#Omniten – Page 12 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Tunnel Mountain, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada (8-1-17)

Days 1 & 2 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!

Even though the air was hazy and clouds hung over the Bighorns, approaching Buffalo, Wyoming SPHP stopped at a pullout along I-90 so Lupe could get out and stretch her legs. With the haze, the view wasn’t nearly so good as it might have been, but Lupe was in great spirits! It was the last day of July, and the first day of what was going to be her most stupendous Dingo Vacation of the entire summer of 2017.

Lupe was in great spirits even though the air was hazy as she passed by Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains. This last day of July was the very 1st day of her most stupendous Dingo Vacation of 2017! More than 6 weeks of non-stop fun and adventures was just beginning! Photo looks W.

Lupe’s day had started early, before 6:00 AM. She’d had to take a bath, not her favorite thing. Then she’d had to wait hours while SPHP packed the G6 and scurried around taking care of a seemingly endless list of last minute details.

Events started improving rapidly after that. Getting Beggin’ Strips and breakfast on the deck overlooking the canyon at Grandma’s house had been fun. A last minute check on things at home and Lupe was on her way! (10:29 AM, 84°F)

Nearly this whole day would be spent on the road, but Loop didn’t mind that in the least. Perched up even with the dash on her traditional pile of pillows and blankets, she was having a riot barking at cows, horses and anything else that struck her fancy as the G6 sped on by.

After a short stroll and as good a look at the Bighorn Range as conditions allowed, Lupe and SPHP were ready to hit the road again. Before Lupe reached Billings, Montana, the temperature hit a high of 102°F. Beastly! Of course, Loopster rode in air-conditioned comfort, so it hardly mattered, except when SPHP stopped in Billings. SPHP had to race into Albertson’s to buy fried chicken for dinner, then dash back out before the G6 became a Dingo oven.

NW of Billings, SPHP turned W on Hwy 12. The long drive up the Musselshell River valley heading for the Little Belt Mountains was relaxing and delightful. Near Harlowton, Lupe could see Crazy Peak (11,209 ft.), and it’s long SE ridge which she had been on with her mountaineering friend Jobe Wymore only 9 days ago at the tail end of her last Dingo Vacation. The mountain was barely visible in a smoky haze, but SPHP was certain that was it.

Lupe reached King’s Hill Pass (7,393 ft.) on Hwy 89 in the Little Belt Mountains shortly before sunset (8:17 PM). No time to lose! Lupe and SPHP set out immediately, following the gravel road W up to the fire lookout tower and Showdown ski area on Porphyry Peak (8,192 ft.).

The sun had already sunk into a bank of clouds on the W horizon by the time Lupe and SPHP reached the summit. It was pretty clear the sun wasn’t going to make a reappearance, and light was fading fast. Conditions weren’t all that great for seeing anything anyway. A smoky haze hung in the air here, too. At least climbing the mountain had been good exercise after a long day in the G6.

While twilight lingered, Lupe and SPHP strolled around Porphyry Peak’s summit.

The sun had already sunk behind a bank of clouds on the W horizon by the time Lupe made it up to the **Porphyry Peak** fire lookout tower. Photo looks E.

An information plaque at the base of the lookout tower.

Lupe near the Showdown ski area facilities on **Porphyry Peak**. Photo looks NE.

**Big Baldy Mountain (9,177 ft.)** (R) is the highest point in the **Little Belt Range** in W central Montana. **Porphyry Peak** was the first mountain Lupe climbed on this Dingo Vacation. **Big Baldy Mountain** would eventually prove to be the last. Photo looks NE.

Before the light was completely gone, SPHP wanted to go at least partway up the fire lookout tower. The tower wasn’t staffed at present. In fact, not another soul was around anywhere on the mountain. The access door to the observation deck was locked shut.

That was fine with the American Dingo. While Loopster doesn’t mind clambering around on high mountains, she doesn’t care much for lookout towers. From her perspective, there’s too much air between those big steps. It’s not natural and just plain scary! Lupe refused to go any farther up than the first flight of stairs.

Light of day fades away in the **Little Belt Mountains**. Photo looks WNW from partway up the **Porphyry Peak** fire lookout tower.

*Nope, not coming any farther up than this, SPHP!*

The last light of day faded away. A half moon hung in the evening sky as Lupe and SPHP made the trek back down to King’s Hill Pass.

The next morning, Lupe was underway again as the sun peeped above the horizon. This was another travel day, and at 11:00 AM the Carolina Dog crossed uneventfully into Canada at Sweet Grass. Southern Canada looked drier than Lupe had ever seen it before. The smoke of forest fires farther W filled the air even here.

By 3:00 PM Looper was in the huge metropolis of Calgary. It was sunny when she arrived, though the sky was clouding up. An hour later, as Lupe headed W on Trans-Canada Hwy 1 toward the Canadian Rockies, dark clouds dropped light rain showers.

Loop in Calgary, Canada enjoying the drive so far.

Lupe reached Banff at 5:00 PM. It was August 1st, 3 years to the day since she’d last been in beloved Banff. SPHP drove slowly down Banff Avenue, crossed the bridge over the beautiful Bow River, and parked near the tennis courts and picnic ground.

After spending most of the day in the G6, Looper was more than ready to get out. Loop and SPHP went for a stroll down by the Bow River.

Lupe at the beautiful Bow River in Banff, Canada. It was 3 years to the day since Lupe had left Banff toward the end of her 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies & Beartooths. The S end of **Tunnel Mountain** is on the L. **Mount Rundle** on the R. Photo looks ESE.

