Oligvie Mountains – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Goldensides, Oligvie Range, Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon Territory, Canada (9-5-17)

Day 37 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!

8:54 AM, 47°F at the lower part of a two-tier pullout along the Dempster Highway SE of Surfbird Mountain – The promise of those hopeful pink glowing clouds late yesterday evening had come to naught. After a fitful night’s sleep, Lupe woke to fog and light mist. Not what SPHP had been hoping for, but the Carolina Dog seemed happy enough, despite her sore right rear paw. She eagerly explored the bushes, sometimes hopping about on 3 paws.

Enjoying an overcast morning romp among the bushes.

After her morning romp, and a leisurely breakfast of chili, English muffins, and cheese, the American Dingo was ready for the day’s main event. Though the light mist had ended, the sky remained overcast. Fog cloaked the mountaintops. Conditions weren’t really very promising. Nevertheless, Lupe and SPHP left the two tier pullout, heading S on the Dempster Highway in the G6. (10:49 AM, 49°F)

When the highway crossed the East Blackstone River, Lupe wanted to stop briefly to check it out. The river was lovely, and though not far from its headwaters, already a good-sized stream.

On the E bank of the lovely **East Blackstone River**. Photo looks S.

**East Blackstone River**, Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon Territory.

Loop made another stop in the North Fork Pass area. The lower slopes of Goldensides Mountain (6,000 ft.), her peakbagging objective for the day, were in view. Discouragingly, clouds hid the summit.

(Note: To see topo maps after clicking on any mountain link in this post, switch from CalTopo to MyTopo at upper L on the Google dynamic map.)

From **North Fork Pass**, **Goldensides Mountain** (Center) is partially in view, its summit hidden by clouds. Part of **Black Cap Mountain (6,000 ft.)** (L) can also be seen. Photo looks SE.

**Goldensides Mountain** from **North Fork Pass**. Photo looks SE.

If the weather stayed like this, there wouldn’t be much point in climbing Goldensides, but maybe the sky would clear up later on? At the very least, Looper could take the 1.5 km trail to a couple of viewpoints S of Goldensides Mountain. She would still be below the cloud cover, and ought to be able to see something.

Lupe and SPHP drove S looking for the turn to the Goldensides trailhead. A side road appeared near kilometer 74. That had to be it! The side road went E up a hillside, arriving at a small parking area next to a fenced microwave tower roughly a kilometer from the highway. A sign confirmed that Lupe was at the right place. (12:00 PM, 46°F)

Loop arrives at the Goldensides trailhead. A 1.5 km long developed trail (one way) goes E from here to a couple of viewpoints S of **Goldensides Mountain**. Photo looks NW.

The Goldensides trail was in good shape and easy to follow. From the very start, Lupe was surrounded by beautiful fall foliage. Before long, Looper was getting views down the North Klondike River valley. She could see the Tombstone Interpretive Centre down there.

Having hardly started on the Goldensides trail, Lupe is already immersed in spectacular fall foliage! Photo looks NW.

Looking down the **North Klondike River valley**. The Tombstone Interpretive Centre, park headquarters, is visible in the valley near the Dempster Highway. Photo looks S.

At first, the trail gained elevation slowly. As Looper continued onward, she began climbing more steeply, but still at only a moderate pace.

Looking up **Goldensides Mountain** from farther along the trail. Photo looks NW.

Looking back toward the trailhead, which is near the microwave tower (R). The upper **North Klondike River valley** (L) is in the distance. Photo looks SW.

The Goldensides trail continues up toward the high points on the L. Photo looks E.

Fall had already arrived in Tombstone Territorial Park. The hardy tundra plants featured amazingly brilliant colors.

Lupe was well along the trail, when she came to a fork. A side trail to the R led to a nearby rocky hill. This hill is the first main viewpoint along the Goldensides trail. Naturally, Loop went to the top of the little hill to check it out.

A short side trail leads to this rocky hill, the first major viewpoint along the Goldensides trail. Photo looks SSW.

**Goldensides Mountain** from the first viewpoint. Photo looks NNE.

The **upper North Klondike River valley** from the first viewpoint. Photo looks SW.

