{"id":29562,"date":"2020-12-10T08:10:55","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T15:10:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=29562"},"modified":"2021-02-11T06:31:09","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T13:31:09","slug":"east-temple-peak-wind-river-range-wyoming-part-2-deep-lake-to-the-summit-7-19-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=29562","title":{"rendered":"East Temple Peak, Wind River Range, Wyoming – Part 2: Deep Lake to the Summit (7-19-20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days 10 & 11 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming & Utah!<\/em><\/p>\n

7-19-20, 8:52 AM<\/em> – Lupe and SPHP had both sleep hard.\u00a0 Feeling better, and no heavy pack today!\u00a0 The Carolina Dog stood poised atop the flat rock outcropping 15 feet E of her tiny house.\u00a0 2.5 miles to the SE, the sharp prow of East Temple Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,600 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and its catastrophic cliffs soared into the cloudless blue above and beyond Clear Lake and the massive shadowed stone wall of Haystack Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,978 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2,600 feet of elevation gain to go.<\/p>\n

C’mon, Looper, we’re late!\u00a0 Let’s hit it!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
East Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center), Haystack Mountain<\/strong> (L), and Clear Lake<\/strong> (foreground). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Angling ESE down a forested slope, Lupe soon picked up Little Sandy trail No. 98.\u00a0 The trail went through a meadow before entering another stretch of forest still shadowed by Haystack Mountain.\u00a0 Loop caught only tree-broken glimpses of the E end of Clear Lake as the trail swung S and began to climb.<\/p>\n

The American Dingo hadn’t gotten too far S of Clear Lake, when she came to an interesting and beautiful region.\u00a0 A crystal clear stream swept over large areas of exposed bedrock, and sometimes ran in secret courses beneath huge slabs of granite.\u00a0 A series of small waterfalls poured into rippling pools where every rock on the bottom stood out, magnified in watery relief.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Wow! Doesn’t this look spiffy!<\/em> Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bunion Mountain (11,905 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L), War Bonnet Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,369 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center), and Haystack Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NW back toward Clear Lake<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The amazing region went on and on!\u00a0 No sign of any official trail here, but so what?\u00a0 That didn’t matter in the least.\u00a0 Traveling S up the bedrock, sometimes on this side of the splendid stream, and sometimes on the other, was fun and incredibly scenic.\u00a0 Wherever enough soil existed to support them, Looper did have to manuever around or through clumps of bushes and stands of trees, but these obstacles only slowed progress temporarily.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Following the stream higher. Haystack Mountain<\/strong> (L). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The summit of Temple Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,972 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> appeared ahead.\u00a0 15 minutes later, Lupe was thrilled when she looked back and saw the familiar enormous stretched-gumdrop cone of iconic Pingora Peak<\/span><\/a> (11,884 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, and jagged knife-edge ridge of Wolf’s Head<\/span><\/a> (12,160 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, both part of the Wind River range’s famous Cirque of the Towers<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
That’s the top of Temple Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,972 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) up ahead!<\/em> Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
And there’s Pingora Peak<\/strong> (Center) way over by the Cirque of the Towers<\/strong>! Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
War Bonnet Peak<\/strong> ( far L), Wolf’s Head<\/strong> (L), Bollinger Peak<\/strong> (L of Center) and Pingora Peak<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More and more of both East Temple Peak and Temple Peak kept coming into view.\u00a0 Eventually Loopster was high enough to see Peak<\/span> 11390<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, a sort of Mini-Pingora Peak which appeared sandwiched between them.\u00a0 In reality, Mini-Pingora was actually a high point along a ridge of solid rock extending NNW from East Temple Peak.<\/p>\n

