{"id":19530,"date":"2019-03-04T08:10:18","date_gmt":"2019-03-04T15:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=19530"},"modified":"2020-09-25T08:45:30","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T14:45:30","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-247-peak-5696-2-2-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=19530","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 247 – Peak 5696 (2-2-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Start – 8:30 AM, 37\u00b0F at the Silver City trailhead of Deerfield Trail No. 40<\/em><\/p>\n

Last really warm day for a while!\u00a0 Tomorrow temperatures were going to start plunging.\u00a0 Subzero lows and way below normal highs all next week, and beyond.\u00a0 Winter, after all.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog wasn’t about to waste this final chance to sneak in a Black Hills expedition!<\/p>\n

Nice day, today.\u00a0 The Silver City trailhead of Deerfield Trail No. 40 was a sheet of ice, but it was above freezing and the skies were blue.\u00a0 Lupe knew this place.\u00a0 She’d been here lots of times.\u00a0 She took off across the bridge over Rapid Creek following Deerfield Trail No. 40 upstream.\u00a0 Bright sunshine was up on the rocky canyon walls, but down in the shade near the stream it was surprisingly chilly.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Silver City trailhead<\/strong> was a sheet of ice, but it was a nice day for early February. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Still chilly down here in the shade on Deerfield Trail No. 40<\/strong>!<\/em> Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deerfield Trail No. 40 led to more bridges over Rapid Creek.\u00a0 Half a mile from the trailhead, Silver Peak<\/span><\/a> (5,810 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> came into view shortly before reaching the 4th bridge.\u00a0 Loopster had been to Silver Peak 3 times, once fairly recently, but had never climbed it from this direction.\u00a0 She wasn’t going back up there today, though.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hey, isn’t that Silver Peak<\/strong> up ahead? We were up there not that long ago on Expedition No. 239, remember?<\/em> Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the 4th bridge over Rapid Creek. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking downstream from the 4th bridge. Rapid Creek<\/strong> was pretty icy. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today’s destination was Peak<\/span> 5696<\/span><\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lists of John<\/strong><\/span><\/a> shows that it has 396 feet of rise (prominence), but that was all Lupe or SPHP knew about it.\u00a0 That was fine.\u00a0 Exploring is what American Dingoes do best!<\/p>\n

The first good chance for access to Peak 5696 came right after crossing the 4th bridge.\u00a0 The topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a> showed Goose Pasture Draw heading 0.75 mile NNW up to a saddle a bit SW of the summit.<\/p>\n

Goose Pasture Draw looked promising on the map, but reality was not so enticing.\u00a0 Lupe found the entrance steep-sided, narrow, and clogged with a tangled mess of trees and bushes amid snow drifts 2 or 3 feet deep.\u00a0 Hmm.\u00a0 Maybe not the route it was cracked up to be.\u00a0 Eh, forget this!<\/p>\n

Lupe continued W on Deerfield Trail No. 40.\u00a0 She came to a particularly scenic stretch where the trail was out in the open close to the N bank of the creek.\u00a0 It took Looper right past one of her use-in-case-of-emergency haunts, too.\u00a0 A small Dingo Cave, remnant of some brief unproductive old mining effort, was along the N side of the trail.\u00a0 Naturally, Lupe stopped in for a quick sniff around.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Rapid Creek<\/strong> from Deerfield Trail No. 40. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Oh, here’s the Dingo Cave! A great spot to hide out during a hail storm!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
You can come out, SPHP! Not looking like hail today.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe kept going.\u00a0 The next opportunity to turn N came 0.5 mile past the 4th bridge.\u00a0 The map showed a trail going up Post Draw that went up and over Peak 5560<\/span><\/strong> before heading NE to Peak 5696.<\/p>\n

Might have worked great, if such a trail existed!\u00a0 No sign of one.<\/p>\n

Even so, Post Draw looked more promising than Goose Pasture Draw had.\u00a0 Besides, reasonable options for getting up out of the canyon to head for Peak 5696 were fast running out.\u00a0 Better give it a shot!\u00a0 Lupe left Deerfield Trail No. 40, and started N up Post Draw.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
End of the line for easy sniffing along Deerfield Trail No. 40<\/strong> and Rapid Creek<\/strong> today. Lupe left them here to head N (R) up Post Draw. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Post Draw<\/strong> is this way! Looks a lot better than Goose Pasture Draw did.<\/em> Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She didn’t get far.\u00a0 Not as snowy here, but lots of deadfall.\u00a0 Yet another mess.\u00a0 The trail shown on the map was a mere old cartographer’s tale.\u00a0 While Loop could scoot through without too much bother, this was going to take SPHP forever.\u00a0 So what now?<\/p>\n

