Day 3 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains & Wind River Range in Wyoming
7-15-18, the wee hours, Gunboat Lake – The crisis struck when Lupe woke SPHP up. She wanted out of her new Marmot tiny house. No telling what time it was. SPHP let her go. The American Dingo shot off into the night. No stars. The silent night was pitch black. Must be cloudy.
Loop was back soon enough, and settled down to snooze some more. Though profoundly weary, SPHP couldn’t. Those faint flashes of light, were they real or imaginary? SPHP listened. Nothing. Eventually two brighter flashes were conclusive. Lightning!
Was a storm bearing down upon Gunboat Lake? Was the weather going to be rotten in the morning, destroying Lupe’s chances of ever making it up Bomber Mountain (12,840 ft.)? Even if it wasn’t, how was SPHP ever going to accompany her up there feeling so pathetically drained and weak?
The mind raced. Fears multiplied. Real or imaginary? Potentially either, perhaps, but unrealized yet. Low blood sugar was fueling the fear. Nuts and applesauce! Get that blood sugar back up! A couple of hours of mental failing went by. SPHP fell into a deep sleep.
7-15-18, 7:32 AM – Heh. When even the Carolina Dog is sleeping in, you know it had been a long day! The morning news was all good, though. No storm had ever materialized. Sunshine, in fact! Scarcely a cloud in the sky. Gunboat Lake sparkled. Bomber Mountain loomed off to the NE, daring the American Dingo to try it. SPHP was still fatigued, but yeah – a perfect day! Weary or not, Loopster was gonna do this!
Loop sacked out in her brand new Marmot tiny house. Gathering strength for Bomber Mountain, ya’ know!
Slowly SPHP got ready. At least the Marmot tiny house and sleeping bags could be left here at Gunboat Lake. A lighter pack would help a lot.
Miss Sleepyhead revived and made her appearance. She was moving a bit slowly, too. Loop sniffed around lazily and stretched. Didn’t appear she was in any great hurry to go anywhere. Understandable. This little ridge overlooking Gunboat Lake was a glorious place to be!
Miss Sleepyhead makes a leisurely appearance. Gunboat Lake is on the R. One of the smaller Fortress Lakes on the L. Bomber Mountain is in the distance on the L. The valley at Center leads to Florence Pass. Photo looks NE.Gunboat Lake on the L. Peak10860 in the distance on the R. Photo looks SW.
Before long the pack was ready, even if SPHP wasn’t. Feeling it or not, Lupe was on her way!
Loop at base camp prior to departure for Bomber Mountain (L). Photo looks NE.
Being on the move again put a spring in Lupe’s step. Her energy came surging back. Nose to the ground, she raced along sniffing everywhere. Instead of heading straight for the Solitude Trail to Florence Pass, Looper went down to explore the NE shore of Gunboat Lake first. Gunboat Lake was gorgeous!
The NE end of Gunboat Lake sparkles in the morning sunshine. Photo looks E.Loop by Gunboat Lake, a favorite spot in the Bighorn Mountains. Photo looks SSW.Looking along the length of Gunboat Lake. Peak 10860 in the distance on the R. Photo looks SW.
From the NE end of Gunboat Lake, it wasn’t far to the Solitude Trail. The trail was good all the way to Florence Pass (10,900 ft.) 0.75 mile from camp. Florence Lake came into sight as soon as Lupe reached the pass.
NE of Gunboat Lake. The Solitude Trail goes up the valley ahead before curving to the L (N) where it reaches Florence Pass beyond the hill seen on the L. Photo looks NE.At Florence Pass. Florence Lake dead ahead! Photo looks N.
Florence Lake nestles just N of Florence Pass in a spectacular setting! The whole N shore of Florence Lake was surrounded by massive ridges, all part of the SW reaches of Bomber Mountain(12,840 ft.). A waterfall plunged noisily into the NE corner of the lake.
Upon reaching Florence Pass, the Solitude Trail turned ESE staying well above the lake’s S shore. North Clear Creek flows out of the SE end of Florence Lake. When Lupe got to where she could see the outlet, the views were encouraging!
Though a big stream, North Clear Creek was chock full of rocks. Looper ought to be able to rock hop it! The headwall beyond North Clear Creek was steep, but definitely climbable. Situation excellent! Lupe headed for North Clear Creek.
E end of Florence Lake. Golden Lakes are up in the canyon beyond the headwall on the far shore. The waterfall is difficult to discern, but plunges from the low cliffs L of Center directly into the lake. The North Clear Creek outlet is just out of sight to the R. Photo looks NE.North Clear Creek leaves Florence Lake from the area directly beyond Lupe. Once across the stream, Loop would climb the headwall on the other side staying mostly in the green areas toward the R. Photo looks NE.The upper end of Florence Canyon from the S bank of North Clear Creek as it exits Florence Lake. Photo looks SE.
Lupe was across North Clear Creek in nothing flat. SPHP wasn’t nearly so agile, but rock hopped it, too. Wondering what was taking so long, Loop came partway back to give SPHP encouragement.
North Clear Creek outlet from Florence Lake. Lupe shot across across the rock-choked stream in no time at all. She’s the brown speck on the R at the edge of the greenery on the N bank. Photo looks NNE.Florence Lake from the North Clear Creek outlet. Photo looks W.
Once across North Clear Creek, the easy part was over. The Solitude Trail turned ESE disappearing down Florence Canyon. A relentless trek higher was about to begin. More than 2.5 miles and 2,000 vertical feet of up, all the way to the as yet unseen summit of Bomber Mountain.
The first step was to get up the 300 foot high headwall NE of Florence Lake. The climb was steep, but not bad. Lanes of vegetation allowed Lupe to avoid much more difficult areas of nothing but rock. The worst part was simply how played out SPHP felt from yesterday’s long march to Gunboat Lake. Starting off tired wasn’t good. Bomber Mountain was going to be a long, long day.
A spectacular day, though! The view of Florence Lake from the top of the headwall was amazing.
Florence Lake from the headwall. North Clear Creek is below on the L. Florence Pass is L of the big snow bank farthest L on the opposite shore. Base camp at Gunboat Lake is out of sight below the dark distant ridge on the L. Photo looks SW.
The original intention was to go up the big canyon NE of the headwall at least far enough to see the Golden Lakes from High Point 11328. Lupe started off that way, but the terrain was really rough. Patches of green here and there, but mostly broken rock. Progress was slow despite not gaining much elevation.
Heading up the canyon NE of the headwall. The intention was to go far enough to see the Golden Lakes from High Point 11328 (in view within the canyon a little R of Center – topo map). Photo looks NE.
Loop got fairly close to High Point 11328 before SPHP decided it wasn’t worth the effort. The Carolina Dog was no longer rock hopping, but scrambling among huge boulders. She was good at it, but SPHP was barely moving. Wasting too much time! Better get above all this giant debris.
