{"id":28676,"date":"2020-10-11T08:10:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-11T14:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=28676"},"modified":"2021-02-11T06:19:01","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T13:19:01","slug":"peak-9634-peak-9626-peak-9760-peak-9953-bighorn-mountains-wyoming-6-26-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=28676","title":{"rendered":"Peak 9634, Peak 9626, Peak 9760 & Peak 9953, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-26-20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 4 of Lupe’s 1st summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming!<\/em><\/p>\n

8:25 AM, 49\u00baF, Hwy 14A near Wheddon Spring<\/em> –<\/p>\n

So, do you sniff a trail anywhere around here, Looper? \u00a0 ‘Cause I’m sure not seeing it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Where’s it supposed to be, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Right here.\u00a0 It’s supposed to take off from Wheddon Spring, and angle up this slope to the Fishook Creek valley.\u00a0 Trail No. 018 according to the map.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sorry, not picking up anything unusual, SPHP.\u00a0 How ancient is that map, anyway?<\/em><\/p>\n

Fairly old, I think.\u00a0 There are a couple of big blank areas with inscriptions.\u00a0 One says “Terra Incognito”, the other “Here be Dragons”.<\/em><\/p>\n

In that case, it’s possible your trail is overgrown by now, SPHP.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, never mind then, Loop.\u00a0 Come on!\u00a0 Let’s just follow the highway to Fishook Creek.\u00a0 Maybe we’ll stumble across the trail.\u00a0 If not, I guess we can bushwhack up the valley.\u00a0 Shouldn’t be all that difficult.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
At Wheddon Spring<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Loopster on Hwy 14A approaching the Fishook Creek valley<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Walking in the ditch, SPHP spotted a green gate in the fence N of the highway.\u00a0 Maybe that was where the trail started?\u00a0 Nope.\u00a0 Not really.\u00a0 SPHP climbed over the gate while Lupe ducked under the fence, but no trail could be found on the other side, except one that stayed right next to the fence line.<\/p>\n

Probably just a cow path.\u00a0 Lupe took it anyway, sniffing ahead, while SPHP tromped along continuing NW behind her.\u00a0 Fishook Creek was only a little farther.\u00a0 When Loopster got there, it turned out to be quite small, an easy rock hop for SPHP, if that was going to be the plan.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At Fishook Creek<\/strong>, just N of Hwy 14A. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking upstream, the deepest part of the Fishook Creek valley was a sharp, narrow “V” choked with vegetation.\u00a0 Apparently a nice stroll along the banks of Fishook Creek wasn’t going to be possible.<\/p>\n

Trail No. 018, which Lupe hadn’t seen hide nor hair of, was supposed to cross over to the W side of Fishook Creek 0.33 mile upstream.\u00a0 Maybe the American Dingo would run into it somewhere up there?\u00a0 In any case, the stream was easy enough to cross right here, so perhaps that was a good idea.\u00a0 SPHP went ahead and rock-hopped it, while Lupe splashed across, pausing for a cold drink along the way.<\/p>\n

On the other side, Loop ventured up a steepish open slope dotted with sagebrush.\u00a0 After gaining 35 feet of elevation, the terrain leveled out to some degree.\u00a0 She turned N, heading up the valley, now well above Fishook Creek, which was out of sight down in the “V”.<\/p>\n

\"\"
On the sagebrush-dotted bench W of Fishook Creek<\/strong>. Trail No. 018, if it still existed, was somewhere over on the larger bench across the narrow valley. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop soon came to an animal trail, which made exploring even easier.\u00a0 The trail led past a big boulder and several trees, but most of the terrain was open ground.\u00a0 Lupe was making good progress up the valley when she came to a fence that ran E\/W across it.\u00a0 At this point, there was an opening in the vegetation down by the creek, which appeared to be dry.<\/p>\n

The bottom of the valley had broadened out a bit.\u00a0 It looked like Lupe might be able to follow the dry creekbed.\u00a0 However, the Carolina Dog was already 70 feet higher than the creek, and SPHP was reluctant to lose the elevation.\u00a0 Things were going fine up here, so Looper simply ducked under the fence, staying high.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Looking back at the now dry creekbed after getting past the fence. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

