Lupe – Page 157 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Grey Mountain near Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada (9-9-18)

Day 37 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska!

7:15 AM, 41°F, Tormented Valley, British Columbia – The rain had ended within an hour of when Lupe arrived last night, yet the morning dawned cool, breezy and still drearily overcast. The higher peaks were scraping the clouds. A brief light shower blew through. Didn’t look much like rain, but the uniformly dull sky didn’t appear likely to improve, either. Not a very nice day for Peak 6053.

A chilly, overcast morning in the **Tormented Valley**.

10:34 AM, 46°F – Waiting hadn’t helped, at least not enough. Slightly warmer out, but otherwise little change. Frustrating, but might as well admit defeat. Peak 6053 wouldn’t be any fun under these conditions. A year ago, Lupe had enjoyed a such fabulous day on the International Falls trail here that returning to climb nearby Peak 6053 had become a priority this year. The American Dingo would have had an even more spectacular view of a sea of tremendous snowy peaks in Alaska!

Not happening. Not today. The G6 needed an oil change. Should at least get that done, instead of letting the whole day go to waste.

11:44 AM, 54°F, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory – Brilliant! An hour’s drive to Whitehorse only to realize that it was Sunday. So much for getting an oil change. The good news was that the weather was much better here than back in the Tormented Valley. Blue skies, puffy clouds, less wind, and warmer. Lupe could do something here, but what?

Surprisingly, the Whitehorse visitor center was open. Loop waited in the G6, while SPHP went in. SPHP wasn’t finding much of potential interest to a peakbagging Dingo until picking up a pamphlet entitled “Wildlife in Whitehorse”. Inside were brief descriptions of 15 different locations in or around Whitehorse to see wildlife. One in particular stood out:

14 – Grey (or Canyon) Mountain is the prominent landmark southeast of Whitehorse. About 6 km up the Grey Mountain Road (off of Alesk Drive in Riverdale) a small viewpoint overlooks the Yukon River valley. You may want to continue up the road by foot or mountain bike to the sub-alpine areas for a chance to see Dall Sheep or ptarmigan. The road is not maintained beyond the viewpoint and is not suitable for vehicle travel.

Grey Mountain (4,901 ft.) sounded promising! Maybe Lupe could get in a peakbagging success today after all? A map on the reverse side of the pamphlet showed how to get there.

From the SS Klondike at the S end of downtown Whitehorse, go SE on the bridge over the Yukon River. Hang a L on Alsek Drive, and another one on Grey Mountain Road.

Grey Mountain Road was paved at first, but eventually turned to gravel. It was fine for the 6 km mentioned in the pamphlet all the way to a big pullout on the R. A map posted here showed an extensive trail system, including a summit trail that continued on from the end of Grey Mountain Road. Sweet!

SPHP sort of expected to see the small viewpoint overlooking the Yukon River at this pullout, but maybe the trees had grown up enough to hide the view? At any rate, it didn’t seem to be here. This was probably the end of the maintained road, but the road continuing on past the pullout didn’t look that bad. Since it was already afternoon, and still quite a long way to the end of Grey Mountain Road, SPHP drove on.

Yeah, this was the unmaintained road alright! It quickly turned rough – deep potholes, large stones, and ridges of exposed bedrock. No big deal in a high clearance vehicle, but pretty terrible for the G6. Driving very slowly and carefully, SPHP navigated another km up the obstacle course to a little spot where the G6 could get off the road. Upon parking here, the Carolina Dog immediately leapt out.

A moment later, she leapt back in. Nope, Lupe wasn’t going to do this!

Why not? Grey Mountain Road had gone past a shooting range before reaching the big pullout at the end of the maintained road. Nothing makes intrepid explorer and adventurer Lupe as nervous as the sound of gunfire, no matter how distant. Of course, she had heard some.

So SPHP got back in, and continued the ill-advised drive. After getting quite a bit farther this time, SPHP parked at another little off-road spot. Safety first! Big Chicken still refused to get out. SPHP finally caught her and physically dragged her out. As soon as Loop realized she could no longer hear shooting, she was fine.

3:16 PM, 52°F – Lupe still had a good road hike ahead of her as she set off for Grey Mountain(4,901 ft.). Heading SE along the mountainside, she passed through a forested gap, then arrived at a better part of the road where the mountain dropped off steeply to the S.

*Grey Mountain Road isn’t bad here! Still a bit of a trek to the end, though.* Photo looks SE.

