{"id":44362,"date":"2023-03-19T08:10:18","date_gmt":"2023-03-19T14:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=44362"},"modified":"2023-03-29T10:03:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T16:03:19","slug":"kispiox-mountain-skeena-mountains-british-columbia-canada-part-1-twin-falls-8-8-22-moonlit-mountain-8-9-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=44362","title":{"rendered":"Kispiox Mountain, Skeena Mountains, British Columbia, Canada – Part 1: Twin Falls (8-8-22) & Moonlit Mountain (8-9-22)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 10 & Part 1 of Day 11 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

8-8-22, late morning<\/em> – A mere 3 km NW of Smithers, SPHP made a L turn off Hwy 16 onto Kathlyn Lake Road.\u00a0 Another 6 km on Glacier Gulch Road led to a parking lot with room for a dozen vehicles, and a circular turn around in a beautiful forest.\u00a0 There were a couple of campsites and outhouses here, too.<\/p>\n

Not a cloud in the sky.\u00a0 \u00a0Clearly, a day meant for action!<\/p>\n

This is it, Loopster, the Twin Falls trailhead!<\/em><\/p>\n

Give it a rest, SPHP!\u00a0 We went way up Hudson Bay Mountain yesterday.<\/em><\/p>\n

I know, Loop, but Twin Falls is an easy little trek.\u00a0 0.5 km to have a look at the waterfalls, that’s all.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wonderful!\u00a0 Then there’s plenty of time to visit them later on, SPHP.\u00a0 I’m staying right here on my pink blanket for a while.\u00a0 Don’t you have a trip journal to tend to?<\/em><\/p>\n

SPHP did.\u00a0 Sharing what remained of last night’s roasted chicken with Lupe, SPHP polished off the rest of the orange juice, too.\u00a0 Full of chicken, the Carolina Dog watched people come and go, snapped at flies, then drifted off to sleep while the trip journal got some needed attention.<\/p>\n

8-8-22, 12:54 PM, Twin Falls trailhead at the end of Glacier Gulch Road<\/em> –\u00a0 The American Dingo was up and at ’em!\u00a0 Can’t let a gorgeous day like this go completely to waste!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the Twin Falls trailhead<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hang on, Loop.\u00a0 Gimme a minute to have a look at the posted map.<\/em><\/p>\n

What for, SPHP?\u00a0 Thought you said this trail was only 0.5 km long?\u00a0 We aren’t going to get lost here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Twin Falls trail map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yeah, it’s pretty simple, Loop.\u00a0 Onward!\u00a0 Puppy ho!<\/em><\/p>\n

The Twin Falls trail began as a wide graveled path that left the trailhead between 2 boulders.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Start of the Twin Falls trail<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the trail was nice and shady.\u00a0 It climbed the entire way, gaining 70 meters over the course of the 0.5 km.\u00a0 After passing an early fork where a trail to the R went to a day use area along Glacier Creek, the trail steepened, becoming rocky and nearly overgrown in spots.<\/p>\n

Soon glimpses of Twin Falls appeared ahead.\u00a0 Situated on opposite sides of Glacier Gulch, for twins, the falls actually bore little resemblance to one another.\u00a0 The falls on the L were much larger than the comparative trickle on the R.\u00a0 What the waterfall on the R lacked in flow, it made up for with significantly greater height.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
An early glimpse of Twin Falls<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nearly 3\/4 of the way up the trail, Lupe came to a viewing platform reached by a set of stairs.\u00a0 The height of the falls looked much more equal from here, although the flow differential remained.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop on the viewing deck. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Twin Falls<\/strong> from the viewing platform. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Guess where those waterfalls come from, Loop.<\/em><\/p>\n

Farther up in the mountains, SPHP.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ahh, yes, but of course.\u00a0 Could you be more specific, Loopster?<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, we aren’t all that far from Smithers yet, SPHP, and have left the Babines.\u00a0 Hudson Bay Mountain<\/span><\/a> (8,494 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, where we were yesterday, is the only other mountain I know of this close to Smithers.<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s right, Loop!\u00a0 Twin Falls is fed by the same Hudson Bay Glacier we were looking down on yesterday.<\/em><\/p>\n

