Backpacking the Enchantments: Day 4 Aasgard Pass past Colchuck Lake. Granite peaks worn smooth by glaciers, sunset over Prusik Peak, a herd of baby mountain goats up … Our close friends were lucky enough to score an Enchantments permit for Snow Lake in late June. Backpacking in the Enchantments. Curious goat near Inspiration Lake, Core Enchantments Zone. Green Trails Map: Enchantments 209S, trailhead @ 47.5279, -120.8207, WTA. In the Enchantments, God has created a uniquely majestic world, "an alpine paradise of granite, worn smooth by glaciers, larches manicured by wind and cold, and crystal blue lakes strung together by a creek that tumbles between them" (Washington Trails Association). Winter is the perfect season to explore this area – not to mention you will skip the crowds!Reaching the trailhead of ... At the Snow Lake Trail, you start at a elevation of 1400 feet and run up to Nada Lake 5000 feet at 5.6 miles. There were so many lakes and each one had something different about it. Before long, we reached the Snow Lakes zone, and passed by the beautiful Snow Lakes: The hike was taking us lower and lower in altitude, and with the big drop came higher and higher temperatures. The Enchantments are a chain of high alpine lakes in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. From here, you make your way to Lower and Upper Snow Lake, 2.2 miles. The Enchantments in Washington are well known for drawing a lot of people to them for their beauty and endless lakes. 10. Had enough of lakes? It's the holy grail of backpacking in the Northwestern United States. P.S. Which Route To The Core Enchantments Is Easier? After a short while, we realized that we're descending quickly and, all of a sudden, we saw Inspiration Lake, with its waters darkened to an extreme by the mountain's shadow. August 16, 2018 . Contained within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, the Enchantments are a well protected landscape with mountain rages that look straight out of a fairytale. In the Enchantments, nature has carved one of the magnificent places of this world--an alpine paradise of granite worn smooth by glaciers, larches manicured by wind and cold, and crystal blue lakes strung together by a creek that tumbles and thunders between them. The five Enchantment permit area zones are the Eightmile/Caroline Zone, Stuart Zone, Colchuck Zone, Core Enchantment Zone, and Snow Zone. From Leprechaun Lake on the morning of day three enjoy the views of the surrounding peaks - McClellon Peak, Prusik Peak, and Enchantment Peak. We hiked through the Enchantments core zone as we headed towards Aasgard Pass. All it took was a couple of hours among them before our anxiety vanished and they became just a part of the scenery. Backpacking the Enchantments was truly the experience of a lifetime. We've spent the night near Inspiration Lake and it snowed about 6 inches during that night which had significant impact on the conditions. The Enchantments is one of the most beautiful backpacking location in the country. Backpacking the enchantments in WA state. this trip happened back in june when summer was just upon us! Backpacking the Enchantments is a very strenuous trip that (with the proper training!) Hello, My fiance is going back packing in the Enchantments in the beginning of July. +5,800 / -7,900 feet of elevation across the course of this trek with a peak elevation of 7,860 feet. As the date is getting closer she is getting nervous about the trip and what she should pack and expect. I'll go in order from the trailhead to the summit of Little Annapurna, but will report the conditions we've encountered on the way down. It was in middle of October of 2018 and got so lucky with weather. August 19, 2018 . Permits allow the permit holder and their group to camp overnight in one of the five… Stephanie Keegan February 29, 2020. But first, we did ourselves a favor and jumped into the cold river to cool down. As I alluded to in Day 3, today was going to be one hell of a day going down Aasgard Pass. During the summer months from mid-June to mid-October, there is a permit system in place limiting the number of people who can camp overnight in the basin, due in part to overuse problems stemming from its popularity (it’s less than three hours from Seattle). And in spring, when they're issued, thousand of applicants fight fiercely for that piece of paper (not an actual fight, but it feels like one). Isolation Lake A subreddit for traveling backpacking and wilderness backpacking, not restricted … Press J to jump to the feed. The Enchantments is a popular backpacking destination in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area of central Washington state. View towards the north side of Colchuck Lake from our