{"id":20305,"date":"2019-04-05T08:10:10","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T14:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=20305"},"modified":"2019-04-09T12:44:11","modified_gmt":"2019-04-09T18:44:11","slug":"the-crocus-trail-to-pine-creek-falls-atlin-british-columbia-canada-8-11-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=20305","title":{"rendered":"The Crocus Trail to Pine Creek Falls, Atlin, British Columbia, Canada (8-11-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days 7 & 8 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

8-10-18 –<\/em> After a black night and morning fog, Lupe had spent nearly the entire day relaxing in the G6 while SPHP drove N.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was now in NW British Columbia on Cassiar Highway No. 37.\u00a0 The scenery was gorgeous – remote mountains, pristine lakes, and wild rivers.\u00a0 Lupe had briefly escaped the G6 at several quick stops along the way, notably Meziadin Provincial Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and a rest area E of Eddontenajon Lake.<\/p>\n

Upon reaching the Stikine River (5:18 PM)<\/em>, it was finally time for a longer break at this favorite spot.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Taking a break from the G6 at the Stikine River<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking downstream. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe searched for squirrels among the trees, while SPHP read information posted up by the side road off Hwy 37.\u00a0 Of interest was a statement saying that the Grand Canyon of the Stikine downstream from here was described by John Muir<\/strong><\/span><\/a> in 1879 as “a Yosemite 100 miles long”.\u00a0 Might be something worth researching for a future trip?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Map of the area posted along a side road N of the Stikine River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An 1\/8 mile stroll W on a dirt road up in the forest N of the river led to a locked gate where a sign posted by the Stikine Canyon Ranch advertised trail rides.\u00a0 The sign failed to mention the area’s main attraction.\u00a0 Lupe had been delighted to find several squirrels along the road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
This sign was posted near a locked gate on the dirt road N of the Stikine River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The squirrels were the day’s highlight.\u00a0 More than an hour long delay waiting for a turn for fuel at Dease Lake meant Lupe didn’t get as far N as she might have.\u00a0 Day ended at the charmingly named Rabid Grizzly rest area 45 km N of Dease Lake, still 205 km from the Alaska Highway.<\/p>\n

8-11-18, 5:50 AM, 36\u00b0F<\/em> – A chilly morning encouraged an early start.\u00a0 A few hours later, the Yukon border presented an opportunity for Lupe to get out and sniff around a bit.\u00a0 (8:44 AM, 50\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood returns to the Yukon!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cassiar Highway No. 37 ended at a “T” intersection a mere 2 km into the Yukon.\u00a0 SPHP turned L onto the Alaska Highway, and Lupe cruised W for hours.\u00a0 Her only major break came at Teslin Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe was glad to get out of the G6 for a bit of a romp at Teslin Lake<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Heading for Atlin today, Lupe still had quite a long ride ahead of her.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At Teslin Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Teslin Lake<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More miles flew by.\u00a0 At Jake’s Corner, SPHP turned L (SW) off the Alaska Highway onto Hwy 8 to Tagish and Carcross.\u00a0 Actually bound for Atlin, within a few km another L turn was taken onto Hwy 7.<\/p>\n

Atlin is 94 km from the Alaska Highway.\u00a0 Lupe had never been to Atlin before, so the drive S was interesting.\u00a0 Mount Minto<\/span><\/a> (6,913 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> came into view near the N end of Atlin Lake.\u00a0 SPHP pulled off on a side road up on a bluff.\u00a0 Lupe hopped out for a look around.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From a bluff W of Hwy 7, Lupe has her first view of Atlin Lake<\/strong> and Mount Minto<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Atlin Lake and Mount Minto were beautiful, but still a few miles away.\u00a0 Lupe trotted W on the side road to see where it went.\u00a0 She passed an old man sitting in a chair near a van.\u00a0 The old man was facing Atlin Lake, but whether he was asleep or awake wasn’t clear.\u00a0 He made no gesture, and never stirred as Lupe went on by.<\/p>\n

