{"id":6723,"date":"2016-11-02T08:10:03","date_gmt":"2016-11-02T14:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=6723"},"modified":"2020-09-23T12:12:02","modified_gmt":"2020-09-23T18:12:02","slug":"black-hills-wy-expedition-no-178-vision-peak-bald-mountain-stoney-point-10-16-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=6723","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, WY Expedition No. 178 – Vision Peak, Bald Mountain & Stoney Point (10-16-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lupe\u00a0and SPHP\u00a0hit the road\u00a0before dawn.\u00a0 Lupe was on her way to explore\u00a0the Bear Lodge Mountains, a remote part of the Black Hills in NE Wyoming separate from the main body of the Black Hills in South Dakota.\u00a0\u00a0The sun was up by the time\u00a0the eager American Dingo\u00a0reached the Wyoming border.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe reaches the Wyoming border on her way to the Bear Lodge Mountains.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had 3 peakbagging goals for the day.\u00a0 SPHP had high hopes for the first one, due to it’s intriguing name – Vision Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,812 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Those hopes seemed likely to be justified when SPHP parked the G6 off USFS Road No. 830 about 1.5 miles N of Hwy 24 (8:18 AM, 67\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe was already high up on a ridge with a view to the S.<\/p>\n

The day was unseasonably warm, but with a fairly stiff WSW breeze.\u00a0 Lupe headed W on USFS Road No. 887.1, a little used side road closed to motor vehicles.\u00a0\u00a0The road\u00a0climbed a bit, then crossed over to the N side of the ridge, where Lupe was out of the wind.\u00a0\u00a0No. 887.1\u00a0then wound around a little below the long\u00a0ridgeline heading generally W, while slowly losing elevation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the seldom used USFS Road No. 871.1 that leads W toward Vision Peak from USFS Road No. 830. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 887.1\u00a0wound around for more than a mile.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t find any squirrels, but whitetail deer were abundant.\u00a0 The road never returned to the ridgeline, although Lupe and SPHP made one foray up onto the ridge\u00a0before returning to the road again.\u00a0 To the N, Lupe had views of another high ridge\u00a0beyond Lucky Gulch.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Looking N toward a high ridge on the other side of Lucky Gulch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was making great progress, when suddenly\u00a0USFS Road No. 887.1 simply ended W of High Point 4805.\u00a0 Fortunately, Lupe was already almost to the saddle over to Vision Peak.\u00a0 A short bushwhack through the forest brought Lupe to the E end of the saddle.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the narrow saddle over to Vision Peak. Here she is at the saddle’s E end, which was surprisingly bare. Most of the saddle was forested. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe crossed the saddle and began climbing.\u00a0 She encountered a couple of minor rock outcroppings along the way, but the climb was neither long nor difficult.\u00a0 Soon she reached the top of Vision Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,812 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe at the summit of Vision Peak. This was the best view. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since Vision Peak is positioned way out at the far\u00a0W end of\u00a0a long, fairly narrow\u00a0ridge, SPHP had been hoping for\u00a0great\u00a0wide open views, especially toward the W.\u00a0 Lupe did find quite a nice view to the S right at the true\u00a0summit, but most of the summit ridge was too heavily forested to see much.\u00a0 Somewhat disappointingly, Vision Peak seemed to be a BYOV (Bring Your Own Vision) mountain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe stands on a big rock at the far W end of the Vision Peak summit ridge. She has a narrow view between the trees to the W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This<\/a>
This photo shows much of the summit ridge of Vision Peak. Here Lupe is near the W end. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP lingered on Vision Peak for a little while, taking a break and enjoying the best view, which was to the S.\u00a0 The wind was out of the SSW about 20 mph, but wasn’t bad at ground level.\u00a0 The forest provided quite effective protection, although the wind was certainly heard in the treetops.<\/p>\n

On the way back to the G6, instead of taking the road, Lupe and SPHP climbed up onto the long ridge after crossing the saddle E of Vision Peak.\u00a0 There were more impressive rock outcroppings\u00a0along this climb up onto the ridge, than there had been\u00a0climbing Vision Peak.<\/p>\n

