Bighorn Mountains – Page 19 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Hazelton Pyramid, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (7-18-16)

It wasn’t even noon yet, when Lupe concluded her successful visit to all three possible Washakie County, Wyoming high points (9,600 ft.). There was still time in the day for Lupe to tackle her next peakbagging goal, Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.), which was only 6 or 7 miles away to the SE. Lupe and SPHP headed E on Hwy 16 in the G6. After going just a couple of miles, SPHP parked at Powder River Pass.

Some sort of bicycling event was going on along Hwy 16. There were lots of bicyclists at the big pullout, which was serving as a rest and refreshment stop.

Lupe near Powder River Pass. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe wasn’t here for the bicycle event. A short stroll S of Hwy 16 were some big rock formations from which SPHP wanted to get a preliminary look at Hazelton Pyramid.

Lupe up on the rock formations near Powder River Pass. Hazelton Pyramid is the more distant peak on the R. Photo looks SSE.

Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.) (L) as seen from Powder River Pass. Nearly 2 years ago, Lupe had climbed Hesse Mountain on 8-6-14. Photo looks SE. — **Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.)** (L) could also be seen from Powder River Pass. Nearly 2 years ago, Lupe had climbed **Hesse Mountain** on 8-6-14. Photo looks SE.

The view of Hazelton Pyramid was encouraging. Lupe also got a look at Hesse Mountain, which she had climbed on an intermittently foggy day almost 2 years ago.

Lupe and SPHP returned to the G6. A mile E of Powder River Pass, SPHP turned S off Hwy 16 onto USFS Road No. 29. No. 29 wound around for 4 or 5 miles in a generally SSW direction. At a small turnaround loop where the road first reaches the North Fork of the Powder River, SPHP parked the G6 again (1:02 PM). Hazelton Pyramid was about 2 miles away to the ESE. Lupe would start for Hazelton Pyramid from here.

Hazelton Pyramid is the more distant peak on the R. The high ground at Center is in the area of High Point 10201 on the Peakbagger.com topo map. Photo taken from USFS Road No. 29 before reaching the North Fork of the Powder River. Photo looks SE. — Hazelton Pyramid is the more distant peak on the R. The high ground at Center is in the area of High Point 10201 on the **Peakbagger.com topo map**. Photo taken from USFS Road No. 29 before reaching the North Fork of the Powder River. Photo looks SE.

Lupe cools off in the North Fork of the Powder River before setting out for Hazelton Pyramid.

A bridge near the turnaround loop got SPHP over to the N side of the Powder River where Lupe started off heading NE on 4WD Route 584111. She soon turned E on Route 584116, which quickly leveled out and left open ground to enter the forest. Before long, the road curved S and crossed a small creek. Beyond the creek, Lupe and SPHP continued on the road, but not very far, since it started trending SW.

Lupe left the road to begin climbing ESE through the forest. The forest featured great views of, well, trees. Lupe was happy with that. Trees meant squirrels! The slope gained elevation at a moderate pace, making for a pretty pleasant shady trek. Lupe had fun dashing this way and that winding along a maze of faint animal trails. She did find a few squirrels to growl and bark at, while they taunted and hurled insults at her from the safety of the treetops.

After 0.5 mile or more going through the forest, Lupe reached the top of a relatively flat and broad ridge. There was a large meadow here from which it was possible to see Hazelton Pyramid again, and some of the high ground above tree line leading to it.

Lupe reaches a big meadow on the first ridge. Hazelton Pyramid is the distant peak on the R. From here, Lupe headed toward the high rocky ridge on the L. She followed the base of that ridge to the minor pass and high point seen just L of Center. Photo looks E.

There were a couple of reasonable looking routes toward Hazelton Pyramid from here. Lupe could either climb above tree line heading ENE to the base of a rocky ridge which she could follow up to high ground near High Point 10201, or stay lower and farther S while heading E in an area of scattered forest.

SPHP thought the route up near the rocky ridge looked more dramatic and interesting. Lupe was quite certain the scattered forest would offer more squirrel possibilities, but she had no real objections to the rocky route. After all, there might be marmots up there, and marmots are fun, too! Either way was fine with Lupe. In any case, there was still a bit of forest to go through even to get to the rocky route.

Above tree line, Lupe approaches the rocky ridge (L). She soon passed below it to reach the saddle seen R of Center, and then climbed the high point on the R. Photo looks E.

