Dome Peak, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-27-20)

Part 1 of Day 5 of Lupe’s 1st summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming!

Early.  Too early.  Yet every time SPHP pried open an eye, Lupe was busily and noisily licking her fur, staring intently out the window, or heaving great sighs and looking bored.  The Carolina Dog was ready for the new day!  Bleary SPHP, not so much.

Appears you slept hard and fast, aye, Looper?

Oh, you’re awake, SPHP!  Good!  ‘Bout time!  Yes, I slept well.  Feel great, but it’s getting late.  Can’t even see any stars now.

No stars?  Horrors!  I had no idea it was that late already.

Yes, it is!  And you said we were going to go higher today, remember?  Maybe we ought to get cracking?

Did I say that?  Maybe so, but I was sort of hoping to recuperate until that giant star that shows up every morning puts in an appearance.  Not quite used to all these long days in the mountains yet.

Oh, pooh!  It’ll be here soon enough.  Rouse yourself!

SPHP managed to delay the inevitable a while longer, but the American Dingo would not be denied.  She was soon riding with her head out the window, barking happily at deer, and even a couple of bull moose, full of great expectations as sunlight filtered through the forests.  Meanwhile, the G6 raised dust along USFS Road No. 26.

June.  Any chance the G6 could ford the E Fork of the S Tongue River?  Probably not, but SPHP took the turn S onto USFS Road No. 226 to check it out, anyway.  Parking a couple hundred feet S of the turn, Lupe and SPHP both leapt out and strolled down to the ford.

The river’s surface was smooth, and the water was very clear.  Paving stones could be seen on the bottom.  Didn’t look all that deep, but the ford was wide, and it was hard to tell for sure.  Due to the considerable width of the stream at the ford, the current didn’t appear to be as strong as it might have been.

So what’s the verdict, SPHP?

Better than I expected this time of year, Loop.  We could wade it easily enough.  Without high clearance, though, still not going to chance it in the G6.  Looks a little too deep.  Too bad!  If we could have driven a couple of miles up toward Woodchuck Pass, that would have saved us some time.

Am I going to have to swim?  I’m not much for swimming, you know.

Oh, you’d make it across without any problem!  Don’t think you would have to swim at all.  Anyway, the good news is, there’s another option if we can find it.  Trail No. 418 to Rock Chuck Pass!  Supposed to be a couple miles E of here.

Wonderful!  Umm … wait a minute.  Is this another fictional trail like No. 018 was yesterday from that same map you borrowed off Lewis & Clark?

Entirely possible!  Let’s go see what we can find, though.  Don’t ditch your water wings just yet.

Back up on USFS Road No. 26 again, SPHP drove slowly E.  Right about where Trail No. 418 was supposed to be, wonder of wonders – a sign.

8:02 AM, 48ºF, Trail No. 418 trailhead off USFS Road No. 26 – Half a dozen pickups, 5th wheel trailers, and RV’s were set up for dispersed camping at the trailhead.  SPHP parked the G6 200 feet from the road near the start of the trail.  Loopster wasn’t going to have to swim after all!  After the usual preparations, she was on her way to Rock Chuck Pass.

Gaining elevation at an easy to moderate pace, Trail No. 418 started out winding through a pine forest on a SE course.  Nothing to see except the forest itself, which didn’t bother Lupe in the least, since she was having a fine time looking for squirrels.

At first, the trail was easy to follow, but eventually No. 418 began to fade.  By the time it finally disappeared completely, SPHP was starting to get concerned.  According to the topo map, Rock Chuck Pass was only 1.25 miles from the trailhead, but finding it in the forest might be quite difficult.  SPHP wasn’t sure how far Lupe had already gone.

Not to worry!  Continuing 100 feet in the same direction the trail was last headed, Lupe again picked up faint signs of it leading straight toward a meadow.  That was the last the Carolina Dog saw of No. 418, but at least the meadow granted a little visibility.  The L side extended up a slope to a higher region.  Maybe that was Rock Chuck Pass?

