{"id":1987,"date":"2015-10-22T08:10:20","date_gmt":"2015-10-22T14:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1987"},"modified":"2019-03-16T13:50:02","modified_gmt":"2019-03-16T19:50:02","slug":"saratoga-hot-springs-red-mountain-bridger-peak-wyoming-8-14-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1987","title":{"rendered":"Saratoga Hot Springs, Red Mountain & Bridger Peak, Wyoming (8-14-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The morning of Day 6 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation found Lupe and SPHP at the dispersed camping site at the intersection of USFS Roads No. 100 & 215 in the Medicine Bow Mountains of Wyoming.\u00a0 Lupe had climbed Kennaday Peak<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (10,810 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> the day before, and despite getting back rather late, she was full of energy.\u00a0 She sniff excitedly around in the forest nearby and was successful in finding a squirrel to bark at.\u00a0 The squirrel returned insults from the safety of a big pine tree.<\/p>\n

While all this excitement was going on, SPHP sat in the G6 catching up the trip journal.\u00a0\u00a0Suddenly, a\u00a0yellowish hummingbird\u00a0was flitting\u00a0around the G6 – kind of a bright, cheerful, living drone.\u00a0 The hummingbird was a good omen.\u00a0\u00a0Soon it\u00a0was time to go.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP paid a quick visit to the South Brush Creek Campground to get water, and then headed W on Hwy 130 to the town of Saratoga.<\/p>\n

The first thing on the agenda in Saratoga was to check out the Saratoga Hot Springs<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 In addition to two hot pools, there is a regular cool swimming pool, too.\u00a0 SPHP was disappointed to learn that the swimming pool ($4.00\u00a0admission) wouldn’t\u00a0open until noon, which was still hours away.\u00a0 However, the hot springs were open 24\/7 and free, which was an amazing and unbeatable deal.\u00a0 SPHP looked forward to getting clean again!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe arrives to check out the Saratoga Hot Springs on 8-14-15. Of course she couldn’t go in, but she did get to wade in the nearby North Platte river.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Unfortunately,<\/a>
Unfortunately, the lovely cool swimming pool at the Saratoga Hot Springs was closed until noon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Swimming<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The biggest, and by far the largest, of two hot pools at the Saratoga Hot Springs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One rather unusual feature of Saratoga Hot Springs, is that it is situated right next to a small side channel of the North Platte River.\u00a0 More hot water bubbles up into the side channel from underground.\u00a0 SPHP was able to leave the hot spring, walk over to the hot bubbling water at the side channel, and wade a considerable distance upstream.<\/p>\n

\"SPHP<\/a>
SPHP waded up this side channel of the North Platte river. There were little fish and crayfish in it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There were little fish and quite a number of crayfish in the side channel.\u00a0 SPHP surprised a fawn grazing along the banks.\u00a0 If SPHP had waded downstream instead of upstream, it would easily have been possible to wade right on down all the way to the North Platte River itself.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The North Platte River in Saratoga, WY.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP returned to Lupe in the G6 from the Saratoga Hot Springs refreshed and clean.\u00a0 Lupe agreed that SPHP sniffed a lot better.\u00a0 SPHP had learned from a local oil refinery worker, and sometimes Medicine Bow Mountains hunting guide, where there was a city park.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went to the park for a picnic.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t too hungry yet.\u00a0 She\u00a0mostly rested on the nice green grass in the shade of some trees.\u00a0 It was a peaceful time, since the trees didn’t seem to harbor any squirrels.<\/p>\n

After the picnic, Lupe and SPHP headed S on Hwy 130 to Encampment, WY.\u00a0 Along the way, SPHP took a picture of Kennaday Peak<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(10,810 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which Lupe had climbed the evening before to enjoy the sunset.<\/p>\n

