{"id":8683,"date":"2017-07-04T08:10:53","date_gmt":"2017-07-04T14:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8683"},"modified":"2019-10-23T10:11:12","modified_gmt":"2019-10-23T16:11:12","slug":"kings-hill-montana-bald-mountain-wyoming-9-7-16-9-8-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8683","title":{"rendered":"King’s Hill, Montana & Bald Mountain, Wyoming (9-7-16 & 9-8-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days 40 & 41 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska<\/em><\/p>\n

Night,\u00a0Unknown Hour,\u00a0Pre-dawn\u00a0on Day 40<\/strong><\/em> – Cold out, but at least Lupe wasn’t going to get snowed in at the Canadian Rockies.\u00a0\u00a0Last evening’s\u00a0rain had stopped.\u00a0 Stars glittered in the black night sky.\u00a0 Back to sleep, if possible, no telling how many hours away dawn was.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t going anywhere until then, not with the G6’s burnt out R headlight.<\/p>\n

Day 40, 6:55 AM, 33\u00b0F<\/strong><\/em> – Whatever happened to that bright morning sunshine SPHP had expected?\u00a0 The clouds were back.\u00a0 In places there was fog along Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.\u00a0 It hadn’t snowed down here, but mountains visible between the clouds were sporting a dusting of new snow.\u00a0 The mood was more like the onset of winter than a day in early September.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Morning in the Canadian Rockies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sadly, Lupe\u00a0was leaving.\u00a0 Her Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska was all but over.\u00a0 She would have a couple more adventures on the way home, but they wouldn’t take long.<\/p>\n

The miles flew by as Lupe watched the scenery from the comfort of the G6.\u00a0 She saw the grandeur of the towering Canadian Rockies.\u00a0 She passed by many a turn leading to fabulous adventures she’d had earlier on this Dingo Vacation or back in 2013 or 2014.\u00a0 As Lupe left the glorious mountains, the sky started to clear and the sun came out.<\/p>\n

Lupe wasn’t the least bit sad.\u00a0 As far as she was concerned, the adventure was still on.\u00a0 In fact, it was getting even better!\u00a0 Ahead of her were more than 1,000 miles of farm and ranchlands.\u00a0 That meant one thing to the Carolina Dog – an abundance of cows, horses, haystacks, suspicious barns and outbuildings to bark at while leaping from window to window in the G6!\u00a0 Yes, it was going to be an exciting, busy,\u00a0exhausting\u00a0day!<\/p>\n

And so it was.\u00a0 Barking at cows and horses from the G6\u00a0is a sport Looper never tires of, nor loses interest in.\u00a0 The unsuspecting cows and horses don’t have to do anything more than exist in order to egg her on.\u00a0 Seldom are they even aware of her brief, shrill, distant presence.\u00a0 Doesn’t matter a whit.\u00a0 Loop barks all the harder.\u00a0 The whole experience provides\u00a0her with a sense of purpose, accomplishment and joy.<\/p>\n

The only way to calm the energetic din, is to drive into a town or up into the mountains.\u00a0 Even the mountains can be noisy, but rarely are there enough deer and squirrels present as substitutes to make the experience at all comparable to the pleasures to be had in cattle country.<\/p>\n

SPHP was granted a break while driving through Calgary, and another later on in Great Falls, Montana.\u00a0 In Great Falls, SPHP stopped to pick up fried chicken, potato wedges and Almond Joys.\u00a0 For a while SE of Great Falls,\u00a0the potato wedges and Almond Joys kept Lupe distracted.\u00a0 By the time SPHP stopped at the Al Buck Memorial Park along Highway 89 N of the Little Belt Range, Lupe was too stuffed to share the fried chicken.<\/p>\n

