{"id":4882,"date":"2017-08-09T08:10:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T14:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=4882"},"modified":"2020-09-21T14:53:57","modified_gmt":"2020-09-21T20:53:57","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-102-st-elmo-peak-the-search-for-peak-6733-10-29-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=4882","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 102 – St. Elmo Peak & the Search for Peak 6733 (10-29-14)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sign said “Enjoy Your Day, But Please Close the Gate, Cattle Summer Pasture in these Fields”.\u00a0 Well, OK.\u00a0\u00a0October 29th\u00a0wasn’t really the time of year for summer pasture, and although mountain goats might like it, the steep forested slopes up ahead didn’t look like good pasture for cattle any time of year.\u00a0 Nevertheless, Lupe and SPHP went through and closed the gate.<\/p>\n

Lupe was just starting out on Black Hills, SD\u00a0Expedition No. 102.\u00a0 She\u00a0was only a couple of minutes from the G6, which SPHP had\u00a0parked along a dirt road SSE of Hwy 385, about a half mile S of its junction with Hwy 87\/89 (10:37 AM, 54\u00b0F).\u00a0 Her first peakbagging objective for the day was St. Elmo Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,458 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, less than a mile to the S.\u00a0 Lupe would have to gain over 1,200 feet of elevation to get up on top.<\/p>\n

Beyond the fence, Lupe and SPHP started climbing the rough remnant of\u00a0a road\u00a0up a steep gully.\u00a0 The road became an overgrown trail, and then disappeared.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t gone too far when the terrain started leveling out.\u00a0 She reached a small saddle NW of St. Elmo Peak.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP turned SE, and headed straight up the mountain.<\/p>\n

Lupe came across a seldom used dirt road.\u00a0 Brief explorations revealed that it was going to lose elevation no matter which direction Lupe might choose.\u00a0 So, Lupe and SPHP abandoned the road to resume climbing.\u00a0 Somewhat higher up, Lupe came to another road.\u00a0 It\u00a0went down\u00a0to the S, but looked like it would gain elevation going N.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP followed it N.<\/p>\n

Within 5 minutes, Lupe came to a\u00a0wide spot\u00a0where there were clear views off to the N and NE.\u00a0 The\u00a0road continued around to the N side of St. Elmo Peak, reaching its highest point at a closed gate.\u00a0 Beyond the gate, the road was blocked by deadfall timber as it started downhill.\u00a0 Once again, Lupe and SPHP resumed climbing straight up the mountain.<\/p>\n

The climbing was now much tougher than before.\u00a0 The forest was dead.\u00a0 Countless pines lay shattered and scattered in every direction on the steep slope.\u00a0 Thistles and\u00a0low thorny bushes had grown\u00a0in thick profusion amidst it all.\u00a0 It took SPHP a long time to work up through the tangled mess.\u00a0 Even Lupe wasn’t enjoying\u00a0this much.\u00a0\u00a0St. Elmo Peak itself was ugly, but there were great views to the N.<\/p>\n

Finally, Lupe found a faint trail going up the mountain.\u00a0 Even better, with only a few exceptions, someone had\u00a0cleared\u00a0the deadfall off the trail.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started making much better progress.\u00a0 There was still a good climb ahead, but it didn’t take much time.\u00a0 The trail ended at a rock outcropping near the summit.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP scrambled up.<\/p>\n

Lupe was now on a surprisingly large, and fairly level, block of granite.\u00a0 To the E were cliffs and\u00a0very steep slopes.\u00a0 There were wonderful views from the NW all the way\u00a0around to the NE and\u00a0SE.\u00a0 The view of Harney Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> to the E was fabulous.\u00a0 This\u00a0big granite ledge\u00a0at the N end of St. Elmo Peak was easily the best viewpoint on the mountain.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the big granite viewing platform on top of St. Elmo Peak. She wasn’t quite at the summit yet, but pretty close to it. Harney Peak (Center) is seen in the distance. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Harney<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Harney<\/a>
Harney Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L) and Little Devil’s Tower<\/a><\/span> (6,960 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whew, time for a break to enjoy the views and let lungs catch up!\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP sat together on the big granite ledge.\u00a0 Lupe had Taste of the Wild and water.\u00a0 SPHP had water and carrots.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP watched smoke billowing up in the distance to the NNE from hills E of Hill City.<\/p>\n

\"Smoke<\/a>
Smoke was billowing up from hills E of Hill City. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the granite ledge was the best viewpoint, Lupe hadn’t quite reached the summit of St. Elmo Peak yet.\u00a0 The true summit was to the S,\u00a0hidden by a mixed forest of pines and young aspen.\u00a0\u00a0After a few minutes spent recovering from the climb, Lupe and SPHP went S to find it.<\/p>\n

The true summit was very close by.\u00a0 Although the forest hid a quite a few boulders, it didn’t take Lupe long to find\u00a0the\u00a0highest one.\u00a0 She leaped on top to claim her St. Elmo Peak peakbagging success!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the true summit of St. Elmo Peak! Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP returned to the big granite ledge.\u00a0 Lupe agreed to pose for a few more photos.\u00a0 The smoke E of Hill City looked like it was spreading.<\/p>\n

