Ben
Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2014
- Messages
- 1,873
There are a lot of pictures in this post, especially for a short three day trip, but frankly, this is probably the most beautiful place i've ever been.
The route was very straight forward. Up one river, over a pass, and down an other river. I brought my packraft for the second river
Click here to view on CalTopo
Denali National Park has a single road that runs the North side of the Alaska Range, with a bus system that will drop you off and pick you up where ever you want to go.
Here is a picture of the Teklanika River viewed from a stop the buses make along the road.
![004.JPG 004.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38474-3db357157ace4a823573b06a934b2c43.jpg)
And here is a zoomed in shot of the bridge over the Teklanika River farther up stream, viewed from the same place.
On the right is the edge of Cathedral Mountain. I took the bus to the far end of Cathedral Mountain, and hiked through a very low pass to the Teklanika River farther up to save some miles.![DSCF2329.JPG DSCF2329.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38475-bc8a7709cd4436408b0591658b17a313.jpg)
Here is Cathedral Mountain, viewed from the road. It's very colorful. But a lot of the Alaska Range is.
![DSCF2332.JPG DSCF2332.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38476-a6fc48fbe07a0dafda260448d08b3e64.jpg)
Looking back on Cathedral Mountain from the 'pass'. On the left half of the photo you can see the cut of the road.
![DSCF2346.JPG DSCF2346.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38477-8d4592c504b290cb81e5fbbb3ceed0fd.jpg)
Cathedral Mountain and the pass.
![DSCF2354.JPG DSCF2354.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38478-5942f3aacf6f5fa58276ffaa37d7fe07.jpg)
Looking across the depression of the Teklanika River valley.
![DSCF2357.JPG DSCF2357.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38479-d1d4ac57056c0dd864619f42f66e0053.jpg)
![DSCF2366.JPG DSCF2366.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38480-e222e427345f920ffa498406861254c7.jpg)
![DSCF2367.JPG DSCF2367.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38481-54597ddfa0a7bee07d95401b3f060c58.jpg)
And Cathedral Mountain again.
![DSCF2368.JPG DSCF2368.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38482-a950f3351d08737043fc9df0ad70160f.jpg)
The Teklanika River, looking East. I'll drop down to the river bars to walk, and head South toward the darker, more ominous looking area on the right of the frame. This pictures captures what would be a trend of this trip, where looking one direction was a very nice lovely day, and looking the other direction was an unpleasant looking storm. Fortunately the storms were never sustained, just came and went.
![DSCF2373.JPG DSCF2373.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38483-15f849e7ada523fbb73bd91b14419ced.jpg)
Nearer the river.
![DSCF2378.JPG DSCF2378.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38484-1021d84052ca53f4abcab76139a185cb.jpg)
![DSCF2392.JPG DSCF2392.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38485-06077d78dd0e1a6aa216648ce7e7bf2c.jpg)
Looking back to the North. A few ponds.
![DSCF2397.JPG DSCF2397.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38486-53b59e910badfa66fe7da35b8e0ecaf3.jpg)
A couple more.
![DSCF2407.JPG DSCF2407.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38487-25539f269fbb477c00865ef0e7cb5b72.jpg)
Some baby birds, making noise in a tree.
![DSCF2408.JPG DSCF2408.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38490-a7b7eb7abb3f2347ef7e81bd2bf7405d.jpg)
On the river bar, looking up stream. The route ahead. There would be a couple places that i would have to go up above the river through some brush to bypass some cut banks from the river's changing course.
![DSCF2425.JPG DSCF2425.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38498-eed2459e4387f8483a5273d625e38b06.jpg)
Zoomed in. Clouds spilling over the Alaska Divide.
![DSCF2437.JPG DSCF2437.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38501-d0eb20afb4e4620a345a0bd402c7717e.jpg)
Above one of those cut banks.
![DSCF2441.JPG DSCF2441.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38503-8ef41282ad8b9095f3ad53faf45a9062.jpg)
Looking back. You can see where i passed above here., in the midground.
![DSCF2455.JPG DSCF2455.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38511-f68f78a6effc0258578fa3420a9ce455.jpg)
Looking back.
![DSCF2457.JPG DSCF2457.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38519-b661edc3831d19a7783c8992a51c59ed.jpg)
Across the river. There are several braided channels, and more water than this view makes it appear.
![DSCF2458.JPG DSCF2458.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38525-53d4fc560e4d92f93b4665989823b5e7.jpg)
Zoomed in, but getting closer to the head of the valley.
![DSCF2461.JPG DSCF2461.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38526-1063cae0c3048f74785b394c94a286ab.jpg)
That same mountain East across the river.
![DSCF2470.JPG DSCF2470.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38528-4606f02d71d49f441e3d824a098ba2b3.jpg)
Head of the valley.
![DSCF2472.JPG DSCF2472.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38530-776b42427098d3892a13ded2e76187c3.jpg)
Looking back down stream at Cathedral Mountain.
![DSCF2474.JPG DSCF2474.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38488-22c874669fd999f6916cc6fe34fe5396.jpg)
I came by these three bears. They were on the far side of the valley, doing their thing.
![DSCF2480.JPG DSCF2480.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38489-0fa623841987094ef99d7ab48a2d10c4.jpg)
One of the bears walked a different direction from the other two. In this image you can see a crazy craibou on the left that was hopping around haphazardly.
![DSCF2484.JPG DSCF2484.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38491-49e3a5431622dc19ac9086d8ca7b7f20.jpg)
Two of the bears took a course that was going to intersect my path, so i just walked back a ways, and waited for them to get where they were going. They never paid me any mind.
![DSCF2493.JPG DSCF2493.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38492-7c89f0db4227729848a4de3fd0a9a4d6.jpg)
![DSCF2498.JPG DSCF2498.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38493-8f58698bf5da14b5980173d2489d201a.jpg)
![DSCF2503.JPG DSCF2503.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38494-6584903bd9a931c1de913b6a977cf551.jpg)
They both crossed the valley, went up into these bushes, and left me to go on up the river, looking back over my should for a while.
![DSCF2507.JPG DSCF2507.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38495-88ed9f188850bbe20ef83c8e51e061eb.jpg)
An other view across the river.
![DSCF2513.JPG DSCF2513.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38496-951845c8854c570f32ab54c521f58266.jpg)
![DSCF2524.JPG DSCF2524.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38497-d091e53891291713bb2b786269b7c3d6.jpg)
![DSCF2526.JPG DSCF2526.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38499-a40d3c1225fe689aca9925ffa2e10b9b.jpg)
![DSCF2531.JPG DSCF2531.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38500-3c947fed3508d8a0e056dbe64b28d28f.jpg)
Going up above the banks again.
![DSCF2533.JPG DSCF2533.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38502-fb4ebd23aa5119a06ce099974bb30758.jpg)
Down stream.
