SPHP came to at 6:15 AM on July 15, 2014. A very late beginning for Lupe’s 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies! Despite the occasion, SPHP just felt lazy and spent another half an hour summoning the energy to roll out of bed. In truth, SPHP felt somewhat unprepared. Other than go to the Canadian Rockies, SPHP really didn’t have any specific idea what was going to happen over the next few weeks. Unlike SPHP, Lupe was bright-eyed, expectant and ready for action!
Lupe getting bored waiting in the G6 for SPHP to get a move on! Dingo vacations are supposed to get off to an early start!
The house and yard were in as good shape as they were going to be, and the G6 was half packed the previous evening. At 8:00 AM, Lupe got her heartworm medicine. At 9:40 AM the G6 was finally rolling out of the driveway. It was hazy out and a rather cool day for mid-July. Lupe and SPHP headed W on I-90. All day it felt like weather was building up farther to the W where Lupe was going.
Now we’re talking! Lupe arrives at the lookout tower on Warren Peaks.
Lupe’s first stop was a little side trip up to Warren Peaks(6,650 ft.) in the Bear Lodge mountains in NE Wyoming. Warren Peaks became Lupe’s first peakbagging success of her 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies & Beartooths. It didn’t seem like much of an achievement, since a road goes all the way up to the lookout tower and SPHP just drove the G6 up there. Still, the view was pretty, and just being up there further lifted SPHP’s rising enthusiasm for the glorious days ahead that were now just beginning.
Lupe’s first peakbagging success of her 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies and Beartooths was Warren Peaks in NE, Wyoming.View to the SSW of Warren Peaks in the Bear Lodge Mountains of NE Wyoming.
It had only been 62°F at Warren Peaks at 11:35 AM, but it was 81°F by the time Lupe reached the Powder River two hours later. Things cooled off again just E of the Bighorn Mountains where Lupe encountered the first rain shower of the day. The rain was harder and steadier in Montana. At Billings, MT, SPHP was glad to leave I-90 and all its road construction. Lupe headed N on Hwy 3 to Lavina and turned W on Hwy 12 following the Musselshell River.
W of Harlowton, Hwy 12 goes up into the Little Belt Mountains. Neither Lupe nor SPHP had ever been to the Little Belts before. Lupe saw lots of pretty country on this day’s drive, but other than the glorious Bighorn Mountains which Lupe didn’t enter, the Little Belt Mountains were the best. The Little Belts were gently rolling and forested with meadows in the valleys. They were quite beautiful and sparsely populated. Lupe and SPHP turned N on Hwy 89 just N of White Sulphur Springs, and went as far as a big parking pullout up at King’s Hill Pass (7,393 ft. elevation).
By the time Lupe reached King’s Hill Pass, the sun was close to setting. SPHP parked the G6. For 45 minutes Lupe got to romp around in the wet woods while SPHP explored a bit too. It felt good to be out of the G6 and moving, but with all the clouds around, darkness started coming on fast. Soon after retiring to the G6 for the night, rain and fog rolled in.
By morning on July 16th, the skies were clear. The first order of business was for Lupe to climb Porphyry Peak(8,192 ft.), which was a couple of miles W of Hwy 89 at King’s Hill Pass according to the map. Lupe and SPHP started up a road that skirted the S side of the King’s Hill Campground. Lupe dashed around in and out of the wet forest, very pleased with the way this day was starting out. Soon she was a very soggy doggie, but it didn’t bother her in the least.
Soggy doggie Lupe up on Porphyry Peak on the morning of 7-16-14. Porphyry Peak was Lupe’s 2nd peakbagging success of this American dingo vacation.
The road wound around all the way up to the summit of Porphyry Peak where there was a lookout tower plus a couple of ski lifts and a few other facilities connected with the Showdown Montana Ski area. A sign at the bottom of the lookout tower said to shout for permission to climb the tower. SPHP shouted, but there was no answer. The tower went unclimbed by Lupe and SPHP. The views were pretty nice even without climbing the lookout tower. After wandering around the top of the mountain by the ski lifts where the views were best, Lupe and SPHP headed back down to the G6.
The ranger tower on Porphyry Peak, MTLupe on Porphyry Peak where the Showdown Montana ski area is located.
