Elevation Gain: Approximately 3000 ft.
Time: 8:00 am - 6:15 pm
Weather: The whole spectrum: Mostly cloudy with a sun break or two, turning to overcast and rainy, then snow as I climbed, turning back to rain, and finally back to mostly cloudy with a sun break or two at the end.
I should have written this blog yesterday. I am now 24 hours removed and memory distorts history. It was an phenomenal hike in a lot of ways.
The idea started about two weeks ago on the hike up to the Carbon Glacier. The trail signs mention Mystic Lake being 4.5 miles from the suspension bridge (about a half mile below the glacier). I mentioned to Creighton how I should try that as a day hike. From trail signs, we calculated the total mileage to be around 25 miles. I have never walked further on any one day before.
Yesterday was the day I was going to try for Mystic Lake. I woke up later than I wanted and the weather was not great. I even thought about bagging the hike and waiting for Sunday. I had a commitment on Sunday that I did not want to break. I was at the trailhead and walking by 8 am.
I was at the glacier by 11 am. I was excited by this pace considering I was alone and took no more than a 5 minute break along the way. I was stopping every hour and drinking 300ish mL of water. The hike was wet, a lot of rain had fallen and would continue to fall.
The hike to the glacier I have done now four times, twice in two weeks. It is a great hike and the climb starts getting serious a half mile below the glacier. Yesterday, my pace slowed as I climbed past the glacier. At this point, the whole place was socked in with low clouds. I could hardly see the new area I was hiking in. It was okay, since when I hike if I don't watch the trail I will misstep and hurt my ankle. My right ankle was hurting me on the hike down from the Necklace Valley last week. And this week it had its moments when it twinged with a moderate amount of pain, but it held strong enough to make it 23 miles. I kept it in mind as I walked and was not too bummed about the poor views. I hit a campsite up above the glacier and continued past.
As I got higher, the trail was a little rougher. There was a large tree block the trail for about 15 yards. Two weeks ago there was snow near the glacier. This week the snow had receded from there, so I imagine not too many people had walked this section of the trail lately. It wasn't too long after climbing past the camp that I began to see some patches of snow. I hit consistent snow just below Moraine Creek. I found my way up the creek bed, found the footbridge over the creek, and continued up to Moraine Park.
The weather had become nonstop rain a ways back. It continued raining this whole time, but as I was climbing the snow field, it was cold. It happened slowly and only in a flake or two to start, but soon enough I found myself in the middle of a snow globe. It was June 23, and I was hiking on the snow while it was snowing. I was also drenched from the hike, both with sweat and rain. I got to the top of Moraine Park, and I had no clue where I was. I am referring to all these places after looking at a map when I returned. While I was hiking, I just knew I had been on snow for about an hour. I was in a large clearing, below a ridge. I now know, on the other side of the ridge the trail continues down to Mystic Lake, and I was in Moraine Park.
I found a place near some trees that helped block the rain a bit, and I quickly put on a dry shirt and a warm coat. I then took about 25 minutes to eat lunch. I was warm in the down jacket, and food was helping. I knew I didn't make it to the lake, but I knew I had walked for 5 hours. I did the first 8.6 miles in 3 hours, that is about 2.87 mph. Guessing I slowed both due to elevation gain and snow and I continued for 2 hours beyond that, I guess I did about 3 more miles. I needed to get moving to stay warm, so at 1:30 pm, I figured time to head back.
I got down quickly. I was in Dick Creek Camp soon enough and chatted with some of the Boy Scouts that were there. Then down to the glacier. The weather was improving with each step down. By the time I was at the glacier, 2:56 pm, it looked like it might turn into a nice afternoon. By 3:35, I was back at the crossing. My feet were getting sore. The rest of the hike was pretty straight forward. I was tired and sore by the end, but I knew it was further than I had ever walked. Plus, my body was not totally wrecked today, so that's good too.
Orchid: Sun break or two on the way down and the healthy amount of alone time on the trail.
Onion: Cold and wet in the snow for lunch.
Picture:
Google Map
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