A squirrel! Lupe bounded after it. The squirrel scrambled to safety up a big tree in Gardner Park. Lupe stood below, her front paws propped up against the tree trunk as she tried to leap up after that elusive rodent, while barking furiously the entire time.
It was early, too early. The sun wasn’t even up yet, although it was light out. Lupe had to stop making such a ruckus. People live right across the street from the park. SPHP persuaded Lupe to give up on the squirrel and return to the G6.
At least it was encouraging to see that Lupe’s paws weren’t too terribly sore. In her excitement over the squirrel, even Lupe had momentarily forgotten about all the horrible cactus she had braved yesterday on Wildcat Mountain(5,025 ft.) while peakbagging with her new friend Jobe Wymore.
It had been windy nearly all night, but the air was still now. The wind was a good thing! SPHP’s boots were dry again. SPHP retrieved them from the roof of the G6 and put them on. Jobe was gone. He was on his way back to Denver today for the flight back home to the Portland, Oregon area. Well, what now Loopster?
Lupe was in Gering, Nebraska, so it was pretty easy to decide what was next. Just W of Gering is Scotts Bluff National Monument. Scotts Bluff was a famous landmark S of the North Platte River back in the days of the Oregon and Mormon Trails. The monument features several easy trails, and even a road to the top of Scotts Bluff.
Lupe arrives bright and early at Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska.
Lupe arrived at the entrance to Scotts Bluff National Monument well before it opens for visitors at 8 AM. Lupe and SPHP wandered around for a while outside the visitor center. High light-colored bluffs stood brilliantly illuminated in the morning sunlight.
Eagle Rock(4,510 ft.) as seen from near the Scotts Bluff National Monument visitor center. Photo looks NW.
Yes, Lupe remembered yesterday evening’s cactus ordeal. Her paws were still quite sore, even if the squirrel had made her forget the pain for a few minutes. Lupe refused to go wandering in the grassy fields. She just knew there was more cactus laying in wait for her! The Carolina Dog was too smart to fall for that again!
Just W of the entrance road was a path up to a display of a wagon being pulled by oxen. SPHP carried Lupe up to it. Lupe sniffed around the oxen. They must have had a bath, because they didn’t sniff like anything. They sure looked clean, too! SPHP told Lupe about how pioneers used to travel W through this area with wagons and oxen like these for hundreds of miles along the Oregon and Mormon Trails.
Lupe was very interested. Why, Oregon, wasn’t that where her new friend Jobe Wymore lived? Lupe could travel W on the Oregon Trail and go see Jobe! Wouldn’t Jobe be surprised to see her again! Lupe was all for it, on a couple of conditions. First, the oxen had to agree to let her ride in the wagon until her paws healed up. Second, she had to be allowed back in the wagon while traveling through any cactus country.
Lupe ready to hit the Oregon trail to go see Jobe!
When the visitor center opened at 8:00 AM, SPHP went in and paid the $5.00 admission fee. Ordinarily, Lupe and SPHP would have taken the 1.6 mile Saddle Rock trail on paw and foot up to the top of Scotts Bluff. However, with Lupe’s sore paws, and much of the Saddle Rock trail exposed to direct morning sun, SPHP decided to just drive to the top.
Lupe near the parking lot on top of Scotts Bluff. Photo looks E.
Two short trails go to overlooks from the parking lot up on Scotts Bluff. Lupe took the North Overlook Trail first.
Lupe and SPHP had hardly started on the trail when Wildcat Mountain and Hogback Mountain came into view on the far S horizon. Lupe had made it to Wildcat Mountain with Jobe Wymore just yesterday evening! She would have gone on to Hogback Mountain, too, if it hadn’t been for all the painful cactus.
Dome Rock(4,547 ft.) (L), Wildcat Mountain(5,025 ft.) (Center on far horizon), and Hogback Mountain(5,062 ft.) (distant ridge on the R) could be seen from near the start of the North Overlook trail. Photo looks S.
There were impressive views in every direction as Lupe explored the North Overlook Trail. She visited the Scotts Bluff high point, and a number of overlooks along the way. If Lupe had been here 160 years ago, she could have seen wagons and oxen down below traveling slowly W up the very wide, flat North Platt River valley.
From near the N end of the North Overlook Trail, Lupe could see Laramie Peak(10,272 ft.). It was 90 miles away in Wyoming, and very faint on the WNW horizon. Laramie Peak was the first mountain Lupe had climbed on her summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming, Colorado and Utah.