![DSCF2540.JPG DSCF2540.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38504-6c89be89844bd1bb091300e6999baa85.jpg)
![DSCF2543.JPG DSCF2543.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38505-442150578ea80990bbb5c61c3c0c7db2.jpg)
Here you can see the changing nature of the river. It's course has altered, apparently since the previous year, now flowing through bushes that previously would have been dry. In a couple days i'd end up floating the raft through some thing like that on the Sanctuary. Very interesting.
![DSCF2544.JPG DSCF2544.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38506-3f06c78839f853ff3c335e176eccf7cc.jpg)
![DSCF2553.JPG DSCF2553.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38507-3c438de6c204b87eed54bdda3b9617d0.jpg)
Head walls.
![DSCF2555.JPG DSCF2555.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38509-a5c152399525a4c811af1e2726a5137e.jpg)
I'd drop my pack before getting to the point left of center and spend an hour exploring the short drainage to the right. The next day i would be heading the other direction, farther to the left.
![DSCF2556.JPG DSCF2556.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38510-b51ac2f4939b58ada7d0e5fe7c06aa58.jpg)
![DSCF2558.JPG DSCF2558.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38512-c2da1eca3cbda12ed569ab3e44c6f5d3.jpg)
![DSCF2559.JPG DSCF2559.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38513-d7e206f5f70798323a1329b4ec150db3.jpg)
A tiny canyon, colorful rocks.
![DSCF2560.JPG DSCF2560.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38514-6b64c1c60f774bf593389b906b822a04.jpg)
Looking East, at the head of the drainage. Tomorrow i'd head that direction, but cut left of the higher peaks.
![DSCF2561.JPG DSCF2561.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38515-1f149d09f4c79df2fda951c128e7bae3.jpg)
![DSCF2566.JPG DSCF2566.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38516-06ea31348a9ac867bfad64912620a2a4.jpg)
![DSCF2567.JPG DSCF2567.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38517-303146ac72748585db790751890c796a.jpg)
![DSCF2568.JPG DSCF2568.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38518-76863baa8b64285e9f22844b9382de29.jpg)
Here you can the full head of the Teklanika drainage. On the right is a spur i went and explored this evening. Just left of center is the true head of the river. Far left is the branch that leads to the pass to the Sanctuary River that i would take the next day.
![024.JPG 024.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38520-c516893bdb16f938c98cac30fe77f62c.jpg)
Looking up the right (West) branch
![DSCF2578.JPG DSCF2578.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38659-5bee16ca6a5e296d31242850adabef8d.jpg)
![DSCF2576.JPG DSCF2576.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38657-0b0dab7697a2550719dca96216bbe126.jpg)
East, tomorrow's direction.
![DSCF2579.JPG DSCF2579.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38660-9d68bfe218a80ee15e8dc4b8e4220c22.jpg)
Northeast, slightly down stream.
![DSCF2583.JPG DSCF2583.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38661-3ebcf8abe5e7cfc40102bb801b634136.jpg)
Southeast.
![DSCF2590.JPG DSCF2590.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38662-c0d56d3e8bafd6e68e04480baff7c315.jpg)
South, the Alaska Divide.
![DSCF2591.JPG DSCF2591.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38663-009548c380bbcf180c5fb46b57ae6384.jpg)
The ridge back to the East as i start walking up the West drainage.
![DSCF2593.JPG DSCF2593.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38664-6bc70f0e81b6b447f235c994c3a76150.jpg)
Up the West.![DSCF2594.JPG DSCF2594.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38665-2f0d8e61a2dc327b1e65834a1597763e.jpg)
Near the head.![DSCF2598.JPG DSCF2598.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38666-4f64a4b75dc61faff737db7e0b8de957.jpg)
Proper mountains.![DSCF2599.JPG DSCF2599.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38667-4b39a1370bcba794ef1b221894acf806.jpg)
As i started to head back East to set up camp for the night, the ridges started to catch some late light, around eleven pm.![DSCF2607.JPG DSCF2607.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38668-42881cdd17acdea6269aa062cab7356d.jpg)
Late light back on the West drainage.
![DSCF2613.JPG DSCF2613.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38669-6ae35ed615aec73ad89431a696a51159.jpg)
![DSCF2614.JPG DSCF2614.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38670-d6166f720a8403101240a7ace6a64413.jpg)
And to the South and East.![DSCF2617.JPG DSCF2617.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38671-e3316f2130ebcf7a96184890e0b4ab59.jpg)
I decided to ford a main branch of the river this evening so my shoes might have some chance to dry a little over night. The water was incredibly cold. My ankles were full numb by the time i made it across, it was painful, made my legs cold even where they hadn't gotten wet.![DSCF2620.JPG DSCF2620.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38672-e2cb6a0dff5901792ac8f53e25c7e546.jpg)
I missed some of the best light screwing around fording the stream, and only ended up with this. It was even better just moments before.
![DSCF2623.JPG DSCF2623.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38673-0977bc2e5c06c849d025e4fd88a310d8.jpg)
The sun set in the North, looking back down stream, all the way over Cathedral Mountain.![DSCF2626.JPG DSCF2626.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38674-35375c098fe830cab9c9fcb99de80987.jpg)
![DSCF2630.JPG DSCF2630.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38675-c48b395004eed5aa96ba6ec7a8a2d3cf.jpg)
![DSCF2634.JPG DSCF2634.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38676-d1101eb1d9a3068b1b1893f4c1f4465a.jpg)
I set up the tent.
![DSCF2640.JPG DSCF2640.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38677-495729522aaf9b50af2457c4ed608a63.jpg)
The clouds got some real neon to them, so i took some more pictures.
![DSCF2643.JPG DSCF2643.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38678-bac11f3ac9ecc43da5e1fc5ab4e438e8.jpg)
The next morning started out gorgeous. No thing to do but cross a pass.
![DSCF2661.JPG DSCF2661.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38679-734ac38218be801243174217843987fa.jpg)
And may be ten minutes into walking, it started pouring rain. I tented back up for a little while and waited it out.