Kelly Gulch, another 0.5 mile W as the Deerfield Trail went, would work.\u00a0 Lupe had been up Kelly Gulch before.\u00a0 There really was a trail leading to USFS Road No. 142 where Spurgeon Gulch came in.\u00a0 No. 142 might well provide access to Peak 5696 from the W.\u00a0 Farther to go, though.<\/p>\n

SPHP kept eyeing Post Draw’s E slope.\u00a0 Steep, but even SPHP ought to be able to make it.\u00a0 Dingo’s play for Lupe.\u00a0 Far less deadfall and no snow on the slope, and it didn’t look that far up to a flat ridge.\u00a0 Lupe was here now.\u00a0 May as well give it a go!\u00a0 If it didn’t work out, Kelly Gulch would have to do.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
So easy, I can do it with my eyes closed!<\/em> Heading up Post Draw’s E slope. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Good thing this slope wasn’t any steeper, or Kelly Gulch really would have been the answer.\u00a0 SPHP trudged higher, clinging to whatever was available, which usually wasn’t much.\u00a0 While SPHP gasped for breath, Lupe showed off, wandering effortlessly wherever she fancied.<\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, the flat ridge that hadn’t looked too far up from below was elusive.\u00a0 The steep E slope went much higher than it had appeared, and became quite rocky near the top.\u00a0 Lupe gained 250 feet of elevation before actually coming to a small flat area.\u00a0 A formidable rocky high point was just to the NE.<\/p>\n

SPHP voted for taking a break at the flat spot before carrying on.\u00a0 Loop was willing to let the motion pass.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Getting closer to the ridgeline after a deceptively long climb. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Searching for a way up onto the rocks near the top. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Not all you were expecting it to be, SPHP?<\/em> Lupe makes it up onto a rough ridgeline. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
You could rest here, SPHP. This is pretty flat. … Yeah, I’ll take it, Looper. Thanks!<\/em> Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the break, SPHP studied that next high point to the NE.\u00a0 Wasn’t really all that much higher, but it was fairly rugged.\u00a0 Could Lupe even get up there?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The next high point to the NE was rugged. Could Lupe get up there? Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yes, she could!\u00a0 A direct assault wouldn’t have worked, but sneaking a peek around the W side revealed a completely manageable slope.\u00a0 The slope was nicely strewn with deadfall timber, par for the course.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Your favorite thing, SPHP – deadfall! Think I’ll go take in a movie while you do this. Be back in a bit.<\/em> Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once the deadfall was dealt with, the top of the high point was terrific!\u00a0 This was likely to be the most photogenic spot anywhere along Lupe’s route to Peak 5696.\u00a0 She had wonderful views to the S & E of the canyon Rapid Creek flows through.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking down on Rapid Creek<\/strong> (R) from the high point E of Post Draw. Peak<\/span> 5707<\/span><\/a><\/strong> is the long high ridge on the L. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Silver Peak<\/span><\/a> (5,810 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
View to the SW. Part of Silver Peak<\/strong> on the L.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Rapid Creek<\/strong> (L). Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe lingered 20 minutes enjoying the views of Rapid Creek, Silver Peak, and surrounding region.\u00a0 She then went on to the actual summit of this high point E of Post Draw.\u00a0 It was a little farther N, back in the trees away from the best views.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The actual summit of the high point E of Post Draw. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This high point Lupe was on was at the end of a ridge extending 0.5 mile S from Peak 5560<\/span><\/strong>, her next objective on the way to Peak<\/span> 5696<\/span><\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Without further delay, she followed the ridge N.<\/p>\n

