The dull, gray cloud cover wasn’t much of an inspiration, but the forecast called for near record highs close to 60°F. In late January that was superb, as good as Lupe was going to get. Despite the boring clouds, this would be fine a day for visiting the remaining Brian Kalet peaks on the NE periphery of the Black Hills which Loop hadn’t been to yet.
Since late 2016, Lupe had been gradually chipping away at a long list of hills in the region which Brian Kalet had added to the Peakbagger.com database since May of that year. SPHP hoped Loop would finally be able to complete the list today. The American Dingo would only need to reach the summits of 3 minor peaks to be successful.
First up was Peak 4340, located NW of the junction of I-90 and Hwy 85 between Whitewood and Spearfish. Peak 4340 has two summits within 4,340 foot contours. Lupe would visit both to make certain she actually made it to the true summit. A 15 mph NW breeze blew gustily as the Carolina Dog set off on her first mission of the day. (9:16 AM, 54°F)
Peak 4340’s SE summit was closest, only half a mile away. SPHP didn’t even bother bringing the backpack or any water. There was a little bit of snow around. Lupe could eat snow if she got thirsty. With such a short distance to go, and only 430 feet of elevation gain required, Loop made rapid progress.
Lupe on her way up the first Brian Kalet peak of the day, Peak 4340, near I-90 between Whitewood and Spearfish. Photo looks S toward the main body of the Black Hills.Loop on Peak 4340’s S ridge. The summit is not in view yet, still beyond the ridge seen here. Photo looks N.
It didn’t take Looper long to reach the SE summit, which proved to be a rocky, rounded high point at the SW end of a much larger area contained within the 4,340 foot contour. An electrical pole sat right on top of this knoll. Lupe had a clear view to the W of both Crow Peak(5,787 ft.) and Lookout Peak(4,478 ft.) near Spearfish.
From Peak 4340’s SE summit, Lupe had this good clear view of Crow Peak (Center) and Lookout Peak (R) near Spearfish. Photo looks W.
From Peak 4340’s SE summit, Lupe could also see her next destination. The NW summit was on a forested ridge less than 0.2 mile away.
Peak 4340’s NW summit is on the forested ridge in the background. Lupe was headed there next. Photo looks NW from the SE summit.
Lupe had barely left the SE summit when she caught a glimpse between the trees of Bear Butte(4,422 ft.) off to the E.
Lupe had barely left the SE summit when she discovered this view of Bear Butte (R in the distance). I-90 is seen below. Photo looks E.
The Carolina Dog saw some deer on the way to Peak 4340’s NW summit, which made her happy. She lost about 70 feet of elevation which she had to regain, but that was easy enough. The NW summit proved to be a large area without any real definite high point.
Lupe reaches Peak 4,340’s NW summit, a much larger area than the SE summit with no clear definite high point. Photo looks N.
Although the NW summit was partly open and grassy, pines rimmed the small meadow blocking any views from what appeared to be the highest spot. However, Lupe could see Crow Peak and Lookout Peak again from rocks along the slightly lower S end of the summit area.
Lupe had views of Crow Peak (L) and Lookout Peak (R) again from big rocks at the S end of the NW summit area. Photo looks W.Crow Peak (L) and Lookout Peak (R) with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks W.
Of course the question arose of which was higher, Peak 4,340’s SE or NW summit? Brian Kalet had selected the NW summit as the true summit in his estimation. SPHP more or less agreed with that assessment, although it was definitely a close call.
Looking back at Peak 4,340’s SE summit from the ridge the NW summit is on. SPHP agreed with Brian Kalet’s assessment that the NW high point is likely the true summit of Peak 4340. Photo looks SE.
Lupe returned briefly to the NW high point, now that it seemed fairly certain it actually was the true summit of Peak4340.
Lupe back at the true summit of Peak 4340. Photo looks SSW.
One down, two more to go! Lupe and SPHP started back, stopping briefly at the SE summit again on the way.
At the SE summit again on the way back to the G6. Photo looks S.
