{"id":8406,"date":"2017-06-02T08:10:21","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T14:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8406"},"modified":"2019-03-29T11:22:20","modified_gmt":"2019-03-29T17:22:20","slug":"leaving-alaska-lupes-return-to-yukon-territory-canada-9-1-16-9-2-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8406","title":{"rendered":"Leaving Alaska & Lupe’s Return to Yukon Territory, Canada (9-1-16 & 9-2-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The end of Day 34, plus Day 35 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska<\/em><\/p>\n

Day 34, 9-1-16, 4:00 PM, 72\u00b0F<\/strong> – Well, it was over.\u00a0 After 7,500+ feet of elevation gain in the past 31 hours, Lupe was back at the Lazy Mountain Recreation Site trailhead.\u00a0 Blisters and a pulled muscle\u00a0in the front right leg, suffered yesterday while coming down Pepper Peak, caused SPHP to hobble slowly onto the parking lot behind her.<\/p>\n

Make that almost over.\u00a0 A tall, lanky, young guy immediately struck up a conversation.\u00a0 Both Lupe and SPHP just wanted to go the remaining 50 feet to the G6 and sit\/lay down.\u00a0 Instead this complete stranger launched into a monologue about mountains and trails.\u00a0 He talked with a strange accent, or maybe a lisp, and seemed kind of, well\u00a0– “off”, somehow.<\/p>\n

Remind you of anyone, SPHP?<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, please!\u00a0 Silence, wisecracking Dingo of mine!<\/em><\/p>\n

Actually the friendly stranger’s conversation would normally have been of great interest.\u00a0 He was a wealth of knowledge about Alaska, and what there was to do outdoors around here.\u00a0 Moreover, he was eager to share his experiences.<\/p>\n

Where had he been for the last 3 weeks?\u00a0 Off or not, any other time SPHP would have enjoyed talking to him for hours, but not now.\u00a0 Not his fault, but his timing was atrocious.\u00a0 No need for his insight now.\u00a0 Lupe had just returned from Lazy Mountain<\/a><\/span> (3,740 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, the last mountain she would climb in Alaska in 2016.\u00a0 Recuperation at the G6 was priority one.<\/p>\n

After a seeming eternity, a brief lull came in the one-sided conversation.\u00a0 SPHP used the opening to wish the stranger well, and encourage his speedy enjoyment of the Lazy Mountain trail.\u00a0 Off he went, happy as a clam.\u00a0 SPHP limped 50 feet and unlocked the G6.\u00a0 Lupe eagerly leaped in.\u00a0 Now it was over!\u00a0 No more climbing mountains in Alaska.\u00a0 Sad, tragic really, but paws, feet, legs, and lungs all advised getting over it.\u00a0 Wow, it did feel good to rest!<\/p>\n

With the G6’s\u00a0windows down on this beautiful, warm afternoon so Lupe could sniff the air, SPHP drove the few miles back to Palmer.\u00a0 Brief stops for groceries and gas.\u00a0 A trip to McDonald’s.\u00a0 Lupe ate only one bite of cheeseburger.\u00a0 Surprising, but she knew how she felt.\u00a0 She seemed cheerful and perfectly\u00a0fine.<\/p>\n

At long last, off with the boots.\u00a0 What a relief!\u00a0 So much better!\u00a0 In stocking feet, SPHP drove E out of Palmer on the Glenn Highway, marvelously equipped with cheeseburgers, fries and a Coke.\u00a0 Lupe panted happily, looking out the window at the splendid scenery of the Matanuska River valley going by.\u00a0 A relaxing, astonishingly beautiful evening drive was ahead.\u00a0 After 22 unforgettable days in Alaska, Lupe was starting for home.<\/p>\n

In a sense, Lupe had already been going home for 5 days, ever since she left Grace Ridge<\/a><\/span> (3,136 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, back near Homer on the Kenai Peninsula.\u00a0 So far, though, every day had been mostly filled with adventures.\u00a0 She hadn’t really gotten all that far.\u00a0\u00a0The Carolina Dog\u00a0was still more than 3,000 miles from home in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Time to make tracks.\u00a0 450 miles per day for the next week should about do it.<\/p>\n

The return trip would be fabulous!\u00a0 Endless forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, sky and clouds.\u00a0 A road trip made in heaven.\u00a0 Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon and Alaska had been a huge success!\u00a0 Time to kick back and enjoy the road home.\u00a0 Lupe would still have a chance for a few adventures along the way, if they weren’t too long, and there would be plenty of stops to stretch, sniff the air, and admire the world.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s first stop\u00a0this evening\u00a0was to\u00a0see the Matanuska Glacier again.\u00a0 She’d had absolutely fabulous views of it earlier on her Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation when she’d climbed Lion Head<\/a><\/span> (3,185 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Matanuska Glacier from the Glenn Highway (Alaska Route 1).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe stops for a quick look at the Matanuska Glacier again. She’d had absolutely fabulous views of it earlier on her Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation when she’d climbed nearby Lion Head<\/a><\/span> (3,185 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Snowy peaks near the Matanuska Glacier. Photo looks S using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

