Whittier to Portage River

A lady that I worked with put a bug in my ear about going from Whittier to Portage via Portage Pass, Portage lake, and Portage creek. We never were able to coordinate, but I've been wanting to do it so when Brody said he would go, we went.

We drove through a sunny Bear Valley, but as soon as we popped out of the tunnel in Whittier we were surrounded by clouds and fog...it burned off by the time we got to the top of the pass.

Brody in the Bushes

 

There is a really nice trail all the way to the pass, and then a overgrown but still good trail down to Portage Lake. Brody and I did some optional bushwhacking just to keep it interesting.

Portage Glacier and Ferry

 

I don't think we hiked more than an hour and a half before we got to the lake, it was a super short distance. The portage glacier and surrounding glaciers and mountains were amazing.

Luckily for us when we put in on the lake we did not have a head wind. It was marginally slow going, but the views made it worth it.

Putting in on the Lake

 

Boating on the Lake

 

It took about an hour to get across the lake and hit the river...from there travel was much more swift and entertaining. Super mellow float, but pretty views of the Byron, Middle Glacier and Explorer glacier. Being in a boat on a river creates the opportunity for a whole new perspective.