Really?\u00a0 That’s cool, SPHP!\u00a0 Should be fun to climb above the falls then, and explore all the way up to the toe of the glacier!<\/em><\/p>\n

Indeed it would be, sweet puppy, but from the looks of that headwall, that isn’t going to happen.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe was kind of getting into the whole Twin Falls experience when the trail suddenly ended, bordered on the L by a vertical wall of rock, and on the R by a picnic table.\u00a0 Glacier Gulch Creek was directly ahead, a fairly deep and extremely fast flowing stream at this point.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At trail’s end.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The skinny, weak falls on the R were still in sight, but it wasn’t possible to get even a glimpse of the falls on the L without going beyond the wall of rock, which meant crossing the stream.\u00a0 From the roar the larger falls was making, it would be a pretty impressive sight.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The thinner falls from trail’s end. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, a sign with peeling paint next to the picnic table said “Caution – Proceed at your own risk”.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the picnic table at the end of the Twin Falls trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, for Pete’s sake!\u00a0 Goofiest, most anti-climactic trail ever, Looper!\u00a0 Ends less than 10 feet from the big scenic payoff!<\/em><\/p>\n

Glad you realize that, SPHP, cause there’s no way I’m plunging into that icy stream!<\/em><\/p>\n

8-8-22, 4:27 PM, pullout off Hwy 16 approaching the S end of Moricetown –<\/em> After moving the RAV4 to a shadier spot at the Twin Falls trailhead, the trip journal had gotten more work while Lupe dozed again.\u00a0 Now she stood on a bank overlooking the Bulkley River just upstream of where it suddenly plunged into an extremely narrow gorge.<\/p>\n

This was a favorite spot, and a last chance for the American Dingo to bid a fond farewell to Hudson Bay Mountain still visible far to the S.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the Bulkley River<\/strong>. Hudson Bay Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Same view with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, what’s next now that we’ve left the Smithers area, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

A mountain you’ve been to before, Loop, plus one we tried for and failed at.<\/em><\/p>\n

Again with the fail thing, SPHP?\u00a0 Have you sabotaged this Dingo Vacation with a carefully chosen selection of peaks I’ll never be able to climb?<\/em><\/p>\n

Heavens no, Looper!\u00a0 We failed before because I was too chicken to push the G6 all the way to the trailhead, managed to get us lost on the extra 5 mile trek to it, and then the weather turned into a complete gale with a storm moving in by the time we got to the first peak.\u00a0 Still think there’s a chance we can actually get to our intended destination with the benefit of what we learned the first time around.<\/em><\/p>\n

Go on, SPHP.\u00a0 This does sound vaguely familiar.\u00a0 Care to elaborate on the part about “a chance we can actually get to our intended destination”?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sure.\u00a0 It depends in part on the super long primitive and remote access road still being open all the way to the trailhead, and whether we can manage to get up the mountain’s NW ridge, as per John Stolk’s excellent trip report<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 And the weather, of course, which appears to be completely in our favor at the moment, if it will just hold.<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s coming back to me, SPHP!\u00a0 You’re talking about Kispiox Mountain, aren’t you?<\/em><\/p>\n

Correcto mundo, Loopster!\u00a0 Kispiox has over 5,000 feet of prominence!\u00a0 It would be your first and only Canadian ultra.\u00a0 We’ve got to give it another attempt!\u00a0 Never got a fair shot at it back in 2018 due to my mistakes.<\/em><\/p>\n

