Dingo Vacations – Page 54 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Castle Mountain, the Carbon County Montana High Point with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore – Part 1: Island Lake to Two Bits Lake (8-7-20)

Day 3 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming & Montana!

8:05 AM, Island Lake campground off Beartooth Hwy No. 212 – Jobe Wymore was early, 55 minutes early. Even so, despite waiting an hour for a pilot car to get her through road construction, Lupe had beaten him to Island Lake. Only by 10 minutes, though. It was super seeing Jobe again for the first time since November, 2018! Great things were in the works!

Turned out Jobe had already been on an adventure. Yesterday he’d climbed Mount Wood (12,660 ft.) with another friend, an opportunity that had sort of popped up out of the blue. In a rush, Jobe had thrown everything into his Rubicon, driven straight out from Washington State, and trotted up Mount Wood. Or maybe slogged up. Mount Wood was not for the faint-hearted – more than 6,000 feet of relentless elevation gain in the rugged Beartooth Mountains.

Congratulations were in order, of course! Jobe and his friend had made it to the top. However, the upshot of it all was that Jobe had tried calling SPHP yesterday, and had left a message when he didn’t get an answer. The message, eminently reasonable, had requested a one day delay to rest up before taking on Castle Mountain (12,612 ft.) with Lupe. Early this morning, when he still hadn’t heard from SPHP, Jobe had driven all the way up from his motel in Red Lodge, keeping to the originally agreed upon schedule.

A guilt trip SPHP richly deserved! Could have checked for messages on the way through Cody yesterday, but 110% confident Jobe would be here, SPHP hadn’t bothered. Poor Jobe! All worn out already, yet committed to setting out on a multi-day backpacking adventure with Loop.

SPHP felt terrible. Well, not terrible, but guilty. Actually, it was more or less a good thing. Jobe was so much stronger and faster than SPHP that the exhausting day on Mount Wood only served to even things up a bit. Come to think of it, this was great news! Jobe wasn’t angry, actually rather cheerful and matter of fact about it, and now SPHP would stand some chance of not falling incredibly far behind. Jobe’s sad tale was just a friendly reminder that maybe in the future, ya know it might not hurt to check that pesky old flip phone once in a while.

Over at the Island Lake trailhead, Jobe and SPHP chatted during last minute preparations while Lupe sniffed about. Jobe always made SPHP laugh. He had many mountain and other tales to tell, and was always handing out free samples of this or that new product he’d tried and liked. SPHP never did anything different, so Jobe was usually able to conjure up some unimagined miracle.

8:51 AM, Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming – It was on! Jobe Wymore and Lupe stood poised by the shore of Island Lake, ready to start for Castle Mountain. A bluebird morning with a light breeze! Optimism reigned as everyone set out on the Beartooth Highlakes Trail after rock hopping Island Lake’s outlet stream. The trail led N, sticking close to the W shore.

Off to a good start with **Lonesome Mountain** (L) in the distance.

The trail was level or close to it. Island Lake and Night Lake were soon left behind. Jobe expounded upon interesting topics. This was familiar much-loved territory, although Lupe hadn’t been here in years. She was quite happy trotting along sniffing here and there, while listening in on the conversation.

State Line Peak (11,360 ft.), part of the enormous Beartooth Plateau ridge, was nearly always in sight. Lonesome Mountain (11,399 ft.) could often be seen off by itself to the NNW, as well. After Night Lake, the trail passed smaller lakes and crossed a little stream.

Almost before SPHP realized it, a new sign appeared pointing out the R turn to Becker Lake. The sign made things easier than they used to be. When Loop had been here years ago, this turn had been easy to miss.

Passing an unnamed lake N of Night Lake. Photo looks NNE.

**Lonesome Mountain** (L). **State Line Peak** (R). Photo looks NNW.

The new sign with directions to both Beauty and Becker lakes.

The Becker Lake trail passed part of Flake Lake on the R, and a couple of ponds on the L, before descending a small hill to a stream ford between Mutt & Jeff Lakes. The water was a couple of feet deep, but stones and a tiny bushy island made it possible to rock hop the entire thing.

