One lake, two lake, steep cliffs and more! Wet boot misery at Snyder.

Original Post 8/30/21

Today the goal was to go to Upper Snyder lake, or the lake behind the lake I went to earlier this season. There is a really cool cirque up there that gives you access to all kinds of peaks that surround the Sperry Glacier complex. And we all know I’m all about Glacier complexes.

I started off by climbing up the wrong gully in the headwall at the back of the lake bowl. I am pretty sure it’s the same one I also incorrectly climbed up in 1986, based on the massive dead tree lying in the middle.

More decayed and weather, but I clearly recalled how slick it was in the rain that day. I have now donated my DNA (in cuts and scrapes) to that dead tree twice. Not to mention the permanent sock lines.

I came in to the upper hanging valley too high. So more work that it should be been, but great vantage points. I could see the entire upper/lower lakes, the pattern of the forest fire burn area, all of the new vegetation, and the lay of the land. It is definitely pretty rough backcountry up there.

Between all of the forest fire debris and all of the new post-fire vegetation, there’s a lot going on. A real jungle. In other words a freaking grizzly bear heaven that kept me alert and on edge my entire visit. I tried to climb the head wall between little Matterhorn and mount Edwards.

I’ve heard and read the views from that saddle are great. After a lot of work gaining 1000 feet I ended up cliffed-out with no where to go but down. Everything was wet. All of the good handholds and footholds were full of water from the last storm, which was gently trickling to the valley floor and taking it’s sweet time.

I kept exploring and ended up bushwhacking around the entire shore of Upper Snyder Lake. It was miserable. Soaking wet instantly hip down and filling my boots from all the moisture hanging on the brush. The same brush that hid every fallen log, boulder, or marmot hole.

Basically anything and everything that will twist a ankle, pop a knee, and at the minimum take all of the skin off your shins. It was like a spa day in a Quentin Tarantino movie.

Most of the photos I snapped was to document how wild and unvisited Upper Snyder Lake truly is. I couldn’t find anything online. There were no boot marks, no signs of people. I even found a good scramble route up to the ridge along mount Brown which would be fun to explore.

The problem is I stayed too long and had to really run down to get back to work. Returned to my cabin with 10 minutes to shower and punch my time card. It would have been fifteen minutes of spare time but I stopped to talk to two very special people on the way down.

Remember that couple that was afraid of bears when I was at Gunsight Lake, and needed to hike with me? Well, I met them on the trail heading up when I was heading down from Snyder Lakes. What are the odds? It was like meeting up with old friends.

We talked all about their Gunsight Pass through trip, shared their photos, and they thanked me sooooo much for the info which I gave them about the hike and the trail and Glacier Park as a whole. Told me how it helped them enjoy their marathon hike and make the experience so much more personal.

They even took a photo of me so they could tell hiker stories back home in NH and share who they met. Once again Tour Guide Dave touches so many lives without knowing it. Just a modern day George Baily.

I would call that a pretty good random moment to cap off a 12 mile 3600 foot 7 hour day. Ah, so few left….. 🙁