{"id":13598,"date":"2018-06-25T08:10:10","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T14:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=13598"},"modified":"2018-08-01T22:10:03","modified_gmt":"2018-08-02T04:10:03","slug":"finger-mountain-on-the-dalton-highway-alaska-8-15-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=13598","title":{"rendered":"Finger Mountain on the Dalton Highway, Alaska (8-15-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days 15 & 16 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 15, 8-14-17<\/em> – Windy!\u00a0 Waves were crashing into the shore of Kluane Lake when Lupe wanted out in the wee hours of the night.\u00a0 She was soon back, and apparently famished.\u00a0 Another generous helping of Alpo, and the Carolina Dog was ready to curl up under her blankie again, still worn out from her big climb up Sheep Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,400 ft)<\/span><\/strong> yesterday.<\/p>\n

Hours later, Lupe had chocolate sugar wafer cookies for breakfast as SPHP drove N on the Alaska Highway.\u00a0 The cookies were a big hit!\u00a0 In the rear view mirrors, Mount Decoeli<\/span><\/a> (7,650 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> could be seen in clear skies far to the S.\u00a0 Up ahead, though, the sky was cloudy and dark.<\/p>\n

The plan for the day was to climb a mountain Lupe had seen near the Donjek River last year.\u00a0 The mountain ought to have a fabulous view of a long stretch of the braided river, and snowy mountains of the St. Elias Range to the SW as well.\u00a0 Of course, it all depended on the weather, and SPHP was soon driving through rain showers.<\/p>\n

The rain eventually ended.\u00a0 The sky cleared somewhat.\u00a0 A mountain came into view that looked like it might be the one Lupe hoped to climb.\u00a0 Although most of the sky was still cloudy, the mountain was bathed in sunshine.\u00a0 The upper slopes sported an unexpected dusting of new snow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A mountain bathed in sunshine and sporting a dusting of new snow on its upper reaches came into view. At first, SPHP thought this was the mountain near the Donjek River that Lupe intended to climb. Turned out it wasn’t. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The brightly lit mountain turned out not to be the one Lupe intended to climb.\u00a0 The Donjek River was still farther away than SPHP thought.\u00a0 By the time Loop was getting close to the river, she was beyond the sunny mountain and seeing wonderful white peaks off to the SW.\u00a0 One of these peaks, situated on the distant horizon, was a monstrous white spire that dominated everything else.<\/p>\n

After crossing the bridge over the Donjek River, SPHP found a place to park the G6.\u00a0 Lupe got out for a look around.\u00a0 An easy stroll brought her to a bank overlooking the river.\u00a0 Beyond the meandering stream, Looper could see the closest of the white mountains.\u00a0 They gleamed white and gray beneath a mix of soft clouds and pale blue sky.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe arrives at the Donjek River<\/strong> where the Alaska Highway crosses it. To the SW, she could see white peaks in sunshine beneath a mix of pale blue sky and clouds. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The forested territory between the Donjek River<\/strong> and these white peaks may be part of the Wolverine Plateau<\/strong>, but SPHP isn’t entirely certain about that. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
These amazing white peaks are only the start of genuine mountaineering territory in the heart of the mighty St. Elias Range<\/strong> beyond them. Photo looks SW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even higher peaks were seen more to the S, some completely covered with snow.\u00a0 They made a gorgeous backdrop for the Donjek River.<\/p>\n

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A couple of entirely white peaks soar above the front range beyond the Donjek River<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunately, all the blue sky was way over by the white and gray mountains to the SW.\u00a0 Apparently, only that one big hole existed in the general layer of cloud cover seen over the rest of the sky.\u00a0 SPHP still thought the mountain next to the Alaska Highway that Lupe had come to climb looked possible, but the summit was hidden by fog.\u00a0 Hmm.<\/p>\n

On a clear day, the views of the Donjek River and St. Elias Range from up there would be amazing!\u00a0 No telling what the Carolina Dog might see!\u00a0 SPHP pondered whether it was worth making an attempt.\u00a0 Conditions were marginal, if Loop really expected to see much.\u00a0 No point in taking on trackless wilderness and more than 3,400 feet of elevation gain, if she wouldn’t.\u00a0 In the end, it seemed like the wrong move.\u00a0 The mountain near the Donjek River really ought to be saved for a day with brilliant sunshine.<\/p>\n