The American Dingo lost 120 feet of elevation before reaching a broad saddle full of spindly Ponderosa pines.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the spindly pines saddle leading N to Peak 5560. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond the saddle, a 550 foot ascent of Peak 5560<\/span><\/strong> began.\u00a0 This became an interesting climb.\u00a0 The higher Lupe went, the narrower and rockier the ridge became.\u00a0 The spine of the ridge featured many rocks standing on end or at steep angles.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the way up Peak 5560’s S ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop on a platform fairly high up. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A rare gap between the trees provides a glimpse of Stewart Gulch<\/strong> (L). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was getting close to the summit of Peak 5560 when she discovered a Dingo Shelter.\u00a0 Compared to the Dingo Cave down by Rapid Creek, the Dingo Shelter was tiny.\u00a0 However, it could easily accommodate one medium-sized Dingo, and had both a roof and an escape hatch.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Been clouding up, SPHP. Think a hail storm is coming? Good luck finding a Human Shelter! Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.<\/em> At the Dingo Shelter<\/strong> high on Peak 5560’s S ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No doubt the Dingo Shelter would serve well in case of hail storms or other emergencies that might arise way out here in this remote part of the Black Hills.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the weather, it had been clouding up while Lupe climbed Peak 5560.\u00a0 Hail storms didn’t seem to be in the forecast yet, but for what was supposed to be an unusually warm winter day, it didn’t feel much warmer up here than when Lupe had started out this morning.\u00a0 A cool W wind had come up.<\/p>\n

Since hail actually wasn’t on the way, the Carolina Dog continued on to the summit of Peak 5560<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lupe arrived to find the summit had two high points.\u00a0 A couple of small rock formations of nearly equal elevation were separated by only 20 or 30 feet.\u00a0 The short ridge between them was all there was to the summit area.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On Peak 5560<\/span><\/strong>. At the summit’s SE high point. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peak 5560<\/span><\/strong>‘s NW high point had pointier rocks. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Too many trees to see much from Peak 5560.\u00a0 Besides, the W wind was strengthening.\u00a0 Lupe stayed 5 minutes, then it was on to Peak 5696!<\/p>\n

Loop started down Peak 5560’s N ridge.\u00a0 This ridge featured two lower, but still significant high points.\u00a0 At the last one, Lupe came to quite an impressive rock formation.\u00a0 Huge slabs of rock were standing practically on end.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hurry it up, SPHP! Only staying here a second or two. And for pity sake, scream or something if that rock starts falling before I’m a Dingo Pancake!<\/em> Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
View to the WSW from along Peak 5560<\/strong>‘s N ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After visiting the N ridge high points, Lupe turned NE and went down to the saddle leading to Peak 5696.\u00a0 Having lost nearly 160 feet of elevation, she was getting close to the bottom when she discovered an old mining dig or blast site.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Almost down to the saddle to Peak 5696, Lupe discovers an old mining dig or blast site. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon reaching the saddle, the Carolina Dog now had to gain 300 feet to get up to the summit of Peak 5696.\u00a0 The SW face of the mountain was forested, fairly steep, and a little rockier toward the top.\u00a0 The climb wasn’t particularly difficult, easy, or interesting.<\/p>\n

When Lupe got to the top, the pines were swaying amid a 25 -30 mph W wind.\u00a0 Though the full force of the breeze was partially blocked by the trees, the resulting forlorn, windswept sound only emphasized what a remote, deserted place this was.\u00a0 The temperature must have been in the upper 40’s \u00b0F, but it sure didn’t feel that warm.<\/p>\n

A skinny, vertical rock formation only a few feet high was the evident high point of a long, broad summit region which stretched off to the N.\u00a0 Lupe hopped up on the highest rocks, balancing as if frozen in place, since her perch was rather precarious.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the skinny summit of Peak 5696<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The forest on Peak 5696 was reasonably open, comprised mostly of fairly young trees.\u00a0 They were more effective against the views than against the sullen breeze.\u00a0 A rock ledge 30 or 40 feet W of the high point offered somewhat of a look to the WSW, but that was about it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loopster in the breeze at Peak 5696’s best viewpoint. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe wanted to curl up out of the wind, so a short break was taken E of the high point.\u00a0 SPHP took this opportunity to check the topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 The summit region extended N beyond what could be seen through the forest.\u00a0 Although this S end had appeared to be the summit of Peak<\/span> 5696<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, the map marked the high point elevation at the N end.<\/p>\n

