Day 3 of Lupe’s 1st 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming!
Despite a sign near the start of USFS Road No. 448 saying the road was impassable due to fallen trees, the G6 had made it to Munkres Pass (9,447 ft.) without any problem. Lupe had been here before. The first time was almost 5 years ago, when she had climbed Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.). Unfortunately, clouds had swept in that day keeping the mountain shrouded in fog most of the time she’d been up there.
The American Dingo had finally returned determined to climb Hesse Mountain once again. Fog wasn’t going to be an issue today! This time Lupe was going to see the sights! As soon as SPHP had the pack ready, she set off once more for Hesse Mountain. (8:54 AM, 54ºF)
At first, the terrain was nearly level as Lupe headed S. With no trail to follow, it was still rather slow going since the forest was full of deadfall timber. Spider webs annoyed SPHP. Lupe was happier with patches of snow she found to cool off on. Before long, Loop reached a meadow at the top of a small hill. SPHP was almost certain she had come to this very same meadow the first time she’d climbed Hesse Mountain, too.
Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.) was in view from the meadow only a mile away. Hesse has two summits of nearly equal elevation at opposite ends of a NE/SW oriented ridge. Leaving the meadow, Lupe plunged back into the forest heading SE straight for the closer NE summit. The mountain vanished from sight.
After a slight dip, the terrain leveled out before beginning to steepen. The rate of climb steadily increased. As Lupe gained elevation, there was less and less deadfall to contend with, but more snowbanks were hidden among the trees. Hillsides seeped water forming tiny streams. The Carolina Dog started coming to open lanes through the forest that were much easier to follow higher.
The first significant boulder fields appeared shortly before Lupe reached the end of the forest. Whenever possible, she avoided the boulders by staying on the grassy lanes. Above the forest, however, the last part of the climb to Hesse Mountain’s NE high point was nearly all talus. Fortunately, by then she was already close to the top.
Hesse Mountain’s NE summit proved to be a collection of rocks crowned by a modest cairn. The summit area was quite small, but a patch of grass provided a spot where Lupe could relax. Still a bit early, but it was getting close to lunch time. The American Dingo was ready to enjoy some Taste of the Wild along with the superb views.
The first time Lupe climbed Hesse Mountain in 2014, she’d only gone to the SW high point, which is supposed to be the true summit. She had never been to Hesse’s NE high point before. This glorious day, which was minus the fog that had been present back then, was the first time she’d had such spectacular clear views from Hesse Mountain.
Among the many highlights were Hazelton Peak (10,264 ft.) which Loop had climbed only yesterday, Hazelton Pyramid (10,534 ft.) which she had climbed in 2016, and Peak 10372 all to the S. Far to the NNW snowy Bighorn Peak (12,324 ft.) and Loaf Mountain (11,722 ft.) were in sight.
The ridge leading to Hesse Mountain’s SW high point was of tremendous interest, too. The SW high point was the presumptive true summit, since that’s where the elevation of 10,385 feet was shown on the topo map. To complete her 2nd ascent, Lupe had to go there next.
Lupe didn’t head for the SW summit right away, but relaxed for a while at the NE high point. She kept busy snapping at flies the pleasant breeze wasn’t strong enough to discourage. After 40 minutes of that, though, she’d about had it. Tired of all the annoying buzzing, Loop set off for the true summit.
Hesse Mountain’s SW high point was less than 0.25 mile away. The top of the ridge leading to it was extremely rough, so Lupe stayed to the NW (R) somewhat below the ridgeline. The talus wasn’t quite as large here, and there were sometimes grassy spots. It still took SPHP awhile to get there, but the American Dingo’s success was never in doubt.
No fog today! Beneath bright blues skies, Lupe stood by the cairn at the true summit of Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.) for the first time in nearly 5 years. The cairn was larger now than it used to be. Nearby, a couple of sharply slanting slabs of rock were the absolute high point. The topo map appeared to be correct. Although there wasn’t much difference, the NE high point did look a little lower.
Of course, the views here were similar to those from the NE high point, for the most part offering only a slightly different perspective.
For some reason, hardly any flies here, which was good! However, Lupe missed the grassy spot at the NE high point. The true summit lacked a comfortable place to rest. Rocks were everywhere! Lupe stayed only 30 minutes, before starting down Hesse Mountain’s NW ridge.
