10:10 AM, 32ºF, junction of Horse Creek Road & USFS Road No. 243.2B –
A brand new year 2024, and it’s a glorious day, SPHP!
Snow that had fallen just before Christmas sparkled in bright sunshine beneath blue, blue heavens above. Lupe had been thrilled and anxious to be underway this morning, when SPHP announced that it was time for her annual pilgrimage to New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.).
Indeed it is, Loopster! Couldn’t be better! I’m about ready. Shall we?
We shall, SPHP!
Then, Onward! Puppy, ho!
Horse Creek Road had been plowed, but was icy as Lupe trotted W to the start of USFS Road No. 257. After going past the access gate, the Carolina Dog entered a level field where the snow was 4″ to 6″ deep. Ahead, the hills where the forest had burned years ago were already mostly brown again due to their S exposure.
Oh, I get it! This looks familiar, SPHP. We’re taking our alternate route to New Year’s Eve Peak, aren’t we?
That’s right, Loop! Been wanting to hit Peak 6070 again for years, but the days are so short in December and January, that we don’t make it that far when we’ve gone over Peak 5800 first starting from USFS Road No. 710.
We’ll get to see something a little different then this year, SPHP.
Yup! In fact, part of today’s route to Peak 6070 will be up a valley we’ve never explored before, Looper. Should be fun!
Sticking with No. 257 as it crossed the field, Lupe soon reached a short stretch of tall pines. By the time she emerged from the trees, the road had turned NW, now heading up a wide, gentle valley. It wasn’t much farther to a junction.
Which way, SPHP?
No. 257 turns N here, which is the most direct route to New Year’s Eve Peak. That’s the way we’ve gone starting from Horse Creek Road before, Loop. Today, though, let’s keep going NW on No. 257.1A.
Almost entirely shaded, the snow was deeper on No. 257.1A. Staying a little N of the road, Lupe preferred continuing up the snowy valley in sunshine. After more than 0.5 mile, the valley narrowed. A thick stand of aspens was ahead.
A narrow trail through the aspens led to a clearing where Lupe rejoined No. 257.1A. The road headed straight for a couple of smaller stands of aspens prior to entering a Ponderosa pine forest. Upon reaching the pines, No. 257.1A turned N and began to climb.
OK, Loop. We’ve now reached the part of No. 257.1A we’ve never been on before. It’s supposed to just keep going up this valley before dead-ending. By then we ought to be within 0.25 mile of the big power line between Peak 6070 and New Year’s Eve Peak.
Sounds good, SPHP! Exploring is a blast!
All the snow on No. 257.1A made the trudge higher a little harder than it otherwise would have been, but progress was good. Lupe sniffed and watched for deers and squirrels, seeing none. After a fairly long march, deadfall began covering the road. No. 257.1A faded away. Glimpses of the power line had already appeared ahead.
Over on the W side of the valley, the American Dingo discovered another old road. It quickly led to a small clearing where a big pine stood at the upper end. The ground beneath it was snow-free.
Want to take a short break under that pine tree, Loopster?
Fine with me, SPHP.
Lupe wasn’t hungry yet, turning down Taste of the Wild. SPHP sat in the sunshine beneath the old tree munching an apple. The Carolina Dog had gained enough elevation so that Black Elk Peak (7,137 ft.) was in sight. The day was now warm enough to make sitting there quite pleasant, but as soon as SPHP finished the apple, Lupe wanted to go.
Ready, SPHP?
I guess. Nice to relax and enjoy the view here, isn’t it?
The views will be better higher up, SPHP.
Beyond the big pine tree, the old road steepened some more. Glimpses of the power line continued to appear ahead. Before long, a grassy slope permitted a view of the top of the ridge to the W.
Let’s go up there, SPHP! Doesn’t look all that much higher.
Lead the way, Miss Ambitious!
Abandoning the road, Lupe headed up the grassy slope. As is often the case in the mountains, the top of the ridge was farther than it looked. No big deal, though. Once up there, the American Dingo followed the ridge N. Climbing among a series of small rock outcroppings, Lupe came to quite a nice viewpoint upon reaching the power line.
Told ya, it would be better up here, SPHP!
Well, of course. No argument from me, Looper.
