Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 270 – Peak 5520 & Five Points (3-20-21)

8:52 AM, 46ºF, junction of Horse Creek Road & USFS Road No. 243.2J – The snow was crunchy underpaw as Lupe set out.  Gonna warm up, though!  Supposed to be quite a nice day.  Soon enough the snow would start turning to slush.

At the start of USFS Road No. 243.2J. Photo looks SE.

Lupe was in fine spirits!  Deer around the first bend only brightened the mood further.  USFS Road No. 243.2J wound SE down a valley, crossing Horse Creek 3 times.  Only the second crossing had any flow.  After 0.5 mile, the road curved SW and started uphill.  Ahead was a cattle guard, and beyond it, a green gate.

Heading down the Horse Creek valley. Photo looks SW.

Will wonders never cease?  Look at that, Looper!  The gate is open!

What do you suppose it means, SPHP?  It’s never been open before.

Who knows?  Except that we don’t to have to crawl under or over the fence for once.

By the cattle guard with the marvelous open green gate beyond it. Photo looks WSW.

Immediately beyond the gate was a tiny pond Lupe had seen many times before, and beyond it, a junction with USFS Road No. 669.  After checking out the frozen pond, Lupe headed for No. 669.

By the frozen pond. Photo looks S.

W as usual, SPHP?

Not this time, Loop.  Go S!

S!  Really?  We never go S here.

Oh, yes we do.  You went all the way down Gordon Gulch once.

Gordon Gulch?  That was forever ago!  We’re going back there?

Only to a little part of it.

About to head S on USFS Road No. 669. Photo looks SE.

Climbing gradually, USFS Road No. 669 got snowier and snowier as it wound SE up a little valley.  Before long, a hill could be seen on the L.

That must be it, Loop!

We’re going to climb that hill, SPHP?

Most definitely!  That’s Peak 5520!

Another Lists of John peak?

Yes.  Gives us something new to shoot for.

Heading up USFS Road No. 669. Photo looks SSE.
A first glimpse of Peak 5520 (Center). Photo looks ESE.

Sticking with the road, Lupe reached a spacious clearing at a pass 0.5+ mile from the frozen pond.  The clearing provided an unobstructed view.

Peak 5520 (Center) from the pass. Photo looks NE.

Looks pretty easy, SPHP!

Duck soup, Looper!  Nothing wrong with that!

A short climb through the forest led to surprisingly open ground only partway up.  Lupe was excited to see several deer bound away.  A mighty nice view of Black Elk Peak (7,231) appeared before she even got close to the top.

Even easier than it looked! Partway up Peak 5520. Photo looks N.
Black Elk Peak (Center). Photo looks S.

The climb wasn’t a big one.  Approaching the summit, Loopster entered a region of scattered pines and rock formations.  The summit, at the N end of a sloping ridge, proved to be the rockiest part of the mountain.

Getting close to the top. Photo looks N.
Peak 5520’s summit region. Photo looks NW.

The top of the mountain was a jumble of rocks and bushes.  One of the very highest rocks had a nice flat top.  Lupe got up onto it.

Summit of Peak 5520. Photo looks NNW.

Congratulations, Loopster!  Another peak climbed!

Thank you, SPHP!  Nothing to it!  Quite the views up here!

I’ll say!  Rather surprising.  Guess it’s because there are hardly any trees.  Hey, this rock is a few inches higher than the one you’re on.  Mind moving over to it?

Maybe for a minute or two.

At the true summit, a somewhat more precarious perch. Photo looks E.
This platform rock is better! Mount Warner (R), Peak 5741 (far R), with Samelias Peak between them. Photo looks SE.

Success was celebrated with a chocolate coconut bar, but not right up at the true summit.  Retreating a little to the S, Lupe and SPHP found a more comfortable spot to hang out.  Even though Peak 5520 wasn’t all that high, the views really were quite impressive.  The American Dingo enjoyed a panorama of higher peaks in virtually every direction.

Highlights to the N included New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.), Peak 5917, and Peak 5800Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) dominated the S horizon.  Mount Warner (5,889 ft.) and Samelias Peak (5,856 ft.) were visible to the SE.

New Year’s Eve Peak (L), Peak 5917 (Center) and Peak 5800 (far R). Photo looks NNE.
New Year’s Eve Peak (R) and Peak 5917 (far R). Photo looks N.
The 3 peaks L of Center are Mount Warner (L), Samelias Peak (Center), and Peak 5741 (R). Black Elk Peak (far R) on the horizon. Photo looks SSE.
Black Elk Peak. Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.