Lupe lost a little elevation going through the last section of forest on the way to the rocky route, but quickly regained it on a somewhat steep climb just beyond the forest. Soon (well relatively soon, SPHP kept stopping for air) Lupe was approaching the area below the rocky ridge. Here the climb was not so steep. The views got better and better as Lupe headed for a saddle near the E end of the ridge.

Looking back to the W along the rocky ridge as Lupe continues her climb.

When Lupe reached the saddle (a short distance SW of High Point 10201), she had a great view of Hazelton Pyramid ahead. Lupe could also see the high ground she would follow as it swept around to the summit.

Lupe reaches the saddle SW of High Point 10201. Hazelton Pyramid is seen beyond her. Lupe would eventually follow the high ground on the L as it sweeps around toward the summit. Photo looks ESE.

Before continuing on to Hazelton Pyramid, Lupe checked out the views from the minor high point immediately SW of the saddle.

Lupe up on the minor high point SW of the saddle. Photo looks SW.

Looking NW over the rocky ridge toward some of the higher peaks of the Bighorns.

Looking W. USFS Road No. 29 is visible far below on the L. The G6 is parked down there, but not in view.

After a short rest break on the minor high point, Lupe and SPHP returned to the saddle. It was time to follow the high ground leading over to the summit of Hazelton Pyramid. Most of the time, Lupe was able to stay at or near the top of the long ridge. A couple of times she was forced to lose some elevation to get around small cliffs.

Looking back to the W along Lupe's route. This first part of the way from the minor high point was pretty easy. The high ground was wide, mostly grassy, and not steep at all. As Lupe got closer to the top of Hazelton Pyramid, the ground grew progressively rougher, rockier, and steeper. — Looking back to the W along Lupe’s route. This first part of the way from the minor high point was pretty easy. The high ground was wide, mostly grassy, and not steep at all. As Lupe got closer to the top of Hazelton Pyramid, the ground grew progressively rougher, rockier, and steeper.

The last part of Lupe’s climb up Hazelton Pyramid was the steepest and rockiest, but still easily manageable. The true summit turned out to be along a ridge of boulders extending farther to the SE a few hundred feet beyond the apparent summit Lupe had seen while climbing up from the NW. Lupe and SPHP stayed on the NE side of this ridge due to a steep drop off immediately to the SW.

On Hazelton Pyramid! The very highest boulder is seen still a little farther beyond Lupe. Photo looks SE.

Lupe reaches the highest boulder on Hazelton Pyramid! Photo looks SE.

Naturally, Lupe and SPHP took a break up on Hazelton Pyramid for water, a bit to eat, and to spend some time admiring the splendid views. Although it had been a beautiful, mostly sunny day during the entire ascent, a line of gray clouds was now approaching from the SW. Streaks of rain trailed beneath the clouds. SPHP eyed the clouds suspiciously, even though they didn’t look too threatening.

Fortunately, there wasn’t any thunder or lightning. Lupe and SPHP stayed on the mountain. A SW wind picked up and blew rather strongly for a little while as the clouds approached. Lupe had to endure a rainstorm as they passed over Hazelton Pyramid, but it didn’t rain hard or last too long. The day soon grew somewhat sunnier again.

Looking NNW from Hazelton Peak before the rain clouds arrived. The cairn seen next to Lupe is some distance NW of the true summit. Lupe originally passed by it on her way to the summit. High Point 10372 is the barren, somewhat lower peak 1.25 miles away in the foreground R of Center. Much higher peaks of the Bighorn range are seen on the far horizon.

Lupe went a little farther SE along the summit ridgeline beyond the true summit of Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.) to get this view of Hazelton Peak (10,264 ft.) seen beyond Lupe another 1.33 miles farther to the SE. — Lupe went a little farther SE past the true summit of **Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.)** to get this view of **Hazelton Peak (10,264 ft.)**, seen beyond Lupe another 1.33 miles farther to the SE.

Looking WSW over the edge of the Hazelton Pyramid summit ridge.

Lupe in an Egyptian mood just below the summit of Hazelton Pyramid. Here she poses as the Dingo-Sphinx. SPHP did not dare request any riddle from the Dingo-Sphinx for fear of what might happen if SPHP couldn't answer the riddle correctly. — Lupe in an Egyptian mood just below the summit of Hazelton Pyramid. Here she poses as the Dingo-Sphinx. SPHP did not dare request any riddle from the Dingo-Sphinx for fear of what might happen if SPHP couldn’t answer the riddle correctly.

Eventually, of course, it was time to start down off Hazelton Peak to begin the trek back to the G6. For a long way, Lupe and SPHP continued to enjoy the wonderful mountain scenery visible from the high ground above tree line.

