{"id":19684,"date":"2019-03-16T08:10:13","date_gmt":"2019-03-16T14:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=19684"},"modified":"2019-03-16T19:53:15","modified_gmt":"2019-03-17T01:53:15","slug":"little-mountain-the-sweetwater-county-wyoming-prominence-peak-7-24-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=19684","title":{"rendered":"Little Mountain, the Sweetwater County, Wyoming Prominence Peak (7-24-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lupe had already seen deer and wild turkeys on an exciting early drive from Sheep Creek Bay, when she dropped by the dam at Flaming Gorge Reservoir.\u00a0 Last night had been her first in Utah in nearly 3 years, but the Carolina Dog wasn’t staying, just doing a bit of sight-seeing on the way to Little Mountain<\/span><\/a> <\/span>(9,131 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> in Wyoming.<\/p>\n

The lake was beautiful.\u00a0 This was going to be a great day!\u00a0 Hardly any clouds in the sky, though.\u00a0 Going to get hot!\u00a0 Lupe took only a short stroll out by the reservoir before returning to the G6.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe drops by Flaming Gorge Reservoir<\/strong> on a beautiful July morning. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Flaming Gorge Dam<\/strong>. Lupe would go right over it on Hwy 191. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP drove E over the Flaming Gorge Dam.\u00a0 Hwy 191 wound N, then NW for a while.\u00a0 Before leaving Utah, Lupe made one more sight-seeing stop at Antelope Flats.\u00a0 The name sounded promising, and there was plenty of room for antelope out there, but Looper didn’t see any.\u00a0 However, she did have a distant view of another part of Flaming Gorge Reservoir.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flaming Gorge Reservoir<\/strong> from the Antelope Flats<\/strong> pullout along Hwy 191 in N Utah. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

N of Antelope Flats, Hwy 191 crossed into Wyoming.\u00a0 For the second day in a row, Lupe and SPHP were following excellent directions by peakbagging hero Edward Earl<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 Little Mountain was supposed to be only 10 miles or so from the Utah border, and soon came into view.<\/p>\n

As Edward noted, Little Mountain greatly resembles Pine Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,550 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the Sweetwater County, Wyoming High Point, which Lupe had visited a year ago.\u00a0 Like Pine Mountain, Little Mountain was a large, crescent-shaped mesa with a steep S slope.<\/p>\n

Heading E on Hwy 191 just S of Little Mountain, SPHP watched for a sign for Clay Basin Road on the R (S).\u00a0 A couple of small pullouts were close to the highway’s high point less than a mile before reaching the turn.\u00a0 Lupe could have started for Little Mountain from one of these pullouts, but Earl had parked along Clay Basin Road.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP wanted to start from the same spot, then duplicate Earl’s trip up the mountain.<\/p>\n

It would be fun to follow Edward’s footsteps from nearly 11 years ago!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe along Hwy 191 just before the turn onto Clay Basin Road. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Clay Basin Road is also known as Sweetwater County Road No. 62. Photo looks SE, away from Little Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After making the turn, SPHP parked at a big pullout on the E side of Clay Basin Road.\u00a0 Edward Earl must have parked here in 2007.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Oh, here we are – right where Edward Earl parked years ago! That’s Little Mountain<\/strong> ahead. Only looks like a big hill from here, but it’s nearly 1,200 feet of elevation gain to the top!<\/em> Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As soon as SPHP was ready, Lupe started for Little Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,131 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 (8:22 AM, 70\u00b0F).\u00a0 <\/em>The American Dingo followed Clay Basin Road back to Hwy 191, turned W along the highway for a short distance, then left the road heading up Little Mountain’s sagebrush-covered S slope.<\/p>\n

Not far off to the NW was a higher escarpment topped by a line of gray rocks.\u00a0 Looked interesting, but this whole region made SPHP nervous.\u00a0 Too much vegetation!\u00a0 Even though Lupe was already close to 8,000 feet elevation, SPHP was still worried about the possibility of encountering rattlesnakes.\u00a0 For a short distance, Lupe followed a level cow path NE to a more barren-looking ridge.<\/p>\n

