{"id":27129,"date":"2020-05-20T08:10:44","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T14:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=27129"},"modified":"2020-06-08T20:19:06","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T02:19:06","slug":"wolverine-peak-chugach-state-park-alaska-9-1-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=27129","title":{"rendered":"Wolverine Peak, Chugach State Park, Alaska (9-1-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days 26 – 28 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

8-30-19, first light at the dirt parking area across the Denali Highway from the Swede Mountain trailhead<\/em> – A low menacing growl!\u00a0 SPHP glanced up from the trip journal.<\/p>\n

What is it, Looper?<\/em><\/p>\n

Hackles up, the American Dingo’s growling was growing more agitated by the second.\u00a0 It was too much to bear!\u00a0 Lupe exploded into a savage frenzy.\u00a0 She wanted out!<\/p>\n

Foggy and dim, but there was movement!\u00a0 Barely perceptible in the faint light of approaching dawn, a ghost wolf trotted long the edge of the lot.\u00a0 A moment later it vanished into the fog.<\/p>\n

Oh, no you’re not, Miss Ithinkim Invincible!\u00a0 You’re not tangling with a wolf!<\/em><\/p>\n

It is a wolf!\u00a0 A real wolf!\u00a0 You saw it, didn’t you, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, I did, but calm down.\u00a0 I’m not letting you go sniffing with a wild wolf.\u00a0 You’d be Dingo Nuggets for breakfast in nothing flat!<\/em><\/p>\n

The two second wolf glimpse was the highlight of the whole day.\u00a0 When morning came, the air was smokey again, even worse than yesterday.\u00a0 Issues with the G6, too.\u00a0 Better head back to civilization.<\/p>\n

Still thinking about that ghost wolf, Lupe remained on the alert for hours as the G6 bumped and jolted W on the Denali Highway.\u00a0 However, by the time pavement was reached coming into Cantwell, 4 straight days of peakbagging had taken their toll.\u00a0 The tuckered out Carolina Dog spent the afternoon snoozing as the miles rolled by.\"\"8-31-19, 7:46 AM, 54\u00baF, Wasilla<\/em> – Wasilla had been full of smoke when Lupe arrived yesterday evening, but a little rain had fallen overnight.\u00a0 Clearer now, the mountains were in view.\u00a0 Unfortunately, a very gray day.\u00a0 Not a ray of sunshine anywhere.<\/p>\n

SPHP drove to Anchorage.\u00a0 Stops for supplies.\u00a0 Turned out the G6 was fine.\u00a0 Still not much of a day for climbing mountains.\u00a0 Lupe wound up at Kinkaid Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog enjoyed more than 2 hours exploring the Middle Earth, Old School and Candy Mountain trails.\u00a0 Easy, peaceful, relaxing.\u00a0 Moments of joy, too!\u00a0 Squirrels!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Part of the Kincaid Park trail system<\/strong> in Anchorage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
On the Old School trail<\/strong> in Kincaid Park<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
This was a good idea, SPHP! Kinkaid Park is beautiful!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Later in the afternoon blue sky appeared.\u00a0 Sort of sunny and warm.\u00a0 Quite encouraging, but by that time ambition had waned.\u00a0 Tomorrow would be soon enough to take on a mountain again.\u00a0 Might be an even better day for it, and the American Dingo could get an early start.\u00a0 Lupe spent the evening relaxing and resting up in Eagle River.<\/p>\n

9-1-19, 10:22 AM, 55\u00baF at the Prospect Heights trailhead in Anchorage<\/em> – Hah!\u00a0 So much for a better day!\u00a0 Occasionally spitting light rain, sullen clouds blanketed the sky.\u00a0 September, now!\u00a0 Autumn was just around the corner here in Alaska.\u00a0 Driven by a lively breeze, leaves were already falling in large numbers.<\/p>\n