The chocolate coconut bar was gone in a flash.  Lupe and SPHP lounged about for a while.  To the SW was a view of special interest.

Peak 5520 is a fabulous spot, SPHP, but what’s next?

Look over there, Loopster!  See the big lumpy ridge?  That’s gotta be the best view we’ve ever had of Five Points (6,221 ft.).  Somewhat to the N of it you see False North Point (6,130 ft.).  There is another Lists of John peak, Peak 6040, off to the W that we can’t see from here.  False North Point is sort of on the way to it.

Oh, I get it!  So you’re thinking we’ll just tag False North Point on the way to Peak 6040.

Exactly!

Are we going to hit Five Points, too?

Nope!  Won’t have time for that.  Peak 6040 is far enough away so that we’ll be doing good if we can get False North Point, too.

Ready? Let’s go! Five Points (L) and False North Point (Center). Photo looks SW.
Five Points (L) and False North Point (R). Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

Lots more adventure ahead!  Departing Peak 5520, Lupe returned to USFS Road No. 669.  The road divided at the pass into 2 unmarked branches, one continuing SSE straight down into Gordon Gulch.  The Carolina Dog took the other branch heading SW instead.

A final look at Peak 5520 from back at the pass. Photo looks NE.
Looking SW, the direction Lupe was about to go.

Descending into a shallow valley, one of several comprising the upper reaches of Gordon Gulch, the road going SW quickly turned S.  After 0.33 mile, it again angled SW and climbed a little.  Loop arrived at a high spot where the road divided again, one branch going L, the other continuing SW.

This time there was a marker.  A wand next to the road continuing SW indicated that this was USFS Road No. 669.1A.

Heading down the shallow valley. Photo looks SSW.
At the high spot next to the No. 669.1A wand. Five Points (L). Photo looks SW.

Go straight, SPHP?

Yes, I think so, but hang on a minute, Loop!  Let me check the topo map!  Somewhere along in here we need to turn W or NW, and I haven’t noticed a road or valley going that way yet.  Want to make sure we haven’t missed it already.

Checking the map, it seemed pretty clear that this junction was at the crest of a little ridge extending SE from Peak 5549.

So, what does the map say, SPHP?

Says to keep going straight like you thought, Looper.  Shouldn’t be too far to the next valley.  We’ll turn NW there.

Which is how it all turned out.  No. 669.1A did lead down into another valley, which it immediately crossed before continuing SW up the far side.  Abandoning No. 669.1A, Lupe instead turned NW following a fainter unmarked road up the valley.

In the next valley. USFS Road No. 669.1A continues up the other side. Photo looks SW.
On USFS Road No. 669.1A, which Lupe abandoned to head NW staying to the R of the peak seen L of Center. Photo looks WNW.
Starting up the valley on the fainter road. Photo looks NW.

The valley Lupe was going up now wasn’t as shallow as the others she’d passed through on the way here.  The sides were steeper and higher, but the road was decent and headed in the right direction.  For a while, Loop made good progress, gaining elevation at an easy pace.

However, the situation was deteriorating by the time the road began to curve W.  The faint road was getting fainter, and Lupe was coming to more and more deadfall.  No sign that anyone had been here in ages!

Forcing a way through the steadily worsening deadfall rapidly turned into tedious work.  The road became intermittent, then vanished.  The N half of the valley, where the road had been, was largely snow-free, but choked with dead pines.  The S side still had a foot of snow blanketing the ground amid a dense stand of aspens, but far less deadfall.

Giving up on the non-existent road, Lupe switched to traveling through the aspens.  Not a great route, but definitely easier than contending with all the deadfall!

Among the aspens. Photo looks WSW.

The snowy trudge among the aspens went on and on.

How much farther to False North Point (6,130 ft.), SPHP?

Not entirely sure Loop.  It’s off the edge of the map that I printed out.  Don’t think it’s too much farther, though.

Off the edge of the map?

Yes.  Think we need to turn S pretty soon.  Watch for a valley we can take to the L.

A valley did eventually appear on the L.  Lupe turned up it, still traveling amid the dense aspens.  This valley climbed at a somewhat faster rate.  SPHP kept expecting the American Dingo to come to a pass, but stopped her before she did.

What’s up, SPHP?

