Enchantment Lakes, Lake Stuart, Colchuck Lake
Jul 17, 2009
by
brook042
—
last modified
Jul 24, 2009 02:49 AM
- Type of Outing
- Overnight
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Enchantment Lakes
- Region: Central Cascades -- Leavenworth Area
- Agency: Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District
- Trails: Enchantment Lakes (#1553)
- Avg Rating: 4.52
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Lake Stuart
- Region: Central Cascades -- Leavenworth Area
- Agency: Leavenworth Ranger Station (509)-548-6977
- Trails: Lake Stuart (#1599)
- Avg Rating: 3.25
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Colchuck Lake
- Region: Central Cascades -- Leavenworth Area
- Agency: Wenatchee - Okanogan National Forest, Leavenworth Ranger District
- Trails: Colchuck Lake (#1599.1)
- Avg Rating: 3.93
- Be Aware Of
- Snow on trail
- Bugs
First view of Aasgard rising from 5570ft to 7800 in .9 miles
First time through the famed Enchantments. Pleased to say they lived up to their reputation. Started at the Stuart TH on 7/17 and hiked the short distance to camp at Colchuck Lake. Some mosquitoes, tons of flies. Swam in the tarn off to the right of the lake which is remarkably warm and soothing.
Woke up the next morning at 6:30 and began the trek up Aasgard- the only way into the Enchantments IMO. It isn't nearly as difficult as everyone makes it seem. Yes, it is steep but its short and the cairns being difficult to find!!!??? They're every 5 feet and they're hardly "traditional" cairns; they are massive rock piles- seriously 4 feet tall. After making it up the pass we scrambled Dragontail which was much more rewarding than Little Annapurna (which we also climbed). We had to cross the snow creek glacier but this didn't require any special equipment. It took us about 45 minutes from the top of the pass to the summit. Choose this over L.A. Once we descended Dragontail we made the LONG trek down to Snow Lakes and the TH making a full loop. Worth mentioning- you cross probably 20 snow fields. Other than that, great trip. Approximately 11,300 feet net elevation change on the day. Duration: 13 hours with the two scrambles and breaks etc.
Woke up the next morning at 6:30 and began the trek up Aasgard- the only way into the Enchantments IMO. It isn't nearly as difficult as everyone makes it seem. Yes, it is steep but its short and the cairns being difficult to find!!!??? They're every 5 feet and they're hardly "traditional" cairns; they are massive rock piles- seriously 4 feet tall. After making it up the pass we scrambled Dragontail which was much more rewarding than Little Annapurna (which we also climbed). We had to cross the snow creek glacier but this didn't require any special equipment. It took us about 45 minutes from the top of the pass to the summit. Choose this over L.A. Once we descended Dragontail we made the LONG trek down to Snow Lakes and the TH making a full loop. Worth mentioning- you cross probably 20 snow fields. Other than that, great trip. Approximately 11,300 feet net elevation change on the day. Duration: 13 hours with the two scrambles and breaks etc.
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Dragontail with a great spot to swim...
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Cairn aka rock pile
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Our route scrambling boulders and snow(right). Then across Snow Creek glacier on our way up Dragontail.
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