{"id":14896,"date":"2018-04-02T08:10:08","date_gmt":"2018-04-02T14:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=14896"},"modified":"2020-09-24T12:33:06","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T18:33:06","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-224-peak-6167-old-bald-peak-3-24-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=14896","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 224 – Peak 6167 & Old Bald Peak (3-24-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Start – 11:52 AM, 52\u00b0F, intersection of USFS Road No. 243 & Horse Creek Road<\/em><\/p>\n

That last stretch of Horse Creek Road had been a muddy mess, but the G6 made it through.\u00a0 Lupe was at the start of USFS Road No. 243 again for the first time since … well, SPHP couldn’t remember since when.\u00a0 Whenever it was, it sure seemed like a long time ago now.<\/p>\n

Lupe finally had a nice sunny, sort of warm day for late March.\u00a0 Right away, she was clearly happy with the situation.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 She was long overdue and looking forward to finally enjoying a romp in the hills.<\/p>\n

Today’s peakbagging goal was Old Bald Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> in the E central hills.\u00a0 Lupe had been there twice before, most recently well over 2 years ago on SPHP’s birthday.\u00a0 That wasn’t the most important thing about Old Bald Peak, however.<\/p>\n

Old Bald Peak has the distinction of being Lupe’s very first peakbagging goal ever.\u00a0 Way back on 1-29-12 (Expedition No. 3!)<\/em> when the Carolina Dog was only 13.5 months old, Lupe and SPHP had set out to find Old Bald Peak.\u00a0 Loop had started from Horse Creek Road that day, too, but from considerably farther away than where she was now.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Finding the mountain wouldn’t be a problem today.\u00a0 Getting to Old Bald Peak from here would be cake.\u00a0 As a new twist on things, Lupe would also visit nearby Peak<\/span> 6167<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, a slightly higher hill S of Old Bald Peak on the way.\u00a0 Looper had never been to Peak 6167 before.<\/p>\n

A cheerful American Dingo set out following USFS Road No. 243 going SSW up a long draw.\u00a0 The road was partially covered by melting snow and ice, and partly by muddy rivulets of snow melt making the road rather mucky.<\/p>\n

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A cheerful American Dingo sets off on USFS Road No. 243 on her way to Old Bald Peak. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After more than 0.5 mile, the draw Lupe was going up split.\u00a0 So did the road.\u00a0 An unmarked side road continued SSW.\u00a0 Loop stuck with No. 243, which turned WSW here.\u00a0 Nothing else changed much.\u00a0 The road was still snowy, and Lupe continued gaining elevation steadily.<\/p>\n

After another 0.5 mile, Loop reached a saddle at the end of the draw.\u00a0 A fence and a cattle guard were here.\u00a0 On the other side of the saddle, Lupe came to a junction with USFS Road No. 249.\u00a0 A second junction was only 100 feet away to the SW.\u00a0 Loop and SPHP went over there.\u00a0 No signage of any help, but SPHP was already certain where Lupe was.\u00a0 USFS Road No. 249 continued S from here down Marshall Gulch.\u00a0 USFS Road No. 530 headed W, and would soon turn NW on the way down Spruce Gulch.<\/p>\n

Loopster didn’t need to take any road from here.\u00a0 She was excited and pleased when SPHP encouraged her to leave the roads heading N into open forest.\u00a0 Roaming the Black Hills National Forest off any road or trail is usually Lupe’s favorite thing to do.<\/p>\n

After going N only a short way, Lupe turned WNW to climb a mostly forested hill.\u00a0 Deadfall timber was on the slope, and attempts to avoid the deadfall as much as possible greatly influenced the choice of routes.\u00a0 This hill was only a little over 200 feet higher than where Lupe had left USFS Road No. 249.\u00a0 Loop soon arrived at the summit.<\/p>\n

The top of this first hill was rather rocky.\u00a0 Bushes and trees made moving around the summit more of a chore than it should have been.\u00a0 Lupe did get quite a nice clear view from a large rock outcropping toward the SW.\u00a0 The higher hills Loop could see off to the SW looked like they still had quite a bit of snow.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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From another vantage point, it was possible to catch this glimpse of territory to the E. Peak<\/span> 5800<\/span><\/a><\/strong> is in the distance on the L. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After taking a short break on this first hill, Lupe and SPHP continued on.\u00a0 Peak 6167 was only 0.75 mile to the NNW from here.\u00a0 Right away, Lupe had to lose 150 feet of elevation.\u00a0 Losing the elevation was the hardest part of the whole journey to Peak 6167.\u00a0 The ridge Loop was following was rocky, full of trees and bushes, and even some snow on this N slope.<\/p>\n

Once she had lost the elevation, Lupe had an easier time continuing N.\u00a0 She was starting to gain elevation again following a much broadened ridge compared to where she’d come down.\u00a0 It wasn’t long before Looper saw something that really excited her.\u00a0 A herd of 7 or 8 giant deers (elk)<\/em> had heard Lupe and SPHP coming, and were running off through the forest.<\/p>\n

Lupe dashed off to see where the giant deers were going, but they had a big head start.\u00a0 She couldn’t begin to catch up with them.\u00a0 Nevertheless, she came back to SPHP panting hard, but with a big smile.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 Parts of the ridge had so much deadfall timber, Loop sometimes had to down climb a bit to get around it.\u00a0 She always stayed E of the ridgeline then.\u00a0 This went on until the American Dingo was practically at the top of the mountain.<\/p>\n

The summit of Peak 6167<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> was unusual.\u00a0 Pine trees ringed most of a 100 foot long summit ridge, which was oriented NNW\/SSE.\u00a0 Two rows of slate stuck up on either side of this ridge separated by a grassy lane 10 to 20 feet wide.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Most of the W row of slate jutted out of the ground at only a 30\u00b0 angle.<\/p>\n

