{"id":11182,"date":"2017-11-21T08:10:19","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T15:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=11182"},"modified":"2019-03-25T22:15:46","modified_gmt":"2019-03-26T04:15:46","slug":"the-shirley-mountains-high-point-quealey-benchmark-wyoming-6-14-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=11182","title":{"rendered":"The Shirley Mountains High Point & Quealey Benchmark, Wyoming (6-14-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 7 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Laramie Range, Wyoming & Beyond!<\/em><\/p>\n

S of Casper, roughly a mile W of Hwy 77, the wide, dusty gravel road (County Road No. 105) came to a “Y”.\u00a0 Off to the SW, beyond an expanse of prairie, rose an isolated mountain range.\u00a0 Although reaching more than 9,000 feet in elevation, these mountains didn’t appear particularly high, rugged or striking.\u00a0 The Shirley Mountains looked more like a collection of big forested ridges.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The isolated Shirley Mountains<\/strong> weren’t particularly rugged, appearing more like a collection of big forested ridges. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was coming to visit the Shirley Mountains High Point<\/span><\/a> (9,151 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, but SPHP knew next to nothing about this place.\u00a0 Copies of an old topo map showed a long dotted road winding 7 miles or so in from the N that passed near the high point.\u00a0 A 4WD road?\u00a0 Probably.\u00a0 In that case, the G6 wouldn’t be able to do it.<\/p>\n

That wasn’t the real issue.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog could travel the 7 miles on her own easily enough.\u00a0 Two other questions loomed larger.\u00a0 First, was there even access?\u00a0 This might be all private land.\u00a0 In that case, some landowner would have to be sought out, and permission obtained to even enter the area.<\/p>\n

Second, even if access was available or could be obtained, did the road shown on the map exist in good enough condition so Lupe could follow it?\u00a0 If not, the American Dingo might end up lost in the forest, as SPHP tried to make sense of a multi-mile bushwhack based solely on the old topo map.\u00a0 These mountains didn’t appear to have many prominent features to orient by.\u00a0 Wandering around up there might prove confusing.<\/p>\n

A sign at the “Y” was somewhat encouraging.\u00a0 Left was BLM Road No. 3115 (E end).\u00a0 Right was the way to BLM Road No. 3115 (W end) in 6 miles, County Road No. 291 in 19 miles, and Miracle Mile in 25 miles.\u00a0 A BLM road going up into the Shirley Mountains at least meant there was public access!<\/p>\n

SPHP took a L driving S toward (on?) BLM Road No. 3115 (E end).\u00a0 Lupe rode with her head out the window.\u00a0 She was loving this!\u00a0 Herds of pronghorn antelope were out on the prairie.\u00a0 Unlike cows and horses, the antelope paid attention to the yippy-yappy Dingo.\u00a0 Racing across the prairie, they inspired even more vigorous, frantic Dingo antics.\u00a0 No doubt about it, as far as Loop was concerned, the day was off to an exciting, exhilarating start!<\/p>\n

SPHP wasn’t nearly as thrilled.\u00a0 The whole trip S on BLM Road No. 3115 (E end) was a fiasco.\u00a0 After exploring 3 more “Y’s”, including a useless trip W partway into the impressive Creek Land & Livestock Company ranch, a road could be seen going W up into the Shirley Mountains.\u00a0 The stony, rutted remnant of a road the G6 was on appeared to link up to it a few miles farther on.<\/p>\n

No way!\u00a0 The G6 was getting beat to death on this miserable excuse for a road.\u00a0 Continuing without high clearance and a rugged suspension system was a disaster waiting to happen.\u00a0 Disaster wasn’t likely to hold off much longer, either.\u00a0 SPHP did the prudent thing and turned around.<\/p>\n

Another jarring, nerve-wracking, exciting ride back past the antelope ensued.\u00a0 To SPHP’s great relief, Lupe reached the first “Y” again.\u00a0 This time, SPHP drove W on County Road No. 105.\u00a0 This road did not deteriorate, and some 6 miles farther on Lupe reached another intersection.\u00a0 A sign indicated that a side road going S was Shirley Mountains Loop Road No. 3115.\u00a0 Prior Flat Campground was 0.4 mile away.<\/p>\n

