American Dingo – Page 333 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 139 – Crows Nest Peak (9-27-15)

With a forecast high near a ridiculously hot 90°F on Saturday, 9-26-15, SPHP postponed Lupe’s Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 139 to Sunday, when it was supposed to be about 10°F cooler. Even 80°F is warmer than either Lupe or SPHP like for long days outdoors, but by going far enough W to some of the highest ground in the Black Hills, the heat would at least be tolerable.

Lupe and SPHP got off to a pretty early start. In a bit of an unusual twist, there was time for a Lupe photo op at the cool Tyrannosaurus Rex outside the Dinosaur Museum on Hwy 16 S of Rapid City, SD.

Lupe drops by the T Rex at the Dinosaur Museum on Hwy 16 S of Rapid City, SD. SPHP notes that American Dingoes make much better companions than Tyrannosaurs.

NW of Deerfield Reservoir in the west central Black Hills, SPHP parked the G6 at the last pullout overlooking Castle Creek before reaching USFS Road No. 157. It was 8:10 AM, and a very pleasant 53° F under totally clear blue skies. Lupe and SPHP headed NW to reach USFS Road No. 157.

After crossing Castle Creek, No. 157 turned and went SE for 0.5 mile at the edge of the forest in Castle Creek valley. The road then turned W and went up a side canyon for several miles. Lupe ran around following game trails and exploring the forest. She ran down to Silver Creek to cool off and get a drink.

Eight days earlier, on Lupe’s Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 138 to White Tail Peak, there weren’t many fall colors yet. Now nearly all the aspens had turned to yellow blazes of glory. Although Ponderosa Pines are by far the most dominant tree species in the Black Hills, aspens are probably the next most numerous. They are pretty widespread in scattered groups in the central and northern hills. Lupe saw many beautiful golden aspen trees, a treat that doesn’t last very long.

Lupe saw lots of aspens with beautiful yellow leaves this day. These were along USFS Road No. 157.

USFS Road No. 157 came to an intersection with USFS Road No. 655. No. 655 went left. No. 157 went right. Lupe and SPHP went straight ahead towards the WNW on the faint track of an old logging trail. There were more pretty aspens and tall grass. Lupe eventually reached No. 157 again near an intersection with No. 157.1F.

Aspens along the shortcut to USFS Road No. 157.1F.

SPHP checked the maps. No. 157.1F would eventually dead end in Fulton Draw, but the first 0.5 mile or so went N, which would help Lupe get closer to Crows Nest Peak (7,048 ft.), her peakbagging goal for the day. A quick scouting of No. 157.1F proved disappointing, however. The road started losing elevation, and looked like it would continue to do so. SPHP thought it would be better to go back and stay on higher ground.

Backtracking nearly to No. 157, Lupe and SPHP headed W into the forest. A wicked looking 6-strand barbed wire fence blocked any advance to the NW. SPHP kept Lupe away from that fence. The terrain looked like it dropped in that direction anyway. Between the fence and the terrain, Lupe and SPHP were slowly forced to keep turning more and more toward the SW. Lupe was essentially just paralleling USFS Road No. 157, which wasn’t far to the S.

Lupe had been to this same area before on prior expeditions long ago. On at least a couple of those occasions, she had been trying to reach Crows Nest Peak from the S. Too much snow and lack of time had prevented her from reaching it. SPHP found a deflated helium party balloon that had flown all this way from somewhere just to welcome Lupe back to the region.

Lupe is welcomed back to the region N of USFS Road No. 157 by an errant balloon. — Lupe is welcomed back to the region near USFS Road No. 157 by an errant balloon.

Lupe and SPHP hadn’t gone too far SW, when Lupe came to a road heading W. It had no marker, but since Lupe needed to go NW to reach Crows Nest Peak, it was a better choice than No. 157 at this point. Lupe followed the unnumbered road W. Pretty soon she came to a small pond with some cattails growing in part of it.

Aspens seen from the unmarked road to the little pond with cattails.

Lupe reaches the small pond with cattails in it. — Lupe reaches the cattail pond.