Not sure, Loop.  We can’t be too far from False North Point, but this valley doesn’t seem quite right.  Maybe we ought to start climbing out of it?  I was going to wait until we got to a pass, but it’s taking longer than I thought it would.

So, head up the hill here?

Yeah, let’s try that.  I think this is actually all part of False North Point.  We’ll recognize it once we get to the top.

Lupe started up the pine-covered slope on the R side of the valley.  The Carolina Dog was soon leaping over deadfall again.

Back in the pines and deadfall. Photo looks SW.

Looper kept climbing, but nothing seemed familiar.  She hadn’t been to False North Point in 2 years.  SPHP remembered even more deadfall and a steeper route than this, but maybe she wasn’t on quite the same part of the mountain?

Oh, here we are, SPHP!  Made it to the top!

A tall wooden pole stuck up out of a cairn, the true summit rock sitting off to the L 10 feet beyond it.

By the wooden pole. Photo looks SSW.

Congratulations again, Loopster!  Mighty fine job!

So, where are we, SPHP?  This isn’t False North Point (6,130 ft.)!

No, it’s not!  It’s around here somewhere, though.  Want to take a break?

Got any more chocolate coconut bars?

The chocolate coconut bar supply hadn’t run out yet, so Loop did get to split another one with SPHP.  She also had some Taste of the Wild and water, while SPHP munched an apple.  Moving around a bit, a higher peak could be glimpsed to the W between the trees.

That looks suspiciously like False North Point, doesn’t it, SPHP?

Indeed it does.  Seems we’ve climbed the wrong mountain.

False North Point (Center). Photo looks WSW.

So, are we going to go over there, SPHP?

Yeah, I suppose.  Climb up on the top rock here for a moment, then we’ll keep following this ridge.  It’ll probably take us down to an easier route over to False North Point.

At the true summit of wherever this was. Photo looks NNE.

As expected, Lupe lost a little elevation as she continued along the ridge past the high point, but the terrain then flattened for a while.

Look, SPHP!  There’s higher ground ahead!

Huh!  So there is.  Keep going, Loop!  Maybe this really is False North Point, and we just haven’t gone far enough yet?

Higher ground ahead. Photo looks S.

Lupe kept going.  The terrain kept rising.  She reached a second high point.  Although Loop had netted a fair amount of elevation gain since leaving the cairn with the post, a glance back to the WNW showed she still wasn’t quite as high as the peak she’d seen before.

At the second high point. False North Point (L). Photo looks WNW.

Directly ahead, still some distance away, there was an even higher peak.

Another mountain ahead, SPHP! Photo looks SSW.

Next time I better print out more of the topo map.  Somehow we’re way off course, Looper!  That’s got to be Five Points (6,221 ft.) ahead!

So, False North Point actually is behind us now?  We’re between them?

Afraid so, Loop.

Are we turning around then, SPHP?

No.  Since we’re this close, let’s skip False North Point and continue on to Five Points.  Been a long time since we’ve been there.

On the easy, scenic trek down to the saddle leading to the next peak, Lupe lost more than 100 feet of elevation.  Not much deadfall to contend with, and a variety of interesting rocks were scattered among the trees.

Heading for the next peak. Photo looks S.
Getting closer. Photo looks S.

At the base of the next mountain, Loop faced a very steep climb.  At first, she had to leap over deadfall.  Higher up, she came to a boulder field.  The overall scale of the mountain wasn’t nearly as large, but rocks were so big, it almost felt like she was in the Bighorns.

Heading up. Photo looks S.
Quite the scramble for the Black Hills! Photo looks SSE.

At one point, it almost looked like Lupe was stuck.  Fortunately, swinging around to the E a bit revealed an acceptable route higher.  The American Dingo was soon approaching the summit.  A bleached branch sporting several vertical limbs was perched along the W edge.

Oh, I remember that branch!  Don’t you, SPHP?  To think that it has still been sitting up here all this time!

I do remember it, Loop!  Quite distinctive!

By the distinctive branch. Photo looks SW.

Lupe went on to the highest rock, which was just beyond the distinctive branch.  The views were terrific!   It was easy to see that she was well above False North Point now.

At the top. False North Point (L). Photo looks NNW.

Congratulations on climbing Five Points (6,221 ft.), Loopster!  That was some scramble, wasn’t it?  Well worth it, though!  This is fabulous!

Why, thank you, SPHP!  Mind if I ask a question?

Of course, not!  Fire away!

If this is Five Points, what’s that over there?

Oh, good grief!

