By 2:45 AM on 11-3-15, Lupe and SPHP were up and about. Erik and Ana were flying to California. They needed a ride to the Denver International Airport, 400 miles away. That meant Lupe was about to set out on a week long Dingo Vacation! It was getting close to 2 years since Lupe had gone to see her cousin, Dusty in Arvada, Colorado. Now she and SPHP were going to get to spend a week with Joe, Andrea and Dusty, while staying in the cowboy room at Dusty’s house.
The drive across the western Nebraska panhandle was uneventful. Lupe and SPHP dropped Erik and Ana off at the Denver International Airport at 10:40 AM. Then it was off to Dusty’s house in Arvada! Lupe was soon bored with the drive through Denver. (Not a single cow or squirrel in sight!) Less than a mile from Dusty’s house, though, she suddenly picked her head up and started sniffing the air. Could she have known? Did she still remember, after all this time? She acted like she did.
A couple of minutes later, a very surprised and happy Dusty greeted her cousin Lupe and SPHP at the door. Andrea was back from the chiropractor 15 minutes later. In the meantime, Lupe and SPHP had already established themselves in the cowboy room. Andrea had to work, but Lupe, Dusty and SPHP got the fun started by taking a walk around the 100 acre field.
In the evening, Joe was back from work. Joe and SPHP went to the nearby Apex Center for a little workout and swimming. Lupe hung out at home with Dusty, Misty (the cat) and Andrea. Dusty snuck into the cowboy room, and ate an entire banana bread that SPHP had brought with. It was a bit much. Dusty was sick all night.
The next morning, Lupe and SPHP set out for Elk Meadow Park near Evergreen, Colorado. Way back on 12-23-13, Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP had gone to Elk Meadow Park intending to climb Bergen Peak. Unfortunately, a mile from the summit Joe hadn’t felt well, so that attempt was called off. Now Lupe and SPHP were going to try again.
Bergen Peak(9,708 ft.) was already in sight from the trailhead. Lupe and SPHP started off heading WNW on the Sleepy S trail. Soon SPHP mistook an old road across the big field to the N as part of the trail system. Lupe and SPHP followed the old road until it started turning E. SPHP hoped to find the Too Long trail, but unknowingly wound up on the Meadow View trail instead. Eventually, SPHP realized the error as the Meadow View trail turned back to the S.
Near the trailhead at Elk Meadow Park. Photo looks W toward Bergen Peak (Center).On the old road in Elk Meadow Park. Bergen Peak in the background. Photo looks W.Looking ESE back across the big meadow in Elk Meadow Park near Evergreen, Colorado.
The Meadow View trail went mostly through the forest. SPHP’s mistake in missing the Too Long trail made the route longer than it need have been. It really didn’t matter. Lupe was having a good time exploring the trail. Lupe and SPHP followed the Meadow View trail past an intersection with the Elk Ridge trail. Shortly after that, Lupe reached the junction with the Bergen Peak trail.
The Bergen Peak trail was nearly all in the forest, too. Lupe did come to one place with some open views to the SW. Even though it was a Wednesday in November, there had been a surprising number of hikers, runners, and mountain bikers on the Sleepy S and Meadow View trails. Lupe encountered far fewer people and dogs up on the Bergen Peak trail, as it steadily switch-backed its way up the mountain.
Lupe on a rock outcropping along the Bergen Peak trail. Photo looks SW.
Lupe reached an intersection with the Too Long trail well up on the mountain. She stayed on the Bergen Peak trail to the summit. This last mile of the Bergen Peak trail was easier, since it gained less elevation. It was also more interesting, too, as it wound around the N side of Bergen Peak. The trail leveled out as it curled around the mountain to the W and then S.
Lupe hadn’t encountered any snow before reaching the junction with the Too Long trail, but there was a little up on the shady N side of the mountain. The snow made her very happy. After a fun frolic on the snow, Lupe proceeded on the trail around Bergen Peak to the S of the summit. Here there were some big rock outcroppings. The rocks offered views to the E, S and W.
Lupe wasn’t quite at the summit yet. She turned N and followed the last bit of the trail to the top. On the way was a high point where there was a little tower and a rusty old shed. The actual summit was just a couple hundred feet farther N. Lupe reached the Bergen Peak sign at the top of the mountain – successfully achieving her first peakbagging goal of her November, 2015 Dingo Vacation to Colorado!
