{"id":8221,"date":"2017-05-09T08:10:15","date_gmt":"2017-05-09T14:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8221"},"modified":"2020-05-13T09:20:01","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T15:20:01","slug":"flattop-mountain-blueberry-knoll-thunder-bird-falls-chugach-state-park-alaska-8-30-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8221","title":{"rendered":"Flattop Mountain, Blueberry Knoll & Thunder Bird Falls, Chugach State Park, Alaska (8-30-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 32 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska<\/em><\/p>\n

The replacement part didn’t look the same as the original one.\u00a0 Figures.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t have the tools, or the knowledge required\u00a0to fix the problem.\u00a0 Better not mess with it any more.\u00a0 For some reason, lots of bees were flying around the O’Reilly Auto Parts store parking lot, and SPHP is allergic.\u00a0 Time to get out of here!\u00a0 Even though the G6’s right front headlight still wasn’t working, SPHP reassembled everything.<\/p>\n

When SPHP had taken it all apart, hoping to simply replace the low beam headlight bulb, it turned out that wasn’t the problem.\u00a0 The bulb was fine, but the socket\u00a0it fit into\u00a0was partially melted.\u00a0 O’Reilly had the replacement part, or something that was supposed to work, for less than $10.<\/p>\n

However, there was no telling what it would take to find someone here in Anchorage who knew where that extra wire on\u00a0the replacement socket\u00a0should go, and had both the time and\u00a0tools needed to\u00a0install it.\u00a0 A simple oil change had been $60, and taken hours to line up this morning.<\/p>\n

When Lupe got home to the Black Hills in South Dakota, SPHP was going to just order a whole new headlight assembly and be done with it.\u00a0 That meant the $50 fix-it ticket would have to be paid, since there was no way an Alaskan state trooper would ever get to inspect the new headlight to confirm it worked, but that’s life.\u00a0 Que sera, sera.<\/p>\n

No more wasting Lupe’s precious time\u00a0in Alaska!\u00a0 The morning had already shot by.\u00a0 Fortunately, there was a nice little adventure she could do this afternoon.\u00a0 Lupe could climb Flattop Mountain<\/a><\/span> (3,510 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the most frequently climbed mountain in Alaska, with great views of Anchorage from the top!<\/p>\n

Back to the Glenn Alps Trailhead (2:39 PM, 61\u00b0F)!\u00a0 Only yesterday, Lupe had started off from here\u00a0for a fabulous day spent climbing The Wedge<\/a><\/span> (4,660 ft.) <\/span><\/strong>and The Ramp<\/a> <\/span>(5,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Glenn Alps, located on the SE side of Anchorage,\u00a0was also the trailhead for Flattop.\u00a0 Having spent all morning lazing around resting up in the G6, Lupe was ready and raring to go.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe starts off for Flattop Mountain, seen beyond her. The trail to the top of Flattop from the Glenn Alps trailhead is about 1.6 miles long and gains roughly 1,300 feet of elevation. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Climbing Flattop wasn’t going to be\u00a0the solitary, wilderness type experience Lupe had enjoyed most of yesterday climbing The Wedge and The Ramp.\u00a0 On this beautiful, warm summer afternoon, the trail to Flattop Mountain was packed with hikers (and dogs) of all descriptions.<\/p>\n

The trail started off entering a forest, but Lupe was soon beyond that.\u00a0 She followed the trail gaining elevation gradually as it led her around the SW side of Blueberry Knoll<\/a><\/span> (2,625 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0Flattop Mountain was directly ahead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flattop Mountain from the SW slope of Blueberry Knoll. Reportedly, there are 2 ways up Flattop. Everyone seemed to be taking the steepest, most direct route, which climbs up the ridge on the L protruding toward the camera. Lupe took the steep route, too. Lupe never saw the easier route, which presumably goes up somewhere more to the W (R). Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once around Blueberry Knoll, the trail swept around the SW (R) side of another, steeper hill, part of the ridge extending NNW from Flattop Mountain.\u00a0 The trail steepened as it turned E (L) again\u00a0back toward a saddle between this\u00a0higher hill and the rest of Flattop Mountain.\u00a0 Lupe encountered a long series of wood framed steps filled with dirt and gravel on the way to the saddle.<\/p>\n

