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- Dec 11, 2015
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Last weekend my son and I headed down to the Denali Hwy to see if we could reach the top of Paxson Mountain. I tried to hike it a few weeks ago but this was likely our new-ish dog June's first hike and she lacked the confidence to complete a stream crossing so we turned around. The water was high due to runoff so I figured she'd make it next time.
Last Saturday morning we took off. June was ready to go.
The vegetation grew in since the last trip so traveling was a lot slower. Our destination was the farthest peak ridge on the left.
The wildflowers were in blossom which added a lot to the aesthetics. Canada bunchberry.
Approaching the first willow crossing.
Monkshood and Rose Crown.
Our view for the next 20 minutes.
After working our way through this, we were at the base of the slope and traveling was way easier. The flower bloom continued.
River beauty, first cousin of fireweed.
One of the groundsels.
Wild geraniums.
June's view north to the Alaska Range. Our route to here was through that.
Now the going was good.
Arctic willow I think.
Good, except for the white socks. We hiked through clouds of them all day, except for the rare moments the clouds came out.
I knew the good times were to be interrupted and we eventually reached the creek that stopped June the last time. But before the creek were the alders.
June enjoying the shade.
And the undergrowth, fireweed & bluebells.
Cow parsnip.
The creek was much easier and June had no problem crossing it. More alders.
Then we were in the clear for the rest of the day, for the most part. Looking back over the creek.
Time for a break.
Lupines.
More flowers. I thought this was a violet but now I'm not sure.
Alpine bistort.
Old man's whiskers.
A barely discernable caribou trail.
Sharing water with June.
Another view north.
Unknown flower.
The view up.
Almost in the approach valley.
Yellow paintbrush.
June on break and the approach valley. The top is out of view to the left.
Almost to the final climb. We decided on the back ridge rising up in the middle and sloping right.
In spite of the long hike, June couldn't resist chasing Arctic ground squirrels.
A cow moose took off running as we were walking up to toward this pond.
Lots of river beauty up here.
Running to catch up.
Heading up.
Heading for a break at the tarn.
After a nice break, we started up the ridge.
Looking down at the tarn.
After the steep climb, the ridge that took us to camp.
June headed up.
Another tarn view from near camp.
A view of the summit, a large plateau.
Looking for a campsite, It took forever to find a spot as flat as it looked from a distance.
An old caribou antler.
Camp view north to the Alaska Range.
Beautiful evening. A rainbow even.
The morning view also excelled.
Don't know what this is. But beautiful.
Some ground cover.
Breakfast time.
More camp flowers.
Lousewort.
Unknown sunflower.
Dunno.
Another bistort.
Caribou trail is the way up.
Awesome morning.
So this is at the top. It's a BLM monitor of some sort. Had a battery bank inside kept charged by the solar panel.
This outcrop is the high spot on the plateau.
Boy and his dog at the summit.
Rose crown.
Unknown.
Used to know this I think but those days are gone.
One of a few groups of poppies.
The route down.
Headed down.
Almost there.
Moss campion.
Working the descent.
Bull caribou.
Looking up at the down route.
More bistort and old man's whiskers..
Yellow paintbrush and river beauty.
We decided to stay higher on our out route. This allowed two easier stream crossings and much reduced riparian zone with willows, not alders.
We came down the little valley to the left, crossed the terrain at the middle snowfield, then dropped into the creek. So far, good.
So lush.
The caribou trails made the descent easier but rarely lasted more than 50-100 yards.
An old grizzly den.
A little while later passed this griz scat.
June easing through the second creek crossing.
Western dock and cow parsnip.
It eventually had to end but we reached some willow/alder thickets. Overall not terrible, just slow.
Another caribou antler.
Back to the road and a short walk to the vehicle.
Last Saturday morning we took off. June was ready to go.
The vegetation grew in since the last trip so traveling was a lot slower. Our destination was the farthest peak ridge on the left.
The wildflowers were in blossom which added a lot to the aesthetics. Canada bunchberry.
Approaching the first willow crossing.
Monkshood and Rose Crown.
Our view for the next 20 minutes.
After working our way through this, we were at the base of the slope and traveling was way easier. The flower bloom continued.
River beauty, first cousin of fireweed.
One of the groundsels.
Wild geraniums.
June's view north to the Alaska Range. Our route to here was through that.
Now the going was good.
Arctic willow I think.
Good, except for the white socks. We hiked through clouds of them all day, except for the rare moments the clouds came out.
I knew the good times were to be interrupted and we eventually reached the creek that stopped June the last time. But before the creek were the alders.
June enjoying the shade.
And the undergrowth, fireweed & bluebells.
Cow parsnip.
The creek was much easier and June had no problem crossing it. More alders.
Then we were in the clear for the rest of the day, for the most part. Looking back over the creek.
Time for a break.
Lupines.
More flowers. I thought this was a violet but now I'm not sure.
Alpine bistort.
Old man's whiskers.
A barely discernable caribou trail.
Sharing water with June.
Another view north.
Unknown flower.
The view up.
Almost in the approach valley.
Yellow paintbrush.
June on break and the approach valley. The top is out of view to the left.
Almost to the final climb. We decided on the back ridge rising up in the middle and sloping right.
In spite of the long hike, June couldn't resist chasing Arctic ground squirrels.
A cow moose took off running as we were walking up to toward this pond.
Lots of river beauty up here.
Running to catch up.
Heading up.
Heading for a break at the tarn.
After a nice break, we started up the ridge.
Looking down at the tarn.
After the steep climb, the ridge that took us to camp.
June headed up.
Another tarn view from near camp.
A view of the summit, a large plateau.
Looking for a campsite, It took forever to find a spot as flat as it looked from a distance.
An old caribou antler.
Camp view north to the Alaska Range.
Beautiful evening. A rainbow even.
The morning view also excelled.
Don't know what this is. But beautiful.
Some ground cover.
Breakfast time.
More camp flowers.
Lousewort.
Unknown sunflower.
Dunno.
Another bistort.
Caribou trail is the way up.
Awesome morning.
So this is at the top. It's a BLM monitor of some sort. Had a battery bank inside kept charged by the solar panel.
This outcrop is the high spot on the plateau.
Boy and his dog at the summit.
Rose crown.
Unknown.
Used to know this I think but those days are gone.
One of a few groups of poppies.
The route down.
Headed down.
Almost there.
Moss campion.
Working the descent.
Bull caribou.
Looking up at the down route.
More bistort and old man's whiskers..
Yellow paintbrush and river beauty.
We decided to stay higher on our out route. This allowed two easier stream crossings and much reduced riparian zone with willows, not alders.
We came down the little valley to the left, crossed the terrain at the middle snowfield, then dropped into the creek. So far, good.
So lush.
The caribou trails made the descent easier but rarely lasted more than 50-100 yards.
An old grizzly den.
A little while later passed this griz scat.
June easing through the second creek crossing.
Western dock and cow parsnip.
It eventually had to end but we reached some willow/alder thickets. Overall not terrible, just slow.
Another caribou antler.
Back to the road and a short walk to the vehicle.
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