One waterfall after another plunged into sparkling pools.\u00a0 The stream flowed over such huge areas of worn bedrock that it spread out until it wasn’t even 0.50 inch deep.\u00a0 Lupe finally came to a spot where a ledge of rock 6 to 8 foot high sat above a 100 foot wide stream less than 0.25 inch deep.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
East Temple Peak<\/strong> (L) and Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center) with Mini-Pingora<\/strong> between them. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The stream spreads out. Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Wildflowers growing in a spot with some soil.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Easiest 100 foot wide stream ford ever!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After finding a way up the ledge, Lupe didn’t have much further to go to get to Deep Lake.\u00a0 Clear Lake had certainly been beautiful, but Deep Lake made a much deeper impression.<\/p>\n

On the far shore, flanked by East Temple’s smooth towering cliff wall on the L, and Temple Peak’s jagged precipices on the R, Mini-Pingora ruled over Deep Lake like an enthroned mountain God.\u00a0 Below Mini-P’s granite stare, the sacred waters of Deep Lake filled the closely guarded valley to the point where the outlet stream overflowed a plain of bedrock strewn with large boulders at the N end, where the American Dingo now stood.<\/p>\n

Shangri-la, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Holy moley, Looper!\u00a0 The old boy was right yesterday!\u00a0 I should have drug everything up here last night, exhausted or not.\u00a0 Huge mistake!\u00a0 We could have been here all this time.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why haven’t we ever come here before?<\/em><\/p>\n

I had no idea.\u00a0 Never heard anyone talk about this secret spot.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Deep Lake<\/strong>. Mini-P<\/strong> (Center), East Temple Peak<\/strong> (L), Temple Peak<\/strong> (R). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
East Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center) from Deep Lake<\/strong>. Mini-P<\/strong> (R) and Steeple Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,040 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nearly 11:00 AM.\u00a0 Sadly, with so much farther to go, Lupe couldn’t linger long at Deep Lake.\u00a0 A short stay enjoying the magnificent scene from the area near the outlet stream, and she was on her way again.\u00a0 Exploring SW beyond the exposed bedrock, the Carolina Dog rediscovered the trail, which headed S traversing the bush-covered slope W of the lake.\u00a0 Profusions of wildflowers filled openings among the bushes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
W of Deep Lake<\/strong>. The trail eventually curves R of Mini-Pingora<\/strong> (Center) toward Temple Peak<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Among the Indian paintbrush near Deep Lake<\/strong>. Steeple Peak<\/strong> (L), East Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center) and Mini-Pingora<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Approaching the S end of Deep Lake, the trail began to climb, eventually turning SW as it went over a broad minor pass.\u00a0 This pass was a region of open ground and boulders with scattered clumps of stunted conifers and bushes.\u00a0 Temple Lake soon came into view, its S end nestled at the base of Temple Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,972 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On the SW side of the pass, Loop came to a trail junction.\u00a0 Two different branches of Little Sandy trail No. 98 converged here.\u00a0 SE of Temple Lake, and 900 feet higher, Lupe could now see the major pass she needed to get to along the ridge connecting East Temple and Temple Peaks.\u00a0 The combined trail turned toward it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Crossing the minor pass. Temple Peak<\/strong> (L). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Temple Lake<\/strong> comes into view. The pass between East Temple Peak<\/strong> (L, not shown) and Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center) is on the L. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the American Dingo journeyed SSE toward the major pass, SPHP kept expecting the trail to go down to the E shore of Temple Lake, but it didn’t.\u00a0 Instead, the path went on and on staying well above the lake.<\/p>\n

This valley was another spectacular region.\u00a0 Temple Lake was long, with N and S halves connected by a narrow channel.\u00a0 The entire W shoreline hugged an enormous rocky ridge leading to Temple Peak.\u00a0 Temple Peak itself was a formidable mountain.<\/p>\n

As Loop got closer to the S end of Temple Lake, a trail could be seen on the steep slope going up to the major pass.\u00a0 Expecting the trail Lupe was on to connect to it, SPHP was perplexed when the path suddenly turned clearly and very steeply up the slope to the L (E) instead.\u00a0 Could this be right?\u00a0 Didn’t seem like it, but maybe this was only a temporary blip higher?<\/p>\n

