Peak 4400 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 294 – 1,000,000 Vertical Feet! (1-29-22)

Dark, but not entirely. The yellow crescent moon hanging low in the E was not alone. One bright star nearby. A planet, actually. The morning star, Venus, its identity betrayed by the rosy glow spreading along the horizon As the RAV4 cruised S, Lupe was so happy!

Can’t believe it, SPHP! My Lists of John mini-blitz is really taking off, isn’t it? Black Hills Expeditions 2 days in a row! That hardly ever happens.

Hah! Grand finale! Your Lists of John mini-blitz ends today, Looper!

S of Custer, SPHP kept an eye on the RAV4’s temperature readout. Low 40’s °F when Lupe had left home, but plunging now. Incredible! Why? It was supposed to get into the mid-50’s °F today!

Off highway, after miles of dust and gravel, SPHP pulled over to the side of the road.

Hop on out, Loop. Let’s have a look!

A mile S, a forested ridge resembled a submarine surfaced on a sea of grass.

See that bump in the middle, Looper? Think that’s it!

That’s what, SPHP?

Top of Peak 4480, Loop. Your first Lists of John peak of the day.

**Peak 4480** (R of Center). Photo looks SSE.

7:59 AM, 14ºF, start of USFS Road No. 645 off Red Canyon Road (Fall River No. 15, USFS Road No. 322) –

14ºF! Yowser! Had no idea it would be this cold, Looper. Better start warming up fast, or I’m calling it.

Lupe had no intention of letting that happen! Nothing like a good march higher to get the blood circulating! Without hesitating, the American Dingo took off, heading N up USFS Road No. 645.

USFS Road No. 645 (R) where it leaves Red Canyon Road. Photo looks NW.

Five frosty minutes got Lupe up to where the grade decreased quite a bit. A grassy field was ahead, illuminated by a feeble morning sun. No detectable warmth to it, but just being in sunshine lifted spirits.

Glancing back at **Red Canyon** as No. 645 starts to level out. Photo looks S.

After crossing the field, No. 645 curved NE, climbing faster again. The road wound through a stretch of pine forest up to a larger field. Crusty snow crunched underpaw. Sometimes Lupe could see her breath.

Leaving the first field behind. Photo looks SSW.

Crossing the next field. Photo looks ENE.

So, why is my Lists of John mini-blitz going to end today, SPHP? You never said.

Oh, because today you are officially going to complete your achievement, Looper!

Wow! Really? Will I have climbed all the Lists of John peaks?

Hah! No! That will never happen, Looper! Not even limited to all the ones in South Dakota, or just the ones in the Black Hills.

Why not, SPHP?

Well, because a few of them are simply beyond our capabilities. Others are on private property, or forbidden for other reasons, like Mount Rushmore.

The road kept going. Soon a line of low bluffs appeared ahead. No. 645 went right to them. Near the base of the bluffs, Lupe came to a round water trough. Cursory inspection revealed that it was empty.

Heading for the bluffs (R). Photo looks NE.

From the water trough, No. 645 went SE, climbing more aggressively as it curled around the S end of the bluffs. The road then turned N, taking Lupe up to the territory above them. From here, No. 645 curved NE, still gaining elevation until it finally leveled out at yet another big field. Beyond this field was a long hill.

Above the bluffs now, which are unseen off to the L. Photo looks N.

Approaching the next hill. Photo looks NE.

That’s it, Loopster! Top of Peak 4480!

Looked like an easy climb. Lupe might easily have gone right up the W slope. However, the Carolina Dog stuck with the road, which ultimately swung clear around the S end of the hill. Along the way, No. 645 passed through a gap where a rock on the L had names carved into it.

No one Lupe knew had signed the rock, though, so after a brief pause, she continued on her way. The road dipped, then wound E up onto a large grassy plain.

Going through the gap. Names were carved into the rock wall on the L. Photo looks E.

On the high prairie S of the summit hill. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe followed No. 645 all the way around to where it topped out SE of the summit hill. She then left the road, heading straight for the S end.

Cactus! Loop instantly became reluctant to continue, insisting that SPHP scout the route out first before she would follow. Got a little steep and rocky, but not until the Carolina Dog was already almost up on top.

Getting close to the top of the S end of the summit hill. Photo looks NW.

The S end of the summit hill was lower than the N end, but the views were great! A little different from typical Black Hills fare, Peak 4480 was way off in the far SW part of the hills, a region that was lower and drier. Not as much forest here, so the views were more expansive.

Nearby, grasslands and low forested hills were in sight. To the SW, Lupe could see the plains of Wyoming. Matias Peak (4,780 ft.) was only a couple of miles SE.

**S end of Peak 4480**. Wyoming is in the distance off to the R. Photo looks S.

**Matias Peak** (R of Center). Photo looks SE.

Having seen the sights from the S end, Lupe headed N in search of the true summit. An easy trek higher among a mix of pines, junipers, and small clearings led to a big clearing surrounded by trees. Couldn’t hold a candle to the S end as far as views, because there weren’t any, but Peak 4480’s summit region had a quiet, almost secretive feel to it.

A lone rock not too far from the N edge proved to be the true summit.