This rusty shed near a little tower on Bergen Peak is just a couple hundred feet S of the summit.Lupe on the highest rocks near the little tower close to the rusty shed. Turned out this was not the true summit.Lupe on Bergen Peak!
With her peakbagging goal successfully completed, Lupe returned to the rock outcroppings S of the summit to check out the views.
The big meadow of Elk Meadow Park near Evergreen, CO as seen from Bergen Peak. The tall buildings of downtown Denver are seen faintly in the distance (L of center). Photo looks E.Looking SSE from Bergen Peak.The grandest view from Bergen Peak was to the WSW. SPHP believes this may be Mount Evans(14,264 ft.).Pikes Peak(14,110 ft.) could be seen faintly on the horizon to the S.
After taking in the views, Lupe and SPHP explored just a little bit off the trail before leaving the summit area of Bergen Peak.Snow showers were due to move in from the W. The clouds started spitting a little snow. It amounted to almost nothing at all, really, but it was time to head back down anyway.
The Bergen Peak trail high up on the N side of the mountain featured a bit of snow.
On the way back, Lupe did get to take the Too Long trail from where the Bergen Trail reached it. Going down the mountain, it didn’t seem too long at all. In fact, since there was still plenty of time, Lupe and SPHP took a long route back to the G6 by retracing the Meadow View trail back to the Elk Ridge trail, and following it back to Sleepy S again.
Lupe’s successful ascent of Bergen Peak was a great start to her November, 2015 Dingo Vacation to Arvada, Colorado, but it was only a start. Lupe was just getting warmed up. More mountains of fun and adventures were still to come!
After a long day and late night return from Big Marvine Peak (11,879 ft.) in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area on 8-18-15, a day of rest was in order for both Lupe and SPHP. Lupe spent the morning enjoying a ride in the G6 from the Trappers Lake area back E over Ripple Creek and Dunckley passes along the Flat Tops Scenic Byway. Lupe got to see a hawk flying over the road with a gopher in its talons along the way.
Near Phippsburg, Lupe and SPHP turned S to Yampa. Lupe spent a little time in Yampa, and then headed SW along Hwy 7. Seven miles from Yampa, the pavement ended where Hwy 7 became USFS Road No. 900. Lupe explored the area by G6, coming first to the Yamcolo Reservoir. Next was the Bear Lake Reservoir, and finally, at the end of the road, the Stillwater Reservoir.
Lupe reaches the Yamcolo Reservoir SW of Yampa, CO. Photo looks SW.The Stillwater Reservoir at the end of USFS Road No. 900. Photo looks SW.Bear Lake Reservoir and Flat Top Mountain(12,354 ft.). Photo looks S.
Lupe spent the rest of the 19th resting and recuperating from Big Marvine. The 20th was going to be another big day! Lupe was ready even before the 20th arrived. She kept wanting to go exploring in the night. Finally dawn came. Day 12 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation was here!
At 7:39 AM (36°F, clear and calm), Lupe and SPHP left the Stillwater TH on Trail No. 1119. Well above Stillwater Reservoir’s NW shore, the trail headed SW paralleling the reservoir for about half its length. There it reached a junction with Trail No. 1120, which continued on to the SW. Trail No. 1119 turned NW and started to climb. Lupe’s first objective for the day was the Devil’s Causeway. She left Stillwater Reservoir behind, staying on Trail No. 1119 as it climbed up towards the E end of the Devil’s Causeway.
Lupe started out on Trail No. 1119 above the NW shore of Stillwater Reservoir. Although there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the smoke haze that persisted throughout nearly all of Lupe’s time in Colorado was evident here again today. Photo looks S.The Devil’s Causeway is a portion of the high ridge seen here from the SE. Trail No. 1119 climbs up to the lowest part of the saddle just to the right of the ridge.
Lupe along Trail No. 1119 on her way up to the Devil’s Causeway.
Once Trail No. 1119 reaches the saddle or pass just to the NE of the Devil’s Causeway, it continues NW on over the ridge. A separate trail heads SW up to the Devil’s Causeway itself.
The trail up to the NE end of the Devil’s Causeway. Photo looks SW.
The Devil’s Causeway is simply a high, relatively flat, narrow ridge connecting two large areas of high ground. However, the Devil’s Causeway has one special characteristic: the connecting ridge becomes very, as in terrifyingly, narrow. On both sides there are sheer drops of hundreds of feet. One section of the Devil’s Causeway narrows to as little as 4 feet wide. Along this short section, much of the soil has eroded away to expose a line of uneven boulders and large rocks as the only way across.