The decent started out steeply with lots of big talus. Slow going again! Lupe stayed NE (R) of the ridgeline, which was too rough to follow. The trek finally got easier as she drew near a saddle. Loop turned SE here, still on talus, heading down toward a huge grassy bowl between Hesse Mountain and Peak 10372.
Once down to the grassy region, crossing the open terrain was fast and easy. Lupe headed W far enough to get around the N end of Peak 10372’s NE ridge. She then turned S shortly after entering a forested valley that swept up along the W side of this same ridge past High Point 10091.
Hidden by the forest, the upper reaches of the valley contained snowbanks 4 feet deep. Dealing with the soft, deep snow became a struggle. To avoid the worst of it, Lupe ended up traveling along the edge of the pines close to the rocky ridgeline. Powder River Pass (9,677 ft.) and Peak 10215 were in view back to the NW.
The valley gradually curved SW, eventually ending at a relatively flat open area. The forest ended here, too. This was Peak 10372’s upper E shoulder. From cliffs along the edge, Lupe had big views to the E and S.
Loop was already at 10,200+ feet, but to the W was a steep talus slope. The summit was up there somewhere, less than 200 feet higher. The American Dingo began to climb.
Approaching the high point Lupe had been climbing toward, the talus grew in size. Much of it stood almost on end, or at sharp angles. It also became apparent that this high point was not the top of the mountain. A three-pronged rock much farther W now looked like the summit.
The ridgeline became nearly impassable. Slowly, carefully SPHP worked along it. Even Looper had to search cautiously for routes.
Upon reaching the three-prong rock, a big light-colored rock another 150 feet away definitely looked higher. The true summit of Peak 10372!
When Lupe got there, the whitish rock at the top of Peak 10372 didn’t look like it was positioned naturally. It sat balanced on 2 other stones with an air gap beneath it. However, it would have taken Hercules to lift that massive stone into place. So maybe it was natural? Who knew?
Several smaller stones on the big white rock formed a little cairn. Lupe leapt up beside them to claim her 2nd peakbagging success of the day!
None of the summits Loopster had visited today provided much room to maneuver. However, the Carolina Dog was happy to see a sheltered spot practically right next to Peak 10372’s summit boulder. She hung out there, relaxing while SPHP took in the views.
45 minutes shot by at Peak 10372’s summit. Getting to be late afternoon. Sadly, time for Lupe to say good-bye.
The Carolina Dog lingered up on the summit rock while SPHP started down, enjoying Peak 10372 as long as she could.
Trying to return via the nearly vertical talus ridge seemed unnecessarily slow and difficult. Lupe headed down Peak 10372’s NW ridge instead. For a long way this route was almost all talus, too. It took quite a while to get down to the trees again. Even in the forest, Lupe had to cross talus fields as she now headed NE.
Upon reaching the forested valley where she had started up Peak 10372, Lupe angled NW. She went far down the valley, eventually coming to a broad grassy region at the base of Hesse Mountain’s W ridge. Progress was rapid until the Carolina Dog was able to get past the ridge and turn N. Here she reentered the forest, and wandered NW of Hesse Mountain for what seemed like a long time.
At last Looper came to an old abandoned USFS road (No. 522313). Her Hesse Mountain & Peak 10372 adventure was almost over. USFS Road No. 448 where a short stroll back to Munkres Pass would bring her back to the G6 wasn’t much farther, yet the American Dingo now nearly met with disaster.
SPHP suddenly sensed movement close to the road. A porcupine, only 6 or 7 feet away! Fortunately, Lupe did not lunge for it. Unmolested, the porcupine waddled away.
Smart decision there, Loopster! Porcupines are extremely dangerous!
Is that what that was? I was trying to figure out if it is good to eat! What’s for dinner when we get back, anyway? I’m famished!
Chicken and dumplings. Don’t think you’ve ever had them before, but I can assure you they go down easier than porcupine.
SPHP was right. As it turns out, American Dingoes love chicken and dumplings! (End 7:41 PM)
Links:
Next Adventure Prior Adventure
Hesse Mountain, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 8-6-14
Hazelton Pyramid, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 7-18-16
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