\"Zimmer<\/a>
Zimmer Ridge<\/a> <\/span>(6,600 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is seen beyond Lupe. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Zimmer<\/a>
Zimmer Ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The smoke E of Hill City looked like it was still spreading.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had made it to the top of St. Elmo Peak, but the longest and hardest part of Expedition No. 102 was still ahead of her.\u00a0 She was just getting started!\u00a0 Her next peakbagging goal was Peak 6733<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, which was still 3 miles to the S.\u00a0 It was time for Lupe to get going.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the granite ledge, and headed back down the faint trail.<\/p>\n

It turned out that the faint trail led all the way down to the wide spot on\u00a0the upper road back\u00a0where Lupe and SPHP had first started seeing views to the N.\u00a0 SPHP hadn’t noticed the faint trail here before.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP got on the road and headed S.\u00a0 It lost elevation steadily at a modest pace.\u00a0 The road turned SW staying on the NW side of\u00a0a long\u00a0ridge coming down from St. Elmo Peak.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the road curved W.\u00a0 When it turned NW, it was time to look for a new route.\u00a0 Walking over to the edge of a small rise, SPHP saw another road below to the SW.\u00a0 It looked like it was heading SE for Bear Gulch, exactly where Lupe needed to go.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the upper road and headed down the slope.<\/p>\n

The lower road was better than the one Lupe had left up above.\u00a0 Lupe was very happy to find a creek running near it.\u00a0 She\u00a0laid down in the water\u00a0to cool off and get a drink.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went SE, and soon came to a fork in the road.\u00a0 One fork continued to the ESE following the creek upstream into a narrow, densely forested part of the canyon. \u00a0That road was marked USFS Road No. 302.1F.<\/p>\n

The other road was not marked.\u00a0 It crossed the stream, and headed S gaining elevation along the W side of a big field.\u00a0 Lupe took the unmarked road.\u00a0 She gained a fair amount of elevation, and came to a side road marked as USFS Road No. 302.1H.\u00a0 It went E, and looked like it was going to go around the N end of a ridge to the SE.\u00a0 Lupe’s objective, Peak 6733, was\u00a02 miles farther S along this same ridge.<\/p>\n

SPHP thought about getting up on the N end of the ridge, but didn’t.\u00a0 Instead, Lupe and SPHP followed No. 302.1H all the way around the N end over to the E side.\u00a0 There, it turned out that No. 302.1H was absolutely choked with deadfall.\u00a0 SPHP was optimistic that it would end soon.\u00a0 Wrong!\u00a0 The deadfall went on and on.\u00a0 Lupe could get through it OK, but it was taking SPHP literally hours per mile.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking NE back at St. Elmo Peak from USFS Road No. 302.1H at the N end of the ridge that Peak 6733 is part of 2 miles farther S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The struggle through the deadfall was exhausting.\u00a0 Finally, No. 302.1H climbed fairly high up on the E side of the ridge.\u00a0 The deadfall lessened and Lupe reached a small clearing.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the road to climb directly up to the top of the ridgeline.\u00a0 It had taken so long to get here, SPHP wasn’t certain if Peak 6733 was still to the S or back to the N.\u00a0 The top of the ridge was forested, so it was hard to tell.<\/p>\n

It turned out the deadfall had slowed progress down even more than SPHP thought.\u00a0 After a little scouting around, it was clear that the highest ground along the ridgeline was still farther S.\u00a0 Peak 6733 had to be in that direction.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP trekked S following the ridgeline.\u00a0 Lupe came to a series of successively higher points along the way.\u00a0 Each time she got to the top of one, another even higher one appeared ahead.<\/p>\n

There was plenty of deadfall timber up on the ridgeline.\u00a0 It wasn’t as bad as back down on No. 302.1H, but it was certainly enough to make the going much slower than it should have been.\u00a0 Several times, SPHP thought Lupe had reached the top of Peak 6733, only to quickly realize she hadn’t.\u00a0 The sun was starting to sink toward the horizon.\u00a0 Lupe was running out of time to reach Peak 6733.<\/p>\n

Thunderhead Mountain<\/a><\/span> (6,567 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, where the Crazy Horse<\/a><\/span><\/strong> memorial carving is located, came into view to the SW.\u00a0 Lupe had to be getting close to Peak 6733.\u00a0 Up ahead, another high point came into view.\u00a0 This one was noticeably higher and steeper than the other high points Lupe had reached.\u00a0 SPHP’s hopes rose again that this might be Peak 6733.<\/p>\n

By the time Lupe and SPHP arrived at the top, it was only half an hour before sunset.\u00a0 SPHP was already concerned with how Lupe was going to get back to the G6.\u00a0 It was far too late in the day to even consider\u00a0returning through the massive tangle of deadfall.\u00a0 After checking out this high point, Lupe would have to try to find a way W to Hwy 385 before it got dark.<\/p>\n

