{"id":25864,"date":"2020-02-05T08:10:53","date_gmt":"2020-02-05T15:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=25864"},"modified":"2020-06-08T20:39:16","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T02:39:16","slug":"sourdough-hill-mount-hinton-yukon-territory-canada-8-14-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=25864","title":{"rendered":"Sourdough Hill & Mount Hinton, Yukon Territory, Canada (8-14-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 10 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

4:30 AM, end of Signpost Road on Keno Hill<\/em> – Light out already.\u00a0 The rain had ended, but still very foggy with a chill SW wind.\u00a0 Lupe was hungry.\u00a0 Some Taste of the Wild hit the spot, then it was back to snoozing.<\/p>\n

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Morning at the end of Signpost Road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8:19 AM, end of Signpost Road on Keno Hill<\/em> – Still no change, except that the fog was brighter now.\u00a0 Might as well head back down to Keno City.\u00a0 SPHP fired up the G6.<\/p>\n

A mile on Signpost Road and Lupe was already below the fog.\u00a0 Merely a gray day down here, with decent visibility.\u00a0 The whole point in coming all the way to the end of the Silver Trail had been to get a shot at climbing Mount Hinton<\/span><\/a> (6,752 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, but that was a long march.\u00a0 No doubt it was still up in the clouds, too.<\/p>\n

In Keno City, Lupe and SPHP strolled idly along the main street without any real plan of attack.\u00a0 A woman with 2 dogs harnessed to her was also out walking.\u00a0 Out of the blue, she invited Lupe to come along with.\u00a0 Why not?\u00a0 Might as well.<\/p>\n

Marielle Reveille was a yoga teacher who was into essential oils.\u00a0 She was in Keno City to help with cooking for a film crew that produces a TV show about gold mining.\u00a0 Her two dogs were Lenny and Monday.\u00a0 Monday had a patch on her leg where foxtail<\/strong><\/span><\/a> seeds had worked into her skin and created abscesses requiring a veterinarian’s services to open them.\u00a0 Poor Monday had to have stitches twice, and had nearly died from an overdose of painkillers.<\/p>\n

Lenny was fine, but had a peculiar fetish for going through culverts.\u00a0 Even during the short walk with Lupe, Marielle had to restrain Lenny from trying to enter a culvert.\u00a0 The walk with Marielle, Monday, and Lenny ended at the Keno City Hotel where they were staying.<\/p>\n

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With Marielle, Monday and Lenny.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next adventure was in Keno City real estate.\u00a0 A bunkhouse was for sale!\u00a0 The charming bunkhouse was the perfect size for a Dingo, too!\u00a0 Love at first sight!\u00a0 Lupe was ready to move to the Yukon this instant, or at least have her own summer home right here in Keno City.<\/p>\n

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Oh, SPHP! Isn’t this bunkhouse snazzy? Comes complete with flowers and moose antlers, too!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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I can see it now! We can live here every summer and climb a million mountains in the Yukon!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bunkhouse was adorable, and a summer home in the Yukon did sound like a wonderful idea.\u00a0 If a real estate agent had been present, no doubt Loopster would have had SPHP signing papers.<\/p>\n

As it was, though, the idea got lost in the hustle and bustle of a mid-August Keno City morning.\u00a0 A group of three women appeared.\u00a0 They wanted to meet Lupe and chat about their dogs and travels.\u00a0 Right after that, a man on the porch of the Keno City Mining Museum hollered that coffee would be ready in 5 minutes.\u00a0 And so it went.<\/p>\n

12:41 PM near the Keno City campground<\/em> – Things were looking up!\u00a0 An hour ago, the day had suddenly turned sunny and warm.\u00a0 Climbing mountains was back on the agenda!\u00a0 Too bad the morning hadn’t been like this.\u00a0 Lupe could have gotten a much earlier start.<\/p>\n

