Old Bald Peak – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 319 – Old Bald Peak (11-18-23)

Well, they were back! Yesterday afternoon Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea, and Cousin Dixie arrived at Hotel Lupe from Colorado after having visited only a little over a month ago in October. While it was great to see them again, this time their reason for coming wasn’t entirely a good one.

On October 15th, Grandma had fallen. Fortunately, she hadn’t broken any bones and was alright, but not too many days later she got pretty sick. Grandma had to come and live with Lupe and SPHP for a while. Happily, she was finally better again now, and had just recently moved into assisted living. Aunt Andrea was going to spend a couple of days visiting Grandma, and help her get used to her new situation.

10:00 AM, 52ºF, junction of Horse Creek Road & USFS Road No. 243 – Of course, with Grandma in good paws, that left Uncle Joe and Cousin Dixie free to spend some time in the Black Hills today. What a beautiful day it was for November, too! Surprisingly warm, and not a cloud in the sky as the trek up USFS Road No. 243 began.

Parked along **USFS Road No. 243**. Photo looks SW.

**Joe** and **Dixie** lead the way. Photo looks SW.

Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.) was today’s chosen destination. Most of the route to it was merely a road hike. The section along USFS Road No. 243 was uphill all the way. Joe and Dixie made one off-road foray to have a look at a big round water trough, but other than that, and a few short breathers, everyone made steady progress on the long trudge higher.

**Joe** and **Dixie** over by the water trough. Photo looks W.

Taking a breather after a bit of a march. Photo looks WSW.

**Dixie** and **Lupe** out in front. Photo looks W.

Lupe was thrilled that Cousin Dixie seemed to have largely forgotten her former penchant for herding her. The American Dingo was usually able to proceed in peace, seldom issuing a warning growl in Dixie’s direction.

This welcome development seemed due to Dixie being old enough now at 7 months to start showing genuine interest in what was happening in the forest. Every now and then, Dixie pounced as if she heard something stirring among the dry leaves near the road.

After more than a mile, USFS Road No. 243 leveled off at a cattle guard. A junction with USFS Road No. 249 was just a short distance beyond it. From a small rise 100 feet S, both Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) and Sylvan Peak (7,000 ft.) were in sight.

The **cattle guard** at the **W end of USFS Road No. 243** near the **junction with No. 249**. Photo looks WNW.

**Black Elk Peak** (L of Center), **Sylvan Peak** (far R). Photo looks S.

After a look at the view, it was time to head N on No. 249. The road was flat at first, but soon began a gradual descent. After 0.75 mile, Old Bald Peak was in sight only another 0.5 mile NW.

Heading N on **USFS Road No. 249**. Photo looks NNE.

A path leaving the road headed straight for Old Bald Peak seemed like an obvious and convenient choice, but quickly faded away. A bushwhack ensued among scattered pines amid extensive stands of aspens. Deadfall littered the forest floor.

A promising start on the path to **Old Bald Peak** (R of Center). Photo looks NW.

Off-trail amid the aspens. **Old Bald Peak** (R). Photo looks NW.

After crossing a couple of drainages, a steeper trek began up Old Bald Peak’s SE slope, which was mostly covered with pines. Higher up, open regions began providing views of Peak 6043 and others beyond it. The steepest part of the entire climb came on a grassy slope just below the summit ridge.

Getting close to the top. Photo looks NW.

11:45 AM, 62ºF – No doubt Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.) was very old, but it was far from being bald. The reasonably flat summit ridge, the highest part of which was something like 150 feet long N/S and 30 feet wide E/W, was covered with enough pines to block the views in most directions.

Uncle Joe had brought his portable ham radio along. Upon arriving at the likely true summit near the center of the summit ridge, he began looking for the best spot to set up his telescoping antenna. Meanwhile, Lupe went back S a little way to stand on a small rock outcropping at least in contention for the title of true summit.

**Joe** and **Dixie** at the **true summit**. Photo looks NE.

On one of the highest rocks toward the S end of the summit ridge. Photo looks SE.

It was then, only a few minutes after reaching the top of Old Bald Peak, that a remarkable thing happened. Dixie had tagged along with Lupe and SPHP, and suddenly started barking as she stared farther S.

