Wyoming – Page 30 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

North Pumpkin Butte, the Campbell County, Wyoming High Point (6-26-19)

Day 1 of Lupe’s 1st 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming!

June! Green grass, blue skies, white clouds, warm soft breezes, and long, long days. Yet Lupe was bored. Summer was here, but nothing had changed. No Black Hills expeditions, no Dingo Vacations, lots of short trips out to Grandma’s house where strange things were happening, but otherwise no adventures at all. SPHP had always maintained that summer started June 1st, but even the summer solstice came and went as if it meant nothing at all!

Was Lupe’s life of adventure over? No more mountains? A future spent staring endlessly out the living room window while precious days made for glory slipped away forever? So it seemed. Day after disappointing day, the hope in the Carolina Dog’s eyes for something better could be seen ebbing away. Despite SPHP’s assurances, Lupe was losing faith.

June was already near its end when at last there was a change. Hours before dawn on the 26th, SPHP was up and about. Preparations! Gear and supplies were getting carted out to the G6. The American Dingo danced underfoot, full of excitement. She knew the signs!

So, where are we going SPHP?

Not too far, Looper. The Bighorn Mountains in N central Wyoming.

Oh, I love the Bighorns!

Yeah, should be a fun time. We won’t get all the way there today, though.

Why not? Aren’t we leaving soon? It only takes a few hours to get to the Bighorns from here.

Yup, we’re leaving as soon as I can get us ready. However, yesterday I talked to John Christensen who owns the ranch that North Pumpkin Butte (6052 ft.) is on. The N butte is the highest of the Pumpkin Buttes and the high point of Campbell County, Wyoming. Mr. Christensen kindly granted a certain lucky dingo permission to climb it today! Should be a fairly easy climb, yet quite a vantage point with a grand view W toward the Bighorn Range if the sky is clear.

Oh, I can hardly wait!

Loopster did have to wait, but not for much longer. By 7:30 AM she was comfortably perched atop pillows and blankets riding high in her usual spot in the G6. Her first Dingo Vacation of 2019 was underway!

By lunch time, a happy Carolina Dog was at Savageton, Wyoming. (MP 35.4 of Hwy 50 S of Gillette) Here, SPHP turned W onto a wide gravel road known as the Black & Yellow Road. Going up a little rise, Cheryl’s Place was on the L, and a sign for the Christensen Ranch appeared on the R. From the top of the rise, North Pumpkin Butte was in view, still quite a few miles off to the SW.

Lupe along Hwy 50 at Savageton, Wyoming. The metal building on the R is Cheryl’s Place along the Black & Yellow Road. Some of the **Middle Pumpkin Buttes** are visible on the L. Photo looks SSW.

On the wide, smooth Black & Yellow Road near Savageton. Photo looks WNW.

**North Pumpkin Butte** from the Black & Yellow Road near Savageton. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

2 miles from Hwy 50 there was a junction. Christensen Road went L (S) toward territory E of North Pumpkin Butte. It seemed counter-intuitive to stick with the Black & Yellow Road, but a 5-18-09 trip report by Edward Earl, and a 7-18-18 GPS track by Daniel Mick both indicated successful ascents from the W or NW, not the E.

The Black & Yellow Road soon turned NW away from North Pumpkin Butte. What Lupe was seeing did not match up with Edward Earl’s trip report. SPHP concluded that was because the Black & Yellow Road must have 2 highway access points. Coming up Hwy 50 from the S, Lupe had reached the S access point at Savageton first. However, Edward Earl had come down Hwy 50 from the N, and must have started on the Black & Yellow Road from an access point considerably closer to Gillette.

At any rate, 6 miles from Hwy 50, Lupe came to a “T” intersection. This was apparently where the N and S routes met. After a brief look around, SPHP turned L (SW) at the “T”.

6 miles from Savageton close to the “T” intersection. Lupe took the road seen in the background toward North Pumpkin Butte from here. Photo looks SSW.

In addition to being cattle country, this whole region was an oilfield as well. A confusing number of intersections with oilfield service roads not mentioned in Edward Earl’s trip report (perhaps they hadn’t existed in 2009?) appeared along the way. Signage wasn’t matching up very well, either, but Lupe did come to what seemed to be some of the places Edward had talked about.

