Part 1 of Day 3 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!
August, yet Banff was quiet and cool. Low clouds hid the mountains. Only a few people were wandering about this early in the normally bustling tourist town. Summer had vanished. It felt a little like fall with winter on the way. Lupe & SPHP left Banff heading W on Trans-Canada Hwy 1. (5:44 AM, 52°F)
Not until Lupe was well N of Lake Louise on Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 did the clouds begin to dissipate. The sky was clear by the time she reached the picnic ground at Bow Lake.
Lupe by a small stream that flows into Bow Lake near the picnic ground along the E shore. Photo looks WNW.
After 2 days spent almost entirely on the road, Lupe needed to get out of the G6 and do something active for a while. The Canadian Rockies are a perfect place for that! One of the most beautiful short day hikes was right here at Bow Lake. With the sun out now, the morning would warm up fast. It was still early enough for Lupe to beat the hordes of tourists certain to appear before too long.
SPHP drove over to the N side of Bow Lake, parking the G6 at Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge(7:16 AM). The big gravel parking lot at the trailhead for Bow Glacier Falls was practically empty, but would be overflowing soon enough on a day like this. Before hitting the trail, Lupe went down to the N shore of Bow Lake. Wisps of fog lingered over the smooth, still waters. Lupe could see Bow Peak(9,318 ft.) and part of the Crowfoot Glacier across the lake.
Before hitting the trail to Bow Glacier Falls, Lupe went down to the N shore of Bow Lake near Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. She could see Bow Peak (L) and part of the Crowfoot Glacier (R) beyond the far shore. Photo looks SE.
Bow Glacier Falls, Lupe’s ultimate destination, was already in view to the SW. From a distance like this, Lupe could even see part of the Bow Glacier, an arm of the massive Wapta Icefield, above the falls.
From the shore of Bow Lake near the Num-Ti-Jah lodge, Lupe could already see Bow Glacier Falls (Center, in shadow) and Bow Glacier above it. Photo looks SW.Bow Glacier & Bow Glacier Falls with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.
On her way to the trail, Lupe passed by Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah lodge with its distinctive red roof.
Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge is located along the N shore of beautiful Bow Lake, just off Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.Loop near Num-Ti-Jah lodge with its distinctive red roof.
The first part of the trek to Bow Glacier Falls went W right along the N shore of Bow Lake. The easy, level trail gradually turned SW. The views were stunning from the very start.
The Bow Glacier Falls trail started out from Num-Ti-Jah lodge with this gorgeous view of Crowfoot Mountain(10,023 ft.) (R) across Bow Lake. Part of the Crowfoot Glacier is visible on the L. Photo looks SSE.Lupe sets out on the Bow Glacier Falls trail. The easy hike to spectacular Bow Glacier Falls (R) is one of the most popular short day hikes in the Canadian Rockies.Looking SE across Bow Lake. Bow Peak(9,318 ft.) (Center) and Crowfoot Mountain (R) are in view.The sharp peak a bit L of Center is Saint Nicholas Peak(9,639 ft.). Mount Olive(10,256 ft.) is on the far L. Photo looks SW.Wildflowers, Bow Lake, Saint Nicholas Peak & Mount Olive from the Bow Glacier Falls trail. Photo looks SW.Loop a little farther along the trail with Bow Lake & Crowfoot Mountain in the background. Photo looks SSE.Getting close to the W end of Bow Lake. Photo looks SSW.
By the time Lupe reached the W end of Bow Lake, Bow Glacier Falls had sunk out of sight behind a forested ridge. The trail now went SSW following a swift glacier-fed stream. The stream was braided where it flowed into Bow Lake.
Looking back toward Bow Lake from the braided stream. Cirque Peak(9,820 ft.) (L) looms high in the distance. Lupe had climbed Cirque Peakback on 7-27-14. Cirque Peak had been a great adventure, too, with an awesome view of Bow Lake and the Wapta Icefield above Bow Glacier Falls! Photo looks NE.
Following the stream was super easy. The trail stayed close to the W bank, but never crossed the river. In some places cairns marked the way, but they weren’t needed, since it was always obvious where the trail was headed. Other than one short stretch where the stream forced the trail into the forest, the terrain was level the entire way to a set of stairs at the base of a forested ridge.
