{"id":28873,"date":"2020-10-21T08:10:14","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T14:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=28873"},"modified":"2021-02-11T06:22:06","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T13:22:06","slug":"the-sheridan-county-high-point-bighorn-mountains-wyoming-6-27-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=28873","title":{"rendered":"The Sheridan County High Point, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-27-20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 2 of Day 5, Days 6 & 7 of Lupe’s 1st summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming!<\/em><\/p>\n

Continued from Part 1 <\/span><\/strong>–
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

6-27-20, 1:50 PM, upper S slopes of Dome Peak<\/span><\/a> (10,828 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/em> – Getting to the first grassy bench wasn’t the panacea SPHP thought it would be.\u00a0 Instead of having an easy romp the rest of the way down to the 10,300 foot saddle S of Dome Peak, Lupe started coming to a series of green benches separated by 25 to 30 foot steep scrambles lower on jumbles of massive boulders.\u00a0 Loop had plenty of time to enjoy the scenery or sniff about while waiting for that slowpoke SPHP to catch up.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog had already lost most of the elevation she needed to by the time she came to a large snowbank.\u00a0 A little below it, Lupe finally reached consistently better terrain.\u00a0 Most of the boulder fields behind her, she now made rapid progress through meadows and pine forest, but soon encountered a long wall of rock blocking the way ahead.<\/p>\n

Choosing to go E rather than W looking for a way around the wall, Loop found a way to scramble SE up onto it.\u00a0 Flat rocks provided a decent path forward to open terrain beyond the wall.\u00a0 No serious obstacles remained between the American Dingo and her next peakbagging objective – the Sheridan County High Point<\/span><\/a> (11,020 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, still 1.5 miles away.<\/p>\n

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On the big snowbank near the end of Lupe’s descent of Dome Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Approaching the 10,300 ft. saddle leading to the Sheridan CoHP. HP10565<\/span><\/strong> (L of Center), HP10740<\/span><\/strong> (R of Center) & Sheridan CoHP<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A glance back at Dome Peak<\/strong>, where Lupe had just been. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once S of the 10,300 foot saddle, Lupe climbed steadily through fields dotted with boulders and small trees.\u00a0 She passed W of HP10565<\/span><\/strong>, and had already made it to a steeper slope W of HP10740<\/span><\/strong> when suddenly there was movement.\u00a0 50 feet off to the L (SE), someone was coming down.\u00a0 SPHP waved and shouted, and the stranger strode this way.<\/p>\n

Jared was on his way back to his truck, parked several miles NW of here near Woodchuck Pass.\u00a0 He had just completed his second ascent of the Sheridan County High Point.\u00a0 The first time he had been here was 5 years ago with his wife and black lab.\u00a0 Sadly, his dog had since died, and his wife had left him, so he was dealing with memories of better times on today’s journey.<\/p>\n

According to trip reports SPHP had read, the Sheridan County High Point has two summits.\u00a0 The N summit is a bit lower than the S one, although not by much.\u00a0 At the high point of the S (true) summit, a large cracked boulder sits perched atop a rocky ridge.\u00a0 A little exposed scrambling is required to get to this boulder, and to get up on top, it’s necessary to shimmy up the crack.<\/p>\n

Jared said he’d made it up on top, and had also signed the register at the base of the cracked boulder.\u00a0 SPHP asked for advice on what route to take to get to the boulder?\u00a0 Jared advised staying to the R (W).\u00a0 He’d tried scrambling around the E and SE sides, but found it to be a huge waste of time.\u00a0 Too difficult!\u00a0 And with that admonition, Jared was on his way.<\/p>\n

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Lupe met Jared on the next slope in shadow on the R. HP10740<\/span><\/strong> (L), Sheridan CoHP<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP continued S.<\/p>\n

Well, that was interesting, Loopster.<\/em><\/p>\n

Do you think Jared gave us good advice?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah.\u00a0 He’s just been there, and came from the same direction we are, so it’s probably very good advice.<\/em><\/p>\n

Was what Jared said different from what you expected?<\/em><\/p>\n

Not really, but most of the written trip reports I’ve read are a bit hazy on exactly what direction people approached the final scramble to the cracked boulder from.\u00a0 If I remember right, some have said that the SE and S sides are difficult or impossible, so I kind of had the impression that they’ve come up from the SW or W.\u00a0 On the other paw, the GPS tracks I’ve seen come from Coney Lake off to the NE, and they don’t appear to confirm anyone circling around the mountain.\u00a0 Looks like they go right up the E face or NE ridge.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sounds confusing!\u00a0 Maybe multiple routes exist?\u00a0 Why don’t we just see how things look when we get there?<\/em><\/p>\n

