Three of us are planning on day hiking the Enchantments this Monday starting early in the morning. We were hoping to leave our car in the Snow Lakes parking area and hitch a ride to Stuart where we would start the hike. If anyone is going to be there at this time and has extra room in their vehicle, we would gladly compensate you for the help. We are flexible with the time as long as we're able to start early enough with ample time to complete the hike. If we don't figure it out ahead of time, we'll hope to get picked up somewhere on the road in the morning!
Have you considered just going up and down Aasgard instead of using the Snow Lake trailhead? Turning around at Lake Viviane and heading back the way you came hits much of the grandeur, gives you more time in the core, saves quite a bit of loss, and adds a modest amount of gain. Plus it gives you the option to turn around at any point. Without any side trips it works out to ~6,700' of gain and ~17 miles.
I encountered some inclement weather in the core on Wednesday btw. It was snowing pretty heavy going up Aasgard and dipped into the 20s. Bring winter weather gear. I wish I had brought gloves. Get an early start too. I left the trailhead at 7:30AM and didn't get back to the car until around 8:30PM. Which means I had to use my headlamp for 3-4 miles. I did some exploring up Prusik Pass though which added quite a bit to my day.
I checked this out and it looks like they require reservations and their office doesn’t open until 8am on Monday. I saw they have on call drivers but I’m not confident that I’ll have service to call one at the trailhead. If you have any further information please let me know
I would be coming from Wenatchee, but I always eat breakfast by around 4 am anyway to get ready for my morning hike up Saddle rock. I think my brother has coffee at O'Gradys at the Sleeping Lady with a group of guys every morning around 7 am so I could join them after I drop you off and make it an outing even if I don't hike somewhere. Send me a PM with what kind of group to look for.
Have you considered just going up and down Aasgard instead of using the Snow Lake trailhead? Turning around at Lake Viviane and heading back the way you came hits much of the grandeur, gives you more time in the core, saves quite a bit of loss, and adds a modest amount of gain. Plus it gives you the option to turn around at any point. Without any side trips it works out to ~6,700' of gain and ~17 miles.
This.
I've done the full 20-mile traverse, and I've gone out-and-back on the Colchuck side (as far as Gnome Tarn, about 17 miles total). The out-and-back was much more fulfilling. The only drawback was that the trail down from Colchuck Lake kind of sucks in the dark.
Seemed like a nice group of hikers. Glad I could help them out with a shuttle. Also, it was good to get a current reading on the conditions of the Snow Lakes/Colchuck trailheads at 5:00 am on a Monday in October. Just as chaotic as ever. I even turned it into an Icicle hike after I dropped them off.
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