{"id":8289,"date":"2017-01-13T08:10:30","date_gmt":"2017-01-13T15:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8289"},"modified":"2021-02-21T15:27:56","modified_gmt":"2021-02-21T22:27:56","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-187-new-years-eve-peak-12-30-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8289","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 187 – New Year’s Eve Peak (12-30-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few miles S of Pactola Reservoir, SPHP parked the G6 at the junction of Hwy 385 and USFS Road No. 710 (11:55 AM, 50\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe was early, a whole day early.\u00a0 The weather dictated her timing.\u00a0 It was 50\u00b0F out!\u00a0 Tomorrow would be 15\u00b0F cooler, and New Year’s Day colder yet.\u00a0 No sense\u00a0waiting another day, only\u00a0to suffer in the cold, when this afternoon was going to be so nice!<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP set off following USFS Road No. 710.\u00a0 At least 6″ of snow was down here in the shadow of Peak 5800.\u00a0 The snowy road went W for nearly a mile up a long draw.\u00a0 Other than a few animal tracks, the snow was pristine.\u00a0 No one comes here this time of year.\u00a0 Lupe ran sniffing around in the forest.<\/p>\n

New Year’s Eve Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,046 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was Lupe’s destination.\u00a0 The mountain’s name is a private one.\u00a0 Officially, no name is shown\u00a0on the maps.\u00a0 Lupe was on her 4th trip to the mountain.\u00a0 She had first climbed it on the last day of 2012, which was how it got it’s name.\u00a0 Two years later, she returned on the last day of 2014.\u00a0 Since then, climbing New Year’s Eve Peak on or close to the last day of each year has become a Lupe tradition.<\/p>\n

The scenic part of the journey starts as USFS Road No. 710 reaches the upper end of the long draw, and\u00a0enters a thin forest of tall pines.\u00a0 The road starts to curve S here.\u00a0 Soon there are views of open country ahead.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on USFS Road No. 710 as it reaches the thin forest of tall pines at the upper end of the draw. Here, the road begins to curve S. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In only a few minutes, Lupe was\u00a0beyond the thin forest of tall pines.\u00a0 She followed No. 710 S for a little way into open country, then left the road to climb gradually up through a snowy\u00a0field toward higher ground to the SW.\u00a0 She reached a minor ridge from which she\u00a0had nice views of\u00a0white hills and valleys toward the S and W.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the minor ridge SW of the tall, thin forest. Five Points<\/a><\/span> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the wavy ridge in the distance on the L. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the minor ridge. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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From here, Lupe would pass over the hill seen on the R on her way to the higher hill on the L. The higher hill is privately known as Pistol Point. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The vast majority of the Black Hills is thickly forested with Ponderosa pines.\u00a0 One of the fun things about going to New Year’s Eve Peak is that Lupe gets to travel along quite a bit of high ground that burned in a forest fire years ago.\u00a0 Consequently, there are open views along the route, which is\u00a0unusual for most\u00a0Black Hills territory.<\/p>\n

From the minor ridge, Lupe headed for Pistol Point, the highest\u00a0ground she would reach in the open territory on her way to New Year’s Eve Peak.\u00a0 To get there, she skirted to the S of High Point 5917, crossed a saddle to the W, and made a steep double\u00a0climb up to the end of the ridge that sweeps down to the S and then SE from New Year’s Eve Peak.\u00a0 The high point at the end of this ridge is Pistol Point.<\/p>\n

