{"id":27000,"date":"2020-05-10T08:10:20","date_gmt":"2020-05-10T14:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=27000"},"modified":"2020-06-08T20:22:30","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T02:22:30","slug":"east-glacier-gap-mountain-amphitheater-mountains-alaska-8-28-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=27000","title":{"rendered":"East Glacier Gap Mountain, Amphitheater Mountains, Alaska (8-28-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 24 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

8-27-19, evening at the Glacier Gap to Sevenmile Lake trailhead, Denali Highway MP 31 – <\/em><\/p>\n

So what does it say, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Hah!\u00a0 Good news, lucky Dingo!\u00a0 Says here that the trail goes all the way to Sevenmile Mile Lake.\u00a0 8.5 miles one way.\u00a0 The only caveat is that we have to be able to get across Rock Creek, a big stream 0.25 mile from here.\u00a0 Hopefully not a problem this time of year.<\/em><\/p>\n

Awesome!\u00a0 We’ll get to see Sevenmile Lake then!<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, I think so!\u00a0 Should be an easy, absolutely beautiful trek.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Info posted at the Glacier Gap to Sevenmile Lake<\/strong> trailhead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wasn’t going to happen until tomorrow, of course.\u00a0 A fabulous evening to relax right here at the trailhead, though!\u00a0 Lupe had her Alpo, then eyed SPHP’s beef stew.\u00a0 Oh, alright!<\/em>\u00a0 In nothing flat, the Carolina Dog polished off the beef stew, too.\u00a0 So much for dinner, aye?<\/em>\u00a0 SPHP wandered over to read a plaque about the Tangle Lakes Archeological District while Loop sniffed around among the bushes.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Tangle Lakes Archeological District plaque.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Glacier Gap<\/strong> (L) from the trailhead. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hey, SPHP!\u00a0 Check out that mountain!<\/em><\/p>\n

Which one?<\/em><\/p>\n

The one just E of Glacier Gap.\u00a0 What do you think?<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s lovely, Loop.\u00a0 Tomorrow morning you’ll get to see it up close.\u00a0 The trail will take us right by it on the way to Glacier Gap.<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s pretty big, but doesn’t look that hard, does it?\u00a0 Do you think we could see Sevenmile Lake from up there?<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The more SPHP stared at East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,060 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the more it seemed Lupe was right!\u00a0 Didn’t look like a technical climb at all.\u00a0 A big S slope right in the middle of the mountain looked perfectly doable.\u00a0 Just stroll on up!<\/p>\n

You might be right, Loop!\u00a0 Let me take another look at that map again.<\/em><\/p>\n

The trailhead map showed the trail getting fairly close to the base of the mountain.\u00a0 If SPHP could get through the bushy region by the trail up to the rocks, there didn’t appear to be any other obstacles to success.\u00a0 The mountain had two summits both contained in 6,000 ft. contours.\u00a0 Only the E summit had an elevation shown – 6,050 ft.\u00a0 Maybe that indicated it was the true summit?<\/p>\n

Looks feasible, Looper!\u00a0 That mountain is still a few miles from Sevenmile Lake, though.\u00a0 We could probably see the middle part of the lake from up there, but not the whole thing.\u00a0 Want to climb the mountain instead of just taking the trail all the way to Sevenmile Lake?
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, let’s do it!<\/em><\/p>\n

The sky cleared as darkness fell.\u00a0 A good omen!<\/p>\n

8-28-19, 7:21 AM, 35\u00baF at the Glacier Gap to Sevenmile Lake trailhead<\/em> –\u00a0 Sigh.<\/em>\u00a0 A mere 3 hours ago, a slender crescent moon had hung low in the E sky, stars of the northern universe brilliant overhead.\u00a0 Cloudy out now, although not threatening.\u00a0 Still some blue stuff off to the NW.<\/p>\n

