{"id":6307,"date":"2016-09-19T08:10:21","date_gmt":"2016-09-19T14:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=6307"},"modified":"2019-04-09T23:01:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T05:01:00","slug":"the-washakie-county-high-point-bighorn-mountains-wyoming-7-18-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=6307","title":{"rendered":"The Washakie County High Point, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (7-18-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Huge sigh!<\/em>\u00a0 One of many at long intervals.\u00a0 Dejected, Lupe lay bored on the floor.\u00a0 Sometimes she stared out the window.\u00a0 Sometimes just out into space.\u00a0 After a promising start\u00a0with a trip to the Laramie Mountains<\/span><\/strong><\/a> in Wyoming in late May, Lupe had returned to the Black Hills on June 1st expecting great things from the summer of 2016.\u00a0 Instead, June immediately turned hot – too hot for her Black Hills expeditions.\u00a0 June shot by, and Lupe didn’t get to go anywhere in the hills.<\/p>\n

Early July started out a little better, with two short Summits on the Air outings (Custer Peak<\/strong><\/span><\/a> & Boulder Hill<\/span><\/a><\/strong>)\u00a0with Joe and Dusty.\u00a0 Then it was back to laying on the floor,\u00a0forlorn and disappointed day after day.\u00a0 The middle of July came and went.\u00a0 Still Dullsville.<\/p>\n

Lupe didn’t realize it yet, but great\u00a0things were in the works.\u00a0 Preparations for her fabulous Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation were nearing completion.\u00a0 Lupe would soon be on her way much farther than she had ever been before\u00a0to visit beautiful places\u00a0and climb some spectacular peaks!<\/p>\n

One mountain on the list, however, wasn’t that far away.\u00a0\u00a0Cloud Peak<\/span><\/a> (13,167 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the tallest mountain\u00a0in the Bighorn range of\u00a0north central Wyoming,\u00a0was easily the highest peak Lupe would attempt to climb this year.\u00a0 For Lupe and SPHP,\u00a0Cloud Peak\u00a0meant\u00a0a 3 day\/2 night backpacking trip.<\/p>\n

Why not take Lupe to the Bighorns even before the start of her summer of\u00a02016 Dingo Vacation?\u00a0\u00a0Getting\u00a0Cloud Peak out of the way\u00a0beforehand would free up several days on her summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation\u00a0she could use to climb\u00a0much more distant peaks she might never otherwise have a chance to attempt.\u00a0 It was a good idea, and high time for some action anyway.<\/p>\n

SPHP checked the weather forecasts.\u00a0\u00a0Starting July 18th,\u00a04 consecutive days of 100\u00b0F heat with little or no chance of rain were coming to Buffalo, WY.\u00a0 Perfect for adventuring in the high country, where it would be considerably cooler!\u00a0 Much to\u00a0her surprise and delight, Lupe\u00a0was on the road headed for the Bighorns before dawn.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe was already on her way to the Bighorn Mountains when the sun rose on July 18th.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Only a few hours later, Lupe was in the Bighorns!\u00a0 Before tackling Cloud Peak, though,\u00a0SPHP had\u00a0a couple\u00a0of other easier\u00a0peakbagging objectives in mind for Lupe.\u00a0 The first one was really easy – the Washakie County High Point<\/a><\/span> (9,600 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 At 9:48 AM (66\u00b0F), SPHP parked the G6 just S of Hwy 16 along USFS Road No. 25.\u00a0 This intersection is in Washakie County only a short distance W of the Johnson\u00a0County line.<\/p>\n

\"Finally<\/a>
Finally back in action! Lupe arrives in the glorious Bighorn Mountains of north central Wyoming. Here she is S of Hwy 16 ready for an easy trek to the Washakie County High Point. Two of the three possible high points are in the forest on the low hill beyond her. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only thing time consuming or unusual\u00a0about\u00a0the Washakie County High Point is that there are three candidates for the actual\u00a0highest point.\u00a0 Two of them are about 0.25 mile S of Hwy 16 on a low forested ridge.\u00a0 The third candidate is about the same distance N of Hwy 16.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed across the field toward the S candidates first.\u00a0 As a guide, SPHP had a copy of a trip report by Edward Earl dated July 30, 2002<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