Hah!\u00a0 That’s always the plan, isn’t it?\u00a0 Or, at least our contingency plan.<\/em><\/p>\n

Despite SPHP’s numerous brief rest stops, Lupe finally arrived at the base of the Sheridan County High Point’s N slope.\u00a0 Rocky, but not nearly as rocky as Dome Peak’s S slope.\u00a0 Simply a walk up, at least most of the way.\u00a0 After a pause for more heavy breathing and contemplation, the steeper trudge higher commenced.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Closing in on the Sheridan CoHP<\/strong> (Center) after Jared departed. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Loopster at the base of the N slope. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ascent was all very straightforward.\u00a0 Roughly 100 feet from the top, SPHP suddenly realized that Lupe was lagging behind.\u00a0 Looking back, she wasn’t far away, but was standing stock still gazing intently up at an enormous snowbank off to the R (SW).<\/p>\n

Giant deers!\u00a0 4 of them, except they weren’t really giants yet.\u00a0 They were small giant deers, mere fawns with spots on their coats.\u00a0 The fawns had just crested the snowbank.\u00a0 2 of them were heading this way blissfully unaware of the American Dingo’s presence.\u00a0 The other 2 were hanging back, bashful and concerned.\u00a0 They already knew the score.<\/p>\n

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Elk fawns on the upper N slopes of the Sheridan CoHP<\/strong>. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was transfixed!\u00a0 The 2 giant deer fawns ambled slowly closer and closer.\u00a0 Their worried comrades began bleating warnings.\u00a0 Suddenly, the innocents saw both Lupe and SPHP.\u00a0 Instead of returning to their friends, the fawns were off like a shot, racing up the mountain and out of sight.\u00a0 Seeing them flee, the Carolina Dog followed, but they were gone.<\/p>\n

The giant deer fawns were the most thrilling thing that had happened all day.\u00a0 Enthusiastically dashing this way and that, sniffing like mad, Loop showed renewed energy during the rest of the ascent.<\/p>\n

6-27-20, 4:22 PM, N summit of the Sheridan CoHP<\/em> – Lupe stood panting on the highest boulder of the N summit.\u00a0 Getting here had been easy.\u00a0 Worth it, too.\u00a0 What a tremendous view!\u00a0 Elk Peak<\/span><\/a> (11,050 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was in sight a few miles away.\u00a0 Far beyond it were Black Tooth Mountain<\/span><\/a> (13,005 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, and Cloud Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,167 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, high point of the entire Bighorn Range.<\/p>\n

The American Dingo was perfectly happy.\u00a0 Tempting to just stay right here, enjoy it all, and call it good.<\/p>\n

Not possible.<\/p>\n

An irresistible, invisible force laser-focused the eye 200 feet S where the famous boulder sat perched atop a narrow rock ridge.\u00a0 The crack wasn’t visible, but without a doubt that was the boulder the experts considered the true summit of the Sheridan County High Point<\/span><\/a> (11,020 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Lupe arrives at the N summit of the Sheridan CoHP<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That’s it, isn’t it, SPHP!\u00a0 The true summit boulder!\u00a0 Why, it hardly looks any higher than where we are right now.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, hard to tell much of a difference, Loop.<\/em><\/p>\n

Look at it, though!\u00a0 I can’t get up on top of that, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Don’t worry!\u00a0 You won’t have to.\u00a0 This is as high as you’re going, and very nearly as high as that crazy boulder, anyway, so good enough for Dingo work, but I still want to give it a shot as your personal representative.<\/em><\/p>\n

Are you sure, SPHP?\u00a0 Looks dicey, way more dicey than what we are used to.\u00a0 You aren’t a rock climber.<\/em><\/p>\n

I know it.\u00a0 Maybe I can’t get up there, either, but while we’re here, we just have to go see how close to success we can get, don’t we?\u00a0 We’ll be very careful, I promise!<\/em><\/p>\n

A brave speech, but mostly bravado.\u00a0 In fact, SPHP couldn’t really even tell how to get close to the cracked boulder, much less get on top of it.\u00a0 Just because others had done it, that didn’t mean SPHP could.<\/p>\n