Good enough!\u00a0 East Glacier Gap Mountain was a go.\u00a0 Loopster was ready!\u00a0 She hit the nice wide ATV or jeep route that left the trailhead heading NE.\u00a0 A gradual 0.25 mile descent soon brought the American Dingo to Rock Creek.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Looper about to leave the trailhead. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Glacier Gap to Sevenmile Lake trail<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Approaching Rock Creek<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Rock Creek stream bed was 100 feet wide.\u00a0 Luckily only a fraction of it held flowing water.\u00a0 Even better, most of what water there was sank underground 200 feet downstream.\u00a0 Barely even a rock hop today.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP were both across in nothing flat.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Crossing Rock Creek<\/strong>. West Glacier Gap Mountain (6,050 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond Rock Creek, the ATV trail was quite level as it continued NE.\u00a0 After a bit, the trail turned N.\u00a0 The terrain was slightly higher off to the E, so Lupe couldn’t see much that way.\u00a0 However, several big ponds were visible scattered across low-lying grasslands to the W.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Near the lowlands. West Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now headed toward East Glacier Gap Mountain, the trail slowly gained elevation.\u00a0 The morning sun broke through the clouds illuminating the fabulously colorful terrain.\u00a0 Lupe got up on a small ridge paralleling the trail.\u00a0 The top of the little ridge was a bit rocky and sparsely vegetated.\u00a0 The brilliant blood reds of the tundra were simply incredible!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Heading for East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Peak<\/span> 4850<\/span><\/a> on Whistle Ridge<\/strong> (Center) from the small ridge. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Peak<\/span> 4716<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (Center) at the far W end of Whistle Ridge<\/strong> (L). Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time the little ridge played out, the ATV trail was curving W.\u00a0 Loop could see another very similar ridge in that direction that was a larger version of the one she had just followed.\u00a0 The Glacier Gap to Sevenmile Lake trail swept right around the S end of it.\u00a0 The bigger ridge appeared to provide a great off-trail route to get closer to the base of East Glacier Gap Mountain while avoiding the dense bushes.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The ATV trail turns W. Lupe got back on it to reach the low ridge (R) in the foreground. She then turned N (R) following that ridge. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This plan worked beautifully!\u00a0 Briefly returning to the Glacier Gap to Sevenmile Lake trail, Lupe followed it over to the bigger ridge.\u00a0 She then left the trail to climb up onto the ridge and follow it N.\u00a0 The American Dingo was soon gaining elevation at an ever faster clip as she closed in on East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,060 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Heading up the bigger ridge. East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong> dead ahead! Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Back to the S were beautiful views of Whistle Ridge where Lupe had been yesterday.\u00a0 She could see the whole thing, all the way from Peak<\/span> 4716<\/span><\/a><\/strong> at the W end to Peak<\/span> 4850<\/span><\/a><\/strong> and HP4757<\/span><\/strong> at the E end.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Whistle Ridge<\/strong>. Peak 4716<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
HP4757<\/span><\/strong> (straight up from Lupe) and Peak 4850<\/strong> just to the R of it. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Climbing faster. Glacier Gap<\/strong> (L). East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The S end of Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong> (Center) comes into view. Peak 4716<\/strong> (L). Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time this second ridge ended, Lupe was more or less already at the base of East Glacier Gap Mountain.\u00a0 She dropped down a little into a wide, shallow valley full of bushes and tufty grasses.\u00a0 Enough open area was present to easily avoid the bushes.\u00a0 While SPHP trudged higher, Loopster had a blast exploring as she roamed ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the base of the mountain. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A little higher now. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Roaming the wide shallow valley. Lupe avoided the steep rocky valley seen on the R, staying well E (R) of it. The knob on the L is HP4660<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After following the shallow valley higher for some distance, Lupe left it to start climbing more steeply up a rumpled region of moderately steep slopes.\u00a0 Separated by benches and ramps, each rise got the Carolina Dog 50 to 100 feet higher.\u00a0 Before long, Lupe was above bush line in a world of tundra and rock.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Starting up a series of slopes and benches. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
On a large bench. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Taking a break. Swede Mountain<\/span><\/a> (4,660 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Heading up a ramp. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Glancing back. Peak 4716<\/strong> (Center) beyond the S end of Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Toward the end, Lupe came to two particularly large benches.\u00a0 From the second bench, a steep golden ramp went N directly up the mountain.\u00a0 This was the steepest part of the entire ascent.\u00a0 The golden ramp was longer than it looked from below.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Ascending the golden ramp. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Above the golden ramp, the tundra started to fail.\u00a0 The terrain remained quite steep and became increasingly rocky.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Above the golden ramp. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The slope finally decreased somewhat.\u00a0 Lupe was at least halfway up East Glacier Gap Mountain by now.\u00a0 A long rocky climb was still ahead.\u00a0 The ground was rough, but it was clear nothing was going to prevent the American Dingo from getting to the top!\u00a0 Loopster headed for the saddle between the E and W summits.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Still a long march higher to the saddle<\/strong> (Center) between the 2 summits. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
All of Whistle Ridge<\/strong> is in sight. Peak 4850<\/strong> (L) and Peak 4716<\/strong> (R). S end of Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
West Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong> (Center) beyond Glacier Gap<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
East Glacier Gap Mountain’s W summit<\/strong> (straight up from Lupe). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nearing the ridgeline, Lupe veered a little E of the saddle.\u00a0 Nothing but rock the rest of the way!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Approaching the summit ridge. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Carolina Dog reached the ridgeline a short distance E of the saddle, but well above it.\u00a0 Her ascent from the S had been a straightforward non-technical feat.\u00a0 The N face of the mountain was shockingly different.\u00a0 Tremendous jagged cliffs plunged into a deep valley.<\/p>\n