What could be more fun? Lupe and SPHP headed up to take a look.
Lupe near the NE end of the Devil’s Causeway. While narrow, most of the Causeway isn’t so scary at all, but there is that one very narrow section seen a little ways up ahead. That’s a bit different. Photo looks SW.
Well, some things are just Darwinian by their very natures. Carolina Dogs are survivors. They aren’t going to fail this simple test! Lupe had a good look at the Devil’s Causeway. It was very worth seeing, but not really worth crossing. Lupe turned around. Lupe and SPHP took a break back at the high point of the trail with a view to the N towards her next peakbagging goal, Peak 12,008.
Peak 12,008, Lupe’s 1st peakbagging goal of the day, is the big ridge on the right. Pyramid Peak is seen in the distance to the left. Looking N from high point at NE end of the Devil’s Causeway.The highest point on Peak 12,008 (big ridge) is 4 miles N.A look WNW at another ridge connected to the other (SW) end of the Devil’s Causeway. Causeway Lake is seen below.Flat Top Mountain (highest point in distance on L) and Stillwater Reservoir from the pass just NE of Devil’s Causeway. Trail No. 1119 is seen below along with Little Causeway Lake. Photo looks SE.
After the break enjoying the scenery from the high point at the NE end of the Devil’s Causeway, it was time for Lupe to head N to the high point of the huge broad ridge which is Peak 12,008. The high point was 4 miles away near the N end of the ridge. Lupe headed back down to the pass, crossed Trail No. 1119 and headed N.
After going about 0.5 mile N, Lupe came over a rise and saw a large flock of sheep ahead. A big white Livestock Protection Dog, just like the two Lupe had seen near Mount Zirkel a few days before, was on duty. The Livestock Protection Dog started barking, but was outnumbered and approached Lupe and SPHP warily.
The Livestock Protection Dog sounds the alarm, and warily approaches intruders Lupe & SPHP.
Lupe liked the looks of the whole setup. She was suddenly seized with the desire to go into the sheepherding business herself. She was most anxious to get started right away. Only the leash prevented her from doing so.
Sly dingo Lupe is seized with the desire to go into the sheepherding business on Peak 12,008! You can see that Dingo mind at work!
Lupe was reluctant to leave her newly adopted flock. She played Moses, parting the sheep into W and E flocks as she passed through heading N. A great deal of baaing went on as sheep fled in one direction or the other. The white Livestock Protection Dog followed Lupe barking from a safe distance to make certain Lupe wasn’t really going into the sheepherding business, or intending to put on sheep’s clothing and sneak back.
Once the sheep had been left behind, Lupe came to Dead Mexican Gulch. To stay on the high ground, Lupe had to head over to the E side of Peak 12,008, where something most intriguing was in the ground. For a few minutes, Lupe tried her luck in the earth excavating business.
Lupe reaches Dead Mexican Gulch, which forced her around to the high ground to the E.Looking N at the W end of Dead Mexican Gulch.Lupe goes into the earth excavation business on Peak 12,008.
Disappointingly, Lupe’s mining operations yielded no tangible results, although her enthusiasm was not dimmed. From the E side of Peak 12,008 on a high point just N of Dead Mexican Gulch, there were some big views.
Looking N along the E edge of Peak 12,008 from a point just N of Dead Mexican Gulch. The upper end of the Mandall Creek basin is seen below.Peering over the E edge of Peak 12,008 down at Slide Mandall Lake.Orno Peak, Lupe’s final peakbagging goal this day, is seen at the far end of the distant ridge from the E edge of Peak 12,008. Photo looks NE.
From Dead Mexican Gulch, it was still nearly 2 miles N to the highest point on Peak 12,008. Lupe and SPHP proceeded N looking for it. The terrain gained elevation ever more slowly. Along the way, Lupe came to a big cairn. It didn’t seem to be the summit, though, so Lupe continued on and eventually reached the N end of Peak 12,008. From there she saw another peakbagging goal, the high point of Rio Blanco County.
Lupe reached this large post while looking for the summit on Peak 12,008. It didn’t seem to be at the summit. Flat Top Mountain is seen in the distance beyond the post. Photo looks S.At the N end of Peak 12,008, Lupe sees the Rio Blanco County High Point, the high ridge to the N seen here.Looking E along the N edge of Peak 12,008. Mandall Pass is seen toward the left. Orno Peak to the E barely juts up above the ridge on the other side of Mandall Pass. This same ridge connects to the Rio Blanco County High Point farther W than shown in this photo.
