Day 14 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Wind River Range, Wyoming & Select Peaks in Montana
Shortly before 6:00 AM, Lupe spotted Jobe’s silver Rubicon coming up Fairy Lake Road. Mr. Wymore was right on time, as usual. Loop and SPHP hitched a ride with Jobe the remaining two miles to the trailhead near the Fairy Lake campground.
It was the first time the Carolina Dog had ever been in Jobe’s Rubicon. As expected after yesterday’s adventure at Mount Powell(10,168 ft.), the Grateful Dead were playing on the stereo.
Loop next to Jobe’s silver Rubicon at the Fairy Lake campground trailhead.
Lupe caught only a glimpse of Fairy Lake before leaving the trailhead. The trail to Sacagawea Peak(9,650 ft.) started out winding up through forest in a generally SW direction. Loop gained elevation steadily, and was soon above most of the trees. A red sun had just cleared mountains on the E horizon.
A red sun had just cleared mountains to the E when Lupe got above treeline not far from the start of the trail up Mount Sacagawea.
The trail was good and well-traveled. It continued SW up into a large U-shaped valley where only scattered stands of trees grew. The rocky slopes surrounding the valley glowed in the early morning sunlight.
Rock formations of the lower N slopes of Sacagawea Peak glow beautifully in early morning sunlight. Photo looks S.Approaching the large U-shaped valley. Photo looks SW.Jobe & Lupe enter the U-shaped valley. The trail to Sacagawea Peak passes through the length of this valley, ultimately switchbacking up the slope at the far end to the saddle above. Photo looks SW.
Jobe was in fine form again today, regaling SPHP with tales of peakbagging adventures, and the incredible exploits and habits of some of the mountaineers he had become acquainted with over the years.
Time flew by. The saddle at the end of the U-shaped valley was only a mile from the trailhead as the crow flies, perhaps 1.5 miles as the trail went. The day seemed like it had hardly even begun, when Lupe started switchbacking her way up the slope below the saddle.
Jobe pauses partway up the steep slope below the saddle to scan the terrain above. Meanwhile, Lupe roams around blending in pretty well with the mountainside. She’s visible just above Jobe’s hiking poles. Photo looks WNW.
A cool W breeze was blowing up at the saddle when Lupe, Jobe & SPHP arrived. Trails went in several directions from here. Sacagawea Peak was in view less than 0.5 mile to the SE. A trail led up the mountain’s NW ridge.
From the saddle, Sacagawea Peak (L) is visible less than 0.5 mile away. Lupe poses by the trail up the NW ridge, while Jobe puts on a windbreaker. Photo looks SE.
The trail up Sacagawea Peak’s NW ridge was great. Lupe gained elevation rapidly. A couple hundred feet below Sacagawea’s summit she came to an unexpected intersection. A fainter, but still easily discernible trail continued SE across the rocky upper SW slopes of a long ridge, destined for a high point at the far end.
That high point, a little less than 0.5 mile away, was Naya Nuki Peak(9,581 ft.). Naya Nuki didn’t look hard to get to at all. The trail to it was fairly level, neither gaining nor losing significant elevation on the way. Jobe wondered if Lupe would like to go to Naya Nuki first before hitting Sacagawea?
Sure, why not? It looked easy.
Temporary change of plans. Instead of climbing Sacagawea Peak, Jobe & Lupe head for Naya Nuki Peak (Center). Photo looks SE.
Getting to Naya Nuki was easy, too! Twenty minutes later, Lupe, Jobe and SPHP were at the summit. Again today, the air was hazy with smoke from forest fires out W. Little could be seen toward far horizons, but views closer by of the Bridger Range were only partially impaired and still grand.
Success! Lupe reaches the summit of Naya Nuki Peak in the Bridger Range. Jobe is off by the summit cairn. Photo looks NNW.Sacagawea Peak (L) from Naya Nuki Peak. Photo looks NNW.Looking S along the spine of the Bridger Range. Ross Peak(9,004 ft.) is in sunshine on the R.Lupe astride Naya Nuki Peak’s summit cairn. Sacagawea Peak is on the L. Photo looks NNW.Yes, I made it. It was pretty easy, too!Jobe’s turn at the S end of Naya Nuki‘s summit ridge. Ross Peak (Center) in sunshine. Photo looks S.
After 15 minutes enjoying the views up on Naya Nuki Peak, it was time to head back to tag Sacagawea Peak, which after all was still the day’s primary objective.
Jobe starts back toward Sacagawea Peak (L), while Lupe returns to urge SPHP onward. Photo looks NNW.
Half an hour after leaving Naya Nuki, everyone was at the summit of Sacagawea Peak(9,650 ft.). Jobe and SPHP signed the summit registry. SPHP made sure Lupe’s name was on it, too.
Lupe and Jobe at the summit of Sacagawea Peak. Photo looks NNW.A closer look at Loop & Jobe on Sacagawea’s summit. Sacagawea Peak has 2 main peakbagging claims to fame. It has 3,930 ft. of prominence, and is the highest point in Montana’s Bridger Range. The mountain is named after Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who served as an interpreter for the Lewis & Clark Expedition in the early 1800’s.
With 3,930 feet of prominence, the views from Sacagawea Peak were tremendous, despite being partially impaired by the hazy conditions.
Naya Nuki Peak, where Lupe, Jobe & SPHP had just come from is on the L. Ross Peak is farther away on the R. Photo looks SE.Ross Peak (9,004 ft.) (R) from Sacagawea Peak. Photo looks SSE.Looking S. Ross Peak on the L.Looking down Sacagawea Peak‘s rough NE ridge. Fairy Lake is hidden from view in the valley beyond this ridge. High Point 8650 is at far L on the more distant forested ridge. Photo looks NE.
Views of the mountains to the N, formed of layers of rock uplifted to very steeply inclined positions, were particularly impressive. Some of the exposed bands were quite colorful. Differences in color and how the rock had eroded away produced a near vertically striped effect.