250 feet N of the fence, the valley really opened up.\u00a0 The broad bench E of Fishook Creek had dwindled away, but there was now plenty of room over here on the W slopes.\u00a0 Sagebrush was the only real obstacle, and it wasn’t too bad.\u00a0 Ahead, Lupe could already glimpse the region where the N and E forks of Fishook Creek converged.\u00a0 She aimed directly for it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A few hundred feet beyond the fence, the sagebrush slopes on the W side of the valley really opened up. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Approaching the confluence of the N & E forks of Fishook Creek. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Surprisingly, there actually was some water in both the N and E forks of Fishook Creek when Lupe got to their confluence.\u00a0 The N fork had more water than the E fork did, but both streams were tiny.\u00a0 SPHP could easily step over each of them.<\/p>\n

Which way, SPHP?\u00a0 Where are we going?<\/em><\/p>\n

Peak<\/span> 9634<\/span><\/a><\/strong> for starters, Loop.\u00a0 I thought we were going to have to climb that hill in front of us first, but now that we’re actually here, looks like we can take a shortcut up the E fork of Fishook Creek.\u00a0 So, let’s go that way.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Starting up the E fork of Fishook Creek<\/strong>, a mere trickle at this point. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Side-hilling the slope next to the E fork soon proved to be a bit of a pain.\u00a0 The creek was so tiny there was no scenic advantage to staying near it.\u00a0 Lupe turned SE, beginning to climb the steepish slope.\u00a0 Before long she reached a more gently sloping region.\u00a0 Bordered by thick forest to the S, and only a few stands of pines along the N edge overlooking the creek, a broad grassy plain extended E a long way, rising at a steady, easy pace.<\/p>\n

Perfect!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Up on a wide bench S of the E fork of Fishook Creek. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A 0.5+ mile march ESE ensued.\u00a0 Lupe roamed at will.\u00a0 Toward the end, she saw a couple of giant deer still far ahead way up on the huge saddle beyond the upper E end of the Fishook Creek drainage.\u00a0 She was now 0.75 mile due S of Peak<\/span> 9626<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, the big bare hill to the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Approaching the upper E end of the Fishook Creek drainage<\/strong> and the broad saddle between Peaks 9634 & 9626. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alrighty!\u00a0 Turn S here, Looper!\u00a0 We’re only 0.25 mile N of Peak 9634.<\/em><\/p>\n

This far E, only a remnant of the forest to the S remained.\u00a0 Most of the 0.25 mile was spent crossing open terrain leading up it.\u00a0 Lupe arrived to find only a thin line of pines distributed along the base of a steepish 40 foot high embankment.\u00a0 She was quickly through the trees, and up the somewhat rocky slope to where the terrain began to level out again.<\/p>\n

Gradually gaining another 30 feet, the American Dingo reached a loosely assembled cairn of white stones at the high point, a bit SW of where she’d come up.\u00a0 Lupe had made it to the summit of Peak<\/span> 9634<\/span><\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At Peak 9634<\/strong>‘s summit cairn. Peak 9626<\/strong> (Center) in the background. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

High overhead, the June sun beat down from a nearly cloudless sky.\u00a0 SPHP peeled off boots and socks, which were soaking wet with dew, and laid them out to dry.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a break here, Loop.\u00a0 Wonder if Tim Worth<\/strong><\/span><\/a> built this cairn?<\/em><\/p>\n

Tim Worth has been here?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, 4 years ago.\u00a0 He also went to Peak<\/span> 9953<\/span><\/a><\/strong> and Little Bald Mountain.\u00a0 Hoping we can, too, but I dunno about Little Bald Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,907 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 It’s quite a stretch, and there are a couple of other minor peaks we might as well visit on the way over there that will chew up some time.<\/em><\/p>\n

We saw Little Bald Mountain yesterday from Rooster Hill<\/span><\/a> (9,400 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Burnt Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,492 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, didn’t we?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup, sure did.\u00a0 It’s actually quite close to the highway, and much easier to get to from the NW.\u00a0 So, if Little Bald Mountain doesn’t work out today, while we’re coming at it from the long way around, maybe we can tackle it some other time and save some effort.<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, there’s an idea for you, SPHP!\u00a0 No sense making things any harder than they have to be, is there?<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, you know me, Looper.\u00a0 We do that all the time.\u00a0 S.O.P!<\/em><\/p>\n

Although extremely sunny, conditions were otherwise quite pleasant – calm and merely comfortably warm.\u00a0 SPHP had nuts, applesauce, and a chocolate coconut bar to snack on, or did, until a starving Dingo snarfed up more than its fair share of the chocolate coconut bar in addition to some Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 The big view was of Cloud Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,167 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> far to the SE.<\/p>\n

