Start – 9:56 AM, 27°F at the junction of Vanocker Canyon Road & USFS Road No. 135.2C
Snowier than SPHP expected. Chillier, too! Not even above freezing yet, though the day was supposed to warm up nicely for January. Lupe was more than a mile S of the turn to Veteran Peak(5,333 ft.) at the start of a snowy side road off Vanocker Canyon Road. An old marker declared this as USFS Road No. 135.2C.
Loop had been bored, bored, bored for days on end. Chilly and snowy didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to miss out on an expedition! Conditions really weren’t bad at all. Besides, one never knows how long it might be before the next chance for an expedition would come this time of year.
Lupe led the way past a couple of gates, proceeding N up a valley.
Chilly? Snowy? Forget it, SPHP! You’re not backing out now. We’re doing this! Lupe at the start of USFS Road No. 135.2C. Photo looks NW.
The snow was a good 6″ deep, loose and fluffy where there weren’t any tracks, crunchy and hard where there were. The valley soon widened out. The sun was brilliant. SPHP stopped to shed a layer.
The valley widened out. The brilliant sunshine felt warmer than the temperature indicated. Photo looks SSE.Looking farther up No. 135.2C from the same spot. Photo looks NNW.
Looper’s peakbagging objective for the day was Peak5438. According to Lists of John, the mountain has 548 feet of rise (prominence), quite good for a Black Hills peak. Peak 5438 was less than a mile W of the snowy valley where Lupe was now, but a high ridge and another valley were between here and there.
No. 135.2C might eventually take Loop to the top of the ridge and around the N end of the valley to the W, but perhaps a more direct route could be found? As Lupe headed up the valley, SPHP watched for an easy way up the ridge to the W.
Continuing up the valley on No. 135.2C. Photo looks NW.
After more than 0.5 mile on No. 135.2C, the last remaining tracks in the snow veered W off the road. They started up the ridge toward a big pine tree with a curved trunk. Why not? Maybe this was the shortcut the American Dingo was looking for? Lupe followed the tracks.
Leaving USFS Road No. 135.2C to start up the ridge to the W. Photo looks WNW.
The tracks ended before Lupe even got to the deformed tree. The snow was deeper off the road, more like a foot. The slope wasn’t all that steep, however, and Looper only needed to gain 200 feet of elevation. So she kept going, and before long reached a big rock on a rounded edge where the terrain was leveling out.
Heading up the snowy slope. The snow was hard enough to support Looper’s weight. Photo looks S.On the big rock near the start of flatter terrain. Photo looks ESE.
As shown on the topo map, a higher part of this ridge was visible off to the SW. Loopster traveled W or WNW from the rock, still gaining some elevation. The goal was to get to the other side of this ridge, where she ought to be able to see both Peak 5438 and the intervening valley.
From close to the big rock, a higher part of this ridge was visible between the trees. Photo looks SW.
Crossing the wide ridge, the Carolina Dog came to long open areas full of snow. Logging or other minor roads may have been hidden beneath it. Beyond these openings, Lupe got her first glimpse of Peak 5438.
Crossing the ridge, Lupe came to long snowy openings in the forest. The snow may have been concealing logging or other minor roads. Photo looks SSW.From the W side of the first ridge, Peak 5438 was in view. Photo looks WSW.
The E slope of Peak 5438 looked steep, and the intervening valley was deeper than expected. Not wanting to lose so much elevation crossing this next valley, Lupe turned N following the W side of the ridge she was already on. Beyond a high spot, she came to the biggest opening yet in the forest. Again it looked like a road must have been buried beneath the snow.
At the big snowy opening. Photo looks SE.
Lupe did not attempt to follow the hidden road. She continued N along the W side of the ridge. Dog-hair pine thickets slowed SPHP down. After less than 0.25 mile, though, it was possible to see that Loop was getting close to the N end of the valley. A snow-covered road on the far side led up toward a minor saddle.
A check of the map confirmed Lupe ought to head over to that saddle. She would lose less than 50 feet of elevation crossing the valley here, so she went down to it.
See that snowy road (L) on the other side of the valley leading up to a minor saddle? That’s where we’re going next! Photo looks WNW.Crossing the N end of the valley. Photo looks W.
The valley was dazzlingly bright. Lupe trotted W across it. She did not head directly for the snowy road leading up to the minor saddle. She stayed on hillsides N of it, where a S exposure meant far less snow to deal with. In some places, none at all.
