{"id":13421,"date":"2018-06-09T08:10:09","date_gmt":"2018-06-09T14:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=13421"},"modified":"2018-08-01T22:11:46","modified_gmt":"2018-08-02T04:11:46","slug":"mount-riley-chilkat-state-park-haines-alaska-8-12-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=13421","title":{"rendered":"Mount Riley, Chilkat State Park, Haines, Alaska (8-12-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 13 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

Cloudy.\u00a0 Not too bad, though.\u00a0 The sun couldn’t be seen, but a bright spot revealed its position.\u00a0 The clouds must not be too thick.\u00a0 For the second day in a row, Lupe started her morning off with a look at beautiful Chilkoot Inlet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe starts another morning at Chilkoot Inlet near Haines, Alaska. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maybe the sky would clear later in the day?\u00a0 Perhaps not.\u00a0 It might not even matter.<\/p>\n

Lupe had seen Mount Riley<\/span><\/a> (1,759 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the high point of the Chilkat Peninsula, from Mount Ripinsky<\/span><\/a> (3,675 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> yesterday afternoon.\u00a0 Mount Riley wasn’t high enough to get above tree line, even here in Alaska.\u00a0 The whole mountain appeared heavily forested.\u00a0 Maybe Mount Riley wasn’t going to amount to anything more than a peakbagging goal.\u00a0 Trees might be all Loop would get to see.\u00a0 On the other paw, if the sun did make an appearance, and mountain and ocean views were available from Mount Riley, they ought to be spectacular!<\/p>\n

In any case, since it wasn’t raining, Lupe was going to find out what Mount Riley had to offer.\u00a0 After a few morning chores, SPHP drove to Chilkat State Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a> only a mile or two SE of Haines.\u00a0 Loop would set out for Mount Riley from the Battery Point trailhead at the end of Beach Road.\u00a0 (9:00 AM, 57\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe arrives at the Battery Point trailhead. A second trailhead for Mount Riley exists on the other side of the Chilkat Peninsula at Mud Bay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Setting out, Lupe followed the Battery Point trail, a wide, smooth path leading SE through tall open forest.\u00a0 The Battery Point trail was mostly flat, gaining little, if any, net elevation.\u00a0 Chilkoot Inlet wasn’t far from the trail, but was never in view.\u00a0 The forest hid everything, which might well be par for the course today.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe started out on the wide, flat Battery Point trail going through a tall forest. Chilkoot Inlet wasn’t far away, but couldn’t be seen. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 0.9 mile, Lupe came to an intersection.\u00a0 A trail to Mount Riley branched off curving W farther up into the forest.\u00a0 The Battery Point trail went down to Chilkoot Inlet from here.\u00a0 Although it was a mile to Battery Point, Kelgaya Point was only 0.3 mile away.<\/p>\n