Peak 9634’s summit region was vast.\u00a0 Exactly how big depended on how much territory one wanted to include.\u00a0 Multiple 10’s of acres formed a big triangle that was almost all meadow, except toward the more distant E end where forest entered into the mix.\u00a0 The S point of the triangle was only slightly lower than the summit cairn near the NW end.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Looking SE toward Cloud Peak<\/strong> and the S end of the Peak 9634 summit region<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Cloud Peak<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
E end of the summit region<\/strong> (L) from Peak 9634’s true summit<\/strong>. Black Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,489 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R). Photo looks E with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After baking in the sun for a good 50 minutes, SPHP’s boots and socks still weren’t completely dry.\u00a0 However, even a day in June doesn’t last forever, and the Carolina Dog was getting restless.<\/p>\n

Exploring the rest of the summit region seemed like a good idea.\u00a0 Lupe first headed SE to the S end of the triangle.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A glimpse of Hunt Mountain<\/span><\/a> (10,162 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L of Center). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Near the S edge (R). Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peering over the S edge, the American Dingo beheld an unexpected and wondrous sight.\u00a0 Giant deers!\u00a0 Lots of them!<\/p>\n

150 feet below, a herd of 20 to 25 giant deers was grazing or resting in a remote, hidden meadow.\u00a0 A long arm of the meadow extended E, then SE as it curved down into a valley.\u00a0 A second herd of giant deers just as big as the first one was down that way, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Gazing down on the giant deers. HP9562<\/span><\/strong> is in the forest beyond their meadow. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Part of the herd farther E with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loopster was both astonished and frustrated.\u00a0 So many, but so far away!\u00a0 Excited beyond belief, she whined softly as she stood staring, completely entranced.<\/p>\n

Nothing happened for several minutes, until Lupe began to pace along the S rim.\u00a0 The giant deers must have spotted the movement.\u00a0 Suddenly both herds were running!\u00a0 Hypnotized, the Carolina Dog could only watch as they melted away into the forest.<\/p>\n

Well, that was that!\u00a0 Nothing at the E end of the summit region was going to top all those giant deers, but Lupe headed over there anyway for a quick look.\u00a0 Exploring way beyond what she’d been able to see from the summit cairn, she came upon a nice view of Black Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,489 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> at the far E end.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Heading E. Photo looks W back toward the true summit<\/strong> (R).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
At the E end. Black Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Time to move on.\u00a0 Lupe turned N, entering a forested region.\u00a0 SPHP was soon busy trying to avoid the densest parts as much as possible due to all the deadfall as Loop worked her way down a slope.\u00a0 She finally emerged from the trees SE of the enormous saddle leading to Peak<\/span> 9626<\/span><\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A couple of snowbanks were still melting along the N edge of the forest.\u00a0 Lupe chomped snow and frolicked on them before striking out across the open ground.\u00a0 Disappointingly, the two giant deers she had spotted up in this area on the way to Peak 9634 were no longer here.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Heading for Peak 9626<\/strong>, the ridge on the R. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crossing vast saddle didn’t take long.\u00a0 Loopster had already made good progress up the gentle S slope of Peak 9626 when she encountered a crumbling escarpment of flat tan stones.\u00a0 Following the upper rim, she turned NW toward the summit, and was soon closing in on it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Looking S back at Peak 9634<\/strong> (Center).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Following the escarpment higher. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Hunt Mountain<\/strong> (Center) from Peak 9626<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The top of Peak 9626 was another huge flat region, but wasn’t as grassy as Peak 9634 had been.\u00a0 Blue and yellow wildflowers flourished among a liberal sprinkling of small, scattered rocks.\u00a0 Not a single tree.\u00a0 Peak 9626 was utterly unremarkable except for one thing.\u00a0 At the true summit, which was toward the W end, the Shelter Cairn stood alone on the plain.<\/p>\n

The Shelter Cairn was made of some of the larger rocks.\u00a0 About 4 feet tall, it was hollow and had a roof.\u00a0 An opening facing E provided access to the sheltered enclosed space within, which appeared to be just about the right size to accommodate an American Dingo.<\/p>\n

In the event of a hailstorm, the Shelter Cairn would clearly be not only the best, but only place to hide anywhere on Peak<\/span> 9626<\/span><\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the Shelter Cairn<\/strong>. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After sniffing all the way around the exterior, Lupe peered inside.<\/p>\n

