Bighorn Mountains – Page 7 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Peak 9634, Peak 9626, Peak 9760 & Peak 9953, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-26-20)

Day 4 of Lupe’s 1st summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming!

8:25 AM, 49ºF, Hwy 14A near Wheddon Spring –

So, do you sniff a trail anywhere around here, Looper? ‘Cause I’m sure not seeing it.

Where’s it supposed to be, SPHP?

Right here. It’s supposed to take off from Wheddon Spring, and angle up this slope to the Fishook Creek valley. Trail No. 018 according to the map.

Sorry, not picking up anything unusual, SPHP. How ancient is that map, anyway?

Fairly old, I think. There are a couple of big blank areas with inscriptions. One says “Terra Incognito”, the other “Here be Dragons”.

In that case, it’s possible your trail is overgrown by now, SPHP.

Well, never mind then, Loop. Come on! Let’s just follow the highway to Fishook Creek. Maybe we’ll stumble across the trail. If not, I guess we can bushwhack up the valley. Shouldn’t be all that difficult.

Loopster on Hwy 14A approaching the **Fishook Creek valley** (R). Photo looks NW.

Walking in the ditch, SPHP spotted a green gate in the fence N of the highway. Maybe that was where the trail started? Nope. Not really. SPHP climbed over the gate while Lupe ducked under the fence, but no trail could be found on the other side, except one that stayed right next to the fence line.

Probably just a cow path. Lupe took it anyway, sniffing ahead, while SPHP tromped along continuing NW behind her. Fishook Creek was only a little farther. When Loopster got there, it turned out to be quite small, an easy rock hop for SPHP, if that was going to be the plan.

At **Fishook Creek**, just N of Hwy 14A. Photo looks NW.

Looking upstream, the deepest part of the Fishook Creek valley was a sharp, narrow “V” choked with vegetation. Apparently a nice stroll along the banks of Fishook Creek wasn’t going to be possible.

Trail No. 018, which Lupe hadn’t seen hide nor hair of, was supposed to cross over to the W side of Fishook Creek 0.33 mile upstream. Maybe the American Dingo would run into it somewhere up there? In any case, the stream was easy enough to cross right here, so perhaps that was a good idea. SPHP went ahead and rock-hopped it, while Lupe splashed across, pausing for a cold drink along the way.

On the other side, Loop ventured up a steepish open slope dotted with sagebrush. After gaining 35 feet of elevation, the terrain leveled out to some degree. She turned N, heading up the valley, now well above Fishook Creek, which was out of sight down in the “V”.

On the sagebrush-dotted bench **W of Fishook Creek**. Trail No. 018, if it still existed, was somewhere over on the larger bench across the narrow valley. Photo looks NE.

Loop soon came to an animal trail, which made exploring even easier. The trail led past a big boulder and several trees, but most of the terrain was open ground. Lupe was making good progress up the valley when she came to a fence that ran E/W across it. At this point, there was an opening in the vegetation down by the creek, which appeared to be dry.

The bottom of the valley had broadened out a bit. It looked like Lupe might be able to follow the dry creekbed. However, the Carolina Dog was already 70 feet higher than the creek, and SPHP was reluctant to lose the elevation. Things were going fine up here, so Looper simply ducked under the fence, staying high.

Looking back at the now dry creekbed after getting past the fence. Photo looks SE.

250 feet N of the fence, the valley really opened up. The broad bench E of Fishook Creek had dwindled away, but there was now plenty of room over here on the W slopes. Sagebrush was the only real obstacle, and it wasn’t too bad. Ahead, Lupe could already glimpse the region where the N and E forks of Fishook Creek converged. She aimed directly for it.

A few hundred feet beyond the fence, the sagebrush slopes on the W side of the valley really opened up. Photo looks NNE.

Approaching the confluence of the N & E forks of Fishook Creek. Photo looks NE.

Surprisingly, there actually was some water in both the N and E forks of Fishook Creek when Lupe got to their confluence. The N fork had more water than the E fork did, but both streams were tiny. SPHP could easily step over each of them.

Which way, SPHP? Where are we going?

Peak 9634 for starters, Loop. I thought we were going to have to climb that hill in front of us first, but now that we’re actually here, looks like we can take a shortcut up the E fork of Fishook Creek. So, let’s go that way.

Starting up the **E fork of Fishook Creek**, a mere trickle at this point. Photo looks ENE.

Side-hilling the slope next to the E fork soon proved to be a bit of a pain. The creek was so tiny there was no scenic advantage to staying near it. Lupe turned SE, beginning to climb the steepish slope. Before long she reached a more gently sloping region. Bordered by thick forest to the S, and only a few stands of pines along the N edge overlooking the creek, a broad grassy plain extended E a long way, rising at a steady, easy pace.

Perfect!

Up on a wide bench S of the E fork of Fishook Creek. Photo looks ESE.

A 0.5+ mile march ESE ensued. Lupe roamed at will. Toward the end, she saw a couple of giant deer still far ahead way up on the huge saddle beyond the upper E end of the Fishook Creek drainage. She was now 0.75 mile due S of Peak 9626, the big bare hill to the N.

Approaching the **upper E end of the Fishook Creek drainage** and the broad saddle between Peaks 9634 & 9626. Photo looks E.

Alrighty! Turn S here, Looper! We’re only 0.25 mile N of Peak 9634.

This far E, only a remnant of the forest to the S remained. Most of the 0.25 mile was spent crossing open terrain leading up it. Lupe arrived to find only a thin line of pines distributed along the base of a steepish 40 foot high embankment. She was quickly through the trees, and up the somewhat rocky slope to where the terrain began to level out again.

Gradually gaining another 30 feet, the American Dingo reached a loosely assembled cairn of white stones at the high point, a bit SW of where she’d come up. Lupe had made it to the summit of Peak 9634.

At **Peak 9634**‘s summit cairn. **Peak 9626** (Center) in the background. Photo looks N.

