Peakbagging – Page 15 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Bucking Mule Falls, Porcupine Falls & Duncum Mountain, Bighorn Range, Wyoming (6-14-18)

Day 6 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming & Beyond!

1:50 AM at a dispersed camping site near USFS Road No. 11, 1.5 miles N of Highway 14A in the northern Bighorns – The wind hadn’t died down at sunset as expected, yet it was warm in the G6. Too warm. Hot and thirsty, Lupe lay panting hard on her pile of pillows and blankets. She eagerly lapped up the water SPHP gave her. The Carolina Dog coughed as some of it went down the wrong pipe. SPHP opened the door, and a cool breeze flooded in. Relief!

The next time SPHP woke up, it was light out, but still early. Lupe left the G6 to sniff the air. Yesterday hadn’t been all that difficult, but SPHP still felt worn down. Too much sun and wind.

More snoozing. Even Loop seemed content to gaze out the window or doze. She chased a tennis ball a few times, but that was it. Most of a breezy, leisurely morning passed by before action sounded good again.

Happily, nothing too strenuous was on the agenda. Two of the biggest, most scenic waterfalls in the Bighorn Range weren’t far from here. Lupe could go see both of them! Maybe she would even have time enough to climb Duncum Mountain (9,831 ft.) late in the day? USFS Road No. 11 passes over a saddle near the summit. Despite Duncum’s 871 feet of prominence, an ascent wouldn’t involve much more than an easy stroll.

SPHP drove 1.5 miles N on USFS Road No. 11 to an intersection with USFS Road No. 14. Another 6 or 7 miles NW on No. 14 got Lupe to the big Bucking Mule Falls trailhead parking lot at the end of the road. No one was around when Lupe hopped out of the G6. (10:43 AM, 68°F)

Lupe arrives at the Bucking Mule Falls trailhead in the northern Bighorn Mountains.

Part of a map of the general vicinity posted at the trailhead.

The trail to the Bucking Mule Falls overlook is about 2 miles long. Lupe soon found it along the W side of the parking lot.

Loopster about to head for Bucking Mule Falls.

As Lupe and SPHP set out, the trail entered a lodgepole pine forest.

The trail to Bucking Mule Falls passes through a lodgepole pine forest.

The trail went gradually downhill most of the time. The forest was open enough to see quite a way through it, but Lupe had no distant views.

On a level stretch. Most of the time Lupe was gradually losing elevation.

After a mile or so, switchbacks went down a steeper slope. Lupe soon arrived at Big Tepee Creek. The creek was 1.2 trail miles from the start. Lupe cooled her paws off and got a drink.

1.2 miles into the trek, Loop cools her paws off in **Big Tepee Creek**.

Crossing Big Tepee Creek was cake! A good wooden bridge went over it.

*A fine bridge like this one would have come in mighty handy at some other places we’ve been to, wouldn’t it, SPHP?*

After crossing Big Tepee Creek, the trail regained some elevation. So far the trail had been easy to follow, but Lupe now came to a fork.

When Lupe arrived at this fork in the trail, it wasn’t initially clear which way to go.

SPHP initially had no clue which way to go, but then noticed the answer carved in a log by the path to the L.

L was the way to Bucking Mule Falls at the first fork in the trail.

Farther on, Lupe came to a sunny clearing. This was the first genuine break in the forest. A sign leaned against the base of a post it had once been attached to.

At a bright, sunny clearing, Lupe reaches a 2nd fork in the trail. This time there was a sign saying which way to go.

Apparently the trail to the Bucking Mule Falls overlook parted ways at this clearing with Bucking Mule National Recreation Trail No. 53.

The trail to the falls gets nearly all the traffic. Trail No. 53 was so faint, SPHP wouldn’t even have noticed it if not for the sign. Lupe took the well worn path leading to Bucking Mule Falls.

Bucking Mule Falls overlook wasn’t much farther. The first indication that the American Dingo had arrived came as she approached a flat area containing a partially collapsed log fence. A side path went up a little rise to the L (NW).

*Bucking Mule Falls overlook is this way! We’re almost there!* Photo looks NW.

On the other side of the rise, a narrow strip of ground led directly to a rocky knob jutting out into a huge canyon. The top of the knob was as spacious as a large room in a house, and surrounded by tremendous cliffs on 3 sides. This area was completely undeveloped without any safety railings.

Approaching the knob of rock that serves as the Bucking Mule Falls overlook (R). Only about half of the knob is in view here. Photo looks W.

Lupe ventured out onto the knob. Directly ahead was a grand view of Devil Canyon.

**Devil Canyon** from the Bucking Mule Falls overlook. Photo looks NW.

Off to the R, and far below, was what the Carolina Dog had come to see – Bucking Mule Falls!

A first look at **Bucking Mule Falls**. Photo looks NNE.

Nearly 0.2 mile to the NNE, even the top of Bucking Mule Falls was more than 400 feet lower than Lupe’s current position at the overlook. To get a clear view of the entire waterfall, the Carolina Dog had to get mighty close to the huge cliffs along the edge.

Lupe had to venture very close to the tremendous cliffs along the edge of the overlook to get a clear view of **Bucking Mule Falls**. Photo looks NNE.

The day was sunny and warm. After a good look at Bucking Mule Falls, Looper felt like relaxing in the shade of a nearby pine tree. Probably a better idea than spending too much time on the brink of the precipice.

While Lupe panted in the shade, SPHP admired Bucking Mule Falls.

**Bucking Mule Falls** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NNE.

180 feet high, **Bucking Mule Falls** may be the tallest waterfall Bighorn Mountain range.

Top of **Bucking Mule Falls** with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

The base of the falls is 600 feet lower than the overlook.

Bucking Mule Falls may be the tallest waterfall in the entire Bighorn Mountain range, but it isn’t all that accessible. The rocky knob overlook provided a stunning view, but from nearly 0.2 mile away. There wasn’t an easy way to get down close to the waterfall other than going over the edge of the precipice.