When Lupe got back to the G6 (10:29 AM, 54°F), it was off to the next Brian Kalet peak! Peak 4433 is less than 4 miles NW of Peak 4340 as the crow flies. However, Lupe was going to start out for Peak 4433 from a point 1.5 miles WNW of the mountain. SPHP had to drive the American Dingo over to her intended starting point (11:00 AM, 54°F).
Getting to the summit of Peak4433 proved to be a trickier task than reaching the top of Peak 4340. For an ascent of a minor peak, Lupe faced a lot of up and down, some of it on rather steep slopes or in areas of dense scrub oak.
Looking S from a narrow ridge near the start of Lupe’s journey to Peak 4433.Lupe was happy to find a this fairly large patch of snow. Although it was January, snow was scarce today.Loopster on an animal trail she found in the woods.A busy Dingo in the scrub oak woods.Not too far from the summit, Lupe came to several large rock formations.
Lupe climbed a steep NW slope to arrive at the summit of Peak 4433. A house was up here! This was private property. No one seemed to be around. Better skedaddle, though. SPHP snapped a few quick photos, and Lupe was on her way back to the G6 again.
Lupe arrives at the top of Peak4433.Looking N from Peak 4433. This was the only view quickly available from the summit. Lupe needed to move on pronto since it turned out Peak 4433 is private property and there was a home nearby.Two Brian Kalet peaks down, one to go! Lupe on the highest rock at the tippy top of Peak 4433.
Lupe made it back to the G6 at 1:20 PM (56°F). Two Brian Kalet peaks down, and only one to go! Loop enjoyed another ride to the next starting point only 0.5 mile SW of the summit of Peak 4000 (1:57 PM, 57°F).
Finally, after more than a year of working on them, the list of Brian Kalet peaks was completed. Lupe stood at the summit of Peak4000. Loopster was free at last! Free to concentrate on other ideas and goals. SPHP was happy the Brian Kalet list was done. To Lupe, it had been just another fun day of exploring.
Lupe at the summit of Peak4000. Photo looks NE.Summit of Peak 4000. Photo looks SW.The Whitewood Creek valley from Peak 4000. Photo looks SE.So this is it, aye? The last of the Brian Kalet peaks I hadn’t been to in the Black Hills region? So do I get like, a prize or a medal or something?Oh, yeah! I did it! 3 down, none to go!
On the way back, Lupe did a little more exploring along Peak 4000’s W ridge, hitting another high point more than 0.25 mile W of the summit.
Lupe explores another high point on Peak 4400 about 0.25 W of the true summit. Photo looks NW.
At 3:09 PM (57°F), Lupe was back at the G6. The American Dingo’s Black Hills adventures following Brian Kalet’s lead were over.
The Brian Kalet peaks might be done, but that doesn’t mean my mountain adventures are over! Hope you return soon to share in the fun!
Start – 9:18 AM, 43°F at the curve in Hwy 44W (Rimrock Hwy) E of the Buzzard’s Roost trailhead
The recent subzero weather in the Black Hills was over. Yesterday most of what little snow existed at lower elevations had melted. Today the temperature was supposed to soar to 60°F, a new record for this date. Lupe was overdue for an expedition, and had almost given up hope. January can be a mighty dull time of year. Today was an opportunity not to be squandered!
The Carolina Dog was frantic with excitement as soon as she realized SPHP was getting ready to take her out in the hills. She’d been ready for days on end! Any old adventure would do!
Norris Peak(4,982 ft.) was what SPHP had in mind. Loop had been there only once before, a very long time ago. SPHP couldn’t remember exactly when. Checking her ascent records, SPHP was surprised to see that Lupe had been to Norris Peak on her 2nd birthday, more than 5 years ago. Yes, it had been a while!
Although there are much shorter routes to Norris Peak, the plan was to make a day of it. Lupe would take the same general birthday route she had taken on the day she turned 2 years old. Part of it would be a loop including both Turkey Ridge and Prehistoric Ridge. Turkey Ridge would come first, if Lupe could find it again.
Lupe and SPHP left the G6 parked at the start of the first big bend in Rimrock Hwy E of the Buzzard’s Roost trailhead. Turkey Ridge was several miles NW from here, but Loop ought to be able to find it following a long ridge the whole way.
