Comments
No comments posted yet.
Page Type:
|
Trip Report |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
|
44.38207°N / 107.17391°W |
GPX File:
|
Download GPX » View Route on Map |
Date Climbed/Hiked:
|
Sep 9, 2024 |
Activities:
|
Mountaineering |
Season:
|
Summer |
Overview
Rank: Cloud Peak is Wyoming’s 25th highest ranked peak
Prominence: 7083 ft
The 13171 ft Cloud Peak is the highest point in the Big Horn Mountains of northern Wyoming. To the east and west, the summit of Cloud Peak is guarded by big walls. An approach to the summit from the north will be over difficult technical terrain. To the southwest, however, boulder filled slopes provide a walkup path to the summit of Cloud Peak. A glacier and a glacial lake sit at the base of the eastern wall of Cloud Peak.
The usual starting point for the hike to the summit of Cloud Peak is the West Tensleep Lake Trailhead to the south. My GPS measured a 25.4-mile round trip hiking distance. The upper 7-mile roundtrip hike (above 10500 ft) goes over boulder fields that slow down the pace of the hiker. Although on the internet, I have seen accounts of people climbing Cloud Peak in one day, most people do it as a multiday backpacking trip. A good place to set up basecamp is at the 10240 ft Mistymoon Lake 7.2 miles from trailhead.
Our Backpacking Trip Itinerary
Airplane Icon: Location of B17 Bomber crash June 1943
September 8, 2024, Blue line: West Tensleep Lake Trailhead to Mistymoon Lake
September 8, 202, 4, Black Line: Mistymoon Lake to Peak 11112 ft and back to Mistymoon Lake
September 9, 2024, Orange Line: Mistymoon Lake to Cloud Peak and back to Mistymoon Lake
September 10, 2024, Day of rest
September 11, 2024, Red line: Mistymoon Lake to Bomber Mountain and back to Mistymoon Lake
September 12, 2024, Blue Line: Mistymoon Lake back to West Tensleep Lake Trailhead
Trip Report
September 9, 2024
We had set up basecamp at Mistymoon Lake (10240 ft) the previous day. Ben woke me up in my tent around 6 AM. The tip of cloud Peak as seen from my tent.
By the time we ate and started to hike, it had become 6:50 AM. Headed north on the trail toward Cloud Peak. View of Cloud Peak from Mistymoon Lake.
Peak 11112 ft that we climbed the previous day.
Cloud Peak.
The trail went up to a 10475 ft high point, then began a 350 ft vertical drop into the Paint Rock Creek Valley. I was thinking that at the end of day, coming back up that slope would be a drag.
Descending into the valley.
Were finally at the bottom of the wide valley at 10125 ft.
We then reached a waterfall.
I knew that the path went up somewhere near that waterfall but at that time we could not find a path (Later, looking at Caltopo website, I saw that had we gone a little farther left, a trail would have supposedly been there). We began to go up the boulders by the creek. Great views of Point 12152 ft and the summit of Cloud Peak.
Bomber Mountain.
We then reached a trail and a nice grassy plain.
After around 10450 ft, a boulder field started, and it continued for the next 3.5 miles all the way to the summit. A “trail” obviously did not exist anymore. Going was slow and occasionally we had to use hands and legs to climb but nothing technical. Going up a slickrock area.
Point 12152 ft again. This impressive peak is not even a peak, it is just the sharp edge of a ridgeline.
Looking back at Elk Mountain plus Peaks 11112 ft and 11100 ft.
At 11000 ft, we were at the lower end of a wide boulder filled valley that we needed to climb.
An interesting stream appeared among the boulders. Ben had his water filter, so I drank a lot of my water and had Ben replenish it for me.
Crystal clear pond.
Continuing up the boulders. We took a shorth rest.
At 12280 ft, we reached a ridgetop, and the west wall of Cloud Peak suddenly appeared. Wow, what a view!
Peak 12473 ft to the north.
Bomber Mountain to the southeast.
Continuing up toward the summit.
Bomber Mountain again.
Reached the summit at 5.64 miles, 13171 ft and 11:50 AM. One person was there. I ran to the east edge of the summit to get the most spectacular view of the Glacier Lake, one lake but two different colors. The glacier itself was blackened by dirt was still distinguishable on the slope above the lake.
Bomber Mountain to the south/southeast.
Looking north at Black Tooth, Mt. Woolsey etc.
Looking southwest, Lake Helen seen. Peak 11100 ft rising above the lake. Peak 12329 ft left of center.
The other guy on the summit began to talk to Ben and they got into a nonstop conversation. I wanted peace and quiet. Fortunately, the guy left after a few minutes. We rested, ate and enjoyed the view, then we too left at 12:25 PM going back the way we had come.
Bomber Mountain.
We were not done with the boulders but were done with the worst of them when we noted threatening clouds coming from the southwest. We ran into the same guy we had met on the summit and the nonstop conversation began again. That was starting to irritate me. I almost told the other guy to go away but then I told myself to calm down. We put on our raincoats, and it soon began to rain. They said let’s go shelter under a rock. I did not see a rock we could shelter under, but I followed them to the base of a cliff. It rained a good amount in a short period but soon began to clear and the three of us continued down. I was afraid of slipping on the wet rock and in one place I did slip and fall but fortunately had no injuries. That guy was captured in one of my pictures and I had to photoshop him out.
Clear skies again.
The valley we had to descend into.
My GPS then showed that we had reached the spot where in the morning we reached the trail, but we decided to follow the other guy. Soon he left trail and began to bushwhack toward the creek (Paint Rock Creek).
Looking down at the wide valley below.
The waterfall again.
We then crossed the bottom of the wide flat valley.
Were then at the base of the 350 ft of vertical uphill. I said I needed a rest before going up the hill. The other guy left. Peace and quiet again. Slugging up the slope. I loved the autumn gold colors.
Back to the 10475 ft high point. View of Peak 11112 ft and 11100 ft behind it.
Mistymoon Lake and zoomed view of the moose in it.
Cloud Peak and Mistymoon Lake.
Home sweet home, our basecamp. It was 4:20 PM. That became very long for an 11.01-mile hike. My GPS said 4008 ft ascent.