American Dingoes are dead set against flinging themselves over the edge of any precipices. SPHP felt pretty much the same way. However, back by the dilapidated log fence it had looked like the trail continued farther E. Maybe there were more viewpoints?

It seemed worth checking out. Lupe and SPHP returned to the the log fence. Proceeding E through a forest, the trail soon shrank to a narrow single track. To the N, the terrain sloped sharply down to unseen cliffs. Perhaps there were places along the cliffs from which the falls could have been seen, but it looked dangerous to go anywhere near them.

The narrow single track trail led to a meadow where it became a two track dirt road. By the time Lupe was 0.25 mile from the rocky knob overlook, it was becoming clear that wherever this road went, Loop wasn’t going to come to any better views of Bucking Mule Falls.

That settled that. Returning to the rocky knob overlook, Loop and SPHP enjoyed Bucking Mule Falls a while longer.

**Devil Canyon** again from the rocky knob. SPHP wondered if that most distant ridge (Center) might be **Big Pryor Mountain (8,786 ft.)** in Montana? Photo looks NW.

On the way back to the trailhead, Lupe cooled off in Big Tepee Creek again. The return was otherwise uneventful. (1:57 PM, 70°F)

Enjoying a refreshing dip in **Big Tepee Creek** on the way back to the trailhead.

The day was still sunny and bright. The uphill climb back to the parking lot had made it seem warmer out than it really was. Porcupine Falls was next on Lupe’s agenda. The Carolina Dog had been there once before. While Porcupine Falls isn’t nearly as tall as Bucking Mule Falls, a huge pool of water at the base of the falls is easily accessible.

SPHP put on a bathing suit, having come up with the ludicrous notion that a dip in the pool below Porcupine Falls might be a fun, refreshing way to cool off. Prepared for ill-advised action, Lupe and SPHP left the Bucking Mule Falls trailhead. SPHP drove less than 3 miles back along USFS Road No. 14 to a R (W) turn onto USFS Road No. 146. A sign pointed to Porcupine Falls Trail No. 135.

At the turn off USFS Road No. 14 onto No. 146, which leads to the Porcupine Falls trailhead. **Medicine Mountain (9,962 ft.)** is in sight. Photo looks S.

No. 146 went 0.5 mile W before ending at the Porcupine Falls trailhead. Lupe was pleased to see that she wasn’t going to have to carry anything. (2:30 PM, 69°F)

Lupe was pleased to see that she wasn’t going to have to carry anything on the way to Porcupine Falls. (As if she ever does!)

Trail No. 135 to Porcupine Falls was short, but steep. Switchbacking down a forested slope, the trail began a descent into Devil Canyon. The switchbacks eventually led to a long flight of stairs.

A burden-free Dingo heads down Trail No. 135.

On the descent into Devil Canyon. Photo looks NW.

Trail No. 135 is less than 0.5 mile long. Near the end of the descent, part of the pool of water at the base of Porcupine Falls came into view. Soon Lupe could see part of the waterfall, too.

Part of the pool of water at the base of Porcupine Falls comes into view. Photo looks S.

*There’s **Porcupine Falls** dead ahead!* Photo looks SSE.

SPHP was struck by the beauty and accessibility of Porcupine Falls! Bucking Mule Falls was certainly impressive and much taller, but had been so far away that it’s full splendor wasn’t as easy to appreciate.

**Porcupine Creek** plunges from a gap between vertical rock walls into **Devil Canyon**.

Upon reaching the canyon floor, Loop got as close to Porcupine Falls as she could. She scrambled onto a boulder near the edge of the pool below the falls. The swirling gray-green pool looked deep. The Carolina Dog did not venture in.

*Here it is – magnificent **Porcupine Falls**!*

The northern Bighorn Mountains feature 3 notable waterfalls that Lupe has been to: Shell Falls, Bucking Mule Falls, and Porcupine Falls. Only at Porcupine Falls is the base of the waterfall so easily approached.

Lupe had been to **Porcupine Falls** once before with Lanis way back in 2012 on her very first Dingo Vacation ever. That seemed like a long time ago now.

No one had been at the Bucking Mule Falls overlook, or on the trail to it. However, 4 people were at Porcupine Falls when Lupe arrived. Groups of people kept coming and going. Lupe and SPHP were never alone.

Everyone wanted to get on the rocks closest to the falls. Loopster left her boulder to give them all a turn. She headed over to the downstream side of the pool where Porcupine Creek flows out of it.

Along the downstream edge of the pool below Porcupine Falls. Photo looks SE.

**Porcupine Creek** flows NW down Devil Canyon.

By **Porcupine Creek** immediately downstream of the pool below the falls.

Looking back up Trail No. 135. Photo looks N.

The day wasn’t as sunny as it had been earlier. The sky was clouding up. The moment of truth was upon SPHP. Take a plunge into the pool below the falls, or not? No one else was dipping so much as a toe into the water. The idea no longer seemed quite as appealing as it had a little while ago, but SPHP stripped down to the bathing suit, and waded into the shallow downstream end of the pool.

The American Dingo followed, but SPHP told her to stay put. The water was cold and getting deeper fast. There wasn’t going to be any getting used to this. Now or never! While Lupe watched from the shallows, SPHP plunged in.

Still the first half of June. Snow melt. The pool was absolutely frigid! The shock took SPHP’s breath away. Fully “refreshed” in a nanosecond, SPHP splashed about only long enough to get turned around, find firm footing, and make an escape. A few seconds elapsed at most.

SPHP toweled off, then sat shivering on a rock praying for the sun to reappear. Occasionally it did, but it never stuck around long. The day already seemed to be cooling off. While SPHP tried to warm up and dry off, Lupe sniffed around further investigating the whole area near and below Porcupine Falls.

*At least I didn’t have to plunge in to rescue SPHP! What possesses humans to do such things?*

Upper half of **Porcupine Falls** with help from the telephoto lens.

Gorgeous, but SPHP won’t be swimming here again unless it’s August.

Exploring a bit farther down **Porcupine Creek**.