Nope.  When Lupe got up there, it was clear this wasn’t a pass at all.  The good news was that the meadow kept going SE, slowly gaining elevation and getting wider as it went.  Finding Rock Chuck Pass was going to be a cinch!  Roaming SE through the meadow, Lupe came to a cairn 7 feet N of a big boulder.  Rock Chuck Pass was already in sight.  The meadow ahead went all the way to it.

As it turned out, part of the meadow was boggy, but that portion wasn’t too big or too bad.  Overall, a very easy route.  The American Dingo was soon at Rock Chuck Pass.

After Lupe’s Rooster Hill Wilderness experience a couple of days ago, SPHP was sort of dreading what was next.  Trail No. 418, if it could be found, continued SE over Rock Chuck Pass, but the Carolina Dog wasn’t going that way.  Instead it was time for Loop to head SSW up onto the big ridge SPHP hoped would get her to Dome Peak (10,828 ft.).

Rock Chuck Pass was wide and all open meadow, so it was possible to see from here at least part of what Lupe was in for.  The ridge she was about to climb was 300 feet high, with several large rock formations visible at or near the top.  The lower 200 feet appeared to be heavily forested, but openings were visible among the trees higher up.  The slope looked steep, but not too difficult.

The plan was to work up toward the L (SE) aiming for some of those open areas.  If all went well, Loop would come up between the biggest rock formations visible from Rock Chuck Pass.  SPHP hoped the forest wasn’t a deadfall jungle, and that the top of the ridge wouldn’t prove to be a heavily forested region.

Only one way to find out!  Lupe headed for the trees.

Before she even reached the trees, the American Dingo came to another bog.  Not a very big one, though.  She was quickly through the wetland, and starting up the big ridge.

It all went well.  SPHP’s fears were unfounded.  Instead of harboring a wretched tangle of deadfall, the forest wasn’t as dense as it had looked.  Decent routes were all over the place.  The ridge wasn’t even as steep as expected.  Loop sniffed around anywhere she wanted to while SPHP trudged higher.  Before long she was getting views from the open areas that had been visible on the upper slopes.

Exactly as planned, Lupe reached the top coming up right in the middle of the region between the largest rock formations perched along the edge.  More good news!  Although the Carolina Dog still had 0.25 mile to go to get all the way up to the main ridgeline, it was already in sight.

Instead of a dense, trackless forest, ahead was a gentler slope containing a mix of stands of stunted conifers, isolated boulders, scattered large rock formations, and fields full of yellow wildflowers.  Although the main ridgeline was still another 150 feet higher, getting there was going to be cake.

The nearest large rock formation off to the S (L) wasn’t too far away.  Looked perfectly climbable, and would be a good spot to take a little break.  Lupe headed for it, and was soon scrambling to the top.

The views from here were already great!  Cloud Peak (13,167 ft.) was in sight off to the SE.  To the E, a huge swath of territory was visible all the way around to Lookout Mountain (10,147 ft.), which was almost due N.  The views would be even better from up on the main ridge!  A short break, and Lupe was on her way again.

The American Dingo had no trouble avoiding all the rock formations, boulders and stunted trees.  Nothing but a romp through flowery fields the whole way.  Lupe had a blast!  The instant she reached the top, SPHP was elated, too!

Thar she blows, Loopster!  Dome Peak (10,828 ft.)!  Hah!  This is turning out way better than I anticipated.

That’s it right over there, SPHP?  We are doing well, aren’t we?  Come on!  Let’s get there!  More or less in our peakbagging bag already!

Well, not quite.  You never know what might happen in the mountains, but Lupe was right.  The situation did look promising.

Only a bit over 1.5 miles off to the SW as the crow flies, Dome Peak was in sight beyond a deep valley.  Taking a slightly longer course, the ridge Lupe was on swept around to it.  Some up and down visible along the route, as well as some rock formations and trees that would have to be avoided, but it didn’t look all that hard.  In fact, most of what could be seen from here looked pretty easy.

Farther S, a couple more mountains Lupe hoped to climb someday were in sight, too – the Sheridan County High Point (11,020 ft.) and Elk Peak (11,050 ft.).  Both looked like fun.  Maybe she would even get to climb them on this Dingo Vacation?

That would certainly be nice, but Dome Peak was the order of the day.  Looper struck out heading W along the broad ridge.  The first part was super easy, just flat, grassy terrain with no real obstacles.  Progress was rapid as Lupe enjoyed fabulous views in all directions.