Day 40, 7:00 PM, 47\u00b0F<\/strong><\/em> – Lupe arrived at King’s Hill Pass on Hwy 89 in the Little Belt Mountains of W Central Montana very satisfied with how her day had gone.\u00a0 The excitement of being in cattle country was temporarily over up here, but the\u00a0sun would be\u00a0above the horizon for a little while longer.\u00a0 The American Dingo was\u00a0still\u00a0bursting with\u00a0energy and\u00a0eager for some exercise climbing King’s Hill<\/span><\/a> (8,008 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

From the pass, Lupe went SW through the forest until she reached USFS Road No. 487, which she followed for 0.75 mile going S along the W face of King’s Hill.\u00a0 By the time No. 487 turned E, she was almost up to the S end of the huge, nearly level summit area.\u00a0 Lupe went N along the wide summit ridge, as the last feeble rays of sunlight faded.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe near the S end of the King’s Hill summit near sunset. The highest point on King’s Hill is toward the far end of this meadow. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe traveled NNW\u00a0across the open ground\u00a0until she reached the survey benchmark at the\u00a0true summit near the N end of the mountain.\u00a0 Although the sun was still above the horizon, clouds filtered the remaining sunlight to the point where it was hard to tell it was even present.\u00a0 It certainly did nothing to cut the chill from the W wind sweeping over King’s Hill.<\/p>\n

Off to the NNE, Lupe could see Big Baldy Mountain<\/a><\/span> (9,177 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the highest point in the Little Belt Range.\u00a0 Big Baldy already had snow on top!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Off to the NNE, Lupe could see Big Baldy Mountain, the high point of the Little Belt Range. Big Baldy already had snow on top!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Big Baldy Mountain from King’s Hill. Photo looks NNE using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Up in the cold wind, late in the day after being cooped up in the G6 so long, the American Dingo started getting ideas.\u00a0 Oh, no!\u00a0 SPHP recognized that look.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Up in the cold wind on King’s Hill late in the day, Lupe started getting ideas. She stood motionless staring steadily at SPHP. In a flash, SPHP realized what was coming. The were-puppy was about to attack! Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Suddenly Lupe vanished.\u00a0 In her place\u00a0appeared the wild, ferocious were-puppy.\u00a0 Without hesitation the were-puppy attacked SPHP!<\/p>\n

After a few minutes of struggle, during which the were-puppy lunged and leaped at SPHP with snapping jaws, SPHP managed to fend off the were-puppy.\u00a0 Lupe returned looking as innocent as she could be.<\/p>\n

So, I take you adventuring not only to the Canadian Rockies, but way up to the Yukon and even Alaska, and this is what I get?<\/em><\/p>\n

Why, whatever do you mean, SPHP?\u00a0 Are you feeling well?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sly dog!\u00a0 Well, the wind was cold, and Lupe had made it to the top of King’s Hill.\u00a0 The sun really would be down behind Porphyry Peak<\/a><\/span> (8,192 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0soon.\u00a0 No sense in sticking around waiting for the were-puppy to return.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started S\u00a0toward the road leading back down to the G6.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The lookout tower on Porphyry Peak stands silhouetted against the sky near sundown. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shots rang out.\u00a0 Gunfire!\u00a0 Hunters?\u00a0 The same American Dingo which had presented itself as the bold, ferocious, wild and invincible\u00a0were-puppy only minutes ago, now pleaded with SPHP for reassurance and assistance.<\/p>\n

Help!\u00a0 Help!\u00a0 Hide me!\u00a0 Save me!\u00a0 Hold me!\u00a0 Pet me!\u00a0 Love me!\u00a0 Carry me!\u00a0 All of the above me!<\/em><\/p>\n

Sheesh, such drama!\u00a0 Come on Looper, you’ll be fine.\u00a0 Just stick close by.\u00a0 No harm will come to you.<\/em><\/p>\n

As promised, Lupe returned safely to the G6, though shaken by her narrow escape (8:19 PM).\u00a0 She leaped into the G6 immediately.\u00a0 SPHP fed her Alpo and Taste of the Wild before putting her blankie over her.\u00a0 Soon the were-puppy was snoring peacefully.\u00a0 Outside, stars shone brilliantly accompanied by a half moon.<\/p>\n