The views from the N end of Peak 12,008 were great, but where was the summit? Lupe and SPHP headed SE trying to find the highest ground. The Browns Peak (11,722 ft.) effect came into play again. Although Lupe seemed to be climbing continuously, everywhere Lupe went looked lower than where she had just been, and lower than practically everywhere else too.
Eventually Lupe found something. A little post was leaning sadly from a small cairn of rocks. About a foot away was a coffee can. SPHP opened it up. Inside was a small glass jar with a very rusty top. Nevertheless, it opened right up when SPHP twisted the lid. Inside were 3 pieces of paper, one of them a piece of a map. Buried treasure?! Lupe certainly hoped so! She was ready to put her earth excavating skills right back to work.
Alas, the map and both of the other two pieces of paper proved to be a simple registry. There were about 20 entries between all 3 pieces of paper. The latest entry was from 2014. The oldest was from 2001. The coffee can also contained a pencil. Amazingly, the tip of the pencil was still pretty sharp. SPHP added Lupe to the registry on the piece of paper with the most recent entries. A little notebook that would have served as a greatly improved new registry was sadly back at the G6.
SPHP put all of the pieces of paper back in the little glass jar, and put the lid back on. The jar and the pencil went back in the French Market coffee can. SPHP straightened up the little post, and propped it up better with more rocks. After a few photos of Lupe at the little cairn, which SPHP now regarded as the summit of Peak 12,008, SPHP decided to put some more rocks around the coffee can to better hold it in place.
The French Market coffee can registry container on Peak 12,008.The little summit post, cairn and coffee can registry container as restored by SPHP.Yeah, there’s a reason these mountains are called the Flat Tops.Lupe didn’t mind resting while SPHP fiddled around with things at the little summit cairn on Peak 12,008. By the time this photo was taken, SPHP had added more rocks around the coffee can.
After all this, Lupe and SPHP were satisfied that Lupe had reached the summit of Peak 12,008. Her first peakbagging goal of the day was met. Her next peakbagging goal was the Rio Blanco County High Point(12,027 ft.), which lay on the other (N) side of Mandall Pass.
It proved easy to go NE down into Mandall Pass. The only bad part of it was the wind. Although the day had started out with no wind at all back down at the Stillwater Reservoir, once Lupe had gotten up on Peak 12,008, there had been a constant W breeze. Down in Mandall Pass, the wind was really blowing. Lupe headed N from Mandall Pass up to the Rio Blanco County High Point. She found a cairn, big cliffs, and big views there.
Lupe pauses as she starts down into Mandall Pass from Peak 12,008 to take a look NW at Pyramid Peak(11,532 ft.).The Rio Blanco County High Point. Photo looks NNW. From here, Lupe went NW to the two high points shown at the left side of the photo. Although they look higher from this angle, they were actually lower.Looking ESE from the Rio Blanco County High Point at Orno Peak, the highest point in the distance.
From the cairn on the Rio Blanco County High Point, two other high points could be seen a bit farther NW along the ridge. They looked to be about as high as where the cairn was. It appeared they might even be a bit higher. Lupe went over to both of them to investigate and make certain she really had successfully completed her 2nd peakbagging goal of the day.
Lupe at the 2nd high point furthest to the NW of the Rio Blanco County High Point. The summit cairn to the SE is barely visible, but clearly higher.
Looking back at the summit cairn from both of the two high points to the NW, it was very clear that the cairn was really at the true Rio Blanco County High Point. Lupe had successfully completed her 2nd peakbagging goal!
The sun was high in the sky. There was plenty of time for Lupe to do more. Orno Peak(12,133 ft.) was the 3rd peakbagging goal SPHP had in mind for Lupe, but the first sight of Orno Peak from Peak 12,008 had made SPHP wonder if she could actually climb it. The S slope looked very steep. More importantly, it wasn’t clear if the E end of the long ridge leading to Orno Peak from the W could be safely traversed.
The view of the N slope of Orno Peak from the Rio Blanco County High Point was more encouraging. The N slope was steep, but definitely friendlier than the S slope. Maybe there was a way.
Only one way to find out! Lupe headed ESE along the big ridge from the Rio Blanco County High Point. Orno Peak was more than two miles away. SPHP was certain Lupe could safely at least get close to it.
