Dingo Vacations – Page 172 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Day 1 of Lupe’s 2012 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast.

Something different was happening. Lupe didn’t know what it all meant. She was 1 year and 7 months old, so the world was still pretty new. A couple days before, Lanis had arrived from Indiana in his Honda Element. Now Lanis and SPHP were carting the rear seats out of the Element, and into the living room. Lots of gear got stuffed into the back of the Element.

Lupe wondered what was going on. She had no idea what was coming. She didn’t know she was about to set out on her first ever Dingo Vacation. Even Lanis and SPHP had only a vague idea where Lupe was ultimately going to go. For starters, the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, then probably to the Beartooths, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. After that, well, who knew? It was an adventure!

Shortly after 10:00 AM on 8-8-12, Lupe, Lanis & SPHP headed out. Lanis drove, SPHP was navigator, and Lupe was perched on a pile of camping gear and supplies covered with blankets and pillows.

When Lupe was a little puppy, she hated riding in the car. It made her sick. Her ears drooped at just the mention of the car. It took a long time, but Lupe had outgrown her car sickness. She finally realized riding in the car meant that something fun was about to happen. Still, SPHP wondered how she would fare on a long trip.

Lupe sets out on her first ever Dingo Vacation in Lanis' Honda Element perched comfortably on a pile of blankets. — Lupe sets out on her first ever Dingo Vacation in Lanis’ Honda Element perched comfortably on a pile of blankets.

Lupe did great in the Honda Element! She was getting attention, and having a good time looking out the windows. Soon Lupe was in Wyoming heading W on I-90. She was going to the big mountains for the first time ever. Her first big mountain range would be the Bighorns in north central Wyoming.

At Gillette, WY, Lupe left I-90. She went N to Spotted Horse on Hwy 14/16. This was a slightly longer route than just staying on I-90, but SPHP was curious to see what was there. Spotted Horse turned out to be just a wide spot in the road. However, there was a little store. More importantly, there actually was a spotted horse!

Lanis went into the store to see what they had. Meanwhile, Lupe met a white and black dog. Lanis returned with ice cream bars, the first treat of the trip. Lupe was quite enthusiastic about this turn of events. She eagerly helped SPHP out.

By the time Lupe reached Sheridan, WY, it was getting to be time for something a little more substantial than an ice cream bar. Lanis and SPHP stopped, and got Subway sandwiches. Lupe would have her Taste of the Wild. At Dayton, WY, there was a park on the Tongue River. Lupe, Lanis and SPHP stopped at the park for a peaceful picnic along the clear running stream.

At least it started off as a peaceful picnic, but after a few minutes, there was the sound of machinery. It seemed to be coming from upstream. It got louder. In a couple of minutes, the source of the noise appeared – a front end loader came right down the middle of the stream carrying a boulder. Back and forth it went. The front end loader was busy retrieving and rearranging boulders in the Tongue River. Apparently nature had placed them in the wrong spot.

Lanis was rather amazed and amused by the front end loader charging up and down through the river. Somehow it just didn’t seem right. Lupe, Lanis and SPHP went farther downstream to escape the noise, but the clear running river wasn’t clear any more, at least not during the picnic.

A front end loader moving boulders around in the Tongue River attended Lupe's picnic in Dayton, WY. — A front end loader moving boulders around in the Tongue River attended Lupe’s picnic in Dayton, WY. Even Lupe looks like she thinks it’s funny.

From Dayton, Lupe headed up into the Bighorn Mountains on Hwy 14. SPHP suggested going to Dead Swede campground, which is situated in a beautiful location on the Tongue River. At Dead Swede, Lupe and SPHP stayed at a campsite to claim it, while Lanis went to get a registration slip. Campground hosts came by patrolling on an ATV. They saw Lupe and SPHP standing at the empty campsite.

Right away they stopped and launched into a speech about how Lupe couldn’t be off leash, we had to pay within 30 minutes, we couldn’t do this and couldn’t do that. We had to do this and had to do that. The campground hosts claimed to be here to help us enjoy OUR national forest and wilderness experience. Then they left.

Yeah, right! SPHP has no use for Washington bureaucrats, and certainly doesn’t need them to enjoy a “wilderness” experience. Lanis was back within a few minutes with the registration slip. SPHP told him to forget it – Lupe was leaving!

Looking NE out at the high plains from one of the turnouts along Hwy 14 heading up into the Bighorn Mountains.

Lupe, Lanis and SPHP went on to check out the Giant Mushroom area. There were some nice views from up on a ridge there to the SE toward Cloud Peak (13,167 ft.), the highest mountain in the Bighorns. There were interesting dolomite rock formations, including the Giant Mushroom. Lupe had fun exploring. The ground was pretty lumpy for camping, though. Lupe, Lanis and SPHP went on to Shell Creek campground.

Lanis at the giant mushroom in the Bighorn Mountains.