Halfway up, the N hillsides became snowy, too. Lupe finally took to the road. She even tried crossing it and going directly up the hill to the SW, but the snow was 2 feet deep. Returning to the road, she bounded the rest of the way up to the saddle.
Lupe was now on Peak 5438’s N ridge. A small hill along this ridge was directly to the S, but there was no need to go clear to the top of it. An open lane went SW from here toward another, as yet unseen, slightly higher saddle. Lupe explored the forest near the open lane on the way to this second saddle.
Loop reaches the first minor saddle on Peak 5438’s N ridge. She would take the open lane beyond her to another slightly higher one. Photo looks SW.
From the second saddle, Looper traveled S along the W side of the hill she was circumventing. This slope wasn’t nearly as snowy, but deadfall timber was present. For the first time, Lupe had tree-broken glimpses of Custer Peak(6,804 ft.) far to the SW.
Heading S on the W slope of a small hill along Peak 5438’s N ridge. Photo looks S.Lupe was now catching glimpses of Custer Peak. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.
Once S of the hill she had just bypassed, a long, broad incline was ahead. All Lupe had to do now was follow it to the top of Peak 5438. The summit was barely 0.33 mile away.
Starting up the broad slope leading to the summit of Peak 5438. Photo looks S.
Near the top, the slope of the terrain diminished. The ridge was almost flat by the time it turned SW and began widening out even more. The snow was 1.5 feet deep. Looper traveled SW through the forest. SPHP expected she would soon come to a 20+ foot rise shown on the topo map where the true summit of Peak 5438 was located.
Getting close to the top. Photo looks SSW.Exploring the flat, forested summit of Peak 5438. Photo looks SW.
She never did. The whole mountaintop covering quite a large area was almost completely flat. The topo map showed a definite 20+ foot rise near the W end of the greater summit area, but Lupe arrived at the W edge of the mountain without having seen any such high point.
A second brief reconnaissance of the whole region where the 20+ foot rise was supposed to be revealed nothing at all. Lupe hadn’t somehow missed it. The rise didn’t exist. Never had, either. This summit was undisturbed. The topo map was simply wrong. Yet this was Peak 5438 alright. Everything else matched up just fine.
Lupe reaches the W edge of Peak 5438 without ever finding the 20+ foot rise indicated on the topo map where the true summit was supposed to be. Photo looks S.
The highest ground did seem to be about where the topo map indicated, not far from the W edge. A few little rocks seemed to be about as high as anything else around. As far as could be determined, this unremarkable spot in the woods was the true summit of Peak5438.
Lupe sits near a few scattered rocks at the true summit of Peak 5438. Photo looks NE.Well, guess this is it. Sort of disappointing, I know. We’d been expecting something a bit more dramatic ourselves. Photo looks ESE.Some of the highest ground near the W edge. Photo looks SSW.
Maybe Peak 5438 isn’t as high as what the topo map would lead one to believe. Or maybe the entire mountaintop is virtually that high. Either way, it was what it was. The mountain was quiet and undisturbed, a pleasant place to be on a warmish January afternoon.
Lupe and SPHP took a break near the highest ground. A rock formation along the W edge was the most interesting thing around. Lupe climbed up on it. Within a couple feet of being as high as the actual summit, this was a prettier spot.
This looks more noble and adventuresome, doesn’t it? Like I’ve actually climbed some kind of a mountain, instead of aimlessly wandering the forest? Photo looks W.
The rock formation provided a distant view of Custer Peak(6,804 ft.) again. SPHP was tall enough to get a clearer look at it from another spot a little to the S.
Lupe at the same spot, with Custer Peak (L) in sight. Photo looks WSW.SPHP was just tall enough to get this clearer view of Custer Peak (Center). Another year or two, and the pines will grow up to hide it. Photo looks SW.
Lupe laid in the sun on a patch of snow-free of ground. She crunched up a bowlful of Taste of the Wild. Custer Peak was about the only distant point of interest not hidden by the forest. 40 pleasant minutes of repose and quiet solitude shot by. Time to go.
Loop and SPHP made a short trek around the S end of the summit area. Another dog-hair pine thicket was on the SE side. Not much to see. Lupe started back N, the way she’d come. An opening appeared permitting a view to the SE.
