Kenai Mountains – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Slaughter Ridge, Kenai Mountains, Alaska (8-28-18)

Day 25 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska!

2:58 PM, 66°F – Was this the right place? Must be. No one around, but 4 or 5 vehicles sat along a little loop at a dead end in the forest. SPHP parked the G6 off to the side as far as possible, and Lupe leapt out. No trailhead information anywhere, but a trail did head into the forest from the NE end of the loop.

Lupe was back on the Kenai Peninsula not far from Cooper Landing after having spent the night in Anchorage. The whole morning had been chewed up procuring a new camera to replace the one that died in the rain during the journey to Hope Point (3,708 ft.) yesterday. After that, the long drive from Anchorage, followed by a search for the trailhead, had taken more time.

SPHP had found Bean Creek Road 0.2 mile E of the bridge over the Kenai River easily enough. The road to the trailhead was supposed to be an unmarked dirt road just E of Bean Creek Road on the same (N) side of the Sterling Highway. Instead of an unmarked road, a road with a street sign saying “Stetson Circle” left the highway from what seemed to be the correct spot.

Stetson Circle looked like a private driveway, and actually did go past a house or two, before curving R (E) and ending at this loop in the forest not terribly far from the highway.

Lupe was raring to go! Mid-afternoon already on a rare sunny day. The Carolina Dog didn’t want to waste another minute. Two young women were emerging from the forest about the time SPHP was finally ready. They were both quite taken with Lupe, and she was more than willing to delay her departure to bask in the adoration of new fans.

Was this the trail to Slaughter Ridge (3,216 ft.)? Yes! The two women confirmed this was it. A fabulous destination, but they emphasized that the trail was very steep. When the Dingo love-fest finally concluded, Lupe and SPHP set off into the forest.

The trail started off nearly level, an easy, shady hike through the woods. Before long, it passed near a wooden fence marking the edge of private property. A house could be seen beyond the fence. The trail gradually turned L (N), and Lupe started gaining elevation. An initial moderate pace quickly steepened. The forest hid all views, but Lupe was making frequent little stops anyway, since SPHP seemed so inclined to pause to gasp for breath.

For a trail, this was indeed a very steep route. However, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. The trail was dry, and footing was generally good. No slippery spots, and hardly any loose rock. Loop would have gained elevation at a tremendous pace, if SPHP could have kept moving. During wheezing breaks, several groups of hikers passed by on their way down. Each and every one cheerfully commented on the steepness of the trail, in case SPHP hadn’t noticed.

After a considerable climb, Lupe came to a clearing. She was already high enough to have a grand view of Kenai Lake and the Kenai River.

Lupe reaches the first clearing. The beautiful **Kenai River** is in view. Photo looks SW.

*We’re just getting going, and look at that view of **Kenai Lake**!* Photo looks SE.

Continuing on, the trail re-entered the forest. Openings where Lupe had views became more frequent. She started catching glimpses of a much higher ridge that the trail was apparently destined for.

An early glimpse of the ridgeline the trail heads for. Photo looks NW.

*Can you believe it? No rain! No fog! What a gorgeous day!*

Relaxing after polishing off some Taste of the Wild while SPHP wheezed.

**Kenai Lake** from a higher viewpoint with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SE.

The trail eventually reached the ridgeline it had been climbing toward. Lupe came to a cairn and an engraved stone at an open spot at the E end of a level part of the ridge. The stone had been placed here in memory of Wayne Fritz Koecher, who passed away at the beginning of 2006 at the age of 24. Perhaps this beautiful spot with its amazing views had been one of Wayne’s favorite places?

At the first cairn and engraved stone up on the ridgeline. Photo looks SE.

In Loving Memory of Wayne Fritz Koecher, 15 April 1981 – 2 January 2006

Lupe was now up on Slaughter Ridge (3,216 ft.), but toward the far E end at about the 2,000 foot level, nowhere near its highest point. The true summit was still nearly 2 miles W. Even Juneau Point (3,216 ft.) close to the E end of the summit plateau was still a mile away.

From this first cairn and memorial stone, the trail continued NW toward a hill several hundred feet higher.

