Dingo Vacations – Page 5 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Liard River Hot Springs, Muncho Lake & The Racing River, British Columbia, Canada (9-11-23 & 9-12-23)

Day 51 & Part 1 of Day 52 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska!

9-11-23, 2:10 AM, 45ºF – Comfortably warm, SPHP had slept well for a few hours, but was now wide awake again.

Loopster! Want to go out and sniff the air?

She did. Strolling together down to the confluence, the night was starry, with an orange crescent moon hanging low over the Pelly River.

What an awesome spot, SPHP! Sad to think that it’s our last night in the Yukon.

Very sad, but September is already a third over, Loop. Nights are getting longer. Soon going to be a lot colder, so we’ve got to keep heading S.

While the American Dingo sniffed, SPHP gazed upon the moon’s rippling orange reflection. The Pelly River! A rare vision on this dark night, that spoke not only of this fleeting moment in time, but whispered of quiet, infinitely remote, and lonely ages gone by.

9-11-23, 7:15 AM, 41ºF – A gray morning. It began with a short stroll up to the Robert Campbell Hwy No. 4 bridge over the Hoole River. After crossing the bridge, Lupe explored a primitive side road going upstream into the forest. Surprisingly, it soon led to private property.

Huh. Imagine that! Private land, way out here. It’s a possibility I hardly ever even think about in the Yukon wilderness, Looper.

Great place for a hidden cabin, SPHP. Talk about seclusion!

World class! No doubt about it, Loopster. Even the highway scarcely has any traffic.

**Hoole River**, looking downstream toward the **confluence** with the **Pelly River**. Photo looks NNE.

9-11-23, 9:19 AM – Trip journal’s caught up. We’ll be leaving soon, Loop. One more look before we head out?

The Carolina Dog was all for that notion. For half an hour, Lupe sniffed around amid the trees and bushes near the pullout where the RAV4 was parked, before visiting the confluence of the Hoole and Pelly rivers for the last time.

**Confluence** of the **Hoole and Pelly rivers** from the pullout. Photo looks NNE.

On a **boulder right at the confluence**. The **Hoole River** comes in from the R. The **Pelly** flows to the L. Photo looks NNE.

A scenic drive along Robert Campbell Hwy No. 4 consumed the rest of the morning and first half of the afternoon. This was all new territory Lupe had never seen before. SPHP stopped quite a few times to let her out for a few minutes and a closer look.

**Yellow-orange aspens** lining **Robert Campbell Hwy No. 4**.

As far as the American Dingo was concerned, the highlight of the entire drive occurred shortly after it began, when she spotted 3 black bears, a mama with 2 cubs, crossing the highway. This provoked a brief, shrill, and extraordinarily enthusiastic reaction within the RAV4. Naturally, the bears fled before SPHP could get a photo.

And that was it for wildlife. Scenic mountains and lakes were the usual fare. An early stop near Finlayson Lake sported an observation deck. However, the forest had grown up so much that the lake was still mostly hidden from view. Displays contained information about the Finlayson woodland caribou herd. No caribou were in sight, either, although Lupe would have loved to see them.

At the **Finlayson Lake** pullout. Photo looks NE.

**Finlayson Lake**, or at least what could be seen of it. Photo looks NNE.

**Summer** and **winter ranges** of the **Finlayson caribou herd**.

**Life** of the **Finlayson woodland caribou**.

Cruising generally SE, the Pelly Mountains were on the R (SW). Many of these mountains looked quite climbable, but difficult treks through the boreal forest wilderness would have been required just to get to them.

**Pelly Mountains** from **Robert Campbell Hwy No. 4**. Photo looks SSW.

Traffic was virtually nonexistent. Photo looks NW.

A **particularly striking peak** (L of Center). Photo looks WNW.

The Logan Mountains eventually came into view off to the L (NE). A romp up onto a low ridge that had burned some years ago provided a terrific viewpoint.

**Logan Mountains** from the **burnt ridge**. Photo looks NE.

**Pelly Mountains** from the same ridge. Photo looks W.

Near Frances Lake, the highway curved S, then turned to pavement shortly before reaching a junction with Nahanni Range Road No. 10. Continuing S, Lupe got a view of the last big mountains along Robert Campbell Hwy No. 4 from Simpson Lake.

