Day 32 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska
The replacement part didn’t look the same as the original one. Figures. SPHP didn’t have the tools, or the knowledge required to fix the problem. Better not mess with it any more. For some reason, lots of bees were flying around the O’Reilly Auto Parts store parking lot, and SPHP is allergic. Time to get out of here! Even though the G6’s right front headlight still wasn’t working, SPHP reassembled everything.
When SPHP had taken it all apart, hoping to simply replace the low beam headlight bulb, it turned out that wasn’t the problem. The bulb was fine, but the socket it fit into was partially melted. O’Reilly had the replacement part, or something that was supposed to work, for less than $10.
However, there was no telling what it would take to find someone here in Anchorage who knew where that extra wire on the replacement socket should go, and had both the time and tools needed to install it. A simple oil change had been $60, and taken hours to line up this morning.
When Lupe got home to the Black Hills in South Dakota, SPHP was going to just order a whole new headlight assembly and be done with it. That meant the $50 fix-it ticket would have to be paid, since there was no way an Alaskan state trooper would ever get to inspect the new headlight to confirm it worked, but that’s life. Que sera, sera.
No more wasting Lupe’s precious time in Alaska! The morning had already shot by. Fortunately, there was a nice little adventure she could do this afternoon. Lupe could climb Flattop Mountain (3,510 ft.), the most frequently climbed mountain in Alaska, with great views of Anchorage from the top!
Back to the Glenn Alps Trailhead (2:39 PM, 61°F)! Only yesterday, Lupe had started off from here for a fabulous day spent climbing The Wedge (4,660 ft.) and The Ramp (5,240 ft.). Glenn Alps, located on the SE side of Anchorage, was also the trailhead for Flattop. Having spent all morning lazing around resting up in the G6, Lupe was ready and raring to go.
Climbing Flattop wasn’t going to be the solitary, wilderness type experience Lupe had enjoyed most of yesterday climbing The Wedge and The Ramp. On this beautiful, warm summer afternoon, the trail to Flattop Mountain was packed with hikers (and dogs) of all descriptions.
The trail started off entering a forest, but Lupe was soon beyond that. She followed the trail gaining elevation gradually as it led her around the SW side of Blueberry Knoll (2,625 ft.). Flattop Mountain was directly ahead.
Once around Blueberry Knoll, the trail swept around the SW (R) side of another, steeper hill, part of the ridge extending NNW from Flattop Mountain. The trail steepened as it turned E (L) again back toward a saddle between this higher hill and the rest of Flattop Mountain. Lupe encountered a long series of wood framed steps filled with dirt and gravel on the way to the saddle.
Reportedly, there are two popular routes up Flattop Mountain. The steepest, most direct, route switchbacks right up the slope from the saddle to the top of Flattop. An easier route presumably goes somewhere more to the W (R). Lupe and SPHP never saw the trail for the easier route, although it likely separates from the steeper route somewhere close to, or a little above the saddle.
On this warm, dry, summer day, everyone seemed to be taking the steepest route right on up. Lupe took the steep route, too.
The switchbacks brought Lupe quite close to the top of the mountain, but the last 50 to 75 feet of elevation gain was more difficult. Here, the going was steeper, with large rocks and big steps up. A little light scrambling was required to reach the top. Nothing too tricky, but a bit of caution needed to be exercised along in here.
Lupe reached the top of Flattop Mountain a short distance W of an American flag flying at the N end of the summit area. Everyone was busy getting their pictures taken next to the flag. While Lupe was waiting for the crowd to clear out for her turn, she went to investigate some big cairns nearby.
Climbing Flattop Mountain, Lupe had gained about 1,300 feet of elevation, only a fraction of what she’d gained climbing The Wedge (4,660 ft.) and The Ramp (5,240 ft.) yesterday. However, she had a decent view of both mountains from Flattop.
Soon it was Lupe’s turn at the American flag.
Of course, with a name like Flattop Mountain, the summit area was very large, and rather, umm, flat. The top of the mountain was stony, and completely open with very little vegetation.
Still, there were a few things to explore. People had constructed big cairns, and even a large, circular stone fort. The true summit was at a collection of rocks off toward the SW. The mountain offered 360° views. While most people congregated near the American flag, Lupe went off to see what there was to see.