Excited by blue skies, SPHP had things ready to go.\u00a0 A backpacking trip in the Yukon!\u00a0 First time ever.\u00a0 If the weather held, the American Dingo was going to get her shot at Mount Hinton!\u00a0 A mighty big if.\u00a0 Clouds were already reforming.\u00a0 Hardly any blue left.\u00a0 Despite returning uncertainty, Lupe left Keno City taking the road over Lightning Creek.\u00a0 For the moment, at least, it was on!<\/p>\n

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Lightning Creek<\/strong>. Sourdough Hill<\/strong> (R). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing Lightning Creek, the road turned SW (R) and started to climb.\u00a0 Lupe passed a big gravelly area on the L.\u00a0 Before long she came to a junction where the main road made a sharp bend back to the SE (L).\u00a0 A mining road closed to the public went off to the W here.\u00a0 Another fairly short trudge higher brought the Carolina Dog to another junction.<\/p>\n

On a bank overlooking the intersection, a sign was partially hidden by bushes.\u00a0 The Bellekno Mine Road went L, and the Sourdough Trail went R.\u00a0 The Sourdough Trail was the road Lupe was looking for.\u00a0 That was the way to Mount Hinton!<\/p>\n

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The Sourdough Trail<\/strong> is the road to Mount Hinton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Sourdough Trail made a jog to the W, followed by a sharp curve back to the SE, before gradually turning NE.\u00a0 The lower switchbacks were now done.\u00a0 For a long way, the Sourdough Trail climbed steadily NE along the NW face of Sourdough Hill<\/span><\/a> (4,739 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Tall bushes along both sides of the road effectively blocked any distant views.<\/p>\n

The road eventually began to curl around the N end of Sourdough Hill.\u00a0 Upon reaching the E side of the mountain, Lupe came to a sharp turn where a short, rocky section of the road climbed steeply W.\u00a0 For the first time, the top of Mount Hinton<\/span><\/a> (6,752 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was in sight off to the SE.<\/p>\n

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Mount Hinton<\/strong> (L of Center) comes into view. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To the NE, Keno Hill<\/span><\/a> (6,065 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was now out of the clouds.\u00a0 Loopster’s mysterious, foggy climb of the last few hundred feet to the summit yesterday evening looked trivial from here.<\/p>\n

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Keno Hill<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The G6 might easily have made it this far up Sourdough Hill, but it was a good thing it had been left in Keno.\u00a0 A high clearance vehicle would have been fine, but the short, steep stretch of road to the W was quite rough.\u00a0 No decent place to park here, either, except a little room up toward the top where the road widened as it curved S.<\/p>\n

After turning S, the Sourdough Trail straightened and was in better shape again as it continued climbing at a fairly good clip.\u00a0 However, the rate of climb was slowly decreasing by the time Looper came to a side road the led off to the W.\u00a0 A sign that had seen better days said “Sourdough Summit Loop”.<\/p>\n

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At the N end of the Sourdough Summit Loop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, that was good news!\u00a0 A road all the way to the top of Sourdough Hill!\u00a0 Sourdough Hill was Lupe’s first peakbagging objective, sort of a consolation prize in case the weather deteriorated and she never made it all the way to Mount Hinton<\/span><\/a> (6,752 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The summit of Sourdough Hill was only 4 km from Keno City even the way the Sourdough Trail went, but SPHP had known that the Sourdough Trail stayed well E of the summit, and never actually went to the top.\u00a0 As thick as the bushes were, a bushwhack to get there hadn’t been anything to look forward to.<\/p>\n

Naturally, Lupe took the Sourdough Loop Road.\u00a0 This road was rutted, rocky in places, and fairly steep, but served as a great trail.\u00a0 The road soon turned SW.\u00a0 Lupe followed it farther than SPHP expected she would have to before it suddenly faded away.<\/p>\n

What?\u00a0 The Summit Loop Road didn’t go all the way to the summit?\u00a0 That appeared to be the case.\u00a0 However, the top couldn’t be much farther, and on the bright side, the bushes were already thinning out.<\/p>\n

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At the apparent end of the so-called Sourdough Summit Loop road, merely some beaten down grass at this point. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The good news was that the American Dingo only had to follow a single track path a short distance through the bushes.\u00a0 After that she could avoid them entirely by staying toward the W (R).\u00a0 She soon reached open tundra, and after short climbs up to a couple of nearly level benches, the top of Sourdough Hill was just ahead.<\/p>\n