There was a game trail heading N into the forest from the cattail pond. Since Lupe seemed to be far enough W so that the land no longer lost much elevation heading N, Lupe left the unmarked road. Lupe and SPHP followed the game trail N for quite a long way through the forest. Just E of the trail was a barbed wire fence. A little way off to the W there was a small ridge of higher ground.

The forest went on and on. Eventually an eastern spur of the ridge to the W forced Lupe and SPHP to climb up on the ridge. Once up on the ridge, Lupe turned away from the fence to head NW, allowing her to stay up on the highest ground.

Lupe was excited to see some of her giant deers (elk) up on the ridge. The giant deers saw Lupe, too. They weren’t any happier with the companionship of a Carolina Dog than they would have been with a Tyrannosaurus. The giant deers disappeared farther into the forest. Lupe saw more elk and white tail deer now and then as she continued onward.

Lupe was up in the high limestone plateau country of the western Black Hills. It is rolling territory, mostly forested, characterized by a maze of ridges usually no more than a few hundred feet higher than the intervening valleys. In this kind of terrain, there aren’t typically many places where there are clear long distance views. Although it was possible to catch glimpses of more high ridges a little farther off through the trees, Lupe and SPHP were more or less lost wandering in the forest.

Of course, SPHP knew roughly where Lupe was, but the area was unfamiliar. Just navigating by the sun, it wasn’t easy to know for certain which way to go. Fortunately, the Black Hills are full of various USFS Roads, ATV trails, and logging roads. Sooner or later Lupe would reach one. In the meantime, she just needed to keep heading NW.

The ridge ended. Lupe still had not come to any road. Finally she found a logging road heading NW, the direction she needed to go. It soon ended at an intersection with another logging road. There were more golden aspens nearby, some quite nice specimens, but none of the roads continued N or NW. Lupe took the logging trail heading W, but didn’t stay on it long. SPHP thought she should continue NW through the forest. A 10 minute trek NW brought Lupe to a long, broad open field.

Lupe near the aspens close to the intersection of logging trails.

Fall colors, yellow aspens in particular, seem to be a theme of Expedition No. 139 to Crows Nest Peak. Lupe is seen near this magnificent stand close to where she left the logging road to head NW again. — Fall colors, yellow aspens in particular, seem to be a theme of Lupe’s Expedition No. 139 to Crows Nest Peak. Lupe is seen near this magnificent stand close to where she left the logging road to head NW again.

Lupe reaches the long, broad open field. Photo looks SW. Lupe had been to the far end of the field seen here on a previous expedition long ago.

While Lupe had never been to this exact place before, SPHP was pretty certain she had been to the far SW end of this same field on a previous expedition while trying to find Crows Nest Peak from the S. Back then SPHP had wanted to explore up this way, but there hadn’t been time. Lupe had plenty of time left to explore today, though.

Lupe continued NW across the field and went into the forest on the other side. Before too long, she came to a road heading N. She followed it until SPHP noticed some unusual fall colors to the NE. Lupe was happy to go take a look. What had caught SPHP’s eye were some aspens that were not the usual yellow – their leaves had turned a light orange. Some of their leaves were even rather reddish.

Wow! Orange aspens. Not your typical aspen fall color. What made these trees turn a different color?

Lupe poses near the biggest stand of orange aspens.

Although Lupe saw many groves of beautiful yellow aspens on Expedition No. 139, the orange ones were only in this one area SE of Crows Nest Peak. — Although Lupe saw many groves of beautiful yellow aspens on Expedition No. 139, the only orange ones were in this one area near Crows Nest Peak.

From the orange aspens, Lupe and SPHP went NNW and reached the road again. The road continued N. It arrived at an intersection that seemed familiar. The road heading W from the intersection was marked No. 377.1B. Lupe had been here back on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 86 on 5-3-14. Expedition No. 86 was the only time Lupe had ever actually succeeded in getting to Crows Nest Peak before. That time she had approached from the N. Crows Nest Peak wasn’t far to the W from here.

