11:41 AM, 46ºF, Horse Creek Road across from USFS Road No. 243.2B –
New starting point, SPHP?
Yup! Going to mix things up a bit, try a little different route this year.
Which way then, SPHP?
NE, Looper! We’ll hit Peak 5800 first!
Naturally, Lupe’s annual pilgrimage to New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.) was supposed to happen on December 31st, but the Carolina Dog had to be flexible. Often the weather simply wasn’t cooperative, which had once again been the case at the end of 2021. A high of 5ºF, and that was at home, not up in the mountains. No thank you!
The trek always seemed cheerier once the new year arrived, anyway, sort of like the difference between attending a funeral or baby shower. With a warm, bright day in early 2022, Lupe was in high spirits as she set out. Passing through a short stretch of open forest, she soon reached the dry grass of a sunny field. Already some rock formations! Loopster checked a few out.
After going over an initial rise, Loop lost a little elevation as she entered a more forested region again. After a trek through the woods, another rise provided a view of HP5360.
Continuing NE, Lupe came to a road in a shallow valley. Must be USFS Road No. 243.2F. Taking the road N, it quickly curved NW into a barren upper valley. This was the direction to New Year’s Eve Peak, but not the way to Peak 5800.
Evidently, Lupe had run into No. 243.2F N of where No. 243.2I branched off. She was still one valley too far W. Turning NE again, the Carolina Dog headed up to a saddle on the intervening ridge. There was a nice view of HP5360 along the way, and once Loop got to the ridgeline, Peak 5800 was back in sight, too.
Down to USFS Road No. 243.2I, SPHP?
Oh, I don’t know, Loop. You know me. Hate losing elevation we’ve just gained, and it’s farther down there than I thought it would be. Maybe we should just follow this ridge N?
Fine with me, SPHP.
Only problem with that was the ridge was sort of a steep climb. Lupe led the way, while SPHP huffed and puffed after her. Kind of a long way up to the top, too, but the American Dingo got there.
Hmm. Maybe should have bitten the bullet and just gone down to USFS Road No. 243.2I as the Carolina Dog had suggested? It would have come up the valley to the E much closer to Peak 5800.
You know what, Loopster? We climbed Peak 5800 last year. I’ve sort of messed up our route now, and if we have to go this far out of our way, maybe we ought to visit Peak 6070 after New Year’s Peak instead? Haven’t been there in quite a while.
So, forget about Peak 5800 this year, SPHP?
Yeah, I think so, Loop.
As long as we keep up our tradition and visit New Year’s Peak, it’s all good, SPHP!
With Peak 5800 out, and Peak 6070 now Plan B, Lupe headed NW for the S slopes of Peak 5917. Lost a bit of elevation along the way, which then had to be promptly regained, but this was a favorite region – grasslands, but with interesting rocks, scattered pines, and sweeping views to the S. Not much snow this year, which would have made for an even prettier scene, but still a fun trek.
Upon reaching the short ridgeline S of Peak 5917, Loop paused for a look back at Peak 5800. Beyond it, and farther S, both Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) and Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.) were easily picked out. More directly S, there was also a great view of Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.), Five Points (6,221 ft.), and False North Point (6,130 ft.).
New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.) was only 0.6 mile NW now as the crow flies. It was possible to go almost directly to it. Lupe had been that way once or twice before. However, although a slightly longer route, it was more fun to head up to Pistol Point at the SE end of the mountain’s S ridge, then follow the ridge to the summit.
The route to Pistol Peak from the saddle SW of Peak 5917 followed a barbed wire fence and involved a couple of short, steep climbs. No big deal. Looper was soon there. As always, she scrambled up on the rock formations that Pistol Handle Rock was part of.
As Lupe left Pistol Point there was a sudden chill in the air. The sky had been gradually clouding over, and a cool breeze had sprung up out of the W. Gone was the warm, sunny day the Carolina Dog had enjoyed as she’d set out from the RAV4.
As Loopster worked her way N along New Year’s Eve Peak’s S ridge, the temperature dropped and the breeze strengthened. Although it didn’t take all that long to get to the summit, by the time the American Dingo arrived, the mood was subdued.
Good to be back, though! Despite deteriorating conditions, Lupe stood smiling on the 4 foot high rock platform that was the true summit.
3:23 PM, 36°F, New Year’s Eve Peak – Facing into the wind, Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap. Virtually no snow here, but the familiar hills to the W looked snowy. SPHP brought a couple of chocolate coconut bars out of the pack to celebrate the occasion. A very short party. The Carolina Dog saw to that. Then there was nothing to do but contemplate the cold, silent hills.
How many times have we been here, SPHP?
Nine, Loop.
Third day of brand spanking new 2022, but something about the cold wind and gray sky revived a sense of brooding over the old year gone by. 2021! So recently the future, now come and gone, lost forever except to memory, part of the endlessly receding and expanding past.
Guess we should have gotten here earlier in the day, Looper. Already kind of late. Not sure we even have enough daylight to press on to Peak 6070. To tell the truth, not too inclined to now anyway, given the conditions.
That’s OK, SPHP! Don’t worry about it. Our tradition is intact, since we made it this far. We can just stay here together at New Year’s Eve Peak a little longer then. How does that sound?
Sounded good. A quiet half hour went by. The wind just seemed to keep getting colder.
Well, we’ve done our duty, Looper! Let’s wrap this up, and get out of this melancholy breeze, I’ve had enough.
Loop was fine with that. Before departing, though, she had a final look at the big views, which were all toward the S, followed by a brief return to the true summit.
Then it was down New Year’s Eve Peak’s W slope to the saddle leading to Peak 6070. Kind of steep, but not too bad. Optimism returned as soon as the windy summit was left behind.
Down at the saddle, Lupe ducked under a barbed wire fence.
Are we going to head for Peak 6070 after all, SPHP?
Nope. I’m done. Back to the RAV4, Looper.
The American Dingo turned S, quickly reaching the edge of the forest. The scenic valley S of New Year’s Eve Peak was just ahead.
Taking USFS Road No. 257 down the valley, the easy, late afternoon trek back to the RAV4 was very pleasant. Deer up on the hillsides kept Lupe animated. Even SPHP cheered up as snow crunched underpaw.
Sort of just did the minimum today, didn’t we, Loop? Don’t worry, though! 2022 is going to be a great year! Next time out, we start the blitz!
The blitz, SPHP? What do you mean?
Oh, a mini-blitz actually, but it will be fun. You’ll see! I’ll explain later.
4:15 PM, 37ºF, Horse Creek Road, back at the RAV4 – Tradition honored! New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.) visited! Lupe’s initial launch into New Year 2022 was officially complete. Better yet, what with the upcoming mini-blitz and all, this was destined to be one of the Carolina Dog’s best and most action-packed Januarys ever!
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 261 – Peak 5800 & New Year’s Eve Peak (12-31-20)
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