Looking E, a rugged ridgeline rose along the brink of fearsome drops.\u00a0 Cliffs extended all the way along the N face clear over to the W summit, too.\u00a0 However, it was plain that Lupe wouldn’t have a problem getting to the W summit if she stayed just a little S of the ridgeline.\u00a0 Several miles to the NNW was a sight Lupe had come to see.<\/p>\n

Look, SPHP!\u00a0 That’s got to be Sevenmile Lake, doesn’t it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup, yup.\u00a0 The middle of it anyway.\u00a0 We’re only seeing about 1\/3 of it from here, but what a vantage point!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
On the ridgeline. The E summit<\/strong> is the most distant point at Center. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Gazing NE at Peak 6100<\/span><\/strong> (Center).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
W summit<\/strong> (L). Sevenmile Lake<\/strong> (R) in the distance. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Part of Sevenmile Lake<\/strong> (L) and the mountains beyond it. Cumberland Peak<\/span><\/a> (8,900 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L of Center). Photo looks NNW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Time for a break!\u00a0 Rock everywhere.\u00a0 Lupe curled up on SPHP’s lap.\u00a0 The views were tremendous.\u00a0 Incredible here, but SPHP soon became leery of clouds gathering both to the SW and NW.\u00a0 Getting to both summits was going to take a while.\u00a0 Better not relax too long.<\/p>\n

20 minutes after reaching the ridgeline, Loop was ready to press on.\u00a0 Which summit first?\u00a0 Sometimes right on top of the ridge, but generally staying a little S of it, the Carolina Dog headed E.<\/p>\n

\"\"
First objective: The E summit<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Loop on the way E. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