Due S, 0.25 mile away, was a higher peak.

Five Points summit (L of Center). Photo looks S.

We climbed the wrong mountain again, SPHP?

Yes and no!  I’m a dope.  It all makes perfect sense.  That’s the true summit of Five Points over there.  We’re actually on North Point here, or what you might call True North Point.

So, this is part of the Five Points region, but not the highest point?

Correctamundo, as we can plainly see.

True North Point was a great spot, and it had been quite the little jaunt getting here.  Loop might as well take another break and enjoy the views for a while.  No chocolate coconut bar this time around, though.  Only one left.  Going to save it for either Five Points or Peak 6040.  Lupe had to settle for more Taste of the Wild.

Union Hill (6,120 ft.) (R of Center). Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.

A pleasant half hour shot by.  Decision time!  Five Points or Peak 6040?  Not enough daylight remaining for both.

Wasn’t the plan, Loop, but we’re not getting this close to Five Points and not doing it.  That OK with you?

Peak 6040 isn’t going anywhere, SPHP.  We can climb it another time.

Onward, then!  Puppy, ho!

Next stop, Five Points summit (Center)! Photo looks S.

The S slope of True North Point was steep, but the descent was easier than expected.  The S exposure meant little or no snow.  Lots of deadfall, but not until Lupe was already almost down to the saddle leading to Five Points.  Crossing the saddle in nothing flat, the Carolina Dog started up Five Points’ N slope.

Snowy, steep, and badly infested with deadfall about sums it up.  The climb was a slow trudge higher, but True North Point had actually been tougher.  Five Points became a rocky scramble, too, but not until Lupe was already fairly close to the top.

Above the deadfall, high on Five Points’ N slope. Photo looks SW.
Near the top. Photo looks S.

3:56 PM, 58ºFFive Points (6,221 ft.) had 2 rocky high spots separated by 100 feet.  The American Dingo reached the one at the N end first.  Whether it was any higher or lower than the one at the S end was hard to say.  Trees prevented any direct visual comparison, partially blocking the views in other directions as well.

Five Points, at the N end. Photo looks NE.
At the S high spot. Photo looks S.
Black Elk Peak (Center). Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.

Finally made it, Looper!  Congratulations, again!  More to Five Points than this, but I’m pretty sure you’ve hit the true summit at one of these spots.

Glad to hear it, SPHP!  Now, about that last chocolate coconut bar!

In a sunny spot between the two high points, Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap.  Provisions disappeared, and a while was spent contemplating the big view of snowy hills and ridges to the W.

Looking SW from Five Points.

At last, a breeze began to blow out of the SW.  Lupe stirred, too.  Getting to be that time.  Sniffing back and forth along the summit ridge, Loop took in the sights and scents of Five Points.

False North Point (L of Center) in the foreground. Photo looks NNW.
A more open view. False North Point (R of Center). Photo looks NNW.
Looking SSW.

Before it was over, Loop returned to both high points several times.

New Year’s Eve Peak (L), Peak 5917 (L of Center) and Peak 5800 (R) from the N high spot. Photo looks NE.
Black Elk Peak (Center) from the S high spot. Photo looks S.

Exactly an hour after arriving, Looper left Five Points picking her way down the very steep NW slope through heavy deadfall.

True North Point (R) during the descent. Photo looks N.

A time-consuming descent!  Even after the slope began to diminish, the deadfall remained thick for a long way before it finally came to an end.  In filtered evening sunlight, Lupe explored animal trails NW through the snowy forest.

Upon reaching USFS Road No. 249, Lupe followed it NE.  The road soon bent sharply W.  Loop left it, heading NNE across a field toward the pass between False North Point and the ridge she’d traveled earlier that led to the true one.  Up at the pass, Loop and SPHP ducked under a fence.

A need for speed now!  The sun was sinking.  Ahead was a long valley filled with aspens, another part of the same aspen-filled valley Lupe had been in earlier.  Following a snowy path, the American Dingo plunged into the thick of it.

The path disappeared.  Lots of deadfall, but most of it wasn’t big.  Lupe leapt over countless downed trees.  More than 0.33 mile from the pass, she turned NW and went over another one.  Oh, of course!  This was it!  This was the pass where Loop had begun her last ascent of False North Point more than 2 years ago.

Beyond the pass, Loopster entered another valley, one she was familiar with.  USFS Road No. 669 went through here.  This was the upper end of the route W of the frozen pond.