Someone was coming! SPHP expected to see hunters. Instead, moments later, Lupe met Curt and Jodi Massie of Rapid City. Amazingly, Curt and Jodi not only turned out to be fellow peakbaggers, but they even knew of Lupe from The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe! It was the first time the American Dingo had ever met anyone in the Black Hills purely by chance that already knew of her exploits.

With **Curt** **& Jodi Massie** on **Old Bald Peak**.

Curt is a businessman and South Dakota State Representative for House District 33, while Jodi teaches at Meadowbrook Elementary school. On this fine November day, they were working on a personal goal Lupe and SPHP certainly approved of – to climb the highest 100 Black Hills peaks!

Curt and Jodi had just come from Peak 6167, roughly 0.5 mile S. Old Bald Peak was their 19th summit, and they were thinking about maybe heading over to Peak 6043 nearly a mile ESE next. After a pleasant 15 minute conversation with SPHP, and giving Lupe a pat, Curt and Jodie were on their way.

Wow! Curt and Jodi had already heard of me, SPHP! Maybe I’m getting famous?

Undeniably true, Loopster! It’s taken only 12 years and 11 months to run into someone in our Black Hills home territory aware of your existence.

Don’t forget about Peter and Meghan Cielenski, SPHP! They recognized me when we got back to camp after climbing Atlantic Peak in the Wind River Range, remember?

That’s right, Loop! And meeting them took only 9 years and 9 months, so the pace you’re being recognized at has tripled, since it isn’t even quite 3 years and 3 months later yet.

Do you suppose I’ll become rich and famous, SPHP? And when will the rich part start?

Oh, no doubt about it, Looper! Taylor Swift better watch out! And as far as the rich part goes – the sooner, the better.

By now, Joe had decided where to put up his antenna, and required a bit of SPHP’s assistance to get the 4 lateral wires spread out. Once that was done, all SPHP had to do was prevent Lupe and Dixie from running into the laterals since they weren’t very securely fastened.

Joe all set up atop **Old Bald Peak**. Photo looks W.

Working the portable ham radio while **Dixie** looks on.

**Cousin Dixie** guarding the very important radio operation. Photo looks W.

Hanging around Joe while he was on the radio wasn’t working out. Both Lupe and Dixie kept running into the laterals despite SPHP’s best efforts. Seemed like a good time for a little tour of the greater summit region to have a look at whatever views might be available.

From another rock well S of the true summit, Mount Warner (5,889 ft.) and Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.) were visible through an opening in the trees. Repositioning a bit, Calumet Ridge (5,601 ft.) and a little slice of Sheridan Lake were, too.

**Mount Warner** and **Samelius Peak** (far R) in the distance. Photo looks SE.

**Calumet Ridge** (L), **Mount Warner** (R of Center) and **Samelius Peak** (R) all near the horizon. Photo looks SE.

Everywhere to the W, a long line of high ridges was visible strung out along the E edge of the limestone plateau country of the western Black Hills beyond a vast region of lower, forested hills. The view to the SW was particularly attractive.

After the Old Bald Peak scenic tour, it was time to check in on how Joe’s ham radio operations were going.

**Lupe** checking in with **Uncle Joe**. Photo looks NW.

So, how’s it going, Uncle Joe?

Oh, nothing like the response we got back in the Summits on the Air days with your Cousin Dusty, but not too bad, Lupe. My antenna isn’t the best, so people had a hard time hearing me. Wound up spending a lot of time talking to a friend named Terry back in Colorado, who is a new ham radio enthusiast, so that was fun. Also worked a guy in Missouri, and even someone in Russia who could hear me quite clearly.

In Russia! You didn’t collude with anyone in Russia, did you Uncle Joe?

Collude? Of course not, Loopster! We just exchanged call signs and a few short messages via Morse code.

What! You were sending coded messages to a Russian, Uncle Joe? Seems sort of suspicious to me.

Suspicious! We were just using Morse code, Lupe. Completely harmless. Morse Code has been around for nearly 2 centuries. Everyone knows Morse code, if they have any interest in amateur radio at all.

Oh, really? So you admit that you’ve been knowingly sending messages to a Russian in a code that they’ve already broken? What was his or her name, Joe? Wasn’t “Vlad” by any chance, was it?

NO! What’s gotten into you, Lupe? I’m your Uncle Joe!