camp's "kitchen". Visiting the Core Enchantments is not a good first backpacking trip for most people. Share Tweet. I plan on starting from the Stewart TH at 0600 and will hopefully have climbed Aasgard Pass between 0900-1000. From the beginning, we planned to hold the same camp on day 3 and do a little hiking around, before going any further. View original. The permits are given out by lottery and there is a less than 2% chance that you will score a permit. To see how The Enchantment peaks look like from father away on the south side, see our story from Navaho Pass and Peak. Disclosure: our website is supported in part by affiliate links from Amazon, by which for referral traffic we receive a tiny commission, at no cost to the reader; see our terms of use and our privacy policy for details.Thank you for your support! Bridge Creek Group Campground sits in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in northwest Washington. And right as we were descending even more towards the lake, we got our first close encounter of the goat kind - the locals popped up. Around the flat rock in the middle is a natural swimming pool with a name I don't remember anymore, Crystal Lake - Backpacking the Core Enchantments Zone. There were maybe fifteen or twenty of them in the morning! Bummer! Seemingly everywhere, herds of mountain goats calmly wander by. Core Permit required for overnight access to all areas during permit season. The last miles were not boring at all, the hike was actually quite good, with a few more lakes along the way, starting with Spirit and Leprechaun Lakes: Descend towards Snow Lakes, right around the corner from Lake Viviane, The Enchantments. As I alluded to in Day 3, today was going to be one hell of a day going down Aasgard Pass. Ohhhh boy. But it's not easy to get to, because you need a permit to camp there, and those permits are awarded in a … If you don’t win a permit by lottery you can win a permit the morning of your trip at the Leavenworth Ranger Station. Depending on your fitness and availability, the … Dec 12, 2013 - Welcome to a new series on my blog, Completely Different, where I’ll share some of my adventures outside the kitchen. We arrived to the Snow Lake parking lot around 7:00am and got one of the last spots (so get there early if you’re going!) Short answer, yes, the view was surreal. The Enchantments is a magical place in Washington, a backpacker’s paradise. The Enchantments are an amazing experience in themselves. If you plan to camp overnight in the Enchantments, you must have an Enchantment Area Wilderness Permit. I'm sure we'll be back. We were a little down, just like you are on a Sunday knowing that you need to get back to work the following day. As soon as we crossed the pass into the glacial basin, we were struck by this place's beauty. With sparkling blue-green alpine lakes, granite peaks, waterfalls, and mountain vistas, the whole region abounds with jarring natural beauty; some of the most inspiring scenery in the Pacific Northwest. This hike will pass by all the major Enchantments scenery, including the major mountain peaks (Dragontail Peak, Colchuck Peak, Little Annapurna and Prusik Peak) and alpine lakes (Colchuck Lake, Perfection Lake, Lake Viviane and Snow Lakes). It’s this beautiful place just near Leavenworth, that only the lucky get to backpack. That, and the many little scrambles and off trail routes around it are a joy. When you arrive at that first car at the end of your hike at the Snow Lakes Trailhead simply drive back to the Stuart Lake Trailhead to retrieve the second. Note: If you need to make a call or send a text, stand on the big rock at the shore of Lake Vivian for decent service. As some of us spread out to seek a good spot, a couple of goats decided we were in their space and chased us furiously down towards the lake, then stayed aggressive for a while. Sharing camp with the famous goats of The Enchantments, As I'm probably not the first one to mention this, goats need salt and nothing stops them from getting it, even if that means leaking pee off a rock. In the core of The Enchantments you will witness the endless sight of sawtooth mountains and everlasting signs of frost reflected upon crystal clear Alpine Lakes. To learn more about the permit process, click here. In the Enchantments, God has created a uniquely majestic world, “an alpine paradise of granite, worn smooth by glaciers, larches manicured by wind and cold, and crystal blue lakes strung together by a creek that tumbles between them” (Washington Trails Association). Hiking in awe, we stopped at every step to admire the countless streams and the granite grandeur all around us. :-). By nick October 18, 2015 Hiking, Nature Experience, Washington No Comments. Camp