Broken Top Glacial Lake 12 Sept 2014

This was the third week I had planned to go on this hike to the No Name glacial lake at the base of Broken Top.  The weather looked good...but there must have been a fire in the south, because as the day wore on, it became quite smokey.  You could even smell it.  So the pictures are quite hazy but I suppose it adds an element of mystery.  This hike is accessible from a very bad road near Todd Lake which makes the hike about 6 mi RT (so there are lots and lots of hikers).  I chose not to drive the road, but accessed the trail via Todd Trail.  This makes the hike over 15 miles.  The hike to Broken Top begins in forest then opens up to views all around.  The view of Broken Top you see as you approach is not where the lake lies...for that you have to go around to the right, near Broken Hand and straight up a creek coming out a slot in the glacial moraine.  When you get up there, the lake is right there.  Climbing to the ridge is worth the effort as views are wonderful.

almost to the cut off to head around to the right

now Broken Hand is in view, the slot to go up is to the left

up here

then this!

taking the path to the ridge you see the Sisters

and you can go further up

lunch spot

lunch spot view

smokey

Ball Butte and a little stream - there were several of these on the hike, as well as a spring