SPHP remembered that back on Expedition No. 86, Lupe had come to a pond E of Crows Nest Peak. SPHP thought it was close by just a little to the NE. Lupe took the road NE from the intersection. She didn’t find any pond, but she did come to another intersection with No. 377.1A, which SPHP definitely recognized. Just N of that intersection was a white water tank that SPHP remembered, too.

Lupe near the white water tank along USFS Road No. 377 just N of its intersection with No. 377.1A.

From the white water tank, Lupe and SPHP cut through the forest heading SW back to No. 377.1B. SPHP thought maybe the pond was hidden in the forest, but it wasn’t. There were more lovely aspens, though.

Aspens SE of the white water tank, but where was the pond SPHP remembered? — Aspens in the forest SW of the white water tank, but where was the pond SPHP remembered?

SPHP decided the pond had to be farther W along No. 377.1B, closer to Crows Nest Peak. So Lupe followed No. 377.1B heading W. Both Lupe and SPHP abandoned the road to walk near it in the forest. The road was covered with a couple of inches or more of very fine powdery dust. The area really needed rain to settle that awful dust down. SPHP didn’t want Lupe breathing it.

The pond came into view. A flock of small birds flew off as Lupe approached. Crows Nest Peak wasn’t far away now.

Lupe at the pond near Crows Nest Peak. This one is ESE of the peak. There is a smaller pond even closer to the peak, just 200 feet W of the US Geological Survey Benchmark.

Lupe and SPHP returned to follow No. 377.1B farther W. When higher ground appeared off to the NW, Lupe left No. 377.1B behind and went through the forest to climb as high as possible. She reached the top of the low hill and came to a big flat area that had been logged recently. There was slash on the ground everywhere. There was a small pond. Lupe had reached Crows Nest Peak for the 2nd time.

With the trees cut down and all the slash around, Crows Nest Peak wasn’t very pretty, certainly not as pretty as the last time Lupe was here on Expedition No. 86. It couldn’t have been very long since the loggers had been through here. The pine needles on the slash were still green. SPHP hoped the loggers hadn’t gone as far E as the U. S. Geological Survey Benchmark for Crows Nest Peak. Lupe had found it under 6″ of snow on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 86, its position revealed by a survey post.

Lupe and SPHP went to look for the Crows Nest Peak benchmark. SPHP remembered it as being a couple hundred feet E of the little pond. Lupe found it again. The loggers hadn’t come quite that far E. It was still there. The benchmark said “Crow” and “1912”.

The Crows Nest Peak U.S. Geological Survey benchmark was still there. Loggers hadn't disturbed it. — The Crows Nest Peak U.S. Geological Survey benchmark was still there. Loggers hadn’t disturbed it.

Lupe on Crows Nest Peak 9-27-15. This photo looks W.

Right there near the U. S. Geological Survey marker post and benchmark, Lupe enjoyed water and Taste of the Wild to celebrate her 2nd ascent of Crows Nest Peak. SPHP had an apple and applesauce. It was quite the celebration. Lupe, of course, was the life of the party. Soon she lay panting and resting in the shade of a small tree to recover. It sure was warm out. It felt like the mid 70’s °F. Pretty hot for way up here at almost the end of September.

Ordinarily, this is where photos of the towering summit and fabulous distant views from the highest prominences of Crows Nest Peak would appear. Lupe has none to offer. Despite its name and the fact that Peakbagger.com lists Crows Nest Peak at 7,048 feet as the 7th highest point on the list of Black Hills 6,500+ foot peaks, it is hardly what one thinks of as a “peak” at all.

Crows Nest Peak is the high point on a hill not an awful lot higher than much of the surrounding country. The summit area is big and flat. Even after the loggers thinned the forest, there just aren’t any unobstructed mountain views. From the W edge of the hill, it is possible to see some more high ridges off to the W or NW, but nothing too impressive.

Nevertheless, Lupe and SPHP both love Crows Nest Peak. It is up in the remote and beautiful limestone plateau country of the western Black Hills. Not far from Crows Nest Peak, in the broad open fields between the forested ridges, seasonal streams appear in the spring when the snow is melting. By late May and June, the green fields are filled with wildflowers. Few people come here. It is far from the famed tourist attractions (think Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Spearfish Canyon) of the Black Hills.