Although it was a bit out of the way, Lupe visited High Point 4805.\u00a0 On the way there, she\u00a0caught a glimpse\u00a0of a high, partly barren hill off to the NW.\u00a0 That was probably her next peakbagging goal, Bald Mountain<\/span><\/a> (4,800 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\"Near<\/a>
Near High Point 4805 (ENE of Vision Peak), Lupe caught this glimpse of Bald Mountain (R) off to the NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trek along\u00a0USFS Road No. 887.1\u00a0to get close to Vision Peak had been pleasant and easy, but the return trip along the top of the\u00a0ridge was more fun.\u00a0 Distant views to both the N and S occasionally presented themselves, and deer were plentiful.\u00a0 Lupe even found a couple of squirrels along the way, which she greeted with her usual enormous enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

Even though Vision Peak itself had\u00a0turned out to be\u00a0somewhat of an anti-climax, the whole excursion had been a pleasant success (10:55 AM, 70\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

Lupe’s next peakbagging goal was Bald Mountain<\/span><\/a> (4,800 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Getting to Bald Mountain was\u00a0supposed to be another relatively easy tromp through the woods over some high ground with little net elevation change.\u00a0 SPHP drove farther N on USFS Road No. 830 for a couple of miles looking for a closer starting point, ultimately parking at the start of USFS Road No. 830.4C (11:08 AM, 70\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

Like No. 887.1, No. 830.4C was gated off and closed to motor vehicles, so it hadn’t seen much recent\u00a0use either.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP set off following it WSW through the forest.\u00a0 At first, everything seemed fine.\u00a0 Lupe was having a great romp in the\u00a0woods, and there were deer everywhere.\u00a0 Gradually, however,\u00a0the road turned more to the SW, then SSW, as it\u00a0became fainter and fainter.\u00a0 Lupe did not come to any of the side roads SPHP was expecting to find.<\/p>\n

Eventually No. 830.4C faded away completely.\u00a0 Lupe was in the middle of the forest.\u00a0 It looked like there was blue sky between the trees off to the W, so maybe there was a viewpoint over there.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed W.\u00a0 Yes, there was a view.\u00a0 What SPHP presumed was Bald Mountain was in sight off to the W.\u00a0 However, there was a big canyon between Lupe and Bald Mountain.\u00a0 Something was wrong.\u00a0 Time to consult the maps.<\/p>\n

The exciting conclusion was that No. 830.4C must not have been the best place to start for Bald Mountain.\u00a0 The big intervening canyon between Lupe and Bald Mountain was almost certainly Reservoir Gulch.\u00a0 Lupe was too far S.\u00a0 She would have to backtrack and go around the upper end of Reservoir Gulch.<\/p>\n

It was farther than SPHP expected.\u00a0 Lupe went up and down, crossing many ravines feeding into Reservoir Gulch as she now headed back to the NE.\u00a0 Finally, a road appeared dead ahead.\u00a0 When Lupe reached it, SPHP saw that less than 100 feet off to the SE, this road intersected a bigger road.\u00a0 Oh, brother!\u00a0 Lupe was all the way back to USFS Road No. 830.<\/p>\n

The G6 was nowhere in sight.\u00a0 Lupe was farther N along No. 830 than where it had been left.\u00a0 A sign at the side road showed that Lupe had reached USFS Road No. 881.1.\u00a0 Another sign showed that it led to Planting Spring.\u00a0 Time for another map check.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the start of USFS Road No. 881.1 to Planting Spring where it leaves USFS Road No. 830. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OK, this was it!\u00a0 No. 881.1 was definitely the right road to take.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t need to go all the way to Planting Spring, but in less than a mile\u00a0Lupe should reach another\u00a0road going SW\u00a0toward Bald Mountain.\u00a0 After a short rest break, Lupe and SPHP set off again.<\/p>\n

No. 881.1 was a much better road than No. 830.4C had been.\u00a0 Even so, Lupe soon came to a gate across the road closing No. 881.1 to motor vehicle traffic, too.\u00a0 Apparently all these minor roads were closed to motor vehicles.<\/p>\n

