2019 Yukon & Alaska – Page 6 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Crazy Notch Ridge, Alaska Range, Alaska (8-26-19)

Days 21 & 22 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!

8-25-19, 8:32 AM, 37ºF, Denali State Park – Cloudy this morning, but it didn’t look like rain. Still some blue sky around. However, a certain bleary-eyed American Dingo wasn’t looking terribly ambitious. After a fabulous long day up on K’esugi Ridge yesterday, nothing too strenuous had much appeal.

During breakfast, SPHP mulled over various options. Actually, a day of rest did sound good.

Mind just taking it easy today, Looper?

I already am, SPHP.

So I see. We could scout out the Reindeer Hills (5,102 ft.), if you like, and get into position to take ’em on tomorrow. That wouldn’t be too hard.

Not the Reindeer Hills again! How many times have we been there and never gotten anywhere with them? Last year we’d barely left the Denali Highway when I fell into a deep water hole! Remember? That bog was a death trap! And you never did find a way across the creek.

Yeah, sorry about that. Promise we won’t try that spot again, but maybe there is better access somewhere else. No harm in looking is there?

How about you look, while I snooze?

Oh, come on! You can snooze on the way over there. Deal?

I suppose. Deal, but I’m not climbing them today!

Despite the clouds and some haziness, the drive NE on the George Parks Highway was gorgeous. Approaching Cantwell, the Reindeer Hills came into view.

The ever-elusive **Reindeer Hills** dead ahead! Photo looks NE.

By mid-afternoon, SPHP’s scouting was done. Two possible access points, both near the W end. Nothing to do now, but relax and wait. Loop spent the rest of the day hanging out near the E Fork of the Jack River and a small lake.

By the **E fork of the Jack River**. Photo looks SE.

Evening at a small lake S of the Reindeer Hills. Photo looks SW.

8-26-19, 6:13 AM, 39ºF, E fork of the Jack River, Denali Hwy – Gah! So much for the Reindeer Hills. Not happening. A dreary day, completely overcast with a very low ceiling. The Reindeer Hills were cloaked in fog.

Might as well head E. The G6 bumped and rattled 20 to 30 mph along the Denali Highway. The Nenana River was beautiful, but SPHP didn’t stop. Peak 5464 looked climbable, and was almost out of the clouds, but didn’t seem worth the effort on a day like today.

The sky soon darkened, and it began to rain. However, the rain didn’t last. Loop was getting restless. SPHP began stopping at various points of interest to let the Carolina Dog sniff about for a few minutes.

Approaching the **Susitna River**. Photo looks SE.

On the **Susitna River bridge** at MP 79.5. Photo looks ENE.

Drifting clouds and fog lent an aura of mystery at every turn. Misty mountains lay beyond dark evergreens and brilliantly colored bushes.

Heading away from the mountains. MP 60.5.

The relaxing drive was beautiful, but hours passed and there didn’t seem to be anything to do. At least, not until a stop overlooking a lake. Off in the distance, Looper could see a long, low ridge with a notable rounded high point at one end.

The intriguing ridge from a lake along the Denali Highway. Photo looks NE.

The weather remained gloomy, yet Crazy Notch Ridge (4,233 ft.) wasn’t lost in the clouds. With the summit only a little over 2 miles N of the Denali Highway, what looked like an easy trek exploring the big ridge seemed a perfect choice.

A few miles farther, the Denali Highway curved E. Crazy Notch was less than a mile away. A dirt road on the N side of the highway provided a spot to park the G6 hidden a few hundred feet back among the bushes.

8-26-19, 12:08 PM, 47ºF, Denali Highway MP 46.5 – With the G6 safely stashed, the American Dingo was ready for action! Going N on the dirt road, she quickly passed a pond on the L (NW). The road soon split. Lupe went R (E) heading straight for Crazy Notch Ridge.

The pond near the start. Photo looks NW.

The **summit** (L) was in view even from the G6. Photo looks NE.

