{"id":65,"date":"2015-02-23T15:05:44","date_gmt":"2015-02-23T22:05:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=65"},"modified":"2020-09-21T19:42:38","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T01:42:38","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-119-meade-county-high-point-custer-peak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=65","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 119 – Meade County High Point & Custer Peak (2-13-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a couple of weeks of very warm weather (including two straight record setting days), colder weather was on its way to the Black Hills.\u00a0 So Friday, February 13, 2015 was Lupe’s last chance for a while to get out for an expedition on an unseasonably warm day.<\/p>\n

SPHP decided on the Meade County, SD High Point<\/a><\/span> (5,460 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> as the main objective for Lupe on Expedition No. 119.\u00a0 Although the roads remained quite muddy, much of the snow had melted so that only scattered large patches were still around.\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6\u00a0at the intersection of USFS Roads No. 151 (Old Ridge Road) and No. 151.2G .\u00a0 This point is at least a couple miles SW of the Meade County HP.\u00a0 (There are much closer and better access points, but SPHP often parks miles from the intended destination\u00a0so\u00a0Lupe\u00a0can enjoy\u00a0the fun of exploring the region.) \u00a0It was 48 degrees when Lupe set out from the G6 at 10:34 AM under mostly clear skies.<\/p>\n

Lupe followed No. 151 heading N for about 1.5 miles.\u00a0 Here she left the road and went ENE through a still snowy forest (northern exposure) down towards the saddle at the W end of Virkula Gulch, which was snow-free.<\/p>\n

\"P1050910\"<\/a>
Lupe near the saddle at the W (upper) end of Virkula Gulch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing the saddle, Lupe started the climb up the hill shown in the above photo.\u00a0 Close to the first high point, she came to some rocks where there was a view back to the WNW towards Terry Peak<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (7,064 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The snow on the ski runs at Terry Peak to the WNW can be seen beyond Lupe in the distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the rocks, a\u00a0jeep trail headed\u00a0E. \u00a0It\u00a0made a short climb up to a\u00a0big nearly level area above 5,400 feet which was heavily forested.<\/p>\n

SPHP hadn’t checked the maps and initially thought the Meade County HP was somewhere around here, not realizing\u00a0Lupe was still\u00a0in Lawrence County.\u00a0 Consequently Lupe explored the\u00a0thick\u00a0forest looking for the highest point.\u00a0 Towards the E side of this area Lupe found a rocky jeep trail.\u00a0 She followed it N to where there was a cliff with a very nice unobstructed view of the big valley Elk Creek runs through.<\/p>\n

\"Still<\/a>
Still in Lawrence County, Lupe stands near the edge of the N cliff. Elk Creek flows through the valley below.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A NW wind made it quite breezy here, although back in the forest the breeze had been barely noticeable.\u00a0 Even though the view was better here, SPHP led Lupe back S to a point along the S edge of the high ground with a sunny and less windy view of Virkula Gulch.\u00a0 While SPHP chomped an apple and surveyed the view of Virkula Gulch, Lupe took a little Taste of the Wild break.<\/p>\n

Finally consulting the maps, SPHP suddenly realized the Meade County HP was still close to 0.75 mile farther E.\u00a0 So once the break was over, Lupe headed E back to the rocky jeep trail.\u00a0 She followed it SE down off the high ground.\u00a0 Before Lupe had lost much elevation, the big limestone rock outcropping at High Point 5401 came into view.\u00a0 Lupe left the jeep trail and made the easy climb up HP 5401 from the W.\u00a0 The views from HP 5401 are the best available in the general vicinity of the Meade County HP.<\/p>\n

\"P1050913\"<\/a>
The rock at the left is the summit of High Point 5401. The W end of Virkula Gulch is beyond Lupe. Custer Peak<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (6,804 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> is the sharp peak on the far horizon near the center of the photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From HP 5401 it was also easy to see the heavily forested hill close at hand to the E which\u00a0is the site of the Meade County HP. \u00a0(Due to thick forest, this hill had NOT been visible from the hill W of HP 5401.)\u00a0 Lupe left HP 5401 and headed E to climb this hill.\u00a0 Although the\u00a0hilltop seemed fairly level, it had been easy to see from HP 5401 that the highest point on this hill was towards the N.\u00a0 This also agreed with the topo map SPHP had printed out from Peakbagger.com showing the Meade County HP near the NNW end of the hill.<\/p>\n

Towards the far N end of the hill was a small area noticeably 2 or 3 feet higher than the rest of the ground around it. \u00a0On this high ground stood two large pine trees about 10 or 12 feet apart.\u00a0 The bases of their trunks seemed to be on the very highest ground.\u00a0 Just a few feet NW from the easternmost tree was a very small whitish limestone cairn.\u00a0 Lupe posed for a photo next to the cairn, which as near as SPHP could tell, appeared to mark the Meade County HP.\u00a0 (This is the photo featured at the start of this trip report.)\u00a0 Before leaving, SPHP lifted up and then carefully replaced several of the larger rocks forming the cairn hoping to find a survey marker, but there was nothing.<\/p>\n

