Day 18 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast!
7:59 AM, 46ºF, Grouse Vista trailhead – Sunlight filtering through the trees and an encouraging patch of blue sky had both vanished by the time SPHP was ready. Smoke or fog! Always seemed to be one or the other on this Dingo Vacation.
Fog had ruined the views the past couple of days. Both smoke and fog the day before that. Nothing the Carolina Dog could do about it. Yet the increasingly cloudy sky was disheartening as Lupe passed three gray boulders by the dark opening at the start of the Tarbell trail.
The Tarbell trail was wide and smooth. Lupe followed it higher through a shady green forest. In under 10 minutes, she reached a junction. The Tarbell trail narrowed and leveled out as it continued straight, destined for Hidden Falls. Lupe took the wider trail that branched off to the R.
Trail No. 180F was soon climbing rather steeply. Covered with loose rock, the pathway widened enough to be an old jeep trail or USFS road as it wound N.
Loop had already gained 400 feet of elevation, and the rate of climb was diminishing, by the time the trail curved E. Lupe trotted along a narrow single track corridor lined with dense foliage. No views, but sunshine reappeared. Encouraging!
The American Dingo finally reached a clearing. Still lots of clouds, but some blue sky, too! Lupe paused to take in the first distant views she’d enjoyed while climbing mountains in days. Large portions of a hillside to the N had been clear-cut. Part of Larch Mountain (3,480 ft.) was in sight back to the W.
The view of greatest interest, however, was to the NE. A big knob of rock was visible along a long ridge.
That must be Pyramid Rock (3,577 ft.), Loop!
Is that where we’re going, SPHP?
Might be, since Silver Star Mountain (4,360 ft.) is still in the clouds.
Lupe went on. Back in the forest, views vanished. No. 180F rose at an easy pace, now trending NE. Some stretches were perfectly flat.
Progress was rapid. Lupe came to a trail junction at a clearing. Pyramid Rock now loomed nearby.
Want to climb Pyramid Rock, Loop? Silver Star is still shrouded.
Might as well, SPHP, before Pyramid Rock disappears, too!
Certainly possible. Intent upon making hay while the sun shined, the Carolina Dog took the unmarked side trail going SE.
A short, steady climb led to a saddle where the side trail curved E. Lupe was now due S of Pyramid Rock. A tall grass field dotted with bushes and a few trees led to the base of the rocky part.
Seemed simple enough, until SPHP checked the topo map.
Makes no sense!
What doesn’t, SPHP?
This map, Loop! Clearly labels the hill S of us here as Pyramid Rock.
You’re joking, right, SPHP? That hill isn’t even rocky.
I know it, Looper. Doesn’t look like a Pyramid Rock at all! However, the map labels what we think ought to be Pyramid Rock merely as HP3577. Even Peakbagger.com agrees, calling it Peak 3577. Meanwhile, both insist that the hill S of us is Pyramid Rock (3,480 ft.). Just crazy! Can’t think of an explanation for it.
I can, SPHP.
Really? Do tell, Loopster.
Humans named it. Doesn’t have to make any sense at all. Anyway, which one do you want to climb, SPHP? The hill the map says is Pyramid Rock, or the real one?
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe we’ll do both? Let’s start with the easy one.
A two track road led most of the way up the hill to the S. Above it, Lupe picked her way through tall grass, bushes, and up a small rocky section the short remaining distance to a few rocks along the upper edge. Along the way, she discovered a most unusual creature.
Come look at this, SPHP!
Wha’dya find, Looper?
The world’s shortest snake, SPHP! Sniffs funny. Might be dying! It’s barely moving.
That’s not a snake, Loop. That’s a slug! Sort of a snail without a shell.
Weird! Don’t think I’ll eat it. Got any chocolate coconut bars, instead?
Yeah, I do. Don’t eat the poor slug! Actually quite a handsome specimen as far as slugs go. Leave him be, Loop.
Handsome as far as slugs go? Slugs don’t seem to go very far, SPHP.
The top of the fake Pyramid Rock was acres in size. The N lip clearly wasn’t the high point, so Lupe went in search of it. Tall, wet vegetation hid the ground over a large region all practically the same elevation. No discernable specific point appeared to be the true summit.
