7:42 AM, 32ºF, Erickson Road (USFS Road No. 180) at the saddle E of Peak 5500 – A gray day. Cool, with a bit of snow on the ground as Lupe leapt out of the RAV4, but not bad at all for December, and supposed to warm up nicely as morning wore on. Colder by Christmas, and bitter cold – subzero stuff – expected at year’s end. This was almost certainly Lupe’s last chance to get out in the hills in 2021.
Which way, SPHP?
Peak 5500 first, Loopster! Head for that ridge behind you.
Going around a pile of debris left by loggers, Lupe trotted NNW toward the lower end of the ridge before turning W for a direct assault on a steepish, but easily climbable, slope. A few big chunks of limestone were scattered among the trees, with a more intact formation near the top.
Upon reaching the ridgeline, it appeared that a bulldozer had been up here. A swath of destruction ran SW right up the ridge.
The bulldozer had gone only so far. By the time Lupe got to the S end of the mountain, she was beyond its path of destruction. From a small ledge, she had a nice view of Peak 5460 beyond the Elk Creek valley.
Peak 5460 would be Lupe’s next objective, but she had to finish climbing Peak 5500 first. From here, the ridge Loop was on turned NW. As the Carolina Dog followed it higher, she journeyed along the edge of the steepest part of Peak 5500, a line of limestone cliffs along the upper SW face. Some of the rock formations were pretty cool.
After a minor dip, the ridge broadened out, becoming a forested slope leading higher again.
The terrain soon leveled out. Lupe came to a small clearing.
Is this the top of the mountain already, SPHP?
Not sure, Loop. We’ve got to be getting close, though. The topo map shows a big region up here enclosed within a 5,500 foot contour. Carry on. Maybe we’ll come to an obvious high point?
As the American Dingo continued NW, the ground still seemed to rise slightly. A larger clearing littered with deadfall was beyond the first one. After working her way through it, Looper quickly arrived at what appeared to be the top of Peak 5500. However, the whole region was so flat that no readily identifiable true summit existed. A large dead tree stood at about the highest point.
The dead tree was close to the SW edge of the mountain, but little could be seen from here due to the forest. Lupe kept going. The W end of the summit region wasn’t much father, and she did find a viewpoint there. Both Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) and Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) were in sight.
Think we’ve seen Peak 5500’s highlights, Loopster. Wha’dya say we go on to Peak 5460?
Fine with me, SPHP! This was an easy one!
Lupe paused briefly again at Peak 5500’s summit before heading back down the mountain. When she got to the last viewpoint at the S end, SPHP took a closer look at Peak 5460. The Meade County High Point (5,460 ft.) was also visible beyond it.
Lupe then headed back down the ridge where the bulldozer had been.
Upon reaching the RAV4 again, Lupe was surprised when SPHP went right on by. Following a logging route that paralleled Erickson Road, SPHP led her S down to the junction with County Road No. 534. Loop then proceeded SE near No. 534 down to the junction with Old Ridge Road (USFS Road No. 151).
The Carolina Dog could go either way from here to get to Peak 5460. Old Ridge Road would get her the closest, and was the easiest route, but Lupe had been that way once before years ago. She’d never explored No. 534 any farther E, and this was an opportunity to do so.
Sticking with No. 534, Lupe soon came to a cattle guard at the entrance to private property. Abandoning the road, she remained on USFS land following a barbed wire fence. Near a barn, No. 534 re-emerged from the private property heading NE. Crossing the road, Lupe continued ENE along the fence to a corner post at the end of a field.
Now past the E end of the private property, Lupe turned SE. However, in order to get to Peak 5460, she would have to cross Elk Creek. The stream was frozen over where she reached it, but there were holes in the ice, which appeared to be dangerously thin.
Just downstream, Elk Creek entered a canyon. Exploring that direction, Lupe soon came to a spot where the ice was thicker. SPHP went across first. When that worked out, Loop followed.
After crossing Elk Creek, Lupe found herself facing an embankment in a dense forest. A level corridor that might have been the remains of an abandoned road ran parallel to the stream. Although the embankment was no more than 20 feet high, it was steep enough to discourage SPHP from attempting to climb it.
Exploring the shady corridor SE, Loop went only 200 or 300 feet before reaching an opening where Elk Creek could be seen flowing farther on down the canyon. Fortunately, the embankment wasn’t as high or steep here. Loop and SPHP both scrambled up.