Peak 6070 was only another 0.5 mile. Continuing N, then NW, from the power line, Lupe crossed USFS Road No. 244.1B as she made her way to Peak 6070’s S ridge. An easy traipse along the gently rolling ridge soon got her within striking distance of the summit. Passing another series of minor rock outcroppings, the American Dingo was there!
12:42 PM, 46ºF, Peak 6070 – Lupe stood smiling happily in the sunshine atop the highest rocks.
Dear Loopster! May I be the first to shake your paw, and congratulate you on your magnificent ascent of Peak 6070 on this fine New Year’s Day of 2024? Well done!
You may be first and last to shake my paw, SPHP, since no one else is here. This ascent wasn’t that hard, anyway, pure fun!
Nevertheless, it’s an important ascent. Peak 6070 is the first mountain we’ve climbed in 2024. Feels like we’re getting off to a good start!
It does, SPHP! And know what would make it even better?
I do, Looper. A chocolate coconut bar! Happen to have one in the pack for this very occasion.
Glad to hear that I’ve finally got you trained, SPHP!
Peak 6070’s summit area was plenty big enough to move around some, but the views were mostly hidden by trees. Furthermore, there was so much snow around that the only dry places to sit were on exposed rock, which wasn’t that comfortable. Retreating a little down the S slope, a grassy area provided a few dry spots with a much more open view.
Let’s split a chocolate coconut bar here, Loop!
Bring it on, SPHP!
The next half hour + was spent relaxing right here, admiring the view of Five Points (6,221 ft.) and False North Point (6,130 ft.) roughly 4 miles away, with Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), Sylvan Peak (7,000 ft.) and what was probably Zimmer Ridge (6,600 ft.) on the horizon beyond.
The chocolate coconut bar vanished, along with some Taste of the Wild. SPHP drank an Ensure. The Carolina Dog preferred snow, but lapped a little water, anyway. Nothing moved. Even the air barely stirred. The peace and silence were amazing. SPHP had already shed some layers, due to how very comfortably warm it was in the sun. Time ticked away.
This is the life, SPHP!
Isn’t it, Loop? I suppose we better think about moving on pretty soon again, though, if we’re still going to visit New Year’s Eve Peak.
Well, we can’t miss that, SPHP! It’s tradition!
With enough of Lupe’s summit hour left to do a little more exploration of Peak 6070, the American Dingo returned briefly to the snowy summit.
Then it was down Peak 6070’s N ridge for the first time ever, going just a little way to where it was possible to circle around to a SW shoulder of the mountain that had been visible from the break spot. This shoulder had looked like it might offer a view to the W. Sure enough, a nice view of Nugget Gulch Peak (6,000 ft.) greeted Lupe, with high ridges of the E edge of the limestone plateau visible on the far horizon.
50 minutes after arriving at Peak 6070, shorting her summit hour a bit to save daylight, Lupe was on her way again. Cutting E across the grassy fields on the mountain’s S slope a little below her break spot, she got to see that beautiful view to the S again, as well as a sweeping view off to the SW of Peak 6043, Peak 6167, and Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.).
Just think, SPHP! We were over on Old Bald Peak less than 1.5 months ago with new Cousin Dixie! Bet she would have liked to be here on Peak 6070 with us today, too!
Oh, I’m sure of it, Looper! Dixie would love this!
Leaving along Peak 6070’s S ridge, Lupe soon caught a glimpse of her next objective, New Year’s Eve Peak, only a little over a mile SE. Upon reaching USFS Road No. 244.1B again, this time she followed it along the power line to Peak 6070’s SE ridge. From here, she had an even better view of New Year’s Eve Peak.
Following Peak 6070’s SE ridge after leaving the power line, there were spots where the ridge was quite narrow and crowned with near vertical rock formations of modest size. Beyond these obstacles, Lupe turned E to descend a long, forested slope before reaching the ridge’s high point near the SE end.
In the shade of the ridge, the snow was deep on this steep-sided traverse, but soon enough, the saddle leading to New Year’s Eve Peak appeared ahead. After crossing this saddle, Lupe began her ascent of New Year’s Eve Peak’s steep W slope.
2:44 PM, 41ºF, New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.) – The sun was sinking, the day cooling off, when Lupe leapt up onto the summit boulder. Small pines nearby that had been growing up since the forest was thinned 10 years ago, were getting bigger every year. SPHP congratulated Lupe on her 11th ascent of New Year’s Eve Peak. The Carolina Dog smiled.