![DSCF2664.JPG DSCF2664.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38680-4a76d0c5fa05db2f03eef5cee4a2c2e6.jpg)
May be an hour later it was nice out again.![DSCF2668.JPG DSCF2668.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38548-39a418bd07c35e56a305cc159f670698.jpg)
Heading up this drainage. I'll cut left into one of the hidden valleys, an easy pass.![DSCF2672.JPG DSCF2672.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38549-827dbd2b60219d88d550c3f4ee5da156.jpg)
![DSCF2676.JPG DSCF2676.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38550-f7fc1aff69ea643084007d4fa87fabaa.jpg)
The way i'm not going.![DSCF2678.JPG DSCF2678.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38551-55526b54a971134db8d79e01b5be56a9.jpg)
![DSCF2679.JPG DSCF2679.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38552-9868ff8ca69971801e79112be663d8da.jpg)
I climbed loose rocks on the cliffs left of the stream here rather than fording again. Mostly i didn't care to get my feet wet, but also the water was pretty swift, and i couldn't even see an inch into it.![DSCF2682.JPG DSCF2682.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38553-5f5db484b95a1088beefbbda23358fca.jpg)
Up we go.![DSCF2683.JPG DSCF2683.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38554-f93f7ed8f2011700f099f456808aaa88.jpg)
And up some more.![DSCF2684.JPG DSCF2684.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38555-b8dd325be9196dd89bfe58aabafff2ef.jpg)
![DSCF2686.JPG DSCF2686.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38556-8471042abded38770c6e0e9c8b89d882.jpg)
Looking down, water like liquid concrete.![DSCF2687.JPG DSCF2687.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38557-62f87147a0a1d11be43068c88034cd87.jpg)
![DSCF2688.JPG DSCF2688.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38558-7c58ff3b89445ec9811ff825c7d72bf6.jpg)
Looking at what i'd come down.![DSCF2694.JPG DSCF2694.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38559-c80841e064c93acb9cae1048f9f0bcdb.jpg)
Here is where i break left from the main East drainage.![DSCF2695.JPG DSCF2695.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38560-7bb84f48d4ead2f2e132a9a75fbd982b.jpg)
Up this one. The pass is left of the center peak here.![DSCF2697.JPG DSCF2697.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38561-4d1b0e9dda0f1931c30d1edb26324e34.jpg)
More colorful rocks, an other side draw .![DSCF2700.JPG DSCF2700.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38562-e8222cd3a5c67aeffdcf8cf1131a1a90.jpg)
Making progress.![DSCF2710.JPG DSCF2710.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38563-41c34f4936f8721f6d28c8674cf68e4f.jpg)
![DSCF2719.JPG DSCF2719.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38564-3a840c29d4ef0b822c2c832213ba6e31.jpg)
An ice bridge. The pass almost in sight.![DSCF2728.JPG DSCF2728.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38565-b177f7db3e7a87b5e39f6eb0957dfb62.jpg)
There.![DSCF2731.JPG DSCF2731.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38566-6e6c9d702234ba9f980a9222f3d1e041.jpg)
Looking over the other side, East, to Refuge Valley.![DSCF2737.JPG DSCF2737.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38567-a2451836e38793e9858522e280b4b7b5.jpg)
Zoomed.![DSCF2739.JPG DSCF2739.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38568-aba326644ad6ad64c100b1a4e161a8e2.jpg)
Looking back West at the peaks i'd left behind.![DSCF2746.JPG DSCF2746.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38569-d56050a8f0549b8c81b05105460f4b17.jpg)
You can see some of the route up.![DSCF2748.JPG DSCF2748.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38570-6d21cafd31602bf470da227223ebc21e.jpg)
A ridge North from the pass. I liked this place so much i stopped here to make lunch.![DSCF2752.JPG DSCF2752.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38571-99991c8354400e21979fac6d84f3400c.jpg)
![042.JPG 042.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38572-a0583438703bbdeff935b22e715ceb1f.jpg)
Naturally, before i'd even finished eating some more rain moved in.![045.JPG 045.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38573-67c1bb21ab51d3f856c697da475ee9bd.jpg)
![DSCF2754.JPG DSCF2754.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38574-e25d4a5277f01160b84618bc03813ef9.jpg)
![DSCF2755.JPG DSCF2755.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38575-43b82231dd7add9617d58d288d045259.jpg)
I hustled up the tent again and waited it out. It only lasted some minutes.![DSCF2757.JPG DSCF2757.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38576-c6da1232d2bc0072173ca537d2a86559.jpg)
But it really came down. It's not fog obscuring the lower view, just rain.![DSCF2758.JPG DSCF2758.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38577-872c17cfc69e1fcce42a4cc81753491a.jpg)
I was glad i'd stayed there when it was over.![DSCF2767.JPG DSCF2767.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38578-6ffe4439c60ab0d3481cd89bdecedb59.jpg)
West.![DSCF2768.JPG DSCF2768.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38579-819228c152845b619d6a7188cc45600a.jpg)
East.![DSCF2769.JPG DSCF2769.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38580-03a35d917ab52c86c7de2439d9ce88e5.jpg)
North.![DSCF2770.JPG DSCF2770.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38581-9598101cac0b39fea08705e13a08244b.jpg)
Starting down.![DSCF2780.JPG DSCF2780.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38582-ae177afe150bfe9a4504ec31c3337928.jpg)
Looking back you can see the tracks of every one who uses the pass. I was glad i was going down this side rather than up.![DSCF2787.JPG DSCF2787.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38583-8f9dbe9953b39be5ad385f853fabcc95.jpg)
I angled to benches above the drainage bottom. This proved to be the right thing to do.![DSCF2796.JPG DSCF2796.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38584-0c00b974f1d5b03c0f72d318451b2ac9.jpg)
![DSCF2797.JPG DSCF2797.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38585-258f93f7701725bd8c3d66ae564454c0.jpg)
A tiny hanging valley on the one i was making my way down. A small herd of caribou ran below here.![DSCF2830.JPG DSCF2830.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38586-679152418d4716dd2fb6e3e060db4200.jpg)
Dall sheep horn.![DSCF2833.JPG DSCF2833.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38587-cd0800bb319e16c70cdbad3b286db439.jpg)
Angled light. It got late before i was ready for it to, but i had waited out two storms in a tent this day. Not a real problem, it doesn't ever actually get dark.![DSCF2838.JPG DSCF2838.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38588-593a3b87c6b4472dfbc203fcfb34b4ba.jpg)
![DSCF2848.JPG DSCF2848.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38589-d00bfb701df808e17dbb5567a57cf888.jpg)
![DSCF2860.JPG DSCF2860.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38590-f6d41b3495d7d0e2d7b28f10986374f6.jpg)
![DSCF2868.JPG DSCF2868.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38591-5b2e04b4965b4ce3a47e76552c0610ae.jpg)
A falls in the bed of the canyon i was glad i wasn't walking the bottom of.![DSCF2878.JPG DSCF2878.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38592-0dd3e5d65f62cab6c6106d972f25b21c.jpg)
![DSCF2880.JPG DSCF2880.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38593-8f2f0d15cb3f154177f50ea1269f7d21.jpg)
The head wall of Refuge Valley begins to come in to view.![DSCF2882.JPG DSCF2882.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38594-04f0e51f14f51e504ea01163f7626f4f.jpg)
![DSCF2885.JPG DSCF2885.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38595-a6807af39fcfd624e852ed0aa8bfb18b.jpg)
![DSCF2893.JPG DSCF2893.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38596-4fa25298ba0f450bc0e2fd8168e209c0.jpg)
![DSCF2894.JPG DSCF2894.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38597-dc455534cf40291caad0b9519cbec5ba.jpg)
![DSCF2895.JPG DSCF2895.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38598-c1bcfd5e1c8ba0f3a1f39221e3f0d34e.jpg)
