{"id":54145,"date":"2024-05-19T08:10:47","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T14:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=54145"},"modified":"2024-05-29T00:43:18","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T06:43:18","slug":"return-of-the-most-high-exalted-dingo-of-the-arctic-sisterhood-along-the-road-to-skagway-alaska-7-28-23-7-29-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=54145","title":{"rendered":"Return of the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood – Along the Road to Skagway, Alaska (7-28-23 & 7-29-23)"},"content":{"rendered":"

7-28-23, 8:04 AM, 53\u00baF, Telkwa River, British Columbia – <\/em>SPHP turned the key and the RAV4 sprang to life.<\/p>\n

Finally get our trip journal caught up, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

I did, Loopster!\u00a0 Say good-bye to the beautiful Telkwa River, it’s time to make some tracks.\u00a0 You’ve got a couple of rest days ahead while I drive to recover from the long trek to Telkwa Microwave Mountain.<\/em><\/p>\n

So what’s our next destination, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Atlin Lake!\u00a0 Remember when we chartered a boat last summer to take us over to Teresa Island so you could climb Birch Mountain<\/strong><\/span><\/a>?<\/em><\/p>\n

How could I ever forget that, SPHP?\u00a0 Birch Mountain was totally awesome!<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, we’re going to do that again.\u00a0 Atlin Mountain<\/span><\/a> (6,722 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> will be your objective this time around.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wow!\u00a0 I can hardly wait, SPHP.\u00a0 Onward!\u00a0 SPHP, ho!<\/em><\/p>\n

The drive back to Yellowhead Hwy No. 16 at Telkwa was mostly sunny, but SPHP drove into fog before getting to Smithers.\u00a0 After a quick stop at Safeway for supplies, skies were blue again with big cumulus clouds hanging over the mountains on the way to New Hazelton, but the air seemed oddly hazy.\u00a0 The mountains weren’t very clear at all.<\/p>\n

At New Hazelton, SPHP fueled up the RAV4 in preparation for the 450 mile drive N on Cassiar Highway No. 37<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, and after that nothing notable happened.\u00a0 For hours, the Carolina Dog was happy snoozing on her pink blanket while SPHP drove.<\/p>\n

Stops were few and far between.\u00a0 At the Bell I rest area after crossing the Bell-Irving River bridge, Lupe finally got a chance to get out and stretch her legs.\u00a0 She got a second chance to stretch and bark at squirrels after crossing the Stikine River.\u00a0 By early evening the American Dingo had reached the Cottonwood River, and SPHP was sick of driving.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the Bell I rest area<\/strong>. Cassiar Hwy No. 37 km 188.3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Along the Stikine River<\/strong>, Cassiar Hwy No. 37 km 436.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We’re staying here tonight, Loopster.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Cottonwood River was a gorgeous spot.\u00a0 However, the haziness first noticed after leaving Smithers had gradually grown worse all day.\u00a0 Well before getting this far, there had been no denying it – the air was full of smoke.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Evening at the Cottonwood River<\/strong>, Cassiar Hwy No. 37 km 582.2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7-29-23, 7:50 AM, 54\u00baF, Cassiar Hwy No. 37, km 697 –<\/em> Barking at 2 foxes and a bunny had gotten the Carolina Dog’s morning off to a great start during the smoky drive to the Blue Lakes.\u00a0 The lake next to the highway that Lupe trotted along the edge of was partially surrounded by burnt boreal forest, but this area had already burned before 2016 when Lupe had been here for the first time.\u00a0 Where the fires were now wasn’t clear.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Blue Lakes<\/strong>, Cassiar Hwy No. 37, km 697.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gah!\u00a0 Can you believe this smoke, Loop?\u00a0 It’s worse than ever, and we’re practically to the Yukon border!\u00a0 Big fires in Alberta had been in the news since early May long before we ever left home, but I never dreamed that it would be so smoky way up here at the N end of British Columbia!<\/em><\/p>\n

Me either, SPHP.\u00a0 The part of Alberta we saw wasn’t smoky at all, except for a little bit in Banff when we first got there.\u00a0 Maybe we’ll drive out of it once we turn W on the Alaska Highway?<\/em><\/p>\n

Hope so.\u00a0 In fact, I’m counting on it, Looper.<\/em><\/p>\n

7-29-23, 8:32 AM, 59\u00baF, Cassiar Hwy No. 37, km 720.1<\/em> – No farther than the Yukon Territory border was, conditions were just as smoky here as they had been at Blue Lakes.\u00a0 Lupe always got her picture taken here in front of the big Yukon Larger Than Life “Plus Grand Que Nature”<\/em> sign.\u00a0 This time, SPHP first had to clear out a bunch of trash some numbskull had left beneath it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the British Columbia\/Yukon Territory border<\/strong>, Cassiar Hwy No. 37, km 720.1.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Cassiar Highway No. 37 map<\/strong> posted at the British Columbia\/Yukon Territory border.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the Yukon Territory border<\/strong>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Good grief!\u00a0 Who does this?<\/em><\/p>\n

