Colchuck Lake, Snow Lakes — Tuesday, Jul. 16, 2002

Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area

Trying this again with more carriage returns for possibly better formatting: I went for a 5 day, 18 mile hike through the Enchantments from Snow Lake trailhead to Colchuck Lake trailhead from July 17th through 21st. Weather was hot and sunny the whole time (98 degrees both times I was at Snow Creek trailhead), and the first 3 miles or so from the start is pretty open, hot and dry, thanks to the fire in 1994. Upper Snow Lake is a pleasant 64 degrees for a refreshing swim. First snow is immediately after crossing the outlet for Lake Viviane. Patches of snow continue all the way to Aasgard Pass, with at least a little snow in all the lakes above Viviane. Brynhild was frozen enough to walk over much of it. But that snow is melting VERY fast. Snow bridges were collapsing while I was there, and trail melting out all the time (although the lemmings continue to trample the vegetation at the edges of the old snow trails). Alpine flowers were about at their peak around Aasgard, Little Annapurna and Dragontail. Since the snow is still melting in other areas, meadow vegetation ranges from dormant to gone-by. Excellent flowers all around (see list below). A pretty good assortment of campsites is available throughout, and the snow is easy walking. The only remotely tricky spot could be the snow climb from Talisman Lake (aka Inspiration) up to the upper basin, where a slip could send you into the lake. But it's not too steep, just watch out for icy weather. The main problem might be bugs. I experienced moderate mosquitoes and/or flies at most elevataions, but was told of much worse, for instance around Colchuck Lake. Particularly in the evenings. Bring repellent. There is only one small (40' across, 20' down) snow patch on the Aasgard - Colchuck route, which is not steep or scary, and was soft even at 0900 before the sun hit it. No ice axe is neccesary unless you want to go up peaks. Trail is all in pretty decent condition, although somewhat eroded in spots. Here are the lists of things seen that people might be interested in: flowers (and a few other plants): sorry about the odd mix of names - some I know by scientific name, others by common assorted Asters Sedum spp. (at low elevations and alpine) Viola spp. fireweed assorted paintbrush oak fern parsley fern unknown Polystichum sp. (lonchitis?) Prunella vulgaris twinflower blueberries to eat yellow monkeyflower pink monkeyflower Brodiaea coronaria (Snow Creek only) columbine (some nearly pure yellow) twinberry bushes with fruits pipsissewa (lots along snow Creek) pink, one-sided and green wintergreen pinedrops baneberry (lots along Snow Creek, reb and white berries) Calochortus lyalli? one location just off trail rose Mertensia paniculata Polemonium pulcherrimum Clintonia uniflora (mostly gone by) woodland penstemon green bog orchid Penstemon sp. some sort of Silene Lewisia columbiana (LOTS at 3000 - 5000 feet) Heuchera sp. Rhododendron albiflorum Saxifraga spp., incl. tolmiei and cespitosa Valerian Spirea densiflora lupine sp. Lomatium sp. Veronica sp. Veratrum viride bog laurel trapper's tea Penstemon procerus Pedicularis ornithorhyncha, groenlandica, bracteosa Dodecatheon pulchellum (pink) Dodecatheon jeffreyi (smaller white fowers, toothed lanceolate leaves) Caltha sp. pink, yellow, white, and possibly Alaska heathers alp lily mountain harebell dwarf mountain lupine phlox Potentilla sp. Carex nigricans lots of rockwool lichens, amongst others, in alpine areas moss campion Polemonium elegans (I couldn't figure out why I smelled skunk at 8700') Phacelia sericea wallflower (Erysimum cheiranthoides) Eriogonum sp. (buckwheat) Dryas octopetala Luetkea pectinata Epilobium latifolium (only from Aasgard Pass to Colchuck Lake) Lilium columbianum mammals: mountain goats (approx 10) marmots (lots) river otter (in Icicle Creek, about 10' away as I took a little swim) rabbbit pika ground squirrels fish: fish birds: juncos dipper winter wrens (lots) hermit thrushes (lots) chickadees ruby crowned kinglet ravens hummingbird (only one) drab birds that hang out around snowfields and bob up and down duck families on Colchuck Lake - possibly bufflehead? rocks: granite lots and lots and lots of granite and a little schisty-phyllitey stuff at the Colchuck trailhead parking lot