Lupe started to climb.\u00a0 Already fabulous views improved, but the trail did not level out.\u00a0 Instead, it continued higher and higher, finally fading completely away in very steep rocky terrain.\u00a0 Pausing to gasp for air, SPHP checked the maps.\u00a0 Sure enough, this was all wrong!\u00a0 Really not too surprising.\u00a0 Must have missed a turn.\u00a0 The trail should have gone down to Temple Lake.<\/p>\n

Reluctant to lose hundreds of feet of hard won elevation, SPHP simply encouraged Loopster to keep going.\u00a0 Maybe she could still work her way over to the pass?\u00a0 If this slope got much steeper, though, retreating would soon be the only viable choice.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center) before the trail turned higher. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A Cheval Peak<\/span><\/a> (11,763 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L of Center). Warrior Peaks<\/span><\/a> (12,406 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and War Bonnet Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,369 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (both R) in the distance. Photo looks back to the NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Temple Lake<\/strong> again from a little higher up. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heading for the pass didn’t work.\u00a0 Lupe never got there, but she didn’t stop climbing.\u00a0 Really steep for a long way.\u00a0 It kept looking like she would top out pretty soon, but she didn’t.\u00a0 A small half-frozen lake appeared in a cirque way above, and W of, the S end of Temple Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loopster<\/strong> (L) never quite made it to the pass<\/strong> (R). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A half-frozen lake<\/strong> (Center) came into view N of Temple Peak. S end of Temple Lake<\/strong> (R). Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time the terrain leveled out somewhat, Lupe was already higher than the pass she had been heading for.\u00a0 She could now glimpse portions of a couple of the Frozen Lakes in a rocky plain beyond the pass.\u00a0 To the NE, a somewhat grassy slope led toward a talus-laden ridge way above the pass.<\/p>\n

While this next slope was plenty steep, it wasn’t nearly as steep as what Loop had just come up.\u00a0 Getting to the ridgeline wouldn’t be the end of things, though.\u00a0 The topo map<\/strong><\/span><\/a> made it clear that what could be seen from here was only a false summit.\u00a0 Looper was still 0.67 mile from the top of East Temple Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Gazing over the pass between East Temple Peak and Temple Peak. Parts of a couple of the Frozen Lakes<\/strong> (L) are in sight. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The next slope along the broad ridge leading to the summit. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Heading higher! Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Up, up, and away!\u00a0 Wherever possible, Lupe followed lanes of vegetation higher, but she was often forced to scramble among the talus, too. Above the first rise was another one quite similar to it, except that the upper lip of this second long slope boasted several distinct rock formations.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Below rock formations at the top of the second rise. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP’s progress up these two slopes was almost as slow and exhausting as on the very steep slope coming up from Temple Lake.\u00a0 Loopster had plenty of time to sniff around while waiting for SPHP to catch up, but at last she scrambled up past one of the rock formations at the top of the second rise.<\/p>\n

Ahead was a much flatter region with a fair amount of greenery dotted with many boulders.\u00a0 This area was quite broad, and rose more gently along the NW side.\u00a0 Toward the E was a long talus ridge which sloped up toward the apparent summit, a large mound of talus to the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In the flatter region above the second slope. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trek across the plain over to the base of the mound was easy.\u00a0 Lupe discovered a snow bank melting in the shade of a huge boulder.\u00a0 The talus the mound consisted of was very large, and exploring the resulting maze was slow and difficult.\u00a0 At one point, SPHP had to squeeze through a talus tunnel to get any farther.\u00a0 At another, Loop needed to be hoisted up an otherwise impossible leap.<\/p>\n