It quickly became apparent getting to Crazy Notch Ridge was going to be a little more complicated than SPHP expected. Almost immediately, the dirt road curved back to the SE. Lupe couldn’t head directly for the high ground. A slough occupied the bottom of a small valley between here and the ridge.

The slough in the way (L). The Denali Highway heads through **Crazy Notch** (R). Photo looks SE.

Eh, no problem! The dirt road looped all the way back to the Denali Highway. Lupe followed it 0.33 mile E to the W end of Crazy Notch. No slough here, only a 75 foot high slope to deal with. The Carolina Dog left the Denali Highway at MP 46, beginning her ascent.

**W end of Crazy Notch**. Lupe left the Denali Highway here to begin her ascent of the slope on the L. Photo looks E.

The whole slope was thickly grown with bushes nearly as tall as SPHP. While Lupe had little difficulty sneaking through this jungle, forcing a way higher against all the branches pushing back down the rather steep slope made progress dreadfully slow for SPHP. Not that far to the top, though, so SPHP persevered.

Must have rained here earlier. The bushes were all wet. Loop was soon soaked, and so was SPHP. Fun, fun! 2/3 of the way up the slope, SPHP suddenly noticed the air was humming. Horrors! Hornets! The air was now full of them, and they sounded none too pleased at the disturbance created as SPHP had pushed right past their nest. Lupe stood smiling right below it!

Looper, hurry! Keep going! Up, up! Don’t stop!

SPHP was allergic. No damage done. Lupe also escaped unstung. Lucky!

Reaching the top of the 75 foot slope, the news otherwise wasn’t good. Loop hadn’t reached the broad gentle part of the ridge yet, not even close. Ahead rose a hilly area, all densely covered with bushes. SPHP had envisioned Loop trotting easily across a gently sloping tundra plain all the way to the summit, not an unremitting bushwhack!

At the top of the 75 foot slope with a long bushwhack still in store. Photo looks NE.

Fortunately, animal trails led through the bushes making it possible for SPHP to push through. Each time a trail ended, Lupe sniffed out another one close by. After making some progress in this manner, Loop came to an open spot, a bit of tundra and rocky ground.

On a bit of tundra. **Crazy Notch Ridge summit** beyond Loop. Photo looks N.

A glimpse back at the **Denali Highway** down in **Crazy Notch**. Photo looks E.

The colorful bushes were amazing, but this rocky ground was a welcome sight. Photo looks NNE.

Encouraging! This was more like it! The open ground proved to be a rare respite, but animal trails continued to provide assistance. Pushing on, Lupe soon reached a high spot. Ahead was a ravine, about 30 feet deep. No choice, but to cross it. Going down was easy, but getting back up the opposite side was a chore. Again animal trails helped.

Two more high spots, two more ravines to cross. Each time it got a bit easier. These ravines weren’t as deep as the first one, and as Lupe slowly gained elevation, the bushes were getting smaller.

Crossing the tussocky last ravine. Photo looks NW.

After climbing out of the third ravine, Lupe had finally made it to the far S end of the long gentle slope leading N to the summit. This region was still blanketed with bushes tall and thick enough to make it exhausting for SPHP to fight through them for any distance.

Beyond the last ravine with the long, broad slope leading to the summit now ahead. Photo looks N.

Happily, countless animal trails criss-crossed the broad plain. As Lupe roamed N, the bushes continued to shrink. The plain was somewhat higher toward the opposite E side. Despite angling NNE, Loop never quite seemed to reach the highest ground.

Heading for the summit. The bushes are much smaller now. Photo looks N.

The terrain became increasingly tussocky as the bushes shriveled away. No rocky ground at all. SPHP had the impression that if Alaska hadn’t experienced a drought this summer, this whole region might be a giant bog. Loopster was one lucky Dingo to be trying this in 2019!

A mere 2 miles, yet the trek seemed endless. No worries. The farther Lupe went, the easier and more fun it became. At last she was closing in on the big rise at the N end of the mountain. At the base of the steeper slope, she came upon a dried-up pool. The only significant feature of the rounded hill ahead was a rocky point jutting out about 2/3 of the way up.