Even before setting out, Lupe’s enthusiasm dimmed considerably. This area wasn’t far from Rapid City, the largest population center in the Black Hills region. The American Dingo was hearing noises she didn’t like. People were banging and clanging away somewhere off in the distance. Perhaps she heard gunfire, too?
Whatever poor Loopster heard with those super sensitive Dingo ears, it was all far away and no genuine threat at all. SPHP encouraged her onward. Lupe came, but instead of roaming the forest and having fun, she nervously stuck close to SPHP for security. Lupe prefers adventures in remote places, far from the scary noises people always seem to make. This time of year, though, she would have to take what she could get.
Lupe and SPHP headed NW gaining elevation gradually following the first ridge N of Hwy 44. This area proved to be a maze of trails and old logging roads. Seemed like there was always something to follow along the ridge, if Lupe wanted to, although sometimes she ventured off into the forest. The terrain was easy, the forest unremarkable, and Lupe made steady progress.
Lupe started out heading NW on this unremarkable forested ridge. Most of the time she followed logging roads, gaining elevation gradually and making good progress. Photo looks NW.
This close to civilization, Lupe treasures were scattered in the forest. SPHP began collecting them for later recycling or proper disposal. For a while nothing changed, but after she’d gone 0.75 mile, Lupe came to a double set of power lines. From here, a small slice of western Rapid City was in view.
After going 0.75 mile, Lupe reached this double set of power lines. A slice of western Rapid City (down by the low ridge in the distance) was in view. Photo looks E.
N of the power lines, the ridge became steeper, narrower and better defined. Logging roads continued to appear. Following these roads NW, Looper reached a place where the ridge widened out again. A broad, gentle, grassy slope provided her with a sweeping view to the E.
Loop looks uncharacteristically precariously balanced atop a 1 foot high boulder. She was still worried about the noises she was hearing this close to civilization. The area known as “The Gap” in Rapid City is on the R along the low ridge seen in the distance. Photo looks ENE.Following logging roads, Lupe reached this broad grassy area in the vicinity of High Point 4582. SW Rapid City is in view on the near side of the far ridge. The Gap is on the L. Photo looks E.
The broad grassy area was confined to the region a little N of High Point 4582 on the topo map. Wild Irishman Gulch was farther N, and Shanks Gulch SW, though neither was much in view. Loop turned W entering the forest again. No logging road went this way, but there was a good single track trail.
Back in the forest again, now following a single track trail. Photo looks W.
Staying on the high ground between Wild Irishman Gulch and Shanks Gulch, Loop continued W or NW gaining elevation most of the time. She lost a little heading W across the saddle at the N end of Shanks Gulch. More logging roads were present at the saddle. Lupe followed one of them W, regaining all her lost elevation and more.
A mile and a half from the broad, grassy area near High Point 4582, Lupe reached the high point of the whole long ridge she’d been following. She stood atop SW facing cliffs providing the best views she had come to so far. Thrall Mountain(5,091 ft.) was less than 1.5 miles away.
A good 3 miles from the G6, Lupe finally reaches the high point of the long ridge she’d been following. From the top of SW facing cliffs she has the best views of the day so far. Thrall Mountain(5,091 ft.) (Center, sporting a couple of boulder fields) is less than 1.5 miles away. Photo looks SW.Thrall Mountain (L) with help from the telephoto lens. The Seth Bullock fire lookout tower on Scruton Mountain(5,922 ft.) is faintly visible on the R. New Year’s Eve Peak(6,046 ft.) is the high point in the distance at far L. Photo looks SW.Lupe had been to Peak 5800 (R) 11 days ago on Expedition No. 221. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) (R of Center) was in view, too. Photo looks SSW.
Lupe continued NW from the high point, staying near the cliffs until they faded away. The terrain along in here went up and down before starting to lose elevation consistently. At the very end of the miles long ridge the American Dingo had been following, Lupe came to Turkey Ridge, a narrow, level ledge of purplish, reddish rocks jutting 100 yards out to the NW before ending abruptly.
Lupe arrives at the start of Turkey Ridge, a narrow ledge of rock at the far NW end of the miles long ridge she had been following. Norris Peak(4,982 ft.), her ultimate destination, is now seen in the distance on the R. Photo looks NW.Lupe up on Turkey Ridge. Photo looks NW.
