{"id":10826,"date":"2017-10-28T08:10:36","date_gmt":"2017-10-28T14:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=10826"},"modified":"2019-03-25T21:52:04","modified_gmt":"2019-03-26T03:52:04","slug":"muddy-mountain-laramie-range-wyoming-6-11-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=10826","title":{"rendered":"Muddy Mountain, Laramie Range, Wyoming (6-11-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 4 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Laramie Range, Wyoming & Beyond!<\/em><\/p>\n

SPHP got the spare pair of Realtree shoes out of the trunk of the G6.\u00a0 They were old and in bad shape.\u00a0 SPHP muttered while putting them on.<\/p>\n

Should have brought these along yesterday, and none of this would have happened!<\/em><\/p>\n

None of what?<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, you know Loop, losing my new boots in La Bonte Creek.\u00a0 The whole purpose of bringing these old Realtree shoes on this trip had been to use them as water shoes for creek crossings.\u00a0 Instead, I forget all about them, then yesterday I manage to lose my brand new 3 day old boots in the creek while trying to be clever and keep them from getting wet.<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, at least you still have shoes.\u00a0 We’re still going mountain climbing, right?<\/em><\/p>\n

Nope.\u00a0 Blacktail Peak (8,675 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is out.\u00a0 Not going to risk these old shoes completely disintegrating on me, and having to saunter back barefoot again.\u00a0 Besides, I’m no longer in any mood to ford La Bonte Creek.\u00a0 It looks easy, but the water is too high.\u00a0 You nearly got swept away yourself yesterday.\u00a0 Twice!<\/em><\/p>\n

So what are we going to do?<\/em><\/p>\n

Get water at Curtis Gulch campground, then head for Casper so I can buy another pair of boots.\u00a0 Don’t worry, you’ll have a riot barking at all those cows, horses, and antelope again on the way out of here.\u00a0 Come on, let’s get going!<\/em><\/p>\n

On the drive to Casper, SPHP realized Lupe actually could go mountain climbing today, just not to Blacktail Peak as originally planned.\u00a0 S of Casper was the huge, long ridge of Casper Mountain<\/span><\/a> (8,200 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lupe had already been to the summit of Casper Mountain once before.\u00a0 However, on the other side of Casper Mountain was another big ridge the American Dingo had never been to – Muddy Mountain<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 (8,300 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

SPHP hadn’t expected Lupe would get to Muddy Mountain (8,300 ft.) so soon on this trip.\u00a0 However, the unforeseen need for new boots was bringing her to the vicinity, so why not do it now?\u00a0 She’d have plenty of time to visit the mountain this afternoon.<\/p>\n

After new boots were procured, and lunch was consumed in Washington Park, Lupe and SPHP drove S over Casper Mountain on Casper Mountain Road.\u00a0 The long, partially forested ridge of Muddy Mountain came into view.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The long, high ridge of Muddy Mountain comes into view from the S slope of Casper Mountain. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had seen on the topo map that a road went all the way to the top of Muddy Mountain.\u00a0 Driving to the summit wasn’t the plan, however.\u00a0 Too easy.\u00a0 So lame for a peakbagging Carolina Dog!\u00a0 To enjoy the trek and get to really experience Muddy Mountain, Lupe would climb it from the low point in the valley between Casper and Muddy mountains.<\/p>\n

This way, Lupe would get to enjoy a remote, lonely backroad trek up Muddy Mountain while gaining over 1,000 feet of elevation.\u00a0 At least, that was what SPHP expected.\u00a0 Reality was rather different.\u00a0 Driving down the S slope of Casper Mountain, SPHP was surprised by how much traffic there was.\u00a0 Casper Mountain Road turned to gravel and became Circle Drive, yet vehicles still passed by at regular intervals.<\/p>\n

Not good.\u00a0 The wind was blowing.\u00a0 Getting a face full of dust every time a vehicle went by wasn’t the least bit appealing.\u00a0 The gravel road was no minor backcountry lane, either.\u00a0 Big, wide, and busy, it wasn’t a terribly charming place for a stroll.\u00a0 Lupe was going to have to leave the road and wander up Muddy Mountain through the fields and forests, if this was going to be much fun.\u00a0 No worries, though, that looked easy enough.<\/p>\n

SPHP parked the G6 at the low point between the big ridges.\u00a0 A few other vehicles were parked here, too, but no one was around.\u00a0 Nearby, Circle Drive turned W, while Muddy Mountain Road continued S on up Muddy Mountain’s N slope.\u00a0 As SPHP got everything ready to go, more vehicles streamed by raising clouds of dust (2:34 PM, 67\u00b0F).<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP crossed over Muddy Mountain Road entering a giant green field full of purple lupines.\u00a0 The sun was shining.\u00a0 The lupines danced in a lively breeze.\u00a0 Loopster took the lead, sniffing happily.\u00a0 Her destination was 4 or 5 miles away, somewhere along the N rim of the long ridge.\u00a0 Muddy Mountain was going to be fun after all!<\/p>\n

