Dingo Vacations – Page 124 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

K’esugi Ridge: Ermine Hill & Peak 3700, Denali State Park, Alaska (9-4-18)

Days 31 & 32 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska!

Morning 9-3-18 – Clear skies! If they would last, this was Lupe’s big chance! As SPHP drove N on George Parks Highway No. 3, the Carolina Dog’s luck was holding. Near midday she arrived at the Denali South Viewpoint (MP 135.2) in Denali State Park.

Oh, this was Lupe’s lucky day! She had finally arrived at the Denali South Viewpoint in Denali State Park on a clear day – a feat that had eluded her in both 2016 & 2017.

It was Labor Day, and the parking lot was nearly full. People and dogs all over the place! They had all come to see what Lupe and SPHP had come to see, too – that glorious, monstrous, white mountain, highest in all of North America – Denali (20,310 ft.)!

Loopster had seen Denali in the clear from a great distance in 2016. Yet, although she had been to Denali State Park in both 2016 and 2017, the American Dingo had never caught more than glimpses of tiny portions of the mountain from anywhere nearly this close before. Lower peaks had sometimes been in view, but Denali and all the other white giants of the Alaska Range had always been shrouded by clouds.

The first look at Denali from the viewing area near the parking lot was beautiful, but not the best one available. A 5 minute stroll along a wide path lined by trees and tall bushes brought Loopster to an even better viewpoint. Beyond the Chulitna River valley, there stood Denali, still nearly 40 miles away, gleaming white against the blue, blue sky. Denali was a thrilling sight!

*There it is, SPHP! **Denali**, the highest mountain in North America! We finally get to see it!* Photo looks NW.

Lupe at the **Denali South Viewpoint** in **Denali State Park**.

**Denali** beyond the **Chulitna Rive**r. Photo looks NW help from the telephoto lens.

**Denali** with lots of help from the telephoto lens. Even at the Denali South Viewpoint, the massive mountain was still nearly 40 miles away!

While Denali was the star of the show, many other glorious peaks were on display, too. SPHP wasn’t certain of their names.

Zoomed in on **Kahlitna Peaks**? If so, **West Kahlitna Peak (12,835 ft.)** is on the L. **East Kahlitna Peak (13,440 ft.)** on the R. Photo looks NW.

**Mount Hunter (14,573 ft.)** may be the white dome peeping out from behind these jagged peaks. Photo looks NW, again with plenty of help from the telephoto lens.

Looking N farther up the **Chulitna River** valley.

With teeming holiday crowds present, it was probably best not to linger too long. Still, it was hard to tear oneself away from Denali! Loop and SPHP hung around for 20 minutes before reluctantly moving on. SPHP drove a little farther N on George Parks Highway No. 3, stopping next at the Ermine Hill trailhead (MP 156.5).

Still early afternoon. What to do? On the one hand, seeing Denali from Ermine Hill (2,700 ft.) would be fantastic! Would take a few hours to get up there, but Lupe had time. On the other hand, Ermine Hill wasn’t the American Dingo’s only anticipated destination up on K’esugi Ridge.

Lupe had climbed Ermine Hill once before. In 2017, she had seen a considerably higher hill from the summit more than 3 miles off to the ENE. This was Peak 3700, an unnamed high point. Peak 3700 had looked easy to climb, just a rounded hill at the far end of a long, gradual ridge. So Looper and SPHP had made an attempt on Peak 3700 that day. Lupe had made great progress, but was ultimately forced to retreat by an ominous cloud threatening rain.

Now Lupe was back! She had returned to Denali State Park not only to see Denali, but also to climb Peak 3700.

It was too late to get to both Ermine Hill and Peak 3700 today. Besides, Loop had spent the last 3 days in a row climbing mountains. Hadn’t she earned a day of rest? While tempting, the thought of climbing Ermine Hill right now to see Denali from on high also seemed exhausting. Loop intended to climb both Ermine Hill and Peak 3700 tomorrow, anyway. Provided the weather would hold for just another 24 hours, an ascent today was simply unnecessary.

Not a cloud in sight. Tomorrow seemed a reasonably safe bet. In the meantime, Looper could rest up. This evening she could go back to the Denali South Viewpoint to see the sunset. Such a nice, easy plan!

SPHP worked on catching up the trip journal. The Carolina Dog snoozed contentedly. After an hour or more, SPHP glanced up to see a single lane of traffic ground to a complete halt on the highway. Odd. The G6 was boxed in here at the Ermine Hill trailhead! Lupe couldn’t leave if she wanted to until the traffic cleared.

It didn’t clear. Nothing budged. Something was wrong. An accident? Perhaps a serious one? No one at all was getting through. Yet everyone seemed patient. No honking, yelling, or arm waving. None of that sort of thing.

Eventually, sirens confirmed it. Emergency vehicles appeared. Low flying helicopters woke Loop up, sending her into barking frenzies. Hours went by. SPHP finally stopped writing, and got out to stretch. Something dreadful must have happened. A man came over to chat. He was from North Pole near Fairbanks, on his way home with his family.

Word was that there had been a terrible tragedy, a fatal crash. The crash had occurred out of sight, but only 100 yards NE of the Ermine Hill trailhead. A car, pickup truck, and 2 motorcycles were involved. Of 5 people, 3 were dead, 2 more in critical condition. One was a little girl. Horrendous!

Not until 8:30 PM did the traffic start moving again. Slowly, one lane at a time, alternating directions. After 10:00 PM the first gaps appeared in the lines. By 11:00 PM it was over, the deadly highway dark and quiet. The end of a sorrowful, sobering evening.

9-4-18, 8:40 AM, 48°F – Ugh! Seriously? Tired or not, should have just done it, and gone with Lupe up to Ermine Hill yesterday afternoon. She could have seen Denali in the clear from that glorious vantage point then. Now blue skies were but a memory. Nearly the entire sky was overcast. Clouds hung so low, it was practically foggy out. So much for getting to see Denali again from on high. A lost opportunity.

Sorry, Looper! Guess I was a dope. Should have known. Alaska is the world champion at clouding up, as far as anywhere I’ve ever been goes.

We’re not going to Ermine Hill? Or Peak 3700?

Oh, yes, we are! At least it’s not raining out. Doesn’t seem like it’s going to either, not yet anyway. Might as well give it a whirl. It’s more or less now or never for Peak 3700, you know.