Abandoning the High Point 11328 idea, Lupe scrambled E directly up the side of the canyon. Also slow going at first, but no worse than down below and at least getting higher. Conditions began to improve. Scattered green lanes of vegetation appeared. Making progress again! Heart, lungs, and legs dictated the pace instead of obstacles.
This is way better than down among all those huge boulders! Photo looks ENE.
Lupe never did see the Golden Lakes on the way up. She was too far E. The climb went on and on, but this was the worst of it. Loop must have been feeling the effects of yesterday’s long march, too. She wanted to stop often to rest and be petted.
SPHP could hardly disagree. The danger was in sitting around too long. Would be so easy to simply get wrapped up in relaxing and enjoying the views, and end up proceeding too slowly to ever get there. SPHP tried to keep the rest breaks short.
Puppy, ho! Onward! Rinse and repeat. Endlessly.
The views became ever more impressive. Gradually the going became easier. The slope of the terrain was slackening. Good thing. Despite, or perhaps because of the glorious surroundings, energy was fading, too. The terrain led Lupe to turn more and more to the NE, then NNE.
A high point that had been visible from way back at base camp was off to the N. It was still far away, but Lupe was definitely getting closer. Was that the summit of Bomber Mountain? If not, it had to be close to it, didn’t it?
Getting easier, but still a long way to the high point at Center that might be the summit of Bomber Mountain. Golden Lakes, which Lupe never saw on the way up, are hidden down in the canyon on the L. High Point 12436 is the lower of the 2 ridges at far R. Photo looks N.
Higher, higher! Vegetation all but disappeared. Nothing but rock.
At each rest break, SPHP tried to judge how high Lupe was by comparing her position with other mountaintops where the elevation was known. Finally, it was possible to see that Looper was getting nearly as high as Mather Peaks(12,400 ft.) off to the S. This had to be High Point 12436 on the topo map that Loop was coming to.
Approaching High Point 12436. Still 0.75 mile S of the summit of Bomber Mountain. Photo looks NE.Mather Peaks(12,400 ft.) are the two high points on the L. Peak 12328 is on the R. It had looked possible to access these peaks from the ridge SE of Florence Lake. Photo looks S.
Lupe got very close to the top of High Point 12346, but passed W of it. She actually lost elevation heading NW around cliffs to the N. By now a small distant ridge E of the high point SPHP had thought might be the summit of Bomber Mountain was in view.
That distant ridge was it! The true summit of Bomber Mountain. Only 0.75 mile away now! Tired, very tired, but Lupe was going to get there!
W of High Point 12436, the true summit of Bomber Mountain comes into view (R). Photo looks N.A steep snowbank clings to cliffs N of High Point 12436. True summit of Bomber Mountain (Center) dead ahead. Photo looks N.Near the steep snowbank N of High Point 12436. Photo looks E.Peering down the canyon E of High Point 12436 (R). The northernmost of the Powell Lakes is in view. Photo looks SE.
N of High Point 12436 a huge, narrow ridge extended far to the E. This ridge was nearly as high as the summit of Bomber Mountain, still 0.5 mile farther N. Towering cliffs surrounded the ridge, and ran all along the entire E face of Bomber Mountain.
A 12,580 ft. saddle N of the scary E ridge led to the summit of Bomber Mountain. The rocks got smaller and the terrain easier as Lupe made her way toward it. She crossed a snowfield on the way, but it wasn’t steep. Upon reaching the saddle, Lupe could see Lake 11124 and a string of smaller ones off to the NE.
Loop relaxes 0.5 mile from the summit. Part of Bomber Mountain’s giant SW ridge is in view. Photo looks WSW.At the 12,580 ft. saddle. Bomber Mountain’s E ridge is on the R. Lake 11124 is the closest one below. The large lake in the distance is Cloud Peak Reservoir. Photo looks NE.
0.25 mile and 260 vertical feet to go! Lupe headed up yet another rocky slope, steeper than what she had gone through on the way to the saddle. Nothing too difficult. Wasn’t long before she was almost there. Off to the W Looper could see the high rocky knob that had been visible from base camp.
Almost there! The rocky knob that had been visible from base camp is on the L. The true summit is a bit farther off the R edge of this photo. Photo looks WSW.
And then she was there! Lupe scrambled up a jumble of large rocks. A small cairn sat near the high point. The summit of Bomber Mountain was on the brink of a dizzying precipice. The high point visible from camp could be seen from here, too. It looked every bit as high as where the cairn was. If she had time later on, Loop would go over there, too.
Success! Lupe stands next to Bomber Mountain’s summit cairn. Photo looks WSW.Looking WSW along the summit ridge. The high point that had been visible from base camp (Center) looked as high as where Lupe was now.
Off to the N was the eye-popping view that the Carolina Dog had come all this way for. Cloud Peak(13,167 ft.), mightiest of the Bighorn Range, was on display in all its magnificent glory!
Cloud Peak(13,167 ft.) (L) is the highest peak of the Bighorn Mountains. Farther away, straight up from Lupe’s head, Mount Woolsey(12,978 ft.) and Black Tooth Mountain(13,005 ft.) are together at Center. The E end of Glacier Lake is seen on the R. Photo looks NW.
A metal canister containing a registry was laying on a rock amid the highest ones. SPHP signed in for Lupe.
This metal canister containing a registry was found as shown amid the highest rocks.
Bomber Mountain is named after a B-17 Flying Fortress that crashed into one of it’s vast ridges on June 28th, 1943 during World War II. All 10 men aboard were killed. Along with the climber registry, the canister contained a separate Bomber registry commemorating the crash victims.
B-17 Flying Fortress crash registry.
The weather was near perfect. Clouds were building to the NE, but the wind was out of the W at 10 mph. The sky was clear in that direction, and the temperature was a pleasant 60°F. There didn’t appear to be any urgency at all to start back down the mountain. Fabulous!
Neither Lupe nor SPHP were anxious to leave. However, after a quick look at the stunning views, a longer rest break was in order. The highest rocks were a jumble with no good place for Lupe to get comfortable. W of the summit was a shelf of flatter rocks 10 feet lower. Lupe and SPHP retreated down there for food, water, and to simply relax.
Lupe taking it easy at her Bomber Mountain break area W of the summit.
Resting felt great. The views were grand. The weather cooperative. For an hour and a half Lupe and SPHP hung around the summit area, sometimes down at or near the break spot, sometimes up at the very top. Last night’s worries were but a memory. Lupe was really here! Her Bomber Mountain experience was superb!
Glacier Lake (L), Sapphire Lake (Center), and Diamond Lake (R). Photo looks NNE.A newly rested mighty American Dingo returns to the Bomber Mountain summit cairn. Cloud Peak (Center). Mount Woolsey and Black Tooth Mountain together on the R (above Lupe;s back). Photo looks NW.Hey, look! I’m even higher than the cairn (R)! … For pity sake Loop! Don’t get any closer to the edge!Cloud Peak (R). Photo looks WNW.Loop up top among the clouds. Photo looks NE.Looper on the brink along the edge of the rest area. The views weren’t too shabby from here, either! Cloud Peak (L), Mount Woolsey and Black Tooth Mountain (Center). Peak12590 (R) beyond Lupe. Photo looks NW.Looking W at the canyon separating Bomber Mountain from Cloud Peak.Part of the steepish N face of Bomber Mountain (L). Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.Cloud Peak (Center) from Bomber Mountain. Photo looks NW.