For 15 minutes, Lupe and SPHP rested atop the N summit.\u00a0 This really was a fabulous spot, but it was getting late.\u00a0 Loopster had to get back over Dome Peak before it got dark, and it was miles back to the G6 after that.\u00a0 If any attempt at all was going to be made on the true summit, it was now or never.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Elk Peak<\/strong> (far L). Black Tooth Mountain<\/strong> & Cloud Peak<\/strong> (L on horizon). Sheridan CoHP<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SSE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Sheridan CoHP’s NW ridge<\/strong> (R) from the N summit. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Dome Peak<\/strong> (Center) from the Sheridan CoHP N summit<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Dome Peak<\/strong> with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A vertical drop prevented any possibility of heading directly to the true summit from the the N summit.\u00a0 Lupe had to go around either the E or W side of the mountain to get to the connecting saddle.\u00a0 Losing at least some elevation would be required no matter which route she chose.<\/p>\n

Even though Jared had clearly advised approaching from the W, the E side was closer.\u00a0 Might as well take a peek at what was involved in that direction.\u00a0 Retreating NE next to a near vertical edge far enough to reach a spot with a partial view, what could be seen looked more challenging than SPHP was anxious to take on.\u00a0 Hard to say for sure without losing even more elevation, but the first impression was listen to Jared.<\/p>\n

\"\"
E side of the Sheridan CoHP<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe now traveled W over to the 10,860 foot saddle leading to the NW ridge.\u00a0 The view from here was still extremely rocky, but somewhat less daunting.<\/p>\n

\"\"
W side of the mountain as seen on the way to the 10,860 foot saddle. True summit boulder<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Zoomed in on the summit boulder<\/strong> (L). The white tube containing the registry is visible. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The 10,860 foot saddle<\/strong> (green area seen R of Lupe) leading to the Sheridan CoHP’s NW ridge<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Down in the 10,860 foot saddle<\/strong>. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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True summit<\/strong> (R of Center), and the Sheridan CoHP’s W face<\/strong> from the 10,860 foot saddle<\/strong>. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No way around it.\u00a0 Clearly, Loopster was going to have to lose another 70 feet of elevation to get below a steep rock slope and around to the region where she could start up again toward the ridge connecting the N and true summits.<\/p>\n

Even after losing the 70 feet, it wasn’t possible to completely avoid a rock hop across talus, but the situation then improved.\u00a0 Coming at it from the W, by staying toward the S side of the slope leading up to the connecting ridge, Lupe found some vegetation among the rocks.\u00a0 The scramble higher wasn’t bad at all.<\/p>\n

\"\"
On the way to the notch<\/strong> at (Center) after losing an additional 70 feet of elevation from the 10,860 foot saddle. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The broad valley to the SW. Part of Adelaide Lake<\/strong> (L) is visible.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Getting closer. Lupe headed first to the notch on the L, which is the connecting ridge between the 2 summits. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Glancing up at rock formations of the N summit. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe directly below the connecting ridge (L). True summit<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Success!\u00a0 Or was it?\u00a0 Lupe made it to the connecting ridge between the S and true summits, but now what?\u00a0 The true summit boulder was out of sight behind some other large boulders.\u00a0 SPHP could see no safe way past them.\u00a0 Every route looked either impossible, or fraught with danger without some real rock climbing skills.\u00a0 Stymied!\u00a0 After all this effort.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe on the connecting ridge between the N & true summits. Photo looks S toward rock formations of the true summit region.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Could it be?\u00a0 Was this the end?\u00a0 Sure looked like it.\u00a0 For several minutes, SPHP simply stared at the rock formations.\u00a0 Going E was out.\u00a0 Over was out.\u00a0 The only possibility seemed to be to creep SW along a narrow shelf below a big overhanging rock to what looked like a dead end.\u00a0 Nothing else made the least bit of sense.<\/p>\n

Looper waited patiently.\u00a0 SPHP finally ditched the backpack.\u00a0 Absolutely no possibility of success lugging that thing along, and it might well cause a fall.\u00a0 Game over.\u00a0 Permanently.<\/p>\n

Wait here, Loop.\u00a0 I’m going to check out that shelf.\u00a0 If it doesn’t lead to something we’re outta here.\u00a0 Don’t know what else to do.\u00a0 Don’t even much care for attempting this.<\/em><\/p>\n

Be careful, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Believe me, I will use my best little girl techniques.\u00a0 Laugh all you want.\u00a0 I’ll call you if by some miracle this seems to be panning out OK.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Looking SSW along the shelf below the big overhanging rock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Creeping along the shelf, SPHP found that it actually went a little beyond the end of the overhanging rock.\u00a0 Just past the overhang was a 90\u00ba turn where a different perpendicular rock 14 inches wide provided a ramp along the edge of a precipice.\u00a0 The ramp led up to a much safer spot with a little room.\u00a0 From there, it looked possible to continue higher.<\/p>\n

