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The Enchantment Traverse

Difficulty: Easier
Distance: 30 Miles (w/ exploration)
Elevation Gain: 9000 ft (w/ exploration)
Best Season: Early July through mid-October
Itinerary: 5 days
Water Availability: Good throughout trek

Logistics: Trailheads are about 8 miles apart, so once again we will be swapping cars at the trailheads, just not a 2 hour drive between them!

**NOTE**: Cameron will be heading up the meeting at the P&R in Bellvue. From there, it is just over 2 hours to Leavenworth so make sure you get a hearty breakfast before leaving. We will be meeting at the McDonalds parking lot around 10:30 AM. We are camping at his dad's house till morning. We are also checking into doing some white-water rafting with our sponsor while we are there. Cost is around $65 per person for the trip. This is strictly vouluntary. We will be eating dinner at a steak and seafood restaurant in town that evening. Please bring enough funds to support your habits (eating, shopping or otherwise).

The cost to enter the Enchantments is $5 per day, per person. Please be prepared to pay the fee. This trip is a 'shot in the dark' backup. We may not get tickets but we'll be trying Mon & Tues. Call for details if you would like more info: (509) 362-5450

Directions: Drive Interstate 5 to Everett and take exit 194. Travel east on US Hwy 2 just beyond milepost 99, entering Leavenworth and immediately turning right on Icicle Road. Drive 4+ miles to the Snow Lakes Trailhead and drop a vehicle or two off here. Drive 4+ miles to Bridge Creek Campground and Forest Service Road 7601. Turn left on Road 7601 and drive the steep, narrow road about 4 miles to the parking lot at the Mountaineer Creek Trailhead, elevation 3,400 feet.

DAY ONE: 5+ MILES, 2,400 feet gain
Begin trekking up the Mountaineer Creek Trail, elevation 3,400 feet - your hiking goal for the days is the far end of Colchuck Lake, a slow 5+ miles away. In a short hour cross over Mountaineer Creek on a sturdy bridge and enjoy a break near the stream. Moving again, switchback steadily uphill 500 feet before traversing gently to the Colchuck-Stuart Lake Trail junction, elevation 4,500 feet. Turn left toward Colchuck Lake and soon after cross the substantial stream on a sturdy bridge.
Tailing uphill through the woods, reach a scenic view on granite slabs overlooking the valley from Lake Stuart to Mount Cashmere. Climb the last 300 feet and abruptly exchange forest for spectacular alpine views on the shores of Colchuck Lake, elevation 5,600 feet. Walk the short distance left to the head of the lake and brilliant views to Dragontail and Colchuck Peaks, separated by the steep ice of Colchuck Glacier. Then regain the trail traversing the lakeshore. The ups and downs are very modest, and any time you choose the wrong trail, you will find it soon rejoins the "main" trail in a short distance. Camp at Colchuck Lake.

DAY TWO: 5 MILES, 3,200 feet gain
Day two takes you up and over Aasgard Pass into upper Enchantment Basin and on the excursions to the top of Little Annapurna. The slope to the pass remains shaded by the high peaks until midmorning. A sweltering climb in the afternoon sun, in the chill of morning the climb is cool and comfortable. The key to ascending Aasgard Pass is as follows: Travel on boot-built tread to the left of the stream flowing from the pass. Stay left of the broad rock band one-third of the way up the slope. Progress is easy to recognize as measured against ever-retreating Colchuck Lake. Continue ascending the steep switchbacks, moving right to more gentle terrain three-quarters of the way up the slope when steep rock blocks a direct route. At this juncture, traverse right on sandy slopes and ledges, crossing one stream buy not the second; then climb sharply upward on rock slabs and edges. Stay off steep snow unless you have the skill to arrest a slip. The angle soon eases and by following large rock cairns the doors to the Enchantments open to you.
Amble across gentle ridges and along lakeshores of blue. Large patches of snow, some permanent, linger in the upper valley. AS you descent by numerous small tarns, remaining snow gives way to meadows. Now face one final challenge: the ascent of Little Annapurna.
Obligatory Side Trip 1: From beyond Brynhild Lake (Isolation Lake), elevation 7,600 feet, choose the path of least resistance in order to gain the ridge that forms the southern boundary of the Enchantment Basin, from Dragon\tail on the west past Witches Tower to Little Annapurna on the east. Once on the ridge crest, travel east with modest ups and downs to the very top of Little Annapurna, elevation 8.400 feet. Figure on a round trip of 2 – 3 hours. The views from Little Annapurna are spectacular: Mount Adams, Rainier, Stuart, and Baker highlight the state-long panorama. Below is the beautiful vertical south face of Prusik Peak, golden in the afternoon glow.