Next came a boulder field that had to be traversed along the NW shore of Jeff Lake, beyond which the trail crossed a soft, damp region before starting up the first significant slope of the day. Gaining nearly 200 feet of elevation, Loop came to a half-dried up tarn in a narrow pass.

Approaching **Jeff Lake**. The short boulder field that must be traversed along the NW shore and the slope leading up to the pass to the Becker Lake region are both visible beyond Loop. Mutt Lake is unseen off the L edge. Photo looks N.

**Jeff Lake** as seen on the way up to the pass. Photo looks SSE.

In the pass near the half dried up tarn. Photo looks NW.

From the pass, the trail headed N staying E of Becker Lake. This region was forested, and at first, since the trail was well above and back from the lake, it wasn’t even in sight. However, the forest soon began to give way to meadows with only scattered stands of conifers. Before long, the American Dingo was getting glimpses of Becker Lake.

Becker Lake was nearly a mile long. By the time Lupe was approaching the N end, the views were really opening up.

Jobe and Loop near **Becker Lake**. Photo looks SW.

Views opened up as the forest began giving way to meadows. Photo looks N.

Approaching the **N end of Becker Lake**. Photo looks NW.

Less than 0.5 mile N of Becker Lake, Lupe entered Montana. Wyoming left behind, the trail went up a valley on the E side of a stream bound for Becker Lake from Albino Lake, which wasn’t in view yet. Wildflowers flourished here, and Lonesome Mountain (11,399 ft.), which Loop had once climbed, was looming large.

**Lonesome Mountain** (Center). Albino Lake is hidden beyond the pass on the R. Photo looks NW.

The S end of Albino Lake was 0.6 mile N of the Montana border. When Lupe, Jobe & SPHP got there, it was necessary to cross the outlet stream. Although the stream was wide, this was no problem at all. The entire stream was full of rocks sticking up above the water. Rock hopping it was a cinch almost anywhere one chose.

Once across the stream, the trail wound over to the W side of Albino Lake, where it turned N again. For more than 0.5 mile, Lupe was in the scenic region between Lonesome Mountain to the W and Albino Lake to the E. Beyond the lake, it was only another 0.25 mile up to Pass 10340. From here, Jasper Lake was now in view.

**Albino Lake**. **Pass 10340** (L). Photo looks NNW.

**Albino Lake** from **Pass 10340**. Photo looks SE.

**Jasper Lake** from **Pass 10340**. The **dark knob** (Center) in the distance, is the end of **Sky Pilot Mountain’s SE ridge**. Photo looks N.

From Pass 10340, the trail headed NW down to a valley between Jasper Lake and Golden Lake. SPHP warned Jobe about the sizable stream flowing down to Golden from Jasper.

Years ago, Lupe had gone beyond Jasper Lake twice. The stream had been so high both times that it had been impossible to rock hop. The first time, Loop and SPHP had wound up fording it near Golden Lake, both getting soaking wet paws in the process. The second time, the whole issue had been avoided by circling around the E side of Jasper Lake where the flow was divided into a number of smaller inlet streams. Worked, but this had been a somewhat tedious route.

Despite having climbed Mount Wood yesterday, Jobe sped on down the trail for a look at the Jasper Lake outlet stream situation himself. Lupe and SPHP trudged after him.

Heh, no worries! Upon reaching the stream, Jobe must have thought SPHP was nuts. Either it was running considerably lower now than when Lupe and SPHP had been here before, or someone had rearranged a bunch of rocks. A nice long string was now conveniently situated for relatively easy rock hopping all the way across. Whatever! Nothing wrong with good news, is there?

*Here’s a glimpse of **Golden Lake**. Part of **Lonesome Mountain** (L).* Photo looks SW.

**Jasper Lake** from partway across the outlet stream. Photo looks NE.

The downstream view. **Lonesome Mountain** (L). Photo looks SW.

Somewhere N of the outlet stream along the W side of Jasper Lake, the trail veered off to the W destined for Arrowhead Lake and myriad other lakes beyond. Never saw exactly where that happened. Didn’t matter. Not the way Lupe and Jobe needed to go.

Castle Mountain (12,612 ft.) was still 5.5 miles NNW as the crow flies. Today’s goal was to get at least as far N as Two Bits Lake, which was only another mile plus from Jasper Lake. Jasper Lake had been a long, but relatively easy march with good trails the whole way and less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain. However, from here on there would be no trails. Ahead was a wilderness of rock.