Far from a perfect day, but if the rain held off, Loopster ought to be fine.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the entrance to the Prospect Heights trailhead in E Anchorage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wolverine Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,491 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was the American Dingo’s objective today.\u00a0 After paying the $5.00 parking fee, SPHP checked a map posted at the trailhead.\u00a0 Lots of trails in this region, but getting to Wolverine Peak didn’t look too complex.\u00a0 Just head over to the Powerline trail, take a L and it would become the Wolverine Bowl trail.\u00a0 Wolverine Bowl wound around some, but would get Lupe to the Wolverine Peak trail, which went clear to the summit.<\/p>\n

So, we just find any trail that says “Wolverine” and follow it all the way to the top, right SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, that’s about it, Looper.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Relevant portion of the trail map posted at the Prospect Heights trailhead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe left the far end of the trailhead on a flat, straight stretch of trail that headed NE.\u00a0 5 minutes got her to the junction with the Powerline trail, where she turned L (NNW).<\/p>\n

\"\"
Leaving the Prospect Heights trailhead. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
On the Powerline trail<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Powerline trail soon curved to the R (NE), abandoning the actual power line it had been following.\u00a0 No sign, but presumably that meant Lupe was now on the Wolverine Bowl trail.\u00a0 Before long, Near Point<\/span><\/a> (3,051 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> came into view.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Early going on the Wolverine Bowl trail<\/strong>. Near Point<\/strong> (L). Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail curved E, then SE.\u00a0 So far, climbing Wolverine Peak had been really easy.\u00a0 In fact, Lupe was gradually losing elevation.\u00a0 The trail finally reached a low point at a bridge over the South Fork of Campbell Creek.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Crossing the South Fork of Campbell Creek.<\/strong> Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing the bridge, the Wolverine Bowl trail regained elevation at a gradual pace.\u00a0 Featureless clouds sprinkled rain.\u00a0 A sharp bend got the trail trending NE again.\u00a0 15 minutes from the bridge, Lupe came to a well-signed junction with the Middle Fork Loop trail.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the junction with the Middle Fork Loop trail. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Signage at the junction.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With no mention of wolverines in “Middle Fork Loop”, Lupe ignored that option, sticking with the Wolverine Bowl trail instead.\u00a0 As the Carolina Dog continued on, sporadic rain increased in intensity.\u00a0 No great deluge, but with the breeze periodically shaking more raindrops out of the trees, too, Loop was getting wet.<\/p>\n

15 minutes after passing Middle Fork Loop, Lupe came to a smaller bridge across a smaller creek.\u00a0 A few minutes beyond this second bridge she reached the start of the Wolverine Peak trail.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the smaller bridge, which SPHP made more use of than Lupe did.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Intersection of the Wolverine Bowl<\/strong>, Near Point<\/strong>, and Wolverine Peak<\/strong> trails.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Yup, time to turn R.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was raining harder now.\u00a0 This junction was what, 1.5 miles from the trailhead?\u00a0 Maybe a little more than that, but not much.\u00a0 Still miles go, and Lupe had only netted a couple hundred feet of elevation gain thus far.\u00a0 Wolverine Peak was another 3,200 feet higher.<\/p>\n

I don’t know, Looper.\u00a0 Seems like the weather is deteriorating.\u00a0 Not looking too good.\u00a0 Want to go back to the G6?<\/em><\/p>\n

The joyous response was immediate.\u00a0 Lupe was ecstatic!\u00a0 Finally, a good idea out of SPHP!\u00a0 Barking enthusiastically, the soggy American Dingo was clearly ready to forget all about Wolverine Peak.<\/p>\n

Alrighty then!\u00a0 Too bad, but it was over.<\/p>\n

For 10 minutes.\u00a0 As Lupe and SPHP headed back down the Wolverine Bowl trail, more people were coming up, all apparently in high spirits.\u00a0 None seemed even slightly concerned.\u00a0 And why should they?\u00a0 The rain stopped.\u00a0 The sky brightened.\u00a0 Everything was going to be just fine.<\/p>\n

