{"id":12539,"date":"2018-02-13T08:10:42","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T15:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=12539"},"modified":"2021-02-21T15:33:12","modified_gmt":"2021-02-21T22:33:12","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-221-peak-5800-new-years-eve-peak-1-7-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=12539","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 221 – Peak 5800 & New Year’s Eve Peak (1-7-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Start – Intersection of Hwy 385 & USFS Road No. 710, 10:26 AM, 40\u00b0F<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe was late, a whole week late, but it wasn’t her fault.\u00a0 She’d spent the last several days of 2017 in the Denver area visiting babies Felix and Owen, and having adventures with cousin Dusty.\u00a0 The weather had been frigid, anyway, in the Black Hills.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Loop had climbed Peak<\/span> 6046<\/span><\/a><\/strong> for the first time on New Year’s Eve 2012 way back when she was barely 2 years old.\u00a0 Since then, returning near the end of each year or the beginning of the next, had evolved into a tradition.\u00a0 As far as the American Dingo and SPHP were concerned, Peak 6046 had become New Year’s Eve Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,046 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

It’s odd that it would matter, but this year felt a bit different due to the later date.\u00a0 SPHP decided to shake things up a bit.\u00a0 Lupe would take a slightly different route from her favorite one in recent years.\u00a0 Instead of following USFS Road No. 710 W up a valley N of Peak 5800, Lupe would start by climbing Peak 5800 instead.\u00a0 She’d only been on Peak 5800 once before.\u00a0 She’d climbed the mountain from the W after visiting New Year’s Eve Peak first on New Year’s Day 2016.<\/p>\n

Lupe didn’t care what route SPHP wanted to try.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was just glad that it was finally warm enough to go out on an expedition in the hills!\u00a0 So instead of taking USFS Road No. 710, SPHP had her skip the road entirely and head SW straight for Peak 5800<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe starts out for Peak 5800<\/strong> on her first Black Hills, SD Expedition of 2018! Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the recent bitter cold temperatures, this part of the Black Hills hadn’t received much snow so far this winter.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Without any definite route in mind, Lupe and SPHP wandered up the mountain.\u00a0 Peak 5800 has two NE ridges.\u00a0 Looper soon chanced upon on the one farthest S, which ultimately leads to the lower SE part of the big main summit ridge.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was in snowy forest most of the way up.\u00a0 As she got higher, she started coming to rock formations, some of which provided decent viewpoints.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At one of the rock formations Lupe reached early in her ascent. The large patch of prairie below is known as the Bald Hills<\/strong>. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loopster had a good view of several mountains she was familiar with from this snowy ledge. Silver Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,405 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is on the horizon at Center. Boulder Hill<\/span><\/a> (5,331 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is to the L. Part of frozen Sheridan Lake<\/strong> is straight up from Lupe’s head. The high point beyond the lake is Calumet Ridge<\/span><\/a> (5,601 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe astride a particularly rocky point on the way up Peak 5800<\/strong>‘s southernmost NE ridge. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached the top of Peak 5800’s long, broad summit ridge near a high point close to its SE end.\u00a0 This high point wasn’t the true summit, which was still some distance to the NW.\u00a0 Since the broad ridge isn’t heavily forested, Loop already enjoyed some rather nice panoramas.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop on a handy Dingo display rock near the lower SE end of Peak 5800’s summit ridge<\/strong>. Black Elk Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,231 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> (L) and Five Points<\/span><\/a> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> (R) are in view. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking SE again. In the distance are Silver Mountain<\/strong> (Center), Boulder Hill<\/strong> (L) and Calumet Ridge<\/strong> (R, beyond Sheridan Lake<\/strong>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A cheerful Dingo with a grand view of her Black Hills from Peak 5800<\/strong> on the first expedition of 2018. What a glorious, huge dog park! Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the highest point at the SE end of Peak 5800’s summit ridge<\/strong>. The true summit is in view beyond her. New Year’s Eve Peak<\/strong> is the highest distant forested hill on the L. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a look around from the SE end of the summit ridge, Looper sniffed her way NW to the true summit.\u00a0 An easy 10 minute stroll and she was there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loopster reaches the true summit of Peak 5800<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>! The Seth Bullock fire lookout tower is just visible on Scruton Mountain<\/a><\/span> (5,922 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> (L). Photo looks NNW with some help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Seth Bullock fire lookout tower on Scruton Mountain<\/strong> (L) is easily seen in this photo. Custer Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the pointy peak R of Center. Photo looks NNW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
New Year’s Eve Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,046 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> (Center) from Peak 5800<\/strong>. Scruton Mountain<\/strong> is at the far R. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking SE back along Peak 5800<\/strong>‘s broad summit ridge. Sheridan Lake is on the R.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking WSW from the summit of Peak 5800<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.\u00a0 A chilly W breeze encouraged her not to linger too long at Peak 5800’s summit.\u00a0 She left it heading W, and was soon picking her way down through boulders on the mountain’s W face.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking back at Peak 5800<\/strong> after picking a way down through the boulders on the mountain’s W face. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once below the boulder field, Lupe and SPHP headed NW across rolling fields and hills.\u00a0 This is a favorite area.\u00a0 A fire had burned the forest here years ago.\u00a0 Young pines now dot the landscape in some places, but most of the terrain is grassy.\u00a0 Sharp rock formations exist scattered along the edge of high ground overlooking territory that slopes S down toward the Horse Creek valley.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on one of the sharp rock formations along the edge of the higher ground. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking S. Black Elk Peak<\/strong> (L), Five Points<\/strong> (R) and False North Point<\/strong> (far R) are in view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Approaching High Point 5917 from the SE, Lupe rejoined her usual route to New Year’s Eve Peak.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 On the W side of the saddle she faced two steep snowy climbs in succession.\u00a0 Neither was particularly long, but the first one was both longest and steepest.<\/p>\n