Of course, the stupendous views to the NW and N of the most rugged part of the Bighorn Range held the attention more than what lay in any other direction. Cloud Peak(13,167 ft.), Mount Woolsey(12,978 ft.), Black Tooth Mountain(13,005 ft.), Peak12590 and Peak 12644 were all spread out in a glorious panoramic display along with Glacier, Sapphire and Diamond Lakes.
That didn’t mean there weren’t other splendid scenes to gaze upon, too! Strung out along the lofty spine of the Bighorn Range were Peak 12328, Mather Peaks(12,400 ft.) and others beyond them to the S. Lupe might even have seen Darton Peak(12,275 ft.), but it was very far away.
Looking S along the spine of the Bighorn Range. Mather Peaks are on either side of Center. Peak 12328 is on the R. Closer at hand is the 12,580 ft. saddle Lupe had come up by. Part of Bomber Mountain’s E ridge is on the L. High Point 12436 is along the edge beyond the crevasse R of Center.Bomber Mountain’s E ridge. Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.
Well past mid-afternoon. Getting back to Gunboat Lake was a long trek. Despite being downhill nearly the entire way, the rocky terrain would prevent as rapid a return as one might expect. Time for a few closeups of the grandest peaks, then Lupe would have to be on her way.
Cloud Peak(13,167 ft.). Lupe had been there in 2016! Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.Black Tooth Mountain(13,005 ft.) juts up from behind Mount Woolsey(12,978 ft.), the high, short ridge at Center. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.Peak12,590 (L) looms in the distance well beyond Glacier Lake. Photo looks NNW, again with plenty of help from the telephoto lens.Well, that’s about it from the summit of Bomber Mountain! Stick around a little longer, though, if you’d like to see the beautiful Golden Lakes on the way down!
Leaving the official summit, Lupe traveled WSW toward that seemingly equally high point that had been visible from base camp. She got only partway there. The WSW high point was farther than it first appeared. It was taking longer than expected to get there across the endless rocks.
So close, but yet so far! Too much time had gone by already. Shouldn’t have dilly-dallied quite so long at the official summit. SPHP decided Loop would have to settle for a photo.
The WSW high point that Lupe started for, but which SPHP made her give up on. Photo looks W with lots of help from the telephoto lens.
After that, it was down, down, down! Lupe made good progress. Being able to see what was ahead from above helped to avoid the worst of the boulder fields. The Carolina Dog stayed farther W this time, hoping to get a look at the Golden Lakes. Eventually they did come into view.
Looking back up at the official summit of Bomber Mountain shortly after starting the descent. Photo looks N.Gunboat Lake (Center) was in view during much of the descent. Peak 11080 (Center) is in the distance. Photo looks SW.Gunboat Lake (L), Florence Lake (Center), and a couple of the Golden Lakes (lower R) from Bomber Mountain’s S ridge. Photo looks SW.Lupe did get to see the Golden Lakes (lower R) after all. Somehow they were much bluer than she expected. Photo looks SW.Uppermost of the Golden Lakes with Bomber Mountain’s SW ridge in the background. Photo looks NW.Uppermost of the Golden Lakes with lots of help from the telephoto lens.
How many rocks had Lupe leapt onto or over? Thousands. While going down was faster, even this was tiring work. Loopster was getting sick of the rocks. She wanted to rest and be reassured frequently. Feeling the same way, SPHP obliged, but time was a-wasting. The rest breaks were all as brief as possible.
The sun was behind Bomber Mountain’s SW ridge by the time Lupe reached the headwall overlooking Florence Lake. The American Dingo was thrilled when she finally got down to the Solitude Trail again. No more obstacles, but the sun had set.
Light faded as Lupe and SPHP marched back to Florence Pass and on down toward Gunboat Lake. Clouds were building to the W, but SPHP hadn’t really paid much attention to them. The very minute Looper reached her new Marmot tiny house, a few raindrops fell. A peel of thunder echoed through the mountains.
That was all it took. Lupe and SPHP ducked into the tiny house pronto. Only 2 or 3 minutes later the storm broke. Lightning, thunder, torrential rain! The Marmot tiny house shook violently in a gale that threatened to flatten it. In a darkness rent by flashes of lightning, Lupe stared up at SPHP wide eyes full of concern, while SPHP sought to reassure her the destruction that seemed imminent wasn’t going to happen.
It didn’t. 15 minutes, and it was over. No relapse, just done. The storm sailed off to wherever. In her old tiny house Lupe, SPHP, and every bit of gear would have been drenched. The Marmot tiny house had withstood the storm and leaked only a few drops.
What a day! What an utterly exhausting and exhilarating day! A bite to eat, then cozy, safe, and dry, Lupe and SPHP collapsed for the night.
Back at the headwall overlooking Florence Lake near day’s end, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 7-15-18
Part 2 of Day 6 plus Days 7 through 9 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming & Beyond!
Greybull, WY, 6-15-18, mid-afternoon – Renner Butte had saved the day! Lupe had scored a peakbagging success. Happily, there was still time to get into position for Big Pryor Mountain(8,786 ft.) tomorrow, too, even though it was a 2 hour drive away in southern Montana. Lupe and SPHP stopped by the A&W to celebrate Renner Butte with a cheeseburger.
The sky was clouding up. NW of Greybull an approaching storm forced SPHP to pull off the highway to shelter the G6 under a cottonwood tree. A cloudburst ensued with wild wind, small hail, and driving rain. Even in the G6, the hail and thunder made Lupe cringe. Nothing major, though. 10 minutes and it was all over.
At a fuel stop in Lovell came faintly disturbing news. The L rear tire on the G6 needed several psi of air again after having been aired up earlier this morning. Big Pryor Mountain was out in the middle of nowhere. SPHP over-inflated the tire. That ought to do it!
SPHP was being clever, oh, so clever! The tires on the G6 were all near the end of their useful life. New tires were going to happen, but not until after this Dingo Vacation. In the meantime, SPHP was squeezing a little extra mileage out of them. The L rear tire had been leaking slowly for the past couple of months. Until now it had only required a shot of air once a week. Evidently the leak was now worse. A bit worrisome. but the tire really only needed to hold out one more day. After that, Big Pryor Mountain would be over and done with. Nothing else on Lupe’s remaining agenda was so remote.
With the American Dingo’s eager assistance, half a dozen ice cream bars purchased in Lovell were ancient history by the time SPHP turned R (E) off Hwy 310 at Warren 5 miles into Montana. Not much at Warren, mostly industrial stuff and a wide gravel road.
