Posted by Ryan Wright on February 23, 2013 at 5:32 PM
Hey friends, some friends and I went up to Rocky this morning to catch some sunrise shots and do a little snowshoeing. The sunrise was just amazing! We pulled over at the Storm Pass trailhead and took photos of Hallet in the beautiful light. The wind was a factor, I'd peg a guess at 40mph there at Storm Pass.
We then went up to Dream Lake to do some ice abstracts and found the trail to be very packed and we didn't even need snowshoes. The wind up there was insane, again I'm guess but I'm a big guy and the wind was moving me so I would wager 60-70mph gusts. Things got a little interesting after that though, I was walking around where the rocks are and fell through the ice! I was about knee-ish deep in the water, so I got my left leg out of the hole and tired to stand up but fell through again with the other leg. I got out of the water, back onto the ice and crawled a few yards before standing up again. Snowpants and boots were already frozen stiff, as was my gloves and hiking poles. Waved my friends over and proceeded to walk back down to the truck. No ill effects at all, just got a little wet and very cold.
Be careful up there, it's been a little warmer lately and the ice isn't as thick as you would think (or maybe I found a thin spot and everywhere else is just fine). Regardless, use caution!
Posted by Kane Engelbert on February 23, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Hi Ryan, looks like we missed a fantastic sunrise! I'm curious as to where you fell through. Can I ask if it was at the very, very far east side of the lake, basically in the area of where you first meet the lake from the trail?
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 23, 2013 at 8:26 PM
I always enjoy images of Hallet Pk in the clouds with the morning glow. Well done in the high wind!
Glad you made it out without any damage. You probably had a pretty quick return trip.
Posted by Ryan Wright on February 24, 2013 at 3:52 AM
Kane - you'd be correct. I was walking along the lake where that big log is amongst the rocks and that's where I fell in. A little embarrassing.
Bill - Yeah it definitely made for a quick return trip!
Posted by Howard Cihak on February 24, 2013 at 4:58 AM
Beautiful image of the sunrise. Great conditions for the shot.
Posted by Ken Henke on February 24, 2013 at 11:50 AM
Holy smokes...ice gave way? Been up to Dream a few times this winter and didnt think twice about falling through. I will be on alert now.
I went up to Dream and Haiyaha last Monday. Unfortunately, Haiyaha also had significant winds so it was a white out at the lake. At least now I know the route. That said, the beginning of that route is always somewhat diffiicult to find.
You certainly captured a nice image of Hallet. Seems my luck has been either white out conditions or a bluebird day
Posted by Kane Engelbert on February 24, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Ryan, I had a feeling that's where it likely happen. Over the past few years I've fallen through in that area on three different occasions. I have a feeling it's because the lake constricts and there's a lot if running water under that ice. The ice just doesn't set up well.
Posted by Morris McClung on February 26, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Discussion
7 repliesWe then went up to Dream Lake to do some ice abstracts and found the trail to be very packed and we didn't even need snowshoes. The wind up there was insane, again I'm guess but I'm a big guy and the wind was moving me so I would wager 60-70mph gusts. Things got a little interesting after that though, I was walking around where the rocks are and fell through the ice! I was about knee-ish deep in the water, so I got my left leg out of the hole and tired to stand up but fell through again with the other leg. I got out of the water, back onto the ice and crawled a few yards before standing up again. Snowpants and boots were already frozen stiff, as was my gloves and hiking poles. Waved my friends over and proceeded to walk back down to the truck. No ill effects at all, just got a little wet and very cold.
Be careful up there, it's been a little warmer lately and the ice isn't as thick as you would think (or maybe I found a thin spot and everywhere else is just fine). Regardless, use caution!
Glad you made it out without any damage. You probably had a pretty quick return trip.
Bill - Yeah it definitely made for a quick return trip!
I went up to Dream and Haiyaha last Monday. Unfortunately, Haiyaha also had significant winds so it was a white out at the lake. At least now I know the route. That said, the beginning of that route is always somewhat diffiicult to find.
You certainly captured a nice image of Hallet. Seems my luck has been either white out conditions or a bluebird day