For the time being, that was no big deal, since Lupe had already been to Two Bits Lake and even Donelson Lake before. Slower going was in the cards, but success was assured at least that far. Loop, Jobe and SPHP pressed on, heading NNW from Jasper Lake toward the last pass before Triskel Lake and Two Bits Lake.

Leaving **Jasper Lake** behind. **Peak 11600** (R of Center). Photo looks SE.

Loop meditating among the Indian Paintbrush while Jobe waits for laggard SPHP. Photo looks NW.

**Jasper Lake** (L) and **Lonesome Mountain** (R). **Pass 10340** (Center). Photo looks SSE.

Progress was actually decent until the Pass 10380 region was reached. Here, avoiding fields of talus as much as possible became the priority. No way to avoid it all. A lot of bouldering went on, with intermittent spurts on better ground keeping it all from getting too discouraging. Staying to the W, several unnamed tarns were bypassed.

The largest and first tarn reached in the **Pass 10380 region**. Photo looks E.

Jobe isn’t a fan of talus. Had to pick his poison here at **Pass 10380**. Photo looks N.

Two smaller tarns just N of **Pass 10380**. Photo looks N.

Once over Pass 10380, the terrain eventually became easier to deal with. Triskel Lake came into view, and everyone headed down that way first. Not quite 4:00 PM yet, but maybe after lugging heavy packs for 7 straight hours this was good enough? Jobe was ready to call it, and Lupe and SPHP sure had no objections.

Approaching **Triskel Lake**, the more distant one on the L. Photo looks WNW.

Where to camp became the question. Wandering N toward higher ground while scouting out the area, the region somewhat closer to Two Bits Lake than Triskel Lake seemed to be the place to be. Jobe assembled his tent before deciding on a precise location. The breeze caught it, and Jobe was running around flying that tent almost like it was a kite, while still trying to find an acceptable spot.

So funny! Jobe was hilarious! So this is how guys with vast experience do it? SPHP laughed, but Jobe did get it all under control. He ultimately picked a little grassy ledge overlooking the stream running down from Two Bits Lake to Triskel Lake for his tent kite. Barely enough room for it. Jobe better not thrash around much in his sleep, or he’d be a goner.

Dinnertime! Always on the cutting edge, Jobe had fancy freeze-dried stuff to prepare. Thai something or other. Sort of spicy. While Jobe turned wilderness chef, Loop and SPHP wandered off looking for a place to pitch her tiny house, finally settling on a soft spot near a tarn over a little hill SE of Jobe’s abode.

Jobe scouting E of the stream between Two Bits Lake and Triskel Lake. Photo looks N.

**Triskel Lake** (L) and the stream running down to it (R). Photo looks SW.

Jobe’s comfy(?) perch (R of Lupe). Photo looks WSW.

Loopster’s tiny house. Home for the night. Photo looks NE.

The tarn near the tiny house, which is around the corner off the R edge. Photo looks SE.

After dinner, Jobe came looking for Loop and SPHP. Finally spotting the tiny house, he then provided entertainment with his commentary for more than half an hour. Good times! Well before sunset, Jobe was ready to hit the hay. SPHP knew Jobe was an early riser, and he’d had two long days in the mountains in a row, although today couldn’t have begun to compare with Mount Wood.

The sun was still well up when Jobe retired to his tent kite. A gorgeous evening! Even though Lupe and SPHP were both tired, too, there was something Loopster absolutely had to do. 7 years since the last time she’d seen Two Bits Lake, and it was only a short stroll away. Better go take a look!

**Two Bits Lake** and its outlet stream. Photo looks N.

More of **Two Bits Lake**. Photo looks NNE.

By the outlet stream that flows down to Triskel Lake. Photo looks SW.

This first day out had gone well, but then that was to be expected. Been this far before. The only thing that had worried SPHP at all to this point was what the outlet stream from Jasper Lake might be like, and it had turned out to be cake.