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Looks like we’re almost there!<\/em> Lupe on the 2nd bench. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The top of Sourdough Hill<\/span><\/a> (4,739 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was amazing!\u00a0 Lupe found herself at the N end of a long, broad ridge extending far to the S.\u00a0 Only sparse tundra vegetation was present near the steep W face of Sourdough Hill, although bushes and stunted trees could be seen not too far away down the gently curved E slope.<\/p>\n

100+ feet away near the W edge sat the only significant natural feature of the whole plateau, a single 6 foot high rock outcropping – apparently the true summit of Sourdough Hill!\u00a0 20 feet from the rocks, perched a bit lower right along the edge, was a large bench with attached desk, a real bench that must have been taken from some old schoolhouse.\u00a0 This bench faced NW with a commanding view overlooking Keno City.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Wow! Didn’t expect this! The true summit of Sourdough Hill is the rock formation seen behind me. Let’s go take a look!<\/em> Top of Sourdough Hill<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The American Dingo headed straight for the rock formation to claim her peakbagging success!\u00a0 At the summit, a metal rod protruded from a loose cairn of flat rocks.\u00a0 A wooden placard on top of the rod was blank.<\/p>\n

A chilly 15 mph breeze blew out of the W.\u00a0 Still a cloudy day, but the clouds were high.\u00a0 Until just a few minutes ago, SPHP had expected that Looper would be buried in bushes on Sourdough Hill, instead she had fantastic views of the Yukon wilderness in all directions!<\/p>\n

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At the true summit of Sourdough Hill<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Another view of the true summit<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Hinton<\/strong> (L) from Sourdough Hill. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Hinton<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Distant peaks of the Patterson Range<\/strong>. Photo looks NE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The big old school bench was a curiosity worth checking out, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Come on down, SPHP! Don’t want to be late for mountain school, do you?<\/em> The big ridge on the L is Galena Hill (4,740 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Keno City<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Now, Dingoes, today’s lesson is Sourdough Hill in the Yukon<\/strong>.<\/em> Fortunately Lupe was on it! She got an A+. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hoping to find the S end of the Sourdough Loop Road, which would be a\u00a0 shortcut back to the Sourdough Trail at a point closer to Mount Hinton, Lupe explored the Sourdough Hill summit region a little farther S.\u00a0 This reconnaissance revealed a wooden post 100 feet from the true summit, but that was all.\u00a0 No roads, trails, or tracks of any kind.<\/p>\n

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At a post of uncertain significance 100 feet from the true summit. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The whole plateau was so vast that trying to find a potentially fictitious road didn’t seem worth a prolonged search.\u00a0 Might as well return to the Sourdough Trail the way Looper had come up.\u00a0 Giving up on finding the S end of the loop road, Lupe returned briefly to the true summit before continuing on.\u00a0 At the N end of the summit region, she stopped for a last look at Keno City from Sourdough Hill.<\/p>\n

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Keno City<\/strong> (R) with help from the telephoto lens. The Silver Trail<\/strong> is the road that heads off to the R. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Keno Hill<\/strong> (R) from the N end of Sourdough Hill. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once back down to the Sourdough Trail, Lupe followed it S.\u00a0 The road climbed steadily regaining much of the 200+ feet of elevation she had just lost.\u00a0 As the road started to level out, another side road appeared that went W (R).\u00a0 This road was grassy and marked with a cross that said “Sourdough Bench”.\u00a0 Might this be the S end of the Summit Loop Road?\u00a0 Hardly mattered now, even if it was.<\/p>\n

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At the start of the “Sourdough Bench” road (R). Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Heading S on the Sourdough Trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continuing on, the road leveled out for the most part on the upper E slopes of Sourdough Hill, yet Lupe kept coming to additional slight rises.\u00a0 It began to seem like she must be almost as high as the true summit again.\u00a0 Near the S end of the long Sourdough Hill ridge, the American Dingo came to a third side road on the R (W).\u00a0 Why, if it wasn’t the S end of the fabled Summit Loop Road!\u00a0 It really did exist!<\/p>\n

