8:02 AM, about ready to leave home –
Seriously, SPHP? We’re making yet another attempt on Peak 5452?
Yup! One more try, Looper.
Well, it better work this time, SPHP. These multiple fails are starting to be embarrassing.
Don’t worry, Loopster, you know what they say – fourth time’s a charm!
Third time! It’s supposed to be the third time that’s a charm, SPHP!
Eh, who’s counting?
I am, SPHP! Three fails already trying to get to Peak 5452! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?
Actually, it does, Loop. It means we’re going to start running out of new routes to even make an attempt, if we don’t succeed pretty soon. We’ll get there, though. Today!
9:13 AM, 62ºF, Camp 5 Trailhead – Such a beautiful morning! Already incredibly warm for an early spring day, too. Lupe leapt out of the RAV4 in fine spirits. A S wind was swaying the treetops, but there was scarcely a breeze at ground level.
We’re in for a long, but memorable day, Loopster! If we manage to tag Peak 5452, you’ll essentially be done with accessible Lists of John peaks with at least 300 feet of prominence in the Black Hills.
If you want my opinion, SPHP, the way things have been going, I’d say Peak 5452 is only semi-accessible, at best.
Confidence, Sweet Puppy! Onward! Puppy, ho!
Whether Peak 5452 was actually in the cards, or not, Lupe knew it was going to be a marvelous day for an adventure in the Black Hills. Leaving the Camp 5 trailhead, she headed S on Lost Gulch Road (USFS Road No. 172), eager to make the most of it.
Quickly coming to and crossing the Boulder Creek drainage, a short climb led to a field where the road flattened out. A fork was ahead.
Staying toward the R, Lupe stuck with Lost Gulch Road as it headed for the trees, then began climbing as it curved W up a valley. She soon came to another junction where Lost Gulch Road curved sharply S. USFS Road No. 172.1J, signed here as ATV Trail No. 8041, continued W.
Take No. 8041, Loop, but wait up a minute. I’m getting hot!
Lupe waited while SPHP removed a couple of layers, then kept going. No. 8041 promptly snaked up onto a ridge to the N, where it curved W again, following the ridge higher. Lupe soon caught sight of a familiar mountain off to the SW.
Pillar Peak (5,465 ft.)! I knew we’d been this way before. Are we going there first, SPHP?
Might as well, Loop. Pillar Peak is only 1.25 miles E of Peak 5452, and we’ll be going right by it.
No. 8041 continued steadily higher, gradually turning S. Lupe went at least another mile before the road topped out along Pillar Peak’s E flank. After a short descent into the upper end of a valley, No. 8041 curved SW toward a pass. Upon getting there, it was about time for a break.
A little Taste of the Wild and water was all Lupe needed. Continuing S over the pass, ATV Trail No. 8041 almost immediately ran into USFS Road No. 172.1H. Taking No. 172.1H a short distance W, Lupe abandoned the road to begin climbing NNW up a shallow, thinly forested valley.
The valley quickly led to a steeper slope. The American Dingo gained 300 feet of elevation from where she’d left No. 172.1H before the terrain began leveling out. With only scattered small trees in this region, a nice view of Bear Den Mountain (5,641 ft.) was back to the S.
Climbing at an easier pace now, a short relatively open stretch of low bushes and a bit of deadfall led to the crest of a small rise. As soon as Lupe got there, Pillar Peak’s rocky summit was dead ahead.
11:26 AM, 71ºF, Pillar Peak (5,465 ft.) – Lupe stood on the true summit, a view of Terry Peak (7,069 ft.) and Deer Mountain (6,651 ft.) in the distance beyond her.
How’s this pose, SPHP? Good enough to earn me a chocolate coconut bar?
Absolutely, Loopster! Congratulations on your 5th ascent of Pillar Peak!
After shaking Lupe’s paw, SPHP produced the desired chocolate coconut bar, and split it with her. Just getting this far seemed like a pretty good romp. SPHP found some dry grass to sit on. Lupe curled up nearby.
After offering Lupe more Taste of the Wild, water, and a duck jerky, SPHP munched on an apple. Pillar Peak’s open summit featuring small rock outcroppings 3 or 4 feet high provided views in every direction.
Many peaks Lupe had been to were visible from here, although some were quite far off. Due to its isolated location on the prairie several miles beyond the Black Hills, Bear Butte (4,431 ft.) stood out. In nearly the opposite direction, Custer Peak (6,809 ft.) was high enough to be seen over the intervening hills.
In addition to Bear Den Mountain, Whitewood Peak (5,141 ft.) and Peak 5400 were among the more notable closer hills and ridges.
You’re forgetting the most important one, SPHP!
I’m just saving it for last, Loopster.
And last, but certainly not least, the forested hill of primary interest not only today, but during 3 prior failed attempts, the elusive Peak 5452 sat in clear view only 1.25 miles due W.
