2013 Beartooths/Canadian Rockies – Page 11 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

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.

Lupe just E of Bald Mountain, Bighorn Mountains, WY — Lupe just E of **Bald Mountain** **(10,042 ft.)**, Bighorn Mountains, WY on 7-10-11. The summit is kind of faded out on the left.

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.

But I'm not sleepy!!!! — But I’m not sleepy!!!!

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.

View from the big pullout on the W side of the pass on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway in NW Wyoming.

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 claims her favorite camping site on the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone. — Lupe claims her favorite camping site on the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone.

Set up on the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone, July 2013 — Set up on the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone, July 11, 2013

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.

Lupe on the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone. Tent is set up just to the right of this photo. (Not pictured.) — Lupe on the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone. Tent is set up just to the right of this photo. (Not pictured.)

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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Early on the gorgeous summer morning of July 10, 2013, Lupe and SPHP set out on their 2nd Annual Great Dingo Vacation. Unlike 2012, this time they were alone. Once on the road, SPHP could hardly remember ever feeling so free. Although SPHP had told everyone that Lupe was headed for the Beartooths and Canadian Rockies, the truth was that Lupe and SPHP could have gone anywhere and done anything in the next 3 or 4 weeks and no one would have been the wiser.

What a cutie pie! Lupe in the G6 ready to hit the road on her 2nd Annual Great Dingo Vacation 7-10-13

SPHP turned off the cell phone shortly after leaving town. It and the radio would not be turned on again until dingo vacation was over. SPHP had the windows on the G6 partly down so Lupe could sniff the wonderful cool morning air. Lupe was riding shotgun and kept a close eye out for cows to bark at. It was plenty noisy in the G6 with the frantic dingo sounding off every 30 seconds. There were big beautiful clouds over the Black Hills, but the clouds were smaller by the time Lupe was crossing into Wyoming on I-90.

The plan for the first day was to head to the glorious Bighorn Mountains in N central Wyoming. There was plenty of time to get there. In 2012, when Lanis had been along, SPHP had wanted to see some new territory and had Lanis turn N on Hwy 14/16 at Gillette, WY to go see Spotted Horse. There had proven to be just one little store there, but there was a spotted horse! SPHP thought it would be fun for Lupe to go see it again this year.

Lupe and SPHP took the northern route into the Bighorns on Hwy 14A through Ranchester and Dayton up to Burgess Junction. Near Burgess Junction, SPHP turned N on a gravel road for a couple of miles. The road led to the North Tongue River and SPHP parked the G6 near it. A huge gorgeous field of wildflowers stretched unbroken upstream. Young Lupe, only 2.5 years old, had arrived at the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness!

Lupe cools off in the North Tongue River, Bighorn Mountains, WY

Lupe & SPHP roamed upstream. Lupe sometimes got into the crystal clear North Tongue River to cool off and drink. Colorful butterflies flitted through the air, dragonflies zoomed around, and bees buzzed among the infinity of blossoms. Lupe raced, bounded and sniffed her way through the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness.

SPHP wandered up onto a nearby small ridge and followed it to a forested hill. Lupe and SPHP climbed up onto the rocks from where there was a view of the surrounding open fields, forests and mountains. Black and brown cows grazed near the river below. The scene was typical of the beauty of the Bighorns. It was great to be alive and free!

Lupe went as far as the nearby forested hill at the right of this photo.

Bighorn Mountains from the rocky hill Lupe climbed.

Lupe surveys the scene above the North Tongue River. — Lupe surveys the scene from above the North Tongue River.

The afternoon wore on. Sadly Lupe’s time in the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness drew to an end. SPHP headed the G6 W on Hwy 14A from Burgess Junction. Just E of Bald Mountain near the W end of the Bighorns, SPHP turned the G6 onto a side road. The only clouds were far on the western horizon. Very fortunately, the weather was going to be clear this evening.

Despite not really being very well equipped for it, SPHP managed to lug 2 sleeping bags, and a pillow or two up to the summit of Bald Mountain (10,042 ft.). From there, Lupe and SPHP continued on along the gently rounded ridge to the slightly lower SW part of the mountain.

There Lupe & SPHP spent the evening with a sweeping view from the E around to the S and W. Lupe and SPHP searched the mountain. SPHP almost despaired of finding them, and then suddenly stumbled upon the names. Very happily, SPHP fixed them.

After the sun went down, SPHP persuaded Lupe to lay down in a sleeping bag for a little while. That wouldn’t last. The stars came out and the universe was on display. Far below and away on the prairies to the S and W, gradually the distant lights of little Wyoming towns started to shine too. A sliver of a moon was about to set in the W.

There was no tent. Lupe was going to spend the night under the stars. Her amazement and excitement eventually proved uncontainable. She slept well for a few hours and then SPHP awoke to suddenly realize she was gone. Lupe hadn’t gone far though, SPHP soon heard the tinkle of the little tag on her collar as she ran around beneath the stars. Lupe could not be persuaded to lay down again. SPHP tried to sleep.

Lupe on Bald Mountain, WY 7-10-13 — Looking S from Bald Mountain.

For hours, SPHP dozed fitfully, while listening every few minutes for the tinkle of the little tag on Lupe’s collar. Lupe raced back and forth in the darkness sniffing at top speed the open ground on top of Bald Mountain. She returned to check in with SPHP every 10 or 15 minutes.

Lupe and SPHP were at nearly 10,000 feet. The Milky Way blazed spectacularly above as the rest of the universe sped away as it has been doing for billions of years. The silence and solitude of being totally alone on a high mountain were primal and magnificent. Sometime in the wee hours of the night, Lupe was finally willing to lay down on her sleeping bag and SPHP passed out.

Morning on Bald Mountain looking W towards the mountain where the Medicine Wheel Historical Site is located. 7-11-13

Lupe immortalized in stone on Bald Mountain 7-11-13

Morning on Bald Mountain looking ESE. 7-13-15 — Morning on Bald Mountain looking SE, Bighorn Mountains, WY 7-11-13

A chilly breeze was blowing in the morning. The fuzzy white heads at the tops of the stems on some kind of plant that covered the area were waving in the breeze, somewhat like dandelions whose seeds didn’t fly away. The effect was beautiful. SPHP looked for the place of names again and found it. SPHP added Lupe’s name to the collection. Then Lupe and SPHP returned to the summit of Bald Mountain, an easy stroll up a gentle rise to the east.

After a pause at the top of Bald Mountain to absorb the glory of the scene spreading out in every direction, Lupe & SPHP headed down to the G6, a tiny red dot below.

Sweet Lupe in the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness 7-10-13. May it always be so!

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Next Adventure

Beyond the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness to the Garden of the Gods & The Crack of Doom! (6-11-18)

Category: 2013 Beartooths/Canadian Rockies

Camped on the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River (7-11-13)

The Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness & A Night on Bald Mountain (7-10-13)