Must have rained hard here, too. The gravel road was soft and wet. Trucks sprayed mud at the G6. SPHP looked for a turn N. The gravel road wound NE giving encouragement several times, but after 5 miles SPHP gave up. The turn couldn’t possibly be this far from the highway.
It wasn’t. Less than 0.25 mile from Hwy 310, there it was. In a low area was an obvious turn N on Rail Bed Road. Doh!
Rail Bed Road was narrower, rockier, and firmer than the wide gravel road had been. No traffic at all. The road was fine for 10 miles, all the way to a junction with Pryor Road. Somewhere along the way, Rail Bed Road had become Pryor Gap Road.
10 miles N of Warren, MT at the junction of Pryor Gap Road (Rail Bed Road) and Pryor Road. Photo looks NE.Yes, let’s give both roads virtually the same name. That will be helpful! 5 miles farther on, there’s a Pryor Mountain Road, too, to eliminate any confusion. Photo looks SE.
3 miles N of the junction, Lupe entered the Crow Indian Reservation. Pryor Gap Road deteriorated. Stones and potholes!
Apparently the reservation was open range. Cattle were everywhere! Lupe was overjoyed! By the time she reached Pryor Mountain Road, the Carolina Dog was foaming at the mouth. Hundreds of cows had paused their grazing to look up and see what the shrill commotion was about. Only those right along the road had bothered to trot a little farther off into the grasslands to save their hearing.
Gasping for breath, Lupe looked enormously pleased with herself. The only disappointing part was that SPHP wouldn’t let her out of the G6 to pursue a couple of juicy steaks right this very minute! She would have been outnumbered 1,000 to 1, but that didn’t enter into her calculations in the slightest.
Into the trap, 6-15-18, evening – Dennis Poulin had written a trip report on his journey to Big Pryor Mountain back in July, 2011 which included good driving directions. Upon reaching Pryor Mountain Road 15 miles N of Warren, SPHP was fairly certain where Lupe was now. Dennis had come in from the W instead of the S, but this intersection had to be the 16.6 mile point in his access route description. A R (E) turn here would put Lupe on the same track.
SPHP hesitated. Dennis had mentioned that the road got rougher upon entering the Crow Indian Reservation, which it certainly had. How rough was it going to get? Pryor Mountain Road went through another 5.5 miles of reservation E of here before entering the Custer National Forest. Was the road any better there? Dennis hadn’t said. From this junction, it was still nearly 14 miles to where Dennis had parked before making his ascent.
If Pryor Mountain Road wasn’t any worse than Pryor Gap Road had just been, the G6 could make it. Still, this was mighty remote territory. Lupe hadn’t see another vehicle since Warren. That leaky tire was a concern. On the bright side, it hadn’t rained much here. The road was basically dry – just a little damp. The intersection was actually in good shape. On the dark side, a ground fog had settled in since reaching the reservation. What was going to happen?
Looking E along Pryor Mountain Road roughly 15 miles N of Warren. The G6 is pointed N on Pryor Gap Road and needs to turn R (E) here to get to Big Pryor Mountain.
Lupe had come all this way. She was here now, and it was probably now or never. May as well try it. Could always turn around if the road got too bad, right? SPHP made the turn.
Pryor Mountain Road started off fine. Before long, though, it was deteriorating. The road wasn’t rocky, but full of ruts. A high clearance vehicle wouldn’t have had much trouble, but the G6 was forced to straddle the ruts to avoid getting high centered.
Slowly, carefully! The ruts became so deep that turning around was out of the question. The G6 would just get hung up. There were no breaks. Backing up was impossible. Rear visibility was too poor. Only by going forward, could SPHP keep the tires up on the narrow ridges between the deeply churned ruts.
Wow! This would be an absolute quagmire if it rained hard. Probably wouldn’t. Significant rainfall is rare in sagebrush country, although this was the time of year for it. The ground fog lifted, revealing lots of other clouds around. Not good. Not good at all.
The drive was nerve-wracking. To help calm SPHP, Loop about busted a gut barking at the endless herds of cattle. After what seemed like an eternity, but was actually only a couple of miles, the nice ranch Dennis had mentioned appeared on the R. Farther on was a message from the Crow Indian Tribe encouraging SPHP to stay on the road.
SPHP was rapidly coming to the conclusion that the Crow Indians don’t have much of a problem with trespassers who don’t have high clearance, 4WD vehicles.
Made it! When Lupe arrived at the Custer National Forest, it was SPHP’s turn to be overjoyed. USFS Road No. 23085 was in great shape, just as good as anything back home in the Black Hills. What a relief!
Wow! Just look at that gorgeous USFS Road No. 23085 on the L! Oh, yeah, there’s part of Big Pryor Mountain and an American Dingo in the picture, too. Photo looks SE.
0.5 mile farther, SPHP stopped at a map kiosk Dennis had mentioned. It didn’t have any maps, except for one that was posted. The kiosk came shortly before a L turn for the Sage Creek Campground.
Big Pryor Mountain from USFS Road No. 23085 at the turn into the Sage Creek campground. Photo looks SE.
Skipping the campground, SPHP drove farther up USFS Road No. 23085. The road climbed steadily while heading SE along Big Pryor Mountain’s N slope. SPHP wanted to get high enough to see what the weather was like. Finally there was a spot where there was a view. Lots of clouds in all directions, but off to the NW, the direction the prevailing winds come from, there was blue sky.
Whew! Excellent! It was going to be OK. No need to flee. In less than 24 hours, Lupe would have climbed Big Pryor Mountain and be out of here. SPHP drove back to a big open gravel site and parked for the night.
Blue sky at the end of the day in the only direction SPHP thought mattered. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.
Trapped like rats, 6-16-18, 1:38 AM – Rain! SPHP was instantly awake. Not a deluge, but it was raining hard and steady. Make a run for it before Pryor Mountain Road turned into a hopeless quagmire? How long had this been going on? SPHP opened the door of the G6. Lupe darted out into the night. The ground was soaked. Puddles all over the place.
Too late? Pryor Mountain Road had been marginal enough on the way in when it was dry and there was light. The fleeting thought of trying to drive back out in the night during a rainstorm when the ruts were already wet, slick, and turning to deep mud was absurd. That would be nuts, impossible! The G6 would slide into a rut and be hopelessly stuck. Yeah, it was too late. Stuck here now. Better to just wait it out and trust in sagebrush country. Probably just a shower that will be over soon.
It was hard to hold that thought. Lupe came back soaked, but had no trouble dozing peacefully. SPHP didn’t pass out again until 2 hours later. The rain was still coming down.
6-16-18, 6:50 AM – Light out. Not raining, but the sky is totally overcast. Fog hides the upper slopes of Big Pryor Mountain. The sooner the sun returns to burn these clouds away, the better! While the road dries out, Lupe can take on Big Pryor Mountain. Until then, it’s back to sleep!
6-16-18, Noon – Ugh! It rained all morning. Still raining. A patch of blue off to the W an hour ago soon vanished. Not a soul around. Looks like it could rain for a month.
We’re trapped like rats, aren’t we, SPHP?