Loop and SPHP continued N.\u00a0 The American Dingo’s next stop came after crossing the White River.\u00a0 The White is even bigger than the Donjek.\u00a0 In fact, the Donjek River becomes a tributary of the White River somewhat farther downstream.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe stops for a look at the White Rive<\/strong>r, a giant braided stream even larger than the Donjek. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The White Rive<\/strong>r has a super wide flood plain as it flows N out of the mountains. The SE end of Horsecamp Hill (4,600 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is seen on the L. Horsecamp Hill<\/strong> was another peakbagging possibility that got scratched today. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

N of the White River was Horsecamp Hill (4,600 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, another mountain on Lupe’s list of possible peakbagging objectives.\u00a0 However, the shortest approaches from the SW off the Alaska Highway looked very steep, and the whole mountain appeared heavily forested.\u00a0 Even if Lupe made it to the top, she might not get any bird’s eye views of the White River, the whole point of even considering an ascent.\u00a0 The weather was no better here than it had been at the Donjek River, either.\u00a0 With so many strikes against it, Horsecamp Hill was out.\u00a0 Oh, well!\u00a0 Onward!<\/p>\n

Gray skies and occasional light rain showers extended mile after mile.\u00a0 No blue sky anywhere.\u00a0 Lupe alternately snoozed atop her pile of pillows and blankets, or stared out the window searching in vain for wildlife.\u00a0 She left Canada entering Alaska again.\u00a0 The bridge over the Tanana River came 12 miles before Tok.\u00a0 It wasn’t raining here, and there was a rest area.\u00a0 Time to get out and sniff the air for a few minutes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe takes a break from the G6 near the Alaska Highway bridge over the Tanana River<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though she traveled hundreds of miles, Lupe failed to find even a speck of blue sky the rest of the day.\u00a0 NW of Tok, the sky was heavily overcast.\u00a0 Loopster may not have gotten a workout, but the windshield wipers did.\u00a0 It rained frequently.\u00a0 It wasn’t raining when the Carolina Dog pulled into Fairbanks at 5:45 PM, but looked like it could again at any moment.<\/p>\n

Loop would spend the night in Fairbanks.\u00a0 Hopefully morning would bring better news.<\/p>\n

Day 16, 8-15-17<\/em> – The only thing that was clear, was that not much had changed overnight.\u00a0 No rain at the moment, but the pavement was wet.\u00a0 Dark clouds still ruled the sky.<\/p>\n

SPHP bought supplies and fuel for the G6.\u00a0 Eventually there was good news.\u00a0 Patches of blue sky had appeared, and were growing in the W.\u00a0 It was enough.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left Fairbanks.<\/p>\n

On the drive to Livengood, the Elliot Highway was wet the entire way.\u00a0 Every time the road turned E or N, the weather deteriorated.\u00a0 Every time it turned W, conditions improved.\u00a0 SPHP sometimes drove into fog high on forested ridges, but always drove out of it again in the valleys below.\u00a0 A little past Livengood, Lupe reached the start of the Dalton Highway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the start of the Dalton Highway. The Dalton Highway goes 414 miles N to the Arctic Ocean, officially ending only a few miles short of Prudhoe Bay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first 40 miles or so on the Dalton Highway were all dirt and gravel.\u00a0 Today the road was a complete sloppy, muddy mess.\u00a0 SPHP drove slowly.\u00a0 The G6 became filthy, but kept going.\u00a0 Current weather conditions were gradually improving.\u00a0 Sunshine peeked through gaps in the clouds.\u00a0 Bits and pieces of blue sky managed to reach the highway.<\/p>\n

