{"id":7414,"date":"2017-01-17T08:10:05","date_gmt":"2017-01-17T15:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=7414"},"modified":"2019-04-23T22:25:59","modified_gmt":"2019-04-24T04:25:59","slug":"lupes-last-mile-north-brooks-range-alaska-8-14-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=7414","title":{"rendered":"Lupe’s Last Mile North, Brooks Range, Alaska (8-14-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 16 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe barely stirred.\u00a0 SPHP woke briefly several times.\u00a0 Eventually, it was light out, a beautiful bright Arctic\u00a0day, but weariness still overcame.\u00a0 SPHP could hardly move.\u00a0\u00a0The sandman\u00a0prevailed.<\/p>\n

After yesterday’s amazing, and ultimately triumphant, climb of Sukakpak Mountain<\/a><\/span> (4,459 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Lupe and SPHP had returned to the G6 a little after midnight, the N sky still aglow with twilight.\u00a0 Lupe had been exceptionally lively on the return trip, but\u00a0once back at the G6, she\u00a0devoured an entire can of Alpo and promptly passed out, exhausted.<\/p>\n

\"Twilight<\/a>
Twilight at 11:55 PM nearing the G6 on the return from Sukakpak Mountain the previous evening.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12:18 PM!\u00a0 Good grief, it was afternoon already!\u00a0 Both Lupe and SPHP felt better.\u00a0 Time to get going.\u00a0 SPHP drove N a\u00a0mile or two\u00a0from the pullout W of Sukakpak Mountain\u00a0near milepost 203 to a rest stop on the E side of the Dalton Highway.<\/p>\n

Lupe explored the bushes and forest nearby, while SPHP straightened up the G6 and picked up trash scattered around the rest stop.\u00a0 Lupe was surprisingly energetic.\u00a0 She acted like she could climb Sukakpak Mountain again, today!\u00a0 SPHP didn’t feel ready for that, but it was<\/em> a gorgeous day in the Arctic – pale blue skies, puffy white clouds and temperatures in the 60’s \u00b0F – something<\/em> ought to be done with it!<\/p>\n

Content with her investigations of the nearby forest, Lupe returned to rest in the shade of the G6.\u00a0 Now it was SPHP’s turn to feel energetic.\u00a0 Maybe another mountain ascent was possible?\u00a0 Only 3 or 4 miles NNE of Sukakpak Mountain, was Dillon Mountain.\u00a0 SPHP had brought along a Peakbagger.com trip report by Richard Carey<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, who had climbed not only Sukakpak, but\u00a0Dillon Mountain, too.<\/p>\n

That was it!\u00a0 Lupe was going to climb Dillon Mountain<\/a><\/span> (4,820 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>!\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP piled back into the G6.\u00a0 SPHP drove N another 2 or 3 miles, crossing the bridge over the\u00a0Dietrich River before parking the G6 again at a little pullout a short distance beyond milepost 207.\u00a0 At 1:42 PM (70\u00b0F), Lupe and SPHP set off to the SE for Dillon Mountain.<\/p>\n

According to Carey’s trip report<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, Lupe’s first objective was to cross a swampy low plain for more than a mile while aiming for a low saddle N of High Point 2003, where Lupe might be able to find an old road.\u00a0 High Point 2003 was in view from the Dalton Highway, so it was easy to see which way to go.<\/p>\n

The first part of the low plain was open forest, and an easy march over dry land.\u00a0 Lupe followed an old road a little way.\u00a0 When the\u00a0road faded away, there were animal trails to follow.\u00a0 The forest was soon left behind.\u00a0 Lupe had reached the swampy part of the plain.<\/p>\n

In the middle of August,\u00a0the swampy plain\u00a0really wasn’t all that swampy, but it was surprisingly difficult to traverse.\u00a0 The entire area was full of tussocks, each one surrounded by partially hidden narrow channels, normally full of water.\u00a0 The channels were up to 2 feet deep, and some of them still did\u00a0contain water, or were at least muddy.<\/p>\n

Walking on top of the tussocks was hard.\u00a0 Most of them leaned, or collapsed, in unpredictable directions as soon as stepped on.\u00a0 Walking in the narrow, partially hidden channels between them wasn’t any good either, due to frequent wet or muddy surprises.\u00a0 Although the plain looked flat as a pancake, progress across it was ridiculously slow and tiring.<\/p>\n

