{"id":41336,"date":"2022-10-06T08:10:31","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T14:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=41336"},"modified":"2022-10-26T15:28:14","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T21:28:14","slug":"the-buck-mountain-scouting-jaunt-bighorn-mountains-wyoming-6-16-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=41336","title":{"rendered":"The Buck Mountain Scouting Jaunt, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-16-22)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 1 of Lupe’s 1st Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming!<\/em><\/p>\n

5:30 PM, Pass 8729<\/span><\/strong> along USFS Road No. 24 to Battle Park, Bighorn Mountains, WY –\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, it’s wonderful to be back in the Bighorn Mountains, SPHP!\u00a0 Seems like forever since our final Dingo Vacation adventure of 2021 here last fall!\u00a0 Are we going to pick up where we left off?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, sort of, Looper.\u00a0 Still too snowy for the real high stuff, but hoping we can at least get to Giant Deer Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,321 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Giant Deer Mountain!<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0 That was the first one we did in the Bighorns last year, SPHP!\u00a0 We aren’t going to do it again, are we?\u00a0 Don’t you remember how it got so dark before we made it back to the trail that we never did find it, and had to sleep on the ground lost in the forest until sunrise?<\/em><\/p>\n

I sure do!\u00a0 How could I forget that?\u00a0 But you’re thinking of Giant Deer Peak<\/span><\/a> (11,050 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> in the N Bighorns, Loop.\u00a0 I’m talking about Giant Deer Mountain, an entirely different summit W of Mistymoon Lake.\u00a0 We passed a little W of it when we took the Solitude Trail from Battle Park to base camp at Gunboat Lake before climbing Bomber Mountain<\/strong><\/span><\/a> back in 2018.\u00a0 It’s been on your “to do” list all this time.<\/em><\/p>\n

So there are two mountains or peaks in the Bighorns both named after Giant Deers, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Exactly right, Loopster.<\/em><\/p>\n

You have to admit, that’s sort of confusing, SPHP.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, but you like Giant Deers, don’t you, Loop?\u00a0 You won’t begrudge them a couple of nice peaks in the Bighorns, will you?<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, you know I love Giant Deers, SPHP!\u00a0 Two peaks or mountains named for them is fine with me.\u00a0 Although, I would note a dearth of Dingo Peaks, which would have been a mighty fine name for one of them, too!<\/em><\/p>\n

I see what you mean, Loopster.\u00a0 No justice in this world, is there?<\/em><\/p>\n

Not much for us American Dingoes, SPHP.\u00a0 What are you fiddling with there, anyway?<\/em><\/p>\n

A brand new iPhone, Loop!\u00a0 Just got it working yesterday!\u00a0 Never had a smart phone before.\u00a0 Once I figure out how to use it, we’ll be able to do all sorts of things we never could before!<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, welcome to the new millennia, SPHP!\u00a0 About time, I’d say!<\/em><\/p>\n

I suppose so, but I was always under the impression that millennia were supposed to last practically forever.\u00a0 Then, whammo!\u00a0 Just like that, the old millennia suddenly up and dies on me way before I was finished with it.<\/em><\/p>\n

You’re joking, right, SPHP?\u00a0 No way you were alive way back then!<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, yes I was!\u00a0 In some ways, the old millennia was better than this one, except, of course, that you weren’t in it, Loop.<\/em><\/p>\n

What!?\u00a0 You were alive last millennia, SPHP?\u00a0 Is that even possible?\u00a0 Guess I’ve never really thought about it before, but how ancient are you, anyway?<\/em><\/p>\n

My, my!\u00a0 Look at the time, sweet Dingo!<\/em><\/p>\n

Huh?\u00a0 What time is it, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Time to change the subject, Loop.\u00a0 Speaking of which, I managed to do one thing with this iPhone before we left home.\u00a0 I downloaded the Peakbagger app.\u00a0 Seem to have service here, shall we try it out, and see what happens?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sure!\u00a0 Go for it, SPHP!\u00a0 Let me know what it does.<\/em><\/p>\n