From King’s Hill Pass, Hwy 89 lost elevation for many miles. It was a pretty drive, and SPHP was convinced the Little Belt Mountains are the most scenic route through this part of Montana. Near the bottom of the range was a picnic area close to a little creek. SPHP stopped there long enough for Lupe to sniff around a bit and get a drink. Then it was back in the G6 and onward to Great Falls, MT.
The Little Belt Mountains in Montana looking NNE from Porphyry Peak.The wet, green forest on Porphyry Peak.
W of Great Falls, the air was no longer clear and clean. The mountains farther W were in a haze, which eventually proved to be smoke. SPHP stayed on Hwy 89 all the way through Choteau and Browning to St. Mary just E of Glacier National Park. It was all new territory to both Lupe and SPHP. Lupe happily barked at cows and horses along the way. In Choteau was a pretty neat statue of a dinosaur. Later on, SPHP regretted not stopping there to get a picture of Lupe next to the dinosaur.
A soggy Lupe in the G6 ready to leave King’s Hill Pass, MT for more dingo adventures in Canada.
From St. Mary, SPHP took Hwy 2 N to Hwy 12, which led Lupe to the Canadian border. At the drive up window, there was no one else in line to get into Canada. SPHP presented a U.S. passport and the Canadian border agent asked a bunch of standard questions.
SPHP must have been somehow suspicious, or perhaps it was just a dull, boring day on the border. SPHP was asked to park the G6 and go inside the main building while Lupe waited in the car. There SPHP presented the exact same passport, different Canadian border patrol personnel asked the exact same questions, and SPHP gave the exact same answers. Somehow this cleared up all difficulties or misunderstandings, whatever they may have been, and Lupe was free to proceed into beautiful Canada! Her 2nd Canadian Rockies adventure was now truly underway!
On Friday the 13th of June, 2014, Lupe knew something big was in the works. SPHP got up while it was still dark and started packing the G6. SPHP built up the passenger side front seat so Lupe could ride in comfort up even with the dash on a pile of luggage, pillows and blankets, the now traditional trip arrangement. Shortly before 6:00 AM everything was ready to go. It was a cool morning, only 53 degrees, under mostly clear blue skies. It was going to be a great day! Lupe was bright-eyed and enthusiastic at the prospect of adventure.
Lupe takes a quick break out of the G6 near Bear Butte(4,422 ft.).Bear Butte Lake 6-13-14
Lupe had a long day’s ride across the prairies of South and North Dakota to the north woods in Minnesota. Lupe had a blast though, barking relentlessly at every cow, horse, haystack and suspicious-looking bush or outbuilding along the way. SPHP is always amazed that Lupe never tires of this game, but she doesn’t. Every now and then SPHP had to stop the G6 to give her some water though, because her barker gets dry.
Shortly before sunset, Lupe arrived at the cabin on the S shore of Kabekona Lake. Lupe was very interested in the smells and sounds of the north woods, but the mosquitoes were out, of course, so Lupe was promptly ushered inside the cabin. The cabin is now owned by Lupe’s great uncle John and great aunt Joyce (whom she had never met before), although it has been in the family since the 1940’s.
The Kabekona Lake cabin which served as Lupe’s luxury resort.The original cabin was very rustic (no plumbing, just a two-seater outhouse), but the cabin looks mighty spiffy now after two modern additions.Lupe meets great aunt Joyce on the stairway to the loft Lupe adored.
John & Joyce invited Lupe and SPHP to stay in the beautiful loft overlooking the living room, and Lupe was very much taken with it. She thought it was super cool and made herself right at home up there, first on King III’s dog bed, and then on the futon she and SPHP were going to snooze on. Lupe spent the evening getting settled in and getting to know John and Joyce. Lupe also met Laddie, their nice old kitty. Laddie was not very pleased to meet Lupe, but Lupe is a friend to all cats. It wasn’t long until Laddie was pretty much adjusted to Lupe being around.
Lupe looking a bit guilty on King III’s bed in the loft.Ahhh! A dingo could get used to roughing it cabin loft style! Lupe in the lap of luxury in the loft she loved at the Kabekona Lake cabin.