People kept coming. They all seemed to be quite sane. None ventured into the water. A couple of young women had brought along a 5 month old puppy named Cedar. Cedar wanted to play. Loop preferred to relax and listen to the roar of the falls.

Cedar leaves disappointed that Lupe didn’t want to play.

Thankfully, the sun finally did come out for a while. SPHP warmed up. Porcupine Falls was sure a beautiful spot! Lupe and SPHP hung around for more than an hour.

The sun finally did reappear, warming SPHP up and illuminating the canyon walls.

Exploring a side channel of the creek below **Porcupine Falls**.

The moment arrived when the steep trudge back up Trail No. 135 to the trailhead had to be faced. It was late afternoon when Lupe got back to the G6. (4:40 PM, 69°F) However, days are long in June. Loopster still had plenty of time to visit Duncum Mountain (9,831 ft.).

SPHP drove back to USFS Road No. 11. Taking No. 11 N (L), the road wound steeply up the S end of Duncum Mountain. 3 miles from the intersection, SPHP parked the G6 just N of a cattle guard. (5:55 PM, 63°F)

Duncum Mountain has two summits situated a mile apart. USFS Road No. 11 goes over an enormous saddle between them. The G6 was parked on this saddle roughly halfway between the two high points. According to the topo map, the NW summit is the higher of the two, but only by 1 foot. Since the two high points are so close to the same elevation, Lupe planned on visiting both.

The top of Duncum Mountain is a vast treeless region. Both summits were more or less in view from the G6. The SE summit, crowned by large, irregular dolomite formations looked far more intriguing than the featureless NW one. Lupe headed for it first.

Loop explores a depression in the dolomite on the way to Duncum Mountain’s SE high point. Photo looks SE.

Loop among the irregular dolomite formations. Photo looks SE.

Due to the absence of trees, the views were tremendous in all directions.

**Medicine Mountain (9,962 ft.)** (L). USFS Road No. 14 leading to both Bucking Mule & Porcupine falls is seen below on the L. Photo looks SW.

A few miles off to the NE, a large cloud bank nestled over lower terrain. SPHP thought nothing of it. The air was calm. For days, whenever there had been wind, it had been out of the W or SW.

The SE summit of Duncum Mountain was an easy 0.5 mile march from the G6. Surprisingly, before the Carolina Dog could get there, a breeze sprang up out of the NE. The cloud bank was coming closer! Soon wisps of fog were streaming over Duncum Mountain.

Fog starts to roll in from the NE (L). **Bald Mountain (10,042 ft.)** (Center), which Lupe had been to only yesterday, is still in sight. Photo looks S.

A glance back over the huge saddle area toward **Duncum Mountain**‘s NW (true) summit. USFS Road No. 11 is visible high on the mountain toward the R. Photo looks NW.

Lupe discovered a small cairn on some high ground, as she drew near the SE summit. SPHP looked around for a survey benchmark shown on the topo map, but found nothing. 200 feet off to the E, a couple of posts were visible near the highest dolomite formations. The American Dingo headed that way.

Close to the posts, a metal rod stuck up 10″ from a concrete base. Again, a search of the area revealed no survey benchmark of the usual type.

A nearby 30 foot high column of dolomite proved to be the clear location of Duncum Mountain’s SE summit. Good thing the true summit was the NW one! No way on earth was Lupe ever going to be able to get up onto that 30 foot high vertical column!

Lupe near Duncum Mountain’s SE summit, which appeared to be the top of the 30 foot high vertical column of dolomite seen beyond her. One of the two posts in this area is on the R. The 10″ metal rod is L of Lupe. Photo looks NE.

Since the SE summit’s highest point was beyond reach, Loopster did the next best thing. With a boost from SPHP, she scrambled atop the second highest point, a larger rock formation just W of the vertical column.

Loop atop the second highest point of the SE summit area. The angle is deceptive. She’s actually 10 feet lower than the top of the vertical column seen on the R. Photo looks NE.

Another view. The actual SE summit at least looks higher from this angle. Photo looks E.

Thinking the fog would blow by shortly, SPHP let Loop sniff around the interesting rock formations for a while. The fog only grew denser. All distant views disappeared entirely.

Lupe explored these interesting rock formations of Duncum Mountain’s SE summit until SPHP gave up on the fog lifting anytime soon.

Still believing the fog was likely to dissipate, SPHP gave up on waiting it out at the SE summit. Looper might as well head to the NW high point, which was the true summit, anyway.

The American Dingo returned to USFS Road No. 11. She followed the road N gaining elevation, but eventually left it heading NW. The search was on for Duncum Mountain’s true summit! The fog had not lifted, however. Loop traveled up a long slope strewn with mostly small rocks, minimal vegetation, and numerous depressions in the dolomite.

Somewhere up ahead, a marmot squeaked. Lupe disappeared into the fog. She could be heard barking. SPHP arrived to find Loop circling a large stone looking for a way at the unseen marmot hiding beneath it. However, the marmot had chosen its fortress wisely. The ground was so rocky, the Carolina Dog could make no progress against it.

Helpless to do anything more than bark, Lupe tries to convince a marmot to come out from the safety of it’s rock fortress by carrying on like a complete nut case. The marmot was not the least bit enticed.

Enough of that! SPHP called Lupe away.

The search for Duncum Mountain’s true summit continued. The terrain finally began to level out. Ordinarily it ought to have been a simple matter to go straight to the high point. The top of Duncum Mountain was a huge, nearly flat plain with nothing to obstruct the view.

Nothing, but fog, that is. It was worse than ever. Big rocks that must have been somewhere along the W edge of the vast summit area faded in and out of sight like ghostly apparitions. SPHP consulted the topo map. The true summit was supposed to be out in the middle, not too close to the W edge.

Hoping for a cairn, or possibly a large rock, Lupe and SPHP wandered a gray world looking for the highest ground. Despite the fog, it didn’t take long to discover a small cairn. As far as it was possible to tell, Lupe had made it! This was the true summit of Duncum Mountain (9,831 ft.).