The pace slowed as Loop started coming to big rock formations E of HP10410.  Gaining less than 100 feet of elevation each time, she picked her way among boulders and stunted trees up to the top of a couple of these high points.

Between and beyond these rock formations, there was still a lot of flat or gently sloping open ground, so Loop was still making pretty good time overall.  However, that changed at HP10410.  Staying toward the S, Lupe climbed almost to the top, but found this region so packed with stunted evergreens among the many boulders, that it was almost impossible to force a way through.

Some open terrain was visible farther down the S slope.  Lupe ended up boulder hopping down to it.  Not a terrible scramble by any means, but SPHP was as slow as always.  Beyond HP10410, the big ridge narrowed somewhat.  For a while Lupe was stuck heading SW well below the ridgeline since movement was still difficult up on top.

No longer being able to see the N side of the ridge Lupe was traveling was sort of a handicap.  Maybe there was easier ground over that way?  Loopster regained some of the elevation she had lost, but it still wasn’t enough to see what was to the N.

HP10480 wasn’t much farther ahead.  SPHP initially thought Loop might be able to skip going over it by staying on the SE slopes where a couple of large snowfields were in view.  This would be the most direct route to the saddle leading to Dome Peak.

However, as the Carolina Dog got closer, it became evident that the SE slopes were rather steep, and just about the whole thing was a big field of talus.  Those SE slopes might be the shortest route, but it would take SPHP a long time to traverse them.

Crossing a final stretch of open ground leading to HP10480, Lupe began a frontal assault from the NE.  Not happening.  Again, too many rocks choked with stunted conifers.  However, this was not a wasted effort.  The American Dingo got high enough to see that there actually was more open terrain off to the N.  Retreating down to it, she began circling around the N side of HP10480.

Good choice.  So much easier!  In fact, Loop soon came to a faint trail that led her up and over HP10480.  Only one more large rock formation stood between her and the saddle leading to Dome Peak.  The faint trail took her around the W side of it.

Lupe had to go farther and lose more elevation than SPHP expected to get around this obstacle, but it wasn’t a big deal.  From the saddle, a mostly grassy slope went SE almost all of the way up Dome Peak.

So, what is that big thing up on Dome Peak, SPHP?

I’ve been wondering the same thing for a couple of years now, Looper.  It’s been visible from miles away on some of the other peaks you’ve climbed, but I could never tell for sure if it was man-made or a massive rectangular rock formation.

Oh, it’s definitely man-made, SPHP.  What’s it for?

Yeah, I can see that now.  It’s some kind of a big sign, a billboard.

Funny place for an advertisement!  What does it say?

Can’t tell yet.  Actually, it looks dilapidated.  Maybe it doesn’t say anything anymore?

The grassy slope leveled out at a roomy spot NE of the summit.  An 80 foot high scramble remained to the top from here, most of it quite easy.  Turned out the billboard wasn’t dilapidated at all.

I can read the billboard now, Loop!

Great!  So, what does it say?

Seems to be a message for pilots.  “If you can read this, you’re flying too low!”

Human feathers!  That can’t be right!

Why not?

Makes no sense, SPHP.  Why put up a huge sign with a message like that?  It only faces one direction.  What about planes or helicopters coming from the SW?  Don’t they care about them?  Is it just hunky-dory, if they crash into Dome Peak?

Hmm.  OK, so you’ve got a point there, Loop.  Maybe it says “Eat at Joe’s” or “Kilroy Was Here”.  No wait, I’ve got it!  It says “Tim Worth Was Here!”.  He really was you know.  Tim has been to tons of peaks in the Bighorns.

Oh, please!  Admit it, SPHP.  You can’t read that sign.  You’re just making it up.  Tim Worth may have been here alright, but do you really expect me to believe he tossed that massive sign in his pack, and lugged it up here all by his lonesome?

Busted.  SPHP changed the subject.

Well, let’s get up there, Loop.  Maybe we’ll find a clue?

The Carolina Dog scrambled to the top without any trouble at all, coming up right next to the billboard.