Despite the progress the Carolina Dog was making, SPHP’s belief that she was nearing the top was repeatedly disappointed.\u00a0 One after another, false summits appeared, always another 40 or 50 feet higher.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the snowbank at the base of the talus mound.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching an apparent top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looper finally got high enough to see that she wasn’t actually close to the true summit yet at all.\u00a0 Rocky, but flatter and easier terrain led over to a second talus hill farther N along the narrowing top of East Temple Peak.\u00a0 By now it was clear that Lupe could have saved a lot of time and effort.\u00a0 If she had only stayed farther W, she would have completely avoided the huge talus mound she’d just climbed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The true summit<\/strong> appears ahead. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before heading for the true summit, Loop wandered over toward the NW edge.\u00a0 Not too close, due to the sheer cliffs, but close enough to see Big Sandy Lake which she’d been to yesterday, and Clear Lake where she’d started out from this morning.\u00a0 She also had a tremendous view of a sea of jagged peaks extending as far as she could see along the length of the Wind River range.\u00a0 Only a few looked any higher than where Lupe was right now.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lake 10821<\/span><\/strong> (far L), Big Sandy Lake<\/strong> (L) and Clear Lake<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mound of talus leading to the true summit wasn’t nearly as large as the first mound Lupe had climbed, so it didn’t take too long to get to the top.\u00a0 At the high point, two large light-colored boulders were just about equally high.\u00a0 Lupe leapt up onto the one closest to the E edge, the top of the other boulder being perhaps too small for comfort.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading for the true summit. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On the true summit of East Temple Peak<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another look. Lupe at the true summit<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The views from East Temple Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,600 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> were awesome!\u00a0 Less than 1.5 miles due E was another, even higher peak Lupe had been to 3 years ago, titan of the SE Wind River Range, mighty Wind River Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,192 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Mount Nystrom<\/span><\/a> (12,356 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> to the SSE was also impressive.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Wind River Peak<\/strong> (R), giant of the SE end of the Wind River Range. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Mount Nystrom<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To the S were glimpses of Independent Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,653 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> beyond the Frozen Lakes, and Little Sandy Lake beyond Little Sandy Lake Buttress<\/span><\/a> (11,427 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Much of Temple Lake was in sight to the WNW, and beyond Schiestler Peak<\/span><\/a> (11,624 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the entire Laturio Mountain (11,342 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> ridge was on display.\u00a0 Bunion Mountain (11,905 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> stood out a little farther N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Little Sandy Lake<\/strong> and Little Sandy Lake Buttress<\/strong> (far L). Frozen Lakes<\/strong> and Independent Mountain<\/strong> (R beyond the near ridge). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Temple Lake<\/strong> (L), Miller Lake<\/strong> (R) and Lake 10281<\/span><\/strong> (far R). Laturio Mountain<\/strong> (R) beyond Schiestler Peak<\/strong>. Bunion Mountain<\/strong> (far R). Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And, of course, only a mile to the SW was a grand view of the fearsome cliffs of Temple Peak<\/span><\/a> (11,972 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Temple Peak<\/strong> (L of Center). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The true summit was a small, bouldery area.\u00a0 Not difficult to get to, but rather cramped.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t remained perched on the highest rock for long.\u00a0 Another high point only modestly lower could be seen off to the N, closer to the most amazing views of all from East Temple Peak, which were of all the many rugged peaks stretching away to the NW along the spine of the Wind River range.<\/p>\n

Heading over to this next high point, Lupe found a metal tube hidden among small rocks beneath an overhanging boulder.\u00a0 The outside of the tube was stamped “Chicago Mountaineering Club 25th Anniversary 1940 – 1965”.\u00a0 SPHP managed to open the tube, but sadly all the papers inside were soaking wet.\u00a0 Nothing but garbage at this point.\u00a0 Putting the cap back on, SPHP returned the tube to its lofty hiding place.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the next high point N of the true summit. The metal tube was hidden among the small rocks to the R of Loop. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Chicago Mountaineering Club 25th anniversary tube.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was more!\u00a0 Beyond the metal tube high point, the narrow prow of East Temple Peak extended a little farther N.\u00a0 A big flat rock led to other rocks beyond it where a small cairn sat near the very end.\u00a0 The prow even went a bit farther than this, but big cracks among the rocks near calamitous cliffs meant the Carolina Dog was done.\u00a0 The little cairn was as far as she was going.<\/p>\n

