Colchuck Lake, Lake Stuart
Aug 10, 2010
by
Albert88
—
last modified
Aug 29, 2010 02:00 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- 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
- 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
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Overgrown
- Bugs
Colchuck Lake - dominated by Dragontail Peak w/ Aasgard Pass to its left and Colchuck Glacier and Peak to its right
With the temperature forecast to soar into the 90s later in the week, I decided to take a cool but dry Tuesday visiting the Stuart Range from the north. The unpaved road portion was bumpy but not too long. The parking lot at the Lake Stuart TH was just over half full at 9:30am.
The trail is in good shape going to Colchuck Lake with the last 1.5 miles rocky, rooty, steeper, but w/ firm footings - nothing that cannot be handled w/ slower pace. There were no significant bugs on a cool morning. Once the Lake was reached, the lingering sweeping clouds tried to hide the toothy peaks of Dragontail and Colchuck from time to time. But they could not diminish the sapphire shining of the clear alpine lake. There were quite a few people on the trail. Most of them are backpackers and climbers (w/ ice ax). Aasgard Pass was truly waiting patiently for the lucky few!
On my way back, I decided to take a side trip to Lake Stuart w/ its easy grade (600 vertical feet in 2.5 miles). There were a lot more wildflowers blooming there in the valley. Naturally the bugs were also buzzing constantly in the warmer and breeze-less afternoon. With the trail less traveled, the vegetation was a little overgrown but in no way prevented me from following the trail. From a different perspective, the peaks of Argonaut, Sherpa, and Stuart were clearly in view in front of the lush meadow and the pyramid-like namesake ridges of the nearby Mountaineer Creek.
Even after dipping my toes in the cool and sandy Lake Stuart, my feet were getting sore towards the end of the 14-mile hike pushing the limit of my day-hike boots. But the soothing sound of the rapids and cascades fading in and out from the accompanying Mountaineer Creek seemed to be urging me on. Slowly, surely, and safely the TH came into view and a wonderful hike was finished.
The trail is in good shape going to Colchuck Lake with the last 1.5 miles rocky, rooty, steeper, but w/ firm footings - nothing that cannot be handled w/ slower pace. There were no significant bugs on a cool morning. Once the Lake was reached, the lingering sweeping clouds tried to hide the toothy peaks of Dragontail and Colchuck from time to time. But they could not diminish the sapphire shining of the clear alpine lake. There were quite a few people on the trail. Most of them are backpackers and climbers (w/ ice ax). Aasgard Pass was truly waiting patiently for the lucky few!
On my way back, I decided to take a side trip to Lake Stuart w/ its easy grade (600 vertical feet in 2.5 miles). There were a lot more wildflowers blooming there in the valley. Naturally the bugs were also buzzing constantly in the warmer and breeze-less afternoon. With the trail less traveled, the vegetation was a little overgrown but in no way prevented me from following the trail. From a different perspective, the peaks of Argonaut, Sherpa, and Stuart were clearly in view in front of the lush meadow and the pyramid-like namesake ridges of the nearby Mountaineer Creek.
Even after dipping my toes in the cool and sandy Lake Stuart, my feet were getting sore towards the end of the 14-mile hike pushing the limit of my day-hike boots. But the soothing sound of the rapids and cascades fading in and out from the accompanying Mountaineer Creek seemed to be urging me on. Slowly, surely, and safely the TH came into view and a wonderful hike was finished.
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Aasgard Pass - for the lucky and courageous
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Meadow view of Argonaut Peak (left) and Sherpa Peak (right). Mt. Stuart is behind the Mountaineer Ridge on far right.
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Three Stuarts on a cool and cloudy day - the Mountain, the Glacier, and the Lake.
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