Larch Hunting & Enchantments Thru Hike

Into the darkness

Decided to thru hike the Enchantments in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness to catch the changing of the Larches.  For the past several years I was luckily enough to be in a group who got a Core Enchantments backpacking permit and this year a Snow Lakes backpacking permit, but I really wanted to see the fall colors.  With the weather turning and snow on the way for this high elevation area, this week the sun came out and this was my chance.  Thru hiking the enchantments is rough at best and with my summer of adventures as my base I knew that I could handle the difficulty of the hike.  I booked the Loop Connector shuttle, which I highly recommend, as the only other way would be to hike the additional 8 miles from trailhead to trailhead or find someone else to go and drive 2 separate cars all the way to Leavenworth; I did see people riding their bikes back too.  Jordan, owner and operator, of Loop Connector picked myself and a trail runner up at 5am from the Snow Lakes trailhead and drove us up to Colchuck trailhead.  I would start my thru hike at 5:30am in the dark.  The trail runner took off and I was solo, with my headlamp to light the path, I would hike in the dark until sunrise.  I made great time up to Colchuck Lake, getting there at 7:15.

Colchuck Lake with Dragontail Peak

My goal was to get to the top of Aasgard Pass by 10am, so getting to Colchuck Lake early helped.  I started up Aasgard Pass around 7:45 and would be standing on the top of the pass 9:10am.  The more time I could shave off I wouldn't have to be walking the long switchbacks back to the car in the dark later in the day.

First Larches at Colchuck Lake

Larches against Dragontail Peak

Larches while ascending Aasgard Pass

Top of Aasgard Pass

The hike up to the top of Aasgard is grueling, it rises 1900 feet in less than a mile.  But once one reaches the top of Aasgard Pass at 7800 ft of elevation, you're now in the Upper Enchantments and it truly is "enchanting".  There was a light dusting of snow and everything was brilliantly white.  The occasional Larches in their bright yellow popped out everywhere.

Follow the cairns or "rock piles" to your destination.

As I made my way through the Upper Enchantments and down to Inspiration Lake, Larches galore!!

Inspiration Lake

Trail right along the side of Inspiration Lake

I really liked the slant of this larch set against Enchantment Peak

Larches and Prusik Peak

Can you see the trail in this photo of the Larches and Prusik Peak?

Leprechaun Lake

Leprechaun Lake. McClellan Peak behind

Perfection Lake

In August when I was here I jumped in and swam to that little island, not today

Runoff from Sprite Lake. Prusik Peak behind

Larches, larches, larches...and Prusik Peak

Reflections 

Lake Vivian

Upper Snow Lake. Drained from the spillway

Log Jam

I would make it back to the car at Snow Lakes trailhead at 3:30, exactly 10 hours after I started.  I would hike just shy of 20 miles according to my GPS Garmin.