Lupe reaches the true summit of **Duncum Mountain**. Photo looks E.

A cluster of tiny blue wildflowers grew next to the cairn. Dimly seen through the fog, an unusually large depression 65 feet to the E was the NW summit’s only nearby notable feature. Loopster had come to many depressions in the dolomite, but perhaps this one was large enough to serve as a landmark?

Loop along the edge of the big depression 65 feet E of the true summit. Photo looks S.

Visibility was only 100 feet. The fog hadn’t lifted as SPHP expected. In fact, it was still getting denser. With no reason to linger, Loop and SPHP left Duncum Mountain’s true summit heading SE for USFS Road No. 11 and the G6.

After a 10 or 15 minute hike, Lupe came across the summit cairn again. What? Impossible! But there it was. SPHP had gone in a complete circle. How silly! Time to quit daydreaming and pay attention. Loop set off for the G6 a second time.

To SPHP’s horror, 15 minutes later Lupe again sauntered up to the little summit cairn. Having once found it, she couldn’t escape it. Thick fog streamed by. Visibility was now reduced to only a few 10’s of feet. This was ridiculous! The road wasn’t even 0.2 mile away by the shortest route, but SPHP hadn’t been able to find it.

For a third time, Lupe left the summit cairn heading SE. This time SPHP simply ignored all visual clues and walked so the NE breeze always came from the L. Suddenly, Lupe streaked away, disappearing instantly into the fog. What now? A few seconds later, SPHP heard faint barking. Loop was a long way off, but straight ahead.

The Carolina Dog knew exactly where she was. SPHP found her back at the marmot’s fortress. Keeping the NE breeze coming from the L had worked! SPHP called Loop away from the marmot. Cold, moist fog swept over Duncum Mountain, as Lupe and SPHP continued down the long slope. (7:56 PM, 44°F)

On **Duncum Mountain**, Bighorn Range, Wyoming 6-14-18

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Shell Falls, Porcupine Falls & Bald Mountain in the Bighorn Range, WY (8-9-12)

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Mount Walker, Washington with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore (11-27-18)

Day 5 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to Washington State!

Rain. It was pouring down when Lupe got up early on the last morning of her stay at the Baymont Inn in Bellingham, WA. The sky was so dark and gloomy and wet that the Carolina Dog only got to go on a very short walk before SPHP insisted upon returning to the Baymont. May as well go back to sleep!

Lupe’s U-Haul adventure, which had brought her to Washington state, was over. Today was supposed to be a big day! The Carolina Dog was now free to do whatever she wanted to. Arrangements had been made to climb Mount Walker (2,804 ft.) this afternoon with her friend mountaineer Jobe Wymore, whom she hadn’t seen since the Crazy Peak, Montana adventure more than a year ago.

The dreary downpour was discouraging. Maybe Mount Walker wasn’t going to happen?

Only a few hours later, though, things were looking up! The sky was brighter, the rain reduced to intermittent drippiness. For the last time, Lupe and SPHP went for a walk in the woods on the Shopping Cart Trail as far as the little creek. Back at the Baymont, Lupe again selected ham and cheese for her free continental breakfast. After checking out, the American Dingo and SPHP headed S out of Bellingham on I-5 in the newly rented Mazda CX3.

At Burlington, SPHP turned W on Highway 20. Mount Walker is on the Olympic Peninsula, and Jobe had suggested taking the Keystone to Port Townsend ferry to avoid a drive clear around Puget Sound through Seattle and Tacoma to get there. Jobe lives on the Olympic Peninsula, and could meet Lupe in Port Townsend after he got off work.

Jobe had another suggestion. Mount Erie (1,273 ft.) is an easy peak just off Highway 20. Maybe Lupe would like to climb Mount Erie on her way to the ferry? That would have been fun! The weather had improved tremendously. It was actually sunny out. Unfortunately, SPHP didn’t have any maps of the area, didn’t see any signs for Mount Erie, and didn’t know where to stop.

Probably best to get to Port Townsend in plenty of time to meet Jobe, anyway. Who knew how long the ferry was going to take? Reservations were recommended, and SPHP hadn’t made any.

S of Coupeville, SPHP started watching for signs on how to get to the ferry. A single R (W) turn was all that was required. Lupe arrived at the Keystone ferry landing before 11:00 AM. Hardly anyone was around. There was going to be a bit of a wait before the next ferry would depart for Port Townsend.

The fare was $11.90 for Lupe, SPHP and the CX3. Not bad at all. SPHP paid it and got the Mazda into the short line awaiting the next ferry. Lupe had plenty of time to get out and take a sniff around.

*Here we are at the Keystone ferry terminal!*

A campground was right next to the ferry terminal. Loop and SPHP walked through it. At the far end, Lupe could see the Olympic Peninsula across the Admiralty Inlet to Puget Sound. Soon Lupe would be sailing for Port Townsend!

The Keystone ferry terminal from the campground. Photo looks NE.

*Oh, look! There’s the Olympic Peninsula! Jobe lives somewhere over there!* Photo looks SW.

Lots of vehicles were waiting for the ferry by the time the next one came along. The Mazda CX3 was buried in among big trucks on the ride over to Port Townsend. Confined to the CX3, Lupe could only see a little sliver of the ocean ahead.

The ferry ride took about half an hour. Lupe arrived in Port Townsend early in the afternoon. Jobe wouldn’t be available for a couple of hours yet, so Loop and SPHP took a walk near the ocean.

Near the Port Townsend ferry landing. Photo looks E.

One of the ferries. Riding the ferry was like being in a big tunnel. The CX3 was buried among big trucks. Lupe didn’t see much on the way over to Port Townsend, since SPHP wasn’t certain if Dingoes were allowed up on deck.

Jobe showed up at the appointed time right on the dot. It was so good to see him again! However, there wasn’t any time to lose. Daylight was burning! Lupe and SPHP followed Jobe in his glorious new Rubicon to the Mount Walker trailhead.

