{"id":3896,"date":"2016-08-06T08:10:56","date_gmt":"2016-08-06T14:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=3896"},"modified":"2020-09-21T18:57:41","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T00:57:41","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-114-thrall-mountain-1-10-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=3896","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 114 – Thrall Mountain (1-10-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

January 10, 2015, 10:32 AM, 32\u00b0F.\u00a0 The first day since New Year’s Day 2015 that wasn’t too cold or windy.\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6 at the Pactola Reservoir overlook next to Hwy 385\u00a0at the N end of the dam.\u00a0 This time Lupe wasn’t fooling around.\u00a0 She was going to climb Thrall Mountain<\/a><\/span> (5,091 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Back on New Year’s Day, SPHP had parked the G6 at the visitor center at the S end of the Pactola Reservoir dam.\u00a0 From there, Lupe and SPHP had gone on a round about route on the way to Thrall Mountain.\u00a0 Due to navigation errors made by SPHP, Lupe’s route had been so round about that\u00a0she hadn’t\u00a0even seen Thrall Mountain all day, much less climbed it, even though it was only a little over 2 miles away from Pactola Reservoir.<\/p>\n

On the way back to the G6, though, Lupe and SPHP had scouted out a much more direct route to Thrall Mountain from Pactola.\u00a0 Now Lupe was going to take that direct route back to a point only a mile or so from the mountain.\u00a0 From there, Lupe would find and climb Thrall Mountain before doing anything else.\u00a0 If there was additional time left for roaming around exploring, she could do it after claiming her peakbagging success.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe returned to Pactola Reservoir on 1-10-15. This time she would start her trek toward Thrall Mountain from this viewpoint at the N end of the dam, instead of the visitor center at the S end.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Across Hwy 385 from the viewpoint at the N end of the dam, is a road that winds down\u00a0below the dam to the Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89.\u00a0 If it hadn’t been so icy and snow-packed, SPHP would have just driven down to the TH.\u00a0 Instead, Lupe and SPHP went down the road on paw and foot.\u00a0 Just before reaching the TH, the road crossed Rapid Creek.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe poses on the railing of the bridge over Rapid Creek below Pactola Reservoir dam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the Rapid Creek trailhead, Lupe and SPHP followed Centennial Trail No. 89 heading ESE through the big flat meadow below the dam.\u00a0 Rapid Creek meanders through the meadow, and the trail had several nice footbridges crossing it.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP paused on each bridge to see if there were any trout down in the creek, but saw none.<\/p>\n

It didn’t take long to reach the Tamarack Gulch trailhead at the SE end of the meadow.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP continued SE.\u00a0 Centennial Trail No. 89 climbed a little hill, and reached USFS Road No. 772.1B,\u00a0a road Lupe had been on back on New Year’s Day.\u00a0 For a short distance, Centennial Trail No. 89 followed this road, but soon left it to continue S up a side\u00a0road.\u00a0 Lupe left Centennial Trail No. 89 staying on No. 772.1B, which turned E.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP were now retracing the route Lupe had scouted out before on New Year’s Day.\u00a0 The snowy road made a long gradual climb up a valley.\u00a0 When it reached a saddle, there was a junction with another road coming in from the N.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0stayed on\u00a0USFS Road No. 772.1B.\u00a0 She followed it down into a snowy little valley where SPHP had taken her picture on Expedition No. 113, and on up to another higher saddle at the upper end of Powerhouse Gulch.<\/p>\n

At the saddle was an intersection with another road.\u00a0 SPHP hadn’t seen\u00a0any marker the last time Lupe was here, but\u00a0this time saw\u00a0one identifying the side road as USFS Road No. 772.1C.\u00a0 In a sunny spot where there was no snow, Lupe and SPHP took a brief break.\u00a0 SPHP wanted to check the maps.<\/p>\n

No. 772.1C was the right road to take.\u00a0 It would lead Lupe out of the upper end of Powerhouse Gulch over\u00a0a saddle, and down into a smaller valley SW of Thrall Mountain.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0set out on No. 772.1C.\u00a0 It climbed NW, turned N and soon reached the saddle.\u00a0 From the saddle, Lupe finally got to see Thrall Mountain, now less than a mile away to the NE.<\/p>\n

