hiking the Enchantments today

by site editor Rick McCharles

7:45am at the Ranger Station in Leavenworth, Washington, one group permit for the prized Enchantments was available by lottery of everyone standing in front of the door.

Never having lost a lottery in the past, I was confident the hiking Gods would smile on me once again.

They didn’t.

… but another group of losers explained that the Snow Lake camping permit is possibly just as good. Even better, I think, for a solo hiker with only one vehicle. It’s more scenic (overall) than the Aasgard Pass route anyway, I’m told.

I got the single available Snow Lake permit ($5/day) without a fight.

… so, I’ll hike in 6.5 miles to camp at Snow Lake, gaining 4100 feet. Then day hike the Enchantments Sunday, tenting again at Snow Lake. Exiting Monday.

The weather looks perfect. The itinerary perfect.

The Enchantments is an area comprising an upper and a lower basin, the lakes and tarns contained within them, and the peaks of the Stuart Range bounding the basins. The area is located entirely within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Leavenworth, Washington in the United States. The Enchantments is regarded as one of the most spectacular locations in the Cascade Range. …