{"id":14103,"date":"2018-08-04T08:10:10","date_gmt":"2018-08-04T14:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=14103"},"modified":"2018-08-01T22:05:20","modified_gmt":"2018-08-02T04:05:20","slug":"the-alaskan-north-slope-dingo-deadhorse-or-bust-8-20-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=14103","title":{"rendered":"The Alaskan North Slope Dingo – Deadhorse or Bust! (8-20-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 21 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

4:54 AM, 38\u00b0F, S bank of the Atigun River near the Dalton Highway bridge<\/em> – Fog.\u00a0 Again.\u00a0 So what else was new?\u00a0 Despite fog, rain, and snow, Lupe had succeeded in climbing Lake Benchmark Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> yesterday.\u00a0 The day before that, she’d seen Galbraith lake and made it to the S edge of the North Slope beyond the Brooks Range, as far N as she had ever been in her life.\u00a0 So Loop had accomplished what had been planned here.\u00a0 Time to head S.<\/p>\n

And yet the North Slope had been so enticing and mysterious!\u00a0 It would have been fun to go farther N, all the way to Deadhorse at the end of the Dalton Highway!\u00a0 Deadhorse was only a few miles from the Arctic Ocean and only another 140 miles or so from here.\u00a0 If there had been easy access to the ocean, Lupe would have gone for sure, despite the weather.\u00a0 An Arctic Ocean adventure, even a short one, would be so incredible!\u00a0 However, all along the coast and for several miles inland, energy companies maintain tight security.\u00a0 Although it was possible to take a paid tour from Deadhorse to the Arctic Ocean, SPHP already knew Dingoes weren’t allowed.<\/p>\n

When Lupe had been in the Brooks Range last year, she had met several people who had gone all the way to Deadhorse, or were on their way there.\u00a0 Those who had already been there had reported seeing arctic foxes, snowy owls, caribou, and even musk oxen out on the North Slope.\u00a0 No one said anything favorable about Deadhorse, though.\u00a0 It was just an ugly industrial complex, not even a town, with nothing to do there.<\/p>\n

No, without access to the Arctic Ocean for the Carolina Dog, and this foggy weather, it was hard to justify going any farther N.\u00a0 Lupe had lots more adventures planned elsewhere in Alaska.\u00a0 Best get on with it.\u00a0 SPHP fired up the G6, and Lupe was on her way S.\u00a0 The sky was completely overcast.\u00a0 Only a thin fog was present near ground level.\u00a0 Loop could see a mile or two to the base of the mountains.\u00a0 (5:15 AM)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Lupe along the Dalton Highway on her way S to Atigun Pass. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Atigun Pass area was darkly overcast.\u00a0 It was snowing, and the snow was beginning to stick.\u00a0 The mountains were white, where they could be seen through the fog.\u00a0 The Dalton Highway was slushy, but the G6 made it to the top of the pass.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP got out to experience winter in August.\u00a0 (6:18 AM)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Loop at Atigun Pass<\/strong> in the Brooks Range<\/strong> for the second time in only a couple of days. This time she was heading S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The weather was better S of Atigun Pass.\u00a0 Lupe stopped briefly at the Chandalar Shelf.\u00a0 The top of Table Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,314 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was partly in view, and partly obscured by clouds.\u00a0 A fair amount of snow seemed to be present on what could be seen of the summit, but none existed below the final steep climb.<\/p>\n

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Heading down the S side of Atigun Pass. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The weather was somewhat better S of Atigun Pass. The sky wasn’t as darkly overcast and it wasn’t foggy out. Photo looks S while still on the way down from the pass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe still hadn’t climbed Table Mountain.\u00a0 Table Mountain was the only peak on her original list of objectives along the Dalton Highway for this Dingo Vacation that she hadn’t climbed yet.\u00a0 She was here plenty early in the day.\u00a0 Still, the weather looked pretty iffy.\u00a0 Not foggy, but still lots of clouds hanging around.<\/p>\n

