Rise and shine to a beautiful sunny morning, and our nearby meadow looked even more beautiful than during last evening’s sundown. As we set off at 11:30 am, spirits were high for our short distance north to Ice Lakes. The first few hours were an intense, arduous climb from Tayo Park to about 10,600 ft where we stopped for lunch. Gary decided to scout ahead to Ice Lakes to check campsites, and if nothing looked good, we would continue on to Deep Creek Lakes. However, we hadn’t really gone that far yet, and the day was getting on. After a descent from our lunch spot, we headed up another tough climb to another pass, this time over 11,000 ft, where the Ice Lakes finally came into view. From here, we really felt above the tree line as the landscape was sparse and the winds were strong. As we descended to the Ice Lake region, we finally ran in to Gary, but by this time it was already 6 pm, and Gary hadn’t really found a favorable campsite at Boot Lake that offered a good starting point for our pre-dawn hike to Wind River Peak the next day. Rather than choose more lush digs on the south side of Boot Lake, Gary finally found a great site on a western slope of Boot Lake not far off the trail, and great access right near the lake. What a great late-day find. It would be our home for 2 nights.
We set up camp, had dinner, filtered some water, and enjoyed a very starry night. Also, this evening was the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower. As we all discussed our strategy for getting up at 4 am the next day to begin our ascent of the Wind River Peak, we saw some amazing shooting stars streak across the night sky. As much as we (I) wanted to stay up to watch the sky, I need my sleep on these backpacking trips. I do wish I could “hang with the grown ups” at night, but I feel like a teenager when it comes to the sleep I need!
Llama Trek to Ice Lakes photos - click for more
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A journal of my Wind River backpacking trip from August 6-16, 2009 with members of Venture Crew 93.
Hi all, welcome to my blog of my trip to the Wind River mountain range with Venture Crew 93! Being that this is a blog, posts read from bottom to top with the most recent posting at the top. So, start at the bottom.Better yet, click here to read each day's blog starting with the first, then selecting the "Newer Post" at the bottom of each day to read the next day.