{"id":18846,"date":"2019-02-04T08:10:34","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T15:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=18846"},"modified":"2019-02-18T20:19:21","modified_gmt":"2019-02-19T03:19:21","slug":"gunboat-lake-to-lily-lake-bighorn-mountains-rejected-at-heart-mountain-near-cody-wyoming-7-16-18-7-17-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=18846","title":{"rendered":"Gunboat Lake to Lily Lake, Bighorn Mountains & Rejected at Heart Mountain near Cody, Wyoming (7-16-18 & 7-17-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days 4 & 5 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains & Wind River Range in Wyoming!<\/em><\/p>\n

7-16-18, morning, Gunboat Lake<\/em> – The sun was already shining on the new Marmot tiny house.\u00a0 Lupe was still lazing about inside being petted, and having her belly scratched.\u00a0 All ambition was gone.\u00a0 One night’s rest hadn’t made up for two strenuous days culminating in the Carolina Dog’s successful ascent of Bomber Mountain<\/strong><\/span><\/a> yesterday.\u00a0 Neither Lupe nor SPHP felt like doing a darn thing.<\/p>\n

Eventually, that had to change.\u00a0 SPHP packed up the tiny house, as Lupe relaxed or sniffed around her Gunboat Lake base camp a final time.\u00a0 She could still see the rocky knob on Bomber Mountain<\/span><\/a> (12,840 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> that had appeared to be as high as the official true summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe takes it easy on a beautiful morning in the Bighorns. One of the smaller Fortress Lakes<\/strong> is beyond her. The high ridges are all part of Bomber Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe’s base camp for her ascent of Bomber Mountain yesterday had been established on this grassy ridge overlooking Gunboat Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When SPHP had everything ready to go, Lupe posed for a final photo of Bomber Mountain from close to where her tiny house had been.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop bids farewell to Bomber Mountain<\/strong> (beyond her). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe left the grassy ridge overlooking Gunboat Lake heading NW.\u00a0 She was still on the ridge when she came to a profusion of lupines blooming in purple splendor.\u00a0 The largest of the Fortress Lakes was just ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Having barely left Gunboat Lake, Lupe came to this hillside of beautiful purple lupines. The E end of the largest of the Fortress Lakes<\/strong> is ahead. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Solitude Trail (No. 038) was close by.\u00a0 Lupe followed the trail W near the S shore of the largest of the Fortress Lakes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop reaches the Solitude Trail. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking back from the W end of the largest of the Fortress Lakes<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mistymoon Lake is less than a mile from Gunboat Lake.\u00a0 As Mistymoon came into view, Lupe could see the pass she would have to go over to get to the valley of the Middle Fork of Paint Rock Creek beyond the lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
W of the Fortress Lakes, Mistymoon Lake<\/strong> (R) comes into view. The pass (R of Center) leading to the valley of the Middle Fork of Paint Rock Creek is in sight beyond the lake. Elk Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,321 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is at Center. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A small waterfall on the creek coming down from the Fortress Lakes to Mistymoon Lake. The trail did not cross this creek between Gunboat and Mistymoon Lakes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Mistymoon Lake, Lupe had lost 450 feet of elevation since departing base camp.\u00a0 She followed the Solitude Trail W along the S shore, crossing West Tensleep Creek.\u00a0 SPHP managed to rock hop it, after having forded this same stream a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n

SW of Mistymoon Lake, Lupe reached a junction with Mistymoon Trail (No. 063).\u00a0 Cloud Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,157 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was now in sight.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cloud Peak<\/strong> (Center) from Mistymoon Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Mistymoon Trail comes up from West Tensleep Lake to the S, but Lupe needed to go W.\u00a0 She stayed on the Solitude Trail turning N along the W side of Mistymoon Lake.\u00a0 SPHP’s old Bighorn National Forest map showed another junction along in here with the Middle Paint Rock Creek Trail (No. 066), which was what Lupe was looking for, but she didn’t come to it.<\/p>\n

