{"id":18931,"date":"2019-02-08T08:10:48","date_gmt":"2019-02-08T15:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=18931"},"modified":"2020-09-24T15:55:38","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T21:55:38","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-244-false-north-point-1-5-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=18931","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 244 – False North Point (1-5-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Start – 9:46 AM, 38\u00b0F along Horse Creek Road (USFS Road No. 243) near USFS Road No. 243.2J<\/em><\/p>\n

New Year 2019 arrived on a subzero night in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Things had warmed up since then.\u00a0 Naturally, Lupe was anxious to get started on her 2019 adventures!\u00a0 False North Point<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, a peak she had first visited on Halloween in 2015, was going to be her first peakbagging goal of the new year.\u00a0 She might even make it to Five Points<\/span><\/a> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> today, with a little luck.<\/p>\n

Lupe left Horse Creek Road on USFS Road No. 243.2J.\u00a0 The snowy road wound S crossing Horse Creek 3 times, but the creek was so small that flowing water was only present on the surface at the middle crossing.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog easily leapt over it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Setting out for False North Point on USFS Road No. 243.2J. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nearing the last crossing of the Horse Creek drainage. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 0.33 mile, Horse Creek flowed E.\u00a0 No. 243.2J crossed the drainage for the last time, and began curving SW up another valley.\u00a0 Lupe came to a locked gate, and went under a barbed wire fence.\u00a0 A small dry stock pond was just ahead where the valley forked.\u00a0 No. 243.2J ended here at an intersection with USFS Road No. 669.<\/p>\n

Lupe could take No. 669 up separate valleys going either S or W.\u00a0 She stayed to the R taking the valley to the W.<\/p>\n

No. 669 wound W, before eventually turning S.\u00a0 Looper came to sunny spots, but the road was often in the shadow of forested hills.\u00a0 At first, 6″ of snow was on the road, but as Lupe gained elevation, the snow became deeper, significantly slowing SPHP down.\u00a0 Lupe was forced to expend more and more energy bounding through it.<\/p>\n

This was a beautiful trek, though.\u00a0 The snowy valley was quiet and still.\u00a0 Lupe maintained it could have been improved with the addition of a few squirrels.\u00a0 She kept a sharp eye and keen nose out, but didn’t find any.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading W on USFS Road No. 669.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
10 minutes from the stock pond, this gate blocked the road. Lupe went under it. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The N (R) side of the valley was often sunny, but the road was more apt to be in the shadow of hills to the S (L). Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe enjoyed the snowy road trek, but the snow was deep enough to discourage her from spending much time exploring away from the road. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near this point, No. 669 started curving SW. Lupe saw a small pond and a little creek N (R) of the road here, but the rest of the long valley was dry. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
As the snow deepened, Loop passed some deadfall timber, but there wasn’t much of it most of the way up the valley. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The whole valley, but especially this upper part, felt very secluded. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had been on USFS Road No. 669 several times years ago.\u00a0 An odd, sublime, sense of both discovery yet vague familiarity, as though having been here before in a dream, took hold.\u00a0 At last, after 1.75 miles on No. 669, Lupe reached a fork in the road that SPHP definitely recognized.\u00a0 The snow was belly deep on the American Dingo here.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
After 1.75 miles on No. 669, Looper reaches a fork in the road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop took the fork to the L (SE), which very quickly led up to a broad saddle that was also familiar.\u00a0 This saddle was strewn with a great deal of deadfall timber, the product of a severe pine bark beetle infestation a number of years ago.\u00a0 Many dead pines had fallen on a barbed wire fence, collapsing it.\u00a0 SPHP lifted Lupe over the dangerous fallen fence.<\/p>\n

On the far side of the saddle, Lupe saw a forested hill ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From the deadfall strewn saddle, Lupe could see a forested hill ahead. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP checked the topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 False North Point was only 0.33 mile away!\u00a0 Lupe could head directly for it by turning R and going SSW straight up the hill on the SW side of the saddle.\u00a0 She could then follow False North Points’ NNE ridge directly to the summit.<\/p>\n