After crossing the bridge over the railroad tracks at New Hazelton, then taking a R on Hwy 62 (signed as Churchill Road)<\/em>, and waiting in line for a turn on the awesome one lane Hagwilget bridge over the Bulkley River, SPHP turned R again at Petro Canada in old Hazelton.\u00a0 The Skeena River soon came into view.\u00a0 The busy road was narrow due to construction, but SPHP parked and got out briefly anyway for a quick look.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Skeena River<\/strong> from near old Hazelton. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, what did you see, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Just the river, Loop, and some mountains beyond it.\u00a0 Kispiox Mountain is out there somewhere, but if it’s in sight, I don’t recognize it from here.<\/em><\/p>\n

The road soon wound down to cross a bridge over the Skeena River, then turned N.\u00a0 Several miles later, it angled NE (R) across another bridge into the village of Kispiox.\u00a0 Instead of crossing this bridge, SPHP continued N on Date Creek Forest Service Road, aka Kispiox Westside Road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sign at the start of Date Creek Road<\/strong>, aka Kispiox Westside Road<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Date Creek Road started out as a decent gravel road, but deteriorated as it went first N, then NW for miles.\u00a0 In places, trees leaned precariously over the road.\u00a0 Some had fallen, but none completely blocked it.\u00a0 Nearly 15 miles in, the road turned sharply L and started steeply uphill.<\/p>\n

So far, so good, Loop!\u00a0 This is where we parked the G6 last time around.<\/em><\/p>\n

Gunning the RAV4, it made it to the top of the hill SPHP hadn’t dared to attempt in the G6, not knowing what was ahead back in 2018.\u00a0 5 winding miles later, despite the last mile being soft and rutted, SPHP parked the RAV4 at the Moonlit Mountain trailhead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the Moonlit Mountain trailhead<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8-8-22, 7:17 PM, Moonlit Mountain trailhead<\/em> – Two pickups were already parked at the trailhead when Lupe arrived.<\/p>\n

Gosh, this looks a lot different than the last time we were here, Loopster!\u00a0 Hope they didn’t wipe out the trail!<\/em><\/p>\n

The trailhead was much more open than SPHP remembered.\u00a0 The slope to the E appeared to have been clear-cut.\u00a0 Been a while, but hadn’t that hill been all forested before?\u00a0 Seemed like it.\u00a0 Last time around, Lupe had been lucky to find this place on the way back from Moonlit Mountain, but where had the trail come in at?\u00a0 SPHP was certain it was somewhere along the E side, nearly all of which was now completely devastated.<\/p>\n

I’m going to see if I can find any sign of the trail before it gets dark, Loop.\u00a0 Want to come?<\/em><\/p>\n

Rumor has it that I have to climb a Canadian ultra tomorrow, SPHP.\u00a0 Have at it!<\/em><\/p>\n

The road, such as it was here, continued another 200 feet past the little parking area to the edge of the forest.\u00a0 Wandering over that way, a tree had pink paint on it.\u00a0 A few others nearby bore pink ribbons.\u00a0 Looking past 2 logs fallen in front of the pink paint tree, what luck!\u00a0 There was the trail, totally undisturbed.<\/p>\n

How did it go, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

We’re golden, Looper!\u00a0 Found it, just past all the devastation.\u00a0 The trail is on the L near the very end.<\/em><\/p>\n

8-9-22, 7:35 AM, 46\u00baF, Moonlit Mountain trailhead<\/em> – Clear and calm!\u00a0 Lupe set off from the RAV4 on an absolutely gorgeous morning.\u00a0 Heading SW, a quick stroll to the end of the road got her to the pink paint tree.\u00a0 Leaping over the two logs, she entered the forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Setting off for Moonlit Mountain! Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the pink paint tree. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Moonlit Mountain trail started out level, or nearly so, heading SSW.\u00a0 Lupe had to leap over some more deadfall early on, but nothing major.\u00a0 Only a few minutes from the trailhead, the trail angled W, descending 30 feet to a small stream, which was easily hopped.<\/p>\n