Reportedly, there are two popular routes up Flattop Mountain.\u00a0 The steepest, most direct, route switchbacks right up the slope from the saddle to the top of Flattop.\u00a0 An easier route presumably goes somewhere more to the W (R).\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP\u00a0never saw the trail for the easier route, although it likely separates from the steeper route somewhere close to, or a little above the saddle.<\/p>\n

On this warm, dry, summer day, everyone seemed to be taking the steepest route right on up.\u00a0 Lupe took the steep route, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the switchbacks of the steep route. After a bit of a light scramble, the trail eventually reaches the top a little to the R of Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The switchbacks brought Lupe quite close to the top of the mountain, but the last 50 to\u00a075 feet of elevation gain was more difficult.\u00a0 Here, the going was steeper, with large rocks and big steps up.\u00a0 A little light scrambling was required to reach the top.\u00a0 Nothing too tricky, but a\u00a0bit of\u00a0caution needed to be exercised along in here.<\/p>\n

Lupe reached the top of Flattop Mountain a\u00a0short\u00a0distance\u00a0W of an American flag flying at the N end of the summit area.\u00a0 Everyone was busy getting their pictures taken next to the flag.\u00a0 While Lupe was waiting for the crowd to clear out for her turn, she went to investigate some big cairns nearby.<\/p>\n

Climbing Flattop Mountain, Lupe had gained about 1,300 feet of elevation, only a fraction of what she’d gained climbing The Wedge<\/a><\/span> (4,660 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and The Ramp<\/a><\/span> (5,240 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> yesterday.\u00a0 However, she had a decent view of both mountains from Flattop.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe waits for her turn for a picture at the American flag on Flattop Mountain from a big cairn nearby. Beyond her are O’Malley Peak<\/a><\/span> (5,150 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L), The Ramp (pointy peak L of Center), and The Wedge (on the R straight up from Lupe’s head). Lupe had climbed both The Ramp and The Wedge yesterday. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Soon it was Lupe’s turn at the American flag.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
An American Dingo stands proudly next to the American flag on Flattop Mountain. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, with a name like Flattop Mountain, the summit area was very large, and rather, umm, flat.\u00a0 The top of the mountain was stony, and completely open with very little vegetation.<\/p>\n

Still, there were a few things to explore.\u00a0 People had constructed big cairns, and even a large, circular stone fort.\u00a0 The true summit was at a collection of rocks off toward the SW.\u00a0 The mountain offered 360\u00b0 views.\u00a0 While most people congregated near the American flag, Lupe went off to see what there was to see.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Powerline Pass is seen on the L. Just to the R of it is South Powerline Peak<\/a><\/span> (4,500 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. The greenish near hill should be Peak 2<\/a> <\/span>(3,609 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, with Peak 3<\/a><\/span> (4,068 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> seen beyond it on the R. The highest peak near Center is either Ptarmigan Peak<\/a><\/span> (4,910 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> or possibly Flaketop Peak<\/a><\/span> (4,488 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A closer look through the telephoto lens. Peak 2 at lower L, Peak 3 on the R, with either Flaketop or Ptarmigan Peak in the distance near the Center. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe near the circular stone fort. Photo looks S toward McHugh Peak<\/a><\/span> (4,308 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop at the true summit of Flattop Mountain. Photo looks NW toward Anchorage and Cook Inlet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Downtown Anchorage seen through the telephoto lens. Nearly all of Anchorage is in view from Flattop Mountain. The view of the city lights at night must be grand!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Turnagain Arm from Flattop Mountain. S Anchorage is seen below. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Although Lupe was here on a cloudless day, the air was still somewhat hazy, perhaps due to humidity. This photo looks NW using the telephoto lens to see past Anchorage and Fire Island toward the giant snowy peaks beyond Cook Inlet. Sunsets must be awesome from Flattop Mountain with the city of Anchorage, ocean, and impressive mountains all in view!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looper on top of Flattop with Peak 2, Peak 3 and Ptarmigan or Flaketop beyond. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Ramp(L) from Flattop. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Too bad Lupe and SPHP didn’t do things in reverse order this day!\u00a0 The views of\u00a0the Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, and Knik Arm of the\u00a0ocean,\u00a0plus all the surrounding mountains at sunset would have been a sight to behold!\u00a0 Shortly after that, Lupe would have had a sweeping view of all the lights of Anchorage at night.<\/p>\n