Day 41, First Light, 6:13 AM, 41\u00b0F<\/strong><\/em> – Lupe woke to the sound of rain and wind gusts.\u00a0 A small storm was blowing through.\u00a0 So much for any thought of climbing Porphyry Peak this morning.\u00a0 SPHP had hatched a different plan already, anyway.\u00a0 Look out cows, horses and haystacks, Lupe is on her way!<\/p>\n

Lupe left the Little Belt Range behind.\u00a0 S of White Sulphur Springs near the junction of Hwys 12 & 89, Lupe & SPHP\u00a0got out of the G6\u00a0to take a look at the dramatic sky remaining in the aftermath of\u00a0the storm front.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe in W Central Montana along Hwy 89 near its junction with Hwy 12. The day started off with scattered small storms and wind. A little later on, the sky cleared off completely. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dramatic clouds of a line of small storms boosted the scenic value of Lupe’s early drive through W central Montana. Photo looks SE along Hwy 89.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cows, horses, haystacks!\u00a0 Lupe had her fun.\u00a0 Ahh, this was the life!\u00a0 Another great day!<\/p>\n

E of Lovell, Wyoming, Highway Alt 14 wound steeply up into the last big mountain range of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation.\u00a0 Lupe was back in the Bighorns for the first time since she’d climbed Cloud Peak<\/a><\/span> (13,167 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0back in July.\u00a0 Her final peakbagging adventures of this Dingo Vacation would occur here.<\/p>\n

A little after noon, on\u00a0this cool breezy day, Lupe set out from the Bald Mountain campground for Bald Mountain<\/a><\/span> (10,042 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(12:09 PM, 56\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe sets out for Bald Mountain. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mostly bare, rounded mountain was an easy climb.\u00a0 The only real obstacle was the SW\u00a0wind, which blew harder and harder as Lupe gained elevation.\u00a0 Carolina Dogs are not great fans of wind, but Loopster persevered.\u00a0 There was nothing along the way to protect her from the wind, but on the other hand, the views were tremendous!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the way up. The summit of Bald Mountain is ahead. Photo looks ESE from the S side of the W end of the mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached the survey benchmark at the true summit.\u00a0 The wind was worst here.\u00a0 She didn’t like it, but the Carolina Dog stayed long enough for photos.\u00a0 Lupe had been here before.\u00a0 Twice in 2012, once in 2013.\u00a0 More than 3 years had gone by since her last ascent.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The survey benchmark at the summit of Bald Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the summit. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Hwy Alt 14 is seen on the L. Hunt Mountain<\/a><\/span> (10,162 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is on the R. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Medicine Mountain<\/a><\/span> (9,962 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L) from Bald Mountain. The round white dome on Medicine Mountain is part of an FAA air traffic control installation, and is often visible from great distances. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking WNW. Medicine Mountain on the R.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe patiently endures the wind at the summit of Bald Mountain. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, this was it.\u00a0 Lupe had done it.\u00a0 She had reached the summit of Bald Mountain.\u00a0 Only one task remained – to go find the place of names, and make the necessary repairs.\u00a0 Lupe’s name has been immortalized in stone on Bald Mountain since July 11, 2013.<\/p>\n

It had been more than 3 years since Lupe and SPHP were here last, but the place of names was found with relatively little difficulty.\u00a0 Lupe waited in the wind for an hour, while SPHP fixed things up.\u00a0 Finally, it was done.\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>And that was that.\u00a0 There was nothing left to do.\u00a0 Enough of this wind!\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP began\u00a0the easy trek back to the G6 with a grand view of Medicine Mountain ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe about to start the return journey down to the G6. Bald Mountain CG where the G6 was parked is at the closest large clump of trees down on the R. Medicine Mountain is at Center. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Medicine Mountain using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
About 1.25 miles beyond the summit of Medicine Mountain, is the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. No details of the Medicine Wheel’s origins are known, other than that it was built by Native Americans. Considered a sacred site, visitors are allowed to visit the Medicine Wheel when not in use by Native Americans, but Lupe did not go there today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The wind was still blowing when Lupe reached the G6 at the Bald Mountain campground (3:13 PM, 53\u00b0F), but not as strongly as up on the mountain.\u00a0 She stayed in the area for more than an hour before heading E again on Highway Alt 14A toward Burgess Junction.<\/p>\n