Loopster could see the main Goldensides trail heading E toward another hill not too far away. The official trail ends at the second hill, which is the final viewpoint. When SPHP was done taking in the scenes from this first hill, Lupe continued on to the last one. Coming down off the first viewpoint, she stopped next to an interesting column of rock.

The Goldensides trail officially ends at the slightly higher hill at Center. Photo looks E.

Loop by a dramatic column of rock at the edge of the first viewpoint. Photo looks SE.

Lupe reached the end of the Goldensides trail less than an hour after leaving the trailhead. From here, she could see more territory farther up a valley to the E.

On the final hill at the end of the official Goldensides trail. Loopster could see farther E from here. Photo looks E.

Although the mountaintops were still in the clouds, the beautiful mountainsides were worth coming to see. Colorful slopes presented a combination of rich reds and golds of the tundra mixed with both light and dark grays of the rocks. Photo looks SE.

**Fold Mountain** is the massive peak seen beyond the **North Klondike River valley**. Photo looks SW.

At the end of the Goldensides trail, Looper had gained nearly 700 feet of elevation. The summit of Goldensides was another 1200 feet higher. To get there, the Carolina Dog would have to scramble up the steep S face of the mountain.

Here at the official end of the Goldensides trail, Loopster had gained nearly 700 feet of elevation. If she wanted to continue to the summit of Goldensides Mountain, she would have to scramble up the steep S face. The summit was up there somewhere, another 1200 feet higher. Photo looks N.

The S face didn’t look too bad. Lupe could probably do that! While the sky remained completely overcast, the good news was that the clouds had lifted somewhat. The top of Goldensides was no longer in fog. May as well go for it!

The Carolina Dog left the end of the Goldensides trail heading straight for the S face of the mountain. As the slope became steeper, she began climbing toward the NW. The idea was to get up on a long SW ridge that looked a bit easier than a direct assault on the S face.

From here, Lupe headed directly toward **Goldensides Mountain**. As she reached the area where the S face started getting steep, she angled NW (L) trying to reach the SW ridgeline (L).

Intricate tundra plants on the S side of Goldensides Mountain.

Lupe climbed and climbed. The mountain got steeper and steeper. At first there were helpful lanes of vegetation to follow between the rocks. Higher up, it was nothing but rock.

Loop is a great scrambler. She had no trouble at all. She had plenty of time to look around at the views as SPHP struggled to carefully pick a way up the mountain behind her. Most of the dark rocks were stable, and smallish to medium sized.

Intrepid American Dingo Lupe on her way up Goldensides. Photo looks, yeah baby, up!

The climb was steep, but not scary. Lupe finally did reach the SW ridge she had been aiming for. She was already very high on the mountain.

Peering over the ridgeline, Loop made several discoveries. First, the other side of the ridge was even steeper. She would be best off staying right on the ridgeline, or on this SE side of it. Second, she could now see a long way N beyond North Fork Pass to the East Blackstone River valley.

Third, and most importantly, the summit of Goldensides Mountain was still considerably farther away than expected. Fortunately, it looked like getting there would be easy, if Loopster could reach a smoother ridge seen NNE of her present position. It wasn’t possible yet to see how hard that might be.

Peering over the SW ridgeline. The Dempster Highway heads away to **North Fork Pass** (near the lake) and beyond into the East Blackstone River valley. Photo looks NW.

Lupe reaches the SW ridgeline. She’s already quite high. The summit of Goldensides is farther off than expected somewhere over on that ridge beyond her. Photo looks NNE.

Climbing NE along the ridgeline, Lupe found a path. Others had been here before! That was reassuring. Loop must be on the right track. It was starting to look like getting over to the smoother ridge to the NNE wasn’t going to be a problem.

Making progress toward the smoother ridge on the L. Photo looks NE.

The American Dingo hadn’t traveled far along the SW ridge when SPHP realized she was rapidly approaching a massive rock formation on the ridgeline ahead. How was Loop going to get beyond that? Suddenly, what had seemed easy was now worrisome. The informal path Loop was following led straight toward the rocks.

The path went right on up to a high point next to the rock formation. Looking over the other side, there was no path, only a rock strewn slope dropping steeply away. To the SE (R) was a tall, straight, solid wall of rock. Was this the right way?

