{"id":6989,"date":"2016-11-30T08:10:42","date_gmt":"2016-11-30T15:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=6989"},"modified":"2019-04-23T21:29:23","modified_gmt":"2019-04-24T03:29:23","slug":"kluane-lake-shepherds-knoll-in-the-slims-river-valley-kluane-national-park-yukon-territory-canada-8-8-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=6989","title":{"rendered":"Kluane Lake & Shepherd’s Knoll in the Slims River Valley, Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, Canada (8-8-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 10 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska<\/em><\/p>\n

The sky was overcast, but it wasn’t raining.\u00a0 What time was it?\u00a0 Good grief!\u00a0 Almost 9:30 AM already!\u00a0 SPHP came to.\u00a0 Lupe was looking way perkier than SPHP.\u00a0 Her successful climb up King’s Throne yesterday only seemed to have\u00a0enlivened her.\u00a0 SPHP on the other hand … well, it didn’t matter, today needed to be a rest day, anyway.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP got water and pitched garbage at the campground.\u00a0 SPHP straightened up the G6.\u00a0 There were a few squirrels around, so Lupe was happy.\u00a0 When all was back in order again, Lupe and SPHP drove down to see\u00a0Kathleen Lake.\u00a0 A crew was taking down big tents that had been set up for some youth group over the weekend.\u00a0 The tents\u00a0had been flapping noisily in the wind much of the night.<\/p>\n

King’s Throne Peak<\/a><\/span> (6,529 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was across the bay.\u00a0 SPHP had been hoping for a clear, bright\u00a0shot of Lupe at shining blue Kathleen Lake with mighty\u00a0King’s Throne\u00a0illuminated by morning sun in the background, but it wasn’t going to happen.\u00a0 The top of the mountain was scraping clouds.\u00a0 There wasn’t a ray of sunshine anywhere.\u00a0 Kathleen Lake looked green, instead of the brilliant blue it had appeared only yesterday.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at Kathleen Lake with King’s Throne Peak in the background. Lupe had been to the summit yesterday! Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There wasn’t a real plan for the day.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP drove to Haines Junction.\u00a0 SPHP managed to get a shower at a motel.\u00a0 Much better!\u00a0 The skies were clearing.\u00a0 Maybe it was time to head N and see what\u00a0Lupe’s options were?\u00a0 On the way N, Lupe went by\u00a0Mount Decoeli<\/a><\/span> (7,650 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Mount<\/a>
Mount Decoeli (R) from the Alaska Highway NW of Haines Junction. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had hopes that Lupe would be able to climb Decoeli, but not today.\u00a0 It was too much for today, right after King’s Throne.\u00a0 Maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to check out the trailhead, though?\u00a0 SPHP found the trailhead on a hill\u00a0more than 10 miles N of Haines Junction.\u00a0\u00a0The trailhead was\u00a0really just a\u00a0big paved pullout on the W side of the Alaska Highway.\u00a0 There was no sign, no information, nothing except free parking.<\/p>\n

\"Mount<\/a>
Mount Decoeli from the Alaska Highway, not far from the long paved pullout that serves as a trailhead. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It seemed like a good idea to stop by\u00a0the Tachal Dhal visitor center\u00a0for information.\u00a0 SPHP knew the\u00a0visitor center\u00a0was located near the S end of Kluane Lake, a huge lake E of the Saint Elias range.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP continued N on the Alaska Highway.\u00a0 Soon\u00a0the lake\u00a0could be seen ahead, flanked by mountains to the W.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe near the Alaska Highway. Kluane Lake is in view! Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kluane Lake was huge and gorgeous!\u00a0 Before even going to the visitor center, Lupe and SPHP stopped at a large pullout along the shore at the S end of the lake.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe in Kluane Lake. She reported that the water was clear, cold, and good to drink. The weather, breezy and bright. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kluane Lake made a huge impression.\u00a0 To the N, the cold, blue waters stretched to the horizon like a Yukon sea.\u00a0 E of the lake,\u00a0desolate unknown\u00a0peaks marched N toward the Arctic until they\u00a0vanished from view.\u00a0 NW across the lake was scenic Sheep Mountain<\/a><\/span> (6,400 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, a peak SPHP hoped Lupe might be able to climb.\u00a0 To the W was the wide, flat Slims River valley.\u00a0 Strange clouds of dust blew from the valley toward Kluane Lake.<\/p>\n

Blowing dust was unexpected and puzzling.\u00a0 Was the Alaska Highway gravel over there?\u00a0 SPHP figured the dust must be coming from traffic on the Alaska Highway or road construction.\u00a0 Later, it became evident the dust was being blown up by winds sweeping over dried out mud flats along the Slims River.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Clouds of dust were rising up from the Slims River valley, close to where the Tachal Dhal visitor center is located. At first, SPHP thought traffic or road construction was the cause. It turned out to be dust blown from dried out mud flats along the Slims River. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After Lupe had a chance to wade in Kluane Lake and have\u00a0a refreshing drink of Yukon water, Lupe and SPHP went on to the Tachal Dahl visitor center.\u00a0 The visitor center was located in a\u00a0small building in\u00a0the Slims River Valley W of both Kluane Lake and the Alaska Highway.\u00a0 SPHP went in to inquire about trails in the area.<\/p>\n