Less than 3 weeks ago the American Dingo had been even closer to Peak 5452 while on Dome Mountain (5,510 ft.), yet had run out of daylight to get there due to the difficulty of the intervening terrain. Hoping to avoid another failure, a certain sense of urgency existed about getting on with today’s attempt. Even so, Pillar Peak was such a grand viewpoint and old favorite, that Lupe stayed for her full traditional summit hour.
Once that final minute ticked away, though, it was Onward! Puppy, ho! Well, sort of. Even after leaving Pillar Peak’s summit, Lupe scrambled around a bit on nearby rock formations offering snazzy views.
Leaving Pillar Peak, Lupe began by setting off in the same direction she’d come up from, but quickly turned due S. The intent was to head straight for the saddle leading to Dome Mountain. A steepish, somewhat rocky descent got her down to it.
So far, Lupe had been in familiar territory, however, that was about to change.
Alrighty, Looper! Time to head W young Dingo! Let’s see if we can do it.
Peak 5452 or bust, SPHP!
Peak 5452 was in sight straight ahead as Lupe roamed W down a grassy slope toward stands of young aspens and a few pines.
It soon became apparent that Lupe could easily avoid the worst of the young aspen thickets by staying toward the S, along the base of Dome Mountain. This route worked out well as the descent steepened. Even SPHP was making great progress.
Winding along Dome Mountain’s lower N slope, Lupe passed some big rocks, eventually coming to a small stream.
After getting a drink while crossing the stream, Lupe had to climb a little up into the pines in order to keep heading W. The terrain soon leveled out somewhat, allowing the Carolina Dog to simply maintain about the same elevation as she followed the contour of the mountain through a lumpy area. A few deer spotted running through the open forest along in here added a moment of excitement.
Before going much farther, glimpses of a deep valley appeared ahead. SPHP checked the map.
It’s another 400 feet down into the Two Bit Creek valley from here, Loop. We’ll likely cliff out if we try to keep going W.
Which way then, SPHP?
Go N, Loopster. We can lose some elevation on the way down to a saddle S of HP5032. If the slope isn’t too steep, maybe we can turn W again there?
On the way down to the saddle, Lupe passed a number of small mining exploration pits. Once there, a tall rock formation was visible atop a rise a bit farther N from a little clearing below it.
Is that rock tower HP5032, SPHP?
Might be, Loopster. It’s certainly in the right vicinity, although the real HP5032 might actually be a little farther N. Doesn’t really matter, though. We don’t need to go up there. Let’s have a look at the slope leading down into the Two Bit Creek valley.
The forested slope to the W was steep, but fairly open and uniform.
Looks good to me, SPHP. Can you manage it?
As long as it doesn’t get much steeper farther down, yeah, no problem!
The long, steady descent went well until frozen Two Bit Creek appeared below. A line of 20 foot tall cliffs bordered the creek on each side.
Oh, good grief! There’s got to be a break in the cliffs somewhere, Looper. Try going S. Looks the most promising over that way.
Going S worked. A short scramble down a less vertical spot got Lupe down to Two Bit Creek, which could be heard gurgling below a thick layer of ice.
So far, so good! Now all the American Dingo had to do was find a way past the cliff on the W side of the stream. Trotting 50 feet farther S over the ice, Lupe found an easy way up just beyond a bend. Climbing W, she soon came to a view of Peak 5452’s lower E slope directly ahead.
From Two Bit Creek, Peak 5452’s summit was more than 800 feet higher. The steepest part of the climb came in middle on an open slope sporting a few rock outcroppings. It was windy up here, but Lupe gained views of Pillar Peak and Dome Mountain as she kept climbing.
The forest above was more open than expected when SPHP managed to reach it, yet provided a surprising amount of protection from the wind. The rate of climb diminished as Lupe headed for the S end of Peak 5452’s summit region. When she got there, views were limited to heavily tree-broken glimpses.
Turning N, an easy stroll higher soon led to a small clearing in the pines.
3:27 PM, 63ºF, Peak 5452 – The wind was 20 mph out of the S up in the pines, but only a light breeze at ground level. 20 feet W, the forest had been thinned, yet not enough to provide any decent views.
So, this is it, SPHP? Peak 5452’s true summit?
Yup! Such as it is, we’re finally here, Loopster. Can you believe it?
I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here after all these attempts, SPHP. You better have another chocolate coconut bar in the pack!
I’m glad, too, Loop! And yes, I made sure I brought a chocolate coconut bar for the occasion. We’ve surely earned this one!
SPHP shook Lupe’s paw, congratulating the Carolina Dog with much praise for all her valiant attempts to reach Peak 5452, finally brought to a successful conclusion, then produced the highly anticipated chocolate coconut bar. Water, 2 duck jerkies, and Taste of the Wild completed Lupe’s repast, while SPHP drank a strawberry Equate.
