{"id":27483,"date":"2020-06-04T08:10:09","date_gmt":"2020-06-04T14:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=27483"},"modified":"2020-06-09T09:24:34","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T15:24:34","slug":"matanuska-peak-chugach-range-alaska-9-5-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=27483","title":{"rendered":"Matanuska Peak, Chugach Range, Alaska (9-5-19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days 31 & 32 of Lupe’s Summer of 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

9-4-19, 1:45 PM, at a pullout along the Edgerton Highway<\/em> –<\/p>\n

About time, sleepyhead!<\/em><\/p>\n

Heh, sorry about that Looper.\u00a0 How long have I been out?<\/em><\/p>\n

An hour.\u00a0 Are you alright, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, much better, thank you.\u00a0 That Benadryl I took really did a number on me.\u00a0 Just couldn’t stay awake.\u00a0 Fine now.\u00a0 Ready to keep going?<\/em><\/p>\n

Been ready!\u00a0 Onward!\u00a0 By the way, where are we off to, anyway?<\/em><\/p>\n

Looks like it’s turned into a decent day again!\u00a0 Want to head back toward Anchorage?\u00a0 Take another shot at Wolverine Peak, or something else in that vicinity tomorrow?\u00a0 Been a few days.\u00a0 That hurricane ought to have died down by now.\u00a0 Last chance!\u00a0 Even if the weather stays good, won’t be too long before we really do need to leave Alaska.<\/em><\/p>\n

Way back there again, SPHP?\u00a0 You sure aren’t going to win any prizes for efficient route planning!\u00a0 Whatever you want, though.\u00a0 I’m easy!<\/em><\/p>\n

That was true, enough!\u00a0 As long as the Carolina Dog was on the road to adventure, she was never too particular about exactly which road that was.\u00a0 After the late, late return from the Root Glacier last night, an easy day spent just getting into position for the next big thing sounded good.<\/p>\n

9-4-19, 4:31 PM, Glenn Highway, MP 123.3 – <\/em>Time to stretch those Dingo legs!\u00a0 SPHP turned off the highway onto the road to Belanger Pass.\u00a0 Syncline Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,471 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was in sight, looking beautiful out in the clear!\u00a0 Not smoky at all now like it had been when Lupe climbed it more than 2 weeks ago.\u00a0 That had been a fun day!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Syncline Mountain<\/strong> is looking great! Want to climb it again, SPHP?<\/em> Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunately, early afternoon’s sunshine had disappeared.\u00a0 Clouding up.\u00a0 Maybe heading back W had been the wrong thing to do?\u00a0 Wouldn’t be the first time.<\/p>\n

W of Gunsight Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,441 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the G6 ran into rain showers.\u00a0 By the time Lupe was in Palmer, the showers were over and done with.\u00a0 Merely partly cloudy here.\u00a0 Still, maybe Palmer was far enough?\u00a0 Why go clear to Anchorage, when the weather was iffy?\u00a0 Just more wasted miles, if tomorrow was a no-go.\u00a0 Besides, if it turned out to be a really nice day, maybe Loop could take a shot at Matanuska Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,093 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> right here in Palmer?<\/p>\n

9-5-19, 9:41 AM, Palmer, Huntley Road at the Lazy Mountain trailhead –<\/em><\/p>\n

Doh!<\/em><\/p>\n

What’s wrong, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Nothing really, Looper.\u00a0 Just that I should have looked at the map before paying the parking fee is all.\u00a0 We’re at the wrong trailhead!\u00a0 Could have saved ourselves a mile on the Morgan Horse trail if we had parked at the end of Smith Road instead.<\/em><\/p>\n

One measly mile won’t make much difference, will it?<\/em><\/p>\n

No, except that Matanuska Peak is a huge climb.\u00a0 5,400 ft. of elevation gain without counting any dips!\u00a0 We might not feel like doing this extra mile again on the way back.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, piddle!\u00a0 Come on, let’s go!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Trail map posted at the Lazy Mountain trailhead<\/strong> in Palmer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Start of the Morgan Horse trail<\/strong> at the Lazy Mountain trailhead. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Morgan Horse trail left the Lazy Mountain trailhead winding SE through a forest full of Devil’s club<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 Minor ups and downs, but nothing serious.\u00a0 Little or no net elevation change.\u00a0 The morning was clear and bright, which had been key for the decision to stay here in Palmer to climb lofty Matanuska Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,093 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, no trivial romp even by American Dingo standards.<\/p>\n