**Simpson Mountains** (L) beyond **Simpson Lake**. Photo looks SSW.

On the way into Watson Lake, the sky turned an eerie orange-gray.

Approaching **Watson Lake.** Photo looks W.

Oh, my gosh, SPHP! The Arctic Apocalypse is still here!

Hard to believe, but it was true.

9-11-23, 3:11 PM, 59°F – A gigantic plume of wildfire smoke rising from out of the SW hung over the town of Watson Lake when Lupe arrived. The TAGS gas bar was so busy that SPHP went into the store to purchase a few supplies while waiting for the lines at the pumps to dissipate.

Watson Lake was the end of Robert Campbell Hwy No. 4. From here, the journey SE continued along the beautifully paved Alaska Highway. The threatening wildfire smoke proved to be merely a local phenomena, and was soon fading from sight in the rear view mirror.

Cruising smoothly beneath blue skies, SPHP was mentally celebrating the RAV4’s successful completion of the last significant stretch of nearly 2,000 miles of incident-free gravel roads driven on this Dingo Vacation when, 20 minutes out of Watson Lake, a semi-truck coming the opposite direction threw a rock that cracked the windshield.

Deeply annoyed, SPHP instantly began playing an entirely futile mental game of what-if.

Are you kidding me? Our brand new windshield! Cracked again this year, shortly after we’re done with all the gravel and reached pavement? There is no justice in this world, Loopster!

No lack of irony, though, SPHP.

Same exact spot where the windshield got cracked last year, too, Loop! Right down in the lower L paw corner. If I’d been driving another 1.5″ to the R, all the RAV4 would have suffered was a chip in the paint.

You had no way of knowing that ahead of time, SPHP.

At least back in 2022, we really had no choice, stuck following a pilot car through a narrow, muddy, 16 mile long stretch of road construction way up on the Dalton Highway with one gravel truck after another spraying rocks at us. This time, though, if I’d had any inkling that truck was going to throw a rock, I could have easily stayed far enough to the R so that dang rock would have missed us entirely, Loop.

A little late now, SPHP. Might as well forget it. Just a freak accident. You say yourself that there’s about a 50/50 chance that the windshield will get broken every time we go to Alaska. Happened once to our old G6, too.

All true, yet truth and reason brought no comfort at all. For the next hour, SPHP fumed to no avail while the RAV4 sped through a region of heavily-forested hills and ridges. By the time SPHP’s black mood began to lift, the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood had left the Yukon for good in 2023.

The American Dingo suffered from no such funk. In fact, once back in British Columbia, Lupe had a grand time watching for wildlife along the Alaska Highway, spotting 5 black bears and many bison, all of which elicited hysterical barking fits. What could be more fun?

9-11-23, 6:22 PM – A traditional stop at Liard River Hot Springs was just the ticket, and still an unbelievable bargain at just $5.00 CAN admission, to help complete the healing of the damage the cracked windshield had done to SPHP’s disposition. After the usual short sniff around the picnic area, the Carolina Dog had to wait in the RAV4 while SPHP soaked for nearly 2 hours in the relaxing hot springs deep in the boreal forest.

Arriving at **Liard River Hot Springs**.

The **boardwalk** leading to the **hot springs**. Photo looks NNE.

Crossing a **shallow, warm water swamp**. Photo looks NNW.

Entering the **boreal forest**. Photo looks NNE.

The **Hotwater Physa**, a small snail found only at **Liard River Hot Springs**.

**Liard River Hot Springs** are the **second-largest thermal springs in Canada**!

The awesome **boreal forest setting** of the **change house and pool**.

It was already dark by the time SPHP returned.

Welcome back! So, how was it, SPHP?

It was a dull little crowd, but the hot springs were fabulous, Loop. Feels fantastic to be so warm and clean again! Too bad Dingoes aren’t allowed.

Wouldn’t matter if they were, SPHP. Hot springs aren’t a Carolina Dog favorite.

Chef Boyardee spaghetti for dinner a little later on was, though.

Hey! What are you doing? Leave some for me, Loopster.

You had your fun, SPHP. My turn now!

9-12-23, 7:02 AM, 49ºF – Another mild night. So nice to be warm! The sun wasn’t even on the hills quite yet when Lupe first went out to sniff the air, but that soon changed.

Morning along the **Alaska Highway**. Photo looks NW.

Another travel day, SPHP?

Afraid so, Loopster. Your Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacations are just about over. Don’t worry. We’ll still have some fun on the way home.

No more big adventures, though, SPHP?

Oh, I wouldn’t say that yet, Looper. We’ll see. Anyway, it’s time to hit the road. Muncho Lake Provincial Park is next. We’ll stop a few places along the lake, and you’ll get to see Mount Peterson (7,021 ft.) again!

The views from Mount Peterson were awesome last year, SPHP, but the biting gnats in the forest were ghastly, remember?

How could I forget? Your poor tummy was all swollen and bright red with bites by the time it was over and done with, and those horrid gnats nearly did me in, too. I almost ran out of antihistamine the next day.

Heading into **Muncho Lake Provincial Park**. Photo looks SSE.

**Mount Peterson** (R of Center) from **Muncho Lake**. Photo looks S.

**Sentinel Range** from down by the **lakeshore**. Photo looks NNE.

No biting gnats today! At least, not during a romp along the gravelly shore of Muncho Lake. It really was fun seeing Mount Peterson again, and remembering its long N ridge snaking away toward Muncho Lake from on high. Returning to the RAV4 after her Muncho Lake tour, Lupe then got to see Peak 7669 and Mount Scott (8,000 ft.), one of the highest peaks in the entire region, during the Alaska Highway’s descent into the Toad River valley.

Another look at **Mount Peterson** (R). Photo looks S.

**Peak 7669** (L of Center), **Mount Scott** (Center). Photo looks SSE.

The scenery was gorgeous along the Toad River. Approaching one of the first pullouts near the river, SPHP slowed way down, then went on.

What was wrong with that spot, SPHP? The view was sublime!

Yeah. Complete with a porcupine, too! So, I thought better of it. I’d rather you didn’t make its acquaintance.

Not to worry! Plenty of spots to get out and sniff along the way.

Autumn at the **Toad River**. Photo looks NNE.

A big **alluvial fan** across the **Toad River**. Photo looks N.

9-12-23, 9:35 AM, 58ºF – The Toad River was splendid, but the next river, one of its main tributaries, was a long time favorite, and the site of many fond memories. In fact, exactly a year ago today, Lupe had climbed Racing Peak from along its stony floodplain.

**Alaska Highway bridge** over the **Racing River**. **Racing Peak** (L edge). Photo looks NE.

The Racing River! We’ve got to spend some time here, SPHP!

Absolutely, Sweet Puppy! Let’s wander upstream for a while.

This jaunt along the Racing River, with Peak 7201 always beckoning in the distance, had become a more or less annual fall tradition.

Near the start of the upstream stroll. Photo looks SSE.

**Peak 7201** (R of Center). Photo looks SSW.

As always, this was a happy outing, yet there was a touch of sadness about it, too. Golden trees spoke not only of all the glorious adventures the Summer of 2023 had brought Lupe, but of the fast approaching end of these never-to-return halcyon days.

A **snazzy little peak** across the **Racing River**. Photo looks E.

Almost every year, Lupe went a little farther. This time, the turnaround point came along a channel being abandoned by the river.

Separated from the main course by a couple of channels. Photo looks S.

Near the end of 2023’s Racing River romp. **Peak 7201** (Center). Photo looks SSW.

Are we ever going to climb Peak 7201, SPHP?

I don’t know, Loop. I’ve thought about it many times. Looks like a terrific adventure, but may be beyond our capabilities.

Certainly not happening today. On the way back, Lupe explored part of the forest. Near the end, there was that magnificent view of the Alaska Highway bridge and Racing Peak (4,409 ft.). The Racing Peak dream had come true, maybe someday the Peak 7201 dream would, too?

Exploring the forest. **Racing Peak** (L). Photo looks NE.

**Racing Peak** (L) from the **Racing River**. Photo looks NE.

9-12-23, 11:05 AM, 66ºF, back at the RAV4 –

It’s been fun, but for a travel day, we’ve enjoyed a mighty leisurely start, Loopster. We better get serious about making some highway tracks!

What about lunch, SPHP? We skipped breakfast, and I’m hungry!

Lunch? I suppose you’re right, Looper. We ought to eat something. How about we stop at the picnic ground at Summit Lake in Stone Mountain Provincial Park? We ought to get there right around noon.

Lunch with a view of Mount Saint George! Sounds great, SPHP. By the way, do we have any more Chef Boyardee spaghetti?

I’ll have to check when we get there, Chow Dingo!

**Peak 7201** from the **Racing River**, Muskwa Ranges, British Columbia, Canada 9-12-23

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Mount Peterson, Muskwa Ranges, Muncho Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada (9-10-22)

Racing Peak, Muskwa Ranges, British Columbia, Canada (9-12-22)

Mount Saint George, Stone Mountain Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada (8-5-17)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacations to Colorado, New Mexico, Canada & Alaska Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Mount Mye, Anvil Range, Yukon Territory, Canada – Part 2: Base Camp to the Summit! (9-9-23)

Days 49 & 50 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska!

9-9-23, the wee hours, Pass 5050 – Great gusts of wind swept over the tiny house, separated by brief moments of calm. In the darkness, snug in a sleeping bag, SPHP no longer heard the steady rain that had fallen for hours. Lupe was dead tired, and had scarcely moved.

SPHP jostled the Carolina Dog.

Loopster, wake up! It quit raining. Want to go out and sniff the air?

She did. In the weak beam of the little flashlight, SPHP watched her now and then as Lupe sniffed here and there out on the wet tundra.

The night was black as sin. No stars. Must still be cloudy. Chilly, but the wind wasn’t as bad as it had sounded from within the tiny house. Even so, a few minutes of the brisk, gusty breeze was enough.

Guess I’m ready to go back in, Looper. C’mon!

Strolling back to the tiny house, SPHP suddenly realized that Lupe hadn’t reappeared from out of the shadows.

Loop, come! … LOOOOP! Where are you?

No response. SPHP shone the flashlight all around. Nothing!

Walking in a widening circle around the tiny house, SPHP kept calling and shining the flashlight everywhere. Where could she have gone? Wandered off alone and now lost in the Yukon? The mere thought was horrible! Anxiety rising, SPHP screamed into the wind.

LOOOOP! … LUUUUPPEEEE! … COME BACK!

From the invisible mountains, an echo. No more.

Luuuuppeee! … Come back!

Bleary-eyed, Lupe reemerged from the tiny house.

Cut it out, SPHP! You’re enough to wake the dead!

She’d already snuck back in.

9-9-23, 7:20 AM, Pass 5050 – Dawn came creeping slowly over the land. Over by Mount Mye (6,763 ft.), 2 small clouds floated, edged with gold.

Dawn at **Pass 5050**. **Mount Mye** (L of Center). Photo looks ENE.

Still breezy, and rather chilly, but the tundra wasn’t even all that wet anymore. As for new snow, that had all been a speculative figment of SPHP’s overactive imagination.

What’s for breakfast, SPHP?

Not much. Taste of the Wild and water for the Dingo. Trail mix and a vanilla Equate for SPHP. After eating, the sleeping bags looked inviting. A little snooze while the day warmed up a bit wouldn’t hurt anything.

9-9-23, 8:47 AM, Pass 5050 – Sweet! Most of the clouds were gone. Lupe stood next to the tiny house in bright sunshine, a beautiful blue sky over Peak 6400’s long W ridge beyond her.

**Peak 6400’s W ridge** from **Pass 5050**. Photo looks SW.

Let’s do this, Loopster! Onward! Puppy, ho!

Heading ENE, Lupe began a long, gradual descent of the upper W branch of the Vangorda Creek valley, aiming straight for Mount Mye.

Descending the **W branch of the upper Vangorda Creek valley**. **Mount Mye** (L), **Peak 6519** (R). Photo looks ENE.

A quick glance back at **Pass 5050** (Center). Photo looks WSW.

Roaming the SE flank of Peak 6500, progress was excellent until Lupe reached a region of rock slides and tall bushes that slowed SPHP down.