Gering, Nebraska from Scotts Bluff. Photo looks ENE.Looking SW from near the N end of the North Overlook Trail.Lupe on the North Overlook Trail. Photo looks SSE toward Scotts Bluff’s high point.
The South Overlook Trail was shorter than the North Overlook Trail. The panoramic views at the S overlook were even better! Chimney Rock, another famous landmark along the Oregon and Mormon Trails, was in sight more than 20 miles to the ESE. The views of Dome Rock, Crown Rock and South Bluff to the S were fabulous. A long, high ridge extended far away to the W.
Lupe could see the Scotts Bluff National Monument visitor center, and the start of the Saddle Rock Trail far below.
Dome Rock (L), Wildcat Mountain (Center L on far horizon), and Hogback Mountain (Center on far horizon) from the South Overlook. Photo looks S.Looking SW from the South Overlook. The first of 3 tunnels on the road coming up to the top of Scotts Bluff is seen below as it passes through Eagle Rock.Chimney Rock, another famous landmark along the Oregon and Mormon Trails, could be seen 20+ miles away to the ESE. Photo taken with telephoto lens.South Bluff(4,700 ft.) (Center) as seen from the South Overlook on Scotts Bluff. Crown Rock(4,610 ft.) is the lower narrow rock ridge on the L. The Scotts Bluff visitor center is seen below on the R. Photo looks SSW.
Lupe had come through 3 tunnels on the way up to the parking lot on top of Scotts Bluff. Since Lupe and SPHP seemed to have the entire national monument to themselves this early in the morning, on the way back down SPHP parked the G6 right on the narrow road. Lupe hopped out for a couple photos of the tunnels.
Looking N back up at the 3rd and highest tunnel. None of the tunnels were very long, but who doesn’t like a tunnel? Very cool!The 2nd (middle) tunnel.
With such an easy drive to the top, and just a couple of short trails to explore, Lupe’s visit to Scotts Bluff National Monument didn’t take very long. It wasn’t even mid-morning yet when Lupe and SPHP exited the national monument.
Of course, there had been lots of displays to look at in the visitor center, but American Dingoes are about as interested in hanging out in visitor centers, as visitor centers are interested in letting American Dingoes inside.
Lupe and SPHP returned to Gering, NE and turned S. About 0.5 mile after hitting the 4-lane on Hwy 71, SPHP turned W on Carter Canyon Road. South Bluff, Dome Rock and Scotts Bluff could be seen to the NW beyond a huge, dusty tilled field. It was a beautiful, though barren, scene.
South Bluff (L), Dome Rock (Center) and Scotts Bluff (R) from Carter Canyon Road near the junction with Hwy 71 S of Gering, Nebraska. Photo looks NW.
Lupe and SPHP were now on the way to Wildcat Hills(4,940 ft.), the Scotts Bluff county high point. The first 6 miles of Carter Canyon Road were paved and went due W. Carter Canyon Road turned S at the end of the pavement. The dirt road gradually turned W again as it went several miles up scenic Carter Canyon to arrive at a “Y” near the top of the ridge.
To the right was Summit Ranch Road. A sign indicated Robidoux Pioneer Graves were in that direction. To the left, Carter Canyon Road continued S. Wildcat Hills was only a couple miles farther to the SSW, so Lupe and SPHP stayed on Carter Canyon Road. It swung up around a little hillside revealing a huge home on the right, which is apparently the Summit Ranch headquarters. Off to the SE was a tall tower on a hill.
SPHP expected to be able to drive very close to the summit of Wildcat Hills, but about a mile short of the destination reached a snowbank covering the road. It didn’t look like anything the G6 could get through. A short test drive into it instantly revealed that the G6 would certainly get high-centered.
Hmm, definitely a showstopper for the G6. Where was Jobe’s BEAST when Lupe really needed it? At least the cold snow felt good on Lupe’s pincushion paws! The power line SW of Wildcat Hills can already be seen in the distance. Photo looks SW.
SPHP backed the G6 out of the snowbank, turned it around and parked (9:40 AM, 56°F). The Wildcat Hills summit couldn’t be more than another 1.25 miles away. SPHP had already spotted a power line ahead to the SW which was just beyond Wildcat Hills. Lupe and SPHP would have to proceed on paw and foot from here.
