Geocache Description:
This cache is a large camo'd pill bottle hidden near the north end of the South Big Horn/Red Wall Scenic Backway, a 100-mile loop off of U.S. 20/26 in Central Wyoming. The route to the cache follows the historic Outlaw Trail...and the 33 Mile and Arminto stock trails, into the Hole-in-the-Wall territory.
The east end of the scenic loop begins about 15 miles west of Casper along U.S. 20/26. Proceed north on County 125 and follow the BLM Scenic Backway signs. If you choose to start at the west end of the scenic Backway, turn north at Waltman, and drive north through the near ghost town of Arminto. Each route represents a stock trail used by ranchers to move their livestock to green summer pastures in the Big Horn Mountains. The trails converge near this cache.
The roads are paved for a few miles off 20/26, but be prepared for miles of dirt road. Four wheel drives are recommended, but not entirely necessary during fair weather. Don’t even think about it during the winter unless you are REALLY accustomed to Wyoming backcountry travel. Remember, Butch Cassidy went to South America—was it because of harsh Wyoming winters in the Red Wall area? Well, probably not entirely.
Sheepherder’s End is hidden in some of the most beautiful country in the West. But the tranquil setting belies a violent event that occurred here in 1904. You can read a more detailed account in Alfred James Mokler’s History of Natrona County, Wyoming, 1888-1922. But here’s a shorter summary—two sheepherders, John Henderlite and Harry Hudson, quarreled in their sheep wagon early in the morning of June 17th. Hudson claimed Henderlite attacked him with a knife so he was compelled to crush Henderlite’s head with an iron brake handle. And as it turned out, who was to say any different? After a short incarceration in a Casper jail, Hudson was released for insufficient evidence of murder.
If you search around a bit, you may find the grave-site; after all, the area is called Grave Springs.
This cache was archived...but now revived. Unfortunately, the sheepherder John Henderlite, who was killed here, is still long-dead.