The steep, muddy W bank on the opposite side proved to be much more of an issue.\u00a0 Although Lupe had no problems with it, SPHP had to cling to trees and bushes to get up it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Crossing the stream. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Above the nearly vertical W bank, the trail remained a mucky mess for another 10 minutes before Lupe reached drier terrain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Following the mucky trail after crossing the stream. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loopster was now on Moonlit Mountain’s long, broad NE ridge.\u00a0 The trail turned S, winding a little as it began a steady, gradual climb through the forest.\u00a0 For a long way, there was nothing to see other than trees.\u00a0 Now and then a bird would chirp, but the forest was otherwise silent.\u00a0 Despite occasional deadfall, the Carolina Dog made great progress.<\/p>\n

Nearly an hour after setting out, Lupe finally came to a clearing.\u00a0 More appeared soon afterward, as the forest rapidly thinned out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the first clearing. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Crossing a second clearing as the forest thins out. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe didn’t have much farther to go before reaching an 80 foot wide swath of open ground extending SSW as far up the ridge as she could see.\u00a0 Along the R side, the trail went through grass and low vegetation, but toward the L, a profusion of wildflowers grew in a damper region.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Near the bottom of the 80 foot wide swath of open ground. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Among the wildflowers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Indian Paintbrush.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A similar yellow version.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, I remember this place, SPHP!\u00a0 This open swath is how we knew where to head down on our way back from Moonlit Mountain in 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s right, Loop!\u00a0 It’s an easily recognized indicator of where the trail goes.<\/em><\/p>\n

Back in the forest, there had been a few mosquitoes, but not enough to be much of an annoyance.\u00a0 However, the lush strip of wildflowers was humming with insects, and not all of them were entirely focused on flowers.\u00a0 The trudge up the open lane was steeper than before, and as SPHP plodded along, a buzzing swarm gathered.<\/p>\n

Most of these pests were small, biting flies, but mosquitoes were among the plague, too.\u00a0 Worst of all, though, were the big, horrid horseflies that continually circled looking for any opportunity to inflict a nasty bite.\u00a0 They provided plenty of incentive to keep moving, but SPHP still had to pause now and then to gasp for air due to the rate of climb.\u00a0 Looking back, the clear-cut region gave away the location of the trailhead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading up the open swath. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking NNE down the open lane. The trailhead Lupe started from is toward the L side of the clear-cut region far below.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yeah, I’m just about 100% certain that clear-cut wasn’t there in 2018, Loop.\u00a0 We didn’t have anything like that to aim for on our way back from Moonlit Mountain back then.<\/em><\/p>\n

For pity sake, SPHP!\u00a0 Keep moving!\u00a0 I’m getting eaten alive!\u00a0 Did you bring any insect repellent?<\/em><\/p>\n

SPHP had.\u00a0 During breaks, Lupe hid in the shade of the last scattered, stunted evergreens while SPHP slathered on lemon eucalyptus lotion and 100% Deet.\u00a0 This helped somewhat, but did not entirely dissuade the buzzing horde, especially the horseflies that kept swooping annoyingly close in their desperation for blood.<\/p>\n

Continual swatting and slapping was still required.\u00a0 The enemy suffered a fearsome toll, but their numbers didn’t diminish in the least.\u00a0 The only real defense was to keep moving.<\/p>\n

A good climb got Looper up to where the open lane widened out into a big meadow full of purple wildflowers.\u00a0 To the S, the N end of the 1600+ meter ridge was in view.\u00a0 Moonlit Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,951 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was in sight, too!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
N end of the 1600+ meter ridge<\/strong> (L – the small green hill). Moonlit Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 1600+ meter ridge was the narrowest part of Moonlit Mountain’s huge NE ridge, and ordinarily a lovely, level trek.\u00a0 Unfortunately, it was difficult to enjoy what should have been a fun, scenic romp S with the buzzing, swirling swarm still in hot pursuit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the N end of the 1600+ meter ridge<\/strong>. Moonlit Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
An easy romp along the 1600+ meter ridge<\/strong> ahead. At the far end, Lupe would go up the steep slope to the R. Moonlit Mountain<\/strong> (far R). Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once at the S end of the 1600+ meter ridge, the only difficult part of the Moonlit Mountain ascent was next.\u00a0 SPHP led Lupe WSW toward a very steep slope roughly 350 high.\u00a0 Already feeling hot under full sun, Looper wasn’t so sure she wanted to make the effort, curling up at the base of the slope instead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The steep slope (Center) leading up to Moonlit Mountain’s E shoulder. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Moonlit Mountain’s 1600+ meter NE ridge<\/strong> (Center & R) from below the E shoulder. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe relaxed to the extent that she could while snapping at horseflies, as SPHP started up.\u00a0 With little to cling to, the slope quickly became steep enough to make SPHP a bit nervous.\u00a0 Definitely more worn and braided than when Loop had been here in 2018, apparently this route had been much more frequently traveled in recent years.<\/p>\n