Fortunately, the treeless expanse of open range continually provided a clear view of North Pumpkin Butte. At the intersections, SPHP merely took the best looking road heading either directly toward or to the W (R) of the butte. 4 miles after the turn SW at the “T” intersection, the Christensen Ranch HQ appeared on the R at the end of a short road.

The Christensen Ranch HQ, about 10 miles from Hwy 50 at Savageton. Photo looks NNW.

While Lupe and SPHP were stopped briefly out in front of the drive to the ranch HQ, a pickup truck appeared from one of the side roads. Bob Christensen and some of his family and/or ranch hands were in it. Bob was John’s cousin, and readily accepted SPHP’s explanation that Lupe was here to climb North Pumpkin Butte with John’s permission.

Despite the maze of roads to choose from, Bob said it was easy to get to where Lupe needed to start from. She was already on the right track. Just keep heading S or SW toward the W side of North Pumpkin Butte. Can’t miss it!

Sounded good! Lupe and SPHP stopped for photos at several points along the way.

Getting close to the N end of **North Pumpkin Butte**. Photo looks S.

Six miles from the ranch HQ there was a junction with a good gravel road that headed somewhere off to the W. A sign pointed the way back to Savageton, or straight on S to Casper. Continuing 200 yards S beyond this junction led to another one with a road that headed E toward North Pumpkin Butte. Looked like this might well be the 19.1 mile point from Hwy 50 on the route Edward Earl had taken to get here, although Lupe had come only 16 miles from Savageton.

**North Pumpkin Butte** from next to a 3-way junction 6 miles SW of the Christensen ranch HQ. Photo looks ESE.

The turn toward **North Pumpkin Butte** 200 yards S of the previous photo. Probably the 19.1 mile point along the route Edward Earl had taken.

The road E wound around for 0.75 mile, then turned S descending into a drainage which must have been the North Prong of Willow Creek. A line of small orange rock cliffs was on the R (W). At the bottom, a mud hole covered a curve in the road. Mile 20.0 in Edward Earl’s description? SPHP thought so. The day was sunny and dry, but the road wasn’t. As Edward had predicted, the G6 was done. Paw and foot from here on!

The G6 got left here in the North Prong of Willow Creek drainage. Photo looks NW.

The mud puddle that meant the end of the road for the G6. Photo looks E.

Setting out from the mud hole (1:00 PM, 76ºF), Lupe followed the road as it curved NE on its way out of the valley. After gaining a little elevation, the road curved again. Going SE now, the Carolina Dog soon came to a smallish metal building posted with radiation warnings, apparently in connection with a former uranium mine that was a bit farther S.

At the metal building marked with radiation warnings. Photo looks E.

Beyond the metal building, it quickly became apparent that the main road Looper was on was going to head S avoiding North Pumpkin Butte altogether. A primitive 2 track road angling off to the SE was more promising, so the American Dingo tried it.

A little S of the metal building, Lupe leaves the main road to follow this 2 track road. Photo looks SE.

The 2 track went a short distance to a slight rise from which another primitive road could be seen farther E across a grassy field. That was the road Lupe needed to be on! Close to where she would reach it if she crossed the field, it turned E heading for North Pumpkin Butte.

Fearing the possibility of cactus, or worse yet, rattlesnakes, SPHP wasn’t crazy about the idea of having Lupe leave the road to wander through the field, but no alternative was in sight. Fortunately, crossing the field went without incident. Lupe was soon safely on the other road starting her ascent of North Pumpkin Butte (6,052 ft.).

Wildflower seen while crossing the field.

Lupe’s ascent of North Pumpkin Butte begins in earnest shortly after reaching a 2nd 2 track road. Photo looks NE.

Loop trotted higher along the 2nd 2 track road. It climbed steadily at an easy pace winding mostly E or SE toward North Pumpkin Butte along the S slope of a ridge overlooking a large ravine. The day had been pleasant enough earlier on, but as the afternoon sun blazed high overhead in a nearly cloudless sky, the temperature soared. A mighty warm day to be wearing a fur coat!