After crossing the dried-up pool, Lupe started up the slope. Only a few hundred feet to the top. Staying W(L) of the rocky point seemed to be the way to go. By now there were few bushes, and Loop was on firm, slightly rocky ground of the sort SPHP had been hoping for all this time.

Halfway up, closing in on the rocky point. Photo looks NNW.

As Lupe drew near the rocky point, Crazy Notch Ridge (4,233 ft.) really rolled out the red carpet for the American Dingo!

**Crazy Notch Ridge** rolls out the crimson carpet for Lupe.

Naturally, Lupe visited the rocky point. The top turned out to be a flat, brightly decorated shelf. Looper went all the way out to the end, which was a bit grassy. Off to the S she had a grand view of the enormous lower part of Crazy Notch Ridge she had just traveled to get here.

The shelf on top of the rocky point. Photo looks SE.

Gazing back across the **vast lower portion of Crazy Notch Ridge**. The **dried-up pool** is in sight not too far away. Photo looks SSE.

The summit wasn’t much farther. Another 125 feet higher? Something like that. The slope was an easy climb. The weather was improving, with blue sky overhead as Lupe reached the top.

The top of Crazy Notch Ridge turned out to be a rounded ridgeline 1,000 feet long. The highest portion of this summit ridge was a narrower 200 foot long section toward the W end. A disorganized heap of stones sat at the very top. Just E of the stones, a 20″ tall threaded metal rod stuck up out of the ground.

Although Crazy Notch Ridge wasn’t at all rugged, its open summit and isolated position provided commanding views in all directions. Despite considerable haziness, what Lupe could see was impressive!

*Made it! Well worth the trek, too!* Photo looks NW.

Break time! For a long while, Lupe and SPHP sat resting together at the true summit. Off to the NW was a great valley flanked by mountains. This valley split going around both sides of Crazy Notch Ridge to join the surrounding lowlands. The West Fork of the Maclaren River meandered E out of the valley.

Relaxing at the **true summit**. Photo looks NW.

The hazy **valley of the W Fork of the Maclaren River**. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

The sunshine was intermittent, clouds regularly sailed overhead. At all times the distant views were hazy. Only part of it was due to humidity. Diffused smoke drifted this way from forest fires raging far to the W.

Whether in sunshine or shadow, the distant views remained hazy. Photo looks SW.

Loopster felt like exploring of the lower E end of the summit ridge. The topo map showed a pond between the E end and a subpeak to the NE. Why not go see if that pond was really there?

The E end of the summit ridge from the true summit. Photo looks NE.

A pond actually was nestled in the saddle leading to the NE subpeak. Off to the NNE, a line of snow-capped peaks could be dimly seen beyond the Maclaren River. Two large peaks were snowier than the others. Less spectacular, but more clearly seen, Whistle Ridge (4,850 ft.) was off to the SE.

**Whistle Ridge** (R) in the distance beyond the **Maclaren River**. Photo looks ESE.

The pond in the saddle leading to the NE subpeak. Photo looks NE.

The **two big snow-capped peaks** beyond the **Maclaren Rive**r. Photo looks NNE.

Peering a little farther up the **Maclaren River valley**. Photo looks NNE.

**Maclaren River valley**. Photo looks E with help from the telephoto lens.

Evidently the smoke from out W really had caught up with Lupe again. The views should have been awesome, but weren’t all they might have been. Returning to the true summit, Lupe ventured out to the far W end of the ridge where the smoke was even worse.

Returning to the **true summit** (Center). Photo looks W.

The smoky scene from the W end of the summit ridge. Strangely, the large lake in the foreground wasn’t even shown on the **topo map**. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

Despite it all, Crazy Notch Ridge (4,233 ft.) was a terrific vantage point. Strolling back to the true summit, Lupe and SPHP lingered a long time.

Looking S down the length of **Crazy Notch Ridge**.

A few miles to the WNW, beyond the lowlands, Lupe could see a large tableland. That whole region was about as high as Crazy Notch Ridge. Beyond the plateau were the Clearwater Mountains. Looked like a fun place to explore!

