Lupe – Page 215 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada (8-6-17)

Day 7 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!

(5:20 AM, Summit Lake, Stone Mountain Provincial Park, British Columbia) Sometime during the night, the evening’s steady rain quit. Now it was light out, but a dense fog hid everything. Lupe sawed wood peacefully under her blankie, still weary from two long days of mountain climbing.

Can you lick yourself dry? Apparently you can. Loop had done it. The Carolina Dog was toasty warm and felt completely dry, despite having returned to the G6 cold, drenched, and starving after yesterday’s crazy adventures on Mount Saint George (7,402 ft.).

No need to wonder what to do today. A day of rest was in order. A nice long drive, most of it cruising W across southern Yukon Territory was on tap. Should be a fun, relaxing day with plenty of opportunities for quick stops at beautiful places along the Alaska Highway.

SPHP turned the key. The G6 sprang to life. Headlights on, SPHP drove carefully down the slick, wet highway. Summit Pass, the dense fog, and Lupe’s grand adventures in Stone Mountain Provincial Park were left behind. The American Dingo was awake and alert now, not wanting to miss a thing (5:42 AM).

Lupe and SPHP were still in British Columbia. Loopster would have plenty to do and see before she even got to the Yukon. Her first stop was at a pullout along the Alaska Highway right before the bridge over the Racing River. Lupe had stopped here briefly on her way home last year, too. She’d been delighted to find a beautiful short walk along a grassy road hidden in the woods near the river. There were dispersed camping sites, squirrels in the trees, and at the end of the road, a viewpoint next to the gorgeous river.

Not a soul was around. The squirrels were still here. Lupe had a blast! The woods rang with the shrill joy of an enthusiastic Dingo. Only the sky and the river had changed. Last year Loop had been here in September. The Racing River had been a stunning icy blue on a mostly sunny day. Now the river was swollen with silt, a murky light gray color matching the somber sky.

Lupe at a silty, light gray **Racing River**. 11 months ago the river had been a gorgeous icy blue. Photo looks upstream (SW).

The **Racing River** wasn’t as pretty as last year, but Lupe had a blast barking at squirrels in the woods on the short walk to this viewpoint. Photo looks downstream (NE).

Loop’s next stop was at a pullout with a view of the Toad River reached shortly after entering Muncho Lake Provincial Park. The Toad River wasn’t as silty as the Racing River, but still only offered a hint of the fabulous icy blue color both it and the Racing River had been when Lupe was here in 2016.

The Alaska Highway winds up the **Toad River** valley in **Muncho Lake Provincial Park**.

Looking across the **Toad River** at a big alluvial fan.

Lupe made two more stops in Muncho Lake Provincial Park. Since the Alaska Highway passes right along the E shore of Muncho Lake, her next break from the G6 was to take a good look at the gorgeous lake itself.

**Muncho Lake** sits in a pass high in the **Muskwa Range**. The Alaska Highway follows the E shore of the lake. Photo looks N.

A gorgeous snow-capped peak sits beyond **Muncho Lake** in the direction this photo is looking. Lupe had seen it last year, but today it’s hidden by clouds. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe’s final stop along Muncho Lake was at the impressive Northern Rockies Lodge, which seems to be the center of activity in Muncho Lake Provincial Park.

The **Northern Rockies Lodge** on the E shore of **Muncho Lake** is right off the Alaska Highway, and seems to be the hub of most activity in **Muncho Lake Provincial Park**.

Lupe drops by the **Northern Rockies Lodge** in **Muncho Lake Provincial Park**. She wasn’t an official guest, so she didn’t get to go in, but she would have liked to. It looked luxurious, and American Dingoes love both adventure *and* luxury!

Lupe wasn’t an official guest at the Northern Rockies Lodge, so she didn’t get to go inside to check it out. She most definitely liked the looks of it, though, and would have gladly gone in, if SPHP hadn’t been such a cheapskate and had booked her a room. SPHP wasn’t an official guest, either, but did sneak in to pick up a brochure about flight-seeing tours.