\"\"<\/a>
Matanuska Glacier, Alaska<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe didn’t make it much beyond the Matanuska Glacier this evening, stopping near Gunsight Mountain<\/a> <\/span>(6,441 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> for the night.\u00a0 Gunsight Mountain was the highest\u00a0peak in Alaska that Lupe had climbed.\u00a0 She had met Laura from Montana, and Luke Hall from Australia up there.<\/p>\n

The best views from the highway\u00a0near Gunsight Mountain\u00a0were to the S.\u00a0 The peaks in that direction\u00a0appeared to have fresh\u00a0new-fallen snow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking S from the Gunsight Mountain area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Last light.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 35, 9-2-16, Predawn, 32\u00b0F<\/strong> – Orion hung low in the E.\u00a0 The pale light of dawn hadn’t arrived yet, but there was a hint of it on the horizon.\u00a0 The North Star was high overhead.\u00a0 Northern lights, not a great display, but easily seen, streamed from the N toward the coming sun.<\/p>\n

With the G6’s right headlight not working, it was still too\u00a0early to leave the Gunsight Mountain area.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP walked W along an abandoned stretch of the old Glenn Highway.\u00a0 Chilly out, but Lupe was in fine form, sniffing like mad among the bushes lining the old road.\u00a0 A mile, maybe a mile and a half later, it was time to turn around.<\/p>\n

The were-puppy attacked SPHP!\u00a0 Once the were-puppy was fended off, the Carolina Dog showed off how fast and agile she was, racing up and down the road, running circles around SPHP.\u00a0 Ahh, to feel like that!\u00a0 So much energy and joy of living!\u00a0 Shrill Dingo barking filled the air for a couple of minutes before Lupe returned to sniffing.<\/p>\n

On the way back to the G6, sunrise was on its way.\u00a0 Soon time to depart.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sunrise approaches.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking E from the Gunsight Mountain area on Lupe’s last morning in Alaska.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
First light hits the peaks S of Gunsight Mountain. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heading E toward Glenn Allen, Mount Drum<\/a><\/span> (12,010 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0came into view.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t seen it before.\u00a0 When she’d first arrived in Alaska, the towering white monsters of the Wrangell Range were all shrouded by clouds.\u00a0 Now they basked in brilliant sunshine.\u00a0 Lupe saw them from various angles as SPHP followed the highway beyond Glenn Allen around to the Tok Cut-Off.<\/p>\n

SPHP meant to stop at the same viewpoint overlooking the Copper River where Lupe had stopped before, but somehow missed it.\u00a0 The white monsters were far from the highway, but could be seen for many miles.\u00a0 After a while, though, they receded from view as the miles clicked by.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
One of the white monsters of the Wrangell Range SE of Glenn Allen. SPHP didn’t know their names, but they were spectacular peaks covered in huge quantities of snow and ice.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
One hell of a sledding hill! Kind of a rough ending, though.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

\"\"<\/a>
After being in view for many miles as Lupe circled them to the N, the huge white Wrangell Mountains began to recede in the rear view mirror.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After all her many Alaskan adventures, Lupe was feeling pretty relaxed on this first full day of driving on her way home.\"\"<\/a>E of Tok, Lupe crossed the Tanana River.\u00a0 She was happy to get out of the G6 to stretch her legs a bit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe stretches her legs after crossing the Tanana River, which flows all the way NW to Fairbanks. The Tanana is ultimately a tributary of the Yukon River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe near the Alaskan Highway bridge over the Tanana River E of Tok. Photo looks downstream toward the NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the majestic high peaks of the Wrangell Mountains now far behind, Lupe traveled through an area of lower hills, ridges and distant mountains.\u00a0 Fall was coming to Alaska, as Lupe was leaving.\u00a0 There were many hills with colorful displays of fall colors.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe stops along the Alaska Highway for a photo with the fall colors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A brilliant hillside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>Lupe left Alaska, returning to Yukon Territory in Canada around 2 PM Alaska Time (3 PM Pacific Time).\u00a0 Soon she was seeing bigger mountains closer by again.\u00a0 She crossed the White River without stopping.\u00a0 A few weeks earlier, it had been wide and impressive, but now it was mostly dried up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
After Lupe left Alaska entering Yukon Territory, she began to see higher mountains near the Alaska Highway again.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Yukon Territory from the Alaska Highway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>By the time Lupe reached the Donjek River, it was\u00a0getting to be late afternoon.\u00a0 The Donjek was running low, too, but it seemed like a good time to get out of the G6 to stretch and walk around a bit.\u00a0 Lupe went for\u00a0short walks on both sides of the scenic river, spending about 45 minutes in the area.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe near the NW bank of the mighty Donjek River. Of course, the river was running low this time of year. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Donjek River is a major tributary of the White River. Both are part of the Yukon River’s drainage area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Most of the Donjek was mud flats when Lupe was here, but the river must be gigantic during the spring runoff when the snow melts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The beautiful mountains and impressive river bed of the Donjek invite exploration, but away from the Alaska Highway this is true wilderness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