Well, that had to be checked out!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!<\/p>\n

The broad ridge leading N was open forest, with a good 6″ of snow on the ground, and deadfall timber laying perpendicular to Lupe’s path.\u00a0 At first, this area was all clearly a bit lower than the high point at the S end, but as Loop got farther N, the terrain started sloping gently upward.<\/p>\n

The N summit was at least several hundred feet from the S one.\u00a0 Seemed like maybe it was a bit higher.\u00a0 The N summit was even more buried in the trees, offering no distant views.\u00a0 Another vertical rock outcropping, similar to the one at the S end, was the high point.\u00a0 This probably was the true summit of Peak 5696, but it felt anti-climactic.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
So this is it – the true summit of Peak 5696<\/strong>! Thrilling, isn’t it?<\/em> Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another look at the true summit, in case you just can’t get enough!<\/em> Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe visited a rock formation a bit down the slope W of the true summit, then sniffed around the general area for several minutes.\u00a0 Not much else to see or do here, but the map showed a ridge that went another 0.25 mile N without losing a whole lot of elevation.\u00a0 Why not?\u00a0 Lupe explored a good bit of it, too.<\/p>\n

Approaching a minor high point along the N ridge, Loopster came to a largely snow-free, park-like part of the forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The park-like forest on Peak 5696’s N ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond this minor high point, the N ridge started getting narrow and rocky.\u00a0 Lupe’s Peak 5696 peakbagging objective had been completed.\u00a0 Perhaps it was time to start back?<\/p>\n

Rather than go back the same way with all its steep slopes, Lupe left the ridgeline heading NE down into Gorman Gulch.\u00a0 A foot of snow was on the ground here.\u00a0 Lupe gradually turned E, then SE enjoying a long trek down through the snowy forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Exploring the snowy forest on the way down into Gordon Gulch<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loopster liked mountain-shaded Gordon Gulch.\u00a0 Several deer got her all excited.\u00a0 SPHP wondered what the bottom of Gordon Gulch was going to be like?\u00a0 Hopefully not another tangled mess.<\/p>\n

No worries, this time!\u00a0 After a fun romp down through the snowy woods, the bottom of Gordon Gulch wasn’t bad at all.\u00a0 Lupe soon came to a road, USFS Road No. 141.2B, which showed little sign of use.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In Gordon Gulch<\/strong> on USFS Road No. 141.2B. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So that was that!\u00a0 The rest of the way back was an easy road trek.\u00a0 It was longer than expected, but the silent, snowy journey was fun.\u00a0 No wind down here, and all downhill.<\/p>\n

No. 141.2B brought Lupe all the way back to Silver City, exiting Gorman Gulch only a bit E of the trailhead.\u00a0 Shortly before she got there, Lupe happened upon the Gorman Cabin historic preservation site.\u00a0 A plaque said this cabin was the last one remaining of several the Gorman family had built in the late 1870’s during the Black Hills gold rush.\u00a0 Silver City had originally been known as Gorman Camp.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Almost back to the Silver City trailhead, Lupe discovers the Gorman Cabin<\/strong> – a more substantial Dingo hideout in case of hail! Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peak 5696 had been a fun outing.\u00a0 Something a little different, with its views of Rapid Creek down in the canyon on the way there.\u00a0 Lupe was certainly glad she went, and it was a good thing she did, too!\u00a0 February was destined to be the longest, coldest month of this winter.\u00a0 It would be a while before the adventurous American Dingo would be out exploring the beautiful Black Hills again.\u00a0 (2:49 PM, 50\u00b0F)\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\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 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Start – 8:30 AM, 37\u00b0F at the Silver City trailhead of Deerfield Trail No. 40 Last really warm day for a while!\u00a0 Tomorrow temperatures were going to start plunging.\u00a0 Subzero lows and way below normal highs all next week, and beyond.\u00a0 Winter, after all.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog wasn’t about to waste this final chance to … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 247 – Peak 5696 (2-2-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19503,"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":[105,9,106,104,1050,304],"class_list":["post-19530","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-peak-5696","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IMG_3168.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\/19530","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=19530"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19530\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28442,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19530\/revisions\/28442"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}