The Enchantment Range - Central Cascades in Washington - August 2020
Denise, Dan, Paul and I started at the Icicle Creek Trailhead outside of Leavenworth, Washington. The first day is about a 3500' steady uphill hike to Nada Lake. Younger folks go on up to the Snow Lakes basin or even into the Core Enchantments. We aren't young.
The second day we took the shorter walk up to Upper Snow Lake and found a nice campsite by a large boulder at the lower end of the lake. We prepared to backpack up into the core the following day as we had a core permit.
The third day we headed up toward Lake Viviane and found the way quite steep with some exposure along the way. Again, being younger would have helped. At about 700' up we decided that coming back down from the core over the quartz diorite and granodiorite was more than we wanted to tackle so we went back and were lucky enough to get out campsite again. Most campsites were full by then except for some nice, off-trail sites at the upper end of Lower Snow Lake. If you're seeking somewhere more quiet I'd recommend those sites but PLEASE use the damn pit toilets and don't just crap on the ground and leave your TP lying around. Don't be so delicate/lazy/selfish.
The fourth day we day hiked to Lake Viviane and found it to be beautiful even if it was a bit like a city park in that there were lots of chattering people there. The Enchantments, despite the strict permit system, are quite crowded. There were scores of day hikers and trail runners in addition to the backpackers with permits. If you're seeking solitude look elsewhere or get way off trail in the core.
The fifth day we dropped back down to Nada Lake and then out the next day. It is indeed a knee-pounder coming out. It's unrelenting downhill. In these days of COVID I'd guess that over half the hikers wore masks. More should, despite it being relatively safe to be outdoors. It's just a way of saying that you care about others and that you want us to control COVID.
NOTE: A friend pointed out that I sound like a cranky old man here. I am an old man and I can be cranky and I am bothered that people take dumps and leave it lying around. I'm not bothered that so many use this beautiful place. That's to be expected and it's likely that most of them agree with my take on those who won't take care of their own waste.
Denise, Dan, Paul and I started at the Icicle Creek Trailhead outside of Leavenworth, Washington. The first day is about a 3500' steady uphill hike to Nada Lake. Younger folks go on up to the Snow Lakes basin or even into the Core Enchantments. We aren't young.
The second day we took the shorter walk up to Upper Snow Lake and found a nice campsite by a large boulder at the lower end of the lake. We prepared to backpack up into the core the following day as we had a core permit.
The third day we headed up toward Lake Viviane and found the way quite steep with some exposure along the way. Again, being younger would have helped. At about 700' up we decided that coming back down from the core over the quartz diorite and granodiorite was more than we wanted to tackle so we went back and were lucky enough to get out campsite again. Most campsites were full by then except for some nice, off-trail sites at the upper end of Lower Snow Lake. If you're seeking somewhere more quiet I'd recommend those sites but PLEASE use the damn pit toilets and don't just crap on the ground and leave your TP lying around. Don't be so delicate/lazy/selfish.
The fourth day we day hiked to Lake Viviane and found it to be beautiful even if it was a bit like a city park in that there were lots of chattering people there. The Enchantments, despite the strict permit system, are quite crowded. There were scores of day hikers and trail runners in addition to the backpackers with permits. If you're seeking solitude look elsewhere or get way off trail in the core.
The fifth day we dropped back down to Nada Lake and then out the next day. It is indeed a knee-pounder coming out. It's unrelenting downhill. In these days of COVID I'd guess that over half the hikers wore masks. More should, despite it being relatively safe to be outdoors. It's just a way of saying that you care about others and that you want us to control COVID.
NOTE: A friend pointed out that I sound like a cranky old man here. I am an old man and I can be cranky and I am bothered that people take dumps and leave it lying around. I'm not bothered that so many use this beautiful place. That's to be expected and it's likely that most of them agree with my take on those who won't take care of their own waste.