SPHP came to at 6:15 AM on July 15, 2014. A very late beginning for Lupe’s 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies! Despite the occasion, SPHP just felt lazy and spent another half an hour summoning the energy to roll out of bed. In truth, SPHP felt somewhat unprepared. Other than go to the Canadian Rockies, SPHP really didn’t have any specific idea what was going to happen over the next few weeks. Unlike SPHP, Lupe was bright-eyed, expectant and ready for action!
Lupe getting bored waiting in the G6 for SPHP to get a move on! Dingo vacations are supposed to get off to an early start!
The house and yard were in as good shape as they were going to be, and the G6 was half packed the previous evening. At 8:00 AM, Lupe got her heartworm medicine. At 9:40 AM the G6 was finally rolling out of the driveway. It was hazy out and a rather cool day for mid-July. Lupe and SPHP headed W on I-90. All day it felt like weather was building up farther to the W where Lupe was going.
Now we’re talking! Lupe arrives at the lookout tower on Warren Peaks.
Lupe’s first stop was a little side trip up to Warren Peaks(6,650 ft.) in the Bear Lodge mountains in NE Wyoming. Warren Peaks became Lupe’s first peakbagging success of her 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies & Beartooths. It didn’t seem like much of an achievement, since a road goes all the way up to the lookout tower and SPHP just drove the G6 up there. Still, the view was pretty, and just being up there further lifted SPHP’s rising enthusiasm for the glorious days ahead that were now just beginning.
Lupe’s first peakbagging success of her 2014 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies and Beartooths was Warren Peaks in NE, Wyoming.View to the SSW of Warren Peaks in the Bear Lodge Mountains of NE Wyoming.
It had only been 62°F at Warren Peaks at 11:35 AM, but it was 81°F by the time Lupe reached the Powder River two hours later. Things cooled off again just E of the Bighorn Mountains where Lupe encountered the first rain shower of the day. The rain was harder and steadier in Montana. At Billings, MT, SPHP was glad to leave I-90 and all its road construction. Lupe headed N on Hwy 3 to Lavina and turned W on Hwy 12 following the Musselshell River.
W of Harlowton, Hwy 12 goes up into the Little Belt Mountains. Neither Lupe nor SPHP had ever been to the Little Belts before. Lupe saw lots of pretty country on this day’s drive, but other than the glorious Bighorn Mountains which Lupe didn’t enter, the Little Belt Mountains were the best. The Little Belts were gently rolling and forested with meadows in the valleys. They were quite beautiful and sparsely populated. Lupe and SPHP turned N on Hwy 89 just N of White Sulphur Springs, and went as far as a big parking pullout up at King’s Hill Pass (7,393 ft. elevation).
By the time Lupe reached King’s Hill Pass, the sun was close to setting. SPHP parked the G6. For 45 minutes Lupe got to romp around in the wet woods while SPHP explored a bit too. It felt good to be out of the G6 and moving, but with all the clouds around, darkness started coming on fast. Soon after retiring to the G6 for the night, rain and fog rolled in.
By morning on July 16th, the skies were clear. The first order of business was for Lupe to climb Porphyry Peak(8,192 ft.), which was a couple of miles W of Hwy 89 at King’s Hill Pass according to the map. Lupe and SPHP started up a road that skirted the S side of the King’s Hill Campground. Lupe dashed around in and out of the wet forest, very pleased with the way this day was starting out. Soon she was a very soggy doggie, but it didn’t bother her in the least.
Soggy doggie Lupe up on Porphyry Peak on the morning of 7-16-14. Porphyry Peak was Lupe’s 2nd peakbagging success of this American dingo vacation.
The road wound around all the way up to the summit of Porphyry Peak where there was a lookout tower plus a couple of ski lifts and a few other facilities connected with the Showdown Montana Ski area. A sign at the bottom of the lookout tower said to shout for permission to climb the tower. SPHP shouted, but there was no answer. The tower went unclimbed by Lupe and SPHP. The views were pretty nice even without climbing the lookout tower. After wandering around the top of the mountain by the ski lifts where the views were best, Lupe and SPHP headed back down to the G6.
The ranger tower on Porphyry Peak, MTLupe on Porphyry Peak where the Showdown Montana ski area is located.
From King’s Hill Pass, Hwy 89 lost elevation for many miles. It was a pretty drive, and SPHP was convinced the Little Belt Mountains are the most scenic route through this part of Montana. Near the bottom of the range was a picnic area close to a little creek. SPHP stopped there long enough for Lupe to sniff around a bit and get a drink. Then it was back in the G6 and onward to Great Falls, MT.
