{"id":56861,"date":"2024-11-29T08:10:46","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T15:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=56861"},"modified":"2025-01-23T15:50:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T22:50:53","slug":"peakbagging-the-arctic-apocalypse-the-arctic-circle-wright-pass-peak-3850-8-8-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=56861","title":{"rendered":"Peakbagging the Arctic Apocalypse – The Arctic Circle, Wright Pass & Peak 3850, Yukon & NWT Border, Canada (8-8-23)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 2 of Day 17 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

1:37 PM<\/em> – The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood<\/strong><\/a><\/span> was back!\u00a0 Her paws still partially streaked black with soot from the charred tundra on Corbett Hill<\/span><\/a> (2,497 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> near Eagle Plains, Lupe laid resting on the wooden platform supporting the Dempster Highway<\/strong><\/span><\/a>‘s Arctic Circle display.\u00a0 Once again, she’d made it to the true Arctic, although it sure didn’t seem like it today.<\/p>\n

As usual, she saw no sign of the Richardson Mountains.\u00a0 Unlike the other times the American Dingo had been here, though, this time the reason wasn’t fog, freezing rain, or near blizzard conditions.\u00a0 It was 71\u00baF, and the air was full of smoke.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the Arctic Circle<\/strong>, 37 km beyond Eagle Plains.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Dempster Highway map<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Arctic – Land of the Midnight Sun<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the ongoing Arctic apocalypse, the Arctic Circle was busy.\u00a0 People kept coming and going.\u00a0 SPHP swapped stories with quite a few of them while seeking information on conditions ahead.\u00a0 Like Lupe, everyone was either on their way to, or coming back from, Tuktoyaktuk<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Conditions farther N?\u00a0 As before, the unanimous response was “smoky the entire way”!\u00a0 35 KM N of Inuvik a huge fire was making the situation so bad that quite a few people had given up on Tuk and turned back there.\u00a0 Only one couple had a different story.\u00a0 They’d just driven N from Tombstone Territorial Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, where heavy rains had fallen last night.\u00a0 When they left the park this morning, the sky had been beautiful.<\/p>\n

Figures.\u00a0 If we’d stayed put yesterday, everything would be lovely, Looper.<\/em><\/p>\n

We can go back, SPHP.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, but we’re not going to, Loop.\u00a0 Not until we’ve been to Tuktoyaktuk.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why so stubborn, SPHP?\u00a0 Finally some clear blue skies!\u00a0 It’s the news we’ve been waiting for!<\/em><\/p>\n

I know it, but it’s a long way back, Looper, and who knows if those clear skies will last?\u00a0 Could just be a local phenomenon that will be erased the moment the wind shifts.\u00a0 Still, it’s a good sign that there’s finally been rain somewhere.\u00a0 Maybe the Arctic apocalypse is starting to weaken?<\/em><\/p>\n

After hanging around the Arctic Circle for nearly 2 hours, the long drive N continued.\u00a0 As forewarned, there certainly wasn’t any sign of rain up this way.\u00a0 Stopping in at the Rock River campground<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, White Fox Creek was a mere trickle compared to the near flood stage torrent it had been the last time Lupe had seen it in 2018.<\/p>\n

Yeah, maybe going back S would have been the better choice.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Along White Fox Creek<\/strong> at the Rock River campground<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6:17 PM<\/em> – Smoke, smoke, and more smoke!\u00a0 Because of it, Lupe missed out on all the incredible scenery on the way to Wright Pass (3,150 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog stood next to the “Welcome to Northwest Territories” sign, smoke, instead of snow or fog, streaming by on a 20 mph SE wind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At Wright Pass<\/strong> on the border of the<\/strong> Yukon & Northwest Territories<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

S of the pass, a mountain that had been on Lupe’s list of possibilities for 5 years was visible through the haze.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 3850<\/strong> (L) from Wright Pass<\/strong>. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That’s Peak<\/span> 3850<\/span><\/a><\/strong> right on the Yukon\/Northwest Territories border, Loop!\u00a0 A mere 700 feet of elevation gain, and we can be on top.\u00a0 Want to try it?<\/em><\/p>\n

In the midst of the Arctic apocalypse, SPHP?\u00a0 We won’t see anything except smoke.<\/em><\/p>\n

I know, it sucks, Loopster, but I’m revising my thinking.\u00a0 We’ve never been here before when the weather wasn’t absolutely abysmal – frigid, windy, foggy, snowing!\u00a0 Impossible conditions.\u00a0 It’s 65\u00baF today!\u00a0 Maybe in the midst of an Arctic apocalypse is the only way we’re ever going to have a shot at any of these peaks in the Richardson Range?<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s a depressing thought.\u00a0 Not sure that’s such fabulous news, SPHP.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fabulous?\u00a0 No, it isn’t.\u00a0 Suboptimal at best, Loop.\u00a0 However, we’ve got a chance to tag Peak 3850 yet this evening.\u00a0 Never had one before.\u00a0 We may never get another one, even on our way back S from Tuktoyaktuk.\u00a0 We’re thousands of miles from home.\u00a0 It’s not like we can drop by any old time we when it’s supposed to be a perfect day.<\/em><\/p>\n