No. 772.1C started down the N side of the saddle, passed under a power line, made a loop to the N, and then returned S\u00a0to follow the power line E.\u00a0 As the road drew near Thrall Mountain, it started gaining elevation again.\u00a0 Lupe passed an unmarked minor road that headed off to the NW, but didn’t take it.\u00a0 Near the road’s highest point along the power line, Lupe left No. 772.1C to start climbing toward Thrall Mountain from the SSW.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on USFS Road No. 772.1C SW of Thrall Mountain. The power line can be seen overhead. This snowy scene was pretty typical along the remote USFS roads Lupe traveled this day. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The climb grew progressively steeper.\u00a0 Snowy boulder fields forced Lupe around to the SSE side of the mountain.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had to climb up through a short section of boulders, but made it without mishap.\u00a0 Lupe was now almost at the top of Thrall Mountain.\u00a0 Just short of the summit, Lupe reached the E viewpoint, one of three good viewpoints on or near the summit of Thrall Mountain.<\/p>\n

From the E viewpoint, Lupe and SPHP could see Turkey Ridge and Prehistoric Ridge to the NE.\u00a0 To the E,\u00a0Rapid City could be seen on the edge of the Black Hills.\u00a0 Beyond the town, the yellow\u00a0plains of western South Dakota stretched to the far horizon.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP also saw human tracks in the snow!\u00a0 By not reaching Thrall Mountain on New Year’s Day, someone else had beaten Lupe to becoming the first one to climb Thrall Mountain in 2015.<\/p>\n

The summit was just 10’s of feet away.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0strolled over\u00a0to the summit to claim her Thrall Mountain peakbagging success!\u00a0 Whoever beat Lupe to the summit in 2015 was no longer around.\u00a0 Years ago, there had only been a very small cairn on top of Thrall Mountain.\u00a0 Now the\u00a0cairn is easily 4 feet high.\u00a0 It is comprised of many small rocks.\u00a0 SPHP wanted Lupe to pose for a couple of photos at the cairn.<\/p>\n

Normally Lupe is very cooperative, but coming up the mountain, Lupe had heard gunfire to the S.\u00a0 Gunshots continued to be heard occasionally from that direction.\u00a0 Lupe hates\u00a0even the faint sound\u00a0of gunfire.\u00a0 She stuck to SPHP like glue.\u00a0 Finally, the worried Carolina Dog relaxed enough for a couple of quick photos.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the summit cairn on Thrall Mountain to claim her peakbagging success. Someone else had already beat her to the top of the mountain in 2015, as evidenced by human tracks Lupe and SPHP saw in the snow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This<\/a>
This was actually Lupe’s 2nd successful summit of Thrall Mountain. The first time she was here was way back on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 38 on 12-8-12, over two years earlier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP left the summit to return to the Prehistoric Ridge viewpoint.\u00a0 There were still gunshots going on to the S.\u00a0 Lupe put her paw down.\u00a0 She\u00a0refused to leave SPHP’s side for another photo.\u00a0 It was simply too dangerous!<\/p>\n

\"Prehistoric<\/a>
Prehistoric Ridge (the largest line of limestone bluffs farthest away) and Turkey Ridge (a much smaller ridge of reddish stone just in front of the right side of Prehistoric Ridge) from Thrall Mountain. The ridge names are private names assigned by SPHP. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking W at the Thrall Mountain summit from the Prehistoric Ridge (E) viewpoint.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP returned to the summit.\u00a0 Lupe was very nervous due to the gunfire.\u00a0 SPHP found a dry spot to sit down.\u00a0 Lupe snuggled right up, looking for reassurance.\u00a0 Together Lupe and SPHP stayed there for a while looking out at the view of Harney Peak<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0to the S.\u00a0 SPHP chatted with Lupe and stroked her, while she gave SPHP a good licking.\u00a0 SPHP ate an apple.<\/p>\n