Loopster approaching the huge rock formation (L) on the SW ridge. The path she was on led her right up to it. Photo looks SSW.

The informal path Lupe followed on the upper SW ridge ended here next to a wall of rock. Photo looks NE.

This had to be it, didn’t it? If Loop could get down from here to the rocks at the base of this wall, she could easily scramble back up the other side to the easy terrain leading toward the summit. She only had to safely descend 25 or 30 feet. Looked like it ought to be possible, if none of the drops were too high.

Loopster and SPHP started down. Eh, not too bad. At one particularly high drop, SPHP had to ease down first, then help Loop get down, too. That was it. Cake! Well, almost. Anyway, Lupe had made it over this rocky little pass. Henceforth known as Dingo Pass, of course!

Lupe safely over **Dingo Pass**, the narrow notch seen above her on the L.

Once safely over Dingo Pass, Loop had to scramble across a boulder field at the base of the wall of rock. No big deal. She soon got beyond the boulders, and arrived on a smooth gravel hillside.

The Carolina Dog had reached the lower end of the smooth ridge she had seen upon reaching the SW ridgeline. Ought to be easy going from here! In fact, Lupe could see some sort of tower or antenna ahead. Maybe that was the summit? If so, she had it made. Easy, squeezy all the way!

Beyond Dingo Pass and the boulder field at the base of the wall of rock, Lupe stands atop a gravel hillside. A tower or antenna is in view on the L. If that was the summit, Lupe was almost there! Photo looks NNE.

Lupe made for the tower. Before she even got close, it became apparent the tower or antenna or whatever it was, was not at the summit. A higher hill came into view farther NNE. Two knobs of rock could be seen up there, perched along the W edge. Maybe that was the summit? Before heading over there, Lupe went to the antenna first.

Lupe on the way to the antenna. Photo looks S back the way she has just come up. From here, it was easy to see that the rock formation she’d crossed was a huge band running completely across the upper S end of the mountain. **Dingo Pass** is toward the R. The gravel hill she had been standing on is at Center next to the rock formation.

Well before Lupe even got to the antenna, this higher hill with two knobs of rock on it appeared farther to the NNE.

Lupe reaches the “tower”, which turned out to be an antenna with a solar array.

It doesn’t take an American Dingo long to inspect a little antenna and a solar array, not when there is a lofty summit to get to nearby! Loopster sniffed around the antenna for a minute or two, then it was off to the higher hill. It wasn’t as far away as it looked. As Lupe approached the top, she could see that the two knobs of rock were actually large cairns.

Heading toward the higher hill from the antenna. Photo looks NE.

Yes, this was it! The highest natural rocks were at the N end of the hill. Lupe stood at the true summit of Goldensides (6,000 ft.)! Grand views all around. Too bad clouds hid all the higher peaks, but at least the top of Goldensides wasn’t lost in them. Looper could see a lot, despite the overcast sky.

Lupe reaches the true summit of **Goldensides Mountain**! The largest of several cairns is on the L. Photo looks NW.

*Chalk another one up for the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood, SPHP! This is it, the top of **Goldensides Mountain** in Tombstone Territorial Park!*

The top of Goldensides Mountain featured not one, but three cairns. The largest was closest to the true summit. Not content with merely standing on the highest natural point on the mountain, Lupe clambered up on the biggest cairn, too.

Loopster atop the highest cairn. The Dempster Highway and **North Fork Pass** are on the L. The peak in the clouds to the L of Lupe is **Angelcomb Peak (6,300 ft.)**. Photo looks NNW.

Loop visited the two smaller cairns, too.

Lupe sits next to the smallest cairn, which was E of the true summit. Photo looks E.

At the second largest cairn. The antenna is visible beyond Loop. Photo looks SW.

For a while, Lupe stayed busy exploring the summit area. Eventually, though, she decided to take a break down by the second largest cairn.

For a while Loop stayed busy exploring the summit area. Photo looks S.

Eventually Looper (R) was content with her explorations of the summit area. She settled down to take a break by the second largest cairn. Photo looks SW.

