Here's the map of the Ice Lake Basin area again so you'll know the section I'm talking about in this entry. I highlighted only the Lower Basin in orange this time:

 

This section of the Ice Lake Trail is less than two miles long and it is the easiest part to run or hike. As you can see, there are few contour lines through the middle of this basin.

Most of the trail here is smooth dirt that undulates over rolling sub-alpine terrain from the eastern end of the basin, which is a little below timberline, to one of the creeks flowing down from Ice Lake. After that creek crossing (which is one of several in this large drainage area) the trail changes character abruptly. I'll describe it in Part 3.

This is an overview of the large lower basin from a vantage point on the way up to Ice Lake:

That's looking back east toward the South Mineral Creek trailhead, although you can't see down to the road from this viewpoint.

There's a small lake in the middle of the picture above; it is fed by streams coming from the Island Lake Basin (out of view on the left -- it's on the Hardrock course), the upper Ice Lake basins, and Fuller Peak (on the right). The Ice Lake Trail courses through the basin toward the left in that photo.

Here's a picture of the lake where the trail passes the closest to it:

There are a few obscure trails going down to the lake. I imagine it's a nice place to camp and/or fish but I've never gone down to it. There are plenty of streams right along the trail through the lower basin for people and dogs to get water.

I estimate the elevation on the trail through the lower basin to range from about 11,200 to 11,500 feet. It undulates and rises very gradually from east to west, then dips down to a creek before beginning its ascent past the waterfalls at the far end of the basin. You can see that in a later picture.

View from the eastern end of the basin (what I call the portal, or entrance, to the basin)

The remaining photos are pretty much in order as I hiked westbound toward the twin waterfalls that you'll see in some of these photos. I turned around and took photos in the opposite direction, too. Those are often cloudy; the bluest sky was ahead of me this morning.

Sounds like a metaphor for life, eh?

 

A look back

The red arrow marks the lake in the lower basin.

Another backwards glance

 

Looking back

We're aiming for those waterfalls in the center of the photo.

I passed a couple of hikers going in the opposite direction.

Gradually getting closer to the falls

Dipping down to the last stream crossing in the lower basin

Thick skunk cabbage leaves (??) stand two to three feet tall at the western end of the basin.

As you can see from these photos, the Lower Ice lake Basin is green and lush this time of year. That's typical of the large alpine and sub-alpine drainage areas in the San Juans. These mountains get plenty of snow, and some of it is still melting. In addition, it's common in the summer to have localized afternoon thunderstorms that can dump quite a bit more water in a very short time.

Ice Lake Creek snakes through the center of the basin.

Several streams flow down from the surrounding mountains to feed Ice Lake Creek. There are at least three interesting waterfalls along the cliffs on the north side of the basin, with water coming from Island Lake and Ice Lake:

 

 

That means at least three good streams the Ice Lake Trail crosses through the lower basin.

The one at the far end of the basin is the widest, deepest, and fastest-flowing. It was about calf-deep on me where the trail crosses it. If you prefer to keep your feet dry, choose a more narrow, deeper place a little bit up or down stream and take a flying leap across it:

This is a view looking upstream at that branch of Ice Lake Creek from the far side, just before I began my climb to the upper basins:

The lower basin is not quite as full of columbines as it was in 2007 when I ran this section of the trail for the first time but the number and kinds of other flowers are similar to the photos I took last year on July 6 (ten days later than now). Mountain avens, Indian paintbrush, columbines, giant gentians, Parry's primrose, marsh marigolds, and many other wildflowers are common in wet basins at this altitude.

Parry's primrose

Columbines

Close-up of giant gentian

With one last look across the creek, back toward the lower basin,

now it's time to start some serious climbing again. In Part 3 we'll switchback up past two good-sized waterfalls and head for Ice Lake.

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the Ultra Lab

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© 2010 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil