{"id":30191,"date":"2021-01-19T08:10:56","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T15:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=30191"},"modified":"2021-02-11T06:36:32","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T13:36:32","slug":"castle-mountain-the-carbon-county-montana-high-point-with-mountaineer-jobe-wymore-part-1-island-lake-to-two-bits-lake-8-7-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=30191","title":{"rendered":"Castle Mountain, the Carbon County Montana High Point with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore – Part 1: Island Lake to Two Bits Lake (8-7-20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 3 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming & Montana!<\/em><\/p>\n

8:05 AM, Island Lake campground off Beartooth Hwy No. 212<\/em> – Jobe Wymore was early, 55 minutes early.\u00a0 Even so, despite waiting an hour for a pilot car to get her through road construction, Lupe had beaten him to Island Lake.\u00a0 Only by 10 minutes, though.\u00a0 It was super seeing Jobe again for the first time since November, 2018!\u00a0 Great things were in the works!<\/p>\n

Turned out Jobe had already been on an adventure.\u00a0 Yesterday he’d climbed Mount Wood<\/span><\/a> (12,660 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> with another friend, an opportunity that had sort of popped up out of the blue.\u00a0 In a rush, Jobe had thrown everything into his Rubicon, driven straight out from Washington State, and trotted up Mount Wood.\u00a0 Or maybe slogged up.\u00a0 Mount Wood was not for the faint-hearted – more than 6,000 feet of relentless elevation gain in the rugged Beartooth Mountains.<\/p>\n

Congratulations were in order, of course!\u00a0 Jobe and his friend had made it to the top.\u00a0 However, the upshot of it all was that Jobe had tried calling SPHP yesterday, and had left a message when he didn’t get an answer.\u00a0 The message, eminently reasonable, had requested a one day delay to rest up before taking on Castle Mountain<\/span><\/a> (12,612 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> with Lupe.\u00a0 Early this morning, when he still hadn’t heard from SPHP, Jobe had driven all the way up from his motel in Red Lodge, keeping to the originally agreed upon schedule.<\/p>\n

A guilt trip SPHP richly deserved!\u00a0 Could have checked for messages on the way through Cody yesterday, but 110% confident Jobe would be here, SPHP hadn’t bothered.\u00a0 Poor Jobe!\u00a0 All worn out already, yet committed to setting out on a multi-day backpacking adventure with Loop.<\/p>\n

SPHP felt terrible.\u00a0 Well, not terrible, but guilty.\u00a0 Actually, it was more or less a good thing.\u00a0 Jobe was so much stronger and faster than SPHP that the exhausting day on Mount Wood only served to even things up a bit.\u00a0 Come to think of it, this was great news!\u00a0 Jobe wasn’t angry, actually rather cheerful and matter of fact about it, and now SPHP would stand some chance of not falling incredibly far behind.\u00a0 Jobe’s sad tale was just a friendly reminder that maybe in the future, ya know it might not hurt to check that pesky old flip phone once in a while.<\/p>\n

Over at the Island Lake trailhead, Jobe and SPHP chatted during last minute preparations while Lupe sniffed about.\u00a0 Jobe always made SPHP laugh.\u00a0 He had many mountain and other tales to tell, and was always handing out free samples of this or that new product he’d tried and liked.\u00a0 SPHP never did anything different, so Jobe was usually able to conjure up some unimagined miracle.<\/p>\n

8:51 AM, Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming<\/em> – It was on!\u00a0 Jobe Wymore and Lupe stood poised by the shore of Island Lake, ready to start for Castle Mountain.\u00a0 A bluebird morning with a light breeze!\u00a0 Optimism reigned as everyone set out on the Beartooth Highlakes Trail after rock hopping Island Lake’s outlet stream.\u00a0 The trail led N, sticking close to the W shore.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe<\/strong> and Jobe Wymore<\/strong> about to set out from Island Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Off to a good start with Lonesome Mountain<\/strong> (L) in the distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Night Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail was level or close to it.\u00a0 Island Lake and Night Lake were soon left behind.\u00a0 Jobe expounded upon interesting topics.\u00a0 This was familiar much-loved territory, although Lupe hadn’t been here in years.\u00a0 She was quite happy trotting along sniffing here and there, while listening in on the conversation.<\/p>\n