The bush pilot flight-seeing tour to Victoria Falls in Nahanni National Park, one of the largest waterfalls in Canada, sounded absolutely spectacular! The float plane leaves right from Muncho Lake at the Northern Rockies Lodge. The tour alone was a measly $750 Canadian, and accommodations at the fabulous Northern Rockies Lodge could be included in a package deal for a little more. Loopster was all for it!

SPHP muttered something about not being in the budget, an unknown price per Dingo, and unkindly made Lupe’s disappointment even worse by taking her down to see the very float plane she might have soared off to visit Virginia Falls in.

Following the lure of the North, that was exactly what Lupe was here for!

Oh, yeah! Here was the very float plane Lupe might have soared off to Victoria Falls in!

Lupe didn’t get to fly to Victoria Falls, but then SPHP didn’t either, so at least it was fair. However, at the next stop along the Alaska Highway at Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, SPHP had all the fun.

It wasn’t fair at all that SPHP got to enjoy Liard River Hot Springs and Lupe didn’t, but it really wasn’t SPHP’s fault. Signs made it clear Dingoes were prohibited. Poor Looper couldn’t even take the boardwalk leading to the hot springs for a look around.

It was sort of OK. Loopster was still pretty bushed from her mountain climbing adventures the past two days. An hour’s snooze curled up in the G6 didn’t sound all bad. Besides, it had been awhile, and SPHP would return from the hot springs all fresh and clean as a sweeter-smelling more tolerable traveling companion. SPHP promised not to be gone too long. (8:48 AM, 57°F)

SPHP returned a little more than an hour later sniffing better, warm and relaxed. For only a $5 day-use fee, Liard River Hot Springs had been really unique and a great experience. SPHP was careful not to make it sound too wonderful, though, so Loop wouldn’t get jealous again.

At **Liard River Hot Springs** bathers follow this long boardwalk to get to the actual hot springs. The Liard River is some distance away (on the other side of the Alaska Highway actually) and not in view.

The boardwalk starts out crossing a natural warm water swamp.

The warm water swamp often attracts wildlife, but SPHP saw none today. On the bright side, there weren’t any mosquitoes either.

Once beyond the swamp, the boardwalk goes through a boreal spruce forest.

The boardwalk leads to a changing house next to the hot springs. There are separate rooms for the two sexes with benches and hooks, but no lights, electricity, heat, lockers or running water.

**Liard River Hot Springs** is a totally outdoor experience in a natural lush boreal spruce forest setting. So unique and beautiful!

The hot springs are divided into two sections. This is the upper section where the water has been dammed up a bit. It is only a few feet deep. The water is hottest here, coming from a very hot spring entering this pool at the far end.

This is the lower, cooler downstream pool. It’s only a few feet deep, too. It is not dammed up and drains naturally into a creek at the far end. Choose whatever water temperature you like! The water cools rapidly the farther downstream you go. Like it really hot? Stick with the upper pool.

A view of both pools and the transition between them. Beyond the far end of the upper pool, a boardwalk going L leads to a short trail to the “hanging gardens” which were closed this day due to bear activity. A boardwalk to the R leads directly to a nice outhouse style restroom.

The hot springs enter the upper pool here on the opposite bank. The boardwalk to the hanging gardens trail is in view.

Looking back at **Liard River Hot Springs** from the start of the short boardwalk to the rest rooms. What an awesome wilderness setting! For a $5 day-use fee, you can soak in the hot springs all day if you like. Such a bargain!

Heading back all warm and clean to check on Lupe. There’s a picnic ground and campground at the parking lot, too. Gates close nightly until morning, so don’t stay too late unless you intend to camp!

Once done at Liard River Hot Springs, Lupe and SPHP returned to the Alaska Highway (10:33 AM). There wouldn’t be any more long stops during the day, but Lupe would have plenty of brief opportunities to stretch her legs. Most of the time, the G6 purred its way W.

There were moments of frenzied Dingo excitement!

That crazy little Dingo could make all the racket she wanted to. If anyone was going to do any intimidating, it was this guy.

Along many miles of the Alaska Highway from Muncho Lake Provincial Park to close to Watson Lake, the forest is clear cut far back from the road on both sides. Buffalo like to graze in the resulting adjacent fields. Elsewhere, forests extend to the horizon.

Lupe saw the big gray-green Liard River.