Lupe and SPHP got up on Turkey Ridge, going as far toward the NW end as easily possible. Years ago, Turkey Ridge had been more exposed, with clear views in every direction except back to the SE. Now, trees had grown up enough to hide a significant portion of the scenery. Lupe had unobstructed views to the SW, but Prehistoric Ridge to the NNE was only visible from one spot.
Prehistoric Ridge from Turkey Ridge. This fairly good look at it was only obtainable at one point along Turkey Ridge. Trees now generally interfered with the view in this direction. Photo looks NNE.
The name Turkey Ridge doesn’t appear on any map. It is a private name SPHP had given this rock formation years ago. Prehistoric Ridge is also a private name SPHP had assigned to the much larger, more dramatic ridge capped by limestone cliffs 0.5 mile to the NNE.
Lupe and SPHP took a short break on Turkey Ridge to appreciate what views the forest hadn’t swallowed up yet.
Lupe relaxes on Turkey Ridge. The end of the ridge is seen on the R, but Loop didn’t go that far due to a gap in the rocks. Photo looks NW.Looking SE back along much of the length of Turkey Ridge. Lupe had come here from this direction.Although she searched, Lupe didn’t see any of the wild turkeys today that Turkey Ridge had been named after.
A single track trail ran below the NE side of Turkey Ridge. When her break was over, Lupe went down to it. She followed the trail a little way, before deciding to explore the base of the Turkey Ridge rock formation.
Loop now at the base of Turkey Ridge on the NE side. Photo looks WSW.Turkey Ridge isn’t all that high, rising only 10 to 15 feet above the surrounding terrain.
Norris Peak is only a mile away from Turkey Ridge. When Lupe finished sniffing along the base of the ridge, she headed NW down a forested slope. She reached a USFS road headed toward Prehistoric Ridge.
After leaving Turkey Ridge, Lupe proceeded NW down a steep forested slope until she reached this old USFS Road leading toward Prehistoric Ridge. Photo looks NE.
Sometimes in the forest, and sometimes on unmarked USFS roads, Lupe made her way N around the W end of Prehistoric Ridge.
Now W of Prehistoric Ridge. Norris Peak isn’t far from here. Part of the NE ridge leading to the summit is seen ahead on the L. Photo looks N.
Crossing the upper end of Wild Irishman Gulch near Prehistoric Ridge, Loop had lost close to 400 feet of elevation from the high point she’d been at earlier. Now she was having to regain all that and more to get to the summit of Norris Peak(4,982 ft.).
The climb became progressively steeper as the American Dingo began her ascent of Norris Peak’s E slope. Before long, Lupe reached the broad, gently inclined NE ridge leading to the summit. She was almost there!
After a fairly steep trek up the E slopes of Norris Peak, Lupe reaches the broad NE ridge leading to the summit. Photo looks SW.
A short, easy stroll now brought Lupe to a smallish rock at the very top of the mountain. Norris Peak’s summit area was large and nearly flat. The concrete foundations of an old fire lookout tower which had once been here were still in plain sight. Lupe discovered the rock foundation of a former cabin nearby, too.
Lupe reaches the top of Norris Peak. The rock she’s perched on is the highest natural point on the mountain. Photo looks SW.The concrete foundations of an old fire lookout tower were still here. Photo looks E.Lupe stands on the rock foundation of a cabin that used to be on Norris Peak, too. Photo looks NW.
The best views from Norris Peak were to the SW and NW. Lupe could see quite a number of hills and mountains she had been to at one time or another. To the NW, a housing subdivision occupied the territory at the base of Norris Peak. Despite her long trek here, the Carolina Dog still wasn’t far from civilization.