Numbered brown wands appeared along the trail at regular intervals.\u00a0 The numbers apparently corresponded to distance in feet from the trailhead.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog saw few signs that horses ever actually used the Morgan Horse trail.\u00a0 Early on, she caught sight of the lower SW side of Lazy Mountain<\/span><\/a> (3,740 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the last Alaskan peak she’d climbed in 2016.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lower part of Lazy Mountain<\/strong> (Center) from the Morgan Horse trail<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Morgan Horse trail was easy going.\u00a0 Shady and comfortably cool!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Exploring the Morgan Horse trail<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a mile, the trail turned S and became arrow straight.\u00a0 Off to the W (R), private homes could be glimpsed through the trees.\u00a0 Shortly after passing the 6,000 foot marker, Lupe came to an intersection with the McRoberts Creek trail, a nicely graveled jeep-sized road that went E\/W.<\/p>\n

The Morgan Horse trail continued S, but Looper turned E.\u00a0 This junction must have been about 700 feet W of the Smith Road trailhead.\u00a0 The first wand she came to after making the L turn onto the McRoberts Creek trail was numbered 800.<\/p>\n

The McRoberts Creek trail was an uphill march, but the American Dingo didn’t stick with it very far at all.\u00a0 Soon a Matanuska Peak sign appeared next to a single track trail veering off to the L.\u00a0 The 1400 foot wand was in sight just a little beyond the sign.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Looper at the start of the Matanuska Peak trail<\/strong>. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Matanuska Peak trail climbed aggressively!\u00a0 Gradually it became a little easier.\u00a0 Lupe even came to a couple of tiny dips.\u00a0 Overall, though, this first portion of the trail was just plain steep.\u00a0 SPHP often paused to catch breath at the wands appearing at 200 foot intervals.<\/p>\n

Approaching the 4,000 marker, the trail finally leveled out.\u00a0 Still 3 miles due E, Matanuska Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,093 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was in sight for the first time.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Matanuska Peak<\/strong> (Center) from the 4,000 foot wand. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A nice level stretch between the 4,000 and 4,800 foot wands provided a welcome respite.\u00a0 The trail then climbed at an easier pace to about the 5,400 wand, where it steepened again.\u00a0 The sky had been crystal clear early this morning, but clouds were now starting to form.\u00a0 Felt humid, so that unfortunate trend might well continue.\u00a0 Definitely a concern, but Lupe carried on.<\/p>\n

After another long, steep climb, an opening appeared in the forest along a short level stretch near the 7,000 foot wand.\u00a0 Lupe had a clear view of Bodenburg Butte<\/span><\/a> (886 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and the Matanuska River off to the SW.\u00a0 The top of Pioneer Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,398 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was already in the clouds.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bodenburg Butte<\/strong> (Center) looks pretty small from the Matanuska Peak trail! Pioneer Peak<\/strong> (L). Matanuska River<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The climb resumed.\u00a0 Approaching the 8,400 foot marker, it looked like the trail was about to level out again.\u00a0 It did, but only as far as the 8,600 wand, beyond which there was a dip quickly followed by yet another steep stretch.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Come on, SPHP! You can do it! Looks like the trail is about to level out.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Matanuska Peak<\/strong> (Center) from the dip beyond the 8,600 foot marker. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shortly after passing the 9,200 marker, the Matanuska Peak trail topped out.\u00a0 Although Loopster was still far from Matanuska Peak, this was an intermediate high point as far as the trail was concerned.\u00a0 From here, a gradual descent began.\u00a0 The trail turned N along a ravine, then sharply SSE after crossing a tiny stream near the 10,800 wand.\u00a0 Shortly before reaching the 11,200 wand, Lupe had a clear view of the valley to the SE ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the intermediate high point of the Matanuska Peak trail a little beyond the 9,200 foot marker. Peak<\/strong><\/span> 4<\/span>199<\/span><\/strong><\/a> (straight up from Lupe). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
McRoberts Creek drainage<\/strong> (foreground), Pioneer Peak<\/strong> (Center), and Bodenburg Butte<\/strong> (R) from close to the 9,600 wand. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Upper McRoberts Creek drainage<\/strong> (Center) and Matanuska Peak<\/strong> (L) from the 11,200 foot wand. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By now, the top of Matanuska Peak was in the clouds.\u00a0 Not good, but there was still hope.\u00a0 Plenty of blue sky in some directions, and most of the mountain remained out in the clear.\u00a0 Progress was a lot faster as Lupe trotted along a gentle downhill slope.<\/p>\n

