{"id":40978,"date":"2022-07-12T08:10:59","date_gmt":"2022-07-12T14:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=40978"},"modified":"2022-07-22T10:53:44","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T16:53:44","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-303-flag-mountain-crows-nest-peak-with-peakbagger-dennis-stewart-5-4-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=40978","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 303 – Flag Mountain & Crows Nest Peak with Peakbagger Dennis Stewart (5-4-22)"},"content":{"rendered":"

5-3-22, 1:00 PM, home<\/em> –<\/p>\n

Who was that on the phone, SPHP?\u00a0 The fanatic again?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup!\u00a0 He’s run into 3 feet of snow on the road to Crooks Tower<\/span><\/a> (7,137 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, so he’s got a much longer hike ahead of him than expected.\u00a0 Going to be running late.\u00a0 Won’t arrive here until sometime this evening now.<\/em><\/p>\n

The “fanatic” was Dennis Stewart<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, aka “Stewy”.\u00a0 Neither Lupe nor SPHP knew Dennis, but that was about to change.\u00a0 He was a man on a mission, many missions, actually.\u00a0 Dennis’ purpose on this particular trip was to climb the 10 highest named peaks, plus the 10 highest named county high points, of both South Dakota and Nebraska.<\/p>\n

Fanatic wasn’t an unfair label.\u00a0 Dennis owned the tallest indoor climbing wall in the Midwest – 32 feet high, more than 500 square feet of surface area, with an 11 foot overhang – a feature incorporated into his private home!\u00a0 At the tender age of 73, Dennis was still working on so many peakbagging lists that he knew there was no way he would ever come close to completing many of them.<\/p>\n

No doubt about it, Loop.\u00a0 Dennis is our kind of fanatic!<\/em><\/p>\n

After reaching the Black Hills region earlier today, Dennis had already been to both Terry Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,064 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and White Tail Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,962 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Tomorrow, Lupe and SPHP were going to join him on his quest.<\/p>\n

At least, that was the plan.\u00a0 Dennis was not only a prolific peakbagger, but a runner, too.\u00a0 At one point in his life, Dennis had helped set a world record in the 2 mile relay as a member of the University of Kansas track team.\u00a0 In 2019, Dennis had won the 800 meter in the Huntsman World Championship in his age category.<\/p>\n

Worrisome, actually.<\/p>\n

If Dennis takes off running up all the mountains tomorrow, feel free to run right along with him, Loopster.\u00a0 You know me.\u00a0 Not even going to try to keep up.<\/em><\/p>\n

5-4-22, 9:24 AM, Flag Mountain<\/em> – Dennis had reassuringly promised not to run up any mountains, although it would have been fine if he did.\u00a0 SPHP had no intention of slowing him down.\u00a0 Flag Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,937 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> wasn’t going to be a problem in any case.\u00a0 A simple drive up.\u00a0 After SPHP parked the RAV4 at the end of USFS Road No. 416, a set of stone steps was all that had to be managed to reach what was left of the old fire lookout tower up top.<\/p>\n

The only real issue was the weather.\u00a0 Although Flag Mountain normally offered sweeping views of a huge swath of territory E of the edge of the limestone plateau country, Lupe wasn’t going to get to show off her Black Hills to Dennis here today.\u00a0 Foggy and snowing!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop and Dennis arriving at the end of USFS Road No. 416.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Heading up the stone steps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On the summit ridge near the remnant of the fire lookout station. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Dennis searched for the survey benchmark shown on the map out along the W end of the summit ridge, Lupe got up on what was left of the lookout tower foundation wall.\u00a0 Unfortunately, no hint of the usual grand view was to be seen.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dennis searching for the survey benchmark. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looper up on the wall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dennis found no sign of the survey benchmark.\u00a0 Loopster had been to Flag Mountain on half a dozen prior occasions.\u00a0 SPHP kind of thought that she actually had seen the benchmark somewhere up here before, but couldn’t find it, either.<\/p>\n

Stewy had a routine he went through at each mountain he visited.\u00a0 It was interesting to see how he operated.\u00a0 Verbal notes, some of which were based on his phone’s GPS, were taken by speaking into a portable recorder.\u00a0 Date, time, distance traveled, elevation gain, exact location and elevation, weather and route conditions, what views were present, and anything else Dennis felt might be of interest were all mentioned.\u00a0 This data would eventually serve as the basis of written records and a trip report which he would post online.<\/p>\n

Since he usually traveled alone, Dennis also had a separate camera and tripod he could use to take a decent selfie at each summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe and Stewy on Flag Mountain<\/strong>, their first Black Hills summit together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Given the weather, there wasn’t much reason to linger.\u00a0 As snowflakes continued to fall, everyone headed back down to the RAV4.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Down by the RAV4 again. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since tomorrow’s forecast was much better, and Dennis had already spent the last 4 days since leaving home peakbagging, he was inclined to call it a day.\u00a0 After all, why climb mountains in this soup, and not get to see much of anything?\u00a0 In the meantime, he could relax in comfort while catching up on some of his record-keeping.<\/p>\n

