“Wander here a whole summer, if you can.”

If only, John Muir. If only.

Muir, known as the “Father of the National Parks,” knew there was something special about the pristine forest and majestic mountains that made up what is now Glacier National Park, the Crown of the Continent. Its beauty is unmatched, its scenery incomparable and its exploration opportunities immeasurable.

A recent late August adventure took us to Many Glacier, our destination the Iceberg Lake/Ptarmigan Tunnel trailhead. Impressive views of the grand mountains greet the beginning of the hike, though these views frequently disappear as one enters the dense forest of pines, which also happen to obstruct the Ptarmigan Falls.

Though rated in the upper echelon of difficulty by many, the Iceberg Lake portion of the hike is relatively straightforward, though a few steeper sections exist. The risk is worth the reward, though, when one turns the corner to the final stretch of trail above Iceberg Lake. Picture-takers, picnic-goers and even a few brave (foolhardy?) swimmers are the sights to be seen atop this trail.

Dare I say, it seems the perfect place for an adventurous wedding? Pack the dress, tuxes and formal wear — we’ll all change at the top.

For those interested in the videography and equipment, only five pieces of gear made the hike: a Sony A6300 mirrorless camera, rocking a Sony 18-105mm f/4 power zoom lens with a Tiffen variable ND filter. Atop the camera sat a Rode Videomic microphone, while the camera was perched on a Joby Gorillapod 3K.

It seemed the perfect hiking companion, particularly on a near-10-mile adventure — lightweight, durable and more than capable of the job. I did bring a gimbal — the Zhiyun-Tech Crane-2 — but ultimately decided the extra weight wasn’t worth the effort, though it certainly would have brought a stabilization unparalleled to my handheld rig.