**Peak 6400** (Center) from the bushes and rocks. Photo looks SW.

Since the talus rock slides weren’t huge, or terribly steep, they proved easier to deal with than the bushes. Maintaining just enough elevation to stay above most of the bushes that filled the valley seemed to be the best course of action. Even so, it still took SPHP over an hour to pick a way through less than 1.5 km of a mix of rocks, bushes, and tundra to reach the edge of the central Vangorda Creek valley.

On excellent terrain, approaching the central valley. **Mount Mye** (L). Photo looks ENE.

The descent into the central Vangorda Creek valley went even better than SPHP expected. Encountering fewer rocks, Lupe retained enough elevation to prevent bushes from completely dominating the landscape. Open lanes, and tussocky areas that weren’t too bad, allowed SPHP to pick up the pace again.

Near the end of the rock slides. **Mount Mye** (R). Photo looks NNE.

Heading into the **central Vangorda Creek valley**. Photo looks ESE.

Crossing the broad valley, Lupe came to two streams. The first was more of a trickling bog 50-100 feet wide. Fortunately, although soft and wet, it wasn’t all that deep or muddy. The second stream had a well-defined channel, and must have been Vangorda Creek. Merely a few feet wide, even SPHP easily leapt over it.

In the **upper N Vangorda Creek valley**. Photo looks N.

**Peak 6500** (L of Center) from **Vangorda Creek**. Photo looks WNW.

Once past Vangorda Creek, Mount Mye was directly ahead.

Approaching **Mount Mye**. Photo looks NE.

All we have to do now is climb it, SPHP! How much higher is the summit?

1,500 feet, Loop. We don’t want to go straight up this SW slope, though. Lots of steep talus. Should be easier if we go around more toward the S.

Angling SE while gradually gaining elevation, Lupe entered a region of tall bushes. Happily, a surprising number of almost continuous open lanes ran through them. Soon the American Dingo was above the yellow bushes at the base of an enormous steep slope. Looking SSW, a long stretch of the lower Vangorda Creek valley was now in view.

**Lower Vangorda Creek valley** (L). **Peak 6400** (R). Photo looks SSW.

Nice, soft tundra here, SPHP. Can we take a break before starting up?

Sure, we’ve got plenty of time, Looper. Want to share a Cliff cool mint bar?

The Cliff bar offer was eagerly accepted. After a pleasant 15 minute break spent enjoying both the views and the rapid demise of the Cliff bar, the Carolina Dog started up the steep slope. Most of it was talus, but lanes of tundra ran through it, too, especially higher up, once the rate of climb began to diminish.

Heading up the **talus**. Photo looks ENE.

Leading the way up one of the **lanes of tundra** (R). Photo looks NE.

After gaining 500 feet of elevation, Lupe reached the rounded W edge of a vast bench that sloped gently toward the S. Mount Mye’s summit was still 1,000 feet higher to the NNE, but looking that way, only a small part of the required climb was in sight. Mostly talus again.

Along the **rounded W edge**. Photo looks NNE.

Making rapid progress while continuing ENE a short distance onto the S bench, it was soon clear that Lupe might as well get started with the rest of the ascent. Just no way to avoid having to deal with some steep talus.

A tedious trek higher began, picking a route up through the rocks. As usual, Lupe scrambled with confidence, seemingly enjoying the entire experience. Also as usual, SPHP was much slower, climbing cautiously.

In a particularly steep area, suddenly there was trouble. A little higher than SPHP, and 30 or 40 feet over to the R (E), Lupe missed a jump. The Carolina Dog was left clinging the edge of a rock, frantically trying to claw her way up onto it.

Hang on, Loopster! I’m coming!

Impossible! On this terrain, SPHP had no chance to get there in time. A few desperate seconds, and the inevitable happened. Lupe lost her grip and fell.

Not far, only a couple of feet, but onto solid rock. Ouch! Recovering and regaining her balance almost instantly, the American Dingo seemed fine and completely undeterred. Lupe went right back to scrambling with a smile on her face, roaming from one big rock to the next wherever she pleased.

Reaching a patch of tundra, this time SPHP insisted upon taking a break.

**Peak 6400** (L), **Peak 6500** (R), with **Pass 5050** (Center) between them. Photo looks WSW.

**Vangorda Creek valley** (R). Photo looks SSW.

Loop, are you really alright? That had to hurt! I’m so sorry! I couldn’t get over there in time to help you.