6-16-18, 1:05 PM – Stopped raining 20 minutes ago. A very muddy white truck just drove by. A hole has developed in the clouds overhead. For the last 10 minutes, it’s been almost sunny! Blue sky has reappeared in the W, but can’t seem to make it over here.
6-16-18, 1:12 PM – Two more vehicles just went past, caked in mud to their roofs.
Suddenly, conditions were improving rapidly! Blue skies and sunshine! Of course, so much rain had fallen, escape was impossible. No use even thinking about it, yet. Besides, Lupe still needed to climb Big Pryor Mountain! With a turn of the key, the G6 sprang to life. SPHP drove SE up USFS Road No. 23085 looking for Tie Flat Road.
Big Pryor Mountain, 6-16-18, 2:10 PM – Tie Flat Road was easy to find. A sign for it was on the R (S) side of No. 23085 at a big curve where the road started to level out high on an open ridge. SPHP parked the G6 just past Tie Flat Road along No. 23085. Loop charged out ready for action! Big Pryor Mountain, a huge, long ridge with steep forested slopes loomed to the SW. Snowbanks could be seen near the upper lip of the mountain.
At the junction of USFS Road No. 23085 & Tie Flat Road. Photo looks SW.Ahh, this is more like it! At least I’m all rested up and ready to take on Big Pryor Mountain! Loop at the start of Tie Flat Road. Photo looks SSE.
Lupe hadn’t gone even 0.1 mile along Tie Flat Road when off to the R an overgrown road led through a field of wildflowers and sagebrush toward the forest at the base of Big Pryor Mountain. Two small signs were visible a little way up this road. Lupe and SPHP went to check them out.
One of the signs merely said “No Motor Vehicles” allowed, but the other said Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31. The topo map showed an ice cave near the top of Big Pryor Mountain. Dennis Poulin had mentioned a nice trail to an ice cave just below the summit, too. Most promising!
After barely 0.1 mile on Tie Flat Road, Lupe took a R onto this grassy side road. This is the start of Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31. Photo looks SSW.We’re in luck! This must be the way! Photo looks SSW.
The wildflowers were gorgeous, but the road soon entered a park-like open forest with a carpet of greenery. Lupe gained elevation gradually. The rate of climb steepened shortly before she reached a small clearing.
In the open forest. Photo looks SSW.
A sign next to the road Lupe had taken up said “Motorized Route Ends”. Two roads to the R left the clearing heading NW. The upper one had a marker designating it as 2002.1A. The lower one was 2002.A. Another unmarked road left the clearing going SE. Along it, Lupe could see a wooden sign 100 to 120 feet away.
Upon investigation, this sign also said Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31. A faint trail left the road here heading SW along the R edge of a ravine. This trail immediately disappeared among bushes.
Looking NW back toward the small clearing which the first road had entered from the R (NE). The sign for Crater Ice Cave No. 31 is seen on the L.Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31 disappears into bushes starting up Big Pryor Mountain from this 2nd sign. Photo looks WSW.
200 feet (distance not elevation) got Lupe through the bushes. Beyond the bushes, Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31 was a good single track. The trail now worked its way up the NE slope of Big Pryor Mountain(8,786 ft.) in a series of long switchbacks.
Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31 became a good single track. Lupe easily followed its long switchbacks up Big Pryor Mountain’s forested NE slope.
For a long way, only the forest could be seen. Looper encountered only minor deadfall timber across the lower portions of the trail, and none at all higher up. She had a great time exploring ahead of SPHP.
Lupe had a great time exploring both on and off the trail.
Total elevation gain from where the G6 was parked up to the top of Big Pryor Mountain was a little over 1,700 feet. Loopster gained the great majority of it on the switchbacks. As she got close to the upper edge of the mountain, the forest thinned out. Lupe began to have views of East Pryor Mountain(8,776 ft.) off to the NE, and could sometimes see the G6 far below.
Twice Lupe and SPHP heard voices below. They didn’t sound far off, but no one ever appeared. The trail became fainter again as it finally left the trees. By then it hardly mattered. Lupe didn’t have much farther to go to reach the top of the mountain.
Nearing the upper edge of Big Pryor Mountain’s NE slope Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31 becomes fainter as it leaves the forest. Photo looks SE.
Just below the top, Lupe crossed two large snowbanks. This was the area where the ice cave was supposed to be. Loop never actually saw the cave. Perhaps it was hidden beneath the snow? Seemed likely.
Loop crosses a large snowbank that may have been hiding and blocking the entrance to the ice cave. Photo looks WSW.
SPHP had lost whatever remained of Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31 by the time Lupe crested the upper edge of Big Pryor Mountain(8,786 ft.). Ahead a vast rolling plain extended far to the S and NW. A cairn with a pole sat 500 feet off to the WSW at the true summit. The American Dingo headed straight for it.
Loop at the true summit of Big Pryor Mountain. The high ground in the distance on the R is the location of the Shriver Benchmark. Photo looks NW.
A road next to the summit cairn sported yet another sign for Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31 as it headed off to the N. So much for SPHP’s tracking abilities!
Loop by a 3rd sign for Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31.
Looper checked out the huge summit cairn before taking a sniff around looking for a survey benchmark. The Ice Cave benchmark was easily found 10 feet E of the cairn.
At the huge summit cairn. The apparently higher ground seen on the L is an illusion magnified by the use of the telephoto lens. Photo looks NNW.Shriver Benchmark (Center) appears higher. but is actually 6 feet lower according to the topo map. Perspective is again distorted by the telephoto lens. Photo looks NW.The Ice Cave survey benchmark is only 10 feet E of the cairn. Photo looks W.Ice Cave survey benchmark.
A 10 mph SW breeze blew as Lupe and SPHP enjoyed a short break. The giant open plain provided sweeping views in all directions.
Looking ENE toward East Pryor Mountain, another vast ridge only 10 feet lower than Big Pryor Mountain.Looking SE toward the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming.
Lupe journeyed a little S from the cairn for a better view of Big Pryor Mountain’s long S ridge.
Big Pryor Mountain‘s long SSE ridge. Photo looks S.
With such a huge mountaintop to explore, Lupe didn’t want to spend all her time just hanging around the summit cairn. Big Pryor Mountain has a 2nd high point only 6 feet lower at the Shriver Benchmark(8,780 ft.) more than a mile to the NW. Wandering over that way looked like fun.
Yeah, we’re going over there next!Shriver Benchmark area from the Big Pryor Mountain summit cairn. Photo looks NW.
A jeep trail headed NW toward the Shriver Benchmark area. Lupe stuck with it part of the way, but this was super easy terrain. For the most part she traveled S of the road exploring this and that.
Loop by a big puddle on the way to Shriver Benchmark (R). Photo looks WNW.
Approaching the Shriver Benchmark area, it dawned on SPHP that Lupe might have a very hard time finding the actual benchmark. There was a tremendous amount of open ground to explore all at nearly the exact same elevation.