This was gorgeous territory!\u00a0 Fields of pink fireweed<\/strong><\/span><\/a> and deep green bushes dominated the broad slopes ahead.\u00a0 Keeping watch over them were the light gray summits of a row of minor peaks.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Fields of fireweed decorated the slopes on this easy stretch of the Matanuska Peak trail. Peak 4199<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the 11,900 foot wand, a very faint trail joined in from the N.\u00a0 Perhaps it came from Lazy Mountain<\/span><\/a> (3,740 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>?\u00a0 No signage, except a second wand also at this same spot.\u00a0 The second wand was numbered 14,000 and said “Trail” at the top.\u00a0 5 minutes after passing these markers, Lupe actually could see Lazy Mountain back to the NW.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the double wanded junction where an almost imperceptible trail came in from the N. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Lazy Mountain<\/strong> (R in sunlight) comes into view. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Lazy Mountain<\/strong> with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A glance down the McRoberts Creek valley<\/strong>. Pioneer Peak<\/strong> (L) and Bodenburg Butte<\/strong> (Center) both only partially in view now. Matanuska River<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The super easy stretch was over.\u00a0 Shortly after passing this junction, the Matanuska Peak trail bottomed out.\u00a0 Lupe was going uphill again when she came to a couple of oddities.\u00a0 The first was a 13,950 foot wand, also marked “Trail” at the top.\u00a0 Perhaps the wand numbering system used earlier had ended?\u00a0 Seemed strange that this next wand was a lower number than the one before it.<\/p>\n

Ahead, an orange flag atop a metal tripod stuck up above the fireweed N of the trail.\u00a0 Perhaps it would reveal something?<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the 13,950 wand. Orange flag (L). Matanuska Peak<\/strong> (R). Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon arriving at the orange flag, no significance could be discerned.\u00a0 No trail junction, no signs, no structures, not even a pile of rocks.\u00a0 Huh.\u00a0 Mysterious.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lazy Mountain<\/strong> (Center) from the mysterious orange flag. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, well!\u00a0 Lupe continued on.\u00a0 At a 14,750 marker, the trail entered a thicket of tall bushes.\u00a0 This was a low spot, some minor drainage.\u00a0 The American Dingo was soon through the thicket, and climbing up onto a little ridge.<\/p>\n

The scene ahead was incredible!\u00a0 Brilliant fall colors painted the slopes.\u00a0 Beyond them loomed the dark summit of Matanuska Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Entering the thicket.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Up on the small ridge. Matanuska Peak<\/strong> (L of Center). Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail followed the little ridge steadily higher.\u00a0 This ridge eventually vanished as it merged into a larger slope.\u00a0 Lupe was heading SE toward a bench at the base of Matanuska Peak.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The trail heads for the flat bench seen above and to the L of Lupe at the base of the long slope leading up Matanuska Peak<\/strong> (L). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other than a couple of dips crossing minor drainages, the trail climbed steadily.\u00a0 The second dip came at the 18,980 foot wand.\u00a0 At about 19,500, Lupe passed a ruined wreck of a picnic table.\u00a0 Beyond wand 19,600, the word “Trail” once again started appearing at the top of all the wands Loop was coming to, with a corresponding jump in numbers.<\/p>\n