Lupe did return to the little pond a couple of hundred feet W of the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark.

Lupe at the small pond on Crows Nest Peak. Photo looks W.

By the time it was time to leave Crows Nest Peak, the sky was starting to cloud up. Lupe and SPHP headed NE through the forest, taking a shortcut to USFS Road No. 377. SPHP was planning on taking Lupe along No. 377.1C toward Knutson Spring. Unfortunately, No. 377.1C was unmarked, and hardly exists any longer where it branches off from No. 377. SPHP didn’t even recognize it when Lupe found the right spot.

In the end, Lupe went down No. 377.1A from near the white water tank, which she passed again on the way. No. 377.1A took her down into Bjornland Draw and E several miles back to Castle Creek. No. 377.1A went a couple of miles, but faded out completely a mile before Lupe was back at the main road along Castle Creek. Several times it threatened to rain while Lupe was in Bjornland Draw, but the clouds could only muster a few drops.

You did want to see more fall colors, right? These aspens were near USFS Road No. 377.1A at the upper end of Bjournland Draw. — You did want to see more fall colors, right? These aspens were near USFS Road No. 377.1A at the upper end of Bjornland Draw.

After leaving Bjornland Draw, it was about 3 miles SE along Castle Creek back to the G6. Part of the way Lupe and SPHP were on the main gravel road, but wherever possible stayed down closer to the creek. The creek was prettier, and vehicles on the main road raised a lot of dust.

Lupe on a rock near the main road on the way back to the G6.

At 5:48 PM (69°F), Lupe got back to the G6. At first, Lupe wasn’t sure she wanted Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 139 to be over yet. She liked the soothing sound of the water flowing by in Castle Creek. She only jumped in the G6 when SPHP promised her Alpo when she got home. (American Dingoes don’t live by Taste of the Wild alone!) On the way, she barked at lots of cows, deer and horses. There were even a few wild turkeys along the way! Rest assured they got the same enthusiastic treatment.

Lupe hopes you will stay tuned to The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe. More dingo adventures are coming soon! — Lupe hopes you will return again to The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe. More dingo adventures are coming soon!

Crows Nest Peak is most easily reached from USFS Road No. 117 which passes by about a mile to the W. There is a road off No. 117 which goes to the summit. High clearance vehicles will have no problem reaching Crows Nest Peak. While Lupe and SPHP enjoy peakbagging, Lupe often purposely starts far from her peakbagging goals to explore the surrounding area and enjoy the day.

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Medicine Bow Peak & the Carbon County, WY High Point (8-10-15)

On Day 2 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation, she set a new personal record by climbing Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft.) in Wyoming. Medicine Bow Peak was the first mountain over 12,000 feet Lupe had ever climbed, surpassing Lonesome Mountain (11,399 ft.) in Montana. Lupe had climbed Lonesome Mountain on 8-3-14 near the end of her Summer of 2014 Dingo Vacation.

Despite Lupe’s late night antics near Laramie Peak (10,272 ft.) the previous evening, Lupe and SPHP were up at 5:30 AM on the morning of 8-10-15. It was the start of Day 2 of Lupe’s 2015 Dingo Vacation. Lupe was eager to get going! Lupe and SPHP left the Friend Park area near Laramie Peak turning S on USFS Road No. 671. A sign said it was 6 miles to Arapaho Trail Road. SPHP had no idea where Arapaho Trail Road might go, but Lupe was going to find out!

Along the way, Lupe was so stirred up by the sights and sounds outside, SPHP stopped the G6 three separate times. Each time, Lupe dashed out of the G6 to race around sniffing madly through the forests and meadows. She literally bounded through the forest and tall grass. With all these dingo delays, the six miles to Arapahoe Trail Road went by slowly.