NO, IT WASN’T!\u00a0 That sound!\u00a0 Lupe must have passed within 4 or 5 feet of where it was coming from.\u00a0 She was scarcely 25 feet from Muddy Mountain Road when an angry buzzing started as she went by.\u00a0 SPHP looked cautiously around for the deadly source.\u00a0 Oh, yeah.\u00a0 There it was, still rattling down in a small depression, ready to strike.\u00a0 A fairly big one.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe had scarcely started on her way up Muddy Mountain<\/strong> when she passed close by this fairly large rattlesnake hidden in a small depression.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was already a good 15 feet beyond the rattler.\u00a0 She was fine.<\/p>\n

Loopster!\u00a0 STAY, SIT!\u00a0 Don’t move!\u00a0 Good girl!\u00a0 Stay right there!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe waits for SPHP to come and guide her safely back around the rattlesnake. Her trek up Muddy Mountain<\/strong> was over almost before it began. This was as far as she got, not much more than 40 feet from Muddy Mountain Road. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP sounded so serious, Lupe obeyed instantly.<\/p>\n

Umm, what’s up?\u00a0 What’s wrong?<\/em><\/p>\n

A rattlesnake, a pretty big one, you just went right by it.\u00a0 This hike is over, sweetheart!\u00a0 Wait there, I’ll lead you back around the evil serpent.\u00a0 It’s poisonous and very dangerous, even for an American Dingo.<\/em><\/p>\n

We’re not going to Muddy Mountain?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, yes we are.\u00a0 But suddenly I’ve been seized with a desire to drive every inch of the way to the top.\u00a0 Easy, squeezy-like, and hopefully serpent-free.<\/em><\/p>\n

Only 10 minutes after starting out, the Carolina Dog was back at the G6 (2:44 PM, 67\u00b0F).\u00a0 A nice dusty drive clear to the top of Muddy Mountain ensued.\u00a0 To SPHP’s great surprise, a campground was right at the summit, complete with a big deck overlooking the view to the N.\u00a0 It turned out there was a fairly extensive trail system in the area, too.\u00a0 No wonder the road was so busy!\u00a0 The old topo map hadn’t shown all this.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP checked out the view of Casper Mountain from the observation deck.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Although not shown on the old topo maps, Lupe discovers Rim campground<\/strong> at the summit of Muddy Mountain<\/strong>. SPHP had expected Muddy Mountain<\/strong> to be lonely and remote. Instead it’s a popular spot!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near Rim campground, right along the N rim of Muddy Mountain<\/strong>, is this big observation deck with a view of Casper Mountain<\/strong> to the N. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Part of the huge Casper Mountain<\/strong> ridge as seen from the observation deck. (Summit not pictured to the L of this photo.) Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The observation deck was sunny and bright.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A couple of large rocks sat a short distance E of the observation deck.\u00a0 They appeared to be the absolute highest point around.\u00a0 The American Dingo strolled over for a super easy peakbagging success.\u00a0 Peakbagging Muddy Mountain turned out to be scarcely any more effort than Prairie Dog Hill<\/span><\/a> (6,400 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> had been yesterday.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Another cheap peakbagging success. Lupe stands on the natural summit of Muddy Mountain<\/strong>. Part of the observation deck is seen on the L. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Hey, it wasn’t a cheap peakbagging success! I braved a huge rattlesnake to get here!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Wildflowers near the summit rocks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Checking out the view from the observation deck and tagging the summit hadn’t taken long.\u00a0 Lupe still had one more task to perform up on Muddy Mountain, though.\u00a0 She could go look for the Muddy Mountain survey benchmark.\u00a0 The topo map showed it wasn’t actually at the summit, but at another slightly lower high point about 0.75 mile W.<\/p>\n

SPHP drove over that way, parking the G6 along the road slightly E of where it seemed the survey benchmark ought to be.\u00a0 Lupe hopped out.\u00a0 She headed W exploring a narrow strip of open ground between the road and N rim of the mountain.\u00a0 SPHP followed, nervously keeping an eye out for rattlesnakes, while searching for the benchmark.<\/p>\n

As Lupe sniffed her way along, she came to a nice view to the WNW.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
While searching for the Muddy Mountain<\/strong> survey benchmark, Lupe came to this pretty view to the WNW. Circle Drive is seen on the R.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe went about 600 feet from the G6.\u00a0 No sign of the survey benchmark.\u00a0 The terrain was gradually dropping now, too.\u00a0 The benchmark wouldn’t be any farther W than this.\u00a0 Might as well turn around.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog headed back E.\u00a0 Again SPHP followed, trying to search more thoroughly.\u00a0 Nothing.\u00a0 Lupe arrived back at the G6.\u00a0 Now what?\u00a0 SPHP checked the topo map again.\u00a0 It was possible the benchmark was a bit E of here.<\/p>\n

SPHP had parked the G6 a little W of a few pine trees close to the N side of the road.\u00a0 Beyond them to the E was a nearly level field rimmed by pines to the N.\u00a0 The field, which was full of purple and yellow wildflowers, widened out to the E in the shape of a long triangle.\u00a0 Better go look over there, too.<\/p>\n

Lupe scarcely got past the first few pine trees when she found it!\u00a0 The survey benchmark was right there, fixed in concrete, barely 50 feet from the G6 and only 10-12 feet N of the road.\u00a0 Sweet!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
This what you’re looking for SPHP? …… Oh, yeah! That’s it Looper. Good job!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Muddy Mountain<\/strong> survey benchmark is only 10-12 feet N of the road about 0.75 mile W of Rim campground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"Well, that was that.\u00a0 What now?\u00a0 Maybe it would be fun to go take a look at the map of the trail system on Muddy Mountain.\u00a0 The main trailhead was nearly 0.5 mile E at an intersection on the S side of the road.\u00a0 Lupe was fine with going back to check it out, so SPHP drove over to the trailhead.\u00a0 A large map was on display.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
This map of the trail system on Muddy Mountain<\/strong> is on display at a trailhead on the S side of the road about 0.25 mile W of the turn for the Rim campground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail system map revealed that Muddy Mountain Road made a big loop from here.\u00a0 A little S of this trailhead was another campground, Lodgepole campground.\u00a0 Several different trails offered a variety of possible loops between Lodgepole and Rim campgrounds.\u00a0 The trails were all relatively easy.\u00a0 None involved more than a couple hundred feet of elevation change, if that.<\/p>\n

No doubt there was little danger, but that rattlesnake was still too fresh on SPHP’s mind.\u00a0 Loop was going to skip any exploration of the Muddy Mountain trail system.\u00a0 More challenging things would soon be in store for the Carolina Dog, anyway.\u00a0 In the meantime, she could stop and look at some of the views from Muddy Mountain on the way back to Casper.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop along the N rim of Muddy Mountain<\/strong> on the way back to Casper. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At another rock along the N rim. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Checking out some rocks S of Muddy Mountain Road. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Rockin’ Muddy Mountain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way up Casper Mountain<\/span><\/a> (8,200 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Lupe stopped for a final look back at Muddy Mountain<\/span><\/a> (8,300 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 In the late afternoon sun, the views were beautiful.\u00a0 Off to the SW, light rain showers were seen in the distance.\u00a0 More mountains could be seen beyond the Laramie Range.<\/p>\n

Lupe would eventually be headed that way, but not quite yet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The lower W end of the long Muddy Mountain<\/strong> ridge is seen on the L. Beyond it are mountains of the Shirley Range<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A final look back at Muddy Mountain<\/strong> from Circle Drive on the lower S slopes of Casper Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Casper, SPHP grabbed a couple of cheeseburgers.\u00a0 Lupe shared in the cheeseburger feast on the drive E back to Douglas along I-25.\u00a0 Day ended with a gorgeous evening drive once again SW of Douglas on Hwy 91.\u00a0 Ahead Lupe could see where she would be adventuring next.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow Lupe would try to climb both Squaw Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,313 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Buffalo Peak<\/span><\/a> (9,387 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Hopefully it was going to be a fabulous day!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching La Prele Reservoir on Hwy 91 SW of Douglas, WY. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Squaw Mountain<\/span><\/a> (9,313 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (slightly L of Center) and Buffalo Peak<\/span><\/a> (9,387 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R) come into view SW of La Prele Reservoir.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop on the way to her next adventure in the Laramie Range. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Adventure dead ahead! Squaw Mountain<\/strong> (L) and Buffalo Peak<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Squaw Mountain<\/strong> (L) and Buffalo Peak<\/strong> (R) from Cold Springs Road. Bear Rock<\/strong> in the foreground. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe’s visit to Muddy Mountain hadn’t been long or hard, but it had been plenty exciting.\u00a0 Too exciting, actually!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Muddy Mountain rattlesnake, Laramie Range of Wyoming 6-11-17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\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

A Quick Trip to Casper<\/b><\/span>, Wyoming (May 1-4, 2015)<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2017 Laramie Range, Wyoming & Beyond 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 4 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Laramie Range, Wyoming & Beyond! SPHP got the spare pair of Realtree shoes out of the trunk of the G6.\u00a0 They were old and in bad shape.\u00a0 SPHP muttered while putting them on. Should have brought these along yesterday, and none of this would have happened! … Continue reading Muddy Mountain, Laramie Range, Wyoming (6-11-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10813,"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":[834],"tags":[105,106,26,104,842,843,275],"class_list":["post-10826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2017-laramie-range-wyoming-beyond","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-muddy-mountain","tag-rim-campground","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_4937.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\/10826","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=10826"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21154,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10826\/revisions\/21154"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}