At wand 22,200, a much larger dry wash was just ahead.\u00a0 On the far (SE) side of this ravine was a ridge connected to the towering slope leading to the summit of Matanuska Peak.\u00a0 The trail went down into the ravine, climbed a little way within it, then wound up a short steep slope on the other side to reach the ridgeline.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Looking back from the 22,200 wand. Lazy Mountain<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Approaching the 3rd dry wash. This one was by far the largest. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Down in the big ravine. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Heading up the dry wash. The trail is about to climb up onto the ridge on the R. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shortly after climbing out of the ravine, Lupe came to a pile of white rocks not far from wand 22800.\u00a0 She was now about as high as Lazy Mountain. This seemed like a good spot for a longer breather.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lazy Mountain<\/strong> (Center) from close to wand 22,800. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clouds had been building and spreading all day.\u00a0 However, toward the end of SPHP’s rest break, they suddenly shifted.\u00a0 The top of Matanuska Peak was in sight for the first time in quite a while!\u00a0 A good omen!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Matanuska Peak<\/strong> (L) emerges from the clouds. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Summit of Matanuska Peak<\/strong>. Photo looks NE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heh.\u00a0 A brief omen.\u00a0 Within minutes, the summit vanished again.\u00a0 In fact, much of the mountain disappeared as an even larger cloud swept in and devoured most of Matanuska Peak one gulp.\u00a0 Bad omen?\u00a0 Yeah, sort of.\u00a0 The weather still didn’t seem threatening, but if Lupe did manage to get all the way to the top of Matanuska Peak, it would sure be nice to be able to see something.<\/p>\n

At the moment, Lupe wasn’t the least bit worried about that.\u00a0 High up on the far side of the big ravine she had just crossed, Loop saw something just below the fog of even more interest than the summit.\u00a0 Dahl sheep!\u00a0 2 of them.\u00a0 No, make that 3!\u00a0 The Carolina Dog whined excitedly!\u00a0 These sheep were way too far away for any interaction.\u00a0 Nevertheless, Lupe kept a keen eye on them as she resumed her ascent.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Gazing at Dahl sheep way up on the far (L) side of the ravine. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The fascinating Dahl sheep<\/strong> with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe hadn’t seen anyone else for a long time now, but suddenly a voice was heard.\u00a0 Someone who had the lungs to chat on a cell phone while climbing mountains was coming up!\u00a0 A young man in superb condition soon overtook SPHP.\u00a0 He paused from his busy social life long enough for a brief chat, then disappeared into the fog now only slightly higher, still powering his way up the mountain.<\/p>\n

By the time the young man had overtaken SPHP, a steepish short climb after the rest break had brought the American Dingo to a gently sloping bench, the last relatively flat area Lupe would come to.\u00a0 She had already come a long way, gaining over 3,000 feet of elevation in the process.\u00a0 Yet the real climb was just about to begin.\u00a0 One more mile, and in that mile, another 2,300 vertical feet to go!\u00a0 Perhaps it was a good thing clouds cloaked the enormous, steep slope ahead.<\/p>\n

Onward!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!<\/em><\/p>\n

And with that, Lupe started up into the fog.<\/p>\n

\"\"
On the relatively level bench at the bottom of Matanuska Peak’s SW slope. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Part of the upper end of the McRoberts Creek drainage<\/strong>. The trail comes up along the R edge of this photo. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Heading up into the fog. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail was good.\u00a0 Packed dirt with some scree.\u00a0 Looper climbed and climbed.\u00a0 Already tired, SPHP was super slow.\u00a0 Many breathers to gasp for air.\u00a0 Vegetation faded.\u00a0 Fewer wands.\u00a0 The endless slope got rockier and rockier.\u00a0 In the fog it was impossible to tell how much farther Loop still had to go, or how much progress she had made.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Waiting for slow poke.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The slope was almost featureless.\u00a0 No big rock formations or cliffs.\u00a0 The angle of attack was gradually getting even steeper, but without readily discernable inflection points.\u00a0 Staring back down into the foggy abyss was a bit unnerving.\u00a0 Matanuska Peak was so steep!<\/p>\n