Heading N along the summit plateau in search of the true summit. Photo looks N.

The big clearing at the N end. Summit is dead ahead. Photo looks N.

**True summit of Peak 4480**. Photo looks E.

9:13 AM, 25ºF, Peak 4480 – Warmer, but no big heat wave yet. Still chilly. Fortunately, only a slight NW breeze. SPHP dumped the pack against the summit rock, then sat next to Lupe shaking her paw.

Congratulations, Loopster! Your first Lists of John peak of the day!

Thank you, SPHP! How many of them are we going to do?

3, with any luck. 2 might do it as far as your achievement is concerned, but maybe not. Need all 3 to be certain of success. Slam dunk, then.

And what is this grand achievement that we’ve been doing this Lists of John mini-blitz for this month?

Oh, you’ve been working on this achievement a lot longer than just this month, Loop! Lists of John really has nothing to do with it, just a fun way to pick out some new territory to explore while you finish up. In fact, you’ve been working on this achievement practically your whole life.

What does that mean, SPHP? Don’t keep me in suspenders any longer!

Climb all 3 of these Lists of John peaks today, Loopster, and you will have completed over 1,000,000 total vertical feet of elevation gain.

Is 1,000,000 a whole bunch, SPHP?

Sure felt that way on many occasions, Loop. More than 189 miles straight up! Includes all of the peaks that you’ve climbed, whether hard or easy. 1,000,000 isn’t any kind of a record, though, not even close. Sam Grant and Greg Gerlach have each logged nearly 6,000,000 total vertical feet.

Dingo feathers, SPHP! Nobody could have done that much!

Oh, yes! They have! It’s all documented on Peakbagger.com, same place where I’ve documented your climbs. Don’t feel too bad, Loop! Officially, you will be 77th to reach the 1,000,000 mark on Peakbagger.com, if we succeed today. Not too shabby. And your 1,000,000 isn’t even an accurate number. You actually hit 1,000,000 vertical feet long ago. There are a lot of early treks that I never added to Peakbagger.com for you, and even after I started to, for years I only entered net elevation gain, instead of total.

So, you mean I’ve been shortchanged, SPHP? How many total vertical feet have I really climbed?

Heh! Yes, you’ve been shortchanged. Never realized we would be doing all this when you started out, or I would have kept better track. How many vertical feet have you really done? Who knows? Hundreds of thousands more for sure that I could estimate, if I just took the time to do it, because I do have some old journals. Maybe another 1,000,000 or 2,000,000, if we’d had a way to track all the endless running around you did, that I didn’t, but we don’t. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Tracking statistics like this is just for fun. No big prize.

Well, that’s disappointing! 1,000,000 total vertical feet of elevation gain that you make such a fuss about, and then there’s no big prize, SPHP? Humans are crazy! Any chance of a small prize as an early installment? How about a chocolate coconut bar?

Eh, I’m saving those for later. You can have a couple of MarroBone treats, though.

The MarroBones didn’t survive any longer than a chocolate coconut bar would have. Hoping to find a viewpoint, SPHP wandered a little way down the NW slope, but didn’t go very far since it was all forested. Lupe returned to the big clearing near the summit rock. Even without any distant views, it was pretty up here.

Returning to the summit (R) after a quick foray down the NW slope. Photo looks E.

In the lovely clearing. Summit rock (R). Photo looks SW.

25 minutes shot by. If Looper was going to get her 1,000,000 today, she should probably move on, especially if she wanted to explore the big loop she could take back to the RAV4.

What do you think, Loop? Want to explore the big loop, or head right back to the RAV4? Completing the loop would be about 2.5 times as far, but its mostly a downhill road hike. Ought to be easy.

We’re here now, SPHP! Let’s see what there is to see!

Leaving Peak 4480’s summit, Lupe headed NNE. A short, forested slope led down to a smaller clearing. Although also rimmed with trees, at the far N end, a few rocks offered a view of the red dirt prairie below, and Elk Benchmark (5,669 ft.) on the NW horizon.

In the **smaller clearing NNE of the true summit**. Photo looks NNE.

**Elk Benchmark** (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks NW.

After enjoying the view, Lupe went back S a little way looking for a good spot to descend the fairly steep slope to the E. Finding one, she ventured down through the forest to a big snowfield below it. Several deer went racing away to the NE, providing some excitement.

Crossing part of a big tableland, Loop reached USFS Road No. 685 again, happily without experiencing the pain of any cacti mishaps.

**Peak 4480** from USFS Road No. 645 again. Photo looks W.

The big loop was worth seeing! Initially heading NE away from Peak 4480, USFS Road No. 645 soon began curving SE, then S. At first, Lupe was out on the big open tableland. As she got farther S, the road ran along the edge of the canyon separating Peak 4480 from Matias Peak. Views from the rim of the canyon were lovely.

Passing a weather station (R). Photo looks SSE.

**Matias Peak** (R of Center) across the canyon. Photo looks SE.

**Matias Peak** (Center) with a little help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks ESE.

Eventually the road began a long, winding descent SE along the edge of the canyon. Near the end, No. 645 led into USFS Road No. 379, which in turn soon got Lupe back to Red Canyon Road.