Hmm.\u00a0 It was a bit odd that BLM Road No. 3115 (West End) apparently entered the Shirley Mountains from the N instead of W, but whatever.\u00a0 No point in quibbling.\u00a0 SPHP was actually rather pleased.\u00a0 This might be the same road shown on the topo map, in which case Lupe would have public access all the way to the Shirley Mountains High Point.<\/p>\n

SPHP made the turn S.\u00a0 0.4 mile up a grassy slope, Lupe arrived at Prior Flat Campground.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe arrives at Prior Flat Campground<\/strong>. The campground is tucked up against the trees at the N end of the Shirley Mountains<\/strong>, and features an expansive view of Prior Flat<\/strong>, a huge open prairie to the N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prior Flat Campground was awesome!\u00a0 Two loops with campsites were tucked up in or near the trees at the base of the N end of the Shirley Mountains.\u00a0 To the N was an expansive view of Prior Flat, a broad prairie.\u00a0 Beyond were thirsty-looking low mountains, ridges and hills.<\/p>\n

The whole place felt remote, abandoned.\u00a0 Not a soul seemed to be around, and apparently the campground was free!\u00a0 No mention of fees or registrations required anywhere.\u00a0 A most excellent situation!\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP grabbed a spot along the W loop, backing the G6 into the shade of aspen trees near a picnic table.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on open ground within the rail fence serving as the N boundary of Prior Flat CG<\/strong>. On the R, Country Road No. 105<\/strong> winds away off to the W. In the foreground, Shirley Mountain Loop Road No. 3115<\/strong> goes right through the CG. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a quick bite to eat, Lupe and SPHP left the G6 at the campground, and started up Shirley Mountain Loop Road No. 3115 (11:04 AM, 52\u00b0F)<\/em>.\u00a0 For nearly a mile, the road went steadily SW up a forested valley.\u00a0 SPHP was quickly convinced this was Prior Draw.\u00a0 Lupe was on the exact same road on the old topo map that would lead her close to the Shirley Mountains High Point.<\/p>\n

At the upper end of Prior Draw, the road turned E near a saddle on a ridge to the S.\u00a0 Lupe left the road and climbed up to the saddle.\u00a0 She had a view to the SW, but was more interested in a lone snow bank back in among the trees.\u00a0 After frolicking and cooling off on the snow, Loop returned to the road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the upper end of Prior Draw<\/strong>, Lupe was more interested in this nice, cold snow bank than the view. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No. 3115 now went 0.5 mile SE, then 1.0 mile S.\u00a0 Lupe gained elevation the whole time.\u00a0 The forest sometimes gave way to large, open meadows.\u00a0 A high, distant mountain could be seen off to the W, but SPHP was uncertain what mountain that might be.\u00a0 After passing by driveways to a couple of cabins in a more wooded area, Lupe reached flatter, open ground.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog was getting fairly high up now.\u00a0 Ahead she could see a tower at the top of a ridge.\u00a0 This tower was at High Point 8712 on the topo map.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the tower at High Point 8712<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe followed No. 3115 to the top of the ridge.\u00a0 Two side roads, not far from one another, led off in different directions.\u00a0 The first road went NE to the tower, which was now close at hand.\u00a0 The second road disappeared into a forest to the WSW.\u00a0 Instead of going to the tower, Loop took the road into the forest.\u00a0 This had to be the way to Peak 8720.<\/p>\n

Peak<\/span> 8720<\/span><\/a><\/strong> was a Brian Kalet peak, meaning simply that Brian Kalet<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, a prolific peakbagger, had entered the mountain into the Peakbagger.com<\/strong><\/span><\/a> database that Lupe also uses to track her ascents.\u00a0 Early in 2017, Lupe had visited quite a number of Brian Kalet peaks in the southern Black Hills.<\/p>\n

Since the Peak 8720 summit was only a 0.5 mile side trip, Lupe might as well visit this Brian Kalet peak, too!\u00a0 She’d already basically climbed it.\u00a0 The top of the mountain was no more than 40 to 60 feet higher than where she was now.<\/p>\n

