{"id":19608,"date":"2019-03-08T08:10:49","date_gmt":"2019-03-08T15:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=19608"},"modified":"2019-03-16T19:55:30","modified_gmt":"2019-03-17T01:55:30","slug":"medicine-butte-the-uinta-county-wyoming-prominence-peak-7-23-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=19608","title":{"rendered":"Medicine Butte, the Uinta County, Wyoming Prominence Peak (7-23-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 11 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains & Wind River Range of Wyoming!<\/em><\/p>\n

6:00 AM –<\/em> Foggy.\u00a0 Too bad.\u00a0 No point in the American Dingo running down to Lower Green River Lake to gaze upon that fabulous view of iconic Squaretop Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,695 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> one last time.\u00a0 She wouldn’t see a thing.\u00a0 Twenty minutes, and SPHP had everything ready to go.\u00a0 Lupe was on her way out of the Wind River Range.<\/p>\n

What a difference a good night’s sleep made!\u00a0 Yesterday, worn out and weary, SPHP was convinced it was over.\u00a0 Lupe was going straight home.\u00a0 This Dingo Vacation was kaput!\u00a0 However, as the G6 bumped along the washboardy road from Green River Lakes back to civilization, the fog began to lift.\u00a0 The gorgeous Green River came into view.\u00a0 Skies turned blue.\u00a0 A surge of energy and sense of well-being!\u00a0 Optimism returned.<\/p>\n

Lupe still had a couple of peaks on her wish list in SW Wyoming.\u00a0 They were only a few hours drive away.\u00a0 Why not let Looper do them now?\u00a0 Neither involved exhausting backpacking trips like Bomber Mountain and Squaretop had been.\u00a0 Half a day each, if that.<\/p>\n

Riding with her head out the window, Lupe kept an eye out for gophers scampering over or alongside the dusty road.\u00a0 A frenzy of shrill Dingo barking erupted each time one came into view.\u00a0 Loop certainly seemed to have recovered.\u00a0 Clearly, she was all for extending her vacation!<\/p>\n

Long before the G6 made it back to pavement, a new decision.\u00a0 Home could wait.\u00a0 Lupe was heading for Medicine Butte<\/span><\/a> (8,608 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the Uinta County, Wyoming High Point!<\/p>\n

In G6 air-conditioned comfort, Lupe spent the morning exploring new territory on a scenic drive S on Hwy 189 to I-80.\u00a0 Her only complaint was that this region was so deserty that even cows and horses were scarce.<\/p>\n

By early afternoon, SPHP was looking for the R turn off Hwy 89 N of Evanston onto County Road No. 108.\u00a0 Although there were no signs for No. 108 until after the turn was made, this was the road to the landfill, and there was a big sign for it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading N out of Evanston, Wyoming on Hwy 89 watch for this sign for the landfill on the R. This is the turn onto County Road No. 108 to Medicine Butte.<\/em> Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pavement ended almost immediately, but County Road No. 108 was wide and well-graded.\u00a0 After a mile or two, the road went over a hill, and Medicine Butte<\/span><\/a> (8,608 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> came into view off to the NE.\u00a0 Medicine Butte was nothing more than an over-sized, thirsty-looking, sagebrush-covered hill, itself.\u00a0 Nary a tree in sight on the SW slope, but Loopster could see towers up on top.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
There’s Medicine Butte (Center) now! Not looking like I’ll be finding any squirrels up there, but at least there ought to be some fine views!<\/em> Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The landfill was 3 miles from Hwy 89.\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6 along No. 108 0.33 mile beyond the landfill entrance.\u00a0 (1:09 PM, 82\u00b0F)<\/em>\u00a0 The road began to deteriorate here, but even the G6 could have gone miles farther.\u00a0 That wasn’t the plan.\u00a0 The American Dingo was here to get the full, genuine Medicine Butte experience – 1,700 feet of elevation gain with panoramic views of Wyoming sagebrush territory.<\/p>\n

