Day 5 of Lupe’s Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation started out just great. The G6 wouldn’t start. It wouldn’t even try. It just clicked when turning the key. Other than that, it was another glorious morning in the Medicine Bow Mountains of Wyoming. It wasn’t long before kind people came along willing to give the G6 a jump start. The jump fried the tire pressure detection system, but the G6 was running!
Although the plan had been for Lupe to climb Kennaday Peak(10,810 ft.) near Saratoga, suddenly there was a new plan. Lupe was going to get a tour of Laramie, Wyoming! Lupe enjoyed the trip to Laramie on Hwy 130. Once out of the Medicine Bow Range, there were fields with cows to bark at. Lupe hadn’t seen cows for several days. She leaped up and down, back and forth, barking furiously the whole time. By the time Lupe reached Laramie, she needed a big drink of water. She panted happily and seemed quite satisfied with herself.
SPHP found a Wal-Mart in Laramie on Grand Boulevard. Although they were busy and booked up, the Wal-Mart guys tested the G6’s battery almost right away. SPHP was fully prepared to buy a new one, but surprisingly, it tested just fine. The G6 seemed to start again fine, too. Hmm. Mechanical things just don’t fix themselves very often, but whatever.
Somehow SPHP had forgotten to bring a can opener on the trip. Wal-Mart was a great place to buy one. It had been a long drive to Laramie just to buy a can opener, but it was all SPHP really accomplished in Laramie. After a picnic at a Kiwanis Park on the way out of town, Lupe headed back up into the Medicine Bow Range. The cows along Hwy 130 were noisily assaulted by the crazed dingo once again.
Back in the Medicine Bows, at the junction of USFS Roads No. 100 & 215, SPHP parked the G6 at a dispersed camping spot. It was already 3:34 PM and 75°F out by the time Lupe and SPHP were ready to start up USFS Road No. 215, which goes all the way to the summit of Kennaday Peak. A sign warned that the 6 mile long road was narrow and steep. Before leaving the dispersed camping site, Lupe checked out Fish Creek and wetted down her barker again.
Lupe enjoys a quick dip in Fish Creek before starting out for Kennaday Peak on USFS Road No. 215.
Most of the way to Kennaday Peak, USFS Road No. 215 wasn’t nearly so steep and narrow as the sign had warned. The G6 could have gone most of the way up with no problem, except that there were virtually no places to park anywhere along the road. The road did deteriorate substantially near the summit, but it still would have been a piece of cake for any high clearance vehicle.
No. 215 went through a forest until it got very close to the barren summit area of Kennaday Peak. So there really wasn’t much to see along the way other than trees. There was a horse near Fish Creek at a sharp bend in the road where it crossed the creek fairly early on. Three ATV’s came along, the last one coming down the road with a black lab running in front of it for exercise. Other than that, Lupe and SPHP had the road completely to themselves the whole way up. Lupe ran in and out of the forest looking for squirrels, but there weren’t many.
The summit of Kennaday Peak from USFS Road No. 215.
Once the road finally left the forest, things got more interesting. Now the terrific views could be seen. It was still a bit of a trek to the top, but soon Lupe was there. The lookout tower proved to be abandoned. It was all boarded up and had some junk stacked next to it.
The abandoned lookout tower on Kennaday Peak.
There were fabulous mountain views in all directions from Kennaday Peak. To the N was Elk Mountain(11,156 ft.). To the E was Medicine Bow Peak(12,013 ft.). Far to the NE was Laramie Peak(10,272 ft.). On the S horizon were distant mountains that may have included Mt. Zirkel(12,180 ft.). And very far away on the NW horizon was a jagged line of mountains that may have been the Wind River range. The North Platte River valley to the S and SW was huge and impressive too.
Elk Mountain to the N of Kennaday Peak. There were huge views from Kennaday Peak, but lots of the mountains that could be seen were very far away.
Lupe had arrived at the summit of Kennaday Peak about an hour before sunset. There had been quite a few clouds around at first, but they started to dissipate as Lupe and SPHP enjoyed the views and waited together for the sun to go down.
During the wait, SPHP noticed that many of the rocks on Kennaday Peak were quite rounded and there was a lot of sand. It looked like Kennaday Peak may have been a beach or underwater in ancient times. The incredible age of the world before Lupe and SPHP seemed impossible to truly comprehend.
Lupe beautifully lit up by the sinking sun on Kennaday Peak.Day 5 of Lupe’s summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation fades from view.
Most of the 6 mile trek back down USFS Road No. 215 to the G6 was in darkness. Except for one ATV and one pickup truck that made brief appearances, Lupe and SPHP were alone. The horse was still near the sharp bend in the road where it crossed Fish Creek. In the darkness, SPHP couldn’t see it, though Lupe probably could. She seems to have excellent night vision. SPHP could hear that the horse was wearing a bell. At 10:37 PM (57°F), Lupe was back at the G6. Time for dinner and a snooze!