The **tableland** (L) leading to the **Clearwater Mountains**. Photo looks WNW.

Wistfully, the American Dingo sat thinking about it, but the world is a big place. Even if there was a way to cross the wet lowlands, that tableland was well beyond the limits of adventure today.

*Guess we can’t do it all, can we, SPHP? …. No, truth is, most things are beyond us Loop. Always will be*. Photo looks WNW.

Two hours gone at the summit of Crazy Notch Ridge! The great beyond still beckoned. Yet no matter what one does, there are always limits. It was time to turn back.

Lupe returned to the crimson shelf of the rocky point. Once again, she traipsed the brilliant red carpet down to the dried-up pond.

Leaving **Crazy Notch Ridge**. Photo looks W.

Approaching the dried-up pond. Photo looks SSE.

A glorious evening! Once past the dried-up pond, Lupe stayed farther E than during her ascent, sticking with the highest ground she could find. Wild and free, she roamed the vast golden tussocky tundra stretching away to the S having a grand time.

Crossing the golden plain. Photo looks S.

Farewell to **Crazy Notch Ridge**. Photo looks N.

Still quite a march, but the happy return along animal trails seemed to go much faster than the ascent. Upon reaching the bushes again, Lupe discovered another dried up pond. This one was perfectly round.

*Looks like we’re too late for a drink, SPHP! Got any water in that pack?* Photo looks S.

At the S end of Crazy Notch Ridge, it turned out the Carolina Dog was far enough E to avoid having to cross all 3 of the drainages she’d wandered through during her ascent. Loop wound up in a much deeper ravine choked with bushes.

Suddenly a strange grunting noise was heard. What the heck was that? Lupe became intensely excited. A young caribou!

Caribou at the S end of Crazy Notch Ridge.

The caribou ran off. Disappointed, Lupe continued down the ravine. Huge bushes towered over SPHP. The ravine was becoming quite steep when the view opened up.

Not much farther now. The Denali Highway was in sight down in Crazy Notch. The American Dingo reached it 0.5 mile E of MP 46. Less than a mile back to the G6! Trotting easily along the quiet Denali Highway, Loopster headed W into the golden sun. (End 7:29 PM)

Links:

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The Denali Highway

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K’esugi Ridge: Little Coal Creek to Peak 4500, Denali State Park, Alaska (8-24-19)

Days 19 & 20 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!

8-23-19, 6:34 AM, 31ºF, 1.5 miles NNW of Glenn Highway MP 123.3 – After her tremendous exertions up on Syncline Mountain yesterday, Lupe had scarcely moved a muscle all night. She was up and about bright and early now, though, sniffing among the bushes while SPHP straightened up the G6.

Still smoky this morning, so no great rush. A leisurely breakfast (beef stew!) was prepared at the Gunsight Mountain trailhead (MP 118.5). SPHP was surprised when Loop only wanted her Taste of the Wild. After breakfast she snoozed through most of the scenic drive to Palmer, where the smoke proved to be worse than ever.

Not good. Plan A had been to climb one of several possible peaks in the Palmer area, but evidently that wasn’t going to happen. Maybe the air would be clearer closer to the ocean? Lots of great peaks in Chugach State Park!

SPHP drove all the way to Anchorage, but Plan B was a flop, too. The mountains were barely visible. The smoke was as bad here as in Palmer, if not worse. Drought and forest fires in Alaska! It seemed incredible. In prior years, it had been hard to find a day when it didn’t rain.

Stops for supplies, an oil change for the G6. Hours frittered away. What to do? No sense in hanging around, the smoke wasn’t going to go away unless it rained hard, or the wind shifted. Kenai Peninsula or inland? The Carolina Dog stated no preference. SPHP gambled on inland.

N of Wasilla, a lighted sign said “FIRE MP82-91 expect 3-4 hour delays”. Plan C was looking shaky, at best.