Come, Lupe!\u00a0 Don’t like it, but I think we can make this work.\u00a0 Really have to be careful.\u00a0 No room for error.\u00a0 I’m going to hoist you up onto this rock ramp.\u00a0 All you have to do is run up it to a safe spot and wait.<\/em><\/p>\n

Loopster came, but she did not want to be hoisted.\u00a0 Letting her attempt a leap, though, would be incredibly dangerous.\u00a0 Uh-uh!\u00a0 No way!\u00a0 After several attempts at persuading the Carolina Dog to cooperate, she finally did.\u00a0 Ever so carefully, SPHP lifted her onto the ramp.\u00a0 She immediately trotted up to safety.<\/p>\n

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On the shelf waiting to be hoisted. The connecting ridge<\/strong> (R) and N summit<\/strong> (Center) in the background. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Above the ramp, below the true summit boulder. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP was next, but going up that narrow ramp was out of the question.\u00a0 However, between the rock supporting the overhanging rock and the perpendicular rock forming the ramp, was a narrow opening of about the same width.\u00a0 Squeezing through that crack, maybe SPHP could self-hoist the 6 or 7 vertical feet necessary to get up to where Lupe was?<\/p>\n

Difficult, nerve-wracking, but it worked.<\/p>\n

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Looking down the ramp (L) that Lupe came up. SPHP squeezed up through the crack at (Center). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I think we’re almost there, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, I do, too.\u00a0 Keep going.<\/em><\/p>\n

Continuing SW, Lupe trotted beneath the true summit boulder up to the highest rocks immediately W of it.\u00a0 SPHP followed crouched or creeping as necessary.\u00a0 Reaching Looper’s position, there it was – the big crack in the summit boulder!<\/p>\n

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Lupe up at the entrance to the crack in the summit boulder, part of the N half of which is hanging overhead. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The upper portion of the infamous crack. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The crack was widest toward the W side where the entrance was, and ran roughly E\/W through the true summit boulder, dividing the rock into N and S halves, each about 10 feet tall.\u00a0 Beneath the S half was a hollow area back toward the E big enough for Lupe to get into.\u00a0 She explored it a couple of times, but didn’t want to stay in there.<\/p>\n

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In the crack beneath the S half of the summit boulder. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the entrance to the crack was a white tube which contained a damp, but still legible registry.\u00a0 Ready for a break, SPHP took a few minutes to enter Lupe’s name, and read some of the other entries.\u00a0 The earliest was by Bob & Russ Hamilton on 8-25-1983, who referred to the mountain as Antelope Peak.<\/p>\n

In an undated entry, Jay P. of Riverton proposed the name Sheridan Peak, because by then the mountain had become known only as the Sheridan County High Point.\u00a0 Bob Packard<\/strong><\/span><\/a> had also visited on 9-3-1997.\u00a0 Bob left a detailed entry about this being the 122nd highest CoHP in the lower 48 states, and showing the ranking of other Wyoming CoHP’s as well.<\/p>\n

Jared had written an entry only a few hours before Lupe got here.\u00a0 His was the only one since 2015, which made SPHP think there must have been another registry that was now missing.<\/p>\n

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Loop standing at the entrance to the crack while SPHP fiddled with the registry. The 10,860 foot saddle<\/strong> she had come from over by the NW ridge<\/strong> is visible at R beyond her. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Same view minus the canine star of our show. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bob & Russ Hamilton’s registry page.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Jay P’s entry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bob Packard’s 9-3-1997 entry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon finishing with the registry and returning it to its resting place, SPHP prepared for the attempt to get up on the true summit boulder.\u00a0 Lupe would have to wait below, which was a worry in itself.\u00a0 What if she decided she didn’t like it here and tried to leave by herself?\u00a0 That part by the perpendicular rock with the ramp was so dangerous!\u00a0 She might fall trying to get down.\u00a0 Better make this quick.<\/p>\n

SPHP ditched the camera, which would only get dashed repeatedly against the granite during the antics required to shimmy up the crack.<\/p>\n

Loopster, listen carefully.\u00a0 I’m going to try to get up on top.\u00a0 You stay here.\u00a0 Don’t move!\u00a0 Not an inch!\u00a0 Don’t go anywhere!\u00a0 If I get up there, I’m only staying for a few seconds.\u00a0 A quick look around, tap the high point, and right back down.\u00a0 So, stay put!<\/em><\/p>\n