Lupe heads up the valley. The trail followed the W side of the gorgeous stream, never crossing it or venturing far from it. Photo looks SSW.Looking downstream back toward Bow Lake, a slice of which is now barely visible. Photo looks NNE.Another look downstream from only slightly farther on. Lupe had gotten an early enough start so she had the whole Bow Glacier Falls trail all to herself. She saw no one else at all the whole way to the falls. Photo looks NNE.Looking upstream now. The trail eventually climbs over the low forested ridge ahead. In fact, it can be seen starting up the ridge a little L of Center. Photo looks SSW.Loop getting close to the steps (Center) at the base of the forested ridge where the Bow Glacier Falls trail starts up over it. The stream flows down through a narrow gorge just to the L of the stairs. Photo looks SSW.Lupe visits the downstream end of the narrow gorge the stream flows through on the way to Bow Lake. Photo looks SW.
The only steep section of the whole Bow Glacier Falls trail began with the stairs at the base of the forested ridge. During this climb, which didn’t take Looper long, the stream was only occasionally in sight. It could always be heard, though, rushing in a roaring torrent through a deep, narrow chasm nearby.
Once up on the forested ridge, Lupe had a panoramic view of what lay ahead from a bare spot along the edge of the far side. Below her, two pale blue glacial streams joined forces to form the larger stream that disappeared immediately into the chasm. One of these smaller streams flowed down from snowfields hidden in an intriguing, mysterious valley to the S. The other stream came from Bow Glacier Falls, which was now in sight again at the far end of a large rocky amphitheater to the SW.
At the end of the climb up the forested ridge, Lupe reached this barren high spot with a view of what lay ahead. Two streams could be seen coming together just before plunging down into the narrow chasm. The stream at Center flows down from snowfields in the mysterious valley to the S. The other stream (R) comes from Bow Glacier Falls. Photo looks S.From the barren spot on the forested ridge, Bow Glacier Falls was in view again at the far end of a rocky amphitheater. Photo looks SW.Bow Glacier Falls from the bare spot on the forested ridge with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.Another look from the same spot.Looking from the bare spot on the forested ridge into the intriguing valley to the S with lots of help from the telephoto lens. A trail could be seen going up this valley, but SPHP didn’t see how Lupe could get over to it. Mount Olive is on the R. Photo looks S.
Continuing on, Lupe lost a little elevation as the trail descended the other side of the forested ridge into the lower end of the amphitheater below Bow Glacier Falls. Once in the amphitheater, it was a simple matter to follow the trail up toward the base of the falls.
The Bow Glacial Falls trail became braided and ultimately disintegrated before actually reaching the falls, but the waterfall was always in sight directly ahead. The rest of the way, Loop sniffed and explored her way among rocks and two inch deep streams that trickled everywhere.
Beyond the forested ridge, the Bow Glacier Falls trail winds its way up toward the base of the falls. Photo looks SW.Looper on her way through the rocky amphitheater to the base of the falls. Even though the trail eventually disintegrated, Bow Glacier Falls was always in sight all the rest of the way. Photo looks SW.Getting close!This was Lupe’s 2nd visit to Bow Glacier Falls. She had also come here on her 2013 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies.Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada 8-2-17
An hour and twenty minutes after leaving Num-Ti-Jah lodge at Bow Lake, Lupe arrived at the base of the falls. Not a soul was around. Due to her early morning start, Looper hadn’t seen anyone else on the whole trail. The coveted solitude wasn’t likely to last long. The Bow Glacier Falls trail is so accessible, easy, and scenic from start to finish that it is one of the most popular short day hikes in the Canadian Rockies.
Due to her early morning start, Lupe arrived in time to enjoy Bow Glacier Falls all by herself. She hadn’t seen a soul on the whole trail, and no one had beat her here. Photo looks SW.
Of course, the first thing to do was to climb up next to the falls about as high as seemed reasonably safe.
Lupe next to Bow Glacier Falls. The roar of the rushing waters was tremendous!An American Dingo poses dramatically at the base of Bow Glacier Falls.Another look including the top of the falls.Zoomed in on Looper.