The top of this final high point had several high rock outcroppings of about equal elevation strung out along the E side of the ridge.\u00a0 There was another rocky high point off to the W, but the forest made it difficult to tell which of all these points was the true summit.\u00a0 Lupe would have to visit all of them.<\/p>\n

A quick trek over to the W revealed that the rocks on the E side of the ridge were clearly higher.\u00a0 Crazy Horse looked pretty close by to the SW.\u00a0 Lupe returned to the high rock outcroppings on the E side of the ridge, exploring them all one by one.\u00a0 There was a lovely carpet of kinnikinnick growing in the saddle area between the E and W sides of the ridge.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking NNE back at St. Elmo Peak (L) from the high rocks on the E side of the ridge at the last high point Lupe climbed on her search for Peak 6733.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sylvan<\/a>
Sylvan Hill<\/a><\/span> (7,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> from the last high point. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the kinnikinnick carpet in the saddle area. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the S end of the E side of the ridge, Lupe found the highest rocks of all at this high point.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP managed to get up on the summit, which was a somewhat precarious rock only a foot or two wide.\u00a0 Lupe posed for a summit photo.\u00a0 It had to be a close up.\u00a0 There wasn’t any room for separation.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the summit of the final high point of the day. SPHP had to lean back to get all of Lupe in the picture. Success, but it still wasn’t clear if this was Peak 6733 or not!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nearing<\/a>
Nearing sunset at the summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Crazy<\/a>
Crazy Horse on Thunderhead Mountain taken from the summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the S end of the high point, Lupe could see a big saddle to the SSE.\u00a0 Beyond it was an even higher mountain than the one she was on.\u00a0 She could see that it was part of the ridge that swept around to the E, and then back N over to Sylvan Hill<\/a><\/span> (7,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> at its highest point.\u00a0 If Lupe wasn’t already on the summit of Peak 6733, then that next mountain to the SSE had to be it.<\/p>\n

The easiest way down off this high point was to go back to the N.\u00a0\u00a0From there, Lupe and SPHP\u00a0went E down off the ridge.\u00a0 Lupe turned SSE, cutting through a field where the terrain wasn’t too steep.\u00a0\u00a0Arriving at\u00a0the saddle between the two high points, Lupe discovered a road with a gate.\u00a0 The road wasn’t marked in either direction.<\/p>\n

For a couple of minutes, SPHP considered going on to climb the higher peak to the SSE.\u00a0 There was a good chance it was the real Peak 6733.\u00a0 There really wasn’t time, though.\u00a0 Lupe might make it up there while it was still light out, but it would be completely dark by the time Lupe could even get back to the saddle.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t even know what return route Lupe should take from here, only that she couldn’t go back the way she’d come.<\/p>\n

Nope, Lupe had to skip that peak to the SSE.\u00a0 Just forget about it!\u00a0\u00a0The best bet was\u00a0to get a move on, and try to find a way W to Hwy 385.\u00a0 If Lupe could get to Hwy 385, she should be able to find the Mickelson Trail.\u00a0 Even in darkness, she could safely and easily follow the Mickelson Trail back to a point close to\u00a0the G6.<\/p>\n

So, Lupe and SPHP followed the road going SSW over the W side of the ridge.\u00a0 As Lupe searched for a way to Hwy 385, she saw Crazy Horse in the early twilight.<\/p>\n

\"Crazy<\/a><\/p>\n

\"P1050625\"<\/a>Lupe eventually found Hwy 385, but not until well after dark.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP followed the Mickelson Trail N.\u00a0 The wind blew.\u00a0 Clouds swept by.\u00a0 It rained lightly.\u00a0 The sky cleared.\u00a0 Half a moon and myriad\u00a0stars shone above.\u00a0 Far below the bridges, Tenderfoot Creek rippled along in the otherwise silent night.\u00a0 For many \u00a0miles, the American Dingo trotted ahead on the long trail home.\u00a0 (9:00 PM, 44\u00b0F)<\/p>\n

It wasn’t until the next day, when SPHP had a chance to look carefully at the photos taken on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 102 and compare them to the maps, that SPHP knew for certain whether Lupe had climbed Peak 6733, or not.\u00a0 She had not.\u00a0 The final high point that Lupe reached was High Point 6634, about 0.625 mile to the NNW.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/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><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The sign said “Enjoy Your Day, But Please Close the Gate, Cattle Summer Pasture in these Fields”.\u00a0 Well, OK.\u00a0\u00a0October 29th\u00a0wasn’t really the time of year for summer pasture, and although mountain goats might like it, the steep forested slopes up ahead didn’t look like good pasture for cattle any time of year.\u00a0 Nevertheless, Lupe and … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 102 – St. Elmo Peak & the Search for Peak 6733 (10-29-14)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4864,"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":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,9,106,104,578,304,268],"class_list":["post-4882","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-peak-6733","tag-south-dakota","tag-st-elmo-peak"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/P1050608.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\/4882","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=4882"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4882\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22484,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4882\/revisions\/22484"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}