2015 Wyoming, Colorado & Utah – Page 3 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Wyoming Peak, Wyoming (8-28-15)

The morning of 8-28-15, Day 20 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation, dawned bright and beautiful. While Lupe started her day playing in the forest near the outlet stream from Spirit Lake in the Uinta Mountains, SPHP had decisions to make. Up until now, Lupe’s vacation had been going pretty much according to plan. The trouble was, Lupe had way more yet to do than time remaining to do it all in.

A bright morning greeted Lupe at the outlet stream from Spirit Lake in the Uinta Mountains of Utah.

Before long, SPHP had decided which adventures had to go on the chopping block for this Dingo Vacation, and which would remain. It was time to head out. SPHP called Lupe back to the G6. After just a few fun days in Utah (where she did live “Life Elevated”!), Lupe was going to head N into southwestern Wyoming. Lupe loves riding in the G6, and was ready for whatever adventure lay ahead.

The first part of the drive was a long one on gravel USFS Roads. Lupe left Spirit Lake on USFS Road No. 001. When it reached the intersection with No. 221, instead of taking it E back to the Sheep Creek Geological Loop, SPHP took it N to Wyoming. It was a very pretty drive that took Lupe out of the Uinta Mountains.

Lupe finally reached pavement again when she crossed Hwy 414 between McKinnon and Burnt Fork. N of Hwy 414, a paved road headed NE through scenic ranchlands to meet up with Hwy 530 S of Green River, WY. Heading N on Hwy 530, there was some pretty wild looking territory off to the E toward the N end of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.

After a short stop in the town of Green River, WY, Lupe went W on I-80 just 6 miles to Hwy 372. Hwy 372 headed NW paralleling the Green River, but at some distance from it, so the river was often out of sight. This territory was high, dry prairie land. It was dominated by low hills and sagebrush. In late August, it all looked hot, dusty and not terribly inviting. Hwy 372 eventually led to Hwy 189, which Lupe took N to La Barge.

This sign along the Green River told a little about its history during the fur trading days of the early 1800's. — This sign along the Green River told a little about its history during the fur trading days of the early 1800’s.

The Green River was a huge lake N of the Fontenelle Reservoir dam.

This rather striking butte was E of Hwy 189 just a few miles S of La Barge, WY.

After a quick tour of the small town of La Barge in the G6, Lupe and SPHP drove 2 miles S on Hwy 189, and turned W on La Barge Creek Road, No. 315. The first 11 miles of No. 315 were paved. After that it turned to gravel. The road headed W, before gradually turning N as it followed the beautiful La Barge Creek valley upstream. The valley grew progressively narrower as the road went on.

About 20 miles from Hwy 189, suddenly the gravel road deteriorated sharply. For 3 miles it crossed private land where the road was so poor that SPHP considered just turning the G6 around. If the road had been at all wet, there wouldn’t have been any choice. High clearance vehicles wouldn’t have any problem with it, but the road was just about all the challenge the G6 could take on.

After 3 miles, the road entered the Bridger National Forest, where it immediately improved. There were still some pretty rough spots now and then, but nothing like what the G6 had just come through. SPHP resolved to leave the area by some other route.

Lupe was now up in the mountains of the Wyoming Range. Her destination was Wyoming Peak (11,378 ft.), the highest mountain in the entire range. Of more immediate interest to Lupe, cows were grazing in the high mountain valleys. There was plenty of hard barking going on in the G6, even though most of the cows were so far away they were unaware of the frantic Carolina Dog passing by.

Lupe was determined to bark at every cow she saw on her 2015 Dingo Vacation, no matter how far away they were. Actually, it was good enough if she could just smell them. In her excitement, she barked at plenty of cows that weren’t even there!

SPHP had some notes on how to find the trailhead for Wyoming Peak, but what little signage there was at the few intersections along the road didn’t match up real well with the notes. SPHP just kept driving slowly N looking for USFS Road No. 10126, which leads to the trailhead. Finally a high peak came into view. It had to be Wyoming Peak!

Wyoming Peak is the highest point at the center of this photo. Photo looks NE. — Wyoming Peak is the highest point at the center of this photo. Photo looks NE from Greys River Road.

