{"id":14386,"date":"2018-08-28T08:10:39","date_gmt":"2018-08-28T14:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=14386"},"modified":"2018-08-01T22:32:04","modified_gmt":"2018-08-02T04:32:04","slug":"pedro-dome-donnelly-dome-alaska-8-24-17-8-25-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=14386","title":{"rendered":"Pedro Dome & Donnelly Dome, Alaska (8-24-17 & 8-25-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days 25 & 26 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

8-24-17<\/strong>, 3:46 PM, 58\u00b0F<\/em> – About 10 miles from where the Steese Highway left its junction with the Elliot Highway NE of Fairbanks, Lupe and SPHP reached Cleary Summit.\u00a0 A large pullout at the start of a long gravel side road just E of the highway provided a convenient spot to stash the G6. \u00a0 From here, the side road continued E toward what must be a residential area judging from a long line of mailboxes nearby.<\/p>\n

Lupe hopped out, still looking woozy.\u00a0 She hadn’t been feeling well.\u00a0 Up until now, she’d spent the day resting in the G6 while SPHP ran errands in Fairbanks without accomplishing much of anything except washing a ton of Dalton Highway mud off the now sparkling G6.\u00a0 A short while ago, the Carolina Dog had urped up on her blankets – nothing major, and she did seem to feel somewhat better after that.<\/p>\n

Maybe fresh air and a little light peakbagging would help speed Looper’s recovery from whatever was ailing her?\u00a0\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP crossed over the Steese Highway and headed W on Pedro Dome Road.<\/p>\n

Pedro Dome Road was a wide gravel road.\u00a0 At first there were mailboxes, driveways, and other signs of habitation in the area.\u00a0 Lupe was quickly beyond most of that, but vehicles still occasionally drove by.\u00a0 Both sides of the road were lined with thick jungley stands of tall alder bushes.<\/p>\n

The sickly Dingo’s peakbagging destination was an easy one.\u00a0 Pedro Dome<\/span><\/a> (2,592 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was only 3 miles from the Steese Highway.\u00a0 Pedro Dome Road or some offshoot should take her right on up to the summit.\u00a0 Total elevation gain required was less than 400 feet.\u00a0 SPHP could probably have simply driven the G6 right on up to the top of the mountain, but where’s the fun in that?\u00a0 Besides, Loop needed to spend some time out of the G6, anyway.<\/p>\n

On the way here, Looper had stopped at a rest area along the Steese Highway.\u00a0 There SPHP had learned that Pedro Dome was named after Felix Pedro<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, an Italian immigrant who sparked a local gold rush in 1902 when he discovered gold in the Tanana River valley.\u00a0 During his prospecting days, Felix Pedro had actually climbed Pedro Dome.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t expecting to find any gold, but was looking forward to seeing whatever Felix had seen from up on Pedro Dome over a century ago.<\/p>\n

She might not see much of anything.\u00a0 Nearly a mile from Steese Highway, Looper reached an intersection where Pedro Dome was in view ahead.\u00a0 A thick spruce and alder forest covered the whole mountain.\u00a0 Several large towers stood up on a large, flat summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Almost a mile from the Steese Highway, Lupe has her first view of Pedro Dome<\/strong> ahead. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now that the mountain was in view, Pedro Dome Road made a big curve to the NW.\u00a0 The road followed a ridgeline before turning SW again.\u00a0 Lupe came to a couple more intersections, but it was always easy to see which way to go.\u00a0 Along the way, she had occasional views of big forested ridges and distant low peaks.\u00a0 On the final approach, the road headed S along Pedro Dome’s upper E slope.\u00a0 A subsequent curve to the W brought Lupe to the summit.<\/p>\n

The summit area was round and a good 10 to 15 acres in size.\u00a0 Only a fraction of the entire area could be seen from any one spot, since most of the summit was covered with the forest Looper had seen from afar.\u00a0 The highest part of the mountain was toward the NW, but the terrain was so flat no particular point stood out as being the true summit.<\/p>\n

