4 days of backpacking the Core Enchantments, The Jewel of the Cascades (19-22 July 2012)
((( under constructioin. Still Working on the trip report. )))
It was my 2nd backpacking trip to the Cascades. The first was circumnavigating the Jack Mountain in the North Cascades last year.
This year, I was fortunate to backpack the Enchantments which is considered as a Cascades Jewel and needs a reservation to backpack the area. Reservation is selected by a lottery system in early April every year. I did not get selected but Jay Thompson (PWC board member and webmaster) did. He could not make the trip but fortunately, listed me as one of his alternatives. I quickly accepted his offer of the reservation. Since I didn't have much knowledge of the area, I wanted to recruit some experienced and skillful backpackers from my club, PWC. Fortunately, Les and Paul signed up early. Time went fast and I could not get 2 more backpackers. One week of notice to the PWC website and the Kitsap Hikers Facebook resulted in nobody signing up. As it turned out, 3 of us had a terrific time backpacking together.
The backpacking trip consisted of traversing 18.8 miles from Stuart Lake Trailhead (TH) to the Snow Lakes TH, Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Cascades. The area is xxx miles of driving NNE from Seattle, and xxx miles of driving from Bremerton, WA. The Cascades mountain range is a major mountain range in western North America. It runs from southern Canada (British Columbia), through Washington and Organ State, to Northern California.
Here was our daily backpacking summary (All 4 days were perfect days with blue bird days at 50-80s Temp) (about 44 miles with 10000 ft elev gain):
Day 1 (Thursday) (Stuart Trailhead to Colchuck Lake, Side Trip to Stuart Lake) 9.0 miles with 3400 ft elev gain. --- about 4.2 miles with 2900 ft elev gain. Side Trip (Stuart Lake): 4 miles with 600 ft elev gain.
Day 2 (Friday) (Colchuck Lake to Assgard pass to the Core Enchantment Area, Side trip to Prusik Pass) --- about 2.7 miles with 3400 ft elev gain. Side Trip: 3.4 miles with 1100 elev gain.
Day 3 (Saturday) (Stayed 2 nights. Climbed Little Annapurna and Dragontail
Peak. ) --- about 4.6 miles with 2400 ft elev gain.
---- To Little
Annapurna (0.8 miles with 1100 ft gain), To Dragontail Peak (3.3 miles with
1200 ft gain). Upper Enchant Side trip (0.5 miles with 100 ft gain)
Day 4 (Sunday) (Hiked Out) --- about 12.2 miles with 5600 ft elev loss.
Day 1 (Thursday: 0550-1600) () --- about 9 miles with 3400 ft elev gain.
Slept about 5 hours at home on Wed.
Started strength at 10 (scale
1-10 best) and ended with 5. Started spirit at 10 (scale 1-10 best) and
ended with 10.
a. Time 0550. We met at Paul's house and discussed our trip itinerary.
b.
0620. On the road.
c. 1015. Arrived at the Ranger Station, Leavenworth.
d.
1030. Had a Subway lunch at Leavenworth.
e. 1140. Started hiking. We
had a shuttle service from the Snow Lakes TH to the Stuart Lake TH for $50.
It was 4 miles of driving on the paved Iclecle Road and 4 miles on the
forest road to the Stuart Lake TH.
f. 1230-1420. Arrived at the Junction
of Stuart Lake and Colchuck Lake. We dropped our pack and did the side
tour to the Stuart Lake (4 miles 600 ft gain).
g. 1650. Camped at the
Colchuck Lake.
The highlight was checking out the Stuart Lake and to see the Mt Stuart from the North side. The North Stuart mountain range appeared rugged and not accessible. Upon arriving, we were able to see the Assgard Pass which is infamous for its steepness and rugged trail with with scree, boulders, etc. Thunderstorm warning after 4pm did not happen overnight.
Thunderstorm was delayed and happened next day near the top of the Assgard Pass.
Backpacking summary:
0 miles (3430 ft elev). Stuart Lake Trailhead.
2.2 miles (4600 ft elev). Junction to Colchuck Lake and Stuart lake.
0.3
miles (5200 ft elev). Stuart Lake.
4.0 miles (4600 ft elev). Junction to
Colchuck Lake and Stuart lake.
5.8 miles. Colchuck Lake (5600 ft elev).
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Day 2 (Fri: 0655 - 1040. Side Trip: 1400-1800)
Slept about 7 hours. Started strength at 10 (scale 1-10 best) and ended with 7. Started spirit at 10 (scale 1-10 best) and ended with 10.
a. Woke up at 0500.
b. 0655. Started climbing Assgard Pass. When
near the Pass, we were greeted by thunderstorms. I got wet because I did
not readily have the rain gears.
c. 1040. Arrived at the Upper Enchantments
Area for camping.
d. Setup the tent and took a nap.
e. Time
1400- 1800. Side trip to Prusik Pass (3.4 miles with 1100 ft elev gain).
f.