Lupe and SPHP abandoned the G6 and headed SW on the road. As it turned out, even if the G6 had been able to make it past that first big snow drift, there were plenty more, even bigger ahead. Most of the road was wet, but not too muddy. Lupe liked going over the big snow drifts best. The cold snow felt good!
The road went up and down small hills and ridges. Several places there were pretty nice views back toward Hogback Mountain to the SE. For some strange reason, Lupe showed not the slightest interest in going over there.
Hogback Mountain from Carter Canyon Road. Lupe showed no interest in going back to make another attempt on the cactus capital of Nebraska! Photo looks SE.Using the telephoto lens.
As Lupe and SPHP got closer to the power line, it became clear that a small barren hill a short distance NW of Carter Canyon Road was Wildcat Hills, the Scotts Bluff county high point. Lupe was almost there!
SPHP left Carter Canyon Road heading W along a fence line. A short stroll down a hill to cross a faint road skirting Wildcat Hills to the NE, and then a short walk up to the summit was all that was left to do.
Nope, Lupe wasn’t doing it. She didn’t want to leave the road. SPHP looked around. Yeah, Lupe was right. There was quite a bit of cactus on the hillside. Still, this was a shortcut. Lupe was fine with being carried. SPHP had to stop a number of times on the way, but managed to tote the Tenderpaw Carolina Dog all the way up to the top of Wildcat Hills.
Nope, Lupe isn’t going anywhere. She is just standing there waiting for her next ride. The summit of Wildcat Hills is seen up ahead on the L. The little used dirt road that skirts Wildcat Hills to the NE and N can be seen. Photo looks SW.
Up on top of Wildcat Hills, barbed-wire fences met at a “T”. There was plenty of cactus up here. SPHP told Lupe to just “stay” and not move around. She was more than happy to oblige. There were too many cacti to move a muscle! SPHP picked her up and repositioned her as needed for a couple of summit photos. Lupe was very patient with the whole ordeal.
Hogback Mountain from Wildcat Hills, the Scotts Bluff County High Point. Photo looks SE.Looking SW from Wildcat Hills.
Well, it didn’t take Lupe very long to inspect the high point of a cactus-infested barren hill, even though there were 360° views. Soon she was ready to go back to the G6. SPHP carried her down to the E off the high point as far as the faint road.
Once she was on the road, Lupe was good to go. She still wasn’t completely certain about things, and stopped briefly a few times along the way, but for the most part she trotted along just fine. Lupe and SPHP followed the faint road to Carter Canyon Road. Lupe stayed on Carter Canyon Road all the rest of the way back to the G6. The snowy parts of the journey were her clear favorites.
Lupe had already jumped back up into the G6 (11:06 AM), when a blue pickup truck appeared. It was pulling a horse trailer, heading S for the same snow bank that had stopped the G6. SPHP waited to see what would happen. The truck stopped in front of the snow drift. A man got out to take a look. His opinion was the same as SPHP’s – no way was this going to happen.
The owners of the truck were Gordon and Judy Hoffmaier. They hadn’t expected so much snow up here, either. They had their horses, Willow and Sage, with them, intending to do some riding. Gordon unloaded the horses before trying to turn the pickup truck and horse trailer around in the field next to the road. SPHP chatted with Judy, and held Willow’s rope. Lupe was busy chillin’ in the G6.
Gordon & Judy Hoffmaier with their horses Willow and Sage. Fortunately, Gordon had no problem turning their pickup truck and horse trailer around in the field next to the road.Well, if I’m not allowed to bark at the horses, that takes all the fun out of it! I’ll just chill here in the G6 for a while.
With their truck and trailer turned around and back on the road, Gordon and Judy went back to loading up their horses into the trailer again before moving on to find a less snowy area to go riding. Lupe and SPHP returned in the G6 to the “Y” in the road at the upper end of Carter Canyon.
This time, Lupe and SPHP took the Summit Ranch Road branch of the “Y” hoping to find the Robidoux Pioneer Graves. After a mile with no indication of where the graves might be, and with a view of the road continuing on to the N for many miles, SPHP gave up. SPHP turned the G6 around and drove back to Carter Canyon Road.
Looking ENE at Carter Canyon from near the “Y” in the road close to the Summit Ranch.Carter Canyon. Photo looks ENE.Bluffs E of Carter Canyon from Carter Canyon Road. Photo looks ESE.
