{"id":7246,"date":"2017-01-09T08:10:22","date_gmt":"2017-01-09T15:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=7246"},"modified":"2024-04-28T11:20:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-28T17:20:46","slug":"sukakpak-mountain-brooks-range-alaska-8-13-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=7246","title":{"rendered":"Sukakpak Mountain, Brooks Range, Alaska (8-13-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 15, Part 2 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dead ahead!\u00a0 There it was – the most famous mountain along the Dalton Highway in the Brooks Range\u00a0of\u00a0northern Alaska – Sukakpak<\/strong>!\u00a0 Lupe was thousands of miles from home, over 90 miles N of where the Dalton Highway crossed the Arctic Circle.\u00a0 Sukakpak Mountain<\/a><\/span> (4,459 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was one of the top highlights\u00a0Lupe had come all this way to see.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe 200 miles N of the start of the Dalton Highway, and 90 miles N of the Arctic Circle, approaching famed Sukakpak Mountain in the Brooks Range. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sukakpak<\/a>
Sukakpak Mountain, Brooks Range, Alaska<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After all the many months of planning and long miles, it was still hard to believe Lupe was really, actually here!\u00a0 SPHP drove slowly past the mountain, to see it from various angles.\u00a0 After\u00a0crossing the\u00a0Dietrich River near its confluence with the Bettles River, SPHP parked the G6 at a pullout near milepost 207.\u00a0 Lupe went over to the Bettles River for a drink, and\u00a0to admire\u00a0Sukakpak from the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the Bettles River with Sukakpak Mountain in the background. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sukakpak<\/a>
Sukakpak Mountain from the Bettles River. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, being an American Dingo of the peakbagging variety, Lupe was here to do more than just\u00a0admire Sukakpak, she was here to climb it!<\/p>\n

It was already late in the day to consider climbing such a large peak, but Lupe and SPHP were full of enthusiasm.\u00a0 The weather was good, 60\u00b0F with thin white clouds, and only a light breeze.\u00a0 Furthermore, this far N the sun wouldn’t go down until very late.\u00a0 Even twilight would last a long time.<\/p>\n

SPHP\u00a0had\u00a0a copy\u00a0of a trip report from Peakbagger.com<\/strong><\/a><\/span>\u00a0written by Richard Carey<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, who had climbed Sukakpak more than 21 years ago on July 30, 1995.\u00a0 It would serve as a guide.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP returned S to\u00a0a pullout\u00a0near milepost 203 located W of Sukakpak Mountain.\u00a0 It was the obvious, easiest\u00a0place to begin\u00a0any ascent of Sukakpak, and was where Carey had started from.\u00a0 At 1:11 PM, Lupe left the G6, and headed E for the mountain.<\/p>\n

\"Sukakpak<\/a>
Sukakpak Mountain from the pullout near milepost 203 of the Dalton Highway where Lupe started her trek. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The plan was to head SE toward the S end of Sukakpak, as recommended by Carey, but that route\u00a0proved to be\u00a0marshy as Carey had indicated.\u00a0 It seemed easier to head straight E toward the mountain following higher, drier\u00a0ground until Lupe got above the marshlands.\u00a0 Lupe gained a fair amount of elevation just getting close to the rock base of Sukakpak.<\/p>\n

\"Approaching<\/a>
Approaching the W face of Sukakpak. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Lupe was high enough to be above all the swampy ground, she turned SSE, still climbing steadily.\u00a0 As she got closer to the S end of the mountain, she was approaching a steep chute that looked like it might be a shortcut.\u00a0 Carey had recommended heading toward a gash caused by a landslide at the S end of the mountain.\u00a0 Maybe this chute was what he had been talking about?\u00a0 Lupe headed for it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe now above the swampy ground, and not too far below the steep W rock face. Here she turned SSE working her way toward the SW end of the mountain. The start of the lower end of “The Chute” can be seen almost straight up from Lupe at the base of the rock face. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP started climbing up the chute.\u00a0 To the S was a wall of rock, to the N, the massive S face of Sukakpak.\u00a0 The chute was steep, full of boulders and small trees, but not too hard a climb.\u00a0 The view back to the W was steadily improving as Lupe gained elevation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on her way up toward the chute at the SW end of Sukakpak. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking up toward the start of the “The Chute”. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The hope was that Lupe would be able to easily pass around the S side of Sukakpak from the top of the chute.\u00a0 However, the chute was higher and longer than SPHP anticipated.\u00a0 When Lupe finally reached the top, the situation\u00a0was more complicated than expected.<\/p>\n