From the first cairn and memorial stone, a short level section of the trail continues toward a hill farther up **Slaughter Ridge**. Photo looks NW.

Reaching the base of the hill took only a couple of minutes. However, the trail divided here without any indication of which way to go. Since the R fork showed the most use, Loop went that way.

At the base of the next hill close to where the trail forks.

Almost immediately, the R branch started angling NNW avoiding the forested ridgeline. Soon Lupe was losing a little elevation. The trail didn’t even stay up along the side of Slaughter Ridge, instead taking Looper out to a flat, swampy area near a pond.

*You sure this is right, SPHP? Don’t we need to be up there?* The R fork left **Slaughter Ridge** taking Lupe NNW out to this pond. Photo looks W.

Lupe stuck with the R fork only as far as a small stream beyond the pond before SPHP had second thoughts. This couldn’t be right! The trail kept crossing wetlands heading toward a broad pass N of Slaughter Ridge.

No harm done. The little side jaunt had been a scenic detour, and hadn’t taken long. Lupe turned around and headed back.

This couldn’t be right! Lupe needed to be climbing the ridge, not wandering around in the wetlands. She turned back at this small stream. Photo looks S.

Back where the trail divided, Lupe tried the L fork this time. The L fork went straight into the forest, promptly curved N, and in practically no time, joined up with the R fork again returning to the pond.

Hmm. Didn’t seem right, but maybe SPHP hadn’t given the trail enough of a chance? So Lupe visited the pond once again, this time pushing on well past the little stream. The terrain was rising slowly, and eventually flattened out completely. A larger pond, a lake really, appeared ahead.

The trail, or what was left of it, showed not the slightest inclination to turn back toward Slaughter Ridge. Maybe Lupe should just head straight for it, and try to find a way up? The viewpoint back at the cairn and memorial stone might be as far up the mountain as the trail went.

SPHP paused to contemplate the N side of Slaughter Ridge. Forested and steep. No way! The trail had been steep enough without bushwhacking a way up. Must be another way, another trail that split off somewhere between the memorial stone and the fork at the base of the hill. Better go back and look for it.

Sure enough, there was! A missed turn went to the L shortly before the divide that veered off to the pond. Sheesh! A good 45 minutes wasted on the wrong trail! Daylight was burning. Lupe had better get on with it, if she expected to get to the top of Slaughter Ridge today.

Now on the correct trail, Lupe followed it W through a short section of forest. She emerged from the trees in open territory high on the steep S side of the ridgeline. The views were spectacular! The trail continued W making frequent steep spurts higher. Level stretches separated each big burst upward.

SPHP kept expecting the trail to climb back up onto the ridgeline, but for a long way, it didn’t. Instead, the trail stayed high on the S slope, as Lupe bypassed one false summit after another. At last, the trail did climb up onto the ridgeline, but Lupe still wasn’t at the top. Much higher ground was still ahead.

*Come on! We’re getting there!* Back on the ridgeline. Photo looks NW.

The trail was still pretty steep. On and on it went. Getting to the top of one knob only revealed another higher one ahead. Couldn’t be much farther, though, could it?

**Slaughter Ridge** continues higher. Photo looks NW.

*Almost to the top! No fooling this time!* True dat. A second cairn is on the hill ahead. Photo looks WNW.

Looking down on the lake Lupe had been heading toward while on the wrong trail. **Peak 4422** on the R. Photo looks NE.

A second cairn greeted Lupe at the top of the final hill. This cairn sat at the far E end of the Slaughter Ridge summit plateau, a location known as Juneau Point (3,216 ft.). The ridge was still narrow here, but quickly broadened out to the W. Views from the cairn were stupendous! Lupe could see from Kenai Lake all the way down the Kenai River valley to Skilak Lake. Wonderful mountain scenes in all directions!

Looking back down the ridgeline Lupe had just come up. **Wrong Mountain (5,260 ft.)** (L), **Right Mountain (5,085 ft.)** (Center), and **Axis Peak (5,161 ft.)** (R) on the horizon. Photo looks SE.

