Lupe’s 2013 Dingo Vacation was off to a great start! On her first day (7-10-13) she had been to the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness and spent the night on Bald Mountain in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming.
It had been quite a memorable evening for Lupe sleeping under the stars on Bald Mountain. “Sleeping” is used loosely here. At first there was some sleeping going on, but a few hours into the night, SPHP woke up suddenly to the sound of Lupe sprinting away to the W in the darkness. She was after something, but what it might have been SPHP had no clue. Before long she came back without being called.
SPHP managed to get Lupe in her blankie and sleeping bag again, but from then on Lupe and SPHP slept fitfully. SPHP awoke many times to hear Lupe wandering off into the night sniffing around. Sometimes she was gone for 5 minutes or a bit more, but she always came back. Still, SPHP spent long stretches awake, peering and listening into the darkness for the tinkling sound of the tag on Lupe’s collar.
The Milky Way above was magnificent. Three shooting stars streaked across the night sky. A breeze started up and blew all night. Initially it seemed to be from the E, but as the night wore on, it blew harder and more from the S.
Sometimes Lupe came around to just sit next to SPHP out of her sleeping bag. She wanted to be petted while she stared into the blackness listening and watching. SPHP always did pet her. Often SPHP managed to persuade Lupe to get back into her sleeping bag and under her blankie again. That would last for a little while and then she would be off running and sniffing again. It was the first time Lupe and SPHP ever slept together without a tent under the stars in the wild. Lupe was just too stimulated and excited to sleep much.
Lupe and SPHP got up when the sun was just getting up. It was gorgeous out except for the strong S breeze. SPHP added Lupe’s name to the place of names. Then Lupe and SPHP went back to the summit of Bald Mountain again before heading down to the G6. Lupe had a great time racing around through the yellow, purple, and white flowers and what SPHP called “pom pom” plants waving in the breeze.
By 8:30 AM SPHP had everything packed up. Lupe and SPHP headed W down spectacular Hwy 14A out of the Bighorns. Lupe barked frantically at cows and horses across western Wyoming. Lupe’s route went through Lovell, Powell and Cody, WY. She rode in air-conditioned comfort since it was hot outside – almost 90°F.
From Cody, SPHP took Hwy 120 N to the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Hwy 296. When Lupe reached the Beartooth Hwy No. 212, SPHP made a beeline for Lupe and SPHP’s favorite camping site on the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone River. Lupe and SPHP had discovered this prime spot on Lupe’s 2012 Dingo Vacation with Lanis.
Lupe and SPHP were in luck! Arriving at 1 PM, the favorite camping site was open. SPHP had the tent set up within 30 minutes. As it later turned out, not a moment too soon. After setting up the tent, SPHP was ready to take Lupe for an afternoon outing. Nothing really long, just for a few hours. SPHP chose a nearby trail up Pilot Creek.
As Lupe and SPHP got out of the G6 at the Pilot Creek trailhead, some people in a big white pickup truck pulling a trailer loaded with ATV’s drove up. They asked if Lupe and SPHP were tenting across the road. SPHP said yes, and they said they were from Cody, WY. Lupe and SPHP were in their favorite spot to camp. (You know you are in a good spot when the locals think it is the best one, too!) They asked if it would bother Lupe and SPHP, if they camped nearby. Lupe and SPHP had no problem with that. It’s still a free country. They didn’t need Lupe and SPHP’s permission, although it was considerate of them to ask.
Lupe and SPHP started up the Pilot Creek trail. At first Pilot Creek was visible below, but the trail climbed steadily so fast Lupe was soon far above the creek. Before long there were views of the snow-capped Beartooth Mountains to the N. The trail went uphill so long SPHP decided they should have named it Pilot Peak trail, as the trail seemed destined to climb it. (That SPHP, what a whiner and exaggerator! No wonder Lupe has to call her blog The (MOSTLY) True Adventures of Lupe!)
Just about the time SPHP was considering giving up and turning around, the trail leveled out and started a more gentle up and down, so Lupe stuck with it. Lupe and SPHP were in a big valley up on the W side hundreds of feet above the creek. There was a big mountain a few miles away with a large snow bank on it, and the trail headed for that.
Lupe and SPHP had covered about 1/2 the distance to the big mountain and arrived at a small open hill on the left side of the trail. Except for one big dead old tree, it was open ground. Lupe and SPHP climbed the little hill to gain, for the first time, an unobstructed view of the mountain with the big snow bank. Pilot Creek was now closer than before, not as far below Lupe and SPHP as it had been. A side creek with good flow was cascading very steeply into Pilot Creek from the E. It originated from a high rocky ridge with some snow still present way up near the top.
Unfortunately SPHP had forgotten the camera. Lupe and SPHP had gone a few miles along Pilot Creek trail. The sky was clouding up like it was going to rain. With no camera and rain coming, it was time to turn around. The trip back to the trailhead was pleasant and very easy, since it was nearly all level or downhill. Lupe had a good time barking at chipmunks. SPHP enjoyed the view of the Beartooths, which were now directly ahead instead of behind. It was a great welcome back to the Beartooths. Lupe and SPHP met absolutely no one on the trail the entire time.
Back at the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone River, there was no sign of the people from Cody. They must decided they weren’t going to be happy camped next to Lupe and SPHP. SPHP arranged all of the padding, blankets, and sleeping bags in the tent, then started making beef stew on the propane stove. Before the beef stew was even ready, it started raining lightly. Lupe and SPHP devoured the beef stew as soon as it was done. It was starting to rain harder.
Since the tent leaks (everything does in SPHP’s experience!), SPHP took all of the gear out of the tent and rearranged it back in the G6. Rain meant a night in the G6. Lupe was very tired from running around half the previous night on Bald Mountain. SPHP was pretty weary too. Soon both were passed out. At least Lupe and SPHP had claimed their favorite spot on the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone River for the duration of Lupe’s stay in the Beartooths!
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