When we arrived at Colchuck Lake, it was so very beautiful! It was warm and sunny by then. Liz and Leeza went ahead of us and found a campsite near the lake. We had a great view of Dragon Tail and the infamous Aasgard Pass that we would be climbing on Tuesday. This would be a 2200 foot elevation gain in 3/4 mile. First over huge boulders, then on loose rock with heavy packs. Ugh!
On Tuesday morning, we got up about 6:30 a.m. It was cold, but sunny. All of a sudden we heard a helicopter overhead. It was flying over Aasgard Pass and even landed on the other side of the lake. The helicopter was close enough that we could see that it was a Sheriffs' helicopter. Then a couple of search and rescue volunteers came through our camp looking for a lost hiker. Apparently, the lost hiker's locator beacon had been on since 1:00 a.m., but they could not find him. They asked if we had heard of him. Of course, we hadn't.
We finally got started on the trail and heard from other hikers that the lost hiker had been found halfway down Aasgard Pass. Apparently, he tried to hike thru the Enchantments, but underestimated the time and ended up hiking in the dark and got disoriented coming down Aasgard Pass. He did not know which way to go. He was cold and had some bruises, but okay. His personal locator beacon worked. We purchased one a couple months ago and happy we purchased one.
As we started on the so called trail (lots of boulders) climbing over huge boulders was very challenging, especially with my short legs. Ted helped me over really large boulders giving me a gentle push on my backpack helping me to go over them. Then it was really steep. The trail was well marked with carins. Our friend, Liz, led the way. She is so great at spotting the carins.
Although very challenging hiking up, we made it! It was so great to look down from the top of Aasgard Pass on beautiful Colchuck Lake. Behind us was beautiful Enchantment Lake. We took a break there and refilled our water bottles and ready to get to find a campsite. We had to hike up one more steep hill, then looked down into the beautiful Upper Enchantment Lakes. It was so windy, and cold but okay. We hiked about a mile when we decided on a camp spot next to a little lakelet surrounded by Little Annapurna and Prusik Peaks and waterfalls. It was so beautiful. We were also welcomed by a few goats. They were waiting. They like to lick up the pee on the rocks. They like the salt. It was cold and windy, we set up camp, had a quick dinner and all went to bed. Burrrr!
On Wednesday, I woke up early and got up. It was cold and a little windy, but not bad. Made my coffee and absorbed all of the beauty that surrounded me. Everyone else got up and we all had our breakfast. We girls decided to do some exploring and hopefully find the trail going up to Little Annapurna. The guys decided to stay in camp. I think they were recuperating from the Aasgard Pass hike! ha! We got our packs ready for the day with water and snacks and off we went. We headed down the trail, when we ran into a group of 5 people. They were really nice. We asked where they were going and they said they were going up to Little Annapurna. We said we wanted to go up there also. They asked if we would like to join them. We said sure! We truly enjoyed talking with them, they were so much fun! One of the hikers works at the same place Liz works. So we are going to try to get together and hike with one another some time in the future. We chatted with them all the way to the top of Little Annapurna 8400 feet. So amazingly beautiful up there! Took lots of pictures and visited with the other hikers at the top. Our new group of friends were camped at Lake Viviane. They stayed to have their lunch and we decided to leave. We took a trail down that looked friendlier than the one we went up, but a little deceiving. It was not a short cut! ha! We did manage to find our way back. Thanks to Leeza who spotted a carin and Liz who found our campsite!
When we got to our campsite, the guys were keeping warm. Ted told me they had a little battle with a chipmunk. It was a really big one and it came into the camp and latched on to my orange cup. It ran off with it with Ted running after it. It finally dropped the cup, but kept coming back attempting to get that orange cup. There was a standoff. Finally after an hour, Ted said it gave up! ha! But not a very nice chipmunk. I was having a cup of tea that evening and it leaked! The darn chipmunk bit a hole in it!
