Day 7 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska!
Wee hours, 0.5 km W of Summit Pass – A gentle paw woke SPHP from a sound sleep. Lupe wanted out. Unzipping the door to the tiny house, SPHP let her go. Shining the flashlight after her revealed only thick fog. Not good.
Don’t get lost out there, Loop!
Started to rain shortly after the Carolina Dog left. She was soon back, her fur already quite damp.
At least, I’m smart enough to come in out of the rain, SPHP!
You’re a wise Dingo, Looper.
Not looking very good for our plan to climb Mount Hyland tomorrow, SPHP. Thought your forecast said it was going to be sunny?
Yeah, I know. Maybe it’ll clear off? Might as well get some more shut-eye in the meantime.
Lupe went out in the night once more later on. Still foggy, but the rain had ended, only a light mist remaining.
7:31 AM, chilly – What luck! Sunshine was on Mount Hyland’s massive SW ridge. No fog now! Only high, thin clouds sailed over the enormous valley the American Dingo was supposed to explore today.
Get cracking, SPHP! Mount Hyland (7,477 ft.) is a go!
Lupe set out heading E to the McCabe Trail as if she intended to return to Summit Pass, which she’d visited yesterday evening. However, SPHP led her off-trail well before she got that far, turning NW across a level field of rich green grass.
The American Dingo was in her element! Freshly rested and energetic, Lupe raced this way and that over the soft green carpet, sniffing madly, while marmots whistled all around.
The wonderful field soon led to a green bench that rose gradually as it wrapped around the SW corner of Mount Hyland’s gigantic S ridge. The bench ended before Lupe got too much farther. Suddenly, a view of rockier terrain appeared ahead.
Climbed a bit too fast already, didn’t we, Loop?
Story of our lives, SPHP.
Still some greenery ahead. Descending 50 feet or so, Loopster got back to her kind of terrain. In high spirits, she wandered among a maze of rocks and tundra. Prime marmot territory! Before long she’d gone far enough NW.
Think we can turn N now, Loop. Time to start climbing again!
A final steep grassy slope, etched by rivulets pouring down from above, quickly led to a world of rock. To the NE, a ravine choked with big talus swept up along the base of Mount Hyland’s S ridge. Immediately ahead, the Carolina Dog faced a hill of exposed bedrock.
Let’s avoid all that rock-hopping in this ravine if we can, SPHP!
With you on that, Looper, provided we can get over this hill.
The bedrock hill was actually quite a fun climb, full of little benches and ramps. Once on top, another small rocky ridge was just ahead, barely any higher than this first hill.
Although Loopster was just getting started up Mount Hyland, looking back to the SSW, there was already quite a view.
Lupe, look! See that mountain toward the L? You’ve been there! That’s got to be Astlais Mountain (6,037 ft.)!
Really, SPHP? Astlais Mountain was fabulous! That must mean that lower triangle in shadow even farther L is the Big Onion (5,840 ft.)!
No doubt about it, Loop! Awesome to see them again from here!
After climbing up and over the next little ridge, then wandering a region of exposed bedrock slabs beyond it, the central valley of the enormous bowl nestled between Mount Hyland’s massive S and SW ridges came into view. A wide river of talus swept down the middle of it.
Holy schmoley, SPHP! That’s a lot of rock!
Nothing too difficult, Looper, but will certainly be slow going for me.
Before taking on the talus, SPHP used the camera’s telephoto lens to scan the far upper end of the valley. Mount Hyland’s summit was somewhere beyond what could be seen from here, but starting to ponder what might be the easiest way to get up to it couldn’t hurt. Staying toward the E (R) once higher up looked like the thing to do.
Pressing on, Lupe descended to the river of talus. Snowbanks strong enough to provide support helped a little. Angling NNW across the talus, Lupe reached another bedrock ridge. Once up it, there was more talus. The American Dingo passed a beautiful shallow tarn.
Beyond the tarn, a steeper climb NW came next on a combination of mostly talus and some bedrock to get past a huge wall of rock extending W from the S ridge. This led to a flat region where Looper crossed a big snowfield. Turning N, and scrambling higher, the Carolina Dog reached a large, flat slab. This seemed like a good spot to take a break.