1.5 miles back to the frozen pond!  Another 0.5 mile back to the G6.  No worries now, on a known route.  Light fading, curly tail held high, Lupe trotted down the quiet valley leaving deep impressions in the slushy-soft snow.  (End 7:38 PM, 41ºF)

Heading into the aspens on the way back, Black Hills of South Dakota 3-20-21

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 144 – Five Points (10-31-15)

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 144 – Five Points (10-31-15)

What better way for a lucky American Dingo to celebrate Halloween than a day spent exploring the Black Hills?  Lupe was certainly in favor of it.  When she saw SPHP getting the backpack ready to go, she quickly grew impatient for SPHP to head out the door.  Finally, the great moment arrived.

For Lupe’s Black Hills Expedition No. 144, SPHP selected Five Points (6,221 ft.) as her peakbagging goal.  Rather than being a single mountain, Five Points is actually a series of small mountains close together along a line running N/S.  Five Points is located just a few miles NNE of Hill City in the central Black Hills.  Its highest peak is the highest mountain N of Hill City for quite a few miles.

At 10:30 AM, SPHP parked the G6 just off Horse Creek Road (USFS Road No. 243).  It was 48°F already, and was going to be quite a warm day for this late in the season.  A breeze could be heard up in the trees, but the air was pretty calm down on the ground.  Lupe and SPHP headed S on an access road that leads to USFS Road No. 669.  Lupe crossed Horse Creek twice along the access road.  Horse Creek isn’t a very big stream, but it had more water in it than other times Lupe has been in the area.

Lupe at Horse Creek.

The access road is less than 0.5 mile long, so Lupe was soon at the junction with USFS Road No. 669.  There is a small stock pond near the junction.  In keeping with the theme of slimy ponds like Hidden Slew from Lupe’s Expedition No. 143, here is a photo of the pond:

Lupe reaches the pond near USFS Road No. 669. This is the only pond shot in this entire post, I promise, even though she passed several more going up the valley along No. 669.
Lupe reaches the pond near USFS Road No. 669. This is the only pond shot in this entire post, I promise, even though she passed several more going up the valley along No. 669.

Lupe and SPHP headed W on No. 669.  The road went up a small, mostly forested valley at an easy pace.  There were quite a few aspen trees at the bottom of the valley, but the slopes were mostly pine-covered.  There would be no traffic on the road; it was blocked in quite a few places with deadfall timber.  Most of the road, however, was open for easy hiking.  Lupe explored here and there, just glad to be out running around.  The deadfall didn’t bother her.

Up ahead, SPHP saw something odd dangling from an aspen tree.  From a distance, it looked like the size of a human head.  That would fit in with a Halloween theme, but upon reaching it, SPHP saw that it was an old wasp’s nest.  The bottom of it had deteriorated so there was quite a large hole in it.  SPHP thought maybe the nest was abandoned, but upon closer inspection, there were still a couple of wasps flying around and entering it.

This wasp's nest wasn't very active, but there were still a couple of bees that flew up into it.
This wasp’s nest wasn’t very active, but there were still a couple of wasps that flew up into it.

Even though the hive wasn’t very active, SPHP figured nothing good could come from hanging around it.  There was no reason to stay there anyway.  Lupe and SPHP went on up the road.  Lupe passed several more little ponds.  Toward the upper end of the little valley, the tiny stream that fed the ponds was running right down USFS Road No. 669 beneath an archway of aspen trees.

Some nice tall aspens along USFS Road No. 669.
A tiny creek flows down USFS Road No. 669 beneath an archway of aspens.
A tiny creek flows down USFS Road No. 669 beneath an archway of aspens.

The road had turned SW by the time Lupe reached the area where the tiny creek was flowing on it.  Eventually the road turned S and left the bottom of the valley.  Lupe stayed on a path that continued up the valley.  Before long, the path turned W and climbed more steeply up to a saddle along a ridge running N/S.  There was lots of deadfall timber on the climb to the saddle, so it was slow going for SPHP.

USFS Road No. 249 was not very far W of the saddle, but Lupe did not go to the road.  Lupe and SPHP turned S and followed the ridge.  From the top of a small high point along the way, a considerably higher hill with a rocky top could be seen ahead.  Lupe and SPHP climbed it.  There was quite a lot of rock as Lupe drew near the summit.

From the top there were really nice views all around from the SW to the W, N, and NE.  This high up, the wind was really roaring in the trees.  The big rocks at the top were an effective barrier against the wind, which was coming out of the SW.  Lupe liked it down out of the wind, but SPHP persuaded her to go up on top for a few photos.