OK, Looper.\u00a0 Huh.\u00a0 Looks like it’s giving me a list of nearby peaks.\u00a0 Shows their names, how far away they are, and in what direction, elevation, and even prominence.<\/em><\/p>\n

Are any of them small enough to climb before sunset, SPHP?\u00a0 I could use a romp after being cooped up in the RAV4 all afternoon.<\/em><\/p>\n

You know, that’s a good idea, Loop!\u00a0 We’ve got a few hours before the sun goes down.\u00a0 Let me scroll through this list for a minute, or two.\u00a0 Oh, this is cool!\u00a0 If I touch the peak name, it opens up another screen with even more information, and when I touch “Peakbagger” on that screen, it takes me right to that mountain’s page on Peakbagger.com.\u00a0 I can see all kinds of info about it there, even the topo map.\u00a0 This is going to be super useful!<\/em><\/p>\n

Find any mountains we might still climb this evening yet, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup!\u00a0 Several, but here’s just the ticket!\u00a0 Buck Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,560 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!\u00a0 If we kept driving N, like we’re going to anyway, it will be only a mile off the road SW of Bellyache Flats.\u00a0 You know what, Loopster?\u00a0 If we take a little jaunt up Buck Mountain, we might be able to see Elk Mountain from up there.\u00a0 Kind of scout it out a bit.\u00a0 Might help us decide how we should go at it tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\n

How big a climb is Buck Mountain, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Umm, looks like less than 600 feet of elevation gain.\u00a0 Appears easy on the topo map.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sounds good!\u00a0 Let’s do it, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

6:00 PM, start of USFS Road No. 360 off No. 24 at Bellyache Flats –\u00a0 <\/em>To the SW, a stand of pines could be seen in the distance at the top of an open grassy slope dotted with sagebrush as Lupe started her evening trek up Buck Mountain.\u00a0 Although even the steepest part wasn’t all that steep, unaccustomed to the elevation, SPHP was glad when slope began to level out after just a 200 foot gain.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Lupe trotted ahead, roaming and sniffing as she pleased, completely unfazed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Setting out for Buck Mountain<\/strong> (L) from USFS Road No. 360. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Above most of the sagebrush, as the rate of climb starts to diminish. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Glancing back at Bellyache Flats<\/strong>. Peak 11100<\/strong> (far L). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a little way, the terrain flattened out completely.\u00a0 Already halfway up Buck Mountain, Loopster paralleled a fence that headed straight for the forested region where the summit was hidden.\u00a0 Approaching the forest, the ground rose again.\u00a0 Several big boulders were scattered along the forest’s edge.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Crossing the flat region. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On a boulder. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continuing up into the trees, the terrain quickly leveled out again.\u00a0 The super easy part of the ascent was now over.\u00a0 Directly ahead, the forest was choked with deadfall.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Not looking quite so easy now. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP wasn’t as enthused about the whole Buck Mountain notion upon seeing all the deadfall, but Lupe kept going – leaping over, going around, or sneaking under it all.\u00a0 400 feet into the forest, she came to an even more daunting obstacle, a vertical wall of rock 30 feet high.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the wall of rock. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exploring W along the base of the wall, the Carolina Dog didn’t have far to go before coming to sort of a bowl that extended toward the S.\u00a0 This bowl was flanked by rock walls, too, but they weren’t as continuous.\u00a0 Lupe discovered an opening where she could scramble up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In the opening that provided a route up. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once on top, Lupe found herself in another flat forested region.\u00a0 This area was not only full of deadfall, but deep, narrow crevasses existed near the edges of the rock wall, too.<\/p>\n

Working SSE through this maze of obstacles, Loopster gradually gained elevation.\u00a0 After 800 feet, another 30 foot high wall of rock appeared off to the WSW (R).\u00a0 Despite the smooth-looking contours on the topo map, Buck Mountain had a tiered structure to it.<\/p>\n

