Ref: Yukon Hiking
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Mount Decoeli (right) as seen from the road.
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Scramble:
RT 9.0; 5.0 up. Mount Decoeli stands out as you drive into Haines
Junction with its distinctive pyramidal shape. The objective is a
well-worth outing despite lacking a trail. Reaching the summit is
straightforward; it requires hiking to the head of a drainage, then
ascending steep, grassy slopes to the alpine terrain. The only
challenge may be negotiating numerous creek crossings and rushing water
along the 5-kilometer-long creekbed in late spring; this could
complicate travel, resulting in searching the banks' bushes for trail
segments. We had no such challenge in September; we followed the path
of least resistance in the creekbed. It took us 2 hours to reach the
head of the drainage, where the massive moraines come down the
mountainsides. After a brief break due to the nagging wind, we started
the ascent. There is a trail at first; however, it fades after a short
distance, and random hiking ensues. Climbing the grassy slopes was a
welcome change from travel in the creek's rubble. Higher up, grasses
gave way to talus slopes. Nearing the summit block, the climb becomes
arduous as the terrain gets increasingly looser, but every time you
pause, the rewarding surrounding views are an encouragement to
continue. Once atop, we were surprised by the absence of wind; how
could this be when it was windy elsewhere? It was so delightful to be
there with those conditions; we stayed for as long as we could,
watching the sun set over the glaciated peaks of Kluane National Park.
It was difficult to peel ourselves off the warm summit and begin the
descent towards the drainage, already in the shade. When we did, we
barely stopped as we raced to get to the car before dark. The descent
to the creekbed was fast, but the rest seemed to drag. The temperature
was dropping quickly, as I remember my hands freezing. Dusk was upon us
when we reached the ATV road that leads to the side of the highway. We
made it back to the car just in time. We were pleased with this great
day in the mountains. Our visit to Haines Junction was way too short;
we're looking forward to returning. Perhaps we will climb neighboring
Mount Archibald, which is such a stunning mountain.
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We parked at this gated entrance and started hiking on the ATV trail to the left.
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On the ATV trail with the objective in the background.
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We have a long way to go in the creekbed.
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We are near the head of the drainage, where the moraine comes down the mountainside on the left.
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The arrow indicates the crude trail and the start of the ascent.
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Random hiking on the grassy slopes offers a nice change from the creekbed.
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Looking back at the massive moraine.
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The grassy terrain gives way to loose talus slopes.
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Following the trail segments to the saddle ahead.
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Mount Archibald captures cloud cover.
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Taking a break at the saddle.
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After the saddle, a climbing traverse to the left is better than ascending straight up.
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The telemetry on the summit comes into view.
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To the south, a sub-peak of Mount Archibald reveals itself, but the true summit of the massive mountain remains engulfed.
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The eastern view of the Kluane Front Ranges includes the creekbed we followed and Paint Mountain (right of center).
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View north over Kloo Lake.
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North-west of here, Sheep Mountain and Mount Wallace, directly behind it, are also popular destinations right by Kluane Lake.
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The glaciated peaks of the Kluane National Park are unfortunately concealed.
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Reluctantly going down.
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Traversing back to the saddle.
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Beyond the saddle, we descend into the shade.
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Chasing the sun is a futile effort.
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The temperature drops as we hike the lengthy creekbed.
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I couldn't resist a picture of this monument in Haines Junction.
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