State Line Peak<\/span><\/a> (11,360 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, part of the enormous Beartooth Plateau ridge, was nearly always in sight.\u00a0 Lonesome Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,399 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> could often be seen off by itself to the NNW, as well.\u00a0 After Night Lake, the trail passed smaller lakes and crossed a little stream.<\/p>\n

Almost before SPHP realized it, a new sign appeared pointing out the R turn to Becker Lake.\u00a0 The sign made things easier than they used to be.\u00a0 When Loop had been here years ago, this turn had been easy to miss.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Passing an unnamed lake N of Night Lake. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lonesome Mountain<\/strong> (L). State Line Peak<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The new sign with directions to both Beauty and Becker lakes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Becker Lake trail passed part of Flake Lake on the R, and a couple of ponds on the L, before descending a small hill to a stream ford between Mutt & Jeff Lakes.\u00a0 The water was a couple of feet deep, but stones and a tiny bushy island made it possible to rock hop the entire thing.<\/p>\n

Next came a boulder field that had to be traversed along the NW shore of Jeff Lake, beyond which the trail crossed a soft, damp region before starting up the first significant slope of the day.\u00a0 Gaining nearly 200 feet of elevation, Loop came to a half-dried up tarn in a narrow pass.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Near Flake Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Jeff Lake<\/strong>. The short boulder field that must be traversed along the NW shore and the slope leading up to the pass to the Becker Lake region are both visible beyond Loop. Mutt Lake is unseen off the L edge. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Mutt Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jeff Lake<\/strong> as seen on the way up to the pass. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
In the pass near the half dried up tarn. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the pass, the trail headed N staying E of Becker Lake.\u00a0 This region was forested, and at first, since the trail was well above and back from the lake, it wasn’t even in sight.\u00a0 However, the forest soon began to give way to meadows with only scattered stands of conifers.\u00a0 Before long, the American Dingo was getting glimpses of Becker Lake.<\/p>\n

Becker Lake was nearly a mile long.\u00a0 By the time Lupe was approaching the N end, the views were really opening up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Jobe and Loop near Becker Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Views opened up as the forest began giving way to meadows. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the N end of Becker Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Less than 0.5 mile N of Becker Lake, Lupe entered Montana.\u00a0 Wyoming left behind, the trail went up a valley on the E side of a stream bound for Becker Lake from Albino Lake, which wasn’t in view yet.\u00a0 Wildflowers flourished here, and Lonesome Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,399 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which Loop had once climbed, was looming large.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lonesome Mountain<\/strong> (Center). Albino Lake is hidden beyond the pass on the R. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>The S end of Albino Lake was 0.6 mile N of the Montana border.\u00a0 When Lupe, Jobe & SPHP got there, it was necessary to cross the outlet stream.\u00a0 Although the stream was wide, this was no problem at all.\u00a0 The entire stream was full of rocks sticking up above the water.\u00a0 Rock hopping it was a cinch almost anywhere one chose.<\/p>\n

Once across the stream, the trail wound over to the W side of Albino Lake, where it turned N again.\u00a0 For more than 0.5 mile, Lupe was in the scenic region between Lonesome Mountain to the W and Albino Lake to the E.\u00a0 Beyond the lake, it was only another 0.25 mile up to Pass 10340<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 From here, Jasper Lake was now in view.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Albino Lake<\/strong>. Pass 10340<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Albino Lake<\/strong> from Pass 10340<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jasper Lake<\/strong> from Pass 10340<\/span><\/strong>. The dark knob<\/strong> (Center) in the distance, is the end of Sky Pilot Mountain’s SE ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Pass 10340<\/span><\/strong>, the trail headed NW down to a valley between Jasper Lake and Golden Lake.\u00a0 SPHP warned Jobe about the sizable stream flowing down to Golden from Jasper.<\/p>\n

Years ago, Lupe had gone beyond Jasper Lake twice.\u00a0 The stream had been so high both times that it had been impossible to rock hop.\u00a0 The first time, Loop and SPHP had wound up fording it near Golden Lake, both getting soaking wet paws in the process.\u00a0 The second time, the whole issue had been avoided by circling around the E side of Jasper Lake where the flow was divided into a number of smaller inlet streams.\u00a0 Worked, but this had been a somewhat tedious route.<\/p>\n