Not far away to the SE was a boulder field, and beyond it a forest.\u00a0 Both rose toward the E, and were clearly viable paths along the S end of Sukakpak.\u00a0 Unfortunately,\u00a0there was\u00a0a\u00a0minor drop-off to get over to that terrain.\u00a0 Lupe wouldn’t have any problem negotiating it, but\u00a0despite not being very high, the drop-off\u00a0looked\u00a0treacherous to SPHP.<\/p>\n

Maybe it was possible to climb high enough to get beyond the drop-off?\u00a0 It looked like a reasonable proposition.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the chute traversing SE toward the easier ground,\u00a0climbing steadily while looking for a way over to it.<\/p>\n

The climb was steep and getting steeper.\u00a0 It kept looking like the slope would diminish just a little higher up the mountain, but it didn’t.\u00a0 Over every little rise was another disappointment.\u00a0 Soon SPHP was hanging onto bushes and anything within reach for support.\u00a0 Lupe was fine.\u00a0 She kept appearing above SPHP, looking down with a\u00a0questioning look on her face.<\/p>\n

SPHP wasn’t getting any closer to the safer ground.\u00a0 In fact, things were getting worse.\u00a0 The situation became unnerving.\u00a0 Above, only a scary steep rock slope could be seen.<\/p>\n

Loopster, we can’t keep going this way!\u00a0 Sorry, puppy, but we are rapidly getting into trouble.\u00a0 I can’t do this, and a mistake would be terrible.\u00a0 We have to go back down, now!<\/em><\/p>\n

Slowly, carefully, all the way back down to the chute, then back down it, too.\u00a0 Lupe lost hundreds of feet of elevation.\u00a0 What, close to two hours wasted on the chute?\u00a0 Seemed like it.\u00a0\u00a0However, long it had taken, the chute had been a real setback.\u00a0 Either Carey’s momma was a mountain goat, or there was a better way.<\/p>\n

Was there still time to climb Sukakpak, today?\u00a0 SPHP wasn’t certain.\u00a0 May as well try it, though.\u00a0 Lupe could always turn back, if it was getting too late.\u00a0 Below the chute, Lupe and SPHP slowly traversed the boulder field to the S.\u00a0 Lupe finally reached the forest, where it was easier to turn E and start climbing again.<\/p>\n

After a considerable climb, the ground leveled out as Lupe topped out on a ridge heading S from Sukakpak’s S face.\u00a0 The view from the top was discouraging.\u00a0 SPHP had thought this ridge would lead directly to the easiest way up Sukakpak.\u00a0 To the N, though, there was a very steep rock slope.\u00a0 Farther E, across a\u00a0deep drainage, was another ridge like the one Lupe was on, except it was considerably larger and higher.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the top of the lower minor S ridge. The larger and higher main S ridge is seen across a deep drainage. Lupe would have to lose a lot of elevation to cross the drainage and get over there. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking up the steep S face of Sukakpak, from somewhere close to the minor S ridge. Carey’s trip report indicated it was possible to go up this way, but recommended starting up from the main S ridge farther E instead. SPHP rejected the route seen here as too challenging. Lupe headed for the main ridge, even though it meant losing a bunch of elevation crossing the intervening drainage. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe took a little break while SPHP consulted the Carey trip report.\u00a0 Ugh!\u00a0 This must be the first ridgeline.\u00a0 Yeah, Lupe was just above tree line.\u00a0 Carey said it was possible to go up from here, but easier to contour around the creek drainage to get to the main ridge.\u00a0 Up from here looked really hard.\u00a0 No way SPHP could do that.\u00a0 Lupe would have to go to the main ridge.<\/p>\n