Let’s get going then! Maybe we’ll have some luck!

Looper ready to head up the Ermine Hill trail.

Lupe set out full of energy and enthusiasm! Having taken the Ermine Hill trail up onto fabulous K’esugi Ridge only a little over a year ago, it still seemed quite familiar. The trail started out gaining elevation gradually. Lupe passed through an area of tall grasses and colorful plants in a forest meadow.

*You coming, SPHP? Hurry it up! This is going to be great! You’ll see!*

The terrain flattened out. Before long Loop lost 200 feet of elevation on her way down to Byers Creek. The tippy bridge was still here, same as last year.

Crossing a small side stream on the way down to Byers Creek.

The tippy bridge over **Byers Creek** was still here, unchanged from a year ago.

Beyond the tippy bridge came a forested area crowded with ferns. The trail was full of tree roots and mucky spots. It headed downstream past a wider, shallower section of Byers Creek before finally beginning to climb out of the valley.

Down in the **Byers Creek** valley. Photo looks SW.

*Nothing like a lush undergrowth of ferns to give a forest that prehistoric feel, is there?*

Before Lupe had gained much elevation, a bridge over gushing Giardia Creek marked the start of a series of long switchbacks. The switchbacks made the climb up the steep lower slopes of K’esugi Ridge a snap for SPHP. Lupe enjoyed racing back and forth on them.

**Giardia Creek!** Might want to leave those water bottles in the backpack for now, SPHP!

Lupe had a blast on the switchbacks leading up the steep lower slopes of K’esugi Ridge.

Higher up, K’esugi Ridge wasn’t as steep. The switchbacks came to an end. The trail turned SE climbing more directly up the slope.

The forest thinned as Lupe gained elevation. Ferns disappeared. Birch or aspen mixed in with the conifers. Before long only scattered conifers remained as tall bushes took over.

Above the switchbacks the terrain wasn’t as steep. Ferns disappeared and the forest was less dense. Lupe came to stands of birch or aspen.

Looking up the Giardia Creek valley from the Ermine Hill trail. Scattered conifers and tall bushes dominated this area. Photo looks ESE.

Eventually, Lupe came to a long slope covered with low bushes. The fall colors were incredible!

Loop near the upper end of the long colorful slope shortly before leaving the **Ermine Hill trail**. Photo looks NW.

Looper left the Ermine Hill trail at the upper end of the colorful slope, shortly before it was about to disappear into tall bushes again.

In 2017, Lupe had stayed on the trail 0.5 mile farther before abandoning it to begin her search for the true summit of Ermine Hill. However, she had learned back then that it wasn’t necessary to stay on the trail for so long. The true summit was up on the very first big hill on the R (S). In fact, it appeared easier to get to the summit from here than it had been from farther along the trail.

Loop about to set off for the true summit of Ermine Hill. Photo looks SW.

The upper slopes of Ermine Hill consist of a crumbly whitish rock. Where vegetation was lacking and the exposed rock was at all steep, it was difficult for SPHP to maintain traction. Fortunately, there weren’t too many troublesome areas. Lupe had a great time exploring on the way up. She had no traction problems at all.

The lower slopes of Ermine Hill were the steepest. Once above them, a series of ramps and benches led higher. The flatter terrain up here was mostly covered with gorgeous tundra. Brilliant reds, oranges, golds and yellows were everywhere. Blueberries were abundant some places, too. SPHP would accept no criticism for the resulting slow pace of advance.

Loop up on the flatter terrain of one of the benches. Photo looks SW.

As Lupe neared the top of Ermine Hill, she spotted an oddly shaped rock ahead atop a minor ridge. SPHP dubbed it “Shark Fin Rock”.

Oddly shaped “**Shark Fin Rock**” on the ridge beyond Lupe points toward the summit of **Ermine Hill**. Photo looks S.

Of course, the Carolina Dog went to check it out.

Lupe at **Shark Fin Rock**. Shark Fin Rock seemed most unusually shaped for a natural rock formation. Loop later discovered several smaller similar formations near Ermine Hill’s summit. Photo looks N.

From Shark Fin Rock an easy 5 minute trek up loose white rock brought Loop to the top of the mountain. The whole summit area was awesome with all kinds of weird rock formations. A lovely level pedestal perfect for displaying a triumphant Carolina Dog comprised the true summit.

Yes, Lupe had returned to magnificent, gorgeous Ermine Hill (2,700 ft.)!

Lupe returns to the true summit of **Ermine Hill**. She had been here once before just over a year ago in 2017. Photo looks SE.

A few tiny patches of blue sky had been visible when Lupe had left the trailhead. Now there were none. Rain still didn’t look imminent, but it was easy to believe it might be on the way. Low gray clouds covered the sky. Farther S, though, sunshine could be seen on distant ridges.

The whole sky was gray, but sunshine could be seen on distant ridges. Photo looks SSE.

Still at the true summit. Photo looks SSE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

A look at the true summit from the other side. Note the little cave at the lower L. It was only inches high, but Lupe was fascinated by it. Apparently parts of **Ermine Hill** were hollow! Photo looks NW.

Lupe had set out on the Ermine Hill trail full of energy and enthusiasm. However, by the time she had reached Shark Fin Rock, she had already been showing signs fatigue. SPHP was surprised, but perhaps Loopster hadn’t slept well last night? Sometimes she stays awake staring into the darkness for hours on end.

Whatever the reason, after a short initial re-exploration of Ermine Hill’s summit area, the Carolina Dog was done. She didn’t want food or water, simply to rest. No problem. It wasn’t even noon yet. Plenty of time left in the day. SPHP looked forward to relaxing and enjoying the fantastic views from Ermine Hill for a while, anyway.

Another rock outcropping almost as high as the true summit was a short distance to the NW. SPHP found a comfy spot to sit down there. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap, heaved a great sigh, and closed her eyes. SPHP stroked her soft fur.

Ermine Hill is a terrific viewpoint! Sadly, but as anticipated, Denali and all the high peaks of the Alaska Range were obscured by clouds. Only the lower peaks and the Chulitna River valley were in view. Golog Benchmark (2,970 ft.) which Lupe had reached on a prior adventure on K’esugi Ridge in 2016 was in sight to the SW. And, of course, Peak 3700, which SPHP hoped and expected Loop would get to this very afternoon, was visible only a little over 3 miles to the ENE.