Saturday the 14th was a cloudy cool day with some light rain. After some difficulty, John started a fire in the new fireplace with some rather wet birch wood. Despite the light rain, Lupe and SPHP walked out to the road and down to the dock on the lake a few times during the day. SPHP looked for perch or leeches in the water, but saw none. There was a crayfish though. Lupe had great fun sniffing around in the north woods. There were lots of ferns growing and everything was very green. John said Kabekona Lake was the highest he had ever seen it. Many people’s docks were under water. A recent storm had ripped some of the docks loose.
Lupe’s new and somewhat reluctant new friend, Laddie.
Lupe got to meet her uncle Mark from California, who arrived in the afternoon as anticipated. While it rained outside, Lupe made herself comfortable on the couch while Mark and SPHP played Rook, the only card game allowed by long tradition at the Kabekona Lake cabin. Sunday the 15th was another even rainier day. Mark and SPHP started another fire in the fireplace, because it was still quite cool out. Much of the early afternoon was spent with John, Joyce, Mark & SPHP playing Rook in front of the fire.
Later in the afternoon, when the rain had finally subsided somewhat, John suggested taking the boat out on the lake. Lupe joined Mark, John and SPHP in the boat, for only her 2nd boat ride ever. Lupe got another 4 or 5 boat rides on Kabekona Lake before her trip was over. She was a very good dingo on the boat, but seemed to not know what to do with herself sometimes. Sometimes she stayed down in the bottom of the boat, but mostly she liked to be sitting on the boat seat at least partially on SPHP’s lap where she could see.
John either trying to persuade Lupe to get in the boat, or using her as support to get out himself.Lupe with uncle Mark on her 2nd boat ride ever. This whole business of putting out to sea was a bit alarming!
John ran the mighty 6.5 HP motor and steered across Kabekona to the NE part of the lake where the channel to Bucket Lake is. The water was very high and it looked like it might be easy to go to Bucket, but there were clouds coming from the WSW that looked like they might start raining again, so John thought better of a trip to Bucket and stayed on Kabekona. Before long there was lightning off to the WSW, a clear sign it was time to turn around and get off the lake. When the weather was most threatening, John put in temporarily at a dock at Preacher’s Point. The surprised dock owner soon showed up for a chat, but had no real objections.
Sunset on Kabekona Lake from the cabin’s dock.
Sadly, on Monday morning the 16th, Mark already had to leave to head back to Minneapolis to catch his flight to California. This was a sunnier day. Lupe and SPHP saw some Canadian geese on one of the day’s trips down to the dock to see the lake. Lupe and SPHP spent this and the next day helping John with a few small chores or just loafing around. Starting on the 17th, there were boat rides with John and sometimes Joyce in the evenings until a little after sunset. This was a wonderful, relaxing way to end each day.
Canadian Geese families cruising by on Kabekona Lake.
Lupe loved loft living and the cabin in general. Every morning when SPHP woke up, Lupe was already wide awake in her loft listening to the strange sounds of the birds and animals of the north woods. The loft windows were always cranked partly open, and Lupe really enjoyed looking out from her high perch sniffing, watching and listening to what was going on. When Lupe went out to “sniff the air” in the mornings she took off like a shot into the woods. SPHP would usually hear her barking at some annoyed squirrel before long.
When not inclined to rest up in the loft, Lupe relaxed on the comfy couch downstairs.
There were a couple of side trips during Lupe’s time in Minnesota. John took Lupe and SPHP to The Gullies in the Paul Bunyan State Forest. SPHP claims to have seen a small black bear run across the road there. Lupe also got to visit the house in Alexandria, MN where SPHP’s grandparents once lived. She spent the night there on the 18th and 19th. The evening of the 19th was stormy with tornado warnings in the area.
Lupe at the house in Alexandria, MN.
On the 20th, Lupe returned to the cabin at Kabekona Lake. The next day, John & Joyce bought fishing licenses. Lupe, John, Joyce and SPHP took a boat ride across Kabekona Lake. There was a huge white cumulus cloud over the E part of the lake. The water in Kabekona was still very high. John had no trouble taking the boat down the channel to Bucket and Little Bucket Lakes, where John and Joyce fished. A bald eagle was flew across the channel and perched high up on a huge White Pine on the N shore of Little Bucket. (Earlier in the week while at the cabin’s dock, Lupe and SPHP had seen a bald eagle swoop down just 30 or 40 feet away and scoop up a fish from Kabekona Lake – very cool!)
SPHP liked this lovely cumulus cloud just E of Kabekona Lake.