As much fun as Table Mountain might have been, after yesterday’s adventure in cold rain, snow, and fog up on Lake Benchmark Mountain, SPHP decided maybe Lupe would be smart to skip it.\u00a0 Conditions were marginal.\u00a0 The weather wouldn’t have to deteriorate much before Loop wouldn’t be able to see a thing up there, even if she did make it to the top.\u00a0 Sad, but true.\u00a0 Onward!<\/p>\n

Beyond the Chandalar Shelf, down in the Dietrich River valley, the weather continued to improve.\u00a0 Lupe even saw patches of blue sky.\u00a0 It must have been somewhat sunny here over the past couple of days.\u00a0 The Dalton Highway was much drier now, a vast improvement.\u00a0 The G6 whizzed along at a lively 45 mph!<\/p>\n

Lupe reached the Coldfoot visitor center at 9:00 AM.\u00a0 A sign said it was closed until 11:00 AM.\u00a0 Hmm.\u00a0 SPHP drove over to Coldfoot camp on the other side of the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 The American Dingo had to wait in the G6 while SPHP disappeared into the restaurant.<\/p>\n

The wait was longer than Lupe expected.\u00a0 Coldfoot camp had a breakfast buffet going on.\u00a0 All you can eat for only $14.95, an absolute bargain way up here N of the Arctic Circle!\u00a0 SPHP ate an enormous breakfast – eggs, pancakes, muffins, sausage, bacon, ham, water, root beer, and coffee.\u00a0 It was great!\u00a0 More than hour after SPHP went in, Lupe got to enjoy a few pieces of smuggled out bacon.<\/p>\n

SPHP gassed up the G6, another bargain at only $4.599 per gallon, and Loop was on her way again on the Dalton Highway.<\/p>\n

Whoa, SPHP!\u00a0 Wrong way!<\/em><\/p>\n

Nope!\u00a0 We’re fine, Loopster.<\/em><\/p>\n

No, we’re not!\u00a0 You turned R, we’re going back N again!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeppers!<\/em><\/p>\n

I thought we were going S.\u00a0 Aren’t we leaving the Arctic?<\/em><\/p>\n

We were, but now we’re not.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why not?\u00a0 Where are we going then?<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s Deadhorse or bust, Loopster!\u00a0 I changed my mind.\u00a0 We can’t just leave!\u00a0 You’re going to go as far N as we can get.\u00a0 We’ve come all this way clear up to the Brooks Range two years running now.\u00a0 Just doesn’t feel right not to go all the way to the end of the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 We may never return.\u00a0 This may be our last chance.\u00a0 Whether we can see anything or not out on the North Slope, and whether or not you can get to the Arctic Ocean, we’re just going to do it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, exciting!\u00a0 I hope we see some caribou and musk ox on the North Slope!\u00a0 A polar bear would be totally awesome!\u00a0 Can I ask a favor, though?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sure, what is it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Since we’re going to go by it again, can we stop at the Dietrich River and go on my 2016 Last Mile North<\/strong><\/span><\/a> adventure by the Alaska oil pipeline again?\u00a0 I love that place!<\/em><\/p>\n

Of course!\u00a0 That’s a great idea.\u00a0 We’ll do it, but maybe just to the stream N of Dillon Mountain instead of all the way to its confluence with the Dietrich River.\u00a0 I drove so far S before changing my mind that Deadhorse is a long way off now, and who knows what the road will be like N of the Brooks Range?\u00a0 I’m hoping we can still get to Deadhorse tonight.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe did get to go on her 2016 Last Mile North adventure again!\u00a0 Even though she didn’t get to go all the way to the stream’s confluence with the Dietrich River, Loop had a blast!\u00a0 So easy, and so much fun!<\/p>\n

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Lupe at the stream that flows W from N of Dillon Mountain<\/span><\/a> (4,820 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R). This was Lupe’s 3rd time now on her 2016 Last Mile North adventure, which has become a real favorite. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then it was N again, on to the Chandalar Shelf.\u00a0 It was nearly 1:00 PM when Lupe arrived this time.\u00a0 Weather conditions hadn’t changed much since this morning.\u00a0 Once again SPHP deemed conditions too iffy, and now the hour too late, to seriously consider an ascent of Table Mountain.<\/p>\n

