Ice Lake Basin conditions?

[rhinos00]

Curious if anyone has current updates for this area. How are the conditions on Golden Horn? Are Ice Lake or Fuller Lake thawed out? Any updated info. would be greatly appreciated. Planning an extended backpacking trip starting this Tuesday and this is one of the candidates. Cheers!

[John Landers]

I was just north of Ice Lake Basin over Memorial Day weekend and there is not a lot of snow below 12,000' unless it is in couloirs. You should have mostly dry trail to Lower Ice Lake, as the upper basin faces more northward that may still be holding snow. We did get into some snow on our descent in a north facing basin which was still pretty firm even in mid-afternoon. We did not take or need snowshoes.. I would expect you would be on some snow to climb Golden Horn, Vemilion, and Fuller which can be a good thing.

[Chicago Transplant]

I was up there over Memorial Day, its still pretty snowy in the upper basin. It wasn't too bad where we were around Island Lakes though (V4, Grant and V2 were our climbs). The crux on Grant is dry, as is the ledge. The summit gully had some ice that was easy to avoid on the right hand side. Island Lake was still frozen though.

Attached is an image of the upper basin, peaks labeled. That snow between Fuller and Vermilion usually holds late too, I was up in mid July before and had a snow climb up to the saddle. You could camp around treeline and be dry, then head up to the basin for the peaks. Probably will want axe and crampons, the snow might be firm in the AM, especially if it freezes overnight. Have fun!

Ice Lakes Basin - Memorial Day

IceLakes.JPG (270.41 KiB) Viewed 398 times

[rhinos00]

Thanks for the excellent info. everyone! That's exactly what I was looking for. Cheers!