Little O'Malley Peak and Williwaw Lakes Hike

Last Friday we hiked up Little O'Malley Peak (not that little) and walked on across a mountain valley to a section of lakes known as the Williwaw Lakes, which are in the shadow of Williwaw Peak. It ended up being a five hour adventure, most of which was spent going up, as you might imagine. It took a fraction of the time to descend.

Compared to Flat Top, in an earlier post, O'Malley rates a little more strenuous, but the reward at the top is also better because there are less hikers and more to wander around and see. The pictures below tell the story of our hike quite well:

Carrie on the snow bridge at the saddle of Little O'Malley

This gives you an idea of how much snow remains, despite 70 degree temps.

Nate and Brian, our compatriots on the hike, at our rest stop at the saddle.

This mountain valley (at approximately 3500 feet) is called the ball park owing to its flatness--we later hiked across it in the direction the photo is taken to the start of Williwaw Lakes.

A picture of the northern valley below Little O'Malley Peak w/ Anchorage ever so faint in the distance.

Straight off the peak--and hazy--because of a fire near Fort Yukon, more than 500 miles away. The foggy triangular shape is Anchorage.

Part of the boulder field in the ball park, approaching the lakes.

To give you some perspective, this lake is a few hundred feet below us in this picture.

Carrie, Brian, and Nate, peering down at Deep Lake from previous photo.

Carrie in the boulder field under O'Malley Peak, the older, taller sibling of Little O'Malley.

Brian looking down onto Black Lake, 1800 vertical feet below.

Some of the lakes 1800 feet below in the Williwaw Valley.

Black Lake view from our final destination--and yes, it's really that blue.

A lake across the valley at an elevation approximately similar to our own.

With Carrie in the picture, you can see how far 1800 feet straight down is--we attempted to throw a rock into it and didn't even come close.

Carrie sneaking a peak from a higher elevation above Black Lake--also gives you some perspective about how big things really are up there.