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Lupe reaches the rock formations at Pistol Point. New Year’s Eve Peak is the high point seen in the distance beyond her. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peak<\/span> 5800<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is the semi-bare high hill at Center. Lupe started her expedition from the valley to the N (L) of Peak 5800. Photo looks ESE from Pistol Point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking W from Pistol Point. Lupe would continue on toward the closest small hill, then turn R (N) to follow the ridgeline to New Year’s Eve Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Pistol Point, Lupe lost a little elevation going W to the closest small hill, then turned N to follow the long ridge leading up to New Year’s Eve Peak.\u00a0 This ridge is fairly narrow, with rock outcroppings and various small prominences along the way.\u00a0 Lupe went over all of them, and\u00a0started the final climb up New Year’s Eve Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe sits on a big rock she reached not too far below the summit of New Year’s Eve Peak. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peak<\/span> 6070<\/span><\/a><\/strong> is in the distance on the L. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached the top of New Year’s Eve Peak.\u00a0 She had returned to say good-bye to another year, even if she was a day early.\u00a0 She hopped up on the highest rock on the mountain, near a small cairn.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the summit of New Year’s Eve Peak to say good-bye to 2016. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking WSW. The small summit cairn is in view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first two times Lupe had been to New Year’s Eve Peak, on the last day of both 2012 and 2014, the top of the mountain had all been heavily forested.\u00a0 However, when she’d returned on New Year’s Day in 2016, there had been a big change.\u00a0 The upper S slope of the mountain had been heavily logged.\u00a0 Now there are good views toward the S.<\/p>\n

After tagging the summit, Lupe went to take a look at Harney Peak<\/a><\/span> (7,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the highest mountain in South Dakota.<\/p>\n

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Lupe stands at the S end of the summit area on New Year’s Eve Peak. Harney Peak, the highest mountain in South Dakota is visible on the R. Two years ago, the area where Lupe is standing was heavily forested. Back then it was difficult to get even a glimpse of Harney Peak. Sometime in 2015, this part of the mountain was heavily logged. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a quick look at Harney Peak, it was time for a break.\u00a0 Lupe went over to the W edge of the summit area.\u00a0 Sitting huddled together for a while, Lupe and SPHP contemplated the snowy view to the W.<\/p>\n

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Lupe perches on a rock at the W edge of the summit area. Lupe and SPHP took a break just below this rock. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The snowy view Lupe and SPHP contemplated from New Year’s Eve Peak a day before 2016 drew to a close. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The feeling wasn’t quite the same as when Lupe has been\u00a0to New Year’s Eve Peak\u00a0before.\u00a0 After all, there was still one more day to go in 2016.\u00a0 Somehow that one extra day still to come (due to 2016 being a Leap Year!) did seem to make a little difference.\u00a0 There wasn’t yet quite that same sense of finality, even though 2016 had less than 34 hours left before drawing to a close.<\/p>\n

Even so, it was a time to reflect on 2016, the fast fading year gone by.\u00a0 Lupe’s 2016 had started right here on New Year’s Day.\u00a0 She’d gone on 38 great Black Hills expeditions during the year.\u00a0 She’d met mountaineer Jobe Wymore, and gone with him to the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska<\/strong><\/a><\/span> at the start of April.\u00a0 She’d made a trip to the Laramie Mountains<\/a><\/strong><\/span> in late spring, and climbed Cloud Peak<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, the highest mountain in the Bighorn Range in Wyoming in July.<\/p>\n

Lupe had\u00a0even spent a day at Kabekona Lake<\/a><\/span><\/strong> in northern Minnesota in October.\u00a0 And, of course, there had\u00a0been her huge 41 day Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon and Alaska<\/a><\/strong><\/span> where she’d had so many excellent adventures.<\/p>\n

Yes, Lupe had been one lucky Carolina Dog in 2016!\u00a0 Sadly, now it was all over and done.<\/p>\n

A cool N breeze was blowing.\u00a0 The temperature had dropped considerably since Lupe had left the G6.\u00a0 Off to the NW, dark clouds were on the far horizon, but were on their way.\u00a0 Just like 2016, Lupe’s time on New Year’s Eve Peak was almost over.\u00a0 Lupe went to see the views to the S again.<\/p>\n