At the edge of the forest was a barbed wire fence.\u00a0 The lower part of the fence was a wire mesh which Lupe could not get through.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP followed the fence W until Lupe reached a gate with orange posts where she was able\u00a0to get by.\u00a0 After that, Lupe\u00a0sniffed around\u00a0exploring the forest while making the climb to the first of the high points.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe next to the summit cairn of the first of the Washakie County High Points she reached S of Hwy 16. This high point is NW of the other high point S of Hwy 16. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another view looking NW toward the Washakie County High Point. (Still looking at part of the NW high point of the 2 candidates S of Hwy 16.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe visited\u00a0the two Washakie County High Point candidates S of Hwy 16.\u00a0 Both were very rocky.\u00a0 They were only a few\u00a0minutes walk\u00a0apart, but due to the forest, not really visible from each other.\u00a0 Neither had much in the way of views, although there were partial views to the S and E\u00a0from the SE high point.\u00a0 The\u00a0most open\u00a0views were actually from a lower rock outcropping a bit to the S of the area between the two high points.<\/p>\n

\"Before<\/a>
Before visiting the Washakie County High Point candidate S of Hwy 16 that was the farthest SE, Lupe found this lower rock outcropping nearby, which actually offered the best views. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the SE candidate for Washakie County High Point S of Hwy 16. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The SE candidate of the 2 high points S of Hwy 16 was a line of slanting boulders. Photo looks WNW in the general direction of the NW high point, which could not be seen from here due to the forest, although it is only a few minutes walk away.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another view of the SE high point candidate. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Still<\/a>
Still at the SE high point candidate. Although it wasn’t possible to see the NW candidate from here, it was possible to catch a glimpse of both from some of the territory between them. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Edward Earl’s trip report mentioned a cairn at both high point candidates S of Hwy 16, but Lupe only saw a cairn at the NW high point.\u00a0 After visiting both of the\u00a0S candidates, Lupe headed NE through the forest until she reached USFS Road No. 25 near a cattle guard providing an opening in the fence line.\u00a0 Lupe is an expert at crossing cattle guards, which present no obstacle to her at all.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP\u00a0proceeded across\u00a0Hwy 16 a few hundred feet\u00a0E of the Hwy 16\/USFS Road No. 25 intersection.\u00a0 Shortly after re-entering the forest N of the highway, Lupe came to another barbed wire fence.\u00a0 It had 5 wires, and the lowest wire was dangerously close to the ground for Lupe.\u00a0 SPHP lifted Lupe over the fence.\u00a0 Lupe then continued N, once again up a gentle forested slope while looking for her\u00a0final objective – the third and last Washakie County High Point candidate.<\/p>\n

Edward Earl’s trip report mentioned a small summit, with perhaps 20′ of prominence\u00a0just E of the Johnson County line in Johnson County.\u00a0 Lupe came to a pile of boulders that looked likely to be this small summit.<\/p>\n

\"When<\/a>
When Lupe found this pile of boulders N of Hwy 16, SPHP figured it must be the 20′ high summit mentioned in Edward Earl’s trip report. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Up<\/a>
Up on top of the 20′ high summit. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Edward Earl, the 3rd Washakie County High Point candidate was located on a small E\/W running\u00a0ridge 50\u00a0to 80 yards to the W of the small summit.\u00a0\u00a0Only 100 feet W of the small summit there was supposed to be a 4 foot\u00a0high boulder with a cairn on it and a log leaning against it.\u00a0 Mr. Earl thought the true high point was 50 to 100 feet farther W of this boulder.<\/p>\n

It sounded pretty easy to find.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed W from the small summit looking for the 4 foot high boulder and E\/W ridge.\u00a0 However, Lupe had no luck.\u00a0 She went well beyond 100 feet without seeing the 4 foot high boulder.\u00a0 There didn’t seem to be any sign of the E\/W ridge either.\u00a0 The forest in this area\u00a0was\u00a0all on gently sloping\u00a0terrain.\u00a0 A 4 foot high boulder or a ridge of any significant size should have been easy to spot.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP circled around the area several times, but found nothing of interest.<\/p>\n

Puzzling.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP returned to the small summit with all the boulders.\u00a0 Was it possible this wasn’t the summit Edward Earl had mentioned?\u00a0 A short distance to the N, the forest sloped up toward higher ground.\u00a0 Well, Loop, let’s go check it out.\u00a0 I can’t think of anything else reasonable to try.<\/em><\/p>\n

