Blanca Lake #1052

An astonishing aquamarine basin cupped by slate and snow cliffs--no one will believe you didn't photoshop your pix. If your karma allows a clear day, the contrasting cyan sky will challenge your senses even more. The mad Bulgarian swam to mid lake, but only practiced proponents of the ""Mind Over Matter"" philosophy should consider this. An occasional leg dangle will be the chill limit for the rest of us. The lake drains to a waterfall, though no trail follows it's descent.

Do not be detained by murky Virgin Lake 2/3 of the way in--the pleasure of this trek is the jewel at the end.

Winged carnivores were voracious, though the lake itself was nearly buzz free.