Loop stopped to admire the beautiful **Liard River** that the hot springs are named after.

Arising in the **Pelly Mountains** of SE Yukon, the **Liard River** flows 693 miles through the **Yukon**, **British Columbia**, and **Northwest Territories**. It’s a tributary of the **Mackenzie River**, which ultimately flows N to the **Arctic Ocean** at the **Beaufort Sea**.

Lupe left British Columbia, entering Yukon Territory before arriving in the small town of Watson Lake. As she continued W, the Alaska Highway sometimes curved back into British Columbia for a while, but most of the time Lupe was in the Yukon. She saw many beautiful peaks along the way.

On the drive W across **the southern Yukon**, Lupe saw many beautiful peaks from the Alaska Highway.

Although there was lots to see on the long drive, eternal vigilance wasn’t a strict requirement.

Loop enjoys a bit of peakbagging recovery therapy.

By afternoon, the sky was no longer completely overcast. The day warmed up considerably, hitting 84°F at one point. Sunlight highlighted beauty everywhere. SPHP stopped at a picnic ground near the Morley River. Lupe had high hopes at first, but didn’t care for it in the end. Too many biting flies, bees and mosquitoes. Not enough squirrels. SPHP ate and managed to dry out some wet clothing on the G6 before hitting the road again.

Late in the afternoon, Lupe came to huge Teslin Lake.

Late afternoon found Lupe at **Teslin Lake**.

**Teslin Lake** is many miles long, but relatively narrow. The Alaska Highway follows the NE shore along the N half of the lake. Photo looks NW.

W of Teslin Lake, Lupe and SPHP finally left the Alaska Highway at Jake’s Corner, continuing W on Hwy No. 8. After crossing a long bridge over the Tagish River, SPHP pulled into a parking lot along the W bank. Apparently there are recreational facilities in this area. Lupe quickly discovered a boat ramp, and could see people around.

Lupe at a boat ramp on the W bank of the **Tagish River**. Photo looks ENE.

The Tagish River flows N into Marsh Lake. The American Dingo went up on the long bridge over the river for a look at the S end of the lake. The Yukon River flows out of the N end of Marsh Lake, but Looper couldn’t see it from here.

The S end of **Marsh Lake** from the Highway No. 8 bridge over the **Tagish River**. The **Yukon River** flows out of the N end of **Tagish Lake**, but Loop couldn’t see it from here. Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.

It was evening when Lupe reached Carcross, a small picturesque village. This was Sunday, so there weren’t many people around. All the tourist shops were closed, except for one restaurant where all the action was at the moment.

Lupe and SPHP took a stroll around Carcross just window shopping. SPHP said window shopping was well within budget. Loopster could window shop to her heart’s content! Most of the shops contained artwork or jewelry of one type or another. The buildings themselves were works of art!

Lupe enjoyed a window shopping extravaganza in Carcross! That SPHP sure knows how to show a Dingo a good time!

A Carcross style killer whale was on display.

Artwork and jewelry were central themes in Carcross. Even the shop buildings were works of art!

Window shopping was a nice change of pace. Lupe was soon satisfied with what she hadn’t bought. It was time to move on. Lupe and SPHP headed S from Carcross on the South Klondike Highway No. 2.

South Klondike Highway No. 2 passed along the W shore of two long mountain lakes. First came Tagish Lake. Lupe and SPHP stopped at a pullout to see Bove Island.

Lupe and SPHP stopped at a pullout along Highway No. 2 SE of Carcross where placards touted this view of **Bove Island** (L) in **Tagish Lake**. The forest had grown up so much **Bove Island** was actually only in view from a couple of specific spots. Photo looks NE.

Next up was Tutshi Lake. By the time Lupe reached Tutshi Lake, she had crossed back over the border into British Columbia again.

**Tutshi Lake** from Highway No. 2 S of Carcross. Lupe was back in **British Columbia** here. Photo looks S.

The sun was low when Lupe reached a strange land S of Tutshi Lake. The valley South Klondike Highway No. 2 was passing through widened out a great deal forming a broad basin. Mountains surrounded this relatively level, but roughly rumpled, basin at a distance. Vegetation was scarce. Trees were sparsely distributed. There seemed to be very little soil, and not much of the loose, broken rock typically seen in mountainous terrain.