Resting on Goldensides. On a clear day, Looper would have had a tremendous view of **Tombstone Mountain (7,192 ft.)** at the far end of the **upper North Klondike River valley**. Photo looks SW.

While Looper relaxed, SPHP admired the views in all directions.

**Blackcap Mountain (6,000 ft.)** from **Goldensides**. Photo looks NE.

**Blackcap Mountain** from a slightly different angle. Photo looks ENE.

Looking down Goldensides’ NW ridge toward **North Fork Pass**.

The Dempster Highway and **North Fork Mountain (6,000 ft.)** (L). Photo looks W.

**North Klondike River valley** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks S.

**North Fork Pass** from the largest cairn. Photo looks NW.

The ridge in weak sunlight at Center is **Surfbird Mountain (5,300 ft.)**, which Lupe had climbed yesterday. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

Looking down on the Dempster Highway more than 2,000 feet below. Photo looks W.

Looking S with help from the telephoto lens.

The **upper North Klondike River valley**. Photo looks SW.

Beyond the far end of the upper North Klondike River valley looking toward **Tombstone Mountain** (L) lost in clouds. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

When the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood was done resting up, she was ready to get back into the picture. The first thing she did was to return to the true summit.

Fresh as a daisy, the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood returns to the summit of **Goldensides Mountain**. Photo looks NW.

On top of the big cairn again. Photo looks N.

Upper North Klondike River valley again. The microwave tower where the Goldensides trail starts is in view below. Photo looks SW.

A panoramic view toward **Fold Mountain** (L), which has also emerged from the cloud cover. Photo looks SW.

After nearly an hour up at the Goldensides summit, Lupe started down again. She would have to go back the same way she came up.

After nearly an hour up on Goldensides, Loop is about ready to start the descent. Photo looks S.

**Fold Mountain** (Center). Photo looks SW.

Approaching **Dingo Pass** (L) again, this time from above. Photo looks SW.

The return trip was uneventful and, of course, stunningly beautiful. The cloud cover had lifted quite a bit over the past few hours. SPHP wished the sun would break through, if only for a little while, but it never did. After a time consuming descent of the S face waiting for slowpoke SPHP, Lupe made it back down to the Goldensides trail. The rest was easy.

Down off the S face, getting close to the end of the Goldensides trail. Photo looks SE.

Back on the Goldensides trail. All easy from here! Photo looks SW.

The trailhead (L) comes back into sight. Photo looks W.

Once Lupe got back to the trailhead (5:38 PM, 54°F), SPHP drove her back around to the NW side of Goldensides again. This time Looper had a clear view of the mountain.

Lupe NW of **Goldensides Mountain** after having been on top only a few hours ago. Photo looks SE.

Beautiful Goldensides was the last mountain Lupe would climb in the Yukon in 2017. Soon the American Dingo would have to start for home. Yet one more big adventure awaited her in Tombstone Territorial Park. Tomorrow she would take the Grizzly Lake trail to see Mount Monolith (7,000 ft.).

On the Grizzly Ridge Trail to Grizzly Lake & Views of Mount Monolith, Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon Territory, Canada (9-6-17)

Tombstone Territorial Park

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Surfbird Mountain, Oligvie Range, Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon Territory, Canada (9-4-17)

Day 36 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!

9:00 AM, 54°F, at a pullout near Kilometer 20 of the Dempster Highway – Ugh! So late! Lupe was wide awake, staring out of the G6. She probably had been for a long time. 54°F! No wonder SPHP had slept so well. Comfortably warm for once, instead of the usual Yukon chill. Lupe eagerly dashed out of the G6 as soon as she got the chance, disappearing into the woods nearby.

Cheese and English muffins for breakfast. Loop returned for that. Her right rear paw seemed OK now. Yesterday evening she had been hopping around on 3 legs shortly after getting here. A raw spot in between her pads seemed to be the problem. She must have gotten cut stepping on something sharp. Maybe the antibiotic ointment SPHP applied had actually helped?

As soon as breakfast was over, Lupe and SPHP hit the road traveling N on the Dempster Highway. Loop spotted the Tombstone Territorial Park sign near kilometer 50. A quick photo stop was clearly in order.