The side road going through the forest brought Lupe to a humongous snow drift.\u00a0 The road disappeared beneath it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The side road going WSW through the forest brought Lupe to this humongous snow drift!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The giant snow bank was just inside the W edge of the forest.\u00a0 The snow must have drifted in last winter driven by winds sweeping over a huge flat meadow that was directly ahead beyond the trees.\u00a0 Since the road disappeared beneath the snow, Lupe had no choice but to go right over the drift, a task she thoroughly enjoyed.<\/p>\n

On the other side of the snow bank, the road reappeared.\u00a0 Lupe followed it as it emerged from the forest and continued through the meadow.\u00a0 The terrain was flat as a pancake.\u00a0 The meadow extended all the way to the edge of a canyon, but the road turned N halfway there.\u00a0 Lupe left the road to go find out what could be seen from the meadow’s edge.<\/p>\n

A strong W wind swept across the meadow.\u00a0 Lupe was traveling right into the teeth of it.\u00a0 The wind grew stronger and stronger as she neared the edge of the meadow.\u00a0 By the time she got there, Loop was standing in a gale.\u00a0 She had a good view of the Cave Creek valley below, and mostly forested mountains and ridges beyond.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking W across Cave Creek valley<\/strong> from Peak 8720<\/strong>. The W wind coming from behind Lupe was a gale here near the edge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The view was nice, but Lupe didn’t want to linger in this gale any longer than she had to.\u00a0 According to the topo map, the true summit of Peak 8720 was somewhere in the nearby forest to the N.\u00a0 Among the trees and away from the edge, it wouldn’t be nearly so windy over there.\u00a0 Lupe was more than happy to go looking for the summit.<\/p>\n

As the map indicated, the terrain was somewhat higher in the forest than in the meadow, but not by an awful lot.\u00a0 This whole area varied very little in elevation.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP marched around for a while looking for a clear high point, but found nothing obvious.\u00a0 Close enough for Dingo work!\u00a0 Lupe posed for a photo at a point that seemed to be about as high as anywhere else, and called it good.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the official Dingo summit of Peak 8720! Calling it good, right here!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No more time to waste on this!\u00a0 Lupe still had miles to go to get to the Shirley Mountains High Point.\u00a0 She left Peak 8720’s official Dingo summit heading back out of the woods and across the big, windy meadow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
After visiting Peak 8720’s Dingo summit<\/strong>, Lupe heads back across the windy meadow. The humongous snow drift is still ahead out of sight on the L at the edge of the line of trees in the distance. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe returned to BLM Road No. 3115 again near the tower at High Point 8712.\u00a0 No. 3115 had been quite a good road all this way.\u00a0 SPHP might easily have driven the G6 this far.\u00a0 This would have been about it, though.\u00a0 As Lupe continued SE on No. 3115, the road lost elevation steadily and became rougher than the G6 would have liked.<\/p>\n

More than a mile S of the tower, No. 3115 bottomed out where it crossed a small, clear stream only a few feet wide.\u00a0 This was Cave Creek.\u00a0 Lupe took a little break here for water and Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 She had lost more than 450 feet of elevation since leaving Peak 8720, and was about to have to regain all of it and more.<\/p>\n

Break time done, Lupe crossed Cave Creek.\u00a0 A long, dull, dusty road trek ensued.\u00a0 No. 3115 went SW for 0.80 mile, ultimately climbing a good way up a steepish hill.\u00a0 It then turned and went S more than a mile before bending to the SE.\u00a0 Most of the terrain was forested, but Lupe came to scattered meadows, too.\u00a0 A few brief downhill sections broke an otherwise steady grind higher.<\/p>\n

Lupe passed a few minor side roads, which went who knows where?\u00a0 None of these roads, including No. 3115, had any traffic at all.\u00a0 Signage was missing or meaningless.\u00a0 No. 3115 eventually topped out at a large, tree-rimmed meadow.\u00a0 The road turned E here, then began losing elevation.\u00a0 Lupe quickly came to what appeared to be a more significant intersection.<\/p>\n