Still, Lupe got a great look at everything under bright, blue skies on a warm, calm day, so she had to count herself lucky.\u00a0 Sunset was hours away, so it was time to press on.\u00a0 Lupe could have gone on to Peak 2, but after yesterday’s big adventure, SPHP wasn’t up to it and had something milder in mind.\u00a0 Lupe started back down Flattop Mountain the same way she’d come up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking back down toward the Glenn Alps Trailhead from Flattop. Blueberry Knoll is the large gently rounded hill with the trail on it to the L, and the trailhead parking lot just beyond it on the R. Lupe would make the\u00a0minor climb to the top of Blueberry Knoll on the way back to the G6. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way back to the G6, Lupe and SPHP left the main trail to make the almost trivial trek to the top of Blueberry Knoll.\u00a0 The views were good even from here!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flattop Mountain from Blueberry Knoll. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe balances precariously atop the soaring spires of Blueberry Knoll! Oh, OK, so it was almost as flat as North Dakota, so what? The views were still sweet, and Blueberry Knoll is worth the climb if one doesn’t have the time or energy to go all the way up Flattop. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A final look at Flattop Mountain from Blueberry Knoll.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached the G6 again early in the evening (6:09 PM).\u00a0 Soon she was\u00a0saying good-bye to\u00a0Anchorage for the final time,\u00a0heading NE on\u00a0the Glenn Highway (Alaska Route 1).\u00a0 The drive was wonderful!\u00a0\u00a0 It was 75\u00b0F!\u00a0 Lupe road perched high on her pillows and blankets with the windows open and\u00a0a warm breeze blowing\u00a0in her face.<\/p>\n

Near milepost 25, SPHP took the Thunder Bird exit, parking less than\u00a00.5 mile off the highway at the Thunder Bird Falls trailhead next to the Eklunta River\u00a0(7:10 PM).\u00a0 Lupe’s last adventure of the day was to go see Thunder Bird Falls, a 200 foot waterfall on Thunder Bird Creek.<\/p>\n

A wide, well groomed trail goes for nearly a mile through\u00a0a forest\u00a0to the Thunder Bird Falls viewing platform perched along the side of a bluff.\u00a0 The trail gained only 100 feet of elevation along the way.\u00a0 Lupe passed by private homes in the forest W of the trail.\u00a0 To the E, the Eklunta River\u00a0flowed at the bottom of a deep, narrow gorge.<\/p>\n

At one point, the trail went right to the edge of the\u00a0cliff.\u00a0 A\u00a0fenced viewing platform let Lupe peer straight down to the river.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking down on either the Eklunta River or Thunder Bird Creek from a viewing platform along the Thunder Bird Falls trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thunder Bird Creek is a tributary of the Eklunta River.\u00a0 At some point along the way, Lupe passed by their unseen confluence.\u00a0 The trail was now above Thunder Bird Creek.\u00a0 Shortly before reaching the Thunder Bird Falls viewing platform, Lupe passed by a short side trail that goes down to the creek near the base of the falls.<\/p>\n