A serene and wonderful half hour drifted by. Finally, Lupe stirred. Good deal! A few more photos from the top of Ermine Hill and she would be on her way to Peak 3700!

The **Chulitna River** valley from Ermine Hill. **Byers Lake** is in the distance on the L. Photo looks WSW.

Looking NNW across the **Chulitna & Fountain** **rivers**. Only lower slopes of mountains of the Alaska Range could be seen beyond them.

Loop at the resting spot where she spent a whole half hour dozing while curled up on SPHP’s lap. Ermine Hill’s true summit is seen on the R. Photo looks ESE.

**Peak 3700**, Lupe’s next peakbagging destination on K’esugi Ridge, is the high point on the L. Photo looks ENE.

Loop and SPHP set out for Peak 3700 heading SE. Having barely started, the American Dingo paused at the edge of the Ermine Hill summit area.

Ermine Hill(s) is actually plural. Maps show several hills in this region designated as such. The topo map shows 4 separate 2,700 foot contours. The contour farthest NW where Lupe was now clearly contained the true summit of the entire Ermine Hills region.

Ahead, Lupe could see some of the lower Ermine Hills. They were all made of the same crumbly white rock. At this time of year, the height of autumn on K’esugi Ridge, all of them were exquisitely beautiful. How fortunate to be here today! A rich tapestry of reds, whites, golds, grays, greens and yellows cloaked the Ermine Hills. They seemed so aptly named!

Loop with a view of some of the exquisitely colored lower Ermine Hills. Photo looks SE.

Peak 3700 was calling. SPHP started down. Lupe didn’t come. Instead, she gazed longingly back at Ermine Hill’s true summit. Was something wrong? Did she want to go back?

Yes, yes she did! Lupe did want to go back. Half an hour hadn’t been enough. The Carolina Dog was still tired.

Lupe didn’t want to leave **Ermine Hill**. She liked it up here, and was still tired. She wanted to go back to the true summit (Center) to rest some more. Photo looks WNW.

Well, OK, why not? Lupe and SPHP returned to the true summit. For a while, Loop curled up on SPHP’s lap again. Eventually, she preferred the comfort of a hollow among the summit rocks. SPHP laid out a Columbia pullover and gray jacket for her. Oh, so cozy! Just what the Dingo had ordered! Weary Lupe closed her eyes and slept soundly.

Well, what do you expect? Climbing mountains can tire anyone out. Especially when you climb them for days on end.

Lupe comfortably ensconced in her hollow among the rocks at the top of **Ermine Hill**. The rock on the L is the true summit. Photo looks WNW.

SPHP had plenty of time to enjoy the views from Ermine Hill a while longer. Dead to the world, Lupe snored. She barely stirred. Good things started happening. The cloud cover was breaking up! Patches of blue sky began to appear. The sunlight made everything so much brighter and the colors more vibrant than before.

Early afternoon now. Such a fabulous day to climb Peak 3700! If only Looper would wake up!

**Golog Benchmark** (L) from Ermine Hill. **Byers Lake** is on the R. While Lupe slept, good things were happening. The cloud cover started breaking up and blue sky appeared! Photo looks SW with some help from the telephoto lens.

Looper sawing wood where there was none to saw. Hopefully she’d be done pretty soon. Peak 3700 was calling her name!

More than an hour drifted by. Finally, Miss Sleepyhead stirred.

Miss Sleepyhead shows signs of recovery. Photo looks NNE.

Welcome back to the land of the living, Sleeping Beauty!

Did I drift off?

Umm, yeah, sort of. Twice now, actually. So, how are you feeling? Still up for Peak 3700?

Oh, much better, thanks. Yes, let’s do this!

Lupe was much better, too! This Dingo nap had been the miracle cure for what ailed her. Suddenly she was full of energy again. The Carolina Dog leapt up onto Ermine Hill’s true summit once more.

All rested up, Lupe returns to the true summit of **Ermine Hill** for a final look around. Photo looks SSE.

*Oh, these big patches of blue sky are most encouraging!*

The mood of the moment was certainly brighter and cheerier than had been the case a couple of hours ago when Lupe had first reached the top of Ermine Hill. For a few glorious moments, Lupe stood bathed in sunlight at the unique and beautiful true summit.

Lupe bathed in sunlight during her last moments at the top of beautiful **Ermine Hill**. Photo looks SE.

It was time to get serious about making some progress toward Peak 3700! While still mostly cloudy in that direction, the skies appeared to be clearing. Looper had better get on with it while conditions were so favorable!

Skies hadn’t cleared as much over by **Peak 3700** (Center) yet, but looked like they would soon. Photo looks ENE.

The first order of business was to get back down to the Ermine Hill trail. Loop didn’t go down the same way she had come up. Instead she headed ESE off Ermine Hill, bypassing part of the trail.

Starting back down to the Ermine Hill trail, which runs along the near side of the lake. Once on the Ermine Hill trail again, Lupe could follow it to the K’esugi Ridge trail, which runs across the saddle seen at the far end of the lake. Photo looks ESE.

The key to returning to the Ermine Hill trail efficiently was to avoid the dense stands of tall bushes which form a nearly impenetrable barrier in many places near the trail. Loop had great success. She found a route that wasn’t too steep and completely avoided the bushes.

Once on the Ermine Hill trail again, Lupe followed it toward the saddle beyond the E end of the lake. Here, she reached the junction with the K’esugi Ridge trail.

Lupe near the junction of the Ermine Hill & K’esugi Ridge trails. **Ermine Hill** is seen on the L. Lupe would follow the K’esugi Ridge trail in the direction she is facing. Photo looks NW.

Upon reaching the junction, Lupe turned NE (L) on the K’esugi Ridge trail. The trail crossed a marsh in the broad saddle E of the lake. Lupe had to ford a small stream before the trail started uphill again.

After passing through stands of tall bushes, the trail became quite steep heading N up a ravine containing another small stream. Lupe regained much of the elevation she’d lost coming down off of Ermine Hill.

Leaving the ravine, the K’esugi Ridge trail leveled out heading NW along the base of a steep hillside. This area was also marshy. Stepping stones helped, but there weren’t enough of them. A wet, mucky trudge made SPHP vow to look for an alternative route on the return trip.

