{"id":25656,"date":"2020-01-26T08:10:24","date_gmt":"2020-01-26T15:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=25656"},"modified":"2020-06-08T20:46:08","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T02:46:08","slug":"mount-lorne-yukon-territory-canada-8-11-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=25656","title":{"rendered":"Mount Lorne, Yukon Territory, Canada (8-11-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 7 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

On the road again!\u00a0 When was this ever going to end?\u00a0 Bright and early, Lupe had left the Hitchcock rest area on Atlin Lake, hitting the road N.\u00a0 Soon she was back in the Yukon.\u00a0 It was already mid-morning by the time SPHP pulled into the Robinson Roadhouse Historic Site rest area N of Carcross.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was surprised when SPHP started getting the pack ready.<\/p>\n

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The Robinson Roadhouse Historic Site<\/strong> is on the W side of the S Klondike Hwy between Whitehorse and Carcross.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why the pack, SPHP?\u00a0 We’ve already been to the roadhouse once before.\u00a0 It’s not far beyond these trees W of the rest area, if I remember right.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, we’re not going to the roadhouse again, Loop.\u00a0 Wasn’t that much to it.\u00a0 We might not have gotten across Atlin Lake yesterday to take on Birch Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,765 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, but we’ve got other tricks up our sleeve.\u00a0 Supposed to be a trail up Mount Lorne<\/span><\/a> (6,629 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> not far from here, so we’re going to give that a shot instead.<\/em><\/p>\n

I remember Mount Lorne, SPHP!\u00a0 We saw it twice last year, didn’t we?\u00a0 Once from Grey Mountain<\/strong><\/span><\/a> up by Whitehorse, and then again the next day from Nares Mountain<\/strong><\/span><\/a> down by Carcross.\u00a0 Kind of a big, lumpy ridge with a high point toward the E, isn’t it?\u00a0 Higher than anything else near it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, that’s it, Loopster.\u00a0 I understand it’s possible to make a loop going up and down different ends of the ridge.\u00a0 So never a dull moment, aye?\u00a0 Should be a fun time!<\/em><\/p>\n

10:15 AM, 51\u00baF, S Klondike Hwy at Bear Creek<\/em> a mile S of the Robinson Roadhouse Historic Site<\/em> – This was supposed to be it, the trailhead for Mount Lorne.\u00a0 Dirt parking areas were on both sides of the highway on the S side of Bear Creek.\u00a0 SPHP parked in the E lot.\u00a0 No one around, and no posted information at all, but Lupe quickly discovered a trail running E along the N bank of the stream.<\/p>\n

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This way, SPHP!<\/em> On the N bank of Bear Creek<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking W back toward the S Klondike Hwy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

200 feet from the highway, the trail turned NE into the forest.\u00a0 Lupe soon passed private property on the L (N).\u00a0 The trail then wound generally E for a little way before rejoining Bear Creek.<\/p>\n

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In the forest after leaving Bear Creek behind. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Rejoining Bear Creek<\/strong> 10 minutes later. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This time Lupe followed Bear Creek E for 10 or 15 minutes before the trail veered off to the NE a second time.\u00a0 The trail never did cross the stream, and did not return to it again.<\/p>\n

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Miss Hot Paws cooling off in Bear Creek<\/strong>. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Back in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For what seemed like a long way, the trail wound ENE.\u00a0 Lupe gradually gained elevation.\u00a0 Finally, upon reaching a grove of aspens, the trail steepened considerably.\u00a0 Partway up, SPHP paused to rest.<\/p>\n

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The trail steepens. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A young man and woman appeared at the base of the slope, and soon caught up.\u00a0 They were from Whitehorse, and had some timely advice.\u00a0 Not much farther ahead at the top of this rise, the trail would divide.\u00a0 They had been here a week ago intent on climbing Mount Lorne, and had gone L (N) at the intersection, misled by blue and orange ribbons marking that route.\u00a0 A 10 km trek had ensued bringing them back to the S Klondike Hwy far from their vehicle, but never anywhere close to Mount Lorne.<\/p>\n