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Lupe returns to the Chandalar Shelf<\/strong>. She’s about 9 miles from Atigun Pass here. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking S across the Chandalar Shelf<\/strong> toward Table Mountain<\/strong>. The top of the mountain is completely hidden in the clouds. SPHP again concluded conditions weren’t right for an ascent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Lupe went over Atigun Pass again, the weather was better than it had been early this morning.\u00a0 It was no longer snowing.\u00a0 The slushy snow on the Dalton Highway had melted.\u00a0 There were even patches of blue sky.\u00a0 The mountains were visible now, instead of cloaked with fog.\u00a0 They looked dramatic – all clean, cold and white.<\/p>\n

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Heading N again on the way to Atigun Pass from the Chandalar Shelf. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe near the Dalton Highway N of Atigun Pass again.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The mountains of the Brooks Range<\/strong> looked clean, cold and white.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The better weather did not extend much beyond Atigun Pass.\u00a0 Soon the sky was totally overcast again.\u00a0 As Lupe followed the Atigun River N, the mountains were all hidden in clouds and fog.<\/p>\n

Yesterday morning, Lupe had taken her Stroll to the North Slope Knoll, a short hike not far from milepost 278 of the Dalton Highway out onto the tundra.\u00a0 At the time, it had seemed likely to be as far N as Lupe was ever going to be in her whole life.\u00a0 Due to the current sudden change of plans, however, that was already no longer true.\u00a0 Still, the Stroll to the North Slope Knoll had been a fun experience.\u00a0 Why not repeat it before continuing N and setting a new record?\u00a0 Lupe was totally in favor of the idea.\u00a0 (2:33 PM, 41\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

This time, SPHP went 500 feet beyond the endpoint of Lupe’s first Stroll to the North Slope Knoll.\u00a0 Lupe went even farther, racing 200 yards past SPHP out over the yellow tundra, sniffing and exploring as she went.<\/p>\n

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On her 2nd Stroll to the North Slope Knoll adventure, Lupe went even farther than she did yesterday morning. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mood of Lupe’s second Stroll to the North Slope Knoll was entirely different.\u00a0 Instead of being the expected end of all her explorations N, this time it was merely a preliminary launching point.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t going to have to turn around having seen only the very S end of the North Slope.\u00a0 From here, Lupe was going all the way to Deadhorse at the end of the Dalton Highway!\u00a0 Who knew what she might see along the way?\u00a0 It was all a grand mystery.\u00a0 A mystery about to be revealed.<\/p>\n

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This 2nd Stroll to the North Slope Knoll felt different. This time it was not the expected end of Lupe’s explorations N, but a launching point. This time it was Deadhorse or bust! An exciting new adventure was about to begin! Who knew what Lupe might see out on Alaska’s North Slope? It was all a mystery about to be revealed! Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Lupe returned to the G6 at 3:20 PM, the adventures of the North Slope Dingo were about to begin in earnest.\u00a0 If the G6 was tough enough, only 136 more miles on the Dalton Highway would bring the American Dingo to its far N end at milepost 414 in Deadhorse.\u00a0 Though Lupe would never get to Alaska’s N coast due to security restrictions, the Carolina Dog would be only a few miles from the Arctic Ocean!<\/p>\n

And so it began.\u00a0 Leaving the Stroll to the North Slope Knoll behind, Lupe and SPHP headed N on the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 The road was fine for a number of miles.\u00a0 Lupe soon saw Toolik Lake off to the W.\u00a0 The highway made a sharp turn to the E here.<\/p>\n

The weather deteriorated.\u00a0 Mist and light rain.\u00a0 The Dalton Highway was full of mud puddles.\u00a0 The road went up and down over a series of hills.\u00a0 The most worrisome stretches were where the road was soft and muddy, but that wasn’t its most common condition.\u00a0 Far more often it was rough and washboardy, with long stretches of jarring potholes.<\/p>\n

