Colchuck Lake, Aasgard Pass & The Enchantments — Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013

Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area

Did not make it to the Enchantment Lakes, but I tagged them to give folks a heads up if they're looking for trail reports but didn't think to look at Colchuck/Snow Lakes or Aasgard Pass. More details below. Went to Colchuck Lake today on a Core Enchantments permit with a heavy pack for a few days but decided to not stay. The gate to the Forest Service road to the Stuart Lake TH is open. It was a cloudy and foggy afternoon. Rain turned to snow a little above 4000'. About 4-5 inches was on the ground at Colchuck Lake at 4PM--much of which fell Wednesday. Trail was easy to follow from the bootprints of a few other hikers, though the moderate to heavy snow at the lake was quickly covering the bootprints at the time I left. It wasn't slick, though that may change after a day of going above and dipping back below freezing. Entry into the Core Enchantment area via Aasgard Pass was *very* tricky today. From reports I heard on the trail, as much as 18" of new snow fell in some portions of the upper basin, though I never made it there to confirm such a number. There's quite a bit of snow (though not 18") on the way up to the pass from Colchuck. The snow has largely filled in or covered the talus--just enough so that it's hard to see where to place your next step, but not enough to keep you from accidentally stepping in a hole. If you have a late season Enchantments permit, prepare accordingly!