{"id":7581,"date":"2017-02-10T08:10:39","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T15:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=7581"},"modified":"2023-04-17T18:05:07","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T00:05:07","slug":"kesugi-ridge-whimbrel-hill-the-golog-benchmark-denali-state-park-alaska-8-19-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=7581","title":{"rendered":"K’esugi Ridge: Whimbrel Hill & the Golog Benchmark, Denali State Park, Alaska (8-19-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 21 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska<\/em><\/p>\n

Lupe was still\u00a0in Alaska in\u00a0gorgeous Denali State Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 Unfortunately,\u00a0 she wasn’t going to get a clear view of Denali<\/a><\/span> (20,310 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0today, either.\u00a0 Rain had fallen overnight.\u00a0 It wasn’t raining now, but the morning sky was socked in with clouds.\u00a0 Looked like another morning would be wasted waiting on the weather.<\/p>\n

SPHP drove to\u00a0Byers Lake\u00a0at milepost 147.0 along the George\u00a0Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3), and found a picnic ground.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP enjoyed a leisurely brunch.\u00a0 After Lupe’s long day\u00a0yesterday spent climbing Indian\u00a0Benchmark<\/a><\/span> (4,558 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and K’esugi Mountain<\/a><\/span> (4,700 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0near the N end of the K’esugi Ridge\u00a0Trail, maybe a restful morning was a good thing.<\/p>\n

Nearby, a man sat under a large canvas canopy.\u00a0 He worked\u00a0for a company renting out canoes and kayaks for short term use on Byers Lake.\u00a0 The company also offered rafting trips on the Chulitna River.\u00a0 Despite the\u00a0cool, overcast weather, he was doing some business.<\/p>\n

Finally, noon was approaching.\u00a0 Still nothing, but gray skies and the occasional stray raindrop.\u00a0 Was Lupe going back up to K’esugi Ridge, or not?\u00a0 It was a long way to the Golog Benchmark<\/a><\/span> (2,970 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Decision time.\u00a0 Even though Lupe was unlikely to see Denali<\/a><\/span> (20,310 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, she would\u00a0undoubtedly enjoy the trek.\u00a0 Best get going.<\/p>\n

Signs said the suspension bridge over Byers Creek NE of the lake was unusable.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0would have\u00a0to go the long way on the Byers Lake Trail around the SW end of the lake to get to the Cascade Trail.\u00a0 The long way added an extra 1.3 miles, but there was nothing to be done about it.\u00a0 So what?\u00a0 Lupe didn’t care.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the Byers Lake Trail. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Byers Lake, Denali State Park, Alaska. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the SW end of Byers Lake, Lupe\u00a0came to a long wooden bridge across the Byers Creek outlet.\u00a0 The smooth flowing stream was very wide and several feet deep.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the long wooden bridge across the Byers Creek outlet from Byers Lake. The entire bridge over the placid stream was about 100 feet long. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three people were standing on the bridge, peering into the water.\u00a0 SPHP asked what they were doing.\u00a0 They were watching salmon swim upstream, came the reply.\u00a0 SPHP looked into the water, but saw nothing.\u00a0 Just wait, SPHP was told.\u00a0 The salmon\u00a0come swimming up in small groups every 3 to 5 minutes.\u00a0 Sometimes they swim downstream from the lake, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking S (downstream) along Byer’s Creek. Three people were watching salmon swim upstream from this bridge when Lupe arrived. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sure enough!\u00a0 In only a couple of minutes, several salmon did come swimming upstream.\u00a0 They\u00a0passed beneath\u00a0the bridge, swimming\u00a0slowly.\u00a0 The salmon appeared tired, perhaps exhausted, from their long migration all the way from the ocean to Byers Lake.<\/p>\n