Nearing the rocky summit of False North Point.
Lupe at the summit of False North Point. Photo looks N.
Lupe at the summit of False North Point. Photo looks N.

Lupe had been here before, but quite a long time ago.  Her first trip here had been on her first Black Hills expedition of 2013 on New Year’s Day.  (Expedition No. 42, 1-1-13)  Back then, SPHP had thought Lupe was up on the northernmost summit of Five Points.  Accordingly, SPHP had named this mountain North Point.

Lupe had returned to the same area just 5 days later on Expedition No. 43 on 1-6-13.  She had actually climbed up to the highest point of Five Points on Expedition No. 43.  SPHP realized then that this mountain was not part of the Five Points grouping.  This mountain was too far to the NNW.  So SPHP changed the name to False North Point.  The topo maps on Peakbagger.com show its elevation as 6,130 feet.

Looking S from False North Point.
Looking NW.
Looking NW.
Lupe near the highest rocks on False North Point.
Lupe near the highest rocks on False North Point.
Looking W.
Looking W.
Lupe just below the summit.
Lupe just below the summit.

The view to the SSE from False North Point toward Five Points was partially blocked by the forest.  SPHP snapped a quick photo in that direction, and then Lupe was ready to get out of the wind.

Lupe and SPHP headed back to the NE end of the summit area on False North Point, which looked like the easiest way down to the saddle over to the ridge N of Five Points.  Before Lupe lost much elevation, there was a place where an opening in the forest permitted a look to the E toward Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.).

Looking SSE at Five Points from False North Point. The real North Point is hidden behind the trees at the L side of the photo. The true summit of Five Points is in clear view. To the right, Harney Peak is seen in the distance.
Looking SSE at Five Points from False North Point. The real North Point is hidden behind the trees at the L side of the photo. The true summit of Five Points is in clear view. To the right, Harney Peak is seen in the distance.  The road is USFS Road No. 249, which is coming N from China Gulch.
Looking E from False North Point. A portion of Sheridan Lake is in view. Beyond the lake, the rocky high point is Boulder Hill.
Looking E from False North Point. A portion of Sheridan Lake is in view. Beyond the lake, the rocky high point is Boulder Hill.

Lupe and SPHP headed down from False North Point.  SPHP led Lupe down a bit farther N than would have been ideal.  She had to go S climbing up through an aspen forest just to reach the saddle over to the ridge N of Five Points.  Instead of climbing up onto the ridge, Lupe and SPHP stayed W of it, gaining elevation slowly.  SPHP was hoping to arrive at the saddle along the ridge just N of the real North Point.  That’s exactly where Lupe did arrive, too.

The climb up the N face of the real North Point was the most challenging of the day.  Near the top was a big boulder field.  It was fairly steep.  Lupe and SPHP went straight on up it, but repeatedly came to false summits.  Each time it looked like Lupe was about to come out up on top, another set of rocks going 20 feet higher appeared.

The roaring wind made the climb seem more daunting than it really was.  SPHP climbed slowly and carefully.  Lupe wished SPHP would move in a more lively fashion.  She had no trouble maneuvering among the rocks.

Lupe climbing North Point, the real one, not the false one. She isn't really as close to the top as this photo makes it look. There are more rocks higher up than seen here.
Lupe climbing North Point, the real one, not the false one. She isn’t really as close to the top as this photo makes it look. There are more rocks higher up than seen here.
Looking NW during the climb up North Point.
Looking NW during the climb up North Point.

Finally, Lupe and SPHP were within 10 or 12 feet of the top of the boulder field.  The last part of the climb was a rock wall.  It looked like there were plenty of hand holds, but SPHP decided against it.  Lupe had to go back down about 20 feet to get to a shelf that led around to the W side of the mountain.  Over there she came to an easier way up.

The actual summit of North Point was still a bit S of where Lupe and SPHP came up.  Before going over there, though, Lupe and SPHP went N to the top of the rock wall which SPHP had decided against climbing.  There was an excellent clear view back to the NNW of False North Point where Lupe had just come from.

Lupe still climbing the N face of North Point. This really was a fun rock climb.
Lupe still climbing the N face of North Point.  Another false top is in view.  This really was a fun rock climb.
Looking NNW at False North Point from the top of the rock wall on the real North Point.
Looking NNW at False North Point (above Lupe’s head) from the top of the rock wall on the real North Point.
False North Point (L) from North Point. Photo looks NNW.
False North Point (L) from North Point. Photo looks NNW.