Relaxing on the slab, Lupe now had a better view of the upper valley.
Still a ways to go, but it doesn’t look too bad from here, SPHP.
Yeah, I can’t decide if we should stick with the valley as far as possible, and head straight toward that high point at the upper end, or if we ought to scramble up onto the S ridge. Maybe there’s some tundra up there, Loop?
That would sure speed things along compared to all this rock, SPHP.
Break time over, Lupe headed NE among the talus, avoiding it whenever possible. Progress wasn’t too bad, and there were opportunities to cool off on snowbanks too steep to climb. Turning NNE, after a quite a steep ascent, to SPHP’s surprise, the American Dingo reached an oasis, a bench of soft, green moss that felt good on the paws, with a lovely little stream gurgling through it. Lupe was clearly delighted!
So was SPHP. From the look of things, Loop was already getting pretty high on the mountain.
This is encouraging, Loop! Maybe we ought to scramble up to the S ridge right now?
How much higher is it, SPHP?
Not sure, Looper, but probably only a few hundred feet.
That wasn’t a bad estimate as it turned out, but it took a little persuading to convince Loopster to abandon her lovely oasis. She got into it, though, which was a good thing, because the rocky scramble was just plain steep for a good 150 feet, before getting somewhat easier.
Results, unfortunately, were not as hoped. A glance in any direction was more than enough to shatter dreams of an easy stroll along the tundra. What tundra? The entire S ridge was an endless jumble of rock. A small, level, relatively rock-free patch of dirt with a few wisps of brown grass was as good as it got.
Off to the N, though, a hill with a long snowbank below it was visible a bit beyond the junction of the S and SW ridges.
Oh, my gosh, Loop! Is that Mount Hyland’s summit? Sure looks like it from here!
Let’s hope so, SPHP. At least it doesn’t look too far away.
Despite the rocky terrain, which wasn’t too terrible since the rocks were mostly of modest size, SPHP was enthused.
Hey, hey! We’re going to make it, Looper! That little hill is an easy climb! All we have to do is get to it.
Nearby to the N, a high point jutted out to the E. There seemed to be no reason to bother climbing it. Skirting along the W side turned out to be a good decision. Immediately beyond the E high point, Lupe came to a long snowbank. Afraid of what might lay beyond it, SPHP wouldn’t let her cool off on the snow. Another good decision!
Continuing N, a more flat-topped knob was ahead. This time, trying to go around the W side didn’t work. Too steep! Lupe had to scramble up onto the knob. Happily, this wasn’t too difficult, but upon reaching the top, a shock was in store.
The small hill SPHP had taken for Mount Hyland’s true summit wasn’t the only high point ahead. Another one was now visible a few hundred feet farther NNE along what appeared to be an extremely narrow ridge. Worse yet, this second high point also appeared to be not only a little higher, but capped by a massive, vertical-sided boulder.
Yikes! That better not be Hyland’s true summit, Looper! I don’t think we can get up on that boulder, even if we manage to get over to it.
There’s not much difference in elevation between those two high points, SPHP. Maybe it’s just an illusion that the boulder one is higher?
Maybe. Won’t know until we get closer, I guess. Onward! Puppy ho!
Fortunately, there was a safe way to scramble down to the N from the E end of the knob Lupe was on. Losing roughly 50 feet of elevation, the Carolina Dog managed to reach the base of the knob.
No further significant obstacles were visible on the broad rocky ridge leading toward the closest high point, but a new threat was developing. Although the weather had been mostly sunny this morning, now that it was mid-day, clouds were rapidly building. Fog sometimes boiled up from the SW valley Lupe had explored, and many big clouds were now streaming in from out of the W.
We better get there while we can still see something, Looper! Onward!
The trek N up the rocky slope was all relatively easy. SPHP couldn’t help staring over at that second high point farther NNE, hoping it wasn’t the true summit. Actually, it didn’t look like it was from here, so excitement was growing. Loopster was going to make it! SPHP hadn’t the least bit of doubt that she’d soon be at the first high point.