Cedars or juniper bushes grew in the big ravine, but for a long way there was no shade at all close to the road. Feeling hot, Lupe plodded along more slowly. Meanwhile, SPHP kept an eye on the line of cliffs along the upper rim of North Pumpkin Butte. Edward Earl had mentioned a light sandy gully toward the N providing a break in the cliffs that was a quicker way to the top of the plateau than a long trek S high along the W face that others had taken before him.

A distinct notch in the cliff line was indeed visible toward the N where the cliffs appeared to be tallest. Maybe that was Edward Earl’s light sandy gully? Worth a shot! When Lupe got higher, she could go check that notch out first. The American Dingo wasn’t interested in that yet, though. When she finally came to a bush close to the road, she was ready for water and a rest in the shade.

Still a long way off, a notch is visible along the upper rim of **North Pumpkin Butte** just to the R of the highest cliffs toward the L. Photo looks E.

At last! Water and a shady spot to hide out for a few minutes.

Looking back down the 2 track road from the shady rest spot. Photo looks NW.

After a short break, Lupe continued higher. She stuck with the road, which gradually deteriorated. A few hundred feet below the W rim of North Pumpkin Butte the road divided at a grassy curve. The American Dingo followed the branch going NE fairly steeply uphill almost directly toward the notch in the line of cliffs.

The notch is a bit difficult to see from this angle, but is near the Center along the rim of the butte. Photo looks NE.

The road veered N and faded away before Lupe made it to the notch. No matter, it wasn’t much farther! The American Dingo roamed here and there while SPHP searched for the easiest route up the remaining short stretch to the notch.

On a big rock close to where the road faded away. Photo looks NW.

Exploring below the cliffs of the W rim. Photo looks E.

The interior of the notch was not visible during Lupe’s approach from the SW. Drawing near, she came across a single track trail leading right to it. Soon Lupe was standing on loose sand at the base of a beautiful horizontally-striped sandstone cliff. Straight ahead was a vertical wall of pock-marked rock.

The notch had to be right around the corner between these two cliffs. It still wasn’t possible to see yet if the notch was actually Edward Earl’s light, sandy gully, some other route to the top of North Pumpkin Butte, or a dead end. However, Lupe was about to find out!

A faint trail *(seen extending up toward the L from Lupe’s head)* led up to where the notch is hidden between two cliffs. Photo looks NE.

On the sand at the base of the beautiful sandstone cliff. The still unseen notch is straight ahead and just around a corner to the R. Photo looks NNE.

Yup! No doubt about it. This was it! Upon turning the corner, a wide slot of sloping terrain between the two cliffs led right on up to the top of North Pumpkin Butte. An easy trek higher, and Lupe was there!

Looking up the notch – an easy ramp to North Pumpkin Butte’s summit plateau. Photo looks ESE.

Up on the W rim of the summit plateau overlooking the notch. Photo looks SSW.

The topo map portrayed North Pumpkin Butte’s summit plateau as a vast almost level region shaped rather like a fish swimming S with a fat belly bulging toward the W. This fish is nearly 1.75 miles long N/S, and part of its midsection is more than 0.5 mile wide E/W.

3 high points varying only slightly in elevation were marked on the map. At the extreme N end of the fish tail was a North Butte survey benchmark at 6,039 ft. Two slightly higher points existed somewhat S of the center of the fish, one not too far from the W edge at 6,049 ft., and another close to the E edge at 6,052 ft. Edward Earl had mentioned that in the opinion of John Mitchler, the true summit of North Pumpkin Butte was actually the high point marked as 6,049 ft.

The notch Lupe had come up was on the W side of the butte between the N and W high points, probably somewhat closer to the W one. The plan was to visit all 3 high points shown on the map, which would insure not only that Loop actually did visit the true summit somewhere along the way, but give her a chance to explore much of the summit region, too.

The American Dingo started out by visiting the rocky W edge of the plateau immediately N of the notch. After enjoying the grand views, she roamed NE a little way before SPHP decided it was time to take another break. Clouds were now building to the W toward the Bighorns, but it was still sunny and warm up on North Pumpkin Butte, although perhaps not quite as hot as it had been earlier on during the long road trek. A light breeze helped. Even so, some shade would have been nice. Tough luck on that. There wasn’t any.