Well, I happen to notice you didn’t send any messages to this Russian while a representative of the South Dakota government was around.

SPHP, I think it’s about time we muzzle your Dingo and head back.

1:49 PM – It was all just crazy talk. SPHP wasn’t about to muzzle Lupe. Best to forget the whole thing, and that’s exactly what happened. More than 2 hours after arriving on Old Bald Peak, everyone headed down the S slope with Peak 6167, where Curt and Jodie had been only a little while ago, in view nearby, and Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) on the horizon.

And as far as the all-American Dingo knows, Uncle Joe has never again ever even thought about colluding with anyone in Russa.

That may be, SPHP, but do you think maybe we ought to check on whether or not that radio Uncle Joe uses was made in China?

Uh, no. I’d let it go, Loopster! (End 3:00 PM)

Leaving **Old Bald Peak**. **Black Elk Peak** (L of Center), **Peak 6167** (R). Photo looks S.

Starting down **USFS Road No. 243** on the way back to the RAV4.

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 224 – Peak 6167 & Old Bald Peak (3-24-18)

Start – 11:52 AM, 52°F, intersection of USFS Road No. 243 & Horse Creek Road

That last stretch of Horse Creek Road had been a muddy mess, but the G6 made it through. Lupe was at the start of USFS Road No. 243 again for the first time since … well, SPHP couldn’t remember since when. Whenever it was, it sure seemed like a long time ago now.

Lupe finally had a nice sunny, sort of warm day for late March. Right away, she was clearly happy with the situation. Due at least in part to more wintry weather than normal, the Carolina Dog hadn’t been on a proper Black Hills expedition in nearly 2 months. She was long overdue and looking forward to finally enjoying a romp in the hills.

Today’s peakbagging goal was Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.) in the E central hills. Lupe had been there twice before, most recently well over 2 years ago on SPHP’s birthday. That wasn’t the most important thing about Old Bald Peak, however.

Old Bald Peak has the distinction of being Lupe’s very first peakbagging goal ever. Way back on 1-29-12 (Expedition No. 3!) when the Carolina Dog was only 13.5 months old, Lupe and SPHP had set out to find Old Bald Peak. Loop had started from Horse Creek Road that day, too, but from considerably farther away than where she was now. SPHP hadn’t been able to find the mountain, so her first peakbagging attempt had been officially unsuccessful, although she’d made it to the top of several other hills that day.

Finding the mountain wouldn’t be a problem today. Getting to Old Bald Peak from here would be cake. As a new twist on things, Lupe would also visit nearby Peak 6167, a slightly higher hill S of Old Bald Peak on the way. Looper had never been to Peak 6167 before.

A cheerful American Dingo set out following USFS Road No. 243 going SSW up a long draw. The road was partially covered by melting snow and ice, and partly by muddy rivulets of snow melt making the road rather mucky.

A cheerful American Dingo sets off on USFS Road No. 243 on her way to Old Bald Peak. Photo looks SW.

SPHP was surprised at how little snow was actually up in the hills. The road was snowier than anywhere else. Of course, Lupe loved the snow! Photo looks SW.

After more than 0.5 mile, the draw Lupe was going up split. So did the road. An unmarked side road continued SSW. Loop stuck with No. 243, which turned WSW here. Nothing else changed much. The road was still snowy, and Lupe continued gaining elevation steadily.

After another 0.5 mile, Loop reached a saddle at the end of the draw. A fence and a cattle guard were here. On the other side of the saddle, Lupe came to a junction with USFS Road No. 249. A second junction was only 100 feet away to the SW. Loop and SPHP went over there. No signage of any help, but SPHP was already certain where Lupe was. USFS Road No. 249 continued S from here down Marshall Gulch. USFS Road No. 530 headed W, and would soon turn NW on the way down Spruce Gulch.

Loopster didn’t need to take any road from here. She was excited and pleased when SPHP encouraged her to leave the roads heading N into open forest. Roaming the Black Hills National Forest off any road or trail is usually Lupe’s favorite thing to do.

After going N only a short way, Lupe turned WNW to climb a mostly forested hill. Deadfall timber was on the slope, and attempts to avoid the deadfall as much as possible greatly influenced the choice of routes. This hill was only a little over 200 feet higher than where Lupe had left USFS Road No. 249. Loop soon arrived at the summit.