Descending into the canyon. Photo looks SE.

Winding down to USFS Road No. 379 (L). Photo looks SE.

Shortly after starting the 0.75 mile trek N on Red Canyon Road back to the RAV4, a brown and white sign was down in the ditch to the W.

Near the sign along Red Canyon Road. Photo looks WNW.

What does this sign say, SPHP?

Well, let’s see, Looper. It says: Deadwood – Custer Cheyenne Stage Route, 1875-1877, Metz Family Massacred Here, April 24, 1875

Massacred! The whole family? Right here, SPHP?

Guess so, or hereabouts. Anyway, that’s what it says, Loop.

That’s terrible! And twice in a row now! I don’t like it.

Twice in a row? What are you talking about?

Don’t you remember, SPHP? Only yesterday, on Expedition No. 293 we came to James Fernando Shepard’s grave. Murdered for a mining claim!

Oh, yeah! That’s right!

I’ve got a bad feeling about this SPHP! Let’s go! It’s a warning!

A warning! The Metz family was massacred even longer ago than poor Mr. Shepard was murdered. Doesn’t have anything to do with us. You’re being ridiculous, Loop!

How can you be so sure, SPHP? What if we’re cursed?

Cursed? Why would we be cursed?

Have I reached 1,000,000 vertical feet of elevation gain yet, SPHP?

Officially? No, but you must be real close to it by now.

How close?

Oh, more than 999,000 feet for sure.

We’re never going to make it to 1,000,000 vertical feet, SPHP! Something terrible is going to happen! We’ve come to a murder, then a massacre. We’re next!

For pity sake, Looper! Get a grip! We’ll be just fine.

It’s been nice knowing you, SPHP. Maybe we should just go home instead of tempting fate?

Oh, no we’re not. We going to the RAV4, then on to the next mountain. Not going to get this close, then quit climbing mountains, curse or no curse! (End 11:25 AM)

The doomed Dingo on Red Canyon Road, almost back to the RAV4. Photo looks NW.

The next mountain wasn’t very far away. On the way to it, SPHP stopped for a look at a striking red rock butte capped by a layer of white. Around the next bend, SPHP stopped again to consider a big ridge to the SW.

The beautiful red rock butte, actually part of a long, continuous wall. Photo looks NNW.

The big ridge around the bend. Photo looks SW.

That’s Peak 4400, Loop! Your next Lists of John peak.

Could have climbed Peak 4400 from the N easily enough, but not without crossing private ranch lands. The American Dingo would have to go for it from the W, where there was USFS access.

11:50 AM, 45ºF, USFS Road No. 316 – Day was half-shot already! Had warmed up nicely, though. Lupe trotted E down No. 316 to the turn by the entrance to the Hey Ranch. Leaving the road, she continued E along a fence to a first little hill on the L, which she then climbed.

Nice view of the RAV4 and forested ridges back to the W from here, but the ridge to the NE was of more interest. Big rocks were along the steep upper rim. Not a problem! Gaps were visible among them. Lupe could get up there easily enough. The American Dingo pressed on.

**W side of the Peak 4400 ridge** from USFS Road No. 316. Photo looks ENE.

By the **entrance to the Hey Ranch**. Lupe didn’t go in. Photo looks SSW.

Following the fence to the first hill (L). Photo looks E.

Looking back from the first hill. Photo looks WSW.

Next ridge from the first hill. Photo looks ENE.

Once up on top, the view from the ridge was a bit surprising. This was more of a second hill than part of the main Peak 4400 ridge, which was still farther E. Looked like Lupe had started climbing too soon. Might have been better to go around both of these hills before starting up.

Live and learn! A little late for that now!

*Made it!* Up on the second hill. Photo looks NW.

The main ridge from the second hill. Photo looks SE.

Closest part of the main ridge from the second hill. Photo looks NE.

Deadfall left over from a forest fire made maneuvering difficult. Just took a little time. Soon Lupe was through it, heading down to a saddle that connected with the closest part of the main ridge. After crossing the saddle, another steep climb got the Carolina Dog up onto the W rim.

**Robinson Ranch** from near the top. Photo looks W.

Except that this wasn’t actually part of Peak 4400’s main ridge, either! Just a third hill. Rinse and repeat! Crossing this third hill, Lupe went down to another saddle leading to yet another climb.

At last, the steep part of the ascent was over. The American Dingo was now up on Peak 4400’s enormous summit plateau, but way out W on a lower part of it near the N end, still 0.5 mile WSW of the true summit. To the E, the terrain still rose, but at a much easier pace. Going over a little rise, a moderately higher part of the plateau was ahead.

Up on the **Peak 4400 plateau**. Photo looks ENE.

The vast plateau was interesting territory. No cactus at all! Lupe liked that. Mostly grassland, but at one time there had been a fair amount of forest up here, too. Nearly all of it had burned.

Looper trotted E, enjoying the sense of elevated spaciousness. Weird rock formations were concentrated near the edge, but also scattered across the plain.

Such strange and wonderful territory, SPHP!

Yeah! This is awesome, isn’t it, Loop? Not many places in the Black Hills like this. Be fun to camp up here on a starry night!

