Part 2 of Day 21 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska!
10:11 AM, 47ºF – After leaving Finger Mountain (2,202 ft.), the Dalton Highway gradually descended to the Kanuti River, crossed it, and began to climb again.
Hey, Loop! Skies are pretty cloudy up ahead, and the last forecast we had said 70% chance of rain in Coldfoot today, so I don’t think there’s any big rush to get there. We’re coming to a big hill that I’d more or less forgotten about since the last time we were here in 2017. Should be an easy climb. Are you interested?
Will we still get to the Arctic Circle today, SPHP?
Oh, yeah! No sweat! We’re practically to it already, Looper. In fact, we’re so close that I’m thinking of naming this hill Subarctic Peak, since it’s only about 5 miles S of the Arctic Circle.
Subarctic Peak, SPHP? I like it! Sounds like a cool name for my first new Alaskan peak in 3 years. Let’s do it!
11:26 AM, 49ºF, near MP110 – The Dalton Highway went right on up and over Subarctic Peak’s E shoulder. Parking the RAV4 alongside an Alaska oil pipeline access road conveniently close to the high point, SPHP then shared a light lunch of cheese and Ritz crackers with the Carolina Dog.
Well, that ought to be about enough, Looper. You were urpy this morning, remember? Ready for a romp up Subarctic Peak?
Yes, but I’m even more ready for more cheese and crackers, SPHP.
I know, but let’s not overdue it. C’mon! Onward! Puppy, ho!
Trotting a short distance NW to the Dalton Highway’s high point, Lupe came to a sign.
What does it say, SPHP?
Says “Beaver Slide”, Loop.
Beaver Slide? Odd, what’s that supposed to mean, SPHP?
It means I was wrong, Loopster. I just assumed this hill didn’t have a name, but it does. Beaver Slide is a name assigned by the truckers who first drove the Dalton Highway during its construction.
Well, it’s a funny name, SPHP. You mean to tell me that the first new peak I’m climbing in Alaska is actually Beaver Slide? Subarctic Peak sounded way more daunting, maybe even dangerous!
Maybe so, Loop, but it is what it is. Besides, maybe Beaver “Slide” actually does imply some real danger to a trucker on the long approaches during icy conditions?
Oh, well then, that’s different, SPHP! Beaver Slide Mountain (2,600 ft.), or bust!
Going a little beyond the crest of the Dalton Highway prior to crossing over to the W side, the ditch was full of water. Backtracking to the high point, the ditch was drier. Lupe was reluctant to follow SPHP through thick vegetation toward a line of tall bushes until discovering a faint path that got her past them.
Emerging from the tall bushes, the path continued up a mixed slope of tundra and much lower bushes. A couple of sizable rock outcroppings were ahead. Beyond them a series of high points were in sight along Beaver Slide Mountain’s N ridge.
The path went W up a shallow drainage that was wet in spots. Only a few days past mid-August, but the tundra was already sporting amazing autumn colors. Brilliant reds of the alpine bearberries were the most dazzling of all.
Passing between the 2 rock outcroppings, the path turned NW along the back side of the larger one. Lupe left the trail here to scramble up onto a small stony ridge. Gazing ESE back toward the start, the RAV4 was only a blue dot down by the Dalton Highway and the Alaska oil pipeline.
To the W, an easy tundra slope led up to a saddle between the 2 high points farthest N along Beaver Slide Mountain’s N ridge.
During the gorgeous trek up to the saddle, Lupe passed a few more wet spots, but the tundra was dry by the time she reached it. Several rocky high points were now visible off to the S, the most distant one being the apparent summit. Another high spot was only a short distance N.
I know it’s the lowest one, but want to check out the N high point, SPHP?
Sure! Why not, Loop? We’re almost there already.
At the N high point, a knob of rock made a terrific Dingo perch offering some great views. The Dalton Highway and Alaska oil pipeline were off to the E and N. The 3 high points the American Dingo would head for next were due S. Perhaps the most intriguing view was of a big dome 7 miles WNW.
That’s a cool dome, SPHP! Looks like it wouldn’t be hard to get to, either.
Maybe someday, Miss Ambitious, but we’re not going that far today.
Does it have a name, SPHP?
Nanuk Benchmark (2,688 ft.), Looper. Or Nanuk Dome, if you prefer.
If we’re not going there today, SPHP, at least put it on my list of future possibilities.
I will, Loopster! Ready to continue on to the next high point?
Might as well hit ’em all, SPHP!
Following the broad ridge S to the next high point, Lupe was soon there. Like the N high point, this one featured a rocky Dingo perch, too.
Two higher points were still farther S. Lupe passed a smaller crag on the way to the third high point, which was capped with a ridge of boulders. Getting up onto the third high point required a little bit of a scramble, but nothing the Carolina Dog wasn’t up to.
Only one more high point to go! From the 3rd high point, it still looked like the true summit of Beaver Slide Mountain, too, although there might possibly be something a little higher still unseen beyond it.
The S end of the 3rd high point was so precipitous that Loopster had to scramble down to the E before continuing her trek S.