SPHP had convinced Jobe to take this Lupe route to Castle Mountain. It wasn’t the usual one, and it was important that it worked. Jobe had come a long way to get Castle Mountain done. Among other incredibly challenging peak lists, Jobe had been working the Western Contiguous USA County Highpoints list for many years. 414 peaks, and he was only missing a few! Mount Wood had been one of them. Now Castle needed to fall!

Tomorrow was going to be different, a journey into the unknown. Lupe had never been beyond Donelson Lake. To even make an attempt on Castle Mountain, Jobe would have to be able to get to Flat Rock Lake. From there, others had proven a route up Castle.

Only 2 mystery miles from Donelson Lake to Flat Rock Lake. The topo map didn’t look too bad. Would the Lupe route go? No guarantees. Anything could happen, but SPHP felt confident it would.

**Two Bits Lake**, Beartooth Mountains, Montana 8-7-20

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Castle Mountain, the Carbon County Montana High Point with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore – Part 2: Two Bits Lake to Flat Rock Lake (8-8-20)

The Journey to Two Bits Lake, Beartooth Mountains (7-12-13)

Sky Pilot Lake, Beartooth Mountains of Montana (7-17-13)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacations to Wyoming, Utah & Montana Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Little Bald Mountain & Bear Rocks, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (8-6-20)

Days 1 & 2 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming & Montana!

8-5-20, late afternoon, I-90 in eastern Wyoming –

So we’re not going to Canada or Alaska at all this year, SPHP?

Afraid not, Loop. We would have if Covid-19 had petered out this summer, but it hasn’t. Everything is in an uproar about it. Technically, we could still go, but all the new rules and regulations make it not worth it. Canada doesn’t want us to do any more than just drive through, which is pointless, and Alaska would force us to quarantine for 2 weeks upon arrival. Maybe next year? Let’s hope.

Well, that’s disappointing! What’s the plan now then?

We’re off to Montana for a while, but the Bighorns are as far as we’ll get this evening.

Montana is beautiful, SPHP! We used to spend time there before we started just driving through it on the way to Canada, remember?

Oh, yeah! Montana is awesome! Jobe’s even going to be there! Guess we’ll save some money, too, ’cause it’s not that far.

Although Lupe kept a keen eye out, she didn’t see many cows to bark at along I-90. However, the situation improved dramatically when SPHP abandoned it at Gillette to take the longer scenic route to the N Bighorns through Spotted Horse on Hwy 14/16. Not only were there cows and horses, but deer, sheep and even wild turkeys, too.

Pandemonium reigned in the G6, a sure sign that this Dingo Vacation was off to a fabulous start!

**Missouri Buttes (5,374 ft.)** (L) and **Devils Tower (5,112 ft.)** (R) from I-90 E of Moorcroft. Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.

The traditional stop at **Spotted Horse**. Photo looks E.

Crossing the **Powder River** W of Spotted Horse. Photo looks N.

*Look at all those beautiful moo cows! This is gonna be a great Dingo Vacation!*

8-5-20, 10:14 PM, 52ºF, 4 miles ENE of the Garden of the Gods, Bighorn Mountains – The sun had already been on the horizon by the time the drive up into the Bighorns started, but at least Looper had made it up here. In darkness, she enjoyed a short romp along USFS Road No. 165. The were-puppy put in an appearance, attacking SPHP. Perhaps that was due to the huge, orange moon glowing above the E horizon?

8-6-20, 2:07 AM – Excited to be in the Bighorns again, the Carolina Dog lay resting and watching on the ground outside the G6. Much higher now, the moon had lost all it’s color and seemed to have shrunk. Even so, it was still so bright that the stars weren’t. A warm evening. SPHP let Loop be for a while before calling her in, not wanting ruin the wee hour magic, but afraid of falling asleep while she was still alone out there.

8-6-20, 6:30 AM – The next thing SPHP knew, bright-eyed and alert, Lupe was in sunshine! Sun up, but barely. Underway almost immediately, SPHP drove W from Burgess Junction on Hwy 14A. Even though Loop wasn’t seeing any cows, she was all excited, barking and singing the Dingo song, certain those cows were out there somewhere.