View to the NW along the spine of the Bridger Range from Sacagawea Peak.The summit of Pomp Peak(9,562 ft.) is the rounded high point slightly L of Center just past the eroded rock bands. When Sacagawea gave birth to a son, members of the Lewis & Clark expedition gave him the nickname “Little Pomp” or “Pompy”. The peak beyond Pomp Peak with the large snowbank on it is Hardscrabble Peak(9,575 ft.). Photo looks NW.Pomp Peak (Center) with Hardscrabble Peak the next one beyond it slightly to the R. The saddle to Pomp Peak is seen below on the L. This is the same saddle Lupe had climbed up to on the way up from the trailhead near Fairy Lake. Photo looks NW.
Although Lupe, Jobe and SPHP remained only 15 minutes or so up on Sacagawea Peak, the Carolina Dog tried to sneak in a quick Dingo nap. Unfortunately, the summit offered little in the way of amenities.
Loop tries to sneak in a quick Dingo nap, but Sacagawea’s summit wasn’t particularly comfortable. Naya Nuki Peak(9,581 ft.) (Center) is in the background. Photo looks SE.
Less than 3 hours had gone by since Lupe had left the trailhead when she, Jobe and SPHP left Sacagawea Peak’s summit and started down.
Jobe & Lupe in the lead on the way down. Naya Nuki Peak is on the L. Photo looks SSE.Looking S down Dry Canyon. Ross Peak on the L.
Jobe had asked SPHP earlier if Lupe would like to climb Pomp Peak(9,562 ft.) and possibly Hardscrabble Peak(9,575 ft.)? Jobe didn’t intend to climb either of them, but was willing to wait for Lupe at the saddle, if she and SPHP wanted to do more. Naya Nuki and Sacagawea hadn’t taken all that long. Since Loop had gotten off to such an early start this morning, there was still plenty of time left in the day.
SPHP had seriously considered Jobe’s generous offer, but concluded Lupe really shouldn’t accept for several reasons. First of all, Loop and SPHP were now tagging along with Jobe on a trip he had planned. It really wasn’t right to make him wait. Secondly, a trail that could be seen going up Pomp Peak from the saddle appeared to vanish high up on a steep slope above cliffs. Maybe Pomp Peak was more dangerous terrain than Loop and SPHP were used to?
Both of those considerations were important, but the third and final reason was the real clincher. The original purpose in joining Jobe on this Dingo Vacation had been to climb as far up Crazy Peak(11,209 ft.) with him as possible. Crazy Peak was on a ton of peakbagging lists, and one of only two peaks remaining on the EPIC list which Jobe hadn’t climbed yet. Looper wanted to be there, at the summit if at all possible, to congratulate Jobe when he got it.
Crazy Peak was not a trivial climb, however. The completely off-trail route Jobe intended to take up the SE ridge would be 5 or 6 miles long, involve 4,300 feet of elevation gain, and might well border on the edge of what Lupe and SPHP were capable of doing. And the attempt on Crazy Peak was tomorrow!
So in the end, SPHP declined Jobe’s kind offer on Lupe’s behalf. It was simply more important to be as rested as possible for Crazy Peak than to tag Pomp or Hardscrabble. Once at the saddle, instead of continuing on to tackle Pomp Peak, the American Dingo took the trail down into the U-shaped valley leading back to the trailhead.
Jobe on the way back down to the saddle. Pomp Peak is in the background. SPHP turned down Jobe’s kind offer to wait for Lupe while she climbed Pomp Peak. It was more important to rest up for Crazy Peak tomorrow!The U-shaped valley N of Sacagawea Peak from the saddle. Photo looks NE.
Jobe gave Lupe and SPHP another ride in his Rubicon back to the G6. Much later in the day, he rendezvoused with the Carolina Dog again at the Big Timber picnic ground E of Crazy Peak. Lupe spent the evening relaxing and listening in, while Jobe and SPHP chatted until dusk. What she thought of the wide variety of fascinating tales Jobe related, she never really said.
On the way down the U-shaped valley on the way back to the trailhead, Lupe passed by a wedding party on its way up to Sacagawea Peak for the happy occasion. Not all events on the mountain have been so cheerful.
On 8-15-15, friends and family of prolific peakbagger Edward Earl climbed Sacagawea Peak to scatter some of his ashes. Edward had passed away on 6-19-15 trying to cross the Jago River following an unsuccessful attempt on Mount Isto(8,976 ft.) in the Brooks Range in remote NE Alaska. Only a little over 3 years before, Edward had climbed the mountain to scatter his mother’s ashes.
Lupe has succeeded in reaching the summits of a number of peaks aided by excellent detailed directions contained in trip reports written by Edward Earl, but sadly never got to meet him.
Days 10 – 13 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Wind River Range, Wyoming & Select Peaks in Montana
Day 10, 7-17-17 For the first time on this Dingo Vacation, the night sky was clear. Lupe wanted out. She sniffed around invisibly in darkness. Overhead, the Milky Way gleamed in the heavens amidst diamond bright constellations. The Carolina Dog was still tired, though. She quickly returned to resume her snooze.
Morning arrived. Time to leave the magnificent Wind River range. Lupe and SPHP went down to lower Green River Lake. The American Dingo gazed once more upon Squaretop Mountain(11,695 ft.), the massive NW sentinel of the Winds, looming silently beyond the clear, still lake.
Squaretop Mountain (R of Center), massive sentinel of the NW Wind River Range, beckons beyond lower Green River Lake. Lupe’s 3 day journey to climb Squaretop had been a failure, though a terrific adventure. Photo looks SE.
Lupe’s attempt to climb Squaretop had ended in failure, though she did look down on its summit from New Benchmark(11,850 ft.), the high point of her 3 day journey. Though ultimately unsuccessful, the effort to reach Squaretop from Porcupine Pass had been a beautiful and challenging adventure.
White Rock(11,284 ft.) (L) and Squaretop Mountain (R) beyond lower Green River Lake with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SE.
Today would be the first of several travel and rest days. After stopping in Pinedale for supplies, Lupe and SPHP headed NW on Hwy 191 past Bondurant and Hoback Junction. The S approach to Jackson was teeming with tourists and activity. The mob scene at the heart of it all was avoided by turning W on Hwy 22, which took Lupe over Teton Pass (8,429 ft.).