Lupe starts back down off Hazelton Pyramid. She would retrace her route up along the high ground seen on the long ridge in the foreground, going first down toward the R, and then over to the L. Photo looks W.

Tiny blue flowers like these were abundant on the upper slopes of Hazelton Pyramid.

Looking NNW. High Point 10372 in the foreground on the R.

Looking W toward the minor high point (L of Center) Lupe climbed on the way to Hazelton Pyramid. The saddle is seen to the R of it. Somewhere in the cluster of rocky prominences to the R of center is High Point 10201.

High Point 10372 with higher peaks of the Bighorn Range in the distance. Photo looks NNW using the telephoto lens.

Looking back up at the apparent summit of Hazelton Pyramid from the NW. The true summit is out of sight 200 to 300 feet farther SE along a continuation of the ridge of boulders seen on the R which curves directly away from the camera at a point near the Center of this photo. — Looking back up at the apparent summit of Hazelton Pyramid from the NW. The true summit is out of sight 200 to 300 feet farther SE along a continuation of the ridge of boulders seen on the R, which curves directly away from the camera at a point near the Center of this photo.

Looking N. High Point 10372 (L) and double-peaked Hesse Mountain (R) with higher peaks of the Bighorn Range on the horizon.

Rock columns in the general area of High Point 10201. Photo looks N.

Lupe returns to the saddle area NE of the minor high point she climbed on the way to Hazelton Pyramid. Photo looks N.

Looking W back down along the first rocky ridge.

Lupe retraced her way up Hazelton Peak all the way back down below tree line. Not too long after reaching the forest, SPHP tried to take a shortcut, heading WNW down off the ridge before reaching the big meadow.

The shortcut became a longcut and a Lupe adventure all its own, but one without photos as SPHP tried to hurry through the darkening forest. At one point Lupe crossed a road which may have been 4WD Route 584113. Lupe explored beautiful little clearings of swampy land near a tiny creek. However, the forest seemed longer, denser, and more difficult to navigate than on Lupe’s original route.

All’s well that ends well, though! Lupe finally emerged from the forest and swamps on open ground above and N of 4WD Route 584116. SPHP recognized Route 584111 a little farther off to the W. Lupe trotted happily along. She was almost back to the North Fork of the Powder River and the G6 (7:37 PM).

Sunset in the Bighorn Mountains, 7-18-16

Well, Loopster! That was a pretty good day wasn’t it? Up before dawn barking at cows and horses on the way to the Bighorns, visiting all 3 of the Washakie County High Point candidates, and then climbing Hazelton Pyramid, too!

Yes, this was great, and about time, too! What’s on the agenda tomorrow?

Tomorrow you start for Cloud Peak (13,167 ft.), the highest mountain in the entire Bighorn Range! It’s so big and so far it will take us 2 days to get to the top.

Oh, sounds exciting! Will there be squirrels?

I think you’re gonna like it, and yeah, there should be some squirrels. Believe me, your summer of 2016 is going to be fantastic. You haven’t seen anything yet, Looper!

Heh, I certainly hope so SPHP, until today that’s been just about literally true!

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Hazelton Peak, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 6-27-19

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The Washakie County High Point, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (7-18-16)

Huge sigh! One of many at long intervals. Dejected, Lupe lay bored on the floor. Sometimes she stared out the window. Sometimes just out into space. After a promising start with a trip to the Laramie Mountains in Wyoming in late May, Lupe had returned to the Black Hills on June 1st expecting great things from the summer of 2016. Instead, June immediately turned hot – too hot for her Black Hills expeditions. June shot by, and Lupe didn’t get to go anywhere in the hills.

Early July started out a little better, with two short Summits on the Air outings (Custer Peak & Boulder Hill) with Joe and Dusty. Then it was back to laying on the floor, forlorn and disappointed day after day. The middle of July came and went. Still Dullsville.

Lupe didn’t realize it yet, but great things were in the works. Preparations for her fabulous Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation were nearing completion. Lupe would soon be on her way much farther than she had ever been before to visit beautiful places and climb some spectacular peaks!

One mountain on the list, however, wasn’t that far away. Cloud Peak (13,167 ft.), the tallest mountain in the Bighorn range of north central Wyoming, was easily the highest peak Lupe would attempt to climb this year. For Lupe and SPHP, Cloud Peak meant a 3 day/2 night backpacking trip.

Why not take Lupe to the Bighorns even before the start of her summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation? Getting Cloud Peak out of the way beforehand would free up several days on her summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation she could use to climb much more distant peaks she might never otherwise have a chance to attempt. It was a good idea, and high time for some action anyway.