Rounding a corner, two towers came into view. The road curved along the side of a big drainage, switchbacked higher, then curled around the S end of Grey Mountain before turning N. Once up to the S end, Lupe had a grand view of the Yukon River valley all the way to Marsh Lake.

*The road ends up at those towers (Center)!*

At the **S end of Grey Mountain**. The **Yukon River** flows this way from **Marsh Lake** seen in the distance on the L. **Mount Lorne (6,629 ft.)** is on the R. Photo looks SE.

Grey Mountain Road climbed steeply shortly before ending at a parking area near the towers. The towers were fenced off, but Lupe was free to get up on a big wooden platform nearby.

On the wooden platform near the towers at the end of Gray Mountain Road. Photo looks SSE.

Although the absolute summit wasn’t in view from the platform, Lupe could see Grey Mountain ahead to the NNW. A trail was visible on the ridge leading to it. Getting to Grey Mountain was going to be a cinch!

**Grey Mountain** from the wooden platform. The summit trail follows the ridge on the R. Photo looks NNW.

The journey along the ridge was gorgeous! Beneath blue sky and white clouds, bushes blazed in the golds, oranges, and crimsons of autumn amid scattered deep green conifers and light grey rock. The trail climbed at an easy to moderate pace with only a few steep sections.

The summit trail goes up **Grey Mountain** (L) from the R. Photo looks NNW.

Lupe gained 1,000 feet of elevation during her stroll up Grey Mountain Road. From the wooden platform near the towers, the summit of **Grey Mountain** is only another 700 feet higher.

Getting closer! The trail stays to the R here.

Looking back toward the towers. **Mount Lorne** (L) in the distance. Photo looks SSE.

When Lupe reached the high point visible from the wooden platform, she was at the S end of a large summit ridge. This ridge was lumpy with many exposed light grey rock formations, and still rose gradually toward the N. Low bushes and sparse tundra were present, but almost no trees grew up here, so Lupe already had tremendous views.

At the S end of Grey Mountain’s long, broad, lumpy summit ridge. Photo looks NNW.

**Chadburn Lake** (Center & R) from Grey Mountain. The lake on the L is actually part of the **Yukon River**. Photo looks SW.

Exploring N along the broad, lumpy ridge, Lupe searched for the true summit. She often had a choice of trails to follow. A succession of high points led to a survey marker with an arrow pointing toward one more high spot, the apparent true summit of Grey Mountain.

The survey marker at the last high point before the true summit.

The **true summit** (Center) from close to the survey marker. Photo looks N.

Between the survey marker and the summit, Lupe came to a wide gash 40 or 50 feet deep that sliced across the entire ridge. The sides of the gash were fairly steep, but the American Dingo had no problem getting across the gash to reach the top of Grey Mountain (4,901 ft.).

By the edge of the gash before crossing it. Photo looks E.

Looking WNW while climbing out of the gash.

The summit of Grey Mountain was a flat mini-ridge superimposed upon the rest of the mountain. Metal bars stuck up out of the ground here, but Loop did not find another survey benchmark. Low bushes grew around the perimeter of the mini-ridge, while the center was nearly barren.

On top of **Grey Mountain**. The gash Lupe had just crossed is on the R. Photo looks SE.

Exploring the mini summit ridge. Photo looks NNW.

Blending in with the golden bushes. Photo looks NNE.

Loopster looking pensive at the **true summit of Grey Mountain**.

SPHP congratulated Lupe on climbing Grey Mountain (4,901 ft.). She gracefully accepted the praise, but what the Carolina Dog really wanted was protection! She had been hearing gunfire again for a while now, and had been gently begging SPHP to comfort her.

Of course, sweet puppy!

At the top of Grey Mountain, SPHP sat facing SW with a panoramic view of a vast region of magnificent Yukon territory. The air was getting a bit chilly again. Wrapped in a purple pullover, Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap to be loved and petted.

More than half an hour went by, during which Lupe gazed calmly upon splendid scenes. Directly ahead to the SW, was a fabulous view of the mighty Yukon River valley. Snowy peaks mostly hidden by clouds were far to the S. Mount Lorne (6,229 ft.) was in the same general direction, but somewhat closer. To the SE, the Yukon River stretched all the way to Marsh Lake on the horizon.

Looking back toward the gap Lupe had crossed to get to the summit of Grey Mountain. **Mount Lorne** in the distance on the L. Photo looks S.

