{"id":32225,"date":"2021-07-23T08:10:28","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T14:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=32225"},"modified":"2021-07-18T11:09:51","modified_gmt":"2021-07-18T17:09:51","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-3-lupes-search-for-old-bald-peak-1-29-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=32225","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 3 – Lupe’s Search for Old Bald Peak (1-29-12)"},"content":{"rendered":"

11:30 AM, start of USFS Road No. 257 off Horse Creek Road (No. 243)<\/em> – Lupe’s first 2 Black Hills Expeditions had both been to the same place, an easy scenic trip up Rapid Creek on Deerfield Trail No. 40 from Silver City to Canyon City.\u00a0 Today, the plan was for something new.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was going to climb a mountain!\u00a0 Old Bald Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> in the central Black Hills was the chosen destination, one neither Lupe nor SPHP had ever been to before.<\/p>\n

Sunny and not too cold, but very windy as Lupe set out heading NNW on USFS Road No. 257.\u00a0 Low pine-covered hills were to the L, and a big open field was to the R.\u00a0 Lupe had only gone 0.33 mile when an exposed rocky high point appeared ahead on the L.<\/p>\n

The high point was out in the open beyond the pines.\u00a0 Lupe did not care for how strong the chilly wind was when she reached the top.\u00a0 However, this high point did provide some good preliminary views.\u00a0 Old Bald Peak was somewhere 3 or 4 miles NW of here, and Lupe could see some of the terrain she would be exploring on the way there.<\/p>\n

To the NE, Lupe could also see a line of scenic barren hills, most of which had burned in a forest fire years ago.\u00a0 Those hills looked like they would be fun to explore someday, too!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe among the rocks of her first high point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking WNW toward the region Lupe was about to explore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The barren hills to the NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eager to get out of the wind, the American Dingo quickly abandoned this first high point.\u00a0 USFS Road No. 257.1A split off to the L from No. 257 just ahead.\u00a0 Taking No. 257.1A, Lupe was glad to enter the forest as the road headed NW up a sheltered valley.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
USFS Road No. 257.1A. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 0.50 mile, the road curved W, and in another 0.25 mile, turned N.\u00a0 Lupe left No. 257.1A here, continuing W through the forest.\u00a0 Climbing to the top of a ridge, she saw the snowy NE face of a much higher ridge to the SW.\u00a0 The higher ridge looked like a good place to get a better feel for the lay of the land.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog might even be able to spot Old Bald Peak from up there!<\/p>\n

However, to get over to that next ridge, Lupe would first have to cross the Horse Creek valley.\u00a0 SPHP paused for a sandwich while thinking it over.\u00a0 Lupe must not have been hungry yet, because she immediately buried the piece of sandwich SPHP shared with her, no doubt intending to save it for a rainy day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Taking a break in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The next ridge<\/strong> (Center) beyond the Horse Creek valley<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sandwich disposed of, Lupe continued W, beginning a descent into the Horse Creek valley.\u00a0 Arriving at the edge of the forest, the valley floor was visible from here.\u00a0 A dachshund was barking and chasing several horses around a field, a sight that Lupe found fascinating.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Horses down in the Horse Creek valley<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hmm.\u00a0 Must be some private property down there.\u00a0 Checking an old Black Hills National Forest map confirmed that a long, narrow strip of private property ran up the E side of the Horse Creek valley.\u00a0 Lupe needed to get across it to continue W to the next ridge.<\/p>\n

Although Lupe was reluctant to leave her view of the dachshund and horses, SPHP led her NW down to the fence line, then N along it to where a cross fence marked the boundary between properties.\u00a0 Figuring Lupe could be across the private property in only a few minutes with no harm done, SPHP hopped the fence and headed W.<\/p>\n

As Lupe crossed the skinny N end of their field, the horses were still in sight well to the S.\u00a0 No worries on their account, they scarcely seemed aware of the Carolina Dog’s presence.\u00a0 However, as soon as Lupe entered the field, several big dogs came running this way from the neighbor’s house N of the fence.<\/p>\n

