Poking around in Front's Ford Creek high country

Crown Mountain from North Fork Ford Creek

The grassy high country of North Fork Ford Creek

First lupine of the year

I spent Tuesday in the Benchmark area exploring and enjoying.
The only big game animal I saw was a mule deer.
But, the birds were a treat:  sandhill crane, bald eagle, spruce grouse and bluebirds.
I had hoped to do the Benchmark Creek-Fairview Creek loop, but wussed out when it came to stream crossings.  Benchmark Creek is high enough that I would have had to take my books off and on numerous times.  At about 1.5 miles I bagged it. The Patrol Mountain and Wood Creek ridges are still packed with snow.
I had lunch at the Straight Creek packers camp, checked out South Fork Sun trailhead (no cars) and went to Wood Lake, where I kicked back and took a great nap in the sun.
Heading back to Augusta, I decided to stop and explore the North Fork of Ford Creek (not far from the Double Falls Campground).  There's supposed to be a trail there, but I didn't see any sign, but found a pretty good footpath that eventually disappeared.  I reached a hill top and discovered cut logs and a real trail that I followed to the foot of the Ford Creek Plateau.  This is high grass country hemmed in on both sides by high ridges.  To the north I could see Fairview Mountain above Willow Creek.  Lots of flowers already.
Coming back I enjoyed views of the Crown Mountain ridge line, still very snow covered.
I returned on the great path I had found.  After achieving a saddle it drops steeply and is just adjacent to the unnamed limestone ridge to the east.  It had been horribly eroded, I suspect from heavy horse and cattle use.  Yet, it was pretty and there were wildflowers growing on the eroded, south-facing slopes.
On the other side of this ridge is a Forest Service trail that goes from the Benchmark Road back to Camp Scoutana on Willow Creek.  It is about 4 miles one way.
More to come.

Wood Lake up the Benchmark Road.  Prairie Reef is in the background