As Lupe got closer, she could see a couple of small rock outcroppings near each other at what appeared to be the highest point. The first thing to try was to check out those rocks.
Loop astride one of two small rock outcroppings which seemed to be at the high point of the Shriver Benchmark area. Photo looks W.
Lupe hopped up on one of the two rocks. She instantly spotted a survey benchmark right next to her on a slightly lower rock!
And you thought I’d never find it! Looky there, SPHP! Lupe finds a survey benchmark right next to the first rock she jumped up on. The true summit of Big Pryor Mountain is over at the high ground seen in the distance on the R. Photo looks SE.
OK, so that was ridiculously easy, but the survey benchmark Lupe had found wasn’t the actual Shriver Benchmark, but Shriver No. 2.
Lupe had found Shriver Benchmark No. 2.
An arrow on Shriver Benchmark No. 2 pointed WSW toward another group of rocks. Even though these rocks were clearly lower, when Lupe got over to them she quickly found the actual Shriver Benchmark.
Lupe at the actual Shriver Benchmark. It’s right in front of her, but not easily seen in this photo. Photo looks N.At the same spot. Shriver Benchmark is now easily seen in front of Lupe.Finding the actual Shriver Benchmark seen here was much easier than expected.
Lupe had accomplished what she’d set out to do. However, she could see more rocks off to the NW. Maybe Shriver Benchmark No. 1 was over there? Since it was such a nice day now and she had nothing but time, she might as well go take a look.
Sure enough, Shriver Benchmark No. 1 was at the second group of rocks she came to.
Shriver Benchmark No. 1 is visible in Lupe’s shadow. Photo looks W.Same spot, but looking NW.Shriver Benchmark No. 1.
Shriver Benchmark No. 1 was as far as Lupe was going. She took a break while SPHP admired the views.
Taking it easy by Shriver Benchmark No. 1. Photo looks N.View to the SW from Shriver Benchmark No. 1.
Having been to all 3 Shriver Benchmarks now, it still seemed like the first couple of rocks over at Shriver Benchmark No. 2 were the actual high point. On the way back, Lupe returned to stand on the second of those two rocks, in case it was a bit higher than the first one she’d tried.
Back at Shriver Benchmark No. 2, but on the other rock. The true summit of Big Pryor Mountain (Center) is in the distance beyond Lupe. Photo looks SE.
The late afternoon trek back to the true summit of Big Pryor Mountain was relaxing and gorgeous. By the time Lupe got to the cairn, clouds were gathering off to the NW.
Back at the cairn after a lovely excursion to Shriver Benchmark. Photo looks NW.
The clouds would take a while to get here, but Lupe didn’t linger much longer up on Big Pryor Mountain. Mainly because she was eager to get back to the forest to search for squirrels.
About to head down. Photo looks WNW.
The long switchbacks on Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31 made the descent pleasant and easy. Lupe had a blast! All too soon, she was trotting out into the field of wildflowers and sagebrush near Tie Flat Road.
Back on Crater Ice Cave Trail No. 31 during the descent.A typical view of Looper leading the way.Well, we’re back below the little clearing again now. Our Big Pryor Mountain adventure won’t be over when we get to the G6, though! Wonder if SPHP has thought of a way out of our predicament?Wildflowers and sagebrush nearing Tie Flat Road.Big Pryor Mountain and the Shriver Benchmark were fun! Now for the great escape!
6-16-18, 7:04 PM, 59°F back at USFS Road No. 23085 – Big Pryor Mountain had been a wonderful respite from the increasingly critical issue of how to get out of here. When Loopster reached the G6 again, the L rear tire pressure was down to 28 psi. Fine and dandy for the moment, only 2 psi below the recommended 30. Yet it was nothing to be complacent about. The pressure was down 12 psi from the 40 SPHP had overinflated it to only yesterday.
The brilliant plan SPHP had formulated by now was mighty thin gruel. Expecting to see a complete quagmire, Lupe was going to head back to the edge of the Crow Indian Reservation to see what condition the road out was in, then SPHP would drive over to the Sage Creek Campground to see if anyone there had any ideas.
So Loopster leapt into the G6 to enjoy a comfy ride atop her pillows and blankets. SPHP began driving back down USFS Road No. 23085. A few miles later, suddenly the dash flashed a warning. 0 psi! Oh, joy! That dang L rear tire must have finally completely blown out.
If only! The news was worse than that. When SPHP got out, the leaky L rear tire looked the same, but the L front tire was totally shot. Superb! Two bad tires now. One completely useless, and another destined to be within another day or two, if Lupe couldn’t get back to civilization. Loop lounged about near the side of the road while SPHP unloaded enough stuff out of the trunk to dig out the G6’s rinky-dink spare donut tire and required tools to swap it for the flat.
20 minutes later the job was done. The pathetic, but necessary donut was on. The flat was in the back seat. The G6 had even less clearance now than before. SPHP finally engaged a brain cell. It was idiotic to put the donut on the front! The G6 was front wheel drive. It would be far better to have a wider, taller tire up front. A regular tire would provide way more clearance and traction than the skinny little donut of doom, and would be far easier to keep up on the ridges between the ruts in the terrible road to freedom.
Alright. One more time. SPHP took the donut off and returned the flat to the L front position. SPHP then removed all the lug nuts from the R rear wheel intending to put the donut back there prior to moving the R rear tire to the L front. The lug nuts were almost impossible to loosen, but by jumping up and down on a little crow bar, SPHP got it done. Hah! Take that, uncooperative beast!
Nah. Even with all the lug nuts off, the R rear wheel was frozen in place. Probably hadn’t been off since the tire was brand new. No matter what SPHP did, the wheel wouldn’t break loose. Simply grand!
Well, even the leaky L rear tire was a better choice for up front than the dang donut of doom. The R rear lug nuts went back on. Another battle ensued with the L rear lug nuts, but they also yielded to the crow bar. Same result. That wheel wasn’t budging either. No alternative. The donut had to go back up front. Sheesh!
The sun had set by the time it was all done. Onward! The G6 charged down USFS Road No. 23085. Light was fading as the American Dingo reached the Crow Indian Reservation. Ahead were endless huge mud puddles. The G6 negotiated the first one. No way! This was madness. SPHP chickened out and backed up before it was too late. Yeah, better go check out Sage Creek campground, and see if someone there had any suggestions.
The campground was only a mile away. Summertime! But Lupe arrived at dusk to find Sage Creek Campground totally deserted.
The Great Escape, 6-17-18, 6:35 AM – The world was gray. A light mist was falling. No one else had shown up overnight. L rear tire at 25 psi. Still good for now. If the weather had been better, maybe Lupe would have gone on to East Pryor Mountain, but other trip reports SPHP had seen had indicated that taking the G6 on that road wouldn’t have been a good idea. In any case, East Pryor Mountain was a long march farther yet from civilization.
During breakfast, SPHP pondered the options. There weren’t that many. Probably time to admit defeat. Progressive Insurance had been taking SPHP’s money for years. Lupe had roadside assistance! Maybe it was time to give Flo a call and see what she could do? A flatbed tow truck that could keep the G6 up out of the mud of the Crow Indian Reservation would be ideal.