Adventure was in the American Dingo’s blood, and she’d been cooped up in the RAV4 a lot lately.\u00a0 Lupe agreed.\u00a0 Peak 3850 was on!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Striking out for Peak 3850<\/strong> (L of Center). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Due to the incredible amount of talus visible on the mountain’s N slopes, heading for the lower end of the NW ridge seemed a good idea.\u00a0 Maybe it wouldn’t be quite so rocky up on top?\u00a0 At the very least, there was no reason to think it would be any worse.\u00a0 Roaming SSW across a somewhat boggy, tussocky region, despite the prevailing drought conditions, Lupe encountered a few wet spots.\u00a0 Most were easily avoided.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading for the lower end of Peak 3850’s NW ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Upon reaching the base of the NW ridge, an awful lot of rock was ahead.\u00a0 As the Carolina Dog started scrambling up, SPHP began to realize that Peak 3850 might not be such an easy undertaking.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Contemplating a mighty long rock hop. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After an initial steep talus climb, Lupe waited for slowpoke SPHP on a convenient patch of tundra.\u00a0 Despite the smoke, she had a fairly decent view of Wright Pass from here, although the mountain N of the pass was barely visible through the haze.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At a comfy spot on the lower NW ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Wright Pass<\/strong> (Center) after gaining a bit of elevation. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunately, gaining the NW ridge hadn’t changed the talus situation.\u00a0 The rocks weren’t huge, and the rate of climb wasn’t all that ambitious as Lupe began following the ridge higher, but there was no escaping, what was for SPHP, a tedious rock hop.<\/p>\n

On the other paw, the American Dingo seemed to enjoy it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Scrambling higher. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Happily, Peak 3850 didn’t turn out to be entirely a giant mound of talus.\u00a0 After gaining some additional elevation, more tundra eventually came into view among all the rocks, which were tending to get smaller.\u00a0 Soon enough tundra was present to turn climbing Peak 3850 into a game of seeking out the longest continuous lanes of vegetation possible.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Improving prospects after gaining some elevation. Peak 3850<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Getting easier. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With SPHP’s speed improving, what had started out looking like a very long, tedious trek suddenly didn’t seem like such a big deal.\u00a0 A series of cairns came into view, perched along the edge of a steep drop on the NE side of the ridge.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Not that far to the top now. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching some of the first cairns along the NE edge. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the cairns had a metal pole sticking out of it.\u00a0 Upon reaching it, Lupe checked out the limited views available on such a smoky evening.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the well-constructed cairn with the metal pole. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peering back down the NW ridge<\/strong> (L). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the terrain was beginning to level out, these first cairns were not at the summit, which wasn’t even in sight yet.\u00a0 As Lupe kept going, the edge of the mountain turned S along a line of small E-facing cliffs.\u00a0 Beneath the cliffs, steep talus slopes led down to a broad, dimly-seen, tundra-covered bench hundreds of feet below.\u00a0 In the smoke, nothing more could be seen beyond it.<\/p>\n

By now, it was clear that Peak 3850’s summit region was just ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The broad bench of tundra<\/strong> (Center) seen faintly below from cliffs along the E edge<\/strong>. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Entering the summit region<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7:38 PM, 58\u00baF, Peak<\/span> 3850<\/span><\/a><\/strong> –<\/em> Overhead, the cloudless sky was tinged blue when Lupe reached an unimpressive cairn right along the E edge of the mountain.\u00a0 To SPHP, this seemed to be the true summit, but several other high points away from the edge were at least in contention for that title.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At another high point with the true summit<\/strong> (L) ahead. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Along the E edge near the true summit<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the true summit<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The summit region was spacious.\u00a0 Consisting mostly of relatively small rocks, there were scattered patches of tundra, too.\u00a0 Toward the W, there was no sharp edge, just a rounded slope.\u00a0 After visiting the little cairn and hitting the other most obvious high points, Lupe retreated SSW down and away from the windy E edge.\u00a0 A big patch of tundra provided a comfortable spot to lay down.<\/p>\n

From here, Peak 3850’s S ridge sloped gradually away until it became lost in the smoke.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Relaxing on Peak 3850<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marvelous job of scrambling, Loopster!\u00a0 Congratulations on reaching Peak 3850.\u00a0 We finally did it after all these years!<\/em><\/p>\n

