Day 4 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2021 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming!
8:19 AM, 46ºF, paved pullout on the E side of Hwy 14 at the start of USFS Road No. 277 – Sort of iffy, but the sky seemed to be clearing after last night’s showers. Loopster was anxious to go, and could always bail if the weather deteriorated. Bruce Mountain (10,340 ft.) wouldn’t be nearly so hard to get back from as Elk Peak (11,050 ft.) had been, if it did.
The American Dingo took USFS Road No. 277 across a field down into a drainage, then up the other side to a low hill forested near the top. The road curved SE, then went past a big gravel yard on the L. Beyond the gravel Lupe passed several dispersed camping sites on both sides of the road. Most were occupied.
Could have driven the RAV4 this far! The road was in perfect shape. However, it soon began to deteriorate. Enormous murky mud puddles, probably shallow, but of indeterminate depth, covered the whole road from side to side. On paw they were easily avoided. Maybe it was a good thing the RAV4 was back at the highway after all.
A little more than a mile past the gravel yard, Lupe came to a junction with USFS Road No. 278, a more primitive route. She had scarcely set out along it when a clearing appeared on the L (E). An open green slope led up to a minor ridgeline.
Why don’t we go up there, SPHP? Maybe we’ll see something?
Made sense. The ridge paralleled the road not far from it, and would be more fun.
Fine with me, Looper. Hang on a moment, though. It’s gotten so sunny, I ought to apply some sunscreen.
The crest of the ridge overlooked the valley of the West Fork of the South Tongue River. Bruce Mountain was on the far side, but there wasn’t any need to cross over to it here. Instead, Lupe followed the ridge SE slowly gaining elevation. The ridge soon leveled off, melting away as it merged into a large flat meadow.
USFS Road No. 278 was straight ahead, winding through the meadow.
Returning to No. 278, the American Dingo followed it SE for a good mile, a super easy trek all out in the flat meadow. Once past the upper end of the valley of the West Fork of the South Tongue River, Lupe abandoned the road, turning E toward a saddle visible up on Bruce Mountain.
After passing through a short stretch of forest, the saddle was directly ahead, a long open slope leading up to it. As Lupe roamed higher, what little blue sky there was began vanishing. Behind the Carolina Dog, dark clouds were gathering toward the W. Not ominous yet, but something to keep an eye on. Certainly starting to look like SPHP wasn’t going to get much mileage out of that sunscreen so recently applied.
The long slope went on and on. Lupe stayed toward the S (R), near the base of a ridge that was getting rockier and rockier. Many of these rocks were peculiar long, rounded slabs. Scarcely any trees were nearby, but Loop began encountering large patches of low bushes.
The saddle was still some distance away when it began to appear that Lupe ought to be able to get onto the rocky ridge she was next to. Going up for a look around seemed like a good idea. Turning S, a short trek higher brought the American Dingo to the ridgeline. A big knob of rock was directly to the W. Gazing off to the S and SE, SPHP was instantly both astonished and confused.
Quite the view, isn’t it, SPHP? Always great to be in the Bighorns!
I’ll say.
Hey, aren’t those highest mountains off to the SE Dome Peak (10,828 ft.) and the Sheridan County High Point (11,020 ft.)? I think they are. Almost certain of it!
You’re right, Loop. That’s them alright.
Is something wrong, SPHP? You don’t seem very enthusiastic.
Oh, it’s all gorgeous, of course! It’s just that I was expecting to see the top of Bruce Mountain beyond this ridge, or at least the terrain leading up to it. Instead, the whole mountain drops away. Where the heck are we?
What? Well, that’s just fabulous, SPHP! We’ve hardly started up, and we’re lost already? Tell ya what, Einstein. You’re the one with all the fancy maps, why don’t you take a look and figure it out? Better be quick about it, too! Fog is rolling in!
Lupe found a soft spot to lie down. She gobbled a bowl of Taste of the Wild, then dozed while waiting for SPHP to come to some resolution. Chilled as the sky darkened, SPHP layered up, then chomped an apple while studying the topo map, trying to make sense of it versus reality.
To the N, across the broad slope Lupe had just come up were a couple of huge rock formations. The more distant one was easily 200 feet higher than this ridge where Loopster was now. Obviously, Bruce Mountain’s summit had to be somewhere in that direction, since everything to the S was much lower. SPHP had been so disoriented, though, that it took a few minutes to accept this truth.
Ready, Looper? It’s Onward! Puppy, ho! time.
Did you figure out where we are, SPHP?