Lupe couldn’t contain herself when she hopped out of the CX3, and saw Jobe standing right there in front of her! She went into a barking frenzy, greeting Jobe for the first time since Crazy Peak. Fortunately, Jobe was not alarmed as Loopster danced around him. The Carolina Dog finally calmed down. Time was a wasting! After this tumultuous greeting, the trek up Mount Walker began without further delay. (3:30 PM)

Loop and Jobe at the Mount Walker trailhead.

Lupe had first met Jobe after scouting out route conditions to Odakota Mountain (7,200 ft.) for him way back in late March, 2016 when he was contemplating a one day lightning trip to the Black Hills. Jobe actually did show up a few days later, and Lupe had gotten to accompany him to Odakota Mountain. She even went on with Jobe for a prickly adventure in the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska.

Now Lupe was in Jobe’s home territory, and he was about to return the favor by guiding Loop up Mount Walker. Jobe had only recently moved to the Olympic Peninsula. For the last year or so, Mount Walker was his training peak. Sometimes he climbs Mount Walker 3 or 4 times a day, with each ascent involving over 2,000 ft. of elevation gain. Today’s stroll up the mountain was going to be his 235th. Yeah, Jobe’s a monster!

The Mount Walker trail was in great shape. It would have been easy to follow even without Jobe’s intricate knowledge of every twist and turn. The trail wound steadily up the mountain from the S. While relatively level sections exist, mostly it was just relentlessly up at a moderate to somewhat steep pace.

Early on, glimpses of the summit were occasionally present, but most of the time about the only thing that could be seen was the lush forest of towering Douglas fir the trail passed through. With daylight fading, Jobe set what was for him a leisurely pace, but about all SPHP could manage. Loopster trotted along just fine, sticking close by right on the trail while listening to the conversation.

With Jobe’s enormous and varied mountaineering experience, conversations with him are always fascinating. While SPHP did a Big Bad Wolf impersonation, huffing and puffing up the trail, Jobe expounded upon a number of subjects. Before long, he pointed out a mushroom.

After Jobe pointed out this mushroom, they became the topic of the day.

Jobe maintained that almost everyone who lives in the Pacific Northwest develops some degree of interest in mushrooms. The cool, moist climate is conducive to the growth of a wide variety. Hunting for mushrooms is a popular PNW pastime. Jobe has a collection of books about them, and is well read on the subject.

As it turns out, keeping a sharp eye out for rare mushrooms is one aspect of climbing the same mountain 235 times that helps keep the experience fresh and full of possibilities. Jobe started talking about Bird’s Nest mushrooms, which are seldom seen. As these mushrooms mature, they resemble bird’s nests complete with eggs. He had recently discovered some on Mount Walker, and promised to show them to Lupe and SPHP.

A bit farther on, Jobe paused and looked carefully at a particular spot on an embankment along the upper side of the trail. There they were! Jobe pointed out several Bird’s Nest mushrooms growing next to each other in a little clump.

No wonder Bird’s Nest mushrooms are seldom seen! They were teeny tiny! True to their name, they did resemble bird’s nests. Itsy bitsy “eggs” were present in a couple of them.

These Bird’s Nest mushrooms which Jobe pointed out were teeny tiny. He knew exactly where they were, however, so he could show them to Lupe & SPHP.

Jobe points to diminutive Bird’s Nest mushrooms. Photo by Jobe Wymore taken on another day.

Close up of Bird’s Nest fungi (*Nidulariaceae*). Photo by Jobe Wymore.

Lupe had already made considerable progress up Mount Walker, when suddenly the sky looked leaden. In the PNW, one has to be prepared for rain. Soon SPHP was putting on the old plastic Cookie Monster outfit (blue rain poncho). Jobe had a waterproof jacket. Only the Carolina Dog was getting wet, but she didn’t seem to mind too much.

In darkness and rain, Loop, Jobe & SPHP continued up the trail. The mushroom dissertation was still in progress when Jobe unexpectedly announced that this was it. The American Dingo had made it to the top of Mount Walker (2,804 ft.)!

By flashlight, it was possible to see that Loop had arrived at a flat open area. A signboard stood along one side. Perhaps it contained a map or information about the view. Of course, nothing beside a black void was observable under current conditions.

Jobe said the true summit of Mount Walker was only 10 feet higher and quite close by. He led Lupe right to it. If Jobe hadn’t been here, Lupe and SPHP never would have found it in the dark.

With Jobe’s help, Lupe claims a successful ascent at the true summit of Mount Walker.

For some reason, the camera’s flash didn’t seem to be working. SPHP seldom takes photos at night. No doubt the apparent malfunction was a simple case of operator error. In the rain, it didn’t seem worth trying to figure out what SPHP was doing wrong. After a few grainy shots by flashlight of the open area where the viewpoint was, Lupe, Jobe & SPHP called it good and started back down.

A nice blurry shot of Lupe’s curly tail and Jobe as a dark presence (L) over by the signboard in the viewpoint area.

Slightly better, or simply awesome if you like fuzzy.

On the way down Mount Walker, Jobe showed Lupe and SPHP several Cat’s Tongue mushrooms. Even in pitch blackness, he knew right where they were. The Cat’s Tongue mushrooms had a ghostly appearance. They were soft and gelatinous to the touch. A real cat’s tongue would have been rougher.

The rain stopped well before Looper made it back to the CX3 (6:15 PM). Although her Mount Walker experience was over, Lupe’s time with Jobe was not. Jobe had cordially invited Lupe and SPHP to stay with him at his condo overnight. A most interesting and comfortable evening was ahead. While Jobe and SPHP chatted over dinner and on into the night, Lupe enjoyed a long snooze on Jobe’s red couch.

Perhaps her Mount Walker adventure wasn’t completely over? Maybe Loop was still out in the rain and darkness heading ever higher up the trail? Even Jobe noticed that as she slept, those Dingo paws were still twitching.

Lupe with Jobe at his condo on the comfy red couch.