1:07 PM, 52ºF, Beaver Slide Mountain (2,600 ft.) – The slope leading to the true summit was both gentler and longer than any of the other high points had been. The summit region was much more spacious, and less rugged, too. Lupe arrived to find a metal rod jutting up from the rocks, but that was it.
Congratulations, Loopster! May I shake your paw?
Of course, SPHP! Talk about easy! Beaver Slide Mountain is cake! Nothing dangerous about it at all.
Well, I kind of figured this one wasn’t too tough, Loopster, but look at these views! Worthwhile, wouldn’t you say? Personally, I think they’re marvelous!
Oh, I most definitely agree, SPHP. Glad we came! Naturally, I’d appreciate these views even more, if you happen to have a chocolate coconut bar.
Luck of the Dingo, I do!
Sitting down together in a 10 mph NW breeze, the chocolate coconut bar quickly vanished without a trace. For nearly half an hour, Lupe stayed on SPHP’s lap surveying the magnificent views in all directions. Beneath mostly cloudy skies, Beaver Slide Mountain itself never seemed to be in sunshine, but patches of sunlight could be seen drifting across a vast empty land of rolling hills and valleys.
The Dalton Highway and Alaska oil pipeline were still in sight to the E. A tiny blip was identifiable as the top of Finger Mountain (2,202 ft.) far to the SE only because the Dalton Highway went right by it.
Nearly due S, Caribou Mountain (3,179 ft.) was 7 miles away. Lupe had been there 5 years ago. Seeing it again from here produced a wistful, funny feeling.
7 miles WNW, Nanuk Dome (2,688 ft.) continued to entice. A few miles closer, and Lupe would have set out for it today.
But it was the view more directly W here, where unspoiled hills and ridges extended seemingly to the end of the world somewhere beyond vision, that felt most compelling. Lupe could roam there forever!
1:49 PM, Beaver Slide Mountain –
Getting sunnier, SPHP. It’s wonderful here, but if we aren’t going to go any farther, maybe we should head back? I still want to visit the Arctic Circle today, and if we get far enough N afterwards, maybe we can be ready to do something in the Brooks Range tomorrow?
Alrighty, Looper. Hate to leave, but I guess that makes sense. If it’s sunny in the Brooks Range tomorrow, you’re right! We won’t want to miss out.
The return was a super easy, scenic romp across the beautiful tundra. Lupe went by all the high points she’d visited during her ascent, but did not climb any of them again.
Once back to the RAV4 (3:00 PM, 59ºF), the Arctic Circle was only another 5 miles N. Didn’t take long to get there, but so many people were coming and going that Lupe had to wait quite a while for her turn in front of the big sign.
The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood was back! On this happy day, Lupe reached the true Arctic again for the 5th time!
3 years ago, the Arctic Circle was as far N as the American Dingo made it. She’d arrived along the Dempster Highway in Yukon Territory in a miserable cold rain on the verge of becoming a snowstorm that might easily have stranded the old G6. Through the gloom, Lupe had seen new snow on the Richardson Mountains before SPHP felt obliged to beat a hasty retreat.
She hadn’t been this far N since.
6:00 PM, Coldfoot, MP175 – No stopping Looper today, though! 60 miles N of the Arctic Circle at Coldfoot Camp in the Brooks Range, she waited in the RAV4 while SPHP gorged on the evening buffet. The only choice available from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the buffet was $27.95, tax included.
So, was it worth it? You should have seen the Carolina Dog’s eyes light up when SPHP produced a big barbecued beef rib with plenty of savory meat attached. Munching and crunching away, Lupe devoured it, bone and all! So deliciously satisfying!
Gasoline was a mere $7.499 per gallon. The Brooks Range is no place to get stingy! SPHP let the RAV4 quench its thirst.
The Arctic Interagency Visitor Center right across the Dalton Highway from Coldfoot Camp was open until 9:00 PM, giving SPHP a chance to play tourist after dinner while Lupe relaxed in the RAV4.
The visitor center proved to have lots of free brochures, some really nice displays, and a friendly, helpful staff. SPHP liked the dioramas best, and even attended a 40 minute long ranger talk held just before closing time.
9:40 PM, Dalton Highway N of Coldfoot – After crossing 2 bridges over the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River, a side road appeared on the R beyond MP195. After making the turn, this side road led to an enormous open space. Ahead stood a huge mountain, all golden in the late evening sun. A skiff of new snow was visible near the top.
This must be the place, Loop!
What place, SPHP? Are we going to climb that mountain?
Weather permitting, that’s the plan, Looper. Think this is where Andrew Holman and Abbey Collins set out for Poss Mountain (6,180 ft.) less than a year ago.
So, that’s Poss Mountain, SPHP?
Believe so, Loopster. Been wanting to take a stab at Poss ever since we first saw it from Sukakpak Mountain back in 2016.
Poss Mountain looks mighty steep, SPHP! Really think we can climb it?
Don’t know, Loop. Might be beyond us. Shall we find out?
Links:
Next Adventure Prior Adventure
Lupe’s Beaver Slide Mountain GPS Track (Ascent)
Caribou Mountain, Alaska 8-16-17
BLM Dalton Highway Visitor Guide
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