The cattle never did put in an appearance, but sheep did! A shepherd on horseback was driving a huge flock across Hwy 14A onto the lower W slopes of Little Bald Mountain (9,907 ft.), assisted by 4 large pure white Great Pyrenees. Sheep were every bit as good as cows! As the last of the flock got across the highway and SPHP drove slowly past the stragglers, Loopster gave ’em what for, attracting the attention of 2 of the Pyrenees, who rushed over to defend their flock.

The woofing, pursuing Pyrenees were even more fun! From the safety of the G6, the American Dingo responded to the white monsters with a savage, curly tail waving, leaping up and down, foaming-at-the-mouth barking barrage. Utterly exhausting, but exhilarating! SPHP didn’t dare stop until Lupe was at the huge pullout N of Bald Mountain (10,042 ft.). By then, the Pyrenees had long since given up the pursuit.

*That was a blast! Can we do it again, SPHP?* Loop N of **Bald Mountain**, the big one, not the little one. Photo looks S.

Well, now what? The plan had been to climb Little Bald Mountain, but obviously trying it while a huge flock of sheep guarded by a shepherd and 4 Great Pyrenees were on the premises might not work out for the best. Pondering the point, SPHP decided Bear Rocks (9,403 ft.) was the answer, even though it meant driving past Little Bald Mountain again.

Heading back E, a surprise! Sheep were once more streaming across Hwy 14A, now in the process of abandoning Little Bald Mountain for the exact same pastures they had just left W of the road. Intensely excited, Lupe was all for driving right through the middle of the flock, but SPHP stopped and waited instead. No sense in going all the way to Bear Rocks, if Little Bald Mountain was about to open up again.

Sheep stream across Hwy 14A W of **Little Bald Mountain** (L). Photo looks SE.

8-6-20, 7:41 AM, USFS Road No. 15 near the junction with Hwy 14A – The sheep had moved on, but at least Loopster could take consolation in the fact that she now had a clear shot at Little Bald Mountain (9,907 ft.). Nothing to it, really. Roughly 650 feet of elevation gain on a grassy slope less than a mile long. Lupe was free to sniff and roam as she pleased while SPHP trudged along bringing up the rear.

About to head up **Little Bald Mountain’s NW slope**. Photo looks SE.

*This really would have been a fun romp, if all those sheep were still here!*

Halfway up was a minor rocky lip, just above the steepest part of the climb. Didn’t amount to anything. Once past it, the slope began leveling out. At the top of Little Bald Mountain (9,907 ft.), Lupe discovered a wooden post. The ground 20 or 30 feet SSW of this post seemed to be slightly higher, but a huge region didn’t differ much in elevation.

Little Bald Mountain was about as featureless as a mountain could get, except for the views. Lupe could see quite a few other peaks she had been to at one time or another. None appeared rugged, but all had that wide open spaces feel typical of much of the Bighorn Range.

Getting close to the top. Photo looks SE.

By the summit post. **Peak 9953** (L) straight up from Loop. Photo looks E.

*This seems to be about the **true summit**!* **Hunt Mountain (10,162 ft.)** (L). Photo looks SE.

Strolling about the summit region, Lupe had a look at Peak 9953 to the E and Hunt Mountain (10,162 ft.) off to the SE. The sagebrush plains W of the Bighorns could be seen to the SW, although the view was rather hazy. Bald Mountain (10,042 ft.), which Loop had been to multiple times, was only a few miles NW.

**Bald Mountain** (Center) from Little Bald Mountain. Photo looks NW.

Most of the peaks Lupe had been to were off to the N or NNW. Not too far away were Rooster Hill (9,400 ft.) and Burnt Mountain (9,492 ft.). More distant were Duncum Mountain (9,831 ft.) and Sheep Mountain (9,813 ft.). The Big Horn County High Point (9,257 ft.) in Montana was even visible on the far horizon.

**Duncum Mountain** (far L), **Sheep Mountain** (L), and the **Big Horn County High Point** (Center) all in the distance. **Rooster Hill** (L) and **Burnt Mountain** (R) in the foreground. Photo looks NNW.

**Little Bighorn River drainage**. Photo looks N.

SPHP congratulated Lupe on climbing Little Bighorn Mountain, shaking her paw. The were-puppy decided to attack, since she’d seen and done about everything there was to see and do up here, and SPHP being the only target readily available. Once she got that out of her system, Loop and SPHP sat together near the wooden post in a light breeze enjoying a peaceful Bighorn Mountains moment.