High overhead, the June sun beat down from a nearly cloudless sky. SPHP peeled off boots and socks, which were soaking wet with dew, and laid them out to dry.

Let’s take a break here, Loop. Wonder if Tim Worth built this cairn?

Tim Worth has been here?

Yeah, 4 years ago. He also went to Peak 9953 and Little Bald Mountain. Hoping we can, too, but I dunno about Little Bald Mountain (9,907 ft.). It’s quite a stretch, and there are a couple of other minor peaks we might as well visit on the way over there that will chew up some time.

We saw Little Bald Mountain yesterday from Rooster Hill (9,400 ft.) and Burnt Mountain (9,492 ft.), didn’t we?

Yup, sure did. It’s actually quite close to the highway, and much easier to get to from the NW. So, if Little Bald Mountain doesn’t work out today, while we’re coming at it from the long way around, maybe we can tackle it some other time and save some effort.

Well, there’s an idea for you, SPHP! No sense making things any harder than they have to be, is there?

Oh, you know me, Looper. We do that all the time. S.O.P!

Although extremely sunny, conditions were otherwise quite pleasant – calm and merely comfortably warm. SPHP had nuts, applesauce, and a chocolate coconut bar to snack on, or did, until a starving Dingo snarfed up more than its fair share of the chocolate coconut bar in addition to some Taste of the Wild. The big view was of Cloud Peak (13,167 ft.) far to the SE.

Peak 9634’s summit region was vast. Exactly how big depended on how much territory one wanted to include. Multiple 10’s of acres formed a big triangle that was almost all meadow, except toward the more distant E end where forest entered into the mix. The S point of the triangle was only slightly lower than the summit cairn near the NW end.

Looking SE toward **Cloud Peak** and the S end of the **Peak 9634 summit region**.

**Cloud Peak** (Center). Photo looks SE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

**E end of the summit region** (L) from **Peak 9634’s true summit**. **Black Mountain (9,489 ft.)** (R). Photo looks E with help from the telephoto lens.

After baking in the sun for a good 50 minutes, SPHP’s boots and socks still weren’t completely dry. However, even a day in June doesn’t last forever, and the Carolina Dog was getting restless.

Exploring the rest of the summit region seemed like a good idea. Lupe first headed SE to the S end of the triangle.

A glimpse of **Hunt Mountain (10,162 ft.)** (L of Center). Photo looks SW.

Peering over the S edge, the American Dingo beheld an unexpected and wondrous sight. Giant deers! Lots of them!

150 feet below, a herd of 20 to 25 giant deers was grazing or resting in a remote, hidden meadow. A long arm of the meadow extended E, then SE as it curved down into a valley. A second herd of giant deers just as big as the first one was down that way, too.

Gazing down on the giant deers. **HP9562** is in the forest beyond their meadow. Photo looks S.

Part of the herd farther E with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SE.

Loopster was both astonished and frustrated. So many, but so far away! Excited beyond belief, she whined softly as she stood staring, completely entranced.

Nothing happened for several minutes, until Lupe began to pace along the S rim. The giant deers must have spotted the movement. Suddenly both herds were running! Hypnotized, the Carolina Dog could only watch as they melted away into the forest.

Well, that was that! Nothing at the E end of the summit region was going to top all those giant deers, but Lupe headed over there anyway for a quick look. Exploring way beyond what she’d been able to see from the summit cairn, she came upon a nice view of Black Mountain (9,489 ft.) at the far E end.

Heading E. Photo looks W back toward the **true summit** (R).

At the E end. **Black Mountain** (R). Photo looks E.

Time to move on. Lupe turned N, entering a forested region. SPHP was soon busy trying to avoid the densest parts as much as possible due to all the deadfall as Loop worked her way down a slope. She finally emerged from the trees SE of the enormous saddle leading to Peak 9626.

A couple of snowbanks were still melting along the N edge of the forest. Lupe chomped snow and frolicked on them before striking out across the open ground. Disappointingly, the two giant deers she had spotted up in this area on the way to Peak 9634 were no longer here.

Heading for **Peak 9626**, the ridge on the R. Photo looks NW.

Crossing vast saddle didn’t take long. Loopster had already made good progress up the gentle S slope of Peak 9626 when she encountered a crumbling escarpment of flat tan stones. Following the upper rim, she turned NW toward the summit, and was soon closing in on it.

Looking S back at **Peak 9634** (Center).

Following the escarpment higher. Photo looks NW.

**Hunt Mountain** (Center) from **Peak 9626**. Photo looks SW.

The top of Peak 9626 was another huge flat region, but wasn’t as grassy as Peak 9634 had been. Blue and yellow wildflowers flourished among a liberal sprinkling of small, scattered rocks. Not a single tree. Peak 9626 was utterly unremarkable except for one thing. At the true summit, which was toward the W end, the Shelter Cairn stood alone on the plain.

The Shelter Cairn was made of some of the larger rocks. About 4 feet tall, it was hollow and had a roof. An opening facing E provided access to the sheltered enclosed space within, which appeared to be just about the right size to accommodate an American Dingo.

In the event of a hailstorm, the Shelter Cairn would clearly be not only the best, but only place to hide anywhere on Peak 9626.

At the **Shelter Cairn**. Photo looks WNW.

After sniffing all the way around the exterior, Lupe peered inside.

Hey, Loop! Go in, and check it out.

No way! It’s full of flies, SPHP. Disgusting!

True enough. For some unknown reason, hundreds of flies infested the Shelter Cairn, both inside and out. No amount of encouragement could persuade the Carolina Dog to venture inside for even a moment. Unless a hail storm actually did come along, Lupe wanted nothing to do with it.

Well, fine then. Onward! Puppy, ho! Not much else up here.

That wasn’t exactly true. Marmots were whistling alarms from several different directions. Much keener on conducting a census of the local marmot population than investigating the Shelter Cairn, Lupe took off running. Meanwhile, SPHP strode off to the W, starting down another gentle slope. Loop reluctantly abandoned her marmots to catch up.