Loop discovers an opening along the SE edge of the summit area. Photo looks SE.
On the return trip to the G6, Lupe made only a couple of variations to the route she’d taken to Peak 5438. She climbed the little hill along the ridgeline, taking a shortcut from there through snow as much as 3 feet deep down to the upper N end of the valley to the E. On the first ridge she’d climbed, she followed a snowy road S to the biggest clearing. She wandered the forest a bit N of where she’d been before.
The last part was all the same, though. A snowy trek down USFS Road No. 135.2C brought Lupe back to the G6. (1:59 PM, 41°F)
Peak 5438 hadn’t been spectacular in any way, but Lupe was happy with her expedition. At least she’d explored a new place in the Black Hills. These precious hours had broken the monotonous spell of winter.
Winter wasn’t over yet, though. Not by a long shot. The Carolina Dog would be staring out the window at home many a tiresome day before spring would arrive. Peak 5438, or most anywhere else, would sound mighty good!
Custer Peak from Peak 5438, Black Hills of South Dakota 1-15-19
Day 6 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains & Wind River Range of Wyoming!
Hah! So easy! In a 20 mph NW wind, Lupe stood next to the little cairn at Duncum Mountain’s true summit. Less than 10 minutes ago (7:14 AM, 47°F), SPHP had parked the G6 at the highest point of USFS Road No. 11 just E of the summit. Except for what appeared to be a diffuse haze from the smoke of distant wildfires, the sky was clear.
Lupe had views in every direction from the treeless, flat mountaintop. The last time she’d been here a little over a month ago, she hadn’t seen a thing. Duncum Mountain(9,831 ft.) had been shrouded in dense fog.
After having been here once before on a foggy evening more than a month ago, Lupe returns to the true (NW) summit of Duncum Mountain. Medicine Mountain(9,962 ft.) is seen in the distance. Photo looks SW.
SPHP had practically gotten lost in the fog back then. Seemed silly now. The top of the mountain, although big and flat, wasn’t nearly as large as it had seemed in the fog. The long, deep depression E of the cairn didn’t seem nearly as big as it had before either.
Miss Tasty Schnoz on Duncum Mountain. Big Pryor Mountain (8,786 ft.) (Center), site of a muddy adventure at the end of Lupe’s last Dingo Vacation in June, is in view. Devil Canyon on the L. Photo looks NW.
Duncum Mountain has 2 summits, one to the NW where Lupe was now, and one only 1 foot lower a mile to the SE. Lupe had already been to the SE summit in June. She had gotten to see more there, since the fog had just been rolling in. By returning to the NW summit this morning when it was possible to get a look around, it felt like Loop had taken care of some unfinished business.
The SE summit (Center) from Duncum Mountain’s NW summit. Loopster had already explored the SE summit back in June. The cairn here on the NW summit is beyond Lupe’s head. Photo looks SE.
The most important view from Duncum Mountain for the Carolina Dog today was of Sheep Mountain(9813 ft.) 5 miles to the N. That’s where she would be heading next.
So that’s Sheep Mountain way over there? I hope there’s lots of sheep when we get there! Photo looks N.Sheep Mountain from Duncum Mountain with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks N.
All corked up and excited by her breezy romp on Duncum Mountain, Lupe returned to the G6. (7:35 AM). SPHP drove N on USFS Road No. 11. Two miles led to a junction where USFS Road No. 110 curved off to the E on its way to Boyd Ridge. Lupe and SPHP stayed on No. 11.
Approaching a junction with USFS Road No. 110. Photo looks NE.
A second junction was only another mile N. USFS Road No. 111 (Marble Quarry Road) headed off to the NE. No. 11 continued N toward Sheep Mountain. SPHP parked the G6 at the intersection. Looked like No. 11 (actually No. 11.01) deteriorated significantly from here.
Sheep Mountain was only 2 miles away. Lupe and SPHP set off on paw and foot down No. 11. (8:26 AM, 51°F)
Sheep Mountain from USFS Road No. 11. Photo looks NNW.At the intersection of USFS Road No. 111 (Marble Canyon Road) (R) and No. 11 (or 11.01) (L). More like 7 miles to the Montana state line the way No. 11 goes. Photo looks NNW.
20 minutes later, the Carolina Dog was back. Why, No. 11 wasn’t so bad! A short initial stretch was rough, but the G6 ought to be able to sneak through. The road got better just down the hill. Lupe and SPHP piled in. Carefully, carefully SPHP nursed the G6 through the rough zone.