Despite having climbed Mount Wood yesterday, Jobe sped on down the trail for a look at the Jasper Lake outlet stream situation himself.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP trudged after him.<\/p>\n

Heh, no worries!\u00a0 Upon reaching the stream, Jobe must have thought SPHP was nuts.\u00a0 Either it was running considerably lower now than when Lupe and SPHP had been here before, or someone had rearranged a bunch of rocks.\u00a0 A nice long string was now conveniently situated for relatively easy rock hopping all the way across.\u00a0 Whatever!\u00a0 Nothing wrong with good news, is there?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Here’s a glimpse of Golden Lake<\/strong>. Part of Lonesome Mountain<\/strong> (L).<\/em> Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jasper Lake<\/strong> from partway across the outlet stream. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The downstream view. Lonesome Mountain<\/strong> (L). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nothing to it now, SPHP! Come on!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Somewhere N of the outlet stream along the W side of Jasper Lake, the trail veered off to the W destined for Arrowhead Lake and myriad other lakes beyond.\u00a0 Never saw exactly where that happened.\u00a0 Didn’t matter.\u00a0 Not the way Lupe and Jobe needed to go.<\/p>\n

Castle Mountain<\/span><\/a> (12,612 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was still 5.5 miles NNW as the crow flies.\u00a0 Today’s goal was to get at least as far N as Two Bits Lake, which was only another mile plus from Jasper Lake.\u00a0 Jasper Lake had been a long, but relatively easy march with good trails the whole way and less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain.\u00a0 However, from here on there would be no trails.\u00a0 Ahead was a wilderness of rock.<\/p>\n

For the time being, that was no big deal, since Lupe had already been to Two Bits Lake and even Donelson Lake before.\u00a0 Slower going was in the cards, but success was assured at least that far.\u00a0 Loop, Jobe and SPHP pressed on, heading NNW from Jasper Lake toward the last pass before Triskel Lake and Two Bits Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Leaving Jasper Lake<\/strong> behind. Peak<\/span> 11600<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (R of Center). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop meditating among the Indian Paintbrush while Jobe waits for laggard SPHP. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jasper Lake<\/strong> (L) and Lonesome Mountain<\/strong> (R). Pass 10340<\/span><\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another look.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Progress was actually decent until the Pass 10380<\/span><\/strong> region was reached.\u00a0 Here, avoiding fields of talus as much as possible became the priority.\u00a0 No way to avoid it all.\u00a0 A lot of bouldering went on, with intermittent spurts on better ground keeping it all from getting too discouraging.\u00a0 Staying to the W, several unnamed tarns were bypassed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The largest and first tarn reached in the Pass 10380<\/span> region<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jobe isn’t a fan of talus. Had to pick his poison here at Pass 10380<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Two smaller tarns just N of Pass 10380<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once over Pass 10380<\/span><\/strong>, the terrain eventually became easier to deal with.\u00a0 Triskel Lake came into view, and everyone headed down that way first.\u00a0 Not quite 4:00 PM yet, but maybe after lugging heavy packs for 7 straight hours this was good enough?\u00a0 Jobe was ready to call it, and Lupe and SPHP sure had no objections.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Triskel Lake<\/strong>, the more distant one on the L. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Triskel Lake<\/strong> (L). Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where to camp became the question.\u00a0 Wandering N toward higher ground while scouting out the area, the region somewhat closer to Two Bits Lake than Triskel Lake seemed to be the place to be.\u00a0 Jobe assembled his tent before deciding on a precise location.\u00a0 The breeze caught it, and Jobe was running around flying that tent almost like it was a kite, while still trying to find an acceptable spot.<\/p>\n

So funny!\u00a0 Jobe was hilarious!\u00a0 So this is how guys with vast experience do it?\u00a0 SPHP laughed, but Jobe did get it all under control.\u00a0 He ultimately picked a little grassy ledge overlooking the stream running down from Two Bits Lake to Triskel Lake for his tent kite.\u00a0 Barely enough room for it.\u00a0 Jobe better not thrash around much in his sleep, or he’d be a goner.<\/p>\n