Lupe and SPHP went back down through Carter Canyon and headed N through Gering. In Scottsbluff, SPHP stopped at Wal-Mart for a few supplies – fried chicken, 2 bananas, and a 6 pack of Coke. The morning had been a success! Lupe had seen the world from Scotts Bluff and Wildcat Hills.
Before the noon hour was over, the G6 was gassed up again and ready to go. Lupe and SPHP left Scottsbluff heading W on Hwy 26. Lupe was starting the journey home, but her western Nebraska adventures weren’t over yet!
Lupe was back, and that meant she already had good news! There were a few more inches of snow around than when Lupe had been here on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 164 just 4 days ago, but once again the G6 had made it to the intersection of Six Mile Road and USFS Road No. 301.1A (4-1-16, 11:06 AM, 32°F), only 0.33 mile E of Copper Mountain.
The good news was that there was now absolutely no question whether it would be possible to get up on the summit of Odakota Mountain(7,200 ft.) tomorrow morning. Odakota Mountain was just a couple of miles away from the G6 as the roads went, and SPHP believed the G6 could get even closer.
Although it wasn’t really necessary for Lupe’s updated scouting report, Lupe and SPHP went on to climb both Odakota Mountain and Copper Mountain(6,920 ft.).
Advanced scout Lupe dashes ahead on Six Mile Road. She loved the several inches of new snow. Fortunately, there hadn’t been enough new snow to prevent the G6 from reaching the area.Lupe on her way up Odakota Mountain.Lupe at the summit cairn. Photo looks NNW.Advance scout Lupe happy to be able to report that getting to the summit cairn on Odakota Mountain was fun and easy! Photo looks S.Even the deadfall timber on Odakota Mountain looked better with a little more snow on it. Photo looks W.Odakota Mountain as seen from Copper Mountain. Snow always makes mountains look more impressive! Photo looks SW.Harney Peak(7,242 ft.) (L of center) from Copper Mountain. Sylvan Hill(7,000 ft.) is the high ridge on the R. Photo looks SE.
Lupe’s updated scouting trip had been necessitated by a 3 hour rain at Lupe’s home on Wednesday morning, 3-30-16. To add insult to injury, the following day, Thursday, 3-31-16, featured a series of intermittent mini-blizzards as squall lines repeatedly passed through the Black Hills region all day long. It was impossible to know how much snow had fallen at over 7,000 ft. without coming here again today. Lupe didn’t mind in the least. She was having fun!
The amount of new snow near Odakota Mountain was perfect! Enough to beautify the mountains, yet not enough to prevent easy access. Lupe and SPHP were excited and pleased!
Back at home, SPHP served as Lupe’s secretary and emailed out her updated Odakota road condition report to the interested party. “It’s ON! … Meet as previously planned.” The response came a short time later. “Perfect! This is EXACTLY what I wanted to hear! … Looking forward to making this happen, Jobe Wymore”
The next morning (4-2-16), Lupe and SPHP were waiting for Jobe at Medicine Mountain Road 2 miles S of Crazy Horse. Within 30 minutes, Jobe arrived in a rented silver vehicle that was an absolute BEAST! High clearance, 4WD, huge knobby tires. SPHP should have known. The quote on Jobe’s Peakbagger.com account homepage read “The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare. – Juma Ikaanga, 2:08:01 marathoner.” Jobe was ready for anything.
A few minutes later, with the G6 safely ditched a few miles in on Medicine Mountain Road, Lupe and SPHP joined Jobe in the BEAST. Before long it was parked at the junction of Six Mile Road and USFS Road No. 693 near Odakota Mountain. Lupe, Jobe & SPHP began the 0.5 mile, snowy trek to the summit of Odakota.
On 3-26-16, Jobe Wymore had selected Lupe to serve as his local peakbagging expert after seeing that she had been to Odakota Mountain several times. He had emailed Lupe. All he ready wanted to know was how much snow there was, and whether or not the roads were open. Lupe emailed back that she would find out. That’s how Lupe came to be Jobe’s advanced scout.
Jobe lives in the Portland, Oregon area and had already bought a plane ticket to Denver. His main peakbagging objectives were Wildcat Mountain(5,025 ft.) and Hogback Mountain(5,062 ft.) in the Wildcat Hills S of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. However, if Odakota Mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota was accessible, he wanted to drive the extra 200+ miles N to ascend it, too.
