Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 338 – Peak 6530 & Lupe’s 14th Birthday! (12-14-24)

11:14 AM, 41ºF, junction of Hwy 89 & USFS Road No. 794 –

I can’t believe you set me up to fail on my birthday, SPHP!  Why?

I don’t know that Peak 6530 will be a fail, Loop, I’m just saying that this is a rugged part of the hills and failure is a possibility.  We’ll just have to see how it all turns out – it’s an adventure!  C’mon, we need to follow Hwy 89 a little S before heading W into the forest.

What’s so special about Peak 6530, anyway, SPHP?

Well, remember how we’ve been visiting as many local Lists of John peaks as possible with a minimum of 300 feet of prominence, Loop?

Yes, but I thought we’d completed what’s reasonably accessible back in April when we finally made it to Peak 5452, SPHP.  So what does Lists of John have to do with Peak 6530?  Is it some other type of Lists of John peak that you’ve dug up?

No, but it is a Lidar Data Set peak with 320 feet of prominence, Looper.

Lidar Data Set?  What is that supposed to mean, SPHP?

I don’t really know, Loopster.  From what I gather, it’s supposed to be some new, more accurate nationwide topographic elevation data.  What matters is that Peakbagger.com is now using it, and has added a whole bunch of peaks with at least 300 feet of prominence according to Lidar to their database.

So, suddenly we’ve got a lot more mountains to climb, SPHP?

Yes, quite a few, even just here in the Black Hills.  Kind of makes a mess of things, though, because all the old maps are now out of sync with the Lidar Data.  Hang on a moment, Loop.  Think we should have seen USFS Road No. 410 by now, but this fence just keeps going.

So, what’s the verdict, SPHP?

According to our GPS track, Loopster, we’re not only past USFS Road No. 410, which there’s been no sign of, but already at the S end of the strip of USFS land we were going to explore W from here.  Something must have changed.  Everything W of the highway has been fenced off and posted.

What a shame, SPHP!  Guess that means no Peak 6530.  What’s plan B?

Plan B is still Peak 6530, Looper, but from another direction.  Supposed to be USFS land N of all this private property, too.

N!  We’ve been going S, SPHP.

Yeah, we have to go back, Loop.  This didn’t pan out.  

Peak 6733 was in sight as Lupe began the trek back N along Hwy 89.  According to Lidar, it was only 6,725 feet high.

Anyway, as I was about to say, Loop, I chose Peak 6530 today for several reasons.  First of all, according to Lidar, it’s not only a newly discovered 300 foot prominence peak, but had one of the greatest upward elevation revisions I’ve seen.  According to the old topo maps, its elevation was only 6,419 feet.

An overnight gain of 111 feet.  Simply volcanic, SPHP!  Sounds like this will be quite a memorable birthday adventure, after all.  We’ve never run into lava in the Black Hills before.

Or anywhere else for that matter, Looper.  Furthermore, Peak 6530 is now on the Black Hills 6,500 Foot Peaks list.

A list we’ll never complete due to our lack of rock climbing skills, SPHP.

True enough, Loop.  Peak 6530 also had the virtue of being a mostly easy road hike on abandoned USFS Road No. 410.

Which apparently no longer exists, SPHP.

I also figured Peak 6530 was a fairly short trek, so we’ll be back in time for your big 14th birthday bash this evening.

Oh, it’s all making sense to me now, SPHP!  Peak 6530, here we come!

Shortly after passing the RAV4 back at USFS Road No. 794, the American Dingo paused for a look at a buffalo striking a dramatic pose.

Hmm.  Appears we’ll be exploring USFS land near the Busskohl Ranch Game Refuge, Loopster.  Never knew it was here before.

Maybe we’ll see lots of wildlife, SPHP?  I always like that!

Continuing N along Hwy 89, Peak 6733 came into sight again before reaching a curve.

Believe we’re far enough N to leave the highway, Looper.

Heading NW off Hwy 89, Lupe crossed a tiny frozen tributary of Willow Creek, then promptly came to a fence along the edge of the Busskohl Game Refuge.

What now, SPHP?

Follow the fence N, Loopster.  When it turns W, we can angle NW toward Peak 6530.

The open forest was an easy romp.  Lupe gradually gained elevation as she headed N.  Glimpses of enormous rock formations way up on a high ridge served as reminders of the type of terrain she might encounter at Peak 6530.  None of it looked too daunting, though.