I’m fine, SPHP. Don’t worry about it.

Luck of the Dingo! You certainly seem to be, but are you sure, Looper?

Positive, SPHP.

Lupe would know. She certainly acted like nothing had happened to her. The ascent continued. Fortunately, Lupe wasn’t stuck on talus for the entire 1,000 feet. After gaining only several hundred, more tundra began coming into view. Aiming for tundra whenever possible, slowly the situation improved. Lanes of tundra began appearing. At first they were all short, but as the Carolina Dog kept climbing, the lanes became longer and wider. The rate of climb began to diminish.

We must be getting close to the top, SPHP!

Near the **end of the steep part**. Photo looks NNE.

Dome-shaped Mount Mye went on and on. However, the ascent was now getting easier and easier. Eventually, even SPHP was advancing rapidly across a gradual slope toward a dark escarpment only 30 or 40 feet higher.

Closing in on the **dark escarpment** (Center). Photo looks NE.

A final scramble up the escarpment, and a cairn was ahead, somewhat higher and still a few hundred feet away. In a chilly E wind, beneath an increasingly overcast sky, Lupe headed right for it.

Approaching the **cairn** (Center). Photo looks NE.

9-9-23, 1:38 PM, 38ºF, Mount Mye (6,763 ft.) – The cairn was perched right at the true summit on a large, slightly curved rock 10 feet from a precipitous N edge.

By the **cairn** at the **true summit**. Photo looks N.

Congratulations, Loopster! Made it to Mount Mye!

Really wasn’t that hard, SPHP.

Glad you thought so, Loop, but stay away from the N edge. Can’t afford any more Dingo plunges from up here.

SPHP shook the American Dingo’s paw, then retreated 25 feet SW of the cairn to sit on the tundra. Due to the cold breeze, SPHP pulled a jacket over Lupe as she curled up on SPHP’s lap. Unfamiliar Yukon peaks were in all directions except E, where the terrain was lower. Nothing nearby was as high as Mount Mye, although many distant peaks appeared to top out at roughly the same elevation.

Relaxing on **Mount Mye**. Photo looks NE.

Chocolate coconut bar time, SPHP.

Indeed it is, Loopster!

SPHP shared a chocolate coconut bar with Lupe, plus what remained of the beef jerky. Taste of the Wild and water rounded out her menu.

After eating, the Carolina Dog felt tired, remaining on SPHP’s lap a long time. SPHP stroked her ears while admiring the tremendous, unspoiled Yukon views. Sitting there facing S, off in the distance a few high peaks of the St. Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains were the only ones anywhere in sight that had any snow on them. Perhaps Fox Mountain (7,887 ft.) was among them?

**High peaks of the St. Cyr Range**. Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.

Snug beneath the jacket despite the chill breeze, Lupe watched a steady procession of silent gray clouds sailing off to the W in an increasingly gloomy sky.

Suddenly feels like more snow will be coming soon, doesn’t it, SPHP?

We’re practically a third of the way into September, Looper. Won’t be long now this far N. Mount Mye is likely the last Yukon Territory peak of your Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacations.

Another summer was all but over. A sad thought, yet an inescapable one. It made these lingering, seldom seen views from a remote Yukon peak seem even more glorious and precious than ever.

Inevitably, the fleeting minutes sailed away with the clouds.

9-9-23, 2:38 PM, Mount Mye –

It’s over, Loopster. Our traditional summit hour has fled.

We can’t leave yet! We’ve got to get some pictures, SPHP.

Wandering SW first, Lupe began her final, clockwise tour of the somber, yet splendid views. The Carolina Dog went far enough to see Pass 5050 between Peak 6400 and Peak 6500. Although her tiny house was too far away to pick out from here, Rose Mountain (6,513 ft.), Faro Mountain (5,467 ft.), and Lake 4663 were also visible in this general direction.

**Peak 6400** (L), **Pass 5050** (L of Center), **Peak 6500** (R), **Lake 4663** (far R) with **Rose Mountain** beyond. Photo looks WSW.