Thrall Mountain (Center) is lined up with more distant Black Elk Peak (Center). Photo looks SSW.Zoomed in on Thrall Mountain (Center). Photo looks SSW.On Norris Peak, Lupe wasn’t far from civilization at all. A housing subdivision in the Geary Boulevard area off Norris Peak Road is seen below. Photo looks NW.View to the WNW.Hat Mountain(4,883 ft.) is the rounded hill on the R. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.Lupe astride part of the old foundation for the former fire lookout tower. In the distance, the existing Seth Bullock lookout tower is faintly visible on Scruton Mountain (Center). New Year’s Eve Peak (L) is also in view. The Pactola reservoir dam is by Lupe’s ears. Photo looks SW.In the distance are High Point 5917 (L), New Year’s Eve Peak(6,046 ft.) (Center), and Scruton Mountain(5,922 ft.) (R). Photo looks SW.
After a good look around, Lupe relaxed for a while. She wasn’t hungry yet, refusing Taste of the Wild when SPHP set it out for her, and drank only a little water. Mostly she just wanted to lay there and look out across the hills. SPHP petted her, and reminded Lupe it had been her 2nd birthday the last time she was here. It hardly seemed possible so much time had gone by since then.
Chillin’ on Norris Peak.
Then, while Lupe rested, SPHP wandered around taking more photos.
Perrin Mountain(5,212 ft.) is the rounded, forested peak at Center. Photo looks WSW.Storm Hill(5,192 ft.) (L), Boulder Hill(5,331 ft.) (Center), and Silver Mountain(5,405 ft.) (R). Photo looks S with lots of help from the telephoto lens.
When Loop was ready to get going again, she first stopped by the E edge of the summit area for a look at her next objective. From Norris Peak, she could see the top of Prehistoric Ridge.
Before leaving Norris Peak, Loop took a look at Prehistoric Ridge (Center) from here. She was going there next on her way back to the G6. Photo looks SE.
The easiest way to get to Prehistoric Ridge was to travel down Norris Peak’s gently inclined broad NE ridge. Lupe followed a rocky dirt road.
Heading down Norris Peak’s NE ridge. Photo looks ESE.
The NE ridge soon bent around to the SE. Lupe stayed with it until she came to a big ravine draining S. She went partway down the ravine before turning SE to gain a saddle leading over to Prehistoric Ridge from the N. The climb up Prehistoric Ridge itself was steep, but short. Loop went out on a rock ledge at the N end for a look back at Norris Peak.
Lupe on a rock platform at the far N end of Prehistoric Ridge. Norris Peak is the big ridge in the distance. The summit is on the L straight up from Lupe. Photo looks NW.
The top of Prehistoric Ridge is nearly all forested, and slants noticeably down to the NE. The only views were to the SW from above the cliffs Lupe had seen from Turkey Ridge. Staying near the cliffs, Lupe and SPHP went all the way to the SE end of Prehistoric Ridge.
Thrall Mountain(5,091 ft.) (L) and more distant Peak5800 (R) from Prehistoric Ridge. Photo looks SW.A final look back at Norris Peak from cliffs on the SW side of Prehistoric Ridge. Photo looks NW.
The line of cliffs extended all the way to the lower SE end of Prehistoric Ridge. Lupe had to backtrack NW along the NE side of the ridge looking for a way down. After going 500 feet or so, a ravine appeared providing a passable route down into a N branch of Wild Irishman Gulch.
The route down was all thickly forested, but upon reaching the main part of Wild Irishman Gulch, Lupe entered a big field. From the field, the American Dingo had a fine view of the SE end of Prehistoric Ridge.
Lupe in Wild Irishman Gulch with the SE end of Prehistoric Ridge in view. Photo looks NW.SE end of Prehistoric Ridge.
Descending Prehistoric Ridge, Lupe had lost a lot of elevation that she now needed to regain to get back up on the big ridge she had originally followed to Turkey Ridge. She crossed Wild Irishman Gulch, headed back into the trees, and ascended a ravine. She passed just W of High Point 4705, as intended.
Somewhere beyond High Point 4705, SPHP stopped to get Lupe a drink of water. Her silver bowl! It wasn’t in the pack! Instantly, SPHP knew the silver bowl had been forgotten up on Norris Peak. That little silver bowl had been Lupe’s nearly her whole life. It was too late to go back and get it today, though.
Pressing onward, SPHP thought Lupe was right on track to head back to the G6 staying on the long ridge. However, as the light began to fade, somehow Looper wound up on cliffs S of High Point 4841. Hwy 44 W was visible below, as well as a big housing subdivision. The Carolina Dog was more than 0.5 mile too far S!
