8:12 AM, 26ºF, junction of Erskine Gulch Road (USFS Road No. 145) & USFS Road No. 149 –
Dang, Loop! Wasn’t supposed to be this cold!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why, that’s Steamboat Rock (5,081 ft.), isn’t it, SPHP?
Correcto mundo, Loopster!
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?
From the larger cairn, Loop caught a first glimpse of her destination. Peak 4980, 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.
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.
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.
9:58 AM, 45ºF, Peak 4980 – 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.
In addition to Steamboat Rock and Green Mountain, a few other peaks could be identified among the many rolling hills. Peak 5701 stood out off to the NW. To the S, Peak 5136‘s long E ridge was in sight.
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)
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?
Peak 5163, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Whoooeeee, SPHP! Peak 5163! 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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 Peak 5321.
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?
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.
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.
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.
So this is it, aye, SPHP? The true summit of Peak 5321?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 153 – Steamboat Rock, Pugg’s Keep & Greentop (1-23-16)
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