Does what, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

This plastic bag has two glass jars full of gray dust in them, Loopster.\u00a0 One of the jars is broken, and there’s a note here indicating that all this dust is somebody’s ashes.\u00a0 No doubt the poor deceased individual wanted their ashes spread in the Yukon, and this is as far as their dearly beloved friend or relative was willing to take them.\u00a0 Instead of actually spreading the ashes around and taking their plastic and jars with them, this genius left it all sitting here below the Yukon sign.<\/em><\/p>\n

So are we going to spread the ashes around, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

No!\u00a0 I’m taking all this trash and stuffing it into the rest area trash bin across the road, ashes and all!<\/em><\/p>\n

You wouldn’t, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, no?\u00a0 Watch me!<\/em><\/p>\n

The Alaska Highway<\/strong><\/span><\/a> was only a couple of miles farther N, and in the few minutes it took to get there, SPHP had already gotten over any flicker of remorse due to not spreading the poor deceased soul’s ashes.<\/p>\n

That’s just cold, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

We’re in the Yukon, Loop.\u00a0 Better get used to it!<\/em><\/p>\n

7-29-23, 12:03 PM, 71\u00baF, Teslin, Yukon Territory<\/em> – Even after a long drive W on the Alaska Highway, the air was still smoky when SPHP pulled into the gas station at the Yukon Motel<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Did you find out why the pumps aren’t working, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup.\u00a0 Power is out all over town.\u00a0 Been out for 3 hours now, Looper.\u00a0 Next fuel is 30 miles away at Johnsons Crossing.\u00a0 Pretty sure we’ve got enough left to get there.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chancing it wasn’t necessary.\u00a0 Moments later someone came running out of the Yukon Motel.\u00a0 Great news!\u00a0 The power was back on.\u00a0 Lupe was soon on her way to Johnsons Crossing, but with an already full tank.<\/p>\n

7-29-23, 2:21 PM, 81\u00baF, Tagish Road<\/em>\u00a0No. 8<\/em> – Lupe waded around the boat ramp cooling her paws off in the Tagish River, occasionally lapping up some of the algae-filled water.\u00a0 The river was very wide here as it flowed N into Marsh Lake.\u00a0 Exiting the opposite NW end of the lake this river would have a different, much more famous name, for Marsh Lake was the source of the fabled Yukon River.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Near the Tagish Road No. 8 bridge<\/strong> over the Tagish River<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
S end of Marsh Lake<\/strong> from the boat ramp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sky wasn’t as smoky here, but that wasn’t as comforting as it might have been following the recent shock.\u00a0 After leaving the Alaska Highway at Jake’s Corner and going another mile to the turn-off onto Atlin Road No. 7, the news had been terrible.\u00a0 Miles S, Mount Minto<\/span><\/a> (6,913 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> near the N end of Atlin Lake had been barely visible in thick smoke.<\/p>\n

Very disappointing!\u00a0 Right then and there, Atlin Mountain was out.\u00a0 It was even farther S, lost somewhere in that thick blanket of smoke.\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t about to charter a boat to climb a peak in that much particulate and severely marred views.\u00a0 Not worth it.\u00a0 A new plan was in order.<\/p>\n

Have you decided what we’re going to do yet, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Think so.\u00a0 At least I’ve got something in mind, since the smoke isn’t all that bad over this way.\u00a0 There’s a peak that’s been on your list of possibilities for years that would have awesome views, if we can manage to climb it.\u00a0 We can scout out the trailhead on the way to Skagway, then give it a whirl tomorrow, if the smoke doesn’t get any worse.<\/em><\/p>\n

Skagway!\u00a0 We’re going to Skagway, SPHP?\u00a0 Maybe we’ll see Bingc?<\/em><\/p>\n

Heh.\u00a0 I’m pretty sure Bingc’s still back in China, Loopster.\u00a0 Even so, it’s about time for the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood<\/span><\/strong><\/a> to make another appearance in Skagway, though, isn’t it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe was perfectly happy with the new plan, but then Carolina Dogs aren’t terribly picky about whatever the plan might be as long as they can be part of it.\u00a0 Before heading S to Skagway, Lupe had fun visiting Carcross<\/strong><\/span><\/a> at the junction with S Klondike Hwy No. 2.<\/p>\n

Hordes of tourists were milling around the artsy Carcross shops, but SPHP was more intrigued by the sight of nearby Nares Mountain<\/span><\/strong><\/a> and Montana Mountain<\/strong><\/span><\/a> where Lupe had great adventures a few years ago.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Among the native art decorated shops in Carcross<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nares Mountain<\/strong> (R) visible between shops.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the cool Killer Whale totem pole<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7-29-23, 4:21 PM<\/em> – 4 or 5 miles S of Canadian customs, SPHP parked the RAV4 at a pullout teeming with tourists on the E side of S Klondike Hwy No. 2.\u00a0 Lupe leapt out to join the throng.\u00a0 Down a boulder and bedrock-infested slope full of stunted evergreens, the turquoise blue waters of long, skinny Summit Lake beckoned.<\/p>\n