Lupe crossed the border into Idaho for the first time in nearly 5 years. W of the Teton Range, Lupe and SPHP were in unfamiliar territory. Dark clouds hung over the Tetons. N of Driggs, Lupe experienced 20 miles of cloudburst, as SPHP drove N on Hwy 33. Beyond the thunderstorm, it was sunny again.
Lupe in Idaho for the first time in nearly 5 years taking a short break from the G6 W of the Tetons. This was unfamiliar territory. Photo looks SE.
SPHP drove all day. Lupe saw beautiful scenery she’d never seen before. She barked at cows and horses. She lapped up chocolate milk. After several hours in Idaho, she left it again crossing into Montana on Hwy 87. By day’s end, Lupe was a mile S of Silver Star at a pullout along Hwy 41 overlooking the Jefferson River.
Looking NE from a high point along Hwy 287 W of Ennis, MT.Looking S up the Jefferson River near day’s end.The Jefferson River S of Silver Star, Montana. Photo looks NE.
Day 11, 7-18-17 The next morning, Lupe and SPHP headed N. Approaching Deer Lodge on I-90, Mount Powell(10,168 ft.) came into view a dozen miles to the W. SPHP left I-90 at Exit 195 and drove all the way to the trailhead to see if the G6 could get there. The roads weren’t bad, although the final stretch on USFS Road No. 670 was so narrow it was a good thing no vehicles were coming the other way. Lupe spent most of the afternoon at the trailhead, happily relaxing in the shade watching squirrels and chipmunks.
On the way to the Mount Powell (L) trailhead. Although the sky was clear, the air was a bit hazy with smoke from distant forest fires. Photo looks NW.Mount Powell (L) seen through the smoke haze with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NW.
Mount Powell was Lupe’s next peakbagging objective, but no attempt on the mountain was going to be made today. Late in the afternoon, Lupe and SPHP went down to Deer Lodge where Lupe enjoyed a McDonald’s ice cream cone. Lupe’s evening was spent watching boats, sea gulls, geese, and little fish jumping at Georgetown Lake W of Anaconda.
Sunset at Georgetown Lake W of Anaconda.Geese on Georgetown Lake.
Day 12, 7-19-17 Three miles E of Georgetown Lake, SPHP noticed a sign for Storm Lake on the S side of Hwy 1. Lupe had time, why not check it out? The G6 made it nearly 8 of the 9 miles to Storm Lake on USFS Road No. 675. Lupe and SPHP continued on paw and foot. Clearings in the forest near the road were full of colorful wildflowers.
Lupe among the wildflowers on the last mile to Storm Lake.
Several groups of people were fishing at Storm Lake when Lupe arrived. Across the lake Looper could see Little Rainbow Mountain(9,989 ft.), which didn’t look like it would be too hard a climb. A trail led across a dam at the N end of the lake. At the W end of the dam, Storm Lake Creek exited the lake. Lupe and SPHP crossed the creek, and followed the trail S along the W side of Storm Lake.
Loop along the NW shore of Storm Lake. Mount Howe(10,472 ft.) (L) and Little Rainbow Mountain(9,989 ft.) (R) are in view. Photo looks SE.
After a long week in the Wind River range, SPHP wasn’t too ambitious. Instead of climbing Little Rainbow Mountain with the American Dingo, SPHP opted for a swim in the lake. Lupe was content to go wading, too.
Lupe wading near the S end of Storm Lake. Photo looks E.
The trail continued SE beyond the S end of Storm Lake. Several hikers came along about this time. One of them showed SPHP a map indicating that the trail would wind its way S for a mile or so to Storm Lake Pass. Mount Tiny(9,848 ft.) was supposed to be an easy climb from there. Still feeling lazy, Lupe and SPHP skipped Mount Tiny. Lupe left the trail to circumnavigate Storm Lake instead.
After returning to the G6, Lupe and SPHP spent part of the afternoon at a park along Warm Springs Creek in Anaconda. By evening, Loop was back at the Mount Powell trailhead.
Day 13, 7-20-17 After a day of travel and two days spent lazing around, the Carolina Dog woke up at 5:20 AM. SPHP joined her outside the G6. Today was the big day! Lupe was going to climb Mount Powell! SPHP had everything ready in short order, but then did nothing. Lupe was puzzled. What was the holdup? She was anxious to get going.
Suddenly, those big soft Dingo ears heard a noise. Something was coming! A yet unseen vehicle was approaching the trailhead. A minute later, a silver Jeep Wrangler Rubicon appeared. Lupe ran over barking to greet it. Much to her surprise, out of the Rubicon stepped someone she knew – mountaineer Jobe Wymore!
Lupe hadn’t seen Jobe since she’d served as his advance scout at South Dakota’s second highest mountain, Odakota Mountain(7,200 ft.), back home in the Black Hills. That had been more than 15 months ago. On 4-2-16, Lupe had actually accompanied Jobe to Odakota, and then gone on to the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska with him that very same day. In Nebraska, she’d climbed Wildcat Mountain(5,025 ft.) before succumbing to the prickly terrors of cacti. Jobe had helped carry the tenderpaw Dingo out of danger back to the Bluffman’s house.
Now Jobe was coming with Lupe to Mount Powell! She could hardly believe it! She barked, leapt, and danced wildly around Jobe. Of course, Jobe’s arrival was no mere coincidence – it had been prearranged. And actually, Jobe wasn’t really coming along with Lupe and SPHP. It was the other way around, Lupe and SPHP were tagging along on a mountain that Jobe needed to climb.
Mount Powell(10,168 ft.), the high point of Powell County in Montana, is on two massive peakbagging lists Jobe has been working on for years. One list with 245 peaks (the short list!) contains all of the US county high points in all 48 contiguous states with at least 2,000 feet of prominence. The other, longer list includes all 414 county high points of the western contiguous states (all the mountain states W of the prairie states).
After greetings were exchanged, Jobe, Lupe and SPHP set out on USFS Road No. 670, which was extremely rough W of the trailhead. The road led steadily up the forested valley of the Dempsey Creek drainage.
SPHP’s prior research of possible routes up Mount Powell had shown that most climbers stay with the road at least as far as the mountain’s S ridge beyond Bohn Lake. Some go all the way to a SW ridge in the vicinity of the Elliot Lakes. These ridges were described in various reports as brushy, steep, cliffy, and containing boulder or scree fields.
However, climber Eric Higginbotham had explored a different route which sounded a lot easier. The Higginbotham route left the road much sooner. It passed through a huge alpine meadow (Marble Park on the map) early on, climbed in forest to High Point 8708, continued NW over a saddle, and eventually broke out of the forest on a broad ridge a mile SSE of the summit.
Higginbotham’s 7-19-15 Mount Powell trip report included a GPS track, an excellent description of how to find the trailhead, and a rather amusing account of his experience as well. SPHP favored trying Higginbotham’s route. Jobe must have, too. Being technologically competent, he had already loaded Higginbotham’s GPS route into his smart phone.
The first thing to watch for was an open grassy slope on the NW side of the road about 0.67 mile from the trailhead. The steep hillside soon came into view as Higginbotham had described it. Jobe and Lupe led the way up.
Jobe & Lupe, reunited after more than 15 months, on the first open grassy hillside after leaving the road. This hillside was fairly steep. Photo looks E.
At the top of the steep hillside, Lupe re-entered the forest. The ground leveled out to some degree as she continued up, heading W near the edge of the steep stuff. Before too long, the terrain started pushing her N. Loop quickly came upon the S end of Marble Park, the giant alpine meadow Higginbotham had mentioned.
Jobe & Lupe in Marble Park. Photo looks SSW.The stroll up Marble Park was cake. The giant alpine meadow was just a nice long, steady, obstacle-free, moderate incline. Photo looks SSE.The view ahead. Lupe & Jobe veered N (R) here gaining as much elevation as possible while still in Marble Park. Once back in the forest again, Loop & Jobe turned NW looking for High Point 8708, which isn’t in sight yet up on the forested ridge straight up from Lupe. Photo looks NW.
Marble Park was completely free of obstacles. Jobe, Lupe and SPHP made rapid progress up the steady, moderately inclined slope. Lupe stayed in the giant meadow as long as possible. She didn’t re-enter the forest again until reaching Marble Park’s upper N end. This allowed the American Dingo to completely avoid a shallow drainage to the W.
Once back in the forest, the next landmark along the way was High Point 8708, about 0.75 mile to the NW. The forest was mostly open, the only real obstacle being scattered deadfall timber. The climb initially steepened somewhat, but quickly became more gradual again. Now and then, Jobe checked Lupe’s position versus Eric Higginbotham’s GPS track on his phone, but very little course correction was ever required.
When Lupe, Jobe and SPHP reached High Point 8708, the top of Mount Powell was in view 2 miles to the NW.
Jobe & Lupe reach High Point 8708. Mount Powell’s summit is now in view 2 miles to the NW.A portion of Caruthers Lake is in view from High Point 8708. Photo looks W.
At High Point 8708, Lupe had already climbed 2,450 feet of the over 3,900 feet of elevation gain required to get to the summit of Mount Powell from the trailhead. SPHP was amazed at how easy it had all been, and how quickly the time had gone by. Credit for the easy route went to Eric. Credit for making the time go by fast went to Jobe.
Lupe and SPHP really didn’t know Jobe well at all. The only other time Lupe had been with Jobe was on that one day over 15 months ago. Jobe had been friendly, considerate, and very kind. He’d come to Lupe’s rescue carrying her over cactus infested badlands in Nebraska. Jobe had also been a great conversationalist, expounding upon a variety of topics of interest to SPHP.
Shortly after leaving the trailhead this morning, Jobe had launched into a discussion of one of his favorite subjects – Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Of course, SPHP was familiar with some of their top 40 hits, but that was about the extent of it. Jobe, however, was an expert. He didn’t consider the Dead’s top 40 hits even remotely among their best work.
Virtually the entire time it took to reach High Point 8708, Jobe had expounded upon the Grateful Dead. A truly dedicated (fanatical?) fan, he listens to them almost exclusively. Jobe knew not only all of the Dead’s songs, but how the songs had evolved and been perfected over time, at exactly which live concerts Jerry Garcia had performed the best renditions, all of the lyrics and their meanings, etc., etc.
SPHP couldn’t begin to absorb it all, but did gather that of the many Grateful Dead songs Jobe liked, he considered Morning Dew and Terrapin Station among their finest work. Even though the subject matter was almost entirely unfamiliar to SPHP, Jobe’s enthusiastic and lively conversation had been so entertaining, it hardly seemed possible Lupe was already so close to Mount Powell.
Close she was, though. Only a 0.75 mile long forested area, a significant portion of which was a relatively level saddle, now stood between Loop and the broad, bare S ridge leading to the final steep climb to the top of the mountain. As Lupe left High Point 8708, and proceeded NW across the saddle, Jobe continued his time and distance warping commentary. In no time at all, almost as if she had been teleported, the Carolina Dog broke out out of the forest and stood on the bare S ridge.
The lower part of the S ridge was a gentle incline, generously strewn with medium-sized flattish rocks, which were interspersed with small green plants and a few wildflowers. Mount Powell was directly ahead.
In the lead, Jobe strikes out across Mount Powell’s nearly flat, barren S shoulder. The summit is straight ahead. Photo looks N.
The final ascent wasn’t any steeper than the grassy hillside Lupe had gone up right after leaving the road early on. This slope was much rockier, but still just a walk up a hill. Vegetation was present most of the way. Lupe faced only a few short sections of nothing but scree.
Gettin’ there! Loopster & Jobe on the final ascent. Photo looks N.
Loopster arrived at the summit of Mount Powell(10,168 ft.) at 9:00 AM. Between Eric Higginbotham’s excellent route, and Jobe’s scintillating conversation (which by now had switched from the Grateful Dead to how life would be affected by coming technological changes), the whole trek up had taken only 3 hours. To SPHP, it seemed like the easiest 3,900+ feet of off-trail elevation gain ever.
Success! Mountaineer Jobe Wymore and Lupe relax at the summit of Mount Powell. Photo looks S.