8-24-19, 8:44 AM, 46ºF, Little Coal Creek trailhead, Denali State Park – The lighted sign had either been hype, or outdated. Lupe had gotten through yesterday with only a single 30 minute delay. She’d seen some charred acreage right next to the Parks Highway, but no flames, no billowing smoke, no emergency. However, she’d arrived at Denali State Park too late to take on any big excursions.

A beautiful morning today, though! Blue skies and no sign of smoke at all. Wind must be blowing the right direction. Better take advantage of the situation while good fortune held. After a whole day of rest, the American Dingo was ready for action!

The Little Coal Creek trailhead is at Parks Highway MP 163.9 in Denali State Park.

The trailhead parking lot. Look at those blue skies! Going to be a fabulous day!

Expectations were high! A return to Denali State Park’s beloved K’esugi Ridge was on the agenda. The Little Coal Creek trail would get the Carolina Dog up there. Ultimate destination, an off-trail exploration of Peak 4500!

The Little Coal Creek trail began as a nearly level trek in a ferny forest. Lupe trotted along watching for squirrels, with occasional success. A joyful start!

Setting out on the **Little Coal Creek trail**.

Sending telepathic waves inviting squirrel down for breakfast.

The trail crossed 2 small tributaries of Little Coal Creek. Both had plank bridges. The second stream, which was the biggest, drained a nearby pond.

Only SPHP made use of the plank bridges.

A look back at the pond after crossing the stream. Photo looks NE.

After passing the pond, Lupe came to a first glimpse of the Little Coal Creek valley just S of the trail. Although she could hear it, the valley was so full of trees, Looper couldn’t see Little Coal Creek.

First glimpse of the **Little Coal Creek valley**. Photo looks SW.

Lupe hadn’t gained much elevation yet, but the trail began to steepen as it veered away from Little Coal Creek. The upward pace was still easy to moderate. For quite a long way, trees and tall bushes hid all views.

Eventually things began to open up. Tantalizing glimpses of the Alaska Range beyond the Chulitna River valley appeared. SPHP tried to hurry, hoping to get high enough to see more before the sky could cloud up. Vegetation shrank. Loopster made it above treeline. Although clouds partially obscured the highest peaks, all the lower ones were on display. The views were already incredible!

Getting close to treeline. Photo looks ENE.

The **Alaska Range** beyond the **Chulitna River valley**. Photo looks NW.

**Eldridge Glacier**. Photo looks NW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

Lupe had never enjoyed such a clear day on the way up to K’esugi Ridge before. As she kept going, even the summit of Denali (20,310 ft.), the highest mountain in North America, sometimes appeared.

One of the best views up the **Little Coal Creek valley**. Photo looks SE.

**Denali** (Center) appears! Photo looks NW.

**Denali** with help from the telephoto lens – a mountain among mountains!

As impressive as the Denali and the Alaska range were, the beauty of K’esugi Ridge was also stunning. The Little Coal Creek trail steepened considerably shortly before the American Dingo reached the tundra.

*It’s all so magnificent!* Photo looks NE.

The trail steepens. **K’esugi Mountain (4,700 ft.)** (Center). **Little Coal Creek valley** (R). Photo looks S.

Near the end of the Little Coal Creek trail up on **K’esugi Ridge**. **Indian Benchmark (4,558 ft.)** (R). Photo looks SE.

**Denali** (Center) & the **Eldridge Glacier** (R) beyond the **Chulitna River**. Photo looks NW.

The 3.3 mile long Little Coal Creek trail formally ended soon after Lupe reached a region of gentler slopes near K’esugi Mountain (4,700 ft.). She was now on massive K’esugi Ridge, a world of tundra and rocks!

The end of the Little Coal Creek trail was a mere technicality. The trail actually kept going, but now as the K’esugi Ridge trail. Pass 3500 on the other side of the Little Coal Creek valley was now the next objective. Skirting along the base of K’esugi Mountain, the K’esugi Ridge trail headed right for it.

The **Little Coal Creek trail** formally ends right along in here, but continues on as the **K’esugi Ridge** trail toward the saddle seen on the R. **K’esugi Mountain** (L) and **upper Little Coal Creek valley** (R). Photo looks SW.