The first chunk of slate Lupe came to was also unusual.\u00a0 It was standing nearly vertical despite being part of the much more sharply angled W row.\u00a0 Lupe had no trouble hopping up on top of it.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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Lupe reaches the summit of Peak<\/span> 6167<\/span><\/a><\/strong> for the first time ever. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Loop balances on the highest rock big enough for her to stand on up on Peak<\/span> 6167<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. She’s only a foot lower than the true summit here. The true summit is the highest rock seen on the R.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Well, I made it. Satisfied, SPHP? …. Yeah, Looper, that was great! You can hop on down again, if you like.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe stands near the E spine of slate sticking up out of the summit of Peak<\/span> 6167<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. 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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looper near the highest rock (L) on Peak<\/span> 6167<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. 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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not much could be seen from the summit.\u00a0 Trees blocked the views in nearly every direction.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Still looks pretty snowy in the high country, doesn’t it SPHP? Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After photos from the summit area, Loop and SPHP headed a little back toward the S.\u00a0 Just before Lupe had reached the summit, she had come to a flat, grassy area with views in that direction.\u00a0 She had been able to see Black Elk Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,231 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the highest mountain in South Dakota.\u00a0 Black Elk Peak is always an attraction.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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You coming to see Black Elk Peak, SPHP? ….. Be right there, Looper!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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There it is folks, the highest mountain in South Dakota! Black Elk Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,231 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is on the L. Sylvan Hill<\/span><\/a> (7,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is on the R.<\/em> Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From this same flat, grassy area, the American Dingo could also see Boulder Hill<\/span><\/a> (5,331 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and a sliver of Sheridan Lake.<\/p>\n

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Boulder Hill<\/strong> (L) and part of Sheridan Lake<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had now seen about what there was to see from Peak 6167.\u00a0 It was time to press on to Old Bald Peak, which was now less than 0.4 mile to the N.\u00a0 An abandoned road curls up Peak 6167 from the W clear around to the E side of the mountain.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t come up this road, but she started her journey N to Old Bald Mountain along it.<\/p>\n

The abandoned road was full of snow.\u00a0 Lupe followed the snow all the way down to where the road curled W around the N side of Peak 6167.<\/p>\n

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Lupe hadn’t come up this abandoned road leading to the top of Peak 6167<\/strong>, but she started her journey to Old Bald Peak going down it. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Lupe gets a good look at Old Bald Peak<\/strong>, her next peakbagging objective, from the snowy abandoned road. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Old Bald Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is only 37 feet lower than Peak 6167, but Lupe would have to lose nearly 200 feet of elevation on her way over there.\u00a0 Naturally, the vast majority of this elevation had to be regained.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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Lupe makes it back to the summit of Old Bald Peak<\/strong> 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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This was Lupe’s 3rd successful ascent of Old Bald Peak<\/strong>. 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?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The big views from the summits of the hills Lupe had climbed today all seemed to be off to the SW.\u00a0 Old Bald Peak was no exception.\u00a0 Once again forest blocked the views in virtually all other directions.\u00a0 The scene may have been a bit repetitious, but the snowy high country off to the SW was still beautiful!<\/p>\n

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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!<\/em> Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peak 6167 couldn’t be seen from the top of Old Bald Peak.\u00a0 Should have taken a photo of it on the way up.\u00a0 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<\/span> 6167<\/span><\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Hey, SPHP, there’s Black Elk Peak<\/strong> (R of Center) off in the distance again!<\/em> Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking back at Peak 6167<\/strong> from the S slopes of Old Bald Peak<\/strong>. The abandoned road Lupe had come down on the way over here is clearly visible. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After getting the photo of Peak 6167, Loopster and SPHP returned to the summit of Old Bald Peak.\u00a0 Lupe’s peakbagging for the day was complete.\u00a0 5 minutes were spent in contemplation before continuing on.<\/p>\n

The peakbagging might be over, but for Lupe the best part of the day was still ahead.\u00a0 From Old Bald Peak, Loopster and SPHP wandered N through the quiet forest for a long way.\u00a0 It was a fun time in parts of the forest Lupe had been to before, but not for more than 2 years.\u00a0 Lupe saw many deer.\u00a0 She ran sniffing and exploring in places hardly anyone ever comes to.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the way down Old Bald Peak’s N ridge.\u00a0 Custer Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,804 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the bump on the horizon on the R. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The wandering was a good time.\u00a0 SPHP enjoyed it, too.\u00a0 Lupe eventually made it down to USFS Road No. 249 again, well N of Old Bald Peak.\u00a0 The rest of the way back to the G6 was a road trek, but a pleasant and still fondly remembered one.\u00a0 Lupe followed USFS Roads No. 249, No. 677, and No. 675 to No. 244, which became Horse Creek Road.<\/p>\n

After a long absence, it had been great to get out in the hills again!\u00a0 Best of all, spring was finally here.\u00a0 Maybe it was still early yet, but Lupe’s 2018 adventures would soon be heating up right along with the weather.\u00a0 (4:47 PM, 46\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

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In an aspen forest N of Old Bald Peak at the onset of Spring.<\/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 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\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 – 11:52 AM, 52\u00b0F, 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.\u00a0 Lupe was at the start of USFS Road No. 243 again for the first time since … well, SPHP couldn’t remember since … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 224 – Peak 6167 & Old Bald Peak (3-24-18)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14881,"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":[105,9,106,104,483,951,304],"class_list":["post-14896","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-old-bald-peak","tag-peak-6167","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_8813.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\/14896","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=14896"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28416,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14896\/revisions\/28416"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}