Loop and SPHP both agreed it might be fun to go to Kelgaya Point.\u00a0 Such a short side trip wouldn’t take long, and beat spending the whole day in the forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
0.9 mile from the Battery Point trailhead, Lupe reached the intersection with the Mount Riley trail. The short 0.3 mile side trip to Kelgaya Point sounded like fun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Battery Point trail went right on down to Chilkoot Inlet.\u00a0 The tide was out.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed E for Kelgaya Point across a rocky beach.\u00a0 At Kelgaya Point, a rock formation rose at the edge of the water.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the beach near Kelgaya Point<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Naturally, Lupe climbed up on the rocks for a look around.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Up on the Kelgaya Point<\/strong> rock formation. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Come on up, SPHP! It’s cloudy, but the view is still worth seeing. I can see Mount Ripinsky from here!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP joined Lupe up on Kelgaya Point.\u00a0 If anything, the day was even cloudier than earlier on, but the views of Chilkoot Inlet and surrounding mountains were still beautiful.\u00a0 Back toward Haines, Lupe could see Mount Ripinsky<\/span><\/a> (3,675 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, which she had climbed yesterday.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking E across Chilkoot Inlet<\/strong> from Kelgaya Point<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Chilkoot Inlet<\/strong> from Kelgaya Point<\/strong>. Looking N now.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
From Kelgaya Point<\/strong>, Lupe could see Mount Ripinsky<\/span><\/a> (3,675 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L), which she had climbed yesterday. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the E end of Kelgaya Point a more prominent rock outcropping formed a crude miniature spire.\u00a0 Lupe scrambled up.\u00a0 From the spire, she had the best vantage point of all.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the E end of Kelgaya Point<\/strong> was this small spire. Lupe managed to get up there, but SPHP didn’t even try. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The views are even better up here, SPHP! What, you aren’t coming up?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was possible to go beyond Kelgaya Point all the way to Battery Point, but Lupe and SPHP didn’t do that.\u00a0 Mount Riley was the main goal for the day, so maybe it was best to be underway again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe could have gone farther all the way to Battery Point, which is beyond the forested hill on the R, but she went back to the main trail to Mount Riley with SPHP instead. Photo looks SE across Kelgaya Bay<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop and SPHP returned to the trail intersection to take the trail to Mount Riley.\u00a0 It curved W deeper into the Chilkat Peninsula climbing steadily.\u00a0 Near the end of this climb, a short section of switchbacks wound up the steepest part of the slope.\u00a0 Before reaching the top, the trail leveled out and turned SE again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe had to take what she could get. Spiffy Fern Rock was a trail highlight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Mount Riley trail bounced up and down on the side of a fairly steep slope.\u00a0 There was nothing to see except the forest.\u00a0 The trail here was much narrower and looked far less traveled than the Battery Point trail.\u00a0 Red ribbons and small wooden boards with fading red arrows painted on them were attached to the trees, helping to point the way.\u00a0 The trail was obvious enough so these assists were seldom needed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
For a long way, there was nothing to see except forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was passing through a coastal rainforest.\u00a0 Ferns and moss were common on the forest floor.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Every now and then there were obstacles like the fallen tree ahead, but they weren’t common. Note the mossy steep bank.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At least this territory was easy on the paws! Oh, so soft!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After traveling along the steep hillside, the trail finally turned S and started up a ravine.\u00a0 Lupe passed near big mossy rock outcroppings in this area.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
As the trail began to climb again, Lupe passed by a few large mossy rock formations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mossy rock formations were confined to a small area along the ravine.\u00a0 Near the end of this section, the trail snuck up between two big rocks climbing fairly steeply.\u00a0 Above the rocks, the trail began to level out.\u00a0 Lupe was still gaining elevation, but at a reduced pace.\u00a0 For the first time, Looper got a glimpse of what was ahead.\u00a0 The view wasn’t terribly encouraging or inspiring.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Once up above the rock formations, the trail wasn’t as steep. For the first time, Lupe caught a glimpse of what was ahead. Gray skies, more forest, and higher ground, but not much of a mountain peak. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All that was ahead was a higher forested hill.\u00a0 Nothing one might call a mountain peak.\u00a0 Until now, Lupe hadn’t even been able to get a good look at the sky.\u00a0 The news there wasn’t great, either.\u00a0 If anything, the sky was grayer and more densely overcast than before.\u00a0 Despite uninspiring prospects, Loop and SPHP pressed on.<\/p>\n

Lower down there had been some blueberry bushes along the trail, but no blueberries on them.\u00a0 Up here, there were blueberry bushes galore!\u00a0 Even better, they were packed with sweet blueberries.\u00a0 SPHP soon had purple fingers.\u00a0 The pace of advance slowed markedly.\u00a0 Blueberries were everywhere!\u00a0 Blueberry bushes lined the trail and even overhung it.<\/p>\n

The blueberries were delicious, but the blueberry bushes were all wet from overnight rains.\u00a0 SPHP was soon soaking wet nearly waist high.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was getting nothing out of this experience.\u00a0 The trail amounted to a sopping wet blueberry bush tunnel to her.\u00a0 Poor Loopster couldn’t see a thing, and was soon as soaked as if she’d been swimming.\u00a0 She looked miserable.<\/p>\n