Slightly N of the notch looking N along the W edge.

Exploring the nearly flat summit 0.5 mile from the N end. Photo looks NE.

Taking a break near a NW facing edge. Clouds were now building to the W hiding much of the Bighorn Range. Photo looks W.

Looking NNE along the W edge, still 0.5 mile from the N end.

During the rest break, the clouds seen building to the W caused a change of plan. While the N end of the summit plateau would be fun to visit, it was still a good 0.5 mile away. Maybe it was best to make certain Lupe got to tag the true summit by visiting the 2 higher points to the S first? No telling what those clouds might do on a hot summer afternoon!

Lupe was flexible. She was perfectly happy to head S. The Carolina Dog was soon passing by the notch she had come up again.

Looking down the notch. Photo looks WNW.

S of the notch, Lupe continued along the W rim enjoying tremendous sweeping views. She eventually abandoned the edge to head SE directly toward a tower and metal sheds at HP 6049. This was actually the true summit of North Pumpkin Butte in John Mitchler’s opinion.

S of the notch along the W edge. Photo looks SSW.

On the way to the tower at **HP 6049**. Photo looks SE.

True summit or not, HP 6049 wasn’t too exciting. The small tower and old buildings weren’t much to look at, and it wasn’t close enough to the W edge to have a view. Looking ENE across the summit plateau toward HP 6052, the true summit of North Pumpkin Butte (6,052 ft.) according to the map, not much was to be seen over there, either. A flat grassy plain extended toward no obvious high spot near the E edge.

By the motley collection of old towers and buildings at **HP 6,049**. Photo looks SSE.

There seemed to be no reason to linger at HP 6049. Since the weather was holding up, exploring farther S close to the edge where the views were best sounded like more fun than heading straight over to HP 6052. However, it didn’t turn out that way for Lupe. Proceeding S from HP 6049, she started to encounter cactus. No fun at all!

Looper was soon refusing to go any farther unless SPHP first scouted out a cacti free path. She would then reluctantly come to SPHP, where she would wait again until another stretch was certified cacti-free.

Along the SW rim waiting for the signal that this next stretch is cacti-free. The tower at **HP 6049** is on the R. Photo looks NW.

Loopster on the way, demonstrating touching confidence in SPHP’s ability to spot and protect her from any and all cacti hazards.

This cactus avoidance system worked, but coaxing the Carolina Dog along in this manner slowed progress down considerably. Nevertheless, Lupe did make it all the way to the S end of North Pumpkin Butte. A big metal fence was along part of the S rim. More interesting was the view SE toward the Middle Pumpkin Buttes.

Getting close to the S end of North Pumpkin Butte. The **Middle Pumpkin Buttes** are now in sight. Photo looks SE.

**Middle Pumpkin Buttes** from the S end of North Pumpkin Butte. Photo looks SE.

From the S end of North Pumpkin Butte, Lupe continued her counter-clockwise tour of the summit plateau. She left the edge to visit another tower not too far from the S end, ultimately reaching the E edge farther N. From here she could see a long stretch of the E rim.

Approaching a second small tower perhaps 0.2 mile N of the S end of the butte. Photo looks N.

A spectacular view of the E rim of **North Pumpkin Butte**. Photo looks NNW.

Looper had reached the E rim of North Pumpkin Butte somewhat S of where the map showed HP 6052. She continued N near the edge gaining at least some elevation. Lupe never did come to any obvious highest spot, although she must have passed over HP 6052 somewhere along the way. Looking across the butte, HP 6049 did look higher from here, but long ago SPHP had learned that appearances can be deceiving.

The big fish of North Pumpkin Butte was so large, and cactus had slowed things down so much, that it was becoming clear that Lupe wasn’t going to have time to complete her circumnavigation of the summit plateau. She never was going to get to see the world from the N end of the butte.

Satisfied that Lupe had visited the true summit somewhere along the way, SPHP led her NW across the grassy plateau returning directly to the notch. Little cactus was present in this area. Long before reaching the notch, the American Dingo had forgotten all about cacti, and was happily roaming freely again.

