{"id":2501,"date":"2016-01-11T08:10:38","date_gmt":"2016-01-11T15:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=2501"},"modified":"2019-03-16T14:05:43","modified_gmt":"2019-03-16T20:05:43","slug":"wyoming-peak-wyoming-8-28-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=2501","title":{"rendered":"Wyoming Peak, Wyoming (8-28-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The morning of 8-28-15, Day 20 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation, dawned bright and beautiful.\u00a0 While Lupe started her day playing in the forest near the outlet stream from Spirit Lake in the Uinta Mountains, SPHP had decisions to make.\u00a0 Up until now, Lupe’s vacation had been going pretty much according to plan.\u00a0 The trouble was, Lupe had way more yet to do than time remaining to do it all in.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A bright morning greeted Lupe at the outlet stream from Spirit Lake in the Uinta Mountains of Utah.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before long, SPHP had decided which adventures had to go on the chopping block for this Dingo Vacation, and which would remain.\u00a0 It was time to head out.\u00a0 SPHP called Lupe back to the G6.\u00a0 After just a few fun days in Utah (where she did live “Life Elevated”!), Lupe was going to head N into southwestern Wyoming.\u00a0 Lupe loves riding in the G6, and was ready for whatever adventure lay ahead.<\/p>\n

The first part of the drive was a long one on gravel USFS Roads.\u00a0 Lupe left Spirit Lake on USFS Road No. 001.\u00a0 When it reached the intersection with No. 221, instead of taking it E back to the Sheep Creek Geological Loop, SPHP took it N to Wyoming.\u00a0 It was a very pretty drive that took Lupe out of the Uinta Mountains.<\/p>\n

Lupe finally reached pavement again when she crossed Hwy 414 between McKinnon and Burnt Fork.\u00a0\u00a0N of Hwy 414, a\u00a0paved road\u00a0headed NE through scenic ranchlands\u00a0to meet up with Hwy 530 S of Green River, WY.\u00a0 Heading N on Hwy 530, there was some pretty wild looking territory off to the E toward the N end of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.<\/p>\n

After a short stop in the town of Green River, WY,\u00a0Lupe went W on I-80 just 6 miles to Hwy 372.\u00a0 Hwy 372 headed NW paralleling the Green River, but at some distance from it, so the river was often out of sight.\u00a0 This territory was high, dry prairie land.\u00a0 It was dominated by low hills and sagebrush.\u00a0 In late August, it all looked hot, dusty and not terribly inviting.\u00a0 Hwy 372 eventually led to Hwy 189, which Lupe took N to La Barge.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This sign along the Green River told a little about its history during the fur trading days of the early 1800’s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The Green River was a huge lake N of the Fontenelle Reservoir dam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This<\/a>
This rather striking butte was E of Hwy 189 just a few miles S of La Barge, WY.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a quick tour of the small town of La Barge in the G6, Lupe and SPHP drove 2 miles S on Hwy 189, and turned W on La Barge Creek Road, No. 315.\u00a0 The first 11 miles of No. 315 were paved.\u00a0 After that it turned to gravel. \u00a0The road headed W,\u00a0before\u00a0gradually turning N as it followed the beautiful La Barge Creek valley upstream.\u00a0 The valley grew progressively narrower as the road went on.<\/p>\n

\"La<\/a>
La Barge Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"La<\/a>About 20 miles from Hwy 189, suddenly the gravel road deteriorated sharply.\u00a0 For 3 miles it crossed private land where the road was so poor that SPHP considered just turning the G6 around.\u00a0 If the road had been at all wet, there wouldn’t have been any choice.\u00a0 High clearance vehicles wouldn’t have any problem with it, but the road was just about all the challenge the G6 could take on.<\/p>\n

After 3 miles, the road entered the Bridger National Forest, where it immediately improved.\u00a0 There were still some pretty rough spots now and then, but nothing like what the G6 had just come through.\u00a0 SPHP resolved to leave the area by some other route.<\/p>\n

