Hesse Mountain & Peak 10372, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-28-19)

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.

At Munkres Pass. Photo looks E.

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.

In the level forest near the start of the trek to Hesse Mountain. Photo looks SSE.
Staying cool!

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.

Hesse Mountain from the meadow. Photo looks SE.

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.

Back in the forest after leaving the meadow.
As the terrain steepened, Lupe came to open lanes through the forest.

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.

Among the boulder fields shortly before the forest ends.
Hesse Mountain’s N ridge from the edge of the forest. Photo looks S.
Oh, we’re getting there! That’s Hesse’s SW summit behind me. Photo looks SW.
On the talus approaching the NE high point. Photo looks S.

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.

Looper on the NE summit of Hesse Mountain. Photo looks E.
Pretty rocky up here, but at least there is a place to relax! NE summit of Hesse Mountain. Photo looks ENE.
The usual fare, Taste of the Wild and water, were on the lunch menu again today. Photo looks N.

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.

Hazelton Peak (L) and Hazelton Pyramid (R). Photo looks S.
Hazelton Pyramid (L), Peak 10372 (beyond Lupe’s head), and Hesse Mountain’s SW (true) summit (far R). Photo looks SSW.
Bighorn Peak is the snowiest high point on the L. Loaf Mountain is to the R of it (still L of Center). Photo looks NNW with help from the telephoto lens.
Loaf Mountain (Center) with Bighorn Peak (L). Photo looks NNW with more help from the telephoto lens.

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.

The ridge leading to Hesse Mountain’s SW (true) summit (L). Photo looks WSW.
Another look. Peak 10372 (L) and Hesse’s SW summit (R). Photo looks SW.

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.

By the cairn at Hesse Mountain’s true summit. Photo looks SE.

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.

Lupe by the two slanting slabs of rock at the true summit of Hesse Mountain. Cairn on the L. Photo looks SW.
Looking back at the NE high point (L). Photo looks ENE.
Zoomed in on Hesse’s NE summit. Photo looks NE.

Of course, the views here were similar to those from the NE high point, for the most part offering only a slightly different perspective.

Hazelton Peak (L), Hazelton Pyramid (Center), and Peak 10372 (R). Photo looks SSE.
Bighorn Peak (Center) and Loaf Mountain (R). Photo looks NNW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.
Hazelton Peak (L) and Peak 10372 (R). Photo looks SSW.

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.

Starting down from the saddle along Hesse Mountain’s NW ridge. Peak 10372 (R) and Hazelton Pyramid (L). Photo looks SSW.
On the way to Peak 10372 (Center). Photo looks SW.
In the grassy bowl below the pass between Hesse Mountain (L) and Peak 10372 (R). Photo looks SE.

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.

Looking back at Powder River Pass (L) during the ascent of Peak 10372. Peak 10215 is in the foreground on the R. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

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.

On Peak 10372’s upper E shoulder. The valley Lupe had been coming up and the forest both ended here. Ahead is a steep talus climb to the summit. Photo looks W.
Heading up. Photo looks W.

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.

Near the top, but not quite there yet. The true summit was somewhere farther along this ridge of large talus. Photo looks W.

The ridgeline became nearly impassable.  Slowly, carefully SPHP worked along it.  Even Looper had to search cautiously for routes.

Near vertical talus along the ridgeline. Photo looks SW.

Upon reaching the three-prong rock, a big light-colored rock another 150 feet away definitely looked higher.  The true summit of Peak 10372!

Approaching the true summit of Peak 10372. Photo looks SW.

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!

Made it! This is it – the true summit of Peak 10372! That’s Hazelton Pyramid (L) behind me. Photo looks S.
Looking back along the highest stretch of the summit ridge. Photo looks NE.
Hesse Mountain from Peak 10372. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.
Quite a perch, isn’t it? Not that hard to get here either, except for that last tricky talus ridge. Photo looks S.

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.

The sheltered rest spot where Lupe could hang out close to the summit boulder (L). Photo looks SW.
Slightly different angle showing part of Peak 10372’s NW ridge (R). Photo looks WSW.
Hazelton Pyramid (L). Peak 10372’s summit rock (R). Photo looks S.
Bighorn Peak (12,234 ft.) (L) and Hesse Mountain (10,385 ft.) (R). Photo looks N.
Bighorn Peak (L) with Darton Peak (12,275 ft.) poking up just to the R. Loaf Mountain on the R. Hwy 16 and the road to Munkres Pass are seen below. Photo looks NNW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.
View to the SW.
Zoomed in on Hazelton Peak, which Lupe had climbed yesterday. Photo looks SE.
Lupe hanging out in her sheltered spot. Photo looks W.
Just below the summit rock. Photo looks SSW.

45 minutes shot by at Peak 10372’s summit.  Getting to be late afternoon.  Sadly, time for Lupe to say good-bye.

Guess this is about it from Peak 10372! It’s been fabulous! Hesse Mountain (L). Photo looks NE.

The Carolina Dog lingered up on the summit rock while SPHP started down, enjoying Peak 10372 as long as she could.

Back on the summit rock. Photo looks S.
Final moments on Peak 10372.

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.

Exploring the forest NW of Hesse Mountain.

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)

On Peak 10372, Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, 6-28-19

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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