From here, the vertical E face of Haystack Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,978 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> could be seen to the NNW, hundreds of feet lower, looking as though that half of the mountain had suffered a catastrophic collapse.\u00a0 Beyond Haystack, Big Sandy Mountain<\/span><\/a> (12,416 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Dog Tooth Peak<\/a><\/span> (12,488 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, and Mitchell Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,482 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> stretched away along a giant ridge.\u00a0 Lizard Head Peak<\/span><\/a> (12,842 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> soared higher yet beyond Dog Tooth.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the big flat rock leading to the prow of East Temple Peak<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the cairn nearly at the end of the prow, as far as Lupe was going. E face of Haystack Mountain<\/strong> (in shade R of Center). Dog Tooth<\/strong> and Lizard Head<\/strong> lined up beyond it. Dog Tooth flanked by Mitchell Peak<\/strong> (L) and Big Sandy Mountain<\/strong> (R) on same ridgeline. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Focusing a little more toward the NW, the Cirque of the Towers<\/strong><\/span><\/a> was in view.\u00a0 Cylindrical Pingora Peak<\/span><\/a> (11,884 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> looked much lower.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t dare let Loopster get close enough to the edge to peer down on Mini-Pingora<\/span><\/a> (11,390 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Deep Lake, but part of Big Sandy Lake was in sight.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lake 10281<\/span><\/strong> (L) and Big Sandy Lake<\/strong> (Center). Pingora Peak<\/strong> (straight up from Lupe). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
War Bonnet Peak<\/strong> (L), Wolf’s Head<\/strong> (in sunlight L of Center), Bollinger Peak<\/strong> (in shadow at Center), and Pingora Peak<\/strong> (R of Center). Photo looks NW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

East Temple Peak was an incredible vantage point!\u00a0 More than an hour went by, as SPHP surveyed the views and Lupe relaxed.\u00a0 The American Dingo devoured an entire can of Alpo.\u00a0 Finally, lengthening shadows could be ignored no longer.\u00a0 It was time.<\/p>\n

Lupe returned to the N high point where the Chicago Mountaineering Club tube was hidden.\u00a0 Although she got close again, she never did go back to the true summit.\u00a0 Instead, Loop passed W of both it, and the huge mound of talus she had climbed on the way up, making much faster progress on easier terrain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Starting back. Metal tube HP (L). True summit<\/strong> (R). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Passing the metal tube HP again. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center) from East Temple Peak. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near the true summit<\/strong> (R) again. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing the relatively flat plain, Loop reached the edge of the huge slope leading down to the pass.\u00a0 Starting from rock formations along the W end, she worked her way lower, trying to avoid fields of talus as much as possible.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Nearing the end of the upper flat region. Loop started down near the L side of the rock formations ahead. Temple Peak<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Glancing back after starting down. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time Lupe was approaching the pass, the sun was just about down.\u00a0 The pass was a jumble of rock.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog didn’t go all the way down to it until she was close to the N edge, ready to begin the next steep 900 foot descent down to Temple Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Near the pass between Temple Peak (L) and East Temple Peak (R) (both unseen). Temple Lake<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A stream trickled down from the pass.\u00a0 Lupe found the trail she had seen earlier in the day, and started N along it.\u00a0 Progress was fast at first, but slowed considerably as the trail steepened.\u00a0 Light was fading as Looper passed a long snowbank near the bottom of the slope.\u00a0 It was almost gone by the time she reached Temple Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At Temple Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had assumed that by getting back to the trail and reaching Temple Lake before the night grew completely black, that Lupe would have an easy time the rest of the way back at least as far as Deep Lake.\u00a0 Nothing more than sticking with the trail would be involved.\u00a0 Wrong!\u00a0 Down by the lake, the trail soon vanished, and could not be found again even with the help of SPHP’s small flashlight.<\/p>\n

