Kluane National Park in the southwest Yukon, is mostly covered in ice. It is home to over 2,000 glaciers (some a kilometer thick) and to Canada's highest point, Mt. Logan (5959m). About 4% of the glaciers surge; that means water forms between rock and ice, enabling the glacier to move more than a mile a month before they remain almost dormant for decades once again. Others are vanishing. The Yukon has lost 22 percent of its glacial cover due to climate change in the last 50 years.
1) Kings Throne - Aug. 8 - Stats: 8.55 km / 747m gain / 3:25 hours MT
After stopping in for info at the Haines Junction visitor centre, we drove to the southern end of the park.
Heading for the bowl, as the crow flies.
1) Shingled Hedgehog 2) Golden Milk-cap
Kathleen Lake.
This hike was rated as moderate but I beg to differ. There were some rather sketchy spots on the way up to the bowl. Steep slopes and loose rock made for insecure footholds.
As we gained altitude, my hopes of summiting got blown away. The wind was so fierce, is blasted me off balance a few times! Apparently this is not uncommon to the area.
Approaching the King's throne.
At the bowl. When a young couple who had started out just a bit before us, came back down the grassy slope to the upper left of the bowl, I settled the arguement in my mind and concluded that proceeding would be too dangerous. On the ridge gusts of wind would be even stronger.
1) Meadow Puffball 2) White Camas
Me & Irene climbed a bit higher, to the base of the slope below the summit.
This trail was very steep, which made boot-sliding a fun option.
Irene sitting on the mini King's Throne.
Catching up to the others who'd started their descent.
Back in the van we stopped at Kathleen lake and surveyed the mountain we'd just climbed.
2) Thechal Dhal Ridge Summit - Aug. 9
Stats: 16.3 km / 1333m / 1980m high / 5:20 hours MT
The day before on the King's Throne trail, I was expecting to bag a peak but didn't. This day I was not expecting to bag a peak but did. This trailhead is 1 1/2 hours drive north from the King's Throne trailhead.
We started out on the Sheep Creek trail, which is a moderate hike on a well maintained trail.
1) Mountain Marsh Larkspur
A massive glacier carved valley.
1) Buffalo Berry 2) California Grass of Parnassus
1) Oyster mushroom 2) Alpine French Honeysuckle
At the end of the Sheep Creek trail.
As we were having lunch, we noticed two people hiking farther up on a less defined trail. After gleaning some information off a man who was familiar with this territory, we decided to continue.
Most of our group of seven were content to stop about halfway up this ridge. But Irene & I went for the summit.
We saw three herds of Dall sheep on the green slopes.
Kluane Lake.
2-pic slider
The visitor centre below. This slope, which remained hidden until we donned the summit, was very steep and riddled with sharp pointed rock.
1) Hairy Arnica 2) Dall sheep
A lonely Dall sheep on the top of the ridge, ready to descend on the other side.
Heading back. This trail can also be done as a crossover from the visitor centre.
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