Note:

Jobe Wymore later kindly furnished the following mushroom photos. All of these photos, except for the mature Devil’s Tooth (from the web), were taken during other ascents of Mount Walker.

**Cat’s Tongue** – *pseudohydnum gelatinosum*

**Golden Chanterelle** – *cantharellus formosus*

**Elfin Saddle** (gray) – genus *helvella*

**Scaly Vase Chanterelle** – *tubinellus floccosus*

**Devil’s Tooth** (immature) – *hydnellum peckii*

**Lobster Mushroom** – *hypomyces lactifluotum*

Jobe Wymore also furnished the following Mount Walker viewpoint photos from ascents made in the days shortly before or after accompanying Lupe to the summit:

What’s this! A German Dingo? Apparently American Dingoes have competition on Mount Walker! Unidentified person is not Jobe.

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Dry Fork Ridge, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-12-18)

Day 4 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming & Beyond!

This was it, about as close as the G6 was going to get. SPHP parked near the intersection of USFS Roads No. 168 & 149. Lupe had a long trek, a good 5 or 6 miles down Dry Fork canyon ahead of her. At least the view was encouraging. What could be seen of Dry Fork Ridge (8,480 ft.) looked climbable.

How hard it might be to find the true summit once Lupe got up on the huge ridge was another matter. The top of the mountain appeared to be densely forested. The Carolina Dog might be in for quite an ordeal before she could claim a successful ascent of Sheridan County, Wyoming’s most prominent peak.

Lupe wasn’t worried in the least. She eagerly set off down USFS Road No. 149 (Lower Dry Fork Road) under blue skies, a 15 to 20 mph NW breeze in her face. (9:39 AM, 51°F)

Loop ready to set off down Dry Fork canyon on USFS Road No. 149. **Dry Fork Ridge** is the forested hill on the R. Photo looks NW.

A miles long mostly downhill trek was certainly an unusual start for a peakbagging quest. Loop cheerily trotted ahead of SPHP making rapid progress. USFS Road No. 149 wasn’t steep, but she was losing elevation at a steady clip.

Getting off to a good start. **Dry Fork Ridge** is just R of Center. The high point seen straight up from Lupe may be **Riley Point (8,538 ft.)**. Photo looks NW.

The journey was scarcely underway when Lupe detected something on the breeze. Suddenly she dashed off into the tall grass SW of the road.

*Oh, looky here, SPHP! Someone never made it to Dry Fork Ridge!*

The bleached bones of a large animal, likely a cow, rested on a patch of dirt and dead grass. Apparently the skeleton had been here a while. The American Dingo was quite impressed by this find. She sniffed carefully, conducting a thorough investigation before agreeing to press on.

The upper part of the canyon Lupe was entering was all open meadow. However, it didn’t take long to get down to a first stand of tall aspens. The day was bright, sunny, and warming up fast. Some shade would have been nice. Sadly, the aspens weren’t close enough to the road to provide any.

*Too bad those aspens aren’t closer! A little shade would have been nice.* Photo looks W.

Apparently, Dry Fork canyon wasn’t as dry as advertised. A mile from the start, Lupe came to a creek – a welcome sight. Loop hopped right in to cool her paws off and help herself to a drink.

Dry Fork canyon isn’t as dry as they’d have you believe. Lupe gets a drink and cools her paws off upon reaching a stream.

USFS Road No. 149 forded the creek twice in rapid succession. For a while, Lupe continued to come upon occasional side streams, but less and less frequently the farther she went. None of the fords were deep, usually only inches, and never more than a foot. However, some of the banks were quite muddy. Now and then SPHP had to search for better spots to cross than the road provided.

At the first steam ford. The water wasn’t deep at all, but SPHP crossed back near the trees since the stream bank along the road was so mucky. Photo looks S.

USFS Road No. 149 went on and on. The wind died down. The day grew warm. Unfortunately, the road didn’t follow Dry Fork Creek, or any of the others. The streams all plunged into a deeper part of the canyon, while No. 149 remained on substantially higher ground to the NE.

Back at the start, the road had lost elevation steadily. Now Lupe came to long flat sections, and even some fairly substantial uphill ones. She was still losing net elevation, but only sporadically in chunks.

Getting closer to **Dry Fork Ridge** (Center). Photo looks N.

Lupe came to lots of sagebrush on the long road trek before eventually reaching sections of pine forest, too. The pines provided shady relief from the blazing sun. Looper and SPHP took occasional short breaks among the trees.

At last, Lupe emerged from a longer stretch of forest. Ahead, a trickling creek crossed the road. Well down a slope to the W was a building. That had to be the Cow Camp by Miller Creek shown on the topo map. To the Carolina Dog’s immense disappointment, not a single cow was in sight.

After emerging from a longer stretch of forest, Lupe finds a tiny stream and a view of an apparently abandoned **Cow Camp** shown on the topo map. Sadly, not a cow in sight! Photo looks WNW.

The long road hike was finally over. USFS Road No. 149 ended here. No worries. The map showed a Trail No. 428 winding NNE from the Cow Camp up to West Pass, the American Dingo’s next objective en route to Dry Fork Ridge.

No. 428 wasn’t hard to find. Lupe went right to it.

*Oh, maybe things are about to get more interesting now than that long dusty road hike! Here’s Trail No. 428 to West Pass.* Photo looks ENE.

Time to start climbing! West Pass was 650 feet higher. Close to where Lupe first found it, Trail No. 428 angled N. The Carolina Dog crossed a marshy hillside full of small streams. Beyond the wet area, the trail curved E heading up into a bowl-shaped region.

Trail No. 428 was overgrown and initially hard to follow. Things were easier once SPHP finally realized the route was marked with red, pink or orange flags and ribbons. In any case, there was never any doubt where Trail No. 428 was headed. Lupe soon saw the edge of the big saddle up on the ridgeline to the NNE where West Pass had to be.

Why, that must be **West Pass** up ahead already! Doesn’t look that far! Photo looks NNE.