The poor\u00a0salmon\u00a0were already starting to disintegrate.\u00a0 They\u00a0were arriving\u00a0at Byers Lake battered and scarred from their heroic journey.\u00a0\u00a0They bore long white wounds on their backs where scales had flaked off,\u00a0or been torn away from the flesh.\u00a0 The sight was both tragic and inspiring.\u00a0 The salmon deserved pity, respect, and admiration.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The salmon in Byers Creek were readily spotted by the long white scars on their backs where their scales were missing. The poor battered salmon had earned pity, respect and admiration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One\u00a0salmon was all red, except for\u00a0its green head.\u00a0 That was a sockeye salmon<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP stayed watching the salmon for 20 minutes before continuing on.<\/p>\n

On the SE side of Byers Lake, the Byers Lake Trail was often muddy and slick.\u00a0 A great many tree roots made the trail rough and uneven.\u00a0\u00a0In places, large mushrooms grew near the trail.\u00a0 A few of them were brilliantly colored, and quite striking in appearance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Large mushrooms grew in places along the Byers Lake Trail. Most of them were dull colors, but a few were brilliantly colored and striking in appearance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>Lupe passed by a small remote campground near the NE end of the lake.\u00a0 No one was there.\u00a0 Lupe was well beyond Byers Lake by the time she reached\u00a0a junction with the Cascade Trail.<\/p>\n

The Cascade Trail connects the Byers Lake Trail to the long K’esugi Ridge Trail popular with multi-day backpackers.\u00a0 Lupe had gained very little elevation coming around Byers Lake.\u00a0 Most of\u00a0her elevation gain for the day would come along the Cascade Trail.<\/p>\n

The Cascade Trail started off rising gently, but that changed pretty quickly.\u00a0 Soon Lupe was gaining elevation steadily at a good clip.\u00a0 The first part of the Cascade Trail was still down in a forest.\u00a0 Ferns grew in great abundance on the forest floor.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the Cascade Trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before long, a roaring waterfall could be heard off to the NE, no doubt the cascade the trail was named after.\u00a0 Lupe never had a good view of it, however.\u00a0 The trail never got that close.<\/p>\n

The trail passed over a small hill, then lost a little elevation going down to a creek.\u00a0 Lupe was still seeing colorful mushrooms along the way.\u00a0 Once down by the creek, the trail started a more serious climb.\u00a0 There were two creek fords, which were easily passable this\u00a0time of year\u00a0using stepping stones.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
More colorful mushrooms. These were along the Cascade Trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>The trail followed the creek up a narrow ravine for a while, then finally left it and began to switchback up onto K’esugi Ridge.\u00a0 The map SPHP had along showed the Cascade Trail was only 2.0 miles long.\u00a0 Maybe SPHP was just worn out from\u00a0Lupe’s previous day’s adventure, but it seemed twice that long.<\/p>\n

After an endless stretch down in the forest and then among\u00a0tall bushes, Lupe was finally high enough above the dense vegetation to get a view of the progress she’d made.\u00a0 Byers Lake already looked surprisingly far away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe finally reached this viewpoint after a long climb on the Cascade Trail. Byers Lake(Center) was already surprisingly far away. The Chulitna River is seen in the distance. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe left the switchbacks behind.\u00a0 The Cascade Trail began to straighten out, climbing more\u00a0directly up the slope toward the top of K’esugi Ridge.\u00a0 Gradually the slope of the\u00a0terrain lessened.\u00a0 There was more good news, too!\u00a0 The sky was getting brighter.\u00a0 The clouds weren’t as gloomy and gray as before.\u00a0 Little patches of blue sky began to appear.<\/p>\n

Before reaching the top of K’esugi Ridge, the Cascade Trail ended at an intersection.\u00a0 Lupe avoided taking the\u00a0Upper Troublesome Creek Trail, which turned S (R).\u00a0 Both of her peakbagging objectives,\u00a0Whimbrel Hill and the Golog Benchmark, were to the NE.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0headed ESE (L)\u00a0on the K’esugi Ridge Trail.<\/p>\n