No. 881.1 went up and down little hills on its way W.\u00a0 After about a mile or so, Lupe did come to a side road that turned S (L) in a sunny meadow.\u00a0 This side road was marked No. 881.1A.\u00a0 Lupe followed it, and soon it did turn SW.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on USFS Road No. 881.1A on her way to Bald Mountain. There were still some fall colors around.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 0.25 mile or so, Lupe came to a marker for USFS Road No. 881.1C.\u00a0 A faint track went off to the WNW (R).\u00a0 Lupe stayed to the L\u00a0on the better road.\u00a0 In another 0.25 mile,\u00a0No. 881.1A\u00a0reached some cliffs.\u00a0 Lupe was now on the N side of Reservoir Gulch.\u00a0 From the cliffs, Lupe could see Vision Peak off to the SE.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the cliffs along the N edge of Reservoir Gulch. Vision Peak (Center), where Lupe had been a little while ago, is in view. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had only another 0.5 mile to go to reach Bald Mountain.\u00a0 She came to a variety of scenic points along the way.\u00a0 She passed by some groves of scrub oaks sporting orangey brown leaves.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe passed by several big groves of scrub oaks with orange or brown leaves. This grove with orange leaves glowing in the sunlight was particularly nice. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

USFS Road No. 881.1A did not go quite all the way to Bald Mountain.\u00a0 It played out about 0.25 mile from the summit.\u00a0 A few hundred feet farther W was a small ridge topped with scattered large boulders.\u00a0 It was possible to get a distant view to the W from one of the boulders.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe up on a boulder with a view to the WNW. Her fur is being blown by a strong wind from the SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe went S following the boulders.\u00a0 When the small ridge ended, Lupe continued on through the forest.\u00a0 She eventually wound up back along the N edge of Reservoir Gulch again.\u00a0 Here she had an even better view of Vision Peak to the SE.\u00a0 She was getting quite close to her Bald Mountain objective, too.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reached cliffs along the N edge of Reservoir Gulch again as she was getting close to Bald Mountain. The views of Vision Peak (L of Center) were even better here. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Vision<\/a>
Vision Peak (R of Center) looked heavily forested. Small wonder Lupe hadn’t been able to see much from there! Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe along the dramatic line of cliffs leading to Bald Mountain. Lupe’s almost there! Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached the top of Bald Mountain<\/span><\/a> (4,800 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 The summit area was a huge triangular field of tall grass,\u00a0several\u00a0hundred feet long on each side.\u00a0 Forest ringed much of the N and NW edges of the field, and around the S tip, but elsewhere there were great unobstructed views.\u00a0 This was more like it!\u00a0 Bald Mountain should have been named Vision Peak!<\/p>\n

The most dramatic view was to the SW.\u00a0 Off in the distance, Lupe could see Devils Tower<\/a><\/span> (5,112 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Missouri Buttes<\/a><\/span> (5,374 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
On top of Bald Mountain in the Bear Lodge Mountains of NE Wyoming. The views here were fabulous! Off in the distance are Devils Tower (L) and Missouri Buttes (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Devils<\/a>
Devils Tower from Bald Mountain. Photo looks SW using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Vision<\/a>
Vision Peak (Center) from Bald Mountain. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
In the huge grassy field at the top of Bald Mountain. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking pretty happy on Bald Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP took a stroll around the summit field before settling down for a break.\u00a0 Lupe had water and Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 SPHP had an apple.\u00a0 The big view toward Devils Tower and Missouri Buttes was simply marvelous.\u00a0 It might have been even a little more marvelous if the weather wasn’t deteriorating.<\/p>\n

What had been a 20 mph SSW breeze earlier in the day, had built up to a 35 mph gusty SW wind.\u00a0 Big clouds were moving in from the SW.\u00a0\u00a0The clouds sprinkled light rain for a few minutes, but\u00a0the rain\u00a0shower didn’t amount to much.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t care for that wind, though!\u00a0 She preferred curling up behind SPHP to facing directly into the wind to see the view.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The big view toward Devils Tower (L) and Missouri Buttes (Center) on the horizon. A 35 mph wind was gusting up Bald Mountain from this direction. View or no view, Lupe preferred hiding behind SPHP to staring into the wind. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With Lupe’s second peakbagging success of the day secured, it was time to return to the G6.\u00a0 Away from the SW edge of Bald Mountain, the wind was hardly noticeable.\u00a0 As\u00a0big clouds sailed\u00a0across the sky\u00a0overhead, Lupe roamed the forest.\u00a0 She saw lots of deer.\u00a0 The occasional squirrel kept her entertained.<\/p>\n