Dinnertime!\u00a0 Always on the cutting edge, Jobe had fancy freeze-dried stuff to prepare.\u00a0 Thai something or other.\u00a0 Sort of spicy.\u00a0 While Jobe turned wilderness chef, Loop and SPHP wandered off looking for a place to pitch her tiny house, finally settling on a soft spot near a tarn over a little hill SE of Jobe’s abode.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Jobe scouting E of the stream between Two Bits Lake and Triskel Lake. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Triskel Lake<\/strong> (L) and the stream running down to it (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jobe’s comfy(?) perch (R of Lupe). Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loopster’s tiny house. Home for the night. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The tarn near the tiny house, which is around the corner off the R edge. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After dinner, Jobe came looking for Loop and SPHP.\u00a0 Finally spotting the tiny house, he then provided entertainment with his commentary for more than half an hour.\u00a0 Good times!\u00a0 Well before sunset, Jobe was ready to hit the hay.\u00a0 SPHP knew Jobe was an early riser, and he’d had two long days in the mountains in a row, although today couldn’t have begun to compare with Mount Wood.<\/p>\n

The sun was still well up when Jobe retired to his tent kite.\u00a0 A gorgeous evening!\u00a0 Even though Lupe and SPHP were both tired, too, there was something Loopster absolutely had to do.\u00a0 7 years since the last time she’d seen Two Bits Lake, and it was only a short stroll away.\u00a0 Better go take a look!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Two Bits Lake<\/strong> and its outlet stream. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
More of Two Bits Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Down by the shore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the outlet stream that flows down to Triskel Lake. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A wider view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This first day out had gone well, but then that was to be expected.\u00a0 Been this far before.\u00a0 The only thing that had worried SPHP at all to this point was what the outlet stream from Jasper Lake might be like, and it had turned out to be cake.<\/p>\n

SPHP had convinced Jobe to take this Lupe route to Castle Mountain.\u00a0 It wasn’t the usual one, and it was important that it worked.\u00a0 Jobe had come a long way to get Castle Mountain done.\u00a0 Among other incredibly challenging peak lists, Jobe had been working the Western Contiguous USA County Highpoints list for many years.\u00a0 414 peaks, and he was only missing a few!\u00a0 Mount Wood had been one of them.\u00a0 Now Castle needed to fall!<\/p>\n

Tomorrow was going to be different, a journey into the unknown.\u00a0 Lupe had never been beyond Donelson Lake.\u00a0 To even make an attempt on Castle Mountain, Jobe would have to be able to get to Flat Rock Lake.\u00a0 From there, others had proven a route up Castle.<\/p>\n

Only 2 mystery miles from Donelson Lake to Flat Rock Lake.\u00a0 The topo map didn’t look too bad.\u00a0 Would the Lupe route go?\u00a0 No guarantees.\u00a0 Anything could happen, but SPHP felt confident it would.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Two Bits Lake<\/strong>, Beartooth Mountains, Montana 8-7-20<\/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 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Castle Mountain, the Carbon County Montana High Point with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore – Part 2: Two Bits Lake to Flat Rock Lake (8-8-20)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The Journey to Two Bits Lake, Beartooth Mountains (7-12-13)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Sky Pilot Lake, Beartooth Mountains of Montana (7-17-13)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

W<\/em><\/span>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 Inde<\/span>x<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 3 of Lupe’s 3rd Summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming & Montana! 8:05 AM, Island Lake campground off Beartooth Hwy No. 212 – Jobe Wymore was early, 55 minutes early.\u00a0 Even so, despite waiting an hour for a pilot car to get her through road construction, Lupe had beaten him to Island Lake.\u00a0 … Continue reading Castle Mountain, the Carbon County Montana High Point with Mountaineer Jobe Wymore – Part 1: Island Lake to Two Bits Lake (8-7-20)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30148,"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":[105,182,277,106,1343,26,104,417],"class_list":["post-30191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-summer-of-2020","tag-american-dingo","tag-beartooth-mountains","tag-carbon-county-high-point","tag-carolina-dog","tag-castle-mountain","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-montana"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/IMG_7427.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\/30191","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=30191"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32077,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30191\/revisions\/32077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}