Looking down in to the canyon of the stream that began at the pass i crossed.![DSCF2900.JPG DSCF2900.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38599-626c3d1c0b8a4f2e895345a1c5616b5e.jpg)
Here it opens to Refuge Valley.![DSCF2901.JPG DSCF2901.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38600-1d3fe4585a7b068ed8c9095e3ab0c4c9.jpg)
![DSCF2904.JPG DSCF2904.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38601-27e25460637be31ebf9e800e86d9d354.jpg)
![DSCF2906.JPG DSCF2906.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38602-a29b031b28494ff6d09cd8b70ac8c4c3.jpg)
On the valley floor, looking at the head of the drainage. I ate dinner and went to bed.![DSCF2919.JPG DSCF2919.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38603-a586b02aad657c5a26f63cc4f11094c4.jpg)
Beautiful day the next morning. The low point is the pass i walked the day before.![DSCF2932.JPG DSCF2932.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38604-08985af8134d040cea56fe9fd8b6d3c3.jpg)
I spent the morning walking up to the head of Refuge Valley. All i had to do was float out to the road today.![DSCF2934.JPG DSCF2934.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38605-b856aa6efb846d3d50e4a00aceb43bb8.jpg)
The pass left of center, the canyon that drains it center. Those orange walls are actually almost 200' high.![DSCF2938.JPG DSCF2938.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38606-50fa4b0d32913ac4476a49114c5109ca.jpg)
Up the valley.![DSCF2940.JPG DSCF2940.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38607-17848130d950bd4470937565e03c334a.jpg)
Looking down stream from farther up.![DSCF2941.JPG DSCF2941.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38608-a8475f1961badfbbb54d76fb7bff3e05.jpg)
Crags along the way.![DSCF2959.JPG DSCF2959.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38609-3c70e5e3f90a0c5cda977973a365fe69.jpg)
Milky white stream empties in to the clearer water.![DSCF2964.JPG DSCF2964.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38610-f873351f1bb51eadcea5f2cb09d4e99c.jpg)
Braided channels.![DSCF2967.JPG DSCF2967.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38611-1787ac28471b6c6c519225c095a74882.jpg)
Lots of flowers.![DSCF2970.JPG DSCF2970.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38612-bced6c9c07cb70fcc0ef24b68c4c5d8d.jpg)
You can see moraines.![DSCF2973.JPG DSCF2973.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38613-7233e3b0902106b5e087cdd2c8fd333b.jpg)
Opening up at the head wall.![062.JPG 062.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38614-b5339bafe34ee2bc11728f10640ee1c7.jpg)
East.![DSCF2981.JPG DSCF2981.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38615-a9e7b4364f5984108a89d14a60aa73ea.jpg)
West.![DSCF2983.JPG DSCF2983.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38616-28d7cc07982df814dea46577b0c696bd.jpg)
Farther West. There were peaks every where.![DSCF2988.JPG DSCF2988.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38617-87b896bfcebaa5983e533a498fcfa767.jpg)
![DSCF2995.JPG DSCF2995.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38618-4086103ee3f388e401085e25ad13d4ee.jpg)
![DSCF2997.JPG DSCF2997.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38619-93bb8b8bd46a22931385c45e53b8219f.jpg)
Back down the drainage.![066.JPG 066.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38620-5b44187d2861b2adfb7d09caf07f90cb.jpg)
More views of the crags.![DSCF3003.JPG DSCF3003.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38621-c0cb4a799a6c404ecf975fee9ec53cbd.jpg)
![DSCF3005.JPG DSCF3005.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38622-8fa8f3d6ca270259560a635e3fcc0cc2.jpg)
![DSCF3006.JPG DSCF3006.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38623-23394ef8f79b7d989df034b4dd6d7c94.jpg)
![DSCF3007.JPG DSCF3007.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38624-23231b29405a6f556828b48f42264127.jpg)
![DSCF3015.JPG DSCF3015.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38625-18f876cef6389163861672bdc63d696a.jpg)
![DSCF3020.JPG DSCF3020.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38626-e747c9ca81edab7d7fd59ab2c53b6ee8.jpg)
An other horn.![DSCF3023.JPG DSCF3023.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38627-e99ff086371f382e9e255028b2e597af.jpg)
Near camp again, looking back. The head wall center, the pass on right.![DSCF3028.JPG DSCF3028.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38628-5595ce6b039d6fcd056e759258516a12.jpg)
![DSCF3032.JPG DSCF3032.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38629-b253646f84a76932b442ff773188a8d3.jpg)
![DSCF3034.JPG DSCF3034.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38630-24767bac6af4464a87f95df25b56ae75.jpg)
Down stream. I walked a ways till i came to a place where the flow looked sufficient to put in.
![DSCF3036.JPG DSCF3036.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38631-5fd5b686132b1857e31238ac3fb941c0.jpg)
This would work. An other major branch enters not far down stream, you can see it heading there in this image.
![DSCF3039.JPG DSCF3039.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38632-5270da8656300f13f19ad30ca2660c3c.jpg)
![DSCF3041.JPG DSCF3041.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38633-8f16cda7bbbe6bd8968c3302a26ac2e3.jpg)
South.![070.JPG 070.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38634-32f45d93141bf7ca1fc7129bc37680c9.jpg)
North.![071.JPG 071.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38635-f7daa7ea4c804ff7e43b9cb7acb7c609.jpg)
The river moved quickly enough. It took me may be 3 hours to do may be 17 miles, some thing that would have taken the entirety of a day to do on foot. The biggest difficulty was staying in the right channel, not getting graveled out. Closer to the take out there were more trees leaning out over fast moving bends in the river. My ipod died before i was half way down the river, and i had the real camera put way in a bag.![072.JPG 072.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38636-37af1e5b666293c05a4e42819b288531.jpg)
![073.JPG 073.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38637-9e458a457ffb3c0399539b9e19a358c7.jpg)
![074.JPG 074.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38638-5c9b900a89b76970ea54c173cfae1f4a.jpg)
![075.JPG 075.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38639-dcf1ecd25449b119419f8d32efb1483f.jpg)
![076.JPG 076.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38640-8f4ad9ffb1555a5d5e0907f97760097c.jpg)
![077.JPG 077.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38641-667e3bf8c5953ad01e9e7221320f57fb.jpg)
A storm moved in down river from me. I pulled off to wait and watch it for a moment, but it seemed to just sit there, so eventually i just went ahead.![079.JPG 079.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38642-f9f2a86d86d097e3d8ac4139b73f6fc3.jpg)
It poured on me for a while, longer than i'd've liked. I just ran it and got it over with.![084.JPG 084.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38643-6c800418f9326570aae2caf4a8dac7d0.jpg)
Looking back up river.![085.JPG 085.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38644-42516689dc7fa1feb35b05b9eacd0532.jpg)
And down at the rain.![086.JPG 086.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38645-a7979cbb6e30c704efb2cc3f188215e3.jpg)
Still pretty nice out where i'd come from.![088.JPG 088.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38646-27cc438a199b445832120539498b5b39.jpg)
Once i made it in to the rain it kept up to some extent until i pulled out at the bridge. I kept warm while in the raft, hunkering, and paddling enough. I got out and stripped out of the wet suit shivering pretty good. Fortunately i still had dry clothes. Walked a couple hundred feet to the road and caught the bus back. The day soon turned nice again.
video of three bears
two of the bears. more walking time.
some caribou
The route was very straight forward. Up one river, over a pass, and down an other river. I brought my packraft for the second river
Click here to view on CalTopo
Denali National Park has a single road that runs the North side of the Alaska Range, with a bus system that will drop you off and pick you up where ever you want to go.