Lupe was now up in the mountains of the Wyoming Range.\u00a0 Her destination was Wyoming Peak<\/a> (11,378 ft.)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, the highest mountain in the entire range.\u00a0 Of more immediate interest to Lupe,\u00a0cows were grazing in the high mountain valleys.\u00a0 There was plenty of hard barking going on in the G6, even though most of the cows were so far away they were unaware of the frantic Carolina Dog passing by.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe was determined to bark at every cow she saw on her 2015 Dingo Vacation, no matter how far away they were.\u00a0 Actually, it was good enough if she could just smell them.\u00a0 In her excitement, she barked at plenty of cows that weren’t even there!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had some notes on how to find the trailhead for Wyoming Peak, but what little signage there was at the few\u00a0intersections along the road didn’t match up real well with the notes.\u00a0 SPHP just kept driving slowly N looking for USFS Road No. 10126, which leads to the trailhead.\u00a0 Finally a high peak came into view.\u00a0 It had to be Wyoming Peak!<\/p>\n

\"Wyoming<\/a>
Wyoming Peak is the highest point at the center of this photo. Photo looks NE from Greys River Road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP soon found USFS Road No. 10126 at the confluence of Greys River and Shale Creek.\u00a0 This point was 41 miles from where La Barge Creek Road had left Hwy 189.\u00a0 Greys River was a pretty good sized stream, even in late August, but Shale Creek was quite small.\u00a0 The trailhead was supposed to be 3.5 miles\u00a0in\u00a0along No. 10126.\u00a0 As poor as the main road had been in places, SPHP didn’t want to try taking the G6 up No. 10126.\u00a0 Lupe would have to walk.<\/p>\n

It seemed like it was already pretty late in the day to think about climbing Wyoming Peak, especially when it was a 3.5 mile hike just to get to the trailhead.\u00a0 However, SPHP thought it wouldn’t hurt to at least scout things out.\u00a0 The weather was clear and favorable.\u00a0 Maybe Lupe could still make it up Wyoming Peak today.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the G6 at the start of USFS Road No. 10126 at 2:56 PM (70\u00b0F), and began following the road up Shale Creek.<\/p>\n

There really wasn’t much of a trailhead.\u00a0 At a bend in the road was a marker, and a trail heading up a hillside, but there were no big signs and no parking area where the trail to\u00a0Wyoming Peak\u00a0left No. 10126.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started up the trail.\u00a0 At first it was pretty steep, but before too long, the trail started on a series of long switchbacks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe starts her climb up Wyoming Peak. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail Lupe was following climbs Wyoming Peak from the SW.\u00a0\u00a0It appeared to get only moderate use, and was often rather narrow.\u00a0 Even so,\u00a0most of the trail was\u00a0in quite good condition.\u00a0 It was always easy to follow.\u00a0 There was only one tricky spot at a sharp bend where red dirt had eroded away from the trail down into a steep gully.\u00a0 The tricky part was very short.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP were\u00a0beyond it in just a few seconds.<\/p>\n

The entire W slope of Wyoming Peak is consistently steep, but whoever designed the trail did an excellent job.\u00a0 There were steep parts at the very beginning and the very end, but for the great majority of the climb, the trail consisted of long switchbacks rising at just the right pace.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t have to stop to rest very often.\u00a0 It was easy to make\u00a0fast progress up the mountain.<\/p>\n

Before reaching tree line, the trail also made good use of available shade.\u00a0 It passed through some of the scattered forests along the way.\u00a0 In between the forested areas, the trail was exposed\u00a0to\u00a0big views to the W.\u00a0 The combination of shady\u00a0rest stops\u00a0along with great views made for a very fun climb.<\/p>\n