Bow Glacier Falls was spectacular, but the views back down the valley were amazing, too!
The views back down the valley from Bow Glacier Falls were amazing! Observation Peak (L) and Cirque Peak (Center) are in the distance. Photo looks NE.
Lupe and SPHP scrambled around a bit more to get a little higher. The terrain wasn’t that difficult, but some of the rocks were very slick with water trickling down over them. Loopster did manage to get somewhat higher than before. The difference in elevation was enough so the Carolina Dog could now see the W end of Bow Lake.
By scrambling around a bit, Lupe managed to get a little higher than before. She could have gone even farther, but SPHP decided this was good enough. Most of the rocks higher up were wet and slippery.Lupe as far up as she went at Bow Glacier Falls. She climbed up here a couple of times during her nearly hour long visit. From this high up, she could see the N end of Bow Lake down the valley.Climbing a little higher had brought the N end of Bow Lake (Center) into view. Observation Peak (L) and Cirque Peak (R) are seen in the distance. Photo looks NE.Lupe stands on a ledge next to a precariously constructed cairn. Lupe and SPHP took a 30 minute break on this ledge.
Lupe climbed about as far up as the Carolina Dog could reasonably go. Most of rocks above her were wet and slippery. SPHP decided she had gone far enough. Bow Glacier Falls flows down from an unseen upper lake located below Bow Glacier. It would have been great fun to get up above the falls to see the upper lake and the glacier, but a solid line of cliffs ruled out any possibility of doing that.
Amid the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies, Lupe and SPHP took a 30 minute break on the dry parts of a rock ledge. The day had warmed up nicely. Lupe didn’t have a care in the world. SPHP filled 3 water bottles with water from the Bow Glacier which had tumbled over the falls. Lupe munched Taste of the Wild, and enjoyed being petted.
The glorious solitude lasted longer than SPHP expected it would, but inevitably people were seen coming up the trail. The time had arrived to think about moving on.
Lupe perched for a final time back at the high point of her journey to Bow Glacier Falls.All told, Lupe and SPHP enjoyed an incredible 50 minutes of solitude at Bow Glacier Falls.
After 50 minutes of glorious solitude at Bow Glacier Falls, Lupe and SPHP started down. Lupe paused along the edge of the falls once or twice for photos, then it was time to hit the trail. People were getting close.
Loop begins her descent.Final moments at gorgeous Bow Glacier Falls.
A hiker in one of the first groups Lupe passed on her way down told SPHP that a side trail existed that went all the way up Mount Jimmy Simpson(9,731 ft.). The side trail left the main trail down at the forested ridge, and wasn’t hard to find. That sounded great! SPHP was interested immediately. Lupe should do that today, right now!
Loop on the way through the rocky amphitheater heading back down to the forested ridge. Observation Peak(10,413 ft.) (L) and Cirque Peak (R). Photo looks NE.Mount Jimmy Simpson from near the forested ridge. A hiker had told SPHP that a side trail to the top of Mount Jimmy Simpson left the Bow Glacier Falls trail at the forested ridge, and that it would be easy to find. Lupe and SPHP spent half an hour looking for it, but managed not to find it. All the side trails seemed to dead end in the forest.
Searching for the trail up Mount Jimmy Simpson, Lupe and SPHP tried several side trails on or near the forested ridge. None went far. They all quickly faded away in dense forest on steep slopes. Hmm. The hiker had said the correct side trail was easy to find. Easy perhaps, if one knew exactly where to look.
By now, throngs of hikers were heading up to Bow Glacier Falls. SPHP asked some of them if they knew anything about a trail to Mount Jimmy Simpson? No one, not even experienced professional guides leading large groups, had a clue. Few had even heard of Mount Jimmy Simpson. Disappointed, SPHP gave up on the idea.
Lupe remained cheerful, however. The trek to Bow Glacier Falls had been perfect! The scenery was stunning the entire way, and she’d had a lot of fun sniffing around and getting some exercise. Now on on the way back, she was getting to see and do it all over again.