No matter.\u00a0 The pass Lupe needed to get to was up a big open slope.\u00a0 It looked like an easy climb.\u00a0 Loop left the Solitude Trail heading W.<\/p>\n

The trek turned out to be longer than expected due to having to avoid some boggy areas.\u00a0 Ordinarily it wouldn’t have seemed like much of a climb, but after 2 long days spent getting to the top of Bomber Mountain, SPHP was played out.\u00a0 Lupe was in better shape, but even she sometimes took opportunities to rest on the grassy slope.<\/p>\n

Near the pass, Lupe finally did find the Middle Paint Rock Creek Trail.\u00a0 Apparently she would have come to it if she had simply stayed on the Solitude Trail until she was NW of Mistymoon Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop takes a break after finding the Middle Paint Rock Creek Trail near the pass W of Mistymoon Lake<\/strong> (R). Cloud Peak<\/strong> (L) and Bomber Mountain<\/strong> (Center) are in view. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking ESE from the same spot. The saddle (R of Center) leading to the Fortress Lakes, Gunboat Lake & Florence Pass is beyond Mistymoon Lake<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe followed the Middle Paint Rock Creek Trail the rest of the way up to the pass.\u00a0 The pass was a broad meadow strewn with boulders and rocks.\u00a0 The trail continued W along the S shore of a good-sized tarn.<\/p>\n

By reaching the pass, Lupe had regained nearly all of the elevation she had lost going down to Mistymoon Lake.\u00a0 She wouldn’t have to face any additional significant elevation gains the rest of the day.\u00a0 From here, the Middle Paint Rock Creek Trail turned SW beginning a miles long descent through the valley of the Middle Fork of Paint Rock Creek.<\/p>\n

This pass was the last chance for a good look at Cloud Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,167 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, highest of the entire Bighorn Range, and Bomber Mountain<\/span><\/a> (12,840 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which Lupe had climbed only yesterday.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches a tarn in the pass 0.5 mile W of Mistymoon Lake. Cloud Peak<\/strong> (Center) and Bomber Mountain<\/strong> (R) are still in view. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Well, this is it for views of mighty Cloud Peak<\/strong> (L) and Bomber Mountain<\/strong> (R) on this trip. We’ll be exploring the valley of the Middle Fork of Paint Rock Creek down to Lily Lake next!<\/em> Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Upper end of the valley of the Middle Fork of Paint Rock Creek<\/strong> from the pass W of Mistymoon Lake. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After enjoying the views from the pass, Lupe headed SW into the valley of the Middle Fork of Paint Rock Creek.\u00a0 The upper end of the big valley was all treeless meadows and scattered rocks.\u00a0 Going downhill again felt great!\u00a0 The American Dingo ran and explored at will.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Exploring upper Middle Fork Paint Rock Creek valley. Photo looks S toward Peak 11112<\/span><\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Less than 0.5 mile from the pass, Lupe saw 3 cowboys on horseback.\u00a0 They were coming up the trail near a smaller tarn.\u00a0 Horses are always exciting!\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was good, though, and let them all go by without barking.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe was excited to see 3 cowboys on horseback coming up the trail. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The smaller tarn was a pretty spot.\u00a0 It looked like a good place to camp.\u00a0 A stand of pines was near the S shore.\u00a0 From SW of the tarn, Lupe could still catch a glimpse of Cloud Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At a pretty tarn 0.5 mile SW of the pass. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking NE back up the valley. A glimpse of Cloud Peak<\/strong> (L) is still available.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond the scenic tarn, the Middle Fork Paint Rock Creek Trail soon dropped into the lower part of the valley.\u00a0 This was a region of scattered pines, which gradually became more heavily forested.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Beyond the scenic tarn, the Middle Fork Paint Rock Creek Trail drops into the lower valley. Scattered stands of pines provided occasional shade in this region. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the lower valley. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lily Lake must be close to 4 miles from Mistymoon Lake.\u00a0 Large cumulus clouds were building over the high country as Loopster continued down the valley.\u00a0 Thunder could occasionally be heard.\u00a0 The trail forked before crossing over to the N side of the Middle Fork of Paint Rock Creek.\u00a0 Up until now, the creek hadn’t been anywhere near the trail.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP had no sooner forded the creek, when the 3 cowboys reappeared, now fleeing stormy weather back at the pass.\u00a0 They also forded the creek, their horses passing within only a foot of the Carolina Dog, who fortunately demonstrated enormous self-control.<\/p>\n