We had a nice dinner, (lightening up the packs). After dinner I read a couple of stories from the Guidepost. Everyone enjoyed them. One of them was about the donutaholic and the other was about a military story about PTSD. Both really good. It was getting cold so we went into our tents to get some warmth. It seemed like a cold night for some reason. When we woke up Thursday morning. there was ice on our rain flap. The condensation was frozen! Liz and I were the first to get up and saw that some small ponds were frozen. We later learned from other hikers that it had gone down to 19 degrees! Burrrr! When it warmed up a bit, we packed up and headed down to the Lower Enchantments. We passed by beautiful Crystal Lake, then on down to Inspiration Lake, then on down to Perfection Lake. Can't describe how beautiful it was. We finally settled on a camp site on beautiful Leprechaun Lake. It was warm and sunny there. We set up camp and of course, our friends the goats came to visit. They are so cute! Liz and I did some exploring around the area. We had a great view McClellan and Prusik Peaks. So quiet and peaceful there. We had a great night's sleep there.
Friday morning, we got packed up again and headed this time to Nada Lake. This would be our last camp spot, then we would head out on Saturday. Where did the time go?
On Friday morning, we packed up and had some pretty good size boulders to hike over. Lots of exposure too. We were very careful! We hiked over to Lake Vivian and had a nice break there. It was the last lake in the Enchantments. So sad to leave it. It was quite a challenge hiking down to Snow Lakes. Lots of boulders to go over. When we got to the upper Snow Lakes, we had a nice break and had some lunch and filled our water bottles. Then it was time to head down to lower Snow Lake and then on to Nada Lake. We found a really nice spot to camp at Nada Lake. Set up camp and got water for dinner. We decided to have a smorgasbord. Everyone bought out their extra food and we cooked it up and ate it! It was great! It was nice going to sleep that night listening to the white water noise near us.
On Saturay we got up early and packed up for the last time. It was a little over 4 miles down to the Snow Lake trail head. We had a nice breakfast and left about 10:30 a.m. Us girls left before the guys did as they wanted to take their time going down. This would also give us some time to pick up my vehicle which was parked at the Colchuck Lake trail head.
As we hiked down the trail, we passed beautiful Toketie Creek and the waterfalls along the way. Liz even found two geocaches along the way. She loves to geocache and really good at it. When we were getting close to the trail head, we ran into a goat with her two little ones. They were so cute!
When we got to the Snow Lake trail head, it was the end of a great and amazing adventure! But we did it! We estimated we hiked and backpacked over 20 miles of the most beautiful area I have ever seen.
We had to get our vehicle at the Colchuck trail head, so us girls rode with Leeza in her vehicle to the Colchuck trail head. When Leeza left us off and Liz and I got into my vehicle I started to drive down the road when I saw a small lady hitchhiking. I stopped and asked her where she was headed. She said to the Snow Lake trail head. I told her to hop in. She got in and she was the most amazing lady we had met. She told us she had gotten started at 5:00 a.m. at the Snow Lake trail head and hiked through the Enchantments! She is a runner and did the whole 18 miles in one day. Wow! She was so interesting to talk to. Liz got her e-mail address to we could keep in touch with her. She even gave us her special recipe of what she eats while on the trail that gives her energy. She even gave us a couple samples. Really good! When we left her off at her car at Snow Lakes, she gave us both a big hug.
Ken and Leeza decided to spend another night in Leavenworth. They were blessed to have found a motel to stay at in Leavenworth on a Saturday when it was a crowded weekend. It was the only one left! They said it was a beautiful place. Ted and I and Liz decided to drive home. We celebrated at the Dairy Queen in Ellensburg and went home. That shower sure felt good after 6 days of no showering and wearing the same clothes. Phew!
A wonderful adventure with great friends! Looking forward to the next adventure! Our God is so amazing! He kept us safe and the weather was great!
Oh, thank you for your prayers, my back was feeling better after two days. It was very sore.