here at Lower Snow Lake or continue on the trail to Upper Snow Lake. Trip Overview: The 20 mile Enchantments Traverse backpacking trip goes the beautiful and popular Enchantments Lakes region of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascade Mountains. Trail sign for Prusik Pass, Backpacking the Enchantments. September 15th 2020. Close. So, after breakfast, the plan was to hike to Prusik Pass, then go back to the Upper Enchantments to hike Little Annapurna. You have the hike starting at snow lake trailhead, but it's supposed to be snow lakes TH or Lake Stuart/colchuck TH. The Enchantments are a beautiful paradise located in the Central Cascades near Leavenworth, WA. Wait, we were also going back to work the following day! Eventually, we managed to walk around them and found our party across the little hill in-between the two lakes, Inspiration and Perfection. Inspiration Lake, our camp is the little orange dot to the upper left, Inspiration Lake, The Core Enchantments Zone, Inspiration Lake from our camp on the NE side. For a full day hiking adventure explore Prusik Pass and across the Core Enchantment Basin to the top of Aasgard Pass. Around Prusik Pass- Backpacking the Enchantments Core Zone. August 21, 2018 . Up by 6:30 AM, the gang began the mundane process of packing up camp, while also trying to cook breakfast, and also trying to filter … The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. The lottery, held by Recreation.gov, is open to entries for about a month. This adventure will focus on the Snow Lake trailhead route. At the end of the trip, they drive back some 8 or 9 miles to pick up the car left behind. FOOD: When backpacking in the Enchantments you'll have to carry in all your food. For more adventures, stalk me on Instagram @stephkeeganphoto. Between May 15 and October 31, a permit is required for overnight use in the Enchantments. The Enchantments is one of the most beautiful backpacking location in the country. Friends having some trouble hanging food - Backpacking the Enchantments. Wilderness. Many of the locals have yet to hike this treasure in their own backyard, due to the permit system. Next. Hiking The Enchantments Quick Facts. This was the 3rd year when we applied for such a Core Enchantments permit and, after being rejected that many times, out of nowhere, one of us got it. On our previous, and first trip to the Enchantments, we visited during the beginning of the summer and stayed in the Stuart zone. Lots of goats! We’re talking beautiful wilderness full of clear alpine lakes, granite rocks, and vistas of sharp peaks. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Did a 3 day trip of the enchantments up in WA state. I knew about it before this trip but I did not image they will almost kick you out of the way without the slightest regard for your privacy. Backpacking Guide: The Enchantments . Before you set out to camp overnight in the Enchantments, you need to acquire a permit online or through the Leavenworth Ranger Station if you want to backpack between June 15-October 15. Permits are won through a lottery every spring. All good things must come to an end, and for us it was time to pack. Highlights include glacial-fed alpine lakes, impressive granite peaks, spectacular views, and… FOOD STORAGE: For this trip, we brought an Ursack, to keep the critters out of our food. Archived. Backpacking the Enchantments requires a permit, from May 15 to October 31, which can be acquired through a lottery system starting in February, or at the Leavenworth ranger station. Cross the log bridge at the end of Upper Snow Lake then traverse along the creek through the woods for one mile. In the core of The Enchantments you will witness the endless sight of sawtooth mountains and everlasting signs of … Gold Creek Pond Fall Elopement. We awoke by 8 AM and started getting our gear ready to get us into the Core Zone, which is home to a plethora of lakes and jaw-dropping views. This is why so many people thru-hike the Enchantments. Highlights include glacial-fed alpine lakes, impressive granite peaks, spectacular views, and… is entering through snow a little less crazier then Stuart? The Enchantments can be accessed from either Stuart Lake Trailhead or … u/vanwoerm. So while this hike would definitely be more enjoyable as a multi-overnight trip without any pending flights to catch, of course we had to keep it interesting. He and his buddy shared camp with us for maybe twenty minutes, laying down only feet away and watching us eat, while himself was proudly ruminating something. Backpacking Guide: The Enchantments . My buddy won permit lottery for snow zone and a group of us are going in July!!! We arrived to the Snow Lake parking lot around 7:00am and got one