**Kenai Lake** from the 2nd cairn at the **E end of Slaughter Ridge**. **Axis Peak (5,161 ft.)** (Center) is the snowiest high point beyond Lupe. Photo looks SE.

**Kenai Lake** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SE.

**Peak 4422** is straight up from the cairn. Photo looks ENE.

**Trout Lake** from **Slaughter Ridge**. **Peak 3940** is beyond Lupe. Photo looks NW.

The **Slaughter Ridge summit plateau**. The **true summit** is in sight more than a mile away past Lupe’s shoulder. **Round Mountain (3,901 ft.)** (L) in the distance.

**Kenai Lake** (L) and the **Kenai River**. Cooper Landing (R) is on the far bank. **Cecil Rhode Mountain (4,400 ft.)** (R). Photo looks SSE.

The **Kenai River valley**. **Russian Mountain (4,318 ft.)** (Center). Photo looks SW.

According to the topo map, the Juneau benchmark was supposed to be somewhere around here. Expecting to find it easily, SPHP scanned the area close to the second cairn, surprisingly without success.

Despite how fantastic the views were at Juneau Point (3,216 ft.), with the true summit of Slaughter Ridge still more than a mile away, Lupe could only afford to take a short rest break. Soon she was on her way again, heading W across the vast Slaughter Ridge summit plateau.

The plateau was a super fun trek, so much easier than the steep climb to Juneau Point had been! Lupe had a blast sniffing and exploring her way across the open rolling plain, making great progress. The trail faded on the way to a succession of minor high points. Didn’t matter. Even from Juneau Point, a little blip at the far W end, no doubt the true summit, or very close to it, was in sight along S edge of the plateau.

**Slaughter Ridge summit plateau** from close to the second cairn. The true summit (L) is a mere blip at the far end. **Round Mountain** (L) and **Peak 3835** (R) are beyond the plateau. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe wandered W, generally staying close to the S edge of the plateau where the fabulous views of the Kenai River valley and the grand peaks beyond it were. After she had already passed a couple of minor high points, SPHP remembered the Juneau benchmark again, and started checking each little rise for it, but still without success.

The American Dingo paused now and then to check out the views.

The **Kenai River valley** with help from the telephoto lens. **Cecil Rhode Mountain** on the L. Photo looks S.

Similar view. **Right Mountain** (L) and **Axis Mountain** (L of Center). Photo looks SE.

**Trout Lake** (L) and **Juneau Lake** (R). **Peak 3940** is L of Trout Lake. Photo looks NW.

The Slaughter Ridge summit plateau is divided into two parts – an E half, which Lupe was on now, and a W half, the location of the true summit. The two halves are connected by a narrow corridor, but even along this connecting route, a drop of between 300 and 400 feet separates the E and W plateaus.

This drop had not been visible from Juneau Point where Lupe came up, but as she drew near the W end of the E plateau, it came into view. A faint trail headed right on down to the connecting corridor, which was along the S edge.

Near the W end of the E plateau, the gap separating the two plateaus starts coming into view. Photo looks W.

The connecting ridge leading over to the W plateau. Photo looks W.

Going down to the connecting ridge was easy. Not too steep, and even once at the bottom where the ridge was narrowest, it was plenty wide and smooth. No jaggedness at all. Lupe was soon across the saddle and on her way up the SE slope of the W plateau. This was a much steeper climb, the ascent made even slower when SPHP realized the tundra was full of ripe blueberries.

SPHP was immediately ensnared in the, oh, so delicious blueberry trap! Progress slowed to a crawl. At first, Lupe tolerated the situation, but when SPHP quit moving entirely, the were-puppy appeared to threaten SPHP, and demand a speedy return to action.

Freed from the blueberry trap by the ferocious were-puppy, SPHP kept heading higher. Finally, after gaining close to 300 feet of elevation, the rate of climb began to lessen. Lupe emerged from the shadow of the W plateau on terrain beautifully illuminated by the slanting rays of the early evening sun. As SPHP slogged on after her, Lupe pranced toward the high ground still ahead.

Heading down the connecting ridge to the saddle leading to the W plateau (R).

