May 7-8, 2017, Colchuck

We wanted to get in a trip before the permit requirements for the Enchantments this past weekend.  We parked by the closed gate (apparently they are opening the gate only for Permit Holders :() - hiked up the road, snow begins just after the trailhead parking lot.  Followed a well worn track over the two bridges and on up to Colchuck Lake.  We used our skis the last 3rd of the trip up to the lake.

Once up at the lake we skinned over to the north end and camped in a wonderful spot.  It was a great night and we started up the glacier the next morn around 6am.  Cramponed up Colchuck glacier to the col and then made the summit just before noon.  We came back to the col and waited until 1:30pm hoping it would soften up (the southern faces were really great).  Finally we skied down, mostly an icy, chatter experience until the last 500 feet to our tent. 

We packed up and headed out to the car, arriving around 7:30pm.  A great day, stunning scenery, we did a great shakedown tour for the spring and had a wonderful couple of days.  Ran into several folks doing the triple couloir on Dragontail - sounds like it's about out.  Heard lots of helicopter activities late in the day, hope anyone or everyone was ok.