Post by GaliWalker on Feb 28, 2017 6:46:10 GMT -8
Hike #4, in my personal Top-10...
Top-10 hikes:
10: Lake Ida – Lake Edna loop (Washington)
9: Chesler Park and Druid Arch (Utah)
8: Presidential Traverse (New Hampshire)
7: Half Dome (California)
6: Pea Soup Lake (Washington)
5: Grand Canyon (Arizona)
4: Enchantments (Washington)
3: Nanga Parbat bc, Fairy Meadows (Himalayas)
2: Snow Lake (Karakorams)
1: Concordia and K2 basecamp (Karakorams)
The Enchantments is one of my favorite places, which I've visited numerous times. The hike listed here is a through hike, which I did twice (all my other trips were different variations). The following report was pieced together from two trips. The route and words are from 9/30/2006, but unfortunately I no longer have all my photos from that trip. Hence, some of the photos are from 10/12/2008.
Enchantments(9/30/2006 and 10/12/2008)
Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
In order to cram in a day trip to the Enchantments, I was on the road by 3:20am and hiking from the Stuart Lake trailhead side (by headlamp) at 5:35am. The sky was clear although a stiff, cold wind was blowing. The initial going went smoothly, since the grade was gentle. After crossing Mountaineer Creek, the climbing began in earnest, until I hit magnificent Colchuck Lake, sitting below the austere crags of Dragontail Peak.
As I worked my way around the rocky shores of Colchuck Lake, the usually calm surface I had become used to seeing on previous trips was seething and roiling. My destination was the base of the climb up to Aasgard Pass: 2,200ft of elevation gain, in less than a mile, on scree and talus. The way up to Aasgard Pass took me an hour, but the view of Colchuck Lake just got better and better. The wind was quite brutal; on the open rocky slope it was all pretty cold and exposed, with dust/sand clouds being blown every which way. As I reached the top of Aasgard pass (about 8:45am) and attained the upper Enchantments basin, I was finally hit by the rising sun. Boy, the warmth felt good!
That first view of the Enchantments is incredible. Beautiful Lakes Freya and Brynhild, ringed by the craggy heights of Dragontail Peak, Witches Tower, Little Annapurna and Enchantments Peak.
I made my way through the lovely upper Enchantments lakes (whose surfaces were roiling in the wind) and past the Brisingamen lakelets. Here, the larches were all decked out in gold autumnal finery. The splash of color, reflected in the lakelets and streams and drawn out by the sunshine, was even more brilliant when contrasted with the white granite slabs of the basin.
Then it was down to the lower Enchantments, where I made a trip to Gnome Tarn. Here, not all the larches had turned (about 1/4th were still to turn golden), but it was good enough for me. Then, it was another side trip: this time down to Crystal Lake, which I had never visited before and only admired from above. As I made my way around the shores of Rune Lake and towards Crystal Lake, I was treated to a splendid view of larches dotted around Rune lake, and marching up Prusik pass.
After spending some time enjoying Crystal Lake's shores I made my way back to the main trail, where I met another hiker who was also day-hiking the Enchantments and exiting via the Snow Creek trailhead. Together, we continued on through the Enchantments until we finally reached Lake Viviane. Here we said goodbye to enchantment, and endured the long trek out to the Snow Creek trailhead.
Stats:
- Distance: 21mi
- Elevation gain (cumulative): 5000ft up; 7000ft down
- Hiking time: 12.5hrs
Top-10 hikes:
10: Lake Ida – Lake Edna loop (Washington)
9: Chesler Park and Druid Arch (Utah)
8: Presidential Traverse (New Hampshire)
7: Half Dome (California)
6: Pea Soup Lake (Washington)
5: Grand Canyon (Arizona)
4: Enchantments (Washington)
3: Nanga Parbat bc, Fairy Meadows (Himalayas)
2: Snow Lake (Karakorams)
1: Concordia and K2 basecamp (Karakorams)
The Enchantments is one of my favorite places, which I've visited numerous times. The hike listed here is a through hike, which I did twice (all my other trips were different variations). The following report was pieced together from two trips. The route and words are from 9/30/2006, but unfortunately I no longer have all my photos from that trip. Hence, some of the photos are from 10/12/2008.
Enchantments(9/30/2006 and 10/12/2008)
Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
In order to cram in a day trip to the Enchantments, I was on the road by 3:20am and hiking from the Stuart Lake trailhead side (by headlamp) at 5:35am. The sky was clear although a stiff, cold wind was blowing. The initial going went smoothly, since the grade was gentle. After crossing Mountaineer Creek, the climbing began in earnest, until I hit magnificent Colchuck Lake, sitting below the austere crags of Dragontail Peak.
As I worked my way around the rocky shores of Colchuck Lake, the usually calm surface I had become used to seeing on previous trips was seething and roiling. My destination was the base of the climb up to Aasgard Pass: 2,200ft of elevation gain, in less than a mile, on scree and talus. The way up to Aasgard Pass took me an hour, but the view of Colchuck Lake just got better and better. The wind was quite brutal; on the open rocky slope it was all pretty cold and exposed, with dust/sand clouds being blown every which way. As I reached the top of Aasgard pass (about 8:45am) and attained the upper Enchantments basin, I was finally hit by the rising sun. Boy, the warmth felt good!
That first view of the Enchantments is incredible. Beautiful Lakes Freya and Brynhild, ringed by the craggy heights of Dragontail Peak, Witches Tower, Little Annapurna and Enchantments Peak.
I made my way through the lovely upper Enchantments lakes (whose surfaces were roiling in the wind) and past the Brisingamen lakelets. Here, the larches were all decked out in gold autumnal finery. The splash of color, reflected in the lakelets and streams and drawn out by the sunshine, was even more brilliant when contrasted with the white granite slabs of the basin.
Then it was down to the lower Enchantments, where I made a trip to Gnome Tarn. Here, not all the larches had turned (about 1/4th were still to turn golden), but it was good enough for me. Then, it was another side trip: this time down to Crystal Lake, which I had never visited before and only admired from above. As I made my way around the shores of Rune Lake and towards Crystal Lake, I was treated to a splendid view of larches dotted around Rune lake, and marching up Prusik pass.
After spending some time enjoying Crystal Lake's shores I made my way back to the main trail, where I met another hiker who was also day-hiking the Enchantments and exiting via the Snow Creek trailhead. Together, we continued on through the Enchantments until we finally reached Lake Viviane. Here we said goodbye to enchantment, and endured the long trek out to the Snow Creek trailhead.
Stats:
- Distance: 21mi
- Elevation gain (cumulative): 5000ft up; 7000ft down
- Hiking time: 12.5hrs