In sunlight during the last part of the ascent of the W plateau. Photo looks WNW.

On the W plateau, Lupe continued W from high point to high point. At last, only two more could be seen ahead, the most distant being the true summit of Slaughter Ridge (3,216 ft.). It wasn’t much farther, or even much higher, than where the Carolina Dog was already.

**Axis Peak (5,161 ft.)** (L), **Kenai Lake**, and **Cecil Rhode Mountain (4,400 ft.)** (R) from a high point on the W plateau. Photo looks SE.

The **true summit of Slaughter Ridge** is the more distant of the two minor high points toward the sun. Photo looks W.

The American Dingo visited both of the last two high points. On the final little slope leading to the true summit of Slaughter Ridge, the Alaskan wilderness rolled out a crimson carpet of surpassing beauty for Lupe.

Approaching the **true summit** (R). **Round Mountain (3,901 ft.)** (Center). **Skilak Lake** (L) in the distance. Photo looks W.

On the crimson carpet of **Slaughter Ridge**. Photo looks SW.

The summit rock was light-colored, nearly white, and quite large enough to serve as an excellent Dingo display pedestal. Views were, of course, splendid, but basically the same as those Lupe had been seeing all the way here. The far W end of the W summit plateau was a bit farther. Lupe could see a third cairn over there, clearly at a slightly lower point.

After a look around from the white summit rock, Lupe ventured over to the third cairn at the W end of Slaughter Ridge.

At the **true summit of Slaughter Ridge**. Photo looks SE.

The third cairn (R) at the W end of **Slaughter Ridge**. Photo looks WNW from the true summit (L).

At the third cairn. **Kenai River** (L), **Skilak Lake** (Center) and **Round Mountain** (R). Photo looks W.

N of the third cairn, there was quite a lot of territory that could have been explored, if it hadn’t been so late in the day. Lupe did spend a few minutes sniffing beyond the cairn, going far enough to get to where the mountain started dropping off more steeply.

Exploring the W plateau N of the third cairn. Photo looks N.

**Trout Lake** from the W end of the W plateau. **Peak 3940** on the L. Photo looks NW.

Looking back at the 3rd cairn (R). The true summit (far R) is in view, too. Photo looks ESE.

The sun was sinking. The Carolina Dog returned to the summit rock. Glories of the Kenai Peninsula were on display in all directions. Even a sliver of Cook Inlet of the North Pacific Ocean was in sight. For a little while, Lupe and SPHP remained at the summit, taking it all in. Such a gorgeous evening!

Back at the true summit for a little while longer.

The lateness of the hour prevailed. Loop was soon forced to abandon her peakbagging success. The long return trek back the way she had come began.

Looking down the steep descent from the W plateau to the saddle leading to the E plateau. Photo looks SE.

The return trek was a beautiful time. So much fun! Once Lupe made it back to the E plateau, SPHP resolved to check every high point along the way for the Juneau benchmark. The first high point Lupe came to on her way E was the true summit of the E plateau. Not right at the high point, but 20 or 30 feet farther S, near the edge where the views were best, Loopster made a discovery.

Nope, not the Juneau benchmark, but something else. Laying among the rocks was a stone 2″ long. A Bible verse, John 15:5, was painted on it.

Lupe found this small stone with a Bible verse painted on it near the high point of Slaughter Ridge’s E summit plateau.

Whether the stone had been left here intentionally, or simply forgotten, was unknown. SPHP picked it up. Lupe could keep it as a souvenir to add to the small rock collection SPHP had started for her last year with a stone taken from the Beaufort Sea near Deadhorse. Dated 2018, the stone couldn’t have been on Slaughter Ridge too long.

At the very last high point prior to reaching the second cairn at the E end of the E plateau, Lupe found it. The Juneau benchmark!

Loop by the Juneau benchmark. It’s next to her front paw. Photo looks SE.

As Lupe paused for the last time at the second cairn high on Slaughter Ridge before beginning the steep descent to the trailhead, far to the SW she could see something she hadn’t been able to when the sun was higher. Beyond Cook Inlet was the unmistakable outline of the Iliamna Volcano (10,016 ft.). Awesome! How cool was that?