Lupe was already so high, and the terrain at the N end of the creek drainage so steep, there wasn’t a lot of contouring to be done.\u00a0 Before climbing even higher up to the main ridge, Lupe was going to have to lose a bunch of elevation again crossing the drainage.\u00a0\u00a0No other reasonable choice.\u00a0 OK, whatever.\u00a0\u00a0Puppy, ho!\u00a0 Onward!<\/p>\n

At least navigating through the drainage wasn’t difficult.\u00a0 It was all straightforward.\u00a0 Down and around, then up.\u00a0 Long and tiring, but not scary or impossible.\u00a0 Lupe made it to the main ridge.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/a>
View looking back from the main S ridge. High point 2929 is the big barren hill on the L. The lower minor S ridge of Sukakpak is in view on the R. The Dalton Highway and Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River are seen in the distance. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The main ridge was interesting.\u00a0 It was large, long, roomy,\u00a0and gently rounded at the top.\u00a0 It stretched for 2 or 3 miles to the SSE, gradually losing elevation.\u00a0 Lupe found sizable rock formations at the top, but most of the ground was even and covered with small rocks and plants of the tundra.\u00a0 On the other side of this main ridge, Lupe had a huge sweeping view toward the E\u00a0of the broad Bettles River valley and many mountains beyond it.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the rock formations on top of the higher, main S ridge extending SSE from Sukakpak. From here, Lupe gazes out at the Bettles River valley on the opposite side of the ridge from where she came up. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bettles<\/a>
Bettles River valley from the SSE main ridge of Sukakpak. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just N of where Lupe reached the main ridge, it joined the steep, rocky S\u00a0face of Sukakpak.\u00a0 The only way up from here was N.\u00a0 Nearly all vegetation was about to be left behind.\u00a0 The slope looked steep, but it wasn’t as bad as going up from the lower ridge to the W.\u00a0 There was a sort of\u00a0trail, too.\u00a0 It wasn’t maintained in any way, or really of much help, other than as a general guide as to where to start.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the main ridge at the base of the S rock face of Sukakpak. A faint trail can be seen almost straight above her head. The trail went a little to the R, then zigged well to the L, before zagging back toward the top. This is the easiest way up! Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The route up was plenty steep,\u00a0especially near the start.\u00a0 The trail was often braided and full of loose rocks.\u00a0 Up and up, Lupe went.\u00a0 The panoramic views of the Brooks Range\u00a0were becoming incredible.\u00a0 The sense of being at a great height grew steadily.\u00a0 Completely unfazed, the Carolina Dog led the way up the mountain, gaining hundreds of feet of elevation.<\/p>\n

Gradually, the slope\u00a0lessened.\u00a0 Lupe arrived\u00a0up on\u00a0a roomy, rounded area that wasn’t completely\u00a0flat,\u00a0but not\u00a0steep at all either.\u00a0\u00a0Close at hand to\u00a0the W, SPHP\u00a0did not see, but only perceived, the presence of towering cliffs.\u00a0 The terrain to the E was\u00a0also mostly unseen, but perceived to be an\u00a0incredibly steep slope dropping a thousand feet or more.\u00a0 Very close to the NNE was a small ridge, not high at all – 10 or 20 feet, which could be easily walked up.\u00a0 The ridge led up to the W, connecting to a nearby high point immediately to the N.<\/p>\n