A sign at the intersection meant nothing to SPHP, but less than a mile off to the SE Lupe could see a forested hill a couple hundred feet higher than where she was now.\u00a0 The Shirley Mountains High Point?\u00a0 Although certainly ready to get there by now, SPHP hoped that wasn’t it.\u00a0 It didn’t look like Loop would see anything but trees from there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
This sign at the intersection meant nothing to SPHP, but Lupe could see a higher forested hill from here less than a mile to the SE. SPHP suspected that hill might be the Shirley Mountains High Point<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe stayed on No. 3115 going E from the intersection.\u00a0 The road dipped a little more, then angled SE climbing the forested hill she had seen.\u00a0 When No. 3115 looked like it was about to start losing elevation again, Lupe left it.\u00a0 If this hill was really the Shirley Mountains High Point, the summit ought to be only a couple hundred yards to the SW from here.<\/p>\n

A small meadow sloped up toward open forest.\u00a0 In the forest, Loop found several rock outcroppings higher than anything else around.\u00a0 The two highest were separated by 200 feet.\u00a0 A big snow bank was melting quietly away on part of the ground between them.<\/p>\n

The rock formation to the S, a short ridge of white rocks 15 feet taller than the surrounding terrain, was clearly the highest point on this hill.\u00a0 Lupe scrambled up.\u00a0 Ten feet S of the highest rocks at the N end of the little ridge, Lupe found what she was looking for – a survey benchmark stamped “Shirley”.<\/p>\n

This was it, the Shirley Mountains High Point<\/span><\/a> (9,151 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe discovered this survey benchmark 10 feet S of the highest rocks in the Shirley Mountains<\/strong>. Either the benchmark was placed in 1951, or a dyslexic surveyor stamped the wrong elevation on it. According to the topo map, the high point is 9,151 feet, not 1,951.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Old pieces of wood and long strands of smooth wire no longer serving any discernable purpose were scattered around the summit ridge near the benchmark.\u00a0 Odd.\u00a0 Lupe went and stood on the highest rocks at the N end of the little ridge to claim her peakbagging success.<\/p>\n

Sadly, after coming all this long way, Lupe had no views of anything other than the forest from the Shirley Mountains High Point.\u00a0 Unsurprising after seeing this forested hill from the NW, but still disappointing to SPHP.\u00a0 Lupe seemed happy enough, though.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the highest rocks of the Shirley Mountains<\/strong>. This view was about what SPHP expected after seeing this forested summit from the NW. Lupe seemed happy enough to be here, though! Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On top of the Shirley Mountains<\/strong>! Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Some of the smooth wire is seen draped around the rocks below Loop. What purpose it ever served was unclear. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Still on top. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe’s last rest break back at Cave Creek had been a while ago.\u00a0 Now that she’d made it to the Shirley Mountains High Point, it was time for another one.\u00a0 Loop went NNW from the summit over to the snow bank closer to the 2nd highest rock formation.\u00a0 Here she had some Taste of the Wild and relaxed in the shade.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe rests in the shade (lower L) near the melting snow bank. The N rock formation, which was the 2nd highest point on the mountain, is seen on the R beyond the snowbank. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had followed No. 3115 a good 7 miles to get here.\u00a0 Yes, it was great that Loopster had reached the Shirley Mountains High Point, but SPHP remained dissatisfied with the lack of any significant views.\u00a0 From the top of an entire mountain range, you’d think you would see something.\u00a0 Not here.\u00a0 Even on the long trek, Lupe hadn’t seen too much of interest.<\/p>\n

Hours had gone by and it was a long way back, but maybe Lupe wasn’t done yet?\u00a0 The map showed another benchmark on another mountain 1.25+ miles to the SE as the crow flies.\u00a0 Quealey Benchmark<\/span><\/a> (9,150 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was only 1 foot lower than the Shirley Mountains High Point.\u00a0 Maybe Lupe could see something from over there?<\/p>\n

Going to Quealey Benchmark actually meant another mile E on BLM Road No. 3115, plus a 0.67 mile bushwhack S of the road.\u00a0 By the time Lupe reached Quealey Benchmark, she would be nearly 9 miles from Prior Flat Campground.\u00a0 Worth it?\u00a0 Unknown.\u00a0 Now or never, though.\u00a0 When her break was done, Lupe returned to BLM Road No. 3115 and headed E.<\/p>\n

A long forested ridge came into view.\u00a0 Not too promising.\u00a0 Somewhere near the S end of it was Quealey Benchmark.\u00a0 The road lost 250 feet of elevation before starting to climb the ridge.\u00a0 Instead of following the road all the way to its next high point, Lupe cut SE through the forest to save a little distance.<\/p>\n