6-17-18, 7:10 AM – Flo, Flo! See how you are? Flo wasn’t answering. How could she? SPHP had no cell phone service. Looked like Loopster was in for a ride. If the Carolina Dog could get high enough, Flo would pick up. In no particular rush, SPHP got things ready to go.
6-17-18, 8:28 AM – L rear tire at 24 psi. Steady rain. Situation not getting any better. Loop and SPHP left Sage Creek Campground. Back up USFS Road No. 23085! SPHP stopped at several high points, but Lupe made it all the way to the highest spot on No. 23085 beyond Tie Flat Road. Nada! No phone service anywhere. L rear tire at 21 psi. More rain.
One more possibility. From up on Big Pryor Mountain yesterday, Lupe had seen another road heading down into the canyon S of the big saddle over to East Pryor Mountain. That road had to connect to No. 23085 only a bit farther ahead. Maybe it was another way out? Even if it was, this alternate route had to be many miles back to a highway. The chances that it would be passable for the G6 the entire way weren’t good at all.
May as well check it out while the L rear tire still had some pressure. Couldn’t hurt.
Crooked Creek Road is actually a continuation of No. 23085. It was a sharp R turn at the junction with USFS Road No. 2849 leading to East Pryor Mountain. No. 23085 was narrower here, but in encouragingly good shape as Lupe and SPHP started down. Lupe had gone only a mile or so, when suddenly there was an amazing sight. Off to the R (W) were 4 big white pickup trucks and a trailer! Several large tents were set up among the trees. A big group of people were out in the rain, apparently packing up to leave.
Lupe and SPHP met Chris, a land surveyor and scout master of Boy Scout Troop No. 27 out of Billings, Montana. Chris and some others had come up Crooked Creek Road from Cowley, Wyoming to spend the weekend, but the rain was chasing them out. Chris described the road up as dicey in spots even in his huge truck. He’d had to charge through several points fast to avoid the possibility of sliding off the “edge”.
Fabulous! Crooked Creek Road was officially eliminated as an escape route for the measly G6.
Incredibly, Chris had found cell phone service from a high point 100 yards back up Crooked Creek Road. However, if Lupe and SPHP would like a ride to Bridger, Montana, the entirety of Boy Scout Troop No. 42 would soon be departing back out through the Crow Indian Reservation on Pryor Mountain Road.
A moment’s hesitation allowed sufficient time for a thorough review of all options. SPHP accepted.
15 minutes later, it was on! The G6 got abandoned back at the Sage Creek Campground. Lupe, SPHP, a duffel bag and the backpack all made it into Chris’s truck. The G6’s flat tire was tossed in back. A caravan of 4 white trucks, one pulling a large trailer, left Sage Creek Campground and headed for Pryor Mountain Road.
The American Dingo was going mudding!
Huge sprays of water and mud went up as the trucks charged ahead from one deeply rutted muddy trench to the next. Chris couldn’t begin to keep the giant tires of his truck out of the ruts. The truck lurched from side to side, but the caravan kept moving. It would have been a month before the G6 could have gotten through under its own power.
At Bridger, Boy Scout Troop No. 27 stopped at a Conoco station. SPHP thanked Chris for the ride. Soon Lupe and SPHP were hobos sitting alone at a red picnic table outside the gas station – the flat tire, duffel bag, and backpack as sole possessions. The Conoco station had a tire store connected to it. Sunday, though. The tire store was closed.
Well, time for that little chat with Flo! SPHP called Progressive. Flo didn’t answer, but Brenda did. Brenda was wonderfully cooperative. She took down all the information and wrote up a service ticket. The G6 was 27 miles from pavement. Progressive would pay for 15 miles of off highway towing. The rest was on SPHP. Got that? Yes, understandable. Was the G6 unlocked with the keys in it? Uh, no. Oh, well, just call back then when it was.
SPHP explained that wasn’t possible. No way to get back there, and no way to call even if Lupe did. No problem, though. The tow truck coming from Billings would go right through Bridger. The driver could stop at the Conoco station and pick Lupe and SPHP up.
Uh-uh. That was prohibited under the terms of the service contract between Progressive and the towing company. No stops allowed anywhere except at the disabled vehicle. Brenda put the service ticket on hold. Call back when the G6 was unlocked with the keys in it. Meanwhile, have a great day!
The girls at the register in the Conoco station had an idea. Carbon Towing was right here in Bridger. They’d probably give Lupe and SPHP a ride out to the Sage Creek Campground, then call Progressive for SPHP when they got back to town. That might work! SPHP took a business card with a 24/7 emergency call number.
Steven answered on a Sunday afternoon. Don’t bother with all that! Steven knew where Sage Creek Campground was. Carbon Towing could do the job! They had a flatbed tow truck and could retrieve the G6 now. Progressive would still cover it. $350. No sales tax in Montana, either. How about it?
Sounded good. The price was a bargain considering what had to be done. SPHP would call Steven back in a few minutes after checking with Brenda at Progressive first. If Flo was chipping in, it was a go!
Brenda didn’t answer. This time it was Pat. SPHP explained the whole glorious situation all over again. Pat said no problem if SPHP wanted to use Carbon Towing. Progressive would reimburse all covered charges. She explained what information would be needed to submit a claim. SPHP called Steven. Get that flatbed tow truck, and come on over to the Conoco station!
Oh, Loopster! Seems like maybe we’re getting somewhere.
15 minutes later, a Carbon Towing truck showed up. It wasn’t a flatbed, just a regular wrecker. The driver wasn’t Steven, but his brother-in-law Ben.
Ben was fine; the regular wrecker wasn’t. SPHP described the situation. The G6 couldn’t be drug for more than 5.5 miles through those deep ruts in Pryor Mountain Road. The rear bumper would be a road grader! No telling what damage that might do! A flatbed tow truck was needed to keep the G6 up out of the mud, and avoid totaling it. For pity sake!
Calmly, Ben explained. Yes, Carbon Towing has a flatbed tow truck. It is only 2WD. It will get stuck on Pryor Mountain Road, so Carbon Towing wasn’t taking it out there. The regular wrecker was 4WD and could do the job. Ben had brought a dolly assembly, sort of a miniature trailer that the G6’s back tires would rest on. The dolly would raise the tires 6 inches. Should work with minimal damage, if any, to the G6.
6 inches? Was Ben crazy? 2 or 3 feet would be more like it. SPHP again expressed reservations. Need a flatbed truck. Looking to rescue the G6, not tear it to pieces.
Ben replied. Carbon Towing does not have a 4WD flatbed tow truck. If SPHP wanted to search around for a company that does, good luck. The regular wrecker combined with the dolly would get the job done.
SPHP had another go. Ben didn’t realize what it was like out there. Dolly or no dolly, the regular wrecker wasn’t going to be adequate.