Gritty sand disappeared.\u00a0 The trail became nothing but rocks covered with black lichens.\u00a0 Then the trail itself all but disappeared.\u00a0 SPHP kept losing it.\u00a0 There seemed to be many trails.\u00a0 Rocks that had been disturbed were lighter colored, and showed that at least a few others had come this way before.\u00a0 Wands were becoming scarce.\u00a0 Now and then Lupe saw unmarked wooden posts.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Approaching a couple of rare minor rock formations. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Getting rockier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The rocks kept getting bigger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP was surprised when the young man reappeared.\u00a0 It had been so long since Lupe had seen him, SPHP had assumed he must have taken a different route down.\u00a0 Sven had made it to the top.\u00a0 How much farther?\u00a0 Oh, not far, 0.5 mile or so.\u00a0 Another 0.5 mile of this?\u00a0 That was a long, long way!\u00a0 Sven offered encouragement.\u00a0 Only another 45 minutes at your current pace.<\/p>\n

Sven was super friendly.\u00a0 He stayed and chatted cheerily much longer this time.\u00a0 Sven even suggested climbing another mountain together.\u00a0 Why not?\u00a0 Contact information exchanged, off he went.<\/p>\n

45 minutes later, Lupe was still climbing.<\/p>\n

The giant scramble continued, but things were starting to change.\u00a0 The broad slope Loopster was on was getting skinnier.\u00a0 The fog brightened.\u00a0 Clouds developed a bluish tinge.\u00a0 Suddenly, blue sky!<\/p>\n

\"\"
A bit of blue sky appears!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Soon it was possible to see!\u00a0 No sign of the top yet, but it couldn’t be too much farther, could it?\u00a0 Lupe reached a 29,200 wand.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the 29,200 wand, the highest numbered wand Lupe came to during her ascent. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next wand said 27,400.\u00a0 Sheesh!\u00a0 The scramble continued.\u00a0 A sense of excitement was growing.\u00a0 Big clouds in lots of directions, but it was easy enough to see that the Carolina Dog really was getting close.\u00a0 Talus slopes were narrowing fast.<\/p>\n

\"\"
At the last wand. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No more wands.\u00a0 27,400 was the last one.\u00a0 Suddenly it was over!\u00a0 Sure, the slope Lupe had come up was plenty steep, but the other side of Matanuska Peak was a precipice!\u00a0 A gray, craggy finger pointed N into thin air.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The craggy finger toward the lower W end of the summit region. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe passed an American flag wrapped around a horizontal aluminum pole.\u00a0 She had come up near the W end of a small summit region.\u00a0 The collection of boulders at the highest point off to the E was already close at paw.\u00a0 The tiptop boulder was an airy spot, but the American Dingo easily leapt up onto it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
No cairn, no registry. Lupe found only this American flag up on Matanuska Peak<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
On the true summit of Matanuska Peak<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9-5-19, 5:42 PM, true summit of Matanuska Peak<\/em> – Blue sky, but lots of clouds, too.\u00a0 From the summit boulder, Lupe had stunning cloud-broken views off to the N and E.\u00a0 Virtually nothing could be seen to the S or W, except for a towering cloud threatening to engulf the whole mountain.\u00a0 At unpredictable intervals, fog swirled by on a light, variable breeze.<\/p>\n

Not at all stormy, but the early evening sunshine Lupe was enjoying might end at any moment.\u00a0 Better take a good look around, while the Luck of the Dingo held!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Wolverine Creek valley<\/strong> (L). A spire along Matanuska Peak’s E ridge<\/strong> is visible above Lupe’s back. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The E ridge spire<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks ENE with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Matanuska Peak’s E ridge eventually curves N. This lower portion is the light-colored ridge in the foreground. The Wolverine Creek valley<\/strong> lies beyond it. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A momentary glimpse down Matanuska Peak’s S ridge<\/strong> (L). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hideous cliffs were just to the N.\u00a0 Spires of dark rock were only a little lower along a short NW ridge.\u00a0 The snaky E ridge was thin and jagged.\u00a0 Not the scariest summit Looper had ever been to, but SPHP nervously cautioned the Carolina Dog not to move around too much.\u00a0 A small patch of dirt provided a comfortable spot where she could relax without being on the verge of some precipice.<\/p>\n