Being back in Banff was great! Montana’s blistering summer heat and smoky air were a thing of the past. Low clouds and cool mist hung over the mountains. Lupe and SPHP strolled E along the S side of the Bow River. When Loop got to the pedestrian footbridge over the river, she took it.

Crossing the Bow River. Photo looks WNW.

On the N side of the river, Lupe came to a posted map of Banff. The map showed a trail leading up Tunnel Mountain E of town. That was a great idea! There was time enough to do that right now! Lupe and SPHP kept going. Soon the Carolina Dog was on the Tunnel Mountain trail.

This map of Banff posted on the N side of the Bow River shows the trail leading up to Tunnel Mountain E of town. That was a great idea! The trail wasn’t far away, and Loop still had plenty of time to climb the mountain this evening.

On the popular Tunnel Mountain trail in Banff. Even though it was cloudy and cool out, Lupe met plenty of people and dogs along the way.

The Tunnel Mountain trail is an easy climb and hugely popular. Even though it was cloudy and cool out, Lupe met plenty of people and dogs. Since it was getting to be dinnertime, most were on their way back down to Banff.

The views weren’t nearly as spectacular as they would have been on a clearer day, but Lupe did see the famous Banff Springs Hotel at the base of Sulphur Mountain (8,005 ft.), and the Banff Springs golf course at the base of Mount Rundle (9,675 ft.).

The famous **Banff Springs Hotel** from the Tunnel Mountain trail. Photo looks SSW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

**Mount Rundle** (R) towers above the golf course and **Bow River**. Photo looks SE.

The absolute summit of Tunnel Mountain (5,551 ft.) was a rock formation surrounded by thick forest. However, not far away was a sloping rock ledge with a great view of the town of Banff. Lupe visited the summit first. A large crowd of people, who turned out to be in town for an ergonomics convention, were occupying the ledge with the view.

Lupe reaches the summit of **Tunnel Mountain**. This was about it for views at the very top, even on a clear day.

While waiting for the ergonomics people to finish their sight-seeing, Lupe proved to be quite popular with them. Many wanted to pet her, and SPHP heard quite a few tales of how much others were missing their dogs. Lupe didn’t even know what ergonomics was, but she was getting a good impression of it. She willingly submitted to being adored for however long the ergonomics people wanted to keep it up.

When the ergonomics people finally moved on, Loop was a little sad to see them go. However, she could now get a good look at the beautiful town of Banff from Tunnel Mountain. It was sort of a shame that it was so cloudy out. The view would have been totally gorgeous on a sunny day.

Looking down on Banff with help from the telephoto lens.

**Sulphur Mountain (8,005 ft.)** is the ridge across the valley. Both a trail and a **gondola** go to the top of Sulphur Mountain, but Lupe has never been there. The Banff Springs Hotel is seen below near the center of this photo. Photo looks SSW.

August 1st, yet it was almost chilly up on Tunnel Mountain when the breeze came up! Temperatures were only in the upper 50’s °F. Lupe started back down the trail. She was back in Banff before 8:00 PM.

Loop ready to set off back down to Banff on the well-worn Tunnel Mountain trail.

On the bank of the beautiful **Bow River** again after climbing **Tunnel Mountain** (Center). Photo looks E.

Lupe and SPHP enjoyed a late dinner. It was dark out by the time SPHP asked Lupe if she wanted to go on the Pretty Puppy Parade. The Pretty Puppy Parade? Loop hadn’t done that in 3 years now. Oh, yes, she did want to go on the Pretty Puppy Parade! She had forgotten all about it until SPHP mentioned it.

Back on her 2013 & 2014 Dingo Vacations to the Canadian Rockies, Lupe had gone on the Pretty Puppy Parade virtually every night she’d been in Banff. All it really amounted to was an evening walk among the throngs of tourists all up and down Banff Avenue, the main drag through town. People had often commented on Lupe’s good demeanor and wanted to pet her. She got to sniff with lots of other dogs on their own Pretty Puppy Parades, too.

Even though it was the heart of tourist season, the crowds on the streets of Banff had thinned out quite a bit. The evening was cool and breezy, and Lupe had gotten a late start. Some people did notice her, though, and she did get to sniff with a few other dogs. Lupe went up and down both sides of Banff Avenue.

What Lupe really wanted to do was go shopping. The restaurants and stores had their doors open, and Loopster wanted desperately to go in and have a look around. It was all so intriguing and smelled so good! Of course, she couldn’t. The poor American Dingo had to settle for getting her photo taken with some of the big animals guarding shop entrances.

Lupe was pretty nervous about this scary Musk Ox guarding the entrance to one of the shops in Banff. SPHP had a hard time persuading her to stay put for a photo. She was worried she was about to be attacked from behind by that strange shaggy beast.

*Bear, shmear!* This bear wasn’t nearly so scary as that darn Musk Ox!

While SPHP sympathized with Lupe’s frustration at not being able to go exploring the shops in Banff, it wasn’t really necessary to feel too terribly sorry for her. After all, she was at the very beginning of a long Dingo Vacation to lots of fabulous places, and was going to get to do loads of fun stuff other Dingoes only dream of.

*I wish you had put a sign like that on me, SPHP! Let me know if that shaggy monster moves!*

Related Links:

Banff, Alberta, Canada (7-20-13)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Naya Nuki Peak & Sacagawea Peak, Montana with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore (7-21-17)

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.

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 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.

Mount Powell, Montana with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore (7-20-17)

Crazy Peak, Montana – On the Verge of EPIC with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore (7-22-17)

Notes:

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.

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2017 Wind River Range in Wyoming & Select Peaks in Montana Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.