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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Links:
Next Adventure Prior Adventure
Camped on the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River (7-11-13)
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.