Low hills having the appearance of exposed bedrock stretched across the basin among a network of numerous odd-shaped lakes of varying sizes. The sides of the mountains surrounding this weird land all appeared to be exposed bedrock to a level far above the basin floor.

The sun was getting low when Lupe left the G6 S of Tutshi Lake to investigate this very strange land. Bedrock seemed to be exposed almost everywhere, very little loose rock or soil was evident, vegetation was sparse, and a network of many odd-shaped lakes of varying sizes existed among low hills of solid rock. Photo looks E.

What an odd place! What had made it this way? This basin was unlike anything Lupe and SPHP had ever seen before. At least that’s how it seemed at first. SPHP thought for a while. A light finally went on. No, that wasn’t really true. Lupe had seen this sort of thing before, but never on such a grand scale.

Eons ago, this basin must have been buried beneath a massive glacier of gigantic proportions. Before it melted away, the glacier had scrapped the soil away down to bedrock. The glacier had been thousands of feet deep, so that even the mountainsides had been scraped clear of loose debris to a great height. Yes, that must be the explanation. It all made sense now.

The Carolina Dog seemed satisfied with this hypothesis. A day or two later, while window shopping again in Skagway, she would eventually see a poster of this unusual territory. The poster billed this region as the “Tormented Valley”, apparently a popular stop on sight-seeing tours between Skagway and Carcross.

Looking SSW across part of the **Tormented Valley**.

Lupe and SPHP continued S on Highway No. 2 passing Canadian Customs located along the W edge of the Tormented Valley. The highway left the Tormented valley going up over a hill at White Pass, before beginning a long descent into a tremendous, steep, V-shaped valley. This made sense, too. This sharp valley must have been eroded out by a once torrential river fed by the meltwaters of the ancient glacier.

Before she had lost too much elevation, Lupe passed through US customs. She had reached Alaska! Then it was down, down, down the deep, impressive valley. When it all ended, Lupe was practically at sea level. She had arrived in Skagway, Alaska.

Though the sun was long down and twilight had already faded to a considerable degree, Lupe and SPHP took an hour long stroll through Skagway. Perhaps it was only because it was sort of late on a Sunday night, but Skagway struck SPHP as a queer place. However, Lupe seemed happy enough with it. Perhaps she was simply glad to be out of the G6 again for a while, even if no one in this town except SPHP paid the least bit of attention to her.

Skagway seemed possessed of virtually no modern buildings, not even a gas station or a hotel. There was almost no traffic. The dim deserted business section was all touristy shops with an old-fashioned look to them. Posted prices reflected Skagway’s reputation as a famous tourist destination. Window shopping would be the order of the day here, too.

But everything was closed and dark, except for a few restaurants and bars. Even they were virtually empty and quiet. No crowds anywhere. A few people were out walking about in small groups of 2 or 3 engaged in low conversation. Occasionally someone shot by on a bicycle or skateboard. Everyone was young. The smell of dope rose from small gatherings seated outside old houses.

I don’t know what I was expecting of Skagway, Looper, but this wasn’t it. This joint is practically a ghost town. Wonder how you get to the ocean? Seems like it ought to be easy to find.

Oh, it’s over that way, SPHP. I can smell it. Can’t be too far. Skagway seems fine to me. What were you expecting, anyway?

Something newer, brighter, livelier, I guess. I suppose that’s all on the cruise ships. That’s how most everyone gets here you know. No doubt that’s why there’s so little traffic and no place to stay. Everyone’s on the ships. Looks like Skagway is still selling the gold rush days with all these old timey buildings.

Gold rush! What’s wrong with that? Maybe we’ll strike it rich!

Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Except Skagway’s gold rush has been over for a long time. It’s interesting history, but we’re too late to strike it rich. Where is everyone, anyway? It’s summer! Aren’t there any cruise ships in port tonight? I didn’t expect they’d be rolling up the sidewalks at sundown here. Skagway is famous! Why, even I’d heard of it.

It’s Sunday night! Maybe tomorrow will be different?

Perhaps so, Loop. We’ll know soon enough. Doesn’t really matter if it isn’t except for one thing.