SPHP had a chat with the campground hosts at Shell Creek. They were pretty cool and laid back. They didn’t care too much what happened, as long as no one complained and everyone acted responsibly. That was fine. Lanis and Lupe also approved of Shell Creek campground, which was in a beautiful spot in the upper end of Shell Canyon.

So Lanis and SPHP reserved site No. 11. Like all the other sites, it was right next to Shell Creek. Lanis and SPHP set up the tent, or Lupe’s “tiny house”. Lupe, Lanis, and SPHP all went for a walk along Shell Creek. For the first time ever, Lupe saw a moose. The moose had a calf. Mama and baby were down along the creek getting a drink. They soon sauntered off into the woods.

The moose at Shell Creek, Bighorn Mountains, WY. — Mama moose at Shell Creek, Bighorn Mountains, WY.

Back at the campsite, Lanis and SPHP made a late dinner. Lupe had some Alpo. By the time dinner was done and cleaned up, it was 10:00 PM. Lupe, Lanis and SPHP all piled into the tent. Lupe was pretty excited. She was going to spend the night out here?! This was new and different. It took her a while to settle down. She finally fell asleep to the soothing sound of the rushing waters of Shell Creek.

Now and then as she dreamed, she still twitched in excitement.

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The thin yellow-orange crescent of the dying moon hung low in the eastern sky. Overhead, the Milky Way stretched across the dark heavens. Birds were already singing, though. Dawn was coming. A faint light was already discernable on the horizon. In the darkness, Lupe sniffed around the huge vacant parking lot of the scenic overlook on the S side of Hwy 20 E of Harrison, Nebraska.

Lupe and SPHP weren’t sleepy, but there wasn’t any sense in leaving before it was light out. Lupe had come to see what was here. It would be light out soon enough. Back in the G6 for another restless hour. SPHP finally dozed a bit and woke up to find Lupe wide awake, and the sun about to rise.

Sunrise from the scenic overlook on the S side of Hwy 20 in western Nebraska.

Sunrise a few minutes later from Hwy 20 approaching Fort Robson State Park.

Within a few minutes, Lupe and SPHP were heading E on Hwy 20 toward Crawford, Nebraska. It was a gorgeous morning for a drive. Fort Robson State Park was still closed when Lupe passed through. Nearing Crawford, Lupe stopped briefly at a golf course with a great view of Saddle Rock, one of the Red Cloud Buttes.

Lupe likes chasing balls, but she isn’t much into golf. She still stopped at this golf course W of Crawford due to the great view of Saddle Rock, part of the Red Cloud Buttes. Photo looks WNW.

Four or five miles N of Crawford, SPHP left Hwy 2/71 turning left on Toadstool Road. The gravel road was in fairly decent shape. It went W a couple miles before following the Burlington Northern railroad NW. Lupe had a blast riding with her head out the window in the wind. She barked with great vigor and enthusiasm at mostly unimpressed cows and horses along the way.

SPHP spotted an interesting mountain a few miles to the W. It looked like a great peakbagging goal for Lupe on a future trip. SPHP had no idea what mountain it was. A check of the maps later on revealed it is called Roundtop (4,540 ft.).

SPHP thought the mountain L of Center looked like an interesting possible future peakbagging goal for Lupe. A check of the maps later on revealed it is most likely Roundtop (4,540 ft.). — SPHP thought the mountain L of Center looked like an interesting possible future peakbagging goal for Lupe. A check of the maps later on revealed it is most likely **Roundtop (4,540 ft.)**.

After following the railroad for 10 or 11 miles, Lupe reached a turn to the W for Toadstool Geologic Park. It was a little over a mile to the campground. Lupe was soon there. Not another soul was in sight, which was just perfect! Lupe and SPHP got out to take a look around.

Lupe at the entrance to Toadstool Geological Park in western Nebraska's badlands. A sod home is seen on the L. — Lupe at the entrance to Toadstool Geological Park in western Nebraska’s badlands. A sod home is seen on the L.

Toadstool Geologic Park has 6 campsites with covered picnic tables, fire rings, grills, and plenty of flat grassy land to pitch a tent on. There was a restroom, too, but that was it for amenities. There were no trees to provide shade, and no water or electricity. On the bright side, this time of year there weren’t any fees, either. The flat, exposed campground was next to stark, but beautiful badlands territory just to the W.

Before checking out the badlands on the Fossil Loop Trail, Lupe went to take a look at the campground’s sod house. A sign said the sod house had been constructed in 1984 as an example of the homes pioneers lived in on the prairie. Lupe went inside, but it didn’t take her long to check out the only amenities, which consisted of four walls and a roof. Life used to be extremely hard on the prairie!

Lupe on a little mound near the sod house. Photo looks SSW at some of the fossil rich badlands at Toadstool Geological Park. — Lupe on a little mound near the sod house. Photo looks SSW at some of the fossil-rich badlands at Toadstool Geological Park.