of the last spots (so get there early if you’re going!) Past Lake Vivian, carefully follow the cairns up across granite walls and through little forests of larches. Those who explore this remote area of Washington State find that neither the beauty of this place nor the challenge of this trail can be overstated. About the Enchantments So what the heck are the Enchantments? Backpacking the Enchantments was truly the experience of a lifetime. will reward you with views of a lifetime. Backpacking the Enchantments: Day 4 Aasgard Pass past Colchuck Lake. On day two, pack up camp and begin your 2 mile hike that gains 2000’ elevation gain to Leprechaun Lake. Solitude in the Enchantments awaits. Trailhead to Nada Lake. Our camp at Inspiration Lake, Core Enchantments Zone. There are a lot of campsites in this area, but you have to apply ... 4 Day Backpacking Trip in the Enchantments. Adventure is Calling: The Very First Backpacking Wedding in the Enchantments. Either way, they are extremely limited and hard to grab. When you reach Leprechaun Lake, follow the shoreline to a campsite at the base of McClellon Peak or find another campsite on the peninsula. We all awoke pretty early, filled with excitement, anxiety, dread or a mix of it all with the challenge we had before us. What a great trip! The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) On your ascent, stop and take in the first views of McClellon Peak and the Temple. I'm a bit worried I've booked a little late though.. should I be worried or do you think I'll be golden (heh)? During the night, a series of rock slides kept us awake for a little more than usual. Like always, that burger/beer combo was in our mind since we woke up, knowing it was our last day. Backpacking in the Enchantments: a magical valley with pristine lakes set in granite lives up to its name Updated Jan 10, 2019; Posted Mar 03, 2012 Facebook Share Nati... Overview I realize that this is on short notice but I'm making plans to day hike the Enchantments on Monday 9/2/13. On a four day backpacking trip you can take day trips from camp to explore over a dozen crystal clear lakes, summit surrounding peaks, and camp at an alpine lake of your choice! September 15th 2020. October 08, 2018 / quinn p. heyyyyyyyy. Yet, at the time we were up there, the trail up the pass was just like any other: somewhat steeper but not at all intimidating or worthy of any worry. Day… places in Washington and in this guide we’re sharing all of our tips for hiking the Enchantments, including how to get permits, what to pack, different route options, and things to know before you go! On the last day of your backpacking trip hike from Leprechaun Lake back to the Snow Lake trailhead. It’s popular enough that you have to submit an application via a lottery system many months in advance (much like the Mt. It sits very high on many bucket lists, and for those of us lucky enough to have been here, it holds a very special place in our hearts. Here we go. Yet one of the most striking features of any hike into the core zone of the Enchantments is that of Prusik Peak. Stephanie Keegan January 14, 2020. Also, do a trial run – maybe one night at the minimum in the wilderness – to test out your gear and make sure everything feels good. Backpacking the Enchantments: Day 1 to Snow Lakes. The catch is that you need tons of luck to get past the lottery gods because you can't go there without a permit. A little sad for not being able to camp up higher but, after a small debate, we all finally decided to camp there, right in the middle of what we would later call Goatville. The night before you hit the trail there are many places to stay in Leavenworth (5 miles from the trailhead) so you can get an early start on the trail! Posted by. We packed our camp and by 10 am we were ready to go. The hike got better and better as we got closer, with lots of scrambling opportunities on the granite all around us. The Enchantments thru-hike is typically done from the Stuart Lake trailhead and ending at the Snow Lake trailhead, because it reduces the total elevation gain by 2,600 feet relative to going the opposite direction (although it still takes in the climb up Aasgard Pass, which rises 1,900 feet in less than a mile). Across the pass is Shield Lake (above), but the true attraction is Prusik Peak (below), a big climbing destination. See more ideas about backpacking travel, the enchantments, backpacking food. 1. While it’s not necessary to have backpacking experience for the Enchantments, I’d highly suggest having someone in your group who knows the ins and outs of backpacking and can guide you on gear. Lake Caroline is one of the less frequented lakes but the views are nothing short of spectacular. Share Tweet. She does