The top of K’esugi Ridge wasn’t much farther.\u00a0 Lupe gradually gained another 200 feet of\u00a0elevation.\u00a0 The trail had nearly topped out\u00a0by the time Lupe reached\u00a0a barren hillside overlooking Mini-Skinny Lake to the S.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The K’esugi Ridge Trail had nearly topped out by the time Lupe reached this barren hillside overlooking Mini-Skinny Lake. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The K’esugi Ridge Trail gradually turned NE as Lupe continued on past Mini-Skinny Lake.\u00a0 For a while the trail was nearly level, passing over open tundra.\u00a0 Large boulders dotted the landscape, especially\u00a0toward the NE end of the hill Lupe was on.\u00a0\u00a0With encouragement from SPHP, she\u00a0got up on one of the biggest ones, which was sporting a cairn.\u00a0 From the boulder, Lupe could see her two peakbagging objectives for the day, still miles away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
As Lupe continued on the K’esugi Ridge Trail beyond Mini-Skinny Lake, large boulders dotted the tundra ahead. Photo looks ENE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe got up on the largest boulder she could find, which sported a cairn. Whimbrel Hill is the low ridge seen just to her R. Golog Benchmark is the highest distant point in the sunshine beyond the lake on the R. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Whimbrel Hill is in the distance to the R of Lupe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Golog Benchmark(L) is the highest of the light-colored hills beyond the lakes. Photo looks NE using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had reached the NE edge of the big hill she was on.\u00a0\u00a0Ahead, K’esugi Ridge was miles wide, all wind-swept tundra.\u00a0 Lupe saw\u00a0scattered lakes and ponds.\u00a0 A few trees struggled for survival.\u00a0 Bushes several feet high clustered\u00a0near some of the creeks and wetlands.\u00a0 The terrain was undulating.\u00a0 From here on, all elevation changes would be gradual.<\/p>\n

Whimbrel Hill<\/a><\/span> (2,645 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was the closest of Lupe’s objectives, still a couple miles to the NE.\u00a0 Lupe started\u00a0down the hill, following K’esugi Ridge Trail toward it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on her way to Whimbrel Hill. The summit is the high point seen directly above her. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After losing a fair amount of elevation, the K’esugi Ridge Trail disappeared as Lupe reached a marshy valley full of bushes.\u00a0 A stream with significant flow weaved through it all.\u00a0 Water seemed to be everywhere.\u00a0 Right next to where the trail had been heading, there\u00a0was even a small pond with a couple of ducks on it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe saw two ducks on this little pond. One flew away at Lupe’s approach, but this one was unperturbed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had no problem leaping over the stream, but SPHP\u00a0went upstream, hoping the flow diminished in that direction.\u00a0 The stream was only a few feet wide, but it was fairly deep.\u00a0\u00a0Swampy ground made it\u00a0hard to even get close\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0stream’s edge, which was often poorly defined.<\/p>\n

What SPHP didn’t realize was, this stream comes from the largest\u00a0of the small lakes in the area.\u00a0 The flow wasn’t going to diminish upstream.\u00a0 Nevertheless, SPHP finally found a way across.\u00a0 Lupe continued NE on the K’esugi\u00a0Ridge Trail, which reappeared on drier ground about where it\u00a0could\u00a0have been\u00a0expected, if SPHP had simply splashed directly across the marsh.<\/p>\n