Heading N over a stony region so close to the E shore of Temple Lake that standing water was often seen between the rocks, Lupe sniffed in vain.\u00a0 No trail!\u00a0 Before long, it became apparent that the Carolina Dog was approaching a boulder field beyond which a dark ridge extended W far enough to create a choke point along the shoreline.\u00a0 To get past this ridge, Loopster would either have to wade through the lake, or find a way over the ridge.<\/p>\n

Overhead, stars were now brilliant in the night sky, but the valley was pitch black.\u00a0 Wading into the obsidian depths of Temple Lake was not an option.\u00a0 Way too scary!\u00a0 Forced to climb a steep slope, Lupe managed to get beyond the ridge, but found no trail continuing N up here.\u00a0 Instead, Loopster reached a point where she couldn’t climb any higher.\u00a0 After crossing a marsh, the terrain forced her all the way back down to the shoreline again.<\/p>\n

In the dark, confusion reigned.\u00a0 Where was the trail?\u00a0 Why was this so blankety-blank difficult?\u00a0 Consulting the map provided no clues.\u00a0 Looked perfectly simple!\u00a0 Follow the non-existent trail, which couldn’t be too far from the lake, and no more than 100 feet above it.<\/p>\n

Continuing N next to the lake, the whole scenario repeated itself.\u00a0 Once again, the American Dingo was forced to climb a steep slope, found no trail, and made it past another ridge.\u00a0 Once again, the terrain returned her to the shoreline, but this time the ground was firmer and drier.\u00a0 It began to slope gently up toward the NE, the direction where the minor pass to Deep Lake had to be.<\/p>\n

Late.\u00a0 Weariness setting in.\u00a0 The slope was easy, but SPHP was now just dragging.\u00a0 Often glancing up at SPHP, as if uncertain what this was all leading to, Lupe looked worried.\u00a0 Some indeterminable distance ahead, slightly off to the R, a strange phenomena appeared.\u00a0 A glow!\u00a0 Faint, ever so faint.\u00a0 A lone firefly?\u00a0 Didn’t make any sense.\u00a0 No fireflies in Wyoming, are there?\u00a0 Maybe it was something bigger, but much farther away than it looked?<\/p>\n

As Lupe headed toward the tiny beacon, it soon became increasingly clear that whatever it was was close.\u00a0 Reaching the source, SPHP picked up a tiny glowing plastic candle flame mounted on a round white base.\u00a0 A little black switch on the bottom turned it on or off.<\/p>\n

SPHP slumped to the ground.<\/p>\n

Let’s rest here for a bit, Loopster.\u00a0 I’m about out of gas, and my paws are getting awfully sore.\u00a0 These new boots are doing a number on them.\u00a0 No rush now that the light’s gone, anyway.\u00a0 What do you make of this little flame?<\/em><\/p>\n

Probably dropped by one of Mini-P’s acolytes during some dark mountain ceremony!\u00a0 This whole region is a sacred temple, isn’t it?<\/em><\/p>\n

It is!\u00a0 Seems a little strange that Mini-P’s acolytes use battery-operated flames, though.\u00a0 And even stranger yet that we’ve happened upon it while the battery still has some juice.\u00a0 Think I’ll keep it, just as a souvenir of our journey to East Temple Peak.<\/em><\/p>\n

I don’t know, SPHP!\u00a0 Maybe you should leave it alone?\u00a0 Why risk the wrath of Mini-P?\u00a0 Stealing it might bring a curse upon us!<\/em><\/p>\n

Turning the tiny candle flame off, SPHP tossed it in the pack.<\/p>\n

Curse, schmurse!\u00a0 I’m not afraid of any dark mountain curse, not when I’ve got an American Dingo on my side!<\/em><\/p>\n

Go ahead and tempt fate!\u00a0 You’ll see, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