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At the S end of the Summit Loop Road. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The high point of the Sourdough Trail wasn’t much beyond the S end of the Summit Loop Road.\u00a0 The road turned SSE and began a long, gradual descent leaving Sourdough Hill behind.\u00a0 Loopster’s ultimate objective, Mount Hinton, was in sight far ahead.<\/p>\n

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Leaving Sourdough Hill. Mount Hinton<\/strong> (L). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Heading straight for Mount Hinton<\/strong> (Center) now. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road reached a temporary low point S of a big saddle.\u00a0 A tiny creek trickled through several puddles, providing Loop with an opportunity for a drink.<\/p>\n

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A small stream crosses the road at a low point SE of Sourdough Hill. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The stream marked the start of a long, level stretch.\u00a0 Lupe regained a bit of elevation as the road curved along a hillside, but it soon leveled out again heading ESE on a forested slope.\u00a0 Occasionally there were views to the S of rounded mountains across the Duncan Creek valley.<\/p>\n

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A glimpse across the Duncan Creek valley. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road eventually began a descent into the valley.\u00a0 Lupe came to an abandoned cat at a 3-way intersection, where she stayed to the R.\u00a0 She later ignored a major side road that went to a mining operation.<\/p>\n

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Starting a descent into the Duncan Creek valley. Mount Hinton<\/strong> (R). Photo looks E with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The abandoned cat at the 3-way intersection. Lupe kept going straight past the R side of the cat. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Loop during the descent. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Down in the Duncan Creek valley, Lupe finally came to the low point of the Sourdough Trail between Sourdough Hill and Mount Hinton.\u00a0 A little tributary of Duncan Creek was running down the road in two tracks here before heading off into the bushes.<\/p>\n

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At the low point between Sourdough Hill and Mount Hinton<\/strong> (L). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached a second tributary of Duncan Creek shortly before coming to a barren, rocky area on the L (NE) that had been completely graded or dug out in connection with some mining operation.\u00a0 This tributary was somewhat bigger, but still a small stream.<\/p>\n

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The second tributary of Duncan Creek. The barren, rocky area is just ahead L of the road. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Duncan Creek itself was right around the next bend.\u00a0 The stream had been diverted from its natural course, and now ran in a narrow ditch right beside the road.<\/p>\n

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By Duncan Creek<\/strong>. Mount Hinton<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the end of the large barren spot on the L (N), SPHP stopped next to Duncan Creek.\u00a0 Just ahead the road was much steeper and extremely rough where it re-entered the forest.<\/p>\n

That’s Mount Hinton we’ve been seeing ahead, isn’t it, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup, that’s right, Looper.<\/em><\/p>\n

Doesn’t look that far now.<\/em><\/p>\n

I know.\u00a0 Either we’ve been making mighty good time, or Hinton isn’t as far from Keno City as I thought it was.\u00a0 Still a good climb, though.\u00a0 The road looks awfully rough ahead.\u00a0 I’m almost certain this is the place I’ve read most people with 4WD park and start their ascent.\u00a0 I’d been thinking this is where we’d camp.\u00a0 Not a great spot, though.\u00a0 Kind of rocky.\u00a0 I suppose we can make it work.<\/em><\/p>\n

We’re stopping here?\u00a0 Not that late yet, is it?<\/em><\/p>\n

5:30 PM, Loopster.\u00a0 Are you thinking what I’m thinking you’re thinking?<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, seems like it has been getting cloudier, doesn’t it?\u00a0 You know how the Yukon weather is, SPHP.\u00a0 Mount Hinton has been out in the clear all this time.\u00a0 Still is.\u00a0 We don’t want to lose this opportunity, do we?<\/em><\/p>\n

Excellent point.\u00a0 Alright, we’ll keep going.\u00a0 Let me ditch the tiny house, sleeping bags, and some of this gear, though.\u00a0 I can’t lug it all to the top of the mountain.<\/em><\/p>\n