Far to the ESE, a series of higher peaks strung out along a distant ridge was always at least partially enveloped by clouds.\u00a0 Sometimes glaciers were visible over that way.\u00a0 SPHP kept hoping for that ridge to clear, but it never did.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Frontier Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,250 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R of Center). Glaciers were visible now and then along the distant ridge on the L. Photo looks SE from Matanuska Peak’s true summit<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Zoomed in a bit on the high ridges toward the ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
As the clouds shift, the glaciers come into view, especially toward the L. Photo looks ESE with even more help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At first, Lupe was often in sunshine.\u00a0 That changed.\u00a0 Increasingly, her time was spent in shadow, but Matanuska Peak was so grand that all thoughts of leaving were banished as long as possible.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bathed in sunshine at the true summit<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
In shadow now. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hoped for glimpses of Lazy Mountain, Palmer, the Matanuska River and other points to the W or SW never materialized.\u00a0 A couple of times it looked like they might, but those hopes were always quickly dashed.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A temporarily promising moment. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

35 minutes after Lupe reached the summit, clouds came boiling up from the SW.\u00a0 Even the views to the N and E were closing off.\u00a0 The Luck of the Dingo was running out.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A glimpse of the distant Talkeetna Range<\/strong> as the clouds close in. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Matanuska Peak had treated Lupe kindly.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog had been fortunate to see anything other than fog up here.\u00a0 Getting late, anyway.\u00a0 It was a long way back, and SPHP would be every bit as slow during the tremendously steep descent as coming up had been.<\/p>\n

As the clouds swept in, Lupe returned to the boulder at the true summit.\u00a0 Her final moments atop mighty Matanuska Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,093 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> had arrived.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Gazing down the SW slope (R) Lupe would soon have to descend. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A pensive American Dingo atop Matanuska Peak<\/strong>. It’s gonna take SPHP forever to get off this monster!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Last look to the ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

45 minutes at the summit was all she wrote.\u00a0 Lupe began her descent.\u00a0 Down, down through the fog!\u00a0 Excruciatingly slow, but it all went well.\u00a0 By the time Loopster emerged from the murk, she was already close to the flattish bench at the bottom end of the SW slope.\u00a0 The sun had stayed up only long enough to say good-bye.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t even get to the big dry wash before it was gone.<\/p>\n

Dusk deepened while traveling the little ridge.\u00a0 A few stars appeared.\u00a0 For a while, lights of Palmer could be seen.\u00a0 Then it was into the black forest.\u00a0 Still miles to go.\u00a0 SPHP sang to ward off bears or moose.\u00a0 Proven 100% effective yet again!\u00a0 Exhaustion.\u00a0 Sore paws.\u00a0 The dreary extra mile long hobble along the Morgan Horse trail finally came to an end.<\/p>\n

Matanuska Peak!\u00a0 What a stupendous day!\u00a0 (9-6-19, 12:34 AM)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Matanuska Peak<\/strong>, Chugach Mountains, Alaska 9-5-19<\/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

Lazy Mountain, Chugach Range, Alaska 9-1-16<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Bodenburg Butte near Palmer, Alaska 9-1-17<\/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><\/span>x<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Days 31 & 32 of Lupe’s Summer of 2019 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! 9-4-19, 1:45 PM, at a pullout along the Edgerton Highway – About time, sleepyhead! Heh, sorry about that Looper.\u00a0 How long have I been out? An hour.\u00a0 Are you alright, SPHP? Yes, much better, thank you.\u00a0 That Benadryl I … Continue reading Matanuska Peak, Chugach Range, Alaska (9-5-19)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27450,"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":[704,105,106,1267,26,104,1266,1268,958,11],"class_list":["post-27483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2019-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-chugach-mountains","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-matanuska-peak","tag-morgan-horse-trail","tag-palmer","tag-peakbagging"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_5503.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\/27483","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=27483"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27930,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27483\/revisions\/27930"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}