{"id":25119,"date":"2019-12-25T08:10:06","date_gmt":"2019-12-25T15:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=25119"},"modified":"2020-01-13T12:25:10","modified_gmt":"2020-01-13T19:25:10","slug":"black-mountain-bighorn-mountains-wyoming-7-3-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=25119","title":{"rendered":"Black Mountain, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (7-3-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 8 of Lupe’s 1st 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming!<\/em><\/p>\n

Squirrels, deer, elk and even a moose!\u00a0 Nothing like a frenzied barking spree to start a day off right!\u00a0 The dawn patrol drive along USFS Road No. 16 to the start of No. 222 was one Dingo delight after another.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog’s response had been overwhelmingly enthusiastic!<\/p>\n

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At the start of USFS Road No. 222. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

100 yards on No. 222, and the road curved E (L) revealing a stream ford.\u00a0 The G6 was done.\u00a0 No matter.\u00a0 Black Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,489 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was less than a mile due E.<\/p>\n

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We’ll take it on paw from here! Only 2 miles to Black Mountain<\/strong> at most, even as the trail goes!<\/em> Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6:15 AM, 45\u00baF, USFS Road No. 222<\/em> – The stream, a minor tributary of the Little Tongue River, was an easy rock hop.\u00a0 On the other side, a broad, straight, level trail went S (R).\u00a0 The road went NE (L).\u00a0 No signs.\u00a0 Which way?\u00a0 SPHP checked the topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stick with the road, Loopster!<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe passed by a couple of occupied dispersed camping sites as No. 222 started uphill.\u00a0 Before long, the road leveled out and curved E.\u00a0 The sky had been mostly cloudy on the drive over here.\u00a0 Now fog in the treetops lent an air of mystery.<\/p>\n

A mere 7 minutes after rock-hopping the first stream, Lupe came to the Little Tongue River.\u00a0 It wasn’t any bigger, just another rock hop.<\/p>\n

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We’ve barely started, and here we are at the Little Tongue River<\/strong> already!<\/em> Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing the Little Tongue River, USFS Road No. 222 curved SE (R) proceeding up the river valley, although not close to the stream.\u00a0 Even if there hadn’t been the 2 fords, the road was too rough in spots for the G6.\u00a0 High clearance vehicles wouldn’t have had any problem, though.<\/p>\n

The fog thickened as Lupe steadily gained elevation.\u00a0 Not good, but she kept going.\u00a0 About 0.67 mile from the Little Tongue River ford, the road ended at a circle around a single large pine.\u00a0 The American Dingo had reached the start of Trail No. 011.<\/p>\n

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At the turnaround circle at the end of USFS Road No. 222. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Even though it’s foggy, let’s keep going! Maybe we’ll climb out of it?<\/em> Loop at the start of Trail No. 011. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trail No. 011 was easy to follow.\u00a0 Wide and well-beaten, the trail went E.\u00a0 As Looper trotted along it, the sky brightened.\u00a0 The fog soon dissipated.\u00a0 Good news, but at least so far, the forest still hid any views.<\/p>\n

Before too long, No. 011 began a series of long switchbacks higher.\u00a0 The rate of climb increased.\u00a0 Higher up, the switchbacks shortened as they brought Lupe farther N.<\/p>\n

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On Trail No. 011.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop must have been within 150 to 200 feet of the top when the terrain finally leveled out.\u00a0 A level stretch on a shoulder of the mountain SE of the summit led to a much rockier region and the first views of the day.\u00a0 The best was of Cloud Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,167 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> far to the SSE.<\/p>\n

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At one of the first good viewpoints. Cloud Peak<\/strong> (L). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Black Tooth Mountain<\/span><\/a> (13,005 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) and Cloud Peak<\/strong> (just R of Center). Photo looks SSE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Approaching the summit region, Lupe came to a wall of rock.\u00a0 Staying S of this wall, the trail went NW to an outhouse.\u00a0 A sharp bend E near the outhouse led to a rough ramp constructed of flat rocks.\u00a0 At the upper end of the ramp, the trail bent sharply back to the NW again, but this time on the NE side of the wall of rock.<\/p>\n

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Approaching the wall of rock as Lupe reaches Black Mountain’s summit region. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Near the outhouse. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Heading up the rough ramp. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the NE side of the wall of rock. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last section of Trail No. 011 was quite short, but the most fun of all!\u00a0 Heading generally NW, the trail skirted along the NE side of the wall of rock.\u00a0 Lupe could see a huge amount of territory!\u00a0 Off to the E, foothills of the Bighorn Range overlooked an ocean of clouds hiding the prairies of NE Wyoming.<\/p>\n

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Getting close to the top. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the very end, a little switchback led up onto the summit block.\u00a0 The old Black Mountain fire lookout was just ahead!\u00a0 A huge boulder right next to it appeared to be the true summit of Black Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,489 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lupe leapt up onto it to claim her peakbagging success!<\/p>\n

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On the summit block approaching the fire lookout. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Perched atop Black Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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At the true summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Dingo guru of Black Mountain lost in meditation. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Black Mountain fire lookout appeared to have been abandoned for many years.\u00a0 The entrance to the balcony surrounding it was chained off.\u00a0 Slipping under the chain, Lupe took a look around.\u00a0 The balcony boards were weathered, but firm, except at the far corner where several boards were broken.<\/p>\n

