[Canuck]

Perfect trip, it sounds like. Leprechaun is my favorite lake there, too, especially with the larches glowing all around. Tamster & I are already planning our trip there next year! And thanks for posting the rebar shots - I was trying to explain to Tamster why I didn't want to be in that particular spot in slippery conditions... now she understands why! I think in my mind I've made it worse than it really was, but I remember of the entire trip, it was that section there from Vivianne to Leprechaun that was the hairest for me! I'm glad you had perfect weather & perfect trees!!

[fettster]

Opus, Funny, we have the same dates for 2007 you had last year. It looks stunning, I hope the weather works out for us like it looks like it did for you. Do you have some more details on the recommended camp areas for decent shelter? You can send me a PM if you want. -Fettster

[Opus]

The better campsites are in the lower Enchantments. We made the mistake of snagging something right away by Tranquility lake before even looking lower. Way up there the larch are few and far between, and most are only shoulder high. Very windy. There were a few smaller sites that had some rock sheltering though. If you push on further down by the stream and little lakelets past Isolation lake that's where the good sites begin. Bigger larch and better sheltering. Good sites are plentiful in the lower Enchantments. My favorite was the site we had at Leprechaun. Wherever you camp though, I'd recommend bringing a sturdy tent and some guylines.

[fettster]

Thanks for the input Opus. Looking at a map the suggestion makes sense. Do you know generally where the camp sites are for Colchuck Lake?

[Layback]

Pretty sure that anywhere on Colchuck is nice. If you are planning on going over Asgard Pass it might be of interest to go left when you hit the lake in the direction of Asgard Pass itself to save retracing steps later. It's a relatively round lake that looks from left to right if I remeber correctly: Asgard Pass Colchuck Peak Dragontail Peak

[Opus]

When we reached the lake we circled around to the right. There were campsites, and I believe a box toilet, at the end opposite Aasgard. I remember seeing scattered campsites around the lake shore. There was one or two right at the base of Aasgard as well.

[Tom]

[Layback]

Thanks for clarifying. Never been up Asgard Pass. Have only ascended the Snow gully on Colchuck. Glad you were there to clear it up.

[yukon222]

Here's a pic from about 1/3 up Asgaard Pass so you can get a feel for the camp sites. The trail comes in at the far end of the lake and wraps around the left side as we are viewing it from here. As Tom mentioned, the other side of the lake is almost impossible as the rock cliffs almost run down to the water's edge. Several nice camp sites about 2/3's the way along the lake. If you go thru the boulder field to get closer to Asgaard the next morning, there are a few campsites directly below from where this picture was taken, close to the water. Basically, dead center in this picture just to the right of that group of trees near the water. If it was me, I'd try from one before the boulder field. More light, plus you get to look at Asgaard for a few more hours.

asgaard pass partway

[Popcorn]

Way back in Labor Day, 1976, a buddy and I hiked up Aasgard Pass and down the Snow Lake route. Our first camp was at the first lake you come to once you crest Aasgard Pass. Does anyone know what that lake is called these days? The new naming system baffles me totally.

[Schmidt Alti-Dude]

We were up there this year. I believe you are refering to the lake called Brynhild by the Starks or Isolation on maps.

[reststep]

Yes or it could be that lake right there where you came over the top which is I believe the actual pass. I can't remember the name of it and I don't have a map handy. Edit: It is in your trip report. The one I was thinking of is Freya (Tranquil)

[Popcorn]

Thanks, so much, S A-D! I couldn't find my old 15' "Mt Stuart" topo, and I have an old print I made of an old slide. In the "old days," I carried a heavy Japanese SLR, and lots of equally heavy lenses and rolls of Kodachrome II slide film. One of these days, I'd like to convert some of those slides to jpegs. I'm really in awe of the photos that are posted on this site. The almost immediate turn-around time is truly incredible. nwhikers.net has revolutionized TRs.

[NorthStar99]

I was there the same weekend with my 14-yo daughter (who whined absolutely none at all, compared to me, who bitched and moaned all the way up the loooooooooooooong Snow Lakes trail LOL) It WAS absolutely fabulous weather that weekend, wasn't it? It was our very first time there, and we were hood-winked into the crazy-long Snow Creek approach by a VERY biased write-up in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness edition of the "100 Hikes" guidebook (100 Hikes, you guys suck!) Absolutely beat us flat on the way down. Not to mention up. But yes, it was amazing and spectacular and just over the top in every way - even these pictures as good as they are don't do it justice! Superb!!!! My daughter and I are going to do it again this year (via Aasgard, NOT Snow Lakes), and take an extra day in the upper basins to enjoy it more thoroughly. And BTW - if you can avoid hiking down from lake Vivian to Snow Lakes in the dark with nothing more than a couple cheesy flashlights, please DO - it is one hairy scary fumble back down w/o proper lighting!

[Bloated Chipmunk]