The dirt road turned NW away from the lake and Mount Minto.\u00a0 Lupe took a shortcut back to the G6, exploring an open forest and enjoying a good sniff.\u00a0 Her next stop didn’t come until Hwy 7 reached Surprise Lake Road in Atlin.\u00a0 By then she was back in British Columbia.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches Atlin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was now mid-afternoon.\u00a0 A list of local activities was posted at the junction with Surprise Lake Road.\u00a0 SPHP was pleased to see several on the list that Lupe might enjoy.\u00a0 Down by Atlin Lake there was a historic white boat, the Tarahne, to look at.\u00a0 The Tarahne<\/span><\/strong><\/a> had been built during World War I as an excursion boat for tourists interested in pleasure cruises on Atlin Lake.<\/p>\n

Two short trails were also of interest, the Beach Trail along Atlin Lake, and the Crocus Trail which led to a view of Pine Creek Falls.<\/p>\n

Lupe began her local tour by going into the hamlet of Atlin for a look at the Tarahne and Atlin Lake.\u00a0 The Tarahne was Atlin’s premier landmark along the water’s edge.\u00a0 It looked so well preserved it was possible to imagine the Tarahne setting off on another excursion again today.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Tarahne was looking good!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Atlin Lake was clear and beautiful.\u00a0 Across the lake were two mountains of particular interest.\u00a0 Atlin Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,722 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> loomed large on the opposite shore.\u00a0 Farther S, Birch Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,765 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> on Teresa Island was in view.\u00a0 Birch Mountain is the second most prominent peak on a lake island in the world.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Atlin Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,722 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> from the hamlet of Atlin on Atlin Lake. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Birch Mountain<\/strong><\/span><\/a> (6,765 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> on Teresa Island <\/strong>is the 2nd most prominent peak on a lake island in the world! Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Birch Mountain<\/strong> on Teresa Island<\/strong> in Atlin Lake <\/strong>with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe took a short stroll along Atlin Lake.\u00a0 People were around, but Atlin didn’t feel at all crowded.\u00a0 The American Dingo enjoyed a quick tour of Atlin’s main streets.\u00a0 She came to some unusual Atlin architecture, her favorite being the Pyramid House.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Along the E shore of beautiful Atlin Lake<\/strong>. The Tarahne<\/strong> is visible on the R. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
This Pyramid House<\/strong> is awesome!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, you weren’t going to beat a Pyramid House!\u00a0 Two short trails were both a little way out of town.\u00a0 Perhaps it was time to go check them out?\u00a0 The first one was the Crocus Trail, E of Atlin along Surprise Lake Road.\u00a0 SPHP drove through a light industrial area, and eventually saw a sign for the Crocus Trail on the R.<\/p>\n

Just beyond the sign was a small pullout rimmed with concrete barriers.\u00a0 SPHP parked here.\u00a0 (4:32 PM, 63\u00b0F)<\/em>\u00a0 Lupe bounded out of the G6, happy to be free again.\u00a0 Peering over the barriers, it was already possible to see Pine Creek rushing through a surprisingly deep, narrow gorge.\u00a0 Looked promising!\u00a0 Lupe headed over to the sign at the start of the Crocus Trail.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Oh, finally a trail again! Let’s go check it out!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Crocus Trail began by heading downhill.\u00a0 After only 50 feet, Lupe came to an open grassy spot on the L.\u00a0 A lone bench was situated in a sunny location near the trees.<\/p>\n

The open spot was a small area.\u00a0 A little beyond the bench was a cliff without any fence or railing.\u00a0 From near the edge, Lupe could see Pine Creek plunging down a series of small waterfalls in the upper portion of the deep gorge.\u00a0 This was certainly an exciting start to the Crocus Trail!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Oh, look at that! Kind of a double waterfall up there at the top.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the bench, the Crocus Trail went W through the woods.\u00a0 Lupe was on level terrain.\u00a0 She soon reached open ground along the upper rim of Pine Creek Canyon.\u00a0 The canyon had already widened out considerably.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the Crocus Trail not too far from the bench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Along the open N rim of Pine Creek canyon. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mighty Pine Creek Falls was nowhere in sight, though the roar of water could be heard.\u00a0 SPHP kept expecting the trail to go down to Pine Creek, but it didn’t.\u00a0 Instead, approaching a higher section of bluffs, a signed switchback wound a little way NW into the forest away from the canyon’s edge.<\/p>\n