**Iliamna Volcano** from Slaughter Ridge. Photo looks SW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.

And then it was down, down, down! Never stopping, except as caution dictated. 30 minutes before reaching the trailhead, the flashlight had to come out. Lupe arrived at the G6 famished and tired. She wasn’t alone. A quick dinner, then lights out. (11:10 PM)

What a tremendous day Slaughter Ridge had been!

On **Slaughter Ridge**, Kenai Mountains, Alaska 8-28-18

Links:

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

On the Skyline Trail to the Mystery Hills, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska (8-27-16)

Skilak Lookout, Kenai Mountains, Alaska (8-30-17)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Hope Point, Kenai Mountains, Alaska (8-27-18)

Days 23 & 24 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska!

8-26-18, the wee hours, near MP 33 of the Taylor Highway – For the first time in weeks, Lupe saw stars. Though it was a clear night, she didn’t see as many as might be expected. A brilliant full moon lit the sky enough so only the brightest stars could compete. Nearly a year ago at this same pullout W of Mount Fairplay (5,541 ft.), Lupe had seen the Northern Lights for the first time ever. She was being treated to another display of the ghostly phenomena again tonight.

8-26-18, 6:20 AM, 40°F – Still a dozen miles from the Alaska Highway, SPHP parked the G6 at a pullout on a hill. This was the place Lupe had first seen Mount Fairplay from back in 2017. The next day she had climbed the mountain, returning only yesterday for a second ascent. Such a fabulous peak! Loop wouldn’t see Mount Fairplay again, at least not on this Dingo Vacation, so it was worth a quick stop for a final look.

Loop in the early morning sunlight with **Mount Fairplay** (Center) in the distance. Photo looks NNE.

8-26-18, 9:43 AM, 43°F, Tok Cutoff at the Copper River overlook – Cheerful morning sunshine had quickly given way to the usual dreary overcast. Lupe was on the road W. Since bidding farewell to Mount Fairplay, she’d seen some impressive snowy mountains, but was now ready for a break from the G6. SPHP parked at a scenic lookout near the Copper River not far from the W end of the Tok Cutoff.

The Copper River was running much higher than when Lupe had seen it in 2016 and 2017.

Snow-capped peaks seen from the Tok Cutoff on the way W.

The **Copper River**. This viewpoint along the Tok Cutoff is only a mile or two W of Gakona Junction.

8-26-18, 11:16 AM, 44°F – Continuing W on the Glen Highway, light rain was falling when SPHP caught sight of a lone peak seemingly floating above the clouds. Stopping for a photo, SPHP suddenly realized Lupe had been up there! That was Gunsight Mountain (6,441 ft.) where she had met her friend Australian adventurer Luke Hall two years ago.

**Gunsight Mountain** from the Glenn Highway. Photo looks SW.

Lupe had been up on **Gunsight Mountain** in 2016! Sadly, it wasn’t looking like a good day for a repeat performance.

The farther W SPHP drove, the more the weather deteriorated. Lupe ended up stuck in the G6 in Palmer and Wasilla, where it rained the rest of the day. SPHP stayed busy with adventures in laundry, supplies, and at the car wash. Maybe Lupe needed a day off, anyway? She hardly ate or drank, content simply resting on her pile of pillows and blankets.

8-27-18, 7:13 AM, 53°F, Seward Highway near Girdwood – The new day was off to a hopeful start, entirely appropriate since Lupe was on her way to the Kenai Peninsula to take the trail to Hope Point (3,708 ft.). Not only was it not raining, but skies were clearing over the Turnagain Arm! If this trend held, surely the American Dingo was destined for some fantastic views of the Turnagain Arm from lofty Hope Point.

Checking out the beautiful **Turnagain Arm** from a pullout along the Seward Highway. The new day was looking, yes – hopeful! Photo looks SE.

8-27-18, 8:55 AM, 52°F, Gull Rock & Hope Point trailhead – No one else was around when the Carolina Dog arrived at the Hope Point trailhead. Probably for the best. Turned out someone was feeling more nauseated than hopeful. Within minutes of arriving, Lupe threw up a thoroughly disgusting, mucousy green slime while sniffing among the bushes.