The G6 wasn’t built for this kind of abuse.\u00a0 The only defense against the rough road was to drive very slowly.\u00a0 That was OK.\u00a0 It didn’t actually matter how long it took the Carolina Dog to get to Deadhorse.\u00a0 The Dalton Highway went NE for a while before turning N again.\u00a0 A dozen miles from the Stroll to the North Slope Knoll, Lupe saw two seagulls!<\/p>\n

4:14 PM, 110 to 115 miles from Deadhorse<\/em> –\u00a0 The road has improved, no longer as rough and full of potholes as it had been going over the hills.\u00a0 To the W is a fairly high mountain, a lone one with its top lost in clouds and mist.\u00a0 It isn’t far from the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 If the weather was better, maybe Lupe could climb it?\u00a0 What can be seen of it certainly looks climbable.\u00a0 Remember this mountain for the return trip S!<\/p>\n

Farther away off to the E and NE are lots more mountains, no doubt a continuation of the Brooks Range.\u00a0 However, there is no way to get over there.\u00a0 From the G6, Lupe has caught glimpses of a large river between the highway and those mountains to the E.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on the Dalton Highway 110-115 miles from Deadhorse. The rain and mist have finally let up, but it’s still a low ceiling day. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Oh, that looks like a fun, easy mountain to climb! No way to get over there, though. Lupe has caught glimpses of a large river between here and there from the G6. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4:40 PM, 105 miles from Deadhorse – S<\/em>ince leaving the Brooks Range, the Dalton Highway has only come to small streams.\u00a0 <\/em>Up until now, that is.\u00a0 The large river Lupe caught glimpses of earlier is now only 300 to 600 feet E of the road.\u00a0 This must be the Sagavanirktok River.\u00a0 The Sag flows N all the way to Deadhorse, where it empties into the Beaufort Sea.\u00a0 It’s not yet a huge river.\u00a0 The Sagavanirktok is only slightly lower in elevation than the highway.\u00a0 The intervening ground appears quite swampy.<\/p>\n

An industrial complex is on the W side of the highway, presumably some sort of pumping or maintenance station for the Alaska oil pipeline.<\/p>\n

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The Sagavanirktok River<\/strong> flows N near the Dalton Highway on its way to Deadhorse and the Beaufort Sea. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Although most of the North Slope appeared to be as yet almost totally unspoiled, every so often Lupe came to industrial areas like this one. They were almost certainly somehow connected with maintenance or operation of the Alaska oil pipeline. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking back toward some of the foothills of the Brooks Range<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5:05 PM<\/em> – Lupe has a great view of the Sagavanirktok River, Alaska oil pipeline, and Dalton Highway from Oil Spill Hill.\u00a0 The road subsequently drops down into the river valley for several miles before climbing back out of it at Ice Cut.<\/p>\n

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From Oil Spill Hill<\/strong>, Lupe has a great view of the Sagavanirktok River<\/strong>, Dalton Highway, and Alaska oil pipeline. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Once the Sagavanirktok River<\/strong> gets close to the Dalton Highway, the river parallels the road the rest of the way to Deadhorse. However, it’s not always in view like this. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Although Lupe watched for wildlife along the Sagavanirktok River<\/strong> for a long time, she never saw anything other than birds. That was disappointing. A musk ox would have been really cool! Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5:15 PM, 90 miles to Deadhorse<\/em> – Now that the Dalton Highway is up out of the Sagavanirktok River valley N of Ice Cut, the river is out of sight.\u00a0 The North Slope is a golden rolling featureless land stretching as far as one can see to low hills on the horizon.\u00a0 Larger hills are off to the E beyond the Alaska oil pipeline, but the Brooks Range is no longer in view.\u00a0 To the W there is nothing except a distant tower on a gentle rise.<\/p>\n

The North Slope Dingo seems to have lost hope of seeing any wildlife in this barren land.\u00a0 She’s taken to snoozing.<\/p>\n