Here is a picture of the Teklanika River viewed from a stop the buses make along the road.
![004.JPG 004.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38474-3db357157ace4a823573b06a934b2c43.jpg)
And here is a zoomed in shot of the bridge over the Teklanika River farther up stream, viewed from the same place.
On the right is the edge of Cathedral Mountain. I took the bus to the far end of Cathedral Mountain, and hiked through a very low pass to the Teklanika River farther up to save some miles.
![DSCF2329.JPG DSCF2329.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38475-bc8a7709cd4436408b0591658b17a313.jpg)
Here is Cathedral Mountain, viewed from the road. It's very colorful. But a lot of the Alaska Range is.
![DSCF2332.JPG DSCF2332.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38476-a6fc48fbe07a0dafda260448d08b3e64.jpg)
Looking back on Cathedral Mountain from the 'pass'. On the left half of the photo you can see the cut of the road.
![DSCF2346.JPG DSCF2346.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38477-8d4592c504b290cb81e5fbbb3ceed0fd.jpg)
Cathedral Mountain and the pass.
![DSCF2354.JPG DSCF2354.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38478-5942f3aacf6f5fa58276ffaa37d7fe07.jpg)
Looking across the depression of the Teklanika River valley.
![DSCF2357.JPG DSCF2357.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38479-d1d4ac57056c0dd864619f42f66e0053.jpg)
![DSCF2366.JPG DSCF2366.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38480-e222e427345f920ffa498406861254c7.jpg)
![DSCF2367.JPG DSCF2367.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38481-54597ddfa0a7bee07d95401b3f060c58.jpg)
And Cathedral Mountain again.
![DSCF2368.JPG DSCF2368.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38482-a950f3351d08737043fc9df0ad70160f.jpg)
The Teklanika River, looking East. I'll drop down to the river bars to walk, and head South toward the darker, more ominous looking area on the right of the frame. This pictures captures what would be a trend of this trip, where looking one direction was a very nice lovely day, and looking the other direction was an unpleasant looking storm. Fortunately the storms were never sustained, just came and went.
![DSCF2373.JPG DSCF2373.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38483-15f849e7ada523fbb73bd91b14419ced.jpg)
Nearer the river.
![DSCF2378.JPG DSCF2378.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38484-1021d84052ca53f4abcab76139a185cb.jpg)
![DSCF2392.JPG DSCF2392.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38485-06077d78dd0e1a6aa216648ce7e7bf2c.jpg)
Looking back to the North. A few ponds.
![DSCF2397.JPG DSCF2397.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38486-53b59e910badfa66fe7da35b8e0ecaf3.jpg)
A couple more.
![DSCF2407.JPG DSCF2407.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38487-25539f269fbb477c00865ef0e7cb5b72.jpg)
Some baby birds, making noise in a tree.
![DSCF2408.JPG DSCF2408.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38490-a7b7eb7abb3f2347ef7e81bd2bf7405d.jpg)
On the river bar, looking up stream. The route ahead. There would be a couple places that i would have to go up above the river through some brush to bypass some cut banks from the river's changing course.
![DSCF2425.JPG DSCF2425.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38498-eed2459e4387f8483a5273d625e38b06.jpg)
Zoomed in. Clouds spilling over the Alaska Divide.
![DSCF2437.JPG DSCF2437.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38501-d0eb20afb4e4620a345a0bd402c7717e.jpg)
Above one of those cut banks.
![DSCF2441.JPG DSCF2441.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38503-8ef41282ad8b9095f3ad53faf45a9062.jpg)
Looking back. You can see where i passed above here., in the midground.
![DSCF2455.JPG DSCF2455.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38511-f68f78a6effc0258578fa3420a9ce455.jpg)
Looking back.
![DSCF2457.JPG DSCF2457.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38519-b661edc3831d19a7783c8992a51c59ed.jpg)
Across the river. There are several braided channels, and more water than this view makes it appear.
![DSCF2458.JPG DSCF2458.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38525-53d4fc560e4d92f93b4665989823b5e7.jpg)
Zoomed in, but getting closer to the head of the valley.
![DSCF2461.JPG DSCF2461.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38526-1063cae0c3048f74785b394c94a286ab.jpg)
That same mountain East across the river.
![DSCF2470.JPG DSCF2470.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38528-4606f02d71d49f441e3d824a098ba2b3.jpg)
Head of the valley.
![DSCF2472.JPG DSCF2472.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38530-776b42427098d3892a13ded2e76187c3.jpg)
Looking back down stream at Cathedral Mountain.
![DSCF2474.JPG DSCF2474.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38488-22c874669fd999f6916cc6fe34fe5396.jpg)
I came by these three bears. They were on the far side of the valley, doing their thing.
![DSCF2480.JPG DSCF2480.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38489-0fa623841987094ef99d7ab48a2d10c4.jpg)
One of the bears walked a different direction from the other two. In this image you can see a crazy craibou on the left that was hopping around haphazardly.
![DSCF2484.JPG DSCF2484.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38491-49e3a5431622dc19ac9086d8ca7b7f20.jpg)
Two of the bears took a course that was going to intersect my path, so i just walked back a ways, and waited for them to get where they were going. They never paid me any mind.
![DSCF2493.JPG DSCF2493.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38492-7c89f0db4227729848a4de3fd0a9a4d6.jpg)
![DSCF2498.JPG DSCF2498.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38493-8f58698bf5da14b5980173d2489d201a.jpg)
![DSCF2503.JPG DSCF2503.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38494-6584903bd9a931c1de913b6a977cf551.jpg)
They both crossed the valley, went up into these bushes, and left me to go on up the river, looking back over my should for a while.
![DSCF2507.JPG DSCF2507.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38495-88ed9f188850bbe20ef83c8e51e061eb.jpg)
An other view across the river.
![DSCF2513.JPG DSCF2513.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38496-951845c8854c570f32ab54c521f58266.jpg)
![DSCF2524.JPG DSCF2524.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38497-d091e53891291713bb2b786269b7c3d6.jpg)
![DSCF2526.JPG DSCF2526.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38499-a40d3c1225fe689aca9925ffa2e10b9b.jpg)
![DSCF2531.JPG DSCF2531.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38500-3c947fed3508d8a0e056dbe64b28d28f.jpg)
Going up above the banks again.
![DSCF2533.JPG DSCF2533.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38502-fb4ebd23aa5119a06ce099974bb30758.jpg)
Down stream.
![DSCF2540.JPG DSCF2540.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38504-6c89be89844bd1bb091300e6999baa85.jpg)
![DSCF2543.JPG DSCF2543.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38505-442150578ea80990bbb5c61c3c0c7db2.jpg)
Here you can see the changing nature of the river. It's course has altered, apparently since the previous year, now flowing through bushes that previously would have been dry. In a couple days i'd end up floating the raft through some thing like that on the Sanctuary. Very interesting.