\"High<\/a>
High on the mountain Lupe came to this rocky section of trail. Most of the trail was not very rocky at all for such a big mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the end of the climb, the trail reached a saddle between Wyoming Peak to the N and Mount March Madness<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (11,220 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> to the S.\u00a0 Much of the rest of the way to the top, the trail consisted of very short, steep switchbacks full of loose rock.\u00a0 Despite the late start, Lupe made it to the summit of Wyoming Peak an hour before sunset!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe takes a break at the saddle between Wyoming Peak and Mount March Madness. Photo looks S at Mount March Madness, which greatly resembled a pyramid.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the summit of Wyoming Peak. What lofty mountaintop is complete without a despicable pile of man-made rubble?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP was not happy with the ugly collapsed building on top of Wyoming Peak.\u00a0 SPHP stuffed as many broken little boards with nails in them, and other small hazardous looking pieces of debris as possible\u00a0into a sack.\u00a0 The sack went\u00a0in the backpack to be disposed of later.\u00a0 Only 10,000 more trips and Wyoming Peak will be junk free again!<\/p>\n

The views were really great from Wyoming Peak.\u00a0 The view that captured the imagination the most was a very high and rugged mountain far away to the N.\u00a0 It was so far away, the camera just wouldn’t capture its faint outline.\u00a0 SPHP was almost certain that distant peak had to be the famous Grand Teton<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(13,770 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0Lupe and SPHP spent more than half an hour up on Wyoming Peak, while the sun sank steadily in the W.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking N at the rather ominously named Mount Coffin<\/a><\/span> (11,242 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0from Wyoming Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking NE. The Wind River range could be seen on the horizon, but there was enough haze so the camera didn’t pick it up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Using<\/a>
Using the telephoto lens to peer a bit farther N through the smoke haze.\u00a0 The ridge in the foreground is part of Mount Coffin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe squints for another photo with the low slanting sunlight on her face. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mount<\/a>
Mount March Madness from the top of Wyoming Peak. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe ready for a break from all the photo ops.\u00a0 Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Another<\/a>
Another telephoto lens shot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"You<\/a>
“You done yet, SPHP? There’s not a single squirrel up here!”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the sun sinking into a smoky haze from distant forest fires, it wasn’t possible to get a decent picture toward the W.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP saw mountain ranges off in that direction, though, too.\u00a0 They were lined up one\u00a0after another,\u00a0fainter and fainter\u00a0as far off into the horizon as it was possible to see.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP sat together admiring the world from the top of Wyoming Peak.\u00a0 When it became clear the sun was just going to sink into the murk without any particularly wonderful sunset, it was time to go.\u00a0 Lupe may as well get a good start down the mountain before it got dark.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe does some off trail exploring on the way down Wyoming Peak. Mt. Coffin is seen to the N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe going down the trail SW of Wyoming Peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Fading<\/a>Lupe was about 80% of the way down the trail by the time it was so dark the flashlight had to come out.\u00a0 When she reached Shale Creek Road (USFS No. 10126) again, Lupe wanted to take a break.\u00a0 She had water and what was left of her Taste of the Wild.\u00a0 Then she just curled up for 15 minutes before she was ready to go again.<\/p>\n

In the meantime,\u00a0a nearly full\u00a0moon had come up over the side of Mount March Madness.\u00a0 The flashlight was no longer needed.\u00a0 Together Lupe and SPHP traveled the moonlit road beneath the shining stars.\"Mount<\/a>Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2015 Wyoming, Colorado & Utah 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><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The morning of 8-28-15, Day 20 of Lupe’s great Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation, dawned bright and beautiful.\u00a0 While Lupe started her day playing in the forest near the outlet stream from Spirit Lake in the Uinta Mountains, SPHP had decisions to make.\u00a0 Up until now, Lupe’s vacation had been going pretty much according to … Continue reading Wyoming Peak, Wyoming (8-28-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2497,"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":[105,106,26,104,380,379,275,378],"class_list":["post-2501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2015-wyoming-colorado-utah","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-mount-coffin","tag-mount-march-madness","tag-wyoming","tag-wyoming-peak"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P1070009.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\/2501","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=2501"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20749,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501\/revisions\/20749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}