Now they were back, once again intent upon getting to Mount Lorne.\u00a0 Naturally, their advice was to go R (E) at the junction.\u00a0 Lupe had already seen quite a few blue and orange ribbons tied to trees and branches along the way, so it was easy to understand their previous error.\u00a0 SPHP thanked the hikers as they set off again, now taking the lead.<\/p>\n

It really wasn’t much farther up to the junction.\u00a0 The two hikers were still there taking a break when Lupe arrived.\u00a0 Staying to the R as advised, the American Dingo carried on, retaking the lead.<\/p>\n

The trail continued E for a long way.\u00a0 Beyond the intersection it was level for a short distance, but soon began to climb again.\u00a0 Lupe gained a fair amount of elevation before the trail finally leveled out a second time.\u00a0 On and on it went.\u00a0 Loop was glad when the trail crossed a tributary of Bear Creek, the last water on the way to Mount Lorne.<\/p>\n

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On a flat stretch beyond the junction. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Last water along the way, a tributary of Bear Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Due to the forest, it was difficult to get a sense of how much progress the Carolina Dog was making.\u00a0 All that was clear was that Lupe was now on the S side of a much higher ridge to the N (L).\u00a0 Somewhere ahead there was supposed to be an old cabin.\u00a0 It was important not to miss the cabin, because that was where the most direct route to Mount Lorne splits off from the trail Looper was on.<\/p>\n

As Lupe continued farther and farther E, SPHP became concerned.\u00a0 How close did this trail actually come to the cabin?\u00a0 The cabin wouldn’t have to be very far off into the forest to be easy to miss.\u00a0 Had Loop already passed it without noticing it?<\/p>\n

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What a worrywart! The cabin’s right here, SPHP!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not to worry!\u00a0 Can’t miss it!\u00a0 The old cabin proved to be right next to the N (L) side of the trail.\u00a0 Sure didn’t amount to much.\u00a0 Small and rustic in the extreme, the roof had caved in decades ago.\u00a0 At least Lupe hadn’t gone by it.\u00a0 On the E side, a distinct pawpath curved around to the back side of the cabin before turning N up the slope leading to the big ridge.\u00a0 That had to be the most direct route up Mount Lorne<\/span><\/a> (6,629 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the one the American Dingo had been looking for.<\/p>\n

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On the E side of the cabin. The pawpath goes off to the R, then curves L back behind N wall before heading N up to Mount Lorne’s SW ridge. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two hikers from Whitehorse weren’t far behind.\u00a0 They reappeared while Lupe was still inspecting the old cabin.\u00a0 Just S of the cabin, a small clearing overlooked the Bear Creek valley, the only viewpoint along the entire route thus far.\u00a0 The hikers paused here for another short break.\u00a0 For a few minutes, Lupe joined them.<\/p>\n

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Looking SW from the viewpoint near the old cabin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loopster’s ascent of Mount Lorne was about to begin in earnest!\u00a0 Bidding her new friends adieu, Lupe returned to the cabin.\u00a0 Crossing the main trail, she followed the pawpath around the cabin and headed higher.<\/p>\n

It was a big climb up to the ridge.\u00a0 Steep, but no more than that.\u00a0 No rough ground or any scrambling at all.\u00a0 The forest began to thin out.\u00a0 By the time Lupe got to tree line, the two hikers had caught up.\u00a0 Outpacing SPHP, they retook the lead.\u00a0 The top of Mount Lorne came into view, still 2 miles off to the NE.<\/p>\n

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On the side path from the cabin going up to the big ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Finally getting somewhere! There’s Mount Lorne<\/strong> (R)!<\/em> Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time the Carolina Dog was closing in on the ridgeline, she was not only above tree line, but essentially above bush line, too.\u00a0 Tremendous views of the glorious Yukon in all directions now!\u00a0 The last part of this first big climb was the steepest.\u00a0 A cairn sat along the edge of the ridge where Lupe finally popped up onto it.<\/p>\n

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Reaching Mount Lorne’s SW ridge<\/strong>. The cairn marking where the trail came up is seen on the L. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop had made it up onto Mount Lorne’s SW ridge.\u00a0 The ridge was broad, rounded, and only sparsely vegetated.\u00a0 As near as SPHP could figure it, the American Dingo was now at about 4,800 feet, which meant she still needed to gain more than 1,800 feet to reach the summit.<\/p>\n