Four large towers and a number of smaller ones dominated the top of Pedro Dome.\u00a0 A maze of gravel or grassy roads radiated out from a large patch of bare ground where Lupe had come up providing access to these towers.\u00a0 Loop and SPHP visited each of the four largest towers, a couple of which were fenced off and bore “No Trespassing” signs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tower No. 1.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Tower No. 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Tower No. 3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Tower No. 4.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Due to all the vegetation, there were few places to get much of a view from Pedro Mountain.\u00a0 A couple of minor side roads leading into the dense alder bush jungle went all the way to the S and W edges of the summit to provide what views there were.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The view to the W was pretty, but would have been better on a clearer day. Fewer wires wouldn’t have hurt a thing either.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Steese Highway is in view down in the Pedro Creek valley<\/strong>. Fairbanks (R) is in this direction in the distance, but hidden by low hills and ridges. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Due in part to the haziness of the atmosphere, the views from Pedro Dome were pretty, but no more than that.\u00a0 All the towers and man made stuff didn’t do a thing for SPHP either.\u00a0 Lupe had the best time on Pedro Dome.\u00a0 She loved the shady grassy roads away from the towers, and had a grand time sniffing and exploring her way through the alder jungles where SPHP couldn’t go.<\/p>\n

Apparently coming to Pedro Dome had done the American Dingo some good.\u00a0 Lupe was noticeably happier, more lively, and active up on the summit.\u00a0 She continued to enjoy exploring the alders now and then on the pleasant trek back to the G6.\u00a0 (6:16 PM, 61\u00b0F)\u00a0<\/em> Though the trip to Pedro Dome was the only active thing Loop and SPHP did all day, that probably wasn’t a bad thing.\u00a0 A day of rest was overdue.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Feeling better after her alder jungle journeys up on Pedro Dome, Lupe starts on the road back to the G6. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A final look back at Pedro Dome<\/strong> from where Lupe had first seen it. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8-25-17<\/strong><\/em> – After spending the night in Fairbanks, Lupe and SPHP left town heading SE on Highway No. 2.\u00a0 At Delta Junction SPHP took Richardson Highway No. 4 going S.\u00a0 In 2016, Lupe had been on this road going the opposite direction.\u00a0 It had been a rainy, misty day.\u00a0 Loop had barely seen the rugged mountains of the Alaska Range that the road passed through.\u00a0 Much of what she did see looked daunting and inaccessible.<\/p>\n

However, once the Richardson Highway was over the Alaska Range, the highway had dropped down to much lower, flatter territory on the way to Delta Junction.\u00a0 Here, Lupe had seen a high solitary hill.\u00a0 The hill was close to the highway, and looked like such an attractive peakbagging objective SPHP had stopped briefly to consider making an ascent right then and there.\u00a0 In the end, even though the rain had stopped, the weather still looked too iffy.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had driven on.<\/p>\n

Since then, SPHP had learned the name of that solitary hill was Donnelly Dome.\u00a0 Today, more than a year since she’d first seen it, Lupe was on her way back to find and climb it.\u00a0 Donnelly Dome is situated 18 miles S of Delta Junction on the W side of Richardson Highway No. 4.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t have to drive far out of Delta Junction before Lupe once again spotted Donnelly Dome<\/span><\/a> (3,910 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> up ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Donnelly Dome<\/strong> from Richardson Highway No. 4. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking for a place offering both possible access to the mountain and a good place to stash the G6, SPHP found a gravel side road on the W side of the highway about 50 feet S of milepost 247.\u00a0 A flat area large enough to accommodate 2 or 3 vehicles was close to the start of this road.\u00a0 SPHP parked the G6 and Loopster hopped out.\u00a0 (12:09 PM)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
More than a year after she’d first seen Donnelly Dome<\/strong>, Lupe is back to see if she can get to the top. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The day was brightly sunny and pleasantly breezy as Loop started for Donnelly Dome.\u00a0 Bushes waist high on SPHP crowded both sides of the road, so Lupe did the obvious, easy thing and simply followed the road.\u00a0 SPHP could have driven the G6 somewhat closer to the mountain, but it wasn’t long before the road deteriorated to a point where high clearance would have been required.<\/p>\n