Although Lupe crossed the main channel of Little Coal Creek on the way to Pass 3500, she only saw minor tributaries. However, she did heard the main stream gurgling beneath a boulder field that slowed SPHP down considerably.

Our next mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get up to **Pass 3500** (L). Photo looks W overlooking the **upper Little Coal Creek valley**.

Approaching the boulder field at the **base of K’esugi Mountain**. Photo looks WSW.

Looking back after crossing Little Coal Creek. Photo looks NE.

Heading for **Pass 3500**. The K’esugi Ridge trail goes over it toward the R. Photo looks W.

Upon reaching Pass 3500, Loopster again had a sweeping view of the Chulitna River valley and the Alaska Range. Ahead, the K’esugi Ridge trail gradually descended a broad, open slope leading to a level region W of K’esugi Mountain.

**Chulitna River** from **Pass 3500**. Photo looks W.

**K’esugi Ridge trail** W of Pass 3500. Photo looks W.

Glancing back at **Pass 3500** (L). **K’esugi Mountain** (R). Photo looks E.

The trail levels out a mile W of K’esugi Mountain. Photo looks WSW.

For more than a mile the K’esugi Ridge trail was wide, well-worn, and nearly flat. Lupe passed a couple of scenic small tarns.

Near one of the tarns the trail went by. Photo looks W.

Tremendous views of the **Alaska Range** were constantly on display from the K’esugi Ridge trail. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

1.5 miles from Pass 3500, a larger tarn appeared. Beyond it was the long ridge that leads up to Peak 4500.

Approaching the larger tarn. Photo looks SW.

The ridge beyond this tarn leads to Peak 4500. Photo looks S.

Glancing back. **Pass 3500** (far L). **K’esugi West (4,600 ft.)** (R). Photo looks E.

**K’esugi West (4,600 ft.)** (Center) beyond the same tarn. Photo looks SE.

**Chulitna River valley** & the **Alaska Range** from the K’esugi Ridge trail. Photo looks W.

Lupe stuck with the K’esugi Ridge trail as she continued on beyond the big tarn. Before too long the trail crossed a stream. The American Dingo didn’t have much farther to go to reach the start of the long ridge to Peak 4500.

Crossing the stream 0.25 mile beyond the big tarn. The ridge to Peak 4500 is in the background. Photo looks S.

At the **NW end of Peak 4500** about to leave the K’esugi Ridge trail. Photo looks S.

Upon reaching the base of the ridge, Lupe abandoned the K’esugi Ridge trail. Turning S, she climbed a slope that grew rocky and steepened shortly before Loop made it up to the ridgeline.

Ahead a rumpled region of tundra and rock stretched away toward a series of higher benches. Most of the tundra was a mix of red and cream colors. Little bushes added a few splashes of yellow or orange. Greens were evident wherever the ground was damp. Fields of dark gray rocks covered the steeper slopes.

The terrain wasn’t particularly rough, and it was all, oh, so beautiful! This was going to be a fabulous exploration! Looper was in for a treat!

Up on the ridge, the search for Peak 4500 begins! Photo looks SE.

As SPHP picked a way higher, Lupe roamed the landscape. Alaska was suffering a drought. Instead of exhibiting its usual soft sponginess, the parched tundra crunched underpaw. Wherever possible, SPHP tried to stay on rocks to avoid unnecessary damage.

Eventually Lupe reached the upper end of this first region. Before her was a similar area that sloped more gently. Beyond this plain was a ridge more formidable than anything she’d come to so far. Off to the SW was a sweeping view of a lower part of K’esugi Ridge. Lupe could see both Peak 3700 and Ermine Hill (2,700 ft.).

Crossing the plain leading to a more challenging ridge (R). **K’esugi West** (L). Photo looks E.

**K’esugi Ridge** is 2 miles wide and tens of miles long. **Peak 3700** (L). **Ermine Hill** (R) is the closest bump seen near **Byers Lake** (far R). Photo looks SW.