This promptly summoned their owner, who hopped in a truck and was waiting for SPHP a couple of minutes later as Lupe reached Horse Creek Road after crossing the field.\u00a0 Questioning SPHP, he finally left with a warning not to approach his place.\u00a0 His dogs were not friendly.<\/p>\n

A disposition evidently shared by their owner!\u00a0 Don’t worry, Lupe!\u00a0 We’ll return by some other route.<\/em><\/p>\n

Unfazed, Lupe crossed Horse Creek Road and began climbing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
View on the way up the ridge W of Horse Creek Road. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A trek up the forested slope just N of the snowy steep face eventually got Lupe up to the top of the next ridge.\u00a0 Surprisingly open terrain provided excellent views in most directions.\u00a0 While it was still somewhat windy, the breeze was no longer as powerful as it had been earlier.<\/p>\n

Back in the direction Lupe had come from, Peak<\/span> 5800<\/span><\/a><\/strong> was visible about as high as where the Carolina Dog was now along the line of barren hills.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 5800<\/strong> (R of Center) beyond the Horse Creek valley<\/strong> (lower R). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The highest ground on this ridge was some clear terrain toward the SE.\u00a0 Even though Lupe didn’t need to go that way, she went over there to check out the view.\u00a0 A patchwork of brown trees among the dark pines indicated the presence of a pine bark beetle infestation between here and False North Point<\/span><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Five Points<\/span> <\/a>(6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Five Points<\/strong> (L) and False North Point<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other than the pine bark beetle damage, the view of False North Point and Five Points with higher hills in the distance was quite impressive.\u00a0 Despite the wind, another rest break was taken here before heading NW back to where Lupe had originally come up.<\/p>\n

A fairly deep valley filled with snow and aspens was immediately to the W.\u00a0 On the other side of this valley was another ridge about as high as the ridge Lupe was on.\u00a0 Looking NW, a mountain was visible not too far away, with slightly higher peaks beyond it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The next ridge beyond the snow and aspen-filled valley. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had only an old Black Hills USFS map along, which contained no topographical information at all.\u00a0 One of those peaks to the NW had to be Old Bald Peak, but which one?\u00a0 On the other paw, maybe not.\u00a0 Was Old Bald Peak even in view yet?\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t sure.\u00a0 None of the hills Lupe could see from here looked like a “bald” peak at all.<\/p>\n

The ridge Lupe was on was connected to the ridge beyond the snowy valley by a saddle at the upper S end of the valley.\u00a0 Might as well head over to the far ridge to see what the situation looked like from there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The snowy valley from the saddle leading to the next ridge. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After getting around the S end of the snowy valley, Lupe turned NNW upon reaching the far ridge.\u00a0 Without a topo map, SPHP still couldn’t tell which of the hills in sight might actually be Old Bald Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Undaunted, the Carolina Dog followed the ridgeline, determined to at least make it to the closest significant peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the S end of the ridge W of the snowy valley. From here, Lupe headed for the peak slightly L of Center. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reaching the far N end of the ridge, Lupe tried to stay on the highest ground possible as she continued NNW.\u00a0 Most of the time she traveled through pine forests, sometimes orange forests where the pine needles were all dead, the trees having recently been devastated by pine bark beetles.\u00a0 At other times, she worked her way through dense stands of young aspens.<\/p>\n

Although the Carolina Dog visited a series of minor high points along the way, nothing was visible from any of them that made SPHP think Lupe was on, or necessarily even close to, Old Bald Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Exploring a snowy clearing on the way to the mountain to the NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Among the young aspens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The American Dingo eventually did make it to the top of the mountain to the NNW.\u00a0 The views from here were much the same.\u00a0 Had Lupe reached the summit of Old Bald Peak?\u00a0 Had she even seen it today?\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 Who knew?\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t sure, but suspected that Old Bald Peak might still lie farther NW.<\/p>\n