Lupe was happy and excited. She was on her way to another Black Hills Expedition. On USFS Road No. 256, SPHP stopped the G6 along the road. There was a very nice stand of yellow aspens, and SPHP wanted a photo of it. This late in the season, most of the aspens higher up were probably past their prime already, but these still looked good. Their golden glory wouldn’t last long, though. Leaves fell by the thousands with every gust of the NW breeze.
Aspens along USFS Road No. 256 east of Minnesota Ridge.
Lupe’s chance to sniff around along No. 256 didn’t last long. Soon it was time to continue on. Lupe enjoyed the long ride through the hills. She rode with her head out the window in the wind, barking ferociously at cows and horses along the way. By the time most of them even looked up to see what the commotion was all about, she was already past them. It didn’t matter, Lupe was satisfied she had done her barking duty.
At 10:59 AM, SPHP parked the G6 at the Old Baldy trailhead off USFS Road No. 134 . It was 67°F, overcast and breezy. Old Baldy Trail No. 66 goes to Old Baldy Mountain(6,096 ft.). There is a W route and an E route to get there, the W route being a little longer. Both routes meet up again 0.8 mile from the summit for the final climb. Both trails go up and down through the hills, but there really isn’t all that much net elevation change – the trail is pretty easy.
Lupe and SPHP took the E route to Old Baldy Mountain. This trail is a bit unusual for the Black Hills. It goes through a forest consisting mostly of aspens with some scattered pines. Usually it is the other way around, and the pines dominate. Most of the aspens were well beyond their peak for fall colors, but there was still enough color around for a very pleasant journey. The trail and forest floor were now decorated with the speckled browns, pale yellows and golds of the fallen aspen leaves.
Lupe on the E route of Old Baldy Trail No. 66.
At the low point along the E route of the Old Baldy Trail, there was a sign for Baldy Lake. Beyond the sign was a big beautiful pasture and a tiny stream, but no lake. Baldy Lake couldn’t have been more than just a stock pond, even when it did exist. The tiny creek trickled through a breach in a low earthen dam where Baldy Lake used to be. After crossing the tiny creek, it didn’t take Lupe long to reach the junction of the E and W routes to Old Baldy Mountain.
The bridge across the tiny creek at the low point of the E route of Old Baldy Trail No. 66.
The trail up to the summit of Old Baldy Mountain gains only about 300 feet of elevation. It didn’t take Lupe long to reach the top. The NW breeze was still blowing, but the clouds were gone. Now it was sunny, clear and rather warm out, especially for 1/3 of the way through October. Lupe was thirsty! She had a big drink of water up on Old Baldy, one of many this day.Old Baldy Mountain isn’t particularly high for the area, but there were some pretty nice views. Terry Peak(7,064 ft.) could be seen about 11 miles to the ESE. The Beaver Creek valley was just S of Old Baldy. Lupe’s next destination, Cement Ridge(6,674 ft.), was several miles to the WSW.
Terry Peak from Old Baldy Mountain.The Beaver Creek valley.Cement Ridge, Lupe’s next destination.Looking S towards the Beaver Creek valley.
Lupe and SPHP went back down Old Baldy Mountain. This time Lupe took the W route on Old Baldy Trail No. 66. Lupe followed it quite a long way as it wound around through the forest. She came to one spot where there was an unobstructed view of Old Baldy Mountain from the S.
Looking W at the Beaver Creek valley. Lupe is SE of Old Baldy Mountain here, near the W route of Old Baldy Trail No. 66.Looking N at Old Baldy Mountain from the W route of Old Baldy Trail No. 66.
When the W route of the Old Baldy trail started taking Lupe SE, she left the trail and plunged into the forest. Lupe needed to head W to get to Schoolhouse Gulch Road, USFS Road No. 222. Going W through the forest was a short cut. Lupe was happy in the forest. She likes being off any road or trail. It really wasn’t very far to No. 222. Soon Lupe and SPHP were there. Lupe may have been disappointed the shortcut was so very short.
Looking W from USFS Road No. 222 (Schoolhouse Gulch Road).
Lupe and SPHP headed N on No. 222. Part of the time, Lupe and SPHP just paralleled the road out in the field to the W. Lupe got a drink out of Beaver Creek where she crossed it still heading N. No. 222 curved to the NW. As a road hike on a fairly major gravel road, Lupe wasn’t all that thrilled with it, but it was still quite pretty. Lupe dashed in and out of the forest checking for squirrels. SPHP started collecting some of the inevitable trash along a main road.
After following USFS Road No. 222 for a couple of miles, Lupe reached USFS Road No. 103. This road was more to Lupe’s liking. It was more like a jeep trail or logging road. It wound around to the S before turning W to connect with USFS Road No. 850 up on Cement Ridge. Before reaching Cement Ridge, Lupe crossed the border from South Dakota into Wyoming.
From where Lupe reached No. 850, the Cement Ridge lookout tower was still a mile or more off to the NW. Lupe and SPHP mostly stayed NE of the road following the highest part of the ridgeline. There were big views off to the NE over the northern Black Hills of South Dakota. The prairie could be seen beyond the hills.
Vehicles started coming and going on the road. Lupe was going to have company up at the lookout tower. As it turned out, Lupe was never alone up there. Four or five carloads of people with kids and dogs arrived. Lupe was a bit overwhelmed with so many dogs, so Lupe and SPHP went a bit W of the lookout tower to an old picnic table. Lupe panted and rested in the shade of the table.
Cement Ridge is located at the NW end of the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is so far NW, that the lookout tower is actually a mile into Wyoming. The hillside surrounding the lookout tower is barren, and has a commanding view of a good deal of territory. Crow Peak(5,787 ft.) was off to the NNE. Warren Peaks(6,650 ft.) and Sundance Mountain(5,824 ft.) were far away to the NW. Inyan Kara(6,360 ft.) was on the horizon to the SW.
Unfortunately, there was a fair amount of smoke haze in the air. The views, especially to the W towards the sun, were not as distinct as they normally would be. The camera just didn’t want to pick up the hazy peaks in the distance towards the W.
Lupe on Cement Ridge. The lookout tower is in view to the NW.
Looking NW from W of the lookout tower. Warren Peaks is on the horizon, but the camera wouldn’t pick it up with all the haze around.Looking SW. In this shot, Lupe is a purple-eared puppy, due to a reflection of sunlight on the lens.Looking SW. Inyan Kara Mountain is the high point just right of center.The Cement Ridge fire lookout tower from the NW.
The topo maps on Peakbagger.com show the true summit of Cement Ridge more than a mile to the SE of where the lookout tower is. Peakbagger shows a high point there of 6674 feet, compared to 6647 feet at the lookout tower. It doesn’t really look higher than the lookout tower, especially from the lookout tower. SPHP doubts that it really is higher.
Lupe did not say what she thought. She seemed unconcerned by this issue. Nevertheless, when Lupe was done at the lookout tower, Lupe and SPHP went and climbed up to this other high point. There was what might of been a small limestone cairn next to a bush, but nothing else of note. The only view from the purported true summit of Cement Ridge was back to the NW towards the lookout tower.
Lupe leaves the Cement Ridge Lookout Tower on USFS Road No. 850. Photo looks NW.The high point on the ridge seen here is shown on Peakbagger.com topo maps as the true summit of Cement Ridge at 6,674 feet. SPHP really thinks the lookout tower is higher, but Lupe went to investigate. In any case, the views are much better at the lookout tower.Lupe at the supposed true summit of Cement Ridge according to Peakbagger.com topo maps. Photo looks NW. The Cement Ridge lookout tower is seen at the top of the bare spot more than a mile away.Lupe at what might be a poorly assembled cairn at the purported true summit of Cement Ridge.
By now it was time to start making tracks back to the G6. The sun was still above the horizon, but only for another 30 or 40 minutes. Lupe and SPHP left the controversial summit of Cement Ridge. Lupe explored the rest of this ridge, which trended to the SE. The ridge remained quite high for at least 0.25 mile. Although this ridge was all forested, there were some small NE facing cliffs at regular intervals. There were often quite nice views in that direction from these cliffs.
The ridge didn’t lose much elevation until it curved to the S, then it went steadily downhill. Lupe loved following the ridge. There was no trail at all. She played wild forest Dingo, running here and there exploring everything. The sun went down a little while before the ridge ended at a pasture full of cows. The cows made way for Lupe. Just beyond their pasture was a dirt road.
SPHP was looking for USFS Road No. 105, but knew this wasn’t it. Lupe and SPHP started following the dirt road S. When it curved to the SE, suddenly there was rather loud gunfire. The sound was coming from over the ridge to the W. Lupe was immediately anxious. She wanted to stop and hide. SPHP made a number of short stops to encourage the nervous Carolina Dog, but mostly urged her to just keep going.
Lupe reached USFS Road No. 105. A marker showed she had been following No. 105.1D. There was a nice red barn in the field to the S of No. 105. SPHP now knew for certain where Lupe was. She was maybe 3 miles from the G6. The gunfire continued for 30 minutes. Finally it ended, but Lupe wasn’t immediately relieved. She kept begging to stop. SPHP even carried her a couple of times, but only for short distances. Lupe made slow progress in between many stops along the way.
When it got dark enough for the stars and flashlight to come out, Lupe finally felt better. The gunfire was long gone. Under cover of darkness, her confidence was back. When she reached the G6 at 7:44 PM (47°F), she wasn’t ready to get in and go home. Instead, she wanted to stay out under the stars and play wild forest Dingo all night.
There were fabulous mountain views in all directions from Kennaday Peak. To the N was Elk Mountain (11,156 ft.). To the E was Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft.). Far to the NE was Laramie Peak (10,272 ft.). On the S horizon were distant mountains that may have included Mt. Zirkel (12,180 ft.). And very far away on the NW horizon was a jagged line of mountains that may have been the Wind River range. The North Platte River valley to the S and SW was huge and impressive too.
