Iceberg Lake Mt Adams 9/08/2022

[jime]

This year, the east side of Mt Adams will only be open until Sept. 25th on the Yakama Indian Reservation. This was a hike from Bird Creek Meadows up to Iceberg Lake. The name doesn't appear on every map and "Iceberg" may not be an official name. It lies at the base of today's Mazama Glacier. A look at the historic 1904 map finds this lake still under the glacier back then. (Blue line is my GPS track ending at the lake.)

The latest map shows how much the Mazama Glacier has retreated. Although, I think this is a little dated and the glacier is even smaller today.

From the Hellroaring Viewpoint the climb trail, also called the Sunrise Camp Trail, is faint at times but mostly easy to follow with the occasional cairn. The Caltopo track is spot on and helpful to have. Once on top of the moraine an orange X indicates where to drop off towards Iceberg Lake. Mostly on a level contour and marked with small cairns it leads straight to the lake.

Goats were seen. Glaciers were viewed. An Iceberg was found in Iceberg Lake. It was a beautiful day!

[Chip Down]

That's a fun hike. The lake doesn't look that great in the pics above, but it's a neat spot, well worth the hike.

While I have no doubt the glacier has retreated, I would advise caution when it comes to using maps to gauge that. Some maps are really good at showing glacier/snowfield locations, while others are just wildly off.

[drm]

Sunrise Camp is at the very obvious notch in the center/right of that photo.

The one time I camped there I was just kinda frustrated ( ) that in fact I didn't get the sunrise at Sunrise Camp. The ridge has a rather large knoll just east of the camp that blocked it. Of all the places.

[adamschneider]

I went up there on 9/7. After I left the lake, I went cross-country to the west and found a lot of wildflowers still blooming, especially around the upper reaches of Dry Creek and Crooked Creek.

Watch out for cow pies.

[Chip Down]

Sunrise Camp is at the very obvious notch in the center/right of that photo.

The one time I camped there I was just kinda frustrated ( ) that in fact I didn't get the sunrise at Sunrise Camp. The ridge has a rather large knoll just east of the camp that blocked it. Of all the places.

Lots of good campsites up on top.

Watch out for cow pies.

Even surprisingly high up the mountain, like right below the moraine zone. I'd be leery of drinking any water in the Bird Creek area.

[adamschneider]

Even surprisingly high up the mountain, like right below the moraine zone. I'd be leery of drinking any water in the Bird Creek area.

Yeah, those Yakama cows are sharing space with the mountain goats. It's weird. (I did find a vigorous spring that was hoofprint-free, though, and I filled my water bottles there.)

[drm]

While cows are not supposed to be up there, maintaining a miles-long fence to keep them out is a challenge. The Yakama call the owner to come get them, which he does. But they find ways back up, especially when the grazing below has dried up. The fence is the responsibility of the land owner, not the cow owner. That boundary/fence is around 5000 feet in altitude, though it varies a bit. The road to BCM passes through it a little ways below Bird Lake.

In the past I have participated in monitoring hikes where we walk the fence line to look for damage gaps. The Forest Service also has a section of fence that starts at the east edge of the Aiken Lava Flow and goes to the land boundary, where the Yakama take over responsibility. Every time the fence is fixed up there seems to be another wildfire to destroy it. But I walked it a year or two ago and it was in good shape. Probably some tree snags fell on it.

[Gray Jay]

I encourage anyone seeing cattle at Bird Creek Meadows to report the sighting to Yakama Tribal Forestry, which manages the Mount Adams Recreation Area. Photos and location descriptions are particularly helpful so the Yakamas can call the owner to come get them. The cattle do not belong to the Yakama Nation; they belong to a rancher in the Glenwood area who grazes the open range on private, state, federal and tribal lands. Send your reports to: Yakama Tribal Forestry at [email protected]; phone number (509) 865-5121 ext4613

[johnspeth]

This time limited access interests me. I've never been to the Yakama side of Mt Adams. I'm referring to the Bird Creek Meadows Loop Hike.

Could a 2017 Honda Civic make it to the Bird Lake trailhead?

[jime]

This time limited access interests me. I've never been to the Yakama side of Mt Adams. I'm referring to the Bird Creek Meadows Loop Hike.

Could a 2017 Honda Civic make it to the Bird Lake trailhead?

Yes. The road is actually pretty good gravel now.