Near the start of the forest, the road crossed either Duncan Creek or its largest tributary yet.\u00a0 Last chance for water!\u00a0 The road became terribly steep and badly eroded, as Lupe crossed the stream and kept going.<\/p>\n

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Starting up the worst section of road yet after leaving Duncan Creek behind. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road improved after curving SE (R).\u00a0 A long straight stretch was ahead going up the side of a huge slope.\u00a0 Not quite as steep as that rough section, but still a good workout.\u00a0 Even after having dropped so much weight from the pack, SPHP was pausing frequently to gasp for breath.\u00a0 Lupe was soon above the forest.\u00a0 Looking back, she had her best view yet of the Duncan Creek valley.\u00a0 Mount Haldane<\/span><\/a> (6,023 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was visible in the distance far beyond it.<\/p>\n

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Looking back at the Duncan Creek valley<\/strong>. The road Lupe took to get here is the fainter upper one going along the S (L) side of the ridge on the R. Mount Haldane<\/strong> (straight up from Lupe) on the horizon. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Up ahead Lupe could see the huge saddle separating Mount Hinton from Peak 6200<\/span><\/strong> to the SW.\u00a0 By the time the road curved NE, she was already higher than that saddle, although she hadn’t pulled even with it yet.\u00a0 The relentless climb continued, finally easing up near a turn to the E.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Dog had made it to Mount Hinton’s lower W shoulder.\u00a0 Only tundra up here, with a few widely scattered bushes.\u00a0 Flat ground N of the road provided a good spot for a break with a view of the canyon to the N.\u00a0 Even Looper was ready for a rest now.\u00a0 She eagerly tanked up on Taste of the Wild and water before relaxing on the tundra.<\/p>\n

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Chowing down on Taste of the Wild.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Optimism still reigned.\u00a0 The summit of Mount Hinton was now only 1.5 km due E, but the mood was turning gray, somber.\u00a0 Definitely cloudier and cooler than a while ago.\u00a0 Ahead the road climbed only a little way before curving SE and sweeping higher along Mount Hinton’s W slope.<\/p>\n

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On Mount Hinton’s lower W shoulder<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Still 1,500 feet of elevation to go.\u00a0 At least, something like that.\u00a0 The break had been nice, but better get on with it!\u00a0 Lupe returned to the road.<\/p>\n

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Making progress! Look how far down it is to the valley next to Peak 6200<\/span><\/strong> (R)<\/em>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although this road (perhaps still the Sourdough Trail?)<\/em> had brought the American Dingo all the way to Mount Hinton, it wasn’t going to get Lupe to the summit.\u00a0 Somewhere along Mount Hinton’s W slope, an ATV trail was supposed to go all the way up to the SE ridge.<\/p>\n

Despite keeping an eye out for this ATV trail, Lupe didn’t come to it.\u00a0 It did look like some sort of trails were higher up, but no connecting route appeared.\u00a0 The road went on and on, finally disappearing around a bend leading to the S side of the mountain.<\/p>\n

We don’t seem to be getting anywhere, SPHP.\u00a0 How much farther to the ATV trail?<\/em><\/p>\n

No clue, Loop.\u00a0 Thought we would have reached it by now.<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe we should just skip it, and go straight up?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sounds like a plan.\u00a0 Let’s go for it!\u00a0 Lead on Loopster!<\/em><\/p>\n

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No ATV trail yet, so we’re just going to forget it and go straight up the slope!<\/em> Lupe where she finally left the Sourdough Trail. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Only 100 feet higher, the Carolina Dog came to a “road”.\u00a0 This wasn’t any ATV trail.\u00a0 Wide and rough, with some grass growing on it, this looked more like a route a bulldozer had once taken as it gouged and scraped its way higher.<\/p>\n

Nothing wrong with that!\u00a0 The bulldozer route made a fine trail.\u00a0 Lupe followed it as it zig-zagged rather steeply up the W slope.\u00a0 Early on she passed a series of posts sticking up out of the middle of the route.\u00a0 Odd.<\/p>\n

