{"id":57505,"date":"2024-12-23T08:10:46","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T15:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=57505"},"modified":"2025-01-04T11:11:02","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T18:11:02","slug":"mount-sittichinli-richardson-mountains-yukon-territory-canada-part-2-peak-1402m-to-base-camp-8-9-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=57505","title":{"rendered":"Mount Sittichinli, Richardson Mountains, Yukon Territory, Canada – Part 2: Peak 1402M to Base Camp (8-9-23)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 2 of Day 18 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

3:15 PM<\/em>\u00a0– <\/em>While SPHP compared the scene to the NNW to a rather fuzzy printout of the topo map, Lupe rested on a small patch of tundra near the W edge of the Peak<\/span> 1402M<\/span><\/a><\/strong> summit region, the only soft spot amid a jumble of talus.<\/p>\n

Figure out which one is Mount Sittichinli<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (5,165<\/span><\/strong> ft.)<\/span><\/strong> yet, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Resting along the W edge of Peak 1402M<\/strong>. Pass 1350M<\/span><\/strong> (R) below in front of Peak 1360M<\/span><\/strong> (R). Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yeah, I think so, Looper.\u00a0 Believe it’s the pointy one toward the W (L).<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mount Sittichinli<\/strong> from Peak 1402M<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oh, that’s bad, isn’t it?\u00a0 Weren’t you hoping that the one toward the E (R) was Mount Sittichinli, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah.\u00a0 We’ll have to go right over the E one, anyway, just to get at the W one.\u00a0 Furthermore, I don’t like the looks of that cliffy spot on the E side of the W one, Loopster.\u00a0 We might not be able to get past it.\u00a0 The only other option would be to come at the W peak from the SW.<\/em>\u00a0 Appears to be an easy climb from that direction, but would involve more distance and a massive elevation loss first, every bit of which we’d have to regain and then some.<\/em><\/p>\n

A discouraging conclusion, but certainly not an impossible situation yet.\u00a0 In any case, the Carolina Dog hadn’t come all this way to give up based solely on a smoky, distant, initial view.\u00a0 Lupe returned briefly to Peak 1402M’s summit.\u00a0 Then it was Onward!\u00a0 Puppy, ho!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Near Peak 1402M’s summit<\/strong> shortly before departing. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The original plan had been to continue N right on over Peak 1402M, but since the N face had proven to be a cliff, that wasn’t possible.\u00a0 Lupe had to pick her way back down the S slope again, the same way she’d come up.\u00a0 Once down far enough to easily turn W, the American Dingo quickly discovered that she’d have to go farther W than expected in order to avoid an extensive field of talus.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Successfully off Peak 1402M<\/strong> (R), but facing a huge rock hop. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Circling farther W into the Pass 1350M<\/span><\/strong> region as she gradually turned N, Lupe managed to get around not only the worst of the talus, but to a flat region of scree, dirt, and a little tundra near the top of the pass.\u00a0 Progress was suddenly super easy again, and there was quite a different view of Peak 1402M from here.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 1402M<\/strong> (Center) from super easy terrain. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looks like the Rock of Gibraltar from this angle, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

Aye!\u00a0 Does bear some resemblance, doesn’t it, Looper?\u00a0 Hence our forced side trip.<\/em><\/p>\n

Swinging around to the NE, a tan ridge of modest height was ahead.\u00a0 The ridge Lupe had seen from Peak 1402M that she needed to follow NNE lay beyond it.\u00a0 How steep a drop might be involved getting to the NNE ridge was a matter of some concern.\u00a0 Another Rock of Gibraltar situation would be a disaster.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tan ridge<\/strong> (L). Peak 1402M<\/strong> (R). Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the lower NW end of the tan ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cresting the tan ridge, a steepish slope of dirt, scree, and tundra led down to a broad saddle and the first hill along the NNE ridge beyond it.\u00a0 No sudden drop-offs or any other obstacles.\u00a0 Nothing to it!\u00a0 Peak 1340M<\/span><\/strong>, a rounded hill of talus was already visible at the far end.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Peak 1340M<\/span><\/strong> (L) from the tan ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This first saddle along the NNE ridge was by far the deepest.\u00a0 Heading down to it, Lupe suddenly stopped, staring intently toward its W edge.<\/p>\n