Slowly, calmly, deliberately, in a voice devoid of emotion, Ben launched into a speech. It was a fine speech, one he had delivered many times.
I am here as your Carbon Towing professional. It is my job to use my best judgement as an experienced towing professional to retrieve your disabled vehicle while ensuring absolute minimal damage possible under any and all circumstances that may arise.
It went on like that a little longer. When Ben was done, SPHP made him repeat it.
Ben stood waiting for a response. Decision time. Check into a motel in Bridger for the night and ponder some more, or see what fate had in store for the G6 in Carbon Towing’s hands?
It wasn’t going to get any better, was it? Alright. Lupe leapt up into the cab of the Carbon Towing wrecker like it was second nature. Going mudding again!
Ben had another quick service call to make. A lady had locked her keys into her vehicle at the Maverick Station. Ben had the door open and the vehicle unlocked in practically no time. The 27 mile drive back out to the Sage Creek Campground began. In 4WD the wrecker slid around in the ruts on Pryor Mountain Road, but made it through.
Half an hour after reaching Sage Creek Campground, Ben had chains on the wrecker, and the G6 sitting up on the dolly. SPHP remained filled with doubt, but the situation did look better than expected. Back into the cab of the wrecker! Lupe was going mudding on Pryor Mountain Road for the 3rd time today.
Lupe, Ben from Carbon Towing, and the G6 at Sage Creek Campground.
Lupe sat on SPHP’s lap looking out the windows as mud splashed and the wrecker jerked from side to side. At 10 miles per hour, Ben and SPHP chatted. Ben drove with his eye on the rear view mirror the whole time.
Lupe was only a little way into the Crow Indian Reservation when Ben said we’ve lost a strap, stopped, and got out into the mud. All four tires of the G6 were strapped to the dolly. The ruts in the road were so deep, the mud was still up to the tires, putting torque on them to spin them, which loosened the straps. Ben returned a few minutes later saying 2 straps had come off, but they were back on now.
Stop and go! The straps came off repeatedly. Time after time, Ben marched back through the mud to put them back on. Lupe was only a mile back into the Crow Indian reservation when Ben, still staring at the rear view mirror, suddenly exclaimed:
Son of a monkey!
Ben stepped out of the wrecker and was gone. After little while, SPHP could see Ben in the rear view mirror. He had come around to the passenger side of the wrecker. Ben was hunched down in the mud like he was doing deep knee bends, pushing and pulling with all his might. Ben went from one side of the G6 to the other, always pushing and pulling down in the mud. He must have been gone half an hour while Lupe and SPHP remained in the cab. Finally, he returned.
The ruts were so deep, the ridges were pushing on the dolly bar, forcing it to act as a road grader. Force on the tires of the G6 spun the wheels. The whole dolly assembly had been coming apart. Ben had had to let the G6 down into the mud, rebuild the dolly assembly, then get the G6 back up onto it. How on earth he had been able to do all that was beyond SPHP’s imagination, but Lupe was underway again.
Straps kept coming loose. Ben kept stopping to march back through the mud to reattach them. Lupe was a little more than halfway through the Crow Indian Reservation, when the dolly fell apart a second time. Once again, Ben vanished. More pushing and pulling in a sea of mud.
Ben was gone even longer this time. Finally Ben reappeared by Lupe’s window. SPHP needed to come out and take a look. Loop leapt into the mud, too. Back at the G6, Ben explained. He had done his absolute best, but the ruts were so deep the ridges wouldn’t let him pass the dolly’s bars beneath the G6. He could not reassemble the dolly.
Ben said that the ruts didn’t look quite as bad up ahead. With SPHP’s permission, he could drag the G6 another 200 yards, and try again. Yes, the G6’s rear bumper would now be a road grader. Couldn’t be helped. Ben pointed out that the ground was soft, and not too rocky. Damage should be minimal. What did SPHP want to do?
Heh. What a great choice! Abandon the G6 sunk to the axles in the middle of Pryor Mountain Road where the July sun would eventually bake it in as a permanent feature, or drag it as a road grader however far it took to get to where the dolly could be reassembled?
The situation wasn’t entirely unexpected. SPHP seemed to recall certain fears expressed back in Bridger. It was sort of a miracle things had gone this well this far. On the other hand, Ben had certainly gone over and above any reasonable call of duty, spending the entire afternoon in a sea of muck. He had even assured SPHP that Carbon Towing would hold to their $350 quoted charge. No doubt if Ben ever had to do this again, he would add a zero or quit life as a towing professional entirely. Get a nice office job somewhere.
No need to think about it. Only one answer. Onward!
One by one, Ben heaved the heavy metal mud-caked pieces of the dolly up onto the wrecker. Lupe, SPHP and Ben all scrambled back into the cab. Movement was all that mattered. 200 or 300 yards farther, Ben submitted to another session in the muck. The dolly got reassembled. The G6 back up on it. Underway again!
Straps kept falling off. The dolly fell apart a third time. 4.5 hours after leaving Bridger, Ben was in cell phone range. Steven and Ben’s wife both called. What on earth was going on? Ben assured them he had it all under control. Another hour or two and he’d be back in Bridger.
So it went. At last, the intersection of Pryor Mountain Road and Pryor Gap Road, where SPHP had made such a crazy fateful decision 2 days ago, appeared ahead. Ben turned S. After going a mile, he stopped. The G6 could make it the rest of the way on its own from here. Glory be! Was it true?
Ben disassembled the dolly. The G6 was back on Pryor Gap Road. Ben aired the 19 psi leaky rear L tire up to 33 psi. A credit card and Ben was able to process payment on the spot. Ben still had work to do, but Lupe and SPHP were free to go.
The rear bumper was deformed, but the G6 still functioned. It limped into Bridger at 35 to 40 mph on the donut tire. A car wash received a large delivery of Pryor Mountain Road mud. Cars zoomed past as the G6 crept toward Billings at the same pitiful speed, but Lupe got there. Her escape from Big Pryor Mountain was now but a memory.
6-18-18 – Lupe seemed to enjoy wandering past ritzy cafes and art shops in downtown Billings! The G6 was getting 4 new tires, a tie rod, and an alignment. The technician later expressed wonder at the amount of mud and debris packed into what appeared to be brand new front brakes and rotors. He had cleaned it all out.
If the sky hadn’t darkened and the rain begun to pour down, Lupe might have continued her 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains & Beyond. As it was, the day was spent cruising E on I-90 on the best tires the G6 had had in years. A little before 8:00 PM, Lupe was back home in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Several weeks later, a check arrived from Progressive Insurance. That Flo was quite a gal! She had reimbursed the entire $350 towing charge, not just some reduced “covered” amount.
No doubt all’s well that ends well. Big Pryor Mountain(8,786 ft.) had been an incredible experience. SPHP was glad Lupe had been there. Even so, chances are the American Dingo won’t ever visit the summit of East Pryor Mountain.
Lupe, Ben & the G6 at the end of Lupe’s escape from Big Pryor Mountain, Montana 6-17-18