The best views to the S from Thrall Mountain are obtained just S of the summit.\u00a0 SPHP took one photo looking SW at Peak 5800<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 On a couple of prior occasions, (Expedition No. 77 on 2-16-13,\u00a0and Expedition No. 80 on 3-23-14) Lupe and SPHP had gotten close enough to Peak 5800 to think about climbing it, but hadn’t actually done so.\u00a0 Seeing\u00a0Peak 5800\u00a0from Thrall Mountain, SPHP resolved that Lupe would climb it someday.\u00a0 (Note:\u00a0 Lupe did eventually climb Peak 5800<\/a><\/span><\/strong> on Expedition No. 150<\/a><\/strong><\/span> on New Year’s Day 2016!)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Peak<\/a>
Peak 5800 from Thrall Mountain with a bit of telephoto lens assistance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the best views from Thrall Mountain is from a rocky ledge located on a slightly lower ridge a short distance NW of the summit.\u00a0 From the rocky ledge is a view to the NW\u00a0toward\u00a0nearby Johnson Siding, and the hills beyond all the way to Custer Peak<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lupe was still a bit nervous, but she got up on the rocky ledge\u00a0despite it all.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A still somewhat nervous American Dingo scans the NW horizon from the rocky ledge a short distance NW of the summit of Thrall Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the rocky ledge. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By now, Lupe and SPHP had visited all three of the best viewpoints on Thrall Mountain.\u00a0 Lupe finally had her 2015 Thrall Mountain peakbagging success!\u00a0 It was time to move on.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP went back down the mountain pretty much the same way they had come up.\u00a0 While still near the top of the mountain, Lupe stepped on a cactus.\u00a0 There was a brief intermission while SPHP pulled a few small cactus spines out of her paw.\u00a0 Fortunately, she seemed none the worse for the wear.<\/p>\n

Lupe returned to USFS Road No. 722.1B at the upper end of Powerhouse Gulch via No. 722.1C.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP could have just returned to the G6, but there were still at least a couple of extra hours of daylight left for exploring around, if Lupe wanted to.\u00a0 She did!\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went SE a little way into Powerhouse Gulch to a side road that SPHP had by now figured out was\u00a0USFS Road No. 722.1.\u00a0 This was the road Lupe and SPHP should have taken on New Year’s Day to get from Gold Standard Gulch to Powerhouse Gulch.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP explored No. 722.1 heading SW.\u00a0 Lupe passed by a junction with No. 722.1E, she reached a high ridge where she could look back at Thrall Mountain, she went on to Gold Standard Gulch and Centennial Trail No. 89 again.\u00a0 Just roaming around exploring the back roads without any goal in mind was rather fun.\u00a0 Of course, the sun eventually sank toward the SW horizon.\u00a0 Time to start heading back to the G6.<\/p>\n

The sun was down, but it\u00a0was still somewhat light out when Lupe reached the G6 at 4:48 PM (27\u00b0F).\u00a0 Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 114 to Thrall Mountain was over, but\u00a0Lupe’s fun wasn’t!\u00a0 Back at home, SPHP gave Lupe a big ham bone left over from a Christmas ham Guille had bought.\u00a0 There was still plenty of good ham, fat and gristle attached to it.\u00a0 Lupe’s eyes grew big as she gingerly accepted this treasure.<\/p>\n

For several hours, Lupe gnawed energetically away on the precious ham bone.\u00a0 She stripped it of every shred of ham, fat and gristle.\u00a0 Her gnawing fangs reduced most of the ham bone itself\u00a0to rubble.\u00a0 She ate almost the entire bone.\u00a0 During this time of Carolina Dog bliss, Lupe growled if SPHP got too close.\u00a0 She still loved SPHP, but some things are just sacred, ya know!?<\/p>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

January 10, 2015, 10:32 AM, 32\u00b0F.\u00a0 The first day since New Year’s Day 2015 that wasn’t too cold or windy.\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6 at the Pactola Reservoir overlook next to Hwy 385\u00a0at the N end of the dam.\u00a0 This time Lupe wasn’t fooling around.\u00a0 She was going to climb Thrall Mountain (5,091 ft.)! Back … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 114 – Thrall Mountain (1-10-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,9,106,104,304,542],"class_list":["post-3896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-thrall-mountain"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/P1050830.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3896"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28254,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3896\/revisions\/28254"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}