Lupe was now N of Peak 5460 on a broad ramp. This ramp ran below a much higher, steep-sided ridge to the SE. Since a direct assault on the ridge appeared difficult, Loopster explored the ramp, sniffing her way through a mixed forest of aspen and Black Hills spruce.
Steadily gaining elevation as she went SW, Lupe came to a barbed wire fence. Staying SE of it, she continued higher. Deadfall became an issue whenever Loop ventured too close to the ridge, but it wasn’t that bad.
The ramp narrowed and gradually steepened. Near the SW end of the mountain, a scramble SE up to the top of the ridge looked increasingly feasible. Going for it, Loopster quickly reached a forested plateau.
A large region was quite flat. Nothing to see except trees. Wandering E searching for Peak 5460’s true summit, Lupe never came to an obvious high point. The marginally highest ground seemed to be in the forest, a little way back from the S edge of the plateau. The only view was from a rock formation slightly below the S edge that overlooked Virkula Gulch.
About time for a break, or more to the point, a chocolate coconut bar break. As usual, the American Dingo eagerly inhaled her share.
The view overlooking Virkula Gulch is pleasant enough, SPHP, but Peak 5460 really isn’t all that scintillating, is it? Peak 5500 was better.
Well, we knew that ahead of time, didn’t we, Loop? But Elk Creek and the trek up the ramp were pretty interesting weren’t they? Felt pretty remote!
We knew it would be like this ahead of time, SPHP? How so? I didn’t.
Should have! You’ve been here once before, Looper, a long time ago back on Expedition No. 119. We came up from the SW that time, a different route, which might be why you don’t remember it. You were on your way to the Meade County High Point (5,460 ft.), which is just E of here. That was back before I’d ever even heard of Lists of John, and didn’t realize this mountain qualified as a 300+ foot prominence peak. Never even logged the ascent into Peakbagger.com for you.
Really? How much prominence does this mountain have, SPHP?
According to Lists of John, 360 feet, although that’s based on counting the Meade County High Point as part of this same mountain, and this region as the true summit. The Meade County High Point has a 5460 foot contour as well. Who knows which summit is actually highest? Can’t see a thing from either one except trees.
In that case, maybe this is the true Meade County High Point, SPHP!
Well, could be, except for one thing.
And what’s that, SPHP?
We’re in Lawrence County here, Loop. We’ll cross the Meade County line just E of HP5401.
HP5401?
Yup. It’s on the way. Some spiffy views from there, Loop! In fact, HP5401 might be the highlight of the entire day!
If there’s a squirrel there, it will be!
Continuing E, then SE, the mountain began dropping. Coming to an old road, Lupe followed it down to a flat area where there was a gray metal water tank. Beyond the water tank, the road resumed its descent. A knob of limestone was in sight not very far ahead, but was soon lost from view, hidden by the forest again.
Upon reaching the saddle leading to HP5401, the Carolina Dog left the road, which kept going downhill. A short stroll through the forest, and the terrain began sloping sharply higher. Didn’t take long for Lupe to reach the first limestone formations near the top.
HP5401 did indeed furnish the grandest views thus far today. Practically the entire length of Virkula Gulch was in sight. Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) was visible 8.5 miles WSW. Even so, due to a 15 mph breeze out of the SW, the American Dingo wasn’t all that thrilled to be here.
With not a squirrel in sight, and eager to get out of the wind, Loopster was on her way again. Heading down HP5041‘s steep E slope, she soon reached and crossed the saddle leading to the Meade County High Point. Starting her ascent, the forest was fairly open and sunny as she passed minor rock outcroppings, but as Looper got higher, she entered a region of dog-hair pines.
No wind here! Protected by the dog-hair pines that were no obstacle to her, Lupe was happy. However, SPHP had to force a way through. Not too bad, though, and before long the forest opened up a bit again. As the terrain began leveling out, Loop turned N. Searching for a small cairn near a big tree, she quickly found it.
More than 6 years and 10 months after her only previous visit, Lupe was once again at the Meade County High Point (5,460 ft.).
The cairn looked even smaller than SPHP remembered, but appeared completely undisturbed. The wind roared in the treetops, but it was scarcely even breezy at ground level.
You were right! Nothing to see here, is there, SPHP?