SPHP soon found USFS Road No. 10126 at the confluence of Greys River and Shale Creek. This point was 41 miles from where La Barge Creek Road had left Hwy 189. Greys River was a pretty good sized stream, even in late August, but Shale Creek was quite small. The trailhead was supposed to be 3.5 miles in along No. 10126. As poor as the main road had been in places, SPHP didn’t want to try taking the G6 up No. 10126. Lupe would have to walk.

It seemed like it was already pretty late in the day to think about climbing Wyoming Peak, especially when it was a 3.5 mile hike just to get to the trailhead. However, SPHP thought it wouldn’t hurt to at least scout things out. The weather was clear and favorable. Maybe Lupe could still make it up Wyoming Peak today. Lupe and SPHP left the G6 at the start of USFS Road No. 10126 at 2:56 PM (70°F), and began following the road up Shale Creek.

There really wasn’t much of a trailhead. At a bend in the road was a marker, and a trail heading up a hillside, but there were no big signs and no parking area where the trail to Wyoming Peak left No. 10126. Lupe and SPHP started up the trail. At first it was pretty steep, but before too long, the trail started on a series of long switchbacks.

Lupe starts her climb up Wyoming Peak. Photo looks W.

The trail Lupe was following climbs Wyoming Peak from the SW. It appeared to get only moderate use, and was often rather narrow. Even so, most of the trail was in quite good condition. It was always easy to follow. There was only one tricky spot at a sharp bend where red dirt had eroded away from the trail down into a steep gully. The tricky part was very short. Lupe and SPHP were beyond it in just a few seconds.

The entire W slope of Wyoming Peak is consistently steep, but whoever designed the trail did an excellent job. There were steep parts at the very beginning and the very end, but for the great majority of the climb, the trail consisted of long switchbacks rising at just the right pace. SPHP didn’t have to stop to rest very often. It was easy to make fast progress up the mountain.

Before reaching tree line, the trail also made good use of available shade. It passed through some of the scattered forests along the way. In between the forested areas, the trail was exposed to big views to the W. The combination of shady rest stops along with great views made for a very fun climb.

High on the mountain Lupe came to this rocky section of trail. Most of the trail up was not very rocky at all. — High on the mountain Lupe came to this rocky section of trail. Most of the trail was not very rocky at all for such a big mountain.

Near the end of the climb, the trail reached a saddle between Wyoming Peak to the N and Mount March Madness (11,220 ft.) to the S. Much of the rest of the way to the top, the trail consisted of very short, steep switchbacks full of loose rock. Despite the late start, Lupe made it to the summit of Wyoming Peak an hour before sunset!

Lupe takes a break at the saddle between Wyoming Peak and Mount March Madness. Photo looks S at Mount March Madness. — Lupe takes a break at the saddle between Wyoming Peak and Mount March Madness. Photo looks S at Mount March Madness, which greatly resembled a pyramid.

Lupe at the summit of Wyoming Peak. What lofty mountaintop is complete without a pile of man-made rubble? — Lupe at the summit of Wyoming Peak. What lofty mountaintop is complete without a despicable pile of man-made rubble?

SPHP was not happy with the ugly collapsed building on top of Wyoming Peak. SPHP stuffed as many broken little boards with nails in them, and other small hazardous looking pieces of debris as possible into a sack. The sack went in the backpack to be disposed of later. Only 10,000 more trips and Wyoming Peak will be junk free again!

The views were really great from Wyoming Peak. The view that captured the imagination the most was a very high and rugged mountain far away to the N. It was so far away, the camera just wouldn’t capture its faint outline. SPHP was almost certain that distant peak had to be the famous Grand Teton (13,770 ft.). Lupe and SPHP spent more than half an hour up on Wyoming Peak, while the sun sank steadily in the W.

Looking N at the rather ominously named Mount Coffin from Wyoming Peak. — Looking N at the rather ominously named **Mount Coffin (11,242 ft.)** from Wyoming Peak.

Looking NE. The Wind River range could be seen on the horizon, but there was enough smoke haze so the camera didn't pick it up. — Looking NE. The Wind River range could be seen on the horizon, but there was enough haze so the camera didn’t pick it up.

Using the telephoto lens to peer a bit farther N through the smoke haze. The ridge in the foreground is part of Mount Coffin.