As Lupe gained the modest elevation required to get up to the higher bluff, the trail returned to the rim of the canyon.\u00a0 Here was a junction where what appeared to be a side trail headed NW into the forest again.\u00a0 Wooden signs said this was the Pom Pom trail to a cemetery.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the junction with the Pom Pom trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe continued W along the rim of Pine Creek canyon.\u00a0 As the trail went on and on, the canyon was broadening out a great deal.\u00a0 The Crocus Trail to Pine Creek Falls was only supposed to be 1.2 km long, and Lupe had already gone at least that far.\u00a0 The truth finally dawned on SPHP.<\/p>\n

The trail curved NW.\u00a0 Lupe came to a bigger opening along the bluffs where she could see SW all the way to Atlin Lake, Birch Mountain, and Atlin Mountain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Atlin Lake<\/strong>, Birch Mountain<\/strong> (L) and Atlin Mountain<\/strong> (R) from the W end of what might still have been the Crocus Trail. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is about it, Looper.\u00a0 It’s a lovely view, isn’t it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, it is, SPHP!\u00a0 But where is Pine Creek Falls?\u00a0 Shouldn’t we be there by now?<\/em><\/p>\n

We saw it already.<\/em><\/p>\n

We did?\u00a0 When?\u00a0 Did I blink?<\/em><\/p>\n

Back at the start.\u00a0 That first waterfall must have been it.\u00a0 Apparently we did the Crocus Trail backwards.\u00a0 Guess I should have paid more attention to the directions.\u00a0 We must have started at the end.\u00a0 The way we’ve gone about it, this lovely view is our somewhat anti-climactic finish.<\/em><\/p>\n

So we’re actually at the start of the Crocus Trail now?<\/em><\/p>\n

No.\u00a0 Not quite.\u00a0 I’m not even completely sure we are still on the Crocus Trail anymore.\u00a0 We can go a bit farther, if you like.\u00a0 We might come to the trailhead.\u00a0 Probably not much to see there, though, even if we do.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe was in favor of going farther.\u00a0 A grassy road led off into the forest.\u00a0 Almost immediately, Loop came to a sad place.\u00a0 Not far from the bluff with the lovely view was a pet cemetery.<\/p>\n

The cemetery was a small one.\u00a0 Looking around, SPHP noticed only 5 simple graves.\u00a0 One had a metal marker in the shape of a stop sign.\u00a0 Cut through the metal was the outline of a dog with a curly tail.\u00a0 The sign said only “King, Life-Long Friend”.<\/p>\n

As the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood stood next to the sign full of life, smiling happily, and squinting in the bright sunshine, the world filled with mist.\u00a0 SPHP’s cheeks felt the raindrops begin.\"\"<\/a>Come on, Looper, let’s go!\u00a0 This is far enough.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe returned along the Crocus Trail the way she had come, all the way back to the bench by the Pine Creek Falls overlook.\u00a0 Looking back at the trail from here, SPHP suddenly realized there was a side trail branching off the Crocus Trail that went down into the canyon.\u00a0 Surely it led to Pine Creek?<\/p>\n

Lupe was more than willing to explore this side trail, too.\u00a0 An easy stroll through the woods down into the canyon led to an open floodplain full of rounded rocks.\u00a0 Nearby, Pine Creek came rippling around a bend on its journey W to Atlin Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the side trail leading down to Pine Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At Pine Creek<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A man was camping out of a van parked near the creek.\u00a0 A huge brown dog rested motionless next to the van.\u00a0 The man seemed startled at the sight of anyone else, but came over to talk to SPHP.<\/p>\n