Caribou, SPHP!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Caribou<\/strong> near the saddle N of Peak 1402M<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
5 of 6 caribou<\/strong> in this small herd.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sure enough!\u00a0 Half a dozen caribou were in sight.\u00a0 They were quite a long way off when Lupe first spotted them.\u00a0 Stand-offish, the caribou didn’t hang around to make her acquaintance.<\/p>\n

After crossing the saddle, Lupe started up the first hill beyond it.\u00a0 Upon reaching the top, several smaller hills were still ahead, strung out along the NNE ridge.\u00a0 Although rather rocky in spots, this trek of minor ups and downs was easy and fun.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
About to start up the first hill along the NNE ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Heading for the next rise<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Getting rockier, with more bumps along the way. Peak 1340M<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As Lupe drew near Peak 1340M<\/span><\/strong> at the far end of the hilly NNE ridge, the next phase of the journey was in view, another broad ridge running NW down to Pass 1190M<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Peak 1340M<\/span><\/strong> (Center) at the end of the NNE ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The NW ridge<\/strong> (foreground) running down to Pass 1190<\/span><\/strong> (far L) from Peak 1340M<\/span><\/strong> (off screen to R). Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4:47 PM<\/em> – The steep S face of Peak 1340M<\/span><\/strong> rose only 60 or 70 feet above the flat plain Lupe came to at its base.\u00a0 Looking back to the SSE, Peak<\/span> 1402M<\/span><\/a><\/strong> already looked far away, and the safety of the Dempster Highway was miles beyond it.\u00a0 So far, the Carolina Dog hadn’t seen a single sign that any human had ever come this way before, a notion SPHP found both thrilling, yet vaguely ominous.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Glancing back. Peak 1402 M<\/strong> (L of Center). Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Surely someone has been this way before, Loopster.\u00a0 These ridges we’ve been following lie right along the Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories border.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cool bit of trivia, SPHP.\u00a0 Are we going to climb Peak 1340<\/span><\/strong>, or keep going down the NW ridge from here?<\/em><\/p>\n

No reason to expend the energy, Loop.\u00a0 Let’s head down the ridge.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
About to head down the NW ridge<\/strong> to Pass 1190M<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Downhill all the way to Pass 1190M<\/span><\/strong>, the NW ridge was a fun romp along a series of mostly tundra-covered ramps and benches cutting diagonally N\/S across the huge ridge.\u00a0 These ramps and benches were separated by steeper drops of 15 to 40 feet which were nearly all rock.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, none of these rocky slopes presented more than momentary difficulties.\u00a0 A 20 mph wind sweeping up from out of the deep valley to the NE was easily minimized by staying a little SW of the crest.\u00a0 Progress was rapid.\u00a0 Soon Lupe was approaching Pass 1190M<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Pass 1190M<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing the Pass 1190M<\/span><\/strong> saddle, Lupe started up the far side, soon coming to a rocky crest a few feet high, which she followed to a barren, flat region of grit, scree, and virtually no vegetation.\u00a0 A crag of dark rock was ahead at the lower end of a long ridge sweeping down from the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Following the crest of the low ridge beyond Pass 1190M<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quickly crossing the barren region, tundra reappeared as Lupe drew near the dark crag.\u00a0 A band of steep rock visible along the upper E rim of the ridge sweeping down to the crag suggested that the terrain might be easier toward the W, which would have the added advantage of being less exposed to the NE wind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Closing in on the crag<\/strong> (L). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5:30 PM, SW of the dark crag<\/em> – SPHP dumped the pack, then took a seat on a patch of tundra.\u00a0 Still smoky, of course, but with only a light breeze here, conditions were quite pleasant.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
SW of the crag<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How’s this, Loopster?\u00a0 \u00a0Ready to take a break?<\/em><\/p>\n