The K’esugi Ridge Trail brought Lupe fairly close to the largest lake in the area, passing to the NW of it.\u00a0 N of the lake,\u00a0the trail reached its\u00a0closest point\u00a0from Whimbrel Hill, which was still\u00a0almost 0.5\u00a0mile\u00a0farther N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe, now past the stream in the marshy valley, approaches the largest lake in the area. The K’esugi Ridge Trail never reached the lake, but passed fairly close by to the NW of it. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The K’esugi Ridge Trail ran next to this pond S of Whimbrel Hill(R). Once past this pond, Lupe left the trail to go climb Whimbrel. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP left the K’esugi Ridge\u00a0trail, and made the easy trek across the tundra to Whimbrel Hill.\u00a0 At the summit, Lupe found a rock shaped like a pedestal, or\u00a0very flat mushroom.\u00a0 Rocks piled on top served as a rough cairn.\u00a0 Lupe jumped onto the pedestal to claim her first peakbagging success of the day!\u00a0 She graciously\u00a0received congratulations from SPHP.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the rock pedestal at the summit of Whimbrel Hill. The hill seen on the horizon beyond her is where she had just come from. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe still on the summit pedestal on Whimbrel Hill. Golog Benchmark is on the horizon just L of Center. Lupe still had a long way to go to get there! Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on a different rock, with a view of the largest lake in the area. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Whimbrel Hill, a decision had to be made.\u00a0 Due to Lupe’s very late start, it was already late in the day.\u00a0 Golog Benchmark was still a long way off to the NE.\u00a0 Going all the way to it clearly meant getting back to the G6 well after nightfall.\u00a0 Was Whimbrel Hill the end, or should the American Dingo forge on ahead to Golog?<\/p>\n

The weather was basically good and seemed stable.\u00a0 Off to the NW, Denali and the Alaska Range were still cloaked in dark clouds.\u00a0 Rain showers could always be seen\u00a0drifting NE along the Chulitna River valley\u00a0in that direction.\u00a0 Over K’esugi Ridge, however, the clouds weren’t nearly so dark.\u00a0 Occasionally, Lupe basked in sunshine.<\/p>\n

The terrain was easy, and Lupe would have trails to follow all the way back.\u00a0 This was probably Lupe’s only chance to ever get to Golog.\u00a0 If she left K’esugi Ridge now, who knew when, or\u00a0if, she would ever return?\u00a0 The sun would still be up for another couple of hours.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Should Lupe go on to the Golog Benchmark(L) despite the late hour, or skip it? The bottom line was, conditions were OK, and this was probably Lupe’s only chance to ever go there. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chance of a lifetime!\u00a0 If the Carolina Dog was ever going to see Golog Benchmark, she had best get going.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed SE down Whimbrel Hill angling to meet up with the K’esugi Ridge Trail farther NE than where Lupe had left it.<\/p>\n

Lupe had a blast on K’esugi Ridge!\u00a0 She displayed enormous energy racing across the tundra, sometimes so far from SPHP that she had to be called back to make certain she didn’t get lost.\u00a0 The distant tiny Dingo always returned at top speed, full of enthusiasm.\u00a0 It was still disappointing to SPHP that Denali wasn’t going to make an appearance, but that was the hand that had been dealt.<\/p>\n

Lupe wouldn’t have changed a thing.\u00a0 Of all the\u00a0grand adventures Lupe had on her Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon, and Alaska, Lupe might well rank this day roaming free on K’esugi Ridge as the best.<\/p>\n

Lupe came to many little streams and ponds.\u00a0 The K’esugi Ridge Trail had lots of mucky, wet sections, and minor creek crossings.\u00a0 SPHP soon learned how to tell where the wetlands were by the appearance of the vegetation in the area.\u00a0 Lupe climbed rocks and hillsides.\u00a0 She investigated holes in the ground.\u00a0 She sniffed everywhere, discovering whatever mysteries float in the Alaskan breeze.<\/p>\n