On the upper plateau, Lupe came to a particularly strange formation. It was so cool!

At the **Dingo Throne**! A 2-seater for king and queen. Photo looks SE.

Gently rolling terrain flattened further as Lupe finally drew near the E side of the summit plateau, and was nearly as flat as a pancake by the time she turned N.

The topo map showed the true summit way out near the NE end of the mountain. Did look like there might be slightly higher ground over that way as the Carolina Dog got closer. On the way there, Lupe came to a low region bordered by walls of rock.

Along the **SW edge of the low region**. True summit somewhere on the other side. Photo looks NE.

Fortunately, the small cliffs along the NW end of the low region were not continuous. Loopster was able to get across. Once on the other side, it wasn’t far to a collection of rocks that appeared to be the true summit of Peak 4400. Located right along the edge of an even larger low region to the NW, this was a very scenic spot!

At the **apparent true summit of Peak 4400** (R). Photo looks NE.

**True summit**. Another angle. What a unique view! Photo looks NNW.

Of course, on a mountain as flat as Peak 4400, there were other rocks nearby that appeared to be in contention for the title of true summit, as well. Before visiting them, it was time for a break.

Hey, Looper! Why don’t we go find a spot along the NE edge to relax? Should be some pretty sweet views!

Fine with me, SPHP!

1:30 PM, 45ºF, Peak 4400 –

Congratulations, once again, Loopster! Another Lists of John peak climbed!

Two down and one to go! Then my Lists of John mini-blitz will be over, right, SPHP?

Yeah, that’s right, Loop.

Do you think I’ve officially hit 1,000,000 feet of total vertical gain yet?

Not sure. Maybe. If you haven’t, you’re extremely close. No more than 100 or 200 feet away. Might have hit it already. Tell you what. How about we celebrate right now just in case? We’ll split a chocolate coconut bar, and you can have another couple of MarroBones. How’s that?

Not a hard sell. The enthusiastic Dingo made short work of it all, then curled up on SPHP’s lap, crunching Taste of the Wild from her silver bowl, while SPHP munched an apple. The views were splendid!

Along the NE edge on a rock by the rest spot. Photo looks NW.

**Loopster at 1,000,000 total vertical feet**, or very close to it. Photo looks NW.

**Peak 4480** (L), where Lupe had just been, in front of **Matias Peak**. Photo looks SSE.

A peaceful, happy, half hour drifted away.

You know, SPHP, since this is both such a scenic mountain and momentous occasion, we really ought to do some more exploring up here before we have to go!

You’re absolutely right, Loop! Looks like there is still some fun stuff a little farther NW of here. Let’s sniff around over that way for a little bit.

Fabulous rock formations along the NE edge. Photo looks NW.

Overlooking the NW low region (L). Photo looks NW.

About as far N as Loop got along the edge of the escarpment. Photo looks NW.

Lupe had a fun time scrambling around among the rocks. Could have spent many hours roaming around up here, but that was not to be. She was a Dingo on a mission. One more Lists of John peak to go!

Starting back, Loopster visited another rock in contention for title of true summit that wasn’t far from the one SPHP actually thought was it.

On the contender. **SPHP’s anointed true summit** (far L). Photo looks SW.

The NW low region from the contender rock. Photo looks NW.

An hour after arriving, Lupe left the true summit rock for the last time. The angle of the sun warned against any more dilly-dallying. Peak 4400 had been a big, scenic success. Confidence and joy were in the air as the American Dingo worked her way around the NW end of the low region bordered by cliffs again.

And then she saw it.

SPHP, look! The curse! We’re doomed! 1,000,000 vertical feet will be the end of us!

How strange! Lupe had found another rock formation reminiscent of the Dingo Throne. This throne was only a one-seater though, and that seat was occupied. The ruler was right there – a twisted, entirely black tree. A vision of evil!

A death tree, SPHP!

The **death tree** – evil, enthroned ruler, and Dingo curser of Peak 4400. Photo looks SE.

Guess we better say our prayers, Looper! We’re a goner for sure now!

Well, what else could SPHP say? Anyone would know a death tree when they saw one. No denying it! And yet, the nervous Dingo’s return went well overall. Going down the W slope, a promising path led off to the N and got Loop stuck among a giant patch of obnoxious deadfall, but that was the only aggravation. She soon made it down to USFS Road No. 316 somewhat N of the Robinson Ranch.

From there, it was just a pleasant afternoon stroll along the road back to the RAV4. (3:21 PM, 53ºF)

Getting close to where Lupe would have to head down the W slope. Photo looks SW.

3:51 PM, Dewey Road (Custer County No. 769) – Cows! Despite having barked hysterically at every cow in sight from the G6, and now the RAV4, zillions of times over the years, cows were coming to see Lupe!

Although hesitant, at first, the cows seemed genuinely happy to see the pesky Carolina Dog. They were gathering from all across their huge field. Amazed, Lupe didn’t bark, but stood watching their approach.

Lupe, the cheering cows, and **Peak 4440** (Center). Photo looks S.

Wow, Lupe! Look at this! All the abuse you’ve doled out to them, yet the cows are coming to cheer you on to 1,000,000 total vertical feet! Hear all that mooing? They love you!