\"\"<\/a>
The Alaska Highway bridge over the Donjek River. Although the mountains to the SW looked high, remote and dangerous, this one to the E looked like something Lupe could climb if she’d had enough time. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loopster on the mud flats of the Donjek. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Donjek has a braided floodplain. This was only one small channel. Love that big cloud boiling up over the far ridge!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the SE bank of the Donjek now. There was more flow over here. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe’s time along the Donjek River was a wonderful break. The whole area was so beautiful and remote. Lupe and SPHP were lucky to be here to see it. There are still amazing places in the world far beyond casual exploration. The Donjek and White Rivers capture the imagination, but few ever glimpse more of them than Lupe was seeing from near the highway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A little S of the Donjek River, a mountain with new snow on top caught SPHP’s fancy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
This striking mountain with new snow on it some miles S of the Donjek River caught SPHP’s fancy, and gave Lupe another opportunity to sniff around for a few minutes out of the G6.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

For the last 5 or 6 days Lupe had been in Alaska, the sky had been almost totally\u00a0clear.\u00a0 However, there were quite a few clouds here in the Yukon.\u00a0 Near Destruction Bay on Kluane Lake, Lupe and SPHP drove through\u00a0rain showers.\u00a0 Lupe saw a rainbow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Rainbow near Destruction Bay on Kluane Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>In Kluane National Park<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, Lupe and SPHP stopped again at the Tachal Dahl visitor center in the Slims River valley at the S end of Kluane Lake.\u00a0 The visitor center was closed.\u00a0 Not a\u00a0soul was around.\u00a0 SPHP made use of one of the picnic tables to prepare dinner.\u00a0 Lupe was eager to help SPHP make the last can of beef stew and\u00a0remaining cheese disappear, but she buried a cracker with her nose.<\/p>\n

The mood had changed remarkably since Lupe had been here in early August.\u00a0 Back then, there had been activity.\u00a0 It hadn’t been crowded at all, but people had been around.\u00a0 The Alaska Highway had lots of traffic.\u00a0 The days were warm and bright, and the sun stayed up late.\u00a0 Dust had been blowing dramatically\u00a0down the Slims River valley toward Kluane Lake.<\/p>\n

Now there was new snow on the mountaintops.\u00a0 The air was chilly.\u00a0 The Slims River valley was still dry, but no dust blew.\u00a0 No one at all was around.\u00a0 Traffic on the Alaska Highway was only a trickle.\u00a0 The whole place felt deserted, like late fall with early winter knocking on the door.\u00a0 SPHP ate while watching two large herds of wild sheep high up on Sheep Mountain<\/a><\/span> (6,400 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Lupe sniffed around nearby.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe returns to the Slims River valley in Kluane National Park in the Yukon near the Tachal Dahl visitor center. The mood had changed since early August when Lupe had last been here. The mountains had new snow on them. A chill was in the air. Dust no longer blew down the still parched Slims River valley toward Kluane Lake. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Although it was only September 2nd, new snow on the mountains already hinted of the approach of another deadly cold, dark winter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe was more than 500 miles from Palmer, Alaska now.\u00a0 She’d made her 450 miles for the day from where she’d left Gunsight Mountain this morning, so it was time to stop for the night.\u00a0 As the light of day faded much earlier than it had only 3.5 weeks ago, Lupe got to spend time playing and sniffing around\u00a0the S shore of Kluane Lake once more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe at the S shore of Kluane Lake. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

\"\"<\/a>
Sheep Mountain from Kluane Lake. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kluane Lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lupe spent the rest of the evening playing and sniffing around the S shore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A dramatic sky near evening’s end.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One thing hadn’t changed.\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Kluane Lake, a\u00a0line of mountains marched endlessly\u00a0away\u00a0to the N horizon toward the Arctic.\u00a0 The remote peaks\u00a0were part of a vast wilderness\u00a0only a\u00a0little less mysterious than before,\u00a0and as beautiful and romantic as ever.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\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 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/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<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The end of Day 34, plus Day 35 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Day 34, 9-1-16, 4:00 PM, 72\u00b0F – Well, it was over.\u00a0 After 7,500+ feet of elevation gain in the past 31 hours, Lupe was back at the Lazy Mountain Recreation Site trailhead.\u00a0 Blisters … Continue reading Leaving Alaska & Lupe’s Return to Yukon Territory, Canada (9-1-16 & 9-2-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8446,"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":[704,105,106,26,775,712,104,774],"class_list":["post-8406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-donjek-river","tag-kluane-lake","tag-lupe","tag-yukon-territory"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_2780.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\/8406","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=8406"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21270,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8406\/revisions\/21270"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}