Hiking the Enchantments 2012

The sudden opportunity came up for me to hike once more to the Enchantments Alpine Lake Wilderness area with a friend that had a permit. (previous times second & third)

Wildfires had been burning in Eastern Washington for some weeks. The Colchuck Lake entrance to the Enchantments had even been closed down because of the fire and smoke. This was our view as we started up the trail so we were worried - until we realized the wind was blowing the smoke away from us.

Our trail.

First we passed Nada Lake. I think it is inappropriately named because it is quite beautiful. It is also in the water supply flow to the Leavenworth fish hatchery.

Nada is fed from the Snow Lakes, but these days by an unnatural method. They tunneled into the mountain and made a bathtub drain in the bottom of the Upper Snow Lake. This feeds a nozzle that shoots into Nada. The roar could be heard for a mile and shoots hundreds of feet down the hill!

We camped at the far side of the lake.

And fisherman Rex had a blast catching and releasing. The fish were so hungry and plentiful that he got bored and quit after catching nearly 30 fish.

The sunset was smokey. Water from the Enchantment lakes above comes into Snow at this end.

Next morning we climbed the wall to Viviane.

Vivane is in a dramatic bowl with distinctive Prusik Peak above. More good fishing.

The water was very transparent. It might have been 20 ft deep at the top of the picture.

We were fortunate to be there (again!) when the Larch were blooming. Looking across Perfection Lake to Little Annapurna.

The Larches out in the open are stressed by winter snows and gain a gnomish appearance.

After we set up camp, a few of us scrambled up to the base of Prusik Peak (just to the right of that rounded knoll on its left).

And climbed up a bit.

Good views of the lakes area, but smokey.

We found an old path and came back through this protected valley. It was lush, and the trees were mostly straight.

However, right by camp was this tree. It is a fascinating combination of new and old. Living wood has corkscrewed around the dead on the branches!

Next morning's view from camp of our first destination - Little Annapurna.

Beauty is everywere as you walk in this place.

Pictures cannot bring the impact of being there and experiencing it, but each time we take many pictures and we try.

Everything is also very vertical. Everywhere is lifted granite beams, and big drop-offs.

Annapurna is one of my favorite places. How did these stones get stacked so neatly at the edge of this high desert meadow?

The smoke was bad though; this day was the worst. Only Rainier stayed above the haze all day.

Several more miles of hiking brought us to Dragontail Peak. I'm on top at 8800 ft.

I walked down the ridge for a look back at the other guys.

I was standing right beside the edge. See that spiky obelisk? I'm the black dot below and to it's right.

Colchuck Lake - which is more than a mile below us - is hardly visible. It is usually a blue jewel.

The wide view.

We crossed a snow field and stocked up on water. Wonderfully cold!

Sunset over Perfection Lake and Prusik Peak in the background, back by camp.

That night, the moon was nearly full. We sat on a rock, watched Inspiration Lake, and listened to the quiet waterfall on its far side.

Next morning, mountain goats visited us again.

They are looking for salt from our urine, licking the rocks. Everybody gets along if we don't get too close.

My beard had gone funny over the nights: a ski-ramp on each side!

As we left camp, we discovered that our food protection efforts hadn't been perfect.

We took our time leaving, absorbing the views.

Annapurna across Perfection.

Prusik across Leprechaun.

We climbed a ridge and found a fantastic view. Yesterday we hiked to Annapurna (left), then to Dragontail Peak just above the rightmost far snow field.

The wide shot showing the lakes, and the valley out on the right.

We camped at Nada and met up with some friends. Dave fly fished barefoot.

I read a book and watched the sunset on the peaks.

The next day we celebrated lunch together in Leavenworth.

It was a very good trip!