A 12 mile stretch of pavement led to a few more miles of dirt and gravel before Loopster reached the bridge over the Yukon River at milepost 56.\u00a0 After crossing the bridge, she stopped for a look at the mighty Yukon.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking NE down the Dalton Highway bridge over the Yukon River. The Alaska oil pipeline crosses the river attached to the underside of this same bridge, and can be seen snaking away from the far end.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe has a look at the Yukon River<\/strong>. There is a small visitor center on the N side of the river E of the Dalton Highway. Fuel is available on the W side of the highway, but it ain’t cheap at $5.50 per gallon. SPHP didn’t buy any. Don’t quibble, though, if you’re getting low! The next gas station is at Coldfoot camp 119 miles farther N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the N bank of the mighty Yukon River<\/strong>. She had been here in 2016, too. It was sort of amazing, almost hard to believe, that she had made it all the way back here again! Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to visiting the Yukon River, Lupe went to see the Alaska oil pipeline.\u00a0 Although sometimes miles from the Dalton Highway, the oil pipeline roughly parallels the highway all the way to the Arctic Ocean, and is often in view.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe visits the Alaska oil pipeline during her stop at the Yukon River. In 2016, Lupe learned it could be lots of fun exploring sections of the service road that follows the pipeline. Much of her gorgeous last mile N trek<\/strong><\/span><\/a> in the Brooks Range in 2016 had been along the pipeline service road. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
This map showing highlights along the Dalton Highway was on display near the Yukon River visitor center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

N of the Yukon River, the Dalton Highway was dirt and gravel, which meant mud.\u00a0 SPHP was concerned about the first few miles.\u00a0 In 2016, when the weather had been sunny and much drier, there had been a mile or two of very soft highway in this area.\u00a0 The G6 had threatened to bog down even then.\u00a0 The road might easily be impassable now.<\/p>\n

Not to worry.\u00a0 The road was much improved over the past year.\u00a0 Despite the mud, the G6 sailed through much more confidently than a year ago.\u00a0 Loop wasn’t going to be forced to retreat S.\u00a0 Finger Mountain<\/span><\/a> (2,202 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, today’s destination, was only 42 miles N of the Yukon River.\u00a0 Loopster was going to get there!<\/p>\n

On the way to Finger Mountain, the weather deteriorated again.\u00a0 SPHP drove through intermittent rain showers.\u00a0 Only tiny patches of blue sky remained.\u00a0 A couple miles before reaching Finger Mountain, the Dalton Highway turned from mud to good pavement.\u00a0 That was a relief!<\/p>\n

A rain shower was in progress when Lupe made it to Finger Mountain sometime after 3:00 PM.\u00a0 A strong wind blew out of the W.\u00a0 Low, ragged clouds raced by at a tremendous pace.\u00a0 Off to the NW, the summit of Caribou Mountain<\/span><\/a> (3,179 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was hidden from view.\u00a0 The S side of the Brooks Range, which ought to have been in sight, wasn’t.<\/p>\n

Finger Mountain is only a big, rounded, gentle hill.\u00a0 The Dalton Highway goes right over it around milepost 98.\u00a0 A few stunted trees exist, but most of the mountain is covered with low bushes and small plants typical of alpine tundra.\u00a0 E of the highway, a granite rock outcropping juts some 20 or 30 feet above the surrounding terrain.\u00a0 This rock outcropping is the true summit of Finger Mountain.<\/p>\n

Lupe had climbed Finger Mountain only a little over a year ago.\u00a0 For the American Dingo, it was a quick, easy peakbagging success.\u00a0 On a clear day, the views had been wonderful, too.\u00a0 Loopster had every intention of repeating this exploit.\u00a0 When the rain quit and wind slackened around 4:30 PM, both Lupe and SPHP left the G6 heading directly for the summit.<\/p>\n

A short stroll, a tiny scramble, a boost from SPHP, and Lupe was there.\u00a0 For the second time in her life, Lupe stood at the tippy top of Finger Mountain<\/a><\/span> (2,202 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe needed a boost from SPHP to get to the top of Finger Mountain<\/strong>. After an absence of a little more than a year, the Carolina Dog was back!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe remains perched atop Finger Mountain<\/strong> while SPHP scrambles down for a more distant shot. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kind of windy up here, SPHP! Can I come down yet?<\/em> …. No, stay where you are Looper, gimme a couple more minutes!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The granite formation at the summit of Finger Mountain<\/strong> looks the most impressive from this direction. Pretty much the entire elevation gain coming from the Dalton Highway only 100+ yards away is on display here. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Oh, looks good, Looper! You could be at the top of some towering massive peak the way this photo turned out. You can come on down now, if you like.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With clouds obscuring some of the best views, Lupe was ready to get down out of the annoying breeze as soon as SPHP said she could.\u00a0 She leapt down all on her own.<\/p>\n