![DSCF2544.JPG DSCF2544.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38506-3f06c78839f853ff3c335e176eccf7cc.jpg)
![DSCF2553.JPG DSCF2553.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38507-3c438de6c204b87eed54bdda3b9617d0.jpg)
Head walls.
![DSCF2555.JPG DSCF2555.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38509-a5c152399525a4c811af1e2726a5137e.jpg)
I'd drop my pack before getting to the point left of center and spend an hour exploring the short drainage to the right. The next day i would be heading the other direction, farther to the left.
![DSCF2556.JPG DSCF2556.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38510-b51ac2f4939b58ada7d0e5fe7c06aa58.jpg)
![DSCF2558.JPG DSCF2558.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38512-c2da1eca3cbda12ed569ab3e44c6f5d3.jpg)
![DSCF2559.JPG DSCF2559.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38513-d7e206f5f70798323a1329b4ec150db3.jpg)
A tiny canyon, colorful rocks.
![DSCF2560.JPG DSCF2560.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38514-6b64c1c60f774bf593389b906b822a04.jpg)
Looking East, at the head of the drainage. Tomorrow i'd head that direction, but cut left of the higher peaks.
![DSCF2561.JPG DSCF2561.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38515-1f149d09f4c79df2fda951c128e7bae3.jpg)
![DSCF2566.JPG DSCF2566.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38516-06ea31348a9ac867bfad64912620a2a4.jpg)
![DSCF2567.JPG DSCF2567.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38517-303146ac72748585db790751890c796a.jpg)
![DSCF2568.JPG DSCF2568.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38518-76863baa8b64285e9f22844b9382de29.jpg)
Here you can the full head of the Teklanika drainage. On the right is a spur i went and explored this evening. Just left of center is the true head of the river. Far left is the branch that leads to the pass to the Sanctuary River that i would take the next day.
![024.JPG 024.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38520-c516893bdb16f938c98cac30fe77f62c.jpg)
Looking up the right (West) branch
![DSCF2578.JPG DSCF2578.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38659-5bee16ca6a5e296d31242850adabef8d.jpg)
![DSCF2576.JPG DSCF2576.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38657-0b0dab7697a2550719dca96216bbe126.jpg)
East, tomorrow's direction.
![DSCF2579.JPG DSCF2579.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38660-9d68bfe218a80ee15e8dc4b8e4220c22.jpg)
Northeast, slightly down stream.
![DSCF2583.JPG DSCF2583.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38661-3ebcf8abe5e7cfc40102bb801b634136.jpg)
Southeast.
![DSCF2590.JPG DSCF2590.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38662-c0d56d3e8bafd6e68e04480baff7c315.jpg)
South, the Alaska Divide.
![DSCF2591.JPG DSCF2591.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38663-009548c380bbcf180c5fb46b57ae6384.jpg)
The ridge back to the East as i start walking up the West drainage.
![DSCF2593.JPG DSCF2593.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38664-6bc70f0e81b6b447f235c994c3a76150.jpg)
Up the West.
![DSCF2594.JPG DSCF2594.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38665-2f0d8e61a2dc327b1e65834a1597763e.jpg)
Near the head.
![DSCF2598.JPG DSCF2598.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38666-4f64a4b75dc61faff737db7e0b8de957.jpg)
Proper mountains.
![DSCF2599.JPG DSCF2599.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38667-4b39a1370bcba794ef1b221894acf806.jpg)
As i started to head back East to set up camp for the night, the ridges started to catch some late light, around eleven pm.
![DSCF2607.JPG DSCF2607.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38668-42881cdd17acdea6269aa062cab7356d.jpg)
Late light back on the West drainage.
![DSCF2613.JPG DSCF2613.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38669-6ae35ed615aec73ad89431a696a51159.jpg)
![DSCF2614.JPG DSCF2614.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38670-d6166f720a8403101240a7ace6a64413.jpg)
And to the South and East.
![DSCF2617.JPG DSCF2617.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38671-e3316f2130ebcf7a96184890e0b4ab59.jpg)
I decided to ford a main branch of the river this evening so my shoes might have some chance to dry a little over night. The water was incredibly cold. My ankles were full numb by the time i made it across, it was painful, made my legs cold even where they hadn't gotten wet.
![DSCF2620.JPG DSCF2620.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38672-e2cb6a0dff5901792ac8f53e25c7e546.jpg)
I missed some of the best light screwing around fording the stream, and only ended up with this. It was even better just moments before.
![DSCF2623.JPG DSCF2623.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38673-0977bc2e5c06c849d025e4fd88a310d8.jpg)
The sun set in the North, looking back down stream, all the way over Cathedral Mountain.
![DSCF2626.JPG DSCF2626.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38674-35375c098fe830cab9c9fcb99de80987.jpg)
![DSCF2630.JPG DSCF2630.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38675-c48b395004eed5aa96ba6ec7a8a2d3cf.jpg)
![DSCF2634.JPG DSCF2634.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38676-d1101eb1d9a3068b1b1893f4c1f4465a.jpg)
I set up the tent.
![DSCF2640.JPG DSCF2640.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38677-495729522aaf9b50af2457c4ed608a63.jpg)
The clouds got some real neon to them, so i took some more pictures.
![DSCF2643.JPG DSCF2643.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38678-bac11f3ac9ecc43da5e1fc5ab4e438e8.jpg)
The next morning started out gorgeous. No thing to do but cross a pass.
![DSCF2661.JPG DSCF2661.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38679-734ac38218be801243174217843987fa.jpg)
And may be ten minutes into walking, it started pouring rain. I tented back up for a little while and waited it out.
![DSCF2664.JPG DSCF2664.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38680-4a76d0c5fa05db2f03eef5cee4a2c2e6.jpg)
May be an hour later it was nice out again.
![DSCF2668.JPG DSCF2668.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38548-39a418bd07c35e56a305cc159f670698.jpg)
Heading up this drainage. I'll cut left into one of the hidden valleys, an easy pass.
![DSCF2672.JPG DSCF2672.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38549-827dbd2b60219d88d550c3f4ee5da156.jpg)
![DSCF2676.JPG DSCF2676.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38550-f7fc1aff69ea643084007d4fa87fabaa.jpg)
The way i'm not going.
![DSCF2678.JPG DSCF2678.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38551-55526b54a971134db8d79e01b5be56a9.jpg)
![DSCF2679.JPG DSCF2679.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38552-9868ff8ca69971801e79112be663d8da.jpg)
I climbed loose rocks on the cliffs left of the stream here rather than fording again. Mostly i didn't care to get my feet wet, but also the water was pretty swift, and i couldn't even see an inch into it.
![DSCF2682.JPG DSCF2682.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38553-5f5db484b95a1088beefbbda23358fca.jpg)
Up we go.
![DSCF2683.JPG DSCF2683.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38554-f93f7ed8f2011700f099f456808aaa88.jpg)
And up some more.