Starting down **Peak 9626’s gentle W slope**. **Peak 9760** is the next big ridge on the R. Photo looks WNW.

The grassy slope steepened somewhat on the way down to Pass 9181. Lupe came to a series of benches separated by lines of broken rock so small they hardly merited the term “escarpment”. Suddenly, several ATV’s appeared out of the NE following USFS Road No. 178, a route also destined for Pass 9181 before heading up the next big ridge to the W.

The ATV’s had already vanished by the time Lupe made it to Pass 9181, which was the divide between the Fishook Creek drainage to the S, and Ice Creek drainage to the N.

Heading down to **Pass 9181** (R of Center). Photo looks WSW.

**N end of the Fishook Creek drainage** from **Pass 9181**. Photo looks S.

At Pass 9181, Lupe had lost nearly 450 feet of elevation since leaving the Shelter Cairn. Following No. 178, the same route the ATV’s had taken, she now went NW up the next big ridge. After more than a mile, the road flattened out as Loop reached the top.

Momentarily off road on the way up the next big ridge. Photo looks NW.

Peak 9760, the highest point along this entire ridge, was 0.5 mile N of where No. 178 crossed it. Getting there ought to be easy. All Lupe had to do was climb the relatively short, easy slope N of the road, then continue across an open plateau to the high point. Simple!

This side trip to Peak 9760 seemed totally worth it, so almost as soon as No. 178 flattened out, Loop left the road and started N. Approaching the top of the plateau, she passed a number of sizable rock outcroppings. Up on top, all was as expected. The Carolina Dog enjoyed an obstacle-free romp all the way to the high point, which was a little, barely-sloping hill near the N end.

Passing rock formations on the way up to the **Peak 9760** plateau. Photo looks NW.

At the **S end of the Peak 9760 plateau**. **True summit** (Center) in the distance. Photo looks N.

**Peak 9953** (Center) from **Peak 9760**. Photo looks W.

The true summit of Peak 9760 was only sparsely vegetated. Most of the ground was covered with pebbles of dolomite. Although none of the rest of the plateau was forested, the territory 150 feet W and 250 feet N of the summit was. Looking SE back where Lupe had just been, Peak 9626 and Peak 9634 both looked surprisingly lower and insignificant.

Approaching **Peak 9760’s summit**. Photo looks N.

Relaxing at the summit. Photo looks NNW.

**Peak 9634** (R) and part of **Peak 9626** (L) in the foreground. **Cloud Peak** (Center) on the far horizon. Photo looks SE.

No fancy Shelter Cairns up here! Lupe sniffed around, but found only a 6 foot long post laying on the ground near a group of rocks once used to prop it up. That was it. No marmots, giant deers, or anything else that was of interest other than the views. After a short, pleasant break, the American Dingo moved on.

There was no need to go all the way back to the S end of the plateau to get to No. 178 again. Taking a shortcut, Lupe angled SW toward Pass 9564. On the way she passed a rocky escarpment along the SW edge of the plateau, and quite a few large boulders scattered on the slope below it. However, the most interesting thing she found before getting back to No. 178 was the Dingo Trap!

The Dingo Trap was a large steep-sided pit of crumbly dirt. It was 8 feet deep, with a hole at the bottom that went who knows where, or how much deeper? The Dingo Trap appeared to be some sort of a natural sinkhole. While sinkholes aren’t that unusual among the extensive dolomite formations found in the Bighorns, this one in the dirt seemed quite different. With that dangerous-looking hole at the bottom, SPHP warned Lupe to stay out of the trap.

There were actually 2 Dingo Traps in the same vicinity, the upper one more impressive than the lower one.

*Don’t worry! I’m not falling for this!* Lupe by the biggest **Dingo Trap**. Photo looks W.

Approaching Pass 9564, Loopster reached USFS Road No. 178 again. She was soon following the road higher as it wound for about a mile over to the upper NW slopes of Peak 9953. Leaving the road, Lupe wandered E or SE in search of the true summit.

Near USFS Road No. 178 on the **NW slopes of Peak 9953**. Photo looks NW.

The NW slopes of Peak 9953 were scarred with long, narrow ravines etched into the dolomite. These ravines weren’t all that deep, but added interest to another otherwise rather featureless hill. They faded away as Lupe reached the highest ground.

This was another big summit, a couple of acres at least. A large cairn of white rock sat way over toward the E. The cairn proved to be just SE of a depression, another sinkhole in the making.

The most impressive view from the cairn, which did seem to be at or close to the true summit, was of Hunt Mountain (10,162 ft.) to the S. Once again, Cloud Peak was in sight far to the SE.

By the depression near the summit cairn. Photo looks ESE.

**Hunt Mountain** (L) from the cairn. Photo looks SSW.

After a couple of minutes near the cairn, Lupe headed over to the SW side of the summit region for a look at the hazy high plains beyond the Bighorn Range. Over here she discovered Sundial Rock, a big white rock jutting up from a second cairn clearly lower than the first one had been.

A glimpse of the high plains beyond the Bighorns. **Hunt Mountain** (far L), Hwy 14A & the junction with USFS Road No. 10 (R). Photo looks SW.

The **summit cairn** (far beyond Lupe) from **Sundial Rock**. Photo looks NE.

Although Lupe had been to Peak 9953’s summit, she still wasn’t quite ready to claim a clear peakbagging success. 0.25 mile NW was another high point that looked to SPHP like it might be somewhat higher. The topo map showed another 9,920 foot contour over that way, but didn’t give a peak elevation.

The American Dingo ought to go visit that high point, too! Due to some cool rock formations, it was a more interesting vantage point, anyway.

Looper relaxing on **Peak 9953’s W slope**. The next HP she was going to is on the R. **Bald Mountain (10,042 ft.)** (L). Photo looks NW.

Returning to USFS Road No. 178, Lupe followed it NW over to the next HP. The Carolina Dog spent a little time exploring the rock formations before climbing to an almost level platform at the very top.

Exploring rock formations along the S side of the NW HP.

Not the highest platform, but not far from it. Photo looks NW.