**Chadburn Lake** and the **Yukon River valley**. Photo looks SW.

**Marsh Lake** (R of Center) in the distance. **Yukon River valley** (R). Photo looks SE.

Whitehorse, capitol city of the Yukon Territory, was off to the NW. Cantlie Lake was back to the E. To the NE were unknown mountains higher than Grey Mountain that looked like relatively easy climbs.

**Whitehorse** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NW.

Clouds repeatedly cast Grey Mountain into shadow. Even when Lupe was in sunshine, it wasn’t warm out. Well into September now. Time was running out on this Dingo Vacation. Depending on the weather in the next day or two, it was possible Grey Mountain might be the last Yukon peak Lupe would ever climb. Such a gloomy thought!

Lupe would have liked to stay even longer relaxing and enjoying the views. She was right, so incredible here! However, another mini-ridge was a little farther N beyond another smaller gash. Since it looked close to being in contention for the title of true summit of Grey Mountain, the Carolina Dog really ought to go tag that high point, too.

The next mini-ridge to the N (Center) of where Lupe and SPHP had been relaxing. Photo looks N.

Getting over there took only a few minutes. At about the highest spot, Looper found a collection of rocks. A tumbled down cairn? Maybe this actually was the true summit of Grey Mountain? Admittedly a close call, but SPHP still thought the first mini-summit ridge was a bit higher. Hardly mattered. Lupe had been both places now.

At the possible tumbled down cairn at the high point of the N mini-ridge. SPHP still thought the **true summit of Grey Mountain** was on the first mini-ridge (R) Lupe had been to, but it was a close call. Photo looks SSE.

Lupe explored the second mini-ridge a bit farther N. She didn’t get much beyond the wrecked cairn before the mountain began to drop away. Clearly, nothing higher was ahead. This was the end.

**Cantlie Lake** with help from the telephoto lens. **Marsh Lake** (R) is in the distance. Photo looks SE.

The return trip was a beautiful, easy trek. Lupe never did see any Dall sheep on Grey Mountain, but she did spot a ptarmigan.

The pamphlet was right! Lupe did see a ptarmigan on Grey Mountain.

All too soon, the towers at the end of Grey Mountain Road were in view again.

Approaching the towers. Part of Grey Mountain Road is seen on the R. Photo looks SSE.

The downhill road trek was pleasant enough, but couldn’t compare with being up on the trail. Lupe was happy, though. She was leading the way back to the G6, a bumpy return ride to the maintained road, and dinner.

Trudging along behind that curly tail in the shadow of the mountain, SPHP couldn’t help but think about what an unexpected and fabulous peak Grey Mountain had been. The perfect end to what had begun as a dismal day! (8:37 PM, 56°F)

Climbing **Grey Mountain**, Yukon Territory, Canada 9-9-18

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The Upper Dewey Lake Trail to the Devil’s Punchbowl & meeting Chinese Explorer Bingc Gu, Skagway, Alaska (9-8-18)

Day 36 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska!

8:27 AM, 56°F, Skagway – On the SE edge of town, Lupe crossed the tracks of the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. Immediately ahead, a wide well-beaten path went up a steep slope into the forest. A sign confirmed that this was it – Loop was at start of the trail to both Lower & Upper Dewey Lakes, plus a number of other destinations as well.

By the railroad tracks on the SE side of Skagway.

After 3 days spent mostly on the road cooped up in the G6, the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood was ready for action! Although mostly cloudy out, enough blue sky could be seen to convince SPHP that the moment had arrived when Loopster could finally set off on a bigger adventure than her recent brief stops along the highway.

Up the trail Lupe went. Almost right away, she came to a junction where another sign said she needed to go R. A wooden stairway led down to a couple of water pipes hanging so low over the trail that SPHP had to duck. Shortly thereafter, Lupe crossed a bridge over Dewey Creek.

At the first turn, which came almost immediately after starting up the trail. Lupe went under the water pipes from here.

*This bridge over Dewey Creek appears shortly after going under the water pipes.*

The trail now began switchbacking up a steep slope. Due to dense forest, no views were available, but Lupe was quite happy barking at squirrels. Once she had a good start on gaining the 500 feet of elevation required to reach Lower Dewey Lake, a small clearing appeared. From here, Lupe could see the Skagway harbor, and Mount Harding (5,321 ft.) across Taiya Inlet.

