Big Horn County Highpoint Trip Report

Date: July 31, 2007
Author: Adam Helman

This effort was part of a larger journey collecting county highpoints in late July and early August 2007.

comments on the Wyoming-based approach

Road access for FH11 is from US Highway Alt 14. On the west side this is a steep grade, climbing 3,600 feet in 13 road miles, with at times a 10% grade. I kept my A/C "off" for this climb, electing the open window for ventilation. The east side of Alt 14 has little elevation gain/loss, with Burgess Junction being still in the "high country".

It is 16.9 miles north along FH11 from Alt 14 to the Montana state line:

From Alt 14 to the FH11 / FR111 junction is 9.5 miles.
Here, FH11 is good gravel that admits, at times, for 30+ m.p.h. travel.
The next 1.5 miles (up to 11.0 miles from Alt 14) along FH11
is in moderate condition. At 11.0 miles encounter the FH11 / FR105 junction.
The final 5.9 miles of FH11 (from the FH11 / FR105 junction to the Montana border)
is in poor condition, requiring high clearance, and, if there is any water,
possibly 4WD as well. Rocky at times.

I placed my feet across the fenceline, into Big Horn County, Montana, at several strategic locations
(a "one-dimensional gridding"); and called it good as the highest ground appears to exactly straddle the state line.

I did not enjoy this drive cum short hike because of a competition arising from the need for driving slowly (to avoid a tire puncture), and the perceived need for rushing on account of an approaching rain band (which would turn the road into "mush"). The combination of these two potential evils completely destroyed my peace of mind until back at pavement.