What’s that?

There better be a gas station around here somewhere. It’s a long walk to Whitehorse.

In the **Tormented Valley**, British Columbia, Canada on the way to Skagway, Alaska. 8-6-17

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 81 – Peak 6070 & Nugget Gulch Peak (3-30-14)

Off like a shot, running and bounding everywhere! Guess she did like being here. For some reason, Lupe hadn’t seemed too fired up about going “hiking in the mountains” this morning when SPHP had suggested it. Good thing her enthusiasm had returned. The G6 was parked at the junction of Hwy 385 and USFS Road No. 710 several miles S of Pactola Reservoir (8:20 AM, 40°F). Lupe was in for a long day.

Lupe was here a week ago on Expedition No. 80. She had followed No. 710 nearly a mile W up a draw to some beautiful open ground with great views to the S, ultimately reaching New Year’s Eve Peak (Peak 6046) for the first time from the E. Today the plan was to go much farther. Lupe would explore a side road, No. 710.1A. Her intended destination was Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.).

Cool, overcast, and a little breezy – conditions were great for a day in the hills. The snow that had been here a week ago was nearly gone. SPHP set out following damp, mushy, muddy No. 710. Lupe dashed, bounded, and sniffed her way through the forest nearby.

The road gained elevation slowly over the 0.33 mile W to the junction with No. 710.1A . Lupe took No. 710.1A as planned. It initially went NE, before looping around the E end of the ridge N of Peak 5800. Once around the end of the ridge, the road turned NW heading up into the Clear Creek valley.

A mile up Clear Creek valley, No. 710.1A turned S. Lupe left it continuing NW on a less-traveled side road. The side road climbed more steeply. Lupe stuck with it, and after 0.25 mile arrived at a saddle where she had a view to the W. Less than 0.5 mile to the N, she could see the Seth Bullock lookout tower on Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.). Lupe was already almost as high.

SPHP realized the Carolina Dog was now N of New Year’s Eve Peak (Peak 6046), which is higher yet. Lupe left the side road and began climbing SW up a ridge. Well before she reached the top of New Year’s Eve Peak, another road appeared. This road was nearly level and headed W. Lupe followed it. Soon the new road curved around to the S, taking Lupe along the W slope of Peak 6046.

A lengthy stretch of the road was covered with deadfall timber. Progress was slow until SPHP managed to get past it all. Thankfully, someone had cleared the deadfall off the rest of the road. Lupe and SPHP made rapid progress to the E end of the saddle W of Peak 6046. Once again, Lupe left the road. She traveled W across the saddle. On the other side, she began exploring the hills to the W and NW.

The American Dingo climbed up to the top of the highest point in this vicinity for a look around. Lupe was higher than Scruton Mountain now, and about as high as New Year’s Eve Peak (Peak 6046), which she could still see to the E. Farther away, Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) and Five Points (6,221 ft.) were in view off to the S.

Lupe was now clearly higher than Scruton Mountain (R). The Seth Bullock lookout tower can be seen on top. Photo looks NE.

Harney Peak (L of Center), is the highest point on the horizon. Five Points (R) is noticeably closer. Photo looks S.

Lupe could see several more high points along the big ridge she was on off to the NW. The Carolina Dog stayed on the ridge, continuing her explorations of the area going first W and then NNW. She visited a number of high spots before reaching the last big one to the N. After crossing a small open field, she climbed to the top of this last big high point.

(Note: Lupe had reached Peak 6070, a mile NW of Peak 6046.)

A narrow, rocky spine of the mountain projected out to the S. Lupe followed it beyond the forest to a point where she had a terrific panoramic view. She saw Harney Peak and Five Points again. SPHP recognized Lupe’s objective, Old Bald Peak, off to the SW.

Bright yellow-green lichens clung to the sharp rocks of the S spine of **Peak 6070**.

Harney Peak is seen L of Center. Five Points is on the R, and False North Point is on the far R. Between them in the distance is **Sylvan Hill (7,000 ft.)** Photo looks S from Peak 6070.

SPHP finally recognized **Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.)** (R), Lupe’s original objective, from Peak 6070. Photo looks SW.

