Hi Frank,
I was looking at the slope of the base of Whitney (from your picture) when I made my earlier comment, and still "guess" that the comment was accurate. Of course if you were using a "long" lens it can really distort one's perception of distance. Iceberg lake is a bit back from the incline, and it just looked to me as though the slope would continue down for a bit, suggesting that Iceberg lake was directly above you. Then again, Steve has been up there many more times than I, so his opinion should count for more:-)
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"How could I have passed the seep(s) and missed the place to turn up to the lake? I was advised that I would clearly see many footprints in the sand going up there."
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I know from my own experience I often see things on second, third, forth, etc... visits that I never noticed on earlier visits (to any higher altitude destination). Something about lack of oxygen, and exhaustion:-)Perhaps you just did not notice.
Regardless, you were very close.
See the pic below for the "slope" of the base of Whitney I was referring to.