Made perfect sense, except for two things.\u00a0 The next peak on Dennis’ list was Crows Nest Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,048 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Although not all that far from Flag Mountain, Crows Nest wasn’t anywhere near the other Black Hills peaks Dennis still needed to tag.\u00a0 A quick visit to Crows Nest while in the area made sense from the standpoint of efficiency alone.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Dennis wouldn’t miss out on a thing by making the jaunt up Crows Nest today.\u00a0 At over 7,000 feet, Crows Nest Peak was certainly among the highest points of the entire Black Hills range, but incredibly misleadingly named.\u00a0 The surrounding territory was gently rolling and mostly forested.\u00a0 No distant views of, or from, the summit even on the best of days.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s local expert advice was to climb Crows Nest today.\u00a0 Stewy was willing to give it a shot.<\/p>\n

5-4-22, 10:23 AM, Boles Canyon Road and USFS Road No. 117.5K<\/em> – Lupe was happy!\u00a0 She sniffed around while Dennis finished getting ready.\u00a0 Although remote Crows Nest Peak was a favorite place, the Carolina Dog hadn’t been here since the day of her Mighty Dingo Missile Launch<\/strong><\/span><\/a> nearly 4 years ago.\u00a0 This time, Loop was looking forward to an easy, and less painful, mile long romp up to the red dirt pond near the summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
USFS Road 117.5K from Boles Canyon Road. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A faint road took off to the SE through open territory from here.\u00a0 Within just a few minutes, Dennis was ready to go.\u00a0 Lupe, Stewy, and SPHP set off along the faint road, heading for the trees.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The faint road (Center beyond Lupe) serving as the start of the route to Crows Nest Peak. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Stewy and Lupe about to set out. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon reaching the forest, the faint road merged into USFS Road No. 266.\u00a0 After passing through a gate in a barbed wire fence, the steepest part of the trek was ahead.\u00a0 Nothing too difficult, culminating in a snowy stretch near the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On USFS Road No. 266, looking back toward Boles Canyon Road. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On the snowy stretch. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Getting near the top. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The snowy stretch ended and the road flattened out, becoming a sloppy mess as Lupe entered a clearing that had been logged off years ago.\u00a0 No. 266 began angling E across the clearing.\u00a0 Before long, it would lead to a side spur that went N up to the red dirt pond near the Crows Nest Peak summit, but there was little benefit to traipsing through the mud.<\/p>\n

Abandoning the road, everyone headed NE, cutting across the clearing.\u00a0 Lupe was soon in an aspen forest, hopping over deadfall and winding around bushes, as she worked her way up a slope.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In the clearing where No. 266 leveled out. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Among the aspens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the terrain flattened out again, Lupe reached the spur that came up from No. 266.\u00a0 The red dirt pond was just around the next bend.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dennis and Loop across the red dirt pond. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Crows Nest Peak survey benchmark was only 300 feet E of the pond, tucked away deeper into the forest.\u00a0 Looper led Dennis right to it.\u00a0 The surrounding terrain was so flat that, as far as could be determined, this really was the mighty true summit of Crows Nest Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,048 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dennis and Lupe on the death-defying summit of Crows Nest Peak<\/strong>! Survey benchmark in front of Lupe. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The “Crow 1912” survey benchmark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Dennis set about documenting the ascent, SPHP noticed a wooden post roughly 50 feet E of the survey marker.\u00a0 Going over to check it out, Lupe discovered directional survey marker No. 2 only a few feet away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Stewy setting up for a selfie.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photographing the survey benchmark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The “Crow No. 2 1912” directional marker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Having found the No. 2 directional marker, before departing an effort was made to locate the No. 1 marker.\u00a0 Lupe, Stewy, and SPHP fanned out through the forest.\u00a0 However, a 5 or 10 minute search yielded no results.<\/p>\n

Well, Dennis was satisfied.\u00a0 He’d done what he needed to do here.\u00a0 Soon everyone was traipsing back past the red dirt pond again.<\/p>\n

This was it for the day.\u00a0 Not much effort had been required, but it had been a pleasant introductory outing with Stewy.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had very much enjoyed being back in the limestone plateau country again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
About to head down USFS Road No. 266. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near the end, with the RAV4 in sight. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And the good news, of course, was that Expedition No. 303 was merely a warm-up for more ambitious adventures with Stewy tomorrow!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
With Dennis “Stewy” Stewart on Crows Nest Peak<\/strong>, Black Hills of South Dakota 5-4-22<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0 Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY\u00a0Expeditions\u00a0Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, <\/em>Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/a>, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

5-3-22, 1:00 PM, home – Who was that on the phone, SPHP?\u00a0 The fanatic again? Yup!\u00a0 He’s run into 3 feet of snow on the road to Crooks Tower (7,137 ft.), so he’s got a much longer hike ahead of him than expected.\u00a0 Going to be running late.\u00a0 Won’t arrive here until sometime this evening … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 303 – Flag Mountain & Crows Nest Peak with Peakbagger Dennis Stewart (5-4-22)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,9,106,303,1584,177,104,304,1583],"class_list":["post-40978","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-crows-nest-peak","tag-dennis-stewart","tag-flag-mountain","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-stewy"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/IMG_4570-scaled.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\/40978","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=40978"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41218,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40978\/revisions\/41218"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}