Satisfied that she’d done as much as could be done, Lupe returned to the N lip. A chocolate coconut bar break was taken here, while enjoying the view of what still seemed to be the real Pyramid Rock (3,577 ft.), plus Sturgeon Rock (4,120 ft.) and Silver Star Mountain (4,360 ft.), both of which were now emerging from the clouds.
Half an hour flew by up on Fake Pyramid Rock. Time to move on.
Silver Star Mountain is below the clouds! Climbing the true Pyramid Rock might not be the best choice, SPHP. Maybe we better get to Silver Star?
Seemed reasonable. Looper returned to Trail No. 180F, which ran NNE from the junction along the mostly open side of the ridge, passing W of true Pyramid Rock. Sturgeon Rock could still be seen along in here, but Silver Star Mountain could not.
Eventually climbing faster, widening out, and becoming quite rocky, the trail curved back into the forest. In this region, a woman caught up to SPHP, and struck up a conversation. Her name was Boni. She and her husband, Dave, lived somewhere over toward Larch Mountain. Dave soon appeared, and fell in with Lupe’s growing parade, too.
Dave was an expert on the local trail system. He and Boni had hiked up Silver Star Mountain many times. Dog Mountain (2,948 ft.), farther E along the Columbia River gorge, was another recommended summit, and sure sounded good to Lupe, but Silver Star was their favorite. Boni and Dave were both very friendly, but soon pressed on ahead.
Lupe started coming to other trails. No 180F fed into No. 180. No sign that SPHP noticed, but farther on, there was a sign for No. 180E, which went to the Indian Pits along the S ridge. Might have been interesting, but Lupe went right on by. It was only a little farther up to a huge cairn at another trail junction.
Abandoning No. 180, which continued N, Lupe turned E (R) at the cairn on No. 180D, which was also a wide and somewhat rocky path. It wasn’t far to a flat spot on the L where a single stone campfire ring was hidden among the trees.
From here, the trail angled SE. Gaining 120 feet of elevation beyond the campsite, the trail turned E again as it reached a saddle between two high points.
11:16 AM, 57ºF, Silver Star Mountain (4,360 ft.) – Still quite cloudy, but at least the American Dingo wasn’t lost in fog. Off to the N (L), Boni and Dave were visible over at Silver Star’s summit. Straight ahead, Lupe had a great view of Little Baldy Mountain (3,920 ft.) way out along Silver Star’s E ridge. Bluff Mountain (3,928 ft.) was beyond Little Baldy, and a series of hazy, more distant ridges stretched away past it.
The map showed a “Star 2” survey benchmark at the high point to the S, which was very close by. Lupe went up there first. Disappointingly, no sign of the Star 2 benchmark could be found, only a thick metal rod sticking up out of a pile of rocks.
Looking SW, Pyramid Rock and World’s Shortest Snake Hill were both in sight way down the ridge. Clouds still hung around Larch Mountain’s summit. Near the horizon, the Columbia River was barely discernable through the haze.
Having seen what there was to see from the Star 2 high point, Lupe went over to Silver Star Mountain’s true summit. Still there, Boni and Dave welcomed Loopster to their favorite mountaintop.
Another conversation ensued. Both Pyramid Rock candidates were in view from the summit. Dave confirmed that the very rocky high point along the SW ridge was the true Pyramid Rock, no matter what the map said. When SPHP asked Dave about a natural arch somewhere on Silver Star Mountain, Dave knew all about it.
Just go back down to the little campsite with the stone fire ring, then take Trail No. 172 around to the N side of the mountain. Look up. From the right spot, the arch is visible well up a steep slope. A small cave is behind the arch.
Boni was surprised! Dave had never mentioned the arch to her before! She wanted to see it, too. Dave agreed to take her there. Happily, before departing, Boni had good information to share. Thus far, SPHP hadn’t noticed any, but Boni insisted that Silver Star Mountain had plenty of huckleberries. She’d seen many on the way up.
Stay alert! Don’t want to miss out on the huckleberries!
Boni and Dave went on their way. Lupe and SPHP lingered up on Silver Star Mountain. The true summit was a 15 foot diameter rocky crag that jutted 10 feet up above the rest of a considerably larger summit region. Shaking Loopster’s paw, SPHP congratulated the American Dingo on her success, following praise up with an eagerly accepted chocolate coconut bar. Shared, of course.