SPHP hadn’t initially recognized Jobe Wymore’s name. A day or two after Lupe had promised Jobe she would check out conditions near Odakota Mountain, SPHP finally looked Jobe Wymore up on peakbagger.com. It was an eye-opener. Jobe was not your average, casual day-hiking peakbagger like Lupe and SPHP. Jobe was a real mountaineer!
Over 2,400 ascents, over 1,300 different mountains climbed, 205 ascents of Grandeur Peak(8,299 ft.) over 19 years, and 600 ascents of Malans Peak(6,960 ft.) alone in less than a 2.5 year period. Jobe had climbed the highest mountains in all 50 U.S. states including Denali(20,310 ft.) in Alaska. All but 6 of them, twice. The lowest peak in his top 10 summits by elevation was Mt. Whitney(14,495 ft.), the highest peak in the lower 48 U.S. states.
It went on – successful summits in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, and Australia. Jobe had been up extremely remote peaks including Mt.Angayukaqsraq(4,700 ft.) in NW Alaska, and Mt. Bona(16,500 ft.) in SE Alaska. Jobe had been to the highest points in every county of Wisconsin, Colorado, North Dakota, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Nevada.
Yes, meeting Jobe was like meeting a celebrity. Lupe wasn’t fazed. Carolina Dogs are celebrities themselves! Soon advanced scout and Black Hills peakbagging expert Lupe was posing with peakbagger extraordinaire and mountaineer Jobe Wymore at the summit of Odakota Mountain.
Lupe and Jobe Wymore arrive at the summit cairn on Odakota Mountain. Photo looks N.Celebrities Jobe and Lupe on Odakota. It was a great moment for both! Jobe said Odakota Mountain had been on his list of places to go for 20 years. Photo looks NW.
Although Odakota Mountain is the 2nd highest in all of South Dakota at 7,200 feet, the mountain is kind of a mess covered with deadfall timber. There are still enough trees around to interfere with the views in every direction at the top. SPHP was a little afraid that someone of Jobe’s vast experience might find Odakota disappointing.
Jobe’s reaction was surprising. For a few moments he was entranced. He said he had been meaning to climb Odakota for 20 years. For Jobe, it was a beautiful moment, the fulfillment of a long held ambition.
Lupe and SPHP were glad Jobe liked Odakota Mountain and the Black Hills. Jobe wanted to visit a couple more peaks in the few hours he had remaining before having to head S to Nebraska. Lupe, Jobe and SPHP went to nearby Copper Mountain, which isn’t as high as Odakota, but has a better viewpoint.
Lupe and Jobe on Copper Mountain with Odakota (L) in the background. Photo looks SW.Jobe on Copper Mountain. Photo looks W.Looking SE at Harney Peak(7,242 ft.) from Copper Mountain.
There were lots of places Lupe would have liked to take Jobe in the Black Hills, but Jobe’s time was very limited. Cicero Peak(6,166 ft.), S of Custer, SD has a 1.5 mile long access road (USFS Road No. 338), which goes almost all the way to the top. The road was closed, but Jobe had time to hike it with Lupe and SPHP.
Lupe enjoyed trotting along on and off the road, while Jobe and SPHP were engaged in conversation. Jobe was full of fascinating tales about people and mountains. SPHP recognized some names and places, but knew nothing about many others.
Jobe told of a mountaintop writhing with baby rattlesnakes emerging from a huge den at the summit. He had stories about a life-threatening storm on Mt. Bona(16,500 ft.) in Alaska, and being forced to turn back on 3 separate occasions by weather on Aconcagua(22,841 ft.), the highest peak in the Andes of South America.
Perhaps the most riveting tale of all was about the tragic death of Edward Earl. Edward drowned on 6-19-15 while attempting to cross the Jago River in NE Alaska after two failed attempts at climbing Mt. Isto(8,976 ft.), the high point of the Brooks Range. Although Jobe had not been on that trip, Jobe personally knew Edward Earl and all three of the friends that had been with him on that fateful day.
It was all so interesting, that SPHP failed to take any photos, except at the top of Cicero Peak, and then forgot all about the camera case.
Jobe scratches Lupe’s chin in exchange for guide services rendered coming up to the summit of Cicero Peak. A bit more to the left, Jobe. Ahh, that feels good! Photo looks N.
After climbing Cicero Peak, Jobe’s few hours in the Black Hills were up. He had to head S to the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska to complete his main peakbagging objectives of this trip before flying back home late tomorrow afternoon. Even though Jobe had to leave the Black Hills, Lupe’s adventures with Jobe weren’t over yet! Jobe didn’t mind if Lupe and SPHP tagged along and went to the Wildcat Hills, too.