Guess that explained her lack of appetite. Lupe looked guilty, but hadn’t done anything wrong. SPHP encouraged her, and she soon perked up. Getting rid of that awful load would have made anyone feel better.

Feeling perkier again at the Hope Point trailhead on the Kenai Peninsula.

Prior to arrival, SPHP had been under the impression that the Hope Point trail went all the way to the summit. However, information posted at the trailhead said that the maintained trail ended at a cairn 3.2 miles from a junction with the Gull Rock trail. And then what?

Some scrambling is required beyond the rock cairn to reach the summit of Hope Point.

Hmm. No mention of how difficult that scrambling might be. A map showed the trail ending 1,300 feet lower than the summit, not exactly a trivial amount.

Fortunately, the Most Queasy Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood seemed sufficiently recovered to take on the Hope Point trail. As soon as SPHP was ready, she set off exhibiting her usual enthusiasm.

The trail immediately entered a primeval forest. Tall trees towered over a lush undergrowth of ferns, devil’s club, and plants with enormous green leaves. Lupe crossed a bridge over a small rushing creek and was underway.

By the bridge over the small creek close to the start of the trail.

*Try to stay alert, SPHP! We’re apt to run into bears or dinosaurs in a place like this!*

After crossing the creek, the trail wound around in the spooky forest. Lupe soon came to the fork where the Gull Rock and Hope Point trails part ways.

At the junction where the Hope Point and Gull Rock trails divide. This junction wasn’t far from the trailhead. 7 minutes? Something like that.

The Hope Point trail was in great shape. It switchbacked at an easy pace up a mountainside, gradually working its way W, then NW, up the valley the creek came down. The trail was soon so high above the creek that the stream could no longer be seen or even heard. Lush, wet vegetation overhung the trail in places. Although it wasn’t raining at the moment, staying dry was a lost cause.

The primeval forest was left behind almost right away as the ferns and devil’s club disappeared, but for a long way the trail remained in a densely forested zone.

Although it wasn’t raining at the moment, Lupe was soon soaking wet from the lush, wet vegetation overhanging the trail.

Above the ferns and devil’s club, the trail remained in heavily forested territory for a long way.

When Lupe got high enough, she finally started coming to little clearings where she had some views. The first views were of the surrounding mountains farther up the valley.

Miss Enormous Pink Tongue reaches one of the first clearings. Photo looks SW.

Other than this ptarmigan, Lupe met no one else at all on the Hope Point trail.

Mountains on the opposite side of the valley. Photo looks W.

Another look with help from the telephoto lens.

After a long switchback to the NW, the trail finally turned E traversing a steep grassy slope. The views were really beginning to open up. Lupe could see the village of Hope to the SE at the lower end of a long canyon. The Turnagain Arm soon came into sight, too.

The views opened up as the trail traversed a steep grassy slope. The village of Hope is down among the trees on the L. Photo looks SE.

Looking back along the grassy slope. The trail was nearly level here. Photo looks NW.

*Now we’re getting somewhere! Look at that, SPHP! The beautiful **Turnagain Arm**. But what happened to our blue skies?* Photo looks E.

The **village of Hope** (R) and **Turnagain Arm** (L). Photo looks SE.

Shortly after the Turnagain Arm appeared, the trail turned sharply NW. Instead of being on a hillside, Lupe was now climbing more steeply up a partially forested ridge. Views were often hidden by bushes and stunted trees. After less than 10 minutes following the ridgeline, the trail leveled out at a spot where there was a big cairn.

After a 9 minute climb NW along a ridgeline, Lupe reaches a large cairn. **Hope Point** (Center) is somewhere up in the clouds beyond Lupe. Photo looks WNW.

Was this the end of the of the maintained trail? Hope Point, or what could be seen of it beneath the cloud cover, still looked a long way up. SPHP checked a photo of the map that was posted at the trailhead. No, this couldn’t be the end of the maintained trail. Lupe hadn’t gone far enough up the ridge yet.