Trail No. 428 got steeper, but also easier to discern, as Lupe climbed the last section leading to West Pass. Few trees grew on the hillside. Before she even reached West Pass, Loopster enjoyed some pretty nice views.

On the steeper part of Trail No. 428 approaching West Pass. Photo looks N.

West Pass divides **Dry Fork Ridge** into two giant long sections. Here Loop is almost up to the pass. Photo looks SE. **Riley Point** is somewhere in this direction, but the true summit of **Dry Fork Ridge** is in the opposite direction NW of West Pass.

Not quite up to West Pass yet. Photo looks SW back down upon the territory Lupe just came through on Trail No. 428. The Miller Creek Cow Camp isn’t in view, but it’s somewhere down close to the center of this photo.

Upon reaching West Pass, Lupe and SPHP were ready for a break. Small trees provided a little shade. It was breezy up here. Lupe appreciated a shirt SPHP placed over her to block the wind.

Loopster takes a break along the SW edge of West Pass.

The true summit of Dry Fork Ridge (8,480 ft.) is more than 1,000 feet higher than West Pass, and was 1.75 miles NW of where Loop took her break. Before Lupe could even start this next climb, she would have to travel NW across West Pass.

Trail No. 428 goes over West Pass, but heading NE to lower ground, not up onto Dry Fork Ridge. So from here on, Loop wasn’t going to have any official trails to follow.

Crossing West Pass would be easy. The huge saddle was all grassland. It looked like Lupe could explore anywhere she wanted to on the way to the forest on the far side.

The SW edge of **West Pass** from a rock close to where Lupe & SPHP took a short break. Part of **Dry Fork Ridge** is on the R. Photo looks W.

Crossing **West Pass** Lupe would head for the huge boulder (Center) before climbing up onto **Dry Fork Ridge**. Photo looks NNW.

Crossing West Pass, Lupe encountered small streams and boggy areas that hadn’t been apparent from a distance. Most of the wetlands were easily avoided. Loop arrived at the edge of the forest on the NW side of West Pass to find a profusion of yellow wildflowers. She had already gained a surprising amount of elevation.

Lupe arrives at the start of the forest on the NW side of West Pass.

**West Pass** from the edge of the forest. Loop had already gained a surprising amount of elevation. Photo looks S.

The steepest part of the climb up onto Dry Fork Ridge now began. At first Lupe was traveling through a tall and relatively dense pine forest. Although there was no official trail, the American Dingo discovered and followed many game trails for short distances. Loop encountered very few rock outcroppings, all of which were quite small.

Up and up! Finally the forest began to thin. The pines were smaller now. Lupe began coming to steep open lanes of narrow meadows. The sunny meadows were full of wildflowers. Looper roamed anywhere she wanted to, but SPHP stayed close to the shade of the trees.

After a long climb through a tall pine forest, Lupe came to steep narrow meadows full of wildflowers. Photo looks N.

On the upper slope nearing the ridgeline, purple wildflowers began to dominate. What a gorgeous place and spectacular display this was!

Amid a spectacular display of mostly purple wildflowers on the upper slope just short of the ridgeline. Photo looks SW.

The terrain began to level out. Lupe reached the ridgeline. She had gained the big majority of the elevation she needed to, but still had as much as 300 feet left to go. The topo map showed that the rest of the climb would be gradual.

The true summit of Dry Fork Ridge was still a mile or more W of here. The big fear was that Loop would encounter a lot of dense forest making the summit difficult to reach or impossible to identify.

Encouragingly, the search for the summit was at least going to start out well. Lupe had reached the ridgeline at a point where a fair amount of open ground existed. A nice lane of open territory led WSW toward higher ground. Perfect! After pausing for a quick look at the views, Lupe and SPHP followed the promising lane higher.

**West Pass** from the ridgeline. Photo looks SSE.

**Black Tooth Mountain (13,005 ft.)** (L of Center) & **Cloud Peak (13,167 ft.)** (Center) from the ridgeline. Photo looks SSE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

Following the open lane higher. Photo looks WSW.

The lane along the top of the ridge stayed open for 0.25 mile. The forest was closing in when Lupe came upon an old road. The map showed this as a spur off a 4WD road N of Dry Fork Ridge. Lupe followed it WSW for a little way, though the map showed it would soon end.

The road didn’t end, but was heading too far SW. The American Dingo needed to be going W or NW. Reluctantly, SPHP led Loop off the road. She journeyed WNW through dense forest gaining elevation slowly.

High Point 8464 was supposed to be around here somewhere. Sure enough, the terrain leveled out. Quite a large area was about the same elevation. Not really expecting to ever see it again, SPHP built a small cairn out of white stones at what seemed to be the highest point.

In the dense forest at **High Point 8464**. Photo looks NW.

By the newly constructed cairn (R) at **High Point 8464**. Photo looks SE.

Still 0.5 mile to go! Plentiful deadfall timber to the NW made the dense forest intimidating. How was Looper ever going to find the true summit of Dry Fork Ridge in this mess? The answer came much sooner than SPHP expected.

A 100 yard march W from the little cairn at High Point 8464 brought Lupe to the edge of the forest! A remnant of a dirt road, probably the same road she had been so recently following, headed NW into a long, wide meadow, precisely the direction Lupe needed to go.

Hah! Totally unexpected, but what a lucky break! This meadow would almost certainly get Lupe very close to the true summit.

*We’ve got it made in the shade now! Come on! This meadow should get us mighty close to the top of **Dry Fork Ridge**!* Photo looks NW.

Lupe romped her way through the big meadow. The old road faded completely away, but that didn’t matter at all. Looper could see higher mountains with patches of snow in the distance to the W. To the NE, a couple of openings in the forest granted views clear out to the prairies beyond the Bighorns.

Higher mountains with snow could be seen on the horizon. Photo looks W.

The highest ground was along the NE edge of the meadow. SPHP headed NW staying fairly close to the trees, while Loop roamed at will. The meadow was even longer than it appeared at first. Well before Lupe reached the end of it, she discovered a road going NE into the forest.