Dome Peak’s summit region was both interesting and unusual.  Roughly an acre in size, the top of the mountain was covered mostly by talus, but not the typical jagged, broken, jumble.  Instead, these massive rocks were worn or weathered until they were rounded.  Many were laying flat, making it relatively easy to move around.  A little vegetation grew between them, but not much.

A fire lookout tower must have been up here at one time.  Remains of an old foundation were surrounded on two sides by a boardwalk that led to a viewing platform toward the N end.  Nearby, a metal windsock swung easily in a light, variable breeze.

The true summit was a large light-colored boulder near the SE edge 70 feet from the billboard.  Another boulder close to it was almost as high.  100 feet W of the true summit was an electronic station of some sort in good condition.

Only 12:30 PM.  Feeling the effects of yesterday’s long march as well as today’s efforts, Lupe and SPHP wandered SW over to a boulder along the S edge and sat down.  The views of Black Tooth Mountain (13,005 ft.) and Cloud Peak (13,167 ft.) with Elk Peak (11,050 ft.) in the foreground off to the SE, and the Sheridan County High Point (11,020 ft.) closer at paw to the S were gorgeous.  A perfect day!

45 tranquil minutes sailed by while Loopster and SPHP simply sat there relaxing and contemplating the view while having a bite to eat.

So, wha’dya think of that view, Loop?

Certainly beautiful territory!  Are you thinking what I’m thinking, SPHP?

Yep.  The scenic route, for sure!  And it would save us a lot of miles getting to Coney Lake, and coming up that way tomorrow.  Of course, we’ll have to come back over Dome Peak again, but once we do that, maybe we can take a shortcut back to No. 226 by heading NW down the Woodchuck Creek drainage?

We’ll get back awfully late, won’t we?

Yeah.  I should have brought the tiny house.

So, you’re going to make me swim across the E Fork of the S Tongue River after all, aren’t you?  And in the dark, too!

Hah!  Guess so.  Good thing we checked that ford out this morning.  You’ll make it.

You’re certifiable, SPHP!  But, if we can find a way to get 200 feet lower down to that grassy region, I’m all in.  The rest looks easy.  Maybe we ought to have a look around?

Sounds good!  Let’s scope out the possibilities while conducting your Dome Peak summit tour.

Lupe checked out the electronic station first, sniffing about while she went around the S and W sides of it.  It was nice enough, but held no great allure for an American Dingo.  She then proceeded N along the W side of the summit region toward the metal windsock, noting a nice view of Antelope Butte (9,935 ft.), which she had been to before, off to the W.

There was something else, too.  25 feet lower, another flat region existed just W of the summit.  Near the metal windsock, there was a way to scramble down to it.

From the observation deck near the N end of the summit region, Lupe had great views of Bruce Mountain (10,320 ft.) beyond Woodchuck Pass, Lookout Mountain (10,147 ft.) to the N, and the big ridge she had traveled on the way here.

Lupe also checked out the view of the upper Woodchuck Creek drainage that she might have to journey down later on.  Looked fine from here.  She could even see part of USFS Road No. 226, which would get her back to the S bank of the ford at the E Fork of the S Tongue River.

Her Dome Peak summit tour nearly complete, the Carolina Dog suddenly became convinced something, or multiple somethings, were living under the boardwalk and even the old lookout tower foundation.  SPHP never saw or heard anything, but Lupe searched eagerly.  She must have sniffed something.  Marmots?

Loopster wrapped up her Dome Peak (10,828 ft.) tour posing atop the boulder that was the true summit.

A few more minutes of fun, fruitless marmot searching, and it was time to go.

1:40 PM – Lupe and SPHP headed over to the metal windsock near the W side of Dome Peak’s summit region and started down.  Upon reaching the flat area 25 feet below, Lupe crossed it heading SW toward a big rock formation along the S edge.  Right along the E side of it was a steep slope that would work just fine.  10 minutes later, Lupe was well below Dome Peak’s summit with a view back toward the S face.

2 miles to go!  Nothing was going to stop the Carolina Dog now, except perhaps the famous, airy, shimmy-up, split-rock boulder high atop the Sheridan County High Point (11,020 ft.).  Onward!  Puppy, ho!

(6-27-20, 1:50 PM, End of Part 1)

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