USFS Road No. 671 wasn’t too bad a road. The G6 had no difficulties until the road dipped rather steeply on its way down into a small valley. The slope was rutty, rocky and eroded. The G6 had to proceed very slowly and carefully down the hill. SPHP was happy to have guided the G6 down without incident, but only for a moment. Almost immediately, a huge murky mud puddle (which might actually have been part of a stream) occupied the entire road ahead. No way the G6 was going through that!

End of the line for the G6 on USFS Road No. 671 nearly 6 miles S of Laramie Peak. Time to turn around!

So Lupe never made it to Arapaho Trail Road. Where Arapaho Trail Road goes remains a mystery. SPHP was just glad there was an easy spot to turn the G6 around. Another slow crawl over the rocky, rutty part of USFS Road No. 671 ensued, this time heading uphill. The G6 triumphed again. If Lupe was disappointed at having to backtrack all the way N again on No. 671, she was certainly able to hide it.

A sad Lupe thinks about having to head all the way back N on USFS No. 671. No doubt she will be forced to get out and run around sniffing some more. — A sad Lupe thinks about having to head all the way back N on USFS Road No. 671. No doubt she will be forced to get out and run around sniffing some more.

Lupe insisted on getting out to bound around sniffing a couple of more times on the way back N. Finally, though, the G6 reached County Road No. 710. Instead of turning N to Esterbrook, Lupe turned S. No. 710 wasn’t a great road, but it was good enough to drive the G6 20-30 mph most of the long way to Fetterman Road.

The scenery in this remote part of the Laramie Mountains was beautiful. There were a few abandoned ranch homes, but no traffic and no people around for a very long way. Little birds flew over the road, rabbits and small animals dashed across it, cows and horses munched away in the open fields between the mountains. Lupe had a blast barking at the cows and horses. Every now and then SPHP let her out of the G6 to explore, while SPHP admired the sights and sounds of nature.

There were a couple of nice ponds like this one as Lupe neared the edge of the Laramie Mountains.

By the time Lupe and SPHP reached Fetterman Road, the Laramie Mountains had been left behind. Fetterman Road went across 41 miles of high barren rolling plains full of cows, horses and pronghorn antelope. For some reason, Carolina Dogs never seem to grow hoarse or lose interest in barking at grazing animals. Lupe worked herself up into a complete frenzy. The din inside the G6 lasted as long as Fetterman Road did. Outside the views were not as dramatic as in the mountains, but still pleasing to the eye.

Fetterman Road ended at Hwy 30 just a few miles N of Rock River, WY. Hwy 30 was undergoing road construction. The G6 had to wait for a pilot car to come along. For a few minutes, Lupe and SPHP got out of the G6. Lupe’s barker was dry – very dry. She lapped up water almost as frantically as she had barked all along Fetterman Road.

From Rock River, Lupe headed SW on Hwy 13 past McFadden, reaching I-80 at Arlington. SPHP drove W on I-80, but only as far as Exit 260. There Lupe headed S on a very patchy, bumpy paved road that soon turned to gravel. Elk Mountain (11,156 ft.) was now in view to the SW.

Lupe NE of 11,156 foot Elk Mountain, WY.

Lupe and SPHP continued on. Dusty USFS Road No. 100 led Lupe up into the Medicine Bow Mountains past Turpin Reservoir, which was mostly hidden by the forest. SPHP was glad to reach paved Hwy 30. Upon reaching the West Trailhead at Lake Marie, SPHP parked the G6. At 2:54 PM, Lupe and SPHP started for Medicine Bow Peak along the Lakes Trail. It was 64°F.

Lupe at Lake Marie in the Medicine Bow Mountains. Photo looks NW from near the outlet stream.

Lake Marie from the NE. Note the terrain at the far end of the lake. It became important later on.

The Lakes Trail went between Lake Marie and Mirror Lake. Then it headed NNE passing to the E of Lookout Lake, the largest lake along the route, and a series of smaller lakes and ponds. To the W of all the lakes were the cliffs beneath the long, high ridge that extends up to Medicine Bow Peak.

Lupe SE of Lookout Lake, Medicine Bow Range, WY.

Lupe farther N now to the E of Lookout Lake along the Lakes Trail. Medicine Bow Peak in the background. — Lupe farther N now, but still to the E of Lookout Lake along the Lakes Trail. Medicine Bow Peak in the background.