The top of this first hill was rather rocky. Bushes and trees made moving around the summit more of a chore than it should have been. Lupe did get quite a nice clear view from a large rock outcropping toward the SW. The higher hills Loop could see off to the SW looked like they still had quite a bit of snow.

Lupe reaches the top of the first hill she climbed today. She is 0.25 mile WNW of the area where USFS Roads No. 243, 249 & 530 meet, and more than a mile SSE of Old Bald Peak. Photo looks SSW.

Loopster stands on the best viewpoint from this first hill. She could see a lot of Black Hills territory off to the S and W from here. Photo looks SW.

From another vantage point, it was possible to catch this glimpse of territory to the E. **Peak 5800** is in the distance on the L. Photo looks E.

After taking a short break on this first hill, Lupe and SPHP continued on. Peak 6167 was only 0.75 mile to the NNW from here. Right away, Lupe had to lose 150 feet of elevation. Losing the elevation was the hardest part of the whole journey to Peak 6167. The ridge Loop was following was rocky, full of trees and bushes, and even some snow on this N slope.

Once she had lost the elevation, Lupe had an easier time continuing N. She was starting to gain elevation again following a much broadened ridge compared to where she’d come down. It wasn’t long before Looper saw something that really excited her. A herd of 7 or 8 giant deers (elk) had heard Lupe and SPHP coming, and were running off through the forest.

Lupe dashed off to see where the giant deers were going, but they had a big head start. She couldn’t begin to catch up with them. Nevertheless, she came back to SPHP panting hard, but with a big smile.

With all the excitement over, Lupe and SPHP continued on and were soon in position to begin an ascent of Peak 6167’s SSE ridge. Parts of the ridge had so much deadfall timber, Loop sometimes had to down climb a bit to get around it. She always stayed E of the ridgeline then. This went on until the American Dingo was practically at the top of the mountain.

The summit of Peak 6167 was unusual. Pine trees ringed most of a 100 foot long summit ridge, which was oriented NNW/SSE. Two rows of slate stuck up on either side of this ridge separated by a grassy lane 10 to 20 feet wide. The row of slate to the E was nearly vertical, and featured the highest rock on the mountain, which stood 5 feet above the grass. Most of the W row of slate jutted out of the ground at only a 30° angle.

The first chunk of slate Lupe came to was also unusual. It was standing nearly vertical despite being part of the much more sharply angled W row. Lupe had no trouble hopping up on top of it. She would have been at the absolute true summit of the mountain, if not for smaller rocks 20 feet away that stuck up a foot higher along the E spine of slate.

Lupe reaches the summit of **Peak 6167** for the first time ever. Photo looks NNW.

Loop balances on the highest rock big enough for her to stand on up on **Peak 6167**. She’s only a foot lower than the true summit here. The true summit is the highest rock seen on the R.

*Well, I made it. Satisfied, SPHP? …. Yeah, Looper, that was great! You can hop on down again, if you like.*

Lupe stands near the E spine of slate sticking up out of the summit of **Peak 6167**. The rock she had just been perched on is seen beyond her on the R. This is a good look at the grassy lane along the summit ridge. Photo looks SSE.

Looper near the highest rock (L) on **Peak 6167**. The top of this rock was way too small for her to stand on, but SPHP lifted the Carolina Dog up so she could put her paw on top to claim her latest peakbagging success. Photo looks SSE.

Not much could be seen from the summit. Trees blocked the views in nearly every direction. However, from some of the slanty pieces of slate along the W side of the grassy lane, Looper did have a fairly good view off toward the SW.

Looper stands on one of the slanty pieces of slate along the W spine of Peak 6167’s summit ridge. She has the best view from the summit area from here. Photo looks SW.

After photos from the summit area, Loop and SPHP headed a little back toward the S. Just before Lupe had reached the summit, she had come to a flat, grassy area with views in that direction. She had been able to see Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), the highest mountain in South Dakota. Black Elk Peak is always an attraction.

Lupe at the S end of Peak 6167’s summit ridge. The big rock she had first got up on here is seen on the R. Photo looks S.

*You coming to see Black Elk Peak, SPHP? ….. Be right there, Looper!*

*There it is folks, the highest mountain in South Dakota! **Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** is on the L. **Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.)** is on the R.* Photo looks S.