SPHP tried to avoid it, but Lupe wound up heading down Shanks Gulch. She reached Hwy 44 W almost 0.5 mile W of the G6. Come to think of it, this same exact thing had happened on Lupe’s 2nd birthday. Talk about nostalgia! Eh, it wasn’t that great. Lupe’s adventure ended with a long, dull walk in the ditch next to busy Hwy 44 W. (5:06 PM, 47°F)
The Norris Peak adventure wasn’t really entirely over, however, when Loop reached the G6 – not with the Silver Bowl Quest unfinished! With snow in the forecast, Lupe and SPHP returned to the area two days later. This time Lupe explored a much shorter route to Norris Peak starting from Norris Peak Road. She discovered a good trail winding up the SW slope.
At the top of the mountain, Lupe was happily reunited with her silver bowl again. Some hungry wild animal must have been glad SPHP had forgotten it, though. The Taste of the Wild that had been in it was all gone.
Lupe reunited with her silver bowl on Norris Peak. 1-20-18
Note: Lupe treasures gathered included 8 aluminum cans, 4 other cans, 3 plastic bottles, and 1 glass bottle.
Lupe was late, a whole week late, but it wasn’t her fault. She’d spent the last several days of 2017 in the Denver area visiting babies Felix and Owen, and having adventures with cousin Dusty. The weather had been frigid, anyway, in the Black Hills. It was still 5 below zero when Lupe returned home on New Year’s Eve 2017, and that was the high on New Year’s Day 2018.
Loop had climbed Peak6046 for the first time on New Year’s Eve 2012 way back when she was barely 2 years old. Since then, returning near the end of each year or the beginning of the next, had evolved into a tradition. As far as the American Dingo and SPHP were concerned, Peak 6046 had become New Year’s Eve Peak(6,046 ft.). Now, even though Lupe was a week late, returning to New Year’s Eve Peak seemed like a must for her first Black Hills, SD Expedition of 2018.
It’s odd that it would matter, but this year felt a bit different due to the later date. SPHP decided to shake things up a bit. Lupe would take a slightly different route from her favorite one in recent years. Instead of following USFS Road No. 710 W up a valley N of Peak 5800, Lupe would start by climbing Peak 5800 instead. She’d only been on Peak 5800 once before. She’d climbed the mountain from the W after visiting New Year’s Eve Peak first on New Year’s Day 2016.
Lupe didn’t care what route SPHP wanted to try. The Carolina Dog was just glad that it was finally warm enough to go out on an expedition in the hills! So instead of taking USFS Road No. 710, SPHP had her skip the road entirely and head SW straight for Peak 5800.
Lupe starts out for Peak 5800 on her first Black Hills, SD Expedition of 2018! Photo looks WSW.
Despite the recent bitter cold temperatures, this part of the Black Hills hadn’t received much snow so far this winter. Several inches blanketed the NE slopes of Peak 5800, but that was only half as much as Lupe was used to seeing in this area in recent years.
Without any definite route in mind, Lupe and SPHP wandered up the mountain. Peak 5800 has two NE ridges. Looper soon chanced upon on the one farthest S, which ultimately leads to the lower SE part of the big main summit ridge. The Carolina Dog was in snowy forest most of the way up. As she got higher, she started coming to rock formations, some of which provided decent viewpoints.
At one of the rock formations Lupe reached early in her ascent. The large patch of prairie below is known as the Bald Hills. Photo looks ENE.Loopster had a good view of several mountains she was familiar with from this snowy ledge. Silver Mountain(5,405 ft.) is on the horizon at Center. Boulder Hill(5,331 ft.) is to the L. Part of frozen Sheridan Lake is straight up from Lupe’s head. The high point beyond the lake is Calumet Ridge(5,601 ft.). Photo looks SE.Lupe astride a particularly rocky point on the way up Peak 5800‘s southernmost NE ridge. Photo looks SW.
Lupe reached the top of Peak 5800’s long, broad summit ridge near a high point close to its SE end. This high point wasn’t the true summit, which was still some distance to the NW. Since the broad ridge isn’t heavily forested, Loop already enjoyed some rather nice panoramas.