I suppose we have to get up there, don’t we, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup.\u00a0 Afraid so, Looper.\u00a0 Hang on, though.\u00a0 Let me consult the iPhone again.\u00a0 If we have a signal here, the Peakbagger app ought to tell us how far we are from the summit, and what direction it’s in.\u00a0 Seems like we ought to be pretty close to it by now.<\/em><\/p>\n

The news was good!\u00a0 The Peakbagger app claimed that the summit was only 78 feet W.\u00a0 Going just a little way S along the base of the rock wall, a potential route up appeared.\u00a0 Deadfall and bushes made what otherwise would have been a quick, easy climb take longer than it should have, but after a brief delay, Lupe made it up to yet another nearly flat region.<\/p>\n

Instead of being heavily forested, full of deadfall and crevasses, this flat region was mostly open.\u00a0 Small stones, grass, sagebrush, and young trees dotted a plateau 100+ feet wide E\/W, and 500+ feet long N\/S.\u00a0 The entire area sloped slightly down toward the S.\u00a0 Sunlight filtered through larger trees all along the rim.<\/p>\n

A short stroll NNW from where Lupe had come up, a small cairn sat at the highest point, perched at the far N end of the plateau along the brink of a 30 foot cliff, right about where the Peakbagger app said the true summit should be.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On Buck Mountain’s summit plateau<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the cairn (R) at the true summit<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Congratulations, Loopster, on climbing Buck Mountain, the first summit of your Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacations!\u00a0 Appears this is it!<\/em><\/p>\n

Why, thank you, SPHP!\u00a0 Got any chocolate coconut bars in that pack to help us celebrate properly?<\/em><\/p>\n

Hmm.\u00a0 No.\u00a0 Sorry, Loop.\u00a0 Forgot all about chocolate coconut bars.\u00a0 I’ve got a banana, Taste of the Wild, and water.<\/em><\/p>\n

Not a single chocolate coconut bar?\u00a0 You’re slipping, SPHP!\u00a0 I’ll forgive you this time.\u00a0 You can have the banana, and I’ll have some of that Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 Maybe your magical Peakbagger app can remind you to bring chocolate coconut bars next time?<\/em><\/p>\n

Think I’ve got to manage that on my own, Loop.\u00a0 Or, you can help remind me.<\/em><\/p>\n

The were-puppy can teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget, SPHP.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hopefully, that won’t be necessary, Looper.\u00a0 I’ll do better.<\/em><\/p>\n

For a while, as a banana and Taste of the Wild vanished, Lupe and SPHP sat together enjoying the secluded tranquility of Buck Mountain’s true summit.<\/p>\n

You know, Loop, having this iPhone and Peakbagger app almost seems like cheating doesn’t it?\u00a0 I mean, compared to just using a paper map, like we’ve always done before.\u00a0 Now the app tells us almost exactly where we need to go.\u00a0 “W 78 feet.”\u00a0 Takes some of the romance and mystery out of it.<\/em><\/p>\n

True, but we still have to climb the mountain, SPHP.\u00a0 You’ll get used to it.\u00a0 Consider this!\u00a0 Without that app’s suggestion on where we might go, we wouldn’t even be here now.\u00a0 Although, I have to admit that Buck Mountain doesn’t seem to be working out as a way to scout out routes up Giant Deer Mountain.\u00a0 No views at all up here, other than trees!<\/em><\/p>\n

True, but there will be views on the way back once we leave the forest.\u00a0 Want to spend a few minutes exploring this summit plateau before we go?<\/em><\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog was all for exploring!\u00a0 A second cairn, marking an easy way to get down off the W edge of the plateau, was discovered 65 feet SW of the summit cairn.\u00a0 Going all the way S to the end of the open area, a narrower lane continued deeper into the forest.\u00a0 Lupe found a squirrel to bark at, which made her happy, but there wasn’t much else of interest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Setting off to explore the summit plateau. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the cairn along the NW edge, where it was easy to get down. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Content that she’d seen all that Buck Mountain’s summit region had to offer, Lupe returned to the 2nd cairn along the NW edge of the plateau.\u00a0 Taking the easy way down, she rejoined her deadfall-laden ascent route, retracing it through the forest, and eventually working her way back to the boulders overlooking the flat open plain.<\/p>\n

