{"id":18027,"date":"2019-01-03T08:10:26","date_gmt":"2019-01-03T15:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=18027"},"modified":"2019-02-18T17:37:12","modified_gmt":"2019-02-19T00:37:12","slug":"renner-butte-the-washakie-county-wyoming-prominence-peak-6-15-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=18027","title":{"rendered":"Renner Butte, the Washakie County, Wyoming Prominence Peak (6-15-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 7 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming & Beyond!<\/em><\/p>\n

7:07 AM, 42\u00b0F, along USFS Road No. 11 a bit N of a cattle guard between the NW & SE summits of Duncum Mountain – <\/em>Last evening’s NE breeze and dense fog had been a temporary phenomenon.\u00a0 The SW wind which had prevailed for days was back, reasserting itself with a vengeance.\u00a0 No mere breeze now, wispy remnants of fog sailed over Duncum Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,831 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> at a tremendous pace, driven by a 30 mph gale.<\/p>\n

Leaving the G6, even for a few minutes, was simply unpleasant.\u00a0 The cold wind was annoyingly strong.\u00a0 The morning sky a drab, depressing gray.\u00a0 5 miles to the SW, the summit of Medicine Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,962 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was lost in clouds.<\/p>\n

The plan for the day had been to head N.\u00a0 The intrepid Carolina Dog was supposed to climb Sheep Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,813 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, then continue on to the Bighorn County High Point<\/span><\/a> (9,257 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> just across the Montana border.\u00a0 Although there were roads to get close to these places, the G6 wouldn’t be able to manage them.\u00a0 Lupe had a long day ahead of her traveling many miles along an exposed 9,000 foot ridge.<\/p>\n

Yeah, right.\u00a0 In this weather?\u00a0 The plan for the day was ludicrous.\u00a0 The American Dingo wouldn’t put up with it for 10 minutes, and rightly so.\u00a0 In complete agreement, SPHP fired up the G6 and drove S on USFS Road No. 11.\u00a0 This was it.\u00a0 Lupe was on her way out of the Bighorns.\u00a0 Upon reaching Hwy 14A, SPHP turned R heading W for Lovell.<\/p>\n

6,000 feet lower at Lovell, this was an overcast, but otherwise pleasant June morning.\u00a0 SPHP fueled the G6, and aired up a tire with a slow leak.\u00a0 Time for Plan B!\u00a0 Lupe headed S on Hwy 310.\u00a0 While conditions way up in the Bighorns weren’t much fun, this might well be the perfect day for Renner Butte<\/span><\/a> (5,445 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Lupe had visited Wyoming’s Washakie County High Point<\/strong><\/span><\/a> in 2016.\u00a0 It was way up at 9,600 feet elevation in the southern Bighorns very close to Hwy 16.\u00a0 Yet Renner Butte, a mere foothill SW of the main Bighorn Range is Washakie County’s most prominent peak.\u00a0 Peakbagging hero Edward Earl<\/strong><\/span><\/a> had been to Renner Butte in 2009.\u00a0 A copy of his trip report<\/strong><\/span><\/a> with excellent directions to the general area was going to help Lupe get to the top of Renner Butte, too.<\/p>\n

Renner Butte is something like 75 miles SE of Lovell.\u00a0 Paved highways all the way to Hyattville, though.\u00a0 Lupe kept a keen nose and sharp eye out for cows and horses along the way, but even livestock was scarce in this classic western sagebrush desert.<\/p>\n

Paved Hwy 31 ended just S of Hyattville, becoming gravel County Road No. 849.\u00a0 Lupe was now only 7 or 8 miles from Renner Butte.\u00a0 Time to start paying attention to Edward Earl’s directions!<\/p>\n

Earl mentioned two forks in CR No. 49 [sic] just S of Hyattville.\u00a0 Staying L at the first one brought Lupe to the critical junction.\u00a0 Here, Renner Butte was to the R on Hyattville Road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Renner Butte is this way!<\/em> Lupe at the fork in CR-49 [sic] 0.7 mile S of Hyattville mentioned in Edward Earl’s trip report. Stay to the R where Loop is to get to Renner Butte. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Signs at the fork 0.7 mile S of Hyattville. Stay to the R on Hyattville Road here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hyattville Road went SSE.\u00a0 After a few miles Cedar Mountain (5,711 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was in sight off to the E.\u00a0 Cedar Mountain is higher than Renner Butte, but in Bighorn County, not Washakie County.\u00a0 Renner Butte was the next mountain farther SSE.\u00a0 Soon Lupe could see Renner Butte, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Renner Butte<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Half a dozen miles from the end of the pavement was a battered sign for the Renner Wildlife Habitat Management Area.\u00a0 Below the sign an arrow pointed L.\u00a0 A sharp NE turn off Hyattville Road onto County Road No. 54 was just ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The sharp NE turn to Renner Butte is seen just ahead on the L. Photo looks SSE along Hyattville Road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP was driving too fast, and missed the turn.\u00a0 The Washakie County line was less than 0.1 mile farther, confirming the location.\u00a0 SPHP turned the G6 around and went back to CR 54.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the turn onto County Road No. 54 (R) into the Renner Wildlife Habitat Management Area. This turn is barely N of the Bighorn County\/Washakie County line. Cedar Mountain<\/strong> is in view on the R. Photo looks N along Hyattville Road (L).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking E from the junction of Hyattville Road & CR 54 into the Renner Wildlife Habitat Management Area. Below is the irrigated green field where Edward Earl had driven past some cows. Renner Butte is on the R.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