Back at the notch ready to start the descent. Photo looks NW.

After going down through the notch, SPHP called John Christensen to thank him for allowing Lupe to climb North Pumpkin Butte, and let him know that she was on her way down. Mr. Christensen chatted amiably with SPHP for a few minutes, then mentioned that there was water available in the area, if needed. Exactly where, SPHP didn’t quite catch, but on the way down Lupe spotted a huge old tire serving as a reservoir a bit farther S than she had been on the way up.

At the lower end of the notch by the beautiful striped sandstone cliff. Photo looks S.

Leaving the notch behind. Photo looks NE.

S of the notch by the big tire serving as a water reservoir. Photo looks SE.

The long trudge back to the G6 along the winding road was both more pleasant and interesting than expected. The air cooled rapidly as a line of small thunderstorms approached from the SW. Lupe saw lots of cloud to ground lightning only a few miles away. She got sprinkled on lightly a few times, but reached the G6 just as it finally started raining harder. (7:35 PM)

That rain didn’t last long. The Carolina Dog enjoyed a fabulous ride back to Hwy 50. This time SPHP took Edward Earl’s route along the Black & Yellow Road to the N highway access point closer to Gillette. Such a golden evening! Lupe was excited to see many pronghorn antelope, cows, and sheep from the G6.

Approaching Gillette, a dark purple sky was ominous. Lightning flashed continuously, a violent wind blew, and it rained hard. However, the worst of the storm had already passed by the time Lupe reached town. The sun was gone, and a black night had begun. SPHP made a brief stop for supplies, then drove W on I-90.

Lupe’s long day, the first of her first Dingo Vacation of 2019 during which she’d been privileged to climb North Pumpkin Butte (6,052 ft.), finally came to an end at the Powder River rest area. (11:00 PM)

**North Pumpkin Butte** from close to the Black & Yellow Road’s N junction with Hwy 50 SW of Gillette, WY 6-26-19

Links:

Next Adventure

5-18-09 Trip Report by Edward Earl

7-18-18 GPS Track by Daniel Mick

6-12-04 Trip Report by John Mitchler

Campbell County’s Historic Ranches – The Christensen Ranch

John Christensen (307) 660-3852. North Pumpkin Butte is entirely on private property. Obtain owner’s permission before visiting.

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacations to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Little Mountain, the Sweetwater County, Wyoming Prominence Peak (7-24-18)

Lupe had already seen deer and wild turkeys on an exciting early drive from Sheep Creek Bay, when she dropped by the dam at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Last night had been her first in Utah in nearly 3 years, but the Carolina Dog wasn’t staying, just doing a bit of sight-seeing on the way to Little Mountain (9,131 ft.) in Wyoming.

The lake was beautiful. This was going to be a great day! Hardly any clouds in the sky, though. Going to get hot! Lupe took only a short stroll out by the reservoir before returning to the G6.

Lupe drops by **Flaming Gorge Reservoir** on a beautiful July morning. Photo looks NW.

The **Flaming Gorge Dam**. Lupe would go right over it on Hwy 191. Photo looks ESE.

SPHP drove E over the Flaming Gorge Dam. Hwy 191 wound N, then NW for a while. Before leaving Utah, Lupe made one more sight-seeing stop at Antelope Flats. The name sounded promising, and there was plenty of room for antelope out there, but Looper didn’t see any. However, she did have a distant view of another part of Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

**Flaming Gorge Reservoir** from the **Antelope Flats** pullout along Hwy 191 in N Utah. Photo looks WNW.

N of Antelope Flats, Hwy 191 crossed into Wyoming. For the second day in a row, Lupe and SPHP were following excellent directions by peakbagging hero Edward Earl. Little Mountain was supposed to be only 10 miles or so from the Utah border, and soon came into view.

As Edward noted, Little Mountain greatly resembles Pine Mountain (9,550 ft.), the Sweetwater County, Wyoming High Point, which Lupe had visited a year ago. Like Pine Mountain, Little Mountain was a large, crescent-shaped mesa with a steep S slope.