The tundra was alive with brilliantly colored\u00a0low-lying plants.\u00a0 Crowberries and other berries were in great abundance.\u00a0 Beauty spread from\u00a0beneath Lupe’s paws as far as the eye could see in every direction.\u00a0 What a fabulous place and wonderful day to be alive!\u00a0 The trek to Golog was long, but easy and magnificent.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe spent most of her day on K’esugi Ridge running. She made frequent stops to investigate rocks and plants. Here she investigates a hole in the ground. She remained steadfastly enthusiastic despite receiving only a mouthful of dirt as a reward.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reached the K’esugi Ridge Trail again well to the NE of where she had left it. Photo looks SW back toward the largest lake in the area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Crowberries like these grew in great abundance on K’esugi Ridge, and in many other places Lupe visited in Alaska. Sometimes SPHP ate a few. Not as good as blueberries, but they weren’t bad.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another of the larger lakes Lupe saw on K’esugi Ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
No, that’s not the top of Golog ahead, but Lupe was steadily getting closer. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Red berries of unknown variety. SPHP didn’t try any of these. Lupe didn’t either.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Golog Benchmark from the SW. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The last marsh before the climb to the top of Golog. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At last, Lupe drew near Golog.\u00a0 The trail\u00a0rose steeply, twisting to avoid boulders.\u00a0 The climb took only a few minutes.\u00a0 Lupe arrived up on a fairly level summit area perhaps 60′ x 100′ in size.\u00a0 There was little vegetation.\u00a0 Most of the area was\u00a0exposed bedrock.\u00a0 A huge boulder coated with light green lichens, was perched at the very top.<\/p>\n

A chill and rather strong breeze was blowing.\u00a0 Although it had been sunny out not long before, the sun had sunk into the storm clouds to the NW\u00a0hanging over the Alaska Range.\u00a0 Lupe took a break and had some Taste of the Wild, partially sheltered from the wind by the huge boulder.\u00a0 Meanwhile, SPHP searched around for a survey benchmark, but found none.<\/p>\n

Lupe climbed to the top of the crowning boulder, to see if the actual survey benchmark was there.\u00a0 No, not here either, but Lupe had made it to the top of Golog Benchmark hill!\u00a0 Congratulations were in order once more.\u00a0 SPHP shook her paw, praising\u00a0the energy, endurance, and enthusiasm\u00a0she had displayed coming all this way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on Golog’s huge crowning boulder coated with light green lichens. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

\"\"<\/a>
This photo shows much of the terrain Lupe covered on K’esugi Ridge this day. The largest lake and the ridge beyond it where Mini-Skinny Lake is located are to Lupe’s R in the sunlight. The low light-colored ridge on the R edge of the photo is Whimbrel Hill. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe jumped down off the huge boulder to escape the cold SW breeze.\u00a0 SPHP searched the larger summit area again, but never found the actual\u00a0survey benchmark.\u00a0 That was a bit surprising.\u00a0 There was no question that Lupe was on the highest point around, and the trail had come right to it.\u00a0 This had to be Golog!<\/p>\n

For 20 minutes, Lupe and SPHP remained on Golog.\u00a0 Lupe had seen only one person on K’esugi Ridge all day.\u00a0 In the chilly breeze, beneath the cloudy sky, the beautiful, vast,\u00a0wild tundra\u00a0felt desolate, forlorn, forgotten.\u00a0 The K’esugi Ridge Trail went on past Golog continuing NE for miles.\u00a0 Lupe could see Skinny Lake ahead\u00a0(the big Skinny Lake, not Mini-Skinny), hundreds of feet lower than Golog.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From Golog, Lupe could see Skinny Lake. The K’esugi Ridge Trail continues on passing close by to the N (L) of Skinny Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Somewhere out there, miles beyond Skinny Lake, the N end of the trail passed near K’esugi Mountain where Lupe had such a good time yesterday.\u00a0 Wouldn’t it be fun to backpack the entire trail someday?\u00a0 Yes, someday.\u00a0 A someday that likely would never come.\u00a0 Yet Lupe was here now, still young, strong and happy.\u00a0 A moment to be cherished and enjoyed.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s time on Golog passed quickly.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Most of the larger summit area on Golog was exposed bedrock. The Chulitna River valley is in the distance. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking NW toward the Chulitna River valley and stormy Alaska Range beyond. Somewhere over there, hidden by the storm, was Denali, the highest mountain in North America.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking E along Golog’s summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Whimbrel Hill(Center). The K’esugi Ridge Trail is seen below. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After Lupe left Golog, the sun managed to break through the clouds.\u00a0 Briefly, the tundra\u00a0glowed,\u00a0illuminated by weak, slanting rays.\u00a0 Earth’s star was fighting\u00a0a losing battle.\u00a0\u00a0Gloom swallowed it whole a final time.\u00a0 Shadow spread over K’esugi Ridge.<\/p>\n