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On the bulldozer route. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Up, up, up!\u00a0 The American Dingo was making great progress.\u00a0 High on the W slope where there was hardly any vegetation to begin with, the bulldozer had made a mess.\u00a0 It had gone hither and yon, scarring poor Mount Hinton rather badly.\u00a0 Lupe passed heaps of disturbed rock.<\/p>\n

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Amid the rubble. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Above the rocky region where the bulldozer had hung out rearranging Mount Hinton, a lone route higher went SE a little way before curving NE.<\/p>\n

Come on, SPHP!\u00a0 The SE ridge is in sight!\u00a0 We’re almost there!<\/em><\/p>\n

SPHP plodded after Loop, arriving at the ridgeline minutes later to find her inspecting several timbers lashed together that were sticking up out of a big cairn.\u00a0 More timbers were on the ground next to the cairn.<\/p>\n

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On the SE ridge. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The SE ridge was fairly narrow.\u00a0 Lupe had reached it at a minor saddle where it was gently rounded terrain.\u00a0 A rugged high point wasn’t far to the SE (R).\u00a0 What instantly grabbed attention, though, was a fearsome drop only a few feet past the cairn.<\/p>\n

Looking over this precipice, Lupe gazed for the first time upon the wild unspoiled territory E of Mount Hinton.\u00a0 In a deep valley, a small dark green forest provided the only shelter.\u00a0 Above it loomed a mountainous ridge in multiple shades of gray, splashed here and there with patches of tan or brown.\u00a0 Beyond that ridge, was another one a more uniform tan.\u00a0 And beyond that, ridges and mountains turned blue by great distance as far as the eye could see.<\/p>\n

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First view of the territory E of Mount Hinton. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Awesome!\u00a0 However, this wasn’t the top – the Carolina Dog had to keep going.<\/p>\n

It appeared that Lupe might already be very close.\u00a0 Immediately N of the cairn was a rocky ridge.\u00a0 A bit of a scramble would be required to get up on top, but once there, what could be seen of the ridge from down here looked quite flat.\u00a0 Another post was in sight up there.\u00a0 The summit?\u00a0 Not even 100 feet higher!<\/p>\n

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The summit ridge from the first saddle of the SE ridge. The upper post Lupe could see from here is straight up from the vertical posts she close to. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beneath a gloomy sky, Loop’s scramble among the boulders was short and quick.\u00a0 Little lanes of tundra made the going even easier.\u00a0 The first part was steepest.\u00a0 After that it became merely a gradual stroll higher on big rocks.\u00a0 The upper post soon came back into view.\u00a0 Lupe headed for it.<\/p>\n

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Above the little scramble with the upper post in sight. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, joy!\u00a0 Approaching the upper post, it was clear the American Dingo had reached the top of Mount Hinton<\/span><\/a> (6,752 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

The summit plateau was wider at the SW end where Lupe had come up, narrower toward the NE.\u00a0 Four landmarks were here.\u00a0 The first was the upper post she had seen from the SE ridge.\u00a0 The second was a double post 40 feet N of the upper post.\u00a0 50 feet E of the double post was a yellow metal tripod thingamajig, and 100 feet NE of the thingamajig sat Mount Hinton’s summit cairn.<\/p>\n

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Mount Hinton’s summit plateau<\/strong>. The “upper post” Lupe had seen from the SE ridge is on the R. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loopster went to visit the double post first.\u00a0 She had a terrific view of\u00a0 Sourdough Hill <\/span><\/a>(4,739 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> which she had left hours ago.\u00a0 In the distance, Mount Haldane<\/span><\/a> (6,032 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was the dominant peak to the W.<\/p>\n

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At the double post. Sourdough Hill<\/strong> is the 2nd ridge on the R. The long ridge beyond it is Galena Hill<\/strong>. Mount Haldane<\/strong> (L). Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then it was on to the yellow metal tripod thingamajig.\u00a0 Lupe had to go by it to get to the summit cairn.<\/p>\n