**Mount Harding** (L) across **Taiya Inlet**. Photo looks SW.

Beyond the clearing, the trail resumed its steep climb in the forest. As Lupe started getting close to Lower Dewey Lake, the terrain began to level out. At a junction, a sign clearly indicated Loop needed to go L to get to the Upper Dewey Lake trail. However, a number of trails existed in this area, and most were not well signed. In SPHP’s confusion, Lupe somehow wound up at a small reservoir.

Sign at a trail junction not far from Lower Dewey Lake. Lupe went L here, but SPHP still managed to lose the way.

Unintentionally touring a small reservoir while looking for the Upper Dewey Lake trail. Photo looks E.

Backtracking to the sign and trying again, Lupe quickly arrived at the NW shore of long, narrow Lower Dewey Lake. The Lower Dewey Lake trail follows the heavily forested shoreline all the way around the lake, but the lower lake wasn’t what Lupe had come to see. Heading N, she reached a small wooden bridge where another sign again pointed out the way to the Upper Dewey Lake trail.

Near the N end of Lower Dewey Lake another sign points out the way to the Upper Dewey Lake trail. Photo looks E.

Leaving the lower lake behind, Lupe followed the Upper Dewey Lake trail NE along a tributary of Dewey Creek. She discovered a couple of brilliant mushrooms in this area.

Near a **tributary of Dewey Creek** after leaving Lower Dewey Lake. Photo looks NE.

Brilliant toadstools found along the tributary of Dewey Creek.

Less than 0.25 mile from Lower Dewey Lake, the trail divided. Icy Lake and Upper Reid Falls were straight ahead. Lupe turned SE (R) staying on the Upper Dewey Lake trail. After making this turn, she came to no more intersections.

Lower Dewey Lake had been only a 500 foot climb. However, getting to Upper Dewey Lake was a much more serious undertaking. Lupe needed to gain another 2,500 feet of elevation! The Upper Dewey Lake trail was soon climbing aggressively, and stayed that way for a long time. Even the switchbacks were steep. Once again, the dense forest hid all distant views, although Lupe often got to see Dewey Creek cascading straight down the mountain.

Near **Dewey Creek** as it plunges down the mountainside.

A rare glimpse back toward **Skagway** during the steepest part of the climb. **Face Mountain (4,830 ft.)** (L) and **Parsons Peak (5,600 ft.)** (Center) are beyond **Taiya Inlet**. Photo looks W.

The first 1,000 feet were the worst. The slope gradually diminished after that. Wooden stairways sometimes appeared. One was quite long. After a while, it often looked like Lupe was coming to some sort of a top, but that was merely an illusion. The Carolina Dog climbed and climbed, yet never seemed to get there. SPHP paused frequently to gasp for breath.

Finally, an open spot appeared. A mountaintop was in sight ahead. The trail went right back into the forest, but after seeing that mountain, the rate of climb was noticeably easier.

At the open spot where Lupe first caught sight of the mountain ahead. No longer as steep, the Upper Dewey Lake trail continued well beyond this point. Photo looks E.

For another 40 minutes, the trail went on and on, though less difficult and winding around more than before. Then the forest began to thin out, permitting views from minor high points.

Looking back across Taiya Inlet as the forest thins. **Mount Harding** (L) in shadow. **Face Mountain** (far R). Photo looks W.

Lupe was getting close to treeline when she came to an orange meadow where she had a much more complete view of the mountain she had seen before. The trail was nearly flat now. Only a little farther, Upper Dewey Lake lay hidden in a vast amphitheater.

Almost there! At the orange meadow close to Upper Dewey Lake. Photo looks ENE.

A few more minutes, and Lupe was there! Upper Dewey Lake occupied much of the lower level of a two-tier amphitheater. Against a backdrop of mountains, forests, colorful tundra, and a small snowfield, Upper Dewey Lake was absolutely gorgeous!

A cabin with a view of the lake sat off to the L (NE) of the trail. This was the City of Skagway rental cabin, the nicer of two cabins close to Upper Dewey Lake. If the rental cabin hadn’t been occupied, Lupe would have gone over to peer in the windows to see what it was like inside.

The City of Skagway rental cabin. By far the nicest of two cabins at Upper Dewey Lake. Photo looks ENE.

The other cabin was free. Anyone could stay there on a first come, first serve basis. Lupe found the free use cabin tucked back against the trees SW of the trail. This cabin was not occupied, so Loopster could snoop around. The curious American Dingo even went inside.

By the free use cabin, which was … umm … rustic.

The free use cabin contained plywood bunk beds and an ancient wood stove. Everything was filthy, except for two windows, crystal clear due to the absence of glass. The words “primitive” and “rustic” came to mind, but then you get what you pay for.