The Little Belt Mountains in Montana looking NNE from Porphyry Peak.The wet, green forest on Porphyry Peak.
W of Great Falls, the air was no longer clear and clean. The mountains farther W were in a haze, which eventually proved to be smoke. SPHP stayed on Hwy 89 all the way through Choteau and Browning to St. Mary just E of Glacier National Park. It was all new territory to both Lupe and SPHP. Lupe happily barked at cows and horses along the way. In Choteau was a pretty neat statue of a dinosaur. Later on, SPHP regretted not stopping there to get a picture of Lupe next to the dinosaur.
A soggy Lupe in the G6 ready to leave King’s Hill Pass, MT for more dingo adventures in Canada.
From St. Mary, SPHP took Hwy 2 N to Hwy 12, which led Lupe to the Canadian border. At the drive up window, there was no one else in line to get into Canada. SPHP presented a U.S. passport and the Canadian border agent asked a bunch of standard questions.
SPHP must have been somehow suspicious, or perhaps it was just a dull, boring day on the border. SPHP was asked to park the G6 and go inside the main building while Lupe waited in the car. There SPHP presented the exact same passport, different Canadian border patrol personnel asked the exact same questions, and SPHP gave the exact same answers. Somehow this cleared up all difficulties or misunderstandings, whatever they may have been, and Lupe was free to proceed into beautiful Canada! Her 2nd Canadian Rockies adventure was now truly underway!
Early on the gorgeous summer morning of July 10, 2013, Lupe and SPHP set out on their 2nd Annual Great Dingo Vacation. Unlike 2012, this time they were alone. Once on the road, SPHP could hardly remember ever feeling so free. Although SPHP had told everyone that Lupe was headed for the Beartooths and Canadian Rockies, the truth was that Lupe and SPHP could have gone anywhere and done anything in the next 3 or 4 weeks and no one would have been the wiser.
What a cutie pie! Lupe in the G6 ready to hit the road on her 2nd Annual Great Dingo Vacation 7-10-13
SPHP turned off the cell phone shortly after leaving town. It and the radio would not be turned on again until dingo vacation was over. SPHP had the windows on the G6 partly down so Lupe could sniff the wonderful cool morning air. Lupe was riding shotgun and kept a close eye out for cows to bark at. It was plenty noisy in the G6 with the frantic dingo sounding off every 30 seconds. There were big beautiful clouds over the Black Hills, but the clouds were smaller by the time Lupe was crossing into Wyoming on I-90.
The plan for the first day was to head to the glorious Bighorn Mountains in N central Wyoming. There was plenty of time to get there. In 2012, when Lanis had been along, SPHP had wanted to see some new territory and had Lanis turn N on Hwy 14/16 at Gillette, WY to go see Spotted Horse. There had proven to be just one little store there, but there was a spotted horse! SPHP thought it would be fun for Lupe to go see it again this year.
Lupe at Spotted Horse, WY 7-10-13
Lupe and SPHP took the northern route into the Bighorns on Hwy 14A through Ranchester and Dayton up to Burgess Junction. Near Burgess Junction, SPHP turned N on a gravel road for a couple of miles. The road led to the North Tongue River and SPHP parked the G6 near it. A huge gorgeous field of wildflowers stretched unbroken upstream. Young Lupe, only 2.5 years old, had arrived at the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness!
Lupe in the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness, 7-10-13Lupe cools off in the North Tongue River, Bighorn Mountains, WY
Lupe & SPHP roamed upstream. Lupe sometimes got into the crystal clear North Tongue River to cool off and drink. Colorful butterflies flitted through the air, dragonflies zoomed around, and bees buzzed among the infinity of blossoms. Lupe raced, bounded and sniffed her way through the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness.
SPHP wandered up onto a nearby small ridge and followed it to a forested hill. Lupe and SPHP climbed up onto the rocks from where there was a view of the surrounding open fields, forests and mountains. Black and brown cows grazed near the river below. The scene was typical of the beauty of the Bighorns. It was great to be alive and free!
Lupe went as far as the nearby forested hill at the right of this photo.Bighorn Mountains from the rocky hill Lupe climbed.Lupe surveys the scene from above the North Tongue River.Exploring among the rocks.
The afternoon wore on. Sadly Lupe’s time in the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness drew to an end. SPHP headed the G6 W on Hwy 14A from Burgess Junction. Just E of Bald Mountain near the W end of the Bighorns, SPHP turned the G6 onto a side road. The only clouds were far on the western horizon. Very fortunately, the weather was going to be clear this evening.