After taking a look back at False North Point, Lupe and SPHP went to see what the true summit of Five Points to the S looked like from North Point.  Lupe also visited the summit of North Point.

The true summit of Five Points is now in view from North Point. Photo looks S.
The true summit of Five Points is now in view from North Point. Photo looks S.
Lupe very near the summit of North Point. Photo looks S.
Lupe very near the summit of North Point. Photo looks S.  The small patch of open ground in the distance is part of Hill City.

The summit of North Point was along the W side of the mountain where the highest ridge of rock provided a commanding 180° view to the W.  North Point also featured a slightly lower and wider ridge that extended out to the E.  Lupe and SPHP explored this lower ridge to its eastern end.

The E ridge was forested, but there were some openings in the forest.  Several rock outcroppings provided great views.  Most views were to the N, but it was possible to see to the SE in a couple places, too.  There was even a clearer view to the S toward the true summit of Five Points than Lupe had found near the summit of North Point.

From the E ridge on North Point, Lupe found this view of the True Summit of Five Points. It can be seen that there are actually two of the Five Points over there. The high point on the left is South Point. South Point is not quite as high as the True Summit on the R.
From the E ridge on North Point, Lupe found this view of the True Summit of Five Points. It can be seen that there are actually two of the Five Points over there. The high point on the left is South Point. South Point is not quite as high as the True Summit on the R.  Photo looks S.

After exploring North Point, it was time for Lupe to head over to the True Summit of Five Points.  Although the way initially looked steep, it really wasn’t hard going down North Point into the saddle to the S.

SPHP expected another rocky climb up to the True Summit.  Lupe stayed mostly to the E of a spine of rock heading up the N slope.  The way up was pretty steep, but Lupe didn’t have to climb any big boulder fields to get up on top.  It was an easier climb than going up North Point had been.

Looking N back at North Point (R) and False North Point (L) from the N end of the ridge on the True Summit of Five Points.
Looking N back at North Point (R) and False North Point (L) from the N end of the ridge on the True Summit of Five Points.

Up on top of the True Summit of Five Points was a rocky ridge oriented N/S, just like on the other peaks Lupe had already climbed.  The rocks toward the S end were much larger than at the N end.  Lupe had to pass just below the big rocks on the E side of the mountain to work her way over to the S end of the ridge.  Near the S end, she found a steep grassy ramp that led right on up to the very top of the mountain.

Separated by less than 100 feet, there were two high clusters of rock.  The grassy ramp brought Lupe up between them.  Lupe went first to the S rock cluster.  It had a great view toward Harney Peak (7,242 ft.).  The N rock cluster was the very top of the mountain, and the True Summit of Five Points.  It was only a few feet higher than the S cluster.  There were views to the W, N, and E from here.

Since the most impressive view was to the S toward Harney Peak (7,242 ft.), Lupe and SPHP returned to the S rock cluster to take a break.  SPHP had carrots and apple crisp.  Lupe had Taste of the Wild and plenty of water.  She got to lick the remaining apple crisp sauce out of the plastic container, too.  Carolina Dogs like apple crisp!

Looking S toward Harney Peak from the S rock cluster at the top of the True Summit of Five Points.
Looking S toward Harney Peak from the S rock cluster at the top of the True Summit of Five Points.  This photo shows two more of the Five Points.  They are the rocky hills in the foreground L of Lupe.  Both are clearly lower.  Lupe did not go to either of those summits.
Lupe up on the North rock cluster. These are the very highest rocks on the True Summit of Five Points. Photo looks N.
Lupe up on the North rock cluster. These are the very highest rocks on the True Summit of Five Points.  Lupe reached her Five Points peakbagging goal here.  She had been here once before on Expedition No. 43 way back on 1-6-13.  Photo looks N.

It was still windy out while Lupe and SPHP were taking the break on the True Summit of Five Points.  However, the wind had shifted a bit and was now coming out of the W.  It finally seemed to be weakening a bit.  After eating, Lupe curled up for a few minutes in a spot where the rocks protected her from the wind.

Lupe had now climbed North Point and the True Summit of Five Points to achieve her peakbagging goal for the day.  There were still 3 of the Five Points unclimbed.  False North Point didn’t count, since it wasn’t really part of the official group.  The sun was starting to get low.  SPHP debated whether or not Lupe should climb any more of the Five Points mountains.

