{"id":46440,"date":"2023-05-13T08:10:29","date_gmt":"2023-05-13T14:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=46440"},"modified":"2023-05-23T10:58:25","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T16:58:25","slug":"north-side-of-the-brooks-range-atigun-pass-to-galbraith-lake-8-25-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=46440","title":{"rendered":"North Side of the Brooks Range – Atigun Pass to Galbraith Lake, Alaska (8-25-22)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 27 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

Noon, Dalton Highway<\/span><\/strong><\/a> MP 237 – <\/em>The morning’s continual mist, rain, and fog had made it clear just how very lucky Lupe had been to make it up Table Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,314 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> yesterday.\u00a0 The exhausted Carolina Dog had slept like a rock the entire morning, while SPHP made considerable progress on the trip journal.\u00a0 About time for a sniff!<\/p>\n

Despite a steady mist, much of the Chandalar Shelf was dimly visible, as if seen in a dream, as Lupe patrolled the border of the muddy pullout.\u00a0 Nothing else was in sight, the mountains hidden by fog.<\/p>\n

Good thing this is a rest day, SPHP!\u00a0 Talk about dismal!\u00a0 Do we have any plans?<\/em><\/p>\n

Nothing definite, Looper.\u00a0 None of your possibilities are going to work out on a day like this.\u00a0 When I finish getting the trip journal caught up, we’ll continue N.\u00a0 Only 7 miles to Atigun Pass from here!<\/em><\/p>\n

The weather won’t be any better there, SPHP.\u00a0 How far N are we going?<\/em><\/p>\n

If it stays like this, all the way to Deadhorse, Loop, although we won’t get that far today.\u00a0 No reason to stop anywhere other than for the night unless conditions improve.<\/em><\/p>\n

2:00 PM, Brooks Range, Dalton Highway MP 237<\/em> – Raining harder now, foggy and darker out, but the trip journal was caught up, and lunch was over and done with.\u00a0 SPHP fired up the RAV4.<\/p>\n

Onward, aye, Looper?\u00a0 Hope conditions aren’t too bad going over the pass.<\/em><\/p>\n

2:37 PM, Brooks Range, Dalton Highway MP 244<\/em> – Driven by a powerful SW breeze, fog and light rain hurtled through Atigun Pass (4,739 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Although the wind made it feel cold, at 42 \u00baF conditions were actually better than expected, balmy even.\u00a0<\/em> Try telling that to the American Dingo, though!<\/p>\n

Hurry up!\u00a0 Snap the picture, and let’s go, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At always delightful Atigun Pass<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continuing down the N side of the pass, the RAV4 was soon below the fog, making it possible to see the sights.\u00a0 The Dalton Highway made a couple of big curving loops before straightening out, and heading N down the Atigun River valley.<\/p>\n

Lupe was now on the N side of the Brooks Range.\u00a0 The gloomy sky was still completely overcast here, but it wasn’t raining.\u00a0 Although there were bushes, not a single tree existed N of Atigun Pass.\u00a0 Practically everything was clad in Arctic yellow, brown, gold, gray, or red.\u00a0 SPHP made several stops along the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
N of Atigun Pass<\/strong> on the way down to the Atigun River valley. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Atigun River valley<\/strong>. Alaska oil pipeline<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Alaska oil pipeline<\/strong>, the Atigun River<\/strong>, and unnamed peaks<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Soon a familiar sight was on the horizon.<\/p>\n

There’s Lake Benchmark Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Loop!\u00a0 Remember when we climbed it back in 2017?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sure do, SPHP!\u00a0 We got lost in the fog, and wound up climbing the wrong peak before realizing our mistake.\u00a0 Only time that’s ever happened to us!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup.\u00a0 We got there, but due to the fog never did see the North Slope from the summit, which was kind of the whole point.<\/em><\/p>\n

Still could, SPHP!\u00a0 The road is dry here.\u00a0 Doesn’t look like it’s been raining at all.\u00a0 We could climb Lake Benchmark Mountain<\/strong><\/a><\/span> again!<\/em><\/p>\n

You’ve got a point, Loop.\u00a0 There’s another objective somewhat farther on, though, that we ought to take on first that would be truly awesome, if we can manage it.\u00a0 Maybe we should find a place to hang out here tonight, and see what the morning brings?<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lake Benchmark Mountain<\/strong> (R) beyond Lupe. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3:37 PM, 55\u00baF, MP 270 –<\/em> Hard to believe after all the precipitation S of Atigun Pass, but trucks were actually raising clouds of dust along the Dalton Highway when SPHP parked the RAV4 at a pullout just S of the 2nd bridge over the Atigun River.<\/p>\n

Let’s have a look, Loopster!<\/em><\/p>\n

After trotting across the bridge for the first time in 5 years, Lupe went down to the boat ramp.\u00a0 At a big bend, the Atigun River turned NE here.\u00a0 10 miles downstream it would join the Sagivanirktok River, leaving the Brooks Range for Alaska’s North Slope and the Arctic Ocean.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Atigun River<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We started for Lake Benchmark Mountain from the opposite side of the highway, didn’t we, SPHP?\u00a0 Let’s go over there.<\/em><\/p>\n

Climbing a bank on the E side of the Dalton Highway, the big golden slope E of the Alaska oil pipeline the Carolina Dog had once climbed starting her trek to Lake Benchmark Mountain was in view.\u00a0 That day seemed like a long time ago now.<\/p>\n