The view of Thunder Bird Falls from the\u00a0platform at the end of the trail was somewhat surprising.\u00a0 The falls cascades down a\u00a0very narrow gorge, twisting along the way.\u00a0 Only part of\u00a0Thunder Bird Falls was actually in view.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the Thunder Bird Falls viewing platform.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Thunder Bird Falls plunges 200 feet down a very narrow gorge, twisting as it goes. Even from the viewing platform, only part of it could be seen. Note the trail on the lower L. It is not part of the Thunder Bird Falls trail, and can only be reached by fording the creek. It leads to a much closer, dramatic, and precarious view of the falls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Naturally, Lupe and SPHP were curious about what could be seen of the falls from below.\u00a0 After leaving the viewing platform, Lupe took the nearby trail down to Thunder Bird Creek.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
On the side trail down to Thunder Bird Creek. The entire Thunder Bird Falls trail was wide and well-groomed as seen here. Round trip from the trailhead is less than 2 miles, perhaps a bit more if you go down to the creek like Lupe did.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Of course, no trip to a creek is complete without sampling the water quality. Clear, cold Thunder Bird Creek got the Carolina Dog seal of approval!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As it turned out, unless one is willing to get wet, there was little to be seen of Thunder Bird Falls from below, although the valley was humid with mist and the roar of the falls came from just around a corner.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
This was as close as Lupe got to Thunder Bird Falls, and all that could be seen of it from below, unless you were willing to get wet and cold.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thunder Bird\u00a0Falls did\u00a0provide a bit of excitement while Lupe was there.\u00a0 Three teenagers were crossing Thunder Bird Creek, intent on climbing the short, slick, steep muddy trail to a much closer and precarious viewpoint right next to the falls.\u00a0 The last girl slipped on her way across the creek.\u00a0 She\u00a0plunged in getting soaking wet\u00a0with a shriek that made\u00a0certain big soft Dingo ears momentarily stand on end!<\/p>\n

Despite her chilly reception in Thunder Bird Creek, the girl was tough enough to get herself up and out pronto.\u00a0 She continued across the creek and joined her friends to climb the muddy trail and see Thunder Bird Falls close up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Three teenagers (the last one totally drenched from a spill in the creek) climb the steep, slick trail to a close up view of Thunder Bird Falls. It was a trek Lupe and SPHP decided to forego.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe would soon make the peaceful,\u00a0pleasant\u00a0return trip\u00a0along the Thunder Bird Falls trail as sunlight filtered through the trees on her way back to the G6 (8:11 PM).\u00a0 She’d had a pretty easy, relaxing day.\u00a0 Tomorrow she had a much bigger, tougher\u00a0adventure ahead.\u00a0 For now, though, we leave Lupe along clear-running Thunder Bird Creek,\u00a0near the roar and mist of Thunder Bird Falls.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe along Thunder Bird Creek, Chugach State Park, Alaska<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Glenn Alps Trailhead<\/strong><\/span> directions:\u00a0 In Anchorage, from the Seward Highway take O’Malley Road E toward the mountains.\u00a0 Turn R on Hillside Drive, then L on Upper Huffman Road.\u00a0 Follow signs to the trailhead at the end of Toilsome Road.\u00a0 $5.00 daily parking fee applies.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thunder Bird Falls Trailhead<\/strong><\/span> directions:\u00a0 From Anchorage or Eagle River, take the Glenn Hwy (Alaska Route 1) going NE to the Thunder Bird Falls exit near milepost 25.\u00a0 The trailhead is on the R about 0.5 mile from the highway.\u00a0 From Palmer, take the Glenn Hwy going SW.\u00a0 Turn at the exit for Eklunta Lake (milepost 26 or 27) to get on the old Glenn Hwy.\u00a0 Go SW past the turn for Eklunta Lake.\u00a0 The Thunder Bird Falls trailhead is on the L immediately after crossing the\u00a0Eklunta River.\u00a0 $5.00 daily parking fee applies.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

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

Chugach State Park<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Chugach State Park Map<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from Lupe’s 2016 Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\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 32 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska The replacement part didn’t look the same as the original one.\u00a0 Figures.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t have the tools, or the knowledge required\u00a0to fix the problem.\u00a0 Better not mess with it any more.\u00a0 For some reason, lots of bees were flying … Continue reading Flattop Mountain, Blueberry Knoll & Thunder Bird Falls, Chugach State Park, Alaska (8-30-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8240,"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":[704,105,768,106,765,26,311,104,769],"class_list":["post-8221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-blueberry-knoll","tag-carolina-dog","tag-chugach-state-park","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-flattop-mountain","tag-lupe","tag-thunder-bird-falls"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_2616.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\/8221","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=8221"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27132,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8221\/revisions\/27132"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}