[asdf]

If you were going to deviate from the PCT to meet a party to backpack the Enchantments, how would you do it if you were to mainly stick to trails? One idea: drop down out of Cathedral pass, head over the county line and walk the Meadow Creek trail east. But I don't know if any of those ridges in the Stuart Range are easily surmountable from the west. It would be ideal to find yourself at Eightmile or Stuart lakes.

[MtnGoat]

Yup. Head back down to Squaw Lake, then the Hyas trailhead, walk down the road to Paddy Go Easy, up and over that and down to Meadow Creek. Head downstream towards the TH, then 4 miles shy of the MC trailhead, take the turn to Trout Creek, up and over that ridge, down to Trout lake, down the creek a bit to hook into the Windy Pass trail, and up over and down to Eightmile. My quick path measure showed 24 miles and I didn't take time to trace switchbacks and stuff.

[DIYSteve]

More road but less hiking to get to Stuart Lake TH: PCT to Lake Josephine to Icicle Creek trail to IC road to FS road to Stuart Lake TH. You'd likely get a ride hitchhiking for most of it.

[asdf]

MtnGoat, thanks. I was not aware of that trail (Windy Pass)