Later in the day, E of the magnificent Bighorn Range, Lupe resumed her happy duty watching for cows and horses to bark at along I90.\u00a0 She kept it up as long as there was light to see by.\u00a0 Yes, this really was the life, all these splendid days adventuring on and off the long road to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska and back, every minute spent with sweet Lupe!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe coming down Bald Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After an adventure\u00a0spanning 9,126 miles, 41 days & 40 nights, Lupe returned to her home in the Black Hills of South Dakota at 10:50 PM on 9-8-2016.\u00a0 She had gone thousands of miles farther than she had ever been before, seen countless magnificent sights, and had wonderful adventures all the way up to the Yukon and far into\u00a0Alaska.<\/em><\/p>\n

In the Brooks Range of northern Alaska, Lupe went her last mile N reaching the confluence of the Dietrich River and a stream NW of Dillon Mountain.\u00a0 From there she saw a mountain, farther N yet, privately designated the Mountain of the Midnight Sun.\u00a0 Whether Lupe ever sees the Mountain of the Midnight Sun and adventures in Alaska\u00a0again is, at this moment, part of the unknown, uncertain future.<\/em><\/p>\n

So long as Lupe\u00a0is alive and well, hope remains that some day the Dingo of the Midnight Sun will return to roam and play once more\u00a0beneath the pale blue Arctic sky.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The dark blue\u00a0Mountain of the Midnight Sun (R).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Owl & The Pussycat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea in\u00a0a beautiful pea-green boat,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

They took some honey, and plenty of money, wrapped up in a five pound note.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The Owl looked up to the stars above, and sang to a small guitar,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

“O lovely Pussy!\u00a0 O Pussy, my love, what a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are, what a beautiful Pussy you are.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Pussy said to the Owl “You elegant fowl, how charmingly sweet you sing.\u00a0 O let us<\/em> be married, too long we have tarried; but what shall we do for a ring?”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

They sailed away for a year and a day, to the land where the Bong-tree grows, and there in a wood, a Piggy-wig stood, with a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose.\u00a0 With a ring at the end of his nose.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling\u00a0your\u00a0ring?”\u00a0 Said the Piggy, “I will.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

So they took it away, and were married next day by the Turkey who lives on the hill.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

They dined on mince, and\u00a0slices of quince, which they ate with a runcible spoon.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

They danced by the light of the moon.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0– Edward Lear, first published 1871\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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

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

This Dingo Vacation<\/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 Prior Dingo Vacation<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from Lupe’s <\/span>2016 Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span> <\/span><\/a><\/strong>or <\/span>Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/strong>Or subscribe free to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>New Lupe Adventures<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Days 40 & 41 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Night,\u00a0Unknown Hour,\u00a0Pre-dawn\u00a0on Day 40 – Cold out, but at least Lupe wasn’t going to get snowed in at the Canadian Rockies.\u00a0\u00a0Last evening’s\u00a0rain had stopped.\u00a0 Stars glittered in the black night sky.\u00a0 Back to sleep, if possible, no … Continue reading King’s Hill, Montana & Bald Mountain, Wyoming (9-7-16 & 9-8-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8668,"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":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[726],"tags":[105,149,106,26,169,104,417,275],"class_list":["post-8683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-bald-mountain","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-kings-hill","tag-lupe","tag-montana","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_2940.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\/8683","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=8683"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24088,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8683\/revisions\/24088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}