From this same flat, grassy area, the American Dingo could also see Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) and a sliver of Sheridan Lake.

**Boulder Hill** (L) and part of **Sheridan Lake** (R). Photo looks SE.

Lupe had now seen about what there was to see from Peak 6167. It was time to press on to Old Bald Peak, which was now less than 0.4 mile to the N. An abandoned road curls up Peak 6167 from the W clear around to the E side of the mountain. Lupe hadn’t come up this road, but she started her journey N to Old Bald Mountain along it.

The abandoned road was full of snow. Lupe followed the snow all the way down to where the road curled W around the N side of Peak 6167.

Lupe hadn’t come up this abandoned road leading to the top of **Peak 6167**, but she started her journey to Old Bald Peak going down it. Photo looks NNW.

Old Bald Peak hadn’t been visible from the summit of Peak 6167 due to the forest, but Lupe got a fairly good look at it on her way down the abandoned road.

Lupe gets a good look at **Old Bald Peak**, her next peakbagging objective, from the snowy abandoned road. Photo looks N.

Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.) is only 37 feet lower than Peak 6167, but Lupe would have to lose nearly 200 feet of elevation on her way over there. Naturally, the vast majority of this elevation had to be regained.

Once Lupe left the road at the N end of Peak 6167, her route down to the saddle leading to Old Bald Peak was fairly steep. Looper was soon down, however, and beginning her climb back to the summit of Old Bald Peak for the first time in exactly 2 years, 4 months.

Lupe makes it back to the summit of **Old Bald Peak** for the first time in 2 years and 4 months. This was the first time she had ever climbed the mountain from the S. Photo looks S.

This was Lupe’s 3rd successful ascent of **Old Bald Peak**. She seemed pensive about it. Perhaps she was remembering that very first time way back on Expedition No. 3 when SPHP hadn’t been able to find the way here on a winter day?

The big views from the summits of the hills Lupe had climbed today all seemed to be off to the SW. Old Bald Peak was no exception. Once again forest blocked the views in virtually all other directions. The scene may have been a bit repetitious, but the snowy high country off to the SW was still beautiful!

*Just think, SPHP! A few more weeks and all that snow will melt. We will be able to go exploring way up in the western Black Hills high country again!* Photo looks SW.

Peak 6167 couldn’t be seen from the top of Old Bald Peak. Should have taken a photo of it on the way up. Lupe and SPHP went far enough back down Old Bald Peak’s S slope to find a spot with a halfway decent look at Peak 6167.

*Hey, SPHP, there’s **Black Elk Peak** (R of Center) off in the distance again!* Photo looks S.

Looking back at **Peak 6167** from the S slopes of **Old Bald Peak**. The abandoned road Lupe had come down on the way over here is clearly visible. Photo looks S.

After getting the photo of Peak 6167, Loopster and SPHP returned to the summit of Old Bald Peak. Lupe’s peakbagging for the day was complete. 5 minutes were spent in contemplation before continuing on.

The peakbagging might be over, but for Lupe the best part of the day was still ahead. From Old Bald Peak, Loopster and SPHP wandered N through the quiet forest for a long way. It was a fun time in parts of the forest Lupe had been to before, but not for more than 2 years. Lupe saw many deer. She ran sniffing and exploring in places hardly anyone ever comes to.

Lupe starts down the easy N slope of Old Bald Peak. She was anticipating a good time re-exploring parts of the forest she hadn’t been to in years. Photo looks NNW.

On the way down Old Bald Peak’s N ridge. **Custer Peak (6,804 ft.)** is the bump on the horizon on the R. Photo looks NNW.

The wandering was a good time. SPHP enjoyed it, too. Lupe eventually made it down to USFS Road No. 249 again, well N of Old Bald Peak. The rest of the way back to the G6 was a road trek, but a pleasant and still fondly remembered one. Lupe followed USFS Roads No. 249, No. 677, and No. 675 to No. 244, which became Horse Creek Road.

After a long absence, it had been great to get out in the hills again! Best of all, spring was finally here. Maybe it was still early yet, but Lupe’s 2018 adventures would soon be heating up right along with the weather. (4:47 PM, 46°F)

In an aspen forest N of Old Bald Peak at the onset of Spring.

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