Only a low forested hill, and copious deadfall timber, could be seen in that direction.\u00a0 SPHP carried Lupe back over the collapsed fence.\u00a0 She then began her ascent of the wretched-looking slope.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop still at the saddle. According to the topo map, the low hill beyond her was the way to False North Point, 0.33 mile away. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The deadfall was inconveniently laying at a 90\u00b0 angle to the direction Lupe needed to go.\u00a0 Her climb began slowly as SPHP laboriously picked a way up through the mess.\u00a0 Enough trees were still standing to hide any views.\u00a0 At first, there was nothing to see except the snowy forest.<\/p>\n

After gaining some elevation, the deadfall thinned out.\u00a0 Lupe came to a small rock formation from which she had a bit of a view.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Partway up the NNE ridge, Lupe reaches a small rock formation. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looper kept going.\u00a0 The ridge wasn’t particularly steep.\u00a0 Exploring the forest was fun!\u00a0 The Carolina Dog had never been up False North Point from this direction before.\u00a0 She came to another rock formation.\u00a0 This one had a more impressive view of a wider area.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Exploring False North Point<\/strong>s’ NNE ridge. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A better viewpoint higher up. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mountain steepened.\u00a0 The snow was deeper.\u00a0 Lupe was getting close to the top.\u00a0 After toiling up a particularly steep slope, she came to much larger rock formations.\u00a0 Loopster traveled along the E side of the rocks looking for the summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the steepest part of the climb in deep snow. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Almost there! Lupe along the E side of large rock formations leading to the summit. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another look. Same spot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last part of the climb was a short scramble.\u00a0 Lupe arrived at the top of False North Point<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> to find a cramped area of uneven rock.\u00a0 The summit was a somewhat precarious perch.\u00a0 Loop had no place to get comfortable or relax.\u00a0 A small cairn sat upon some of the highest rocks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The last part of the climb was a very short scramble. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Success! Lupe stands at the cramped uneven summit of False North Point<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ponderosa pines hid the views to the SE, but False North Point provided an impressive 180\u00b0 panorama to the NW.\u00a0 Lupe could see many peaks she had been to recently off to the N, and a huge expanse of territory off to the W all the way to the limestone plateau country.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking NW from the summit. The cairn is in front of Lupe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking NE. Lupe’s hind legs are on the cairn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sylvan Hill<\/span><\/a> (7,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L) is the highest distant ridge. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking N, Lupe could see many peaks she had visited fairly recently.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The 4 peaks in the foreground are Peak<\/span> 6,167<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (far L), Old Bald Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,130 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L), Nugget Gulch Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) and P<\/span>eak<\/span> 6043<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (R). Photo looks NNW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
I’d forgotten how amazing these views are from False North Point<\/strong>!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Due in part to these great views, False North Point had gotten its name back on Halloween 2015 when SPHP had mistaken this peak for the northernmost summit of Five Points<\/span><\/a> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which was actually 0.5 mile SE.\u00a0 Lupe had continued on to Five Points that same day, thereby quickly revealing SPHP’s error.<\/p>\n

The true north point of Five Points was barely visible from False North Point, almost completely hidden by trees.\u00a0 SPHP could get a glimpse of it, but Lupe wasn’t tall enough to see it at all.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A glimpse of the true north point<\/strong> (L) of Five Points<\/strong> (R) was all that could be seen from False North Point<\/strong>. Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No matter how wonderful the views, Lupe wasn’t going to balance up there on the tippy top of the mountain all day long.\u00a0 She stayed near the cairn for a short while, before checking out another part of the summit formation 12 feet to the SW.\u00a0 This wasn’t a much better perch.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop on another part of the summit knob. The cairn is out of sight 12 feet beyond her. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Summit of False North Point<\/strong> from the SW. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The summit ridge dropped off quite sharply in most directions.\u00a0 The SSW spine featured rocks that were flatter and offered essentially the same views.\u00a0 Lupe headed down there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the spine of the summit ridge. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On a flatter rock SSW of the true summit with an equally fabulous view. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had arrived at False North Point with enough daylight left to linger here a while.\u00a0 However, the snow and deadfall had slowed things down enough to make continuing on to Five Points<\/span><\/a> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> a poor choice.\u00a0 Conditions were pleasant and the views magnificent, so Loop and SPHP simply relaxed up on False North Point and enjoyed the day.<\/p>\n