A quick reconnaissance revealed that this short road led to another long meadow on the other side of the highest terrain. Excellent! The forested high ground was boxed in by meadows on both sides. After following this second big meadow a little farther NW, Lupe re-entered the forest.

The forest was pretty flat, but continuing NW Lupe was still gaining at least some elevation. After going a little way, the highest ground seemed to be concentrated along an increasingly well defined line. Lupe came to a succession of minor high points that at first blush appeared to be true summit candidates. Each time, though, continuing a bit farther NW led to a slightly higher spot.

The Carolina Dog discovered an outcropping of white rock towering 3 or 4 feet higher than anything else she’d been to so far. Maybe this was the summit? Seemed promising, even likely.

*Maybe this is it, SPHP!* Lupe discovers an outcropping of white rock 3 or 4 feet higher than anything else she’d come to. Photo looks N.

Another view of the potential summit. Photo looks SE.

To rule out any other summit possibilities, Lupe kept going NW. 50 feet farther, she discovered the start of an escarpment, a line of similar white rocks trending NW. The escarpment was only a few feet high, but it did seem like Loop had gained a bit of elevation. This escarpment was likely even higher than the last spot.

Loop followed the escarpment another 10 or 20 feet before getting up on top. Looking back to the SE, a small cairn sat near the very start, almost completely hidden by the forest.

The true summit of Dry Fork Ridge (8,480 ft.)! Lupe had made it!

*This has got to be it! Doesn’t it, SPHP? …. Yes, I do believe congratulations are in order, Looper!* Photo looks SE.

A happy peakbagging Dingo at the summit of **Dry Fork Ridge**. Photo looks SE.

Another look at the summit. This time from the S.

The summit cairn wasn’t far from the edge of the forest, only about 10 feet, but was still well hidden. It could most easily be seen from the N. Photo looks N.

The long trek to Dry Fork Ridge had paid off! Time for another break. A better, longer one than before. Lupe concurred. However, not much could be seen from the little summit cairn buried among the trees. Since the edge of the second big meadow was only 10 feet E of the cairn, Lupe and SPHP went there to rest and celebrate her peakbagging success.

From the break spot, Lupe could see a lot of the second big meadow, but Dry Fork Ridge provided only one distant view from this close to the true summit. Far to the NE Loop could see the prairie beyond the Bighorn Range. Nice, but not dazzling.

One item of interest was close by. An old tree stump sat 15 feet from the forest’s edge. The stump was all knobby with root stubs, none of which were very long. This stump seemed like a decent landmark. It rested only 25 feet NE of the summit cairn. There sure wasn’t anything else notable around to help flag the cairn’s position. In a stroke of brilliance, SPHP decided to call this highlight of Dry Fork Ridge the “Iconic Stump”.

Lupe was so thrilled with the Iconic Stump she dozed off as SPHP told her about it. Hmm.

More than half an hour went by before the initial excitement of the Iconic Stump wore off and the Carolina Dog regained consciousness. Looper had recovered to the point where she was capable of posing for photos near the Iconic Stump. No doubt fantastic news for the hordes intent on repeating her Dry Fork Ridge peakbagging feat one day.

Loop at her rest spot. The Dry Fork Ridge summit cairn is 10 feet behind her hidden in the forest. **Iconic Stump** in the foreground. Photo looks SW.

The best view from close to the true summit of **Dry Fork Ridge**. Photo looks NE.

The second big meadow from the **Iconic Stump**. Photo looks SE.

Lupe had one more task left to do up on Dry Fork Ridge before heading back. To make certain the cairn actually was at the true summit, she journeyed 400 or 500 feet farther NW along the top of the escarpment. The drop off along the SW edge grew from only a few feet back by the cairn to cliffs close to 20 feet high.

Even so, the cairn clearly was the high point. The whole escarpment was gradually losing elevation as Lupe went NW. That trend was accelerating, too. This was far enough. Loop halted on open ground where she could see a long way N. A deer caught her attention. The distant prairie stretching to the horizon in Montana held SPHP’s.

As far NW on **Dry Fork Ridge** as Lupe went to confirm the cairn actually was at the true summit. Nothing higher this way, that was certain. Photo looks N.

Nearly an hour after arriving, Lupe returned to the hidden summit cairn for the last time. SPHP took a final look around thinking a registry might be present, but found nothing.

Time to start the long journey back. Loop and SPHP began by following the line of slightly lower high points SE until they faded away. Lupe had a great time sniffing and racing through the forest. She reached the first big meadow farther NW than where she had originally left it on the way to the summit.

Lupe passed by the short road she had taken to the second meadow. She explored the length of the first meadow again while SPHP enjoyed the big views. The American Dingo even returned briefly to the little cairn at High Point 8464.

On the return – more fun times in the first big meadow. Photo looks SW.

At the top of the flowery, forested slope leading back down to West Pass, Lupe and SPHP paused. Still a long way to go, but it was going to be a gorgeous evening. A good time all the way.

Before starting the descent in earnest, Lupe scanned the horizon from Dry Fork Ridge a final time. She probably wouldn’t ever be here again. A melancholy thought; a recurring one in remote places far from home.

Looking over the SW edge of **West Pass** toward the SE portion of **Dry Fork Ridge** (L). Photo looks SSE.

This was it. Time to bid farewell to Dry Fork Ridge. Lupe and SPHP were glad she had come. Dry Fork Ridge had been a great day.

Pleasant hours of beauty, solitude, and companionship still ahead. West Pass, Trail No. 428, USFS Road No. 149 – one last chance to experience them all. Big sigh. Puppy, ho! Onward!

Purple wildflowers danced softly on the perfumed breeze as happy Lupe started down the steep slope. (End – 8:40 PM, 47°F)

**Dry Fork Ridge**, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 6-12-18

Directions: From Burgess Junction (intersection of Highways No. 14 & 14A) in the northern Bighorns take USFS Road No. 15 about 5 miles to a R turn onto USFS Road No 168. Follow No. 168 approximately 5 miles. USFS Road No. 149 is on the L.

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