Relaxing near the post. **Bald Mountain** (L). Photo looks NW.

Half an hour after arriving, Lupe started back down the mountain. By now SPHP had decided that she might as well visit Bear Rocks, too.

On the way back to the G6. Hwy 14A (L) and USFS Road No. 15 (R). Photo looks NW.

8-6-20, 9:47 AM, 68ºF, SW of Owen Creek campground – SPHP parked the G6 in a big field just off USFS Road No. 236.01. The topo map showed No. 236.01 turning to 4WD 0.33 mile back at the bridge over Owen Creek, but the road had actually been fine. In fact, the G6 could easily have gone farther, but this was good enough. Bear Rocks (9,403 ft.) was only 2 miles NW of here as the crow flies, although the route Lupe was going to take would probably add another mile or more to that.

Loop’s starting point for Bear Rocks. Photo looks S.

The sky was a bit iffy as Looper started SW along No. 236.01. The road was flat all the way to the trees, both Lookout Mountain (10,147 ft.) and Dome Peak (10,828 ft.) in view off to the SE. Upon reaching the forest, No. 236.01 gradually gained elevation all the way to a junction with USFS Road No. 220.

Heading for the trees on **USFS Road No. 236.01**. Photo looks SW.

At the junction with **No. 220** (R). Photo looks SW.

Taking No. 220, Lupe followed it NW up a much steeper slope. The G6 would never have made it up this rocky, rutty affair. Light rain showers drifted by, missing to the E. A cool breeze felt good on the 0.5 mile trek up to HP9198, where the road finally flattened out. After a short break to take in the views, Lupe continued W over the far side of the hill.

Heading up **No. 220** to **HP9198** (R). Photo looks NW.

**No. 220** (L) from **HP9198**. **Lookout Mountain** (L) and **Dome Peak** (R) in the distance. Photo looks SE.

Heading down the **W side of HP9198**. **HP9650** (Center). Photo looks WSW.

Lupe crossed the saddle W of HP9198 and kept going. Leaving No. 220, which angled off to the L (SW), the Carolina Dog started up toward some dolomite formations SPHP assumed were on the way to Bear Rocks.

On the way up to dolomite formations W of **HP9198**. Photo looks WSW.

Something didn’t seem right, though. The hill Lupe was now climbing had been visible from HP9198, and the top was all rounded and grassy. Sort of strange for a place named Bear Rocks. Off to the N was a lower hill with a line of dolomite cliffs near the top that looked a lot more like what SPHP expected to see.

The more promising line of cliffs off to the N.

A check of the map confirmed that Lupe needed to go N past those cliffs. The slope she was currently climbing went to HP9650, not Bear Rocks. Retreating most of the way back down to the saddle, Loopster picked up a primitive road heading NW. Unmarked by anything other than a “No Motor Vehicles” wand, this was USFS Road No. 201216.

Near the start of abandoned **USFS Road No. 201216**. Photo looks NW.

**HP9198** (L) from **No. 201216**. Photo looks SE.

0.25 mile on No. 201216 brought Lupe to a junction with No. 201311, yet another abandoned unmarked road that veered off to the NE (R). Loop followed No. 201311 up sagebrush-covered slopes to the E end of the cliffs. By the time she got that far, the road had become a braided series of single track trails heading N.

At the **junction with No. 201311**, which leads to the E (R) side of the cliffs ahead. Photo looks N.

The most efficient course of action would have been to simply continue N past these cliffs, but Lupe and SPHP hung around for a closer look at some of the interesting formations.

*Quickest way to the Bear Rocks summit is to proceed directly up the hill on the R, but let’s have a look around here first!* Photo looks N.

Exploring the below the cliffs. Photo looks SW.

*Dolomite formations like these are actually quite common in the Bighorns.* Photo looks SW.

An American Dingo prepares to give a speech in a magnificent dolomite amphitheater. *Four score and seven mountains ago* …

Seeing the spiffy dolomite cliffs from below inspired a desire to see the views from above. SPHP also noticed that the topo map showed HP9399 somewhere up there not too far from the E edge. That was only 4 feet lower than the true summit of Bear Rocks, still 0.67 mile to the NNW. Maybe Loopster ought to visit this S summit, too?