A happy hour shot by, and it was time to go.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop on her favorite perch at False North Point<\/strong> before moving on. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a change of scene, Loopster headed down the SSW ridge instead of retreating the way she had come.\u00a0 Below the rocky summit, the ridge was heavily forested, but the Carolina Dog did come to a spot where she had a clear view of Five Points<\/span><\/a> (6,221 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
True North Point<\/strong> (far L), Five Points<\/strong> (L) and Black Elk Peak<\/span><\/a> (7,231 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then it was down, down through the snowy woods.\u00a0 Lupe gradually turned W, then NW.\u00a0 When the slope began to decrease, she emerged from the forest in a field of scattered pines and deadfall.\u00a0 USFS Road No. 249 was in sight at the bottom of the slope.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
W of False North Point nearing USFS Road No. 249. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Going down the open slope. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon reaching No. 249, Lupe followed it N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On USFS Road No. 249. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After nearly a mile, Loop reached an entrance to Whisper Creek Ranch, which sounded nice, but was private property.\u00a0 False North Point was in view to the S from here.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the entrance to Whisper Creek Ranch<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
False North Point<\/strong> from the entrance to the Whisper Creek Ranch. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thus far, the road had been snow-packed, but beyond the Whisper Creek Ranch entrance a metal gate blocked the rest of No. 249.\u00a0 That didn’t stop the American Dingo!\u00a0 Lupe continued N.\u00a0 No vehicle had been here to compress the snow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Continuing N beyond a closed gate on USFS Road No. 249. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another 0.33 mile, and SPHP figured Lupe had gone far enough N on the road.\u00a0 She needed to turn E somewhere along in here.\u00a0 A low bare ridge was E of the road, so Lupe climbed it.\u00a0 From a minor high point, which SPHP figured was probably High Point 5686<\/span><\/strong>, Lupe had her final view of False North Point.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe has a last look at False North Point<\/strong> (L) from High Point 5686<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Carolina Dog left High Point 5686 going N, but soon turned down into the valley to the E.\u00a0 She had never been here before, so exploring this new valley was interesting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Exploring the valley NE of High Point 5686.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The valley eventually led back to USFS Road No. 669, somewhat below the fork in the road where Lupe had gone L to reach the saddle NNW of False North Peak.\u00a0 From here on, Loop simply retraced her route up all the way back to Horse Creek Road.\u00a0 (4:17 PM, 33\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

Only later did SPHP realize that Lupe’s snowy return to False North Point had been exactly 100 Black Hills Expeditions after her very first ascent on Expedition No. 144 way back in 2015.\u00a0 Perhaps she will return again some fine day, 100 expeditions into the future?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
False North Point was pretty fun! Maybe I’ll be back on Expedition No. 344? Hope to see you again here at The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe<\/strong> before then, though!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0 Check out Lupe’s 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 – 9:46 AM, 38\u00b0F along Horse Creek Road (USFS Road No. 243) near USFS Road No. 243.2J New Year 2019 arrived on a subzero night in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Things had warmed up since then.\u00a0 Naturally, Lupe was anxious to get started on her 2019 adventures!\u00a0 False North Point (6,130 ft.), a peak she … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 244 – False North Point (1-5-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18932,"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":[105,9,106,434,104,304],"class_list":["post-18931","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-false-north-point","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG_3055.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\/18931","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=18931"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18931\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28433,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18931\/revisions\/28433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18931"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}