Despite not really being very well equipped for it, SPHP managed to lug 2 sleeping bags, and a pillow or two up to the summit of Bald Mountain(10,042 ft.). From there, Lupe and SPHP continued on along the gently rounded ridge to the slightly lower SW part of the mountain.
Lupe just E of Bald Mountain, Bighorn Mountains, WY
There Lupe & SPHP spent the evening with a sweeping view from the E around to the S and W. Lupe and SPHP searched the mountain. SPHP almost despaired of finding them, and then suddenly stumbled upon the names. Very happily, SPHP fixed them.
After the sun went down, SPHP persuaded Lupe to lay down in a sleeping bag for a little while. That wouldn’t last. The stars came out and the universe was on display. Far below and away on the prairies to the S and W, gradually the distant lights of little Wyoming towns started to shine too. A sliver of a moon was about to set in the W.
There was no tent. Lupe was going to spend the night under the stars. Her amazement and excitement eventually proved uncontainable. She slept well for a few hours and then SPHP awoke to suddenly realize she was gone. Lupe hadn’t gone far though, SPHP soon heard the tinkle of the little tag on her collar as she ran around beneath the stars. Lupe could not be persuaded to lay down again. SPHP tried to sleep.
Shortly before sunset on Bald Mountain.Looking S from Bald Mountain.
But I’m not sleepy!!!! Lupe with a big night of sniffing and racing around beneath the stars ahead of her.
For hours, SPHP dozed fitfully, while listening every few minutes for the tinkle of the little tag on Lupe’s collar. Lupe raced back and forth in the darkness sniffing at top speed the open ground on top of Bald Mountain. She returned to check in with SPHP every 10 or 15 minutes.
Lupe and SPHP were at nearly 10,000 feet. The Milky Way blazed spectacularly above as the rest of the universe sped away as it has been doing for billions of years. The silence and solitude of being totally alone on a high mountain were primal and magnificent. Sometime in the wee hours of the night, Lupe was finally willing to lay down on her sleeping bag and SPHP passed out.
Morning on Bald Mountain looking W towards the mountain where the Medicine Wheel Historical Site is located. 7-11-13Lupe immortalized in stone on Bald Mountain 7-11-13Morning on Bald Mountain looking SE, Bighorn Mountains, WY 7-11-13
A chilly breeze was blowing in the morning. The fuzzy white heads at the tops of the stems on some kind of plant that covered the area were waving in the breeze, somewhat like dandelions whose seeds didn’t fly away. The effect was beautiful. SPHP looked for the place of names again and found it. SPHP added Lupe’s name to the collection. Then Lupe and SPHP returned to the summit of Bald Mountain, an easy stroll up a gentle rise to the east.
After a pause at the top of Bald Mountain to absorb the glory of the scene spreading out in every direction, Lupe & SPHP headed down to the G6, a tiny red dot below.
Sweet Lupe in the Elysian Fields of Puppy Happiness 7-10-13. May it always be so!
Late in the afternoon on Thursday, 4-30-15, SPHP’s spouse called and asked if Lupe and SPHP would come to Casper, WY for the weekend. SPHP said sure! Shortly before noon the next day, Lupe and SPHP were in the G6 and pulling out of the driveway. Lupe knew something big was up, because SPHP had piled up luggage, pillows and blankets on Lupe’s passenger side watch-dingo seat so she was nearly level with the dashboard, something that only happens before Dingo Vacations.
Lupe’s route took her through Custer, SD over to Newcastle, WY, then on to Wright, Edgerton and Midwest before reaching Casper shortly after 4 PM. It was a nice drive through wide open high plains country. Lupe had a great time barking frantically at cows, horses, sheep, an occasional pronghorn antelope, and suspicious looking bushes and buildings. When there was nothing to bark at, she stuck her nose out the partially open window to sniff the breeze.
Lupe at the apartment complex in Casper, WY.
SPHP’s spouse wasn’t at the apartment yet when Lupe arrived. That didn’t stop the dingo fun, though. Lupe soon discovered a small field out behind a row of garages where there were rabbits to chase. This was great sport, although the rabbits very soon made themselves scarce. All weekend long, every time SPHP left the apartment or G6, Lupe made a habit of running over to the little field to check on the bunny situation. She was seldom disappointed.
Lupe & buddy Cloud in the Casper apartment.
Lupe and SPHP went to gas up the G6, and by the time they got back to the apartment, SPHP’s spouse had arrived. Lupe got to see the apartment for the first time. She was very surprised to see two cats, Cloud and Shoko, but not as surprised as they were to see Lupe! Cloud was an old buddy of Lupe’s she hadn’t seen for almost two years. Cloud soon seemed to remember that Lupe was a friend of cats and no threat. Shoko, however, kept a wary eye on Lupe for the first day or so.