A short nature trail circles the hillside immediately NE of Finger Mountain’s summit.\u00a0 For fun, Loop and SPHP took a leisurely stroll around the loop.\u00a0 Lupe wound up right back at the base of the summit rocks.\u00a0 This time she didn’t bother going to the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe stands below the summit rock she had been up on top of earlier. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With all the clouds around, the views from Finger Mountain weren’t nearly what they might have been.\u00a0 Lupe was going to spend the night here.\u00a0 Maybe they’d be better in the morning?<\/p>\n

After having spent most of today and yesterday cooped up, Lupe wasn’t ready yet to retreat to the G6 again.\u00a0 Fortunately, there were a couple more things to do on Finger Mountain.<\/p>\n

Another granite formation, not as large or high as the one at the summit, was right across the Dalton Highway on the W side of the road.\u00a0 With plenty of time left in the day, and not a whole lot to do with it, Lupe was all for sniffing around and exploring that rock formation, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The smaller granite formation on the W side of the Dalton Highway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On a clear day, Lupe would have had a great view of Caribou Mountain<\/span><\/a> (3,179 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> from here. The summit is in the distance on the L, currently hidden by clouds. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Olsons Lake<\/strong> is one of the large ponds near Center. The Dalton Highway winds off into the distance. The Alaska oil pipeline is buried underground here where the strip of bare land is seen on the L. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finger Mountain is named after a famous tor, Finger Rock, located roughly 0.25 to 0.50 mile SSE of the true summit where Lupe had just been.\u00a0 Finger Rock is said to point in the general direction of Fairbanks.\u00a0 Bush pilots have been rumored to use it as a navigation aide.\u00a0 Lupe may as well go see Finger Rock while she was here.<\/p>\n

From the edge of a large parking area off the E side Dalton Highway, a trail led SSE into the tundra.\u00a0 Lupe followed it down a long gradual slope.\u00a0 She had a good time sniffing around exploring the tundra.\u00a0 The trail ultimately became hard to follow, sunken beneath standing water in many places.\u00a0 SPHP rock hopped part of the way to Finger Rock, which was always in view ahead.<\/p>\n

Finger Rock wasn’t anything Lupe could get to the top of, but she did climb partway up its base.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop reaches famed Finger Rock<\/strong>. It reminded SPHP of an artillery piece from this angle. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Finger Rock<\/strong> can be seen from the Dalton Highway. SPHP had spotted it on the way up Finger Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The side trek to Finger Rock<\/strong> was easy and didn’t take Lupe long. In 2016, she hadn’t visited Finger Rock<\/strong> when she came to Finger Mountain<\/strong> the first time. Lupe was glad she’d come to see it today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After visiting Finger Rock, Lupe returned to the nature trail near the summit of Finger Mountain.\u00a0 Dark clouds and showers were once again approaching from the W.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP fled to the protection of the G6!\u00a0 (5:45 PM)<\/em><\/p>\n

Rain showers came and went.\u00a0 A rainbow did, too, but by then SPHP was chatting with a guy from Indiana and his two sons-in-law.\u00a0 Finger Mountain was a brief stop on their way N to hunt caribou near Galbraith Lake on the N side of the Brooks Range.\u00a0 They eventually drove on, but by then the rainbow had departed as well.<\/p>\n

From the safety of the G6, Lupe and SPHP spent the evening watching one rain shower after another blow over Finger Mountain.\u00a0 Traffic on the Dalton Highway faded away long before the late arctic twilight did.\u00a0 If the weather would cooperate, tomorrow would be a long day.\u00a0 Time to rest.<\/p>\n

Alone on Finger Mountain, less than 18 miles from the Arctic Circle, Lupe and SPHP slept.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe near Finger Rock<\/strong> on Finger Mountain<\/strong>, Alaska 8-15-17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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":"

Days 15 & 16 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! Day 15, 8-14-17 – Windy!\u00a0 Waves were crashing into the shore of Kluane Lake when Lupe wanted out in the wee hours of the night.\u00a0 She was soon back, and apparently famished.\u00a0 Another generous helping of Alpo, and the Carolina Dog … Continue reading Finger Mountain on the Dalton Highway, Alaska (8-15-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13587,"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":[8,704,105,106,915,26,775,720,104,11],"class_list":["post-13598","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-dalton-highway","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-donjek-river","tag-finger-mountain","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/IMG_6599.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\/13598","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=13598"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16358,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13598\/revisions\/16358"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}