The return soon continued.\u00a0 Only 100 feet from where the tiny flame was found, Lupe came across the trail.<\/p>\n

Hah!\u00a0 Some curse!\u00a0 We are in possession of Mini-P’s good luck charm, Looper!\u00a0 Smooth sailing from here on.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog made no reply.\u00a0 Sniffing on into the night, she quickly came to the intersection where Little Sandy trail No. 98 divided.\u00a0 Staying toward the R (NE), Lupe and SPHP headed over the gentle pass leading to Deep Lake.<\/p>\n

The descent to Deep Lake was surprisingly longer, steeper, and rockier than SPHP remembered, but the trail was easy to follow even in the dark.\u00a0 Loop eventually reached the boulder-strewn bedrock plain where the outlet stream exited the N end of Deep Lake.<\/p>\n

On the way down to Clear Lake, the exposed bedrock was much harder to follow than expected.\u00a0 Somehow, SPHP kept winding up thrashing around in bushes and bogs, usually E of where the stream turned out to be.\u00a0 Lupe kept coming across trails, though, and repeatedly ran across the bedrock again.\u00a0 Still, it had already been dark for hours by the time she reached the N side of Clear Lake.<\/p>\n

After getting past the clearing Loopster had gone through shortly after reaching the trail as she set out this morning, SPHP led the Carolina Dog up the slope to the N toward the hidden location of her tiny house.<\/p>\n

Oh, joy!\u00a0 The tiny house was so well hidden, SPHP couldn’t find it!\u00a0 Multiple forays up the slope followed by retreats clear down to the trail, and back and forth as far as the W end of Clear Lake, before returning E revealed nothing.\u00a0 Again and again, SPHP searched the slope for stands of dead trees and rock outcroppings, both known to be present near the tiny house, but never came across the right ones.<\/p>\n

Come on, Loop!\u00a0 Help me!\u00a0 Where is it?\u00a0 Find the tiny house!<\/em><\/p>\n

I can’t, SPHP!\u00a0 It’s the curse of Mini-P!<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe it was.\u00a0 Finding the tiny house had never been an issue before.\u00a0 Leading Lupe over to a meadow on the S side of the trail, SPHP laid down, pulling the Dingo close.\u00a0 Miss Hot Paws was like an oven, but a small one.<\/p>\n

Stars glittered overhead.\u00a0 All else was infinite blackness.\u00a0 Using the pack as a pillow, SPHP tried to sleep.\u00a0 Inside the boots purchased for this Dingo Vacation, SPHP’s swollen paws throbbed, painfully constricted.\u00a0 Unable to shift much lest the Carolina Dog feel disturbed and insist upon wandering off, SPHP could feel the curse of Mini-P taking over.<\/p>\n

Connected to the subterranean power of Mini-P’s anger, the cold earth became a basilisk.\u00a0 No staring into its eyes, but its mere touch sent icy fingers creeping inwards.\u00a0 Racing blood turned to sludge.\u00a0 Joints stiffened and ached.\u00a0 SPHP needed to move, but couldn’t.\u00a0 Teeth chattered.<\/p>\n

Oh, Loopster!\u00a0 Too bad you aren’t inflatable!\u00a0 You need to be bigger, like 5 times as big, so I can suck more heat out of you.\u00a0 How do you stay so warm?<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, I’m not inflatable.\u00a0 Guess you’ll just have to use your precious stolen sacred candle flame, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Sleep was impossible.\u00a0 In the solidifying grasp of Mini-P, SPHP watched the movement of stars.\u00a0 Or were they myriad tiny candle flames held forth by a timeless procession of dark acolytes?<\/p>\n

How long this went on was hard to say.\u00a0 Eyes glazed.\u00a0 SPHP’s shuddering finally induced Lupe to leave.\u00a0 The cold hard ground was intolerable without her.\u00a0 SPHP staggered up.\u00a0 Hobbling across the trail over to the N slope, the search for the tiny house resumed.<\/p>\n