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Waiting below down at the W entrance to the crack. The white registry tube is visible as Loop originally found it. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the crack, a little ledge about 1.5 feet up on the N half of the summit boulder provided an initial boost, making it possible to grab a rock wedged over the entrance to the crack, and the upper surface of the S portion of the boulder.\u00a0 The rest was all will power gathering whatever strength could be mustered jamming and shimmying higher.<\/p>\n

It was hard, very hard.\u00a0 Limbs shook with effort.\u00a0 Several attempts, and SPHP’s R leg started wanting to cramp.\u00a0 Another attempt.\u00a0 Yes!\u00a0 Barely, but sweet success!\u00a0 Sort of.\u00a0 Not actually sweet.\u00a0 SPHP was petrified.<\/p>\n

SPHP!\u00a0 You made it!\u00a0 What’s it like up there?<\/em><\/p>\n

Airy!<\/em><\/p>\n

Scary?<\/em><\/p>\n

That, too!\u00a0 Terrifying!\u00a0 Not much room up here.\u00a0 Stay where you are.\u00a0 I’m coming back down momentarily.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ever so slowly and carefully, SPHP lowered back down into the crack.\u00a0 Enormous relief when toes touched that little ledge way down near the bottom of the N half of the boulder.<\/p>\n

So how was it, SPHP?\u00a0 What were the views like?<\/em><\/p>\n

Almost the same as from the N summit, I guess.\u00a0 I could scarcely look at them.\u00a0 Couldn’t pry my eyes away from the edge, so horrifyingly close on all sides.\u00a0 When it comes to anything remotely like true mountaineering, I’m a real purist.\u00a0 Pure coward, that is!\u00a0 Never doing that again!<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, thanks for being my personal representative, SPHP.\u00a0 Glad to hear you had such a fabulous experience!\u00a0 So that’s it?\u00a0 Are we done?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, for sure.\u00a0 Let’s go, but let me to go first.\u00a0 It’s still dangerous!
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

The whole ascent process had to be reversed.\u00a0 SPHP was aghast when Lupe didn’t wait to be grabbed and lowered to safety down by the ramp.\u00a0 Instead, the nervous, impatient, but sure-pawed American Dingo snuck down all by herself and leapt to the precarious rock shelf below all on her own.<\/p>\n

What an experience!\u00a0 The world seemed a better place once Loop was back at the ridge connecting the two summits.\u00a0 SPHP retrieved the backpack.\u00a0 A couple of final photos, a few moments of calmer reflection, and it was Onward!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!<\/em><\/p>\n

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Safely back down at the connecting ridge. N summit<\/strong> in the background. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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View to the NE from the connecting ridge. Twin Lakes<\/strong> (Center), with Stull Lakes<\/strong> toward the R. Dome Lake Reservoir<\/strong> & Dome Lake<\/strong> (far R). Coney Lake<\/strong> (toward L).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking SW from the connecting ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Final moments near the route to the true summit. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6-27-20, 6:57 PM, back at the 10,860 foot saddle near the NW ridge – <\/em>Would have been fun to return to the ever-so-relaxing and beautiful N summit of the Sheridan County High Point, but Lupe and SPHP were both tired, and weary or not, the need for speed was urgent.\u00a0 Loopster had to get all the way back to Dome Peak<\/span><\/a> (10,828 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, and up and over it before it got dark.\u00a0 Not scrambling that thing in the middle of the night!<\/p>\n

Leaving the 10,860 foot saddle by the NW ridge, Lupe traversed the same snowbank the giant deer fawns had been on to get over to solid ground again.\u00a0 From there it was downhill most of the way to Dome Peak.<\/p>\n

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Sheridan CoHP’s NW ridge<\/strong> from the 10,860 ft. saddle<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Starting back to Dome Peak<\/strong> (L). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This time when Lupe got to the wall of rock near the base of Dome Peak, she went around the lower W end, instead of going over it.\u00a0 Her second ascent went well considering that exhaustion was setting in.\u00a0 A better route brought Loop to a connected series of grassy ramps that led higher, permitting her to avoid most of the scrambling on large talus.<\/p>\n

By the time Lupe reached the upper S slopes, a new worry was creating additional urgency.\u00a0 The weather had been perfect all day, but now, off to the S, a rain shower was heading for the Sheridan County High Point.\u00a0 Thunder rumbled only a few miles away, and the sky over Dome Peak was already all gray.<\/p>\n

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Back on the upper S slopes of Dome Peak<\/strong> as a dark cloud moves in. Sheridan CoHP<\/strong> (L of Center). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Suddenly, thunder boomed overhead.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP instantly sought shelter by a boulder.\u00a0 Couldn’t stay here too long, though, or the light would be gone.\u00a0 Several minutes went by without any repeat.\u00a0 Onward!<\/em><\/p>\n