Next, Lupe and SPHP went to check out the Fossil Loop Trail. The mile long trail starts on the W side of the campground. There was a box full of pamphlets providing a self-guided tour. Numbered posts along the trail correspond to numbered sections in the pamphlet, so it was a good idea to take one along. According to the pamphlet:

Toadstool Geologic Park is a key link in understanding the earth’s history from 38 to 24 million years ago. Geologists consider it the “type section for the White River Group,” meaning that all other similar-aged deposits in North America are compared to the geologic standard designated at Toadstool. It is also the standard for animal fossils of that age – the Eocene and Oligocene epochs about 30 million years ago.

One of several informational displays at Toadstool Geologic Park.

While SPHP took the Fossil Loop Trail self-guided tour, Lupe raced around sniffing and exploring the badlands. There wasn’t much vegetation and she didn’t encounter any cactus, which made Lupe very happy. She did agree to take a little time out from her explorations of the strange rock formations to add some Carolina Dog charm to a number of photos.

Lupe among the toadstools. The toadstools are slabs of sandstone perched precariously on clay supports. Many of the sandstone caps were leaning sharply in one direction or another. Some of the toadstools were surprisingly large.

A tiny trickling stream wound through part of the area the Fossil Loop Trail went through. During periods of significant rain or melting snow, it was clear the stream would flash flood, making the trail at first impassable and later a complete muddy mess, but it was fine while Lupe was here.

A tiny stream trickled through this valley. In wet weather, parts of the trail would be a mucky mess.

About halfway around the loop, there was an intersection with a Bison Trail. A sign said the Bison Trail was 3 miles long. There was no mention of the Bison Trail in the pamphlet, or at any of the informational displays back at the campground.

Lupe near the intersection with the Bison Trail. Lupe and SPHP didn't take the Bison trail, which was 3 miles long according to the sign, since there was no indication where it was really going. — Lupe near the intersection with the Bison Trail. Lupe and SPHP didn’t take the Bison trail, which was 3 miles long according to the sign, since there was no indication where it was really going.

Shortly after passing the Bison Trail, the Fossil Loop Trail climbed out of the shallow valley up onto some of the badlands formations. The trail stayed up here the rest of the way. A little bit of easy scrambling was required, and the trail went close to the edge of some cliffs, but this section of the Fossil Loop Trail had some of the most interesting rock formations.

When it rains, this dry wash must fill with water and create quite a waterfall! The trail passed very close to the cliff partly in view on the lower left. Photo looks SSE from the Fossil Loop Trail. — When it rains, this dry wash must fill with water and create quite a waterfall! The trail passed very close to the cliff partly in view on the lower left. Photo looks SSE.

An American Dingo adds a dash of color to this otherwise pale tan and blue scene. 30 million years ago miniature horses, humpless camels, gigantic tortoises, pigs and rhinoceroses roamed here. Now dingoes do! — An American Dingo adds a dash of color to this otherwise pale tan and blue scene. 30 million years ago miniature horses, humpless camels, gigantic tortoises, pigs and rhinoceroses roamed here. Now Dingoes do!

The Fossil Loop Trail was fun, but didn’t take very long to complete. Upon returning to the campground, Lupe and SPHP had a bit to eat. The solitude was broken when another vehicle entered the park. It turned out that a couple from northern Italy, Lorenzo and Gabriella, had come to hike the Bison Trail! When they couldn’t find any information about it, they came over to meet Lupe and talk to SPHP.

Lorenzo and Gabriella said the Bison Trail leads to a boneyard where 700 hundred bison had died! They wondered where the trail was. SPHP told them to just take the Fossil Loop Trail. Halfway along it they would find the intersection with the Bison Trail. After chatting pleasantly for a few more minutes, off they went.

SPHP was impressed that Lorenzo and Gabriella had travelled so far to see Toadstool Geological Park, but it was time for Lupe to move on. Except for a joy ride N barking at cows and horses, Lupe’s mini-Dingo Vacation in scenic western Nebraska was coming to an end. Minus the cactus on the hike with new friend Jobe Wymore, it had all been great fun!

Maybe Lupe will return some day to camp out at Toadstool Geological Park. Then she can explore the Bison Trail, climb Roundtop, and visit Fort Robson State Park. A stretch of pleasant dry weather during spring or fall would be the best time to be here. In badlands like these, winters are too cold and the summers baking hot!

There's a little scrambling around on stuff like this on the Fossil Loop Trail, but it's not hard. — There’s a little scrambling around on stuff like this on the Fossil Loop Trail, but it’s not hard.

Note: After Lupe returned home, a little online research revealed that the Bison Trail at Toadstool Geological Park probably goes to the Hudson-Meng Education & Research Center. Approximately 120-125 (not 700) bison died at this site around 10,000 years ago.

Related Links:

Next Dingo Vacation Prior Adventure

This Dingo Vacation Prior Dingo Vacation

On & Off the Hudson Meng Bison Trail – Toadstool Geologic Park to Roundtop Peak & Beyond, Nebraska (3-14-18)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Tag: Dingo Vacations

Spotted Horse, The Giant Mushroom & Shell Creek, Wyoming (8-8-12)

Toadstool Geologic Park, Nebraska (4-4-16)