Yup. We’re at the far S end of Bruce Mountain. Sort of self-evident, isn’t it? I was so incredulous at these views, because I had it in my head that we were coming up N of the summit. Instead, we’re actually well S of it.
Lovely, I’m sure, to have such a keen innate sense of direction! So, at least you know which way we need to go now?
I do. Head for that closest humongous rock formation.
Heading for the closest big rock formation to the NE essentially meant completing the trek up to the saddle Lupe had originally aimed for. The Carolina Dog lost a good 80 feet of elevation as she left the rocky ridge before starting to climb again. Expecting there wouldn’t be any problem going around the E side of this formation prior to angling toward the higher, more distant ridge, SPHP was once again surprised when that didn’t turn out to be the case.
This first formation was bigger than it looked, extending much farther E than anticipated. A continuous wall of rock ran over and well beyond the saddle’s crest.
Well, shoot, Loop! I can’t believe this!
Why did we come up here in the first place, SPHP? We could have headed straight for the highest rock formation, if we’d stayed W of this one. There was an open route the whole way. Shorter, too! We both saw it!
I know, but that way looked a lot steeper. Never dreamed we’d run into this situation. Guess we’ll have to go back down to the W, if we can’t find a way past this wall of rock. Hate to lose all the elevation we just gained, though. Before we do that, let’s have a look around. Maybe there actually is a way through?
Luck of the Dingo! There was! Lupe had barely started searching, when she spied two green ramps leading to the top of the wall. Quite steep, but certainly doable. A short climb, and the Carolina Dog was up on top.
In the time it took SPHP to stagger up behind Loop, fog swept over the region and a light rain set in. Ahead to the N was an unexpected sight, made all the more mysterious by the cold, damp, gray gloom. A higher, more formidable wall of rock appeared to run clear across the entire mountain, blocking all hope of further progress beyond it.
Was that the same highest, most distant formation that had been visible from back down at the first rocky ridge? Sure seemed a lot closer than it should have been.
We have to get past that, too, SPHP?
Afraid so, Loop.
But how?
Search me! Doesn’t look at all possible, does it? Going to take a miracle this time.
Spirits dampened in more ways than one, Lupe advanced toward the ghostly obstacle ahead. There were actually two separate walls of rock. Passing the smaller one, Loop entered a narrow channel heading ENE between it and the larger wall to the N. The high point of this gap was close by. Going to it, Lupe saw a hidden snowbank, beyond which the terrain dropped steeply.
No help that way!
It was starting to rain harder. SPHP yanked the ancient, blue plastic rain poncho from the pack and put it on. Return of the Cookie Monster!
Guess we’re stuck, SPHP. By the way, you look ridiculous!
I don’t believe it! How can this mountain be so complicated, Loop? Doesn’t look bad at all on the topo map! Thought we were going to have an easy romp up here, maybe scramble up a few rocks at the very top to get to the true summit. Never occurred to me that we’d face anything like all these huge, long, vertical rock walls going clear across the top of the mountain to cut us off.
Well, doesn’t look like we’re getting past this one. The weather is rotten, anyway. Maybe we should head back to the RAV4 and try again tomorrow from another direction? The mountain will still be here. Want to do that, SPHP? … SPHP? … Oh, no! Forget it! I’m not doing that! It’s practically straight up!
It wasn’t really straight up, though. The rock wall SPHP was staring at, the big one to the N that Lupe needed to get to the top of, had some lean to it, not a lot, but some. Looked like there were quite a few possible pawholds, too. Furthermore, although the rock wall was 30 feet high, there seemed to be some incongruity about 20 feet up, like there was space to maneuver up there.
Now, now, Loop! You know I’m no rock climber, but I think even I can manage to scramble up the first 20 feet to that cleft or whatever it is up there, provided I’m careful about it. I’m 100% certain you can, too. All you need is a boost to get you started!
No! Stay away from me! You’re off your rocker, SPHP!
SPHP grabbed Loopster, lifting her as high up the wall as possible. The Carolina Dog fought back, pushing away from the rock.
No! No! Let me go, SPHP! I don’t want to. Let’s find an easier mountain! Put me down! Please!
C’mon, Loop! Stop fighting it! You’ll be fine! Not that hard. Climb! You’ll be up there in a flash! I’ll be coming, too, right behind you.
The struggle lasted only seconds. Suddenly Looper got the message, clawing her way up to the cleft. Slowly, carefully, SPHP followed.
Made it!
The last 10 feet turned out to be cake. Easy climb. Loop reached the top close to a big boulder at the absolute high point. A cairn sat right on top, calmly waiting to greet Lupe.