Perhaps Lupe was dismayed when SPHP turned around and started back up.\u00a0 If so, she had the courtesy not to mention it.\u00a0 Soon she was climbing higher on the Wolverine Peak trail.<\/p>\n

Climbing at a good clip, too.\u00a0 The Wolverine Peak trail was much steeper than the Wolverine Bowl trail.\u00a0 Finally getting somewhere!\u00a0 The rain was holding off.\u00a0 Maybe it was over and done with?\u00a0 Confidence grew.<\/p>\n

\"\"
On the Wolverine Peak trail<\/strong>. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ahead a big ridge divided the terrain into two separate valleys to the E.\u00a0 The trail gradually curved SE (R) into the valley farthest S.\u00a0 Entering this valley, Lupe reached a field where the trail flattened.\u00a0 She had already gained enough elevation so that she wasn’t far from treeline.<\/p>\n

No rain, but it was just plain windy now.\u00a0 Looking ESE up the valley, the big ridge on the L was the one that would eventually lead to Wolverine Peak.\u00a0 The trail, however, headed for a lower ridge on the R.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Entering the S valley. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The farther Lupe went, the windier it was becoming.\u00a0 However, it wasn’t long before Wolverine Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,491 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> came into view at the far end of the valley.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Getting mighty windy, but that’s Wolverine Peak<\/strong> straight up from me!<\/em> Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail sliced up the side of the ridge on the S side of the valley.\u00a0 Lupe passed through a forested section, which provided some protection, but once she was beyond the last of the trees, the wind was worse than ever.<\/p>\n

The trees were gone, the bushes were giving out, the trail kept climbing along the S ridge.\u00a0 Lupe could now see where the Wolverine Peak trail crossed high ground at the upper end of the valley that led over to the ridge on the L.\u00a0 Wolverine Peak itself was now clearly in sight.\u00a0 Didn’t look that hard to get there.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Approaching the upper end of the valley. Wolverine Peak<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But it was.\u00a0 In the valley, the wind was roaring!\u00a0 Tall grass and bushes swayed in the tempest as each blast swept down from the ridgeline Loop was approaching.\u00a0 Seconds later, a tremendous gust would hit the trail, forcing SPHP to stop and lean on the trekking poles for support.\u00a0 Swirling dust devils sandblasted Lupe.<\/p>\n

Yet the ridge the American Dingo was climbing was partially protecting her from the full force of the ferocious wind.\u00a0 If the gale was this bad here, what was it going to be like when she got to the ridgeline?<\/p>\n

Progress was now made only between gusts.\u00a0 The rest of the time, SPHP leaned on poles while Lupe gritted it out.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Braced against the wind. Mount Susitna<\/strong> (Center) in the distance beyond the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Downtown Anchorage and Mount Susitna<\/span><\/a> (4,396 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ahead a few final bushes clung to the hillside along the trail.\u00a0 5 people were taking shelter next to them.\u00a0 As Lupe approached, a young man came over with a warning.\u00a0 Another member of their group had already tried going up to the ridgeline.\u00a0 The wind was much<\/em> worse up there.\u00a0 He had literally been blown off his feet.<\/p>\n

Reaching the group, it was immediately evident this was no joke.\u00a0 Face all scraped up and bloody, the dazed victim sat huddled with his friends.\u00a0 The poor guy had suffered 2 broken front teeth.\u00a0 This tragedy had befallen him only minutes ago.<\/p>\n

The whole group had had enough of Wolverine Peak.\u00a0 As soon as their friend recovered a bit, they were all planning to help him get back to the trailhead.\u00a0 Did they need assistance?\u00a0 No, except they wanted to borrow one of SPHP’s poles to help steady their friend.\u00a0 SPHP offered both, but they only wanted one.\u00a0 They were soon on their way.<\/p>\n

