Backpackin4ever: washington

4.26.2016

THE ENCHANTMENTS FALL 2015

Lake Viviane from near Temple Lake

After visiting the Enchantments in the spring of 2015 and confirming every hikers raving reviews on it's unsurpassed beautiful, I had to go back for more.
Thank goodness I was able to buy a permit to visit in October 2015.
I entered the Enchantments via the Snow Lake trail which is the most common way of getting up into the core enchantment zone. My permit only allowed me to camp to nights in the Snow Lake zone but i was easily able to hike into the core zone for a day hike.

Nada Lake

I ended up staying the night at Nada lake for both nights. Camping at Snow Lake is preferred rather than Nada but I had a late start on day one and wasn't able to get to snow lake before dark.
I set up my tent just after dark with my headlamp alongside Nada lake. There was only one other group camping at Nada that i spotted.
The next morning I arose to sunny skies and chatted a bit with the other camp while eating a quick breakfast.

McClellan Peak from the belly of Snow Lake

Next the day hike started. I quickly reached Snow lake as the sun had just hit Mt McClellan. To my surprise Snow lake looked like someone had pulled the plug on the drain, it was super low. I hiked down to lake shore which was about 30 to 50 feet below normal. It make for some very cool pictures though. Back on the trail i hiked around the lake and up the switchbacks and scrambled up to the best of the best of the Enchantments.... the core zone.

Lake Viviane

I visited always stunning Lake Viviane and climbed up to lesser know Temple Lake.

Temple Lake looking up at The Temple

Next up Leprechaun Lake, little Sprite Lake and finally Perfection Lake.
If i were to stay a night in the core zone Perfection lake is..... well... Perfection!

Leprechaun Lake

Sprite Lake

Perfection Lake with Little Annapurna

After the lakes I tromped up to Prusik Pass. This is a must as the views are simply awe inspiring. I came across several climbers who just had finished climbing Prusik Peak.

Shield Lake

Prusik Peak

From Prusik Pass looking at Perfection Lake

The weather started to turn as a cold front was making it's path across the central cascades. I headed back to camp at Nada lake. A full day of photography and sweeping views made it fully worthwhile.
Night number two I was alone on the lake with a scattering of rain off and on.
The next morning it was a little chilly but partly sunny. I jumped at the chance to catch some Nada Lake Brook Trout. To my surprise they were in bite mode.

After catching and releasing 8 Brook Trout and exploring the Northwest side of the lake shore I called it a day. I picked up camp around 12 and got back to the car by 5pm. Just like my first time into the Enchantments it was worth every minute and it won't be my last trip.

Leprechaun Lake

The Larch

The yellow Larch needles will guide you from lake to lake

Perfection Lake and the trail to the upper basin

Prusik Pass and Peak from Perfection Peak

Snow lake

Shield Lake from Prusik Pass

Snow Lake

Perfection lake (L) Inspiration Lake (R) and Little Annapurna Peak in the middle

McClellan Peak from the belly of Snow Lake

Inspiration Lake

McClellan Peak from Prusik Pass with Gnome Tarn below

McClellan Peak from Snow Lake

Just above Perfection lake

Prusik Peak from Lake Viviane

Lake Viviane

Looking into the upper lake basin with Little Annapurna straight ahead

Prusik Peak from Temple Lake

Temple Lake shoreline

7.22.2015

What a Gem in Gem lake: Alpine lakes wilderness

Snow lake

If your an avid hiker, then the two words Snow Lake is a quick reference for a crowded accent up to a huge beautiful alpine lake. Its usually packed on all non rainy weekends and can be bumper to bumper up and down the trail .
But it's well worth it as any hiker has to go at least once. The best time to go is on a weekday or in the off season to miss the crowds. There's also another way to visit the area...... via backpacking.
I headed up the Snow lake trail last fall but hiked past Snow lake to explore the lakes beyond.
Gem lake, Lower Wildcat lake and Upper Wildcat lake lay beyond Snow lake among many other numerous off trail lakes.
Gem lake is quite a gem with several nice camping sites but can also be packed with backpackers like Snow lake. My advice is to head to Upper Wildcat lake.

Thunderstorms presiding over Upper Wildcat lake

The trail to Upper Wildcat is overgrown and can be hard to follow but only lasts about .3 miles beyond Lower Wildcat.
Lower wildcat doesn't have much to see as its banks are thick with brush and no scenery of the above mountains. The trail looks like it ends at Lower wildcat but don't be fooled, cross the little foot bridge on the right side of the trail and get cozy with the under story of fauna. Very soon you'll be in solitude along Upper Wildcats shoreline pitching your tent. Bring your fishing pole as the fish should be biting!!
I had no luck fishing at Gem lake but caught one nice brook trout at Upper Wildcat along with several bites within one hour.
Feeling adventurous? Head off trail over Upper Wildcat's North ridge and the lake list expands: Lake Caroline, Hatchet lake, Derrick lake, Little Derrick lake, Horseshoe lake, Shamrock lake and Elbow lake.
My plan was to make it to Lake Caroline but thunderstorms stopped my plans so i rested awhile longer at Upper Wildcat.
The following day before heading back to my car I climbed Mount Roosevelt. This is a quick steep climb which only requires scrambling skills. To get there follow the trail on top of the west ridge above Gem lake. Just keep following the trail as its pretty self explanatory once you find the trail.
Hopefully some day I'll head back and see all the lakes, with such close proximity to each other these lakes would be a blast to explore.