Loop on a handy Dingo display rock near the lower SE end of Peak 5800’s summit ridge. Black Elk Peak(7,231 ft.) (L) and Five Points(6,221 ft.) (R) are in view. Photo looks SSW.Looking SE again. In the distance are Silver Mountain (Center), Boulder Hill (L) and Calumet Ridge (R, beyond Sheridan Lake).A cheerful Dingo with a grand view of her Black Hills from Peak 5800 on the first expedition of 2018. What a glorious, huge dog park! Photo looks SW.Lupe at the highest point at the SE end of Peak 5800’s summit ridge. The true summit is in view beyond her. New Year’s Eve Peak is the highest distant forested hill on the L. Photo looks NW.
After a look around from the SE end of the summit ridge, Looper sniffed her way NW to the true summit. An easy 10 minute stroll and she was there.
Loopster reaches the true summit of Peak 5800! The Seth Bullock fire lookout tower is just visible on Scruton Mountain(5,922 ft.) (L). Photo looks NNW with some help from the telephoto lens.The Seth Bullock fire lookout tower on Scruton Mountain (L) is easily seen in this photo. Custer Peak(6,804 ft.) is the pointy peak R of Center. Photo looks NNW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.New Year’s Eve Peak(6,046 ft.) (Center) from Peak 5800. Scruton Mountain is at the far R. Photo looks NW.Looking SE back along Peak 5800‘s broad summit ridge. Sheridan Lake is on the R.Looking WSW from the summit of Peak 5800.
The sweeping views from Peak 5800 were actually grander than what Lupe would see from New Year’s Eve Peak, but Loop was still going on. A chilly W breeze encouraged her not to linger too long at Peak 5800’s summit. She left it heading W, and was soon picking her way down through boulders on the mountain’s W face.
Looking back at Peak 5800 after picking a way down through the boulders on the mountain’s W face. Photo looks E.
Once below the boulder field, Lupe and SPHP headed NW across rolling fields and hills. This is a favorite area. A fire had burned the forest here years ago. Young pines now dot the landscape in some places, but most of the terrain is grassy. Sharp rock formations exist scattered along the edge of high ground overlooking territory that slopes S down toward the Horse Creek valley.
Lupe on one of the sharp rock formations along the edge of the higher ground. Photo looks W.Looking S. Black Elk Peak (L), Five Points (R) and False North Point (far R) are in view.
Approaching High Point 5917 from the SE, Lupe rejoined her usual route to New Year’s Eve Peak. She turned W staying S of High Point 5917, and crossed a saddle leading to the SE end of New Year’s Eve Peak’s S ridge. On the W side of the saddle she faced two steep snowy climbs in succession. Neither was particularly long, but the first one was both longest and steepest.
Looper reached Pistol Point, a traditional stopping point on the way to New Year’s Eve Peak. SPHP had named it Pistol Point after a large rock that looks like the handle of a big pistol jutting up out of the ground. The Carolina Dog could see the top of New Year’s Eve Peak(6,046 ft.) from here.
Lupe on one of the large rocks in the Pistol Point area. The forested summit of New Year’s Eve Peak (Center) is seen beyond her. Photo looks NNW.View to the W from Pistol Point. Pistol Point is the high point at the SE end of New Year Eve Peak‘s S ridge, and a favorite stopping point.Looper stands next to the pistol handle at Pistol Point. Photo looks E.
After climbing around on the rocks checking out the views from Pistol Point, Lupe headed W. She was already on New Year’s Eve Peak’s S ridge, which soon swept around to the N. The ridge became narrower, rockier, and more heavily forested as Lupe continued on, before finally widening out again upon reaching New Year’s Eve Peak’s upper S slope.
A few more minutes and Lupe was there, standing atop the boulder at the summit of New Year’s Eve Peak(6,046 ft.).
Looper on New Year’s Eve Peak‘s summit boulder. This was her 5th ascent of the mountain. Photo looks WSW.On top of New Year’s Eve Peak. A cairn can be seen behind Lupe. The cairn wasn’t here the first time Lupe climbed the mountain on 12-31-12. She had seen it for the first time on her 1-1-16 ascent. Photo looks N.