Once the fence turned W, the Carolina Dog roamed NW through gently rolling territory.  An unusual peak soon appeared ahead.  A massive curved granite formation comprised a winding vertical E face soaring above heavily forested slopes.

A strange looking peak, even for this area, isn’t it, Looper?

Hope that’s not Peak 6530, SPHP!  We’d never get to the top.

Agreed, Loop.  Simply impossible!

Another fence eventually appeared not too far ahead.

Map shows more game refuge land W of us, Looper.  We’re going to have to climb a little to get around it.

Turning N, then NE, Lupe passed several clusters of big rocks before climbing a moderately steep slope.  Near a really big rock, she came to what appeared to be a long abandoned road.  Covered with tall, dry grass and young pines, it headed NW.

Might as well follow it, Loop.  It’s going the right direction.

Before long, the old road curved W, and there was that unusual peak again, somewhat closer now.

Oh, brother!

What’s wrong, SPHP?

It’s in the right area.  That’s got to be Peak 6530, Loopster.

We’re doomed, SPHP!  And on my birthday!  You’re going to owe me for this one.

Hope springs eternal, or, at least in this case, temporarily.

Maybe there’s a way up on the other side, Looper?

Fat chance, SPHP, but we’ve come this far, we might as well find out.

The ancient road continued winding N and W.  A nice view of Peak 6430 and Buckhorn Mountain soon appeared beyond game refuge land.

We should have revisited Buckhorn Mountain today, SPHP.  It’s got a cool summit with some great views, and we can actually get to it.  Remember the weird fins of rock on the way up?

Of course I do, but we’ve been there.  On the other paw, you haven’t visited Peak 6430 yet.

Time to get your eyes checked, SPHP!  Don’t you see those huge rocks on top?  Another no go!  Although, admittedly at least within the realm of possibility compared to Peak 6530.

It was quickly becoming apparent to SPHP that this road Lupe was on was actually going to lead straight into USFS Road No. 410 where the maps showed it ending along the N boundary of the Busskohl Ranch Game Refuge.  Sure enough, after topping out, the road began a steady decline, soon reaching and following the fence W to No. 410.

Every step got the American Dingo closer to that scenic and forbidding Peak 6530.

Before long, USFS Road No. 410 turned S.  Lupe left it here, heading NW up what started out as a shallow valley.

The terrain soon steepened.  Lupe ventured among minor ridges and ravines as she headed toward a much higher ridge NW of Peak 6530.  Climbing along the E side of a deeper valley, the slope became much steeper.  A maze of deadfall and rocks made travel difficult and slow.

Once above the steepest terrain and worst of the deadfall, big granite formations were visible along the crest of Peak 6530’s N ridge.  Instead of heading directly toward them, Lupe went N up the valley, soon coming to a narrow lane running through a thick forest of dog hair pines.

Partially shown on the topo map, this shady lane was actually a remnant of USFS Road No. 352.2E.  Slowly gaining elevation while trotting easily along this seldom visited path, Lupe reached a clearing where shadows of the pines still hid an inch of snow from the sun.

Where to now, SPHP?

This clearing is the low point between Peak 6530 and Peak 6733, Loopster.  We’ll need to work our way S along Peak 6530’s N ridge from here.

Leaving the clearing, the dog hair pines were super thick.  Lupe could sneak along easily enough, but SPHP had to search for routes permitting passage.  Heading SW, the thick stand of dog hair pines soon opened up.  A 30 foot high wall of rock was directly ahead.

The NE end of this wall wasn’t far from where Lupe reached it.  Circling around to the E, a wide ramp led up to the region on top of the wall.  Narrow glimpses of Crazy Horse less than a mile NW appeared between the trees, as Lupe continued her explorations SW along this upper ridge.

A second wall of rock appeared ahead.  Once again, going around its NE end revealed a route higher.  This one, however, began at a narrow cleft that was a bit of a scramble.  A single mighty leap, and the Carolina Dog managed to clear it without any assistance from SPHP.  This route led to a broader region of rock formations with views of both Peak 6530 and Crazy Horse.

The view of Peak 6530’s summit, a massive vertical fin of granite from this angle, still wasn’t the least bit encouraging.  The fin was only 0.2 mile away now, so hope for much of an improvement was fading fast.  After a descent back into the forest, Lupe reached a third wall.