Things stayed that way for a while.\u00a0 Then it started to rain.\u00a0 Lightly, but still rain.\u00a0 No matter.\u00a0 Conditions weren’t that bad.\u00a0 At least it wasn’t cold and windy like the summit of Mount Ripinsky had been yesterday.\u00a0 Lupe was going to make it to the top of Mount Riley.\u00a0 She had come too far to turn around now.<\/p>\n

After a level muddy stretch, the trail steepened again.\u00a0 Blueberry bushes no longer crowded the trail as much.\u00a0 Lupe perked up.\u00a0 What really snapped her out of the doldrums, though, was a sudden, loud crashing in the forest.\u00a0 SPHP whirled around in time to see a moose run off.<\/p>\n

Lupe couldn’t see the moose, but she knew something<\/em> big was out there!\u00a0 She bounded around trying to see above the vegetation blocking her view, but was disappointed.\u00a0 The moose was gone.<\/p>\n

Too much time had been spent devouring blueberries.\u00a0 Getting to Mount Riley was taking forever.\u00a0 After a steady climb, the trail finally leveled out at a meadow, the first real opening in the forest Lupe had come to.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
After what seemed like a long trek, Lupe finally reached this meadow, the first real opening in the forest. On a sunnier day, the view would have been gorgeous.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail crossed the meadow.\u00a0 On the far side, Lupe reached a sign.\u00a0 She had made it to the junction with the trail from Mud Bay.\u00a0 The summit of Mount Riley wasn’t much further!\u00a0 That forested ridge ahead must be it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
After crossing the meadow, Lupe reaches an intersection with the trail coming up from Mud Bay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Since the total distance to Mount Riley from the Battery Point trailhead was supposed to be 4.6 miles, Lupe was now only 0.6 mile away.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The summit of Mount Riley<\/strong> was somewhere on the forested ridge ahead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loopster soon arrived at the summit of Mount Riley<\/span><\/a> (1,759 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 At the top of the mountain, she found an unimposing ridge of gray rock.\u00a0 The ridge barely stuck up above a stunted forest enough to provide what should have been a spectacular view of the Chilkat and Chilkoot Inlets ringed by snow and glacier clad peaks.<\/p>\n

The American Dingo could claim Mount Riley as a peakbagging success, but the views were far from what they might have been.\u00a0 A light rain fell intermittently.\u00a0 Mist and fog were all around, but not to the point where Lupe couldn’t get an idea of what she was missing out there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe arrives at the summit of Mount Riley<\/strong> amid light rain, mist and fog. Haines<\/strong>, Alaska is straight up from her back. Mount Ripinsky<\/strong> is straight up from her head. Chilkat Inlet<\/strong> is on the L. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking N across Chilkoot Inlet<\/strong>. Taiya Inlet<\/strong> leading to Skagway is seen in the distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Oh, for a sunny day!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The delta seen on the far side of Chilkat Inlet<\/strong> is Anchorage Point<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Chilkat Inlet<\/strong>. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Mount Ripinsky<\/span><\/a> (3,675 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) where Lupe had been yesterday. Haines<\/strong> is on the R. Chilkat Inlet<\/strong> on the L. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, for a rare sunny day!\u00a0 Rain, mist and fog are no doubt very common in the Haines area.\u00a0 Lupe certainly wasn’t getting much out of these views at the moment.\u00a0 When she heard distant gunfire, she was done looking around.\u00a0 Somewhere far off, someone was doing some target practice.<\/p>\n

Why stand out in the rain at the top of the mountain offering the best, and likely only, possible target?\u00a0 The American Dingo retreated to the safety of a stunted conifer offering protection from both rain and bullets.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Look around all you like, SPHP. Paint a bullseye on yourself, if you want to! I’m staying right here!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The ridge of rock at the top of Mount Riley was barely high enough to allow a view over the trees in some directions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the American Dingo hid out a few feet away, SPHP stood on Mount Riley’s diminutive summit ridge.\u00a0 Conditions were gradually getting damper, darker and drearier.\u00a0 The weather seemed to be moving up from the Lynn Canal to the S.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kal Benchmark (1,450 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L) and Sullivan Island<\/strong> (Center). Rain and fog were moving in from this direction. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Things weren’t that bad, but with the weather deteriorating instead of improving, there didn’t seem to be much reason to hang around either.\u00a0 Half an hour after she’d arrived, Lupe was ready to start back.\u00a0 She returned to Mount Riley’s summit rocks briefly before departing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop comes out from under her safe, snug conifer tree for a last look around from Mount Riley<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking back up at the summit ridge after starting down.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A few little birds and a couple of squirrels were all the wildlife Lupe could conjure up on the long return trip through the forest.\u00a0 The moose crashing around that she hadn’t even gotten to see on the way up was the highlight of the whole day as far as excitement was concerned.<\/p>\n