Lots more to see up here, too! During her traditional summit hour, Lupe toured the highlights. To the SW, Larch Mountain was cloud-free now. A concrete foundation, perhaps all that remained of an old lookout, was immediately NW of the summit knob.
Sturgeon Rock (4,120 ft.) was due W, and looked much different and more dramatic from up here.
There was a fabulous view of Silver Star Mountain’s long E ridge, and of countless hills, mountains, and ridges to the N. Only 0.33 mile N, Lupe could see Silver Star Mountain North (4,210 ft.).
The clouds were breaking up! More and more blue sky appeared. Views kept improving. Silver Star Mountain was turning out well. Still not all it might have been, though.
Unfortunately, no sign of the big volcanoes, Looper.
Which ones should we be able to see from here, SPHP?
Mount Saint Helens(8,333 ft.) and Mount Adams (12,276 ft.) N and NE. Maybe even Mount Rainier(14,411 ft.). Mount Hood(11,239 ft.) SE.
75 minutes after arriving at Silver Star Mountain’s true summit, Lupe was back on it. Silver Star was popular. Getting busy! Time to go.
Our Silver Star Mountain adventure isn’t over already, is it, SPHP? We’re still going to check out the arch Dave told you about, aren’t we?
Oh, yeah! Lots more to come, Looper. Might even see those volcanoes yet!
Returning to Trail No. 180D, Lupe headed back down to the campsite. No sign, but sure enough, a trail did head NE off into the forest.
Didn’t take long to follow the trail around to the N side of the mountain. A pink slip of paper was impaled on a stick next the trail.
A note, SPHP! What does it say?
Go to excellent huckleberry bushes straight ahead! (We left some for you.) Look straight up from there and see arch. Remove this note please. Boni & Dave.
Looking straight ahead across a small rock slide, and up the slope from there, a little sliver of the arch was visible.
C’mon, Looper! Let’s go up there!
Easier said than done. Huckleberry-whacking is an exceptionally slow process. After crossing most of the rockslide, Lupe started up. The slope was very steep, and densely covered with huckleberry bushes. Big, ripe, dark purple, and sweet! SPHP devoured hundreds of huckleberries. Hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, remained.
Heading first toward the L (E) up to the base of a big rock outcropping, then to the R (W) where Lupe discovered an equally steep faint trail, SPHP scarfed up huckleberries the entire way. After gaining 80 to 100 feet, Lupe was positioned for success directly below the arch.
Finishing the climb, Lupe entered a little grotto behind the arch. A low cave went maybe 6 to 8 feet back into the mountain. Plenty of headroom for a Carolina Dog!
Most awesome Dingo Cave ever, SPHP! Hidden spot way up on Silver Star Mountain’s N slope, with this grand arch entryway, and a fabulous view!
Certainly was pretty sweet! Depending on how one wanted to frame it, either Peak 3977 or Silver Star Mountain North (4,210 ft.) could be seen out the big arch picture window.
The arch and cave combination was very cool and unusual. Lupe and SPHP hung around a little while enjoying the view before returning to Trail No. 172. On the way back to the campsite, an unmarked trail took off to the WNW. Exploring it, Lupe soon reached a major trail junction.
Three old wooden signs gave directions. Lupe was back at Trail No. 180, which went both S and N. The junction with the big cairn where Trail No. 180.D split off heading for Silver Star Mountain’s summit was 0.25 mile S. Going N, Ed’s Trail (No. 180A) split off from No. 180, destined to wrap around the E side of Silver Star Mountain North.
Where to, SPHP? S back to the big cairn?
Nope! We’ve got one more project on this side of the mountain. Take No. 180 N. Maybe we can climb Silver Star Mountain North (4,210 ft.)?
Leaving the junction, Trail No. 180 was smooth, wide, and level as Lupe followed it through the forest. Before long, the trail climbed a bit. 0.25 mile from the junction, the Carolina Dog emerged from the trees on an open shoulder just W of Silver Star Mountain North.