The road was soon winding around on a series of little hilltops.\u00a0 Spirits were high as Lupe and SPHP drew nearer to the mountain.\u00a0 This was looking like a great day to climb Donnelly Dome.\u00a0 Lupe had seen some huge white peaks of the Alaska Range to the SW from the Richardson Highway on the way here.\u00a0 The views of those mighty peaks from up on Donnelly Dome ought to be stunning.\u00a0 The prospect was exciting!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Oh, this is going to be a great day to climb Donnelly Dome<\/strong>, SPHP! I can already see some white monsters up ahead!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At one point, the road overlooked a small pond where Lupe saw 4 ducks.\u00a0 Beyond this pond, the road started fading away.\u00a0 It eventually turned S away from Donnelly Dome, but Loopster found a good single track trail in this area that headed W through the bushes toward the mountain.\u00a0 Lupe couldn’t see much of anything due to the bushes, but she was going the right way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
3 of the 4 ducks Lupe saw.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The single track trail became a maze of interconnecting alternate paths as it wound through the bushes, but Lupe eventually arrived on higher open ground free of bushes at the base of the mountain.\u00a0 A cairn sat up on this bare ground.\u00a0 Lupe was at the far SE end of Donnelly Dome.<\/p>\n

Donnelly Dome must be a popular destination.\u00a0 A heavily worn trail left the open ground near the cairn, plunging right back into the bushes.\u00a0 This trail began climbing so aggressively up the steep side of Donnelly Dome that SPHP was often clinging to bushes for support.\u00a0 A bunch of loose rock on the trail didn’t help matters any.<\/p>\n

After gaining a fair amount of elevation, the trail became somewhat less steep as it went NNW along Donnelly Dome’s E slope.\u00a0 Lupe was making good progress.\u00a0 She was above most of the bushes, which thinned out a great deal up here.\u00a0 Views to the E were already impressive.\u00a0 By now, however, what had been merely a pleasant breeze down below was an annoyingly strong S wind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the time Lupe was above most of the bushes, the views were already impressive! Panoramic Peak<\/span><\/a> (5,150 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is in the distance at far L. The G6, too small to be seen, is parked by the Richardson Hwy not far from the largest lake at Center. The duck pond is closer by. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking S toward part of the Alaska Range<\/strong>. Richardson Highway No. 4 is in clear view below. Looper is already feeling rather windswept.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking up the mountain from the same spot. The high point ahead isn’t anywhere close to the summit yet. Lupe came to quite a few false summits along the way. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe climbed and climbed.\u00a0 The trail was braided.\u00a0 She often had her choice of routes.\u00a0 They all headed the same general direction, NNW along the E slope of the mountain.\u00a0 SPHP kept hoping the mountain would provide some protection from the wind if Loop went far enough N, but the wind only got stronger the higher she went.<\/p>\n

After a while, it kept looking like Lupe was about to reach Donnelly Dome’s summit ridge.\u00a0 Each time she reached a high point, it all proved to be an illusion.\u00a0 Hardly any bushes remained by the time the Carolina Dog found herself on the most barren, windswept, steepest slope yet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loopster on a steep slope with her nose into the wind and her eyes closed due to the bright sunshine. Although she’s already gained a lot of elevation, there’s still more to go! Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Wow! How’s this for a view, SPHP? Get a picture with these bright red tundra plants!<\/em> Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Can’t be much farther, can it?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It seemed like Lupe had made it quite a long way N along the E slope of the mountain.\u00a0 She had gained what looked like an incredible amount of elevation, yet there was only supposed to be 1,660 feet of elevation gain from the highway to the top of Donnelly Dome.<\/p>\n