All the action was at the landfill.\u00a0 Bulldozers pushed piles of human-generated debris around.\u00a0 Meanwhile, clouds of white birds that looked like badly misplaced seagulls swirled excitedly overhead.\u00a0 Landfills are inherently revolting, but it was sort of fun to watch the birds, though one wondered whether they were likely to profit by their keen interest in the landfill’s contents, or end up suffering for it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Evanston swirling birds landfill action! Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Never ask a bird what restaurant they recommend.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

County Road No. 108 winds all the way to the top of Medicine Butte, a distance of roughly 4 miles from close to the landfill where the G6 was parked.\u00a0 The road climbed nearly the entire way with only one minor dip.\u00a0 It didn’t get steep until near the end, where high clearance and 4WD might be required.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looper about to set off for Medicine Butte<\/strong>. The road was a gentle incline at first, but gradually steepened. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fearing cactus and rattlesnakes, SPHP persuaded Lupe to stay on the road the whole way.\u00a0 Partway up, cows were grazing on what looked like slim pickings in a ravine N of the road.\u00a0 Loop was interested, but went on by without getting too rambunctious.<\/p>\n

No. 108 went E at first, working its way up onto a long ridgeline S of Medicine Butte.\u00a0 It then followed the ridge N.\u00a0 The hike along the open ridge was fairly scenic, amazingly so, for fans of sagebrush.<\/p>\n

Getting the full, genuine Medicine Butte experience early in the afternoon on a day in late July probably isn’t ordinarily the best plan of attack. \u00a0There wouldn’t have been any shade, but the luck of the Dingo held for a while.\u00a0 For some reason, this wasn’t a searing hot day, and a cloud formation hung around providing shade for close to half of the way to the summit.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the road hike was a little warm for wearing a fur coat, and Lupe hadn’t changed out of hers.\u00a0 As had been obvious from the start, she came to no water at all.\u00a0 Fortunately, SPHP had brought plenty.\u00a0 Periodic water stops were a necessity and helped lighten the pack.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Getting closer. County Road No. 108 goes along the top of the near ridge on the R, eventually reaching the tower on the R before heading L to the summit. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heading N along the ridge, Lupe passed an initially confusing sign about access, but it became clear that the road actually was legal public access.\u00a0 A lone pickup truck that went by, then came back down an hour later, constituted all the traffic Lupe encountered.\u00a0 An hour and a half after leaving the G6, Loop was on the final steep slope nearing the summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Closing in on the summit of Medicine Butte<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The top of Medicine Butte was roomy and covered with an assortment of towers and associated small buildings.\u00a0 The highest point, and apparent true summit, was a pile of rocks close to a white concrete block building.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the highest pile of rocks at the summit of Medicine Butte. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A search for a survey benchmark turned up only a metal pin painted blue a little SE of the highest rock pile.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A search for a survey benchmark revealed only this metal pin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was hot.\u00a0 She plunked herself down on the ground in the shade of the white concrete block building.\u00a0 Ants swarmed up onto her, and for a while she busied herself eating ants.\u00a0 The ants were too numerous, though.\u00a0 Annoyed with the whole situation, Loop moved closer to the building where there weren’t nearly as many.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A Carolina Anteater, sometimes called an American Anteater, relaxes in the shade.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The towers and small buildings were the only obstacles blocking the views from Medicine Butte.\u00a0 Of course, it was easy enough to move around a bit and see in any direction one wished.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the air was hazy with smoke from distant forest fires.\u00a0 A clearer day would have revealed much more detail, but Lupe could still see a long way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking SW toward Evanston, WY.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Evanston again, with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
County Road No. 108, which Lupe had taken up, is seen on the R. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the S slopes of Medicine Butte were treeless, it turned out the N slopes were partially forested.\u00a0 Miles beyond the trees, a big wind farm was in view off to the NE.<\/p>\n