The Lakes Trail climbed at an easy to moderate pace as it headed NNE past all the lakes. At least it should have been easy. Maybe for Lupe it was. She seemed to have no difficulties whatsoever. SPHP, on the other hand, was dragging from the very start. Perhaps it was the 10,500 foot elevation level (higher than Laramie Peak!) near the start of the trail at Lake Marie. Perhaps it was the 2,800 feet of elevation gain climbing Laramie Peak the previous day. Maybe it was not enough sleep. Maybe it was the combination of all three.

Whatever it was, SPHP struggled along the trail with little energy, breathing hard, with heart pounding. Lupe must have wondered at the reason for all the rest stops. At least they gave her time to appreciate the gorgeous alpine scenery all around. That’s one nice thing about the Medicine Bows – even though the area of alpine terrain isn’t all that huge, Hwy 130 climbs up high enough to start adventures already in the alpine zone.

SPHP marveled at how 2,800 feet of elevation gain at Laramie Peak hadn’t seemed that difficult. Yet now the 1,500 feet of elevation gain necessary to reach the top of Medicine Bow Peak seemed endless and insurmountable. In the end, SPHP simply lived up to the acronym and plodded slowly on, taking as many rest breaks as required to keep going. Gradually, Lupe and SPHP got past Lookout Lake and approached Sugarloaf Mountain.

Making progress - now NE of Lookout Lake. — Making progress – now NE of Lookout Lake.

**Sugarloaf Mountain (11,300 ft.)**. Photo looks NE.

NW of Sugarloaf Mountain at the top of the pass between Sugarloaf Mountain and Medicine Bow Peak, the Lakes Trail met up with the trail coming from Lewis Lake to the E and the Medicine Bow Trail. The easy part was over! It was time to climb the steep, rocky switchbacks of the Medicine Bow Trail up the E face of Medicine Bow Peak. Surprisingly, SPHP seemed to get a bit of a second wind. Gradually Lupe and SPHP gained elevation and the views got even better.

Looking S as Lupe climbs Medicine Bow Peak. Lookout Lake is now the farthest one in the distance.

Looking NE at Browns Peak, which came into view once Lupe reached the pass between Medicine Bow Peak and Sugarloaf Mountain. — Looking NE at **Browns Peak** **(11,722 ft.)**, which came into view once Lupe reached the pass between Medicine Bow Peak and Sugarloaf Mountain.

On the Lakes Trail, there had been plenty of people and dogs. However, Lupe and SPHP had gotten such a late start that by the time Lupe was headed up the Medicine Bow Trail, there weren’t many people left. Most of them were headed back down. After a little while, there were only two other people on the trail. They were ahead of Lupe and SPHP, and still going up. Lupe and SPHP gradually gained on them, much to SPHP’s surprise.

Close to the top of the mountain, Lupe started seeing snow. Just before the final climb, the trail turned sharply and revealed a 100 foot long snowbank. It wasn’t terribly wide, maybe 20 feet, but the trail went right up the length of it. Lupe was thrilled! She rolled around on the snow in delight.

Close to the top now. Snow starts coming into view. By now you know that biggest lake to the S is Lookout Lake. — Close to the top of Medicine Bow Peak there starts to be some snow. By now you know that biggest lake to the S is Lookout Lake. Lake Marie, where Lupe started this climb, is seen beyond Lookout Lake.

Lupe loved the big long snowbank the trail went over just before reaching the summit of Medicine Bow Peak.

At the top of the long snowbank, Lupe and SPHP caught up with the couple who had been leading the way up Medicine Bow Peak. They had stopped for a break. They were from Virginia. SPHP chatted with them for a few minutes before Lupe and SPHP continued on ahead.

Above the long snowbank was nothing but a boulder field. It was just a scramble across the rocks to the summit, gaining at most 50 feet of elevation along the way. Lupe is great at boulder hopping. SPHP not so much, but SPHP still managed to make progress. The wooden post at the summit was already in sight, when the guy from Virginia reappeared. He had no difficulty passing SPHP and reaching the summit first. After giving him a little time to enjoy the summit in peace, Lupe and SPHP headed over to it, too.