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The North Slope<\/strong> about 90 miles from Deadhorse. Golden boreal tundra stretches to low hills on the horizon. A lone tower (L) sits atop a gentle rise. Photo looks WNW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A convoy approaches from the N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

80 miles from Deadhorse<\/em> – Widely scattered patches of sunlight appear on the yellow tundra.\u00a0 A few patches of blue sky exist.\u00a0 The clouds are low, but apparently not that thick.<\/p>\n

The North Slope Dingo is awake again, but still has seen no animals.\u00a0 The reason is becoming increasingly clear.\u00a0 For many miles, pickup trucks have often been in view parked along the access roads to the Alaska oil pipeline, especially near the Sagavanirktok River.\u00a0 People are sometimes seen nearby.\u00a0 They often wear at least some orange.\u00a0 Hunters!\u00a0 No wonder whatever wildlife exists has fled beyond vision.\u00a0 Sad.<\/p>\n

76 miles from Deadhorse<\/em> – Pavement!\u00a0 The first pavement since S of the Atigun River 75 miles ago.\u00a0 A nice 6 or 7 mile stretch, then it’s back to mud and gravel.<\/p>\n

6:00 PM, 45\u00b0F, 67 miles from Deadhorse<\/em> – The Sagavanirktok River, which has only occasionally been visible from the Dalton Highway, now curves away to the NE flowing along the base of a line of low bluffs that has been in view for miles.\u00a0 The bluffs had been bathed in sunlight, but by the time the North Slope Dingo arrives for a photo, the light is past its best.\u00a0 Minutes later it is gone.<\/p>\n

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67 miles from Deadhorse, the Sagavanirktok River<\/strong> curves away to the NE flowing along the base of a line of low bluffs. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6:20 PM, 62 miles from Deadhorse<\/em> – The North Slope Dingo stops at a rare pullout about 0.25 mile N of the top of a big, very gently sloping hill.\u00a0 The river is nowhere in sight here, but a faint rainbow is off to the NE.\u00a0 The boreal tundra is a yellow patchwork of sunlight and fog.\u00a0 As clouds and fog drift by, patterns of light and shadow move W to E across a golden land sliding away to the N.\u00a0 Overhead a patch of blue sky sails by.<\/p>\n

No traffic at all lately.\u00a0 Even the hunters don’t seem to be out and about.<\/p>\n

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62 miles from Deadhorse, the North Slope Dingo spied this faint rainbow. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The boreal tundra is a patchwork of sunlight and shadow as low clouds, fog, and bits of blue sky drift by. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Same view with a little help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Almost immediately after leaving the faint rainbow and partially sunlit tundra behind, SPHP drives into rain and fog.\u00a0 A few minutes later, the Dalton Highway is paved again, but this time only for a couple of miles.\u00a0 Then it’s back to the usual mud and gravel.\u00a0 4 or 5 miles later, a sign says road work next 51 miles, basically the rest of the way to Deadhorse.\u00a0 Get stopped by a flagman who says it’s a 20 minute wait.<\/p>\n

The flagman has been working here every day since June 9th.\u00a0 $30\/hr base pay and $45\/hr overtime.\u00a0 Most days are 13 hours, and some are as many as 16.\u00a0 He has seen caribou, musk oxen, wolves, grizzly and polar bears, and lots of birds.\u00a0 Lupe will only have to follow the pilot car for 14 miles.\u00a0 The G6 is the only vehicle following the pilot car once it arrives.\u00a0 The pilot car races along the muddy road at 40 mph.<\/p>\n

7:38 PM, 30 to 35 miles from Deadhorse<\/em> – No traffic at all.\u00a0 The land is very flat.\u00a0 A 2 tiered bluff exists a mile to the E.\u00a0 To the W, nothing but a tiny hill in otherwise level terrain.\u00a0 6 geese are flying S.<\/p>\n