There was bad news for Lupe\u00a0about the trail to Sheep Mountain.\u00a0\u00a0It\u00a0was temporarily closed due to recent grizzly bear activity.\u00a0 SPHP chatted with\u00a0a ranger about\u00a0a much longer trail up the Slims River Valley to the Kaskawulsh Glacier.\u00a0\u00a0The best glacier viewpoint was from\u00a0Observation Mountain<\/a><\/span> (6,824 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, but getting there would involve\u00a0a 3 day\/2 night backpacking trip and major stream fords.<\/p>\n

As a nice day hike, the ranger suggested the Bullion Plateau trail.\u00a0\u00a0The Bullion Plateau\u00a0sounded interesting, but it was already afternoon and the trail was\u00a0too long to consider today.\u00a0 How about something short and easy?\u00a0 Right away, the ranger suggested Shepherd’s Knoll, a hill not too far away up the Slims River valley.\u00a0 A very short trail goes to the top of Shepherd’s Knoll where there are views both up the valley and back toward Kluane Lake.\u00a0 It sounded perfect!<\/p>\n

A\u00a0little N on the Alaska Highway from the turn to the Tachal Dhal visitor center, another gravel road leaves the\u00a0highway.\u00a0 This road goes 2.6 km up the\u00a0Slims River valley to the\u00a0Tachal Dahl\u00a0trailhead.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0left for Shepherd’s Knoll from here.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started out\u00a0on the main trail, which ultimately goes to\u00a0the Kaskawulsh Glacier.\u00a0 The trail began as an old roadbed going through a forest.<\/p>\n

It didn’t take Lupe long, maybe 15 minutes,\u00a0to reach an intersection with the Sheep Creek trail.\u00a0 A few hundred feet farther along, on the valley side of\u00a0the main trail, Lupe found the side trail to Shepherd’s Knoll.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe near the start of the Shepherd’s Knoll trail. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Shepherd’s Knoll trail wasn’t long at all.\u00a0 It climbed partway up a small\u00a0hill and vanished.\u00a0 Lupe continued on higher up the hill, checking out the views from different vantage points along her way.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe climbing Shepherd’s Knoll. The trail soon vanished, but Lupe continued up, checking out the views from various vantage points along the way. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For as little effort as it took for Lupe to get here, the views from Shepherd’s Knoll were impressive.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking SW up the Slims River valley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dust<\/a>
Dust blows down the Slims River valley toward Kluane Lake. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking S across the Slims River valley from Shepherd’s Knoll.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A closer look at the snow-capped mountain across the valley using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The beautiful Slims River valley. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
SPHP believes the high hill in the distance is part of the Bullion Plateau. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The Bullion Plateau? It seemed to be in the right direction. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A wider view of the Bullion Plateau vicinity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even though getting to Shepherd’s Knoll hadn’t taken Lupe very far\u00a0up the Slims River valley, it was certainly a worthwhile easy trek.\u00a0 Lupe would have liked to do much more\u00a0exploring in the Slims River area, but this was a rest day, and it was starting to get late.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP returned to the\u00a0Tachal Dahl\u00a0trailhead.<\/p>\n

No one had been at the trailhead before, but now there were nearly a dozen people here.\u00a0 They had just returned from an overnight backpacking trip to the Kaskawulsh Glacier.\u00a0\u00a0A campground near the glacier was about as far as most of them had made it.\u00a0 Only one person had succeeded in reaching the top of Observation Mountain.\u00a0 The trip was more strenuous than they’d anticipated.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP went back to Kluane Lake, but this time a bit farther N along the W side of the lake.\u00a0 A forested hill projected partway into the lake from mud flats deposited by the Slims River.\u00a0 Silt is gradually filling in this end of the lake.<\/p>\n

\"Over<\/a>
Over time, silt and mud deposited by the Slims River will completely surround the forested hill seen here by filling in adjacent portions of Kluane Lake. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Evening was coming.\u00a0 The views from the pullout along the S shore of Kluane Lake earlier in the day had been so beautiful that Lupe and SPHP returned to enjoy the evening there.<\/p>\n

Lupe spent a few happy hours\u00a0exploring the shore of Kluane Lake, while SPHP watched the ancient dust blow, and the waves roll in.<\/p>\n

\"Sheep<\/a>
Sheep Mountain from mud flats at the far SW end of Kluane Lake. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe along the S shore of Kluane Lake the evening of 8-8-16. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Happy<\/a>
Happy times at Kluane Lake in the Yukon. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Evening<\/a>
Evening at Kluane Lake, Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, Canada 8-8-16.<\/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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from Lupe’s 2016 Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, <\/span><\/em>Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 10 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska The sky was overcast, but it wasn’t raining.\u00a0 What time was it?\u00a0 Good grief!\u00a0 Almost 9:30 AM already!\u00a0 SPHP came to.\u00a0 Lupe was looking way perkier than SPHP.\u00a0 Her successful climb up King’s Throne yesterday only seemed to have\u00a0enlivened … Continue reading Kluane Lake & Shepherd’s Knoll in the Slims River Valley, Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, Canada (8-8-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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":[726],"tags":[105,30,106,26,712,711,104,11,713,708],"class_list":["post-6989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-canada","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-kluane-lake","tag-kluane-national-park","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging","tag-shepherds-knoll","tag-yukon"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/IMG_1820.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\/6989","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=6989"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6989\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22436,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6989\/revisions\/22436"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}