Loopster back at the bare spot on the forested ridge where she had a great view of the mysterious valley to the S. The lighting was better now than earlier in the day, but she still couldn’t see what was hidden around that tantalizing corner at the far end of the valley. Photo looks S.Getting close to the stairs leading to the lower valley. Photo looks NNE.Cirque Peak(9,820 ft.) (Center) on the way back to Bow Lake. Photo looks NE.
Before noon, Lupe was back at Num-Ti-Jah lodge. Even with almost an hour spent relaxing near the falls, and the failed search for the side trail to Mount Jimmy Simpson, the whole trek to Bow Glacier Falls and back had taken only a little over 4 hours.
The trail to Bow Glacier Falls had been a grand time. The American Dingo had enjoyed a wonderful needed break from the G6, and seen a favorite part of the glorious Canadian Rockies again. She was now ready to continue the long journey N on the way to her next adventure.
Looking back at Bow Glacier Falls, now far in the distance, from Bow Lake shortly before reaching Num-Ti-Jah lodge and the G6 again.
Not much of an artist are you, SPHP? Can’t even draw a decent stick Dingo!
True, that! But it’s not a stick, Dingo. It’s a topographic map. With all of two contours on it. It’s going to have to do.
We’re going to rely on that?
Yeppers. Can’t waste any more time trying to print out a decent map. No telling where we might wind up with this wonderful homemade navigation tool, but we’ve got to get going.
Why can’t you print out a map? Is the printer broken?
No, I don’t think so. The computer and the printer are just having a spat. They’re refusing to talk to each other. Probably angry and upset by something one of these automatic Windows 10 updates said. I see that the printer got all huffy and “migrated” on 3-9-18. I never told it to do that, and it never asked for permission. It just took off on its own free artificial intelligence.
Migrated? Are you blind, SPHP? The printer is right there, still on your desk. It never goes anywhere.
Oh, you would be surprised, Looper. It migrates digitally. In this case, off to Noprintyland again, where it loves to wander off to every chance it gets.
So even though the printer is still right here, you’re saying it’s off having adventures of its own in Noprintyland?
Sounds strange, but yeah, that’s about the size of it.
Doesn’t make a lick of sense to me! Are you feeling, OK?
Yes, I’m fine. Anyway, come on! Time to hit the road!
Due to colder than normal wintry weather, Lupe hadn’t really been much of anywhere for a whole month. The snow had been melting the last couple of days, though, and today was supposed to be really nice. Loopster was ready for action – had been for weeks, but SPHP just kept driving. The American Dingo had a fun time barking at cows, but was still glad when SPHP finally parked the G6.
Lupe hopped out. She was at a familiar place, Cascade Falls along Hwy 71 at the S end of the Black Hills. Although Cascade Falls is a popular swimming and wading spot in the summer, no one was here now.
Let’s go take a look at the falls, Looper.
Lupe was happy to see Cascade Falls again. Photo looks WNW.Loop by Cascade Creek with Devil’s Slide Mountain(3,965 ft.) in the background. Photo looks NE.So are we gonna have a picnic, SPHP?
Lupe would have been perfectly happy staying at Cascade Falls, but that wasn’t her destination today. She was just here to stretch her legs for a few minutes, then it was back in the G. The drive S continued.
Nebraska! That sign said Nebraska! Are we going to cousin Dusty’s house in Colorado, SPHP? You sure packed light this time.
No, we aren’t going all the way to Colorado, Looper. We’re going back to Toadstool Geologic Park to explore part of the Hudson Meng Bison Trail. Remember when you took the Fossil Loop Trail a couple of years ago? That was in Toadstool Geologic Park.
Oh, yeah! That was awesome exploring the Nebraska badlands! Had to watch out for cactus, though. So we’re going back to take the Bison Trail now? Will we get to see the Hudson Meng Bison Kill? Oh, I hope so! Just think of it, SPHP, the bones of 600 bison, just laying there waiting to be gnawed on! Why, I will be the richest Dingo on earth with a treasure like that!
No, we’re not going all the way to Hudson Meng. Sorry. I don’t think it’s open this time of year. They wouldn’t let you chew on their bison bones, anyway. You wouldn’t like it if they did. Those bones are 10,000 year old fossils now. You’re a bit late getting to them.