A stunted forest could be seen ahead, on the opposite side of the plain where the terrain started rising toward High Point 2003.\u00a0 The plain became wetter and muddier as Lupe got closer to the forest.\u00a0 Small ponds appeared.\u00a0 Finding a dry route became tricky.<\/p>\n

\"Approaching<\/a>
Approaching the stunted forest on the SE side of the swampy plain. High Point 2003 (Center) is in view, as well as part of Dillon Mountain (L). Tussocks made crossing this plain far more difficult and tiring than anticipated. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP found a way around the ponds and wet areas.\u00a0 Lupe reached the forest.\u00a0\u00a0She\u00a0was about to\u00a0start\u00a0the gradual climb toward the saddle N of High Point 2003.\u00a0 She never got there.\u00a0 A little way into the forest, SPHP decided to take a breather, and sat down for a short rest.\u00a0 Lupe laid down to rest, too.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0forest\u00a0floor\u00a0was thickly covered with beautiful plants of the tundra.\u00a0 The ground was spongy, soft and inviting.\u00a0 Wild blueberries grew everywhere.\u00a0 SPHP tried a few.\u00a0 They were much smaller than blueberries sold in stores, but were an exquisite combination of sweetness and tartness.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The tundra was thickly covered with beautiful small plants. They made the forest floor incredibly spongy and soft. The white moss or lichens seen prominently in this photo, tended to grow where the ground was a little drier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe dozing on the soft tundra among the wild blueberries.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP fell into the blueberry trap.\u00a0 The wild blueberries\u00a0were small, but oh, so delicious!\u00a0 They hung on delicate low bushes\u00a0so closely together that sometimes it was possible to pick 4 or 5 of them at a time.\u00a0 They grew everywhere.\u00a0 SPHP sat picking and consuming wild blueberries.\u00a0 Lupe dozed nearby on the soft, comfy tundra.<\/p>\n

Crossing the low plain was supposed to have been the very easy start to the difficult climb up Dillon Mountain.\u00a0 Instead, it had been much more of a struggle than anticipated.\u00a0 Neither Lupe nor SPHP had really recovered from Sukakpak Mountain yesterday.<\/p>\n

As SPHP consumed blueberries, all ambition drained away.\u00a0 Time slipped by.\u00a0 Lupe was happy snoozing.\u00a0 Soon it was apparent that Dillon Mountain wasn’t happening.\u00a0 It was too late in the day to try it anyway.\u00a0 Forget about it!\u00a0 Maybe tomorrow.<\/p>\n

The sky started clouding up.\u00a0 Soon, raindrops sprinkled\u00a0over the tundra.\u00a0\u00a0It\u00a0didn’t look serious, but maybe it was time to head back.\u00a0 SPHP had noticed a small lake to the N on the way here.\u00a0 Lupe might as well check it out on her way back to the G6.<\/p>\n

Staying farther N helped avoid the worst of the tussocks.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0did find\u00a0the small lake, which proved to be quite close to the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 The shore of the lake was swampy.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP passed SW of the lake, eventually reaching the dry ground and animal trails leading to the faint old road to the highway.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the small lake near the swampy S shore. This lake (elevation 1,415 ft. on the Peakbagger.com topo map) is a mile W of Dillon Mountain. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe S of the lake. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dillon<\/a>
Dillon Mountain from the small lake. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"On<\/a>
On the way back to the G6 after SPHP gave up on Dillon Mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The rain showers hadn’t amounted to much, but about the time Lupe arrived back at the G6 (4:08 PM),\u00a0she heard thunder.\u00a0 The rain\u00a0started in again.\u00a0 This time it rained harder.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP took shelter in the G6, having a meal and then another nap, while the rain fell outside.<\/p>\n

Two or three hours later, SPHP woke up to the sound of Lupe panting.\u00a0 She was warm in the G6.\u00a0 Outside it was a cool, comfortable 57\u00b0F.\u00a0 The rain showers had passed on by.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP got out of the G6 for an evening stroll.\u00a0 At first there was no plan.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP went N in the ditch on the E side of the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 Machinery had recently churned the ground up, so it was a little rough.<\/p>\n

Soon the small lake was visible again.\u00a0 It was much closer to the Dalton Highway here, and bigger than SPHP had realized before.\u00a0 The W shore was also swampy, but Lupe didn’t care.\u00a0 She ran down into the lake for\u00a0a drink, and to lay down and cool off.\u00a0 In a couple of minutes, she came running back.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP wandered N in a band of trees W of the lake.\u00a0 SPHP picked a few more blueberries.\u00a0 The American Dingo sniffed the\u00a0exotic unfamiliar smells of the Alaskan tundra.\u00a0 It was still hard to believe Lupe was really here, 90 miles N of the Arctic Circle along the Dalton Highway in the Brooks Range of the Alaskan Arctic.\u00a0 Slowly, a simple plan\u00a0came to\u00a0mind.<\/p>\n