Neither advancing nor retreating, Lupe and SPHP crouched together for several minutes.\u00a0 The gale was deceptive.\u00a0 At times the wind died almost completely away, but these moments of calm only served to herald the imminent onslaught of yet another fierce blast.<\/p>\n

A mile and a half to go.\u00a0 Wolverine Peak<\/span><\/a> (4,491 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was right there!\u00a0 The whole route to the top was in sight.\u00a0 None of it looked difficult, merely a long ridge walk higher.<\/p>\n

Shall we wait here, and give the wind a chance to die down a bit?
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

What makes you think that’s going to happen, SPHP?\u00a0 The wind has been getting worse and worse, not better.\u00a0 What’s the summit of Wolverine Peak going to be like, way up there?\u00a0 You saw that poor, battered hiker!\u00a0 Dying down “a bit” isn’t going to do it.<\/em><\/p>\n

I know, Loop, but wouldn’t hurt to wait a little while, would it?\u00a0 You never know.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s just a waste of time, SPHP!\u00a0 Nothing will change for hours!\u00a0 What if it starts to rain again?\u00a0 Not fun!<\/em><\/p>\n

Another furious gust ripped a favorite red stocking cap right off SPHP’s head.\u00a0 In enormous bounds, the cap sailed away, disappearing over the ridgeline seconds later.\u00a0 Gone forever!\u00a0 Lupe looked up at SPHP.<\/p>\n

Alright, that’s it!\u00a0 Let’s get out of here!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
As far as Lupe made it up Wolverine Peak<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Care had to be taken not to get blown over during the descent, but only for a little way.\u00a0 By the time Lupe was back down on the Wolverine Bowl trail, it was just another breezy day.<\/p>\n

Sporadic rain and lower clouds had swept in during the descent.\u00a0 Already forgotten, Wolverine Peak was lost in the fog.\u00a0 The Wolverine Bowl trail was now packed with hikers.\u00a0 Nearly all of them had dogs.\u00a0 Lupe had a grand time sniffing with each and every one willing to pause for a moment on the trail.\u00a0 Back at the trailhead, the pole SPHP had lent out was propped up against the G6.\u00a0 (3:02 PM, 61\u00baF)<\/em><\/p>\n

In Anchorage, Lupe visited Taku Lake at a little park.\u00a0 Evening found her enjoying a stroll along the ocean at Point Woronzof.\u00a0 Still breezy, but the sky over the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet was only partly cloudy.<\/p>\n

\"\"
On the beach at Point Woronzof<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Knik Arm of Cook Inlet<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Hey! There’s Mount Susitna<\/strong> (Center) again!<\/em> Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, the ocean was lovely!\u00a0 This was only the second time Lupe had been to the ocean in all of 2019, so the evening stroll along the beach was a real treat.\u00a0 Later on, she got another treat, too!\u00a0 SPHP shared a giant chocolate milkshake with the lucky Dingo.<\/p>\n

Her consolation prizes were sweet, but it still would have been nice to have seen the world from the summit of wild, windy Wolverine Peak!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Oh, there’s nothing like being by the ocean, is there?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Wolverine Peak<\/strong>, Chugach State Park, Alaska 9-1-19<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/a><\/span>\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

Chugach State Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Chugach State Park Map<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Chugach State Park Brochure<\/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":"

Days 26 – 28 of Lupe’s 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! 8-30-19, first light at the dirt parking area across the Denali Highway from the Swede Mountain trailhead – A low menacing growl!\u00a0 SPHP glanced up from the trip journal. What is it, Looper? Hackles up, the American Dingo’s growling was growing … Continue reading Wolverine Peak, Chugach State Park, Alaska (9-1-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1210],"tags":[704,105,1254,106,1130,26,1253,104,1255,1252],"class_list":["post-27129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2019-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-anchorage","tag-carolina-dog","tag-chugach-national-forest","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-kincaid-park","tag-lupe","tag-point-woronzof","tag-wolverine-peak"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_5276.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27129","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=27129"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27129\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27908,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27129\/revisions\/27908"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}