Another deep valley separated the Carolina Dog from a couple of slightly higher peaks in that direction.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Lupe had gotten a late start this morning.\u00a0 The formerly annoying wind was now just a breeze, but the sky had clouded up, darkening as the day wore on.\u00a0 Completely overcast now.<\/p>\n

Starting to feel like what it was, chilly and late on a quietly dying winter afternoon.\u00a0 The light would soon fade.\u00a0 Lupe couldn’t go any farther.<\/p>\n

Back to the SSE, 13.5 month old Lupe saw the snowy valley.\u00a0 Far beyond were peaks she would eventually climb on expeditions yet to come – Mount Warner<\/span><\/a> (5,889 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Samelias Peak<\/span><\/a> (5,856 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Five Points<\/span><\/a> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, False North Point<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Harney Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, South Dakota’s highest mountain, and others.<\/p>\n

Today, though, they were all mysterious places, part of an unsuspected and unknowable future.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mount Warner<\/strong> (L) and Harney Peak<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe left the first mountain she had ever climbed wandering the forest on a long NNE slope.\u00a0 Losing more than 500 feet of elevation, she finally came to a USFS road.\u00a0 Turning SE, she followed it down a valley SPHP suspected would take her back to Horse Creek Road.<\/p>\n

A surprise was in store!\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t gone too far, when she came to an elk carcass laying in a field near a junction with a side road.\u00a0 That called for some serious sniffing!\u00a0 Lupe was enthralled!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the fascinating giant deer carcass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once Lupe was able to pry herself away from the unfortunate elk, the road trek continued.<\/p>\n

In short order, this road did lead back into Horse Creek Road.\u00a0 The first sign of civilization, a generous description to be sure, was a collection of ancient battered vehicles and large quantities of other metallic junk rusting away in a field.\u00a0 Nearby was a small, dilapidated wood-sided home, surrounded by more trash.\u00a0 Amazingly, someone still lived there.\u00a0 Smoke was coming out of the chimney.<\/p>\n

Still more than 2 miles back to the G6.\u00a0 All an easy road hike, though!\u00a0 When she got close to the joint where the unfriendly dogs lived, Lupe gave it a wide berth, slinking through the forest on the opposite W side of Horse Creek Road.\u00a0 A little farther on, she got to sniff and play for a minute with a nice dog named Mollie at another property.<\/p>\n

6:00 PM, start of USFS Road No. 257<\/em> – Pitch dark when Lupe reached the G6 again.\u00a0 What a day!\u00a0 Lupe had climbed her very first mountain, and wandered not only off-road, but off-trail, for the first time ever.\u00a0 Except for the strong wind at the start, it had all been grand.\u00a0 A real adventure, even if Lupe never did find or climb Old Bald Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe, 13.5 months old, during her search for Old Bald Peak<\/strong>, Black Hills of South Dakota 1-29-12<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Note:<\/strong> More than 9 years later, while writing this post in February, 2021, SPHP carefully evaluated written notes, topo maps, and these photos, and determined that Lupe had actually climbed Peak<\/span> 6043<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, 0.75 mile ESE of Old Bald Peak, on Expedition No. 3.\u00a0 She had definitely seen Old Bald Peak, though, and at the time of this writing, has climbed it on 3 occasions since then, the first being during Expedition No. 33 on 11-4-12.\u00a0 No photos exist of that first ascent.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

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

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 147 – Silver Peak & Old Bald Peak (11-24-15)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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

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

11:30 AM, start of USFS Road No. 257 off Horse Creek Road (No. 243) – Lupe’s first 2 Black Hills Expeditions had both been to the same place, an easy scenic trip up Rapid Creek on Deerfield Trail No. 40 from Silver City to Canyon City.\u00a0 Today, the plan was for something new.\u00a0 The Carolina … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 3 – Lupe’s Search for Old Bald Peak (1-29-12)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[105,9,106,104,1387,1038,304],"class_list":["post-32225","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-mountain","tag-peak-6043","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1290019.jpg?fit=1280%2C960&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32225","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=32225"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34585,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32225\/revisions\/34585"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}