Backpacking

[Bo Diddley]

[bluegoose]

Did a 3 day trip into the Enchantment Wilderness in Washington state last week. Its a lottery permit system, which we applied for in February. We were assigned a Wednesday entry, which wasn't ideal, but it turned out to be great timing. The Enchantments are just outside a little Bavarian town called Leavenworth. We stayed Tuesday night in a little backpackers hostel there called the Loge. Super cool place. Nice rooms, each equipped with a hammock strung across the room over the beds. Common bathrooms and a great common area for hanging out in. The town was gorgeous. If you've ever been to Solvang, CA, it has a similar vibe, only cooler, imo. I hear its magical around Christmas.
Leavenworth pic.jpg

Our permit was for the Snow Lakes zone. It was a 8.5 mile hike in to the lake, covering about 4,800 feet of elevation gain. It was a grind, steady uphill all the way. Pretty hike from start to finish. The crown jewel of the area is the Core Zone, which is the heart of the wilderness area. They give out very few permits into that area to keep the crowds down, but it still gets a fair amount of traffic, with lots of day hikers and trail runners going in every day. There is a 20 mile through-hike you can do from one side to the other. The Core zone was another 3-4 miles uphill from our camp. The place was unreal. Dozens of lakes of all sizes, a cascading creek connecting them all. Huge granite cliffs. Mountain goats along the trail and up on the sheer cliff ledges. It really was surreal to explore the place for the day.

Viviane Lake pano.JPG

Perfection Lake.jpg


Mountain Goat pic.JPG


Hike out on the third day was 8.5 miles of downhill trail, with lots of rock steps to manage. It was a little hard on the joints, with carrying 55 pounds on my back. It started lightly raining as we finished the hike, and was expected to get some nasty weather the following day. Glad we left when we did.

Beautiful area. Would totally go back, if nothing else than to show my wife the town of Leavenworth. Long drive, but worth the effort to see.

[Joe Public]

not a student of my posts,

At least you now know what the apology was for.

[BigPiney]

Ha. Whoops.

Crunchy, beautiful, hard to get to — this Eastern Sierra town is just getting discovered



https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/14/bi...-owens-valley/

not a student of my posts,

It really is a great area. I am currently thinking about buying a cabin up by the trailhead. FS lease, but would be dream of mine.

The other day it was 108 in town, with that insane heat wave. It was 79 up at the trailhead. Yes, please.

[falafel]

is the apology for providing the wrong link?

Ha. Whoops.

Crunchy, beautiful, hard to get to — this Eastern Sierra town is just getting discovered

No matter which route you take, what time of year it is or what time of day you leave, the drive from San Francisco to one of the most beautiful places in California takes at least six hours. But as anyone who’s trekked over the Tioga Pass and down the spectacularly scenic eastern side of the Sierra Nevada can tell you, the journey to Bishop is worth it.

https://sfstandard.com/2024/07/14/bi...-owens-valley/

[BigPiney]

Also, this thread reminded me of this article I read recently:

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/c...g?format=1500w

Sorry Piney.

is the apology for providing the wrong link?

[falafel]

Also, this thread reminded me of this article I read recently:

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/c...g?format=1500w

Sorry Piney.

[falafel]

Have you been? I haven't met very many people that have heard of the enchantments, let alone actually been there.

No, never been and never heard of them. But I did look at the link you posted and the lake looks gorgeous.

Leavenworth-Adventure-Photographer--9294.jpg?format=1500w.jpg

[bluegoose]

Get lots of pics of Lake Colchuck!

(I know how late this reply is. I don't check this thread that often because I'm jealous and bitter that I can't even go outside during June, July, and August, let alone physically exert myself).

Have you been? I haven't met very many people that have heard of the enchantments, let alone actually been there.

[falafel]

Good question. Its not super high elevation. Trailhead is only about 2,000 feet up, I believe, and most of the Enchantments are in the 5,000-6,000 foot elevation. Passes that we will have to cross get up there a bit at close to 8,000-9,000 feet or so.

Leavenworth, WA is the town nearest the range. It sits at 1,500 feet up or so, and averages 88 for a high in August, with a low of 51. Assuming the fire situation is good this summer, I'm hoping for some primo conditions in mid August.

Get lots of pics of Lake Colchuck!

(I know how late this reply is. I don't check this thread that often because I'm jealous and bitter that I can't even go outside during June, July, and August, let alone physically exert myself).

[bluegoose]

Great pics and trip report, BP.

[SteelBlue]

Ha ha ha a cot and a chair. You gotta vet these guys better.

[BigPiney]

That looks awesome. Is there a Holiday Inn there so I wouldn't have to sleep in a tent?

Yes, you could day hike all of this easily.

[Northwestcoug]

That is beautiful blue water.

[Clark Addison]

That looks awesome. Is there a Holiday Inn there so I wouldn't have to sleep in a tent?