Black and Blue Lakes

 Today was a hikemaster holiday. All of our hikes were cancelled, so Sarah, Clyde and I set out for Upper Glacier Gorge and Black and Blue Lakes. After we reached Mills Lake, we hiked further up the gorge through the mile or so of downed trees. The power of the wind that hit the area last November is hard to imagine. Above Shelf Creek, the landscape returns to normal, as if nothing had happened. Black Lake was waiting for us with a crystal blue sky overhead and wonderful reflections of McHenry's and Arrowhead. 

 Following Glacier Creek up the gorge, we struck off the trail when it started heading to the south. We stayed north and east, climbing several rocky benches, until we topped out at Blue Lake, located on its own enormous bench with a view of the immensity of upper Glacier Gorge. Spearhead rises to the south, encircled by the high peaks of Longs, Pagoda, Chiefshead, and McHenry's. 

 Muneca was joined on this hike by her friend Jack Strong. She had been wondering what he had been up to all summer.

 Sarah, Maggie, Clyde, Muneca and Jack Strong at Blue Lake. 

 Just above Black Lake, water seems to seep from the granite into little waterfalls. The granite walls are so smooth here, it would be a perfect slide if it weren't vertical.

As we headed back down the fire trail, we could see signs that the summer is nearing an end. Patches of aspen are beginning to turn gold. Where has August gone?