Blake Merrell
Life Elevated - Rising Higher
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2013
- Messages
- 600
It was decided. Due to Adams shin splints we would not be completing our loop through the Alpine Lakes and Wall lake. It was me who made the call. The healthy one. Adam wasn't going to be "that guy" to prevent us from making our goal. But, with as much as he was struggling to hike on the trails, I didn't think it would be good to go off-trail deep in the Winds.
It was a hard decision. But we both (eventually) agreed that it would be best to not to delve into the off-trail routes we had planned.
Plan B: Day hike Indian Pass and Knifepoint Glacier. Camp an extra night in Inidal basin. Camp at Island Lake and enjoy some day hikes around that area. Hike back to Elkhart the way we came.
So... Indian Basin!
What a neat place. I was enthralled with the rugged landscape. The peaks were truly rugged, and the basins were covered in beautiful, shallow, lakes. Because we were on some of the north faces, we were started to get into some of the lasting snow and glaciers. The extra water enchanted the area with beautiful seeps and springs, & falls and flowers.
My favorite part of hiking into Indian Basin was probably the lakes. I loved the all the lakes! the water looked so refreshing, and the the color of the water was so refreshing. I regret not taking a swim. There were so many times I wanted to strip down and dive in.
For camp, we found a nice little pond with a wind break. There were not a lot of camping options close to the pass, but we were fortunate to find one. We pretty much had the whole upper basin to ourselves at night. It was nice. It was a bit windy up here. I little colder too. but it was nice.
The hike up and over Indian Pass was really fun. We were able to take our time and enjoy a leisure hike. It was great to take the time and oogle over the massive - and very sharp - mountain peaks, as well as soak in the microenvironments found in the rocks and pebbles.
Seeing Knifepoint glacier was probably the part of the trip I looked most forward too. I don't get to see many glaciers, and I was excited to see this one. Once we got to the top of Indian Pass I was surprised I didn't see the glacier. On the map it looked like it should be easily seen. It wasn't there. Well, it was windy at the pass, so I didn't spend much time there. down I went to find this glacier! It didn't' take to long to finally round the corner of the mountain where I could get a good view. Knifepoint was beautiful. I hurried down to what I thought would be a good lookout, and found my picnic spot. here I would enjoy the area and soak in the glaciated mountains. Ahh, what a good place to eat lunch. We even had company! Day Hikers caught up to us and we had a pleasant conversation with them. always fun to talk to fellow outdoors people.
On the way back to camp we toyed around with some of our ice axes and crampons. since we wouldn't get to really use them, we figured it would be fun to strap them on anyway and play around for a bit. we also enjoyed some glacier water coming right of a glacier (YUMMMMM) and took time to photo some amazing foliage! The plants up there are different. The "moss" seemed water repellent!
Welcome Sun! Another beautiful Wind River morning.
Not a bad camping spot. No, not bad at all.
Love the green and the wild flowers!
My trusty tent.
On the way up. Those are some cool mountains and glaciers.
The pond by our camp.
Knifepoint mountain
Google Photo took some liberties with my pictures. I kinda like the B&W edit.
Why do hikers wear cold hear on hikes in August? Oh yeah, it was coooooooooold up there.
Adam looking into the valley below. Pretty lakes down there.
Happy to be here!
Little glacier just past Indian Pass.
There she is. Knifepoint Glacier! A little smaller than expected, but still quite large still.
Haha! taking time to use our snow gear.
A cool shelter someone made under a rock. This was near where we camped for the evening. It was a great wind break. if I would have known I would have made this spot my lunch area.
Camp is near that lake. I can see my tent, but I might be the only one. It blends into the rock.
Pano of Knifepoint. Alpine pass is the notch on the left of the glacier.
It was a hard decision. But we both (eventually) agreed that it would be best to not to delve into the off-trail routes we had planned.
Plan B: Day hike Indian Pass and Knifepoint Glacier. Camp an extra night in Inidal basin. Camp at Island Lake and enjoy some day hikes around that area. Hike back to Elkhart the way we came.
So... Indian Basin!
What a neat place. I was enthralled with the rugged landscape. The peaks were truly rugged, and the basins were covered in beautiful, shallow, lakes. Because we were on some of the north faces, we were started to get into some of the lasting snow and glaciers. The extra water enchanted the area with beautiful seeps and springs, & falls and flowers.
My favorite part of hiking into Indian Basin was probably the lakes. I loved the all the lakes! the water looked so refreshing, and the the color of the water was so refreshing. I regret not taking a swim. There were so many times I wanted to strip down and dive in.
For camp, we found a nice little pond with a wind break. There were not a lot of camping options close to the pass, but we were fortunate to find one. We pretty much had the whole upper basin to ourselves at night. It was nice. It was a bit windy up here. I little colder too. but it was nice.
The hike up and over Indian Pass was really fun. We were able to take our time and enjoy a leisure hike. It was great to take the time and oogle over the massive - and very sharp - mountain peaks, as well as soak in the microenvironments found in the rocks and pebbles.
Seeing Knifepoint glacier was probably the part of the trip I looked most forward too. I don't get to see many glaciers, and I was excited to see this one. Once we got to the top of Indian Pass I was surprised I didn't see the glacier. On the map it looked like it should be easily seen. It wasn't there. Well, it was windy at the pass, so I didn't spend much time there. down I went to find this glacier! It didn't' take to long to finally round the corner of the mountain where I could get a good view. Knifepoint was beautiful. I hurried down to what I thought would be a good lookout, and found my picnic spot. here I would enjoy the area and soak in the glaciated mountains. Ahh, what a good place to eat lunch. We even had company! Day Hikers caught up to us and we had a pleasant conversation with them. always fun to talk to fellow outdoors people.
On the way back to camp we toyed around with some of our ice axes and crampons. since we wouldn't get to really use them, we figured it would be fun to strap them on anyway and play around for a bit. we also enjoyed some glacier water coming right of a glacier (YUMMMMM) and took time to photo some amazing foliage! The plants up there are different. The "moss" seemed water repellent!
Welcome Sun! Another beautiful Wind River morning.
Not a bad camping spot. No, not bad at all.
Love the green and the wild flowers!
My trusty tent.
On the way up. Those are some cool mountains and glaciers.
The pond by our camp.
Knifepoint mountain
Google Photo took some liberties with my pictures. I kinda like the B&W edit.
Why do hikers wear cold hear on hikes in August? Oh yeah, it was coooooooooold up there.
Adam looking into the valley below. Pretty lakes down there.
Happy to be here!
Little glacier just past Indian Pass.
There she is. Knifepoint Glacier! A little smaller than expected, but still quite large still.
Haha! taking time to use our snow gear.
A cool shelter someone made under a rock. This was near where we camped for the evening. It was a great wind break. if I would have known I would have made this spot my lunch area.
Camp is near that lake. I can see my tent, but I might be the only one. It blends into the rock.
Pano of Knifepoint. Alpine pass is the notch on the left of the glacier.