Beyond the marsh, a short side trail led W off to a viewpoint. Here Lupe enjoyed a sweeping panorama of the entire Ermine Hill region.

A short spur trail off the main K’esugi Ridge trail led to this sweeping panorama of the **Ermine Hill** (Center) region. Photo looks W.

Looking back at the marsh, which was also a beautiful sight. The K’esugi Ridge trail came along the base of the hillside in shadow on the R. Photo looks E.

Returning to the K’esugi Ridge trail, Lupe headed NE climbing steadily. Soon she was high enough to see the long ridge leading to Peak 3700.

The long ridge leading to Peak 3700 appears ahead. Photo looks NE.

The K’esugi Ridge trail wouldn’t take Lupe to Peak 3700. No trail went that way. However, it would bring her to the W end of the ridge leading to it. Nearing this ridge, the trail dipped into a little valley where Lupe crossed a small stream. The trail then started up again, eventually leveling out as it curved around the W end of the ridge.

Before leaving the K’esugi Ridge trail to start for Peak 3700, Lupe had another look back at Ermine Hill and the Chulitna River valley beyond it. She was clearly higher than Ermine Hill now.

Looking back before leaving the K’esugi Ridge trail. **Ermine Hill** is seen beyond Lupe. The **Chulitna River** valley is on the R. **Golog Benchmark (2,970 ft.)** is the distant high point toward the L. Photo looks SW.

Lupe was now about 1.5 miles from the junction with the Ermine Hill trail. Peak 3700 was 2 miles due E. Full of enthusiasm, Loop and SPHP left the K’esugi Ridge trail and began to climb.

Leaving the K’esugi Ridge trail to begin the 2 mile trek to Peak 3700. Photo looks E.

The ridge leading to Peak 3700 was broad and strewn with countless rocks. Many rocks were covered with the thick, crunchy black lichens common in parts of Alaska. The pristine, trackless tundra was gorgeous. So many brilliant colors! So much exquisite detail!

It was an easy climb. Just wandering really, from one modest high point to the next. No tree or bush existed to block any of the tremendous views in all directions. Natural beauties were everywhere from the tiny to the vast.

Following the huge ridge leading to Peak 3700 was easy! Lupe simply wandered at will from one high point to the next. Photo looks E.

Looking back. **Golog Benchmark** (L), **Ermine Hill** (Center), **Chulitna Rive**r valley (R). Photo looks SW.

Happy Lupe! So full of joy! She ran great distances, sometimes far from SPHP. She explored and sniffed. She was never gone too long, but came running back frequently. Her pink tongue dangled, her chest heaved. The Dingo’s eyes were bright and spoke of the wonders she was seeing and sensing all around.

SPHP fully shared Looper’s enthusiasm. Except for the clouds still hiding the mighty, but bashful Alaska Range, conditions were perfect. This trek was 10,000 delights, pure fun! The excitement grew as Lupe reached the area where she had been forced to turn back in 2017.

Not this time!

Happy Lupe on her joyful journey to Peak 3700.

Lupe pressed on. Everything was going great! The American Dingo stayed on the high ground toward the N edge of the ridge. Gradually the tundra became more sparse. The way grew rockier. Lupe crossed one boulder field of white rocks. Nothing too steep or long or difficult.

Peak 3700 was farther than SPHP had believed in 2017, but Loop was getting there!

Lupe wasn’t turning around this time! She kept heading E exploring new territory. Photo looks E.

Getting closer. The **Peak 3700** summit ridge is in sight beyond Lupe. Photo looks E.

Crossing the only boulder field Lupe came to on the entire route. Photo looks E.

Looking back. Lupe had come up mostly along the R (N) side of this very broad ridge. Photo looks W.

Almost there! **Peak 3700** lies directly ahead. Photo looks E.

One more high point to go. Was this really the summit? Yes, it was!

Lupe made it up onto a rather long, rocky ridge 30 to 50 feet wide. This area wasn’t all rocks, there was tundra up here, too. The highest rocks were still a bit farther E. A quick, easy stroll and Lupe had done it! She was poised atop what appeared to be the highest rock on Peak 3700.

Success! After a fabulous journey here, Lupe stands atop **Peak 3700**. Photo looks NE.

Having hoped for this moment ever since Lupe had been forced to turn back in 2017, not knowing if she would ever return, SPHP was thrilled to congratulate Lupe on her grand success. Yet coming here had been so much fun both as a dream and as reality that SPHP felt a touch of sadness that the journey was over.

Well, it certainly had been a grand time, but Lupe wasn’t feeling sad. She was pooped! The Carolina Dog had burnt herself out again with all her enthusiastic exploratory exertions.

Fortunately, right next to the highest rock was a wonderfully convenient Dingo Shelter. It had a soft tundra floor, solid rock walls on 3 sides, and the highest rock on the mountain even overhung it to provide a partial roof. Looper took an immediate liking to it. She curled up there, while SPHP sat on the highest rock gazing out at all the wonders to be seen from Peak 3700 up on K’esugi Ridge.

Lupe, worn out again by all the fun of getting here, curls up in the convenient Dingo Shelter at the top of **Peak 3700**. Photo looks N.

Looking NE along vast **K’esugi Ridge** from Peak 3700.

Like Ermine Hill, Peak 3700 is merely one of a number of significant high points along **K’esugi Ridge**. The trail system offers spectacular day hike and backpacking opportunities, but with the exception of Golog Benchmark, doesn’t visit the most prominent summits. Photo looks SW.

Some of the most fascinating sights from Peak 3700 were of wonders only hinted at today. Although the afternoon had become mostly sunny over K’esugi Ridge, clouds still hid Denali and the Alaska Range. Every now and then, though, the clouds parted enough to offer tantalizing glimpses of mighty white peaks.

Tantalizing glimpses of mighty peaks of the Alaska Range came and went, but today just wasn’t clear enough to ever see more than a hint of what was actually out there.

Even with the help of the telephoto lens, it was often hard to distinguish between the mountains and clouds.

100 yards E of the highest rock, Peak 3700’s summit ridge dropped away sharply. After a short respite in the Dingo Shelter, Loopster decided to accompany SPHP toward that end of the ridge for a look at the Susitna River valley. Lupe could see a huge expanse of Alaskan wilderness.