It’s good to be back on New Year’s Eve Peak, isn’t it, SPHP?
Always, Loopster! It’s our place to brood and mourn over the old year, or ring in the new one. Kind of glad we’re here to ring in the new year this time. 2023 ended too sadly.
We’ll always remember Grandma, SPHP.
I know, Loop. Not the same as seeing her, though, is it? Anyway, it’s New Year 2024, so no brooding! I’ve done enough of that. Let’s have a seat, and enjoy our traditional view of the snowy hills to the W.
That’s the spirit, SPHP! We can think about all the grand adventures we’re going to have in 2024 while chomping another chocolate coconut bar!
As SPHP sat down on a rock, suddenly the day’s long silence was broken by the sound of gunfire, immediately making the Carolina Dog nervous. Somewhere not too far off to the W, someone had decided to get in some target practice. Multiple rounds were fired at regular intervals.
After sharing the final chocolate coconut bar of the day, Lupe had more Taste of the Wild before laying down on the rocks next to SPHP.
That can’t be very comfortable, Looper, laying on a cold, hard rock. Want to get on my lap?
I’m fine, SPHP. Wish that gunfire, would stop once and for all, though.
Yeah, me too, Loopster. Kind of hard to contemplate much of anything when someone’s blazing away like that.
SPHP threw a jacket over Lupe. A few minutes of silence often prevailed before the next burst of gunfire erupted again. SPHP munched another apple while Lupe gazed out at those familiar snowy hills.
More than half an hour went by before target practice evidently ended.
Glad we came, Loop. Shall we take a few more pictures before bidding a fond farewell to New Year’s Eve Peak for another year?
Lupe struck a dramatic pose on a rock before returning briefly to the summit boulder. Then from over on the rocks along the S edge, she had a good look at Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.), Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.), and Calumet Ridge (5,601 ft.) way off to the SE in the general direction of Sheridan Lake. Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), mightiest of the Black Hills, was almost directly S.
50 minutes after arriving atop New Year’s Eve Peak, Lupe headed down the S ridge.
So did you get much planning done on what we’re going to do this year, SPHP?
Nothing definitive, Loop, but we have mountains of possibilities. Actually, the first thing we need to do is at least get your blog caught up at little bit on your 2023 adventures. I’m like 7 months behind!
Blogging’s fine in winter, SPHP, but the days are already getting longer!
When the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen! That’s what my Grandma used to say, Loopster.
Maybe for another month, SPHP, but spring will come.
The S ridge widened as it curled around to the E. Lupe followed it all the way to Pistol Point. It was nearly alpenglow time when the Carolina Dog got there.
Lupe paused here long enough to take a look at the territory she usually explores on her way to New Year’s Eve Peak. Peak 5917 was less than 0.5 mile NE. Peak 5800 was nearly 1.5 miles ESE.
I’d climb all these mountains every year, if the days were longer, SPHP!
They will be in a few months, Loop. Maybe it would be fun to visit them when the grass is green sometime?
Maybe, SPHP, but I’m used to them this way, with a blanket of snow.
The sun was nearly down when Lupe left Pistol Point. As the American Dingo lost elevation during a fairly steep descent into the snowy valley to the S, the sun vanished behind the mountains.
This was certainly a beautiful day, SPHP. We’re off to a great start in 2024!
That we are, Loop. Looks like for once, we might get a decent sunset, too.
Remember that year when the sunset was so fantastically colorful, SPHP? Really awesome!
I do, Loop. Long time ago now. This will be the first year since then to even come close to that display.
The air turned cold. The snow turned crunchy. Still exploring, as dusk deepened, the Carolina Dog eventually encountered USFS Road No. 257 again. By the time she reached the RAV4, the brightest stars were visible in the rapidly darkening sky.
Lupe was happy! She’d not only visited Peak 6070 for the first time in years, but kept up her New Year’s Eve Peak tradition. Who knew what adventures 2024 would hold? The American Dingo was optimistic! What a fine day this one had been! (End 5:22 PM, 30ºF)
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 310 – Peak 5800 & New Year’s Eve Peak (12-31-22)
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