Let’s go down there for a better look, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Scrambling closer to the lake over the rough terrain, Lupe perched on a boulder with a view.\u00a0 The air was still hazy with smoke, but not too bad.\u00a0 Certainly better than the scene Mount Minto had presented back at Atlin Lake.\u00a0 Summit Lake was one of many in the Tormented Valley, a region once buried deep beneath and scoured by enormous glaciers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Summit Lake<\/strong> in the Tormented Valley<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
White Pass<\/strong> (Center) at the S end of Summit Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As much fun as it was scrambling among the boulders and seeing lovely Summit Lake, unlike the other tourists doing the same thing, that wasn’t why Lupe was here.\u00a0 Glancing NW back across S Klondike Hwy No. 2, an impressive mountain loomed 3 miles away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Taiya Peak<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Taiya Peak<\/span><\/a> (6,844 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!\u00a0 Think that’s it, Loopster!<\/em><\/p>\n

Awesome!\u00a0 Looks big, SPHP.\u00a0 Is that where we’re going tomorrow?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes.\u00a0 If the smoke doesn’t get any worse, we’ll give it a go, Looper.\u00a0 Before we head on to Skagway, though, we need to check out one more thing.\u00a0 If we’re at the right pullout to use as a trailhead, there’s supposed to be a bridge over a big creek just S of it.\u00a0 Let’s go see if there is one.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sure enough, returning to the pullout, a highway bridge went over signed Summit Creek at the S end.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Taiya Peak<\/strong> (L of Center) from Summit Creek<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Satisfied, Lupe and SPHP piled back into the RAV4.\u00a0 The drive continued S over White Pass, then steeply down a giant valley through US Customs and on to major tourist and cruise ship destination Skagway, Alaska<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Going through US Customs S of White Pass<\/strong>, S Klondike Hwy No. 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7-29-23, 4:29 PM, ADT<\/em> – Lupe had originally joined the Arctic Sisterhood way back in 2017 when she’d climbed AB Mountain<\/strong><\/a><\/span> starting from a little pullout along the road to Dyea where the famous Chilkoot Trail<\/strong><\/span><\/a> of gold rush days began.\u00a0 Naturally, the first thing the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood wanted to do in Skagway was to visit the historic headquarters of the Arctic Brotherhood<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Back in Skagway again, the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood<\/strong> returns to the Arctic Brotherhood Hall<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After announcing her presence at the Arctic Brotherhood Hall, the Most High Exalted Dingo wandered all around Skagway, hoping to run into friend Bingc Gu again, whom she had met here in 2018 up at the Devils Punchbowl at the end of the Dewey Lakes trail<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Keeping an eye and a nose out for Bingc while exploring Skagway<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe searched for Bingc at all the most likely places she could think of – the Red Onion Saloon<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, the magnificent cruise ships berthed at the Taiya Inlet harbor, and the White Pass & Yukon Railroad<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0train station.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the Red Onion<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
AB Mountain<\/strong> (Center) from the Taiya Inlet harbor<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the welcome sign<\/strong> first seen by cruise ship passengers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
One of the cruise ships<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
More cruise ships<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near the White Pass & Yukon Route train station<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A couple of the colorful locomotives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the fellow explorers centennial statue.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Under a tent near the train station, a band was playing live music.\u00a0 They weren’t bad.\u00a0 The sly Carolina Dog mingled in, still hoping to see Bingc somewhere among the crowd.\u00a0 A sudden, ear-splitting blast from the horn of one of the locomotives put an end to her search.<\/p>\n

The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood fled.<\/p>\n

Run, SPHP!\u00a0 Let’s get out of here!\u00a0 You were right, Bingc is in China.<\/em><\/p>\n

7-29-23, 10:53 PM, PDT, S Klondike Hwy No. 2<\/em> – Parked at another pullout just N of White Pass, SPHP closed the trip journal and put down the pen.\u00a0 Still light out, but the highway was quiet now.<\/p>\n

All caught up again, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yup.\u00a0 Better get some sleep, Loopster.\u00a0 Really big day ahead tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Evening’s end, South Klondike Hwy No. 2<\/strong>, British Columbia, Canada 7-29-23<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adve<\/em>ntures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacations to Colorado, New Mexico, Canada & Alaska Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/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":"

7-28-23, 8:04 AM, 53\u00baF, Telkwa River, British Columbia – SPHP turned the key and the RAV4 sprang to life. Finally get our trip journal caught up, SPHP? I did, Loopster!\u00a0 Say good-bye to the beautiful Telkwa River, it’s time to make some tracks.\u00a0 You’ve got a couple of rest days ahead while I drive to … Continue reading Return of the Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood – Along the Road to Skagway, Alaska (7-28-23 & 7-29-23)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54135,"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":[1659],"tags":[105,903,1160,106,1698,26,104,904],"class_list":["post-54145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1659","tag-american-dingo","tag-arctic-sisterhood","tag-carcross","tag-carolina-dog","tag-cassiar-highway","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-skagway"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_1633-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\/54145","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=54145"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54518,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54145\/revisions\/54518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/54135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=54145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=54145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=54145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}