We got up 08:30. The night was cold but the sun was already out and it looked like the good forecast would become reality. From our two breakfast options – porridge being the quick and pancakes the slow one – we chose the prior to maximise hiking time.

Nutritious and way more tasty than it looks.

After doing the dishes, some shoe maintenance was in order as of yesterday’s muddy horse trails. We refilled our water reserves and hit the already known road to Many Glaciers. This time we finally saw the scenery around the Lake Sherburne reservoir in bright sunlight.

The trail head was at the parking lot at the end of the road. We packed up and started walking.

The trail began easy through forests that couldn’t have been painted any more colourful.

Blue lakes fed by creeks running down the mountains paved the left side of the trail.

At the end of the valley, a long ascent towards Swiftcurrent Pass awaited us.

With every turn up the switchbacks, the views got better and better.

Even though high up the Rocky Mountains, the landscape kept alternating, being dominated by either rocks, forests, or meadows. In every little corner some species found its niche.

Shortly before the Swiftcurrent Pass, we made a quick break in a wind-protected foresty part of the trail. Beef Jerky, trail-mix, and Cliff Bars keep us going while hiking. We met a park ranger who told us going up from the Swiftcurrent Pass to the summit of Swiftcurrent Mountain would take another 90 minutes and that it wouldn’t provide many views we didn’t have had already along our way. We kept the summit as an option, but given that information decided against it.

It didn’t take long to complete the ascent to the pass. While making pictures we noticed there was mobile data reception, here, in the middle of nowhere, but 2190 m elevated. A short break from nature was due.

Of course, we did enjoy the view as well.

On our decent we made a quick detour to a pretty chill snowfield.

As usually in the evenings, the sun illuminated everything especially beautifully. So even though we went the same way back that we came, we could enjoy every sight in a different light, literally.

Between the chaotic, but regular patterns of the different rocks…

…a lot of blooming plants can still be found.

The descent went by way quicker than the ascent. When we reached the Bulkhead Lake, we remembered that we packed towels and bathing pants – since it was sunny in the morning. I cannot say it was without hesitation, but we went through with a refreshing bath in the ice cold water.

That experience put all the cold nights in our camper van into perspective. A minute in that water and the distinction between hot or cold vanishes into a numb, burning sensation, that feels surprisingly good – for about 30 seconds before it gets cold again.

The rest of the hike was a pleasant walk through the forest in perfect evening light.

Sun, clouds and mountains created an interesting view best described as rainbow volcano.

After a bit more than 23 km, and almost 8 hours on the trail we arrived back at the car.

We drove out of the park into the mobile data covered area we discovered yesterday for some online time and planning. We decided to spend a third night at the Leaning Tree campground. It is not perfect, but it has character. By the way, that’s the leaning tree:

Soup and plenty of rice for carbs made our dinner of which there is no footage as we were too tired. We quickly did the dishes, had a shower and went to sleep. A good day.