Heading E on Hwy 191 just S of Little Mountain, SPHP watched for a sign for Clay Basin Road on the R (S). A couple of small pullouts were close to the highway’s high point less than a mile before reaching the turn. Lupe could have started for Little Mountain from one of these pullouts, but Earl had parked along Clay Basin Road. Lupe and SPHP wanted to start from the same spot, then duplicate Earl’s trip up the mountain.

It would be fun to follow Edward’s footsteps from nearly 11 years ago!

Lupe along Hwy 191 just before the turn onto Clay Basin Road. Photo looks ENE.

Clay Basin Road is also known as Sweetwater County Road No. 62. Photo looks SE, away from Little Mountain.

After making the turn, SPHP parked at a big pullout on the E side of Clay Basin Road. Edward Earl must have parked here in 2007.

*Oh, here we are – right where Edward Earl parked years ago! That’s **Little Mountain** ahead. Only looks like a big hill from here, but it’s nearly 1,200 feet of elevation gain to the top!* Photo looks NNW.

As soon as SPHP was ready, Lupe started for Little Mountain (9,131 ft.). (8:22 AM, 70°F). The American Dingo followed Clay Basin Road back to Hwy 191, turned W along the highway for a short distance, then left the road heading up Little Mountain’s sagebrush-covered S slope.

Not far off to the NW was a higher escarpment topped by a line of gray rocks. Looked interesting, but this whole region made SPHP nervous. Too much vegetation! Even though Lupe was already close to 8,000 feet elevation, SPHP was still worried about the possibility of encountering rattlesnakes. For a short distance, Lupe followed a level cow path NE to a more barren-looking ridge.

The ridge wasn’t completely bare, but for a long way, it was covered by only short, sparse grasses. Much easier to see what was on the ground here! SPHP felt better about the situation as Lupe turned NW following this ridge toward High Point 8592 on the topo map.

Looking up the more barren short grass ridge toward **High Point 8592**, the lower hill on the L. Photo looks NW.

The more barren ridge was a long, steady, upward trudge. Higher up, Lupe stayed W of a stand of bushes. Upon reaching High Point 8592, she was already halfway up Little Mountain. Loop saw several pronghorn antelope from here, but they were much farther up the mountain, and soon disappeared beyond the upper edge.

After visiting High Point 8592, Lupe crossed a patch of yellow dirt on the way N down into a small saddle leading to the second half of the climb.

Near the top of **High Point 8592** looking at **Little Mountain**‘s upper S slope. Lupe would go straight up near the center, then angle L to arrive up on the ridgeline a bit R of the lone tree (L) near the top. Photo looks N.

The rest of the way up, Little Mountain became progressively steeper. Lupe headed pretty much straight up the S slope from High Point 8592, until she was quite close to the top. So much sagebrush grew on these upper slopes, that it couldn’t be avoided. While SPHP was still leery of rattlesnakes, Lupe didn’t come to any. By now she was approaching 9,000 feet, so perhaps there weren’t any around to begin with.

Start of the 2nd half of the ascent looking back at **High Point 8592**. Photo looks SSE.

The final part of the climb was the steepest. Lupe angled NW (L) until she finally made it up to the rim of the summit plateau.

The top of Little Mountain was a vast flat to gently rolling mesa. The highest terrain existed as a wide band of open ground along the S edge. To the N, a slightly lower forest was in sight hundreds of feet away. The topo map shows two separate 9120 foot contours on Little Mountain. Lupe had come up between them closest to the larger E contour, which was where Edward Earl had noted that the true summit was located.

The terrain where Lupe had come up was dominated by medium-sized reddish, purplish rocks. However, as she headed E looking for the true summit, the geology changed. Loop only had to go 500 feet to reach a big flat area which appeared to be the summit of Little Mountain. By the time she got that far, the reddish, purplish rocks had vanished. At first glance, the parched barren ground looked light gray.

Upon closer inspection, the summit of Little Mountain was comprised of a conglomerate of a wide variety of pebbles.

The true summit was composed of a wide variety of pebbles and small stones.