Before ever coming on this Dingo Vacation, SPHP had read online about the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 It goes 414 miles N to Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean.\u00a0 Right now, Lupe was almost exactly halfway there.\u00a0 The G6 was parked just N of milepost 207.<\/p>\n

If it had been possible to simply drive on to the Arctic Ocean, Lupe and SPHP would have done it.\u00a0 However, access to the ocean is fenced off 8 miles short of the ocean.\u00a0 Oil companies control the land near the shore.\u00a0 Since arriving in Alaska, SPHP had heard there were tours\u00a0reaching the Arctic Ocean from Deadhorse, but had no clue what they might cost, or whether a Carolina Dog would be allowed on them.<\/p>\n

No, Lupe wasn’t going on to the Arctic Ocean.\u00a0 In fact, on this gorgeous evening in the beautiful, remote Brooks Range of Alaska, maybe it was time for Lupe’s last mile N.\u00a0 It seemed fitting to do it on paw and foot.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP returned to the ditch E of the Dalton Highway, and started N.\u00a0 The torn up ground was rough and unappealing.\u00a0 Lupe went up\u00a0on the highway.<\/p>\n

Traffic was light, so it would have been easy enough to just walk N along the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 After 5 minutes, though, SPHP realized there was a dirt road following the Alaska pipeline about 200 or 300 yards off to the W.\u00a0 Wouldn’t that be more fun?\u00a0 Of course, it would!\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the highway and headed for the Alaska pipeline.<\/p>\n

It was the right decision.\u00a0 A broad swath of vegetation had been cleared beneath the pipeline, and along the dirt road just W of it.\u00a0 Lupe had a ton of fun racing into and out of the forest on both sides of the pipeline.\u00a0 There was no traffic at all.\u00a0 The pipeline itself was no nuisance, just kind of a dramatic reminder of where Lupe was, as close to the top of the world as she had ever been, or likely ever will be.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe having a blast running around near the Alaska pipeline W of the Dalton Highway and Dillon Mountain. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A raven appeared, and landed on the Alaska pipeline.\u00a0 It was curious about what a Carolina Dog was doing way up here in Alaska?\u00a0 The raven was joined by a few friends.\u00a0 They seemed to like watching Lupe, and hopping along on top of the pipeline.\u00a0 Sometimes they flew for short stretches, but they always landed on the pipeline again.\u00a0\u00a0Four\u00a0ravens flew and hopped,\u00a0following Lupe on her way\u00a0N.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>
One of four ravens that seemed to enjoy using the Alaska oil pipeline as a perch from which to monitor Lupe’s activities on her last mile N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The easy stroll N along the pipeline was a wonderful way to spend the evening.\u00a0 When Lupe had gone about a mile, she came to a clear, rushing stream.\u00a0 It was flowing W from the valley N of Dillon Mountain\u00a0toward the Dietrich River.\u00a0 The water was incredibly clear, and must have been cold, but Lupe waded right in for a taste of the pure water.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe waded right into the incredibly clear, cold stream flowing W from the valley N of Dillon Mountain. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Whoooeeee!<\/a>
Whoooeeee! These clear waters are Carolina Dog tested and certified pure and cold!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Now<\/a>
Now that’s refreshing! Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Lupe to\u00a0go any significant distance farther N, SPHP would have had to ford the stream, or gone E back to the Dalton Highway.\u00a0 SPHP decided against it.<\/p>\n

Lupe had already gone a mile N.\u00a0 The stream was low this time of year.\u00a0 Lupe could follow the mostly exposed streambed, which\u00a0angled NW before reaching the stream’s\u00a0confluence with the Dietrich River.\u00a0 That confluence could be her point of farthest advance N.\u00a0 For some reason, the idea appealed to SPHP.\u00a0 Lupe had no objections.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe on her way along the stream bed to this stream’s confluence with the Dietrich River. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Carolina Dogs range much farther than their name implies. This one is way up N of the Arctic Circle in Alaska! Carolina Dogs simply consider this extreme northern North Carolina. Of course, it also happens to be part of extreme western West Carolina.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It only took 10 or 12 minutes for Lupe to reach the clear stream’s confluence with the Dietrich River.\u00a0 Lupe’s last mile N was complete.\u00a0 She was as far N as she had ever been in her life.\u00a0 So was SPHP.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP sat together for a while on the bank above the river, close to 90 miles N of the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range of Alaska.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the end of her last mile N at the confluence of the clear running stream and the Dietrich River. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There’s a last time for everything.\u00a0 Usually though, one doesn’t think about it at the time.\u00a0 There’s a last\u00a0day\u00a0you will ever be in school, a last time you will ever leave the place where you work, or go out the front door of a house you’ve lived in for many years.<\/p>\n

