I started from the Glacier Gorge TH on Bear Lake Road on a frigid, windy, blue-sky day on the 26th of January. With a 10-degree temperature and the wind at 20 mph with gusts to 45 mph, the windchill was -20 degrees. The video shows, in some segments, the wind coming off the mountains, across the lakes, and across the trail.
I did not bring snowshoes since little snow had accumulated since my Fives Lakes hike a few miles away. I did bundle up, and I expected to remove some layers once my body got going with some climbing.
The wind was brutal. The gusts would stop me as I walked along some exposed stretches. The wind would have put me into another time zone if I did not have micro spikes while walking across the frozen lakes.
I passed a few people on my way and stopped to chat with a Ranger who was hiking the same trail to ensure people were not in distress. A guy passed me, and a few minutes later, I went by him. I stopped to shed a layer and stopped again to replace the GoPro battery. He passed me just before Mills Lake.
We talked about the wind gusts at Mills Lake. He asked how far I was going, and I said I was going for Black Lake. He asked if he could follow me, and I said yes. As I hiked, several gusts would stop me, sometimes in midstride. I tried to shelter in the trees and along the shoreline, but that strategy did nothing to improve my pace. When I got to the end and looked around, I did not see my hiking partner. He was thoughtful and must have turned back.
After Jewel Lake, navigation became harder. Snow had blown across most of the trail, but the trees would reduce the gusts’ strength once off the exposed lakes. I had put on my light gloves and did not need my heavy balaclava. I did use my jacket’s hood. The thin straps flying around the video are for my jacket hood.
I sometimes regretted not bringing snowshoes, but I almost flew back to the TH once I turned around. On the way back, I passed the ranger again. As expected, she was well-prepared and warm. She still had her snowshoes strapped to her pack. She asked how the trail was up ahead and if I saw anyone on the course. I gave her some insight, and we parted ways.
I never did see my impromptu hiking partner again. I remembered his car at the TH; it was gone, so I’m positive he made it back. Three more lakes after Black Lake (Blue, Green, and Frozen) should be fun. This day’s weather was very harsh, so I returned to the TH.
