8:40 AM, 47ºF, Deerfield Road – Not a cloud in the sky! A gorgeous day, and Lupe was excited. For the first time since early February, she was adventure bound in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota!
To what do I owe this great honor, SPHP? I’d about given up on ever going on another Black Hills expedition again!
I know it, Loop. That’s been my fault. Got way behind on your blogging, and have been trying to catch up. Already May now, and summer is just around the corner. Want to be ready for your next Dingo Vacation, you know!
Oh, I get it, SPHP! You’ve caught up, and we need to start adventuring again, so you’ll have something to write about. That’s even better!
No, I’m not caught up quite yet, Loopster, but this outing has been in the works for many moons now, and we’re super overdue for an adventure. Today you’re going to get to meet Poppy, HV, and LV.
Poppy and HV! They’ve written a lot of nice comments on my blog, SPHP! Will be awesome to get to meet them, but who is LV?
LV means Low Voice, which is Rollie.
Oh, so HV means High Voice, SPHP?
Correctamundo, Looper! HV is Dawnette. It’s all quite simple. Poppy just has a bigger support team than you do.
Like SPHP means Slow Plodding Human Porter, got it, SPHP!
Good! Now try to behave. No were-puppy attacks, please!
8:50 AM – S of Deerfield Reservoir, SPHP turned L onto Williams Draw Road (USFS Road No. 691), and parked the RAV4 near a corral Lupe had never seen before. The American Dingo leapt out as soon as SPHP opened the door. No one was around.
Where is Poppy, SPHP?
Don’t worry, she’ll be here, Loop. We’re a few minutes early, that’s all.
Actually, Poppy, HV & LV had already been here. Moments later, their Honda Accord returned to the corral, coming N on Williams Draw Road after checking for Lupe farther S. As they emerged from their vehicle, Loopster was all wound up, shrilly barking greetings to one and all.
Poppy, was very friendly and excited, too, but not so vocal about it. A three year old Golden Retriever with a beautiful red coat and bright, happy eyes, Poppy was full of energy and enthusiasm, clearly looking forward to a romp in the hills.
Greetings and introductions were exchanged among the humans, too. During initial chatter about careers, and life events like graduations, Dawnette made a comment SPHP mischievously interpreted as implying disbelief that SPHP had ever actually graduated from anything.
Not what Dawnette meant, of course, (or so she maintained). Everyone laughed, and the subject became a running joke.
Once these preliminaries were complete, it was Onward! Puppies, ho! heading S on Williams Draw Road. Hat Mountain (6,779 ft.) was the morning’s objective, an excellent choice selected by HV some time ago.
Right from the start, Poppy joyfully raced ahead. Apparently, being off leash was a relatively rare treat for her, due to prior incidents of having set off on her own private alone-in-the-woods overnight adventures. No doubt they had been interesting times, but HV and LV weren’t keen on a repeat, since such antics can turn out poorly.
Meanwhile, the trek had barely started when the Carolina Dog pooped right on the road. SPHP shot her a look.
Loopster! Really? What happened to being on your best behavior?
Sorry, SPHP. Just had to get that out of my system! Good to go now!
Looks like you already went.
Fine company and pleasant conversation made the time fly during the gradual uphill march along Williams Draw Road. Suddenly, everyone was already less than 0.25 mile E of Hat Mountain’s summit. SPHP was of the opinion that this was as good a spot as any to leave the road.
Leaving Williams Draw Road, Hat Mountain’s summit was already less than 300 feet higher. The E slope began as a moderately steep climb through open Ponderosa pine forest. Soon the rate of climb diminished, and trees were scarcer as snow banks near the grassy S ridge came into view. Soon the whole gang was up on the broad ridge, looking N at the last bit remaining to get on top, Poppy still leading the way.
9:46 AM, 52ºF – HV had been to Hat Mountain (6,779 ft.) before, so she had already known what a fabulous viewpoint it would be when she’d chosen it. Somewhat rare in that it sits in grand isolation a mile or two away from the rest of the limestone plateau high country of the western Black Hills, Hat Mountain is also unusual for it’s roomy, pancake flat, barren summit that provides sweeping 360º panoramic views.
Although both HV and Lupe had been here before, LV and Poppy hadn’t. A leisurely tour of the views began with a stroll over to the N end of the summit plateau. Reynolds Prairie was in sight beyond glimpses of still frozen Deerfield Reservoir. Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) stuck out near the horizon.
Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) was even farther away past the W edge of Reynolds Prairie, well beyond where South Castle Rock (6,840 ft.), Castle Rock (6,783 ft.), Nipple Butte (6,800 ft.), and Flag Mountain (6,937 ft.) were all lined up along the E edge of the limestone plateau overlooking the prairie.
Higher pine-covered ridges of the limestone plateau hemmed in views to the W and S, but LV was able to identify Five Points (6,221 ft.) miles off to the E. Turned out that Poppy, HV, and LV live not too far from it.
To the SE, Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) loomed beyond Gillette Prairie. Copper Mountain (6,920 ft.) and Green Mountain (7,164 ft.) were easy to pick out along the edge of the limestone plateau.
Every now and then, Poppy dashed down one side of the mountain or the other to do some sniffing and exploring on her own, but always came charging back up when called. Such a beautiful day that SPHP wondered if Poppy, HV and LV might have time to do a little more?
There was talk of a quick visit to the Dragon Caves, which weren’t too far away, but LV had work he really needed to get back to. 50 minutes after arriving, Poppy and HV led the way down Hat Mountain’s NW slope. HV kind of wanted to go back that way, looking for a road she’d taken the first time she’d been here.
Descending the NW slope, LV commented on the crocuses beginning to emerge. SPHP was surprised and happy to hear them referred to that way. Crocuses was what SPHP had always called them, too, although all the online information SPHP had seen referred to them as pasques, the South Dakota state flower.
After losing sufficient elevation, HV rediscovered the road she’d been on before down in the forest. Taking it NE, the unmarked road soon linked up with Williams Draw Road. From there, it was an easy stroll back to the vehicles still waiting near the corral.
11:36 AM, 54ºF, Williams Draw Road near Deerfield Road – Hat Mountain had been a success, but it was already time for good-byes. It had been fun getting to meet Poppy, HV and LV. Poppy might have had the best time of all, with all the running and roaming around she’d gotten to do. She was a beautiful dog, with many fabulous adventures ahead of her!
Poppy, HV, and LV were soon on their way. Naturally, the question was now, what next? The American Dingo didn’t have any work she needed to get back to.
That was fun, SPHP! Poppy, HV, and LV sure were nice, but I do have one other question, too.
Oh, really? What’s that Looper?
So, did you really graduate, or not, SPHP?
Oh, for Pete’s sake! Not you, too! Of course, I graduated!
Sorry for asking, SPHP. It’s just that sometimes you … oh, never mind! It’s a gorgeous day in May, so what are we going to do?
I dunno. Don’t really have anything planned, but give me a few minutes, and I’ll think of something, Loop. Meanwhile, Deerfield Reservoir is close. Why don’t we have a look?
12:04 PM – The W end of Deerfield Reservoir was only partially frozen, and the ice looked thin where it still was. Not a thing was going on here, other than a lone Canadian enjoying a brisk swim.
Time’s a-wasting, SPHP! Come up with anything yet?
Yes, I think so, Loop. Been a long time since we’ve been to some of these named peaks along the E edge of the limestone plateau, and we’re not far from them. We could visit Nipple Butte, Flag Mountain, and Peak 6962.
Peak 6962! Why, SPHP? There’s a good reason we haven’t been there in a long time. The approach is ghastly! Don’t you remember all the deadfall and the broken barbed wire fence? I’m fine with Nipple Butte and Flag Mountain, though.
Yeah, but we can do Peak 6962 one more time, Looper. Been meaning to return to it for ages now, and when LV mentioned the crocuses, that got me thinking. First time we ever went to Peak 6962 we came to a place we called Perfect Crocus Ridge because so many beautiful crocuses were there. Would kind of like to see if we can find them again. You’ve got to admit, it’s the perfect time of year for it, too!
Oh, I suppose, but let’s do Nipple Butte and Flag Mountain first, SPHP. We can go for Peak 6962 after that, if there’s still time. Deal?
Deal!
12:26 PM, 56ºF, Junction of USFS Roads No. 189 & No. 599 – Lupe leapt out as soon as SPHP opened the door. Nipple Butte (6,800 ft.) was only 0.3 mile S. Forest hid its ragged limestone summit from where the RAV4 was parked, but the meadow N of the road provided a good look at it.
Nipple Butte doesn’t look like much from here, SPHP. Feels a lot different up on top, though! How long has it been since we climbed it? Seems like forever.
More than 5 years, Looper. Can hardly believe it’s been that long myself.
On the Carolina Dog’s previous ascents, she’d always been coming from the S, and had ultimately gone up via a chute on the very steep upper W slope. Approaching from the N was a new experience, but turned out to be quite similar in most respects.
What began as a gentle climb through a thin forest, quickly steepened, as Lupe picked her way through a minefield of deadfall. By the time the first limestone outcroppings appeared, she wasn’t far from the top.