Too bad Lupe and SPHP didn’t do things in reverse order this day! The views of the Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, and Knik Arm of the ocean, plus all the surrounding mountains at sunset would have been a sight to behold! Shortly after that, Lupe would have had a sweeping view of all the lights of Anchorage at night.
Still, Lupe got a great look at everything under bright, blue skies on a warm, calm day, so she had to count herself lucky. Sunset was hours away, so it was time to press on. Lupe could have gone on to Peak 2, but after yesterday’s big adventure, SPHP wasn’t up to it and had something milder in mind. Lupe started back down Flattop Mountain the same way she’d come up.
On the way back to the G6, Lupe and SPHP left the main trail to make the almost trivial trek to the top of Blueberry Knoll. The views were good even from here!
Lupe reached the G6 again early in the evening (6:09 PM). Soon she was saying good-bye to Anchorage for the final time, heading NE on the Glenn Highway (Alaska Route 1). The drive was wonderful! It was 75°F! Lupe road perched high on her pillows and blankets with the windows open and a warm breeze blowing in her face.
Near milepost 25, SPHP took the Thunder Bird exit, parking less than 0.5 mile off the highway at the Thunder Bird Falls trailhead next to the Eklunta River (7:10 PM). Lupe’s last adventure of the day was to go see Thunder Bird Falls, a 200 foot waterfall on Thunder Bird Creek.
A wide, well groomed trail goes for nearly a mile through a forest to the Thunder Bird Falls viewing platform perched along the side of a bluff. The trail gained only 100 feet of elevation along the way. Lupe passed by private homes in the forest W of the trail. To the E, the Eklunta River flowed at the bottom of a deep, narrow gorge.
At one point, the trail went right to the edge of the cliff. A fenced viewing platform let Lupe peer straight down to the river.
Thunder Bird Creek is a tributary of the Eklunta River. At some point along the way, Lupe passed by their unseen confluence. The trail was now above Thunder Bird Creek. Shortly before reaching the Thunder Bird Falls viewing platform, Lupe passed by a short side trail that goes down to the creek near the base of the falls.
The view of Thunder Bird Falls from the platform at the end of the trail was somewhat surprising. The falls cascades down a very narrow gorge, twisting along the way. Only part of Thunder Bird Falls was actually in view.
Naturally, Lupe and SPHP were curious about what could be seen of the falls from below. After leaving the viewing platform, Lupe took the nearby trail down to Thunder Bird Creek.
As it turned out, unless one is willing to get wet, there was little to be seen of Thunder Bird Falls from below, although the valley was humid with mist and the roar of the falls came from just around a corner.
Thunder Bird Falls did provide a bit of excitement while Lupe was there. Three teenagers were crossing Thunder Bird Creek, intent on climbing the short, slick, steep muddy trail to a much closer and precarious viewpoint right next to the falls. The last girl slipped on her way across the creek. She plunged in getting soaking wet with a shriek that made certain big soft Dingo ears momentarily stand on end!
Despite her chilly reception in Thunder Bird Creek, the girl was tough enough to get herself up and out pronto. She continued across the creek and joined her friends to climb the muddy trail and see Thunder Bird Falls close up.
Lupe would soon make the peaceful, pleasant return trip along the Thunder Bird Falls trail as sunlight filtered through the trees on her way back to the G6 (8:11 PM). She’d had a pretty easy, relaxing day. Tomorrow she had a much bigger, tougher adventure ahead. For now, though, we leave Lupe along clear-running Thunder Bird Creek, near the roar and mist of Thunder Bird Falls.
Glenn Alps Trailhead directions: In Anchorage, from the Seward Highway take O’Malley Road E toward the mountains. Turn R on Hillside Drive, then L on Upper Huffman Road. Follow signs to the trailhead at the end of Toilsome Road. $5.00 daily parking fee applies.
Thunder Bird Falls Trailhead directions: From Anchorage or Eagle River, take the Glenn Hwy (Alaska Route 1) going NE to the Thunder Bird Falls exit near milepost 25. The trailhead is on the R about 0.5 mile from the highway. From Palmer, take the Glenn Hwy going SW. Turn at the exit for Eklunta Lake (milepost 26 or 27) to get on the old Glenn Hwy. Go SW past the turn for Eklunta Lake. The Thunder Bird Falls trailhead is on the L immediately after crossing the Eklunta River. $5.00 daily parking fee applies.
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