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Are you quite certain that “thingamajig” is the correct technical term, SPHP? …. Absolutely, Loop! I’d know one anywhere.<\/em> Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And then there she was!\u00a0 Sweet Lupe was sitting next to the summit cairn on Mount Hinton.\u00a0 A sublimely happy moment!\u00a0\u00a0 For Looper it was temporarily, although deceptively, even sweeter with the discovery of a can labeled Islay Single Malt Whiskey stashed near the top of the cairn.<\/p>\n

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Success! Sweet Lupe on Mount Hinton<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Oh, ho! What do we have here, Loopster?<\/em> Granite Creek valley<\/strong> (Center). Peak 6400<\/span><\/strong> (L). Part of Mount Hinton’s SE ridge<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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There’s only going to be a registry inside? Why did you even show it to me then, SPHP? I was so excited! You’re just being mean, and when I’ve come all this way, too!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Survey marker near the cairn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Already after 8:00 PM.\u00a0 Mid-August, yet it was chilly – low 40’s \u00baF with a N breeze.\u00a0 The views were fabulous, particularly to the N and E, but the whole sky was a brooding, forlorn gray.\u00a0 For half an hour, Lupe sat on SPHP’s lap huddled under a jacket.\u00a0 Facing N into the wind, everything nearby was a depressing gray or brown, as if winter was on the way.<\/p>\n

Toward the horizon row upon row of blue peaks marched away until they faded into the haze of infinity.\u00a0 Many of those wild peaks were striking, splendid mountains, but few appeared appeared as high as Mount Hinton.\u00a0 What was out there?\u00a0 The Carolina Dog would never know more than what she could see from here.\u00a0 What was out there was a vast and incredibly beautiful land – ancient, desolate, lonely, magnificent.<\/p>\n

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Looking NE with lots of help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Haldane<\/strong> (L). Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Another distant shot. Photo looks N?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

30 minutes of rest and contemplation had done a lot of good.\u00a0 The were-puppy suddenly appeared and attacked SPHP before thankfully deciding to chomp a stick instead.\u00a0 A measure of calm was restored with another well-received offering of Taste of the Wild.<\/p>\n

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The ferocious were-puppy puts in an appearance. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Dinner on Mount Hinton<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Picture time.\u00a0 Lupe roamed the area near the cairn, but being virtually surrounded by huge cliffs to the N, E, and S, she couldn’t stray far.<\/p>\n

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Mount Hinton’s lower NE summit<\/strong> is on the L. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Peak 6400<\/span><\/strong> (L of cairn). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Hinton’s SE ridge<\/strong> (foreground). The notch on the R is the minor saddle Lupe had reached from the far side. Mount Albert (6,515 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) is the more distant peak beyond the SE ridge. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Duncan Creek valley<\/strong> and Mount Haldane<\/strong> (both L). Sourdough Hill<\/strong> (between Lupe’s ears). Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Keno Hill<\/span><\/a> (6,065 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R of Center beyond the valley) where Lupe had been yesterday evening in the fog. Photo looks NNW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop had been so lucky to get here today!\u00a0 No rain, at least not yet, and the clouds had remained above the mountains.\u00a0 Reaching Mount Hinton was a dream come true!\u00a0 Even though it was getting late, Lupe and SPHP lingered savoring each moment.<\/p>\n

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The Granite Creek valley<\/strong>. Peak 6400<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Relaxing near the cairn. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 9:00 PM.\u00a0 A marvelous hour already flown by.\u00a0 Lupe’s name was in the registry.\u00a0 She’d seen the splendors of the Yukon from Mount Hinton.\u00a0 What a grand time it had been!\u00a0 The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood offered SPHP a high four.<\/p>\n

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High four, SPHP! Well done! Mount Hinton is a success!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The inevitable sad moment.\u00a0 Time to go.\u00a0 Lupe stayed near the cairn, while SPHP got started.<\/p>\n

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Final moments near the summit cairn. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP called.\u00a0 The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood came dashing across the top of Mount Hinton.<\/p>\n