There were no views from the cairn in any direction other than the thick forest. Lupe did scout around a short distance to the N, but it was soon clear there wasn’t any higher ground on this hill anywhere farther N.\u00a0 Before heading S to see what could be seen from the S end of the hill, Lupe returned briefly once more to the Meade County HP cairn so SPHP could retrieve the backpack.\u00a0 Soon Lupe was at the S end of the hill, which presented a pretty view of the E end of Virkula Gulch.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe above the E end of Virkula Gulch at the S (opposite) end of the hill the Meade County HP is located on.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Having achieved her main objective by reaching the Meade County High Point,\u00a0it was time for the return trip to the G6. \u00a0Lupe returned by nearly the exact same route.\u00a0 She didn’t climb HP 5401 again, but did go to the N end of the hill to the W where the cliffs with the view of Elk Creek valley were for one more look.<\/p>\n

It was 50 degrees and only 3:36 PM when Lupe arrived back at the G6.\u00a0 There were still a couple of hours of daylight left.\u00a0 Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 119 was not over!\u00a0 SPHP thought it might be interesting to explore USFS Road No. 151.2G to the W, but\u00a0just before\u00a0setting out on it, Lupe heard a gunshot from that direction.\u00a0 Lupe hates gunfire and immediately\u00a0hopped into the G6.<\/p>\n

SPHP knew Lupe wasn’t about to hop back out of the G6 again here with gunfire around.\u00a0 So the idea of heading NW towards the Strawberry Hill area on Hwy 385 came to mind.\u00a0 From there Lupe might find a way to Anchor Hill<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(5,800 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> which she\u00a0has never climbed before.\u00a0 Lupe got to have a nice long ride in the G6 while hanging her head out the window, which is great good fun!<\/p>\n

Upon reaching Strawberry Hill, SPHP turned onto Gilt Edge Road.\u00a0 It\u00a0was only a couple of miles to Anchor Hill, but the area was full of homes and private property.\u00a0 Gilt Edge Road ended down in a deep valley at what appeared to be an EPA superfund site connected with the old Gilt Edge gold mine.\u00a0 It was clear Lupe wasn’t going to find\u00a0easy access to\u00a0Anchor Hill from anywhere along Gilt Edge Road.\u00a0 SPHP turned the G6 around, drove\u00a0back to Hwy 385, and headed S.<\/p>\n

SPHP had one more idea for Expedition No. 119.\u00a0 Lupe could\u00a0climb Custer Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> which she had seen\u00a0from HP 5401 earlier in the day.\u00a0 At 4:42 PM, SPHP parked the G6 at the sharp turn in USFS Road No. 216 about 0.5 mile SE of Custer Peak.\u00a0 No. 216 to the NW was closed to vehicles from here for the season by a gate across the road. \u00a0It was 44 degrees out when Lupe hopped out of the G6.\u00a0 The sun was still shining up on Custer Peak.<\/p>\n

Lupe headed NW on No. 216 up the E side of a scenic\u00a0valley that is one of SPHP’s favorites.\u00a0 About a mile from the G6, she left No. 216 and crossed over a saddle beyond which she turned E.\u00a0 A spur road heads toward Custer Peak and eventually winds clock-wise around the mountain on up to the summit.\u00a0 However, the spur was covered with so much snow it made the hike difficult for SPHP.\u00a0 It was actually easier going directly up the W slope of Custer Peak, even though it meant working through a considerable amount of deadfall timber.\u00a0 (Pine bark beetles killed the trees a few years back.)<\/p>\n

Lupe actually got up into the sunlight while on the upper slopes of Custer Peak, but by the time she reached the old abandoned lookout tower at the summit, the sun had set.\u00a0 A steady breeze was blowing out of the NW.\u00a0 SPHP had hoped for a dramatic sunset, but the sky was almost totally clear.\u00a0\u00a0 Everything just faded unspectacularly into twilight.\u00a0 Lupe posed for a few photos to document her ascent, but they didn’t turn out that great in the low light conditions.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the rock wall around the old lookout tower on Custer Peak shortly after sunset.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way back, SPHP didn’t want to have to try to scramble down through the deadfall timber in the dark, so Lupe took the spiral road from the summit back down the mountain.\u00a0 There were feet of snow on much of the road and it was slow going for SPHP, although Lupe could mostly trot along on top of the snow without breaking through.<\/p>\n

The stars were out and the Milky Way was on brilliant display by the time Lupe reached the G6 again at 6:55 PM.\u00a0 It was 39 degrees and calm.\u00a0 Lupe stood sniffing the air for a few extra minutes and then hopped into the G6 for the ride home.<\/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 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

After a couple of weeks of very warm weather (including two straight record setting days), colder weather was on its way to the Black Hills.\u00a0 So Friday, February 13, 2015 was Lupe’s last chance for a while to get out for an expedition on an unseasonably warm day. SPHP decided on the Meade County, SD … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 119 – Meade County High Point & Custer Peak (2-13-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":70,"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":[105,9,106,119,104,14,304],"class_list":["post-65","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-custer-peak","tag-lupe","tag-meade-county-high-point","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/P1050915.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\/65","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=65"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28260,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65\/revisions\/28260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/70"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=65"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=65"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=65"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}