Well, it was either that, or perhaps the cows were hoping SPHP still had plenty of chocolate coconut bars to distribute? Who knew? In any case, Lupe was as happy and excited to see all the lovely black cows, as they were to see her.

I’m shocked! You must be right, SPHP! That’s so kind of them. I don’t know what to say. I’m humbled!

Unfortunately, the cows were a bit of a problem. Peak 4440, Lupe’s last Lists of John peak of the day, was in sight beyond their field. Clearly, wandering through a whole herd of cows eager to make the American Dingo’s acquaintance would never do. Furthermore, there was no sign of USFS Road No. 394.2A which was supposed to go due S through this field to USFS land providing the quickest access to Peak 4440.

There was another way, but it would take longer. Better get with it!

Come on, Loopster! Back to the RAV4! We’re going to have to drive a little farther W.

Lupe started to come, but suddenly began limping terribly, hopping about with her L rear paw in the air.

Ow! Ow! Ow! I can’t, SPHP! It’s the curse!

What on earth? What happened, Loop? What’s wrong with you?

I just told you, SPHP! I’m stricken by the murdered, massacred, death tree curse of 1,000,000 total vertical feet! We’re never going to get there! My paw is broken! Oh, it hurts! Ow, ow, ow!

Hold still! Lemme, see that paw, Loop. Uh-huh! How’s that?

Lupe was stunned. An instant cure! Her paw was fine again.

You can remove curses, SPHP? I never knew! All these years you’ve been a wizard incognito? Fantastic disguise, by the way.

Oh, yes! Remove curses all the time! Provided that the curse is that you’ve stepped on a burr.

4:02 PM, 52ºF, Dewey Road, SSW of Walsh Well – Gotta hurry! Getting late on a January afternoon, and Peak 4440 was 1.5 miles SE. And that was just to the base of the mountain. Lupe would still have to climb it!

Onward! Puppy, ho!

As Lupe followed a fence S, a little luck. A walk-in area! The American Dingo could save some time cutting across the big field to the E. No need to go clear around the SW corner to stay on USFS land.

**Peak 4440** (R) from the walk-in area sign. Photo looks ESE.

The shortcut brought Lupe to a nearly level plain sloping gradually SE. Peak 4440 was directly ahead, but Lupe was already in shadow. A race against time was on, but some caution had to be used. Scattered patches of large-spined cactus thrived here. SPHP kept an eye out for danger, as Miss Bare Paws made for the mountain.

Hurrying across the plain. **Peak 4440** (Center). Photo looks SE.

Discovery of a cactus-free, two-track road, perhaps some remnant of USFS Road No. 391.2A, helped speed things along. When the two-track got close to a wide drainage, Lupe abandoned the road, crossed the drainage, and headed straight for Peak 4440’s NW slopes.

On the cacti-free super highway. **Peak 4440** (L). Photo looks SSE.

About to cross the odd, almost artificial-looking drainage. Photo looks N.

Peak 4440 has two summits, N and S, the N one being highest. The plan was to head up to the saddle between them, then turn N. However, Lupe had started up before going far enough S. This mistake wasn’t evident until she’d already gained considerable elevation. The terrain forced her toward the mountain’s N ridge.

Too late to do anything about it! Just hope it works! The Carolina Dog was already committed, barely keeping up with the last rays of the sun.

Climbing **Peak 4440**. **N (true) summit** (Center) dead ahead. Photo looks SE.

The sun was gone by the time Looper reached the N ridge. Twilight was coming on. Amid rocks and junipers, Lupe went up the steep narrow ridge, staying toward the E sometimes, because both the ridgeline and the W slope were just too difficult.

At an open spot where Lupe first reached the N ridge. Photo looks N.

By the time a top appeared, the light was so dim that the camera could barely compensate without producing fuzzy images. Lupe had made it, though! The summit was only seconds away!

5:19 PM, 43ºF, Peak 4440 – Curse or no curse, 1,000,000 total vertical feet, a once in a lifetime achievement, complete! In twilight, Lupe stood atop Peak 4440’s N and true summit. Hard to believe it was over. No doubt at all about it now, though. The American Dingo had done way more than enough.

From the E, a night sky was approaching. To the W, high thin clouds were still on fire, a brilliant orange glow.

Congratulations, Lupe! May I shake your paw? 1,000,000+ total vertical feet! It’s official now. Don’t think too many Dingoes have ever done that!

Offering her sweet little paw, Lupe looked expectantly up at SPHP.

Alright! Yes, I have another chocolate coconut bar for you, but it will have to wait a few minutes. We better get some pictures to commemorate the occasion while we still can.

**Wyoming** on the horizon. Photo looks W.

Most of the **N summit ridge**. Photo looks S.

OK, that’s about it Loop. Thank you!

What a remote and odd little mountain Peak 4440 was! Such an unlikely spot to be celebrating 1,000,000 total vertical feet. Unlikely time of year, too. Almost the end of January? Hardly the heart of climbing season, yet here Lupe was.

In the dying light, two earnest, trusting eyes gazed up at SPHP.

Have I done well, SPHP?