The ridge wasn’t completely bare, but for a long way, it was covered by only short, sparse grasses.\u00a0 Much easier to see what was on the ground here!\u00a0 SPHP felt better about the situation as Lupe turned NW following this ridge toward High Point 8592<\/span><\/strong> on the topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking up the more barren short grass ridge toward High Point 8592<\/span><\/strong>, the lower hill on the L. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The more barren ridge was a long, steady, upward trudge.\u00a0 Higher up, Lupe stayed W of a stand of bushes.\u00a0 Upon reaching High Point 8592, she was already halfway up Little Mountain.\u00a0 Loop saw several pronghorn antelope from here, but they were much farther up the mountain, and soon disappeared beyond the upper edge.<\/p>\n

After visiting High Point 8592, Lupe crossed a patch of yellow dirt on the way N down into a small saddle leading to the second half of the climb.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Near the top of High Point 8592<\/span><\/strong> looking at Little Mountain<\/strong>‘s upper S slope. Lupe would go straight up near the center, then angle L to arrive up on the ridgeline a bit R of the lone tree (L) near the top. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The rest of the way up, Little Mountain became progressively steeper.\u00a0 Lupe headed pretty much straight up the S slope from High Point 8592, until she was quite close to the top.\u00a0 So much sagebrush grew on these upper slopes, that it couldn’t be avoided.\u00a0 While SPHP was still leery of rattlesnakes, Lupe didn’t come to any.\u00a0 By now she was approaching 9,000 feet, so perhaps there weren’t any around to begin with.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Start of the 2nd half of the ascent looking back at High Point 8592<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The final part of the climb was the steepest.\u00a0 Lupe angled NW (L) until she finally made it up to the rim of the summit plateau.<\/p>\n

The top of Little Mountain was a vast flat to gently rolling mesa.\u00a0 The highest terrain existed as a wide band of open ground along the S edge.\u00a0 To the N, a slightly lower forest was in sight hundreds of feet away.\u00a0 The topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a> shows two separate 9120 foot contours on Little Mountain.\u00a0 Lupe had come up between them closest to the larger E contour, which was where Edward Earl had noted that the true summit was located.<\/p>\n

The terrain where Lupe had come up was dominated by medium-sized reddish, purplish rocks.\u00a0 However, as she headed E looking for the true summit, the geology changed.\u00a0 Loop only had to go 500 feet to reach a big flat area which appeared to be the summit of Little Mountain.\u00a0 By the time she got that far, the reddish, purplish rocks had vanished.\u00a0 At first glance, the parched barren ground looked light gray.<\/p>\n

Upon closer inspection, the summit of Little Mountain was comprised of a conglomerate of a wide variety of pebbles.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The true summit was composed of a wide variety of pebbles and small stones.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking back to the W, it was clear that Earl was right.\u00a0 Lupe actually was at the true summit of Little Mountain.\u00a0 The whole summit area was enormous and so nearly flat that no one spot stood out as the absolute high point.\u00a0 Lupe selected a group of slightly larger rocks that seemed to be at least as high as anything else for her official true summit.<\/p>\n

There wasn’t a speck of shade here.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog simply laid down on the rocky ground to take a break, while enjoying the magnificent panoramic views on offer toward all points S.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In brilliant sunshine, Lupe reaches the true summit of Little Mountain<\/strong> in the E 9120 foot contour. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking farther NE along the S edge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The forest to the N was slightly lower.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking WSW in the direction Lupe had come from once she reached the top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The air was hazy with the smoke of distant forest fires.\u00a0 Despite the haze, Lupe could see the long blue ridge of Pine Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,550 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> more than 15 miles off to the ESE.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Pine Mountain<\/strong>, the Sweetwater County high point, is the long ridge on the L. Beyond it, just R of Center, may be Middle Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,559 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> in Colorado. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The best views were closer by, looking due S.\u00a0 Utah was only 5.5 miles away as the crow flies.\u00a0 Lupe could easily see Clay Basin Road where she had started her ascent of Little Mountain from.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Clay Basin Road heads away from Hwy 191 on the L. The yellow N slope of High Point 8592<\/span><\/strong> is seen below on the R. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Richards Mountain<\/span><\/a> (8,728 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R) is the closest big ridge. It is still in Wyoming, but everything beyond it is in Utah. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The area over by the W 9120 foot contour was clearly lower.\u00a0 Even so, when Lupe was done at the true summit, she headed that way exploring along the S rim.\u00a0 The map showed that the 9,131 foot survey benchmark was over at the W high point.\u00a0 Edward Earl hadn’t seen it, but maybe Lupe would?\u00a0 A distant view of Flaming Gorge Reservoir might also be available from over there.<\/p>\n

As the American Dingo wandered W, she sniffed many clusters of the reddish, purplish rocks that looked like they might mark the position of the 9131 foot survey benchmark, yet Lupe didn’t find it.\u00a0 She went all the way to the W high point, finally stopping a little before reaching a fence.<\/p>\n

There was more high ground to the NW, but it wasn’t quite as high as where Lupe was now.\u00a0 She could see part of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, and would have had an even better view of it, if she had gone farther.\u00a0 On a clearer day, that might have been worth doing.\u00a0 However, with the smoke haze somewhat marring the scene, it didn’t seem necessary.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Along the S edge not far from the high point of the W 9120 foot contour. A portion of Flaming Gorge Reservoir<\/strong> is in view. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Hwy 191 snakes away toward Flaming Gorge Reservoir<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking back toward the true summit from the W high point. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the end, Lupe headed back E again, still keeping an eye out for that wayward survey benchmark.\u00a0 Like Edward Earl, she never did find it.\u00a0 Loop left Little Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,131 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> starting back down from about the same spot she’d come up.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog’s return route was about the same until she was below High Point 8592.\u00a0 She then stayed more to the W, hoping to explore the top of the gray rock escarpment she’d avoided on the way up.\u00a0 Going this way, Lupe came to some reddish, purplish boulders covered with bright orange lichens.\u00a0 Their vivid appearance was striking.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Now that is one brightly decorated boulder!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The gray rock escarpment itself was a disappointment.\u00a0 Tall bushes and cactus grew in great abundance upon it.\u00a0 Lupe had to retreat, ultimately descending into the dense vegetation E and below the escarpment that SPHP had hoped to avoid.\u00a0 The American Dingo scared up a deer and a jack rabbit, but never even knew it.\u00a0 She wasn’t tall enough to see over all the grass, bushes and sagebrush.<\/p>\n

Little Mountain had been a success, but marked the end of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains and Wind River Range (and beyond as it turned out!).\u00a0 (11:28 AM, 80\u00b0F)<\/em>\u00a0 All that remained was a scenic, air-conditioned drive home across Wyoming.<\/p>\n

By early evening, the low, dark blue ridge of Lupe’s Black Hills of South Dakota appeared on the horizon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading home. The Black Hills<\/strong> of South Dakota come into view from Highway 450 W of Newcastle. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two summer of 2018 Dingo Vacations were now over.\u00a0 Lupe had enjoyed great times, and explored many beautiful places on both.\u00a0 The American Dingo wasn’t done yet, though!\u00a0 In early August, Lupe would be setting off on her grandest Dingo Vacation of 2018 of all.<\/p>\n

She hopes you will return soon ready for action, adventure, and more scenic peakbagging fun!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Well, this is about it for this time around from Little Mountain<\/strong> in SW Wyoming! Hope you will return soon to join me on my next big Dingo Vacation. It’s going to be a real doozy!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Directions & Trip Report by Edward Earl<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Pine Mountain, the Sweetwater County, Wyoming High Point (6-15-17)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Flaming Gorge, The Little Hole Trail by the Green River & Spirit Lake, Utah (8-26-15)<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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

Prior Dingo Vacation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 This Dingo Vacation<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Next Dingo Vacation<\/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<\/span><\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lupe had already seen deer and wild turkeys on an exciting early drive from Sheep Creek Bay, when she dropped by the dam at Flaming Gorge Reservoir.\u00a0 Last night had been her first in Utah in nearly 3 years, but the Carolina Dog wasn’t staying, just doing a bit of sight-seeing on the way to … Continue reading Little Mountain, the Sweetwater County, Wyoming Prominence Peak (7-24-18)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19678,"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":[105,106,26,1058,104,851,275],"class_list":["post-19684","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-dingo-vacations","tag-little-mountain","tag-lupe","tag-sweetwater-county","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IMG_0187.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\/19684","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=19684"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19684\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20854,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19684\/revisions\/20854"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}