For a while, Lupe resumed her energetic forays racing\u00a0over the tundra, but even Carolina Dogs eventually tire.\u00a0 After two long days\u00a0exploring the glories of K’esugi Ridge, Lupe was out of gas.\u00a0 She returned to SPHP on the trail.\u00a0 She begged SPHP to carry her, or stop and rest.<\/p>\n

SPHP was close to being\u00a0played out, too.\u00a0 There was no way Lupe could be carried any significant distance.\u00a0 There wasn’t time to take long rest breaks, either.\u00a0 Lupe needed to make it back to the junction with the Cascade Trail before it got too dark.\u00a0 It was important not to miss the turn.\u00a0 Lupe got a few short rest breaks, but that was all she was allowed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the way back. She is on a narrow plank bridge across one of the many wetlands along the K’esugi Ridge Trail. This bridge was long, skinny, and even had a curving 90\u00b0 turn in it. It was one of the very few improvements along the trail. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe arrived at the Cascade Trail while there was still enough twilight for SPHP to spot the junction.\u00a0 Lupe made the turn.\u00a0 The Cascade Trail hadn’t gotten any shorter, even though Lupe was now going downhill.\u00a0 When the American Dingo reached the black forest, the headlamp had to come out.<\/p>\n

On and on, in the dark.\u00a0 Lupe seemed to have gained a second wind.\u00a0 SPHP, on the other hand, was dragging.\u00a0 By the time Lupe made it back to the Byers Lake Trail, each step was painful.\u00a0 Tree roots on the trail didn’t help.<\/p>\n

Finally, it was over.\u00a0 SPHP limped back to the G6.\u00a0 Lupe jumped inside, anxious to lay down.\u00a0 Gads!\u00a0 3:37 AM.\u00a0 No wonder.\u00a0 A piece of paper was under the windshield wiper.\u00a0\u00a0A reminder from officialdom that the $5.00 parking fee for the new day was already due.\u00a0 Splendid.<\/p>\n

Well, Loop, we should get our $5.00 worth tomorrow.\u00a0 I doubt I’ll be able to budge from this spot.\u00a0 <\/em>No response.\u00a0 Lupe was gone – still running joyful and\u00a0free across the Alaskan tundra in Dingo Dreamland.\u00a0 Run, Loop, run!<\/em><\/p>\n

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

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

K’esugi Ridge: Ermine Hill & Peak 3700, Denali State Park, Alaska (9-4-18)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

K’esugi Ridge: Ermine Hill, Denali State Park, Alaska (8-26-17)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

K’esugi Ridge: Indian Benchmark & K’esugi Mountain, Denali State Park, Alaska (8-18-16)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Denali State Park<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Denali State Park Brochure<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Map & Guide to K’esugi Ridge South Trail System<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Map & Guide to K’esugi Ridge North Trail System<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On K’esugi Ridge, Denali State Park, Alaska<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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 21 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Lupe was still\u00a0in Alaska in\u00a0gorgeous Denali State Park.\u00a0 Unfortunately,\u00a0 she wasn’t going to get a clear view of Denali (20,310 ft.)\u00a0today, either.\u00a0 Rain had fallen overnight.\u00a0 It wasn’t raining now, but the morning sky was socked in with clouds.\u00a0 … Continue reading K’esugi Ridge: Whimbrel Hill & the Golog Benchmark, Denali State Park, Alaska (8-19-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7619,"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":[704,105,736,106,731,26,738,732,104,11,737],"class_list":["post-7581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-byers-lake","tag-carolina-dog","tag-denali-state-park","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-golog-benchmark","tag-kesugi-ridge-trail","tag-lupe","tag-peakbagging","tag-whimbrel-hill"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/IMG_2174.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\/7581","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=7581"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47286,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7581\/revisions\/47286"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}