Near Bald Mountain, she passed by\u00a0the orange and brown groves of scrub oak again.\u00a0 Farther along, were\u00a0the yellow aspens.<\/p>\n

\"Returning<\/a>
Returning from Bald Mountain, Lupe passed by the orange and brown groves of scrub oak again. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Yellow aspens near USFS Road No. 881.1A on the return trip from Bald Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A particularly brilliant stand of aspens that was more orange than golden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The return trip was simply a retracement of\u00a0Lupe’s route to Bald Mountain all the way back to USFS Road No. 830.\u00a0 From there, Lupe had to follow No. 830 going S until she found the G6 again, still parked at the start of USFS Road No. 830.4C (2:47 PM, 66\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

Most of the big clouds were gone now.\u00a0 The sun was out again.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A little over three hours remained before sunset.\u00a0 Lupe had one more peakbagging goal left for the day.\u00a0 About 6 or 7 miles farther\u00a0N on No. 830, the old USFS map showed\u00a0a side road leading close to Stoney Point<\/span><\/a> (4,480 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 SPHP drove N looking for it.<\/p>\n

A wooden\u00a0rail fence curved away from USFS Road No. 830 where SPHP found the side road Lupe needed to follow toward Stoney Point.\u00a0 A pickup truck and travel trailer were parked near the start of the side road, which was unmarked by any road number or name.\u00a0 A big black horse with a large white spot on his forehead stood right in the middle of the side road.\u00a0\u00a0“Spot”\u00a0seemed to be the campsite’s only occupant at the moment.<\/p>\n

SPHP parked the G6 on the W side of No. 830, away from the camp (3:22 PM, 64\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP then cut through a field on the S side of the rail fence away from “Spot”.\u00a0 SPHP\u00a0hoped to keep Lupe from playing a game of “See Spot run!\u00a0 Run, Spot, run!”\u00a0 Spot was quite curious about what was going on, and watched Lupe nervously.\u00a0 Although Lupe loves barking at horses from the G6, she paid Spot no mind.\u00a0 She reached the side road well beyond where Spot had effectively blocked it.<\/p>\n

On the side road, Lupe soon arrived at a fence and gate.\u00a0 Ahh, yes!\u00a0 This minor dirt\u00a0road, like all the others,\u00a0was also closed to motor vehicles from here on.\u00a0 A pickup truck with Ohio license plates was parked nearby.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP continued following the side road.\u00a0 Stoney Point was still 2.5 miles to the NE.<\/p>\n

Before long, Lupe came to a place where there was a grassy hill on the N side of the road.\u00a0 Up on the hill were a couple of interesting large boulders.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed for the boulders.\u00a0 Lupe leaped up on the biggest one for a photo and a look around.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Up on a boulder on the way to Stoney Point. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With nothing else of note in the area, Lupe and SPHP continued on, taking a shortcut over the small grassy hill.\u00a0 More boulders came into view as Lupe reached the crest of the hill.\u00a0 As Lupe passed by the first big one, she discovered someone sitting with his back to the boulder only a couple of feet away.\u00a0 A hunter!<\/p>\n

Lupe’s sudden appearance right next to him seemed to startle the hunter for a moment.\u00a0 When he saw SPHP, he waved, and SPHP waved back.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went on.\u00a0 From up on the hill, the hunter had a great view of the large field to the E.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP crossed the field, reached the road again, and eventually disappeared from his range of view as the road returned to the forest.<\/p>\n

Hearing gunfire on Lupe’s expeditions, isn’t that uncommon.\u00a0 Usually any gunfire is distant and from people doing target practice, but occasionally there are hunters about, especially this time of year.\u00a0 However, Lupe has seldom actually seen hunters in the field.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP rarely see anyone on her Black Hills expeditions, except near major\u00a0roads.\u00a0 Lupe had never come right up on a hunter in the field like this before!<\/p>\n