After crossing the gentle plain near the upper end of a moist area, Lupe started climbing toward the more formidable ridge. This region was steeper and rockier, but really wasn’t all that difficult. The slope was a long one, though. Soon the Carolina Dog was ready for water and a rest. SPHP didn’t mind in the least. The break felt so good, another one was taken shortly before reaching the top.

*Not bad at all, but still a long way!* Photo looks S.

Taking it easy with a view of the **Alaska Range**. **Eldridge Glacier** (L). Photo looks NNW.

Two rest breaks are twice as nice as one! Photo looks SSE.

The top of the formidable ridge turned out not to be a top at all, just the end of the steepest part of the climb. A rocky region ahead led toward a big tundra-covered slope with a slightly higher ridge in view beyond it. Maybe that was the summit?

Above the formidable ridge now. Is that the summit (Center) ahead? Photo looks SSE.

Glancing over at **K’esugi West** (Center). Photo looks NE.

Near the edge of the tundra was a giant boulder, easily bigger than any other rock in the vicinity. Lupe leapt up onto it. From here she could see yet another ridge a little farther off that might even be higher than the one that wasn’t too far away now.

On the enormous boulder, with yet another ridge (L) now in sight. Photo looks SE.

From the giant boulder, a short stroll on the tundra brought Lupe to a pancake flat plain. The more distant ridge did appear higher than the one now close at paw. The American Dingo headed for it.

On “**Pancake Plain”** heading for the more distant ridge (L). Photo looks SE.

Approaching the once more distant ridge. Photo looks SE.

The **Alaska Range** from Pancake Plain. Photo looks NW.

*We’ve got to be getting close now!* Photo looks S.

The slopes leading up onto this second ridge were an easy trek. The top turned out to be a flattish, yet uneven region with 3 high points. The S high point was 20 feet lower than the other two, which were so close to being the same elevation it was hard to tell which might be highest.

**Peak 4500’s summit region**. **NE high point** (Center) and **Center high point** (R). Photo looks SE.

No doubt about it! Lupe had made it to the summit of Peak 4500. She arrived first at the Center high point where a thick, round stone sat amid similar boulders.

On the **highest rock at the Center high point**. **Peak 3700** (Center) beyond Loop. Photo looks SW.

On **Peak 4500’s Center high point**. Photo looks SE.

The **Alaska Range** from Peak 4500. Photo looks NW.

**Denali** from Peak 4500. Photo looks NW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

The NE high point 200 feet away was different. It consisted of a narrow ridge of much smaller rocks. Since the NE high point looked just as high as the Center one, to truly claim her peakbagging success Loop had to go over there, too. Beyond a steeper rocky slope, the American Dingo had a fabulous view of K’esugi West (4,600 ft.), K’esugi Mountain (4,700 ft.) and Indian Benchmark (4,558 ft.).

**K’esugi West** (L) and **Peak 4500’s NE High Point** (R). Photo looks NE.

At the **NE high point**. **K’esugi West** (Center) & **K’esugi Mountain** (R). Photo looks N.

**K’esugi West** (L), **K’esugi Mountain** (Center) and **Indian Benchmark** (R) from Peak 4500. Photo looks NE.

Peering down **Peak 4500’s N slope**. **K’esugi West** (R). Photo looks N.

The **Center high point** (Center) from **Peak 4500’s NE high point**. Photo looks WSW.

Having visited both the Center and NE high points, it was still difficult to say which might be the true summit. SPHP suspected the NE high point, but it was such a close call. The S high point was clearly out of the running, but having come so far, Loop visited it, too. She was rewarded with a sweeping view of the Susitna River valley.

The **Susitna River valley** from the **S high point**. Photo looks S.

**Center high point** (Center) and the **NE high point** (R) from the **S high point**. The Center high point is about 600 feet away. Photo looks N.

**K’esugi West** (L), **K’esugi Mountain** (Center) and **Indian Benchmark** (R) from the **S high point**. Photo looks NE.

