venturing4th: Hidden Lake

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Hidden Lake

This is Jake's number one trail on the list of 0 - 5 mile trails and #5 on his overall list. We did the first part of the trail on Thursday, September 10 (blog post for Hidden Lake Overlook Trail), when we were still on the west side of the park. When I look back at that blog post I'm impressed with the amount of snow that shows up in the pictures. I remember that we went up to Logan Pass, where the trail begins, a few days after an early snowstorm that had closed the pass for a couple of days. Today there was no snow on, or near, the trail and the weather was mixed clouds and sun - and windy.

Just outside the Visitor Center, at the trailhead, you can see the preparation for winter/snow plowing. I think most of the poles at stripped pine trunks.

Just past the Hidden Lake Overlook as we were beginning to descend the trail to the lake, we encountered this mountain goat ambling along in the opposite direction.

Hidden Lake from the trail which descends 700 feet to the lake. That's Bearhat Mountain rising from the far side of the lake.

A view down the Sperry Glacier basin from the Hidden Lake trail.

Near the lake, at the end of a switchback, we came upon a mamma mountain goat and her youngster. Maybe you can see the horns on the baby just beginning to emerge.

Hidden Lake and Bearhat Mountain from the shore of the lake.

Our lunch spot, and yes, there was a little chipmunk that came looking for his lunch.

On the way back, sunshine began spreading from Sperry Glacier basin.

Returning to Logan Pass we could see the Garden Wall. That the Going-to-the-Sun Road just below the midline of the picture and you just might be able to make out the Highline Trail angling up at center right.