\"Kennaday<\/a>
Kennaday Peak from Hwy 130 a few miles S of Saratoga, WY. Kennaday Peak is 15 miles due E of Saratoga.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Encampment, Hwy 70 went W up to Battle Pass in the Sierra Madre mountain range.\u00a0 There was a big parking area for the 3,100 mile Continental Divide National Scenic Trail near the highway.\u00a0 Only one other vehicle was parked there, a pickup truck with a big horse trailer.\u00a0 No one was around.<\/p>\n

Lupe had two peakbagging goals in the area.\u00a0 One was Red Mountain<\/a> (10,508 ft.)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0located no more than 1.5 miles to the S, and which involved less than 600 feet of elevation gain\u00a0from the trailhead.\u00a0 The other was Bridger Peak<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(11,004 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>, which was about 5 miles away to the NW, and a more significant climb.\u00a0 Lupe was going to visit Red Mountain first.<\/p>\n

A broken sign was propped up at the S end of the parking lot where a small road led up into the forest.\u00a0 It said “Dead End Road, Private Property 100 Feet Ahead, Horse & Foot Traffic Only On Posted Trail.”\u00a0 Not terribly welcoming, but Lupe and SPHP started going S following this road.\u00a0 It was 12:55 PM, and 70\u00b0F.<\/p>\n

Right away\u00a0Lupe reached the private property.\u00a0 The dirt road serving as the Continental Divide Trail continued through it.\u00a0 As Lupe progressed, various dirt side roads headed off in different directions into the forest.\u00a0 These were either chained off, had “No Trespassing” signs, or both.\u00a0 Occasionally there were big rock cairns with posts sticking out of them showing the correct way to go.<\/p>\n

Less than 0.5 mile NW of Doane Peak, the private property ended\u00a0close to\u00a0a “T” intersection with another dirt road.\u00a0 Lupe went to the right heading SW over a small ridge and then down to a meadow.\u00a0 Red Mountain could be seen ahead across the meadow.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the meadow NE of Red Mountain – the forested ridge seen through the trees. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe left the road\u00a0and Continental Divide Trail.\u00a0 She headed across the meadow straight up into the trees directly toward Red Mountain.\u00a0 There wasn’t too much deadfall timber to contend with, and the summit of Red Mountain was only a few hundred feet higher than the meadow.\u00a0\u00a0The way wasn’t too steep, either.\u00a0 Lupe enjoyed a pretty\u00a0nice\u00a0romp in the shady forest. \u00a0SPHP followed her on up the mountain.<\/p>\n

At the top of Red Mountain, Lupe came to a cairn about 3′ high made, appropriately enough, of red rocks.\u00a0 The cairn was about 30′ W of what looked like the actual highest natural point on the mountain.\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t really expecting much in the way of views from Red Mountain.\u00a0 The forested ridge might very well not offer views of anything at all other than the forest.\u00a0 Red Mountain surprised, though.\u00a0 There were some very nice open views to the S.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the summit cairn on Red Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The natural high point is seen here, although the cairn 30′ to the W is built up a bit taller now.\u00a0 Lupe takes a break with her 1st peakbagging goal of the day already accomplished.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Wow!<\/a>
Wow! Lupe is pleased and impressed with the view to the S from Red Mountain – much better than anticipated!\u00a0 No telling how many squirrels are out there!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the summit cairn, it looked like there was some pretty high ground still\u00a0off to the W on Red Mountain.\u00a0 Since it was possible there might even be a higher point over there, Lupe and SPHP headed W, going far enough to be satisfied Lupe had already reached the true summit.\u00a0 Along the way, Lupe discovered a clearing with a good view of Bridger Peak off to the NW – her next peakbagging goal for the day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Bridger Peak to the NW from Red Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The meadow with the\u00a0view of Bridger Peak was less than 100′ from the summit cairn.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP returned to the summit.\u00a0 SPHP took one last look at the great view to the S, while Lupe tried to hide from the sun.<\/p>\n