The view from the platform confirmed what SPHP had been thinking. Maybe it was all just an illusion, but this platform seemed convincingly higher than Peak 9953.

**Peak 9953** is the rounded grassy region in the foreground. Sure seemed lower from here! Photo looks SE.

Interesting scenes were off to the NW, too. Bald Mountain (10,042 ft.), Medicine Mountain (9,962 ft.), Duncum Mountain (9,831 ft.), Sheep Mountain (9,813 ft.), and even Rooster Hill (9,400 ft.), which Lupe had been to only yesterday, were all in sight.

**Cone Mountain** (L), **Rooster Hill** (Center L), **Duncum Mountain** (L of Center), and **Sheep Mountain** (R). Photo looks NW.

Looking back at **Peak 9760** (the big grassy ridge). **Black Mountain** (R). Photo looks E.

Off to the WSW, only 2 miles away, another mountain beckoned. Lupe was within striking distance of Little Bald Mountain (9,907 ft.).

**Little Bald Mountain** (L) & **Bald Mountain** (R). Photo looks WSW.

Heh. Looper would have to lose 450 feet of elevation to get over there, then regain it all on the way back. Not 2, but 4 extra miles round trip. Late afternoon. Probably still enough time to pull it off, and get back to Wheddon Spring before dark. Little Bald Mountain was just another big hill. Nothing hard about it.

The Carolina Dog stared up at SPHP. She was ready.

Well? Onward?

Oh, I don’t know, Looper. I’d hoped to, and I’d like to, but its been a long march and a fairly long day already, and we still need to get back. Feel like I’ve gotten a lot of sun. Would you mind if we skip it for now? It’s been fun, but I’m a bit tired. Maybe enough is enough?

No worries, SPHP! We did get back from Burnt Mountain (9,492 ft.) rather late last night. Maybe we can do Little Bald Mountain tomorrow, taking that easy route you mentioned from the NW?

Probably not tomorrow, Loop. Thinking perhaps something a little more rugged and challenging. We’re trying to work our way higher as we get back in shape, you know.

Higher? That sounds good! Shall we head back now then, so we can rest up this evening?

Yup. Let’s do it! Puppy, ho! Retreat!

Leaving the HP NW of Peak 9953, Lupe returned to USFS Road No. 178. She could follow it all the way back to Pass 9181 N of Fishook Creek. Except for the short uphill section going over the Peak 9760 ridge from Pass 9564, it would be downhill all the way back to Wheddon Spring.

Ever since those first 3 or 4 ATV’s had beat Loop to Pass 9181 as she came down the W slopes of Peak 9626 much earlier in the day, No. 178 had gotten busier as the day wore on. Apparently it was a popular route. Groups of as many as 7 or 8 ATV’s at a time had roared by.

The early evening was beautiful, and the sweeping views of this rolling open country of big, mostly bald hills and ridges were grand. As Lupe followed No. 178, ATV’s continued to stream by every so often. By the time Lupe was on her way down the Peak 9760 ridge to Pass 9181, SPHP was tired of the noise.

So the American Dingo left the road, taking a shortcut SE down to the confluence of the N and E forks of Fishook Creek. This time around, Lupe followed the creek itself S down the valley.

Starting down the **Fishook Creek valley** below the confluence of the N & E forks. Photo looks SSW.

The tiny stream soon went underground. Lupe followed animal trails most of the way down to where the fence crossed the dry creekbed. After going under the fence, she climbed up onto the broad bench E of Fishook Creek.

Not much farther to go! Animal trails had to suffice, since Lupe never did find Trail No. 018. Hordes of mosquitoes discouraged stopping for any reason. Loop went right on by a small pond where they might have gotten their start in life.

The pond was close to Hwy 14A, although not visible from it. A steepish slope led down to the highway. From there, it was only a short trek in the ditch back to Wheddon Spring. (6:30 PM, 68ºF)

Plenty of daylight remained for a lovely drive back to the Burgess picnic ground next to the N Tongue River. Beef stew again for dinner. Carolina Dogs love beef stew! SPHP was tired. Lupe was tired. Satisfied, both were in dreamland well before the silver stars glittered overhead.

**Little Bald Mountain** from the **HP NW of Peak 9953**, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 9-26-20

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Twin Buttes, Rooster Hill & Burnt Mountain, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-25-20)

Day 3 of Lupe’s 1st summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming!

7:42 AM, 56ºF, junction of USFS Roads No. 15 & 165 – Partly cloudy. The morning air was cool and fresh, and a certain Carolina Dog was all rested up and ready for action! She was in luck. SPHP tromped N in a field of lupines W of USFS Road No. 15, while Lupe roamed happily among wildflowers and sagebrush.

Super easy terrain. A gentle downslope led to Pass 8008 where Lupe and SPHP crossed the road. Already only a little over a mile left to the higher of the Twin Buttes (8,235), which had been in sight all along. Nothing like a quick peakbagging success to start the day off right, and success seemed assured.

**Twin Buttes** (Center) from close to the junction of USFS Roads No. 15 & No. 165. Photo looks NE.

Closing in on **Twin Buttes** (L) after crossing **Pass 8008**. Photo looks NE.

A couple of minor high points were along the way. Loopster side-hilled the first one, staying a bit to the SE, but did venture up HP8070. Once she got there, most of the terrain ahead was thick with sagebrush, but a narrow strip along the ridge leading to Twin Buttes was merely grassy.

Approaching **HP8070**. Photo looks NNE.

On **HP8070**. The big ridge in the background on the R is part of **Dry Fork Ridge**. Lupe had been up there just yesterday on her way to **Riley Point (8,536 ft.)**. Photo looks N.

Leaving **HP8070** along the sagebrush-free ridgeline leading to **Twin Buttes** (L). Photo looks ENE.

The American Dingo was soon at the base of the closest Twin Butte. On the way over here, it had been easy to see that the top of the mountain slanted evenly down to the NW from a precipice along the entire SE face. Only partially visible through the trees, a 2-tier line of smaller cliffs ran along the length of the heavily forested SW flank. These cliffs, only 20 to 40 feet high, also slanted down to the NW.