Anyone else would have left almost immediately. Peak 5452’s summit had little to commend it. No views, just a perfectly ordinary, dull, flat spot in the forest. Yet there was no sense of disappointment at all. Lupe had seen Peak 5452 from a distance so many times that both she and SPHP had known what to expect.
Seemed like it had been a long trek to get here. Felt good to sit on the pine needles together simply listening to the wind moan in the pines.
Since Lupe wasn’t likely to ever visit this out of the way peak again, she remained for her full traditional summit hour, enjoying this long-sought experience as much as possible. At one point she wandered a bit farther N with SPHP to make certain there was no higher spot on the mountain. There wasn’t.
Returning to the clearing, Lupe laid down on the pine needles, making herself comfortable. As treetops swayed in the wind, SPHP spoke calmly of the American Dingo’s 3 prior attempts to get here, reflecting on each one while stroking her soft ears. Her Peak 5452 adventures were nearly history now, soon to be events of the past rather than something to strive for and look forward to.
So, Peak 5452 is the last of the Lists of John peaks in the Black Hills with at least 300 feet of prominence that we’ll be visiting, SPHP?
More or less, Loop. No doubt we’ll return to some we’ve been to before, and might visit one or two more new ones, but I don’t think there are any more you haven’t been to that are both accessible and would involve an adventure like this. Kind of the end of an era for us. Lists of John gave us a reason to visit quite a few peaks we’d never considered before.
4:27 PM – Speaking of adventures, Lupe’s summit hour was up.
Ready to roll, Loopster?
I suppose, SPHP.
Good. I’d been thinking we might hit Peak 5400 on the way back, but it’s too late for that. However, we might be able to get to Dome Mountain (5,510 ft.). Want to pay it one last visit?
Do you really think we can get there before dark, SPHP?
Yes, but not the way we tried last time, Looper.
Despite having just been there twice less than 3 weeks ago, Lupe was willing to visit Dome Mountain again. Going farther S before turning E during her Peak 5452 descent, she followed a very windy edge where Dome Mountain was in view.
After crossing Two Bit Creek at the same place as before, Lupe made the steep climb back up to the saddle S of HP5032.
So, how do we get to Dome Mountain’s summit from here, SPHP?
SPHP needed a moment to gasp for air before replying.
Turn S, back the way we came again, Looper, but this time just keep going. Don’t turn E.
Another substantial climb through the forest had SPHP dragging by the time the terrain began leveling out again. Turning SE along a broad, flat ridge, Lupe had a blast exploring this easy ground, still displaying great energy. Even SPHP was soon able to pick up the pace again.
Climbing gradually as the flattest ground led S again, Lupe discovered a snow bank. The snow was only a few inches deep, but covered quite a bit of territory. Feeling frisky, the American Dingo delighted in rolling around on it, paws thrashing, while chomping mouthfuls of the delicious wet snow. Once beyond the snow, she began circling around to the W.
6:55 PM, 57ºF, Dome Mountain (5,510 ft.) – Lupe made the short, rocky scramble to the summit, arriving just in time to enjoy the alpenglow. Once again, SPHP shook the Carolina Dog’s paw, congratulating her on her unexpected return to this remote peak.
Unfortunately, the chocolate coconut bar supply was completely wiped out. Taste of the Wild and water were a poor substitute, but that was it for remaining supplies. When the Taste of the Wild was gone, too, Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap to watch the sunset.
Not as windy here as over at Peak 5452, now more than a mile NW. As the sun sank toward the horizon, the breeze weakened further. Felt kind of funny being here again so soon, but also like the right decision.
For 20 minutes, Lupe and SPHP enjoyed being on Dome Mountain.
7:15 PM – Still a long way back to the RAV4, Loopster.
Aww, the sun isn’t even down yet, SPHP. Sunset might be awesome!
I know, Loop, but it would sure be nice to at least make it back to a road before it gets dark.
A last look around, and Lupe was on her way.
As dusk deepened, SPHP overshot the region where Lupe should have turned N toward the ridge that would have gotten her back to the saddle S of Pillar Peak. Due to this unforced error, the American Dingo wound up exploring a valley that took her NE.
If it hadn’t been for a faint, long abandoned road, the entire valley would have been a miserable bushwhack. As it was, only the last part after the ancient road completely faded away was like that. A pitch black descent while thrashing through a dense tangle of bushes and trees ensued, alleviated only by the weak beam of the small flashlight.
In the end, Lupe eventually popped out on USFS Road No. 172.1H, 0.5 mile S of where she’d left it many hours ago. The Carolina Dog’s Peak 5452 adventures were all but over now, only a long road hike, nearly all of it downhill beneath the silent stars, remained. (End 9:39 PM, 51ºF)
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