Onward!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!\u00a0 <\/em>Lupe returned to the SE ridge and the bulldozer route.\u00a0 She was still high on Hinton’s W face where everything was so torn up when SPHP mistakenly led her down a different bulldozer track than the one she’d come up.<\/p>\n

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Back on Mount Hinton’s upper W face. Part of Mayo Lake<\/strong> (L). Peak 6200<\/span><\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although this bulldozer track was much rougher and steeper, it didn’t matter too much.\u00a0 Lupe finally reached the Sourdough Trail again, not far from where she’d originally left it.<\/p>\n

Oh, it was all so easy now!\u00a0 Just follow the Sourdough Trail!\u00a0 Downhill all the way back to where the tiny house and sleeping bags were stashed next to Duncan Creek.<\/p>\n

As Lupe lost elevation, the air grew warmer, comfortably cool instead of chilly.\u00a0 The downhill march felt good.\u00a0 Why camp at Duncan Creek?\u00a0 Why not keep going?\u00a0 Such a beautiful evening!\u00a0 Decision made.<\/p>\n

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Heading back to Duncan Creek, still far below. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Haldane<\/strong> (L) shortly before sunset. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sun was down, twilight growing dim, by the the time Lupe reached Duncan Creek again.\u00a0 SPHP started gathering gear up.\u00a0 Ugh!\u00a0 Back to a heavy pack.\u00a0 Standing stock-still peering intently at the bushes directly across the creek, the American Dingo suddenly growled deep and low.<\/p>\n

A chill ran up SPHP’s spine.\u00a0 What was over there?\u00a0 A bear?\u00a0 Nothing in sight, and no noise heard over the babbling brook.\u00a0 If a decision hadn’t already been made to keep going, one would have been now!\u00a0 Quietly finishing, SPHP hoisted the pack.\u00a0 Looper growled a couple more times, but followed SPHP down the Sourdough Trail.<\/p>\n

A little farther on, after crossing all the little tributaries of Duncan Creek, it happened again.\u00a0 Lupe was past the abandoned cat, and clear up to the level part of the road when she stopped and growled once more.\u00a0 This time she was peering at the trees on the L (S) next to the road.\u00a0 A weak flashlight revealed – nothing.<\/p>\n

A moment’s hesitation, then onward.\u00a0 Whatever Lupe sensed made no appearance.\u00a0 Just as well.<\/p>\n

The quiet, cool, night trek was awesome, but long trudge back up to Sourdough Hill was wearying.\u00a0 Even in the darkness, the sky looked funny.\u00a0 Rain out of the W!\u00a0 A shower, no more.\u00a0 For 45 minutes, a light rain fell.\u00a0 Damp, but not drenched.<\/p>\n

The descent to Keno City had already begun when great danger ambled out of the bushes alongside the road.\u00a0 A dreaded porcupine!\u00a0 No, two of them!\u00a0 Fortunately, the weary Dingo showed no interest.<\/p>\n

The scattered lights of Keno finally came into view.\u00a0 Even downhill was hard now.\u00a0 Exhaustion was setting in.\u00a0 The Sourdough Trail went on and on.\u00a0 At last it was over.\u00a0 Lupe was crossing Lightning Creek.\u00a0 There was the G6!\u00a0 Hallelujah!\u00a0 (8-15-19, 1:47 AM)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Mount Hinton<\/strong>, Yukon Territory, Canada 8-14-19<\/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 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/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<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 10 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! 4:30 AM, end of Signpost Road on Keno Hill – Light out already.\u00a0 The rain had ended, but still very foggy with a chill SW wind.\u00a0 Lupe was hungry.\u00a0 Some Taste of the Wild hit the spot, then it was back to snoozing. … Continue reading Sourdough Hill & Mount Hinton, Yukon Territory, Canada (8-14-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25842,"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":[105,30,106,26,1224,104,1226,11,1225,708],"class_list":["post-25864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2019-yukon-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-canada","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-keno-city","tag-lupe","tag-mount-hinton","tag-peakbagging","tag-sourdough-hill","tag-yukon"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_4471-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\/25864","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=25864"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27919,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25864\/revisions\/27919"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}