Even if there wasn’t any direct way up through the cliff bands, SPHP was confident Lupe would be able to get around them. All she had to do was follow them NW until they melted away. The only question was how far NW she would have to go.

At the base of the first (SW) **Twin Butte**. Photo looks NE.

Starting up, Lupe angled N climbing a grassy slope full of wildflowers, scattered sagebrush and boulders. Entering the forest, she soon arrived at the base of the lower cliffs. Loopster followed the cliffs only a short distance NW before coming to a wide breach that allowed her to easily get above them. One cliff band down, one to go!

Below the lower cliffs. Lupe easily got above them by going a little farther NW (L). Photo looks NNE.

Lupe headed N again following an animal trail up through the forest. She didn’t have to go very far before the upper cliffs came into view.

These cliffs were a more formidable obstacle – a continuous vertical wall of rock 30 feet high. Below it, the steeply sloping terrain was chock full of big boulders.

At the base of the upper cliff band. Photo looks NNE.

Scrambling toward a small break to the NW, it quickly became clear that route wasn’t going to work. Loop was going to have to retreat a bit, and go farther NW than that. However, only a short distance back to the SE, SPHP noticed another minor break in the cliff line that might be worth checking out. Investigation revealed a steep chute going up a fairly narrow cleft.

Hmm. SPHP gave it a go first. At the top of the chute was a scramble up solid rock. The rock was essentially vertical, but at only 6 to 8 high, a few decent hand and foot holds allowed SPHP to get up above it next to a couple of big rocks with a large hollow spot beneath them. SPHP had stuffed the hiking poles into this grotto on the way up. It took a couple of minutes to descend into the grotto to retrieve the poles and get back out.

Success! Well, partly. SPHP had made it up onto the upper cliff band, but Lupe was still way back down at the bottom of the chute, looking very anxious by now. While she could have climbed the chute easily enough, no way was she going to be able to get past that last exposed scrambly part on her own, and SPHP had no way to help her.

Grotto on the L, with Loopster still down at the bottom of the chute.

Along the edge of the cliffs 10 feet NW of the grotto, a log covered with moss was propped up at a slant. SPHP stashed the backpack next to it.

You still down there, Looper?

Of course, where else would I be? What’s going on, SPHP? Did you bring my Dingo wings? How do you expect me to get up there, anyway? You aren’t going to abandon me down here, are you?

No, I’m not going to abandon you, but I am leaving for a few minutes to look for another way up. Shouldn’t take long, so stay right there. I’ll call you when I find one. And no, I didn’t bring any Dingo wings, so please be patient and don’t do anything crazy!

Lupe whimpered as SPHP disappeared from view.

Heading NW down through the forest, SPHP stayed fairly close to the edge of the cliffs. 200 feet from the grotto and mossy log, a large breach appeared in the cliff line. No sweat! Lupe wouldn’t have any trouble at all ascending here. SPHP began shouting.

OK, Loop! Come this way! Loop! Come! Looooooop! Luuuuuupe!

Silence. A minute later, here came a brown and white flash bounding through the woods.

Good job, SPHP!

For once, aye? Welcome to “Dingo Breaks”, Loopster!

Thank you, SPHP! Shouldn’t be anything to Twin Buttes now!

At **Dingo Breaks**, the easy way up **Twin Buttes**. Photo looks S.

Lupe and SPHP started up the mountain. A quick stop was made at the mossy log to retrieve the pack. The SE trek higher resumed after a big drink of water.

The forest had enough obstacles to make travel right along the edge of the cliffs problematic. Deadfall, low juniper bushes, and low branches made it advisable to stick with animal trails wherever possible. The top of Twin Buttes couldn’t be too far away.

Above the cliff bands, looking for the summit.

600 or 700 feet from the mossy log, Lupe came to a clearing. By now the terrain wasn’t as steep, and even the forest was more open. Sunlight streamed through a narrow band of trees just ahead.

Careful here, Loop. This is it! We’re almost to the top, and the SE edge.

The sun was shining brightly as the American Dingo emerged from the forest along the SE edge of Twin Buttes (8,235 ft.). Lupe was farther NE than SPHP expected, and right at the highest rocks. In most places, the forest didn’t extend clear to the edge of the cliffs. A 5 to 10 foot wide shelf of flat rock bordered the rim, making it easy to move around.

The Twin Buttes aren’t all that big, yet the views were impressive. 800 feet lower, a long stretch of the North Tongue River was in sight. The river could easily be heard rushing through the valley. SPHP could pick out Black Mountain (9,489 ft.), Lookout Mountain (10,147 ft.), and Dome Peak (10,828 ft.) among the sweeping views to the E and S.

A closer look at the cliffs. Photo looks NE.

Peering down on the **N Tongue River**. **Black Mountain** (R). Photo looks E.

At the summit. **N Tongue River** (R). Photo looks E.

Still at the summit. **Lookout Mountain** (L), **Dome Peak** (Center), and **Bruce Mountain** (R) on the horizon. Photo looks SSE.

**N Tongue River** from the summit. **Black Mountain** (L). Photo looks SE.

Time for a break! Lupe gladly helped devour a chocolate coconut bar while SPHP enjoyed the views. Once the bar completed its vanishing act, exploring the SE rim was in order. Loop first went SW a little way. The G6 was visible as a tiny dot along USFS Road No. 15. Much closer by, HP8070 was in sight, as well as Garden of the Gods (9,163 ft.) 5 miles beyond it.

**HP8070** (R) is seen beyond the next point along the **SE rim of Twin Buttes**. **Garden of the Gods** is on the horizon straight beyond it. Photo looks SW.

Of course, Loopster’s exploration of the SE rim wouldn’t be complete without venturing NE far enough to see the other Twin Butte. Passing by the summit again as she headed back that way, Lupe lost only minimal elevation by the time the other Twin Butte came into view.