Beyond the ford, Lupe came to a wide, treeless bog.\u00a0 Somehow SPHP lost the main trail and wound up on some faint side track S of the main one.\u00a0 A mucky march got Lupe to a hillside W of the marsh.\u00a0 A dirt road led N to an intersection close to the SE end of Lily Lake.\u00a0 Several dirt roads met up here.\u00a0 What little signage existed was confusing.<\/p>\n

SPHP’s map was wrong again.\u00a0 It showed the Middle Fork Paint Rock Creek Trail heading SW from SE of Lily Lake.\u00a0 After needless marching back and forth trying to figure out which way to go, SPHP finally asked a fisherman where the road to the Middle Fork trailhead was.\u00a0 It turned out that it headed SW from the SW end of Lily Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Elk Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,321 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> from the S shore of Lily Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lily Lake was a popular spot.\u00a0 Lots of people were fishing and camping.\u00a0 The rest of the Middle Fork Paint Rock Creek Trail from Lily Lake for about 2 miles back to the Middle Fork trailhead was all jeep trail.\u00a0 ATV’s roared up and down it, sending clouds of dust into the air.<\/p>\n

The road hike to the Middle Fork trailhead wasn’t as fun as the single track trail prior to reaching Lily Lake.\u00a0 Lupe disagreed.\u00a0 Nearly the entire way, the road wound through a heavily forested region where squirrels provided exciting entertainment.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Is there anything in the world more entertaining than a squirrel?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rain threatened.\u00a0 SPHP expected it to start at any moment, but it never did.\u00a0 Loopster reached USFS Road No. 24 at the Middle Fork trailhead completely dry.\u00a0 The storm had passed and the sun was out by the time she made it to Battle Park and the Bucking Mule trailhead where the G6 was parked at the end of the road.\u00a0 (3:22 PM, 66\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe’s Bomber Mountain adventure was over.\u00a0 A chance to recuperate.\u00a0 SPHP drove back to Highway 16, then E over Powder River Pass.\u00a0 Lupe spent the evening at Munkres Pass (9,447 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 She explored the forest both N and S of the pass.\u00a0 While she had a good time sniffing around, these were aimless wanderings lasting only half an hour each.<\/p>\n