6-27-20, 9:01 PM, Dome Peak<\/em> –\u00a0 A chilly wind blew as SPHP helped Lupe up onto Dome Peak’s true summit boulder for the second time today.\u00a0 Several feet NE of the boulder, SPHP noticed something missed during Loop’s first ascent, the Dome survey benchmark.<\/p>\n

The need for speed had not abated.\u00a0 Might storm at any moment.\u00a0 Loop’s second visit atop the boulder was necessarily brief.\u00a0 No time to look for marmots under the old fire lookout foundation this time, either.<\/p>\n

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At the true summit of Dome Peak<\/strong> for a 2nd time today. Sheridan CoHP<\/strong> (far L). Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Dome survey benchmark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before Lupe even made it to the billboard perched along the NE edge of the summit, it started to rain.\u00a0 Thunder rumbled, but not too close by.\u00a0 Loop and SPHP took shelter beneath an overhanging rock close to the billboard, crouching uncomfortably on a slab of ice.\u00a0 A terrible spot in the event of lightning, so close to the billboard’s massive metal support.<\/p>\n

Just a squall.\u00a0 10 minutes and the rain quit.\u00a0 Lupe scrambled down to the level region 80 feet below the summit.\u00a0 She’d made it over Dome Peak, a crucial success, but with little light to spare.\u00a0 Not wanting to waste any of it, SPHP led her NW down the same steep grassy slope the Carolina Dog had come up so many hours ago.<\/p>\n

At the saddle S of HP10480<\/span><\/strong>, Lupe did not return to the big ridge leading to Rock Chuck Pass.\u00a0 Instead she continued NW down the broad open valley that would eventually get her to USFS Road No. 226.<\/p>\n

Progress was fast, at first.\u00a0 Eventually, a light-colored region appeared ahead.\u00a0 With dusk deepening, it wasn’t until Lupe got close to it that SPHP realized she was approaching a vast boulder field.\u00a0 Turning SW to avoid it quickly led into boggy terrain.\u00a0 SPHP’s feet were soon soaking wet, as Looper sploshed through a vast lumpy wetland.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog was pawing SPHP’s legs, begging to stop for a rest.\u00a0 Almost too dark to see now anyway, so what difference did it make?\u00a0 No longer any advantage to hurrying on.\u00a0 A lone white boulder appeared amidst the swamp.\u00a0 SPHP donned the blue plastic rain poncho, and sat down.\u00a0 Weary, Lupe curled up on a small patch of drier ground at SPHP’s feet.\u00a0 SPHP hunched over her, the poncho forming a protective tent as light rain began to fall.<\/p>\n

Nearby, a stream could be heard trickling.\u00a0 To the NW, lightning flickered in a deep gray sky.\u00a0 Farther down the valley, a ragged black line marked the start of the forested region.\u00a0 An orange dot glowed in the distance.\u00a0 Must be a campfire somewhere close to Bruce Mountain.<\/p>\n

The lightning was far away, no rumble of thunder.\u00a0 Only the cool breeze could be heard whispering in the soggy wilderness.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t stir.\u00a0 20 minutes drifted by.\u00a0 Although the lightning seemed closer, the rain quit.\u00a0 The orange dot still glowed, a tiny beacon of hope in a black world.<\/p>\n

Loopster, you ready?\u00a0 Sorry, sweet puppy, but I can’t sit here all night on a rock in the middle of a giant bog.\u00a0 We’ve got to keep going.<\/em><\/p>\n

How much farther do we have to go, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

About a mile and a half down to USFS Road No. 226.\u00a0 A long 3, maybe close to 4 miles back to the G6 after that.<\/em><\/p>\n

Going to be a long night, isn’t it?<\/em><\/p>\n

You said it!\u00a0 But we knew it all along.\u00a0 Our fate was sealed when we left Dome Peak the first time to head for the Sheridan County High Point.\u00a0 Could have just turned back instead, but here we are.\u00a0 C’mon, let’s go!<\/em><\/p>\n

The soggy trek SW resumed, now aided by the weak beam of SPHP’s little flashlight.\u00a0 The American Dingo pressed on looking for drier ground and a decent route lower.\u00a0 Crossing numerous tiny streams, she finally got past the bog, reaching firmer terrain.\u00a0 Turning NW again, Lupe roamed down a long slope, aiming for the glowing orange dot.\u00a0 To the N, all those trickling streams joined forces.\u00a0 For a while, Loop followed the S bank of the resulting larger creek.<\/p>\n

