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Enchantments...cut short
Posted: October 1st, 2019, 10:49 am
by lalahikesnw
I entered the Enchantments lottery for the first time this year, and got permits! Huzzah! My permits were for Snow Lakes....this past weekend. Anyone who pays attention to the weather knows how this turned out...
We headed up from the Snow Lakes TH on Friday morning and it is a CLIMB. The first 1.5 miles are switchbacks, but gorgeous!
We ran into a FS crew on their way out, they checked permits and warned us of weather.
Got as far as Nada Lake, as my companions were exhausted. This is where our story ended lol. Got 2” of snow overnight and woke up to a backcountry alert of 10-15” expected over the following 24 hours. We made the decision to bail and headed down Saturday morning. Pics before and after below!
Re: Enchantments...cut short
Posted: October 1st, 2019, 2:08 pm
by drm
And of course the Forest Service gave you a rain check for next August? No?
What can we say. Early October may have the draw or the larches, but it is early October.
Re: Enchantments...cut short
Posted: October 2nd, 2019, 5:24 pm
by markesc
Wow amazing! Now I can see why it's a much coveted destination and you still got some good photos + adventure out of it!
Re: Enchantments...cut short
Posted: October 2nd, 2019, 9:00 pm
by adamschneider
markesc wrote: ↑October 2nd, 2019, 5:24 pm
Wow amazing! Now I can see why it's a much coveted destination...
Funny you should say that, because the Snow Lakes area is the
least coveted part of the Enchantments!
Re: Enchantments...cut short
Posted: October 5th, 2019, 8:46 pm
by jalepeno
Most important info missing!
Have the larches started turning?
I'll be there in ten days, hoping they are hanging on.
Re: Enchantments...cut short
Posted: October 7th, 2019, 9:51 am
by Felipe
adamschneider wrote: ↑October 2nd, 2019, 9:00 pm
markesc wrote: ↑October 2nd, 2019, 5:24 pm
Wow amazing! Now I can see why it's a much coveted destination...
Funny you should say that, because the Snow Lakes area is the
least coveted part of the Enchantments!
I was able to hike the Enchantments when I lived up that way 40 years ago. It was getting overrun then, and the permit system was adapting to the increases in traffic. I remember the trail up Aasgard Pass (sp.) was a conga line on sunny weekends, even 40 years ago. Sensitive vegetation was trampled, and candy wrappers and toilet paper were tossed about without regard. I've heard the restrictions plus backcountry ranger presence has much improved those. Adam, if you read this, I'm curious which area is most sought after now? I'd like to get up there one more time before I get too long in the tooth, so I figured I'd try the lottery out just to see what happens.
Re: Enchantments...cut short
Posted: October 7th, 2019, 1:04 pm
by lalahikesnw
adamschneider wrote: ↑October 2nd, 2019, 9:00 pm
markesc wrote: ↑October 2nd, 2019, 5:24 pm
Wow amazing! Now I can see why it's a much coveted destination...
Funny you should say that, because the Snow Lakes area is the
least coveted part of the Enchantments!
Unless you're going by the permit lottery statistics of course.