Oh, sweet puppy! Yes! Yes! Yes! You’ve been magnificent all these years! You’re the greatest ever! I love you so much!

Another chocolate coconut bar met its devourer. 2 MarroBones suffered a similar fate. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap to watch the world go dark. Far below, cows were mooing, cheering Lupe’s success!

Cows weren’t the only ones cheering for Lupe. Before the first silver stars appeared, suddenly there was a forlorn yipping synonymous with the Old West.

The wild dogs, SPHP!

They must be happy for you, too, Looper!

The coyotes sang to Lupe, but only a few verses before they were done.

6:06 PM – Cows, coyotes, a slight rustling of the wind, but mostly silence, and a million memories. 45 minutes atop Peak 4440, and the universe glittered overhead. Below, a black void. Time to go.

Maybe there really was a curse? Despite the aid of an experienced Dingo guide, and the tiny flashlight, SPHP had a terrible time trying to find the way back down in the dark. Everything was so steep! Nothing worked! Took a long, weary time to get back down to the two-track road well S of where Lupe had left it.

Still more than a mile to go! As crusty snow crunched underpaw, the Big Dipper and North Star showed the way. Cold now. Lupe was tired, SPHP was tired, but it would all be over soon. What a day! (8:17 PM, 22ºF)

2-4-22 – Six days later, SPHP did throw a 1,000,000+ Total Vertical Feet party for Lupe. It was held at Grandma’s apartment, and was she ever surprised! Steve, Xochitl, Felix, and Asher all came. Cake, candles, ice cream, a Busy Rib Hide, and Beggin’ Strips! The whole nine yards! What more could a peakbagging Dingo ever want?

The fabulous **1,000,799 vertical feet cake**!

The star of the show, and her guests. L to R: Felix, Steve, Asher, Xochitl & Grandma.

The guest of honor’s moment of flaming trepidation.

What more could I ever want, SPHP? So glad you asked! Better get some paper and a pencil so you can write it all down. For my 2,000,000 total vertical feet party, I’d suggest …

**Peak 4400**, Black Hills of South Dakota on **1,000,000+ Total Vertical Feet Day**, 1-29-22

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 217 – Peak 4400, Peak 4240 & Lookout Peak (11-26-17)

That Brian Kalet! He does get around. Lupe’s 2017 had started off with visits to a number of southern Black Hills peaks Brian had added to the Peakbagger.com data base in the spring of 2016. SPHP hadn’t noticed until months later that about the same time Lupe was climbing in the southern hills, Brian had been visiting even more peaks along the NE edge of the Black Hills and adding them to the database, too.

So Lupe’s 2017 was going to end more or less the way it began, on the cold trail of Brian Kalet’s footsteps.

Loop had already been to one of the NE Brian Kalet peaks when she visited Peak 3950 near Sturgis a couple of weeks ago on Expedition No. 215. Today she would tackle two more near Whitewood. SPHP parked the G6 at Whitewood City Park (9:18 AM, 47°F).

Looper set off in search of Peak 4400 about 1.5 miles to the SW. She crossed a ravine, then started up a forested hill. She soon came to a dirt road, and followed it higher to a better one.

Loop on the first road she came to early on her journey to **Peak 4400**. Photo looks S.

Higher up near the better road. Photo looks SW.

The better road took Lupe SW up to a level area where there was a big meadow. Loop was close to High Point 4238 on the topo map. Everything was going fine until Lupe heard gunfire. Hunters? The gunfire originated from somewhere off to the W, but sounded quite far off.

Lupe hates gunfire or explosions of any sort no matter how faint or far away. She was instantly a nervous wreck and wanted to forget all about Peak 4400. When the gunfire continued sporadically every few minutes, SPHP was certain it wasn’t from hunters. Someone must be doing some target practice. SPHP persuaded Lupe to continue, though she had lost all her enthusiasm. She slunk along, staying close to SPHP.

A maze of minor dirt roads went through the forest. Eventually, SPHP figured Lupe must be getting close to Peak 4400, and stopped to consult the topo map. Suddenly a man appeared, walking straight toward Lupe through the woods.

The man hailed SPHP. It turned out he was an employee of a company that leases 2,500 acres in this area. He said this was all private property, not national forest land. He was out with his young son checking cameras set up to monitor wildlife. Lupe was right next to one. The gunfire was indeed coming from a shooting range not terribly far NW of here.

The man was friendly, but insisted on taking Lupe and SPHP in his ATV winding N through the forest to a road that led out of the leased acreage down a valley to the E. He and his son then roared away in the ATV.

Well, shucks. Lupe started down the road to the E. She hadn’t made it to the top of Peak 4400. She hadn’t been too far SE of it either, from what SPHP had been seeing on the topo map. Now she was 0.5 mile N of it. Decisions. Maybe it wasn’t the thing to do, but Loopster was already here. This was the one and only time she would ever be, given the situation. Lupe and SPHP left the road, heading S through the forest.

It didn’t take long for the American Dingo to reach a hilltop that looked like it might be the summit of Peak 4400. This was just a high spot in the forest devoid of views, but Lupe posed on a tree stump for a couple of photos anyway.

Loop reaches a high point SPHP initially thought might be the summit of **Peak 4400**. Photo looks S.

Lupe had scarcely left the hilltop when she caught a glimpse of Bear Butte (4,433 ft.) through a small opening in the trees.

Lupe had scarcely left the high point, when she caught a glimpse of **Bear Butte** through a small opening between the trees. Photo looks E.

The topo map showed quite a large area inside the 4,400 foot contour on Peak 4400. In fact, there were two such areas 0.25 mile apart. Lupe was in the N one now, which was where Brian Kalet had placed the true summit without further comment.

Maybe Lupe should look around here a bit more, just to make sure she’d reached the actual high point in the N contour? She could then go check out the terrain in the S contour. It wouldn’t take long.

A short search of the N contour area did show a higher point than where Lupe had been on the tree stump. The true summit was actually a little farther SW, near the W edge of the mountain.

At the true summit of the N 4,400 foot contour. Photo looks SW.

Still at **Peak 4400’s N summit**, but now looking SSE.

Lupe was happy at the true summit of the N 4,400 foot contour. SPHP hadn’t told her about the S contour yet.

Satisfied that she’d reached the true summit of Peak 4400, because SPHP congratulated her and told her so, Loop was surprised to learn that she still had to visit a S 4,400 foot contour before she would be completely done with Peak 4400. However, she was glad to head off in that direction, because it meant getting farther away from the sporadic gunfire still heard coming from the shooting range.

Off Lupe went, heading SE. She reached the saddle leading to the S 4,400 foot contour, and crossed it. Soon she was at the S edge of the mountain, where the terrain dropped away rather sharply. Peak 4400’s S summit was nearby, close to a fence on a section line.

The S summit didn’t have much of a view, but shortly before reaching it Lupe had gotten a good look at Crook Mountain (4,930 ft.), and her next objective, Peak 4240.

After visiting Peak 4400’s N summit, Lupe headed SE looking for the S one. Here she’s approaching the saddle between them. Photo looks SE.

Nearing Peak 4400’s S summit, Lupe had this good look at both **Crook Mountain**, the high forested ridge in the background, and **Peak 4240**, the mostly barren lower ridge in the foreground. Peak 4240 would be her next objective. Photo looks SE.

At **Peak 4400’s S summit**. **Terry Peak (7,064 ft.)** is seen way off on the horizon in the narrow opening between the trees. Photo looks SW.

Well, Lupe had done it. She had been to the true summit of Peak 4400. Whether the N or S summit had been highest was uncertain. Due to the forest, they couldn’t be seen from one another. Brian Kalet had picked the N summit as the highest. Both Loop and SPHP were happy enough to go along with that choice, right or wrong.

In any case, Lupe had been to both the N and S summits. Better skedaddle, and leave Peak 4400 once and for all! Going clear back to the road to the N that the nice man had shown SPHP as being the best route out of here would have been the long way around now. Instead, Loop returned to Whitewood on a route pretty similar to the way she’d come up.

Lupe’s journey back to Whitewood from **Peak 4400** was pleasant and uneventful. She seldom had any views, but did catch this one of **Bear Butte**. Photo looks E.

Once back at the G6 (12:33 PM, 65°F), Lupe and SPHP left Whitewood driving SW on Crook City Road. SPHP parked the G6 again near the start of Oakbrook Road (12:45 PM). Lupe’s next peakbagging goal, the summit of Peak 4240, was scarcely 0.25 mile SE of here. Loop and SPHP took a stroll down Oakbrook Road looking for a way up.

At the W end of Peak 4240, an ATV trail left Oakbrook Road heading E up the narrow ridge straight for the summit. Perfect!

The ATV trail started out in pine forest climbing steadily. Soon Lupe came to a line of small S facing cliffs. The ATV trail stayed a little N of them. The cliff tops provided progressively better views, as the Carolina Dog journeyed up the hill.

Looper near the W end of **Peak 4240** at the start of the line of small S facing cliffs. Photo looks ESE.

The short climb didn’t take Lupe long. Soon she was at the top of the mountain. As she’d seen from Peak 4400, the top of Peak 4240 was mostly bare. The forest didn’t extend quite all the way to the summit. Even though Peak 4240 wasn’t as high as nearby surrounding hills, the views were pretty decent.

Lupe arrives at the summit of **Peak 4240** after a short trek up from the W. Heavily forested **Crook Mountain (4,930 ft.)** is in view. Photo looks SE.

Still at the summit. **Whitewood Peak (5,140 ft.)** is in view on the R. Photo looks SW.

**Bear Butte (4,433 ft.)** (R) peeks over a ridge. Photo looks ENE.

Lupe squints in the sunlight. **Elkhorn Peak (4,524 ft.)** is the bare hill on the horizon at Center. The SW face of **Peak 4400**, where Lupe had just come from, is the high ridge on the R.

A little W of Peak 4240’s actual summit was this view of **Pillar Peak (5,469 ft.)** (L of Center). Photo looks S.

**Pillar Peak** (R) from **Peak 4240** with help from the telephoto lens. **Pillar Peak** is sort of a special place to Lupe. Her very first blog post was about her Expedition No. 120 ascent of **Pillar Peak** on 2-20-15. Photo looks S.

It was fun to see so many mountains Lupe had been to before from Peak 4240! She lingered, admiring the views. Loopster couldn’t stay too long, though, if she wanted to climb another mountain today. After a Taste of the Wild snack, the Carolina Dog was ready to move on.

Loopster near the cliffs, shortly before starting down **Peak 4240**. **Whitewood Peak** is on the far L. Photo looks WSW.

The last mountain Lupe would be climbing today wasn’t a Brian Kalet peak. Lookout Peak (4,478 ft.) had been added to the Peakbagger.com data base a long time ago by Doug Melton, another prolific peakbagger. Lookout Peak is the dominant mountain E of I-90 at Spearfish, SD. When Lupe got back to the G6 (1:29 PM), SPHP drove her to Spearfish.

Late November, yet it was an amazing 72°F when SPHP parked the G6 at a little park at the S end of Saddle Horn Drive (1:57 PM). Lupe hopped out. Very few of her mountain ascents had ever started in a town, but this one was going to. Lupe and SPHP strolled 0.5 block N on Saddle Horn Drive, before turning W on Branding Iron Drive.

SPHP had no idea what the situation was on access to Lookout Peak, but on the way in from the SE had seen a road zigzagging up the mountain’s S slope above a residential subdivision. There were towers on Lookout Peak, so there must be a way up somewhere. Loop wasn’t far from that zigzagging road now. Would it really be as easy as simply sauntering through the neighborhood to get to it?

Branding Iron Drive curved SW. Loop took a R on Pony Express Lane. Ahead, at the upper end of this short street, a dirt road curved L out of sight. Most promising! When Lupe got to the end of the street, a sign showed that this was the access road to Lookout Mountain Park. The sign listed a few simple rules, none prohibiting Dingoes.

And it was as easy as that! Lupe trotted up Lookout Peak’s S slope on the zigzagging road. The road brought Loop to a forested high point ESE of the summit. From there, it continued across a saddle to the base of the summit knob.

Approaching Lookout Peak’s summit knob. This access road starts at the end of Pony Express Drive in Spearfish. Photo looks W.

**Crow Peak (5,787 ft.)** (far L), the dominant mountain W of Spearfish, is on the horizon. Photo looks WSW.

At the base of the summit knob, a trail left the road going right on up to the top. The trail was rocky and a bit scrambly, but short. In minutes, Lupe was approaching the towers at Lookout Peak’s summit.

These towers and little buildings are right at Lookout Peak’s true summit, near the E end of the summit knob.

The area right around the true summit was crowded with towers and buildings. Approaching from the E, the summit had appeared like a big knob, but once Lupe was on top, she could see it was more elongated and ridge-like toward the W. The terrain sloped down in that direction, yet looked like it might be the best place to check out the views.

Lupe trotted W past the true summit to see what she would find.

Lupe WNW of the true summit on **Lookout Peak**. **Crow Peak** is in view beyond the city of Spearfish. Photo looks WSW.

**Peak 4433**, the high ridge in the distance, is another Brian Kalet peak of interest to Lupe. She wasn’t going to get there today, though. Photo looks NE.

The city of Belle Fourche is barely visible beyond the distant low pine-covered hills on the L. Photo looks N.

Looking up the path to the true summit from the lower W portion of the summit ridge. Lupe may not have been quite as high here, but this area was prettier without all the towers and buildings around. Photo looks SE.

Lupe came to exposed ledges of large flat rocks at the far WNW end of the summit ridge. Although at the low point of the entire summit area, the ledges provided some of the finest views from Lookout Peak.

On the way back to the G6, Lupe stopped by the true summit for a photo. Then it was all downhill from here. Some of the views on the way down were really nice, too.

Starting down the short scrambly trail to the access road. The mouth of famed **Spearfish Canyon** is in view beyond I-90 toward the R. Photo looks SSW.

View to the SSW from **Lookout Peak**. **Spearfish Peak (5,800 ft.)** is at Center. Similarly shaped, but more distant **Little Crow Peak (5,885 ft.)** is toward the R. The mouth of **Spearfish Canyon** is on the far R.

While Loop had been up at the summit, she’d had the whole mountain to herself. Apparently, this was just a lucky fluke, at least on a gorgeous day like today. On the way down, she started meeting lots of people and dogs coming up. Lupe enjoyed all the sniffing that went on. She wagged her curly tail at the little dogs, and growled at the big ones.

**Whitewood Peak (5,140 ft.)** is the high point on the far horizon on the L. Closer by at Center is **Green Mountain (5,325 ft.)**. Immediately to its R is **Polo Peak (5,410 ft.)**. The highest point even farther R is **Mount Theodore Roosevelt (5,680 ft.)**. Photo looks SE.

The sun was still up, when Lupe got back to the G6 (3:34 PM, 62°F). Loop and SPHP spent the remaining hour of daylight driving around scoping out Peak 4433, another Brian Kalet peak of interest in the area. Perhaps someday Lupe will return to climb it, too. But that will be another Black Hills, SD Expedition and a different adventure.

Lookout Peak from the NE at the end of the day, 11-26-17.

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Want more Lupe adventures? Check out her Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!