![DSCF2684.JPG DSCF2684.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38555-b8dd325be9196dd89bfe58aabafff2ef.jpg)
![DSCF2686.JPG DSCF2686.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38556-8471042abded38770c6e0e9c8b89d882.jpg)
Looking down, water like liquid concrete.
![DSCF2687.JPG DSCF2687.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38557-62f87147a0a1d11be43068c88034cd87.jpg)
![DSCF2688.JPG DSCF2688.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38558-7c58ff3b89445ec9811ff825c7d72bf6.jpg)
Looking at what i'd come down.
![DSCF2694.JPG DSCF2694.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38559-c80841e064c93acb9cae1048f9f0bcdb.jpg)
Here is where i break left from the main East drainage.
![DSCF2695.JPG DSCF2695.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38560-7bb84f48d4ead2f2e132a9a75fbd982b.jpg)
Up this one. The pass is left of the center peak here.
![DSCF2697.JPG DSCF2697.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38561-4d1b0e9dda0f1931c30d1edb26324e34.jpg)
More colorful rocks, an other side draw .
![DSCF2700.JPG DSCF2700.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38562-e8222cd3a5c67aeffdcf8cf1131a1a90.jpg)
Making progress.
![DSCF2710.JPG DSCF2710.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38563-41c34f4936f8721f6d28c8674cf68e4f.jpg)
![DSCF2719.JPG DSCF2719.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38564-3a840c29d4ef0b822c2c832213ba6e31.jpg)
An ice bridge. The pass almost in sight.
![DSCF2728.JPG DSCF2728.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38565-b177f7db3e7a87b5e39f6eb0957dfb62.jpg)
There.
![DSCF2731.JPG DSCF2731.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38566-6e6c9d702234ba9f980a9222f3d1e041.jpg)
Looking over the other side, East, to Refuge Valley.
![DSCF2737.JPG DSCF2737.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38567-a2451836e38793e9858522e280b4b7b5.jpg)
Zoomed.
![DSCF2739.JPG DSCF2739.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38568-aba326644ad6ad64c100b1a4e161a8e2.jpg)
Looking back West at the peaks i'd left behind.
![DSCF2746.JPG DSCF2746.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38569-d56050a8f0549b8c81b05105460f4b17.jpg)
You can see some of the route up.
![DSCF2748.JPG DSCF2748.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38570-6d21cafd31602bf470da227223ebc21e.jpg)
A ridge North from the pass. I liked this place so much i stopped here to make lunch.
![DSCF2752.JPG DSCF2752.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38571-99991c8354400e21979fac6d84f3400c.jpg)
![042.JPG 042.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38572-a0583438703bbdeff935b22e715ceb1f.jpg)
Naturally, before i'd even finished eating some more rain moved in.
![045.JPG 045.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38573-67c1bb21ab51d3f856c697da475ee9bd.jpg)
![DSCF2754.JPG DSCF2754.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38574-e25d4a5277f01160b84618bc03813ef9.jpg)
![DSCF2755.JPG DSCF2755.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38575-43b82231dd7add9617d58d288d045259.jpg)
I hustled up the tent again and waited it out. It only lasted some minutes.
![DSCF2757.JPG DSCF2757.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38576-c6da1232d2bc0072173ca537d2a86559.jpg)
But it really came down. It's not fog obscuring the lower view, just rain.
![DSCF2758.JPG DSCF2758.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38577-872c17cfc69e1fcce42a4cc81753491a.jpg)
I was glad i'd stayed there when it was over.
![DSCF2767.JPG DSCF2767.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38578-6ffe4439c60ab0d3481cd89bdecedb59.jpg)
West.
![DSCF2768.JPG DSCF2768.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38579-819228c152845b619d6a7188cc45600a.jpg)
East.
![DSCF2769.JPG DSCF2769.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38580-03a35d917ab52c86c7de2439d9ce88e5.jpg)
North.
![DSCF2770.JPG DSCF2770.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38581-9598101cac0b39fea08705e13a08244b.jpg)
Starting down.
![DSCF2780.JPG DSCF2780.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38582-ae177afe150bfe9a4504ec31c3337928.jpg)
Looking back you can see the tracks of every one who uses the pass. I was glad i was going down this side rather than up.
![DSCF2787.JPG DSCF2787.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38583-8f9dbe9953b39be5ad385f853fabcc95.jpg)
I angled to benches above the drainage bottom. This proved to be the right thing to do.
![DSCF2796.JPG DSCF2796.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38584-0c00b974f1d5b03c0f72d318451b2ac9.jpg)
![DSCF2797.JPG DSCF2797.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38585-258f93f7701725bd8c3d66ae564454c0.jpg)
A tiny hanging valley on the one i was making my way down. A small herd of caribou ran below here.
![DSCF2830.JPG DSCF2830.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38586-679152418d4716dd2fb6e3e060db4200.jpg)
Dall sheep horn.
![DSCF2833.JPG DSCF2833.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38587-cd0800bb319e16c70cdbad3b286db439.jpg)
Angled light. It got late before i was ready for it to, but i had waited out two storms in a tent this day. Not a real problem, it doesn't ever actually get dark.
![DSCF2838.JPG DSCF2838.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38588-593a3b87c6b4472dfbc203fcfb34b4ba.jpg)
![DSCF2848.JPG DSCF2848.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38589-d00bfb701df808e17dbb5567a57cf888.jpg)
![DSCF2860.JPG DSCF2860.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38590-f6d41b3495d7d0e2d7b28f10986374f6.jpg)
![DSCF2868.JPG DSCF2868.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38591-5b2e04b4965b4ce3a47e76552c0610ae.jpg)
A falls in the bed of the canyon i was glad i wasn't walking the bottom of.
![DSCF2878.JPG DSCF2878.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38592-0dd3e5d65f62cab6c6106d972f25b21c.jpg)
![DSCF2880.JPG DSCF2880.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38593-8f2f0d15cb3f154177f50ea1269f7d21.jpg)
The head wall of Refuge Valley begins to come in to view.
![DSCF2882.JPG DSCF2882.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38594-04f0e51f14f51e504ea01163f7626f4f.jpg)
![DSCF2885.JPG DSCF2885.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38595-a6807af39fcfd624e852ed0aa8bfb18b.jpg)
![DSCF2893.JPG DSCF2893.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38596-4fa25298ba0f450bc0e2fd8168e209c0.jpg)
![DSCF2894.JPG DSCF2894.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38597-dc455534cf40291caad0b9519cbec5ba.jpg)
![DSCF2895.JPG DSCF2895.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38598-c1bcfd5e1c8ba0f3a1f39221e3f0d34e.jpg)
Looking down in to the canyon of the stream that began at the pass i crossed.
![DSCF2900.JPG DSCF2900.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38599-626c3d1c0b8a4f2e895345a1c5616b5e.jpg)
Here it opens to Refuge Valley.
![DSCF2901.JPG DSCF2901.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38600-1d3fe4585a7b068ed8c9095e3ab0c4c9.jpg)
![DSCF2904.JPG DSCF2904.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38601-27e25460637be31ebf9e800e86d9d354.jpg)
![DSCF2906.JPG DSCF2906.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38602-a29b031b28494ff6d09cd8b70ac8c4c3.jpg)
On the valley floor, looking at the head of the drainage. I ate dinner and went to bed.