Oh, too bad. So what are we gonna do then?
We’re going to take the Hudson Meng Bison Trail up the Big Cottonwood Creek drainage. When we’re out of the badlands, we’ll leave the trail and head S for Roundtop Peak. I’m hoping we’ll get to Pine Butte and Wright Peak, too. You will get to do a lot of exploring.
Oh, some peakbagging! Sounds like fun. Not as much fun as 600 bison bones, though.
Almost immediately after crossing the Nebraska state line, SPHP turned R on Toadstool Road. Toadstool Road was gravel. For a few miles there were spots where the road was mighty wet. The G6 went through huge mud puddles sending a slushy, muddy spray everywhere, but fortunately did not become stuck. The road then improved somewhat, up on higher, drier ground.
12 miles from the N end of Toadstool Road, Lupe saw another sign for Toadstool Geologic Park. SPHP turned R (SW) onto a side road that went up over railroad tracks. Toadstool Geologic Park was only 1.5 miles from here, but SPHP stopped a little before Lupe got there. Her peakbagging objectives for the day were in view.
Lupe arrives in NW Nebraska for some peakbagging fun. Roundtop Peak (far L), Pine Butte (L) and Wright Peak (far R) are all in view. Photo looks SW.Roundtop Peak(4,540 ft.) (L) and Pine Butte(4,500 ft.) (R) with a little help from the telephoto lens.Zoomed in on Roundtop Peak.
The road dead ended at a campground. Toadstool Geologic Park was totally deserted when Lupe arrived. SPHP took a quick look at some of the displays, while Lupe sniffed around the campground.
Lupe arrives at Toadstool Geologic Park in remote NW Nebraska.The Toadstool Geologic Park campground is on flat ground on the E edge of fossil bearing badlands. Photo looks SW.One of half a dozen informational displays. Fossils in the park are from the Eocene and Oligocene epochs during the “Golden Age of Mammals”.A display about the geological history of the area.This display is about exploring Toadstool Geologic Park. A 1 mile long Fossil Loop Trail goes through the badlands of Toadstool Geologic Park. Lupe had done the whole loop back in April, 2016. Easy and worthwhile!
After brief preparations, Lupe and SPHP left the campground heading W on the Fossil Loop Trail. (10:29 AM, 53°F) Lupe was soon among the toadstool rock formations Toadstool Geologic Park is named for.
Lupe among the toadstool formations along the Fossil Loop Trail. Photo looks NW.
The Fossil Loop Trail wound among fascinating badlands scenery. Lupe quickly reached a junction with the Hudson Meng Bison Trail.
After an interesting short trek along the Fossil Loop Trail, the junction with the Hudson Meng Bison Trail comes into view beyond Big Cottonwood Creek. Photo looks SW.The Fossil Loop Trail goes L, while the Hudson Meng Bison Trail goes R.Loopster ready to head out on the Hudson Meng Bison Trail. Photo looks W.
The Hudson Meng Bison Trail follows Big Cottonwood Creek S for more than a mile. Big Cottonwood Creek didn’t have any cottonwoods along it, so there wasn’t much shade. Most of the year, the creek would have been dry, but there was a shallow stream of snow melt today.
The trail crossed the creek many times. If conditions had been much wetter, this would have meant numerous slogs through deep mud. Clearly this was no place to be when it was wet. Fortunately, it was just dry enough today so SPHP could avoid getting too terribly muddy. Lupe simply forged ahead oblivious to the creek crossings.
Loop hadn’t gone far when she came to a sign saying she was about to leave Toadstool Geologic Park.
The Hudson Meng Bison Trail soon leaves Toadstool Geologic Park entering the Oglala National Grassland. Photo looks S.
The Hudson Meng Bison Trail promptly faded away. Apparently it sees little use. There was seldom any track to follow, but brown posts topped with beige marked the general route.
As Lupe followed Big Cottonwood Creek upstream, it became little more than a trickle. It wasn’t always possible to tell at a glance which way the Hudson Meng Bison Trail went. Other little creeks trickled out of large side canyons and ravines.
The marker posts weren’t numerous, but if Lupe went more than 5 or 10 minutes without seeing one, she had usually taken a wrong turn into a side canyon and had to backtrack. The correct route was almost always toward the W (R) in the canyon with the most vegetation.
Some of the side canyons proved to be interesting detours. Even if they were the wrong way, Lupe had fun on her brief excursions into them.
Loopster checks out the view from the top of a rock wall overlooking Big Cottonwood Creek. Photo looks WNW.Oh, SPHP, I just had a thought. Do you think we will come to any live bison along the Hudson Meng Bison Trail? Maybe I can get a fresh bison bone yet! Don’t see any bison from up here, but keep an eye out, would ya?Lupe in a scenic side canyon that proved to be the wrong way. Photo looks SE.Back on the trail. A brown marker post topped with beige is seen beyond Loop. Staying toward the W (R) in the canyon with the most grass was usually the correct way to go. Photo looks SSW.
Only a few days ago, it had still been cold out. With some snow still melting, SPHP wasn’t too worried Lupe would run into rattlesnakes.
However, there was a fair amount of her other prairie nemesis around. Cactus wasn’t super abundant, but it wasn’t uncommon either. SPHP had to watch out for it for Looper. In a few places, SPHP carried Lupe beyond larger cactus patches. Every now and then she stepped on a cactus, and didn’t care for that at all. SPHP then had to pull a few small, but painful spines out of her paws.
For the most part, though, the Carolina Dog was doing fine. She was having a good time sniffing and exploring. The badlands scenery following Big Cottonwood Creek was so beautiful and western looking! It was fun to think about all the strange ancient mammals that used to roam this area millions of years ago. Some of their bones are still hidden as fossils back in these wild looking ravines.
Another little stream trickles out of a wild badlands side canyon. Photo looks ESE.That’s kind of an interesting rock up ahead, don’t you think, SPHP? …. Oh, yeah! Pretty cool, Looper, looks like its the right direction, too! Not a bad landmark. Photo looks S.
After crossing muddy Big Cottonwood Creek a zillion times, and dodging cactus patches which were becoming more frequent and extensive, Lupe arrived at a fence. The fence had a big open gap in it where what little remained of Big Cottonwood Creek flowed through. Beyond this gap a trail marker could be seen. For the first time, the trail left the creek’s main channel here and entered a narrow side canyon.
At this fence line, Lupe reaches the end of her trek along Big Cottonwood Creek. A trail marker seen beyond the fence directed Loop into a narrow side canyon on the R.
The side canyon was V-shaped with steep, crumbly sides. The upper rim of this ravine wasn’t all that much higher than where Lupe was at the bottom. Clearly, the American Dingo would soon be reaching the end of the canyon.
Looper going up the narrow side canyon. The sides were steep and crumbly, but she would soon reach the end of this ravine. Photo looks S.
The end of the ravine was steep, but a short climb brought Lupe up onto a vast prairie. A faint, grassy road headed SSE. This was USFS Road No. 918, which would eventually go over a saddle between Roundtop Peak (4,540 ft.) and Pine Butte (4,500 ft.), both now back in view to the S.
Lupe emerged from the Big Cottonwood Creek drainage system up on a vast prairie. Roundtop Peak (L) and Pine Butte (R) were both back in view again. Photo looks S.
A line of Hudson Meng Bison Trail markers led across the prairie heading SW toward another big ravine. This ravine is part of the Whitehead Creek drainage. Following USFS Road No. 918 would have been a little shorter, but Lupe stuck with the Hudson Meng Bison Trail until she got close to the Whitehead Creek ravine instead.
Lupe nears the Whitehead Creek drainage. She left the Hudson Meng Bison Trail here. The trail continues down into the ravine and up the other side on its way to the Hudson Meng Bison Kill. Wright Peak(4,654 ft.) is in view at Center. Photo looks SW.
Instead of following the Bison Trail down into the Whitehead Creek drainage, Lupe left the trail heading SE. She stayed on the high ground overlooking the scenic ravine. The rim of the ravine had only a little grass and virtually no cactus. Lupe gained elevation steadily.