So, Lupe and SPHP in the G6, followed by Jobe in the BEAST, headed S for Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The drive went through desolate, sparsely populated SW South Dakota and NW Nebraska. It was the sort of territory Lupe and SPHP love. Unspoiled vistas of hills and prairies for SPHP, and an abundance of cows and horses to bark furiously at for Lupe.
Lupe on her cow and horse lookout perch in the G6 while enjoying the journey to the Wildcat Hills.
After gassing up in Scottsbluff, Jobe took the lead in the BEAST, with Lupe and SPHP following in the G6. Jobe drove through Scottsbluff and Gering, continuing S on 4-lane Highway 71. A couple of miles S of the Scotts Bluff/Banner County Line, Jobe turned W on County Road No. 40. After a mile, it turned SW for a short distance before dead-ending at a yellow house, apparently the only home served by County Road No. 40.
Jobe knew that this house was the home of Richard Archer, who refers to himself as either “Arch” or “The Bluffman”. Arch is actually a tenant and not the owner of the property, but both Arch and the owner are not only tolerant of respectful hikers, but curious and friendly toward them as well. Wildcat Mountain and Hogback Mountain are both on the owner’s ranchlands.
There was no answer when Jobe knocked on the door. Since it was late afternoon already, the plan had been to get permission from Arch to come back and climb Wildcat and Hogback Mountains in the morning. Unfortunately, Arch wasn’t home. Jobe needed paper to write a note to leave at the house. By the time SPHP returned with the paper, Jobe had a new idea.
Although it was fairly late in the day, there were still probably a good 3 hours of daylight left. Would Lupe and SPHP be willing to climb Wildcat and Hogback Mountains now? The whole round trip was only about 5 or 6 miles, give or take a little. Lupe and SPHP were fine with that. Sure! Sounds realistic. Maybe we can even get some sunset shots from Hogback Mountain?
Jobe wrote out two notes, one to leave on the door of the house and one on the dashboard of the BEAST. As soon as they were in place, Lupe, Jobe & SPHP headed out through a pasture behind the house. A faint road lead WSW for a while before being forced to turn S by a ravine to the W.
The climb was gradual at first, but became steeper as the road continued on. Eventually, the road played out. A muddy single track trail continued S, climbing at a moderately steep pace. There was an incredible amount of cactus around, but amazingly, Lupe didn’t seem bothered by it. She trotted right along with SPHP, following Jobe up.
When the trail reached the S end of the ravine to the W, the trail more or less disappeared too. The summit of Wildcat Peak was now just 0.5 mile to the W. Lupe, Jobe, and SPHP followed a long slope up the mountain. The very last part was a steep little climb up to a flat, roomy summit. Jobe made it up there first, followed by Lupe and SPHP a couple minutes later.
Lupe reaches the top of Wildcat Mountain! Her next objective, Hogback Mountain, is seen just a mile to the NW.USGS benchmark on Wildcat Mountain.Peakbagging buddies Lupe & Jobe on Wildcat Mountain. The USGS benchmark is seen on the ground in front of Jobe. Photo looks E.Presumably a weather station near the SE end of the Wildcat Mountain summit area. Photo looks SE.The view to the N.Jobe at the W end of the Wildcat Mountain summit area. Hogback Mountain, the most prominent peak in Nebraska, and single main objective of Jobe’s trip, is seen behind him now just a mile off to the NW. (Prominence is a measure of the minimum elevation one would have to lose crossing land or water to reach the start of a climb to a higher place.)
After 10 minutes or so spent enjoying the views up on Wildcat Mountain, the slanting rays of the sun indicated it was time to press on to Hogback Mountain, now just a mile away to the NW. There were small cliffs on the NW side of Wildcat Mountain, and larger ones to the S. Everyone had to go back to the NE end of the summit area to lose a little elevation before turning W along the rather steep N slope.
It wasn’t too far down to the long ridge NW of Wildcat Mountain that led to Hogback Mountain. SPHP was a little slow coming down, but Lupe and SPHP soon caught up with Jobe, who was waiting on the ridge. The way ahead looked easy! Jobe and SPHP pressed onward.
Poor Lupe didn’t. She wasn’t coming. She didn’t bark; she didn’t whine. She just sat silently on the snow being left behind. Jobe noticed first.