SPHP always brings fish good luck. John and Joyce caught an assortment of weeds, but no fish. On the way back, Joyce saw a big turtle on the bank of the channel between Bucket and Kabekona. SPHP saw a large snapping turtle swimming down in the clear stream. Lupe was very excited by the voyage both down and back up the channel. She was somewhat alarmed when the stream passed under the highway bridge, which was a bit like a tunnel. She liked it, but was a bit scared at the same time.
John, Joyce & Lupe on one of the Bucket Lakes connected to Kabekona by the channel (a stream flowing down to the Buckets).
Lupe sniffed around in the forest whenever she could the next couple of days. SPHP was kept busy picking ticks off her. There were beautiful boat rides each evening on Kabekona. Once, Lupe and SPHP got to hear a song at sunset sung every evening on the lake by several women in kayaks who are friends.
John and Joyce had been telling SPHP that there was a walking group that walks along the road S of Kabekona Lake each morning. On the morning of the 23rd, Lupe’s last morning at Kabekona, Lupe, John, Joyce & SPHP joined the walking group. It was just a short stroll, but there were 4 other dogs for Lupe to sniff with. She had a good time trotting along the road as part of this big pack of friendly dogs and people.
Sunset on Kabekona Lake. Lupe got to enjoy several long lingering sunsets from the boat, but this one was photographed from the dock.Lupe’s last sunset from the boat on Kabekona Lake.
Around 3 PM on the 23rd, Lupe thanked her great uncle John and great aunt Joyce for the lovely time at the cabin. It was time to head back to the Black Hills. The trip was broken up by a stop at great uncle Andy’s and great aunt Connie’s home in Bismarck, ND. Lupe spent the 24th at Andy & Connie’s.
Lupe and SPHP found a big still undeveloped field near Andy & Connie’s home where there proved to be jackrabbits and pheasants to chase. Lupe jumped sideways practically out of her fur in shock and alarm the first time a pheasant flew up unexpectedly right next to her. Lupe and SPHP also walked Andy & Connie’s yellow lab, King III. King III was 13 years old though and has a hard time getting around, so it was a disappointingly brief and slow walk for Lupe.
Great aunt Connie and King III welcomed Lupe to Bismarck, ND.
Lupe and SPHP headed W on I-90 again on the 25th. By the time Lupe was in Dickinson, it was raining hard. Instead of turning S at Dickinson, SPHP continued W and didn’t turn S until reaching Hwy 85.
SPHP had seen on the highway map that the highest point in North Dakota, White Butte(3,506 ft.), was just E of the highway S of the little town of Amidon, which claims to be the nation’s smallest county seat. SPHP was hoping to climb White Butte with Lupe for her peakbagging, and was encouraged when the rain stopped. Unfortunately, SPHP should have done some research beforehand. The area is all private ranch land. Despite making several inquiries, SPHP was not able to locate the landowner. After wasting more than an hour, SPHP gave up on White Butte for this trip. Lupe did see White Butte, but that’s not the same as climbing it!
In NW South Dakota was some very pretty and desolate looking territory in the Cave Hills area with some interesting high points and ridges, especially to the W of the highway. As Lupe got closer to her beloved Black Hills, there was a huge thundercloud off to the W too. The rain and lightning started before Lupe reached Newell, SD. A few miles S of Newell was an absolute cloudburst, with ferocious wind and lightning. When the hail started in, SPHP turned the G6 around and retreated back to Newell. There Lupe waited out the storm in the G6 parked beneath the canopy at the Conoco Station. Lots of other people were taking refuge there too.
Lupe and the G6 at the Kabekona cabin, June 2014
The storm passed and Lupe moved on. When she got home, she ran next door to Dog Heaven to claim her treat and feel the love. Lupe’s 2014 Kabekona Lake adventure was over.
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 at Spotted Horse, WY 7-10-13
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 in the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness, 7-10-13Lupe 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 from above the North Tongue River.Exploring among the rocks.
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.
Lupe just E of Bald Mountain, Bighorn Mountains, WY
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.
Shortly before sunset on Bald Mountain.Looking S from Bald Mountain.
But I’m not sleepy!!!! Lupe with a big night of sniffing and racing around beneath the stars ahead of her.
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. 7-11-13Lupe immortalized in stone on Bald Mountain 7-11-13Morning 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!