County Road No. 54 curved through the N end of an irrigated field where Edward Earl had encountered some cattle.\u00a0 Lupe was disappointed that no cows were in sight today.\u00a0 On the far side of the field, the road turned E at the county line, then NE starting up into Ziesman Canyon.<\/p>\n

A mile from Hyattville Road, SPHP drove past a barbed wire gate across a side road S of CR 54.\u00a0 The G6 got parked a little farther on, beyond a cattle guard Edward Earl had mentioned, at the same grassy spot along the N side of CR 54 where Edward had parked.\u00a0 Loopster bounded out ready for some Renner Butte action!\u00a0 (11:21 AM, 73\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

The first order of business was a short hike SW back along CR 54 to the side road with the barbed wire gate.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on CR 54 as it enters Ziesman Canyon. The G6 is seen parked where Edward Earl parked. Loop is next to the turn S (R) onto the side road leading to Renner Butte. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the start of the side road. This is Point 4567<\/span><\/strong> on the topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After going through the gate, Lupe followed the side road up onto a low sagebrush covered ridge.\u00a0 She soon came to an intersection where she stayed to the L.<\/p>\n

The road followed ridges and hills SE at first, but curved back toward the NE before too long. \u00a0Though there were a few dips, Looper was gaining elevation most of the time.\u00a0 The American Dingo came to a high point from which she could see N into surprisingly colorful Ziesman Canyon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking NNE over Ziesman Canyon<\/strong> toward Cedar Mountain<\/strong> (Center).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Renner Butte appeared as a series of cedar covered hills to the SE.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Renner Butte<\/strong> from the NW. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Except when SPHP led her to nearby viewpoints, Lupe never left the road as it wound through grasslands dotted with sagebrush.\u00a0 The grass hid lots of cactus, and rattlesnakes were a potential deadly threat.<\/p>\n

The day was getting sunnier.\u00a0 Though the temperature was only in the low 70’s, it felt hot trudging uphill.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP stopped several times for water.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Another look at Ziesman Canyon<\/strong> (L) and Cedar Mountain<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe stayed on the road nearly all the time. The tall grass hid lots of spiny cactus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road ultimately headed E for the N end of Renner Butte.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Renner Butte<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Lupe reached the cedars, she discovered they weren’t tall enough to shade the road.\u00a0 Another discovery was that the cedars apparently suck up nearly all available water.\u00a0 The ground between them was often quite bare.\u00a0 Far less sagebrush, grass, or even cactus grew up here among the cedars than down below.\u00a0 SPHP still discouraged Lupe from leaving the road.\u00a0 The whole region looked like prime rattler country.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Among the cedars. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the N end of the ridgeline, Lupe still had to travel nearly a mile SE to get to the summit of Renner Butte<\/span><\/a> (5,445 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 The ridge hike featured beautiful red and white rock formations.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The trek SE along Renner Butte’s ridgeline was quite scenic. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nipple Knob<\/strong> wasn’t far from the road. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The SW side of Renner Butte has several large ravines like this one with dramatically eroded white rocks. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along the highest part of the ridge, the road stayed near the NE edge of Renner Butte.\u00a0 Although the topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a> showed the road going right over the 5,445 foot summit, all the highest ground was clearly SW of the road.\u00a0 Lupe had seen at least 3 separate high points about the same elevation, each separated by several hundred feet.\u00a0 The topo map appeared to be in error.\u00a0 Every one of these high points was well SW of the road.<\/p>\n