The 2nd highest mountain of the Five Points group was separated from the True Summit by a saddle extending off to the SE.  SPHP was calling this mountain South Point, even though there were two lower points of the Five Point group farther S.  South Point really wasn’t very far away.

The saddle to South Point didn’t lose much elevation, but there was a lot of deadfall timber and some pretty big rock outcroppings visible along the way.  If Lupe could get by the rocks and deadfall, it wouldn’t take long for her to reach the summit of South Point.

As always, Lupe was willing to try it.  So Lupe and SPHP went back down the steep grassy ramp and headed SE toward the saddle to South Point.  It really wasn’t hard to cross the saddle area.  The deadfall timber was more of a problem than the rocks were.  Lupe succeeded in reaching the top of South Point.  She found the highest rocks near the SE end of the ridge.  The best views were from a rock platform at the very SE end.

Looking S from South Point. Harney Peak (L) and Hill City (R) are in view.
Looking S from South Point. Harney Peak (L) and Hill City (R) are in view.
Lupe on the rock platform at the far SE end of South Point. Photo looks SE.
Lupe on the rock platform at the far SE end of South Point. Photo looks SE.
Harney Peak from South Point. Photo looks S.
Harney Peak from South Point. The two points of the Five Points group that Lupe did not climb on Expedition No. 144 are seen in the foreground.  (Only the rocks at the very top of the lowest point are seen at the lower R.) Photo looks S.
The summit of South Point. Lupe is surrounded here by the highest rocks on South Point. Photo looks NW.
The summit of South Point. Lupe is surrounded here by the highest rocks on South Point. Photo looks NW.  The True Summit of Five Points isn’t very far away to the NW, but is hidden by the forest.

When Lupe reached the summit of South Point, she had climbed the 3 highest mountains in the Five Points group, plus False North Point.  It was time to start heading back to the G6.  Somewhat surprisingly, it wasn’t difficult to just continue down off South Point continuing to the SE.

Lupe was losing a lot of elevation.  As soon as the terrain permitted, SPHP led Lupe to the SW and then W.  Lupe was going to go clear around to the W of the True Summit and North Point.  It was a fairly long march through the forest, made longer by the steepness of the slope, deadfall timber, and big patches of thistles and thorny plants.  Lupe had a great time, though.  There was now room to run around in the forest.  She sped around, happy to not be so confined up on high rocky places.

When Lupe had gone quite a long distance to the W, she came to a big square-shaped rock outcropping, which SPHP promptly dubbed Block ‘O Rock.  Not too long after reaching Block ‘O Rock, the terrain leveled out and Lupe was able to head N.  She was far enough W to see USFS Road No. 249 down the hill to the W, but she did not go down to the road.

At Block ‘O Rock.

Lupe continued N through the forest until she was just S of False North Point again.  There a faint road went almost all the way up to the saddle she had crossed earlier in the day heading for North Point.  Lupe continued N over the saddle and descended into an aspen filled valley.  At first there was a path, but as Lupe continued on, the path became choked with deadfall timber.

North Point (L) and the True Summit (R) of Five Points. Photo looks SE.
A look back at North Point (L) and the True Summit (R) of Five Points. Photo looks SE.

It really wasn’t terribly far (0.5 mile?) to reach another saddle NE of False North Point that would take Lupe back to USFS Road No. 669.  The forest was a mess, though.  The deadfall was so thick it even slowed Lupe down.  The sun disappeared.  A little later, the last sunlight remaining on the peaks disappeared.  It wouldn’t be good to be stuck out in this tangle at night.  The moon wasn’t due to rise for several hours.

SPHP was confident, though.  Lupe made it to the saddle while there was still twilight.  She picked up USFS Road No. 669 again.  Once on No. 669, it was easy to just retrace the early part of the day’s journey back to the G6.  The stars were out by the time Lupe got there at 6:39 PM.  It was 38°F.  The wind was almost gone.  A slight breeze was heard in the treetops.

Lupe and SPHP stood under the stars for a few more minutes.  Then it was time for Lupe to go to her Grandma’s house for Halloween.  When she got there, Lupe raced into the house, and up the stairs wagging her tail and whining in excitement.  Grandma was very happy to see her!  Time for ice cream!

The pathway into the aspen filled valley before it becomes choked with deadfall timber.
Heading back.  The pathway into the aspen-filled valley before it becomes choked with deadfall timber.

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