Lupe reaches **Tombstone Territorial Park** near kilometer 50 of the Dempster Highway.

The Dempster Highway goes right through Tombstone Territorial Park. Lupe had never been here before. As she continued N into the park, the scenery was rapidly becoming more and more stunning. Wow, this looked promising! Only September 4th, but fall colors were already evident. Even though the sky was overcast, everything was so beautiful!

Lupe stands on the Dempster Highway in **Tombstone Territorial Park** close to where the big mountains start. Fall colors were already here.

Even on an overcast day, the **Oligvie Mountains** were serving up some spectacular scenery. Photo looks NE.

The Dempster Highway wound along the W side of the North Klondike River valley. Around each bend were more magnificent sights.

The Dempster Highway winds up the North Klondike River valley. Photo looks NNE.

The highway was gaining elevation. Tree line isn’t very high in Tombstone Territorial Park. Forests were soon confined only to valleys and lower mountain slopes. Higher up, bright yellows, oranges, and reds of the tundra were splashed across the dark gray exposed rock of the steep mountain slopes. The overall effect gave the Oligvie Mountains a most striking and distinctive appearance.

The higher mountains of the **Oligvie Range** were almost entirely above tree line. Bright colors of the tundra vegetation clinging to the dark rocky slopes gave the mountains a strikingly beautiful and distinctive appearance. Photo looks NE.

As Lupe passed the Tombstone Interpretive Centre at kilometer 71.5, the Dempster Highway began climbing much more aggressively. The sense that the Carolina Dog was approaching something truly fabulous just ahead was strong.

The highway angled NW along a steep slope. The North Klondike River, which was now W of the highway, could be seen curving away toward a side valley. Such a glorious view! Had to stop for this!

Several km N of the interpretive centre, Lupe stopped along the Dempster Highway for this grand view of the **North Klondike River**. Photo looks SW.

The Tombstone Interpretive Centre is way down in the valley almost straight up from Lupe. Photo looks SSE down the **North Klondike River valley**.

Another look at the **North Klondike River** from the same spot. The colors turned out more vivid in this photo, and give a much better idea how brilliantly colored everything appeared. Unfortunately, the overcast sky had a tendency to make photos look washed out. Photo looks SW.

SPHP had stopped a little too soon to get the best view of the long valley the North Klondike River originates from. Lupe and SPHP hopped back in the G6, went a bit farther and higher, and stopped again. Incredible! Lupe could now see much more. The Carolina Dog could even see the iconic symbol of Tombstone Provincial Park. At the far end of the long valley stood Tombstone Mountain (7,192 ft.)!

(Note: To see topo maps after clicking on any mountain link in this post, switch from CalTopo to MyTopo at upper L on the Google dynamic map.)

From a slightly higher vantage point, Lupe could see much farther up the long North Klondike River valley. **Tombstone Mountain (7,192 ft.)** (Center) juts up at the far end. Photo looks SW.

**Tombstone Mountain** (R) with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

A broader, but sadly washed out look at **Tombstone Mountain**. Photo looks SW.

Though distant Tombstone Mountain grabbed and held the attention, other beautiful mountains were much closer by.

Looking S at some of the gorgeous nearby peaks.

A river of gold pours down **North Fork Mountain (6,000 ft.)** (L). Photo looks NW.

As beautiful as these scenes were, Lupe had farther to go. When SPHP was finally able to turn away from the glorious sights right here, it was back into the G6. The Dempster Highway turned NE continuing higher, then quickly began to level out. The highway curved gradually back to the NNW, and went over a broad level saddle.

Loopster had reached North Fork Pass, the high point of the Dempster Highway in Tombstone Territorial Park. N of the pass, Lupe entered a wide valley which was part of the East Blackstone River drainage. The highway descended slowly along the E side of this valley.

The Oligvie Mountains weren’t quite as rugged here as back near the viewpoint where Lupe had just seen Tombstone Mountain. Even so, this area had an impressively stark aspect to it. Scarcely a tree was in sight. The Dempster Highway passed a kilometer E of a small lake. Loop and SPHP left the G6 here, walking a bit back up the highway experiencing an incredible sense of remoteness.