0.75 mile from where she’d left the trail, Lupe neared the top of a small hill. Here she had a good view off to the SW from a different angle than before. A higher ridge could now be seen beyond a sharp hill that SPHP had assumed was Wright Peak. Maybe that higher ridge was actually Wright Peak(4,654 ft.)? SPHP wasn’t certain. It seemed like that might make sense.
Consulting the hand-sketched topo map didn’t help. Knowing that Lupe would ultimately be approaching Wright Peak from the E, SPHP hadn’t extended the map any farther W than Wright Peak. Whether or not there was any higher ground beyond it wasn’t shown.
Nothing could be done to extend the map now. Lupe continued up to the top of the small hill. Roundtop Peak was less than 0.5 mile S.
Lupe on her way up the E edge of the Whitehead Creek drainage. This was a more scenic route than simply following USFS Road No. 918 would have been. Roundtop Peak is at Center. Photo looks SSE.Nearing the top of a grassy hill, Lupe has a good view to the WSW. Up until this point, SPHP had assumed that the sharp hill on the R was Wright Peak. However, Lupe could now see a higher ridge beyond it on the L.Looper reaches the top of the grassy hill. Her first peakbagging destination, Roundtop Peak is only 0.5 mile away. Photo looks S.
Lupe ended up following USFS Road No. 918 part of the way to the base of Roundtop Peak. She left the road to climb the hill’s surprisingly steep N slope.
A forest fire had occurred in this region in 2012. Most of the pine trees on Roundtop were dead. Quite a few had fallen over. The deadfall made getting to the summit of Roundtop Peak harder than it should have been, but it still didn’t take Loop long to reach the top of the hill.
First things first! Lupe was ready for a break. Water and Taste of the Wild. SPHP ate an apple. For a little while, Loop and SPHP rested with a grand view of the western Nebraska prairie off to the SE. Then it was time to tour Roundtop’s summit.
Loopster takes a break up on Roundtop Peak. Photo looks WNW.Lupe enjoyed a grand view of western Nebraska prairies and ridges from Roundtop Peak. She could see Sand Creek Road, which is on the way to the Hudson Meng Buffalo Kill by vehicle. Photo looks SE.Loop at the true summit of Roundtop Peak, which was very close to the E edge of the hill. Photo looks E.A dead pine tree was at the true summit. A forest fire ravaged this region in 2012. Sadly, most of the trees on Roundtop were dead. Photo looks ENE.So which one is it, SPHP? Lupe along the S edge of Roundtop Peak’s summit. Wright Peak had to be one of the two high points seen in the distance. The ridge on the L was clearly higher than the sharper peak on the R. Photo looks WSW.The W half of Roundtop Peak’s summit area is in view here. The S side of the mountain hadn’t been hit as hard by the forest fire. Some of the pines at the W end were also still alive. Photo looks WNW.Sand Creek Road and a long piney ridge are in sight looking SW from Roundtop.
From the W end of Roundtop Peak’s summit, Lupe had an excellent view of her remaining peakbagging objectives.
The high ridge on the L is Peak4760. By now SPHP was mistakenly convinced it was Wright Peak, which is actually at Center. Pine Butte (R) was Lupe’s next stop. Photo looks W.Peak 4760 (L) and Wright Peak (R) with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks WSW.
The summit of Pine Butte(4,500 ft.) is 0.75 mile WNW of Roundtop. It didn’t take Lupe long to get there. Pine Butte had really been hit hard by the 2012 forest fire. Deadfall littered the summit ridge. Not a single pine tree survived. Worse yet, no small trees had germinated since the fire. Pine Butte will not be worthy of its name again for a long, long time.
Looking back at Roundtop from Pine Butte. Photo looks ESE.Pine Butte’s summit ridge had been devastated by the 2012 forest fire. Lupe didn’t find a single living tree, even a small one. Photo looks W.Another look back at Roundtop Peak. Photo looks ESE.The true summit of Pine Butte is near the W end of the hill. Lupe has a grand view of the vast prairie to the NW from here.Peak 4760 (L) and Wright Peak (R) from Pine Butte. Photo looks WSW.
From Pine Butte, Lupe could see the Hudson Meng Bison Kill site buildings. The whole place looked deserted.