Quite a bit of the ridge leading to the summit was in already in sight.\u00a0 As expected, Lupe faced a long, bumpy, but seemingly not overly-rugged trek to the top.<\/p>\n

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The route ahead from the SW ridge close to where Lupe first reached it. Mount Lorne’s summit<\/strong> visible at (R). Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe’s new friends were still there when she first reached the SW ridge.\u00a0 SPHP chatted with them briefly before they took off again.\u00a0 This pattern repeated several times as everyone continued toward the summit, but in the end SPHP couldn’t keep up.\u00a0 The two hiker’s lead grew steadily, as SPHP toiled up the mountain behind them.\u00a0 Before long, Lupe no longer caught up with them during their rest breaks, but they often remained in sight working their way up to the next high point.<\/p>\n

The trail became intermittent, vanishing or becoming faint during level stretches, but usually reappearing again on the next leg higher.<\/p>\n

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Approaching the first bump higher along the ridge. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Beyond the first hill, the ridge began to narrow a bit. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking back down the SW ridge<\/strong> (L of Center) from the first hill. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The first major high point<\/strong> (L) isn’t much farther now. Mount Lorne’s summit<\/strong> (R) is straight up from Lupe. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe climbed and climbed, usually going up in big spurts separated by relatively level stretches.\u00a0 The ridge narrowed in places, but was never tricky until the American Dingo got close to the first major high point.<\/p>\n

What might be considered Mount Lorne’s W summit tops out at about 6,400 feet, not even 250 feet less than the true summit, still a mile due E.\u00a0 Approaching the W summit, the ridge narrowed considerably.\u00a0 Ahead the terrain was very rocky and steep, especially toward the S.<\/p>\n

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Approaching the W summit<\/strong> (L). True summit<\/strong> (R). Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Suddenly looking a bit gnarly, SPHP!<\/em> Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trying to go straight up the ridgeline looked inadvisable.\u00a0 Staying toward the NW, Lupe started up.\u00a0 Careful!\u00a0 For the first time, the ascent became a scramble, a rather steep one with a bit of exposure in spots.\u00a0 Loopster followed narrow lanes higher.\u00a0 Some of the rock was loose, but exposed bedrock was sometimes present as well, providing firm pawholds.<\/p>\n

Traversing much farther along the increasingly steep NW slope soon looked inadvisable, too.\u00a0 Lupe was forced to head almost straight up.\u00a0 Happily, it looked like she was already far enough to get past the worst of the ridgeline.\u00a0 Hopefully the situation would now be a lot better, if she could just get back up to it again.<\/p>\n

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Looking back during the climb toward the W summit. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Better not get too much steeper! Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last bit of the climb to the ridgeline was the steepest.\u00a0 Fortunately, most of the rock near the top was firm.\u00a0 Made it!\u00a0 Lupe was back on top.\u00a0 A short stroll along a narrow rocky part, and the ridge began to broaden out again.\u00a0 Nice and smooth!\u00a0 The worst was over.<\/p>\n

A post-sized 2 foot high piece of bleached wood stuck up out of a cairn at the high point of Mount Lorne’s W summit.\u00a0 The large summit region curved away to the N, eventually leading down Mount Lorne’s NW ridge, if one continued that way far enough.\u00a0 To the E, in the direction of the true summit, a rounded slope dropped away out of sight.<\/p>\n

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So far, so good! We’ve made it to Mount Lorne’s W summit<\/strong>.<\/em> Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Lorne’s NW ridge<\/strong> (Center). Cowley Lakes<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Lorne’s true summit<\/strong> (R) from the W summit. Marsh Lake<\/strong> (L) in the distance. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ugh!\u00a0 While there had been a few minor drops along the way, they had scarcely amounted to anything.\u00a0 However, going far enough E to peer down the slope leading to the true summit now revealed a grassy saddle a good 300 feet lower.\u00a0 No way to avoid it, Lupe was going to have to lose all that elevation.\u00a0 The down slope was all rocky.\u00a0 Worse yet, the climb waiting on the far side of the saddle looked steep, perhaps difficult.<\/p>\n