Swinging around to the W, and up a rocky ramp, the American Dingo managed to reach an initial viewpoint. Flag Mountain (6,937 ft.) was only a mile N, with Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) in the distance beyond it.
Switching to the E side of the next higher outcropping, a fairly easy route led to an opening with access to the summit block. SPHP had to give the Carolina Dog a 5 or 6 foot boost, before scrambling up after her.
1:00 PM, 61ºF – Nipple Butte (6,800 ft.) also has a flat, open summit, but a tiny one compared to Hat Mountain. With vertical edges never more than a few feet away, it’s an airy perch. A lone chunk of limestone, just the right size to serve as a Dingo display rock, was the absolute top. Lupe was able to leap up onto it under her own power.
Ta da! Chocolate coconut bar time, SPHP!
So it was! Lupe hopped off the summit rock, then laid down while SPHP fetched a chocolate coconut bar out of the pack.
Once the chocolate coconut bar had been dispatched, SPHP munched an apple.
This squeezy little platform always makes Nipple Butte feel so much higher than it really is, doesn’t it, Loop?
Nipple Butte is plenty high, SPHP! Can we see Hat Mountain from here?
Yup. It’s a little hard to pick out, because the ridge behind it is higher, but it’s that conical hill almost due S with the grassy slope toward the R.
I see it, SPHP. Looks mighty small.
Well, it’s 5 miles away, Loop.
Flag Mountain (6,937 ft.) was a mile N. Castle Rock (6,783 ft.) was less than that far S. Reynolds Prairie was E, and the forested highlands of the limestone plateau country were W. Lupe barely had to budge to see it all from up here.
Half an hour was going to have to be enough on Nipple Butte with both Flag Mountain and Peak 6962 on the agenda. Soon it was time to head back down. Lupe watched while SPHP carefully slid backward over the N edge of the summit block, before helping her down, too.
Instead of heading back down the N slope, Lupe made her traditional W chute descent. Once safely below the chute, she headed NW down to USFS Road No. 189.1B, then NE back to the RAV4.
Without stopping, Lupe went right on by. Heading up the slope leading to Flag Mountain’s S ridge, she had a terrific view of Nipple Butte back to the S.
The rate of climb soon diminished. Flag Mountain came back in sight, as Lupe continued N along the broad ridgeline.
Gradually gaining elevation despite a couple of dips along the way, Lupe stayed to the W (L) when she came to a big limestone formation near the Flag Mountain access spur off USFS Road No. 189. Following the road all the way to the end got the Carolina Dog just shy of the summit.
A set of stone steps led up onto the limestone escarpment where what remained of the old fire lookout still stood perched at the E end.
2:49 PM, 63ºF, Flag Mountain (6,937 ft.) –
Nearly a year since we were here with Dennis Stewart, remember, Loop?
Yes, of course! What a difference, too, SPHP! We could hardly see a thing back then due to fog. So cold that it was even trying to snow!
With scarcely a cloud in the sky, there were no such difficulties today. The views were excellent, but to the S, E and W they were all similar to those seen from Nipple Butte.
The view to the N, though, was now substantially different. The dreaded Peak 6962 and White Tail Peak (6,962 ft.) were now in sight. Both were long ridges along the E edge of the limestone plateau country, bordered partly by lines of cliffs, and without any conspicuous summit.
Yes, but White Tail Peak has all the best viewpoints, and all Peak 6962 has is a wretched long approach choked with deadfall, SPHP.
Yup, it’s icky, Loop, but there’s actually a better way than our traditional route from the SW. Craig Johnson later described a route from the S that’s not supposed to have much deadfall. We saw that valley before, but never went that way.
Then let’s go that way now, SPHP!
We can do that on the way back, Loopster. If we don’t take our old route there, we’ll never find Perfect Crocus Ridge again.
For the crocuses then, SPHP! Last time I’m ever going this way, though.
Lupe had only been to Peak 6962 twice before, and both times she’d gone W from Flag Mountain, staying high while skirting a gigantic bowl. This route was nearly all forested, and involved a fair amount of up and down along the way, although nothing particularly steep.
Horrid amounts of deadfall, along with a dangerous, damaged barbed wire fence, made the last part of the journey particularly odious. No reason not to expect the same again today. Nevertheless, the American Dingo once again left Flag Mountain plunging W into the forest.
Even here, the deadfall was pretty bad. Winding and leaping her way through it, the situation didn’t improve until after Lupe crossed the Flag Mountain access road, and continuing W, got over the next hill.
A mile W of Flag Mountain, Lupe passed close to USFS Road No. 189. It was time to turn NW. Quite a bit of deadfall was on this next thickly forested hill as the Carolina Dog began climbing again.