Looper reached Pistol Point, a traditional stopping point on the way to New Year’s Eve Peak.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog could see the top of New Year’s Eve Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,046 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> from here.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on one of the large rocks in the Pistol Point<\/strong> area. The forested summit of New Year’s Eve Peak<\/strong> (Center) is seen beyond her. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
View to the W from Pistol Point<\/strong>. Pistol Point<\/strong> is the high point at the SE end of New Year Eve Peak<\/strong>‘s S ridge, and a favorite stopping point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looper stands next to the pistol handle at Pistol Point<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After climbing around on the rocks checking out the views from Pistol Point, Lupe headed W.\u00a0 She was already on New Year’s Eve Peak’s S ridge, which soon swept around to the N.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

A few more minutes and Lupe was there, standing atop the boulder at the summit of New Year’s Eve Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,046 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looper on New Year’s Eve Peak<\/strong>‘s summit boulder. This was her 5th ascent of the mountain. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On top of New Year’s Eve Peak<\/strong>. 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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first two times Lupe had climbed New Year’s Eve Peak, the summit area had all been heavily forested.\u00a0 It had been hard to get much more than a glimpse of a view in any direction.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Sometime during 2015, loggers had come.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Lots of slash and dead logs had been left to stumble around upon.\u00a0 The affected area was relatively small, but the logging created good, open views to the S and SE.\u00a0 Ever since then, the summit has been brighter and cheerier.<\/p>\n

Somehow Lupe and SPHP preferred it the old way, yet that didn’t mean there was any reason not to take a look around.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking SE from New Year’s Eve Peak<\/strong>. Calumet Ridge<\/span><\/a> (5,601 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) is seen beyond Sheridan Lake. Silver Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,405 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is on the L, and Boulder Hill<\/span><\/a> (5,331 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> on the far L.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A chilly 20 mph W wind was blowing.\u00a0 It had been 40\u00b0F when Lupe and SPHP left the G6 this morning.\u00a0 It didn’t feel like the day had warmed up a bit since then.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking WSW with some help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe munched on Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 She had been eating snow, and didn’t want any water.\u00a0 SPHP hadn’t brought anything else.<\/p>\n

It’s funny what the mind is capable of.\u00a0 Every other time Loop had been here, the mood had been melancholy, especially when she’d been here right on New Year’s Eve.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 A year now rapidly passing away never to be seen or experienced again.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 However, it was already being counterbalanced to a degree by the hope, brilliance and excitement of the new year just beginning.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 As the Carolina Dog and SPHP sat facing the cold wind, it no longer felt possible to truly mourn the passing of 2017.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The mind had already made the adjustment and moved on.<\/p>\n

It only felt cold.\u00a0 And like Lupe really had arrived late.\u00a0 Not terribly late, but late.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Loopster’s 2018 adventures were now underway.\u00a0 That was a good thing.\u00a0 2017 had been a fabulous year, and 2018 was still a 98% clean slate with many adventures to come.\u00a0 Her annual pilgrimage to New Year’s Eve Peak complete, Lupe was ready to press on.<\/p>\n

Puppy ho!\u00a0 She was right, no sense sitting in the cold wind too long.\u00a0 Lupe returned briefly to the summit boulder.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop on New Year’s Eve Peak<\/strong>‘s summit boulder once again. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even though this year’s experience wasn’t quite the same, coming here today had been better late than never.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Then Lupe led the way down the mountain’s S slope to retrace her route along the S ridge back to Pistol Point.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On a ledge early on the way down the S slope. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At an opening along New Year’s Eve Peak<\/strong>‘s upper S slope. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the transition point between the S slope and S ridge. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peak 5800<\/strong> (Center) from rocks near Pistol Point<\/strong>. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It felt good to be moving again.\u00a0 Lower down the W wind was demoted to a mere breeze.\u00a0 The slanting afternoon sunlight highlighted details of the terrain.\u00a0 Growing shadows added contrast.\u00a0 All the way back to the G6, Lupe ran and played in a beautiful world.\u00a0 2018 was finally off to a good start!\u00a0 (3:42 PM, 33 \u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking S from the S slopes of High Point 5917<\/span><\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On USFS Road No. 710 taking the traditional route back to the G6. High Point 5917<\/span><\/strong> is on the R. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Expedition No. 187 – New Year’s Eve Peak (12-30-16)<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Expedition No. 242 – New Year’s Eve Peak, Peak 6070 & Peak 6043 (12-17-18)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0 Check out her Black Hills, SD & WY\u00a0Expeditions\u00a0Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Start – Intersection of Hwy 385 & USFS Road No. 710, 10:26 AM, 40\u00b0F Lupe was late, a whole week late, but it wasn’t her fault.\u00a0 She’d spent the last several days of 2017 in the Denver area visiting babies Felix and Owen, and having adventures with cousin Dusty.\u00a0 The weather had been frigid, anyway, … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 221 – Peak 5800 & New Year’s Eve Peak (1-7-18)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12518,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,9,106,104,539,556,801,304],"class_list":["post-12539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-lupe","tag-new-years-eve-peak","tag-peak-5800","tag-peak-6046","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_8586.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12539"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32292,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12539\/revisions\/32292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}