Lupe in the **North Fork Pass** region. The small lake is part of the **East Blackstone River drainage**. Photo looks W.

A closer look with help from the telephoto lens.

N of North Fork Pass bushes grew in profusion, but scarcely a tree was in sight. The **East Blackstone River valley** and the surrounding **Oligvie Mountains** exuded a stark, remote feel. Photo looks NW.

Loop on the Dempster Highway on her way back to the G6 (R). SPHP didn’t realize it yet, but her peakbagging objective, **Surfbird Mountain** (the high point of the distant ridge on the R) was already in sight. Photo looks NW.

Lupe and SPHP continued N from North Fork Pass. Somewhere, still 15 or 20 km ahead, was Lupe’s peakbagging objective for the day, Surfbird Mountain (5,300 ft.). The highway crossed over to the W side of the East Blackstone River. SPHP started watching for a microwave tower to the W, which doubles as the trailhead for Surfbird Mountain.

The highway again passed E of a small lake. The road was much closer to this second lake. Although the microwave tower hadn’t appeared yet, SPHP stopped so Lupe could sniff around.

Lupe near another small lake in the East Blackstone River valley. Photo looks W.

SPHP still didn’t realize it, but at this second small lake Lupe was getting very close to Surfbird Mountain. In fact, **Surfbird Mountain** is the ridge seen beyond the lake. The summit Looper would be heading to is on the L. Photo looks NW.

The turn W (L) on the side road leading to the microwave tower was supposed to be near kilometer 98.5, but SPHP had written down the wrong number. A microwave tower did come into view shortly after Lupe left the second small lake, however. That had to be it, so SPHP made the turn and drove a couple km up the side road to the tower.

Not a soul was around, which was a good thing, since there wasn’t a lot of extra space to park here where the G6 wouldn’t block access to the tower in the event a service vehicle happened along. There was plenty of room for just the G6, though.

Parked at the microwave tower a couple kilometers W of the Dempster Highway. The turn is near km 98.5. Photo looks ESE.

12:58 PM, 50°F at the microwave tower near km 98.5 of the Dempster Highway – The overcast sky was a bit discouraging, but the weather didn’t seem threatening at the moment. Having just had a bite to eat, the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood was ready to set off for Surfbird Mountain (5,300 ft.). Surfbird was supposed to be a really easy climb, so if the weather would hold out, Looper should get there.

Lines of tall bushes coming down the ridge W of the microwave tower marked drainages where there might be really wet ground, or even streams. No sense getting wet feet right off, if it could be avoided. To avoid these drainages, Lupe and SPHP set off going W straight up the slope.

Looper ready to set off for **Surfbird Mountain**. The E end of Surfbird Mountain is seen beyond her. Instead of heading directly for the mountain, Loop would go W (R) from here to gain the top of a ridge in order to avoid the wet drainage areas where tall bushes flourished. Photo looks S.

Partway up the first slope, still climbing toward the ridge out of sight on the R (W). Photo looks S.

The tundra was spongy and damp everywhere. For SPHP’s sake, Lupe did manage to avoid the wettest areas. She went all the way up to the top of the ridge W of the microwave tower. The ridge was very broad. Lupe now had a clear view of Surfbird Mountain’s summit. So easy! This climb was going to be nothing more than a stroll up a big hill. Avoiding drainages and boggy areas was all there was to it.

Instead of going directly toward the summit, Looper headed S toward a closer high point.

Up on the first ridge W of the microwave tower, Loopster has a clear view of Surfbird Mountain’s summit (R) ahead. Instead of going directly to it, she proceeded toward the high point seen beyond her (L) first. Photo looks S.

The remote, natural beauty of the Oligvie Mountains surrounded Lupe on an enormous scale. Beauty was present on a tiny scale, too, in the form of countless exquisite little tundra plants beneath her paws.

A steady climb up the long slope brought Lupe to a big flat area on top of the next ridge. Total elevation gain to the summit of Surfbird Mountain is about 1,500 feet from the microwave tower. Lupe had already gained close to 1,300 feet, so most of the work was done. The ground was nice and dry up here. Looper was perfectly happy curling up and relaxing, while SPHP admired the already magnificent views.