What would Lupe see on the other side of that small ridge?\u00a0 Suddenly filled with both hope and apprehension, SPHP followed the unconcerned American Dingo up onto\u00a0the little NNE ridge.\u00a0 Unmistakable, half a mile to the NNE, there it was – the true summit of Sukakpak!\u00a0 It wasn’t all that much higher, a few hundreds of feet. Lupe was almost there!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the small ridge she had climbed up from the SSW. (This is actually part of the long ridge leading SE from the false S summit seen on the L.) The true summit of Sukakpak is still 0.5 mile away to the NNE on the R. Lupe was almost there! Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Off to the NW, a slightly\u00a0lower S summit was in view, too.\u00a0 Lupe was closer to it.\u00a0 A faint trail was visible\u00a0traversing the barren, upper E slope below the S summit\u00a0to a saddle between the two high points.\u00a0 The trail\u00a0continued\u00a0all the way to the true summit.<\/p>\n

Climbing W on the little ridge to the closest high point, perhaps only 50 feet higher than where Lupe was now, was clearly the only route from here toward the trail below the S summit.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP started up.\u00a0 The ridge narrowed as Lupe got close to the top.\u00a0 Right on up went Lupe, but SPHP crouched down before the\u00a0final few steps, ultimately collapsing against the rocks a foot or two below the absolute top.<\/p>\n

Just\u00a0as tightly as SPHP gripped the rocks, fear gripped SPHP.\u00a0 Lupe came close, to see what was the matter.\u00a0 Petting her helped a little.\u00a0 The views were daunting enough.\u00a0 What was only sensed, but still unseen was terrifying.\u00a0 To the N, the steep slope of the E face of Sukakpak dropped away ever more steeply\u00a0many hundreds of feet\u00a0into the abyss.\u00a0 That could be seen.\u00a0 Just 2 or 3 feet W of Lupe, were perceived, but unseen precipices of towering height.<\/p>\n

A narrow, level\u00a0ridge, a couple feet wide, extended to the NW for 20 feet to a rise only inches high.\u00a0 To the R (NE) of it was the start of the long slide into the abyss.\u00a0 To the L\u00a0(SW), the unseen precipice.\u00a0 Close by, nothing could be seen beyond the little rise 20 feet away.\u00a0 Farther off, the ridge clearly continued\u00a0for quite a distance, rising ultimately to the false S summit.<\/p>\n

Taking the narrow, level ridge would be like walking the plank.\u00a0 What was beyond the little rise?\u00a0 SPHP feared a drop-off of some sort.\u00a0 Climbing straight down a wall of rock even a short distance from such a narrow perch was virtually unthinkable.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP were only day hikers, not mountaineers!\u00a0 There was nothing at home in the Black Hills like this to compare with.\u00a0 What was Lupe doing up on this little point of rock in the sky N of the Arctic Circle!?<\/p>\n

Minutes ticked away.\u00a0 At a vast height, Lupe and SPHP\u00a0sat immobile,\u00a0surrounded by fabulous wild mountains of the Brooks Range in the Arctic.\u00a0 Yet, courage could not be summoned.\u00a0 The monster, Fear, only grew.<\/p>\n

I’m sorry, Loop.\u00a0 I’m truly sorry!\u00a0 I can’t do this.\u00a0 It’s too much.\u00a0 I know you could have made it, and you are so very close, sweet\u00a0puppy,\u00a0so very, very close, but I need to go down.\u00a0 Let’s try to get a photo or two, first.\u00a0 It’s over.<\/em><\/p>\n

A few quick photos at the top, and Lupe and SPHP started back down.\u00a0 If Lupe was disappointed, she didn’t show it.\u00a0 Fifty feet lower, back where Lupe had first climbed onto this part of the ridge, SPHP had her pose with the true summit of Sukakpak in the background.\u00a0 It was to be her souvenir photo showing how very close to success\u00a0Lupe had been.<\/p>\n