SPHP didn’t see the woman, and asked the guy if she was still coming. He said she was now scared and didn’t want to go any further. She was waiting for him back at the snowbank.

SPHP encouraged him to just give her a little encouragement. There was hardly any elevation gain left for her to be able to claim a successful summit. The boulder field was slow, but it was not difficult and not dangerous. It wasn’t steep either, as long as she stayed away from the cliffs at the E face of the mountain. In fact, what remained was far less scary than what she’d already done. The weather was perfect – SPHP had arrived at the summit in a T-shirt. She would be glad and proud she finished climbing Medicine Bow Peak.

The guy replied that he didn’t want to force her, but said he would ask her again if she wanted to continue. SPHP told him to tell her that Lupe was waiting at the summit to congratulate her. He laughed and left. Lupe and SPHP remained at the summit enjoying the terrific views in all directions.

Lupe on the summit of Medicine Bow Peak. Photo looks NE towards Browns Peak.

Looking S from the summit of Medicine Bow Peak.

Although Lupe and SPHP waited, the gal from Virginia never appeared. SPHP thought that was a shame, but it was her choice. Still, she likely just needed some encouragement. There was nothing an American Dingo could do about it, though. Lupe and SPHP had arrived at the summit about 45 minutes before sunset. It was a long way back to the G6, and Lupe still had some peakbagging left to do!

The Medicine Bow Trail continues S of Medicine Bow Peak on the W side of the long ridge that extends clear down to Lake Marie. At the far S end of the ridge, it heads steeply down to the West Lake Marie Trailhead where the G6 was parked. Lupe was going back this way to make a giant loop.

A short distance E of the trail, not too far SW of Medicine Bow Peak, is the Carbon County, WY high point, also known as Medicine Bow Peak – West Ridge (11,920 ft.). It is not a peak of any sort, just a spot on the way back down the mountain where the county line intersects the ridge. As the high point of Carbon County, it was a peakbagging goal for Lupe.

The high point of Carbon County is just beyond the next hill of boulders to the S! — The high point of Carbon County is just beyond the next hill of boulders seen here to the S!

Heading towards the Carbon County, WY high point from Medicine Bow Peak.

Looking back towards Medicine Bow Peak from the S. The big rock cairn with a sharpened post sticking out of it was typical of the cairns along the Medicine Bow Trail. They were soon to prove very useful to Lupe & SPHP. — Looking back towards Medicine Bow Peak from the SW. The big rock cairn with a sharpened post sticking out of it was typical of the cairns along the Medicine Bow Trail. They were soon to prove very useful to Lupe & SPHP.

Lupe and SPHP headed SW from Medicine Bow Peak on the Medicine Bow Trail. The trail went around the W side of the next slightly lower boulder hill. Somewhere not too far down on the ridge extending down from the SW side of this hill was the Carbon County, Wyoming High Point that Lupe was looking for. Soon after passing the hill, Lupe and SPHP left the trail to head E and climb up on the ridge. The sun was just setting as Lupe headed for the ridge.

Lupe on her search for the Carbon County, Wyoming High Point. The highest mountain at right center is Kennaday Peak. — Lupe on her search for the Carbon County, Wyoming High Point. The highest mountain in the distance on the right is **Kennaday Peak** **(10,810 ft.)**.

Lupe up on the ridge SW of the first boulder hill SW of Medicine Bow Peak. Lupe headed SW along the ridge (toward the camera) looking for the Carbon County HP. — Lupe up on the ridge SW of the first boulder hill SW of Medicine Bow Peak. Lupe headed down along the ridge (toward the camera) from the big flat boulder she is next to looking for the Carbon County HP.

SPHP had brought notes on what a couple of other climbers who had been to the Carbon County, Wyoming High Point had written on Peakbagger.com. Dan Quinlan (8-18-12) had written the “only thing of note was some old fencing in the area”. Eric Noel (8-30-10) had written “An improbable small snag must have been placed as a potential county line given that it was the only thing in an immense sea of rocks and quite close to the HP.”