With no other option, Looper set off down the rocky slope.<\/p>\n

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Heading down to the saddle leading to the true summit<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Come on, SPHP! The other side isn’t that bad.<\/em> Loop nearing the saddle’s low point. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Regaining the elevation Lupe had lost going down to the saddle wasn’t nearly as difficult as it had appeared from the W summit.\u00a0 Sort of a steep trudge higher, but that was it.\u00a0 Before long, the American Dingo was at the top of the next hill, just as high as she had been at the W summit.<\/p>\n

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Almost to the top of the next hill. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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As high as ever!<\/em> Looking back at the W summit. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking E, the ridge narrowed somewhat again, but it appeared Looper now had a straight shot to the true summit!\u00a0 A little deceiving.\u00a0 One more drop was ahead, but it proved to be relatively minor, on the order of 50 to 75 feet.\u00a0 Wasn’t long before the American Dingo was at the base of the final climb, which didn’t look that bad.<\/p>\n

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Getting there!<\/em> Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Lorne’s W summit<\/strong> (R). The SW ridge<\/strong> where Lupe had first reached it (far L) is in sunlight far below. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The final climb to the top. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Lorne’s true summit<\/strong> (L). The S ridge<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The S ridge<\/strong> looked rougher than the way Lupe had come up. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nothing to it! Lupe just W of the true summit<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two hikers were relaxing S of the summit cairn when Lupe and SPHP finally reached the top of Mount Lorne.\u00a0 Introductions were now made.\u00a0 Lupe’s new friends were Greg Johannson and Svetlana Koptyeva.\u00a0 Greg was a lawyer (public defender) originally from Toronto, and Svetlana was a law clerk from the Ukraine.\u00a0 They had both moved to Whitehorse about a year ago, and were totally enthusiastic about how magnificent and wonderful the Yukon is.<\/p>\n

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With new friends Greg and Svetlana by the summit cairn. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Lupe and SPHP were still visiting with Greg and Svetlana, another man and a young woman reached the summit.\u00a0 They had come up the same way, and must not have been far behind.\u00a0 For a while, everyone milled around the summit area chatting and enjoying the views.<\/p>\n

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Looking back at Lupe’s route up. W summit<\/strong> (Center). SW ridge<\/strong> (L). The NW ridge<\/strong> (R) is also in view. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the busy summit. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Well, we made it to the top of our first magnificent Yukon Territory peak of 2019! So, do I look intrepid enough yet, SPHP?<\/em> Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Summit view looking SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Summit of Mount Lorne<\/strong> from a little farther E. The SW ridge<\/strong> Lupe came up is seen on the L. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Greg, Svetlana, and Loop. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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And to think that this only half of it! Now we’re going to have to go all the way back down!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Checking out Mount Lorne’s S ridge<\/strong> (foreground), Lupe’s return route if she wanted to fully explore the whole loop it was possible to make. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Half an hour after Lupe reached the summit, Greg and Svetlana were getting ready to leave.\u00a0 Before departing, they stopped to pose with Lupe.\u00a0 They also had a question.\u00a0 Would Lupe like to meet up with them again?\u00a0 Greg and Svetlana were going to be camping with friends and family near the visitor center in Tombstone Territorial Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a> on August 22nd.\u00a0 The next day they were planning to take the trail to Grizzly Lake and camp out there.\u00a0 They kindly invited Lupe to join them!<\/p>\n

That sounded terrific!\u00a0 The American Dingo already had plans to go through Tombstone Territorial Park on this Dingo Vacation.\u00a0 In fact she had been to Grizzly Lake<\/strong><\/span><\/a> once before, and hoped to return and go even further this year.\u00a0 Teaming up with Greg and Svetlana would be a blast!\u00a0 Whether the timing would actually work out or not wasn’t clear at this point, but if it did, Lupe and SPHP would be thrilled to join them.<\/p>\n