Looper near the E end of Peak 3700’s summit ridge with a commanding view of the **Susitna River** valley. Photo looks E.

**Susitna River** valley from Peak 3700. Photo looks S.

Looking W toward **Peak 3700**‘s summit from close to the E end of the summit ridge.

Returning to the summit, SPHP realized that from a slightly different perspective, at least a couple of other rocks seemed to be in contention for the title of true summit. Lupe hopped up on a long skinny contender barely wide enough to balance upon.

*OK, now. Hope you’re satisfied, SPHP! Not getting up on any more rocks. You can look around all you want, but I’m going back to the Dingo Shelter for another snooze.* Photo looks SW.

Lupe had seen enough. Running all over mountains is exhausting work! Peak 3700 had a Dingo Shelter and the American Dingo fully intended to return to it! SPHP helped her get comfy. Loop eagerly accepted water and Taste of the Wild. Then, while SPHP sat only a few feet above her on the official highest rock, it was lights out for the Carolina Dog.

*Too bad I haven’t seen a bear up here. I’d crunch it up just like this!*

The Eldridge Glacier covered with tremendous amounts of debris, as seen from Peak 3700. Photo looks NW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

A glorious hour at the top of Peak 3700 slipped away. Lupe awakened, batteries freshly recharged. She sat for a few minutes with SPHP on the highest rock. The inevitable moment had arrived.

Lupe on Peak 3700’s highest rock. Chulitna River valley on the R. Photo looks WSW.

It was sad to leave Peak 3700, but hours of fun remained. The return trip was a total blast! Downhill nearly the entire way, the American Dingo streaked across the seemingly endless, incredibly gorgeous tundra roaming far and wide, spectacular panoramas on all sides!

Oh, and did Lupe discover a way to avoid taking the K’esugi Ridge trail through the mucky upper marsh on the way back? She did! SPHP was happy to follow her on a detour up onto and along the top of the steep little hill next to the marsh.

It was dark when the Carolina Dog made it back to the G6 at the Ermine Hill trailhead, all tuckered out once more. What a fabulous day it had been, though! Lupe really had returned to K’esugi Ridge. She’d revisited beautiful Ermine Hill, and this time had actually made it to Peak 3700.

Not that any of it had been all that difficult. Quite the contrary! All it had taken was a little cooperation from the weather, and Lupe’s love of adventure. Of course, a few Dingo naps along the way hadn’t hurt a thing, either! (End 10:12 PM, 51°F)

On the Ermine Hill trail returning from Peak 3700, Denali State Park, Alaska, 9-4-18.

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Denali State Park Brochure

K’esugi Ridge Trail System North

K’esugi Ridge Trail System South

Lupe in the SCREE! – the Mountaineering Club of Alaska’s monthly newsletter & the story of Henry Pinkham

K’esugi Ridge: Ermine Hill, Denali State Park, Alaska (8-26-17)

K’esugi Ridge: Whimbrel Hill & the Golog Benchmark, Denali State Park, Alaska (8-19-16)

K’esugi Ridge: Indian Benchmark & K’esugi Mountain, Denali State Park, Alaska (8-18-16)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Big Baldy Mountain, the Judith Basin County High Point, Montana (9-12-17)

Days 42, 43 & 44 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!

9-10-17, 7:09 AM, 45°F, E of Vanderhoof, British Columbia – Time to scoot! Lupe was on her way home. With her successful ascent of Harvey Mountain in Babine Mountains Provincial Park near Smithers yesterday, her adventures in Canada were concluded. Only one big adventure left to go on this Dingo Vacation, and that would be in Montana, more than 1,000 miles away.

SPHP drove E on Hwy 16. A fuel stop in Prince George, then Lupe was seeing new territory heading S along Hwy 97. Pretty country, but a far more populated region than staying on Hwy 16 would have been. Lupe liked this route well enough; she had cows and horses to bark at. SPHP preferred the more secluded, remote feel of Hwy 16. Still it was fun to see something new.

The drive went on all day. Lupe escaped the G6 at a few scenic breaks along the way. She saw the Thompson River a little N of Spences Bridge.

After a long drive S on Hwy 97 from Prince George, Lupe escaped the G6 for this view of the **Thompson River**. Photo looks S.

Looking upstream along the **Thompson River**. Southern British Columbia was much drier than the Yukon and Alaska where Lupe had spent the vast majority of this Dingo Vacation.

At Spences Bridge, SPHP turned E. Hwy 8 was winding, narrow, and far less traveled. Lupe visited the Nicola River. The river was running low.

The quiet, slow pace ended at Merritt. Traffic zoomed S along Hwy 5A, then E on Hwy 97C over highlands before dropping down to a junction with Hwy 97 again. SPHP drove S along the W shore of Okanagan Lake. The huge, long lake was beautiful, but this area was all citified. Traffic was bumper to bumper all the way to Penticton.

S of Penticton, Lupe needed relief from the G6 again. She found it at a park at the S end of Skaha Lake in Okanagan Falls.

At the S end of **Skaha Lake**, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia. Photo looks N.

Oh, yeah! This is better! Say are we going to climb any of the mountains around here, SPHP? …. Fraid not, Looper, you’re on the way home. You have only one more adventure, and that’s still far away in Montana.

Lupe left Canada near Osoyoos. While the Okanagan Lake area had been thriving and overrun with people, N Washington State looked dry, deserted, desolate. Night fell along Hwy 20 E of Tonasket putting an end to Looper’s travels for the day.

9-11-17 – Last night there had been stars in the wee hours. Even the moon was out. For a month and a half, Lupe had scarcely seen them in the far N. The night sky made a good impression, but Lupe woke to find herself in Mordor.

Across Washington, Idaho, and into Montana, the farther E the Carolina Dog went, the browner and yellower the world became. Only the tinder dry forests somehow remained green. Had even a drop of rain fallen on this parched land since Lupe left home at the end of July? Didn’t look like it. The day was hot. Smoke filled the air.

Are you scared, SPHP?

Not at all, why would I be scared?

You never told me we’d be going to Mordor!

Oh, yeah. Looks that way, doesn’t it, Loop? Guess you’ve figured it out. Peakbagging Mount Doom ought to be a spectacular end for your 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska, don’t you think?