The road went close to the edge of a canyon.\u00a0 There was a big view to the SE.\u00a0 On the far horizon, Lupe could see the Black Hills back in South Dakota.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lupe up on the edge of a wide canyon on her way to Stoney Point. The Black Hills of South Dakota are in view on the horizon. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road left the edge of\u00a0the canyon curving first\u00a0N, then NW, as it continued through the forest.\u00a0 However, the road soon left the forest as it turned N again.\u00a0 Up ahead was a another grassy hill with some big boulders near the top.\u00a0 Wearing bright orange, another hunter was\u00a0stationed up there!<\/p>\n

Lupe stuck to the road.\u00a0 The hunter and SPHP waved as\u00a0the American Dingo passed on by.\u00a0 When\u00a0Lupe reached the top of the hill,\u00a0the road turned NE crossing\u00a0a huge level field.\u00a0 This treeless plain was exposed and windy.\u00a0 Not as windy as Bald Mountain had been, but a 20 mph SW wind swept across the field.\u00a0 At the far end of the field were some\u00a0low rocks near a few pine trees.\u00a0 When she got there, Lupe\u00a0sought out\u00a0a place\u00a0sheltered from the wind.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe escapes the wind at the low rocks near the NE end of the huge field. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP checked the maps.\u00a0 Stoney Point had to be close by.\u00a0 It was just a small hill to the ENE\u00a0beyond this elevated windswept plain.\u00a0 Lupe could be there in 15 minutes.\u00a0 Lupe was\u00a0disappointed to learn she\u00a0had to leave her cozy\u00a0windbreak to press on.<\/p>\n

\"Back<\/a>
Back in the wind, not far from her windbreak, Lupe stands on low rocks strewn across the NE edge of the huge field. Beyond is a mixed forest of scrub oak and pine. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
From the edge of the huge field, Lupe could see a very long way to the N and E. This photo looks NNW. Somewhere out there is Montana!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking NNW from the huge field using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A short distance E of\u00a0Lupe’s rocky windbreak, Stoney Point<\/span><\/a> (4,480 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> came into view.\u00a0 Stoney Point was just a\u00a0barren hill with a few boulders, bushes and trees scattered over it.\u00a0 The views would be good from there, though.<\/p>\n

\"Stoney<\/a>
Stoney Point is the small barren hill seen beyond Lupe. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe headed for the biggest rocks on the NW slope of Stoney Point as she approached.\u00a0\u00a0The wind was blowing hard\u00a0when she jumped up on them.<\/p>\n

\"Getting<\/a>
Getting closer to Stoney Point! Lupe headed for the biggest collection of rocks seen on the L.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Want a weather report, SPHP? Try WINDY! Hurry up and snap the shot so I can get down off of this rock!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Looking NW from Stoney Point. It may have been windy, but at least it wasn’t cold. The wind was out of the SW, not the N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the big rocks, it was only a short stroll up to the summit of Stoney Point.\u00a0 There were huge distant views from the NW to the ESE.\u00a0 Lupe could see a very long way out across low pine-covered ridges and high prairie.\u00a0 Despite the wind, Lupe and SPHP hung around a while checking out the views.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe stands on the highest rocks of Stoney Point, successfully completing her 3rd peakbagging goal of the day! Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking W back toward the high ridge where the huge field is that Lupe traveled across to get to Stoney Point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking ESE from Stoney Point. Bear Butte<\/a><\/span> (4,422 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is seen on the R as a faint, but noticeable bump on the far horizon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had noticed\u00a0a post with a red top\u00a0up on\u00a0Stoney Point when Lupe first arrived, but\u00a0hadn’t though much of it.\u00a0 SPHP was surprised when Lupe found a survey benchmark a few feet away.\u00a0 The\u00a0old USFS\u00a0map hadn’t shown a benchmark, but here it was!\u00a0 A closer look at the topo map from Peakbagger.com did show the benchmark.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The “Stoney” survey benchmark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe sitting right next to the Stoney Point survey benchmark. It is hard to see, but is about 6″ to the L of her tail. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the time came to leave Stoney Point, SPHP started heading W down the hill on the way back to the huge field.\u00a0 A minute later, SPHP realized Lupe wasn’t coming.\u00a0 She was still back up near the summit of Stoney Point.\u00a0 SPHP called her, but she still didn’t come.\u00a0 She was standing stiffly in place.<\/p>\n