The summit area was roomy, flat and strewn with rocks. Lots of rocks had been piled up to make a big circular Dingo fortress with a cairn in the middle of it. A survey benchmark was easily found. Not a tree or a bush grew anywhere, so the summit provided commanding 360° views. Unfortunately, smoke from forest fires farther W made the air rather hazy. Smoke could be seen rising from several points.
This exposed survey benchmark was easily found at the summit.Dempsey Basin from Mount Powell shortly after reaching the summit. Unfortunately, the air was a little hazy due to smoke from forest fires farther W. More smoke is rising in the distance R of Center. Photo looks SW.Jobe makes adjustments to a shoe while Lupe sits nearby just outside of the circular Dingo fort. Photo looks SW.
Lupe, Jobe & SPHP remained at the top of Mount Powell for a whole hour. Jobe pointed out several peaks in the distance he had been to, or at least recognized. As a treat, he shared chocolate brittle with Lupe and SPHP, who were both quite taken with it. An hour was plenty of time to gaze at the grand views in all directions. As a W breeze grew stronger, smoke began billowing up more noticeably from a fire to the SW.
Loop on the W wall of the Dingo Fort. The summit of lower Deer Lodge Mountain(9,765 ft.) is in view on the L. Photo looks ENE.Looking down on Martin Lake. Peak 9779 is beyond the lake on the L. Photo looks W.Looking down on Dempsey Basin. From closest to most distant, the 4 lakes on the L are Upper Elliot Lake, Lower Elliot Lake, Caruthers Lake & Goat Lake. Mountain Ben Lake is farther away on the R. The small lake nearby on the R is unnamed on the map. Smoke billows up (Center) on the far horizon. Photo looks SW.The bald “hill” on the R is Peak 9467. The higher peaks straight beyond it in the distance are somewhere near Storm Lake, where Lupe had been yesterday. Photo looks SSW with help from the telephoto lens.Looking SW with considerable help from the telephoto lens at some of the highest peaks visible from Mount Powell. Peak 9502 is in the foreground on the R. The high mountain in the distance beyond it is Warren Peak(10,463 ft.). The highest of all is West Goat Peak(10,793 ft.) on the L.
Other than the haze, conditions on Mount Powell were near perfect with a light W breeze and temperatures in the low 70’s °F. Nevertheless, the time to depart drew near. Lupe took a final look around, while Jobe used his phone to enter data on this successful ascent.
Lupe takes a final look around from Mount Powell. The highest mountain beyond her is Pikes Peak (9,359 ft.). Photo looks N.Loop on the SW wall of the Dingo Fort. Jobe uses his smart phone to enter data on this ascent into Peakbagger.com. Photo looks NW.Loop ready to head down. Mount Powell’s bare S slope is seen below on the R. High Point 8708 is on the forested ridge beyond Loop on the L. This had been her ascent route, and the American Dingo would be going back this way, too. Photo looks SSE.
Eric Higginbotham’s route up had worked great! There was no reason to stray from it on the way back to the trailhead. Jobe helped the time go by with stories of the exploits of other mountaineers he knew, and adventures he’d had with some of them. He discussed some of the major peakbagging goals he has been working on for many years, how he was within a few years of completing them, and what he might want to do when they were finished.
Lupe back on the broad, barren S ridge, with Deer Lodge Peak visible beyond her. Jobe’s on the phone checking on a friend who was late to report in from another mountain. Photo looks NE.Almost down! Lupe back at Marble Park. Photo looks NW.
By the time Lupe was back at the trailhead (12:40 PM), she knew about an odd medical condition affecting Jobe’s hair, and the sad passing away of his favorite cat, known simply as “H”, in January. Only partly in jest, Jobe had pronounced himself a 3 dimensional person due to his 3 main interests in life – peakbagging, the Grateful Dead, and craft beers.
Climbing Mount Powell with Jobe had been super fun! The best news of all was that Loop’s time with Jobe wasn’t over yet. Tomorrow, Lupe would get to climb another peak with him! The original plan had been to go to Old Baldy South Slope(8,640 ft.). However, that plan had changed. Sacagawea Peak(9,650 ft.), with nearly 4,000 feet of prominence was up next!
Once details for the next rendezvous had been settled upon, Jobe roared off in his Rubicon. A short while later, Lupe and SPHP headed out, too. When Lupe reached I-90, temperatures were in the 90’s °F. So much smoke was in the air now that Mount Powell was barely visible. SPHP stopped to buy a box of ice cream bars in Anaconda. A certain eager Carolina Dog provided dedicated assistance in devouring all 6 on the spot.
An air-conditioned ride E to Bozeman ensued, where SPHP obtained a roasted chicken for dinner. Taking Hwy 86 N out of Bozeman, SPHP eventually found the road to Fairy Lake. The poor G6 took considerable abuse on USFS Road No. 74, making it 3/4 of the way to Fairy Lake before SPHP had mercy and parked at a big pullout. By nightfall, an American Dingo stuffed full of roasted chicken was ready for Dingo dreamland.
Mountaineer and friend Jobe Wymore relaxes on Mount Powell, Montana 7-20-17
Day 9 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Wind River Range, Wyoming & Select Peaks in Montana
Lightning! Oh, boy. Nothing like getting drenched in the middle of the night. Unable to sleep, SPHP used a small flashlight to study maps. Meanwhile, the American Dingo, tired from yesterday’s fun and games on New Benchmark, and stuffed full of her entire food supply which she had devoured upon returning to Porcupine Pass, snoozed peacefully in the “tiny house” on her red sleeping bag.
Thunder rumbled for a couple of hours, but thankfully only a little rain fell. At least that was a bit of luck. The maps didn’t have any good news, though. Lupe had made it to New Benchmark(11,850 ft.) yesterday, only to have her route E to Squaretop Mountain(11,695 ft.) blocked by a huge, steep snowbank. What had been seen of a possible alternate route E from N of Porcupine Pass, hadn’t looked promising from New Benchmark, either.