The cairn waited in vain. No need to go to it. Could have, but off to the NW, beyond several smaller rock formations scattered over a green plain, was another big rock formation, an even higher one than where Lupe was now. This wasn’t the summit of Bruce Mountain.
For pity sake!
We need to go over there, don’t we, SPHP?
Yeah.
At least it didn’t look hard to get over close to the latest, greatest, true summit candidate. Lupe headed down to the plain and trotted that way.
Partway there, the rain started in harder yet. Poor Lupe was getting soaked. Despite the Cookie Monster outfit, SPHP was, too. An overhang at the closest rock formation beckoned. Time to take shelter.
It rained off and on. Intermittent fog streamed by. Water dripped from the little overhang, which was barely adequate to provide protection. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap inside the Cookie Monster rain poncho, peering out now and then during lulls in the storm. Occasionally, Antelope Butte (9,935 ft.) was in sight. Under Lupe’s weight, SPHP’s lower paws slowly went numb.
Seemed like a day it could rain forever. For variety, it eventually began to rain in sheets. This was followed by hail until the ground began to turn white. Nothing serious, just tiny ice particles.
40 long minutes ticked away before the sky brightened. Antelope Butte reappeared as the fog swept away. The Carolina Dog decided that maybe the storm was all over and done with. No more sitting around! Looper got up.
C’mon, SPHP! Let’s do this!
Following the American Dingo over open ground on pins and needles as blood flow restored to SPHP’s lower paws, the journey NW toward Bruce Mountain’s next summit candidate resumed.
Instead of heading directly to the imposing S face of the rock formation, Loop aimed E of it, completely avoiding not only another daunting or impossible scramble, but any rough terrain at all. Gaining elevation, Lupe soon got far enough N to view the formation from the E, where its appearance was much different.
Beyond a snowbank, an easy green ramp of open ground rose between two parallel walls of rock to a crest between them. Most encouragingly, the walls didn’t look all that high from this angle.
Ho-ho, Looper! This is more like it! If the summit is up there, we’re in business!
The weather was still questionable as Lupe headed W for the ramp. Now and then the clouds still spit a little light rain, or released a fine mist. The thoroughly dampened Dingo must not have been feeling too frigid, though. Passing the snowbank, she made a point of rolling on it, evidently enjoying the experience.
Then it was on up the ramp, confident of a Bruce Mountain (10,340 ft.) peakbagging success!
Upon reaching the crest of the green ramp, it was readily apparent that Lupe would have no trouble getting to the top of the rock wall to the N. Unfortunately, the S wall was clearly higher and far more problematic.
A promising mini green ramp led to the top of the W end of the S wall. Easy as pie, Lupe sauntered up for a look around.
Oh, good grief! How on earth are we going to get over there, Loop?
As my personal representative, I’m looking at you, SPHP. Have at it!
Looking E, the top of the S wall was surprisingly narrow, lumpy, and full of fissures. Significant vertical drops on both sides made scrambling, or more likely, crawling clear over to the apparent high point, which was quite some distance away, dicier than anything either Lupe or SPHP was willing to undertake. Climbing directly up to it from down below didn’t look possible, either.
Hmm … well, let me see, Loop. Let’s start with what’s possible without risking our necks.
SPHP headed E along the wall to the closest higher rocks, tagging their tops, which couldn’t have been more than a few feet lower than the more distant high point, with a front paw. Peering over these rocks – nope, not going any farther!
Nicely done, SPHP! I’m claiming a peakbagging success! Close enough for Dingo work, even though that actually is Bruce Mountain’s true summit over there!
Yeah, seems to be, Loop. We can see an awful lot of territory up here, and nothing else looks even close to being this high.
I know I’m right, SPHP! I see a cairn, and a registry tube, too!
You do?
SPHP looked again. Lupe was right.
Well, I’ll be, Loop. Yet another reminder that the world is full of clever people bolder and more capable than me. Still, it sure would be nice to get your name on the registry in that tube. This is a pretty cool summit! Let’s go down and take a closer look from below. After all, somebody made it up there!
Directly below the true summit, with Loopster looking on, SPHP took off the Cookie Monster outfit, then gave it a go, attempting to scramble up a couple of cracks. Got real close, too, before stalling only 3-5 feet below the registry tube. SPHP clung to the cold rock, paws going numb, boots scraping away trying to find traction. One more paw hold would do it!
You’re almost there, SPHP! Can you make it?
Maybe, if I give it all I’ve got. Wish I was stronger! I can see the tube just above me! A few more feet and I can grab it.