SPHP resolved to leave the trail.\u00a0 Looper would climb straight on up this steep slope.\u00a0 The top didn’t look that much farther.\u00a0 The summit had to be close by now, didn’t it?\u00a0 Grabbing whatever was handy, which wasn’t much of consequence, SPHP started up.\u00a0 With her 4 on the floor, Looper powered her way up the slope with ease.<\/p>\n

Top of the mountain?\u00a0 Hah!\u00a0 When Lupe reached the upper end of the slope, she wasn’t at the top of anything.\u00a0 This was just the E lip of a more gentle slope going up.\u00a0 Another trail here led still higher, continuing NNW.\u00a0 At least this was far easier terrain than that super steep slope.\u00a0 Lupe ought to be able to make a lot faster progress.\u00a0 The way the wind was roaring up here, it might blow<\/em> her clear to the top of the mountain, or off it completely.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At least this is easier than where we were, SPHP! Provided we don’t blow away, that is<\/em>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe wasn’t as far N along the mountain as SPHP had thought.\u00a0 She was still coming up from the SSE.\u00a0 She didn’t have to go far on this upper trail, though, before it was clear the Carolina Dog actually had made it to the broad, sparsely vegetated summit ridge.\u00a0 The upper trail faded.\u00a0 The top of Donnelly Dome<\/span><\/a> (3,910 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was directly ahead 200 yards away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches Donnelly Dome’s long, broad summit ridge. The top of the mountain is straight ahead only 200 yards away. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although it was now certain Lupe was going to reach the top of Donnelly Dome, there was bad news, too.\u00a0 During the American Dingo’s ascent, the mountain had blocked her view of the huge white peaks of the Alaska Range off to the SW.\u00a0 Upon attaining the summit ridge, she immediately had a panoramic view in that direction.<\/p>\n

The monstrous white peaks Looper had seen before she began her climb in earnest were gone!\u00a0 The fierce S wind had blown in a giant cloud bank that somehow clung stubbornly to the Alaska Range.\u00a0 Despite the wind, those clouds didn’t seem to be going anywhere.\u00a0 Only a tiny fraction of the formerly glorious views remained, glimpses of parts of individual peaks that didn’t convey the same overall impression at all.<\/p>\n

So disappointing!\u00a0 And aggravating to think that if Loop had only arrived a couple of hours earlier, she would have seen the entire grand display.\u00a0 Well, it was what it was.\u00a0 Lupe could still see a lot from up here.\u00a0 The clouds weren’t everywhere, just unfortunately concentrated where the best views should have been.\u00a0 In any case, Lupe didn’t waste any time getting to the summit.\u00a0 The wind was going to make staying up here for very long far less enjoyable than it should have been.<\/p>\n

The summit area was a nearly flat 0.5 acre strewn with mostly smallish rocks.\u00a0 A variety of cairns were present.\u00a0 Two were considerably larger than the rest.\u00a0 They were positioned near the SW and NE edges of the summit.\u00a0 The SW cairn was at Donnelly Dome’s true summit.\u00a0 Everything else was clearly a little lower.<\/p>\n