The only other alternative was to go S from Porcupine Pass down the Dodge Creek valley far enough to pick up a trail heading E to the Lozier Lakes area. Loop could then try going N from Kenny or Marten Lakes. She would lose more than 1,000 feet of elevation from her current position at Porcupine Pass, though, all of which would have to be regained, plus a lot more. And it was a long, long way around. With supplies low already, circling clear around to the S wasn’t realistic.
What that meant was failure. Lupe simply wasn’t going to make it to her prime objective. Sadly, Squaretop Mountain was out. No matter how SPHP looked at it, that was the depressing news the maps contained. May as well beat a retreat back down to Green River Lakes when dawn arrived.
Leaving! Why are we leaving? Just because we can’t get all the way to Squaretop Mountain doesn’t mean we have to turn tail and flee, does it, SPHP? We have more time don’t we? It took us a whole day to get here! It’s a wonderful morning. We’re already at nearly 11,000 feet. What’s wrong with all these mountains around here? Can’t we climb one of them instead?
All true, Looper. If you’re up for trying something else, I guess we could. Didn’t really bring any decent maps of anything other than the route I thought we could take to Squaretop, but some of the territory W of here looked pretty fun and not too difficult from New Benchmark yesterday. The maps do show a Dome Peak(11,234 ft.) a few miles SSW of here. We could salvage something from this day, and try for Dome Peak if you like.
Sure! Why not? Dome Peak is fine with me. Let the salvage operations begin! I’m raring to go!
SPHP disassembled Lupe’s tiny house and packed everything up. The first step in the journey to Dome Peak was to head SW over Porcupine Pass Peak(10,890 ft.), which Lupe had visited yesterday morning, too. It was a short, easy walk to the top, a nice change of pace after a couple of long, hard days.
Loop back up on Porcupine Pass Peak for the 2nd morning in a row. Porcupine Pass is below on the L. Photo looks E toward New Benchmark, which Lupe had climbed yesterday, and where she’d had to abort her journey to Squaretop Mountain due to steep snow.Loop at the summit of Porcupine Pass Peak again. Dome Peak, her new peakbagging objective, is in the distance straight up from Looper. Photo looks SSW with help from the telephoto lens.
A beautiful sunny trek across Porcupine Pass Peak brought Lupe to a rounded slope that descended gradually to another pass. This pass was unnamed on the maps, but might easily be considered Porcupine Pass SW.
Looking down on the unnamed pass SW of Porcupine Pass Peak. On the way to Dome Peak, Lupe would climb up the other side of this pass. She discovered a trail going up the far slope, which SPHP should have paid more attention to, since it would have been useful later in the day. It was the correct route to the Jim Creek Trail. Peak 11,125, the first of 3 major high points Lupe would come to on her way to Dome Peak is seen on the L. Photo looks SW.
A trail went over the unnamed pass. A quick look at the map showed this would be a longer, but perhaps far less steep route down into the Porcupine Creek drainage than going N from Porcupine Pass when the time came to head back to Green River Lakes. SPHP liked this idea, and decided to stash the tiny house and sleeping bags behind a big rock in the pass.
Lupe cools off on a big snowfield on the S side of the unnamed pass SW of Porcupine Pass Peak. Photo looks SSE.
Lupe continued SW on across the unnamed pass. She climbed up the slope on the far side, which was somewhat steeper than the slope from Porcupine Pass Peak had been, but it wasn’t a problem. SPHP was puzzled when more than halfway up the Carolina Dog discovered a trail winding up this slope.
This trail was unexpected, and SPHP paid little attention to it, assuming it was only a side trail from the main one going over the unnamed pass. This incorrect assessment would have repercussions later in the day. At any rate, Lupe made it up the slope on the far side of the pass, where she had a great view back toward Porcupine Pass Peak(10,890 ft.).
Looking back from the far (SW) side of the unnamed pass. Porcupine Pass Peak is the gentle green hill at Center. Peak 11,420 is on the L. Part of New Benchmark is seen along the R edge. Photo looks NE.
Lupe turned S and headed for Peak 11,125. This was great territory! Open and rolling in a rugged, but not difficult, sort of way. Big snowfields and grassy slopes, scattered rocks, and a myriad of clear trickling streams. Beneath blue skies and sunshine, Lupe ran and ran, streaking over great distances. SPHP strode easily along. Oh, yeah! This was fun!
30 minutes later, Lupe arrived at the top of Peak 11,125. The summit was a relatively small area of big rocks and bigger views.
Lupe at the top of Peak 11,125. The upper Boulder Creek drainage area is seen below. Photo looks WSW.Lupe’s objective, Dome Peak (L), is the distant rounded high point on the horizon. Photo looks SSW.Looking across Dodge Creek canyon from Peak 11,125. In the foreground on the other side are Peak 11,695 (far L) and Peak 11,290 (L). Between them on the horizon is Gannett Peak (L), the highest mountain in Wyoming. Photo looks E.Gannett Peak(13,804 ft.) (far L) is on the horizon. Peak 11,290 is in the foreground. Photo looks ESE from Peak11,125 with help from the telephoto lens.Lupe on Peak 11,125. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.Looking NNW.The impressive view to the S with a lot of help from the telephoto lens. Peak 11,166 is the high point L of Center. Dome Peak is the rounded high point on the R.
Dome Peak was still close to 3 miles away, so Lupe didn’t linger long at Peak 11,125. To get down off the mountain, she circled back around to the NW until the terrain permitted her to turn SW. She crossed a snowy basin which was part of the uppermost NE portion of the Boulder Creek drainage area.
Loop cools down in the snowy basin SW of Peak 11,125. This basin is part of Boulder Creek’s uppermost NE drainage area. The next high point Lupe headed for is seen on the L. Photo looks SW.
The next high point on Lupe’s way was immediately S of the snowy basin. The lower slopes of this hill were also snow-covered. SPHP found the climb easiest staying on lanes of bare ground when possible. Meanwhile, the Carolina Dog wandered wherever she pleased.
This hill wasn’t as high as Peak 11,125. The upper slopes were far less snowy than lower down. Scattered stands of stunted trees grew amid a great deal of rock. In fact, the whole hill was almost solid rock.