You know, SPHP, we could take one of these roads! Would make life a lot easier, at least part of the way.
Yeah, but where’s the tedious adventure in that? Besides, this route is both shorter and an old tradition now, Looper. We’re doing fine.
Reaching HP6920, USFS Road No. 189 was in view again. After a short break, even SPHP was ready to take the road for a while.
Too late! Lupe had hardly made any progress along No. 189 when SPHP realized that she really ought to be up on the ridge next to it. The map showed some sort of a primitive road up on the ridge, too, but when the American Dingo got up there, it didn’t really exist.
Well, maybe in another 200 or 300 years, the series of small hills along Peak 6962’s mile plus long SW ridge will be the way to go. Not today. The dreaded deadfall was worse than ever, and the broken barbed wire fence was still a dangerous, hidden tangle amid it all. Staying W of the treacherous fence, poor Lupe had to leap over countless dead trees, their trunks often stacked 2 or 3 high.
All in vain, too! Sadly, Perfect Crocus Ridge was no more. At least, SPHP couldn’t find it, even though Lupe must have gone right by it at some point. Not a crocus to be seen anywhere along the way.
6:15 PM, 60ºF, Peak 6962 – The barbed wire fence had been left behind, but the ghastly deadfall extended all the way to a small, bright green patch of kinnikinnick which seemed to be at or close to the highest point on the mountain. Hard to be precise, since such an enormous region was at essentially the same elevation.
Sunlight was streaming through the shattered forest when Lupe arrived, but all distant views were badly tree-broken.
Think this is about it, Looper. Summit of Peak 6962!
Hasn’t changed much, has it, SPHP? How long has it been since we’ve been here?
A long time, Loopster. Nearly 8 years!
It’s been a grueling journey, SPHP. Wouldn’t happen to have a chocolate coconut bar and some water, would you?
I do, but before we do that, Loop, there is supposed to be another high point that’s also potentially a true summit candidate 500 feet farther N. We ought to tag it, as well.
Without complaint, Lupe made this journey, too.
6:26 PM, Peak 6962 – The exact location of the N high point was similarly next to impossible to identify, but Lupe must have been close to it when SPHP shared that final hard-won chocolate coconut bar of the day with her. With nothing but tree-broken views here, too, the Carolina Dog saw no reason to linger.
Satisfied, SPHP?
Yeah, I guess so, Loop.
So what’s your opinion, SPHP? Which high point is Peak 6962’s true summit?
The S one, Loopster, but that’s just a wild guess, a faint impression. Might easily be totally mistaken.
Hardly matters, SPHP. Can’t be much difference between them, and how often does anyone visit Peak 6962, anyway? Not much to see here, until the forest burns down someday.
Still glad we came, Loop. I like the quiet remoteness of it. Sad we couldn’t find Perfect Crocus Ridge again, though. Would have been fun to see it.
Heading back through the deadfall, which wasn’t as bad here as along the SW ridge, Lupe returned to Peak 6962’s S high point, which SPHP still considered, rightly or wrongly, the true summit. For a moment, Lupe paused briefly to glance WNW toward the sinking sun and a distant blue ridge. SPHP wondered if she would ever be here again?
This time, the American Dingo departed Peak 6962 heading down the previously unexplored valley to the S recommended by Craig Johnson. Super easy! Nothing at all like the traditional ordeal along the SW ridge! Lupe followed a broad swath of open ground bordered by scattered stands of pines down a nearly mile long obstacle-free slope.
USFS Road No. 599 was waiting at the bottom. A pleasant 2 mile road hike around the E side Flag Mountain was all that remained.
7:52 PM, 42ºF – The sun was down, but it was still light out when Lupe reached the RAV4. As dusk came on during the drive home, the Carolina Dog was hysterical due to all the deer along Deerfield Road, including a giant deer that sprang across the highway right in front of the RAV4. The exciting wildlife display didn’t end until nearly Hill City.
Well, Expedition No. 314 turned out to be quite the day! Felt good being back out in the Black Hills again, didn’t it, Loop?
Sure did, SPHP! Got to meet Poppy, HV and LV, and visited 4 mountains at or near the edge of the limestone plateau! Hoping this is a sign of more good times to come!
Poppy launched us back into action, Loopster! Summer of 2023 is right around the corner now. Gonna be great. Adventure season is upon us, sweet puppy!
Note: Dawnette (HV) and Rollie (LV) are owner-operators of the popular, highly-rated Annie Lode Coffee Cabin located 3.5 miles NE of Hill City on US Hwy No. 385/16 (0.3 mile W of Three Forks). Dingo recommended!
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Flag Mountain & Peak 6962 GPS Track
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