Mount Doom! Are you crazy? I thought you might have something special planned for my last adventure, but Mount Doom? I don’t mind telling you, I am a bit scared. Do you have it?

Have what?

Don’t be so coy. You know what I mean.

Actually, I don’t.

Do I have to drag it out of you, SPHP? The ring! Do you have the ring?

What ring?

The ring of power!

Oh, that. Why yes, I think so. Should be in the glove box, unless I left it on the nightstand at home, or maybe it was in that box of odds and ends I took to the Salvation Army before we left.

You took the ring of power to the Salvation Army? You can’t be serious!

Maybe. I don’t remember for sure, Loop. Anyway, what’s the difference? What good is having a ring of power? They haven’t been perfected yet. Nearly all of them have serious manufacturer’s defects. You can never use them, and they just cause endless trouble. Why, even recycling them is a major pain. Look at all the inconvenience Frodo had to go through.

Well, if you didn’t want the ring of power, SPHP, you could have given it to your dearest Dingo, or at least put it up on eBay, and have gotten something for it. Maybe you don’t care to have a ring of power, but they are in high demand from what I hear. They’re all the rage! A ring of power would have brought a pretty penny on eBay, I bet. Besides, here we are, well into Mordor now, and you don’t even know what you did with it. Everyone else that’s got a ring of power is obsessed with keeping track of it. But not you, SPHP. Oh no! You can’t be bothered with such trifles can you? How can you be so absent-minded? We are going to need that ring of power when we get to Mount Doom!

Oh, I suppose you’re right, Loopster. Remind me to look for it when we get to the Mount Doom trailhead. Don’t worry. It’s probably in the glove box, like I said before.

By nightfall, Lupe was back at King’s Hill Pass in the Little Belt Range, the same place she’d spent the first night of her long journeys.

9-12-17 – A bright morning. This was it! The last adventure! SPHP drove 2 miles NE from King’s Hill Pass to a R (E) turn off Hwy 89 onto USFS Road No. 3328. The dusty road wound N through the forest, and was fine for several miles. Looper rode with her head out the window eagerly watching for squirrels.

SPHP made a wrong turn onto USFS Road No. 3356, eventually realized the mistake, and returned to No. 3328 again. A couple miles farther N, and No. 3328 deteriorated to the point where SPHP would have turned back, if there had been a decent turnaround spot. The stony roadbed was beating the poor G6 to death.

Fortunately, No. 3328 improved going forward. At Jefferson Creek, Lupe reached an intersection. SPHP didn’t have a map of the area. A sketchy route description SPHP did have said to keep driving N on No. 3328 to a sharp bend in the road at Chamberlain Creek.

Once at Chamberlain Creek, the G6 could be abandoned. Lupe would then climb the forested slope to the E, and arrive up on a broad, open ridge a little over a mile S of Big Baldy Mountain (9,177 ft.). A short stretch of 4WD road would take the Carolina Dog to an obvious trail to the top from the SW. Seemed easy enough.

No. 3328 went W from Jefferson Creek. The road went a mile, curved N, then headed NNE. About 2 miles from Jefferson Creek, the road turned sharply W. No signs, but a quick inspection confirmed the existence of a small creek. SPHP stashed the G6 at the widest spot along the narrow road. Lupe was on her way!

*Remember to get the ring of power out of the glove box, SPHP!* Lupe on USFS Road No. 3328 ready to set out for Big Baldy Mountain. Photo looks NE.

Staying well S of the creek, Lupe left the road climbing E up a forested slope. The stream soon angled N. Lupe continued E.

An opening in the forest on the way up the slope. Photo looks NE.

The forested slope was steep, and rocky in spots. For some mysterious reason, heavy equipment had mowed down wide swathes of the forest, then left the dead trees piled up in the openings. Lupe worked through several such bands of destruction before getting above the highest one.

After gaining 700 feet of elevation or more, the terrain finally leveled out. Lupe arrived up on a wide saddle.

Nothing looked right! The saddle was completely forested. No open ground, no 4WD road, no trail, no sign anyone ever came here! Big Baldy Mountain wasn’t even in sight.

After climbing more than 700 feet up the ridge, Lupe arrives at a forested saddle not at all like what SPHP had been expecting.

Lupe and SPHP searched for a trail. Nada. Higher ground was SW or NE. To the SE, the terrain dropped away on the other side of the saddle. SPHP made an arrow on the ground out of big sticks. The arrow pointed W where Lupe had come up. Maybe the arrow would come in handy later on when trying to find the way back?

Big Baldy Mountain was almost certainly somewhere N of here. With the arrow in place, Lupe headed NE through the forest. She was soon gaining elevation steadily, though not as rapidly as before. After a little more than 0.25 mile, a meadow of dead grass and scattered dead trees could be seen ahead.

0.25 mile NE of the saddle, Looper enters a meadow of dead grass and scattered dead trees. Photo looks NNE.

Lupe headed NNE through the meadow. When she reached the shade of a live tree, she was ready to for a break. It was hot and sunny. The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood was no longer used to such a climate. She eagerly lapped up water SPHP provided, then took it easy, panting in the shade.

*Whew! We aren’t in Alaska any more are we, SPHP? Mordor is like an oven!*

Close to this live tree, a road was coming up a long slope from the SE. For a 4WD road, it was in surprisingly good shape.

Lupe ready to roll again next to the road she discovered close to her shady pine tree. Photo looks SSE.

With any luck at all, this was the 4WD road that would take Lupe to the trail up Big Baldy Mountain. Before following the road, Lupe crossed it. She headed N until she was high enough to see what was beyond this broad ridge she now seemed to be on.

Oh, yeah! There was Big Baldy Mountain (9,177 ft.)! No mistaking it.

Crossing the ridge, Lupe caught this view of **Big Baldy Mountain**. Photo looks N.

Big Baldy was farther away than expected. SPHP must not have driven far enough N on USFS Road No. 3328. That little stream Lupe had started up by couldn’t have been Chamberlain Creek. No matter. Lupe had a longer trek in store, but certainly a doable one. Puppy, Ho! Onward!

Lupe and SPHP returned to the 4WD road, and began following it NW. The road climbed gradually, entered a stretch of forest, and emerged back out onto open ground. Lupe could see King’s Hill Pass from here.

