Stuart Lake trail is in good condition. Due to heavy use parts of the trail are rocky and have exposed roots present. Use caution while traveling. Aasgard pass is mostly snow free. There is one lingering patch present that can be easily travelled through. Loose rock and dirt make travel slow. Pay attention to those above and below you while travelling. The core is still covered in a good amount of snow. Travel is 70% dirt, 30% snow. Be aware of melting snow bridges. From Lake Vivian to Upper Snow Lakes is very eroded and has large amounts of steep sections combined with exposed roots. Use caution.
Flying insects are present and abundant. Biting flies, and mosquitos can be found from all trailheads to upper elevation lakes. A wide variety of wild flowering plants can be seen from trail. Flowers include Glacier lily, Paintbrush, Columbine, thimbleberry, Wild onion, and Blue bell. All lakes are easily accessible and very cold. Snow level is around 7000 feet and melting quickly.
DETAILED TRIP REPORT BY SECTION
- Colchuck Lake: The trail to Colchuck Lake is now both snow and log free. Seasonal seeps are causing muddy patches throughout. Please do not widen these by trampling the vegetation along the edges. All campsites are melted out but may be damp and muddy. All toilets around the lake are open and ready for use. Rangers encountered upwards of 60 piles of human waste and plentiful trash between the trailhead and the lake. Please use the toilets along the trail or come prepared to pack out your waste. Mosquitos and black flies are now present at Colchuck Lake. Head nets or repellents are advised depending on your comfortability.
- Aasgard Pass: The route can be hard to follow along the boulder field leading to the base of Aasgard, but is fairly well cairned. Please avoid building more cairns along the route as this leads to confusion and resource damage.The pass is snow free except for one small section three quarters of the way up that requires traversing, however, there is a solid boot pack to follow on this section. Keep in mind the typical summer trail crosses about 10 feet higher than the present bootpack. Use good judgment when ascending and always stay climbers left.
- Core Enchantments: Expect consistent snow travel in the Upper Core and avoid traversing the quickly melting snow bridges, many cross lake outlets and streams making them extra dangerous. Most of the lakes in the Upper Core are still partially snow/ice covered. As snow continues to melt please try to follow the summer trail, which will have a well worn tread. Many sections of the Core outside of the main trail have plants and soils that are easily disturbed. Please try to minimize damage to these fragile areas. Snow becomes patchier near Inspiration and Perfection lakes, but is snow-free after Lake Viviane. All of the toilets throughout the Core Enchantments are available for use, please take advantage of them and pack out your waste.
- Stuart Lake: Trail from the junction of Colchuck Lake to Stuart Lake is in good condition. Expect some muddy areas throughout. A few logs still remain, however, they are easily passable. Camping at the lake will be snow free and all toilets are uncovered.
- Eightmile Lake/Caroline: The trail to Eightmile Lake is mostly logged out. A few larger logs remain, but they do not inhibit travel on foot. Several sections of the trail are slightly flooded and muddy as a result. Use caution and try to stay on trail when traveling these sections. All camping around Eightmile Lake is snow free.
The trail to Lake Caroline, and beyond to Windy Pass, is snow free. Some wildflowers dot the trail to Windy Pass including paintbrush, lupine and mountain asters. Mosquitos were quite a nuisance. Head nets or repellents are advised depending on your comfortability. - Snow Lakes: There are a couple easy to pass logs on the upper section of Snow Creek Trail heading into the Core Enchantments, but it is almost entirely logged out. The trail can be difficult to follow at times, look for cairns marking the route in those sections. Upper Snow Lake has plentiful camping and all 6 toilets are in good condition - please use them! Mosquitos and black flies are now very much present at Snow Lakes. Head nets or repellents are advised depending on your comfortability.
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