The trail head, the beginning of our backpack trip.
My heavy backpack.
Hiking buddies Liz, Leeza, Ken and Ted
Me in this picture. Nice, fresh and clean!
Beautiful creek along the trail.
Crossing the creek.
Climbing a rocky trail. Up, up up!
Beautiful Colchuck Lake. Aasgard Passin the middle.
Ken and Ted at Colchuck Lake
Me and Ted at Colchuck Lake.
Ted and Dragon Tail Peak.
Liz and Ken getting started on the boulder hopping.
So many boulders!
Liz and the boulders.
One of the many carins marking the trail.
Can you see the two climbers?
Colchuck Lake from the top of Asgard Pass.
Enchantment Lake, first lake at the top of Aasgard Pass.
Tranquil and Isolation Lakes
Having a hot cup of coffee in the early morning and
absorbing the beauty around me.
Beautiful Lakelets where we camped.
Our campsite at one of the Lakelets.
Ted early Wednesday morning.
Liz having a hot cup of cocoa.
Goats visiting our campsite. Mama and her little ones.
Our visitors looking for pee rocks.
Mama goat.
Baby goat.
Lakelets with beautiful Pursik Peak.
Ted and me at our campsite.
Hiking up Little Annapurna 8400 feet.
Liz, Leeza and me on Little Annapurna.
So beautiful up there.
Views from the top of Little Annapurna.
Me, Leeza and Liz with our new friends.
My buddies Leeza and Liz on Little Annapurna.
Come on Liz, you can push it!
More views from Little Annapurna
Leeza coming down from Little Annapurna
Love this place!
Crystal Lake
Spotted this rock with unusual markings.
Looks like some kind of animal.
Liz pointing to Little Annapurna from our campsite.
Beautiful waterfalls as we explored around our campsite.
Me, Little Annapurna above.
Mama and baby goats in the early morning.
So beautiful!
Liz crossing small snow field.
Crystal Lake
More waterfalls
Hiking to the Lower Enchantments.
Beautiful Inspiration Lake
Inspiration Lake
Always good to see the toilet sign.
Perfection Lake through sub alpines.
Perfection Lake with Little Annapurna on the left.
Sprite Lake, so clear!
Sprite Lake and Perfection Lake.
Little Annapurna on the left.
Sprite Lake
Waterfalls on Sprite Lake
Crossing wobbly log
Leprechaun Lake. So green and clear!
Beautiful Leprechaun Lake
Hiking down to campsite at Leprechaun Lake
Liz chilling out!
Ted and me
Me at our campsite
Early morning at Leprechaun Lake
So beautiful! Sun rising Friday morning.
Our visitor.
Hiking toward Lake Viviane
Coming down more boulders!
Ted
Snow Lakes from Lake Vivian. Have to hike
all the way down there.
Hiking down more boulders!
Beautiful Lake Viviane
Hard hiking boots!
Leeza, Ken, Liz, me and Ted.
Me and Ted at Lake Viviane.
Lake Viviane, last lake in the Enchantments
so sad to leave them.
Leeza!
Liz
Coming down more boulders! Soooo steep!
Love that sunshine!
Break at upper Snow Lakes
Leeza, Ken, Liz and Ted
Ted at Snow Lakes
Our shadows.
Heading to Nada Lake
Ted at egg looking rock.
Liz
Quite the waterfall.
Beautiful Nada Lake
Setting up camp at Nada Lake. Our last campsite.
Getting ready for dinner.
The throne! A wobbly one!
Beautiful Nada Lake in the early morning.
Love the reflection.
Ken ready to head down to the Snow Lake trail head.
Awesome waterfalls along the trail.
Love the creeks.
More goats on the trail.
Liz found two caches down the trail to the Snow Lake trail head.
Last creek.
We did it!
Dinner at Dairy Queen. Yummy!
No freeze dried foods!