He was hard to understand.\u00a0 The man spoke with an accent so thick, it wasn’t even clear if he was speaking English or some other language.\u00a0 The conversation wasn’t particularly enlightening for either party.\u00a0 SPHP managed to gather that the man knew nothing about any trail down here that might lead to Pine Creek Falls.\u00a0 In fact, he was unaware of the falls’ existence.<\/p>\n

The massive brown beast over by the van made SPHP nervous.\u00a0 Using the first break in the unproductive conversation as an excuse to leave, SPHP took a look at information posted nearby.\u00a0 Somewhere around here was “the powerhouse”, an Atlin area attraction.<\/p>\n

The posted information included the same description of the Crocus Trail seen before, including directions on how to find the trailhead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
How to find the start of the Crocus Trail. Probably works great if one can follow simple instructions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not terribly interested in a powerhouse, there didn’t seem to be much more to do down by Pine Creek, so it was back up the side trail to the bench by the Crocus Trail for a final look at Pine Creek Falls.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Pine Creek Falls<\/strong> with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking downstream along the narrow gorge below Pine Creek Falls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe’s adventures on and off the Crocus Trail were now over.\u00a0 (6:01 PM)\u00a0 <\/em>Returning to Atlin Lake, dinner was enjoyed at a picnic table right next to the Tarahne.\u00a0 Afterwards, came a short evening drive 3.7 km S on Warm Bay Road to the huge Monarch Mountain trailhead.<\/p>\n

The Beach Trail, the second short trail in the Atlin area, began at the S end of the parking lot.\u00a0 A forested embankment led down to Atlin Lake.<\/p>\n

A long sunset stroll along the huge lake sounded wonderful!\u00a0 However, when Lupe got down to lake level, the Beach Trail disappeared into big stands of tall bushes.\u00a0 Maybe Atlin Lake was at an unusually high level from some reason?\u00a0 In any case, the trail disappearing into the bushes was submerged beneath dark standing water.<\/p>\n

Utilizing a combination of less flooded portions of the trail, and off-trail bushwhacks, Lupe did manage to get to the shore of Atlin Lake.\u00a0 No sign of a trail existed along the beach, and only a relatively short stretch of beach a few hundred feet long was out in the open.\u00a0 What could be seen of the rest of the shoreline was choked with the tall bushes.<\/p>\n

This wasn’t the eagerly anticipated long walk, but Lupe still had fun.\u00a0 She was still full of energy, all corked up from spending most of 2 whole days in the G6.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog raced up and down the beach, weaving in and out among nearby bushes, streaking past SPHP as fast as she could.\u00a0 Having shown off how fast and agile she was, she concluded with a were-puppy attack on SPHP.<\/p>\n

So as the evening sun sank, whether on any Beach Trail, or more likely, not, Lupe had her fun by the shore of fabulous Atlin Lake.\u00a0 It was great to see her in the joy of life.\u00a0 And whether the American Dingo noticed, or not, Monarch Mountain<\/span><\/a> (4,723 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, tomorrow’s big adventure, stood brightly illuminated by the slanting rays overlooking her happy antics.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Monarch Mountain<\/strong> from Atlin Lake<\/strong>, British Columbia, Canada 8-11-18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska Adventure Inde<\/strong><\/span>x<\/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 7 & 8 of Lupe’s 2018 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon, Northwest Territories & Alaska! 8-10-18 – After a black night and morning fog, Lupe had spent nearly the entire day relaxing in the G6 while SPHP drove N.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was now in NW British Columbia on Cassiar Highway No. 37.\u00a0 The … Continue reading The Crocus Trail to Pine Creek Falls, Atlin, British Columbia, Canada (8-11-18)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20291,"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":[997],"tags":[105,1072,1073,79,30,106,1070,104,1071],"class_list":["post-20305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2018-yukon-northwest-territiories-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-atlin","tag-atlin-lake","tag-british-columbia","tag-canada","tag-carolina-dog","tag-crocus-trail","tag-lupe","tag-pine-creek-falls"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/IMG_0555.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\/20305","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=20305"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21736,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20305\/revisions\/21736"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}