Lupe at home with Cloud back in July 2013.
On Saturday morning, May 2nd, Lupe got to do a little sight-seeing in the Casper area. She went to see Bridal Veil Falls on Garden Creek at the base of Casper Mountain. The falls were easily accessed via a short path. Lupe enjoyed sniffing around and wading in the creek. It wasn’t a very long outing, though.
Lupe at Bridal Veil Falls on Garden Creek at the base of Casper Mountain.
In the afternoon, Lupe and SPHP went on a four hour peakbagging quest in search of the summit of Casper Mountain(8,200 ft.). SPHP was not familiar with the area. Despite having a topo map printed out from Peakbagger.com, SPHP had some trouble finding the summit. Roads on the map only somewhat agreed with what was actually there.
The view of Casper looking N from the lookout pullout along Casper Mountain Road.
The biggest problem was that SPHP had been expecting Lupe would be free to roam on National Forest land, but the whole area seemed to be private property with a wide variety of homes, cabins and RV’s scattered through the forest. Private property, no trespassing, keep out and similar signs abounded. Lupe and SPHP stuck to the roads as much as possible, but in some places even the roads seemed to be off limits.
Another problem was that the Peakbagger.com topo map showed that the summit of Casper Mountain was just NE of a radio tower. Easy enough, but what it didn’t show was that there are multiple towers on Casper Mountain. At first SPHP thought Lupe had reached the summit of Casper Mountain after finding the first big tower. However, the road continued S and it didn’t look like it was losing much elevation. SPHP decided to check it out.
The first (N) tower on Casper Mountain.
Lupe was soon gaining elevation again and came upon another big tower. The road turned SE there and clearly went uphill even from the second tower. So Lupe and SPHP continued SE on the road to another high point in the forest. It seemed like this might be the high point of Casper Mountain, but there wasn’t any tower close at hand to the SW, so SPHP was suspicious.
The 2nd (middle) tower on Casper Mountain.
The road continued on to the S, but was starting to lose elevation. Lupe and SPHP followed it anyway. It soon turned E where it looked like Lupe was nearing the S end of Casper Mountain. A big ridge could now be seen several miles off to the SE. Lupe and SPHP left the road to trek off to the SW to see what was in that direction. Lupe soon came to a little clearing full of sagebrush where there was a narrow break in the surrounding forest that gave a view of some beautiful territory and distant mountains off to the S.
Lupe at the sagebrush clearing near the S end of Casper Mountain. The views to the S didn’t turn out in this photo.
After checking out the view, SPHP turned around and suddenly saw a third tower off to the NW. It wasn’t nearly so large as the other two towers, but it was still sizeable and not very far away. Lupe and SPHP headed for it, and were soon there. The whole area around the tower was fairly level, but the highest ground did seem to be just a little way off to the NE. The tower was near the SW end of Casper Mountain, which was right according to the map.
The 3rd tower. This one was just SW of the summit of Casper Mountain.
This did indeed seem to be the true summit of Casper Mountain. Lupe had made it! It was kind of an anti-climax though; there were no views from the summit of Casper Mountain. The summit area was nearly level ground in the middle of the forest, with a not-so-impressive tower close by off to the SW.
Lupe at the summit of Casper Mountain.
After getting back to the G6, Lupe and SPHP went over to another high hill just NE of Bear Trap Meadow County Park. From there it was easy to see that Lupe had been to the right spot. The towers Lupe had visited were all in view. The third and smaller tower, was seen poking above the trees at the highest part of Casper Mountain. SPHP also saw that there were even more towers on Casper Mountain than the ones Lupe had found. Overall, SPHP was just happy that Lupe could claim a successful ascent of Casper Mountain on Peakbagger.com.
On Sunday, May 3rd, Lupe got to go down to Morad Park in Casper. Morad Park is an off-leash dog park right next to the North Platte River. It is a pretty popular spot. There were plenty of dogs and people around, but the park was easily big enough to give everyone space. The park is on level ground, but has a mixture of vegetation. In most places there are bushes and trees next to the river. Away from the river is more open land including some swampy stuff, little streams, and scattered trees and bushes. A nearly 8 mile long bike path that follows the river goes through the park. Lupe had such a good time sniffing around Morad Park in the morning, that she got to come back again for a 2nd visit later in the afternoon.
Lupe also paid a visit to Casper College on Sunday. She couldn’t go in to see the Casper College Tate Geological Museum, but she did visit the T. Rex outside.
Bad news, Rex! Dingoes rule the earth now!The T. Rex at Casper College.