No. 11 snakes away toward Sheep Mountain. The road was pretty good here, a little N of the junction with Marble Canyon Road. Photo looks NW.
Lousy idea! The good stretch of road wasn’t that long. The G6 managed to make it all the way to a third junction S of Sheep Mountain, but SPHP vowed never again! High clearance would have made all the difference in the world. Of course, Pontiac always boasted of building excitement into every vehicle. The excitement of wondering if you are ever actually going to get there or not.
Still, the G6 was a trooper. Lupe was practically at Sheep Mountain’s S slope. SPHP parked near the junction of USFS Road No. 105, which goes to Hannans Coulee, and No. 11. (9:05 AM, 51°F) Lupe hopped out and started climbing.
At the junction of USFS Road No. 105 (L) to Hannan’s Coulee, and No. 11.01 (R) to the Montana state line. Sheep Mountain’s S slope is dead ahead. Photo looks NW.Starting up Sheep Mountain. Photo looks NNW.
The S end of Sheep Mountain was a big, rounded, grassy slope dotted with big rocks. Lupe was in for a long, but easy climb. She came to a couple of larger rock outcroppings on the way.
On the first big rock outcropping of the S slope. Photo looks N.None so far. All the sheep must be up on top! At the second outcropping. Photo looks N.
The top of Sheep Mountain was a vast plain, slightly higher toward the far N end where large, vertical-sided, flat rock formations appeared to delineate a sharp edge. To the Carolina Dog’s immense disappointment, not a single sheep was to be seen.
To Lupe’s chagrin, not a single sheep was evident on Sheep Mountain. Photo looks N.
As Lupe approached the rock formations, it began to dawn on SPHP that what had seemed like a complete cake walk might not be so easy after all. Deep fissures scarred the N end of Sheep Mountain dividing massive platforms of rock into separate islands in the sky.
Loop might not even be able to get close to the summit!
The N end of Sheep Mountain featured deep fissures. Photo looks N.
The situation wasn’t as worrisome as it first appeared. The long fissures weren’t necessarily continuous. Lupe crossed one at a merely shallow spot. She was soon next to the highest platform, located along the NW side of the mountain. Here, though, the fissures prevented her from getting any closer.
Loop was able to cross the big fissure beyond her, merely a shallow dip here. Photo looks N.Stymied! The highest platform is on the L, but there is an unseen fissure between here and there. Photo looks NW.
This wasn’t going to work. Lupe circled back around to the SW looking for a way to enter the fissure separating her from the highest platform.
Yes! There was a way!
Circling a little back around to the SW, Lupe found a way into this fissure next to the highest platform (L). Photo looks N.A closer look at the fissure Loopster was about to explore. Photo looks N.
Lupe went through the fissure. Even though the rock platforms were only 25 or 30 feet high, she reached the far end without seeing a way up. Here she discovered another fissure perpendicular to the one she had just come through. Turning L, this second fissure ended at two windows opening onto cliffs.
The window to the NNE at the W end of the second fissure.Looking through the window to the NW.
From the W end of the second fissure, Lupe saw a place where she could scramble up to a narrow shelf along the N side of the highest platform. Whether it would lead to a route to the top or not wasn’t clear, but it looked worth trying.
Looking ESE along the second fissure. Lupe is standing on the narrow shelf along the N end of the highest platform. The first fissure Lupe had come through is unseen on the R 10 or 15 feet beyond the backpack.
Lupe could travel along the shelf easily enough, but overhanging rock forced SPHP to crawl 8 or 10 feet before being able to stand. The top of the platform wasn’t all that much higher, but this N end presented no opportunity to get up there. It appeared possible, though, that the shelf might extend around the corner leading into the first fissure.
It did! As soon as Loop made the turn, she saw a route up. In a flash, the American Dingo scrambled to the top of Sheep Mountain(9,813 ft.).
This had to be it, didn’t it? Old boards and smooth wire like Lupe had seen at many other summits were scattered around. A crude circle of big rocks surrounded the “Sheep” benchmark. Yeah, this was it!
At the summit of Sheep Mountain. Photo looks NW.Lupe stands on rocks that form part of the circle around the Sheep survey benchmark. Big Pryor Mountain(8,786 ft.) (L) and East Pryor Mountain(8,776 ft.) (R) are in the background. Photo looks NW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.The Sheep survey benchmark.