Lupe squints for another photo with the low slanting sunlight on her face. Photo looks SE.

Mount March Madness from the top of Wyoming Peak. Photo looks S.

Lupe ready for a break from all the photo ops. The shot looks E. — Lupe ready for a break from all the photo ops. Photo looks E.

You done yet, SPHP? There's not a single squirrel up here! — “You done yet, SPHP? There’s not a single squirrel up here!”

With the sun sinking into a smoky haze from distant forest fires, it wasn’t possible to get a decent picture toward the W. Lupe and SPHP saw mountain ranges off in that direction, though, too. They were lined up one after another, fainter and fainter as far off into the horizon as it was possible to see.

Lupe and SPHP sat together admiring the world from the top of Wyoming Peak. When it became clear the sun was just going to sink into the murk without any particularly wonderful sunset, it was time to go. Lupe may as well get a good start down the mountain before it got dark.

Lupe does some off trail exploring on the way down Wyoming Peak. Mt. Coffin is seen to the N.

Lupe going down the trail SW of Wyoming Peak.

Lupe was about 80% of the way down the trail by the time it was so dark the flashlight had to come out. When she reached Shale Creek Road (USFS No. 10126) again, Lupe wanted to take a break. She had water and what was left of her Taste of the Wild. Then she just curled up for 15 minutes before she was ready to go again.

In the meantime, a nearly full moon had come up over the side of Mount March Madness. The flashlight was no longer needed. Together Lupe and SPHP traveled the moonlit road beneath the shining stars.Links:

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Walk Up Peak & Taylor Peak, Utah (8-27-15)

A little before 7:00 AM on Day 19 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation, things weren’t looking too promising. The G6 was all wet. It must have rained during the night. Low gray clouds hid the sky. It looked like it might rain all day.

Within 20 minutes, though, a patch of blue sky appeared. It started spreading rapidly. By the time Lupe and SPHP reached the trailhead near Spirit Lake Lodge, half the sky was already blue. It was going to be a great day to climb Walk Up Peak (12,365 ft.), after all!

At 7:34 AM (48°F), Lupe started along the Tamarack Lake trail through the still damp forest. By the time she reached Tamarack Lake, the clouds were almost all gone. Tamarack Lake was gorgeous. Brightly lit mountains reflected on the smooth, calm surface. The NE ridge leading to Walk Up Peak was in view across the lake.

Tamarack Lake is about 1.5 miles W of Spirit Lake. Photo looks SW across the lake towards the NE ridge leading up to Walk Up Peak. — Tamarack Lake is about 1.5 miles W of Spirit Lake. Photo looks SW across the lake toward the NE ridge leading up to Walk Up Peak.

Lupe at Tamarack Lake. This photo looks SE. SPHP believes the mountain is Dagget Peak. — Lupe at Tamarack Lake. This photo looks SE.

Lupe followed the trail heading W through the forest. The trail stayed pretty close to the N shore of Tamarack Lake. By the time she reached the W end of the lake, a breeze had picked up. There were little waves on the lake now.

Lupe near the W end of N shore of Tamarack Lake.

The trail had gained only about 200 feet of elevation in the 1.5 to 2 miles from the trailhead to Tamarack Lake. Once the trail got past the W end of the lake, it quickly gained another 300 feet going up a forested ridge. Up on the higher ground, the trail continued W through the forest until it broke out into the open. The trail headed across grasslands straight for a big pond.

Lupe reaches the E shore of the big pond. Photo looks W.

Looking S at the ridge that leads to Walk Up Peak. SPHP named this biggest pond N of the peak Walk Up Pond. — Looking S at the ridge that leads to Walk Up Peak. SPHP named this biggest pond N of the ridge Walk Up Pond.

Lupe circled around the N and W shores of the big pond. SPHP named it Walk Up Pond, since it was the largest of several ponds to the N of the big ridge leading to Walk Up Peak. Lupe headed S towards the forest at the base of the big ridge. Along the way, she came to a much smaller pond half full of reeds. SPHP cleverly named this Reed Pond.

Lupe E of Reed Pond, a smaller pond S of Walk Up Pond. Don't expect to find this name on any map. SPHP made it up. — Lupe E of Reed Pond, a smaller pond S of Walk Up Pond. Don’t expect to find this name on any map. SPHP made it up.