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With Svetlana<\/strong> and Greg<\/strong> shortly before they departed, but perhaps not for the last time! Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Greg and Svetlana left, apparently intent upon making the big loop, since they headed down the S ridge.\u00a0 The first part of the decent was easy, but Lupe saw them pause to consider the best route forward where the S ridge became rugged.\u00a0 The other man and young woman started down 10 minutes later, going the same way.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP were alone at the top of Mount Lorne.\u00a0 Although some patches of blue remained, by now the sky was mostly cloudy.\u00a0 Visibility wasn’t as good as it had been earlier in the day.\u00a0 Even below the cloud deck, the air was hazy, the views indistinct.<\/p>\n

Despite the murkiness, Lupe could still make out some mountains she had been to before.\u00a0 Near Whitehorse, Grey Mountain<\/span><\/a> (4,901 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was in sight off to the NW.\u00a0 Nares Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,833 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was far to the S.\u00a0 Beyond Nares was Montana Mountain<\/span><\/a> (7,213 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t climbed that one yet.\u00a0 Even farther away,\u00a0 Mount Minto<\/span><\/a> (6,913 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was barely visible to the SE.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t climbed Minto, either, but she had seen it across Atlin Lake just this morning.<\/p>\n

Parts of some big lakes could be seen too, including Marsh Lake, Little Atlin, Tagish, and Bennett.<\/p>\n

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Grey Mountain<\/strong> (aka Canyon Mountain)<\/em> (Center) near Whitehorse. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nares Mountain<\/strong> (Center), with Montana Mountain<\/strong> (R of Center) on the horizon. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An hour after she’d arrived, Lupe left the summit of Mount Lorne.\u00a0 She headed for the S ridge like everyone else.<\/p>\n

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About ready to head down the S ridge. Marsh Lake<\/strong> in the distance. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The S ridge quickly turned rough.\u00a0 During the ascent only the scramble up to the W summit had been this tricky.\u00a0 For a considerable distance the ridgeline was mostly too narrow and rugged to stay right up on it.\u00a0 Lupe had to scramble along one side or the other, but was seldom forced too far below the top.\u00a0 At first it was best to stay toward the E, later on the going was easier toward the W.<\/p>\n

As usual, SPHP’s progress was extremely slow on this type of terrain.\u00a0 The sure-pawed Carolina Dog had plenty of time to enjoy the views.<\/p>\n

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Looking down the W side of the S ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The valley SW of the summit<\/strong> (Center). The SW ridge<\/strong> Lupe had gone up is seen on the R. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Scrambling along the W side of the S ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the ridgeline again. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A glance back up from a nice wide spot. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On the E side of the ridge now. Getting sunny again! Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Making progress! The rough stuff ends at the high point on the R. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A look back at the true summit. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Last of the rocky terrain. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Took forever, but at last Lupe stood atop the final rocky high point along the S ridge.\u00a0 Looking back, she still wasn’t all that far from the summit.<\/p>\n

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On the last rocky high point of the S ridge<\/strong>. Mount Lorne’s summit<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The S face of Mount Lorne’s W ridge<\/strong> from the true summit<\/strong> (R) to the W summit<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sky had cleared somewhat.\u00a0 The haze had diminished.\u00a0 As Lupe left the rocky terrain and started down a long, broad slope, before her the incredible Yukon wilderness basked in a serene evening glow.<\/p>\n

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Leaving the rocky region. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Everyone else was long gone.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t seen anyone for a while, and wouldn’t see them again.\u00a0 Down, down, down the long slope.\u00a0 Progress was rapid.\u00a0 Even SPHP was stepping lively.\u00a0 Good thing, because the Carolina Dog still had a long way to go.<\/p>\n

The plan was to follow the S ridge as far S as necessary to reach an ATV trail.\u00a0 The ATV trail was supposed to link up with the same trail that went past the old cabin Lupe had left so long ago.\u00a0 Turning W too soon meant trouble, a long bushwhack in the wilderness.<\/p>\n

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The plan was to stay to the L following the high ground S until coming to an ATV trail. Turning W (R) too soon was asking for trouble. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even knowing this, SPHP blew it.\u00a0 Lupe had lost a tremendous amount of elevation, and had already bypassed the first ridge leading SW, when she came to a ravine draining SW from the high ground.\u00a0 Looking down the ravine, SPHP could see a road way down there.<\/p>\n