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30 to 35 miles from Deadhorse the Dalton Highway is damp, but in good shape. The terrain is like a pancake. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A mile E of the highway is a 2 tiered bluff. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8:17 PM, 42\u00b0F, 15 to 17 miles from Deadhorse<\/em> – Saw the sun’s position through a weak spot in the clouds about 15 minutes ago.\u00a0 The sun won’t set for another 2.5 hours yet.\u00a0 For the past 10 miles, the Dalton Highway has been on a roadbed raised 15 feet above the surrounding terrain.\u00a0 The terrain is even flatter than before.\u00a0 Most of it appears to be part of a vast swamp, with occasional stretches of open water.<\/p>\n

The Sagavanirktok River was briefly in view again lurking near the base of the 2 tier bluff.\u00a0 That bluff ran for miles along the same course before coming to an end.\u00a0 A single tier bluff then picked up again a mile ENE of the highway close to where the 2 tier bluff faded away.\u00a0 It also runs for miles.\u00a0 The bluff is now several miles from the Dalton Highway, hidden by fog.<\/p>\n

The sky is uniformly gray.\u00a0 Visibility is only a mile or two.\u00a0 Lupe saw a couple of small buttes off to the W looking like ghosts on the horizon.\u00a0 They didn’t amount to much.<\/p>\n

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15 to 17 miles from Deadhorse. The Dalton Highway is on a raised roadbed about 15 feet above the surrounding swampy terrain. A fairly large stretch of open water is seen beyond Loop. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Dalton Highway remains on a raised roadbed like this the rest of the way to Deadhorse. The North Slope Dingo was now assured of getting there! Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8:54 PM –<\/em> Success!\u00a0 It’s like a dream.\u00a0 The North Slope Dingo has made it to the outskirts of Deadhorse.\u00a0 The end of the Dalton Highway is only a couple of miles farther.\u00a0 Lupe is what, maybe 8 miles S of Prudhoe Bay?<\/p>\n

Deadhorse is as others have described it to SPHP – an industrial complex almost exclusively dedicated to the energy industry.\u00a0 Nothing resembling a town is in sight.\u00a0 Not a single house or residential street.\u00a0 No business district catering to the public.<\/p>\n

The closest thing to a retail business is Deadhorse Camp, which Loop finds near the start of Deadhorse on the L.\u00a0 It’s a hotel of sorts, catering mostly to oilfield workers who essentially live there, but also to members of the public who manage to make it to the end of the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 It’s also where it’s possible to arrange for a shuttle bus tour to the Arctic Ocean.<\/p>\n

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Success! The North Slope Dingo arrives on the outskirts of Deadhorse<\/strong>. As expected, everything in sight has an industrial look to it. No sign of any traditional town at all.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Deadhorse<\/strong> is 99% about the energy business and producing oil for the Alaska oil pipeline, which starts here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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One unexpected thing about Deadhorse<\/strong> and the energy industry it serves was how spread out it all was. Wide areas of swamp and tundra separate numerous far flung industrial installations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Geese like to hang out around the Deadhorse Camp building.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Oh, yeah! Here’s proof that the North Slope Dingo made it all the way to Deadhorse.<\/strong> Lupe stands outside the Deadhorse Camp building, located on the L side of the Dalton Highway shortly after reaching Deadhorse. This is one of several “hotels” in Deadhorse. They all have a similar appearance. Some only accommodate oilfield workers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Even though SPHP had been told on the phone before Lupe ever left home that Dingoes aren’t allowed to take the Arctic Ocean tour, SPHP was still planning on asking again for Lupe. Maybe it was still possible with enough in-person groveling or bribery?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Arctic Ocean shuttle! That was what Loop wanted to take. If she was refused, she would have to send SPHP as her personal representative.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now that the North Slope Dingo was in Deadhorse, SPHP wasn’t certain exactly what to do.\u00a0 Looking for a gas station seemed like a good place to start.\u00a0 From Deadhorse Camp, SPHP drove farther into Deadhorse.\u00a0 After a couple of bends, the Dalton Highway finally ended at a T intersection.\u00a0 SPHP took a left and eventually stumbled upon the Prudhoe Bay Hotel near the Alaska Airlines terminal at the Deadhorse Airport.<\/p>\n