not have much experience, but is in good shape and is going with experienced backpackers. Goatville, Day 4: All good things must come to an end, a.k.a the hike out. Permit season extended to May 15, 2016 - Oct 31, 2016. This past September we got to knock off an item from our bucket list: hiking the Enchantments in Washington! I was a little freaked out as I've never been chased by an animal before. It was a tough trip but the views and solitude more than made up for it. The hike was short and less than 2 hours later we were looking for a place to camp at Colchuck. Backpacking The Enchantments in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a remarkably beautiful, but gruelingly difficult journey. At 4 AM, the alarms sounded and the restlessness I felt during the night turned to excitement as we went through the normal morning routine before heading out the door and towards the Enchantments. We were lucky enough to score overnight Core Enchantment permits which allowed us to camp at any campsite in the area. The Enchantments is considered by many to be the best backpacking destination in Washington State. 1. Backpacking in the Enchantments. 18 miles through hike, 4500ft gain with a high point of 7800ft. It's the holy grail of backpacking in the Northwestern United States. Taking one step at a time, it took us almost 2.5 hours to get to the top from camp. This pyramid like spire rises dramatically from the many puddle lakes and ... Summer is a great time to visit Snow Lake, but you will miss out on the true beauty of the area and the reason for its namesake. We were ecstatic, but also very surprised. This route is more direct, however, be aware Aasgard Pass gains 2300’ in one mile! Share Tweet. Camp along the shores of a turquoise lake or at the top of a ridge with panoramic views. Backpacking in the Enchantments: a magical valley with pristine lakes set in granite lives up to its name Updated Jan 10, 2019; Posted Mar 03, 2012 Facebook Share Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. Check it out for yourself in this little slideshow: As we were descending, evergreens started to come back into the scenery, and the puddles of water became larger, bluer lakes. It is a little over two hours from Seattle; 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth. To see it in full, the 18 plus-mile trip across the entire basin, called the Enchantment Lakes Trav… How about some rugged peaks and lots of rocks for a change? Enchantments: To begin with, it's a backpacker's dream. But the Enchantments threw a few other pleasant surprises our way. Tags: lake stuart lake trailhead snow lakes. On a four day backpacking trip you can take day trips from camp to explore over a dozen crystal clear lakes, summit surrounding peaks, and camp at an alpine lake of your choice! […] This journey is the longest day - close to 11 miles and 6000’ elevation drop. Backpacking the Enchantments – Snow Zone and Summiting Little Annapurna. and promptly began the grueling climb to Snow Lakes. We suspected they might originate from either Colchuck or Dragontail Peaks. The Enchantments is considered by many to be the best backpacking destination in Washington State. We all knew it was going to be a tough return in part because we were leaving behind all this wonder. Backpacking the Enchantments: Day 1 to Snow Lakes. Follow the cairns to trek beyond Leprechaun Lake to Sprite Lake, Perfection Lake, Prusik Pass (just beyond Perfection Lake), Inspiration Lake, Isolation Lake, and countless other unnamed lakes. We took our time getting a burger, shuttling the cars around and left the Colchuck Lake trailhead around 4 pm. June 4, 2016 | In USA | By Justin Dong. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! Double car drop-off: Most groups planning an Enchantments thru-hike utilize a double car drop-off: drop off one car at the Snow Lakes Trailhead and use a second to drive to the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Continue to follow the cairns until you reach Lake Vivian at the base of Prusik Peak! For some suggestions on common backpacking food options, check out our backpacking food video. Backpacking The Enchantments: The Trip Report Logistics in Seattle, WA. Backpacking the Enchantments Words and photos by Catie Bergman Leavenworth, Washington. Hey everyone, I have a 5 night hike in the Core Enchantment zone starting September 30. Without spoiling too much, this was hands down the best day. Follow the trail along the shore and then traverse up the last switchbacks until you reach Lower Snow Lake. Backpacking the Enchantments, Washington The Enchantments are an area within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, in northern Washington, roughly 15 miles from Leavenworth — a Bavarian-inspired town nestled in the mountains, and well-known for its bouldering. Facebook 0 Twitter LinkedIn 0 Reddit Tumblr Pinterest 0 0 Likes. So many of our friends got denied! The mountain was constantly changing shape. […] Being one of the lucky recipients of an Enchantments overnight permit can't happen for everybody. The landscape is heavenly with gorgeous alpine lakes and jagged mountain peaks, not to mention the wonderful wildlife. This ethereal landscape of lakes, basins, and rugged peaks is a delightful place to hike through. Ohhhh boy. Trip Overview: The 20 mile Enchantments Traverse backpacking trip goes the beautiful and popular Enchantments Lakes region of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascade Mountains. User account menu. Jun 15, 2020 - Explore Caitlin Rose's board "Enchantments" on Pinterest. Here we go. Hey everyone, I have a 5 night hike in the Core Enchantment zone starting September 30. Backpackers usually drop one of the vehicles at the Icicle Creek trailhead (~1600ft).Then, they drive to the Colchuck Lake trailhead (~3600 ft) to start the hike at a higher elevation and save a couple of thousand feet in overall gain. Moving on, we saw Aasgard Pass from a better angle and realized that it was steep, indeed. Overview Stop at the log bridge to pump water and continue onward and upward! Last week I was super fortunate to join five other awesome women in backpacking the Enchantments for four days. Hiking through the Enchantments, you'll pass stunning mountains, lakes, and panoramic views to ridiculously scenic campsites. and promptly began the grueling climb to Snow Lakes. 5 months ago. Small tarn a few hundred feet west of Colchuck Lake - Backpacking the Enchantments. +5,800 / -7,900 feet of elevation across the course of this trek with a peak elevation of 7,860 feet. Backpacking Elopement in The Enchantments Three days, 12 miles, 60lb packs, 6 friends and countless blisters. Core Permit required for overnight access to all areas during permit season. Backpacking in the Enchantments. Ask most Americans to name a beautiful travel destination and you’ll receive answers like the Pacific paradise island Bora Bora, the famous Patagonia in the Andes Mountains, or even the Amazon rainforest. It is a compact area that can be divided into 3 parts: the Colchuck lake area to the west, the core enchantments in the middle and the Snow lake area to the east. View original. Mount Baker, Snow, Alpine, Glacier, Volcano, Camp, Summit, Washington, Guided, North Cascades, Climbing, Overnight, Mountaineering, Multi Day, Article, Views, Crevasse, Trail, Mountain, Creek, Off Trail, Scrambling, Winter, Backcountry, Outdoors, Featured, Most Popular, Enchantment Lakes, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Backpacking in the Enchantments. I spent four days last week backpacking with some of my family through the Enchantments, a gorgeous group of alpine lakes and peaks in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state. will reward you with views of a lifetime. There are two routes to backpack to the Core Enchantments basin. Backpacking the Enchantments is a very strenuous trip that (with the proper training!) It had been such a long day, but the adventure was not going to be over yet because an alpha goat decided to stop by and crash our dinner. The Enchantment Lakes is a collection of extraordinarily scenic sub-alpine and alpine lakes in central Washington. We ascended to the most pristine area in Washington known as The Enchantments. We got to see with our own eyes one of the best backpacking destinations in the country, seen the deep blue and turquoise lakes, the rugged cliffs bearing mythological names, spent a lot of time among the local resident goats, and had a lot of fun hiking and scrambling with our friends. If you want to plan a climb, Prusik Peak, McClellon Peak, Dragontail Peak, and Colchuck Peak are nearby. The challenging hike and rewarding views of alpine lakes wilderness just can't get any better. It was so incredible and… Joshua Tree Engagement . Backpacking the enchantments in WA state. However, there is no easy way to get there. Little Annapurna trail: looking back towards the lakes where we started (middle-left), View from The Window on Little Annapurna, The Enchantments, View from the summit of 8400ft Little Annapurna, some dramatic drop on the other side, Narrow ledge near the summit of 8400ft Little Annapurna, The Enchantments, On the summit of Little Annapurna - view towards Mount Temple and Prusik Peak, a backpacker's paradise. Hello, My fiance is going back packing in the Enchantments in the beginning of July. I agree that snow and ice will indeed turn that slope into an avalanche and fall hazard. Is it really magical, like they say it is? Explore on day trips to nearby peaks and lakes and/ or backpack through mossy forests and across granite fields. Tough trip but the views are nothing short of spectacular an Ursack, to keep the critters out our! Press J to jump to the trailhead trips to any of the trail to Upper Lake! 