Snow Lake, Enchantment Lakes
Jun 28, 2009
by
o'rogers
—
last modified
Jul 10, 2009 07:24 AM
- Type of Outing
- Multi-night backpack
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Snow Lakes
- Region: Central Cascades -- Leavenworth Area
- Agency: Wenatchee National Forest, Lake Wenatchee Ranger District
- Trails: Snow Lakes (#1553)
- Avg Rating: 3.82
- 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
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Snow on trail
- Bugs
View of Little Annapurna on our way down through the lower basin
Headed to the Enchantments via the Snow Lakes trailhead early June 28 for a 4-night excursion with three friends. Trail up to Snow Lakes is rocks and roots all the way, granite faces, a bit of scrambling but we went up in the shade so we were happy. Stopped at Snow Lakes for a long lunch day 1 and decided to go ahead on up to Lake Viviane to set camp. On arriving at Viviane we saw our first mountain goat and quickly took pictures only to find that there would be several families joining us at our campsite the next 3 nights. Viviane was clear and beautiful. No mosquitoes here or further up but plenty of flies.
Day 2 started hiking in snow right away once we left Viviane. I was glad to be with more experienced snow hikers as I would never have known where to step, how to step and was not very good at spotting the cairns. Bring people with you if you go early season. Made our way around Leprechaun and Perfection Lakes, then up to Inspiration where we set base camp for 2 days. After lunch took a day hike up through Prusik Pass to Enchantment Peak and shared the view with a marmot. Knees were dying on the way back to camp - forgot to take some Ibprofen (which I now call IB-flying).
Day 2 evening was when the real goat encounter continued. They tell you to pee on the rocks but what they don't tell you is that the goats will actually come when they hear you peeing and circle you- mamas and babies! And it get's better... the goats also clomped around our tent site serenading us through the wee hours with their various pitches of "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE". What a night.
Day 3 day hiked up to the Upper Basin to Little Annapurna which is SO worth it. The upper basin was pretty much totally covered in snow and we wore our gaiters. We would have liked to stay up there one night as it was quite stunning. From Little A saw Mt. Rainier, Adams, Stuart, Glacier Peak, I-90 and pretty much all of Washington. Beautiful alpine meadow and granite stacks of rocks. Spent a good break up there, headed down the wrong way through the snow (oops) to Isolation and Tranquil Lakes to Aasgard Pass with a view of Colchuck Lake and even a distant Mt. Baker. Day 3 night was much more calm; the goats chilled out a little and didn't keep us up with their screeching. We decided they'd either made peace with us or found some other innocent group to mess with. we hung our packs and boots every night for safety - not sure if this was necessary.
Day 4, 2 from our party were going to climb Dragontail but we'd run into a group that said they had to use ice axes a couple times and we had not brought ours so they decided not to chance it. We packed up and headed up to Gnome Tarn for one last jaunt and lunch. You can see Snow, Temple, Viviane, Leprechaun, Perfection and Inspiration Lakes from this point. Started our descent with a glissade down - wahoo! - and headed back to Snow Lakes where we set camp for the last night. The trail down was very trying - believe the books that say this is the long way out - they are right. We encountered our first mosquitoes of the trip at Snow Lakes and they were SWARMING. it was an absolute gift to not have them earlier in the trip.
Woke up early day 5 to the sunrise over Upper Snow. Snow Lakes is quite a lovely spot and worth spending some time at. Headed out in the heat of Leavenworth wafting up at us - it must have been at least 90 degrees and we came down in it slowly and in full sun. Took a quick dip in Nada Lake to cool off and waded into the creek further down at lunch time. The last 2 miles were grueling - drink plenty of water. At the trailhead we cooled off by the water and reveled in our accomplishment.
Can't wait to do it again when there is less snow so we can get a good look at the rest of the topography. Would love to leave a car at the other trailhead and do it as a point to point.
Day 2 started hiking in snow right away once we left Viviane. I was glad to be with more experienced snow hikers as I would never have known where to step, how to step and was not very good at spotting the cairns. Bring people with you if you go early season. Made our way around Leprechaun and Perfection Lakes, then up to Inspiration where we set base camp for 2 days. After lunch took a day hike up through Prusik Pass to Enchantment Peak and shared the view with a marmot. Knees were dying on the way back to camp - forgot to take some Ibprofen (which I now call IB-flying).
Day 2 evening was when the real goat encounter continued. They tell you to pee on the rocks but what they don't tell you is that the goats will actually come when they hear you peeing and circle you- mamas and babies! And it get's better... the goats also clomped around our tent site serenading us through the wee hours with their various pitches of "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE". What a night.
Day 3 day hiked up to the Upper Basin to Little Annapurna which is SO worth it. The upper basin was pretty much totally covered in snow and we wore our gaiters. We would have liked to stay up there one night as it was quite stunning. From Little A saw Mt. Rainier, Adams, Stuart, Glacier Peak, I-90 and pretty much all of Washington. Beautiful alpine meadow and granite stacks of rocks. Spent a good break up there, headed down the wrong way through the snow (oops) to Isolation and Tranquil Lakes to Aasgard Pass with a view of Colchuck Lake and even a distant Mt. Baker. Day 3 night was much more calm; the goats chilled out a little and didn't keep us up with their screeching. We decided they'd either made peace with us or found some other innocent group to mess with. we hung our packs and boots every night for safety - not sure if this was necessary.
Day 4, 2 from our party were going to climb Dragontail but we'd run into a group that said they had to use ice axes a couple times and we had not brought ours so they decided not to chance it. We packed up and headed up to Gnome Tarn for one last jaunt and lunch. You can see Snow, Temple, Viviane, Leprechaun, Perfection and Inspiration Lakes from this point. Started our descent with a glissade down - wahoo! - and headed back to Snow Lakes where we set camp for the last night. The trail down was very trying - believe the books that say this is the long way out - they are right. We encountered our first mosquitoes of the trip at Snow Lakes and they were SWARMING. it was an absolute gift to not have them earlier in the trip.
Woke up early day 5 to the sunrise over Upper Snow. Snow Lakes is quite a lovely spot and worth spending some time at. Headed out in the heat of Leavenworth wafting up at us - it must have been at least 90 degrees and we came down in it slowly and in full sun. Took a quick dip in Nada Lake to cool off and waded into the creek further down at lunch time. The last 2 miles were grueling - drink plenty of water. At the trailhead we cooled off by the water and reveled in our accomplishment.
Can't wait to do it again when there is less snow so we can get a good look at the rest of the topography. Would love to leave a car at the other trailhead and do it as a point to point.
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Baby goat close up
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Dragontail from Little Annapurna
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Upper Snow Lake sunrise
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