The Enchantments, Colchuck Lake, Aasgard Pass & Snow Lakes — Friday, Aug. 18, 2023

Everything everyone says about this trail is true. Beautiful, strenuous, never ending, etc etc. We hiked on Friday 8/18, as the heat wave was ending and the day before the wildfire smoke settled over the area. Things that are helpful to know:
- the trail is very dry meaning it is very dusty/Sandy all the way through. I was not expecting this to be such a problem for me; really impacted my breathing, and by the end of the day I was breathing through my buff. This was the day before wildfire smoke settled into the area so surely it’s worse today. I was coughing up and blowing out brown crud all day. Bring your inhaler if you use one.
- aasgard pass is eroded in places, with loose dirt, gravel, and rocks. Not always easy to get a good foothold. It was very windy the day we climbed. Check the forecast and bring a rain shell
- the descent to Snow from Vivianne requires a lot of walking down steep granite slabs. Wear grippy boots and don’t be afraid to scoot on your bum. This is a more technical hike/scramble than many people say it is.
- there are no water crossings worth mentioning; shoes will not get (much) wet. Snow lake dam is all dry. Snow lake itself is very low right now.
- the first toilet we came to at Colchuck was nearly full and had at least 6 other buckets all taped up that were full too. Bottom line, be prepared to pack out your poo if toilets are full.
- there is a teeny tiny snow patch in the core that is very easy to cross.
- bugs were not a problem at all on the day we hiked, though it was very very windy. I never put on any kind of bug spray.
- if you drive up the road to the Stuart TH in a sedan, be kind and let the line of folks in high clearance vehicles behind you pass you when it gets long. Driving all over the road to avoid bottoming out is probably going to happen.
- don’t forget to fill out the day permit at the Stuart (or Snow) trailhead and attach to the outside of your pack. It is required even for a day hike. (But free)
Enjoy!!