Lupe could see buildings of the Hudson Meng Bison Kill site from Pine Butte. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.
Wright Peak was Lupe’s next objective. The Carolina Dog left Pine Butte going partway down a S ridge before turning WSW. She crossed two gravel roads and a fairly high ridge between them before reaching hills which should lead her to Wright Peak. Once she was high up in these hills, she skirted along the S side of them continuing SW.
Looking back at hills Lupe passed on her way to Wright Peak. Photo looks ENE.
Lupe was now very close to Wright Peak, but SPHP mistakenly believed the American Dingo needed to get all the way to the higher ridge to the SW. This error would never have occurred if the printer had operated correctly this morning. With only SPHP’s crude hand sketched topo map to go on, Lupe and SPHP went right on by the true summit.
All Lupe needed to do to reach Wright Peak was climb the steep slope on the R. However, SPHP now mistakenly believed that the higher ridge on the L was Wright Peak. Photo looks SW.
It was an interesting trek nonetheless. Lupe arrived up on the higher ridge to find several high points along a series of small rock formations spread out over a relatively large area. All of these high points were nearly equal in elevation, but the one farthest S seemed perhaps a little higher than the others. Lupe and SPHP repeatedly searched around all these high points looking for the Wright survey benchmark, but found nothing. Lupe was actually on Peak 4760.
Lupe reaches the first high point that SPHP thought might be the summit of Wright Peak. However, Lupe was actually on Peak 4760 here. Photo looks SW.Lupe at the SSW end of Peak 4760. Photo looks SSW.Lupe helped SPHP search for the Wright survey benchmark, but found nothing. Photo looks S.Well, it’s quite a wonderful view whether this is Wright Peak or not, don’t you think, SPHP? The only bad thing is, I still don’t see any bison. Photo looks SW.
Looper and SPHP stayed up on Peak 4760 a little while. Not too long, though. The sun was getting low, and it was a long way back to the G6. There was a need for some speed on the return trip, so Lupe wouldn’t get lost down in the Big Cottonwood Creek canyon after dark on the way back to Toadstool Geologic Park.
Since she was in a hurry, Lupe didn’t go back through the hills the way she had come. Instead, she took a grassy road (USFS Road No. 944) that led down a draw. The draw ultimately fed into the larger Sand Creek drainage. This was a faster route, but didn’t bring Lupe close to the real Wright Peak again. So the Carolina Dog never got to climb it, even though SPHP now suspected the truth.
Lupe on her way down off Peak 4760. Photo looks W.Pine Butte (L) and Roundtop Peak (R) from the E slopes of Peak 4760. Photo looks ENE.The NE end of Peak 4760’s summit area. Photo looks NW.
When Lupe reached Sand Creek Road, she headed ESE. She soon saw an intersection with USFS Road No. 918 ahead. Loop cut over to No. 918 and followed it over the little pass between Pine Butte and Roundtop.
Lupe by a couple of rusty looking water tanks NW of Roundtop Peak. USFS Road No. 918 goes right by these tanks. Photo looks NE.
Once N of Roundtop Peak, the rest of the journey back simply retraced Lupe’s earlier route to Roundtop. It was a beautiful evening. Both Loop and SPHP had a wonderful time. Enough light remained to navigate the muddy Big Cottonwood Creek crossings and avoid the cacti when Lupe reached the badlands again.
The sun was down by the time Loop was back at Toadstool Geologic Park. As twilight faded, Lupe completed the rest of the Fossil Loop Trail, which brought her back to the campground. (7:23 PM, 47°F) It was a long drive home from here, but the fun wasn’t entirely over yet. Until she reached Hwy 71 again, Lupe stood on SPHP’s lap, her head out the window, barking happily at unseen black cows sniffed on the night air.
Lupe N of Roundtop Peak on the way back to Toadstool Geological Park, Nebraska 3-14-18
A hiker in one of the first groups Lupe passed on her way down told SPHP that a side trail existed that went all the way up Mount Jimmy Simpson (9,731 ft.). The side trail left the main trail down at the forested ridge, and wasn’t hard to find. That sounded great! SPHP was interested immediately. Lupe should do that today, right now!