Once the American Dingo reached the ridgeline, she turned S.\u00a0 The broad ridge sloped gradually upward.\u00a0 This was easy terrain.\u00a0 At first, Loop was in open forest.\u00a0 She eventually came to meadows, but even at the meadows, forest always prevailed along the edges of the ridge.\u00a0 No views.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Exploring a snow bank (of course!) on the Quealey Benchmark<\/strong> ridge. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the first big meadow Lupe came to, a rocky high point was in view not too far away.\u00a0 She went to it and scrambled to the top.\u00a0 No sign of the actual benchmark.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On top of the first high point in the first big meadow. Lupe found no sign of the actual Quealey Benchmark here. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Onward!\u00a0 Continuing S, suddenly there was movement!\u00a0 Close by, a coyote emerged from the forest heading E across the meadow.\u00a0 When Lupe saw it, she trotted toward the coyote wagging her tail.\u00a0 She recognized it as another canine and was hoping to make a new friend.<\/p>\n

The coyote didn’t want to be friends with Lupe, and most certainly didn’t want to be friends with SPHP.\u00a0 As Lupe approached, the coyote fled.\u00a0 Instantly, the emboldened American Dingo gave chase!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop (R) dashes after the fleeing coyote (L). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was an exhilarating moment, but the coyote was gone in a flash.\u00a0 Lupe returned to SPHP.\u00a0 She continued S finding more rock formations, each one higher than the last.\u00a0 Lupe investigated them all, but turned up nothing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe investigates another big rock formation on the Quealey Benchmark ridge. Still nothing. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The big meadow ended.\u00a0 Forest was ahead.\u00a0 Lupe plunged right into it.\u00a0 She was still gaining elevation, so it was no wonder she hadn’t found the Quealey Benchmark yet.\u00a0 She emerged from the forest at a second big meadow.\u00a0 Another rock formation, largest of any she’d come to so far wasn’t far off.<\/p>\n

As Lupe drew near it, SPHP could see some wood and smooth wire up there.\u00a0 Oh, that was promising!\u00a0 Lupe led the way up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the top of the first large rock formation of the second big meadow. This was the highest rock formation so far. The wood and smooth wire seen here gave SPHP hope the Quealey Benchmark might be up here. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When SPHP joined Lupe at the top, it was clear in an instant that this was the highest point on the ridge.\u00a0 Another substantial high point off to the SW wasn’t quite as high as this one.\u00a0 Everywhere else, the terrain was sloping down.\u00a0 Best of all, Lupe had a sweet view of a big snow-capped mountain far to the S from here.<\/p>\n

Lupe was at the true summit of this whole long ridge!\u00a0 The Quealey Benchmark had to be around here somewhere, didn’t it?<\/p>\n

A shiny metal hubcap was hidden under a juniper bush.\u00a0 Moving the hubcap aside revealed – yes, a survey benchmark!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hidden beneath a low juniper bush almost at the top of the rock formation was this shiny metal hubcap. When moved aside, the survey benchmark was revealed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To SPHP’s surprise, the benchmark was not stamped “Quealey” as shown on the old topo map.\u00a0 Instead it was stamped “Que Ley”, Spanish for “What Law?”.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
To SPHP’s surprise, the survey benchmark was not stamped “Quealey” as shown on the topo map. Instead it was stamped “Que Ley”, Spanish for “What Law?” Now that was cool!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quealey or Que Ley, which was right, the map or the survey benchmark?\u00a0 No telling.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP preferred Que Ley!\u00a0 What Law? was a cool name for a mountain.\u00a0 It conjured up images of outlaws hanging around in this territory back in the days of the Old West.\u00a0 Maybe a really Old West, if the Spanish had named this place.<\/p>\n

At any rate, Que Ley Benchmark<\/span><\/a> (9,150 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, though officially one silly foot lower than the Shirley Mountains High Point, was everything the Shirley Mountains High Point was not.\u00a0 Coyotes roamed this place.\u00a0 The Que Ley name was cool.\u00a0 The view of the distant snow-capped peak was awesome.\u00a0 The summit was farther from the road, and felt even more remote.\u00a0 SPHP was glad Lupe had come here!<\/p>\n