Nails were sticking out of the old boards. First thing SPHP did was to toss all the boards into one big pile so Looper wouldn’t get hurt. Then, after discovering the survey benchmark, it was time for a look around.
Off to the NE was another rock formation that looked like it might even be a few feet higher than this one. Hard to tell, but it certainly had to be close to as high as Lupe was here, if not higher. Hmm. Maybe she could check out that high point, too?
As it was, if this was good enough for the surveyor, it was good enough for Dingo work. The Carolina Dog was claiming a successful ascent of Sheep Mountain(9,813 ft.), whether she ever got over there or not!
Another high point (Center) to the NE looked like it was in contention for true summit. The Sheep survey benchmark is partially in view (R of Center) near the lower edge. Photo looks NE.
In all directions, Lupe had sweeping views of typical Bighorn Mountain high country. Sheep Mountain isn’t in a particularly rugged part of the range. The overall impression was one of vastness.
Looking NNE along the N end of Sheep Mountain. USFS Road No. 11.01 can be seen heading up a grassy hill (L) which is High Point 9811.Devil Canyon. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.Medicine Mountain(9,962 ft.) (L). Photo looks SW.Duncum Mountain(9,831 ft.) (R) is the distant grassy ridge with a little snow on it. Photo looks SE.A look at the first rock platform Lupe had come to from which she’d had to retreat. Photo looks E.
Once again, the views to the N were of particular interest. Lupe’s final objective, the Big Horn County High Point(9,257 ft.) at the Montana border was less than 5 miles NNW as the crow flies. A line of sheer cliffs could be seen in that direction. Beyond them were two more distant high points. Hard to tell from here exactly where the Big Horn County High Point might be, but it had to be somewhere in that vicinity.
Lupe’s next objective, the Big Horn County High Point in Montana, had to be somewhere close to the line of high cliffs (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks NNW.This line of cliffs (Center) is actually the S edge of High Point 9222 (topo map). The Big Horn County, MT High Point is the next forested hill beyond the cliffs toward the L. Photo looks NNW.
The sights from Sheep Mountain were beautiful, but with such a long trek ahead, Lupe stayed up on the summit platform only half an hour. She wanted to spend at least some time seeing if she could get over to that competing high point to the NE.
As Lupe was about to start back down, SPHP suddenly spotted a second survey marker. Loop had gone right by it on the way up. This marker also said “Sheep” and had an arrow pointing toward the benchmark in the circle of rocks.
About ready to head back down into the fissures, Lupe stands in front of a 2nd survey marker. Photo looks NE.Lupe had gone right past “Sheep No. 1” on the way up. SPHP hadn’t noticed it then.Loop down on the shelf she would follow around to the L. She is right beside the first fissure she had explored. Photo looks SE.
Once back down at the W end of the second fissure again, Lupe headed E through it. She emerged at a flat, open area. To the N was a wall of rock.
Loop confronts a wall of rock after traveling through the second fissure. Photo looks N.
Getting past the rock wall was easy enough. Lupe dropped down a slope to the E, then turned N again. Soon she had worked her way around to the backside of the competing high point.
Going around the E side of the rock wall. Photo looks NW.On the backside of the competing high point (L). Photo looks SSW.
The competing high point was only a 20 or 25 foot high scramble, but it was steep with exposure. SPHP considered it, but ultimately decided against an attempt. Lupe could have climbed up easily enough, but she wasn’t going to, not if SPHP wasn’t. Nah, not worth it. A little too scary. The top looked narrow and precarious.
Beyond yet another smaller rock formation to the N, Sheep Mountain dropped off sharply. Lupe and SPHP retreated S back around the rock wall, through the fissures, and headed SE. As soon as it was practical, Lupe started down the E slope. She turned NE, passing through bits of forest, which she enjoyed, ultimately returning to USFS Road No. 11.01.
Beyond this much smaller rock formation, Sheep Mountain dropped off sharply. Lupe and SPHP retreated back to the S. Photo looks N.On the way back down to USFS Road No. 11.01. Photo looks NE.
Upon reaching No. 11.01 again, a 4 mile trek N began. The road switchbacked around a little on the way down Sheep Mountain’s N slope. N of Point 9162 Loop traveled W of the road through a forested area to get out of the sun and wind. However, the forest soon ended, and Loopster returned to the breezy, open road.