The topo map showed the NE Twin Butte was 50 feet lower than the SW Twin Butte where Lupe was.

The **NE Twin Butte** (Center) was clearly lower. Photo looks NE.

Are we going to go climb the NE butte, too, SPHP?

We certainly could, Looper. It’s tempting, but this SW butte is clearly higher, and the views will be about the same over there. Maybe this is good enough? We’ve sort of got the idea of what’s around here, don’t we? Plenty of time left to explore some other peaks today, and see something different, if you’d rather do that. Wha’dya think?

This is fun, but variety is the spice of life! Whatever you’d like to do, though. I’m just thrilled to be here in the Bighorns and back in action again! The NE Twin Butte is fine with me.

Well, let’s not, and say we did. We can’t climb ’em all, you know. So many mountains, and so little time.

Whatever. That’s cool, as long as we get to do something else. Onward, then! SPHP, ho!

Hey, that’s supposed to be my line! Puppy, ho! Lead the way, Loop.

A final glance back along the SE rim before departing. Photo looks SW.

Lupe returned to the clearing N of the cliffs. The clearing was long and skinny, and got her a lot closer to the SW edge of the mountain. Then it was NW back down through the forest to the grotto and mossy log, but even SPHP wasn’t going to try to use that chute route again, not when Dingo Breaks was only a little farther and so much easier. Heading down Dingo Breaks, SPHP noticed a couple of cairns for the first time – one near the top, and one near the bottom.

From Dingo Breaks, it was just a matter of retracing the rest of the route Lupe had taken up. Soon she was past HP8070 again, approaching USFS Road No. 15. A pleasant stroll back to the G6 was all that remained. (10:41 AM, 64ºF)

Closing in on USFS Road No. 15 again. Photo looks S.

The Burgess picnic ground was only a couple of miles from where the G6 was parked. A bit early for lunch, but why not? On the way there, SPHP stopped to look at a plaque close to the junction with USFS Road No. 163. The supports for the plaque were falling apart, but the display itself was undamaged. Turned out, it was about Twin Buttes!

**Twin Buttes** was fun, but we’re on to the next great thing. After lunch, that is! **HP8070** (L), **Twin Buttes** & the Burgess Work Center (R). Photo looks NNE.

At the Burgess picnic ground, Lupe and SPHP shared a can of beef stew along the bank of the N Tongue River. By noon, the American Dingo was on her way again. SPHP drove to Burgess Junction, then turned W on Hwy 14A.

Lupe enjoyed herself barking at cows, while SPHP kept an eye out for Wheddon Spring. In the meantime, the weather was deteriorating. By the time SPHP figured out where Wheddon Spring was, heading up Fishook Creek seemed inadvisable. Sunshine was a thing of the past. Gray clouds scudded across the sky, and it was getting colder instead of warmer out. Dropping by the Bald Mountain campground for water, thunder rumbled in the distance.

SPHP drove back E a couple of miles to USFS Road No. 11, turned N, and was soon parking the G6 0.5 mile W of Rooster Hill (9,420 ft.) on the N side of No. 134, just as it started to rain.

We might as well have climbed the NE Twin Butte after all, SPHP!

So it seems, Loop. Not looking too good out there, is it? Think I’ll work on the trip journal while we wait and see what happens. No sense going out and getting sopping wet.

That left Lupe with little to do except stare at the vacant fields out the window, or snooze. The pitter-patter of the raindrops put her under in nothing flat. Once the trip journal was caught up, SPHP faced the same dilemma. Outside, a series of light rain showers swept by, none of them serious, but clouds now clung to all the mountaintops. Might as well take a nap.

5:35 PM, 52ºF, 0.5 mile W of Rooster Hill – The windshield was dry when SPHP came to, must not have been raining for a while now. Still not a speck of blue sky anywhere, but the clouds had lifted. Rooster Hill and Burnt Mountain (9,492 ft.) were both in view.

Kind of late to be setting off on new adventures, but it was June. The light would last several hours yet, and neither objective was all that big or far away. If Looper still wanted to get anything more done today, though, she’d better not dilly-dally.

The American Dingo was already awake.

About time, sleepyhead! I’ve been waiting for you. C’mon, SPHP, let’s go!

SPHP was on it. Within minutes, Lupe was heading E on USFS Road No. 134, straight for Rooster Hill. Success was guaranteed. Rooster Hill was a piece of cake, just a big, green, grassy dome, the N side of which was forested. All the rest of it was all out in the open.

On USFS Road No. 134, heading for **Rooster Hill** (Center). **Burnt Mountain** (L). Photo looks E.

As No. 134 began to curve N, Lupe left the road continuing E. Crossing a wide, shallow drainage, she started up Rooster Hill’s W slope. A mere 300 vertical feet to the summit! The degree of incline didn’t vary much, but was steepest just as Lupe reached a rocky escarpment only a few feet high. By then, she wasn’t far from the top.

At the escarpment that formed a ring along the upper slopes of **Rooster Hill**. **Little Bald Mountain** in the distance. Photo looks SSE.

Looking back. The G6 is visible N of USFS Road No. 134. **Medicine Mountain** (Center) on the horizon. Photo looks W.

Above the escarpment, the slope steadily decreased as Lupe proceeded higher. As expected, upon reaching the top, the entire 0.5 acre summit region proved to be featureless and flat. Not a tree or bush anywhere. Looper had 360º views from Rooster Hill (9,420 ft.), but the sky was dreary, and it was just plain chilly due to a N breeze. No more than about 45ºF. Not exactly miserable, but not all that pleasant, either.

Notable peaks in view included Bald Mountain (10,042 ft.) off to the SW, Little Bald Mountain (9,907 ft.) to the SSE, and Medicine Mountain (9,962 ft.) which was due W. Duncum Mountain (9,831 ft.) was also in sight off to the NW.

**Bald Mountain** from **Rooster Hill**. Photo looks SW.

On **Rooster Hill**. Double-summited **Duncum Mountain** in the background (L & Center). Photo looks NW.