Distant clouds, but lots of blue sky now! Very encouraging! The day was getting better and better. Looked like Silver Star Mountain North would be an easy climb, too. A rock slide to go up, but Lupe could do that.
Turning back, because she’d gone too far N, Looper returned to the edge of the forest. Leaving the trail to climb ESE, she passed through a bushy region on her way to the rock slide. Huckleberries! Tons of ’em! Lupe cooled her jets, sniffing about while SPHP indulged.
The inevitable huckleberry delay came to its conclusion. Lupe started up the rock slide, aiming for the lower S end of the line of cliffs above.
Above the rock slide, Lupe reached the edge of a large plateau that tilted down toward the S. Quite rocky, the plateau was dotted with scattered trees and bushes. Climbing N near the W edge, Loop was soon beyond the last trees. The summit wasn’t much farther. On the way to it, she came to a semi-circular rock windbreak.
2:43 PM, 63ºF, Silver Star Mountain North (4,210 ft.) – The summit was at the far NNW end of the plateau, where a low ridge of rock ran along the N and NE edge. Except near the horizon, almost the entire sky was now cloud-free. However, that didn’t mean visibility was as good as it should have been. Smoke still marred the views to the W and SW, where the Columbia River remained barely visible.
Locally, visibility was excellent. The Carolina Dog enjoyed grand views of the long N ridge, and Silver Star Mountain (4,360 ft.), where she’d been with Boni and Dave so recently.
Yet the most exciting view was far to the SE. Kind of smoky over that way, too, but the smoke wasn’t terrible.
SPHP, look! A volcano! We finally get to see one!
You’re right, Loop! That’s gotta be Mount Hood (11,239 ft.)!
Maybe seeing Mount Hood from Silver Star Mountain North meant that the Luck of the Dingo was finally returning? The trend was favorable, but distant clouds still hid Mount Saint Helens and Mount Adams. Plenty of time left, though, and the American Dingo could make good use of it.
C’mon, Looper! Let’s go visit Sturgeon Rock (4,120 ft.)!
Returning to Trail No. 180 as quickly as possible, despite another round of huckleberry fest, Lupe headed S. At the junction with all the signs, she continued S up to the intersection with the big cairn and kept going.
Downhill now, but not that far, to where Trail No. 180E branched off to the Indian Pits. Ignoring that turn, Lupe went another 25 feet to where Trail No. 180C branched off to the W (R).
Trail No. 180C was wide and rocky, yet looked a bit overgrown, as Lupe started down it.
No. 180C lost elevation, a trend that accelerated as Lupe went on. By the time Loopster drew even with the E end of Sturgeon Rock, it was much, much higher. A line of columnar vertical cliffs above showed that Loop would have to try to reach the ridgeline farther W.
The ridgeline sloped down to the W, but so did the trail. Once Lupe was beyond the cliffs, SPHP started looking for a way up, but the slope was still extremely steep. After passing two massive deadfall logs, Loopster finally came to a place where a faint use trail angled up into the forest.
The use trail was an illusion that soon faded away. After gaining some elevation, Lupe got stuck below a nearly vertical bank that was still too steep to manage. The critical problem zone wasn’t very tall, maybe 20 feet. A mad scramble thrashing around in the bushes while traversing farther W ensued.
Before too long, Lupe came to a spot that might work. Barely, but it did! Now above the trees and tall bushes, Loop was still on a very steep slope, but she could claw her way higher. It was much farther to the ridgeline than it had appeared from below, but the Carolina Dog managed to get up to where the terrain was much flatter.
There was a good use trail up here that headed right for Sturgeon Rock!
Wait, Loop! Don’t go to Sturgeon Rock yet.
Why not, SPHP? Isn’t that what we’re here for?
Yes, but you can tag the Clark County High Point (4,080 ft.) on the way. It’s somewhere up along the ridgeline between here and Sturgeon Rock.
Oh, so two ascents for the price of one? I like it, SPHP!
Loopster went up to the ridgeline, which wasn’t far from the trail. The views were great! A lot of smoke to the SW, but otherwise the sky was clear, especially to the E over by Sturgeon Rock.
How do we find the Clark County High Point, SPHP? What do we look for?