By the time Lupe reached a saddle S of High Point 9118, she had lost nearly 1,000 feet of elevation.
Taking a break at the saddle S of High Point 9118. Photo looks N.
Looper now had to regain a quarter of that 1,000 feet going up and over High Point 9118. She came to two intersections on the way. First, USFS Road No. 103 angled off to the L on its way to Cookstove Basin. Higher up, a faint No. 101 disappeared into sparse grass E of No. 11.01.
At the first intersection on the way up High Point 9118. No. 103 to Cookstove Basin is on the L. Lupe, of course, stayed to the R on No. 11.01. Photo looks NNW.
From the top of High Point 9118, Lupe had a nice view of Sheep Mountain back to the S.
Sheep Mountain from High Point 9118. Photo looks S.
She could also see N most of the rest of the way to the Montana state line. From here on, the elevation changes along No. 11.01 were minor. The road became an easy, breezy stroll along the open, rolling spine of the Bighorn Range.
USFS Road No. 11.01 heads N for the Montana border. Grassy High Point 9203 (L) is in cloud shadow. The Big Horn County High Point lies beyond the cliffs of High Point 9222 (far L). Photo looks NNW.Hurry it up, SPHP! I’m looking right into the sun! The Big Horn County, Montana High Point is in the forest peeping up beyond the cliffs of High Point 9222 (L). High Point 9203 (R). Photo looks NNW with help from the telephoto lens.
Approaching the Montana state line, No. 11.01 curved W, then back to the N as it entered the Lime Creek drainage. A rough unmarked road, which may have been USFS Road No. 647, headed up a ridge to the W. Lupe followed No. 11.01 all the way down to a fenced-off cattle guard. The American Dingo had made it to the Montana border!
USFS Road No. 11.01 heads down into the Lime Creek drainage. The road going up the next ridge may be No. 647. The hill at (Center) is well into Montana. Photo looks NW.At the Montana border! The Big Horn County, MT High Point is 0.67 mile W from here. Photo looks NW from the Wyoming side.What may be USFS Road No. 647 from No. 11.01. Photo looks W.
The Big Horn County, MT High Point was only 0.67 mile W from where Looper reached the Montana border. Still on the Wyoming side, she turned W following the fence, but soon came to a second fence which had fallen over leaving 4 strands of barbed wire laying on the ground. To avoid this hazard, Lupe left the fence line and took the unmarked road (No. 647?) WSW.
This road climbed steadily, and angled even farther away from the fence heading SW along the SE side of a big drainage. Soon Lupe could see the big hill the fence had headed for on the far side of the drainage. That hill had to be the Big Horn County High Point!
Wildflowers along Lupe’s route.There it is! The Big Horn County, Montana High Point is up on that hill! Photo looks NW.
Heading around the SW end of the big drainage without losing elevation, Lupe then turned NNW. She discovered a jeep trail, and followed it up to the Big Horn County High Point(9,257 ft.).
The top of the mountain was pleasant, but unremarkable. A 300 or 400 foot wide clearing of nearly level ground was surrounded on most sides by conifer forest. The only significant views were to the S or SE where there were few interfering trees. The barbed wire fence along the Wyoming/Montana line divided the clearing into roughly equal parts, half in Wyoming and half in Montana.
The highest ground was a bit lumpy and more toward the W side of the clearing, but still out in the open. A closed gate in the fence wasn’t far from the forest. SPHP did not open the gate. Instead, Lupe snuck under it. She was now in Montana.
SPHP had read trip reports saying a cairn was supposed to be close to this gate. Lupe found no cairn, but did find 5 white stones laying next to one another 10 feet NE of the E end of the gate.
On the Montana side of the gate in the border fence. Photo looks SSW.Possible remnant of a cairn?
A 5 foot yellow wand stood 20 feet E of the gate, and 5 or 6 feet N of the fence. Next to it was a short vertical pipe capped with a survey marker saying “Big Horn”. The base of the yellow wand was cracked and in poor condition, but for now the wand still stood swaying in a gentle breeze.
Loopster barely inside Montana next to the yellow wand and survey marker at the Big Horn County High Point. Photo looks SE.This Big Horn boundary post was 5 or 6 feet N of the fence. Maybe the fence is actually that far into Wyoming?