5 miles NE, Peak<\/span> 11100<\/span><\/a><\/strong> was framed between much more distant Cloud Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,167 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Bomber Mountain<\/span><\/a> (12,840 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 A clear view of Giant Deer Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,321 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was of more immediate interest.\u00a0 SPHP paused to study it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 1100<\/strong> (Center), Cloud Peak<\/strong> (L of Center), Bomber Mountain<\/strong> (R of Center). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Giant Deer Mountain<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Zoomed in on Giant Deer Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, what do you think, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Kind of glad we did this little scouting jaunt up Buck Mountain, Looper!\u00a0 I’d been thinking that we’d go up to the pass W of Mistymoon Lake, camp there tomorrow night, then follow Giant Deer Mountain’s E ridge to the summit the next day.\u00a0 From that same base camp, we could even visit both Peak<\/span> 11,112<\/span><\/a><\/strong> and Peak<\/span> 11,100<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, if we wanted to spend another day, but now I’m not so sure that’s what we ought to do.<\/em><\/p>\n

What’s the other option then, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Now that I see it, that long E ridge may not be the way to go, Loop.\u00a0 Might be a whole lot easier to take on Giant Deer Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,321 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> as just a simple day hike going up the SW slope from Lily Lake.<\/em><\/p>\n

But we won’t get to climb Peak 11112 or Peak 11100, if we just do a day hike!<\/em><\/p>\n

No, but we’ve got lots of other peaks on your list of possibilities that are higher priorities.\u00a0 Giant Deer Mountain is our main objective here.\u00a0 Don’t worry!\u00a0 No matter what we do, you’re going to be a busy Dingo climbing some splendid mountains this summer.<\/em><\/p>\n

As long as that’s the case, whatever you decide is fine with me, SPHP.\u00a0 Ponder it overnight, if you like.<\/em><\/p>\n

As the sun sank in the NW on the way back to the RAV4, the American Dingo’s attention was seized by a real live herd of Giant Deers grazing on a hillside off to the E.\u00a0 SPHP was left alone to ponder tomorrow’s course of action.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Part of the giant deer herd with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bathed in alpenglow, Peak 11100 not only looked enticingly beautiful, but appeared to be a fun, easy climb.\u00a0 Getting to see Mistymoon Lake again would be awesome, too.\u00a0 On the other paw, a mere day hike up Giant Deer Mountain would free SPHP from having to lug Lupe’s tiny house and all the extra gear required for one or more overnight stays.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 11100<\/strong> in the alpenglow. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Either way, the American Dingo was in for a glorious day tomorrow in the beautiful Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, a fabulous start to any Dingo Vacation!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On Buck Mountain<\/strong>, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming 6-16-22<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Prior Dingo Vacation<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2022<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>Dingo Vacations to Wyoming, Canada & Alaska Adventure Inde<\/strong>x<\/strong>, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 1 of Lupe’s 1st Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming! 5:30 PM, Pass 8729 along USFS Road No. 24 to Battle Park, Bighorn Mountains, WY –\u00a0 Oh, it’s wonderful to be back in the Bighorn Mountains, SPHP!\u00a0 Seems like forever since our final Dingo Vacation adventure of 2021 here last fall!\u00a0 Are we … Continue reading The Buck Mountain Scouting Jaunt, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (6-16-22)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1585],"tags":[105,185,541,106,26,104,275],"class_list":["post-41336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1585","tag-american-dingo","tag-bighorn-mountains","tag-buck-mountain","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/IMG_4697-scaled.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41336","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=41336"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41402,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41336\/revisions\/41402"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}