This time, Lupe went around the W end before turning S.  A trek through the forest took her past more rock formations, some of which she went over, and others that she avoided.  At last, after going up a snowy slope, a mighty rock formation again blocked the way forward.  Climbing SE amid some deadfall led to another glimpse of Peak 6530’s summit fin.

Deadfall and thorny bushes littered the final stroll to the N end of Peak 6530’s summit fin.  Lupe climbed as high as she could easily go, but there was no sense in pushing her Dingo luck.  A near vertical wall soared above the big rock she reached.  Without serious rock climbing skills, this appeared to be about it.

2:47 PM, 38ºF, Peak 6530 –

Well, shucks, Loopster!  Unless the W side of the mountain is a whole lot easier, which I seriously doubt, looks like we’re about as high as we can go.  Want to try to get over there?

May as well while we’re here, SPHP, but it doesn’t look promising at all.

Circling around to the NW, a steep little climb nearly got Lupe to where it might be possible to see what the W face looked like, but getting past a blocking ridge of stone just wasn’t in the cards without a big downclimb.

Eh, don’t think it’s worth the effort to go down and around, Looper.  We could if we had more time and wanted to be 100% certain, but it appears extremely unlikely that the W face will get us to the top.

A fail on my birthday!  You owe me big time, SPHP!

True enough.  Circling back around to the NE side of the summit block, a small area that wasn’t too steep provided a decent spot to take a break.

3:01 PM, Peak 6530 – No summit, no chocolate coconut bar.  Lupe had water and munched on a little Taste of the Wild, while SPHP drank a vanilla Equate.

You knew all along, didn’t you, SPHP?  You probably didn’t even bring a chocolate coconut bar!

Yeah, I entirely spaced out bringing a chocolate coconut bar, Loopster, but that was just an oversight, not intentional.  We had a good time, didn’t we?  It’s actually been pretty interesting, hasn’t it?

Oh, I always have fun in the hills, SPHP, you know that.

Good!  That’s the spirit, Sweet Puppy!  Guess we better get going, if we want to be back in time for your big 14th birthday bash.

Onward then, SPHP!  One fail is more than enough!

On the way back to the RAV4, Lupe varied her route a bit as SPHP hoped to shave some time off the return.

To some degree, it worked.  Even so, before reaching Hwy 89, the sky turned black.  The flashlight had to come out as a nearly full moon rose in the E.  (End 5:50 PM, 41ºF)

7:05 PM – The American Dingo was 5 minutes late to her own birthday party when she trotted in the front door, SPHP following her carrying a big bag of tacos.  Tremendously excited upon realizing that Mush, Steve, Felix, and Asher were already here, Lupe could scarcely contain herself, greeting them all with frantic, ear-splitting enthusiasm.  Lanis arrived a few minutes later, and Yvonne appeared within half an hour.

SPHP got the party underway, serving tacos to all who wanted them, and champagne to the adults.  Time for the traditionally dreaded birthday event, the trial by fire!  Nervously facing the 14 alarm conflagration atop her cake, Lupe successfully endured an entire rousing round of “Happy Birthday to You” sung by all her guests, before making her escape.

Cake and ice cream were served.  Felix and Asher were first in line.  More tacos and champagne for anyone that wanted them.  Although hungry after her Peak 6530 adventure, Lupe had none of it, holding out for the grand prize.

Everyone had brought wonderful presents for the birthday Dingo!  Laying on the old couch, the Carolina Dog was practically buried in birthday loot, while all of her guests gathered around.

At 14, Lupe was rich, thanks to the generosity of all who loved her!  SPHP wouldn’t have to buy the Carolina Dog another treat or toy for months on end.

That may be, SPHP, but I know you’re holding out on me!  Where is it?

Felix did the honors, helping Lupe unwrap the final present.

While Lupe waited not-so-patiently, SPHP slow-broiled one of Lupe’s two T-bone steaks for her.  When it was ready, SPHP cut most of the steak into bite-sized chunks.  The American Dingo made short work of them.  Felix then got to present her with the actual T-bone itself, with plenty of delicious meat still clinging to it.

Oh, it was fun!  The party went on with everyone in good cheer, while a fire in the fireplace flickered merrily, and Lupe munched and gnawed happily away on her prize, a whole new year of adventures yet to come.

Links:

 Next Black Hills Expedition                Prior Black Hills Expedition

Lupe’s 13th Birthday

Lupe’s Peak 6530 Scrollable GPS Track

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