200 feet higher, if that.\u00a0 Skirting along the S side of the ridge worked fine.\u00a0 Rocky the entire way, but most of the time travel was relatively easy.\u00a0 Really wasn’t that far.\u00a0 Soon Lupe was approaching the E summit.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Almost there! Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The E summit of East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,060 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was smallish.\u00a0 A rough, flat area jutted out to the N.\u00a0 On a boulder near the N edge sat a cairn of 4 greenish stones splashed with white.\u00a0 Huge cliffs surrounded the cairn in all directions except S.\u00a0 The highest natural point was a large rock standing on end 15 feet S of the cairn.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Loopster at East Glacier Gap Mountain’s E summit<\/strong>. W summit<\/strong> (far L). Sevenmile Lake<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Propped up against the highest natural rock<\/strong>. Peak 6100<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To the E was a line of rugged peaks.\u00a0 The same to the W.\u00a0 It was hard to tell which of East Glacier Gap Mountain’s summits was highest.\u00a0 The E summit where Lupe was now seemed a tad higher, but the W summit was more than 0.5 mile away, and that might have been an illusion.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Peak 6200<\/span><\/strong> (Center). Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
West Glacier Gap Mountain (6,200 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center). East Glacier Gap Mountain’s W summit<\/strong> (R of Center) is in the foreground. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The air was hazy to the S, so the views weren’t as impressive.\u00a0 Whistle Ridge and\u00a0 Swede Mountain<\/span><\/a> (4,660 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> both looked small from here.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Swede Mountain<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Whistle Ridge<\/strong> (L). S end of Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The scene to the N was the real attention grabber.\u00a0 A precipitous plunge ended down in a huge valley that drained NW toward Sevenmile Lake.\u00a0 Beyond the lake was another line of peaks somewhat lower than East Glacier Gap Mountain, but Lupe could see over them to a mightier snow-clad range harboring many snowfields and glaciers.\u00a0 Cumberland Peak<\/span><\/a> (8,900 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Peak 8927<\/span><\/strong> stood out from the rest.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sevenmile Lake<\/strong> (Center) and Cumberland Peak<\/strong> (far R). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Cumberland Peak<\/strong> with lots of help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Peak 8927<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The weather seemed to be holding.\u00a0 For a while Lupe dozed, her head resting on SPHP’s lap.\u00a0 Grandeur all around!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Peak 6100<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More than an hour passed.\u00a0 The American Dingo still had a W summit to get to!\u00a0 Lupe returned to both the cairn and the rock that was the natural high point.\u00a0 She even explored a little way down the SE slope, going far enough to see East Glacier Gap Mountain’s entire SE ridge.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Back at the E summit cairn<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
By the natural high point<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
East Glacier Gap Mountain’s SE ridge<\/strong> (Center), which wasn’t entirely visible from the summit. Peak 6200<\/span><\/strong> (L). Swede Mountain<\/strong> (R) in the distance. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Puppy ho!\u00a0 Onward!\u00a0 <\/em>Abandoning the glorious E summit, Lupe headed back W.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Heading W. W summit<\/strong> (far R). West Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong> (R). Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong> (L) with Peak 4716<\/strong> of Whistle Ridge<\/strong> beyond it. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
W summit<\/strong> (L) and Sevenmile Lake<\/strong> (Center) from the ridgeline. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Looking down the long slope Loopster had come up. Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong> (R) with many smaller lakes and Whistle Ridge<\/strong> beyond. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Approaching the saddle leading to the W summit<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The saddle leading to the W summit harbored a large snowbank.\u00a0 Lupe did not cross it, but went around well to the S, since the ground close to the snow was soft and mucky.\u00a0 The terrain turned rocky and firm as soon as she started to climb.<\/p>\n

Getting up to the W summit was easier than getting to the E summit had been.\u00a0 Lanes of tundra helped smooth the way.\u00a0 The climb was steepest near the start, but not difficult.\u00a0 The tundra had disappeared by the time Lupe reached a rough level area leading to a little hill.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Almost there! W summit<\/strong> just ahead. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The W summit was a flat-topped knob encompassing an area about the same size as a large room in a house.\u00a0 Much larger than that, if the only slightly lower part of the ridge Loop crossed on her final approach was included.\u00a0 Some of the highest rocks were nice and flat.\u00a0 Several small cairns were present.<\/p>\n

With the gargantuan cliffs only to the N and NE here, the W summit felt far less exposed than the E one had.\u00a0 Looking back, it was still hard to say which summit was highest.<\/p>\n

\"\"
East Glacier Gap Mountain’s E summit<\/strong> (Center) from the W one. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The views here were perhaps even a little more fabulous than they had been back at the E summit.\u00a0 Lupe was a more than 0.5 mile closer to both Sevenmile Lake and Glacier Gap Lake.\u00a0 SPHP was somewhat surprised Loop couldn’t quite see all of Glacier Gap Lake or Glacier Gap itself.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sevenmile Lake<\/strong> (R) from the W summit<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
West Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was sunny when Lupe arrived at the W summit, but that wasn’t going to last.\u00a0 The darkest clouds yet now seemed to be heading this way out of the NW.\u00a0 Rain seemed possible.\u00a0 While she still had the opportunity, Loop basked in sunshine with a tremendous view of Sevenmile Lake, which was already in shadow.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Relaxing at the W summit<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Cumberland Peak<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Peak 6100<\/span><\/strong> (L), Peak 6200<\/span><\/strong> (Center) and East Glacier Gap Mountain’s E summit<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Half an hour shot by.<\/p>\n

How you feeling, Looper?<\/em><\/p>\n

Good, although these rocks aren’t as comfy as they might be.<\/em><\/p>\n

Not terribly surprising.\u00a0 Most rocks aren’t.\u00a0 Feel up to exploring the NW ridge?<\/em><\/p>\n

