Colchuck Lake — Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022

Had a weekend in Leavenworth planned for months, so decided to take advantage, wake up early, and make the short drive to Colchuck.  Haven't been up to this area in 7 years, so we were excited to get back.  Reached the trailhead around 6:45AM and had to park 0.5 miles away on the road.  The lot was packed with overnighters, so road-parking was the only option.  The Eightmile TH lot was pretty full as well, surprising for so early in the morning.

The hike up to the Stuart/Colchuck split was pretty mellow, but we passed at least a dozen slow-moving groups, including some pretty large parties.  Once we leap-frogged a group snapping selfies on the bridge by the talus slope, we picked up the pace again, and made it to the lake at 9AM on the dot.  

The basin was COLD, couldn't have been much more than 40 degrees up there, and there were a lot of people spread out on the shore.  We snapped some photos, had a snack, then headed back down around 9:45AM.

Made it back down to the truck around 11:45, after passing over 100 people (we stopped counting) on their way up.  The drive out was madness.  There were cars parked on the road, backed up all the way to the Eightmile TH lot, with cars illegally parked on BOTH sides of the road.  One Audi sedan was parked so far into the road, people were getting out and guiding drivers through the gap (it was that narrow).  People are idiots, and the thought of nudging that car down the embankment definitely crossed my mind.  

All-in-all, a good morning, but if you're going to go up to Colchuck or Stuart before the snow hits, go early or go on a weekday...and don't park where you're not supposed to!