Conditions didn’t encourage a prolonged stay. With Burnt Mountain beckoning less than 1.5 miles to the NE, Lupe didn’t linger. She soon started down Rooster Hill’s N slope, aiming for the saddle leading to Burnt Mountain, a little more than 400 feet below.

**Burnt Mountain** (Center), Lupe’s next objective. Photo looks NE.

The first part of the descent on open terrain was easy. Lupe avoided the forest as long as she could, but halfway down the open ground ended. An old dirt road entered the forest here, which seemed providential. That illusion was dispelled as soon as Loop got a good look at it. A bunch of icky deadfall was strewn perpendicularly across the road.

Coming down **Rooster Hill’s N slope**. Photo looks S.

The good news was that it really couldn’t be all that much farther down to the saddle now. What, maybe 200 vertical feet and 0.125 mile? Lupe and SPHP plunged ahead, trying to follow the road, but the deadfall didn’t diminish. Progress was excruciatingly slow.

Before long, SPHP was ready to give up on the road. Staying off to the W (L) of it on somewhat higher ground, the American Dingo now tried her luck deep in the forest itself. However, the woods were almost as big a mess as the road had been. The deadfall kept forcing Lupe farther from the road, which soon disappeared from sight.

Time dragged by. Progress remained sporadic and dreadfully slow. This couldn’t go on much longer, could it? But it did.

Seems to be getting colder and darker doesn’t it, SPHP?

Yeah, and I can’t believe how wild this place seems. The map doesn’t say anything about a Rooster Hill Wilderness, but here we are. Keep going. I sure don’t want to spend the night here.

At long last, Lupe came across an animal trail. Following it N, it soon turned W and started to fade. The direction hardly mattered. Even a faint trail going the wrong way was better than trying to force a route through the woods. Happily, this trail led to more trails, which were in better condition and practically deadfall free. Loop soon found one heading NE, the right direction.

*Hey, SPHP! I think I see the saddle ahead. We’re almost there!*

After finding the trails, it didn’t take long to finally escape the Rooster Hill Wilderness, and get down to the saddle leading to Burnt Mountain. The saddle proved to be a large, rather muddy opening in the forest. Unmarked, USFS Road No. 120 came up to this opening from the W, but Lupe ignored it, continuing NE across the saddle. On the other side, she picked up another, rougher road (No. 120.01) which took her back up into the trees.

Crossing the saddle leading to **Burnt Mountain** (Center). Photo looks NE.

This road was not choked with deadfall, making life easy. Eventually the road began to fade, but by then the forest was thinning out. Lupe came to a downed gate in a barbed wire fence. Shortly after passing the gate, she passed the last of the trees, too.

A single track trail, all that remained of the road, continued higher near another fence line. Lupe followed it a little way, but since it wasn’t going to the top of the mountain, she soon left the trail to angle over to the ridgeline. All that remained was a long trudge up the open slope leading to the summit.

Approaching the downed gate near the end of the forest. Photo looks NE.

Lupe and SPHP weren’t the only ones on the mountain. As Lupe began to get close to the top, two giant deers spotted her approach. They ran off to the W, disappearing from view. The American Dingo was keenly interested in them, and greatly disappointed that they hadn’t stuck around to get acquainted.

The giant deers race away as Lupe nears the top of **Burnt Mountain**. Photo looks NE.

One of the elk with a lot of help from the telephoto lens.

At the very end of the ascent, the route steepened. Looper came to the only rocks she had seen the on the whole way up. She climbed through a bit of scree composed of thin, flat stones. Small outcroppings along the SE edge of the summit region contained multiple layers of these stones. A tall wooden post stuck up out of a big cairn at the high point. This was it. Lupe had reached the true summit of Burnt Mountain (9,492 ft.).

Sniffing around the summit region. Photo looks NE.

At the **true summit of Burnt Mountain**. Photo looks NE.

SPHP wasn’t entirely certain that was true. Burnt Mountain also had a second summit another mile farther N. From here, it looked just as high. The N summit had also been visible from down by the G6, and from there, it actually looked higher. The topo map would have put an end to the debate, but the only portion of it SPHP had brought along didn’t extend all the way to the N summit.

Maybe Lupe ought to go over to the N summit, too, just in case it actually was higher? Even if it wasn’t, it was definitely the more interesting high point. Big rock formations were visible over that way. Might be fun.

As SPHP stood pondering this notion, fog rolled in hiding the N summit from view. Too late! No sense in going all that way now. Might as well stay right here and enjoy the views. All the same peaks Lupe had seen from Rooster Hill were on display here, too. Retreating SW back to the rock outcroppings along the SE rim, SPHP sat down. Moments later, the whole world began to blur and fade away.

SPHP congratulated Lupe on her successful ascents of Burnt Mountain and Rooster Hill. She listened carefully, then curled up on SPHP’s lap. A warm Dingo felt good. SPHP stroked Lupe’s soft ears, while waiting for the views to clear again. Fog streamed by, as a NE breeze kept pushing a cloud directly at Burnt Mountain. Instead of clearing, everything turned gray except this little island lost in the featureless sky.

On close examination, the diminutive Wyoming tundra was actually quite colorful, full of tiny flowers.

Time ticked away. Now and then brief breaks in the cloud permitted glimpses down into the enormous valley of Half Ounce Creek and the Little Bighorn River. Then the cold fog would stream in, and it would all vanish like a phantom again. A sense of eerie remoteness and absolute solitude grew. Something was going to happen. Something magical.

Nearly half an hour went by, then suddenly it grew lighter. The fog was breaking up! The heavens were still hidden by much higher clouds, but nearby mountains reappeared, wisps of fog still clinging to them.

**Little Bald Mountain** reappears beyond the **Little Bighorn River valley**. Photo looks SSE.

Looking SW back at **Rooster Hill** (Center) with **Bald Mountain** beyond it.

Here’s our chance, Loopster! Onward! Puppy, ho!

