Lake Stuart — Sunday, May. 29, 2016

Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area

First I want to start by saying we showed up 2 days earlier to this trailhead with out dog, not knowing that dogs weren't allowed. It doesn't say it in the WTA description. However, when you arrive there is signage everywhere and there are lists of all the trails that DONT allow dogs....which is all but a few in the Alpine Lakes region and none in The Enchantments. We were lucky to be staying locally and so we chose another dog friendly trail that day and chose to this one later. We did run into a Forest Ranger on our other hike and she told us it's a $200 ticket for bringing your dog. Don't bring your dog. So, we arrived around 7:45 a.m. to a pretty full parking lot and a bathroom line. We chose Stuart Lake because it was supposed to be less busy than Colchuk....but first you have to make it through the first 2 1/2 miles with everyone else. I like solitude and don't appreciate hikers blaring loud music as they hike. I just can't get over why you'd ruin a good hike with music. Especially since our silence allowed us to see 2 deer and 1 beautiful rabbit with white feet that I'd never seen before. The first part of the hike was pretty quiet, we just ran into a few other groups. Mostly people heading for further destinations than we were. There are branches to step over and a few streams to cross on the lower half. At one point there's a sign that said "foot bridge" and "horse ford". This seemed to confuse everyone because we had several people who thought that was where the trail diverged to Stuart vs. Colchuk. Just follow the path to the foot log here....unless you're on a horse! The signs to Colchuck vs. Stuart Lake are well marked. We continued straight to Stuart and that's when you start to see the snow. It's not on the trail until much later but I put my zip up back on at the point. the trail does get some sun but is mostly shaded. It's another 2 miles and though you think it's going to be flat, it's not. It was flat for a portion but mostly it was a slow, gradual grade to the top. We crossed a pretty long snow field. I'd recommend at least trekking poles as you could easily twist an ankle trying to navigate through it. I wished we'd brought yak tracks. We passed several people in sneakers with no poles, I'm not sure how they made it across without hurting themselves. When we arrived at the lake we found a rock and ate an apple. It was beautiful and clear but cold and windy. I only lasted about 15 minutes on my rock before deciding it was time to head down. I knew we'd be hitting some traffic. On the way down we initially only ran into 3 or 4 groups coming up but once we crossed with the trail to Colchuk it was a constant stream. It took us just as long to get down as it did to get up. Just as a note, if someone steps aside to let you come up a hill, it's rude to stop halfway up, put your bags and poles in the middle of the trail and take your sweatshirt off. I'm not stopping for myself. I'm stopping as a courtesy. By the last mile you kind of give up all the trail rules and just go. In total it took us 4 hours to hike to the lake with just a short break. The scenery is unmatched but I think I'll hike to Colchuk mid-week!