The S spine of Peak 6070 was rather breezy, but the views were awesome. Lupe and SPHP took a break here. Lupe had water and Taste of the Wild, plus half of SPHP’s cheese sandwich. SPHP had the rest of the sandwich and an apple.

While pondering the views during this rest stop, SPHP noticed a line of hills off to the NW. A look at the map showed these hills were located between West Nugget Gulch and Middle Nugget Gulch. The highest point, Nugget Gulch Peak (6,000 ft.), was practically treeless. It would provide a 360° view.

Lupe had been to Old Bald Peak before. Once, she had also traveled through West Nugget Gulch on USFS Road No. 249. However, she had never explored the hills between West Nugget Gulch and Middle Nugget Gulch. She had never been in Middle Nugget Gulch, either. Maybe it was time for Lupe to explore the Nugget Gulch Range?

By the time Lupe’s rest break was over, it was decided. Old Bald Peak was out. Lupe was pressing on to the Nugget Gulch Range!

The S end of the Nugget Gulch Range was 1.5 miles due W. To get over there, Lupe would have to lose considerable elevation. She wound up going to the minor high point N of Peak 6070 before finally turning sharply SSW. Now she lost elevation rapidly, but still managed to lose as little as possible by reaching the valley W of Peak 6070 at the saddle leading to the S end of a line of smaller hills to the NW.

USFS Road No. 244 crossed this saddle going N/S. Lupe simply went W across it, since she had hardly started her trek W to the Nugget Gulch Range. She went SW through the forest around the S end of the line of small hills to the NW. This was rocky ground. SPHP managed to stumble and fall on all the loose rock. SPHP’s right arm took the brunt of the blow.

Lupe came running to provide comfort and support. A Carolina Dog’s love and encouragement is a great help. Within a few minutes SPHP felt much better and was able to continue, no worse for the wear.

Once W of the line of small hills, Lupe came to a part of the forest which was nearly level. She lost elevation only gradually, enjoyed an easy romp, and eventually emerged from the forest at the E side of a wide grassy field in Middle Nugget Gulch. The first big hill at the S end of the Nugget Gulch Range was on the other side. Lupe and SPHP headed right for it.

Lupe crossed a dirt road and small dry creek bed in the field. By the time she reached the trees on the far side, she was gaining elevation again. The slope steepened as she made her ascent of the big hill. When she reached the top, another somewhat higher hill was in view to the NW.

SPHP had hoped Lupe would have a relatively easy time going NW along the ridgeline to the highest point at Nugget Gulch Peak. Instead, she came to several hills in succession. A steep and substantial drop came right after climbing each one. All the lost elevation had to be immediately regained on the way up the next hill in the series.

Lupe and SPHP tried skirting along the E slopes to avoid having to go all the way to the top of each hill. Unfortunately, this maneuver wasn’t terribly helpful. The steep hillsides, scattered deadfall timber, and slippery patches of snow made progress as slow as before.

Only the last part of the journey was easy. A long ridge rose gradually to the high point of the Nugget Gulch Range. Lupe wasn’t as high as she had been back at Peak 6070 earlier, but at least she was back up at 6,000 feet when she finally arrived at Nugget Gulch Peak (6,000 ft.). The mountaintop was covered with small rocks and low bushes.

Lupe arrives at the **Nugget Gulch Peak** after a long trek over and around the series of hills to the S. The little summit area was covered with small rocks and low bushes. Lupe had 360° views from here. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe did have 360° views from Nugget Gulch Peak. She could see Silver Peak (5,810 ft.) to the N. Old Bald Peak was now due S, and Harney Peak was still visible much farther S. Lupe had a bird’s eye view of Middle Nugget Gulch far below. Scruton Mountain was straight E beyond it.

Looking S from Nugget Gulch Peak. **Harney Peak (7,242 ft.)** is the distant peak at (Center). **Five Points (6,221 ft.)** is the not quite as distant mountain that breaks the ridgeline leading to Harney Peak L of Center. **Old Bald Peak (6,130 ft.)** is the highest hill on the R. Some of the hills Lupe traversed to get here are in the foreground.