**Peak 6500** (L). Both **Lake 4663** and **Rose Mountain** (L of Center). Photo looks WNW.

**Rose Mountain** (R of Center). Photo looks WNW with help from the telephoto lens.

The NW edge of Mount Mye was a cliff. Lupe peered down on jagged rock formations. Directly N, a string of ponds was visible in a long deep valley flanked by nameless brown mountains and ridges. The lower end of this valley ultimately curved NW out of sight.

A line of blue mountains stood on the NE horizon, far beyond another deep valley sheltering dark green forests. This view caught SPHP’s fancy as being particularly intriguing. Not until much later did SPHP learn the name of the highest peak in that cluster, Mount Connolly (7,028 ft.).

Another big valley with more extensive forests was to the E.

**Mount Connolly** (Center) on the far horizon. Photo looks NE.

The **more heavily forested valley** (Center). Photo looks E.

Circling past the summit cairn, Lupe ventured over to Mount Mye’s E edge. SPHP’s fascination with Mount Connolly continued. From here, Lupe also enjoyed the best view of Peak 6519 to the SE.

Actually, it might not be Peak 6519 at all, Loopster. The topo map shows that as an elevation near a survey benchmark, but also includes a small 6,600 foot contour along the N edge.

If that’s correct, it’s really at least Peak 6600, SPHP.

Yup. Certainly looks possible to me, too, Looper. I’d believe it.

**Mount Connolly** (L). Photo looks NE with a little help from the telephoto lens.

**Peak 6519** (Center) – or maybe it’s actually **Peak 6600**? Photo looks SE.

Views almost directly S of the big ridge connected to Peak 6519, and the Vangorda Creek valley W of it, completed Lupe’s Mount Mye tour. Far beyond them, the St. Cyr Range stretched across the entire S horizon.

The **massive ridge** (foreground) connecting to **Peak 6519** (off L edge). Photo looks S.

That giant ridge is the way we would have come here, if we’d been able to reach the official Mount Mye trail NE of Faro, Loop.

That would have been fun! Looks easier than the Moose Trail was, SPHP.

Hah! No doubt, Loopster. More elevation loss along the way, though. Maybe that would have evened things out somewhat as far as difficulty?

**Official Moose Trail ridge** (L), **Vangorda Creek valley** (R of Center), **Peak 6400** (far R). **St. Cyr Range** of the **Pelly Mountains** (horizon). Photo looks SSW.

**St. Cyr Range**, **Pelly Mountains**. Photo looks S with help from the telephoto lens.

9-9-23, 2:58 PM, Mount Mye – 80 minutes after arriving, the American Dingo was back at the cairn. Her summit tour was over.

Back at the **cairn**. **Mount Connolly** (Center). Photo looks NE.

This is it, Loopster. Final moments on a Yukon Territory peak in 2023.

We had a lot of success this year in the Yukon, didn’t we, SPHP?

We certainly did, Loop. Maybe the most ever. I’ll never forget it.

And yet, as Lupe stood in the breeze high on Mount Mye with glory all about, those still so recent days of the Arctic Apocalypse, her incredible and unprecedented successes in the Richardson Mountains, and journey clear to the Arctic Ocean in the Land of the Pingoes were all already starting to seem like adventures long ago.

We’re living the dream, SPHP!

So true.

Final moments at **Mount Mye’s summit**. Photo looks NE.

Onward! Puppy, ho!

During the descent, SPHP proposed a route farther E, thinking it might be a bit easier. Really not much difference, except that it was a little longer. Still, the journey W once down to the broad bench S of Mount Mye was fast, easy, and let Lupe enjoy a nice romp. Soon she was back at the rounded edge overlooking the Vangorda Creek valley.

Starting the descent. **Peak 6519** (L). Photo looks SSE.

**Vangorda Creek valley** (R). Photo looks S.

While crossing the Vangorda Creek valley again, the clouds started to dissipate. Looking back, sunlight illuminated Mount Mye. The big ridge where the official Mount Mye route went was in sunshine, too, although Peak 6519 remained in shadow.

**Official Mount Mye trail ridge**, with **Peak 6519** (far L) in shadow. Photo looks SE.

9-9-23, 7:54 PM – The sun had already set by the time Lupe reached the tiny house at Pass 5050, tired, but happy. Fortunately, the tiny house was still here, despite the E wind which continued blowing at the pass, although it had been calm elsewhere during the return.