Loop stands along the N edge of the long slope she had just climbed. The Dempster Highway is in view below. **Two Moose Lake** is in the distance on the L. Photo looks NE.

Loopster takes a Dingo nap up on the big flat area. The summit of Surfbird Mountain is the hill seen beyond her. The high peak on the R is **Blackstone Mountain (6,900 ft.)**. **Mount Auston (6,500 ft.)** is at Center. Photo looks SW.

Looking NW toward light gray mountains of the **Patrol Range**.

View to the N. The microwave tower where the G6 is parked is seen below at Center.

When SPHP was ready to move on, Lupe led the way heading SW from the flat area. She lost elevation going down a dip in the broad ridge, but not any great amount. The summit of Surfbird Mountain (5,300 ft.) was in view beyond the dip. Lupe headed for a closer high point first.

Lupe in the dip in the broad ridge. The Dempster Highway is in the distance at Center. The first small lake Lupe had seen near North Fork Pass is on the R. **Angelcomb Peak (6,300 ft.)** is seen straight up from Lupe. Photo looks SE.

Crossing the dip in the broad ridge. Surfbird Mountain’s summit is the hill on the R. Loop is on her way to the closer high point on the L first. Photo looks SW.

Up on the last high point before the summit. The second lake Lupe had stopped by on the way here is on the R. Photo looks SE.

Most of Surfbird Mountain (5,300 ft.) is a wide ridge. Toward the W end, the absolute summit is a narrow hill superimposed upon the main ridge. That hill wasn’t far away at all now. Lupe left the high point heading W right to it. At the top of the hill, she found a short, stony ridgeline running E/W.

Lupe heads for the narrow hill where the summit of **Surfbird Mountain** is located. Photo looks WNW.

Loop reaches the summit! **Mount Auston** (L) and **Blackstone Mountain** (Center) are beyond her. Photo looks SW.

Lupe sits at the **true summit of Surfbird Mountain**. A chilly S breeze was blowing from behind her. **Blackstone Mountain** on the R. Photo looks SW.

Even though Surfbird Mountain was an easy climb, the views were tremendous!

Same view with help from the telephoto lens.

Looking WSW up the **Wildhorse Creek valley** (L) toward **Blackstone Mountain** and **Mount Auston**.

The **East Blackstone River** and Dempster Highway are both visible down by the second lake Lupe dropped by on the way here. **Angelcomb Peak (6,300 ft.)** is in view beyond the lake. Photo looks SE.

Both of the lakes Lupe stopped by can be seen in this photo. The first one is far away on the R. **Angelcomb Peak** is the pointy peak in view well beyond the closer lake. The near ridge on the R is the E end of **Rake Mountain**. Photo looks SE.

Off to the W, another hill even higher than Surfbird Mountain was only a mile or so away. Lupe might easily have gone over there, but didn’t for 2 reasons.

First of all, the weather was questionable. The sky had been completely overcast all day. The situation wasn’t improving, either. Toward the S horizon, it now looked like rain or fog. A chilly S wind was sweeping over Surfbird Mountain, potentially driving the precipitation this way. SPHP didn’t relish the notion of getting drenched at some point.

Secondly, Lupe’s right rear paw was bothering her. She was occasionally hopping on 3 legs again. Making Looper go any farther on a sore paw wasn’t a kind thing to ask her to do. That just wouldn’t be right.

No worries. Surfbird Mountain was a great place to be! Might as well enjoy the awesome scenes from right here. Instead of pushing on, Lupe and SPHP spent an entire hour at Surfbird’s summit. Most of this time was spent N of and below the rocky crest to avoid the wind.

The whole sky was a sullen gray. The world stretched away to the N all brown and drab. It felt, it looked, like late November back home. What an amazing place, though! Lonely and quiet, the vast emptiness of the hills, ridges, valleys, and peaks of the Yukon’s Oligvie Range extended as far as the American Dingo could see.

Lupe sat huddled partially inside SPHP’s jacket. Watching, waiting. Nothing moved. The only sound, the swirling breeze. Sublime.

Watching the world from Surfbird Mountain on a somber, gray day. Photo looks W.

While the vast scene to the N looked brown and drab, nearby objects revealed intricate colors and patterns.

SPHP wanted to keep an eye on the weather. Every now and then, Lupe braved the cold wind, climbing the few feet necessary to get back on top of the mountain. The situation to the S never seemed to change much. Looper could linger a while longer.

Lupe and SPHP spent a lot of time on the grassy spot below the rock Loop is perched on. Photo looks ENE.

*Stay right there, Loopster! That’s a great rock you’re on. I want to get a dramatic Dingo shot. ….. Well, hurry it up then, SPHP! This wind is annoying.*

*How does this look? Dramatic enough for you? …. Oh, pretty good, Loop. A little bright blue sky wouldn’t hurt a thing, but seems to be in mighty short supply today.*

Lupe’s incredible, wonderful hour at the top of Surfbird Mountain came and went. The Carolina Dog left her hiding spot, returning once more to the summit.

**Mount Auston** (L) and **Blackstone Mountain** (R). Photo looks SW.

The **Wildhorse Creek valley**, **Blackstone Mountain** (Center) and **Mount Auston** (L) from **Surfbird Mountain**. Photo looks SW.

Looking down into **Wildhorse Creek valley**. **Rake Mountain** (Center) is on the other side. Photo looks S.

Well, that’s about it. This is Lupe, the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood, from atop **Surfbird Mountain** in **Tombstone Territorial Park.** I’ve never been on a mountain this far N in the Yukon Territory before. It’s a mighty fine peak and easy to climb. If you come here, bring some sunshine if you can, but you won’t be disappointed either way!

On the way back, Lupe varied her route somewhat. When she reached the big flat area on the second ridge, she went all the way out to its far E end. Here she had a great view of the East Blackstone River valley, and a prominent thumb of rock nearby to the N.

On the way back to the G6, Lupe went way out to the E end of the lower ridge on the L. Photo looks ENE from the E end of Surfbird Mountain’s little summit ridge.

Looking down on the Dempster Highway from the NE end of Surfbird Mountain. **Two Moose Lake** is the larger lake on the L. **Lone Moose Lake** is on the R. The side road leading to the microwave tower is at lower L. Photo looks NE.

Looking down on the thumb of rock (L) at the NE end of **Surfbird Mountain**. Photo looks NE.

The return trip was a blast! So easy, with spectacular views the entire way! The weather never did deteriorate. Lupe didn’t get rained on. She had a great time roaming the gorgeous tundra. To avoid wet, tussocky areas, the Carolina Dog did have to circle back around to the W again somewhat before turning N.

The return trip was great fun! Remote Oligvie Mountain views like this one the whole way. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

*So gloriously beautiful here! Makes you want to keep going forever, doesn’t it, SPHP? ….. Sure does, Loop! Afraid you’re going to have to rest that paw up, though.*

The tundra jungle from an ant’s viewpoint.

Lupe returned to the G6 coming down off that same first W ridge she’d climbed on the way up. (6:32 PM, 50°F) She’d had such a grand time roaming, running, and sniffing on the way back, that she’d overdone it. Loop was frequently hopping along on 3 paws now. Worrisome. SPHP slathered more antibiotic cream on the raw area between her pads.

Surfbird Mountain was as far N as Lupe was going in Tombstone Park. Her experience today was so phenomenal, and the Oligvie Mountains had made such an impression, that the Carolina Dog was going to get to stick around a while longer. Another great adventure tomorrow! That paw better heal up!

SPHP drove back to the Dempster Highway and turned S. Before long, a pullout appeared on the E side of the road. It proved to be a two-tier pullout. No one at either place. The lower area was nice and secluded – big, flat, and surrounded by tall bushes. A stream ran along the SE side, flowing into a hidden pond. The pond was only a foot deep. Air bubbles streamed up from the bottom all over the place.

Lupe loved this spot! She enthusiastically explored the forest of bushes along the stream and pond. This would do for sure!

By late evening, the sky showed hopeful signs. Pink clouds glowed off to the NW over by Surfbird Mountain. Oh, yeah! Blue skies would really bring out the spectacular fall colors. Loop and SPHP crashed for the night thinking positive thoughts for the morrow. (9:15 PM, 50°F)