I suppose.\u00a0 Any particular reason?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah.\u00a0 I’d kind of like to go far enough to see Glacier Gap and all of Glacier Gap Lake.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, we ought to do that!\u00a0 Sounds like fun, if it’s not too far!<\/em><\/p>\n

Shouldn’t be.\u00a0 Come on!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
East Glacier Gap Mountain’s NW ridge<\/strong> from the W summit. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was farther than it looked.\u00a0 Despite oncoming clouds, Lupe led the way exploring the NW ridge.\u00a0 Conditions deteriorated, but thankfully it didn’t rain.\u00a0 However, the ridge went on and on down a series of drops.\u00a0 At the end of each fairly level stretch, SPHP kept expecting to be able to peer down into Glacier Gap.\u00a0 Loop must have lost a good 300 feet of elevation before it finally happened.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Exploring the NW ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, it was all worth it!\u00a0 Lupe had reached a point where the mountain now dropped off so steeply that she could see all of Glacier Gap Lake.\u00a0 Glacier Gap itself was in sight, too, the whole thing from Glacier Gap Lake all the way to Sevenmile Lake.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog could even see the ATV trail she would have taken to Sevenmile Lake today, if she hadn’t climbed East Glacier Gap Mountain instead.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Sevenmile Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Looking down on Glacier Gap<\/strong>. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

15 glorious minutes, then it was time to head back up to the W summit.\u00a0 Another brief pause there, and Loop was on her way back to the saddle between the two summits.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Heading back up the NW ridge. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Back on the W summit<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Approaching the saddle, Lupe turned SW heading down the mountain.\u00a0 Never did rain.\u00a0 The sun broke through.\u00a0 What a beautiful evening!\u00a0 Such a splendid peak and scenes of grandeur!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Early part of the descent. All of Whistle Ridge<\/strong> on display. Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The descent was pure fun until SPHP’s big mistake.\u00a0 Instead of going down the golden ramp, SPHP led Lupe farther W down the big gash in the mountain that had been purposely avoided on the way up.\u00a0 Right the first time!\u00a0 The gash was an endless, steep jumble of large rocks.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Going down the gash. Not a good choice. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was thrilled to finally reach the bottom.\u00a0 Soft tundra, grass, bushes!\u00a0 The Carolina Dog raced off to sniff and explore on her own.\u00a0 Now and then a marmot whistled revealing her approximate location.<\/p>\n

One more thing to do!\u00a0 At the base of East Glacier Gap Mountain, Lupe turned W passing over a low ridge.\u00a0 And there was Glacier Gap Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Glacier Gap Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Very pretty, wouldn’t you say?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heading down a bushy slope, Lupe made it to the ATV trail not far from the shore.\u00a0 4 awesome miles back to the trailhead.<\/p>\n

The American Dingo never did go quite all the way down to the shore of Glacier Gap Lake or travel through Glacier Gap to Sevenmile Lake.\u00a0 Yet she did see beautiful Glacier Gap Lake up close, and she got to peer through Glacier Gap to a land where adventure still beckons.<\/p>\n

And of course, Loopster had also seen it all from on high up on fabulous East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,060 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!\u00a0 (End 8:28 PM, 50\u00baF)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Glacier Gap<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
East Glacier Gap Mountain<\/strong>, Amphitheater Range, Alaska 8-28-19<\/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\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Denali Highway<\/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<\/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 24 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! 8-27-19, evening at the Glacier Gap to Sevenmile Lake trailhead, Denali Highway MP 31 – So what does it say, SPHP? Hah!\u00a0 Good news, lucky Dingo!\u00a0 Says here that the trail goes all the way to Sevenmile Mile Lake.\u00a0 8.5 miles one way.\u00a0 … Continue reading East Glacier Gap Mountain, Amphitheater Mountains, Alaska (8-28-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26811,"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":[704,105,1249,106,1240,26,1247,1245,104,11,1246,1248],"class_list":["post-27000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2019-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-amphitheater-mountains","tag-carolina-dog","tag-denali-highway","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-east-glacier-gap-mountain","tag-glacier-gap-lake","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging","tag-sevenmile-lake","tag-tangle-lakes-archeological-district"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_5163.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\/27000","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=27000"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27000\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27910,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27000\/revisions\/27910"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}