9:08 AM, 37ºF, junction of USFS Roads No. 345.1E & No. 344.2A – Thanksgiving Day! And what the Carolina Dog was most thankful for was the opportunity to spend the day exploring the Black Hills with SPHP. That sentiment, of course, was absolutely mutual.
So, what’s on the agenda, SPHP? Another Lists of John peak?
That’s right, Loopster! You still have a few left to visit in the Black Hills national forest. Peak 6170 is our objective today, although I’m not at all certain how it will go.
Why is that, SPHP?
We were in this region exactly a year and a day ago, Loop. Remember when we tried to climb Calamity Peak, and couldn’t? Saw Peak 6170 from a distance that same day, and it also looked pretty iffy.
You never really know how it’s actually going to go until you get there. Loop was more than willing to give Peak 6170 a shot, and in truth, SPHP felt reasonably confident of success.
Lupe set off heading NE on USFS Road No. 344.2A. The road climbed a bit, then leveled out and curved NW. Off to the NNE, 1.35 miles away as the crow flies, a somewhat unusual pointy summit was already in sight. Half of it appeared to be solid rock, a bunch of sheer cliffs, but the other half was forested.
That’s it, Looper! Peak 6170! 390 feet of prominence.
The sight of it made SPHP a little less confident. There better be a way up through that forested part. That rocky side was clearly a no go.
No worries yet, though! No. 344.2A angled N, descending into a valley of scattered pines and aspens. Some very rocky peaks even higher than Peak 6170 were directly ahead, but Loop wasn’t going to have to visit that rugged territory today.
The road soon went past a small, frozen pond. Kind of scenic, but it was fenced off. Lupe kept going.
Only a few minutes past the pond, the road curved W. A 344.2A wand appeared on the R (N) over in the tall grass near some trees. The valley beyond this wand was the way USFS Road No. 344.2B was supposed to go, but no such road seemed present. Since it was also the way to Peak 6170, Loop abandoned No. 344.2A here.
Exploring this shallow valley NE, the Carolina Dog quickly discovered what was left of USFS Road No. 344.2B. The old road was pretty far gone at this point, overgrown and returning to nature. The valley was easy terrain, though. Only a little deadfall to deal with. Lupe made rapid progress, soon reaching a place where the valley broadened out.
Pass 5780, a forested saddle, soon appeared ahead. The terrain was a bit steeper on the way up to it, with a fair amount of deadfall once Lupe reached the trees. Pass 5780 itself featured some big boulders, and a tree-broken view of more rocky high points beyond it.
Lupe was now only 0.33 mile WSW of Peak 6170. Leaving Pass 5780, she went E, traversing a steep forested slope with scattered rocks and quite a bit of deadfall. Soon it seemed easier to simply climb S up to Peak 6170’s SW ridge.
However, when Lupe got close to the ridgeline, she found it dominated by big rock formations and significant deadfall, making movement slow and difficult. Trying to head ENE, a couple of times Loopster had to lose elevation to get past obstacles. With 250 feet yet to climb, the SW ridge was not encouraging.
Once past the largest rock formations, the situation began to improve. Lupe reached a minor saddle. Beyond it, the ridge widened out, turning into a broad, forested ramp. There wasn’t even that much deadfall.
Climbing at a good clip, the American Dingo made excellent progress. In a sunny spot near the upper end of the ramp, there was more deadfall. Lupe was now getting quite high on Peak 6170, but it still wasn’t possible to see what was ahead beyond the trees.
Continuing higher, Lupe quickly came to more big rock formations. At first, she could scramble up among them, but before long, she reached the base of an enormous vertical-sided summit block. Looper climbed as high as she could, but she wasn’t even close to the top yet.
Tremendous views from up here, including Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), Little Devils Tower (6,960 ft.) and the Cathedral Spires (6,840 ft.), but room to move around was quite limited.
The W end of the summit block was simply insurmountable. Cautiously peering around at the NW face, the cliffs were fearsome. It was quickly apparent that getting to the top from this side of Peak 6170 wasn’t going to be possible. This was technical rock climber territory!
Not looking too good for Peak 6170, is it, SPHP?
Afraid not, Loop. No way were going to get up there from this direction. N face is horrendous, and the S side doesn’t look much better. If there’s any way up this beast, it’s going to be from the E.
Well, let’s go over there then, SPHP.
Circling around the N side was out of the question, so Loop ventured ESE along the S face. However, she was soon having to lose elevation, with nothing but higher and higher cliffs above.
Eh. This isn’t going to work, Looper. We’re going to have to lose a ton of elevation to get over to the E side of the mountain. Can’t imagine that our chances are going to be any better than slim and none, even if we do make the effort.
Want to bail on Peak 6170 then, SPHP?
Yeah, the more I see of it, the more convinced I am this is just a fail. Too bad, I really thought there would be a way.
No worries, SPHP. Can’t win ’em all!
Time to head back W. Lupe returned to the highest point she’d made it to earlier, but there really wasn’t a way to get any higher. What, 40 or 50 feet short of the top? Something like that. Wasn’t even a close call.
Retreating a little way down the SW ridge, a rest break was taken at a shady flat spot covered with kinnikinnick rimmed with small boulders.
Well, that was just sad, Loop. Struck out completely at Peak 6170. Didn’t even get close enough to the top to fudge a bit, and call it good enough for Dingo work.
Speaking of fudge, SPHP, you wouldn’t happen to have a chocolate coconut bar in the pack would you?
Why, as a matter of fact, I do, Loopster. I presume it might help allay your disappointment with this turn of events?
Certainly willing to test that theory, SPHP. Bring it on!
On the way back down the valley where USFS Road No. 344.2B used to be, Peak 5874 was in sight. Lupe had made it to the top of that peak a year and a day ago. Turned out to be a pretty sweet spot, too.