Continuing N through an opening between gigantic fallen boulders, the Carolina Dog soon discovered a decent route up. A quick climb, and Lupe was in the forest on top. To get a look around from some of the clifftops she had just skirted, Loop explored SE until she came to a good viewpoint.

About to head N between the fallen boulders. Photo looks N.

Below an interesting formation. Photo looks SW.

*Hey, here’s a way up, SPHP!* Photo looks SW.

A little clearing Lupe arrived at on top. Photo looks NW.

At the viewpoint. **HP9198** is the first hill beyond Lupe. Photo looks SE.

The views were impressive, and the deeply-fissured dolomite provided a variety of nice Dingo display platforms. Nothing wrong with Little Bald Mountain, but the local terrain here was way more interesting!

Along the SE rim. **HP9650** (R). Photo looks SSW.

Same spot, but with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SSW.

**Black Mountain (9,489 ft.)** (Center) in the distance. Photo looks NE.

Once satisfied with her explorations along the upper rim, Lupe turned to the task of trying to find HP9399. Heading NNW, she scouted the region near the edge. A little beyond where she first came up, a small ridge of dolomite seemed a likely candidate.

**Lookout Mountain (10,147 ft.)** (Center) from the HP9399 candidate. Photo looks SE.

This small rise with a view was not HP9399. Going a few hundred feet farther, Lupe came to an 8 or 10 foot high ridge of crumbling rock. 50 feet long with minor high points at each end, as far as SPHP could tell, this ridge was almost certainly HP9399. Buried in trees, no views were available here.

*This seems to be it! **HP9399**!* Photo looks NW.

The **HP9399 ridge** from the SE end. Photo looks NW.

Having visited HP9399, it was time to seek out the true summit of Bear Rocks. Still somewhat disoriented from paying insufficient attention to the topo map, SPHP wandered W. Branches snapped as Lupe sniffed along nearby. This old forest was a region of lumpy topography, but Loop was definitely losing elevation.

Mistakenly wandering the forest **W of HP9399**.

Checking the map again, SPHP finally realized W was the wrong way. Lupe ought to be heading NE, staying up on the high ground as much as possible. Course correction was made. A longer march than expected brought Loop to the edge of the forest again. Ahead was a gentle slope leading up to a flat hilltop that had been visible way back when she had still been below the E cliffs.

Upon reaching the top, Lupe found herself on a plain of disintegrating dolomite laced with shallow trench-like depressions. Conifers dotted this region, interfering with views to the NW where the true summit of Bear Rocks ought to be, but from certain points a higher rock formation could be glimpsed a good 0.33 mile away.

Up on the dolomite plain. Photo looks NNW.

The trenches were aligned NW/SE, parallel to the way Lupe needed to go. Heading NW, she traveled a broad ridge strewn with small bits of dolomite that crunched underpaw like broken bones of the mountain. Vertical cracks and fissures ran along the edges.

By one of the shallow trenches. Photo looks NW.

Following the flat, crunchy dolomite ridge. Photo looks WNW.

The ridge began to narrow, the trenches becoming deeper and harder to avoid. Loop tried going down into one trench that quickly turned into a deep crack that led to a dead end. Doubling back, she climbed out and resumed her trek NW, but soon came to drop-offs everywhere. No choice, but to scramble 20 feet down into another trench and hope that it would take her somewhere.

At the bottom of this second trench, Lupe reached an opening where she could continue down to the W. This brought her to a forested region SW of what remained of the failing upper ridge. Turning NW again, the Carolina Dog climbed through forest before breaking out into a sunny meadow. Atop the short slope ahead sat a 10 or 20 foot high wall of rock.

Reaching a dead end as the upper part of the dolomite ridge disintegrates. Loop had to scramble down into one of the cracks here to continue. Photo looks NW.

Approaching the **Bear Rocks summit**. Photo looks NW.

The true summit of Bear Rocks (9,403 ft.) was up on that wall of rock! Debris along the center of the wall sloped clear up to the top providing access. Once up there, Lupe found she had reached a roomy triangular region. The two highest points were at opposite ends of the wall of rock she had just come up. A superimposed raised platform of dolomite at the E end was clearly the true summit.

