Like a siren it called to me, an idealized treasure hidden in the mountains. In 2011 treacherous snow slides kept me from it, yet just close enough to catch a glimpse of its wonder. Part of my pushing this year's trip back to July, in the thick of tourist season, was the knowledge I'd be able to get into this lake with the warm weather.
Mount Gould over Swiftcurrent Lake
The journey up to Iceberg is one of many that highlight just how incredible Many Glacier is. I am firmly convinced that this intrepid reach, far removed from the main areas of the park, is the most beautiful in so many ways. Climbing up above expansive valleys, crossing great glacial streams, and hiding in among great alcoves carved from the very world itself, its an experience, not just a sight to be seen.
I found myself in awe upon finally reaching Iceberg Lake. The scale, the scope, the wonder of it all completely exceeded what my wildest imagination could have conjured up to that point. I should have known, this is a recurring symptom in Glacier. I found myself at odds to fit this expansive landscape into a photographic means. Thankfully there exists such a thing as the mosaic photo, and after using almost 20 shots to make one photo, I can happily say I was able to nearly capture Iceberg Lake. Of course only standing there on one's own can anyone truly appreciate the great mountain lake.
And that is of course, the ultimate goal of all this folly of photographing, processing, and blogging. The absolute point is to move some part of the heart of the viewer to desire to stand on the same path as I have. Venture outside of the world as we know it and see the world as it truly was. It is only on these precious ground that we finally connect with what once was, and why we must protect it for every generation here after.