Possibly a cairn, or even a registry, Loop, but I doubt we’ll find either. It’s just wherever the county line crosses this ridge. Go E along the ridgeline hitting whatever little high points there may be, and you’ll go right over it somewhere along the way. Good chance we won’t even know when we’re there.
And that still counts, SPHP?
Oh, yeah! Totally legit!
Well, that sounded easy enough out on an open ridge with no significant obstacles. Hitting every high point along the way, Lupe headed E.
In the end, the use trail wound up to an elevated platform immediately W of Sturgeon Rock.
So, do I get credit for visiting the Clark County High Point, SPHP?
Yes, of course! Must have hit it somewhere along the way by now, Loop.
Oh, good! I’ll be collecting an extra chocolate coconut bar then.
Fine, fine! Have to wait until you’ve climbed Sturgeon Rock, though.
From a distance, Sturgeon Rock had looked like a fail. Lupe wasn’t going to be able to get up onto that lofty pinnacle! But up close, the situation appeared rather different. Lupe was already only 20 feet below the top!
Think you’re looking good, Loopster!
And in a moment she was!
Not a roomy place! Sturgeon Rock (4,120 ft.) was most definitely an airy perch.
Stay right there, Looper! Don’t move! Gotta get a couple more shots!
Couldn’t leave Lupe up there too long! SPHP called her down. A short break was taken on the platform, enjoying the Sturgeon Rock success, plus all the grand views. By now, even the clouds to the N and NE had retreated so far off that more wonders were on display.
Mount Saint Helens (8,333 ft.) and Mount Adams (12,276 ft.) were both in sight! Of course, Mount Hood was, too. Hazy, but Lupe had been looking for these bad boys for days now, and finally, here they all were!
Silver Star Mountain, what a day! You’ve been all over this mountain now, Loop, including the arch and cave, met Dave and Boni, the local trail and huckleberry experts, seen 3 famous volcanoes, and even made it to the top of Sturgeon Rock!
Aren’t you forgetting something, SPHP?
Like what, Loop? Your chocolate coconut bars?
Well, yes, that, but I mean about Silver Star Mountain.
Indian Pits? You wanted to see the Indian Pits, Loop?
I suppose the Indian Pits would be OK, but look over there, SPHP!
Looking down Silver Star Mountain’s long SW ridge, a massive knob of rock stood out. Pyramid Rock. The real one, not the fake one with the world’s shortest snake that Lupe had climbed this morning.
Probably still time, if we hurry, Loopster.
On the way down the ridge W of Sturgeon Rock, Lupe followed the use trail past where she’d come up, hoping to avoid the super steep slope. Even the use trail led to a ridiculously steep decent, but it was at least somewhat better than Loop’s route up had been.
Two big white trees were across No. 180C where Lupe reached it again. Turning E, she went all the way back up to No. 180.
Downhill to No. 180F! Pyramid Rock basked in evening sunlight as Lupe approached and went by, hurrying on to the junction with the side trail.
Lupe made it to the same saddle she’d been to earlier in the day. Still time! Pyramid Rock remained bathed in sunlight as the Carolina Dog followed another trail through the tall grass to the base of the S face.
The use trail ultimately led to a short scramble near the top that SPHP wouldn’t be anxious repeat on the way down, but Lupe made it!
7:35 PM, 55ºF, Pyramid Rock (3,577 ft.) – Half an hour before sunset, Lupe stood all aglow atop the real Pyramid Rock. Well beyond her, both Sturgeon Rock and Silver Star Mountain were still lit up, too. Smoky all points W, but the sky was otherwise clear, and the smoke wasn’t thick enough to deny a sunset.
Enough room up here to relax easily enough, even a bit of grass among all the rock where Lupe could get comfortable.
A light W breeze. Silence. Precious minutes ticked away. Lupe stayed until the last glimmer of the weary sun sputtered and died.
Only twilight remained. It would soon be gone, too.
The American Dingo beat twilight to the punch. Avoiding that scramble on the upper S route, Lupe went SE first, losing enough elevation to get below it before returning to the use trail. A better route!
Back at Trail No. 180F, SPHP had to bring out the flashlight. Down the trail Lupe went, trotting through the black forest, confident that comfort, dinner, and rest were waiting at the RAV4. (End 9:31 PM, 55ºF)
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