Dinner and a long snooze were in order. With a full tummy, the Carolina Dog was soon off in Dingo Dreamland, snoozing comfortably on her red sleeping bag. Due to sore paws, not so, SPHP. Listening to the gusty E wind far into the night, toes worn raw throbbed with pain.

9-10-23, 10:00 AM – Happily the long rest had done SPHP’s paws some good. Mount Mye sank out of sight for the last time almost as soon as Lupe started down the W side of Pass 5050. On the way back to the Moose Trail, this time she crossed the stream N of Peak 6400’s W ridge much closer to the two tarns.

Staying higher along the S side of the valley after crossing the stream, Lupe had better luck finding long open lanes through the thickets of tall yellow bushes. On the lower slopes of the W ridge, bushes gave way to tundra and patches of gritty soil, making progress much easier than it had been during the journey to Pass 5050 two days ago.

Leaving **Peak 6400** (R) and the **valley of yellow bushes** behind. Photo looks E.

**Lake 4663** (R) from the **far W end of Peak 6400’s W ridge**. Photo looks N.

9-10-23, 2:43 PM, 57ºF – The Mount Mye adventure a complete success, Lupe leapt onto her pink blanket in the RAV4. Meanwhile, SPHP stashed all the gear. Of course, there had been no avoiding the horrible, wet bushwhack along the mucky Moose Trail, but it was all history now.

Lupe’s eyes lit up when SPHP pulled into the Fingers Interpretive Site on the way back down to Faro. She really did like this place, and enjoyed both watching squirrels and the beef stew SPHP shared with her here during a lazy rest of the afternoon.

9-10-23, 5:37 PM – 4 days after her late evening arrival in the Faro area, Lupe spent a few minutes lying on the green lawn in front of the “Faro – Yukon’s Best Kept Secret” sign near the now familiar junction of Mitchell Road and Campbell Street. Sadly, it was time to move on. Faro had been both kind of crazy and fun.

The town of Faro – *Yukon’s Best Kept Secret*.

Maybe we can come back again next year, SPHP?

Hope so, Loopster. We still need to have another chat with Sabine at the Campbell Region Interpretive Centre about how to get to Rose Mountain.

And don’t forget Truitt Peak over by Little Salmon Lake, SPHP. It’s not that far away!

Maybe someday. Who knew? 2024 was still a long way off. In any case, just like on the evening she’d arrived in Faro, the American Dingo had another lovely drive E ahead of her on Robert Campbell Highway No. 4.

Hwy No. 4 was paved all the way to the junction with Canol Road No. 6, and still an excellent gravel road once beyond it. SPHP owned the road, encountering virtually no traffic at all as the RAV4 headed SE through rolling hills and valleys full of yellow trees within sight of the remote St. Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains.

The beautiful evening drive on lonely **Robert Campbell Hwy No. 4**. Photo looks SE.

**Yellow aspens** across an **unnamed lake**. Photo looks NNE.

9-10-23, 7:50 PM – Light was fading, and SPHP had already been looking for a place to spend the night, when the RAV4 reached a bridge over the Hoole River. A quick glance to the L while crossing the bridge revealed the Hoole River’s confluence with the Pelly River just downstream.

Oh, that’s an awesome spot, SPHP! Turn around! You just passed a side road that goes down there.

SPHP did turn around. Plenty of room to park on a bank overlooking the confluence, and absolutely no one else there. Perfect! Set for the night.

On **Mount Mye**, Anvil Range, Yukon Territory, Canada 9-9-23

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Lupe’s Scrollable GPS Track & Ascent Statistics

Mount Mye, Anvil Range, Yukon Territory, Canada – Part 1: On & Off the Moose Trail to Base Camp (9-8-23)

Moose Trail directions: From the intersection of Mitchell Road and Campbell Street in Faro, head NE on the Faro Mine Access Road. Pass the Fingers Interpretive Site on the L at 2.75 km (1.7 miles), turn R at 9.5 km (5.6 miles). The Moose Trail Lupe started from is 0.1 km (300 feet) on the L from this turn, right after passing an electric power substation.

Note: This is not the same trailhead recommended at the Campbell Region Interpretive Centre in Faro, which SPHP never found.