Looking back to the W, it was clear that Earl was right. Lupe actually was at the true summit of Little Mountain. The whole summit area was enormous and so nearly flat that no one spot stood out as the absolute high point. Lupe selected a group of slightly larger rocks that seemed to be at least as high as anything else for her official true summit.

There wasn’t a speck of shade here. The Carolina Dog simply laid down on the rocky ground to take a break, while enjoying the magnificent panoramic views on offer toward all points S.

In brilliant sunshine, Lupe reaches the **true summit of Little Mountain** in the E 9120 foot contour. Photo looks SW.

Looking WSW in the direction Lupe had come from once she reached the top.

The air was hazy with the smoke of distant forest fires. Despite the haze, Lupe could see the long blue ridge of Pine Mountain (9,550 ft.) more than 15 miles off to the ESE.

**Pine Mountain**, the Sweetwater County high point, is the long ridge on the L. Beyond it, just R of Center, may be **Middle Mountain (9,559 ft.)** in Colorado. Photo looks ESE.

The best views were closer by, looking due S. Utah was only 5.5 miles away as the crow flies. Lupe could easily see Clay Basin Road where she had started her ascent of Little Mountain from.

Clay Basin Road heads away from Hwy 191 on the L. The yellow N slope of **High Point 8592** is seen below on the R. Photo looks SSE.

**Richards Mountain (8,728 ft.)** (R) is the closest big ridge. It is still in Wyoming, but everything beyond it is in Utah. Photo looks S.

The area over by the W 9120 foot contour was clearly lower. Even so, when Lupe was done at the true summit, she headed that way exploring along the S rim. The map showed that the 9,131 foot survey benchmark was over at the W high point. Edward Earl hadn’t seen it, but maybe Lupe would? A distant view of Flaming Gorge Reservoir might also be available from over there.

As the American Dingo wandered W, she sniffed many clusters of the reddish, purplish rocks that looked like they might mark the position of the 9131 foot survey benchmark, yet Lupe didn’t find it. She went all the way to the W high point, finally stopping a little before reaching a fence.

There was more high ground to the NW, but it wasn’t quite as high as where Lupe was now. She could see part of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, and would have had an even better view of it, if she had gone farther. On a clearer day, that might have been worth doing. However, with the smoke haze somewhat marring the scene, it didn’t seem necessary.

Along the S edge not far from the high point of the W 9120 foot contour. A portion of **Flaming Gorge Reservoir** is in view. Photo looks W.

Hwy 191 snakes away toward **Flaming Gorge Reservoir** (R). Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

Looking back toward the true summit from the W high point. Photo looks ENE.

In the end, Lupe headed back E again, still keeping an eye out for that wayward survey benchmark. Like Edward Earl, she never did find it. Loop left Little Mountain (9,131 ft.) starting back down from about the same spot she’d come up.

The Carolina Dog’s return route was about the same until she was below High Point 8592. She then stayed more to the W, hoping to explore the top of the gray rock escarpment she’d avoided on the way up. Going this way, Lupe came to some reddish, purplish boulders covered with bright orange lichens. Their vivid appearance was striking.

Now that is one brightly decorated boulder!

The gray rock escarpment itself was a disappointment. Tall bushes and cactus grew in great abundance upon it. Lupe had to retreat, ultimately descending into the dense vegetation E and below the escarpment that SPHP had hoped to avoid. The American Dingo scared up a deer and a jack rabbit, but never even knew it. She wasn’t tall enough to see over all the grass, bushes and sagebrush.

Little Mountain had been a success, but marked the end of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains and Wind River Range (and beyond as it turned out!). (11:28 AM, 80°F) All that remained was a scenic, air-conditioned drive home across Wyoming.

By early evening, the low, dark blue ridge of Lupe’s Black Hills of South Dakota appeared on the horizon.

Heading home. The **Black Hills** of South Dakota come into view from Highway 450 W of Newcastle. Photo looks NE.

Two summer of 2018 Dingo Vacations were now over. Lupe had enjoyed great times, and explored many beautiful places on both. The American Dingo wasn’t done yet, though! In early August, Lupe would be setting off on her grandest Dingo Vacation of 2018 of all.

She hopes you will return soon ready for action, adventure, and more scenic peakbagging fun!