That must be it!\u00a0 The ATV trail!\u00a0 Lupe headed down the ravine, but when she got to the road, it wasn’t an ATV trail at all, just a strip of exposed dirt.\u00a0 No sign of any kind of road or trail anywhere.\u00a0 Not good!\u00a0 SPHP tried to lead Lupe SE, taking a shortcut back up to the high ground where she could continue S.<\/p>\n

Not gonna happen.\u00a0 The American Dingo was already almost all the way back down to tree line.\u00a0 The vast slope to the SE was densely covered with chest high bushes.\u00a0 No breaks between them.\u00a0 Impossible!\u00a0 Loopster either had to retrace her route all the way back up the ravine or face the wilderness.<\/p>\n

Onward!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!<\/em>\u00a0 Nope.\u00a0 Not going back.\u00a0 Giving up on returning to the high ground, Lupe turned W, the most direct route back to the old cabin.\u00a0 Exactly where she went, SPHP can no longer say.\u00a0 Looper crossed the ravine she had come down expecting to find the road, but lower down where it was deeper than before.\u00a0 She then forced a way up onto the first big ridge that went SW from the S ridge she had abandoned.<\/p>\n

Crossing this ridge, Lupe began a long plunge down through thick forest losing more elevation than SPHP thought possible.\u00a0 Finally reaching the valley SW of Mount Lorne’s summit, she crossed it and a tributary of Bear Creek, too.\u00a0 Still heading W, she traversed a long forested slope while gradually regaining some of the elevation she had lost.\u00a0 Once in a while there were animal trails, or a little open ground, but for the most part it was a long struggle battling the wilderness.<\/p>\n

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In the wilderness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Getting late.\u00a0 The last time Lupe had a view, rain showers were off to the W.\u00a0 Even with the long twilight of the far N, light was fading.<\/p>\n

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Last view. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hurry, hurry!\u00a0 Looper couldn’t afford to miss the path!\u00a0 Had to get to it before it was too dark to notice.\u00a0 Finally, there it was.\u00a0 This had to be it didn’t it?\u00a0 Lupe was standing on some sort of trail.\u00a0 Turning S, the Carolina Dog followed the path lower.<\/p>\n

Lupe must have regained more elevation than SPHP realized.\u00a0 It was a long way down, but suddenly there was the old cabin, and next to it the main trail.\u00a0 Still miles back to the S Klondike Hwy, but with the help of a flashlight the rest was easy.<\/p>\n

Even so, weariness eventually demanded a break.\u00a0 Dumping the pack, SPHP flopped down flat on the ground.\u00a0 Lupe snuggled up beside, still sniffing the air and listening.\u00a0 Silence.\u00a0 Overhead, a tiny patch of sky was barely light enough to contrast with a dark circle of surrounding spires – the jet black tops of spruce trees.<\/p>\n

What a day!\u00a0 What a place!\u00a0 Mount Lorne had been awesome!\u00a0 The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Circle was really here again.\u00a0 So good to be back in Canada’s fabled Yukon Territory!\u00a0 (End 8-23-29, 12:36 AM)<\/em><\/p>\n

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With Svetlana Koptyeva and Gregory Johannson, Mount Lorne<\/strong>, Yukon Territory, Canada 8-11-19<\/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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Grey Mountain near Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada (9-9-18)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Nares Mountain, Yukon Territory, Canada (9-10-18)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

W<\/em>ant more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska Adventure Inde<\/strong>x<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/a><\/span> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 7 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! On the road again!\u00a0 When was this ever going to end?\u00a0 Bright and early, Lupe had left the Hitchcock rest area on Atlin Lake, hitting the road N.\u00a0 Soon she was back in the Yukon.\u00a0 It was already mid-morning by the time SPHP … Continue reading Mount Lorne, Yukon Territory, Canada (8-11-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25632,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[1210],"tags":[105,1160,106,26,104,1217,11,708],"class_list":["post-25656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2019-yukon-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-carcross","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-mount-lorne","tag-peakbagging","tag-yukon"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_4284-scaled.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\/25656","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=25656"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27921,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25656\/revisions\/27921"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}