Lupe and SPHP were both getting tired by now. Another rest break was in order. The last of the provisions were consumed, except for some pieces of chocolate oatmeal cookie that the Carolina Dog stashed, burying them with her nose. Carolina Dogs are smart that way. They plan ahead in case of an emergency or tough times to come.

Lupe had a terrific view of Middle Nugget Gulch far below. **Scruton Mountain (5,922 ft.)** is on the L. **Peak 6070** is the 2nd ridge on the R. Photo looks E.

The rest break did some good. Lupe was ready to continue. She left Nugget Gulch Peak still going N. She quickly encountered a rock formation almost as high. At first, SPHP wasn’t certain if Lupe could get beyond it, but with a little care, she did. Once past the rock formation, a short ridge led to another somewhat lower high point.

Lupe was still S of High Point 5953 when she left the ridge to drop down into Middle Nugget Gulch. Her steep descent followed a forested side ridge going NE. Middle Nugget Gulch was narrow and forested where Loop reached the valley floor. She found a single track trail, and began following it S up the gulch.

Middle Nugget Gulch began to widen out. The single track trail became a dirt road. As Lupe reached more open land, she found a cabin nearby in the trees. SPHP was surprised to see it. The cabin proved to be abandoned and in a state of disrepair.

The abandoned cabin Lupe came across in Middle Nugget Gulch.

Continuing S up the now broad valley, Lupe and SPHP stayed close to the forest along the W side of the big field. The creek had a little water in it in some places. In other spots the creek bed was just damp. Lupe was delighted to see a big snow bank near the edge of the forest. It was the first big patch of snow she’d come to in a while. Lupe thrashed around on it, eating snow and cooling off.

After climbing so many hills and mountains earlier in the day, it was great to have an easy route up Middle Nugget Gulch. A little beyond the S end of the big field, Lupe re-entered the forest and reached an intersection.

It had already been a fairly long day, and the G6 was still miles away. SPHP should have had Lupe take the road to the SE (L). It led to Horse Creek Road, and was the quickest route back to the G6. However, there was territory to the SW that Lupe hadn’t explored before. The easy trek up Middle Nugget Gulch had restored some energy. Lupe and SPHP took the road leading SW (R).

A little later on, Lupe reached another intersection where she turned S (L) on USFS Road No. 249. This road wasn’t steep, but climbed steadily. Deer kept Lupe entertained for a while, but the road went on and on. Lupe passed E of Old Bald Peak. She was well to the SSE of it by the time the road finally reached a pass. A short distance S of the pass, Lupe reached an intersection with USFS Road No. 530 where No. 249 ended.

Another mile S on No. 530 finally brought Lupe to a place where she could leave the road and go over a small saddle to the E. She was now 3 miles from where she’d left Middle Nugget Gulch, but no closer to the G6. Lupe was tired. She begged SPHP to stop. Frequent short rest breaks became the order of the day.

E of the saddle, Lupe eventually found USFS Road No. 669. After nearly 2 miles, it finally brought her to Horse Creek Road. Another mile E on Horse Creek Road was followed by a road-less trek, and another big climb to the top of the ridge to the N. Here, Lupe reached USFS Road No. 710 again. By now it was dark and raining.

Lupe had perked up at various points along the way, but she was Dingo-tired. At least the last mile E on No. 710 was downhill. A dark, wet, muddy trek ended at the G6 (8:12 PM, 41°F) nearly 12 hours after Lupe had left it. The cold, wet Carolina Dog leaped in without any encouragement or the slightest hesitation. She curled up on the passenger side front seat, heaved a giant Dingo sigh, and closed her eyes.

At home, SPHP dried Lupe off on the bed with a towel. Although she must have been famished, she managed to come downstairs only long enough to drink a little milk and have a little Alpo. She didn’t finish either before returning to bed. SPHP made spaghetti and brought her some, but the bleary-eyed American Dingo was too exhausted to touch it. SPHP left it in a bowl on the bed near her.

When SPHP woke up the next morning, a storm was going on with a howling N wind and snow. If it had been snowing harder, it would have been a genuine blizzard. Lupe still snoozed, not moving a muscle.

Someone had been up in the night, though. The spaghetti was gone.

Looking NNW back down Middle Nugget during Lupe’s return from the Nugget Gulch Range.

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