Ptarmigan Trail and Iceberg Lake: Part 2
After getting through the tunnel and looking down the path I was very sure I didn't want to go down the mountain and have to come back up. That would be a backpacking trip.
I am very glad that I was not part of the crew that had to cut the cliff and create the trail. Very glad they did. The layers of rocks throughout the park continually had my attention. They especially stood out on this part of the Ptarmigan trail since some of the more weathered surface rocks had been removed.
"Interbedded with red argillites are thin white layers of quartzite, a former sandstone which has been converted by pressure into an extraordinarily hard, dense rock. Mud cracks, ripple and current marks, raindrop impressions, and other features made while the sediments were accumulating are common. The red color is due to abundant iron oxide occurring mainly as a cement between the sand and mud grains. All the rocks of Glacier Park contain some iron, or rather contain iron-bearing minerals." -http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/glac/3/sec3.htm
Can't forget about the only animal that has made the cliff side its continual home. Very agile creatures on sheer rock face.
My first thought was that hikers must be feeding them. At a closer look there were lots of little plants growing in cracks, trying to grab onto any soil possible.
While up there I did hear about a recent sighting of a bear cub and mom climbing up the scree field. The bear cub couldn't make it and slide back down. I know the feeling from climing the scree field on Mt St Helens. Not a fun task.
Going down the trail a little ways gave a view of Ahern Glacier between Ipasha and Ahern peaks. The lake is Elizabeth Lake.
Time to start the backtracking part of the trail. But first I had to get some pictures of the cliff cut path and the tunnel.
If you look closely you can see people standing outside of the tunnel. Time for the zoom lens.
After getting back through the tunnel I was very grateful I had switched lenses because a mountain goat was working its way across the Ptarmigan Wall above the tunnel.
It was beautiful heading back through Many Glacier Valley to get onto the Iceburg Lake Trail.
Iceburg Lake is on the western end of the valley in another cirque like Ptarmigan Lake is in.
On the way stopped in the shade and had lunch. We were visited by a rabbit that sat and watched us till we left. It had very furry feet compared to rabbits I'm used to seeing.
Just before reaching the lake was a pond that seems to have no name from all the maps I've been looking at.
Just before getting to the lake we crossed Iceberg Creek.
Then came the stunning first view of the Iceburg Lake.
Surrounding the lake is an arête, thin ridge of rock seperating two valleys. This is Mt Wilbur with it's peak at 9,321 ft and the lake sitting at 6,094 ft.
By this point we'd hiked about 11 miles and it was time to take off the shoes and cool off the feet. While at it I decided I had to make it onto an snow chunk and had an audience to entertain in the process.
That didn't last long. Time to head back to the civilized part of the park. On the way got to see the ass of a grizzly bear walking on the path ahead. It quickly got off once I screamed in excitement that there was a bear. My first goal was to make sure my bear spray was unholstered and I missed the photo op.
It was a beautiful 16 mile hike.