After going a little farther N, Lupe and SPHP arrived up on a ridge that was definitely higher than the small summit.\u00a0 This ridge seem to go roughly E\/W, although it was N of the small summit, not W of it.\u00a0 Maybe Lupe was too far E?\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed W along the ridge.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t gone too far, when there was a break in the ridge.\u00a0\u00a0Not far away on the other side of the break was a small hill or continuation of the ridge.\u00a0 Lupe headed for it.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe arrives up on the W side of the break in the ridgeline. Was this actually the small summit Edward Earl had mentioned? Lupe did have to climb about 20 feet to get up here. Or was this rock with a cairn on it the 4 foot high rock? Was the rotting tree beyond it the log that had been leaning against the rock? Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the W side of the break, Lupe did have to climb up about 20 feet to get up on a little hill from which the ridge continued on in an E\/W direction.\u00a0 Perhaps this was the small summit Edward Earl had mentioned?\u00a0 There was another possibility, too.\u00a0 The hill featured a rock several feet high with a cairn on it.\u00a0 A rotting tree to the N of it might have been the log leaning against the 4 foot high boulder?<\/p>\n

SPHP wasn’t completely certain where Lupe was in relation to Edward Earl’s directions, but this area did seem to fit the general description.\u00a0 It seemed clear that Lupe should continue exploring farther W along the ridge for at least a few hundred feet\u00a0in any case.\u00a0 If this was Mr. Earl’s small summit, Lupe should find a four foot high boulder about 100 feet to the W.\u00a0 If not, Lupe should still cross the 3rd\u00a0high point candidate somewhere along the way.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed W.<\/p>\n

Lo, and behold!\u00a0 There it was!\u00a0 Roughly 100 feet away Lupe did find a 4 foot high boulder with a cairn on it!\u00a0 It was sitting off by itself in the forest, like a true landmark.\u00a0 SPHP\u00a0felt 90% certain this had to be the boulder Edward Earl was referring to.<\/p>\n

\"Nice<\/a>
Nice job, Lupe! This must be Edward Earl’s 4 foot high boulder with a cairn on it. The final Washakie County High Point candidate is close by to the W!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since Mr. Earl thought the actual Washakie County High Point candidate was a point along the ridge 50 to 100 feet to the W of this boulder, Lupe and SPHP wandered over in that direction.\u00a0 The ridge sloped gradually down toward the W, so\u00a0the actual high point candidate was\u00a0simply located\u00a0along the ridge wherever the\u00a0Washakie and Johnson County border crossed it.<\/p>\n

There was no fence or other indication where the county line was.\u00a0 Lupe went far enough to make certain she had crossed the third Washakie County High Point candidate somewhere along the way.\u00a0 She then returned to\u00a0the area\u00a0about\u00a080 feet W of the boulder.\u00a0 Smile, Lupe!\u00a0 As far as I’m concerned, you’ve done it and can claim another peakbagging success.\u00a0 Congratulations on visiting all three candidates for the Washakie County, Wyoming\u00a0High Point!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the approximate location of the Washakie County High Point candidate N of Hwy 16, roughly 80 feet W of the 4 foot boulder. Although it was only a trivial peakbagging success, Lupe had visited all three Washakie County High Point candidates. Searching for this last one had been rather fun. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, that really hadn’t been\u00a0hard at all.\u00a0\u00a0By 11:48 AM, Lupe was back at the G6.\u00a0 Still plenty of time left in the day\u00a0for another, more scenic and challenging adventure!\u00a0 Hazelton Pyramid<\/a><\/span> (10,534 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was\u00a0close at hand\u00a0to the SE.\u00a0 Lupe’s fun in the Bighorn Mountains was just beginning!<\/p>\n

\"Hazelton<\/a>
Hazelton Pyramid, Lupe’s next Bighorn Mountains adventure as seen from the SE Washakie County High Point S of Hwy 16. Photo taken looking SE using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s\u00a02016 Bighorn Mountains, WY Adventure Index<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe Adventures<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Huge sigh!\u00a0 One of many at long intervals.\u00a0 Dejected, Lupe lay bored on the floor.\u00a0 Sometimes she stared out the window.\u00a0 Sometimes just out into space.\u00a0 After a promising start\u00a0with a trip to the Laramie Mountains in Wyoming in late May, Lupe had returned to the Black Hills on June 1st expecting great things from … Continue reading The Washakie County High Point, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming (7-18-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[724],"tags":[105,185,106,26,104,11,670,275],"class_list":["post-6307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-bighorn-mountains-wyoming","tag-american-dingo","tag-bighorn-mountains","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging","tag-washakie-county-high-point","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/IMG_1302.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\/6307","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=6307"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21775,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6307\/revisions\/21775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}