:13 PM, 45ºF)
Peak 5321 near American Point, Black Hills of South Dakota 1-17-22
