Flattop to Ptarmigan Pass

Lots of climbing and lots of moose sightings today!  A long hike today, seven hours, with a quick elevation gain to Flattop Mt., the most-climbed mountain in Alaska, and then continuing along a ridge to two higher peaks, unnamed, all of the way to Ptarmigan Pass -- then you drop down for "the easy part" to the lake, partially frozen, that you see in one picture, and then to the Powerline Trail, an mostly flat and maintained trail back to the trailhead.  We saw 30 bull moose along the Powerline Trail in an hour and a half walk back!  Some were quite close to the trail, and we shared a picture here -- this is not taken with a telephoto lens!  The bull moose are evidently through womanizing (otherwise known as rutting), and now they're just hanging out together!  This was a spectacular hike, and one that includes some scrambling -- you're almost always exposed and it's always loose footing -- with a long way down!  At least you can pause and catch your breath since every step is a scenic overlook!  The people and the dogs with us are from a MeetUp group.