DAY THREE: 6 – 8 MILES, 2,000 – 3,000 feet gain
Pack up camp, for the spectacular views and camping near Gnome Tarn are a must to experience. To reach Gnome Tarn, descend past Talisman (Inspiration) Lake. A steep snow slope with a runout directly into Talisman Lake may cause you to pause. Pick your way around it if necessary and continue past the lake to the gently sloping meadow on the shores of Rune (Perfection) Lake, elevation 7,100 feet Instead of ascending on boot-built tread to the obvious pas in the ridge to the north, Prusik Pass, ascent 90 degrees right of the pass to the ridge crest near Gnome Tarn and enjoy climax views of nearby Prusik Peak and the Enchantment Basin from Dragontail to McClellan Peaks. Fill your day with one or more of the following explorations:
Obligatory Side Trip 2: From near Gnome Tarn, scramble on or near the crest to Prusik Pass, elevation 7,400 feet. Descend gravely slopes to 7,100 feet elevation, then ascend gentle slopes northwest toward the high plateau near the very top of Cannon Mountain. Climb past lovely private lakelets, ideal for swimming, camping, and relaxing. Move through meadows of larch and scramble talus slopes to the rounded stones interspersed with tufts of vegetation amongst pools of snowmelt – with unique and dramatic views of the Stuart Range. The plateau is rarely visited and will offer you a day of solitude, beauty, and satisfying off-trail exploration. Figure on a round trip time of 4 – 5 hours from Prusik Pass.
Obligatory Side Trip 3: Also rarely visited, for the fisherman or the lake lover, enjoy a day or afternoon at Shield and Earle Lakes. Follow the aforementioned route to Prusik Pass and then simply descend directly to the lakes in the broad meadow basin beneath you, elevation 6,700 feet. Figure on a round trip of up to 3 hours to all day, depending on how much time you spend at the lakes.
Obligatory Side Trip 4: From Prusik Pass, ascend the ridge crest west onto the small plateau at 8,100 feet beneath the summit of Enchantment Peak. Gain fabulous views of the basins on either side, as well as a profile view of all the grand rock spires on Temple Ridge, from Prusik to Comet. The peak itself, elevation 8,500+ feet, is a tricky scramble, so don’t exceed your comfort zone in your quest for the tip-top. Figure on a round trip of 2 – 3 hours from Prusik Pass.
Regardless of your day’s adventures, relaxing near Gnome Tarn as the evening light settles over the Enchantments will find you reveling in the experience.

DAY FOUR: 7 MILES, 1,000 feet gain
Descending from Gnome Tarn, regain the trail near Rune (Perfection) Lake. Walk along the lakeshore trail, with the vertical profile of Little Annapurna rising above the water blue. One final essential exploration remains.
Obligatory Side Trip 5: Cross the torrent flowing from Rune Lake and contour around the ridge toe descending from McClellan Peak into the lovely basin of Crystal Lake. This delightful basin is very private, especially given that its location is only 30 minutes from the beaten path. Nestled beneath the rugged cliffs of Little Annapurna and draining steeply into the Ingalls Creek Valley, Crystal Lake offers a unique view and feel of the Enchantments. Figure on a round trip of 90 minutes.
If possible, Leprechaun Lake is even more stunning than Talisman and Rune, nestled in larch-filled meadows tucked beneath the spires of McClellan Peak. Viviane, though, is the climax. Crystal and deep, surrounded by white granite cliffs dropping visibly beneath the liquid surface, the south face of Prusik peak looms directly above it.
Once across the Lake Viviane outlet on spindly logs and boulder hops, stop to enjoy your last look up at the Enchantments and your first look across Trauma Rib and down to Snow Lakes. The path traverses a few hundred feet before descending toward the lake far below. Follow rock cairns and bits of dirt tread, dance across granite slabs, and carefully descend steps blasted or carved in steeper rock. At times the challenge of Trauma Rib. The route is easy to lose, but usually readily found. It is very easy to stumble and skin yourself up, even hurt yourself.
Reaching upper Snow Lake, follow the narrow trail through marshes and small trees near the water. Remove your shoes and tiptoe through ankle-deep water across the dam/intake structure regulating the Snow Lake outlet. Late in the season the foot-wide concrete dam stands several feet above the water’s surface. Beyond Snow Lake, crest a small rise and enter a talus field with broad views over lovely Nada Lake, shimmering water in a basin of tall timber and glistening granite. If Viviane is the most spectacular lake, Nada is the most elegant. Switchback through the boulders to the lakeshore, find a lovely camp near the lake.

DAY 5: 5+ MILES, 300 feet gain
Back to the cars.