Lupe reached the forest S of the ponds. Her climb up the big ridge to Walk Up Peak now began in earnest. She liked the forest, and spent her time there looking up hoping to find squirrels to bark at in the trees. The forest really didn’t go very far up the mountain, though. Soon SPHP was through the forest. Lupe entered a narrow band of small bushes. When Lupe got above the bushes, there was only heather, rocks, and a brisk N breeze.

Lupe is getting near the upper end of the forest here. Fish Lake is seen to the W. — Lupe getting near tree line. Fish Lake is seen to the W.

Lupe is in the zone of small bushes here. Above the bushes is only rocks and heather. — Lupe in the zone of small bushes. Above the bushes are only rocks and heather.

Rocks and heather on the big ridge leading to Walk Up Peak. Photo looks SW. — Rocks and heather on the big ridge leading to Walk Up Peak. Photo looks WSW.

The highest part of the big ridge Lupe was climbing from the N went for many miles in an E/W direction. The high country was all open and gently rolling. There were numerous peaks spread out along the ridge. The peaks weren’t particularly impressive. They just looked like really big round hills. Even so, the views from the high country were vast and splendid.

Lupe reaches the high country. Although the high country was gently rolling, there were some pretty steep drop-offs near the edge. Photo looks E.

The biggest lake seen here is Tamarack Lake. Photo looks NE. Spirit Lake where Lupe started her adventure is the lake farthest away on the right. — The biggest lake seen here is Tamarack Lake. Spirit Lake, where Lupe started her adventure, is the lake farthest away on the right. Photo looks NE.

Walk Up Lake S of the big ridgeline. (Not the same as Walk Up pond which is N.) Photo looks SE.

The highest hill with the shadows of clouds on it at the center of this photo is Dagget Peak. The slightly higher hill beyond it to the right is Eccentric Benchmark. Walk Up Lake is in the foreground. Photo looks ESE from the E end of Walk Up Peak. — The highest hill with the shadows of clouds on it at the center of this photo is **Dagget Peak** **(12,040 ft.)**. The slightly higher hill beyond it to the right is **Eccentric Benchmark (12,276 ft.)** (Chepeta Peak). Walk Up Lake is in the foreground. Photo looks ESE from the E end of Walk Up Peak.

Walk Up Peak was another really big hill, similar to the others along the ridgeline. Lupe had to make a long trek to the W from where she came up the ridge to get to the top of Walk Up Peak.

There was no marker at the high point on Walk Up Peak. The top of the mountain was just a barren field of rocks and heather like the rest of the ridge. Lupe did find a cairn just a little way to the NW, though, where the views were best.

Lupe reaches the summit cairn on Walk Up Peak. The cairn is a little way NW of the actual summit, which Lupe had already visited. Photo looks WSW toward Taylor Peak, the next big hill along the ridge. — Lupe reaches the summit cairn on Walk Up Peak. The cairn is a short distance NW of the actual summit, which Lupe had already visited. Photo looks WSW toward Taylor Peak, the next big hill along the ridge.

Looking WNW from the summit cairn on Walk Up Peak.

This photo looks ENE from near the summit cairn on Walk Up Peak. It shows a good deal of the ground Lupe traversed to get here. She climbed up from the left side of the photo near the far end of the ridge. Dagget Peak and Eccentric Benchmark at the 2 big hills in the distance at the right edge of the picture. — This photo looks ENE from near the summit cairn on Walk Up Peak. It shows a good deal of the high ground Lupe traversed to get here. She climbed up from the left side of the photo near the far end of the ridge. Dagget Peak and Eccentric Benchmark are the 2 big hills in the distance at the right edge of the picture.

It was windy up on Walk Up Peak. The wind had been blowing ever since Lupe reached the high country. Puffy white clouds raced across the sky heading S or SE. Lupe doesn’t really like wind, but it wasn’t too bad. She was willing to go onward and climb another peak. Taylor Peak (12,600 ft.) was next in line to the W. Lupe and SPHP headed off in that direction, leaving Walk Up Peak behind.

Down at the lowest part of the saddle between Walk Up Peak and Taylor Peak, Lupe discovered an odd looking little tower. It looked like some kind of weather station to SPHP. Lupe wasn’t sure, she was more suspicious. It just didn’t look right to her. She investigated it cautiously at first, before deciding it was nothing to worry about.