There is a last time you will\u00a0see favorite places you’ve been to hundreds of time, or visit special friends.\u00a0 There’s a last time you will say good-bye to\u00a0your parents, your children, your spouse, your pets,\u00a0and to\u00a0everyone and everything\u00a0you have known and\u00a0loved, and perhaps\u00a0too often taken for granted.\u00a0 And there\u00a0are some points beyond which you will never go.<\/p>\n

SPHP stroked Lupe’s fur and praised her.\u00a0\u00a0Lupe listened carefully.\u00a0\u00a0Still farther N, were more beautiful mountains seen through the mist of more rain showers.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP had a conversation.\u00a0 This was an important moment.<\/p>\n

\"Still<\/a>
Still farther N beyond the Dietrich River were wild boreal mountains seen through the haze of rain showers. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, Loopster, this is it.\u00a0 This is as far N as we are ever likely to be in our entire lives.\u00a0 We are only a little more than 200 miles S of the Arctic Ocean.\u00a0 Perhaps less, as those ravens on the pipeline fly.\u00a0 Once we leave this place, we will probably never, ever\u00a0be this far N again.\u00a0\u00a0Kind of sad to think about, but this is\u00a0a gorgeous spot, isn’t it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes,\u00a0this place is\u00a0fantastic, but why aren’t we going adventuring all the way to the Arctic Ocean?\u00a0 Is there something wrong with it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, I don’t know if they will let you on a tour to the Arctic Ocean.\u00a0 Access is restricted.\u00a0 It’s still a long way to go just to find out if they will take you.\u00a0 Probably not worth it.\u00a0 Remember the Lu-Lu Belle<\/strong><\/a><\/span> in Valdez?\u00a0 You couldn’t go on the Lu-Lu Belle, and I doubt\u00a0you can go to the Arctic Ocean.\u00a0 Don’t worry, though, you have lots of other adventures lined up ahead of you in Alaska, but they are all farther S than this place.\u00a0 Besides, I kind of like the idea of stopping here.<\/em><\/p>\n

Unfair!\u00a0 Sounds like discrimination against Carolina Dogs to me!\u00a0 I’d like to see the Arctic Ocean!\u00a0 Itch my belly would you?\u00a0 Ahh, better.\u00a0 Why do you want to stop here, anyway?\u00a0 We are having such a great time going N!<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, we are having a great time, the best ever maybe.\u00a0\u00a0Perhaps it’s silly, but I guess I’m thinking of calling it good here for several reasons.\u00a0 First, I don’t know if you can go all the way\u00a0to the Arctic Ocean.\u00a0 It doesn’t make any sense to me to drive way up to within 8 miles of it,\u00a0only to\u00a0get turned back.\u00a0 It would be too frustrating, not to mention an unnecessary expense.<\/em><\/p>\n

Second, even though I doubt we will ever be here again, I kind of want to leave a reason to come back.\u00a0 See that cool mountain a few miles off to the N?<\/em><\/p>\n

The dark blue one on the right where it’s raining now?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, that’s the one.\u00a0 I like that mountain.\u00a0 It looks mysterious.\u00a0 We saw it from the top of Sukakpak yesterday, remember?\u00a0 Something about me doesn’t want to see the end of the mountains.\u00a0 Let’s not go all the way to the end of the Brooks Range, or any farther than we are right now.\u00a0 That way we can still imagine that the mountains continue on forever, that there’s no end to them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, yeah, that sounds like human logic to me!\u00a0 Can I interest you in some sweet swampland in Carolina?\u00a0 The tooth fairy invested down there, you know!<\/em><\/p>\n

Loop, I’ve been thinking about giving that mysterious mountain a private name.\u00a0 We can always remember\u00a0how beautiful it is,\u00a0and still dream that someday we will return to climb it.\u00a0 What do you think?<\/em><\/p>\n

