Tombstone Mountain Backpack

We hiked into the Tombstone Mountains which are 30 miles NE of Dawson City in the Yukon. The Tombstones are part of the Ogilvie mountains. The area was officially made a Territorial Park while we were in the mountains, but were a provisional unit for a number of years.

Its an 8 mile hike from the Dempster Highway to Grizzly Lake where we spent the first night. After you leave the parking lot you follow a creek, then climb steadily to the ridge, follow it and eventually drop down to the valley floor. We've never found it an easy hike especially if you get a clear hot day, but if you go early enough there is water and snow up high to replenish.

Grizzly Lake is behind Valley in this photo. (Click on any photo to enlarge.)

Nicki on typical terrain playing the Pied Piper roll with the dogs. The dogs carried their own food which consists of Eagle Pack Power and dehydrated meat as a supplement. Rocket also carried our apres-hiking shoes. Valley also carried some fuel and food.

It snowed on us the night we arrived at the lake and stayed around for the next day. You know something is up when the pitter-patter sound of the rain on the tent changes to something softer falling. The few folks we met on the trail asked us how the dogs liked the trail, we just laughed, the dogs were having the times of their lives.

After we waited out the snowstorm, spending the day relaxing, snoozing and reading we headed up and over the pass to Twin Lakes. This was the only "treacherous" part of the hike, snow on ice on scree.

Up in the pass to Twin Lakes with Rocket looking back towards Grizzly Lake.

Looking past Jago up valley beyond Twin Lakes.

Campsite at Twin Lakes.

I always forget something, on this trip I forgot the windscreen to the stove. It blew pretty good everyday so we had to improvise. We also forgot our hiking staffs which was a major pain the rump. I also ripped out my pants in the front the first day, boy what a pain that was. Drafty :)

On a walk to look at the upper lake.

Time to take a break.

You'd never know this girl was so afraid of life she was unapproachable for years. She has adrenal gland failure (Addison's disease) so we plan life around her Percorten injection. In this case, we had it the day we departed.

I love this picture. I have never been on a hike where the weather changed so quick, so often and so drastically. It went from hot to cold to hot again many, many times.

Two happy girls.

Valley! We used the Flexi leashes 26 feet long(8 m) of the ribbon variety. The rock ate away at the ribbon so we almost had complete failures a couple of times. I like the length and weight of those units but maybe the web variety is the way to go.

Can you spot our tent in this picture?

Using a snowline to climb out of the valley back up to the pass...much easier walking than walking on scree or negotiating giant rocks.

The dogs were always after ground squirrels and marmots. Jago(Babe) spent the time at Grizzly Lake by the outhouse which had a resident marmot. That damn marmot was pesky. He jumped out of the john, threw a giant rock holding the seat down at me, then ran over and kicked my shin. LOL.

Jago leaving Grizzly Lake to head back home.

Nice view looking back to the lake from the approach ridge.

Looking down at the Dempster and if you look closely, you can see the trailhead lot.

Rocket! No trip to the Yukon is complete without swimming in the Yukon.

We do a long backpacking trip into the wilderness every year. We like to get away where it is quiet and their aren't many people or other disturbances. About the only criteria we have is we like to find a place to hike without trails. The dogs really love these adventures, after we finished they slept for 3 days. We grow closer to them and they to us.

1st Backpack

We hiked out for our first backpack of the season, a preclude to our yearly expedition. Not long an overnighter, but a great way to spend the weekend.

Enroute, Rocket got the zoomies even with his pack on.


Here they enjoy a break near the lake.


There is that smile for us while he is waiting for us to catch up to him.


Those two love to run together.




Valley is happy to be chilling too.


Sometimes we seem so small.




Looks like I am going to have to fight for my bed tonight.


Jago out on patrol. She was lucky and was neither tied up or carried a dog pack the entire weekend.


Hanging out in the morning by the tent.


Our dining room.


On the look out.



Heading home.

16

This year there are 16 weekends in the summer. Memorial Day marks the first weekend and Labor Day the last weekend of the summer. You can see our first weekend of the summer was great.

Great views up Turnagain Arm from the Gull Rock trail.


Jago seems happy with the weekend.


Rocket loves running on the trail without a leash.


After which he had to swim a lap to cool off.


And we can see all that running and swimming causes a funDog and the funhog to nap.


Here's Nicki and Jago hiking.


Valley and I decided to spend Memorial Day hiking up Falls Creek and getting up on South Suicide. It was Hot! so we spent a bunch of time in the snow.


Great Views of the scenery around us.


A great way to end the weekend. Valley seems happy with it.


Ok, only 14 more to go!

Last Call

We are like Brett Favre, we can't leave the sport alone. here we are on dawn patrol down in Turnagain Pass for probably our last run on snow with the dogs this season.



These are my "workhorses" and my best friends. How much gratitude can I show them, when they bring this to me?


Tincan ski site in early morning sun.


Looking happy as we stop for a break.


Last run of the season...heading home.

As always you can click on the picture to enlarge.

Crust-joring

Its the doggie equivalent of crust skiing :) Today we headed out Center Ridge then up the valley floor to the face of the true Tincan Creek. The dogs love it because they stay on top, and I like it because its pretty damn fast. Center Ridge was crust but unfortunately the valley floor from Kickstep Mountain to the true Tincan Peak wasn't so good. That portion hadn't gone through a melt freeze cycle.

here we are starting out up the valley.


Scenery looking better, have to don the glacier glasses and spread some sun lotion at this point.


Starting to break through just a bit here, so we are losing our crust and soon will gain the wind.


ok time for a break. If you saw my beer belly, you'd be wondering why they aren't panting.


More dog driving.


Downhill I let the dogs loose so I can ski without falling down and they can have a bit of fun.




Any day now I expect the snow to soften enough the dogs won't be able to get out with me, but so far so good!

Another Edition of "A Valley in the Mountains"

Valley loves to be in the mountains. Valley in the mountains go like hand in glove.

She seems to be happy to be let off and run. There she goes...

Rocket seems pleased with the move.

As we ski, Valley is content to run along side.


or happy to run with us.

That's ash from the Mt. Redoubt volcano on the snow she's running on.

That's Valley in the big valley floor.


Where's Waldo, I mean can you spot Valley?



She's not one to be left behind.


Doesn't she light things up with that smile of hers?


Another great day with our special girl.

April Powder Brings May Flowers?

gotta love a day of fun in the sun, when there is fresh snow, and a
good base underneath for the dogs to walk on. What could be better?


Big Landscape makes the dogs seem so small.


Here it is April 18th and there is still fresh powder snow.


Which they seem to enjoy as much as I do.


It was a hot day for the dogs, even though the temperature hovered around freezing, the sun made it tough on them.


The dirty spots in the snow is ash from Mt. Redoubt. No doubt that
snow will melt soon. If you click on the picture, you'll have a better view.


Always happy to take a break, aren't they?


Nearing the end of a great day.


The end of the dogs ski season is near. They have 92 days of ski
touring or joring on the snow this season. They love it!