SPHP checked the weather forecasts. Starting July 18th, 4 consecutive days of 100°F heat with little or no chance of rain were coming to Buffalo, WY. Perfect for adventuring in the high country, where it would be considerably cooler! Much to her surprise and delight, Lupe was on the road headed for the Bighorns before dawn.

Lupe was already on her way to the Bighorn Mountains when the sun rose on July 18th.

Only a few hours later, Lupe was in the Bighorns! Before tackling Cloud Peak, though, SPHP had a couple of other easier peakbagging objectives in mind for Lupe. The first one was really easy – the Washakie County High Point (9,600 ft.). At 9:48 AM (66°F), SPHP parked the G6 just S of Hwy 16 along USFS Road No. 25. This intersection is in Washakie County only a short distance W of the Johnson County line.

Finally back in action! Lupe arrives in the glorious Bighorn Mountains of north central Wyoming. Here she is S of Hwy 16 ready for an easy trek to the Washakie County High Point. Two of the three possible high points are in the forest on the low hill beyond her. Photo looks SSW.

The only thing time consuming or unusual about the Washakie County High Point is that there are three candidates for the actual highest point. Two of them are about 0.25 mile S of Hwy 16 on a low forested ridge. The third candidate is about the same distance N of Hwy 16. Lupe and SPHP headed across the field toward the S candidates first. As a guide, SPHP had a copy of a trip report by Edward Earl dated July 30, 2002.

At the edge of the forest was a barbed wire fence. The lower part of the fence was a wire mesh which Lupe could not get through. Lupe and SPHP followed the fence W until Lupe reached a gate with orange posts where she was able to get by. After that, Lupe sniffed around exploring the forest while making the climb to the first of the high points.

Lupe next to the summit cairn of the first of the Washakie County High Points she reached S of Hwy 16. This high point is NW of the other high point S of Hwy 16. Photo looks NW.

Another view looking NW toward the Washakie County High Point. (Still looking at part of the NW high point of the 2 candidates S of Hwy 16.)

Lupe visited the two Washakie County High Point candidates S of Hwy 16. Both were very rocky. They were only a few minutes walk apart, but due to the forest, not really visible from each other. Neither had much in the way of views, although there were partial views to the S and E from the SE high point. The most open views were actually from a lower rock outcropping a bit to the S of the area between the two high points.

Before visiting the Washakie County High Point candidate S of Hwy 16 that was the farthest SE, Lupe found this lower rock outcropping nearby, which actually offered the best views. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe at the SE candidate for Washakie County High Point S of Hwy 16. Photo looks SE.

The SE candidate of the 2 high points S of Hwy 16 was a line of slanting boulders. Photo looks WNW in the general direction of the NW high point, which could not be seen from here due to the forest, although it is only a few minutes walk away.

Another view of the SE high point candidate. Photo looks SE.

Still at the SE high point candidate. Although it wasn't possible to see the NW candidate from here, it was possible to catch a glimpse of both from some of the territory between them. Photo looks NW. — Still at the SE high point candidate. Although it wasn’t possible to see the NW candidate from here, it was possible to catch a glimpse of both from some of the territory between them. Photo looks NW.

Edward Earl’s trip report mentioned a cairn at both high point candidates S of Hwy 16, but Lupe only saw a cairn at the NW high point. After visiting both of the S candidates, Lupe headed NE through the forest until she reached USFS Road No. 25 near a cattle guard providing an opening in the fence line. Lupe is an expert at crossing cattle guards, which present no obstacle to her at all.

Lupe and SPHP proceeded across Hwy 16 a few hundred feet E of the Hwy 16/USFS Road No. 25 intersection. Shortly after re-entering the forest N of the highway, Lupe came to another barbed wire fence. It had 5 wires, and the lowest wire was dangerously close to the ground for Lupe. SPHP lifted Lupe over the fence. Lupe then continued N, once again up a gentle forested slope while looking for her final objective – the third and last Washakie County High Point candidate.

Edward Earl’s trip report mentioned a small summit, with perhaps 20′ of prominence just E of the Johnson County line in Johnson County. Lupe came to a pile of boulders that looked likely to be this small summit.

When Lupe found this pile of boulders N of Hwy 16, SPHP figured it must be the 20' high summit mentioned in Edward Earl's trip report. Photo looks NNE. — When Lupe found this pile of boulders N of Hwy 16, SPHP figured it must be the 20′ high summit mentioned in Edward Earl’s trip report. Photo looks NNE.

