[Karen²]

A funny thing happened on the way to Mount Rainier…we scored lottery permits into the Enchantments. After 10 years of being on my to-do list, I am happy to report that I am no longer an Enchantments virgin!

Oh yeah - worth getting up early for

Josie & I had planned on heading to Rainier right up until 9 pm the night before our trek when she let it slip she’d love to try for the lottery permits even though she had been in the Chants 2 weeks earlier. Hmmmm...The Enchantments during peak larch season? Twist my rubber arm!

Larchy goodness

We were at the ranger station bright and early and tried to contain our shouts and jumps for joy when our names got pulled from the can. Aasgard was a cinch (ok I’m lying, I was narcoleptic for 3 days after our return), the weather was warmer than we anticipated, we met several parties of nwhikers on the trail (including a photographer I have been a fan of for a long time – Kerry - hope you and your daughter got out of there before the weather turned ), and we took lots of photos - but you knew that when you clicked on my trip report right?

Josie's on a vacation far away

Arrived just in time for sunset

Lights, camera action

Come on baby light my fire

There is time enough for chimping, when the shootings done

Larchy Way Galaxy

Although we had bluebird skies hiking in and pretty good weather hiking out, unfortunately our one day to explore had nothing but cloud and flat lighting.

Josie doing what she does best

Favourite hangout and our only glimpse of sun

Not Mt Rainier

Tastes Like Lemon-Lime Soda

Where Trolls Do Dishes

What happens after a leprechaun trips

Larch Beach

Where the Rainbow Ends

Contractually Obligated Enchantments Photo

Stolen from Mountain Hardware Catalog

Only one stinkin goat photo!

Himalayan Weather

Sorry knees

Reflecting on a great trip

The only high points photography wise were the sunrises.

Hey sun, why don't you burn off some clouds

There is one last story to tell. Every trip I learn something new. This trip I learned to always bring a spare set of keys for my hiking partner after locking my only set of keys in the pocket of my dirty hiking shorts in the tonneau of my truck. The closest spare set was over 4 hours and an international boundary away. Fortunately I managed to break into the back which saved us a long wait and a major headache. Don’t try this at home kids! Special thanks to Ingunn for loaning me her polarizer after I smashed mine in the BC Coast Mountains this summer.

Thanks Ingunn for the polarizer

Also thanks to Josie for being a fun companion and carrying our spacious digs since I was weighted down with 2 camera bodies and a whole line up of lenses, also related to the massacre of my 24-70 lens this summer.

Is it still called a bivy if ten people can fit inside

The Enchantments in 5D

It is always a treat for me to hike with someone that doesn’t mind my glacially slow wandering pace as I stop to compose photos every few feet of wilderness. Would the last person out of the Chants please turn off the lights?

[Gil]

I am, in a word, jealous.

[Magellan]

Nice pictures Karen. I gotta get in there and pop my cherry.

[mgd]

Great pictures!

[shadetree]

wow I want to go there

[Fenneo]

Outstanding!

[Ingunn]

I could barely contain my envy when you guys scored permits, but now that I think about it it's not that bad to get to enjoy the eye candy without dealing with Aasgard again... Thanks for the fantastic photomographs!!

[the Zachster]

Local hikers...? Beautiful stuff as usual! Glad you got to see it with the gorgeous larches!

[seawallrunner]

oh gorgeous !!! Well done Karen !!!

[Go Jo]

Knowing who I was traveling with I just went ahead and shot pics with my camera phone

Winning the Larch Lottery

World's Biggest Bivy

Chants in it's Halloween Costume

It was a spontaneous adventure that I fully enjoyed, though I found my self singing ♪♫ The sun'll come out, tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun ♪♫ I toted around my big camera too (though it was only focused for half of the trip) and I'll add a little larch p*rn later after you've recovered from K2's awesomeness... and as soon as I'm done making my way through them all.

You Light Up My Larch

The Wizard ~ he just magically appeared

Larch are Fickle ~ of course I need light to shine too

[Toni]

Oh yeah - worth getting up early for

Love this pic, a definite calendar nod...they are all fantastic!!

[hermes]

[Tall Hiker Man]

WOW!!!!!

[Dr. Greenthumb]

chillingly gorgeous photos. I cant believe that place. It blows me away! How cold did it get for you? Were the winds bad?

[Dayhike Mike]