The weekend in Casper flew by and soon it was Monday morning, May 4th. Lupe was up at 5:00 AM. She made one of her last rabbit run checks shortly before moonset of the full flower moon. SPHP’s spouse had to go to work. SPHP packed up the G6 again. An hour before leaving town at 7 AM, fog and drizzle rolled in. This was much to SPHP’s disappointment, since the plan had been for Lupe to climb Laramie Peak(10,272 ft.) as a side trip on the way home.
However, just 10 or 15 minutes E of Casper on I25, Lupe and SPHP drove out of the fog. There were still quite a few clouds around, but there were patches of blue sky too. SPHP decided it was worth taking a chance on Laramie Peak. At Douglas, Lupe left I25 and SPHP drove S towards Esterbrook. Ultimately, it was a long drive to Laramie Peak over gravel roads that weren’t great, but there weren’t any really bad spots either. The scenery in the Laramie Range was beautiful and had a rather wild and remote look to it.
Laramie Peak in the clouds as seen from the N.
The G6 made it as far as a junction with USFS Road No. 671 about 4 miles from Friend Park Campground. Within a 0.25 mile of starting up No. 671, the way ahead was blocked by a huge snow drift. SPHP had to back the G6 back down to the intersection.
SPHP paused to consider the situation. It was 42°F out with a chill S wind blowing a big fog bank up and over Laramie Peak from that direction. The top of Laramie Peak was nearly always in the fog. When it wasn’t, snow was visible on the upper slopes. With snow blocking No. 671, it was a 4 mile trek to Friend Campground where the hiking trail up Laramie Peak started. The climb would involve about 2,500 feet of elevation gain from where the G6 would have to be abandoned. There was a 50% chance of rain in the forecast, which would likely be snow near the summit.
SPHP had to tell Lupe she wasn’t going to get to climb Laramie Peak. SPHP just wasn’t prepared for these conditions, which probably wouldn’t have been any fun for Lupe anyway. A glorious view of fog wouldn’t have been too exciting for SPHP either.
Just because Laramie Peak wasn’t in the cards, it didn’t mean Lupe couldn’t still find a fun place to explore. Down at this elevation, at about 7,800 feet, conditions were perfectly fine. SPHP started the G6 and headed back N.
Lupe ready for a romp SE of Buzzard Peak seen in the distance. Oh, yes, and the better to lick you with my dear!
Before long there was an interesting rocky mountain off to the NW, which was very likely Buzzard Peak. Lupe didn’t get to climb Buzzard Peak either, but she did enjoy a 45 minute romp up to a rocky ridge to the SE of it where there was a splendid view of some higher peaks of the Laramie Range to the SW. Lupe and SPHP both enjoyed the break. Although the whole side trip to Laramie Peak took four hours, it was a good scouting trip. Lupe hopes to come back and climb Laramie Peak another day.
Lupe SE of Buzzard Peak in the Laramie Range. Photo looks W.Looking S from SE of Buzzard Peak.The clouds lift momentarily as Lupe leaves Laramie Peak behind.
SPHP and Lupe continued to explore new or seldom visited areas on the rest of the way home. E of Lusk, WY was the little town of Van Tassell just before crossing the border into Nebraska. There were interesting rock formations at Van Tassell. According to Wikipedia, Van Tassell is the least populous town (15 according to the 2010 census) in the least populous county in the least populous state.
At Harrison, NE, Lupe and SPHP turned N onto a road that soon turned to gravel and wound around for many miles through scenic ranching territory. Lupe had a time again barking at cows (including a few longhorns) and horses all the way to Ardmore, SD. Lupe’s last stop before home was at Cascade Falls S of Hot Springs, SD. At Cascade, Lupe got in the warm water stream, had a long drink and waded around for a while.
Lupe in the warmish mineral waters just upstream of Cascade Falls.Cascade Falls S of Hot Springs, SD. The swimming hole beneath the little falls is surprisingly deep.
Lupe didn’t arrive home until about 5:30 PM. She and SPHP had spent 10.5 hours to get from Casper to home, a trip that had only taken 4 hours on Friday. So what? Lupe and SPHP had a great time wandering and seeing some new territory. In the evening SPHP went to Safeway and bought some fried chicken. Lupe volunteered to help devour it. With a tummy full of chicken, suddenly Lupe was pretty tired. It had been a long day of barking at cows, horses and pronghorn antelope, plus all the running around near Buzzard Peak and other little stops along the way.
Lupe’s four day weekend trip to Casper, WY was over. She was soon snoozing soundly while SPHP read a book about the Canadian Rockies. It wasn’t long before SPHP was out like a light too.