Lupe reaches the top of the 2nd high point on her way to Dome Peak. This hill wasn’t quite 11,000 feet. Photo looks SE.Same view with help from the telephoto lens. Palmer Canyon is across the way on the L. Peak 10,985 is at Center, and Peak 11,166 is on the R. Photo looks SE.
From the second high point, Lupe could see the next hill ahead to the S. It was higher than this one, and must have been nearly the same elevation as Peak 11,125. A long, broad green slope with patches of snow to the E led toward a rocky summit. The slope was a steady climb, but getting to the top should be a piece of cake.
Lupe lost elevation again going W down off the second high point. She soon turned S and headed straight for the third high point.
The long green slope leading up the third high point. Lupe headed for the highest rocks seen just R of Center. Photo looks S,
Loop reached the top of the long green slope at a big rock outcropping at the NE end of a long summit ridge. Dome Peak was in view again. The American Dingo had been making good progress toward her objective. She was already halfway there!
Lupe at the NE end of the 3rd high point’s long summit ridge. Dome Peak (R of Center) was in view again. Loop was already halfway there! Photo looks S.
Cliffs prevented the Carolina Dog from going any farther straight S. It was clear the highest portions of the third high point’s long summit ridge were still off to the SW. Lupe went W, skirting a series of large rocks a bit below and to the N of them.
Lupe had been doing great so far, but while she was working her way toward the true summit of the 3rd high point, SPHP suddenly realized there were problems ahead.
The first problem was the weather. The sky had been almost completely clear all morning. Now pillars of cumulus clouds could be seen boiling up off to the W. They weren’t too big yet, but looked like trouble.
On the way to the highest part of the 3rd high point, SPHP suddenly realized there were problems ahead. The first problem was the weather. Pillars of cumulus clouds were boiling up in the W. Photo looks SW.On the way to the top of the 3rd high point. Photo looks WSW.
The second problem was the realization that this 3rd high point still wasn’t part of the long ridge leading to Dome Peak. That ridge was now in view to the SW. Lupe would have to lose a couple hundred feet of elevation to get over to it. That wasn’t a problem, and the long ridge wasn’t more than a few hundred feet high itself, but its sides were steep. Steep with a continuous, big, long snowbank clinging to its upper slopes.
Lupe retreated a little down to the N from the 3rd high point. She would have to come down this way to get over to the ridge on the R leading to Dome Peak. That ridge wasn’t terribly high, but it was steep with a long continuous band of snow on its upper slopes. Photo looks WSW.
Lupe retreated a little down to the N from the 3rd high point. She had to go this way to get around to the W, and head over to the ridge leading to Dome Peak. SPHP stopped and stared at the long ridge for several minutes while Loop sat waiting patiently.
That ridge isn’t that high Loop. It’s totally ridiculous, but I don’t see a way up it. Not with that steep band of snow all along the upper edge.
We need to go over there?
Yeah, if you’re going to make it to Dome Peak, we need to get up on top. It’s a really long ridge. There’s part of it we don’t see from here farther S. Maybe there’s a way up somewhere along the way?
Well, let’s go check it out! I’ll help you find a way up, SPHP.
Thanks, Lupe, but hold on! I’d say yes, but these clouds look like trouble. They’re building fast. Naturally, Dome Peak seems to be ground zero. I hope you’ve had a good time on this romp, but we better call it.
What! No Dome Peak?
Uh-uh. It’s been fun, but I’m afraid our Dome Peak salvage operation is doomed to failure, too. Thunderstorms will be on the way soon. Let’s get out of here, while the getting is good.
Loop didn’t argue. She just sighed, turned, and started trotting N back down the long green slope back toward the 2nd high point. SPHP followed after her.
A look back at the 3rd high point and approaching weather shortly after giving up on Dome Peak and starting the retreat back N. Photo looks SW.A look WNW down into the Boulder Creek canyon on the way down the long green slope.Even though Lupe’s retreat had already begun, and her Dome Peak salvage operation had ended in failure, the scenery was still stunning. Gannett Peak (R) is on the horizon, along with many other huge peaks. Photo looks E on the way down the long green slope.Heading back toward the 2nd high point, the low, almost solid rock hill at Center. Lupe wouldn’t climb it again. Instead, she went around the W (L) side. Peak 11,125, which was the first high point Lupe reached is in view on the R. Lupe didn’t climb it again either. Photo looks N.Looking back at the long green slope to the 3rd high point (L). The long ridge Lupe never reached leading to Dome Peak is on the R. Photo looks SSW.
The American Dingo didn’t climb the 2nd high point again. It was easier to just skip it and go around the W side.
Lupe came to this narrow tarn going around the W side of the 2nd high point on her way back N. Photo looks NNW.
Loop didn’t return to the top of Peak 11,125, either. She stayed NW of it. By the time she reached the snowfields N of Peak 11,125, it was clear the decision to abandon the effort to reach Dome Peak had been a good one. The sky had grown dark. Thunder rumbled to the S, back in the direction of Dome Peak.
By the time Lupe reached the snowfields N of Peak 11,125 again, the sky had turned dark. Thunder rumbled to the S. Photo looks W.
On the way back down into the unnamed pass SW of Porcupine Pass Peak to retrieve the tiny house and sleeping bags, Lupe came across the odd side trail once more. Again, SPHP thought nothing of it. Down in the pass, the weather was so threatening SPHP quickly dug the green plastic rain poncho out of the pack and put it on, before grabbing everything else and hurrying on.
Following the main trail NNW over the pass, Lupe and SPHP started the descent into the Porcupine Creek drainage area. The trail quickly steepened, then vanished! Light rain fell while Loop and SPHP searched for where the trail had disappeared to. Nothing!
Lupe almost started down a large snowfield that went into a big gash in the mountainside. The gash had high, steep sides of bare, loose soil and rocks. The snowfield sloped ever more steeply down until it went out of sight. It was impossible to tell how far down the snow went or how steep it became.
SPHP took another quick look at the map. The trail Lupe wanted went quite a distance W before turning NE down into the Porcupine Creek drainage. Hmm. SPHP led Lupe partway back up to the pass, but only far enough to get around the upper end of the big gash. Once W of the gash, the search for the trail resumed.