No need to tell the Carolina Dog twice. Lupe returned to the summit pole. Off to the NNE, the N summit of Burnt Mountain was in sight again. She headed for it, beginning a long, gradual descent along the gentle ridge leading that way.

Near the summit pole again. **N summit of Burnt Mountain** (L). Photo looks NE.

Starting for the **N summit** (R). *(**HP9445**, as it later turned out.)* Photo looks N.

Up on the broad, obstacle-free, grassy ridge it didn’t take long to get there. Lupe was soon beyond the low point and on her way up again. The first rock formations of the N summit region were dead ahead.

Approaching the first rock formations. Photo looks N.

These first rock formations weren’t the high point, but proved to be among the largest and most interesting of the entire N summit region. Sort of a strange place. Below a dolomite platform, a dark cave led deep into a crack in the mountain. Looper got up onto the platform, but SPHP warned her away from that vaguely threatening black cave.

Up on the first dolomite formations. Photo looks N.

All the dolomite formations were along the W side of the long summit ridge. The E side was all rounded and grassy. The American Dingo had barely made it to the rocks, when fog began to roll in again. Visibility shriveled away. Loop was already here, though, and the rock formations were fun to explore. She continued N in search of the high point, still gradually gaining elevation. Dim views of higher ground continued to appear ahead.

*The fog isn’t as thick here as it was at the true summit, but still makes these rocks seem rather mysterious!* Photo looks NNW.

Looking back along the W edge. Photo looks SW.

After going farther than SPHP thought she would have to, Lupe finally saw a noticeably higher spot still some distance away. That hill had to be the N summit!

**Burnt Mountain’s N summit** (R) comes into view. Photo Looks N.

The fog made it seem farther away than it really was. The Carolina Dog was soon there. All the way here, SPHP had feared the N summit might actually be some dolomite pillar Lupe couldn’t get up on. However, she was already past all the big rock formations. At the top, scattered stones were all she found.

At **Burnt Mountain’s N summit**, looking back to the S.

Loop atop the **N summit**. Photo looks N.

As Lupe arrived, the fog was dissipating again. Suddenly only a few wisps remained, revealing an almost level plain stretching away to the N. Only slightly lower than the N summit, the plain featured several scattered sinkholes.

Revealing the sinkhole plain beyond the N summit. Photo looks NNE.

Although higher clouds remained overhead, it was now possible to see that the sun was actually much lower than SPHP had thought.

Hah! We might be in luck, Looper! Possible we’ll get to see quite a sunset.

I’d rather see a squirrel, SPHP, but that’s not looking too likely.

Nope, not up here. Appears we’ve still got a little time before the sun goes down. Want to explore out to the N end of the sinkhole plain? Looks like there might be a big view.

May as well. Maybe we’ll see another giant deer?

Crossing the sinkhole plain. Photo looks NE.

A glance over at **HP9145** (R), the lower far N end of Burnt Mountain. Photo looks NNW.

No such luck. Lupe crossed the entire sinkhole plain, which gradually veered off toward the NE, without seeing any animals at all. At the far end were several small rock outcroppings. Loop went to the very last one, the lowest of them all. Beyond it, Burnt Mountain sank away much more steeply.

SPHP was right! From here, Lupe had an impressive view of the Little Bighorn River canyon. Miles away, she could also see much of the NW half of Dry Fork Ridge (8,480 ft.).

At the far NE end of the sinkhole plateau overlooking the **Little Bighorn River canyon**. **Dry Fork Ridge** is the larger, more distant one on the R. Photo looks NE.

Off to the NW, clouds were starting to glow. Sunset was imminent! Lupe and SPHP hurried back across the sinkhole plain hoping to get to Burnt Mountain’s N summit before the sun was gone. Quite a few clouds were on the horizon. Impossible to tell if a glorious sunset was coming, or if the golden orb would slip away with little fanfare.

The sun was nearly down already as Lupe started back to the N summit.

The sky darkened as earth’s golden god sank behind a cloud bank. Ugh. Over already? No! As Lupe reached the N summit, the sun broke though again. Bathed in a feeble glimmer, the American Dingo watched the crowning glory of an already magical evening unfold. Clouds on the NW horizon turned to flame.

Back at the N summit. **True summit of Burnt Mountain** (L). **Rooster Hill** & **Bald Mountain** (R) beyond Lupe. Photo looks SW.

Lupe remained at the N summit until the fiery orb performed its final vanishing act. Then it was time to make tracks. Heading S while the western sky was still ablaze, the Carolina Dog again passed by all the weird dolomite formations she’d seen in the fog earlier on.

On the way back to the **true summit** (L). Photo looks SSW.

A last glance back at the **N summit** (R). Photo looks NNW.

Nearing the last of the rock formations. Photo looks S.

Before the dying light of day faded into history forever, Lupe scampered up onto one of the last dolomite platforms she would come to. The cool air was now calm. The sky was clearing. Night was surely coming, but for a magnificent, unforgettable moment, Lupe stood high on Burnt Mountain while heaven beckoned, all pink, gold, and blue.It was all over and done with long before the Carolina Dog made it back to the true summit and it’s 9 foot pole again. Lingering, Lupe peered W into the growing gloom, the dark outlines of the mountains highlighted against a dimming sky.

Dusk deepened descending the SW slope. One of the giant deers was back! Looper was pleased, even though it didn’t choose to stick around this time, either. Down at the saddle, the flashlight had to come out. Avoiding the tangle of the Rooster Hill Wilderness, Lupe headed W on USFS Road No. 120.

Must have rained awfully hard sometime today. The road was mighty muddy. Ruts and big holes full of water glistened in the flashlight beam. Lupe trotted along, sometimes off road, the impenetrable black void of the forest pressing in on both sides. No. 120 ended at a big turnaround circle from which USFS Road No. 134 left heading S. Still 0.5 mile to the G6, maybe a bit more.

What an evening it had been! Overhead, a pale crescent moon glowed, softly blurred, as if seen in a dream. (End 10:43 PM, 42ºF)

Glory on **Burnt Mountain**, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 6-25-20

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