\"As<\/a>
As close as Lupe got before SPHP led her back down. The slightly lower S summit is seen on the L, the true summit more distant on the R. Part of the narrow “plank” beyond which SPHP could not see the nearby terrain, heads off to the L from Lupe. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dillon<\/a>
Dillon Mountain<\/a><\/span> (4,820 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) to the NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bettles<\/a>
Bettles River valley. Photo looks ESE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe where she first reached the ridge above the roomy, rounded area. The valley between Dillon Mountain (L), and Wiehl Mountain (partly out of view on the R) is seen beyond her. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe's<\/a>
Lupe’s souvenir shot showing how very close to reaching the summit of Sukakpak she had gotten. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Only a couple of steps down off Point Fear, a tremendous sense of relief flooded into SPHP.\u00a0 Yeah, it was too bad Lupe didn’t get to finish her climb of Sukakpak, but not doing something stupid was just smart.\u00a0 She had gotten to see the mountain, and make 90% of the climb.\u00a0 Just being here, seeing Sukakpak, getting this far, and seeing these awe (not to mention, terror) -inspiring\u00a0views was a tremendous accomplishment.\u00a0 It was something Lupe and SPHP would always remember.<\/p>\n

Even SPHP didn’t believe that crap.\u00a0 For 10 minutes, SPHP apologized profusely\u00a0to Lupe.\u00a0 She paid close attention, but only seemed bewildered.\u00a0 She licked SPHP’s hand, trying to make it better.<\/p>\n

After the souvenir photos were taken, Lupe and SPHP left the little ridge and went back down to the roomy, rounded area.\u00a0 To the S was the increasingly steep slope leading\u00a0way\u00a0back down to Sukakpak’s main ridge extending SSE.\u00a0 Time to descend.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on the roomy, rounded area near its SW edge. The Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River and Dalton Highway are in view below. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP hesitated.\u00a0 Lupe gazed up wonderingly.\u00a0 She was smiling.\u00a0 What was the hold up?\u00a0 What was going on?\u00a0 There was a problem.\u00a0 SPHP couldn’t go down.\u00a0 Fear lay in that direction, too – a fear that was growing fast.\u00a0 Not the fear of falling, but yes, still the fear of doing something stupid.<\/p>\n

Fear of regret, fear of failure, were both waiting to ambush SPHP only a little farther down the mountain.\u00a0 And SPHP knew it.\u00a0 If SPHP went down any farther, it was certain Lupe would never be back to claim success.\u00a0 Yes, Lupe and SPHP would always remember being here, on glorious Sukakpak\u00a0Mountain so close to\u00a0triumph\u00a0– and SPHP would always remember being a coward.<\/p>\n

Lupe was more than 3,000 miles from home.\u00a0 She had come all this way to Sukakpak Mountain to climb it.\u00a0 The summit of Sukakpak, the most famous mountain along the Dalton Highway, way up here N of the Arctic Circle, had been the most coveted of all the mountaintops SPHP had hoped Lupe would be able to reach on her long Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation.\u00a0 It was to have been her crowning glory.<\/p>\n

A mental war raged.\u00a0 SPHP hadn’t even seen the feared drop at the far\u00a0end of the “plank”.\u00a0 Was it even real?\u00a0 Conditions were perfect for climbing Sukakpak\u00a0– no wind, no snow, no ice, comfortable temperatures, blue skies and little white clouds.\u00a0 Carey hadn’t mentioned any technical\u00a0aspects to the\u00a0route\u00a0in his trip report, surely he would have if there were any, wouldn’t he?\u00a0 Maybe not.\u00a0 Carey had been to Nepal, climbed Denali and Kilimanjaro.\u00a0\u00a0No doubt\u00a0Sukakpak was mere child’s play to him.<\/p>\n

One of the things bugging SPHP was the feeling that maybe Lupe wasn’t really on the correct route.\u00a0 It seemed like she had to be, but mountains can be tricky.\u00a0\u00a0Did the cliffs to the SW of Fear Point exist, or was there an easier way up from that direction?\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went over near the edge of the roomy, rounded area to take a look.\u00a0 Still nervous, SPHP got only close enough to see that those cliffs were real enough.\u00a0 No way in hell would anyone\u00a0go up that way.<\/p>\n