Still no trail. The terrain quickly steepened. Lupe was descending fast. To the W was a large snowfield beneath a long rim of cliffs that curved NW. Rocks and boulders stuck up out of the snow in some places. If there was a trail here, it was almost certainly hidden beneath the snow.
W of the big gash, Lupe soon came to the edge of this snowfield beneath the line of cliffs seen curving away to the NW. If there was a trail here, it was buried beneath the snow. Photo looks WNW.
Lupe turned N descending a steep slope of bare ground along the E edge of the snowfield. After losing some elevation, she saw a wall of rock extending W out into the snowfield, creating a partial break in it. As Lupe and SPHP descended into a 2 foot gap between the wall of rock and the snowfield below, it started to rain harder. The rock wall had a bit of an overhang offering partial protection from the weather.
Looking WNW from the narrow gap between the wall of rock and the snowfield below it.Lupe takes shelter from the rain beneath a small overhang.
Standing around waiting for the storm to end, SPHP had time for reflection. The light finally went on. That odd side trail Lupe had found twice, the one that went up the slope on the W side of the pass, wasn’t a side trail at all! It was the main trail Lupe had been looking for leading over to the Jim Creek trail! It stayed way up high, and didn’t come down here at all. The trail going N over the pass was just a dead end. A more careful look at the maps confirmed it.
Lupe had already lost too much elevation to consider climbing all the way back up to the pass. The main trail went through some beautiful, easy high country that would have been fun to see, but going that way would add at least a couple of miles to the trek back to Green River Lakes. Besides, the storm was still back in that direction. The snowfield below the wall of rock wasn’t so steep that Lupe and SPHP couldn’t just descend it instead.
This snowfield below the wall of rock wasn’t so steep that Lupe and SPHP couldn’t simply walk right on down it. That became the new plan when SPHP finally realized there wasn’t actually any trail going down this way. Photo looks NW toward Peak 11,246 (Center).
Despite all the thunder, it didn’t rain very hard or long. The American Dingo emerged from her hiding place ready to tackle the long snowfield. Down, down, down she went. Progress was fast on the snow, but lower down it finally ran out. Lupe then had to wait while SPHP slowly picked a way through boulder fields, occasionally assisted by lanes of vegetation.
Heading down the long snowfield. Peak 11,246 is on the L. Porcupine Creek valley on the R. Photo looks NNW.Lower down, there was far less snow. Lupe had to wait around while SPHP slowly picked a way down through boulder fields. Although thunder continued to rumble off to the S for another couple of hours, the sky cleared to the N, and it didn’t rain again. Photo looks NW.
It took a long time for SPHP to finally reach the valley floor. Another long march ensued in the forest looking for the Porcupine Trail. The Carolina Dog eventually found it. From then on, Lupe stuck to the trail, with only two exceptions. Just as she had inadvertently done 2 days ago on the way up, Loop twice bushwhacked through the forest to avoid 4 unnecessary fordings of raging Porcupine Creek.
Flowers like these were common in the forests and fields of the miles long Porcupine Creek valley.Looking for the Porcupine Trail down in the Porcupine Creek valley. Photo looks N.
The sun had gone down behind the mountains. Light was fading by the time Lupe reached the final ford of Porcupine Creek near Green River Lakes. The roar of the water was tremendous. If anything, Porcupine Creek looked more dangerous than it had been 2 days ago.
Weary from the long trek, SPHP dithered for 15 minutes. The courage to attempt the ford carrying both Lupe and the backpack could not be summoned. The deafening, powerful flow was too intimidating. A slip might end tragically, with dear Lupe swept away almost instantly to be pinned against debris clogging the stream immediately below the ford. SPHP would have little chance of saving her, if that happened. The thought was too terrible to bear.
The creek had to be forded somewhere, though. There was no way to bushwhack around it this time. SPHP finally led Lupe downstream through a bog, looking for a safer place to cross. After a 10 minute march, Porcupine Creek spread out evenly so the water wasn’t so deep. The creek was wide, but had a fairly long straight stretch here with no obstacles nearby downstream. The water was still moving fast. It wasn’t whitewater, though, and was only knee deep.
This was probably as good as it was going to get. SPHP stepped down into the stream. Lupe sat on the bank, lifting up her little freckled front paw to plead for help. SPHP picked her up and started across.
The bottom of Porcupine Creek was full of medium-sized rounded rocks. The rocks were slimy and slippery. SPHP had a hard time finding good footing. It was a real struggle to maintain balance against the swift current.
Two thirds of the way across, SPHP began to lose it. Fighting for control, Lupe got slung around wildly this way and that. For close to 10 seconds, the outcome remained uncertain. Then Lupe was flung unceremoniously aside as SPHP fell face first in Porcupine Creek.
SPHP was totally drenched from head to toe, but recovered quickly. Thankfully, the backpack with the camera and all the rest of the gear had stayed above water. That was all fine. But where was Lupe? SPHP immediately turned to look downstream. She wasn’t there!
Over here!
There she was! The totally soaked Dingo was already standing safely on the far shore. After her unexpected plunge into Porcupine Creek, she’d made it in a flash the rest of the way across unharmed on her own. SPHP sloshed over to her, and stepped dripping up onto the bank.
That was better than a Tilt-A-Whirl, SPHP, but you might have warned me about the grand finale! What do you call that exciting little maneuver?
Sorry about that Loop. Glad you’re OK. I think that last bit of excitement is what’s known as our final ignominious defeat on this whole failure prone trek striving to get to Squaretop Mountain.
We aren’t coming to any more fords, are we?
No, I saved the best for last. This was it, we’re done with fords. Think I’m all forded out. At least we’re across this damn creek in one piece. Come on, we still have miles to go, and the skeeters are bad.
The flashlight had to come out on the Lakeside Trail. Stars shone above, but it was plenty dark in the forest. Once back at the G6 (10:24 PM), Lupe devoured a whole can of Alpo before turning in for the night. It was nearly midnight by the time SPHP was in dry clothes, and could join her in Dingo dreamland.
Lupe at Lower Green River Lake the next morning, with beautiful, iconic Squaretop Mountain, which she still hadn’t made it to the top of, in the distance on the R. Wind River Range, Wyoming.