Lupe checks out the possible weather station between Walk Up and Taylor Peaks.

The summit of Taylor Peak was a huge jumble of purple-gray rocks interspersed with heather. Lupe found a summit cairn in the midst of the sea of rocks. The cairn was so far from the edge of the mountain that the only interesting view was off to the WSW. There were some high mountains in that direction. SPHP wondered if the highest one might not be Kings Peak, the highest point in all of Utah. It was in the right direction, so maybe it was Kings Peak, but SPHP was not certain.

Lupe wasn’t worried about the view. She was tired of the wind and ready for a rest. After some water and Taste of the Wild, a comfy bit of heather near the summit cairn on Taylor Peak served as a Dingo bed. She wanted SPHP to scratch her belly. It must have felt good. After a few minutes she was asleep. Lupe and SPHP stayed at the cairn for a good long while. It was a great place to be. Lupe and SPHP hadn’t seen another soul all day, and wouldn’t see anyone on the way back either.

Is that **Kings Peak (13,528 ft.)**, the highest mountain in Utah, in the distance? SPHP thought maybe it was, but didn’t really know. Photo looks WSW.

Lupe chillin' on Taylor Peak. She wished the wind would stop, but it didn't. — Lupe chillin’ on Taylor Peak. She wished the wind would stop, but it didn’t.

After a while, it was time to go. There were more peaks farther W along the ridge, but the puffy white clouds seemed to be getting more and more numerous. It was afternoon, and a long way back to the G6. The N wind wasn’t all that strong, but it was relentless. It was probably best to head back, rather than go any farther.

The way back was just a retracement of Lupe’s journey to Taylor Peak. On the way, she visited the summit of Walk Up Peak again for another look.

A view to the ESE from Taylor Peak. Elbow Lake is the closest one. A portion of Chepeta Lake is seen beyond it. — Before leaving Taylor Peak, Lupe went to check out this view to the ESE. Elbow Lake is the long skinny one. A portion of Chepeta Lake is seen beyond it.

Looking NW from near the summit cairn on Walk Up Peak. — Looking NW at the Burnt Fork Lakes from near the summit cairn on Walk Up Peak.

Looking SE from the summit cairn on Walk Up Peak toward the actual summit.

A last look at Walk Up Lake and the country S of the big ridge. Photo looks SE.

By the time Lupe started heading down the N side of the big ridge, the weather was starting to look a bit ominous. The clouds to the NW looked bigger and darker than before. Maybe it was going to rain?

As Lupe heads down the N side of the big ridge, the weather looks like rain is a possibility. Photo looks W toward Fish Lake. — As Lupe heads down the N side of the big ridge, the clouds look like rain is a possibility. Photo looks W toward Fish Lake.

The wind grew stronger. Dark clouds sailed by. It rained, but only a few drops. There was no thunder or lightning. By the time Lupe was down to the forest near the base of the big ridge, it was all over. The clouds were gone, the wind had died down, and it was a beautiful day again.

By the time Lupe reached the forest, it was a beautiful day again.

Lupe was glad to get back to the forest. There was no wind! There were squirrels! It was fun! Lupe explored the forest with enthusiasm. In hardly any time at all, she was back to Tamarack Lake.

Lupe approaching Tamarack Lake from the W.

Near the E end of Tamarack Lake, there was a side trail that went 1/3 mile S to Jessen Lake. It seemed like a fun thing to do. There was time and the weather was now lovely, so Lupe took the side trail. It went through the forest just E of Tamarack Lake.

Lupe on her way to Jessen Lake. Here she is E of Tamarack Lake.

Jessen Lake was smaller than Tamarack Lake. It was tucked more closely beneath the big ridge to the S. Forests surrounded the entire lake. Lupe followed the trail E along the N shore.

At the NE corner of Jessen Lake, a stream left the lake flowing NE. The Jessen Lake trail paralleled the stream, making a loop back to the main trail. Lupe was now less than 0.5 mile from the trailhead at Spirit Lake. The fun wasn’t over quite yet, though! The pines along the main trail were full of squirrels trying to enjoy the evening. The joyous high-pitched barking of an American Dingo echoed through the forest.

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