Heading S toward the river, Lupe enjoyed a fabulous view of the sharp spire of Peak 5308<\/span><\/strong>, crown of the massive mountain wall overlooking the Atigun River gorge.\u00a0 A terrific view of the Dalton Highway bridge over the river was on display, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 5308<\/span><\/strong> (Center) towering over the Atigun River.<\/strong> Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dalton Highway bridge<\/strong> near MP 270. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the cloud cover, conditions really were a lot better here than they had been S of Atigun Pass.<\/p>\n

Supposed to be a campground near Galbraith, Loop.\u00a0 Shall we check it out?<\/em><\/p>\n

How far is it to Galbraith, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Not far at all, Loopster.\u00a0 The turn is only another 5 miles N.\u00a0 Galbraith Lake is actually just a mile W of where we are now.\u00a0 We had a pretty good view of the lake on the way to Lake Benchmark Mountain, remember?<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s right, SPHP!\u00a0 Yes, let’s check out the campground.\u00a0 Love this area!<\/em><\/p>\n

The turn W to Galbraith was near MP 275.\u00a0 Half a dozen much smaller lakes, and the N end of Galbraith Lake were visible from here.\u00a0 Galbraith was 1.5 miles from the highway.\u00a0 Really wasn’t much there other than an airstrip.\u00a0 Another 2.5 miles got Lupe to the Galbraith Lake Campground.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dalton Highway<\/strong> (L) and the N end of Galbraith Lake<\/strong> (L) from the turn to Galbraith<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Entrance to the Galbraith Lake Campground<\/strong>. Peak 5308<\/span><\/strong> (R), Peak 5430<\/span><\/strong> (far R). Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4:07 PM –<\/em> The Galbraith Lake Campground was 1.5 miles W of the big lake, which could be seen from some of the sites strung out along 2 big loops on a gently sloping plain of tall, yellow bushes.\u00a0 The campground featured an outhouse, garbage service, several informational displays, plus a picnic table and metal fire ring at each site.<\/p>\n

Only a pawful of the many sites were taken, and the price was certainly right.\u00a0 Campsites were free!\u00a0 After driving around the loops once, SPHP claimed a secluded one at a dead end among the bushes.<\/p>\n

Breezy!\u00a0 The wind was from the S or SW as it had been for days, perhaps explaining why it was dry here.\u00a0 At least lately, Galbraith Lake was on the lee side of the Brooks Range.\u00a0 Although the wind kept SPHP from heating up anything to eat, the breeze wasn’t strong enough to bother the American Dingo at all.<\/p>\n

Galbraith Lake Campground turned out to be an awesome experience!\u00a0 Between rests in the RAV4, Lupe made many exploratory forays among the bushes on strolls around the campground loops.\u00a0 Enormously excited by this stunning environment, the Carolina Dog eventually roamed well up the slopes W of the campground, gaining 200 feet of elevation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Enjoying a rawhide chew stick in the RAV4.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Roaming SW of the campground<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many mysterious peaks were visible to the S, but a gray mountain only 1.5 miles SW of the campground was of particular interest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Awesome mysterious territory ahead! Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I think we could climb that mountain, SPHP!\u00a0 Maybe tomorrow?<\/em><\/p>\n

Appears like something we’d be capable of, Looper.\u00a0 Definitely a peak worth keeping in mind!<\/em><\/p>\n

Does it have a name, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Not that I know of, Loopster.<\/em><\/p>\n

We should give it a name then, SPHP!\u00a0 What should we call it?<\/em><\/p>\n

How about West Galbraith Peak, Loop?\u00a0 Descriptive of where it’s at.<\/em><\/p>\n

Not all that snazzy, SPHP, but it’s better than Peak XXXX<\/span><\/strong> like so many of them are.\u00a0 Fine for now, but let me know, if you think of anything better.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
West Galbraith Peak<\/strong> (L). Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marmots whistled warnings as Lupe ran, sniffed, and explored until dusk came on.\u00a0 As far as the American Dingo was concerned, this easy evening out among all the beautiful bushes on the soft tundra was as good as climbing most any peak.\u00a0 A few miles E, Galbraith Lake was in sight, with both Lake Benchmark Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,000 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and Peak 5308<\/span><\/strong> beyond.<\/p>\n

A marvelous, gorgeous evening it was, too!\u00a0 And one that held out some promise of even greater adventures tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
W of Galbraith Lake Campground<\/strong>, Brooks Range, Alaska 8-25-22<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lake Benchmark Mountain, Brooks Range, Alaska (8-19-17)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

BLM Dalton Highway Visitor Guide<\/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 27 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2022 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska! Noon, Dalton Highway MP 237 – The morning’s continual mist, rain, and fog had made it clear just how very lucky Lupe had been to make it up Table Mountain (6,314 ft.) yesterday.\u00a0 The exhausted Carolina Dog had slept like a … Continue reading North Side of the Brooks Range – Atigun Pass to Galbraith Lake, Alaska (8-25-22)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46439,"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":[704,105,918,1633,106,26,920,1632,104],"class_list":["post-46440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1585","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-atigun-pass","tag-atigun-river","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-galbraith-lake","tag-galbraith-lake-campground","tag-lupe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/IMG_0123-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\/46440","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=46440"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48733,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46440\/revisions\/48733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}