Yes, Que Ley Benchmark was worth the extra effort!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the top of Que Ley Benchmark<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On the summit of Que Ley<\/strong>. Coming here was worth it, and felt like it had really made the day, even though Lupe had already made it to Peak 8720<\/strong> and the Shirley Mountains High Point<\/strong> as well.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The big view to the S from Que Ley Benchmark<\/strong>. Elk Mountain<\/span><\/a> (11,156 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) is the snow-capped peak on the far horizon. The even more distant ridge on the L is the Snowy Range<\/strong> in the Medicine Bow National Forest. Binoculars would have been nice to have up here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Elk Mountain<\/strong> as seen from Que Ley Benchmark<\/strong> with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe remained at the top of Que Ley Benchmark<\/strong> while SPHP climbed down and circled around to the S to get this shot. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe’s success at Que Ley Benchmark<\/strong> felt like the high point of the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After enjoying the views up on Que Ley Benchmark, Lupe went to visit the other high point to the SW.\u00a0 Just to make absolutely certain it wasn’t higher, you know.\u00a0 It wasn’t, but also offered some decent views.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking S toward Elk Mountain<\/strong> (Center) on the far horizon again, this time from the SW high point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the top of the SW high point. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And that was that.\u00a0 Except for the long trek back, nearly all of it retracing her route here, Lupe’s big adventure in the Shirley Mountains was over.<\/p>\n

Of course, the Carolina Dog made the most of the return trip!\u00a0 She ran, explored, and sniffed.<\/p>\n

She rolled in snow banks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Enjoying a snow bank on the Que Ley Benchmark ridge on the return trip.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She sniffed and examined beautiful flowers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
One of hundreds of natural floral arrangements growing right along BLM Road No. 3115.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She returned again to the Shirley Mountains High Point<\/span><\/a> (9,151 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Back at the Shirley Mountains High Point<\/strong> for a second ascent after her journey to Que Ley Benchmark<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop even made the 0.5 mile side trip back to look for Peak 8720’s Dingo summit again. The sun was down by the time she got to the big, flat meadow.\u00a0 The wind, which hadn’t been much of an issue up on the Shirley Mountains High Point or Que Ley Benchmark, was still blowing here, though not nearly as powerfully as earlier in the day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Back on the big, flat meadow on Peak 8720<\/strong>. The wind was still blowing, but not nearly as strongly as it had been earlier in the day. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP searched around for the same Dingo summit as before, but couldn’t find it.\u00a0 Light was fading and the forest was getting gloomy, so a new Dingo summit had to be selected.\u00a0 Naturally, this still counted as an official ascent as far Lupe and SPHP were concerned!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the 2nd Dingo summit of<\/strong> Peak 8720<\/strong>. This wasn’t the exact same spot Lupe was at earlier in the day, but that high point couldn’t be found. The whole area was so flat, this place had to be about the same elevation anyway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once Looper was back at BLM Road No. 3115 following her 2nd visit to Peak 8720, it was all downhill the remaining 2.5 miles to Prior Flat campground.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was still on high ground, but twilight was fading fast, when she saw the distant high peak to the W again.<\/p>\n

What peak was<\/em> that?\u00a0 No telling.\u00a0 The sky grew black, then lit up with stars.\u00a0 SPHP still pondered the question as Lupe arrived back at Prior Flat campground (10:12 PM).\u00a0 <\/em>To this mystery remains an unresolved mental souvenir of Lupe’s long, happy day spent high in the remote Shirley Mountains of Wyoming.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\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 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 7 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Laramie Range, Wyoming & Beyond! S of Casper, roughly a mile W of Hwy 77, the wide, dusty gravel road (County Road No. 105) came to a “Y”.\u00a0 Off to the SW, beyond an expanse of prairie, rose an isolated mountain range.\u00a0 Although reaching more than … Continue reading The Shirley Mountains High Point & Quealey Benchmark, Wyoming (6-14-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11166,"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":[105,106,26,104,846,848,849,845,847,275],"class_list":["post-11182","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-peak-8720","tag-prior-flats","tag-quealey-benchmark","tag-shirley-mountains","tag-shirley-mountains-high-point","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_5089.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\/11182","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=11182"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21161,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11182\/revisions\/21161"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}