Hey, Loop!\u00a0 Go in, and check it out.<\/em><\/p>\n

No way!\u00a0 It’s full of flies, SPHP.\u00a0 Disgusting!<\/em><\/p>\n

True enough.\u00a0 For some unknown reason, hundreds of flies infested the Shelter Cairn, both inside and out.\u00a0 No amount of encouragement could persuade the Carolina Dog to venture inside for even a moment.\u00a0 Unless a hail storm actually did come along, Lupe wanted nothing to do with it.<\/p>\n

Well, fine then.\u00a0 Onward!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!\u00a0 Not much else up here.<\/em><\/p>\n

That wasn’t exactly true.\u00a0 Marmots were whistling alarms from several different directions.\u00a0 Much keener on conducting a census of the local marmot population than investigating the Shelter Cairn, Lupe took off running.\u00a0 Meanwhile, SPHP strode off to the W, starting down another gentle slope.\u00a0 Loop reluctantly abandoned her marmots to catch up.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Starting down Peak 9626’s gentle W slope<\/strong>. Peak 9760<\/strong> is the next big ridge on the R. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The grassy slope steepened somewhat on the way down to Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lupe came to a series of benches separated by lines of broken rock so small they hardly merited the term “escarpment”.\u00a0 Suddenly, several ATV’s appeared out of the NE following USFS Road No. 178, a route also destined for Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong> before heading up the next big ridge to the W.<\/p>\n

The ATV’s had already vanished by the time Lupe made it to Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong>, which was the divide between the Fishook Creek drainage to the S, and Ice Creek drainage to the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Heading down to Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong> (R of Center). Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
N end of the Fishook Creek drainage<\/strong> from Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong>, Lupe had lost nearly 450 feet of elevation since leaving the Shelter Cairn.\u00a0 Following No. 178, the same route the ATV’s had taken, she now went NW up the next big ridge.\u00a0 After more than a mile, the road flattened out as Loop reached the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Momentarily off road on the way up the next big ridge. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peak<\/span> 9760<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, the highest point along this entire ridge, was 0.5 mile N of where No. 178 crossed it.\u00a0 Getting there ought to be easy.\u00a0 All Lupe had to do was climb the relatively short, easy slope N of the road, then continue across an open plateau to the high point.\u00a0 Simple!<\/p>\n

This side trip to Peak 9760 seemed totally worth it, so almost as soon as No. 178 flattened out, Loop left the road and started N.\u00a0 Approaching the top of the plateau, she passed a number of sizable rock outcroppings.\u00a0 Up on top, all was as expected.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog enjoyed an obstacle-free romp all the way to the high point, which was a little, barely-sloping hill near the N end.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Passing rock formations on the way up to the Peak 9760<\/strong> plateau. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
At the S end of the Peak 9760 plateau<\/strong>. True summit<\/strong> (Center) in the distance. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Peak 9953<\/strong> (Center) from Peak 9760<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The true summit of Peak <\/strong><\/span>9760<\/span><\/a><\/strong> was only sparsely vegetated.\u00a0 Most of the ground was covered with pebbles of dolomite.\u00a0 Although none of the rest of the plateau was forested, the territory 150 feet W and 250 feet N of the summit was.\u00a0 Looking SE back where Lupe had just been, Peak 9626 and Peak 9634 both looked surprisingly lower and insignificant.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Approaching Peak 9760’s summit<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Relaxing at the summit. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Peak 9634<\/strong> (R) and part of Peak 9626<\/strong> (L) in the foreground. Cloud Peak<\/strong> (Center) on the far horizon. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No fancy Shelter Cairns up here!\u00a0 Lupe sniffed around, but found only a 6 foot long post laying on the ground near a group of rocks once used to prop it up.\u00a0 That was it.\u00a0 No marmots, giant deers, or anything else that was of interest other than the views.\u00a0 After a short, pleasant break, the American Dingo moved on.<\/p>\n

There was no need to go all the way back to the S end of the plateau to get to No. 178 again.\u00a0 Taking a shortcut, Lupe angled SW toward Pass 9564<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 On the way she passed a rocky escarpment along the SW edge of the plateau, and quite a few large boulders scattered on the slope below it.\u00a0 However, the most interesting thing she found before getting back to No. 178 was the Dingo Trap!<\/p>\n

The Dingo Trap was a large steep-sided pit of crumbly dirt.\u00a0 It was 8 feet deep, with a hole at the bottom that went who knows where, or how much deeper?\u00a0 The Dingo Trap appeared to be some sort of a natural sinkhole.\u00a0 While sinkholes aren’t that unusual among the extensive dolomite formations found in the Bighorns, this one in the dirt seemed quite different.\u00a0 With that dangerous-looking hole at the bottom, SPHP warned Lupe to stay out of the trap.<\/p>\n