The first two times Lupe had climbed New Year’s Eve Peak, the summit area had all been heavily forested. It had been hard to get much more than a glimpse of a view in any direction. New Year’s Eve Peak used to have a shady, dark, gloomy feel to it, an atmosphere which fit in with being here alone at the end of a dying year.
Sometime during 2015, loggers had come. When Lupe had arrived on New Year’s Day 2016, the S end of the summit area and part of the S slope below it had been cleared. Lots of slash and dead logs had been left to stumble around upon. The affected area was relatively small, but the logging created good, open views to the S and SE. Ever since then, the summit has been brighter and cheerier.
Somehow Lupe and SPHP preferred it the old way, yet that didn’t mean there was any reason not to take a look around.
Looking SE from New Year’s Eve Peak. Calumet Ridge(5,601 ft.) (Center) is seen beyond Sheridan Lake. Silver Mountain(5,405 ft.) is on the L, and Boulder Hill(5,331 ft.) on the far L.
A chilly 20 mph W wind was blowing. It had been 40°F when Lupe and SPHP left the G6 this morning. It didn’t feel like the day had warmed up a bit since then. Lupe and SPHP sat huddled together at the W edge of the summit facing the cold wind, pondering the beautiful winter scene, the passage of 2017, and start of 2018.
Looking WSW with some help from the telephoto lens.
Lupe munched on Taste of the Wild. She had been eating snow, and didn’t want any water. SPHP hadn’t brought anything else.
It’s funny what the mind is capable of. Every other time Loop had been here, the mood had been melancholy, especially when she’d been here right on New Year’s Eve. There was something psychologically depressing about watching the sun sink toward the horizon, and the light of day disappear for the last time on a year that had been part of the unknown future not so long ago. A year now rapidly passing away never to be seen or experienced again.
The years when Loop had been here on New Year’s Day instead of right on New Year’s Eve, some of that sadness still lingered. However, it was already being counterbalanced to a degree by the hope, brilliance and excitement of the new year just beginning.
Perhaps it was partially because Lupe was here earlier in the day today than on previous years, while the sun was still relatively high in the sky. As the Carolina Dog and SPHP sat facing the cold wind, it no longer felt possible to truly mourn the passing of 2017. Surprisingly, with only 2% of 2018 now history, the new year no longer seemed quite as completely bright and shiny as it had been a week ago, either. The mind had already made the adjustment and moved on.
It only felt cold. And like Lupe really had arrived late. Not terribly late, but late. It was good to be here, though, together again, on top of New Year’s Eve Peak peering out at the quiet, familiar wintry scene last gazed upon a little more than a year ago. Loopster’s 2018 adventures were now underway. That was a good thing. 2017 had been a fabulous year, and 2018 was still a 98% clean slate with many adventures to come. Her annual pilgrimage to New Year’s Eve Peak complete, Lupe was ready to press on.
Puppy ho! She was right, no sense sitting in the cold wind too long. Lupe returned briefly to the summit boulder.
Loop on New Year’s Eve Peak‘s summit boulder once again. Photo looks N.
Even though this year’s experience wasn’t quite the same, coming here today had been better late than never. Lupe and SPHP bid farewell to New Year’s Eve Peak, promising to return again, hopefully right when New Year’s Eve finally rolled around again many adventures from now. Then Lupe led the way down the mountain’s S slope to retrace her route along the S ridge back to Pistol Point.
On a ledge early on the way down the S slope. Photo looks W.At an opening along New Year’s Eve Peak‘s upper S slope. Photo looks WSW.Lupe reaches the transition point between the S slope and S ridge. Photo looks S.Peak 5800 (Center) from rocks near Pistol Point. Photo looks ESE.
It felt good to be moving again. Lower down the W wind was demoted to a mere breeze. The slanting afternoon sunlight highlighted details of the terrain. Growing shadows added contrast. All the way back to the G6, Lupe ran and played in a beautiful world. 2018 was finally off to a good start! (3:42 PM, 33 °F)
Looking S from the S slopes of High Point 5917.On USFS Road No. 710 taking the traditional route back to the G6. High Point 5917 is on the R. Photo looks W.