First things first! Without hesitation, the American Dingo went over and scrambled up.

At the **true summit of Bear Rocks**. Photo looks ENE.

Another view of the **true summit** platform. **Dome Peak** (far R). Photo looks SE.

*Bear Rocks is pretty cool, even without any bears!*

8-6-20, 1:07 PM, Bear Rocks – After visiting the true summit, Lupe and SPHP moved over to the SW high point at the opposite end of the wall of rock. Not quite as high here, but a comfier spot to take a short break, and the views were virtually the same. Lookout Mountain (10,147 ft.), Dome Peak (10,828 ft.) and the Sheridan County HP (11,020 ft.) could all be made out to the SE.

*We’re heading over to the **SW high point** (Center) now.* Photo looks SW.

The **true summit** (R) from close to the SW high point. Photo looks NE.

At the **SW high point** looking SE the way Lupe came to get here. **HP9399** is somewhere back buried in the trees on the R. **Lookout Mountain** (L) in the distance.

On the **SW high point**. Photo looks S.

The Bear Rocks summit region extended a good 250 feet NW from the two high points where Lupe had come up. Naturally, the Carolina Dog took the time to sniff over that way for another perspective.

Checking out the NW part of the summit region. Photo looks NW.

Near the NW end. **Dry Fork Ridge (8,480 ft.)** (L) and **Riley Point (8,536 ft.)** (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks N.

At the **NW end**. The **true summit** is hidden behind the trees. **SW high point** (R). Photo looks SE.

Cliffs over along the edge of the **Big Willow Creek canyon**. Photo looks WNW with help from the telephoto lens.

25 minutes after arriving, Lupe was back at the true summit. Although still early afternoon, it was already time to bid Bear Rocks (9,403 ft.) farewell. Today was supposed to be part travel day, so getting back to the G6 was now a priority. After a final look around from her “Dingo Rocks” platform, Loopster was on her way.

Back at the **true summit**. Photo looks ENE.

On the way back, the American Dingo made great time. Retracing the same basic route, she skipped HP9399 and SPHP’s earlier misguided wanderings. Approaching the E end of the first cliffs she had come to, Loopster did take time to check out a weird wood-framed black plastic shelter hidden next to a big dolomite formation.

*Nothing in it at the moment! Maybe a Dingo outlaw hideout?* Photo looks SE.

Lupe went over HP9198 again, but didn’t take USFS Road No. 220 all the way back down to No. 236.01. Instead, she left No. 220, cutting straight E through fields and forest, eventually emerging from the trees a mere 0.125 mile from the G6.

Nearly all the clouds had drifted off to the E. Kind of hot out. SPHP drove back down to Owen Creek, and let Loop out for a few minutes. She waded in belly deep, lapping up the cold, clear water with gusto. Then it was back in the G6 for a beautiful drive down Shell Canyon to the baking sagebrush plains W of the Bighorns.

By evening, Lupe was at Dead Indian Pass along spectacular Chief Joseph Scenic Hwy No. 296 in NW Wyoming.

At **Dead Indian Pass**. Photo looks SSW.

**Windy Mountain (10,262 ft.)** (L) from **Dead Indian Pass**. Photo looks NW.

8-6-02, 7:35 PM, Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River – 2 miles NW of the Crazy Creek campground, SPHP pulled the G6 into a small parking area N of Hwy 212. This was a favorite spot dating back to Lupe’s very first Dingo Vacation in 2012. The joint was getting popular. Four vehicles!

A trap had been set, but not sprung – not an FJ among them. Oh, well. It had been a long shot, anyway. Tomorrow Lupe would be seeing her buddy Jobe again! Something to look forward to for sure. As the sun sank behind the towering spire of Pilot Peak (11,699 ft.) and knife-edge humpback of Index Peak (11,240 ft.), for the first time in years, the Carolina Dog paid a visit to the little waterfall around the next bend of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River.

Once this was home away from home. Lanis had been here. Fun times! Felt good to be back.

By the little waterfall around the bend.

**Pilot** (L) and **Index** (R) peaks from the **Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River**, 8-6-20

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Camped on the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River (7-11-13)