There were actually 2 Dingo Traps in the same vicinity, the upper one more impressive than the lower one.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Don’t worry! I’m not falling for this!<\/em> Lupe by the biggest Dingo Trap<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Approaching Pass 9564<\/span><\/strong>, Loopster reached USFS Road No. 178 again.\u00a0 She was soon following the road higher as it wound for about a mile over to the upper NW slopes of Peak<\/span> 9953<\/span><\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Leaving the road, Lupe wandered E or SE in search of the true summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Near USFS Road No. 178 on the NW slopes of Peak 9953<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The NW slopes of Peak 9953 were scarred with long, narrow ravines etched into the dolomite.\u00a0 These ravines weren’t all that deep, but added interest to another otherwise rather featureless hill.\u00a0 They faded away as Lupe reached the highest ground.<\/p>\n

This was another big summit, a couple of acres at least.\u00a0 A large cairn of white rock sat way over toward the E.\u00a0 The cairn proved to be just SE of a depression, another sinkhole in the making.<\/p>\n

The most impressive view from the cairn, which did seem to be at or close to the true summit, was of Hunt Mountain<\/span><\/a> (10,162 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> to the S.\u00a0 Once again, Cloud Peak was in sight far to the SE.<\/p>\n

\"\"
On Peak 9953<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
By the depression near the summit cairn. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Hunt Mountain<\/strong> (L) from the cairn. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a couple of minutes near the cairn, Lupe headed over to the SW side of the summit region for a look at the hazy high plains beyond the Bighorn Range.\u00a0 Over here she discovered Sundial Rock, a big white rock jutting up from a second cairn clearly lower than the first one had been.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A glimpse of the high plains beyond the Bighorns. Hunt Mountain<\/strong> (far L), Hwy 14A & the junction with USFS Road No. 10 (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The summit cairn<\/strong> (far beyond Lupe) from Sundial Rock<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although Lupe had been to Peak 9953’s summit, she still wasn’t quite ready to claim a clear peakbagging success.\u00a0 0.25 mile NW was another high point that looked to SPHP like it might be somewhat higher.\u00a0 The topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a> showed another 9,920 foot contour over that way, but didn’t give a peak elevation.<\/p>\n

The American Dingo ought to go visit that high point, too!\u00a0 Due to some cool rock formations, it was a more interesting vantage point, anyway.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Looper relaxing on Peak 9953’s W slope<\/strong>. The next HP she was going to is on the R. Bald Mountain<\/span> <\/a>(10,042 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Returning to USFS Road No. 178, Lupe followed it NW over to the next HP.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog spent a little time exploring the rock formations before climbing to an almost level platform at the very top.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Exploring rock formations along the S side of the NW HP.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
By a big crack.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Not the highest platform, but not far from it. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Quite the Dingo Display rock!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The view from the platform confirmed what SPHP had been thinking.\u00a0 Maybe it was all just an illusion, but this platform seemed convincingly higher than Peak 9953.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Peak 9953<\/strong> is the rounded grassy region in the foreground. Sure seemed lower from here! Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Interesting scenes were off to the NW, too.\u00a0 Bald Mountain<\/span><\/a> (10,042 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Medicine Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,962 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Duncum Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,831 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Sheep Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,813 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, and even Rooster Hill<\/span><\/a> (9,400 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which Lupe had been to only yesterday, were all in sight.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Cone Mountain<\/strong> (L), Rooster Hill<\/strong> (Center L), Duncum Mountain<\/strong> (L of Center), and Sheep Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Looking back at Peak 9760<\/strong> (the big grassy ridge). Black Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Off to the WSW, only 2 miles away, another mountain beckoned.\u00a0 Lupe was within striking distance of Little Bald Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,907 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Little Bald Mountain<\/strong> (L) & Bald Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heh.\u00a0 Looper would have to lose 450 feet of elevation to get over there, then regain it all on the way back.\u00a0 Not 2, but 4 extra miles round trip.\u00a0 Late afternoon.\u00a0 Probably still enough time to pull it off, and get back to Wheddon Spring before dark.\u00a0 Little Bald Mountain was just another big hill.\u00a0 Nothing hard about it.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog stared up at SPHP.\u00a0 She was ready.<\/p>\n