In any case, maintained or not, the trail continued on beyond the cairn. The American Dingo did, too. The Hope Point trail kept following the ridgeline higher. This next section featured lots of bushes, overgrown areas where wet grass nearly as tall as SPHP overhung the trail again, and some very slick muddy spots where the trail dipped temporarily.

None of it was difficult, though. The trail wasn’t all that steep. Loopster enjoyed wildflowers and occasional views along the way.

The **Turnagain Arm** from a viewpoint beyond the first cairn. Photo looks E.

Lupe was still making progress, but things weren’t looking as good as hoped for up at Hope Point. The ridge seen beyond Lupe is at 2,800 feet elevation, still 900 feet lower than the summit. Photo looks WNW.

Bluebells and a bee. Or purplebells, if you’re a stickler for accuracy.

Half an hour at a steady, but leisurely pace brought Lupe to a second cairn. A check of the maps convinced SPHP that this actually was the end of the maintained trail.

Pity those who get fooled by the first cairn, and turn back there! They’ve been cheated! The second cairn sat on a hillock on an open ridge, higher up, and with an unobstructed view of the Turnagain Arm. This was a far superior viewpoint. Off to the NW, across the Turnagain Arm, Lupe could see Anchorage.

Looking E along the **Turnagain Arm**, where a rain shower is in progress.

**Anchorage, Alaska** (Center) sprawls over the flat ground beyond the **Turnagain Arm**. Photo looks NW.

While gazing toward Anchorage, SPHP suddenly realized that far, far away a huge white mountain was dimly visible in a gap between cloud layers. Like an abominable monster, Denali (20,310 ft.), the highest peak in North America, loomed menacingly over the unsuspecting city! Lupe could see it from here!

**Denali**, floating in a gap between cloud layers, seems to loom over E Anchorage (L) and the Knik Arm. Photo looks NNW with help from the telephoto lens.

Unfortunately, the news on the weather front was not as good as it had been earlier. The morning sunshine was gone. Quite a while ago, those blue skies had been completely overrun by gray clouds. Hope Point was in their grasp, too.

All hope wasn’t completely lost yet, though. With 1,300 feet of elevation gain to go, it would take Lupe a while to get up there. The summit still appeared to be faintly visible, and conditions might improve. If Loop got lucky, maybe the cloud deck would lift enough to grant her at least a peek at the magnificent views that must be available from Hope Point on a clear day?

The next part of the journey was a 400 foot climb up to a ridge at the 2,800 foot level. From the second cairn, a trail could be seen winding up a steep, grassy slope. The fact that any kind of visible trail continued on beyond this point was encouraging. Lupe and SPHP set out for the 2,800 foot ridge.

Beyond the second cairn, a trail winds up a grassy slope to the next ridge at the 2,800 foot level. Lupe not looking too enthused, or perhaps simply not feeling well at this point. She is still close to the second cairn here. Photo looks W.

The last little bit getting up onto the 2,800 foot ridge involved the only real scramble of the day. Mild and over quickly. Nothing to worry about. Lupe was up in a flash. The trail continued W staying on the ridge or toward the L (S) avoiding impressive drops to the R (N).

The 2,800 foot ridge was rocky, and a little rough. At the same time, it was fairly level, and not terribly long. Lupe soon reached the W end. She was now faced with a 300 foot climb up to a saddle at 3,100 feet. A decent trail continued up another steep grassy slope to the saddle.

Just beyond the W end of the 2,800 foot ridge looking up at the 3,100 foot saddle. Photo looks WSW.

By the time Lupe reached the 3,100 foot saddle, she was getting into fog. Not a good sign, as far as her hopes of seeing anything from up on Hope Point went. The unmaintained trail was still in good condition, though. Despite fading expectations, Lupe continued higher.

Looking back down on the **2,800 foot ridge** (L) on the way up to the 3,100 foot saddle. The partially forested lower ridgeline (Center) Lupe had come up where both cairns had been is in view, too. Photo looks E.

Loopster at the **3,100 foot saddle** determined to press on! Photo looks SE.