\""Kinda<\/a>
“Kinda bright here SPHP, can we go now?”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way back down Red Mountain, Lupe\u00a0stayed more to the E along the ridgeline than the way she’d come up.\u00a0 Before she lost much elevation, there were some\u00a0openings in the forest with pretty\u00a0good distant views all the way\u00a0E to Medicine Bow Peak.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP were back at the G6 again\u00a0at 3:10 PM.\u00a0 It was still 70\u00b0F.\u00a0 There was actually quite a nice clear view of Bridger Peak from\u00a0Highway 70 close to the Continental Divide\u00a0Trail trailhead where the G6 was parked.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP walked down to the highway\u00a0for a couple of shots of Bridger Peak.<\/p>\n

\"Bridger<\/a>
Bridger Peak from Battle Pass along Hwy 70.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at Battle Pass with Bridger Peak to the NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The maps showed that there was a Battle Site and Battle Cemetery at two separate places up on Battle Pass.\u00a0 The Battle Cemetery road was shown a half mile farther N and closer to Bridger Peak, so SPHP decided to move the G6 over there.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had hardly left the Continental Divide\u00a0Trail trailhead parking lot\u00a0when there was a right turn off Highway 70 where the Battle Site was supposed to be.\u00a0 Why not find out something about the battle the place was named after?<\/p>\n

SPHP pulled off the highway.\u00a0\u00a0 A very short paved road led to\u00a0another big\u00a0empty parking lot.\u00a0 There were views from Battle Pass and signs about wildlife, but nothing about the battle that Battle Pass must be named after.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP didn’t even get out of the G6.\u00a0 SPHP drove back to Highway 70 and continued N.\u00a0 Just before the highway turned W, there was a gravel road heading E into the forest towards where the map said\u00a0Battle Cemetery was supposed to be.<\/p>\n

A short drive on the gravel road led to a big parking area with dirt roads radiating out from it.\u00a0 This parking area was full of dust.\u00a0 There were lots of vehicles parked at various points near the surrounding forest.\u00a0 Campers could be seen back in the trees.\u00a0 People were around.\u00a0 From the dirt road to the NW, several ATV’s roared into view.\u00a0 The drivers skidded into the parking area purposely stirring up an impressive choking cloud of dust.\u00a0 Oh, yay, people!<\/p>\n

SPHP parked the G6 in the dust cloud.\u00a0 The road to the NW the ATV’s had come from was probably the road to Bridger Peak.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the G6 for Bridger Peak at 3:29 PM.\u00a0 (Still 70\u00b0F!)\u00a0 Lupe headed for the dirt road to the NW.\u00a0 SPHP was surprised and happy to see a little signpost for the Continental Divide Trail practically right next to the road.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe and SPHP could follow\u00a0a single track trail leading N into the forest instead of the dusty road.<\/p>\n

The Continental Divide Trail climbed steeply\u00a0to gain\u00a0150 \u2013 200′\u00a0of elevation and then leveled out. It went up and down some, but was pretty easy going.\u00a0 The trail didn’t look like it got much use, but was in good enough condition so it wasn’t hard to follow, except in a couple of short sections. After about a mile, the trail reached a dirt road.\u00a0 There was no sign of the trail anywhere on the other side of the road.\u00a0 Apparently the road was the Continental Divide Trail from here on, because Lupe never saw a sign for it again the rest of the way to Bridger Peak.\u00a0 It’s quite likely this was the same NW road the ATV’s had arrived from back at the parking lot.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP followed the road all the way up to Bridger Peak.\u00a0 There was almost no traffic.\u00a0\u00a0 Just a few vehicles and ATV’s came by.\u00a0 This was another road trek through the forest\u00a0sort of like the one Lupe and SPHP had made the prior day up to Kennaday Peak.\u00a0 The road up to Bridger Peak did feature more openings in the forest, and more opportunities to see\u00a0some views along the way.<\/p>\n

The sky had been mostly sunny, with puffy clouds when Lupe left the big dusty parking lot.\u00a0 As time went by,\u00a0the weather started deteriorating.\u00a0 Scattered thunderstorms appeared here and there not too far away.\u00a0 They weren’t big, but still worrisome.\u00a0\u00a0Eventually, a threatening cloud appeared over\u00a0Bridger Peak and kept growing.\u00a0 It started sprinkling rain on and off. When the thunder started, Lupe really didn’t want to go on.\u00a0 She wanted to stop and hide.<\/p>\n

SPHP allowed the\u00a0concerned Carolina Dog\u00a0periodic short stops, even though the need to hurry was growing.\u00a0 Thunder sounded closer and closer as the summit came into view.\u00a0 It was looking rather stormy by the time Lupe reached the top of Bridger Peak, but the storm hadn’t really hit yet.\u00a0 SPHP started taking a few pictures fast.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t going to be willing to stay up on the summit very long.\u00a0 After about 10 minutes, suddenly there was a crack and thunder boomed very loud nearby.\u00a0\u00a0A gusty wind and cold rain hit Bridger Peak almost immediately.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the Bridger Peak summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The views from 11,004′ Bridger Peak.\u00a0 The closest ridge in the center is 10,508′ Red Mountain, which Lupe had climbed just before coming here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>\"\"<\/a>SPHP hadn’t seen\u00a0the lightning, but Lupe left no doubt about what she wanted to do.\u00a0 SPHP was in full agreement.\u00a0 The American Dingo and SPHP both\u00a0fled, scrambling downhill fast.\u00a0 Naturally, within 5 minutes the worst of the storm was over.\u00a0 The rain became just a sprinkle, the wind died down, and the thunder pealed from farther away.\u00a0 None of these storms were really very big.\u00a0 The Dingo was not reassured.\u00a0 Thunder rumbled a little ways off several times every minute.\u00a0 Although the thunder\u00a0gradually diminished, Lupe\u00a0begged SPHP again and again to stop and hide.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A last look back at the summit of Bridger Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking E not far from the summit of Bridger Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"On<\/a>
On the way back.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP did stop many times.\u00a0 Lupe liked hiding in the forest.\u00a0\u00a0Even though it was now all downhill, progress back down Bridger Peak was as slow or slower than coming up.\u00a0 By the time\u00a0Lupe got back to where the Continental Divide Trail separated from the road, the sun had set and light was fading fast.\u00a0 Lupe was doing much better, though.\u00a0 The thunder had quit as the storms all moved off to the E.\u00a0 The sky was clearing again.\u00a0 Lupe actually had a lot of fun racing around in the woods along the Continental Divide Trail on the way back.<\/p>\n

It was almost dark when Lupe reached the G6 again at 8:43 PM (59\u00b0F).\u00a0 Stars were already coming out.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the dusty parking lot, and drove back up to the Continental Divide\u00a0Trail trailhead\u00a0closer to\u00a0Red Mountain.\u00a0 Not a soul was around, nor any other vehicle.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0had sardines for dinner right on the parking lot.\u00a0 It was getting so dark\u00a0SPHP could hardly see to eat them,\u00a0but Lupe really loved the sardines.\"Lupe<\/a>Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure\u00a0<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\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 2015 Wyoming, Colorado & Utah Adventure Index<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span> or Master Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The morning of Day 6 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation found Lupe and SPHP at the dispersed camping site at the intersection of USFS Roads No. 100 & 215 in the Medicine Bow Mountains of Wyoming.\u00a0 Lupe had climbed Kennaday Peak (10,810 ft.) the day before, and despite getting back rather late, … Continue reading Saratoga Hot Springs, Red Mountain & Bridger Peak, Wyoming (8-14-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1977,"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":[274],"tags":[105,291,290,106,292,26,104,293,289,560,275],"class_list":["post-1987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2015-wyoming-colorado-utah","tag-american-dingo","tag-battle-pass","tag-bridger-peak","tag-carolina-dog","tag-continental-divide-trail","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-north-platte-river","tag-red-mountain","tag-saratoga-hot-springs","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/P1060637.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\/1987","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=1987"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20835,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1987\/revisions\/20835"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}