The list of amenities did include a roof and 4 walls. No view of the lake, but it was only a minute away. Wipe away the dust, start a fire in the wood stove, and the rustic cabin wouldn’t be a bad port in a storm.

It didn’t take an American Dingo long to inspect an old cabin. Loop had come to see Upper Dewey Lake, not this! Abandoning the free use cabin, she briefly stopped by a picnic table at a little high point overlooking the lake. It was colder here than down in Skagway. While SPHP layered up, Lupe sniffed with a couple of dogs that came running over from the rental cabin.

When her new-found friends got called back, Lupe went down closer to the lake. What a magnificent scene! Upper Dewey Lake was so pretty!

Lupe at **Upper Dewey Lake**. Photo looks ESE.

**N end of Upper Dewey Lake**. Photo looks NE.

Exploring S along the W shore of Upper Dewey Lake, Lupe checked out the lovely views from several different boulders.

On a rock near a tiny sandy beach. Photo looks S.

Since leaving Skagway, Lupe had gained 3,000 feet of elevation. The plan all along had been to continue another 600 feet higher to a ridge beyond the S end of Upper Dewey Lake. From this ridge, Loop would be able to see the Devil’s Punchbowl.

From **Upper Dewey Lake**, Lupe headed for the notch seen in the ridge beyond her. The Devil’s Punchbowl is on the other side. Photo looks SW.

Once beyond the S end of Upper Dewey Lake, Looper started up a tiny creek. SPHP was surprised when the trail she had been following faded rapidly. Somewhere around here there was supposed to be an official trail to the Devil’s Punchbowl, but this didn’t seem to be it.

Didn’t really matter. Although steep in places, this route wasn’t difficult, so the Carolina Dog just kept climbing. The tiny creek vanished, as Lupe scrambled up a small boulder field. As she got higher, the views looking back at Upper Dewey Lake became even more spectacular!

*We don’t seem to be on quite the right path to the Devil’s Punchbowl, but don’t worry, we’ll get there!* On the way up to the ridgeline. Photo looks SW.

*Pretty easy along in here!* Photo looks SW.

Before Lupe quite made it to the saddle she was heading for, she did come across a better trail that had been farther W on a small ridge going up this same direction. Venturing over to the W edge of the ridge, Loop had a tremendous view of Skagway and Taiya Inlet all the way to Dyea.

**Skagway** and **Taiya Inlet** from the W edge of the ridge. Photo looks NW.

**Mount Harding** (L) and **Parsons Peak** (R) beyond **Taiya Inlet**. Between them is the **Burro Creek valley**. **Skagway** is at far R. Photo looks W.

Zoomed in on mountains near the **Burro Creek valley**. Photo looks W.

Along the W edge of the ridge leading to the Devil’s Punchbowl. Photo looks SSW.

It wasn’t much farther to the top of the ridge. When Lupe got there, she found a broad flat area strewn with rocks amid sparse tundra. Crossing this region took only a couple of minutes. From the far S edge, she had a grand view of the Devil’s Punchbowl nestled in a cirque below her.

Crossing the flat region at the top of the ridge. Photo looks S.

The **Devil’s Punchbowl** comes into view. Photo looks S.

Looking farther up the ridge between the Devil’s Punchbowl and Upper Dewey Lake. Photo looks ESE.

Nestled in an even remoter spot, the **Devil’s Punchbowl** was only a third of the size of Upper Dewey Lake, and a much deeper blue.

**Devil’s Punchbowl** with a bit of help from the telephoto lens.

**Mount Harding** (Center) beyond **Taiya Inlet** from the Devil’s Punchbowl overlook. Photo looks WSW.

Ready for a break, Lupe curled up beneath a stunted spruce tree, while SPHP relaxed gazing at the fabulous views. Within 10 minutes, a young woman appeared, which is how Lupe met Chinese explorer Bingc Gu.

Bingc was friendly, and spoke English well. Not perfectly, sometimes she searched for words, but compared to SPHP’s non-existent Chinese, Bingc was an absolute master of the English language. Bingc was a 19 year old student from Beijing, where she studies Business Administration and English. She is the oldest of 2 sisters and 1 brother, and had been living on her own since she turned 15.

Bingc had spent the summer working in Skagway as part of an exchange program. She loved living in a small town, and the beautiful mountains here. Bingc was quite sad that she was going to have to leave on the 16th, only 8 days from now, to return to her studies.