The trail continues! It goes toward the L (SW), ultimately curling back up to the N (R) on Hope Point’s S ridge. Lupe is still at the **3,100 foot saddle** here, about 600 feet below the summit. Photo looks W.

From the 3,100 foot saddle, the trail went SW gaining elevation steadily at an easy pace. The path became narrower as it traversed slopes of scree. Upon reaching Hope Point’s S ridge, the trail turned N, climbing more steeply while following the ridge to the top of the mountain.

Conditions weren’t terrible, but they weren’t all that great either, when Loop arrived at the summit of Hope Point (3,708 ft.). Foggy, raining, 45°F, with a 10-15 mph wind out of the W. Lupe stood in the rain atop the high point cold, wet, not feeling too well, and with little to show for her efforts despite a peakbagging success.

The Hope survey benchmark at the high point.

On the summit standing next to the Hope survey benchmark.

Taking pity on Lupe, SPHP retreated to a spot with soft tundra a little down the E side of the summit ridge to get her out of the wind. Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap inside the blue rain poncho.

It was too little, too late. Loopster was already drenched. After trying the poncho for a few minutes, she decided she might as well get out, and endure whatever the elements threw at her. She curled up on the soft tundra, but that wasn’t a solution, either. Nothing felt good. Lupe sat forlornly in the cold rain looking utterly dejected and miserable.

They say that hope springs eternal. Not at Hope Point. Lupe waited, but the wind blew, the rain came down, the fog only worsened, and her faint hopes for a turn in the weather collapsed and died.

May as well call it. Not happening, not today. Lupe had done all she could. No sense in allowing Hope Point a shot at transforming itself into Pneumonia Point. After 25 less than delightful minutes at the summit, the American Dingo brightened when SPHP proposed heading down.

Onward! Puppy, ho! Back down the scree slopes on the narrow trail. Rain and fog now extended below the 2,800 foot ridge. Lupe was barely out of the fog by the time she reached the second cairn at 2,400 feet again, the rain reduced to mere mist.

At the W end of the **2,800 foot ridge** on the return. Photo looks E.

Exiting the fog on the way down to the second cairn (L). Photo looks E.

On the open ridge close to the second cairn, Lupe stood on the edge of a silvery world. The tide had been going out. The Turnagain Arm was a combination of shallow sea and mud flats. Visibility was poor beneath low hanging clouds. Yet the monotone scene blended perfectly in silvery silence, seeming as a long forgotten, mystical land glimpsed through the haze of dim memory, not mist.

The return trek was actually quite a lot of fun. Down the long, winding trail, Lupe sniffed and explored as she gradually dried out. Before she reached the primeval forest near the trailhead, sunshine glimmered among the trees.

A glimmer of sunshine in the dank forest.

8-27-18, 4:26 PM, 61°F, Hope Point trailhead – By the time Lupe was back at the G6, the camera was malfunctioning. Error messages and shutting itself down as soon as turned on. Fresh batteries didn’t help. Must have gotten too wet. A couple of hours spent trying to dry it out were to no avail. The camera was old, and had been having intermittent problems for over a year. This time it was a goner.

So Lupe enjoyed an evening ride. The cloud cover was breaking up, as SPHP drove the Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm back to Anchorage. Suddenly a fiery golden-orange sun burst through in a blaze of glory, brilliantly illuminating pink and yellow clouds reflected on the shimmering sea. The promised land! The gateway to Heaven! Perhaps the most glorious scene Lupe and SPHP had ever seen!

A backup camera might serve, but the Seward Highway was jam-packed with traffic desperate to roar along at top speed. Highway construction. A narrow lane between endless orange cones permitted no deviation. No place to escape the road and park.

Oh, for Lupe to have been up on Hope Point then, during the ten glorious minutes before the sun disappeared and nirvana faded to gray! Not to be. Yet hope was restored for new and sunnier adventures to come.

**Hope Point**, Kenai Mountains, Alaska 8-27-18

Directions to the Hope Point trailhead – At mile 56.5, Seward Highway, turn W onto Hope Highway. Drive 17.8 miles, take a L 500 feet before the Porcupine Campground, drive 0.25 mile to the trailhead.

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