Loopster, let’s try again.\u00a0 No guarantees, but let’s take another look.\u00a0 I’ve at least got to see what it is I’m afraid of.\u00a0 Maybe I can do that much now.\u00a0 <\/em>Lupe was game.\u00a0 She always is, for anything not totally nuts.<\/p>\n

The second time up was easier.\u00a0 Fear\u00a0made SPHP crouch again a little near the top, but did not pin SPHP to the ground.\u00a0 SPHP walked out onto the fearsome “plank”.\u00a0 Two\u00a0or three steps, then\u00a0… JOY!\u00a0 Jubilation!<\/p>\n

Loop, LOOP!\u00a0 You’re going to make it, sweet puppy!\u00a0 We’re on our way!\u00a0 OMG, to think we almost left!\u00a0 It would have been an epic fail!<\/em><\/p>\n

What SPHP saw beyond the inches high rise at the end of the plank was a slight dip, nothing more.\u00a0 There was no big drop.\u00a0 That was all a figment of SPHP’s imagination.\u00a0 A\u00a0step down or two, that was it!\u00a0 A clear, though seldom-used trail\u00a0stretched NW along the narrow ridgeline, on the way toward the S summit.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP made rapid, joy-filled progress.<\/p>\n

Nearing the S summit, Lupe did reach\u00a0one significant drop.\u00a0 The drop was about 10 feet down from a ledge, but near the end of the ledge\u00a0were a few naturally well-positioned big rocks.\u00a0 SPHP climbed down carefully, but easily enough.\u00a0 Lupe jumped down from one rock to the next.\u00a0 Lupe was now quite close to the S summit.\u00a0 The path to the true summit was wide open and unobstructed ahead.<\/p>\n

\"Nearing<\/a>
Nearing the false S summit (L). Nothing stands in Lupe’s way to the true summit (R) now! Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail didn’t go up the S summit, instead skirting it to the E.\u00a0 Lupe stayed on the trail.\u00a0 Soon she was beyond the S summit.\u00a0 To the N was Lupe’s\u00a0long sought objective,\u00a0the true summit of Sukakpak.\u00a0 To the W was a long line of\u00a0giant cliffs.\u00a0 No matter, the trail just stayed a little to the E.<\/p>\n

\"Now<\/a>
Now past the false S summit, Lupe follows the easy trail to success. What a fun, awesome, happy trek this was! Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The W cliffs were very close to the trail at one point. Lupe could see the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River and the Dalton Highway 3,000 feet below. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The whole trek from the “plank” to the summit of Sukakpak Mountain was amazing, easy, full of joy, happiness, and\u00a0breath-taking\u00a0views.\u00a0 A short scramble up a slope of loose dirt and rock brought Lupe to the top.\u00a0 Success, wonderful, stupendous,\u00a0glorious, success!\u00a0 Lupe was here, at the summit of Sukakpak!<\/p>\n

\"Yes,<\/a>
Yes, yes, YES! Lupe at the summit cairn on Sukakpak Mountain. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Lupe<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking along the jagged NNW ridge of Sukakpak from the summit cairn. Below on the R, the confluence of the Dietrich and Bettles River to form the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River can be seen. The distant mountain on the R side of the photo is the mountain Lupe and SPHP came to call the Mountain of the Midnight Sun. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There were cliffs immediately to the W and N of the summit.\u00a0 The cairn sat at the top of the mountain on a tiny area with little extra room.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP relaxed a foot or two below and SE of the cairn.\u00a0 The unfamiliar\u00a0feeling of having conquered fear added to the joy of being here.\u00a0 All around were mountains of the Brooks Range, bathed in the slanting sunlight of the far N.\u00a0 Lupe was really here, way up on Sukakpak in the Arctic!<\/p>\n

