Ice Lakes: Day Two

Having camped near the lake in the Lower Ice Lake Basin, we woke up the next morning to blue skies. Once the sun climbed over the valley walls, the flowers in the lower Ice Lake basin put on quite a show! We day hiked up to the upper basin (which contains Ice Lake, Fuller Lake and a number of smaller ponds, lakes and tarns) and it was even more stunning. I could have spent days in the upper basin taking photos. But the threat of the afternoon showers sent us downhill before too long, and we still got caught by huge (marble sized!) hail. Ouch!

The sun has just peeked over the valley walls.



Wildflowers near a small (apparently unnamed) lake in the upper Ice Lake Basin. The grey knob to the left hides Golden Horn, the high spot near the middle of the frame is Pilot Knob. I was at about 12,300, the peaks are between 13,200 and 13,900. Absolutely stunning.



Following the stream to Fuller Lake, with Fuller Peak in the distance.



Fuller Lake on the left, Vermilon Peak left of center and Golden Horn right of center.



Flowers, Fuller Lake and Fuller Peak.



Flowers, Fuller Lake, Vermilon Peak (left) and Golden Horn (right).



Small falls below Fuller Lake, Fuller Peak in the background.




Looking north, Pilot Knob is just out of the frame to the left, US Grant Peak is just out of the frame to the right.



Looking down onto Ice Lake (the big blue one) with US Grant Peak in the background (the rightmost of the two peaks).



Lower Ice Lake Basin, the clouds are already gathering...



Brilliant Indian Paintbrush






Fuller Peak (left), Vermilon Peak (dead center) and Golden Horn (the pointiest bit on the right - it's in shadow and so not so golden).



(Upper) Ice Lake



Lower Ice Lake Basin with Indian Paintbrush, King's Crown and Buttercups in the foreground



On the trail down into the lower basin



Some of the hail that got us before we got to the trailhead. Ouch!