Suffering Lupe on the ridge NW of Wildcat Mountain, seen in the background. Cactus had turned her into Tenderpaw Lupe. The American Dingo couldn’t go on to Hogback Mountain. It hurt, and just wasn’t fun anymore.
The cactus had finally gotten to Lupe. Jobe and SPHP returned to her. Several times, Jobe and SPHP inspected all her paws and pulled fine little cactus spines out of them. Lupe started onward again a couple of times, but she didn’t get far. Cactus loaded with more sharp spines were practically everywhere.
Back home in her Black Hills of South Dakota, Lupe has become a local peakbagging expert. Most places in the Black Hills, except at lower elevations near the prairie or toward the drier southern hills, there aren’t any cactus, or very few. Here in the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska, the cactus infested ridge had reduced the intrepid American Dingo to just Tenderpaw Lupe.
The cactus were terrible. Lupe kept stopping. She was done. She didn’t whine. She just sat there and lifted one paw up to SPHP and Jobe asking for help. As far as Lupe was concerned, the Wildcats and Hogs could have these hills! SPHP told Jobe to go on. SPHP would start back to Arch’s house with Lupe. Jobe asked if SPHP was sure? Absolutely! Jobe had come all this way to climb Hogback Mountain. He had to go while there was still light. Jobe took off running.
SPHP picked Lupe up. No doubt the most reliable route back was the known route Lupe had taken to get here. However, that meant climbing back up to go around the steep N slope of Wildcat Mountain. Even though it was a bit risky, SPHP decided to carry Lupe downhill to the NE. SPHP would try to stay up on the ridge as long as possible before descending down into the steep Badlandy cedar breaks below. Maybe it wouldn’t even be necessary?
It was. The ridge finally ran out. Lupe and SPHP had already lost quite a bit of elevation. Hopefully, there would be a way through in the big gullies down below. This was badlands type terrain, a land of narrow, very steep-sided ravines. If Lupe and SPHP could lose enough elevation, the ravines would ultimately empty out onto wide open flatlands near Arch’s house.
SPHP found a way down to the bottom of a ravine. It continued to lose elevation at a rapid pace. The ravine was choked with cedar trees, making it difficult to force a way through. The real danger, though, was that there might be a 10 foot drop along the way, with no safe way down. That would have forced a climb back out. Fortunately, it didn’t happen. There were a few 4-6 foot drops along the way, but Lupe and SPHP managed to scramble down each time.
Lupe on the steep side of the cedar breaks N of Wildcat Mountain. At least there wasn’t much cactus down here. She was willing to trot along on her own power part of the time.
The damp, muddy ground down at the bottom of the ravines was friendlier to Lupe’s paws. For one thing, there wasn’t nearly so much cactus down here. There was still some, but it wasn’t everywhere. Part of the time Lupe was willing to trot along on her own power. It was generally slow going fighting through the cedar trees in the narrow gullies, but Lupe and SPHP continually made progress. Gradually, the ravine was getting bigger.
Suddenly, Lupe and SPHP both heard it – a human voice. It was Jobe! Jobe was looking for Lupe somewhere up above. SPHP shouted back. Soon Jobe was in view close by a little higher up. Jobe joined Lupe and SPHP. It was kind of amazing. SPHP hadn’t told Jobe which way SPHP intended to take Lupe on the way back. Jobe had followed footprints in the patches of snow, though, to pick up the general direction.
It hardly seemed like Jobe would have had enough time to get to Hogback Mountain and way back here already. Had he made it? Jobe had. In fact, he had explored all three high points in contention for being the true summit. In Jobe’s opinion, the middle one was the highest. SPHP felt rather sorry that Jobe couldn’t have had much time to enjoy the summit he had come all this way to see, but it was very kind of Jobe to come back so fast to help Lupe.
For a while Jobe and SPHP took turns carrying Lupe. Occasionally, Lupe went short stretches under her own power. Jobe’s superior physical conditioning enabled him to carry Lupe longer, farther and faster than SPHP could.
Jobe to the rescue! Lupe gets one of many free rides from Jobe down in the cedar breaks N of Wildcat Mountain.Jobe looking a bit tired, but Lupe seems plenty comfy getting carted around. SPHP hopes she doesn’t think she’s going to get carried everywhere from now on!Jobe had forgotten to change shoes back at the BEAST. He didn’t have his usual hiking boots on. The cactus spines were occasionally getting through his shoes! SPHP seriously hoped that Jobe wasn’t going to go lame, too. Alternating between carrying Lupe and Jobe would have made for a very long trek back to Arch’s house!
The cedar break ravines were getting bigger and wider. After carrying Lupe through the winding ravines for a while, Jobe spotted the faint road to Arch’s house just up a short slope to the E. Soon Lupe, Jobe and SPHP were up there. Arch’s house was in view no more than 0.5 mile ahead across gently sloping pastureland. Funnel Rock could be seen to the SE.
After escaping from the cedar breaks, Arch’s house was in view ahead. Photo looks ENE using the telephoto lens.Funnel Rock (Center) as seen from the NW. It is just a short distance W of Hwy 71, about 0.75 mile S of the turn W on County Road No. 40 to Arch’s house.
Between Jobe and SPHP, Lupe got carried the entire rest of the way back to Arch’s house. The Bluffman was home! He had seen Jobe’s notes. Arch invited Jobe, Lupe and SPHP in.
For maybe 45 minutes, Lupe, Jobe and SPHP got acquainted with The Bluffman. The house was very rustic. It was filled with animal heads, antlers, rattlesnake skins mounted on boards, and beard balls. A self-extracted tooth dangled on dental floss. It was easy to imagine The Bluffman as a character straight out of the Old West. He looked plenty tough enough to have fit right in with the pioneers on the Oregon and Mormon Trails along the North Platte River 160 years go.
Lupe was happy laying on the floor listening to the conversation, while giving her sore paws a break. SPHP asked about rattlesnakes? Yes, there were plenty in the area. The Bluffman didn’t like to kill them unless they were near the house. These hills were their home, too, after all. The Bluffman had something like 14 rattlers that had strayed too close in the freezer! The Bluffman mentioned elk, eagles, coyotes, mountain lions, and all kinds of smaller creatures living in these hills.
The Bluffman asked if Jobe and SPHP had any money? He offered to sell elk antlers, and a turkey claw back scratcher he had made himself. Arch makes a variety of frontier-days type items to supplement his income.
Arch with the turkey claw back scratcher he made. From the looks of it, SPHP would rate it industrial strength. Lupe, always the enterprising Carolina Dog, can help you obtain one from The Bluffman at a reasonable markup, of course. Lupe is betting there isn’t anyone on your Christmas list that already has one!
When the time came to go, SPHP asked Arch if he would mind letting Lupe get a photo taken with him? He not only didn’t mind, he went and put on his finest 3 skunk-tail hat for the occasion. It was already getting so dark out the photos turned out rather grainy and fuzzy (learn to use the flash, SPHP!), but they are still kind of unique.
Lupe and Arch, The Bluffman, outside his home in the Wildcat Hills of NE.Tenderpaw Lupe with The Bluffman and Mountaineer Jobe Wymore in the Wildcat Hills of Nebraska.Jobe and Arch outside Arch’s home. Arch has rented this place for 10 years now. He really loves nature and this quiet life in the Wildcat Hills.
Arch had sure lived up to his reputation as a friend to hikers and peakbaggers interested in Wildcat and Hogback mountains. He had treated Lupe, Jobe and SPHP very kindly. Meeting him and seeing his home had been quite a pleasure, and an unusual experience to say the least.
Out in the driveway, after Arch had gone inside the house, it was time to say goodbye to Lupe and SPHP’s new friend Jobe Wymore. Jobe only had 2.5 hours sleep in the past two days, and must have been exhausted. He needed to check into his motel in Gering, and get some sleep before starting on his way back to Denver and then home in the morning.
Lupe’s time with Jobe had sure been fun! (At least up until the whole cactus ordeal, and even then Jobe had been a true friend.) It had certainly been a memorable day from start to finish. Jobe and SPHP said goodbye, then Jobe came around to pet Lupe already relaxing on her soft perch in the G6. The BEAST then took Jobe away along dusty County Road No. 40 back to the highway.
Maybe Lupe and SPHP will see Jobe again some day, but who knows when? If so, you can be certain there will be more American Dingo adventures in store!
After Lupe’s adventure with Jobe Wymore in the Wildcat Hills, she emailed him asking how he first got interested in climbing mountains. “I guess in its simplest terms it had a tad to do with as a young lad stumbling upon Expedition to the Ultimate by Reinhold Messner, and just having the stars align after that. A person’s most devoted undertakings in life are seldom drawn up by one moment, but rather that one moment being polluted and molded into something substantial.”