Camped. When we returned, my tent was gone ! Fortunately,
all items, except for one sock were found. They were flown to the creek
on the flat section and got wet including my sleeping bag.
The highlight was climbing the infamous Assgard Pass. It took us 2 hours 15 minutes to get to the top. The Skeeters were bothering us bad almost to the top. Bug repellent worked decent but got beaten on the shoulder and cheek. Upon arriving at the flat area at the Core Enchantments area, we set up our tents and relaxed for a while by taking naps. Around xx pm, we took a side trip to Prusik pass checking out the Prusik Peak. It was a pointy triangular peak that appeared to be difficult to summit. Later on Sunday, the Ranger said that its climb was class V.
When we returned from the side trip, my tent was blown away. I did not secure the tent and did not zip it. Somehow, it never occurred to me that I needed to secure my tent. All items were blown to the creek, luckily on the flat area. All items, except for one sock were recovered. The bad news was that all got wet including my downy sleeping bag, and was not sunny. My sleeping bag was completely soaked in the water. We were able to borrow a downy jacket from another party who would be hiking out next day. Les and Paul helped me get through the night. Les had the skill to set me up. First, my wet tent was moved to a sheltered area. Both Nalgen water bottle was filled with boiling water which lasted about 6 hours. My tarp was used as a floor and used Paul's tarp to wrap around my body. It worked out pretty well.
I slept decent and felt strong next day for climbing.
Backpacking Summary:
0 miles (5600 ft elev), Colchuck Camp site
1.6
miles, (7800 ft elv) Assgard Pass.
2.7 miles (7530 ft elev), Upper
Enchantments Camps site.
3.4 miles (1100 elev). Side trip to Prusik
Pass.
Clchuck Camp Site to Upper Enchantment Camp Site:
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Side Trip to Prusik Pass:
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Goat Family:
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Day 3 (Sat: 0745 -1330, 1830-1930)
Slept about 7 hours. Started strength at 10 (scale 1-10 best) and ended with 7. Started spirit at 10 (scale 1-10 best) and ended with 10.
a. 0430. Work up. The goats woked me up around 0400.
b. 0720. Started
Climbing Little Annapurna.
c. 0830. Summit Little Annapurna. Took about
1/2 hour break.
d. 1045. Summit Dragontail Peak.
e. 1330 Back
to camp site. Decided to stay at the same campsite and hike out next day.
f.
1830-1930. We followed Les for his photo opportunities. We walked to the
East about 1 miles total.
The highlight was climbing the Little Annapurna and Dragontail Peak.
For me, it was probably the most fulfilling day as we summit the Dragontail Peak. A view of the upper Enchantments was simply spectacular, that is, hard to describe with the words. We were able to quickly glissade down to the basin. The Dragontail peak could be climbed from the basin using a crampons and ice axe.
Climbing Summary:
0 miles Upper Enchantments Camp site
0.8 miles Little Annapurna.
3.3
miles Dragontail Peak.
4.6 miles back to Camp site.
To Lilttle Annapurna and Dragontail peak
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After Dinner side trip to the surrounding area:
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Day 4 (Sunday: 0755 - 1630).Slept about 7 hours. Started strength at 10 (scale 1-10 best) and ended with 7. Started spirit at 10 (scale 1-10 best) and ended with 10.
a. 0500 woke up.
b. 0755 started hiking out.
c. 0912 photo
opportunities at Perfection Lake.
d. 1036 Photo opportunities at
Lake Viviane lake (in infront of Prusik Peak).
e. 1200 Reached
the Snow Lakes. Two backpackers were fishing trout.
f. 1330 Reached
the Nada lakes.
g. 1630 Reached the Snow Lakes TH.
h. Picked up
3 pounds of local cherries.
i. Took bath on a creek along the Bluett Pass
Hwy.
j. Picked up some Tacos and Burritos.
k. 2020. Arrived at Bremerton.
The highlight was seeing the rest of the lakes in the lower Enchantments Lakes: , Perfection Lake, Leprechaun Lake, Lake Vivian, Snow Lake, & Nada Lake. We took our time soaking in the views and taking some pictures. When we arrived at the Snow Lakes, we filtered the water and continued on hiking out. 12.2 miles with 5600 elev loss. It was still quite strenuous hiking out. I felt like I just did 16 miles with 4000 ft elev gain. The trail was quite steep in sections with many switchbacks. However, it was sort of uneventful back to the trailhead, except for a section where the area had reminiscent of forest fire. The ridge trail was beautiful with full of vegetation in the valley but with dead trees.
In overall, it was a tremendous backpacking trip seeing the Enchantments. The place was, indeed, a very special place on Earth. I really appreciated Les and Paul who helped me recover the gears and get through the night when my tent was blown away. I won't let it happen again ever.
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Pictures from Paul:
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