Same thing.\u00a0 Nada.<\/p>\n

The candle stars were dying.\u00a0 One by one they faded away, then began to die en masse.\u00a0 The dim outlines of Haystack Mountain and East Temple Peak were now discernable.\u00a0 An idea!\u00a0 Getting the camera out, SPHP compared the mountain outlines now visible with the first photo of the day, the one facing the same way where Lupe had been standing on the rock outcropping near the tiny house.<\/p>\n

Nearly identical!\u00a0 Maybe a bit more to the W?\u00a0 Swinging the flashlight beam 30 feet over that way, there stood Lupe, the rock outcropping and faintly reflective fabric of the tiny house beyond her.\u00a0 The curse of Mini-P was broken!\u00a0 Dawn came on as Lupe and SPHP crawled into the tiny house and cozy warmth of the sleeping bags.<\/p>\n

7-20-20, late morning N of Clear Lake<\/em> – Hot!\u00a0 Not a cloud in the sky.\u00a0 Lupe still snoozed while bleary-eyed SPHP took off socks to examine painful paws.\u00a0 Good!\u00a0 Not as bad as they felt.\u00a0 The R one was worst.\u00a0 A generous application of anti-bacterial cream on the sore spots, and SPHP let them rest in the open air.<\/p>\n

The plan had been for Lupe to climb another couple of peaks today.\u00a0 Too funny!\u00a0 Not going anywhere, except back to the Big Sandy trailhead, and even that not until later.\u00a0 Simply not enough food along to spend a whole day resting, and still climb those peaks tomorrow.<\/p>\n

A little after mid-afternoon, the paws were feeling good enough to give it a go.\u00a0 SPHP slowly packed up the tiny house, Loopster lingering inside as long as possible before being evicted.\u00a0 The heavy backpack didn’t feel good, but wasn’t as heavy as it had been on the way in.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP returned to the trail, starting the long journey back.<\/p>\n

Uneventful.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t take the side route to Diamond and V Lakes this time, although maybe she should have.\u00a0 After reaching Big Sandy Lake, SPHP simply kept plodding steadily SW along Big Sandy trail No. 99, more interested in how far it was to the trailhead than the scenery.<\/p>\n

The sun had just set when the American Dingo reached the trailhead at the Big Sandy Opening.\u00a0 Too late to go anywhere else.\u00a0 Tonight, after a good meal, Lupe would bask in the soft comfort of the G6.<\/p>\n

And twitching paws would reveal the moment when the Carolina Dog set off again, wandering among waterfalls and glistening pools, past a deep lake overflowing with sacred waters where flowers bloomed and a mountain god reigned, on up steep talus-covered slopes, to the prow of a mighty mountain sailing an ocean of jagged peaks, while tiny candle flames began glowing and reeling in the black sky above.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
East Temple Peak<\/strong>, Wind River Range, Wyoming 7-19-20<\/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\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

East Temple Peak, Wind River Range, Wyoming (7-18-20) – Part 1: Big Sandy Opening to Clear Lake<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Big Sandy to Jackass Pass & Cirque of the Towers, Wind River Range, WY (9-1-15)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/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":"

Days 10 & 11 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming & Utah! 7-19-20, 8:52 AM – Lupe and SPHP had both sleep hard.\u00a0 Feeling better, and no heavy pack today!\u00a0 The Carolina Dog stood poised atop the flat rock outcropping 15 feet E of her tiny house.\u00a0 2.5 miles to the … Continue reading East Temple Peak, Wind River Range, Wyoming – Part 2: Deep Lake to the Summit (7-19-20)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29552,"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":[105,106,1315,1319,26,399,104,1320,385,275],"class_list":["post-29562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-summer-of-2020","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-clear-lake","tag-deep-lake","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-east-temple-peak","tag-lupe","tag-temple-lake","tag-wind-river-range","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_7229.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\/29562","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=29562"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29562\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32072,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29562\/revisions\/32072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}