The terrain steepened.\u00a0 Boulders appeared.\u00a0 The rushing stream plunged noisily down a series of small cascades.\u00a0 The rocks became increasingly numerous and difficult to deal with.\u00a0 What little flat land existed among them was usually boggy.\u00a0 Lightning flashed, intermittent light rain fell, thunder rumbled in the distance.\u00a0 Lupe persevered, but traveling slowly, losing lots of elevation.<\/p>\n

Upon reaching the forest, the orange dot disappeared.\u00a0 Among the first trees, the ground was better, permitting a faster pace, but deadfall soon began to appear, forcing Lupe to wander in search of ways over, under, or around it all.<\/p>\n

The stream became a gushing, plunging torrent, constantly reinforced by small tributaries and seeping bogs.\u00a0 Boulders the size of cars and trucks made it necessary to stay well S of its banks.\u00a0 Rocks, trees, deadfall, bogs!\u00a0 The steep descent went on and on.\u00a0 This time it was SPHP that called a halt.\u00a0 Dropping the backpack, SPHP laid on the ground.\u00a0 Not at all adverse to stopping, Lupe curled up nearby, her wet fur glistening.<\/p>\n

Give me 15 minutes, Loop.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Relax!\u00a0 No big rush on my account, SPHP.\u00a0 How much farther now?<\/em><\/p>\n

To the road?\u00a0 No clue.\u00a0 So hard to tell in the night; it magnifies and distorts everything.\u00a0 Seems endless, doesn’t it?\u00a0 But it can’t be.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Laying there in the forest in a spot that would be impossible to ever find or recognize again was one of those strange memorable night moments that sometimes occur in the mountains.\u00a0 Breaking the otherwise deathly still silence, Woodchuck Creek, for that was what it had to be, roared like Niagara.\u00a0 Shared exertion, uncertainty, experience and deep exhaustion produced an eerie sensation of profound togetherness, as if sharing some great secret here amidst the black, unseen unknown, illuminated only by the little flashlight’s feeble beam.<\/p>\n

SPHP stirred.<\/p>\n

Alright!\u00a0 Let’s get to the road, Loop!<\/em><\/p>\n

Down, down, forever down through a wilderness of trees, boulders, and dark slopes.\u00a0 A giant snowdrift backed up Woodchuck Creek, producing a pond that had to be avoided.\u00a0 Up and over the snow and a rock ledge, then down some more scrambling through giant rocks.<\/p>\n

The terrain finally began to level out.\u00a0 SPHP kept seeing the road ahead, but Lupe only came to fallen tree trunks.\u00a0 At last she arrived at the edge of the forest.\u00a0 A barely perceptible level line a bit higher than where Lupe was now was ahead.\u00a0 This time, that had to be the road, didn’t it?<\/p>\n

The open ground leading to it wasn’t the nice, easy field SPHP expected.\u00a0 Another bog.\u00a0 Figured!\u00a0 Straight on through it, though.\u00a0 The American Dingo led the way.<\/p>\n

Woot!<\/em>\u00a0 Loopster stood on the road, grinning in the flashlight beam.\u00a0 She’d made it!\u00a0 No. 226!\u00a0 Couldn’t be anything else.\u00a0 2 miles at most from Dome Peak, which was forever ago.\u00a0 Seemed like 10.\u00a0 No worries now, though.\u00a0 Well, maybe one, but it was still a good mile and a half away.\u00a0 Lupe headed N on No. 226, the sky dripping a few raindrops, although any lightning and thunder had long since moved on.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog was making tracks now, yet the night spell stretched mere minutes into eons.\u00a0 At last, an unmarked side road went uphill to the L (NW).\u00a0 Must be No. 268 going to Calvin Lake.\u00a0 No. 226 curved lower and continued on.\u00a0 0.5 mile later Lupe was standing on the S bank of the E Fork of the S Tongue River.\u00a0 The final obstacle!<\/p>\n

The first few feet of river bottom showed up clearly in the flashlight beam.\u00a0 Not deep at all.\u00a0 Beyond that, the river’s smooth surface stretched away over a black void beneath.\u00a0 30 feet across?\u00a0 Maybe something like that.\u00a0 Possibly less, the way the night played mind games.\u00a0 Lupe stood waiting for SPHP, no longer anxious to lead.<\/p>\n

This same ford had looked like an easy wade way back this morning, a century or two ago.\u00a0 Exhaustion and darkness combined to produce a sense of unease.\u00a0 SPHP turned back, heading S toward the edge of the forest along the W side of the road.<\/p>\n