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Unused drilling rigs stand lined up across a lake in Deadhorse.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe arrives at the Prudhoe Bay Hotel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Alaska Airlines seems to be the only airline serving the Deadhorse airport. The terminal was closed when Loop arrived on a Sunday night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Lupe remained in the G6, SPHP went into the Prudhoe Bay Hotel seeking information.\u00a0 Signs in the entryway commanded that everyone entering wear disposable boot covers to help keep the place clean.\u00a0 Free, bright blue slip-on boot covers were available from a box.\u00a0 SPHP put a pair on, then went on in.<\/p>\n

Long well lit hallways led off in 3 directions.\u00a0 Not a soul was in sight.\u00a0 The front desk turned out to be some distance down the hall straight ahead from the entrance.\u00a0 A clerk gave SPHP a free map of Deadhorse on a single sheet of paper, and circled where the 2 gas stations are located.\u00a0 After thanking the clerk, SPHP wandered the hallways.<\/p>\n

A large map of Alaska’s N coast was framed under glass on one wall.\u00a0 It showed the locations of numerous energy installations, and the names of a great many geographical features.\u00a0 Lots of history was provided on who first explored the Alaskan coast and named various islands, points, peninsulas, etc.\u00a0 The map was extraordinarily interesting.\u00a0 SPHP read much of it, which took a while.\u00a0 Meanwhile, absolutely no one came or went in the silent hall.<\/p>\n

Light was fading when SPHP returned to Loop, still waiting patiently in the G6.\u00a0 It was starting to get foggy.\u00a0 One of the gas stations was close by.\u00a0 It was a small unmanned facility.\u00a0 SPHP couldn’t even figure out how to work it.\u00a0 Splendid.\u00a0 Oh, well.\u00a0 Can figure it out tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Loop and SPHP drove around Deadhorse a bit.\u00a0 There weren’t many roads, yet it seemed like a maze.\u00a0 In growing darkness and gloomy fog, the whole place was sort of eerie.\u00a0 Almost no traffic at all.\u00a0 Now and then a pickup truck or semi truck appeared, then vanished.\u00a0 No one was out and about.\u00a0 Deadhorse was sort of a ghost town, but then it was late on a Sunday night and energy prices were depressed.\u00a0 Maybe like Skagway, Deadhorse would be busier Monday morning?<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP drove past clusters of energy related service businesses.\u00a0 They were all dark, except for security lights.\u00a0 Widely scattered in the distance were more clusters of buildings, some quite brightly lit.\u00a0 No houses, no businesses of any kind other than energy related companies and a few boxy “hotels”.\u00a0 Weird, kind of creepy, but cool, too.<\/p>\n

Returning to the Dalton Highway, SPHP drove back to within sight of Deadhorse Camp.\u00a0 Several pickup trucks with campers were parked at big pullouts overlooking the Sagavanirktok River.\u00a0 Even a few tents were pitched out on the gravel.\u00a0 Apparently it was OK to stay here.\u00a0 Perfect!\u00a0 This would do nicely.\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6.\u00a0 Tomorrow Loopster would explore Deadhorse.\u00a0 SPHP hoped the North Slope Dingo could even get permission to see the Arctic Ocean, but she probably wouldn’t.<\/p>\n

Couldn’t hurt to try, though, could it?\"\"<\/a>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 21 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! 4:54 AM, 38\u00b0F, S bank of the Atigun River near the Dalton Highway bridge – Fog.\u00a0 Again.\u00a0 So what else was new?\u00a0 Despite fog, rain, and snow, Lupe had succeeded in climbing Lake Benchmark Mountain (5,000 ft.) yesterday.\u00a0 The day before that, she’d … Continue reading The Alaskan North Slope Dingo – Deadhorse or Bust! (8-20-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14134,"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":[8,704,105,918,106,915,923,26,104,919],"class_list":["post-14103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2017-yukon-alaska","tag-omniten","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-atigun-pass","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dalton-highway","tag-deadhorse","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-north-slope"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/P1070805.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\/14103","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=14103"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14103\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16353,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14103\/revisions\/16353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}