9 replies to this topic

[Grunschev]

Yesterday I hiked up above Black Lake to Green Lake and the unnamed lake often called "Italy Lake".

My original plan was to put boots on the trail by 8am and be at Green Lake by noon. I got started a bit late, as has been typical this year. It looked like it was going to be another beautiful day in the neighborhood, bright and clear. I made it to Mills in an hour. Between Mills and Black it started to rain a bit. No big deal, right? It's not unusual to get a little rain on the trail. I did think it was a bit uncommon - I'm used to rain after noon, not at 9:30am. At least, I thought to myself, it's not a thunderstorm. Then I saw the flash and felt the rumble. Then it started to hail. After wondering how far I should go before I turn back, the storm passed and all was well again.

I didn't check the time when I made Black Lake, but was at the top of the 400' climb on the east side of the lake by 11am. There I found a small herd of elk grazing and a lone hiker. He and I chatted a bit. I told him where I was going and asked if he'd like to join me. I'm getting quite used to hiking alone, but when I'm off the official trail I feel better sharing the experience. He joined me. I don't think he'd ever been off the trail before and he let me pick the route. We crossed to the west side of the stream shortly after joining up and found navigation to be fairly easy. We didn't even have to wade through much shrubbery, and when we did there were always fairly obvious paths. We occasionally heard the voices of other hikers, but never saw them.

We made Green Lake precisely at noon. After eating our lunches, we made the short trip to Italy Lake. On the way down we finally encountered the first hikers since below Black Lake. In the two and a half hours or so spent above Black Lake, we saw about a dozen people, and most of those were on that initial steep climb.

It started raining lightly again just before we reached Alberta Falls and continued until we reached to bus stop.

A few pictures here:
http://gallery.gruns...?g2_itemId=6295

I'll have to make the trip above Black Lake at least one more time. I've now visited all the lakes in Glacier Gorge save Frozen Lake.

[jflo]

Looks like an awesome trip ! Thanks for sharing with us. I'd love to go up that ridge to the left of Italy someday...

[Lynette]

I'd love to go back up there someday with someone who knows where they are going... and is patient with someone who is slow and takes reststops.

Beautiful area of the park... so green and lush. Wonder if it's always that way or if it's just lasting longer this year because of all the snow.

[Monica]

Very pretty pictures!
I have to get to those 2 lakes.

[iceberg]

Enjoyed your pics. Planning on doing a whole upper Glacier Gorge lake tour myself the day after tomorrow.

[Aaron]

It's great up there!

--Aaron

[DrCloud]

Aha! So that's where the elk go in the summer, to get away from all the tourists. Waaaay up.

We got up to Black Lake a couple of weeks ago, looked up at the Green Lake approach, and wimped out. I wish we hadn't. (Well, maybe I'm glad we did.)

Someday, though... HPH

[Mr. Jinks]

I'm going to take a Planet Romonapa newbie on the Seven Lake Tour later this month. Mills, Jewel, Black, Frozen, Italy, Green, Blue. (In that order.) It's a great introduction to the park.

[cardinal]

Those pictures are AWESOME!

[John]

I did Jinks tour a few years back. My favorite hike in RMNP ever.