Nope. HP5401 is about it for views, although now that you mention it, I do seem to recall that last time around we descended an open slope at the SE end of this summit plateau. Think we did see the E end of Virkula Gulch from there.
Might be another 7 years before we get back here again, SPHP! Don’t you think we ought to commemorate this occasion, views or no views?
Most certainly! Congratulations, Loop, on your second visit to the seldom seen Meade County High Point! May I shake your paw?
Why, of course you can, SPHP! And as soon as you’re done with that, you can check that pack of yours for another chocolate coconut bar.
A second chocolate coconut bar met its devourers. The first one at Peak 5460 had been followed up with Taste of the Wild for Lupe and an apple for SPHP, which was repeated here, too. Once that was over and done with, there didn’t seem to be much point in staying any longer.
One more Lists of John peak not too far away, Loopster. Want to?
Of course!
Well, then. Onward! Puppy, ho!
Leaving the Meade County High Point, Lupe went N, then NE, exploring a broad, poorly-defined ridge. SPHP soon decided to leave it, turning E down a steep slope. The grade finally diminished after hundreds of feet of elevation loss. Continuing down a big drainage, Vanocker Canyon Road eventually came into sight.
Just before reaching Vanocker Canyon Road, the drainage emptied into Meadow Creek. Lupe would have to cross it before scrambling up to the highway. Peak 5420, her next objective, was now in sight only 0.5 mile S.
Meadow Creek was tiny, only a foot or two wide. Lupe easily leapt over it. Ducking under a fence, she reached Vanocker Canyon Road, a paved highway. A sunny road hike S began, but not for long. After only 0.125 mile, SPHP left the highway, turning SE. The Carolina Dog wasn’t too keen on this idea, following reluctantly due to the sound of gunfire.
At first, Lupe was in bright sunshine as she entered a valley. Getting late in the day now, though. Soon she was in Peak 5420’s shadow, wandering increasingly snowy terrain amid aspens and a tangle of undergrowth. The gunfire was getting louder, coming from somewhere up ahead. Target practice. Every few minutes another volley. Lupe persevered.
SPHP’s progress slowed considerably while trying to push through the thicket as the snowy slope steepened. The worst part involved only a couple hundred feet of elevation gain. After that, the aspen thicket gave way to an open pine forest. Hardly any snow up top. Soon the summit region could be seen ahead.
3:59 PM – Last mountain of the day! The sun was low, and the wind still swaying the pines as Lupe reached the top of Peak 5420. Kind of breezy even at ground level, but at least target practice had ended a little bit ago. The summit region was big, with 3 lobes radiating out from a very gently rounded central high point where they all met.
Although the central high point was fairly open, there was nothing to see up here. Once again, forest blocked the views in all directions.
Got any more chocolate coconut bars, SPHP?
Sorry, Looper. All gone. Have a little Taste of the Wild left, want that?
She did. Curling up on SPHP’s lap, facing SW toward the near horizontal sunlight filtering through the trees, Loop munched away until the last of the Taste of the Wild was gone, too. Nothing to do now, except listen to the wind roaring in the pines. SPHP threw a sweater over her.
20 minutes, and that was enough. Lupe left Peak 5420 heading SE, losing only minor elevation before reaching a dip. Turning S here, Loop took an old jeep trail most of the way down to USFS Road No. 135.2M, which she reached near its junction with Vanocker Canyon Road.
Turning N on Vanocker Canyon Road, Loopster had to follow it for more than 0.75 mile to get past private property taking up most of the E end of Virkula Gulch. It was an easy trek, downhill nearly all the way. Once N of the private property, she left the highway, turning W to cross Meadow Creek again.
A path on open ground between the private property to the S and Meade County High Point to the N made the journey W up Virkula Gulch even easier than expected. Back to the E was a good look at Peak 5420, where Lupe had just been.
More than 0.5 mile from where she’d left Vanocker Canyon Road, Lupe finally reached the W end of the private property. Taking USFS Road No. 151.2K now, she continued W past Peak 5460 as dusk came on. By the time she reached Old Ridge Road, it was almost completely dark.
Shortly after turning N on Old Ridge Road, SPHP’s flashlight had to come out. Still nearly 2 miles to where the RAV4 was parked along Erickson Road. When Lupe got there, the American Dingo’s final adventure of 2021 would be over. (End 6:30 PM)
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 119 – Meade County High Point & Custer Peak (2-13-15)
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