And then, after Lupe headed down the ridgeline a little way, there it was! In the fading light was Eric Noel’s “improbable small snag” right about where the Carbon County High Point ought to be. Lupe and SPHP headed for it. There was some wire down in the rocks at the base of the snag. It looked like it was smooth wire, but after Lupe’s bad experience with barbed wire back in the Black Hills on 6-27-15, SPHP didn’t want Lupe to linger here or anywhere else there was wire on the ground – just in case it wasn’t all smooth.

Eric Noel's "improbable small snag" at the Carbon County HP? There was some smooth wire down among the rocks below it. SPHP believes this was, or very close to the actual Carbon County, HP. If not, Lupe had to have been at it or very close somewhere around her route. — Eric Noel’s “improbable small snag” at the Carbon County HP? There was some smooth wire down among the rocks below it. Dan Quinlan’s “old fencing”? SPHP believes this was it, or very close to the actual Carbon County, HP. If not, Lupe had to have been at it or very close somewhere along her route.

About a football field away to the NW of the “improbable small snag”, one of the cairns along the Medicine Bow Trail was in view. Lupe and SPHP headed over to it in order to reach the trail. Looking back to the SE, the “improbable small snag” was in clear sight from the cairn.

The sun was down even before Lupe had reached the Carbon County High Point. The light was starting to fade. It was time to make tracks. Lupe and SPHP followed the Medicine Bow Trail heading SW. Although there were extensive boulder fields all along the way, the trail did a pretty good job of avoiding the worst of them. For a little while, the trail headed W and lost a fair amount of elevation. It eventually turned back to the S and then went up and down.

SPHP was really fatigued by now. The up stretches weren’t really bad at all, but each one seemed difficult. Lupe was amazing as always. It’s always hard to tell if she is even tired. She just keeps going. The light faded. Lupe and SPHP were alone in a vast sea of boulders. The big cairns with sharpened posts sticking out of them showed the way. They were a huge help – SPHP never lost the trail along the ridge for more than a minute.

Gradually, first the cairns, and then the sea of boulders faded from view. They were replaced by a sea of stars above. The flashlight came out. It was a beautiful evening. Far away to the W were the lights of Saratoga and Encampment. Lupe and SPHP continued on for what seemed like a very long time. Finally the trail turned and started heading down to the E. This stretch seemed terrible. It was steep and full of loose rocks. There weren’t any real switchbacks, just a steep gash on the mountain. Past a cairn, the dirt suddenly became smooth.

Lupe and SPHP hadn’t gone too far on the smooth ground beyond the cairn when SPHP became worried. Suddenly, it really wasn’t clear where the trail went. In the weak light of the tiny flashlight, the ground looked all bare and smooth like the entire area had been trampled until all the vegetation had died. The scary part though, was that it was getting steeper.

SPHP stopped going forward. It looked like maybe the trail went to the left towards the N, but a short investigation in that direction was not encouraging. Beyond some bushes, the bare ground got steeper. Shining the flashlight to the E showed nothing – just a black void. A check back to the S revealed a thick tangle of trees, but no sign of a trail.

SPHP thought about the long line of cliffs that extended clear down past Lake Marie from Medicine Bow Peak. If Lupe wasn’t far enough S yet, to continue E meant inevitably heading over a cliff. SPHP decided to go back up to the last cairn. If the trail couldn’t be found, Lupe would have to spend the night on the mountain! Even though it was certain Lupe wasn’t very far away from the G6, only following the trail would be safe in the darkness.

Returning to the cairn, SPHP was relieved to see that the trail did veer sharply to the S. In the darkness, SPHP had just missed the turn earlier. Lupe headed on down the trail. It was still surprisingly far back to the G6. The trail went down and down through an area of long switchbacks. When Lupe reached the G6, it was 11:30 PM and 44°F. Lupe was too tired to even eat. Lupe and SPHP both just passed out. There was no repeat performance of Lupe’s late night antics near Laramie Peak the prior evening!

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