\"When<\/a>
When SPHP left Stoney Point, Lupe didn’t come along. Instead she stood stiffly in place. She refused to move, even when SPHP called her. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe looked like she did earlier in the year when she had encounters with cactus.\u00a0 SPHP hadn’t\u00a0noticed any cactus, but maybe she had stepped on one somewhere up on Stoney Point?<\/p>\n

SPHP returned to Lupe.\u00a0 She let SPHP inspect all her paws.\u00a0 No cactus spines anywhere\u00a0– nothing was wrong\u00a0that SPHP could see.\u00a0 Still, something must have happened.\u00a0 Maybe she stepped on something sharp, and thought it was a cactus?<\/p>\n

In any case, Lupe wouldn’t budge.\u00a0 SPHP carried her as far as the big rocks on the NW slope of Stoney Point.\u00a0 She was willing to pose for a couple\u00a0more photos from the rocks.<\/p>\n

\"SPHP<\/a>
SPHP carried Lupe back to the big rocks on the NW slope of Stoney Point. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the rocks. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For some reason, being up on the rocks helped Lupe’s confidence.\u00a0 Presumably she discovered her paws didn’t really\u00a0hurt as she moved around.\u00a0 All on her own, off she went, now leading SPHP on the way back to the G6.\u00a0 When she reached the E end of the huge field, she paused for one more look back at Stoney Point.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking back at Stoney Point beyond Lupe. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The\u00a0second hunter was still in position when Lupe went by again.\u00a0 Once again, the hunter and SPHP waved.\u00a0\u00a0Returning to\u00a0the forest, Lupe found a squirrel to bark at.\u00a0 She had a great time, but a little later, as she was approaching the area where she had startled the first hunter, he came down the hill toward SPHP.\u00a0 Oh, boy.\u00a0 Maybe he had heard Lupe barking, and was unhappy thinking she had driven away whatever he might be hunting?<\/p>\n

Nope.\u00a0\u00a0The hunter\u00a0was just friendly.\u00a0 He was really a very nice guy, and simply wanted to meet Lupe and chat with SPHP.\u00a0 His name was Joe Eberz.\u00a0 He was from Ohio, and was way out here in NE Wyoming hunting elk.\u00a0 Had Lupe seen the rest of his party?\u00a0 Yes, but only half of it.\u00a0 Turned out there was a third hunter Lupe and SPHP hadn’t noticed somewhere out there.<\/p>\n

Joe hadn’t seen any elk in Wyoming yet, and neither had Lupe or SPHP today.\u00a0 Plenty of deer around, but none of Lupe’s “giant deers”.\u00a0 Joe and his party still had several more days to hunt.\u00a0 Maybe they would find elk before they had to return to Ohio.<\/p>\n

Joe and SPHP had a pleasant conversation.\u00a0 Joe said Lupe\u00a0really had startled him when she made her first sudden appearance.\u00a0 SPHP had been amazed to see Joe sitting behind the big rock, too!\u00a0 Joe petted Lupe, and had his picture taken with her.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe in the remote Bear Lodge Mountains of NE Wyoming with her new friend, elk hunter Joe Eberz from Ohio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So Lupe returned to the G6 (6:11 PM, 55\u00b0F) having made a new friend from Ohio – a great finish to a splendid day of peakbagging way out here in the remote Bear Lodge Mountains of NE Wyoming!<\/p>\n

\"img_3138\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/a><\/span> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Lupe\u00a0and SPHP\u00a0hit the road\u00a0before dawn.\u00a0 Lupe was on her way to explore\u00a0the Bear Lodge Mountains, a remote part of the Black Hills in NE Wyoming separate from the main body of the Black Hills in South Dakota.\u00a0\u00a0The sun was up by the time\u00a0the eager American Dingo\u00a0reached the Wyoming border. Lupe had 3 peakbagging goals for … Continue reading Black Hills, WY Expedition No. 178 – Vision Peak, Bald Mountain & Stoney Point (10-16-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6701,"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":[6],"tags":[105,149,456,9,106,104,693,692,275],"class_list":["post-6723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-bald-mountain","tag-bear-lodge-mountains","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-lupe","tag-stoney-point","tag-vision-peak","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/IMG_3138.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\/6723","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=6723"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6775,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6723\/revisions\/6775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}