To the N and W, a huge expanse of the Bighorn National Forest was in sight, but Loop saw no other sharp peaks.\u00a0 Twin Buttes<\/span><\/a> (8,235 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> looked small and insignificant from here.<\/p>\n

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Looking N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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View to the W. Lots of forest, but no sharp peaks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Twin Buttes<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ocean of clouds washing up against the foothills to the E made it seem as if the Bighorn Range guarded the edge of a continent.\u00a0 Nothing could be seen of the prairies below the billowing white sea.\u00a0 A much higher layer of clouds wasn’t as thick or continuous.<\/p>\n

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On the summit rock with a view of the foothills. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking back down the trail from the summit. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Gazing across the ocean of clouds. Photo looks E with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a while, Lupe and SPHP sat together by the chain at the entrance to the fire lookout balcony.\u00a0 The sun shone weakly through the thin layer of high clouds.\u00a0 A chilly 5-10 mph NW breeze sprang up.\u00a0 6 miles to the S, Lookout Mountain<\/span><\/a> (10,147 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, where Lupe had been only yesterday, appeared slightly higher, but not very dramatic – just a big ridge.<\/p>\n

SPHP still wondered if the 2 higher peaks beyond it had been correctly identified as Dome Peak<\/span><\/a> (10,828 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and the Sheridan County High Point<\/span><\/a> (11,020 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>?<\/p>\n

The most impressive attractions, of course, were Cloud Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,167 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Black Tooth Mountain<\/span><\/a> (13,005 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which appeared close together much farther SSE.<\/p>\n

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Lookout Mountain<\/strong> (Foreground) with possibly the Sheridan County High Point<\/strong> (L) and Dome Peak<\/strong> (R) beyond it. Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Black Tooth Mountain<\/strong> (R) and Cloud Peak<\/strong> (far R). Photo looks SSE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exploring the summit region, Lupe discovered a survey marker on rock formations outside of a cable serving as a handrail along Trail 011.\u00a0 The marker was stamped “Black Mtn. No. 2”.\u00a0 An arrow pointed toward the true summit and fire lookout.\u00a0 However, only a small metal bar stuck up out of the summit boulder.\u00a0 If another survey marker was still around, it must have been hidden under the fire lookout.<\/p>\n

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Loop standing close to where she discovered the Black Mtn. No. 2 survey marker. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Black Mtn. No. 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A happy hour raced by.\u00a0 Despite the early morning fog, the luck of the Dingo had held long enough for Lupe to get to see the world from Black Mountain.\u00a0 Not even 9:00 AM yet!\u00a0 Still plenty of time to visit another peak or two, if she got going.\u00a0 Black Mountain had been fun, and with such a good trail all the way to the top, pretty easy, too.\u00a0 However, it was time to hit the trail again.<\/p>\n

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Looking down Trail No. 011 from Black Mountain’s summit boulder. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The descent was super easy.\u00a0 Lupe did a little more sight-seeing while still up in rocky region.\u00a0 Down in the forest, she sniffed and explored.\u00a0 Near the end, she plopped down in the Little Tongue River to cool off.<\/p>\n

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Checking out the views on the way down. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And that turned out to be it for this Dingo Vacation.\u00a0 Lupe’s luck ran out.\u00a0 Despite plans to visit Freeze Out Point<\/span><\/a> (8,305 ft.) <\/span><\/strong>next, it didn’t happen.\u00a0 Minutes after reaching the G6 (9:49 AM)<\/em> fog came sweeping up from the E.\u00a0 Sea level was rising.\u00a0 No point in staying.\u00a0 It seemed likely to last.<\/p>\n

The clouds were 3,000 feet thick.\u00a0 A strange day for July!\u00a0 Down below the murk, it was so cool that SPHP let the heater add a little warmth to the G6.\u00a0 The high plains of Wyoming were the lushest SPHP had ever seen them this time of year.\u00a0 Hills were yellow with blossoms.<\/p>\n

Loop had a grand time barking ferociously at cows and horses along I-90, but arrived home looking dejected.\u00a0 The excitement was over.\u00a0 Her fun in the Bighorn Mountains had been cut short.\u00a0 What a grand time it had all been!<\/p>\n

The American Dingo needn’t have worried.\u00a0 Lupe’s 2019 adventures in the Bighorn Mountains weren’t over yet!\u00a0 Before July was out, she would return.\u00a0 The best was yet to come!<\/p>\n

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Oh, I hope you return to join me on my next Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains! We have a couple of splendid mighty peaks to climb!<\/em> Relaxing in the Little Tongue River<\/strong> on the way back from Black Mountain, 7-3-19<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

W<\/em>ant more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacations to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming Adventure Inde<\/strong>x<\/strong><\/a><\/span>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 8 of Lupe’s 1st 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming! Squirrels, deer, elk and even a moose!\u00a0 Nothing like a frenzied barking spree to start a day off right!\u00a0 The dawn patrol drive along USFS Road No. 16 to the start of No. 222 was one Dingo delight after another.\u00a0 The … Continue reading Black Mountain, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (7-3-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25104,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[1175],"tags":[105,185,294,106,26,104,11,275],"class_list":["post-25119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2019-bighorn-mountains","tag-american-dingo","tag-bighorn-mountains","tag-black-mountain","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IMG_3949-scaled.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\/25119","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=25119"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25433,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25119\/revisions\/25433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}