Lupe sniffed a little way into Montana. 70 feet NW of the gate, right along the edge of the forest, she made a discovery. White rocks spelled out a 2 word message. Only the “O” in the first word was legible, but the second word was clearly “land”. No doubt the message was intended to be “Crow Land”.
Trip reports SPHP had seen online had indicated “No Trespassing” signs were along the fence both here at the Big Horn County High Point, and back where USFS Road No. 11.01 reached the Montana border, but Lupe and SPHP had seen none at all anywhere today.
This message from the Crow Tribe was 70 feet NW of the gate, which was as far as the Carolina Dog went. Photo looks NW.
Short lengths of barbed wire were scattered around the area near the fence by the cairn remnant and the survey marker. Not a good thing. Lupe and SPHP retreated back into Wyoming.
It was a beautiful day, 60° F with puffy white clouds sailing by. The W wind had blown 15 to 20 mph most of the way here, but now it was only a soft breeze. Lupe liked the idea of resting in the shade at the edge of the forest. SPHP noticed she was licking her L front paw.
Close inspection revealed a couple small pieces of some dark material stuck in the fur between her pads. They didn’t look all that significant, but perhaps they were causing some abrasion? SPHP pulled them out. Lupe kept licking. When that grew tiresome, she took a nap.
Snoozing by the edge of the forest.
Close to an hour went by. Better get moving. SPHP hoped Lupe’s paw was OK. Coming up lame way out here wouldn’t be good. Having seen what sights Montana’s Bighorn County High Point had to offer, Lupe and SPHP followed the jeep trail down the S slope.
No sense in going way back to where USFS Road No. 11.01 reached the Montana border. Lupe could take a more scenic and shorter route now that she knew the lay of the land. A trip to High Point 9222 was in order to see how the world looked from the top of those cliffs she’d seen much of the day.
Hey, let’s go take a look a things from High Point 9222! It’s that platform of rocks at the far end of this giant field. C’mon!Sheep Mountain (Center). Photo looks SSE.
High Point 9222 was awesome! A narrow neck of rocky terrain led to a platform of rock jutting out to the S beyond the rest of the line of cliffs. This platform had several lobes. Lupe had tremendous views not only of the cliffs nearby, but of a huge 270° panorama to the SE, SW, & NW.
Cookstove Basin from High Point 9222. Photo looks SW.Looking back toward the Big Horn County High Point (R). Photo looks NNW.At the top of High Point 9222. Sheep Mountain (L) and Medicine Mountain (Center on the far horizon) in view. Photo looks S.Looking WSW.An amazing column with a pedestal on top. High Point 9203 (R) in the background. Photo looks SE.Big Pryor Mountain (Center) and East Pryor Mountain (R) both many miles away in a haze. Photo looks NW.
After taking in the wonderful views from High Point 9222, Lupe traveled E, ultimately going SE around the upper NE slopes of High Point 9203, then on down to intersect USFS Road No. 11.01 again. Lupe kept licking her front L paw, but at least it didn’t seem to be getting worse.
Looper was all the way back to the saddle S of High Point 9118 again, when SPHP suddenly realized a line of showers was approaching from the W. It became a race to get back to the G6 before they hit. Following the road, Lupe climbed the lower N slopes of Sheep Mountain.
When No. 11.01 eventually began to lose elevation E of Sheep Mountain, the Carolina Dog left the road cutting S along the mountainside. This was somewhat of a shortcut, but still a long way. Lupe ended up passing NW of High Point 9586 on Sheep Mountain’s SW ridge before returning to No. 11.01 again.
Raindrops began falling several minutes before Lupe reached the G6. (6:21 PM, 61°F) Fortunately, the shower didn’t amount to much, and soon blew on by. The G6 made a slow, careful escape of the lousy section of road back to the intersection with No. 11 and No. 111 (Point 9422).
Lupe was at Highway 14A when the sun reappeared below a cloud bank as it sank rapidly toward the horizon. The Carolina Dog was famished! She devoured a whole can of Alpo. She followed up with a helping of Taste of the Wild. She was thirsty, and lapped up a bowlful of water.
And Lupe was tired! Duncum Mountain, Sheep Mountain, and the Big Horn County, Montana High Point had been a long day. The G6 was parked E of Bald Mountain(10,042 ft.) when Lupe curled up on her pile of pillows and blankets and fell fast asleep.