Up on top of the 20' high summit. Photo looks S. — Up on top of the 20′ high summit. Photo looks S.

According to Edward Earl, the 3rd Washakie County High Point candidate was located on a small E/W running ridge 50 to 80 yards to the W of the small summit. Only 100 feet W of the small summit there was supposed to be a 4 foot high boulder with a cairn on it and a log leaning against it. Mr. Earl thought the true high point was 50 to 100 feet farther W of this boulder.

It sounded pretty easy to find. Lupe and SPHP headed W from the small summit looking for the 4 foot high boulder and E/W ridge. However, Lupe had no luck. She went well beyond 100 feet without seeing the 4 foot high boulder. There didn’t seem to be any sign of the E/W ridge either. The forest in this area was all on gently sloping terrain. A 4 foot high boulder or a ridge of any significant size should have been easy to spot. Lupe and SPHP circled around the area several times, but found nothing of interest.

Puzzling. Lupe and SPHP returned to the small summit with all the boulders. Was it possible this wasn’t the summit Edward Earl had mentioned? A short distance to the N, the forest sloped up toward higher ground. Well, Loop, let’s go check it out. I can’t think of anything else reasonable to try.

After going a little farther N, Lupe and SPHP arrived up on a ridge that was definitely higher than the small summit. This ridge seem to go roughly E/W, although it was N of the small summit, not W of it. Maybe Lupe was too far E? Lupe and SPHP headed W along the ridge. Lupe hadn’t gone too far, when there was a break in the ridge. Not far away on the other side of the break was a small hill or continuation of the ridge. Lupe headed for it.

Lupe arrives up on the W side of the break in the ridgeline. Was this actually the small summit Edward Earl had mentioned? Lupe did have to climb about 20 feet to get up here. Or was this rock with a cairn on it the 4 foot high rock? Was the rotting tree beyond it the log that had been leaning against the rock? Photo looks N.

On the W side of the break, Lupe did have to climb up about 20 feet to get up on a little hill from which the ridge continued on in an E/W direction. Perhaps this was the small summit Edward Earl had mentioned? There was another possibility, too. The hill featured a rock several feet high with a cairn on it. A rotting tree to the N of it might have been the log leaning against the 4 foot high boulder?

SPHP wasn’t completely certain where Lupe was in relation to Edward Earl’s directions, but this area did seem to fit the general description. It seemed clear that Lupe should continue exploring farther W along the ridge for at least a few hundred feet in any case. If this was Mr. Earl’s small summit, Lupe should find a four foot high boulder about 100 feet to the W. If not, Lupe should still cross the 3rd high point candidate somewhere along the way. Lupe and SPHP headed W.

Lo, and behold! There it was! Roughly 100 feet away Lupe did find a 4 foot high boulder with a cairn on it! It was sitting off by itself in the forest, like a true landmark. SPHP felt 90% certain this had to be the boulder Edward Earl was referring to.

Since Mr. Earl thought the actual Washakie County High Point candidate was a point along the ridge 50 to 100 feet to the W of this boulder, Lupe and SPHP wandered over in that direction. The ridge sloped gradually down toward the W, so the actual high point candidate was simply located along the ridge wherever the Washakie and Johnson County border crossed it.

There was no fence or other indication where the county line was. Lupe went far enough to make certain she had crossed the third Washakie County High Point candidate somewhere along the way. She then returned to the area about 80 feet W of the boulder. Smile, Lupe! As far as I’m concerned, you’ve done it and can claim another peakbagging success. Congratulations on visiting all three candidates for the Washakie County, Wyoming High Point!

Lupe at the approximate location of the Washakie County High Point candidate N of Hwy 16, roughly 80 feet W of the 4 foot boulder. Although it was only a trivial peakbagging success, Lupe had visited all three Washakie County High Point candidates. Searching for this last one had been rather fun. Photo looks N.

Well, that really hadn’t been hard at all. By 11:48 AM, Lupe was back at the G6. Still plenty of time left in the day for another, more scenic and challenging adventure! Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.) was close at hand to the SE. Lupe’s fun in the Bighorn Mountains was just beginning!

Hazelton Pyramid, Lupe's next Bighorn Mountains adventure as seen from the SE Washakie County High Point S of Hwy 16. Photo taken looking SE using the telephoto lens. — Hazelton Pyramid, Lupe’s next Bighorn Mountains adventure as seen from the SE Washakie County High Point S of Hwy 16. Photo taken looking SE using the telephoto lens.

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