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Harney Peak (R of Center) from New Year’s Eve Peak. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Boulder Hill<\/a><\/span> (5,331 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the knob on the L. Silver Mountain<\/a><\/span> (5,405 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is the bare hill at Center straight up from Lupe. Frozen Sheridan Lake is on the R, with Calumet Ridge<\/a><\/span> (5,601 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> beyond it. Lupe had seen a mountain lion on Bluelead Mountain<\/a><\/span> (5,170 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> near Calumet ridge on Leap Day 2016! Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Boulder Hill(L) and Silver Mountain(R). Photo looks SE using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Harney Peak(R). Photo looks S using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before leaving New Year’s Eve Peak, Lupe returned briefly to the summit.<\/p>\n

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Back on the summit. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On New Year’s Eve Peak<\/span><\/a> (6046 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was time to start back.\u00a0 Lupe started down the mountain, retracing\u00a0the route she had taken to New Year’s Eve Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe starts down New Year’s Eve Peak. She has barely left the summit here. Evidently, something was hiding among these rocks. Lupe clambered all over them, sniffing excitedly for 10 minutes before she was willing to give up the hunt. SPHP never saw whatever had caught her attention. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Going down the S ridge. The ridge becomes much narrower and rockier than this a short distance farther ahead. In some places, Lupe encountered snow drifts 2 feet deep. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Pistol Point. Pistol Point is another privately named location. The name comes from the rock near the top that looks like the handle of a pistol jammed into the ground. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Near the pistol handle rock that gave Pistol Point its name. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Peak<\/span> 5800<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (Center) from Pistol Point. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time Lupe reached Pistol Point again, the clouds that had been far off to the NW were moving in.\u00a0 SPHP started to realize that Lupe might be treated to some fairly\u00a0dramatic skies\u00a0on the rest of the way back to the G6.\u00a0 With the sun already quite low in the SW, Lupe’s next to the last sunset of 2016 might be pretty sweet!<\/p>\n

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The skies were becoming steadily more interesting as Lupe came down from Pistol Point. Harney Peak (Center) is in view beyond the snowy ridge. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Another look.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Shadow moved over the land as dark clouds sped in from the NW. Off to the E, Peak 5800(L) was still in sunlight. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The sun was getting low as the clouds moved in. Lupe and SPHP hoped for a colorful, dramatic sunset. Five Points is the wavy forested ridge in the distance on the L. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Due to a hole in the clouds, Lupe is briefly bathed in sunshine again. Photo looks NW toward High Point 5917.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached the minor ridge SE of High Point 5917.\u00a0 A colorful sunset seemed increasingly likely.\u00a0 Instead of going straight back across the field to USFS Road No. 710, where it would be hard to see much of the sunset, Lupe and SPHP traveled E along the minor ridge, trying to keep the view to the SW in sight.<\/p>\n

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Harney Peak (Center) from the minor ridge as the sunlight fades. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was near the top of a small hill mid-way between High Point 5917 and Peak 5800 when the next to the last sunset of 2016 reached its peak of perfection.\u00a0 From this small hill, Lupe sends best\u00a0wishes to all her fans for a very Happy New Year 2017 full of fun and exciting adventures of your own!\u00a0 (5:06 PM, 28\u00b0F)<\/p>\n

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Lupe’s next to the last sunset of 2016. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Lupe wishes everyone a very Happy New Year 2017!<\/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

Expedition No. 150 – New Year’s Eve Peak & Peak 5800 (1-1-16)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Expedition No. 221 – Peak 5800 & New Year’s Eve Peak (1-7-18)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe Adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A few miles S of Pactola Reservoir, SPHP parked the G6 at the junction of Hwy 385 and USFS Road No. 710 (11:55 AM, 50\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe was early, a whole day early.\u00a0 The weather dictated her timing.\u00a0 It was 50\u00b0F out!\u00a0 Tomorrow would be 15\u00b0F cooler, and New Year’s Day colder yet.\u00a0 No sense\u00a0waiting another … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 187 – New Year’s Eve Peak (12-30-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8263,"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":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,9,106,104,539,304],"class_list":["post-8289","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-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_3633.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\/8289","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=8289"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32290,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8289\/revisions\/32290"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}