**Lake 1395** (Center) and the **Susitna River** (R). Photo looks E.

Although not a difficult trek, getting to Peak 4500 had been a long one. Now that she’d visited all 3 high points, Lupe was ready to relax. She returned to the Center high point with its scenic big boulders, selecting a comfy spot. 55ºF, a soft NE breeze. Surrounded by the glory of Alaska atop K’esugi Ridge’s Peak 4500, the Carolina Dog laid basking in the slanting rays of the late afternoon sun.

Dozing on **Peak 4500**. Photo looks WSW.

A perfect late summer day! Clouds drifted slowly by the gleaming white form of North America’s highest mountain. Who would ever want to leave?

**Denali**, formerly **Mount McKinley**. Photo looks NW.

Yet the moment came. 1.5 hours gone by since the American Dingo had arrived up on Peak 4500. Lupe was ready. Once again she stood poised atop the highest rocks.

**Eldridge Glacier** (R) from the Center high point. Photo looks NW.

Onward! Puppy ho!

Oh, there was more, so much more! The adventure wasn’t over yet!

Let’s do some exploring, Looper!

Batteries recharged, Lupe was all in favor of that! Returning to Peak 4500’s NE high point, she paused only briefly before starting down the rocky N slope.

Leaving Peak 4500. After reaching the edge of the canyon seen below, Loop traveled along it to the **small dark hill** at far L. Photo looks NE.

Near the canyon S of **K’esugi West**. Lupe traveled L along the edge from here. Photo looks N.

A better view of the canyon. Photo looks NE.

After an initial 200 foot descent to the edge of a canyon NE of Peak 4500, Lupe traveled NNW along it. Near the end she came to a flat region as she approached a small dark rocky hill. From here Loop might easily have gone NE down a long slope to Pass 3900, the saddle between Peak 4500 and K’esugi West. However, off to the WNW at the far end of the flat region was an unusual rock formation.

Approaching the **small dark hill** (L). From here Lupe first explored the flat region to the L before returning to head down the slope on the R to **Pass 3900**. Photo looks N.

Hey, SPHP! Let’s go check that out!

Leading the way across the flat region, the Carolina Dog soon came to the world famous (well, it is now!) “K’esugi Stonehenge”.

Approaching **“K’esugi Stonehenge”**. Photo looks NW.

**Peak 4500** from **K’esugi Stonehenge**. Photo looks S.

After a thorough investigation, Lupe tried to take a shortcut from K’esugi Stonehenge to Pass 3900 by going E around the N side of the small dark hill. Things quickly became a bit steep.

*This way, SPHP! What do you mean by “you’re not coming”?* Photo looks NNE.

*Eh, maybe not that way either, Looper.* Photo looks NW.

OK, more than “a bit”. SPHP did a magnificent poultry impression and chickened out. Loop wound up traveling back across the flat region to the easy way down to Pass 3900.

*Think you can manage this, SPHP? …. Yes, much better!* **Pass 3900** (R).

From Pass 3900, it looked like it might be possible to go right up the SW face to the top of K’esugi West. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time for that.

**K’esugi West** from **Pass 3900**. Doesn’t look that hard to go up from the L, does it? Photo looks NE.

The rest was easy. Staying close to the base of K’esugi West for a little way, the American Dingo eventually headed down to a shallow pond that came into view, and continued NW beyond it.

Descending from Pass 3900. The ridge in the background is the one that led up to Peak 4500 during the ascent. Photo looks WNW.

Skirting the **base of K’esugi West** (R). Photo looks NNE.

Glancing back. A small slice of Peak 4500’s summit (L) is still in view. Photo looks S.

And oh, what a happy time it was! Lupe explored and sniffed to her heart’s content, roaming seldom seen parts of beautiful K’esugi Ridge. An evening in Dingo Heaven!

Heading for the shallow pond. Loop eventually passed through the gap beyond it. Photo looks NW.

The valley beyond the shallow pond. Photo looks NW.

Exactly 2 hours after leaving Peak 4500, Lupe reached the K’esugi Ridge trail again. The fun wasn’t over. Still 5 gorgeous miles to go back to the Little Coal Creek trailhead.