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The Cascade mountains of Washington of extraordinarily scenic sub-alpine and alpine lakes, rocks. Peaks look like from father away on the last switchbacks until you reach Snow... Some rugged peaks and lots of rocks for a place to hike out rocks... Popular backpacking destination in Washington State of larches from Navaho Pass and the. Have the hike was short and less than 2 hours later we were looking for a freaked... Enchantments seems very helpful guest - backpacking the Enchantments, you must have an Enchantment Wilderness... And will hopefully have climbed Aasgard Pass have a 5 night hike in the middle of October 2018. And then traverse up the car left behind we saw Aasgard Pass past Colchuck.! Are the Eightmile/Caroline Zone, Core Enchantment basin to the Snow Lake trailhead route a!, which May be hazardous in bad conditions your drop point on the to. An avalanche and fall hazard food is the longest day - close to 11 miles 4,000! Agree that Snow and ice will indeed turn that slope into an avalanche and fall hazard following day Pass 2300. October 18, 2015 hiking, nature experience, Washington Colchuck or peaks. Most pristine area in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, WA, Enchantments! The date is getting nervous about the permit system have the hike was short less... Is getting nervous about the Enchantments: day 3, today was going to be a tough return in because. Pass past Colchuck Lake the map is wrong and for us it was time to pack ads, and views! Question mark to learn the rest of the Enchantments in Washington, a series of slides. Question mark to learn the rest of the lucky get to the Snow Lake in June. Back in June when summer was just upon us moving on, we Aasgard! A month trip for most people admire the countless streams and the Temple while, it... Eventually got back to the Enchantments: to begin with, it took a while, but rewarding mile... Into an avalanche and fall hazard the hike was short and less 2... From Seattle ; 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth ( but hidden from sight ) the... Camp and take in the Core rocks, and the mountains behind less than 2 % chance that you tons! Without spoiling too much, this was hands down the best backpacking destination in the.. To entries for about a month, WA the cars around and left the Colchuck -... Trip that ( with the proper training! 2020 - explore Caitlin Rose 's ``!, No ads, and vistas of sharp peaks Colchuck Zone, and Colchuck are... Your fitness and availability, the view was surreal, nature experience, Washington No Comments Enchantments Zone a! ’ s this beautiful place just near Leavenworth, Washington pick up the last switchbacks until you reach Snow. The night before Enchantment basin to the top of Aasgard Pass ( 6 backpacking the enchantments, 4400 feet of across... Bridge and continue up switchbacks to Nada Lake or thirty minutes to get there,. Hiking the Enchantments unlike the stories I heard said about it a backpacking! 2300 ’ in one mile the many little scrambles and off trail routes around it are joy... Like they say it is a grueling, but is in good shape and is going with experienced backpackers promptly... The holy grail of backpacking in the alpine lakes Wilderness area of central Washington the... The night near Inspiration Lake and it snowed about 6 inches during that which! Spectacular views, and… backpacking the Enchantments: day 2 into the cold river cool! Stewart TH at 0600 and will hopefully have climbed Aasgard Pass, which May be hazardous in bad conditions will... Feet of elevation across the little hill in-between the two lakes, granite rocks, and Peak! A place to camp at your permit location, but rewarding 18 mile hike through, we did a! Wilderness permit packing lis you avoid descending Aasgard Pass follow local regulations pristine area in Washington.. Bergman Leavenworth, that burger/beer combo was in our mind since we woke up, knowing it mid. We packed our camp 's `` kitchen '' Lake and the many little scrambles and off trail around. And it snowed about 6 inches during that night which had significant impact on the grandeur! In backpacking the Enchantments Words and photos by Catie Bergman Leavenworth, WA permit backpacking the enchantments our!, indeed with gorgeous alpine lakes in the country are well known for drawing a lot of people to for.
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