Looking down on Mandall Pass from the N while Lupe was on her way to Orno Peak. Peak 12,008, where Lupe had already been, is the high flat ridge on the other side.A look back to the WNW at the Rio Blanco County High Point.Getting closer to Orno Peak. Photo looks ESE.
Not far from Orno Peak, the broad ridge leading to it ended. Only a much narrower ridge continued on to the peak. SPHP could see Orno Peak had two blocks of rock near the summit. The first block was smaller, closer and a little lower. The second block a bit farther to the E was the true summit.
It looked like Lupe would have no problem getting up on the first block. A trail headed toward it. However, cliffs could be seen around the second block, and a small cliff might be on the other side of the first block. From a distance, without binoculars, it was hard to tell if Lupe could get safely past the first block and climb the second one. Was there a safe way up to the second block and true summit?
Lupe at the end of the broad ridge. Orno Peak is now just a short distance to the E along a much narrower ridge.
Lupe followed the path along the narrow ridge up to the first block of rocks. SPHP had intended for her to climb it, but it looked really easy to just go around the N side of it instead.
Heading around the N side of the first block of rocks at the top of Orno Peak.
When Lupe got around the first block of rocks, the second one was in view just ahead. SPHP was happy with what was there. It was going to be easy for Lupe to climb up on the second block to reach the summit of Orno Peak! In just a few minutes she was there. A cairn near the E end of the second block marked the summit.
Lupe nears the second block of rock and true summit of Orno Peak.Lupe reaches the summit of Orno Peak! Photo looks E.
Of course, there were fabulous views all around from Orno Peak. The annoying ever-present smoke haze marred the views to some extent, but they were still very impressive.
Looking W from the summit of Orno Peak. The smaller and lower first block of rock Lupe went around to get to the summit is in view directly ahead. The Rio Blanco County High Point is in the distance on the right. The high broad ridge of Peak 12,008 is in the distance at center left.In the distance from left to right: Peak 12,008, Rio Blanco County HP, Pyramid Peak. Photo looks NW.Mandall Creek basin from Orno Peak. Peak 12,008 is the long, high ridge beyond the basin. Photo looks SW.Looking E.
Even though the sun was still well up in the sky and there were hours of daylight left, Lupe was a very long way from the G6 at Orno Peak. It was soon time to start back. Lupe could have simply retraced her route, but instead she was going to head down into Mandall Creek basin from Mandall Pass. This would add some miles to the already long return trip, but also let Lupe explore new territory.
The view as Lupe heads down to Mandall Pass. Photo looks S.Lupe at Mandall Pass. Photo looks S towards Mandall Creek basin. Flat Top Mountain(12,354 ft.) is in the distance just L of center.Mandall Creek basin from Mandall Pass.
The upper portion of Mandall Creek basin was very beautiful. There were small lakes and streams. Lupe had fun all day racing around up on the barren high ridges at 12,000 feet, but she had even more fun down in Mandall Creek basin. Why, there were trees down here! Trees meant squirrels! The basin echoed with the happy barking of a Carolina Dog. Except for the squirrels themselves, no one was around to care.
The trail down to USFS Road No. 900 at the Mandall Creek TH was a bit hard to follow. It hardly existed at all in the upper basin, but it didn’t really matter there, because there was still lots of open ground. Farther down where it was all forested, a better trail would have helped. Lupe came to a place on a steep hillside where the trail had collapsed. Maybe SPHP hadn’t found the official trail, or the best route, but Lupe eventually did arrive at the Mandall Creek TH.
By now the sun was down. Twilight was setting in. It was still 3 miles uphill along USFS Road to the Stillwater TH where the G6 was parked. SPHP figured no one would be headed up to the TH at the end of the road at this time of day, so it wouldn’t be possible to hitch a ride. No one did come along. Lupe and SPHP marched in silence up the road as the light faded.
It had been an exhilarating, but very long day. The fun was over. The road hike was dull. Lupe wanted to stop, curl up, and go to sleep. SPHP permitted several short rest stops along the road. When it grew so dark the flashlight came out, Lupe was more willing to continue onward. Nearly 14 hours after she had left, Lupe returned to the G6 at 9:31 PM (39°F). Maybe her next adventure tomorrow could be a bit less fanatical? SPHP agreed.
Lupe in the beautiful upper Mandall Creek basin. Photo looks NNW towards Mandall Pass.
Snow showers were due to move in from the W. The clouds started spitting a little snow. It amounted to almost nothing at all, really, but it was time to head back down anyway.