A steady 30-35 mph wind scoured the mountaintop.\u00a0 Not a hurricane, by any means, but Lupe didn’t care for it one bit.\u00a0 The big SW cairn was built up like a wall.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog eagerly took refuge behind it whenever she didn’t have photo duties to fulfill.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches the biggest cairn at the true summit of Donnelly Dome<\/strong>. It was actually more like a wall than a cairn, for which Looper was thankful since it gave her at least some protection from the wind. The Delta River valley<\/strong> and part of the Alaska Range<\/strong> are in view in the distance. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Up on the cairn or rock wall – whatever you want to call it. Note the 2 stone tablets with writing on them. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe still up on the biggest cairn, but looking NW now. The Alaska oil pipeline can be seen, as well as the Delta River<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Right away, SPHP noticed two flat rocks with writing on them propped up against the rock wall cairn.\u00a0 A large group of military personnel, no doubt from Eielson AFB, had been here on 7-23-17, only a month and a day ago.\u00a0 The “Peacocks” and “Night Train”, presumably two separate units, had recorded their names on these stone tablets.\u00a0 Names were scrawled on many smaller rocks, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The “Night Train” tablet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The “Peacocks” tablet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP was unable to find any registry other than these rocks, so after poking around the true summit at the largest cairn, Loop next paid a visit to the NE cairn.\u00a0 It was a poorly organized pile of rocks, but Lupe had a fabulous view to the E from here.\u00a0 She saw Panoramic Peak<\/span><\/a> (5,150 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and other peaks in the Granite Mountains area.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loopster in the wind on the poorly organized NE cairn. Panoramic Peak<\/strong> (far L) is in view. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking back toward the true summit at the big SW rock wall cairn (R). This is a good view of a large portion of the summit area. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Having been to both of the big cairns, some relief from the gale was in order.\u00a0 Loop retreated far enough down the N slope of the mountain to feel fairly well sheltered.\u00a0 Here, Lupe and SPHP took a pleasant break.\u00a0 Lupe could see the N spine of Donnelly Dome.\u00a0 The Delta River and Alaska oil pipeline headed N across many miles of level terrain toward small mountains in the distance.<\/p>\n

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Lupe where she took refuge from the wind on the N side of Donnelly Dome. Loop and SPHP enjoyed a nice break here. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the break, it was time for a few more photos.\u00a0 Loopster thought it best to continue hiding out from the wind as best she could behind the big rock wall cairn.\u00a0 SPHP wandered around looking at this and that.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Zoomed in on an unknown peak of the Alaska Range<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Oh, yeah! Zoomed in on a big white mountain of the Alaska Range<\/strong>. If the clouds would have dissipated, Lupe would have seen many more white mountains like this one from Donnelly Dome<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Panoramic Peak<\/strong> (far L) in shadow. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe relaxes at least somewhat protected from the wind while waiting for SPHP to finish up here. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Delta River<\/strong> flows N out of the Alaska Range<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looper the Trooper comes out into the wind for another photo shortly before leaving the Donnelly Dome summit. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The temperature had to be in the mid 50’s \u00b0F, which ordinarily would have been quite comfortable.\u00a0 However, it felt chilly in the wind.\u00a0 SPHP made only a half-hearted effort to search for the Pillsbury survey benchmark shown on the topo map, and didn’t find it.\u00a0 Oh, well.\u00a0 Hardly mattered.\u00a0 35 minutes after reaching the summit of Donnelly Dome, Lupe was ready to begin her descent.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
35 minutes after reaching the summit of Donnelly Dome<\/strong>, Loop is ready to start the descent. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe retraced her route up on the way down.\u00a0 SPHP was plenty slow as usual on the steep slopes.\u00a0 Some sort of military plane practicing takeoffs from a dusty landing strip 4 miles off to the NNE provided the only real excitement.\u00a0 The plane buzzed Donnelly Dome several times, which set the American Dingo off into ferocious barking fits.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking ESE before leaving the summit ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
This military plane practicing take offs and landings provided Lupe with some excitement on her way down Donnelly Dome<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The plane beats a hurried retreat after threatened by a ferocious Dingo on Donnelly Dome. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many hours of daylight remained when Lupe made it back to the G6.\u00a0 (4:33 PM)\u00a0<\/em> With Loop’s breezy Donnelly Dome adventure successfully concluded, the plan was to continue S on Richardson Highway No. 4 up into the Alaska Range to see some of the sights she had missed due to poor weather in 2016.\u00a0 Clouds still hampered the views in most places, but Lupe did see a big glacier E of the highway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop saw this impressive glacier E of the Richardson Highway up in the Alaska Range<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time Lupe reached Summit Lake, patches of blue sky existed among the cloud cover.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe arrives at Summit Lake<\/strong>. By now patches of blue sky were scattered among the cloud cover. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sunlight shimmers on Summit Lake<\/strong>. Richardson Highway No. 4 passes right along the E shore of this scenic 6 mile long mountain lake. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sunlight brightens a hillside E of Summit Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3 or 4 miles S of Summit Lake, just S of Paxson, SPHP turned W on Denali Highway No. 8.\u00a0 The first 14 miles of this 136 mile long road connecting Paxson and Cantwell are paved.\u00a0 Lupe had only seen the W 10 or 12 miles of Denali Highway No. 8 back in 2016.\u00a0 This time, she was going to travel the entire route.\u00a0 The evening drive was beautiful.\u00a0 Loop and SPHP stopped now and then for photos along the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The first 14 miles of Denali Highway No. 8 going W from Paxson are paved. The evening drive was beautiful the whole way. Loop stopped a number of times for photos and a bit of sniffing around. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Lupe got farther W, Denali Highway No. 8 turned to dirt and gravel.\u00a0 The highway was fairly rough in places with potholes and such, so SPHP had to drive quite slowly.\u00a0 That was fine!\u00a0 The scenery was spectacular.\u00a0 This area felt strangely as remote as the Dalton Highway had been.<\/p>\n

To the N, Lupe saw snow-capped peaks of the Amphitheater Mountains.\u00a0 Sometimes glaciers were in view right from the road.\u00a0 To the SW were a number of high rounded hills.\u00a0 They looked like easy climbs, but were a long way from the highway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A view of the Amphitheater Mountains<\/strong> from Denali Highway No. 8. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Several large hills SW of the highway looked like easy climbs for Lupe, but they were a long way off. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Denali Highway No. 8 eventually turned NNW and went down a long slope taking Lupe into the Maclaren River valley.\u00a0 Looper could see the toe of the Maclaren Glacier far upriver.\u00a0 Near the Maclaren River, the American Dingo had a close encounter with a grizzly bear!<\/p>\n

One might think that an encounter with a grizzly bear would be the most memorable event of almost any day.\u00a0 The feisty American Dingo came out on top, but didn’t seem to think it was such a big deal.\u00a0 In fact, she appeared rather bored with the whole affair.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Denali Highway No. 8 heads down into the Maclaren River valley. A little piece of the Maclaren Glacier<\/strong> (upper R) is already visible from here. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking up the Maclaren River<\/strong> toward the toe of the Maclaren Glacier.<\/strong> Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near the Maclaren River, Loopster encounters a grizzly bear. SPHP gave her a boost so she could come out on top. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Oh, you’re just a riot, SPHP! Can I get off this thing yet?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
This is better. Can we just stick to the scenery from now on? That was embarrassing!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

W of the Maclaren River, the light began to fade.\u00a0 Evening was drawing to a close.\u00a0 Lupe saw many pullouts along the highway, but for a long way they were all full of vehicles and people camping out.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog finally arrived at an unoccupied pullout 47 miles from Cantwell.\u00a0 The light was almost gone now.\u00a0 This would have to do.<\/p>\n

By now Lupe was happy to get out of the G6.\u00a0 The incredibly dangerous predator Dingo, who had recently come out on top in her encounter with a grizzly bear, spent the rest of the evening prowling around in the bushes as dusk turned to night.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Evening along Denali Highway No. 8, Alaska 8-25-17<\/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 25 & 26 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! 8-24-17, 3:46 PM, 58\u00b0F – About 10 miles from where the Steese Highway left its junction with the Elliot Highway NE of Fairbanks, Lupe and SPHP reached Cleary Summit.\u00a0 A large pullout at the start of a long gravel side road … Continue reading Pedro Dome & Donnelly Dome, Alaska (8-24-17 & 8-25-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14351,"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":[8,704,105,106,26,931,932,104,11,930],"class_list":["post-14386","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-dingo-vacations","tag-donnelly-dome","tag-felix-pedro","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging","tag-pedro-dome"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_6914.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\/14386","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=14386"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16369,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14386\/revisions\/16369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}