**King’s Hill Pass** where Lupe had spent the night is at Center. **King’s Hill (8,008 ft.)** is the ridge on the L. **Porphyry Peak (8,192 ft.)** is the high hill on the R. Photo looks SW.

The road curved around the W side of a barren hill, then headed NE. Big Baldy Mountain was in sight ahead. Lupe passed through both forested and open territory on the way down to a saddle leading to Big Baldy.

From here, the road goes to a saddle leading straight to **Big Baldy**. Photo looks NE.

Heading down to the saddle. Photo looks NE.

*You know, SPHP, we spent all our time in the Yukon & Alaska hoping for sunshine. Now that we’re in Mordor, we’re spending it all hoping for shade!*

After crossing the saddle, Loop arrived at the start of the trail to the top of Big Baldy Mountain.

At the start of the trail up Big Baldy Mountain.

The first part of the trail wound up through a pine forest. The trail was dusty, eroded, and had lots of loose rocks. Lupe enjoyed the shade of the forest as long as she could. She had already seen that, soon enough, she would be up where there wasn’t a tree or bit of shade to be found.

Where it left the forest, the trail was steep and consisted entirely of small rocks. Lupe began the long, sunny part of the climb. At first, there were still occasionally a few trees where a Carolina Dog could take a shady break. Higher up, Lupe roamed a barren slope. Near the summit, progress became easier as the rate of climb steadily decreased.

Leaving the forest, the trail was all rock. Photo looks N.

For a while there were still scattered trees where Loop could take a break in the shade. The saddle Lupe crossed on the way here is the line of bare ground on the L. The road comes this way from the distant bare spot. Photo looks SW.

Looper could forget about shade the rest of the way from here. Photo looks NNE.

Big Baldy Mountain looks like a huge dome from the W. However, when Loop was almost to the summit, she discovered that the mountain drops sharply into a big canyon to the E. From the edge, Lupe could see Rhoda Lake 900 feet below.

**Big Baldy Mountain** looks like a giant dome from the W. Approaching the summit, however, Lupe discovered that the mountain drops sharply into a big canyon to the E. Photo looks E.

Almost there! Lupe along the E edge of **Big Baldy Mountain**. The summit is beyond her and a little to the R. Photo looks NNW.

**Rhoda Lake** from the E edge of **Big Baldy Mountain**. Photo looks E.

The summit of Big Baldy Mountain (9,177 ft.) was a large barren area strewn with smallish rocks. A crudely constructed cairn was at the high point. A metal box rested on the cairn weighed down by a single rock. Nearby, an old wooden sign giving the elevation as 9,175 feet stood close to the E edge. A white structure with solar panels and an antenna completed the man-made items atop the mountain.

The wooden sign, summit cairn, and white building with the solar panels and antenna. Photo looks SSW.

Since it was only mid-day, Lupe and SPHP lingered at the summit. Lupe had plenty of time to sniff around and check out the views. She drank water, devoured Taste of the Wild, and in general lazed about.

The air was somewhat smoky from distant forest fires. The views weren’t as clear as they might have been, but the smoke wasn’t too bad. Lupe could see many of the higher peaks of the Little Belt Range.

Looking N or NW(?) from **Big Baldy Mountain**.

**Long Mountain (8,621 ft.)** (Center) with help from the telephoto lens. Long Mountain is the Cascade County, Montana high point. Photo looks SW.

The far barren hill toward the L is likely **Yogo Peak (8,801 ft.)**. Photo looks SE.

The most impressive view was actually the one of Rhoda Lake.

The most impressive view from **Big Baldy Mountain** was the one looking down on **Rhoda Lake**. **Gibson Peak (8,065 ft.)** is on the L. The bare peak at Center far beyond the lake is **Bandbox Mountain (8,100 ft.)**. Photo looks E.

**Rhoda Lake** with **Bandbox Mountain** beyond at Center. Photo looks E.

**Rhoda Lake** with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

So, where’s Mount Doom, SPHP? How far away is it? I’ve looked in every direction, and I can’t even see it from here. Why didn’t we park closer?

This is it.

What do you mean? This is what?

This is Mount Doom.

Don’t be ridiculous! This can’t be Mount Doom! Where’s the impossibly craggy summit, the thick smoke, the intense heat? It’s warm out alright, and a bit smoky, but nothing like Mount Doom will be. Where are the bubbling lava streams and dark swirling clouds overhead? Where are the constant lightning strikes and all the rumbling earthquakes? Where are the explosive eruptions flinging fire and brimstone everywhere?

Hmm. I suppose you’ve got a point, there, Loopster. Two theories. Either we’ve come when Mount Doom is dormant – mountains can’t carry on like that all the time you know – or I got the route description to the trailhead messed up. In that case, this is some other peak.

Dormant! Mount Doom isn’t dormant! We’re at the wrong mountain. This doesn’t look remotely like Mount Doom. Neither does anything else around here. Sometimes I think you only pretend to be able to read maps. Did you even bring a map? I’ll bet you didn’t. Sheesh! Well, what do we do with it then, SPHP?

Nothing. You were right. I didn’t bring a map.

Not the map! The ring of power! What do we do with the ring of power? Just fling it over the edge and hope it lands in Rhoda Lake?

I suppose we could. Smeagol found a ring of power in a pond once, which had been a good hiding place for it for a long time, but I don’t think my arm is strong enough to throw the ring all the way to Rhoda Lake, unless it takes some mighty favorable bounces. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. The ring wasn’t in the glove box.

Wasn’t in the glove box? So you don’t actually have the ring of power with you?

No, not really.

Lupe thought for a moment.

Well, maybe that explains it, SPHP. Perhaps you were right. Maybe Mount Doom only goes nuts when the ring of power gets close? Since we haven’t actually got the ring with us, the mountain could be just disguising itself as this innocent looking big hill. There’s magic in Mordor, you know. Maybe the mountain is dormant and under a spell, just waiting for the ring to come closer?

Oh, I think you’ve hit upon it, Loop! That makes perfect sense! Or maybe it’s the power of the ring that causes the mountain to go crazy? Either way, it explains why nothing is happening here at the moment, which is for the best, anyway.

Ha ha! Mount Doom sure had me fooled, SPHP! What a disguise! I’m not used to dealing with magical places. Anyway, I’m kind of glad. This isn’t scary at all, and now we’ve peakbagged Mount Doom! There’s some bragging rights for ya! We don’t have to tell anyone the mountain was like this when we came. Let them think whatever they like.