Suddenly, Lupe was nearly there! She’d reached the junction of Mount Hyland’s S and SW ridges. The first high point was now very close by, up a much narrower ridge. As anticipated, the American Dingo had plenty of room to get there without ever having to set paw on the steep snow.
Skirting around W of the snow revealed the final simple romp to a cairn atop the first high point!
12:54 PM, 58ºF, Mount Hyland (7,477 ft.) – She’d done it! Fog swept in from out of the W, as Lupe stood proudly on the cairn at the first high point. A moment later, the only views remaining were to the E and S. Peak 7390 was in sight out that way, and Lupe could also see both the knob she’d gone over along Hyland’s S ridge, as well as that initial high point that jutted out to the E.
Congratulations, Loopster! Magnificent job! May I shake your paw?
Lupe meekly extended her paw. SPHP shook it, and the Carolina Dog came down off the cairn.
It’s been a long, rocky climb, SPHP! Think I’ve earned a chocolate coconut bar by now, haven’t I?
Yes and no, Loop. We’ll have to talk about that.
Talk about it? What do you mean by that, SPHP? Don’t tell me you didn’t even bring one!
Oh, of course I did, Looper. Have no fear! C’mon, let’s sit down. Guess what? I brought beef jerky, too.
The American Dingo was more than happy to curl up on SPHP’s lap just below the cairn. A chocolate coconut bar, beef jerky, Taste of the Wild, and water feast ensued. SPHP munched on honey-roasted peanuts.
Fog continued to stream by, the only views remaining to the E. Fulton Lake was visible far beyond Peak 7390. Somewhat closer, Chapman Lake was off to the NE, also beyond the Babines.
So, what’s there to talk about, SPHP? A shame we arrived too late to see much of anything.
Yeah, it is! Very disappointing! But I did get a glimpse around before we got here, and even while you first stood on the cairn. This isn’t Mount Hyland’s true summit.
What? It isn’t, SPHP?
Sadly, no. That next high point with the boulder is definitely higher. Not by a lot, but maybe 10 feet, or so, plus or minus a bit.
Are we going over there then, SPHP?
No! Not worth it, Loop. We could maybe get over to that big boulder, but even the narrow ridge leading to it looks kind of dicey. From what I saw, I’m highly doubtful we can safely get on top. Too risky to take the chance.
So, I’m not going to get credit for climbing Mount Hyland, SPHP?
That’s what we need to discuss, Loopster. Maybe this is close enough for Dingo work? Technically, from a purist’s standpoint, we clearly can’t claim success, but the cairn is here. Probably a sign that few actually go on to the boulder. Most people that make it this far would likely say they climbed Mount Hyland, and hardly anyone would object.
The earlier sense of elation when it looked like Lupe was about to tag the true summit as she leapt up onto the cairn was gone. Whether or not to call this good, fudging a bit to claim a successful ascent was something to ponder while watching the fog gradually spread. Even Mount Hyland’s S ridge was starting to disappear from view. Kind of concerning in this rugged territory.
Time ticked away. The situation wasn’t getting any better.
Well, what do you think, Loop? How long should we stay up here? Can’t see much. Been hoping the sky would clear, since the forecast was sunny, but it appears to be going the other way.
It’s not cold or windy, SPHP. Can we stay my usual full summit hour, or at least until all the views are gone? Still sort of awesome just being here, isn’t it? Besides, I’m tired, and like resting on your lap.
Yeah, it is cool being here, Loopster, but it’s sure not all it could be due to the fog. Fair enough, though. We’ll stay your whole hour, if the views don’t completely vanish.
40 minutes after arriving at the cairn, fog swept over the entire S ridge. Scarcely any views left now, only the lowlands to the E.
Then suddenly everything changed! Mount Hyland’s SW ridge was in sight! Pyramid Mountain (6,273 ft.) was beyond it. WSW, way over by Smithers, Hudson Bay Mountain (8,494 ft.) was in view.
The clouds weren’t departing; the ceiling was lifting. Mountains were popping into view all over the place! Mount Elmsted (7,244 ft.) and Lagopus Mountain (6,982 ft.) were to the NW, beyond Mount Hyland’s W ridge. A little farther N, The Galleon (7,844 ft.) was emerging, too!