Only a few of the turbines were turning.\u00a0 That was surprising.\u00a0 Yes, the air had been calm on the way up Medicine Butte, and only a light breeze was blowing close to the white concrete building when Lupe had come up from the SE.\u00a0 However, when she went over to the NW side of the summit, a 15 or 20 mph wind was coming out of the NW.<\/p>\n

Lupe clearly enjoyed being in the wind.\u00a0 Not something the Carolina Dog usually likes, but the breeze felt good on a warm summer afternoon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A wind farm was in view miles away. Only a few of the turbines were turning, even though there was a good breeze out of the NW on Medicine Butte. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop at the NW end of the summit enjoying a 15-20 mph breeze. She had a great view here, too. The territory NW of Medicine Butte was the most unspoiled. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The W half of the summit area from the NW side. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Medicine Butte<\/span><\/a> (8,608 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was the highest mountain in any direction for a long way.\u00a0 Nothing close to being as high was in sight anywhere to the N or E.\u00a0 Distant ridges to the W looked about equal in height.\u00a0 Only to the S and SE were higher peaks seen, and they were far, far away.<\/p>\n

No one else was around.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP enjoyed the views for half an hour, then it was time to think about leaving Medicine Butte.\u00a0 One more peak left on this Dingo Vacation before the Carolina Dog really would be on her way home.\u00a0 Little Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,131 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the Sweetwater County, Wyoming Prominence Peak was a couple hours drive away.\u00a0 Lupe might as well get closer to it this evening.<\/p>\n

A final look around, and Lupe was on her way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
SPHP had no idea what these contraptions were. The Evanston Landfill is in sight below. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Back at the true summit of Medicine Butte<\/strong> before heading back. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
County Road No. 108 snakes down from the tower on the L along the near ridgelines to the far R. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe about to start down County Road No. 108. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trek back down along County Road No. 108 was easier and went faster, a pleasant time.\u00a0 Lupe felt energetic, and roamed off road a little.\u00a0 Fortunately, she suffered no encounters with cactus or rattlers.<\/p>\n

SPHP had left a pair of wet boots up on top of the G6 to dry while Lupe visited Medicine Butte.\u00a0 Worked great.\u00a0 They were completely baked by the time the American Dingo returned.\u00a0 (5:03 PM, 86\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

In Evanston, SPHP picked up some fried chicken and a few other things at Walmart.\u00a0 Lupe spent the evening enjoying dinner with a “moo”vie in the G6, munching on chicken and barking at big herds of black cattle as SPHP drove E on Hwy 414 down the beautiful valley of the Henry’s Fork of the Green River.\u00a0 By the time the sun went down, she was in Utah with a splendid view of Sheep Creek Bay, part of Flaming Gorge Reservoir.<\/p>\n

After Lupe’s huge adventure up Squaretop Mountain in the Wind River Range, Medicine Butte had been the perfect recovery day.\u00a0 Not too long, not too short.\u00a0 Not too hard, or too easy.\u00a0 Solitude and a pleasant trek with panoramic views of Wyoming’s wide open sagebrush country, all sandwiched between relaxing, scenic drives before and after.<\/p>\n

Can’t ask for much more than that!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sheep Creek Bay<\/strong> of Flaming Gorge Reservoir<\/strong>, Utah 7-23-18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Directions to Medicine Butte by Edward Earl<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains & Wind River Range in Wyoming Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 11 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Bighorn Mountains & Wind River Range of Wyoming! 6:00 AM – Foggy.\u00a0 Too bad.\u00a0 No point in the American Dingo running down to Lower Green River Lake to gaze upon that fabulous view of iconic Squaretop Mountain (11,695 ft.) one last time.\u00a0 She wouldn’t see a … Continue reading Medicine Butte, the Uinta County, Wyoming Prominence Peak (7-23-18)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1033],"tags":[105,106,26,104,1051,11,1052,275],"class_list":["post-19608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2018-bighorn-mountains-wind-river-range-wyoming","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-medicine-butte","tag-peakbagging","tag-uinta-county","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/IMG_0157.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19608"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20855,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19608\/revisions\/20855"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}