The Hike On Wednesday, we took the ferry across Lake Jenny to hike up Cascade Canyon.
The participants (Melanie and Charity hung with us for the first third) 
The view of the canyon looking back halfway through the hike 
Lake Solitude at the far end of the canyon. It is mostly frozen over. We were very surprised by the amount of snow left in early July. 
Lunch on the rock (picture taken by a random woman hiker who joined us and avoided being in all pictures)
At this point, some hikers (not me) determined to jump in the small part of Lake Solitude that was not frozen over.Mike jumps in for a second time. The original plan was to climb a pass and then hike back out a different canyon. However, given that there was a tremendous amount of snow at 9000 feet and we would have to pass over 10700 feet and we could see the amount of snow on the trail up to the pass, we decided to play it safe and hike back out the way we came. As it was, it was a lot of snow.
Dan and Keith stop to wait for slackers on the way down After 15 miles of hiking, there was a half hour wait to ride the ferry back to the other side of the lake. I thought priority should be given to people who had hiked the farthest, but no one asked my advice. A very fun and exhausting day hike.
Lake Solitude is my favorite lake ever. It is amazingly beautiful, especially when the snow has melted. I have been there twice, both in late July when the snow has long been gone and the wild flowers are in bloom.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing you didn't go over the pass and down the other canyon. While the other canyon is beautiful, the pass coming from Lake Solitude is pretty treacherous, even without snow. I can't imagine going over it in the snow without ice picks and other such equipment.
Also, I was also really surprised to see your picture from early July with so much snow. That is a ton for early July, they must've had a big winter or a chilly spring.
ReplyDeleteProbably global warming is to blame.
Awesome pictures. Makes me homesick for the Tetons. I had a run-in with a bear cub once just up behind Jenny Lake. . .
ReplyDeleteIt also makes me want to take my boys camping. . .hmmmm. . . maybe in a few years.