Well?\u00a0 Onward?<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, I don’t know, Looper.\u00a0 I’d hoped to, and I’d like to, but its been a long march and a fairly long day already, and we still need to get back.\u00a0 Feel like I’ve gotten a lot of sun.\u00a0 Would you mind if we skip it for now?\u00a0 It’s been fun, but I’m a bit tired.\u00a0 Maybe enough is enough?<\/em><\/p>\n

No worries, SPHP!\u00a0 We did get back from Burnt Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,492 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> rather late last night.\u00a0 Maybe we can do Little Bald Mountain tomorrow, taking that easy route you mentioned from the NW?<\/em><\/p>\n

Probably not tomorrow, Loop.\u00a0 Thinking perhaps something a little more rugged and challenging.\u00a0 We’re trying to work our way higher as we get back in shape, you know.<\/em><\/p>\n

Higher?\u00a0 That sounds good!\u00a0 Shall we head back now then, so we can rest up this evening?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup.\u00a0 Let’s do it!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!\u00a0 Retreat!<\/em><\/p>\n

Leaving the HP NW of Peak 9953, Lupe returned to USFS Road No. 178.\u00a0 She could follow it all the way back to Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong> N of Fishook Creek.\u00a0 Except for the short uphill section going over the Peak 9760 ridge from Pass 9564<\/span><\/strong>, it would be downhill all the way back to Wheddon Spring.<\/p>\n

Ever since those first 3 or 4 ATV’s had beat Loop to Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong> as she came down the W slopes of Peak 9626 much earlier in the day, No. 178 had gotten busier as the day wore on.\u00a0 Apparently it was a popular route.\u00a0 Groups of as many as 7 or 8 ATV’s at a time had roared by.<\/p>\n

The early evening was beautiful, and the sweeping views of this rolling open country of big, mostly bald hills and ridges were grand.\u00a0 As Lupe followed No. 178, ATV’s continued to stream by every so often.\u00a0 By the time Lupe was on her way down the Peak 9760 ridge to Pass 9181<\/span><\/strong>, SPHP was tired of the noise.<\/p>\n

So the American Dingo left the road, taking a shortcut SE down to the confluence of the N and E forks of Fishook Creek.\u00a0 This time around, Lupe followed the creek itself S down the valley.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Starting down the Fishook Creek valley<\/strong> below the confluence of the N & E forks. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The tiny stream soon went underground.\u00a0 Lupe followed animal trails most of the way down to where the fence crossed the dry creekbed.\u00a0 After going under the fence, she climbed up onto the broad bench E of Fishook Creek.<\/p>\n

Not much farther to go!\u00a0 Animal trails had to suffice, since Lupe never did find Trail No. 018.\u00a0 Hordes of mosquitoes discouraged stopping for any reason.\u00a0 Loop went right on by a small pond where they might have gotten their start in life.<\/p>\n

The pond was close to Hwy 14A, although not visible from it.\u00a0 A steepish slope led down to the highway.\u00a0 From there, it was only a short trek in the ditch back to Wheddon Spring.\u00a0 (6:30 PM, 68\u00baF)<\/em><\/p>\n

Plenty of daylight remained for a lovely drive back to the Burgess picnic ground next to the N Tongue River.\u00a0 Beef stew again for dinner.\u00a0 Carolina Dogs love beef stew!\u00a0 SPHP was tired.\u00a0 Lupe was tired.\u00a0 Satisfied, both were in dreamland well before the silver stars glittered overhead.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Little Bald Mountain<\/strong> from the HP NW of Peak 9953<\/strong>, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 9-26-20<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

W<\/em>ant more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2020<\/span> Dingo Vacations to Wyoming, Utah & Montana Adventure Inde<\/strong>x<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\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 4 of Lupe’s 1st summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming! 8:25 AM, 49\u00baF, Hwy 14A near Wheddon Spring – So, do you sniff a trail anywhere around here, Looper? \u00a0 ‘Cause I’m sure not seeing it. Where’s it supposed to be, SPHP? Right here.\u00a0 It’s supposed to take off from Wheddon Spring, and … Continue reading Peak 9634, Peak 9626, Peak 9760 & Peak 9953, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-26-20)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28664,"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":[1293],"tags":[105,185,106,26,104,1298,1297,1299,1300,1296,275],"class_list":["post-28676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-summer-of-2020","tag-american-dingo","tag-bighorn-mountains","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-peak-9626","tag-peak-9634","tag-peak-9760","tag-peak-9953","tag-wheddon-spring","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_6742.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\/28676","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=28676"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32063,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28676\/revisions\/32063"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}