SPHP hung up there several minutes. Not to be. Too intimidating. Retreat! Oh, to be a genuine rock climber!
As SPHP’s paws warmed up, further inspection revealed another route via a tiny ledge leading to a scramble to the top a bit E of the true summit.
Second attempt. SPHP got onto the ledge, actually the narrow top of an almost vertical rock. This time Lupe tried to follow. Suddenly leaping onto the ledge, she found it too narrow to keep her balance. To avoid an uncontrolled fall, she bounded lower. Fortunately, there was something to bound to. No harm done.
Another failure. SPHP again got close to the top, but the highest rocks were insurmountable.
That’s it, Looper! Done! Not happening. Let the purists whine!
Shall we check out the N wall, SPHP?
Sure!
Lupe needed a boost to get started, but the rest was easy. A couple of big rocks sat up at the high point. Loop went right up next to them and might easily have gotten on top, but they were pretty airy. Since they weren’t the summit, SPHP wouldn’t let her do it. No point.
In any case, the views were wonderful! The Bruce Mountain highlands extended another 1.5 miles NW, a beautiful, broad rolling plain dotted with boulders, and edged with stony fortifications. Should have come up that way! Nothing to it!
Exploring the highlands looked like fun! Why not go back that way? Lupe concurred. First, though, she went back up the mini green ramp to revisit the highest point she’d reached on Bruce Mountain, up on the W end of the S wall. From here she could see not only the true summit with it’s cairn and white registry tube again, but the region she’d crossed during the stormy part of her adventures on the way here.
Time to move on! SPHP grabbed the pack and ancient blue rain poncho from where they were still stashed below the true summit. As Lupe left Bruce Mountain’s summit region, another rain shower struck. SPHP quickly donned the brilliant blue Cookie Monster costume again. Meanwhile, the not-so-fortunate Carolina Dog endured another soaking.
Happily, the shower didn’t last long. Soon the sun was peeping through the clouds. Among yellow buttercups, Lupe headed down a gentle slope toward the enormous saddle connecting to the NW end of the highlands.
Suddenly, SPHP managed to trip and fall, even though there wasn’t a thing to trip on.
Nice going, Grace! Are you alright?
Perfectly fine, Looper. Thanks for asking. Not sure how I did that.
You’re a companion of many … well, at least one or two … talents, SPHP!
Thanks for the vote of confidence … I think.
SPHP may have been fine, but the blue rain poncho SPHP still wore wasn’t. The brittle old plastic, which had already borne numerous scars, was now virtually ripped in half.
Dang, Loop! Look at what I’ve done to my rain poncho! It’s in tatters!
Horrors! I can’t believe it, SPHP! It’s the final blow! The ignoble end of your infamous Cookie Monster costume!
It was true! The old blue plastic rain poncho that for countless years had made SPHP resemble the Cookie Monster every time it rained was now completely unusable. The bitter end had arrived. Nothing but garbage. Still in shock, SPHP removed the cracked remains flapping in the breeze before they ripped further and fell off all on their own.
End of an era. Nothing to be done about it. Onward! Puppy, ho!
Clouds threatened, but it never did rain or mist again. The rest of the long trek to Bruce Mountain’s NW highlands over the open plain was easy and enjoyable. Lupe arrived at the highest ground to find a cairn perched near the mountain’s edge overlooking and surrounded by many interesting and beautiful rock formations. This region was so scenic, that Looper took a break here. SPHP shared not one, but two, chocolate coconut bars with her.
Chocolate coconut bars successfully dispatched, the Carolina Dog set about exploring the area. Far to the SE, Bruce Mountain’s true summit was still in sight.
The rest of the return was a downhill march. On open ground, Lupe continued exploring Bruce Mountain, descending its long NW ridge. Near the lower end, the ridge became forested. At a final big clearing, Loop was lucky enough to see 2 giant deers.
The clearing was the start of a steeper, but still very manageable descent through a beautiful forest. At the bottom, Lupe reached the West Fork of the South Tongue River, which had to be forded. Fortunately, it was still just a stream here, not really a river yet.
Heading W up an easy slope, then a short distance through level forest, the American Dingo popped out onto USFS Road No. 277 again SE of the big mud puddles covering the entire road, which were now bigger than ever after all the rain. To avoid them, Loop paralleled the road heading NW through the forest until she got close to the gravel yard.
No more obstacles! Only a road hike back to the RAV4 remained. Later on in the evening, Lupe did get to see 3 moose, which was very exciting, but her big Bruce Mountain adventure was over. (End 5:01 PM, 52ºF)
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