![DSCF2919.JPG DSCF2919.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38603-a586b02aad657c5a26f63cc4f11094c4.jpg)
Beautiful day the next morning. The low point is the pass i walked the day before.
![DSCF2932.JPG DSCF2932.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38604-08985af8134d040cea56fe9fd8b6d3c3.jpg)
I spent the morning walking up to the head of Refuge Valley. All i had to do was float out to the road today.
![DSCF2934.JPG DSCF2934.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38605-b856aa6efb846d3d50e4a00aceb43bb8.jpg)
The pass left of center, the canyon that drains it center. Those orange walls are actually almost 200' high.
![DSCF2938.JPG DSCF2938.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38606-50fa4b0d32913ac4476a49114c5109ca.jpg)
Up the valley.
![DSCF2940.JPG DSCF2940.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38607-17848130d950bd4470937565e03c334a.jpg)
Looking down stream from farther up.
![DSCF2941.JPG DSCF2941.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38608-a8475f1961badfbbb54d76fb7bff3e05.jpg)
Crags along the way.
![DSCF2959.JPG DSCF2959.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38609-3c70e5e3f90a0c5cda977973a365fe69.jpg)
Milky white stream empties in to the clearer water.
![DSCF2964.JPG DSCF2964.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38610-f873351f1bb51eadcea5f2cb09d4e99c.jpg)
Braided channels.
![DSCF2967.JPG DSCF2967.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38611-1787ac28471b6c6c519225c095a74882.jpg)
Lots of flowers.
![DSCF2970.JPG DSCF2970.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38612-bced6c9c07cb70fcc0ef24b68c4c5d8d.jpg)
You can see moraines.
![DSCF2973.JPG DSCF2973.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38613-7233e3b0902106b5e087cdd2c8fd333b.jpg)
Opening up at the head wall.
![062.JPG 062.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38614-b5339bafe34ee2bc11728f10640ee1c7.jpg)
East.
![DSCF2981.JPG DSCF2981.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38615-a9e7b4364f5984108a89d14a60aa73ea.jpg)
West.
![DSCF2983.JPG DSCF2983.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38616-28d7cc07982df814dea46577b0c696bd.jpg)
Farther West. There were peaks every where.
![DSCF2988.JPG DSCF2988.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38617-87b896bfcebaa5983e533a498fcfa767.jpg)
![DSCF2995.JPG DSCF2995.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38618-4086103ee3f388e401085e25ad13d4ee.jpg)
![DSCF2997.JPG DSCF2997.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38619-93bb8b8bd46a22931385c45e53b8219f.jpg)
Back down the drainage.
![066.JPG 066.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38620-5b44187d2861b2adfb7d09caf07f90cb.jpg)
More views of the crags.
![DSCF3003.JPG DSCF3003.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38621-c0cb4a799a6c404ecf975fee9ec53cbd.jpg)
![DSCF3005.JPG DSCF3005.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38622-8fa8f3d6ca270259560a635e3fcc0cc2.jpg)
![DSCF3006.JPG DSCF3006.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38623-23394ef8f79b7d989df034b4dd6d7c94.jpg)
![DSCF3007.JPG DSCF3007.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38624-23231b29405a6f556828b48f42264127.jpg)
![DSCF3015.JPG DSCF3015.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38625-18f876cef6389163861672bdc63d696a.jpg)
![DSCF3020.JPG DSCF3020.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38626-e747c9ca81edab7d7fd59ab2c53b6ee8.jpg)
An other horn.
![DSCF3023.JPG DSCF3023.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38627-e99ff086371f382e9e255028b2e597af.jpg)
Near camp again, looking back. The head wall center, the pass on right.
![DSCF3028.JPG DSCF3028.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38628-5595ce6b039d6fcd056e759258516a12.jpg)
![DSCF3032.JPG DSCF3032.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38629-b253646f84a76932b442ff773188a8d3.jpg)
![DSCF3034.JPG DSCF3034.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38630-24767bac6af4464a87f95df25b56ae75.jpg)
Down stream. I walked a ways till i came to a place where the flow looked sufficient to put in.
![DSCF3036.JPG DSCF3036.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38631-5fd5b686132b1857e31238ac3fb941c0.jpg)
This would work. An other major branch enters not far down stream, you can see it heading there in this image.
![DSCF3039.JPG DSCF3039.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38632-5270da8656300f13f19ad30ca2660c3c.jpg)
![DSCF3041.JPG DSCF3041.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38633-8f16cda7bbbe6bd8968c3302a26ac2e3.jpg)
South.
![070.JPG 070.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38634-32f45d93141bf7ca1fc7129bc37680c9.jpg)
North.
![071.JPG 071.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38635-f7daa7ea4c804ff7e43b9cb7acb7c609.jpg)
The river moved quickly enough. It took me may be 3 hours to do may be 17 miles, some thing that would have taken the entirety of a day to do on foot. The biggest difficulty was staying in the right channel, not getting graveled out. Closer to the take out there were more trees leaning out over fast moving bends in the river. My ipod died before i was half way down the river, and i had the real camera put way in a bag.
![072.JPG 072.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38636-37af1e5b666293c05a4e42819b288531.jpg)
![073.JPG 073.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38637-9e458a457ffb3c0399539b9e19a358c7.jpg)
![074.JPG 074.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38638-5c9b900a89b76970ea54c173cfae1f4a.jpg)
![075.JPG 075.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38639-dcf1ecd25449b119419f8d32efb1483f.jpg)
![076.JPG 076.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38640-8f4ad9ffb1555a5d5e0907f97760097c.jpg)
![077.JPG 077.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38641-667e3bf8c5953ad01e9e7221320f57fb.jpg)
A storm moved in down river from me. I pulled off to wait and watch it for a moment, but it seemed to just sit there, so eventually i just went ahead.
![079.JPG 079.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38642-f9f2a86d86d097e3d8ac4139b73f6fc3.jpg)
It poured on me for a while, longer than i'd've liked. I just ran it and got it over with.
![084.JPG 084.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38643-6c800418f9326570aae2caf4a8dac7d0.jpg)
Looking back up river.
![085.JPG 085.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38644-42516689dc7fa1feb35b05b9eacd0532.jpg)
And down at the rain.
![086.JPG 086.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38645-a7979cbb6e30c704efb2cc3f188215e3.jpg)
Still pretty nice out where i'd come from.
![088.JPG 088.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/38/38646-27cc438a199b445832120539498b5b39.jpg)
Once i made it in to the rain it kept up to some extent until i pulled out at the bridge. I kept warm while in the raft, hunkering, and paddling enough. I got out and stripped out of the wet suit shivering pretty good. Fortunately i still had dry clothes. Walked a couple hundred feet to the road and caught the bus back. The day soon turned nice again.
video of three bears
two of the bears. more walking time.
some caribou
Last edited: