Look Out at Sheep Mountain Lookout Traditional Geocache
Look Out at Sheep Mountain Lookout
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Another scenic and historic cache by Soapy Dale, easily reached by walking, biking, car, truck or cycle.
Forest Fires used to be identified by observation of Rangers and others who would stay in Lookouts or shelters constructed for that purpose. You find these lookouts in Yellowstone Park and other place throughout the Mountain Ranges that straddle the Continental Divide. In 1941 plans for construction of the Sheep Mountain Lookout in Johnson County, Wyoming were approved and the building was erected in 1950 at an elevation of about 9600 feet. The building itself is 14’ x 14’ with an overall size of 21’ x 21’ when you include the catwalk. Native stone rubble was used for the perimeter walls, approximately 8’ in height. The rest of the building is built of wood. Inside is a one-room fire lookout. Although summer residence use was discontinued, the building is still occasionally used.
Sheep Mountain Lookout is in Johnson County, Wyoming in the Big Horn Mountain Range just off the Cloud Peak Scenic Byway on Highway 16 (Sweet 16). You will travel east of Powder River Pass until you reach a sign on the north side of the highway that says: SHEEP MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT. This road is a graveled, winding mountain road designated on the TOPO Map as Pole Creek Road or by the US Forest Service as Road #28.
To reach this most interesting Geocache, leave the highway at the sign marking the road, and stay on the main road until you reach the Sheep Mountain Lookout building, which is about 5.5 miles. You will probably see deer, rockchucks, and a variety of birds. You will cross the creeks in the area on one-way bridges. The wildflowers are abundant in many colors and species. The terrain is steep and rocky, and located on a windy knoll at the edge of the timberline, but you can drive right to it.
At the top the scenery is spectacular in all directions. To the east is the level plain that runs from the edge of the Big Horn Mountains to South Dakota. All other directions display the Big Horn Mountains in their resplendent beauty. These mountains are unique as they are the dividing line between Western Birds and Eastern Birds as designated by the Peterson Field Guide Series map on Western Birds. This is a remarkably beautiful spot and well worth the 45 minutes or so it will take to you find the cache and return to the main road.
The cache is a six cup Tupperware container located in a small crevice within an outcropping of rocks northeast of the building. It is full of goodies including:
Log Book and Pencils
Bear Country USA Mini Camera
Well Fargo 150 years Key Chain
2 $2.00 bills
Mini Vintage Wood Car
Yellow Hardhat Key Chain with light
Bear Country USA Patch
Worland TenSleep Wyoming Enameled Pin
Salt Lake 2002 Olympics Skating Charm
Bank of the West Keychain with light and compass
First Interstate Volkwagen Keychain with Lights
Exxon Tigerhead Keychain
2 Kids Toothbrushes
Mini Purell Hand Sanitizer Bottle
Bear Country USA Button
Plastic Wyoming Bucking Horse Pin
Plastic Kentucky Race Horse Pin
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)