SPHP shook Lupe’s paw, then shared a chocolate coconut bar, beef jerky, and water with her.<\/p>\n

The wind, which seemed to be out of the NNE up here, wasn’t nearly as strong as along the E edge.\u00a0 Still chilly, though.\u00a0 SPHP threw a jacket over Lupe, then sat facing that S ridge sinking into oblivion.\u00a0 The American Dingo had displayed great energy and enthusiasm on the way up, but comfortable now with nothing but rocks and smoke to contemplate, her eyes grew heavy.<\/p>\n

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Snoozing a little below the summit. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
In Dingo Dreamland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gazing S, SPHP let Lupe snooze.\u00a0 The panoramas from Peak 3850 should have been fabulous, but the smoke was pretty bad.\u00a0 Frustrating, yet just being here was incredible.\u00a0 The same drought and heat that brought on this Arctic apocalypse had also made this ascent possible.\u00a0 Why not keep taking advantage of it?<\/p>\n

Roughly 8 miles N of Wright Pass was another mountain, a higher, named peak that had been on Lupe’s list of possibilities for years.\u00a0 Before now it had always seemed more of an impossibility, but this was Lupe’s chance to get there, wasn’t it?\u00a0 Two days might do it.\u00a0 Backpacking in the Richardson Mountains, wouldn’t that be something!<\/p>\n

Given how awful the weather had always been whenever Lupe was at Wright Pass before, the mere thought of backpacking in the Richardsons had always seemed not only daring, but an almost suicidal notion.\u00a0 Not now, though.\u00a0 Not under these conditions.\u00a0 While Lupe dozed, staring down the S ridge into all that wretched smoke, SPHP was getting excited.<\/p>\n

8:28 PM<\/em>–\u00a0 Welcome back, Looper!\u00a0 How were your adventures in Dingo Dreamland?<\/em><\/p>\n

Awesome, as usual, SPHP!\u00a0 And I always wake up feeling better.\u00a0 Doesn’t look like the situation has improved any while I’ve been napping, though.<\/em><\/p>\n

No, unfortunately it hasn’t, Sweet Puppy, but I’ve been thinking.<\/em><\/p>\n

Uh-oh!\u00a0 About what, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

If things aren’t any worse tomorrow morning, maybe we can have an epic adventure not only despite, but even because of, the Arctic apocalypse.<\/em><\/p>\n

Really, SPHP?\u00a0 Sounds like you’ve finally lost your last marble.\u00a0 Almost afraid to hear the details, but do tell!<\/em><\/p>\n

Your traditional summit hour is just about up here, Loopster.\u00a0 Let’s have a final look around, tag Peak 3850’s true summit again, and be on our way.\u00a0 I’ll explain during our return to the RAV4.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Back along the E edge<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near the first cairns<\/strong> again. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since it was easier to see where the patches of tundra were from above, descending the NW ridge went faster than the ascent had.\u00a0 However, the lower end remained an unavoidable rock hop.\u00a0 Once off the ridge, the rest was easy.<\/p>\n

Returning to Wright Pass, several people were in the flat, boggy region gathering buckets full of pale pink or orange berries shaped sort of like raspberries or blackberries.\u00a0 After telling SPHP that these edible berries were called cloudberries<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, they expressed amazement that Lupe had climbed Peak 3850.<\/p>\n

Think how they’d react if they knew what we had planned for tomorrow, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Hah!\u00a0 Yeah, maybe.\u00a0 Don’t count your cloudberries before you’ve picked them, Looper.\u00a0 We’ll just have to see what morning brings.<\/em>\u00a0 (End 9:49 PM)<\/em><\/p>\n

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On Peak 3850<\/strong>, Yukon Territory & Northwest Territories border, Canada 8-8-23<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe’s GPS Track<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Lupe’s Scrollable GPS Track<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The Dempster Highway Travelogue<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\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":"

Part 2 of Day 17 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska! 1:37 PM – The Most High Exalted Dingo of the Arctic Sisterhood was back!\u00a0 Her paws still partially streaked black with soot from the charred tundra on Corbett Hill (2,497 ft.) near Eagle Plains, Lupe laid resting on … Continue reading Peakbagging the Arctic Apocalypse – The Arctic Circle, Wright Pass & Peak 3850, Yukon & NWT Border, Canada (8-8-23)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56856,"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":[105,721,30,106,1083,26,104,1088,1721,1720,1090,774],"class_list":["post-56861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1659","tag-american-dingo","tag-arctic-circle","tag-canada","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dempster-highway","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-northwest-territories","tag-peak-3850","tag-rock-river","tag-wright-pass","tag-yukon-territory"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_2022-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\/56861","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=56861"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59578,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56861\/revisions\/59578"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/56856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=56861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=56861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=56861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}