About time, SPHP!\u00a0 I haven’t seen a drop of water since we left the valley before reaching Peak<\/span> 1402M<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, and we’ve still barely had anything to eat.\u00a0 I’m famished!<\/em><\/p>\n

I know.\u00a0 Sorry about that, Loop.\u00a0 I’ll remedy that situation pronto!<\/em><\/p>\n

Ravenous, the American Dingo devoured an entire can of food, then lapped up as much water as SPHP was willing to spare.<\/p>\n

So, what’s our situation, SPHP?\u00a0 We’ve been making decent progress since leaving Peak 1402M, haven’t we?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, we have, Looper.\u00a0 Near as I can tell, our situation is excellent!\u00a0 We’re at least 2\/3 of the way to Mount Sittichinli<\/span><\/a> (5,165 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, and still have the big majority of our supplies, including 3.5 out of 4 bottles of water.<\/em><\/p>\n

And how is the iPhone battery holding out, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

85% charged, so we’re in good shape there, too, Loop.\u00a0 The point to point GPS track system is working as well as I could possibly hope.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe put her head down and closed her eyes.<\/p>\n

Hope you don’t mind, if I take a little nap, SPHP.<\/em><\/p>\n

Go right ahead, Loopster.\u00a0 I want to take another look at the topo map, anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n

While the Carolina Dog dozed, SPHP came to a most encouraging conclusion.<\/p>\n

6:20 PM, SW of the dark crag<\/em> – SPHP nudged Lupe, waking her up.<\/p>\n

Time to keep going, already, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Afraid so, Loopster, but I’ve got some great news for you.\u00a0 I was wrong earlier.<\/em><\/p>\n

Not as stunning a news flash as you may think, SPHP.\u00a0 Happened before, plenty of times.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, well, this time the truth is much in our favor, Loop.\u00a0 The pointy peak toward the W isn’t really Mount Sittichinli.\u00a0 It’s Peak 1520M<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 I’m virtually certain now that the peak toward the E is actually Sittichinli.\u00a0 So that’s all the farther we need to go.\u00a0 Since we won’t have to climb both, our chance of success is a lot better than I’d been thinking.<\/em><\/p>\n

That is good news, SPHP!\u00a0 You should fail in this fashion more often.<\/em><\/p>\n

Continuing beyond the dark crag, due to large talus fields, Lupe again had to go farther NW than anticipated before turning N.\u00a0 From here, a long slope led up to a high point toward the NNE.\u00a0 Directly N beyond a rise, cliffs were visible along the S face of an even higher hill.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
S facing cliffs<\/strong> (Center), NNE high point<\/strong> (R). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Glancing back shortly after leaving the break area. Dark crag<\/strong> (far L), Peak 1340M<\/span><\/strong> (L), Peak 1402M<\/strong> (R). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heading N, Lupe gained a fair amount of elevation before reaching the top of the rise.\u00a0 To the NE, a wide pass was now visible between the NNE high point and the S facing cliffs.\u00a0 Directly ahead, a shallow valley sloped SW, the same direction as a long 200 foot tall ridge of rock running down from the cliffs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the top of the rise. S facing cliffs<\/strong> (Center). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking NW, a huge boulder was visible near the far side of the shallow valley.\u00a0 Beyond it, there seemed to be a cleft in the rocky ridge running down from the cliffs.<\/p>\n