1:05 PM, 44ºF, junction of USFS Roads No. 345.1E & No. 344.2A – Back at the RAV4! The return had been pleasant enough, but SPHP remained chagrined by the fail at Peak 6170. Thanksgiving Day! Loopster surely hadn’t given up turkey with all the trimmings just to get a raspberry from the mountain! Still time enough to climb something else, if it wasn’t too ambitious.
Hop in, Looper!
We’re done already, SPHP?
Oh, no! Got one more peak in mind.
Another Lists of John peak, SPHP?
Yes, but you’ve already been there once years ago. What would you say to Atlantic Hill?
Atlantic Hill? Not Atlantic Peak (12,490 ft.), I hope. Atlantic Peak was huge! Not even sure I remember an Atlantic Hill, SPHP. Hill does sound better, though, this time of year.
No, not Atlantic Peak, Loop. Atlantic Hill (6,393 ft.). Shouldn’t take long to climb it again. Success guaranteed!
Nothing wrong with that! The American Dingo was in favor.
1:29 PM, 42ºF – The start of the journey to Atlantic Hill was pure cake. Lupe simply followed USFS Road No. 297.1G from Medicine Mountain Road SW for a little over a mile. Most of this pleasant romp, which got her around to the W side of Atlantic Hill, was even slightly downhill.
Even though Lupe had been to Atlantic Hill once before, this trek along USFS Road No. 297.1G was a new route.
Staying above a scenic valley on the R, No. 297.1G turned increasingly S as it brought Lupe around to the W side of the mountain.
Beginning to regain elevation, No. 297.1G eventually curved SSE before fading away. From the road’s apparent end, a fainter track continued NE up a partially forested valley. This track also vanished as Lupe reached a bunch of deadfall where the last of the more open ground gave way to denser forest.
Turning S to avoid the worst of the deadfall, the Carolina Dog soon found herself climbing a fairly steep slope. Approaching a ridgeline topped by big rock formations, avoiding deadfall became next to impossible. It was everywhere. Shades of Peak 6170!
Didn’t take too long, though, to find a way through, and get over to the S side of this line of massive rocks. The going was much easier here. Little deadfall, and a nice, wide ramp of open forest sloping up to the NE.
Following the line of rocks, Loopster didn’t have to climb much farther before Atlantic Hill’s true summit, a rocky bump shaded by pines along the E edge of a much more spacious summit region, came into view.
3:07 PM, 38ºF – For the first time in more than 7.5 years, Lupe stood on the highest rock on Atlantic Hill (6,393 ft.). The whole rock formation leaned, creating a bit of an overhang to the E.
Congratulations, Looper on your second successful ascent of Atlantic Hill! The “summit block” here is no comparison to the one at Peak 6170, is it?
Not at all, SPHP, although there were moments on the way up that rocky ridge, followed by the easy ramp, that seemed similar. Nothing to Atlantic Hill in the end, though.
Well, at least we made it to the top of something today, Loop. Can add this ascent to our list of things to be thankful for. Not to mention that I’ve got another chocolate coconut bar to split between us, too.
A cool breeze blew out of the NW as Lupe and SPHP took a break near the true summit. Did seem like a long time since the American Dingo was last here.
Atlantic Hill’s summit region was similar to SPHP’s vague recollections of it. Most of it slanted gently S, where several more rock formations were strung out along the E edge. A line of smaller outcroppings ran along the W edge, too. Between E and W was a 50 foot wide, mostly grassy area with scattered trees and deadfall. NW of the true summit was a smaller, flatter area with less deadfall and more trees.
Atlantic Hill was too heavily forested to permit more than tree-broken views in most directions. By moving around a bit, it was possible to get clearer glimpses in a few directions. After the chocolate coconut bar break, Loopster went on a short tour of the summit region. Highlights included views of Saint Elmo Peak (6,458 ft.), Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.), Thunderhead Mountain (6,567 ft.) (aka Crazy Horse) toward the NE, and a considerably lower forested region to the S.
The best view, though, was of Peak 6380.
We’ve never been to Peak 6380, have we, SPHP?
Nope. There’s a reason for that. See how rocky its summit is, Loop? Looks a lot less feasible than Peak 6170 did.
We could still conduct an investigation, SPHP. There might be a way up!
Maybe someday, Looper. Has all the leading indicators of of another fail, though, so it’s not a priority.
3:40 PM – The sun goes down mighty early on Thanksgiving Day. Half an hour on Atlantic Hill was about it. The turkeys got stuffed this morning, and by now almost everyone else was stuffed, too. A couple of measly, shared chocolate coconut bars today hadn’t been enough to stuff Lupe, though, as she left Atlantic Hill’s true summit for the final time.
Varying her return route, the American Dingo headed down to a saddle leading to a subpeak to the N.
Skirting the E side of the subpeak, Lupe continued N, still exploring, still enjoying the day. This was a short cut, a more scenic and rugged route than USFS Road No. 297.1G had been. N of the subpeak, Lupe came to an open ridge with some views. Bear Mountain (7,166 ft.) was a long, high ridge. Odakota Mountain (7,200 ft.), South Dakota’s 2nd highest peak, beyond it was similar, while Medicine Mountain (6,878 ft.) sported a more classic, conical shape.
Exploring was fun! Loop passed some dramatic rock formations before reaching USFS Road No. 297.1G again, this time much closer to the RAV4. No turkey today for the Carolina Dog, but it had been a Thanksgiving to remember in the beautiful Black Hills. (End 4:40 PM, 28ºF)
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 125 – Atlantic Hill, Signal Hill & Elk Benchmark (4-4-15)
Lupe’s GPS Track – Atlantic Hill
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