Iceberg Notch and Iceberg Peak Glacier National Park July 25, 2018

This was one of those days you dream about happening and then you live it.  The forecast called for 60 percent chance of thunderstorms, but we still headed out.  When we started our objective was Iceberg Peak, we had not quite made it last year and we really wanted to bag this summit this time.  At first it looked as though the forecast was going to be correct, then as we started up towards the Notch from Iceberg lake the socked in clouds began to dissipate.  The early morning fog on the lake was cool looking but nothing is better than sunshine looking down on that lake.  The Notch was way easier this time since we knew the way up.  We then headed around and started the scramble up to the Peak.  It was a bit of a grunt going up but then we were very much rewarded.  The view was truly one of the best I've ever had and the entire time we were on the summit there was not a breath of wind and we encircled about by amazing clouds that just passed by.  The only disappointment was we didn't get to see last weeks summit Merritt as the clouds never left that area to our north.  We eventually decided we had to leave this little spot of heaven and made our way down.  The return seemed longer than it should have but we eventually made it out but all in all an amazing day and we only got the tiniest of showers at the lake after we descended, so we luckily got the good 40 percent of that 60 percent chance of thunderstorms.

What the beginning of our day looked like, not very promising

Fog on the Lake and above the Lake at Iceberg Lake

Another shot of the fog starting to dissipate on the lake

Another shot of the icebergs on the lake

On our way up getting our first views of the ice at the back of the lake

The Notch covered in fog

Fog starting to lift

Seeing the top of Mt. Wilbur with the fog dissipating

This is a steep section of the climb, not the easiest of approaches for a mountain, lots of route finding hopefully if you try you can follow the cairns

Another view as we get higher, I took over 200 pictures today and half were of this amazing lake

Fog almost all gone as we near the Notch

Calm breeze less day gives amazing reflections on the lake

Awesome pinnacle at the Notch

Looking down from the Notch

Traversing around to the back side to the summit, B-7 Pillar in the background.  On our way down a guy we ran into had just free climbed that...crazy!

On of the first pictures I took looking down from the summit

Amazing view

I usually don't take single summit photos but I had to today

Another shot

Summit photo

Clouds hiding Merritt

Example of the clouds that were all around us

Lake after descent, still calm and amazing

Notch after descent, it was starting to sprinkle a little here

Track of Hike

Panorama on Summit

Summit Video

Video of Fog at Iceberg Lake

Video going up to the Notch

Video at Iceberg Notch

Mt. Merritt Glacier National Park July 17-19, 2018

So this is a hike we had been planning for a while.  Our group on this hike was the same as had done Mt. Stimson the year before.  So out of the Six 10,000 ft. summits of Glacier National Park this was my 3rd.  Three to go: Kintla, Jackson and Siyeh.  One thing we've noticed about these peaks so far is that they aren't easy ones.  The approach to Merritt was a long 23-24 km hike from the Chief Mountain border crossing, that was the 17th.  It was a beautiful day just very hot.  We made good time and settled in at Mokowanis Lake campground that evening.  The 18th we got up early and started our ascent.  We started with some bushing and then had scree slopes then had some scrambling to a ridge and then a scramble up the ridge to the top.  Our group got separated for a bit and I was in the group that had to backtrack below a snow pack near the top.  We eventually summitted and enjoyed the amazing views.  J. Gordon Edward claims this is the best view in the Park and I must agree with him.  You have amazing views of all 6 of the 10,000 ft. mountains and you have some amazing views of a whole bunch of glaciers and lakes all around.  Our summit time was amazing, little to no wind and not too cold.  We stayed for a while and then descended basically the way we came except for a little change down a drainage basin near the end.  We slept good that night and then got up the next morning and hiked our big long day out.  The stop at Wieners of Waterton to eat that night was much needed.

On our way with our goal in sight! Mt. Merritt in the middle

Another shot of Mt. Merritt on day one

Crossing the suspension bridge

Cosley Lake with Mt. Cleveland on right

Our first view of where we would be climbing up the next day.  We climbed just below the shadow on the right and traversed over to the saddle in the middle

One of the Moose we saw

At Mokawanis Lake looking up at our goal

Amazing waterfall on our way up to Margaret Lake

Margaret Lake

Summit day the bush we started with

On our way up looking down at Mokawanis Lake and Stoney Indian Pass behind it

Margaret Lake

Glen's Lake with Cleveland behind it

Scrambling up to the ridge

Our first good view of Old Sun Glacier

Check out some of the cracks in the Glacier

The snow pack we had to back track around

Summit view looking down at Glen's Lake

View from the summit looking towards the myriad of Glaciers and Lakes we saw

Summit Cairn

Summit Photo

Margaret Lake on the way down

Mokawanis Lake the morning we left

Summit Panorama

Summit Video

Photo sphere of Old Sun Glacier

Track of Day 1

Track of Day 2

Track of Day 3

Goat Mountain Glacier National Park July 11, 2018

Well this was a good little day with some pretty scenery in Glacier National Park.  It was my oldest boys birthday, and he didn't want to go hiking??? Anyways it was a great day.  We started at Sunrift Gorge and went down the trail of Siyeh Pass for a while, then eventually headed up the scree to the summit of Goat Mountain.  On the way up we got a great view of Goat Lake which is a lake that isn't very accessible.  Near the end of our hike I learned why, because the only way in is through some heavy bush and cliffs.  On the summit we had a great view of Gunsight Lake and a good view of Mt. Jackson which we want to hike in a few weeks.  On descent we decided to head down to Otokomi Lake and come out that way and it was a good decision.  It was a pretty descent and the lake was beautiful.  Great day and one more peak to add to my list.

Sunrift Gorge

Looking across St. Mary's to Little Chief

Going to the Sun Mountain was our view for the morning with the Sexton Glacier below it

Starting to see Mt. Jackson right of center with all the snow on it

Goat Lake

Using my wide angle lens looking down on Goat Lake

Funky rocks on the ridge

On the Summit looking towards Divide Mountain

Looking down on Otokomi Lake

Huge snow drift we came across

Cool cliffs on our way down

Last view of Going to the Sun Mountain as we descended

Awesome valley going down to Otokomi Lake

Pretty Waterfalls above Otokomi Lake

Otokomi Lake

Tried out my portrait mode on my phone while taking this picture of the Bear Grass

Purple Pine cones!

On descent we got a good look at Red Eagle Mountain. From here the false summit looks higher than the true summit.

Summit Panorama

Summit Video

Track of Hike