SPHP gorged on blueberries again until the trail dropped below the short section of mossy rock formations.\u00a0 Despite the red ribbons and arrows, SPHP then cleverly managed to miss a turn on the trail, resulting in an unnecessary descent of 100 plus feet of elevation before the mistake was realized and corrected.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking down a narrow gap between mossy rock formations on the way back to the trailhead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Passing below the rock formations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, after leaving the summit, the weather gradually improved.\u00a0 The rain ceased, but the sky remained gray.\u00a0 Lupe made it back to the G6 (4:29 PM, 61\u00b0F).\u00a0 <\/em>There wasn’t much of a plan for the rest of the day.<\/p>\n

On the way back to town, Loop and SPHP stopped at a viewpoint where Mount Ripinsky could be seen towering over Haines.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Haines<\/strong>, Alaska across Portage Cove<\/strong> with Mount Ripinsky<\/strong> (L) in the background. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then it was on to Lupe’s favorite pullout on Lutak Road with a view of Portage Cove, Haines and the Chilkoot Inlet.\u00a0 Lupe dined on Alpo and Ritz crackers.\u00a0 SPHP caught up the trip journal.\u00a0 More than an hour went by.\u00a0 The sky looked like it would be gray forever, but it was still light out.<\/p>\n

If the weather had been better, Lupe had more to do in the Haines area, but it wasn’t.\u00a0 Looking out over Portage Cove, it was sad to think about leaving Haines, but the Carolina Dog had more adventures awaiting where the skies might be blue.\u00a0 Maybe it was time?<\/p>\n

Despite the cloudy skies, the evening’s drive was beautiful.\u00a0 By nightfall, Lupe reached Dezadeash Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On Mount Riley<\/strong>, Chilkat State Park, Alaska 8-12-17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mount Riley Trailhead Notes:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Battery Point Trailhead:<\/span><\/strong> From the E end of Main Street in Haines next to Portage Cove, take Front Street S to Beach Road.\u00a0 After a mile, Beach Road angles R and turns to dirt.\u00a0 The Chilkat State Park Battery Point trailhead is at the SE end of Beach Road about a mile farther on.\u00a0 The summit of Mount Riley is 4.6 miles from the trailhead.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mud Bay Trailhead:<\/span><\/strong> From Main Street in Haines, take 3rd Avenue going S.\u00a0 3rd Avenue becomes Mud Bay Road.\u00a0 Watch for signs for Chilkat State Park.\u00a0 Parking is on the R (W) at the top of a hill roughly 3 miles from downtown.\u00a0 The Mud Bay trail starts on the other side of the road.\u00a0 It’s 2.8 miles to the intersection with the trail from Battery Point, and another 0.5 mile to Mt. Riley’s summit.<\/em><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 13 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! Cloudy.\u00a0 Not too bad, though.\u00a0 The sun couldn’t be seen, but a bright spot revealed its position.\u00a0 The clouds must not be too thick.\u00a0 For the second day in a row, Lupe started her morning off with a look at beautiful Chilkoot Inlet. … Continue reading Mount Riley, Chilkat State Park, Haines, Alaska (8-12-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13448,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[835],"tags":[8,704,105,106,913,26,910,104,912,11],"class_list":["post-13421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2017-yukon-alaska","tag-omniten","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-chilkat-state-park","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-haines","tag-lupe","tag-mount-riley","tag-peakbagging"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/IMG_6490.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13421"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13421\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16360,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13421\/revisions\/16360"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}