SPHP praised Lupe and stroked her soft fur.\u00a0 She listened very carefully.\u00a0 She was soothed so much, she soon dozed at SPHP’s side.\u00a0 Wonderful, tired puppy!\u00a0 All around were tremendous views Lupe and SPHP would most likely never see again.\u00a0 SPHP thought\u00a0about the long journey that brought Lupe here, adventures from long ago, adventures yet to come, the relentless, unmerciful passage of time.<\/p>\n

45 precious, beautiful\u00a0minutes ticked by.\u00a0 It was getting late.\u00a0 Lupe was ready.\u00a0 A few more pictures were in order\u00a0before leaving the splendor of Sukakpak.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking S from the summit. Part of the trail, the lower S summit, and much of the long, narrow ridge Lupe had to climb are in view. Even the more gently rounded, lower green “main” ridge is seen far below on the L trailing off to the SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking SW at mountains of the Brooks Range. The Dalton Highway and Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River are 3,000 feet below.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking<\/a>
Looking S, possibly at Poss Mountain<\/a><\/span> (6,180 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) using the telephoto lens. The 10 foot drop Lupe and SPHP had to negotiate on the ridgeline is in view in the foreground near (Center).\u00a0 The trail leads right to it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The lower S summit of Sukakpak is bathed in sunlight on the L. Much lower down is bare, rounded High Point 2929 (Center). Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe near the summit cairn, before saying good-bye to Sukakpak. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was no other plausible way back, other than the way Lupe had come up.\u00a0 The return trip\u00a0was incredible, and still a little scary, but Lupe and SPHP had no problems.\u00a0 It was a fun, happy, spectacularly beautiful time together.<\/p>\n

\"Starting<\/a>
Starting back, still near the true summit. Looking SSW along the trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Now<\/a>
Now below and SE of the S summit. Going down the long SE ridge which eventually leads to SPHP’s “plank” and Point Fear. Bettles River is seen on the L.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe makes it back down to the start of the higher “main” SSE ridge at the base of the S face of Sukakpak. Photo looks ENE toward Wiehl Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once down at the start of the higher, main SSE ridge at the base of the S face of the mountain, all the scarier parts of the return trip were over.\u00a0 Lupe just had to go W down into the drainage, then back up to the lower S ridge she had been on much earlier in the day.\u00a0 From there it was downhill all the way.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP passed through forest, boulder fields, and finally, way down below, the swampy ground leading to the G6 (12:08 AM).<\/p>\n

\"Twilight<\/a>
Twilight at 11:55 PM nearing the G6.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After midnight, still light in the sky!\u00a0 The Arctic was such an amazing place.\u00a0 What a day it had been – the Dalton Highway, crossing the Yukon River, Finger Mountain, reaching the Arctic Circle, and finally – the never to be forgotten moments of fear, cowardice, courage and joy climbing Sukakpak Mountain!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on her way back to the G6 atop the rock formations on the SSE main ridge below the S face of Sukakpak, Brooks Range, Alaska 8-13-16.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many thanks to Richard Carey, whose Sukakpak Mountain trip report on Peakbagger.com both inspired and helped make this Lupe adventure come true.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

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

Lupe’s Last Mile North, Brooks Range, Alaska (8-14-16)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Dillon Mountain, Brooks Range, Alaska (8-15-16)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from Lupe’s 2016 Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/strong><\/a><\/span>,\u00a0<\/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 15, Part 2 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska. Dead ahead!\u00a0 There it was – the most famous mountain along the Dalton Highway in the Brooks Range\u00a0of\u00a0northern Alaska – Sukakpak!\u00a0 Lupe was thousands of miles from home, over 90 miles N of where the Dalton Highway … Continue reading Sukakpak Mountain, Brooks Range, Alaska (8-13-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_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":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[726],"tags":[704,105,723,106,915,26,104,11,722],"class_list":["post-7246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-brooks-range","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dalton-highway","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging","tag-sukakpak-mountain"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/IMG_1995.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\/7246","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=7246"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53501,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7246\/revisions\/53501"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}