Don’t sell yourself short, Loopster. You’ve been to plenty of magical places on this Dingo Vacation. We both have.

Since Big Baldy Mountain was the last big adventure of Lupe’s grand 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska, the American Dingo thought SPHP ought to open that metal box on the summit cairn. No doubt it contained a registry, and she wanted SPHP to enter her name. May as well leave proof that she had actually climbed Mount Doom!

Loop also wanted to check up on her friend mountaineer Jobe Wymore. Had Jobe ever been to Mount Doom? According to his ascent records on peakbagger.com, Jobe has been all over the place. Had he really done all that stuff? If so, he’d probably been to Mount Doom, too.

*So, SPHP, why don’t you open this metal box? Must have a registry in it, don’t you think? Put our names in there, and then see if you can find Jobe’s name anywhere. Pretty please?*

SPHP was happy to comply with the Carolina Dog’s wishes. The metal box contained not 1, but 3 registries. Lupe’s name got entered in the most recent one, then SPHP searched to see if Jobe had been here.

Tons of people had been on top of Mount Doom. Loopster was amazed! Who would have ever guessed? SPHP searched and searched, but wasn’t finding Jobe’s name. Then on about the last page SPHP checked in the last of the 3 registries, there it was.

*Hah! Here it is Looper, proof Jobe was here. Satisfied now?*

Lupe was happy that SPHP put her name in the registry. She was glad SPHP had found Jobe’s name. She wasn’t the least bit surprised that Jobe had been here, too. He sure does get around! Jobe was on the up and up. No doubt about it. What a modest guy, though. He’d never even mentioned that he climbed Mount Doom, but maybe Mount Doom had been dormant then, too, so it hadn’t seemed like such a big deal?

After close to an hour on Big Baldy Mountain, the inevitable end was drawing near. Lupe returned to pose on the summit cairn a final time. The last picture on the last summit of her 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood tried to look indomitable, all noble and serious like. Even though Mount Doom wasn’t anywhere near the Arctic, it was a legendary peak.

On Big Baldy Mountain, Little Belt Range, Montana 9-12-17

Lupe was satisfied. She started down Big Baldy Mountain on the way back to the G6. It was a bittersweet moment for sure – sad to think her epic adventures culminating with an ascent of Mount Doom were all over, but good to be going home, too.

Starting down **Big Baldy Mountain**. Photo looks SW.

The arrow of sticks SPHP had made back down at the forested saddle was still there. Lupe did find it. She headed down the steep slope to the W, and eventually reached USFS Road No. 3328 again. There was the G6, just down the road a little way. (3:22 PM, 80°F)

On the W slope almost back to USFS Road No. 3328 and the G6.

At Jefferson Creek, not wanting to brave the worst of USFS Road No. 3328 again, SPHP tried going W on the intersecting road. USFS Road No. 267 had a zillion annoying speed bumps built into it, but proved to be a much shorter and far superior route back to Hwy 89.

9-13-17, 1:50 AM, Black Hills of South Dakota – The long drive was over. A weary SPHP parked the G6 in the driveway. Two minutes later, Lupe was trotting into her living room. All was quiet and dark. Nothing had changed. Everything was as she’d left it. SPHP flicked on the kitchen light. The Carolina Dog was ready for a drink of water, and a bite to eat.

While SPHP was distracted dishing up her Alpo, the Carolina Dog snuck up the dark hallway to the bedroom. She leapt up on the bed, then carefully and excitedly sniffed the top of the nightstand. A few moments later, Lupe sighed.

The ring of power wasn’t there.

Mount Doom

At first he could see nothing. In his great need he drew out once more the phial of Galadriel, but it was pale and cold within his trembling hand and threw no light into that stifling dark. He was come to the heart of the realm of Sauron and the forges of his current might, greatest in all Middle-earth; all other powers here subdued. Fearfully he took a few uncertain steps into the dark, and then all at once there came a flash of red that leaped upward, and smote the high black roof. Then Sam saw that he was in a long cave or tunnel that bored into the mountain’s smoking core. But only a short way ahead its floor and the walls on either side were cloven by a great fissure, out of which the red glow came, now leaping up, now dying down into darkness, and all the while far below there was a rumour and a trouble as of great engines throbbing and labouring. The light sprang up again, and there on the brink of the chasm, at the very Crack of Doom, stood Frodo, black against the glare, tense, erect, but still as if he had been turned to stone.

“Master!” cried Sam.

Then Frodo stirred and spoke with a clear voice, indeed with a voice clearer and more powerful than Sam had ever heard him use, and it rose above the throb and turmoil of Mount Doom, ringing in the roof and walls.

“I have come” he said. “But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine!”

– from The Lord of the Rings, Return of the King, by J. R. R. Tolkien

Big Baldy Mountain trailhead notes:

Low clearance vehicles – Take Hwy 89 about 5 miles N from King’s Hill Pass to a R (E) turn onto unmarked USFS Road No. 267 only 0.25 mile N of milepost 34. (A large pullout is along the same side of Hwy 89 just N of this turn in the event it gets missed.) USFS Road No. 267 passes over (no ford) Jefferson Creek close to the highway. Follow No. 267 4 miles E to a L (N) turn on USFS Road No. 3328. Follow No. 3328 another 4 miles to Chamberlain Creek. Park here (wherever, Lupe never got this far) and climb the ridge to the E to arrive at the saddle close to the start of the trail up Big Baldy from the SW.

High clearance vehicles – It may be possible to drive right to the start of the trail SW of Big Baldy. Take Hwy 89 about 2 miles N from King’s Hill Pass to a R (E) turn onto USFS Road No. 3328. After 2 miles, a very sharp bend to the R (S) at an intersection puts you onto USFS Road No. 3356 (unmarked). 2 miles on No. 3356 brings you to the top of a ridgeline and another intersection. Go L (N) on USFS Road No. 251, following it 3.5 miles to a “Y”. Bear L (N) onto USFS Road No. 3300. The trailhead at the base of Big Baldy is about 4 miles N on No. 3300. Lupe did not explore this whole route. All distances are approximate. Intersections may not be marked. In general, remain up on the ridge after reaching No. 251, and head N staying W wherever possible.

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