Geez, SPHP!\u00a0 I think you have whole flights of bats in your belfry.\u00a0 We are almost to it!\u00a0 If you want to go climb that mountain, we can do it tomorrow!\u00a0 Why leave and dream about it till the day you die, when you don’t think we will ever be back?<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, because it leaves us a goal, a reason to return.\u00a0 That way we can always tell ourselves we are coming back.\u00a0 Who knows?\u00a0 The future isn’t set in stone.\u00a0 Maybe someday we actually will return.\u00a0 Besides, we are in the Arctic.\u00a0 I haven’t done any research on that mountain.\u00a0 Maybe there’s no way we could climb it.\u00a0 We might get ourselves in trouble wandering off into unknown territory without so much as a topo map.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, I suppose that makes a little tiny amount of sense, SPHP.\u00a0 If it makes you happy, whatever.\u00a0 I still think we could go there tomorrow, and see if we could climb it without any harm done.\u00a0 So what’s the real name of that mountain, and what name were you thinking of giving it?\u00a0 By the way, keep petting me, don’t stop!\u00a0 Dingoes love getting\u00a0love.\u00a0 We give lots of love, and expect a little in return, you know.<\/em><\/p>\n

Of course, sweet puppy!\u00a0 Let me kiss you on your furry nose.\u00a0 All better?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, that’s the idea!\u00a0 Don’t stop!<\/em><\/p>\n

OK, about that mysterious mountain.\u00a0 I have no clue what\u00a0its real name is.\u00a0 At first I was thinking we could call it Northern Lights Mountain, but I’ve kind of settled on Mountain of the Midnight Sun.\u00a0 We haven’t actually seen the northern lights by it, but we did see it in twilight last night\u00a0at midnight on the way back from Sukakpak.<\/em><\/p>\n

Twilight isn’t the same as seeing the midnight sun.<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, we would have seen the midnight sun if we’d been here in June instead of August.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah, but who knows how many nights of the year we might be able to see the Northern Lights, here?\u00a0 Maybe most of them?<\/em><\/p>\n

Perhaps.\u00a0 Do you want it to be Northern Lights Mountain, then?<\/em><\/p>\n

Doesn’t matter to me.\u00a0 Mountain of the Midnight Sun is fine.\u00a0 Just saying there wouldn’t have been anything wrong with Northern Lights Mountain.\u00a0 If you leave it up to me, we’re calling it Squirrel Mountain – now that’s a mountain worth coming back to!\u00a0 Speaking of the Midnight Sun, do you intend to wait for it right here?\u00a0 I’d kind of like to go see if there are any squirrels in that forest S of here along the river.<\/em><\/p>\n

OK, fine.\u00a0 You can go look for squirrels, but it’s Mountain of the Midnight Sun, not Squirrel Mountain.\u00a0 You can name the next mountain.\u00a0 On this one, I’m calling the shots.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Squirrel<\/a>
Squirrel Mountain – no, wait – Mountain of the Midnight Sun, as seen with help from the telephoto lens at the end of Lupe’s last mile N. Brooks Range, Alaska. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP left\u00a0the\u00a0end of Lupe’s last mile N forever, heading S along the Dietrich River.\u00a0 At first Lupe stuck with SPHP\u00a0out on the rocks and sand exposed on the riverbed.\u00a0 She wasn’t the least bit disappointed, though,\u00a0when the river swung over the E bank, forcing\u00a0SPHP up into the forest.<\/p>\n

The forest was so exciting, Lupe took off running.\u00a0 SPHP saw her dashing here and there, but soon she was out of sight.\u00a0 When she didn’t return for a few minutes, SPHP started calling her before she got so far away she became disoriented and lost.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t return.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, there was shrill American Dingo yelping going on a long way off to the SE, followed by a chattering.\u00a0 That crazy Carolina Dog actually had found a squirrel in the Arctic!\u00a0 SPHP pressed on through the forest toward all the commotion.<\/p>\n

The forest was dense and jungley.\u00a0 As is often the case, SPHP made slow progress.\u00a0\u00a0Before SPHP reached the squirrel tree, Lupe\u00a0had given up on\u00a0the alarmed and annoyed squirrel.\u00a0 Most inconsiderately, the squirrel had refused to come down out of the tree to be devoured.\u00a0 That’s squirrels, for you!\u00a0 They’re a stubborn lot!\u00a0 Lupe returned searching for SPHP.\u00a0 She\u00a0tracked that slowpoke down in nothing flat.<\/p>\n