We need to get above those cliffs, Loopster.\u00a0 Head for that boulder!\u00a0 Maybe we can scramble up onto the ridge at the cleft beyond it?<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading for the huge boulder<\/strong> (Center). Peak 1520M<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Losing elevation on the way to the boulder, Lupe came to several water holes, and even a few tiny streams, where she drank her fill.\u00a0 Turned out that there were actually two huge boulders separated by 100 feet.\u00a0 After passing both of them, the Carolina Dog started up the ridge without bothering to go all the way to the cleft.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Getting a drink. Peak 1520M<\/span><\/strong> (L). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A closer look at the cliffs<\/strong>. Photo looks N with help from the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
By the first of the 2 huge boulders<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The talus was big, and the scramble got steep.\u00a0 Considerable time ticked away before Lupe managed to reach an enormous slope of talus, scree, and tundra that awaited her on top.\u00a0 Peak 1520M<\/span><\/strong> and Mount Sittichinli weren’t that far away now, yet details remained obscured by the ever present smoke.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At a safe spot near the top of the ridge. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On the slope above the steep scramble. Peak 1520M<\/span><\/strong> (L), Mount Sittichinli<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The topo map showed a large ridge at 1360M+ running N from the area above the cliffs.\u00a0 Turning NE, Lupe climbed steadily toward this ridge.\u00a0 When she reached it, sure enough, a wide, rocky plain led N toward a high point ESE of Mount Sittichinli.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the 1360M+<\/span> ridge<\/strong>. Mount Sittichinli<\/strong> (L), Hill 1520M<\/span><\/strong> (Center). Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following the plain N, the terrain eventually steepened as Lupe began climbing toward a 100 to 150 foot high ridge of talus running SW\/NE.\u00a0 A bench of tundra below it swept up toward the NE, but was completely exposed to a 20 mph E wind.<\/p>\n

As Lupe approached, SPHP kept an eye on a promising area near the SW end of the ridge.\u00a0 When she got there, a region of soft, spongy tundra even sported some grass and small white flowers quivering in the breeze.\u00a0 It was perfect!<\/p>\n

9:25 PM – Not going to get any better than this, Loop!\u00a0 I doubt we’ll find another spot to pitch your tiny house, if we go any higher.\u00a0 We better stop here for the night.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe had no objections.\u00a0 Laying down on the tundra, she watched as SPHP struggled to erect her tiny house despite the wind.\u00a0 Putting the rain cover on, the strongest gusts threatened to completely flatten the tiny house, so SPHP removed it again.\u00a0 Without a cloud in the sky, and smoke billowing up from behind Mount Sittichinli, the rain flap hardly seemed necessary, anyway.<\/p>\n

The American Dingo was as tired as SPHP was.\u00a0 As soon as the tiny house was up, Lupe was eager to get inside and curl up in her red sleeping bag.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Base camp below the SW end of the talus ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking back down the 1360M+<\/span> ridge<\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9:38 PM, base camp<\/em> – Weary, 1 KM SE of Mount Sittichinli<\/span><\/a> (5,165 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, SPHP stood alone in the wind outside the tiny house pitched along the Yukon and Northwest Territories border, watching a pink sun sink into wildfire smoke streaming by the mountain.\u00a0 It seemed incredible that Lupe was actually here in the Richardson Mountains, on the verge of finding out whether she could ever actually climb Sittichinli, or not.<\/p>\n

A dream come true, almost!\u00a0 Tomorrow would tell the tale.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Base camp SE of Mount Sittichinli<\/strong> (R), Richardson Mountains, Yukon\/Northwest Territories border, Canada 8-9-23<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/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 18 of Lupe’s 2nd Summer of 2023 Dingo Vacation to Canada & Alaska! 3:15 PM\u00a0– While SPHP compared the scene to the NNW to a rather fuzzy printout of the topo map, Lupe rested on a small patch of tundra near the W edge of the Peak 1402M summit region, the … Continue reading Mount Sittichinli, Richardson Mountains, Yukon Territory, Canada – Part 2: Peak 1402M to Base Camp (8-9-23)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57154,"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":[105,30,106,26,104,1723,1727,1724,1728,708],"class_list":["post-57505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1659","tag-american-dingo","tag-canada","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-mount-sittichinli","tag-peak-1402m","tag-peak-4600","tag-richardson-mountains","tag-yukon"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_2058-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\/57505","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=57505"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58130,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57505\/revisions\/58130"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/57154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=57505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=57505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=57505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}