Fearing snakes for Lupe’s sake, SPHP didn’t like having to leave the road, but the high ground was only a few hundred feet away.\u00a0 As Lupe headed for the southernmost high point, SPHP scouted ahead staying on bare ground away from the cedars as much as possible.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on her way to the southernmost high point SW of the road. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The southernmost high point looked like it might be the true summit of Renner Butte.\u00a0 Lupe discovered a large, crudely built cairn here.\u00a0 SPHP figured this had to be the large cairn Edward Earl had mentioned.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the large crudely built cairn at the southernmost high point. This might well be Renner Butte’s true summit. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
View to the SSE. The large cairn is at lower L.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A closer look with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking SW. The large cairn (lower R) almost appears to be a natural formation from this angle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Bighorn Range from near the large cairn. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clearly, there wasn’t any higher ground on Renner Butte<\/span><\/a> (5,445 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> E or S of where the large cairn sat.\u00a0 However, the two other high points Lupe had noticed from the road were visible back to the NW.\u00a0 Situated near the SW edge of the ridge, they both still appeared to be very nearly the same elevation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From close to the large cairn at the southernmost high point, two more high points (L & Center) could be seen off to the NW. Both had to be considered in contention for true summit of Renner Butte<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, Lupe had to visit these other potential true summits as well.\u00a0 She set off heading N along the SW edge of Renner Butte.<\/p>\n

The terrain soon brought Looper so close to the road again, that she crossed it to have a look at the views to the N and E while she was still up here.\u00a0 Stock Pond 4831 and a seasonal lake SE of Renner Reservoir could be seen in a wide valley below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From E of the road, a seasonal lake SE of unseen Renner Reservoir is in view. Part of the E flank of Cedar Mountain is visible on the L. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Stock Pond 4831<\/span><\/strong> is on the R. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Lupe returned to the SW side of the road, expectations rose.\u00a0 At one of the next two high points, the Carolina Dog ought to find the 5 stone cairn Edward Earl had personally constructed!<\/p>\n

Despite a seemingly thorough search, the central high point disappointed.\u00a0 No sign of a cairn at all.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loopster at the central high point. The southernmost HP where the large cairn was is on the L. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Cactus wasn’t as prevalent on top of Renner Butte as lower down, but it still had to be watched for to help keep Lupe out of trouble.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Cactus flower.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP was now nearly certain Looper would find Edward Earl’s 5 stone cairn at the northernmost high point!\u00a0 However, when she got there, no cairn was in sight.\u00a0 Lupe did find a couple of different groups of 5 white stones.\u00a0 Perhaps one of them was Edward’s cairn?\u00a0 If so, the cairn had toppled over sometime during the past 9+ years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Remnant of Edward Earl’s 5 stone cairn at the northernmost high point?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Or maybe this was once it?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So disappointing!\u00a0 With hope fading, Lupe and SPHP continued NW until it became clear there was no more high ground to explore.\u00a0 Lupe saw more rocks, but never did find Edward’s cairn.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
More rocks, but no cairn. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop reaches the end of the high ground. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Either SPHP hadn’t permitted Lupe to search sufficiently, or Edward’s handiwork was no more.\u00a0 Kind of sad.\u00a0 However, it had still been fun to follow his directions to seldom visited Renner Butte.\u00a0 Somewhere along the way, at one of the 3 high points Lupe had checked out, she had surely made it to the top of Washakie County, Wyoming’s most prominent peak.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP returned to the road.\u00a0 The sky, which had been fairly sunny earlier, was now clouding up.\u00a0 A 10 mph NW breeze helped make the downhill return trek back to the G6 pleasant.\u00a0 Trotting happily amid panoramas of arid western scenery, Lupe found many delicate, beautiful living things not yet withered by the coming scorching heat of mid-summer days.\u00a0 (2:19 PM, 73\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A surprising variety of stunning flowers grew alongside the road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Oh, there’s nothing quite like being out West, is there?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A delicate, intricate, splash of yellow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
An unexpected profusion of bright pink blossoms.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A wildflower high-rise.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
So this is it from the road to Renner Butte! It was a perfect day to visit Washakie County, Wyoming’s most prominent peak. Sure beat being battered by cold winds high up in the Bighorn Mountains! Hope you return for more Lupe adventures soon!<\/em> 6-15-18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming & Beyond Adventure Inde<\/span><\/a>x<\/strong>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 7 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming & Beyond! 7:07 AM, 42\u00b0F, along USFS Road No. 11 a bit N of a cattle guard between the NW & SE summits of Duncum Mountain – Last evening’s NE breeze and dense fog had been a temporary phenomenon.\u00a0 The SW wind … Continue reading Renner Butte, the Washakie County, Wyoming Prominence Peak (6-15-18)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18045,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1003],"tags":[105,185,106,26,104,11,1025,1028,275],"class_list":["post-18027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2018-bighorn-mountains-wyoming-beyond","tag-american-dingo","tag-bighorn-mountains","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging","tag-renner-butte","tag-washakie-county","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/IMG_9642.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18027"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19719,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18027\/revisions\/19719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}