Not to be outdone, the American Dingo soon appeared, passing SPHP while climbing among rocks so close to the cliffy N edge, that she added to SPHP’s anxiety.\u00a0 The last little bit was grassy, and not as steep off to the L (S), where a path finally got Lupe up to the mountain’s E shoulder.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Among the rocks near the N edge. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On Moonlit Mountain’s upper E shoulder<\/strong>. 1600+ meter NE ridge<\/strong> (Center) below. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon reaching Moonlit Mountain’s upper E shoulder, Lupe curled up again while SPHP took a breather.\u00a0 Kispiox Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,877 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was now in sight, a mere 3 km due S.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kispiox Mountain<\/strong> (L of Center). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh my gosh, Looper!\u00a0 There’s Kispiox!\u00a0 Been 4 years to the day since we first saw it from right here.\u00a0 Didn’t know if we would ever see it again!<\/em><\/p>\n

We’re doing good then, SPHP!\u00a0 We’re actually going to get a decent shot at it today!\u00a0 Do you remember how windy it was, and how dark the clouds were, the last time we got this far?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sure do, Loop.\u00a0 I’ll never forget that.\u00a0 You summited Moonlit Mountain in an absolute gale.\u00a0 In any case, I’d botched the beginning, and we’d started from so far away that we arrived here much too late to have any chance at Kispiox, even if the weather had been ideal, like it is today.<\/em><\/p>\n

I wouldn’t call this ideal, SPHP!\u00a0 I’d give anything for a 10 or 15 mph breeze to drive these ghastly bugs away!\u00a0 Hate these horseflies!<\/em><\/p>\n

Agreed.\u00a0 They’re horribly annoying alright, Looper.\u00a0 Sort of surprised we aren’t rid of them yet.\u00a0 C’mon, let’s tag Moonlit Mountain while we’re so close to the top before pressing on to Kispiox.<\/em><\/p>\n

In a dead calm, still hounded by the remorseless swarm of insects, Lupe trotted W along Moonlit Mountain’s enormous E\/W summit ridge.\u00a0 The first high point ahead was the most impressive, but clearly wasn’t even in the running as a true summit candidate.\u00a0 Skirting around the S side of it, the American Dingo went directly for the next high point beyond.<\/p>\n

All the terrain up here was super easy.\u00a0 Didn’t take long to get there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The first high point W of the E shoulder<\/strong> (Center). Moonlit Mountain’s E summit<\/strong> (R). Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Moonlit Mountain’s E summit<\/strong> (R of Center). Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Below the E summit<\/strong>. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On Moonlit Mountain’s E summit<\/strong>. Kispiox Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8-9-22, 10:45 AM, Moonlit Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,951 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, E summit<\/em> – 4 years to the day since the American Dingo had first been here, Lupe was back!\u00a0 This time, instead of standing in a cold gale beneath a dark cloudy sky, she panted in the hot sun on a dead calm day amid a swirling swarm of insects.\u00a0 Constantly snapping at the irritating horseflies, it was a little hard to fully appreciate the moment.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kispiox Mountain<\/strong> (R of Center) from Moonlit Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Congratulations, Loopster!\u00a0 Can hardly believe we’re actually here again!<\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you, SPHP!\u00a0 Wish we didn’t have such an entourage with us, though!\u00a0 Could sure use some of that wind we had here last time.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, I know it.\u00a0 From one extreme to another!\u00a0 That’s the way it goes, Loop.\u00a0 Care to split a chocolate coconut bar to celebrate?<\/em><\/p>\n

After shaking the Carolina Dog’s paw, despite the chocolate coconut bar being a melting mess, it was well received.\u00a0 Would have been fun to stay a while to enjoy the views, but pressured by both insects and the need to press on to Kispiox fairly soon, Lupe lingered only a few minutes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Relaxing briefly on the E summit<\/strong>. Mount Tomlinson<\/span><\/a> (8,041ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L of Center) beyond. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loop wasn’t done with Moonlit Mountain yet, though!\u00a0 Two more high points were farther W.\u00a0 The one farthest W seemed a bit lower, but the closest one appeared to be nearly identical in elevation to the E summit.\u00a0 To be certain she hit the true summit of Moonlit Mountain somewhere along the way, Lupe paid brief visits to both W high points.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Bound for the W summit<\/strong> (R). Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On Moonlit Mountain’s W summit<\/strong>. Kispiox Mountain<\/strong> (L). Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Far W summit<\/strong> (R) from the W summit<\/strong>. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Impressive unfamiliar peaks in in the distance. Photo looks WNW with lots of help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kispiox Mountain<\/strong> (L) from Moonlit Mountain’s far W summit<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the far W high point, it was clear there were no more true summit candidates any farther along Moonlit Mountain’s enormous NW ridge, which sloped downward from here as it curved away to the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Moonlit Mountain’s NW ridge<\/strong> (foreground) from the far W summit<\/strong>. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hard to say for certain which of the 3 high points Lupe had visited was Moonlit Mountain’s true summit, but most likely one of the first two was it, although even the far W high point couldn’t be completely ruled out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Moonlit Mountain’s W summit<\/strong> (R) from the far W summit<\/strong>. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In any case, for the second time in 4 years, Moonlit Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,951 ft.) <\/span><\/strong>had been a success!\u00a0 Encouragingly, by the time Lupe reached the far W high point, she’d ditched the vast majority of the annoying insects.\u00a0 After enjoying the views during a more relaxed visit here, Loopster trotted back E across Moonlit Mountain’s huge gently slanting summit plain.<\/p>\n

The American Dingo didn’t return to any of the other summits along the way.\u00a0 Skirting them to the S, Lupe went clear back to where she’d first reached the mountain’s E shoulder.\u00a0 Turning S from here, she began the trek toward her ultimate objective, Kispiox Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,877 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Setting off for Kispiox Mountain<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kispiox Mountain<\/strong> from Moonlit Mountain<\/strong>, Skeena Mountains, British Columbia, Canada 8-9-22<\/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 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kispiox Mountain, Skeena Mountains, British Columbia, Canada – Part 2: Moonlit Mountain to the Summit! (8-9-22)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Moonlit Mountain, Skeena Mountains, British Columbia, Canada (8-9-18)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2022 Dingo<\/span> Vacations to Wyoming, Canada & Alaska Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/em>, 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":"

Day 10 & Part 1 of Day 11 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska! 8-8-22, late morning – A mere 3 km NW of Smithers, SPHP made a L turn off Hwy 16 onto Kathlyn Lake Road.\u00a0 Another 6 km on Glacier Gulch Road led to a parking lot … Continue reading Kispiox Mountain, Skeena Mountains, British Columbia, Canada – Part 1: Twin Falls (8-8-22) & Moonlit Mountain (8-9-22)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44345,"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":[1585],"tags":[105,79,30,106,26,1617,1069,104,1068,1067,1616],"class_list":["post-44362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1585","tag-american-dingo","tag-british-columbia","tag-canada","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-hazelton","tag-kispiox-mountain","tag-lupe","tag-moonlit-mountain","tag-skeena-mountains","tag-twin-falls"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5726-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\/44362","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=44362"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46249,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44362\/revisions\/46249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}