Upon seeing Mount Hyland’s W ridge, SPHP was suddenly confused.
Where are we, Loopster?
What? We’re on Mount Hyland (7,477 ft.), SPHP! Are you OK?
Yeah, but I thought that Mount Hyland’s W ridge connected directly to the summit, Loop, and it doesn’t. At least, it doesn’t connect to where we are.
Are you sure that’s Mount Hyland’s W ridge, SPHP? Maybe you ought to check your topo map?
SPHP did. Yes, that was Mount Hyland’s W ridge, alright. Shaped like the map showed. As the clouds lifted to the N, a stunning revelation!
Good grief, Loopster! We’re nowhere near Mount Hyland’s true summit! It’s way over there!
0.5 km NNW, several more high points were linked not only to the W ridge, but also to the nearby boulder summit by another ridge that was clearly skilled mountaineer territory. The highest N points certainly did look a little higher than where Lupe was, higher even than the boulder summit. Beyond them Mount Cronin (7,861 ft.) was starting to emerge, confirming the diagnosis.
Even Lupe felt dejected.
We’ll never get over there, SPHP!
That was it. Mount Hyland was a fail. No fudging this! The true summit wasn’t that much higher than the cairn Lupe stood on, maybe a mere 20 feet, but even for Dingo work, you can’t be 0.5 km away, and still claim a peakbagging success. A relatively near miss elevation-wise considering the size of the mountain, but such a distance was a killer.
At least we didn’t break our necks trying to get to the boulder summit, SPHP!
No arguing that, Looper! Too scary by our standards.
Coming to Mount Hyland may have been a peakbagging fail, but it was also a tremendous scenic success! Lupe had never been this high, or in such a rugged part of the Babine Mountains before. The views from up here near the heart of the range were awesome, and Lupe’s old friends Astlais Mountain (6,037 ft.) and Big Onion Mountain (5,840 ft.) were in sight, looking diminutive from such a lofty perch.
The American Dingo lingered long after her traditional summit hour had come and gone. And why not? Conditions were near perfect, wasn’t that late yet, and the rugged beauty of the Babines was all around. Lupe and SPHP both wandered about, gazing at this and that as whim and fancy directed.
2:49 PM, Mount Hyland (7,477 ft.) – Nearly 2 hours after arriving, Lupe stood on the cairn once hoped, and initially considered to be, the true summit for the last time.
You still look a little tired, Loop. Are you feeling alright?
Yes, but just thinking about all the zillions of rocks we’ve got to hop on the way back makes me wish we were already down on the tundra with the marmots, SPHP.
At least it’s downhill, Loop. Take one more look at where we are, though! Can’t win ’em all, and for a fail, Mount Hyland has got to be one of our most magnificent ones ever, don’t you think?
Oh, of course! Mount Hyland has been a glorious adventure, SPHP!
No matter how glorious, you can’t stay on the mountain forever. It was time. A final glance around, and Lupe left the cairn, starting the long journey back to her tiny house.
The views were spectacular, and the return went fine, at first. Then SPHP stayed up on the S ridge too long before attempting the descent to the central valley. Coming down S of the big wall that jutted out to the W, the terrain was so steep that Lupe got nervous, pawing the back of SPHP’s legs many times, seeking reassurance.
Took a long, cautious effort to reach the valley floor, but Lupe got there. The shallow tarn was now ahead. Still plenty of extremely rocky terrain beyond it, but the worst was over.
At last, the Carolina Dog made it beyond the world of rock. As soon as the first big expanse of green appeared, she was off! Joyful, Lupe raced ahead, roaming freely through the Mount Hyland Dingo Paradise as marmots whistled once more.
SPHP didn’t catch up until the end. The sun was nearly down as, tired and hungry, the American Dingo reached the tiny house. Lupe’s Mount Hyland adventure was over, but what a magnificent day it had been!
Links:
Next Adventure Prior Adventure
Babine Mountains Provincial Park Map
Harvey Mountain, Babine Mountains Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada (9-9-17)
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