Her grandfather once had a yellow dog that had lived to be very old. So Bingc liked dogs, and was quite taken with Lupe.

As Bingc chatted with SPHP, two young men showed up, though not at the same time. They both worked on cruise ships, and had come up to see the Devil’s Punchbowl while they still could. The Skagway tourist season was ending. At 8:00 PM tonight, their ships were sailing away, bound for Hawaii, the Fiji Islands and Australia. Sounded like fun!

Neither of the young men stayed long. Both had to get back to their ships. Once they departed, Lupe and SPHP joined Bingc in going down to the Devil’s Punchbowl. For a while, new friends Lupe and Bingc sat together on the E shore.

Bingc and Lupe along the E shore of the **Devil’s Punchbowl**. Photo looks N.

Relaxing by the **Devil’s Punchbowl**. Photo looks WSW.

**Mount Harding** (R) with help from the telephoto lens.

In the end, chatting with Bingc was so much fun, that when the time came to leave, Lupe and SPHP went with her.

A last look back at the **Devil’s Punchbowl**. Photo looks S.

Back along the W side of the ridge leading to the Devil’s Punchbowl.

Chinese explorer Bingc Gu with American Dingo explorer, Lupe.

The long ridge on the R is **AB Mountain (5,036 ft.)** which Lupe had climbed in 2017 to join the Arctic Sisterhood. Photo looks N.

On the way down to Upper Dewey Lake, Lupe and SPHP followed Bingc, who had actually come up the correct trail on the ridgeline W of where the Carolina Dog had been. This route also went through some boulder fields, and didn’t seem much better or worse than the way Lupe had gone up to see the Devil’s Punchbowl.

Bingc leads the way back down to **Upper Dewey Lake**. Photo looks NE.

**Upper Dewey Lake** with help from the telephoto lens.

It turned out that the ridge route went to the picnic table near Upper Dewey Lake that Lupe and SPHP had stopped by earlier. Bingc didn’t mind the company, and was happy to have Lupe come along on the rest of the way back down the Dewey Lakes trails to Skagway.

At a steady, but unhurried pace, slender, polite, soft-spoken Bingc led the way while talking about many things. Lupe had been lucky to meet her. During her summer in Skagway, Bingc had taken the trail up to and around Lower Dewey Lake many times, but today was the only time she had ever gone on to Upper Dewey Lake and the Devil’s Punchbowl.

Bingc was a serious student. She liked languages, literature, and history. She was interested in travel and other cultures, and in sharing Chinese culture. While in Skagway, Bingc had made new friends, some of them Chinese, some not, another reason she was sad to be leaving soon.

However, Bingc felt Skagway had been good for her. She thought more boldly now, considering the whole world as her home. She wanted to keep exploring and climbing mountains. On the only remaining day off work that she had left in Skagway, she planned on taking the train up to White Pass. 8 days from now, Bingc would be taking the ferry to Juneau hoping to see some whales, then fly on to Seattle and Beijing. And some day, she intended to return to Skagway.

At last, the railroad tracks appeared. End of the trail. Bingc petted Lupe for the last time. If Loopster ever made it to China on one of her Dingo Vacations, Bingc promised to take the American Dingo to the Great Wall of China! Lupe and SPHP wished Bingc good fortune in her travels and adventures. If Bingc ever comes to the Black Hills, Lupe would take her to Mount Rushmore. Smiling, Bingc shook hands with SPHP, and said good-bye. She then turned and walked away, bound for home in her beloved Skagway. (6:18 PM, 64°F)

Upper Dewey Lake and the Devil’s Punchbowl had been a great day, a beautiful adventure. Meeting Bingc had been fun. However, Bingc was now on to other adventures, and Lupe was, too. Returning to the G6, Lupe and SPHP were soon on the South Klondike Highway on the way out of Skagway.

Tomorrow’s plan was to revisit part of the wonderful International Falls trail, then leave it to climb Peak 6053. However, when Lupe reached White Pass, the sky was dark and stormy looking. A cold rain set in. Not too encouraging. Loop and SPHP stopped for the night in the Tormented Valley, to wait and see what the morning might bring.

**Lupe** and Chinese explorer **Bingc Gu**, Devil’s Punchbowl Lake, Skagway, Alaska 9-8-18

Links:

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AB Mountain – Lupe Joins the Arctic Sisterhood! Skagway, Alaska (8-7-17)

International Falls, Canada to Alaska (8-8-17)

Skagway, Alaska Area Trails Map & Brochure