Layover day at Walker Glacier.Don't look for Walker Glacier on a map you won't find it! The name came from early river guides because this glacier is easy to get to and walk on. What is the official name? The guide book doesn't say, and I couldn't find one on a topo map either.
Our layover day hike will be to go over to the glacier and walk on the lower section. Very cool! We find a trail that goes around the lake and heads up through the brush to the lower plateau of the glacier. I love looking at the texture of the top surface of a glacier, especially while standing on it! It seems rather like standing on the back of a giant, blue, orange (the fruit) that has just been rinsed off. It is full of divits that are filled with water, from little, tiny, pocket puddles to sizable lakes; and the colors! Every shade of blue can be found on or near a glacier: teal, baby, navy, midnight, they are all there. To continue with the metaphor our orange might have a worm in it! We come across a pretty large opening that barrels down into the depths of the glacier. It looks a lot like a slide in a playground although I suspect the bottom of this one might mean death! We give it a wide berth and keep exploring.
At camp we discover a Willow Ptarmigan that is nesting right next to camp. I think she might be a bit behind schedule, there are still three eggs in her nest! A second clutch?There are also hummingbird(s) zipping all around camp. Are they attracted to all the bright colors? Tents, boats, drybags, clothing?
I also saw what may be a Pine Grosbeak. Medium sized bird (like a robin), very deep red color on most of it, big, thick, beak. I've looked it up in a bird book now that I am home but I'm still not sure.
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