7-17-18, noon, Munkres Pass<\/em> – A lazy morning had shot by.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had spent some time collecting trash in the forest S of the road.\u00a0 Not too much on the agenda today.\u00a0 The plan was just to get into position to climb Heart Mountain<\/span><\/a> (8,123 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> tomorrow, a dramatic lone peak N of Cody, Wyoming with over 2,100 feet of prominence.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop at Munkres Pass. In 2014 she had climbed Hesse Mountain<\/span><\/a> (10,385 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> from here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe left Munkres Pass early in the afternoon.\u00a0 SPHP drove W back over Powder River Pass, and eventually down out of the Bighorns via scenic Tensleep Canyon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tensleep Canyon<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A plaque in Tensleep Canyon commemorated a monument to Gilbert Leigh, who fell to his death while hunting bighorn sheep in 1884.\u00a0 The actual monument was out of sight somewhere way up on the rim of the canyon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
This plaque in was interesting, but gave no hint of how to get to the actual monument it referred to.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking up Tensleep Canyon<\/strong> from a short path below Highway 16. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A section of the N rim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The drive continued W of the Bighorns.\u00a0 By early evening, there it was!\u00a0 Heart Mountain was off in the distance to the SW.\u00a0 It did look dramatic beneath an unsettled sky.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Early in the evening, Heart Mountain<\/strong> came into view. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Heart Mountain<\/strong> with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heading S on Highway 14A, SPHP turned R (W) onto Park County Road No. 19.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looper by the turn off Highway 14A onto Park County Road No. 19. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Road No. 19 immediately crossed railroad tracks.\u00a0 After 1.5 miles, No. 19 became Lane 13H.\u00a0 3.2 miles on Lane 13H brought Lupe to a junction with Road No. 22.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog had reached the Heart Mountain Ranch Preserve administered by the Nature Conservancy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the junction of Lane 13H and R22 at the start of the Heart Mountain Ranch Preserve. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another 3 miles on Lane 13H brought Lupe to a locked gate.\u00a0 This was the Heart Mountain trailhead.\u00a0 A maintained trail goes 4 miles all the way to the top of Heart Mountain from here.\u00a0 Success seemed assured!\u00a0 Everything was perfect, except for one critical detail.\u00a0 A big sign on the gate said Dingoes were not welcome.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
After a long afternoon drive, Lupe arrives at the Heart Mountain trailhead to find out she isn’t welcome here. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Nature Conservancy was sort of adamant about no Dingoes. It was Rule No. 1 in caps and blue letters. No other rule was even close to being so important. So much for “Welcome to Heart Mountain Ranch Preserve”.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, phooey.\u00a0 It had been a pleasant afternoon’s drive, but apparently in vain.\u00a0 Looper was never going to climb Heart Mountain.\u00a0 This trailhead was as close as she was ever going to get.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop rejected, but not too dejected, a few miles from Heart Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So that was that.\u00a0 Stymied, Lupe and SPHP turned tail and left.\u00a0 Time for Plan B!\u00a0 By sundown, Lupe was back in the Bighorns.\u00a0 By the time it was dark, the G6 was way up on Duncum Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,831 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Not Heart Mountain, but Loop had unfinished business here.\u00a0 Her adventures would resume in the morning.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Back in the Bighorns at sundown.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sunset, Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming 7-17-18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heart Mountain Directions<\/strong> – From Powell, WY go 11 miles SW on Hwy 14A.\u00a0 Turn R (W) on Road No. 19.\u00a0 Go 1.5 miles.\u00a0 No. 19 becomes Lane 13H.\u00a0 Follow Lane 13H W 3.2 miles to an intersection with Road No. 22.\u00a0 Heart Mountain Ranch HQ is 0.3 mile down No. 22, a L turn.\u00a0 Staying on Lane 13H go 1 mile to a closed gate, supposedly typically unlocked.\u00a0 The trailhead is 2 miles farther at a locked gate.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Heart Mountain trail is a maintained trail 4 miles long that goes to the summit.\u00a0 Elevation gain is approximately 2,500 feet.\u00a0 Don’t bother bringing your Dingo.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\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 & Wind River Range in Wyoming Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\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":"

Days 4 & 5 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains & Wind River Range in Wyoming! 7-16-18, morning, Gunboat Lake – The sun was already shining on the new Marmot tiny house.\u00a0 Lupe was still lazing about inside being petted, and having her belly scratched.\u00a0 All ambition was gone.\u00a0 One night’s rest … Continue reading Gunboat Lake to Lily Lake, Bighorn Mountains & Rejected at Heart Mountain near Cody, Wyoming (7-16-18 & 7-17-18)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18824,"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":[1033],"tags":[105,106,1046,26,1036,1045,1042,104,1043,674,1044,275],"class_list":["post-18846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2018-bighorn-mountains-wind-river-range-wyoming","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-cody","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-gunboat-lake","tag-heart-mountain","tag-lily-lake","tag-lupe","tag-middle-fork-trail","tag-solitude-trail","tag-tensleep-canyon","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG_9888.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\/18846","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=18846"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19742,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18846\/revisions\/19742"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}