Let’s rest, Loop.\u00a0 Not as certain about this as I was.<\/em><\/p>\n

SPHP took off the blue plastic Cookie Monster look-alike rain poncho, and spread it out on the ground, laying down with the backpack for a pillow.\u00a0 Lupe curled up next to SPHP.\u00a0 The dear Dingo was wet, but as warm as a furnace.<\/p>\n

30 minutes dragged by.\u00a0 Light rain set in again.\u00a0 Sleep would not come.\u00a0 SPHP’s feet were sore and wet.\u00a0 The ground, hard and cold.\u00a0 Everything ached.\u00a0 Lupe grew tired of SPHP’s constant shifting, and wandered off.\u00a0 That was the last straw.<\/p>\n

Nothing to it!\u00a0 The water couldn’t have been much more than a foot deep the entire way.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t have to swim a stroke.\u00a0 Without the slightest hesitation, the Carolina Dog had followed SPHP into the cold, black void, waded effortlessly across, and shaken herself off on the N bank.<\/p>\n

Up on USFS Road No. 26, Loopster trotted E.\u00a0 Less than 2 miles to go!\u00a0 SPHP could scarcely walk, but plodded gingerly after her anyway.<\/p>\n

In the nick of time!\u00a0 10 minutes after Lupe reached the G6, the sky opened up and rain poured down.\u00a0 Within the dry comfort of the G6, it was a soothing sound.\u00a0 (End, 6-28-20, 3:52 AM, 44\u00baF)<\/em><\/p>\n

6-28-20 – A gray day.\u00a0 Continuously overcast, with periods of intermittent fog, rain, or mist.\u00a0 Didn’t matter in the least.\u00a0 Neither the American Dingo nor SPHP were in any shape to do much of anything, anyway.\u00a0 How very fortunate that Lupe had gone on to the Sheridan County High Point from Dome Peak yesterday!\u00a0 No doubt both were lost in the clouds today.<\/p>\n

Between meals, Lupe snoozed peacefully, only occasionally venturing out of the G6 to bark at squirrels.\u00a0 SPHP caught up the trip journal or napped.\u00a0 By evening it was raining again.<\/p>\n

6-29-20, 5:59 AM, 44\u00baF<\/em> – Clouds clung to the mountains.\u00a0 Wisps of fog drifted in the valleys.\u00a0 The gloom was particularly dark toward the S & W where Lupe’s next adventures were to have taken place.\u00a0 This Dingo Vacation could have been extended a couple more days, if the weather had cooperated, but given the circumstances, and with company due back at home before the 4th of July, well, this was it.\u00a0 SPHP turned the key, the G6 sprang to life, and Loop was on her way.<\/p>\n

Herds of deer and elk roamed the ghostly early morning fields.\u00a0 Some took their chances running across the foggy highway.\u00a0 Lupe barked like a Dingo possessed.\u00a0 Even a couple of moose put in appearances, before the road dropped, snaking down out of the Bighorns.\u00a0 From I-90, only the lowest foothills of the Bighorn Range were visible.\u00a0 A steady mist kept the windshield wipers slapping.<\/p>\n

6-29-20, 11:21 AM, 86\u00baF, Black Hills of South Dakota<\/em> – Home again.\u00a0 The lawn was brown, totally parched.\u00a0 Not a drop of rain had fallen here.\u00a0 Lupe’s first Dingo Vacation of the Year of Perfect Vision was over.\u00a0 She’d finally broken the long peakbagging dry spell the new year had brought.\u00a0 It had been a grand time, and great preparation for adventures yet to come.<\/p>\n

\"\"
On the N summit of the Sheridan CoHP<\/strong>, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 6-27-20<\/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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dome Peak, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-27-20)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

9-3-01 Sheridan CoHP trip report by Dave Covill<\/strong><\/span><\/a> (Coney Lake route)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

7-18-18 Sheridan CoHP GPS track by Daniel Mick<\/span><\/a> (Coney Lake route)<\/span><\/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<\/strong><\/a><\/span> 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":"

Part 2 of Day 5, Days 6 & 7 of Lupe’s 1st summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming! Continued from Part 1 – 6-27-20, 1:50 PM, upper S slopes of Dome Peak (10,828 ft.) – Getting to the first grassy bench wasn’t the panacea SPHP thought it would be.\u00a0 Instead of having an easy … Continue reading The Sheridan County High Point, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-27-20)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28832,"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":[105,185,106,26,1302,104,1303,275],"class_list":["post-28873","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-dome-peak","tag-lupe","tag-sheridan-county-high-point","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_6812.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\/28873","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=28873"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32065,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28873\/revisions\/32065"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}