If the Dietrich River had stayed over by its W bank, it would have been fun to follow the river all the way S to its confluence with the Bettles River near the Dalton Highway, but\u00a0SPHP had already seen that wasn’t going to work.\u00a0 Best to just head E back to the Alaska oil pipeline.<\/p>\n

Going E, Lupe and SPHP quickly arrived at an open area normally flooded when the Dietrich River\u00a0ran high.\u00a0 Ahead was a wide channel of nearly\u00a0stagnant water.\u00a0 This sluggish stream\u00a0looked deep and mucky.\u00a0 It must have surfaced from underground\u00a0somewhere back upstream.\u00a0\u00a0Clearly, there\u00a0wouldn’t be any way to cross it to the S.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP turned N again.<\/p>\n

45 minutes after Lupe and SPHP headed S forever from the confluence of the clear-running stream and the Dietrich River, Lupe was back!\u00a0 Funny how things go.\u00a0 Once again, Lupe and SPHP paused\u00a0to\u00a0enjoy this fateful spot.\u00a0\u00a0Finally, it was time to start up the dry\u00a0streambed of the clear-running stream, heading SE toward the Alaska pipeline.\u00a0 Like a giant gold nugget, Dillon Mountain glowed in the late evening sunlight.<\/p>\n

\"Golden<\/a>
Golden Dillon Mountain glowing in the late evening sunlight. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached the Alaska oil pipeline again.\u00a0 The ravens had flown away.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP turned S, following the pipeline.\u00a0 The evening was gorgeous.\u00a0 Straight ahead was spectacular Sukakpak Mountain.\u00a0 Only yesterday, Lupe and SPHP had been at the very top, looking down from a great height.<\/p>\n

Lupe romped around in the forests near the pipeline.\u00a0 As far as she was concerned, this hike was as fabulous as climbing any mountain.\u00a0 With Sukakpak to admire, it was hard to disagree.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe had a great time again romping around in the forests near the Alaska oil pipeline on the way back S. Spectacular Sukakpak Mountain was dead ahead on the return trip. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sukakpak<\/a>
Sukakpak Mountain, Brooks Range, Alaska. Lupe is still racing around at the lower L. Only yesterday, Lupe and SPHP had been at the summit of Sukakpak. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fun<\/a>
Fun times in the Arctic!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP followed the Alaska oil pipeline all the way S to where it crossed the Dietrich River.\u00a0 The Dalton Highway and the G6 weren’t far away now.\u00a0 Lupe postponed going back to the G6.\u00a0 The evening was simply too wonderful.\u00a0 For a little while, Lupe and SPHP\u00a0wandered NW along rocks and sandbars exposed along the river.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe reaches the Dietrich River again near the Dalton Highway. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP went as far along the exposed riverbed as the river permitted, before it flowed right up against the forested bank.\u00a0 Well, this was it.\u00a0 It really was time to go back to the G6.\u00a0 Sadly, the evening of Lupe’s last mile N was almost over.\u00a0 On the bright side, at least tomorrow was another adventure!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe heads back to the G6, which is parked as far N as it would ever go beyond milepost 207 along the Dalton Highway. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In fact, Lupe wasn’t going any farther\u00a0S tomorrow than where she was right now.\u00a0 She was staying here, spending another full day\u00a0in the far N.\u00a0 Her ascent of Dillon Mountain was still to come!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Happy Lupe at the end of her last mile N, Brooks Range, Alaska 8-14-16.<\/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 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sukakpak Mountain, Brooks Range, Alaska (8-13-16)<\/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><\/span><\/a>, <\/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 16 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska. Lupe barely stirred.\u00a0 SPHP woke briefly several times.\u00a0 Eventually, it was light out, a beautiful bright Arctic\u00a0day, but weariness still overcame.\u00a0 SPHP could hardly move.\u00a0\u00a0The sandman\u00a0prevailed. After yesterday’s amazing, and ultimately triumphant, climb of Sukakpak Mountain (4,459 ft.), Lupe … Continue reading Lupe’s Last Mile North, Brooks Range, Alaska (8-14-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7402,"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":[704,105,723,106,915,730,26,729,104,728],"class_list":["post-7414","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-dillon-mountain","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-last-mile-north","tag-lupe","tag-mountain-of-the-midnight-sun"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/IMG_2021.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\/7414","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=7414"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22443,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7414\/revisions\/22443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}