January 13-15, 2018, Enchantments Traverse
1/13/18
WA Cascades East Slopes Central
3053
5
Skied from Snow Lake trailhead up through the Enchantments and back out via Aasgard Pass, Stuart Lake Trailhead, and Eightmile Road.
Route was skinnable / skiable from the trailhead, and just about the entire way with the exception of the top section of Aasgard Pass (too many rocks). Snow was dense and wet just about everywhere but for upper enchantments basin, where it was supportable / wind-scoured crust; and Aasgard pass (down to Colchuck lake), where it was a mix of crust and mostly refrozen, small, loose-wet sloughs.
Except for about the first mile, we broke trail the entire way from Snow Lake trailhead to Aasgard pass. Routefinding was straight-forward to Snow Lake, but somewhat challenging above Snow Lake from about 5,600' as the trees are fairly dense and there are numerous snow-covered granite ledges with slide and fall potential. All lakes were frozen enough to ski over. Thankfully, route finding ease improved after Colchuck lake, as other skiers had been there and set a skin track between there and the Stuart Lake trailhead. Snow coverage on Eightmile road down to Icicle creek road was complete.
It was a terrific and beautiful adventure, and we didn't see a soul anywhere but for within a mile of each trailhead. Camped at Nada Lake on first night, near Leprechaun Lake the second night. Little time for leisure with the conditions making for slow-going.
Weather: Mist/clouds with some short view of the sky on Jan 13. Sun for most of Jan 14. Above the clouds in the sun in the upper enchantments basin morning of Jan 15, until we skied down into the clouds about halfway down Aasgard pass.
View of Snow Lake, McClellan Peak in distance
View of Prusik Peak, from above Leprechan Lake
Top of Aasgard Pass, about to head down
Route was skinnable / skiable from the trailhead, and just about the entire way with the exception of the top section of Aasgard Pass (too many rocks). Snow was dense and wet just about everywhere but for upper enchantments basin, where it was supportable / wind-scoured crust; and Aasgard pass (down to Colchuck lake), where it was a mix of crust and mostly refrozen, small, loose-wet sloughs.
Except for about the first mile, we broke trail the entire way from Snow Lake trailhead to Aasgard pass. Routefinding was straight-forward to Snow Lake, but somewhat challenging above Snow Lake from about 5,600' as the trees are fairly dense and there are numerous snow-covered granite ledges with slide and fall potential. All lakes were frozen enough to ski over. Thankfully, route finding ease improved after Colchuck lake, as other skiers had been there and set a skin track between there and the Stuart Lake trailhead. Snow coverage on Eightmile road down to Icicle creek road was complete.
It was a terrific and beautiful adventure, and we didn't see a soul anywhere but for within a mile of each trailhead. Camped at Nada Lake on first night, near Leprechaun Lake the second night. Little time for leisure with the conditions making for slow-going.
Weather: Mist/clouds with some short view of the sky on Jan 13. Sun for most of Jan 14. Above the clouds in the sun in the upper enchantments basin morning of Jan 15, until we skied down into the clouds about halfway down Aasgard pass.
View of Snow Lake, McClellan Peak in distance
View of Prusik Peak, from above Leprechan Lake
Top of Aasgard Pass, about to head down
Welcome to TAY -- thanks for sharing the adventure.
Thanks for the post. Beautiful picture of Prussik Peak. All things considered, you found safe enough conditions, blue sky's, and enough snow everywhere. At those elevations, this time of year...you nailed it!
Those were our tracks up to Colchuck Lake. As you probably noticed we didn't quite make it to the lake as we hit our hard turn-around-time. We must have been close. We descended our skin track, which was quite terrifying at times. Glad you made it out safe. Any pictures of Dragontail Peak? Our whole plan was to skin up to get Beta for an mixed ice/rock climb of Dragontail in a month. Any information would be helpful. Thanks.
Oh! We didn't find your tracks until a little ways down, and assumed we were just off route. Glad to know the fuller story. We were amazed at how clean the track was going down, thinking - these people must be terrific skiers to stay in their skin track on the descent!
Anyway, I was hoping to get some views of the north side of dragontail as well, but it was all clouded in below about 7,500', so no views of Triple Couloirs or Gerber Sink, in case those are what you were looking for. I do have some photos of the east side of the mountain if those would be helpful.
Anyway, I was hoping to get some views of the north side of dragontail as well, but it was all clouded in below about 7,500', so no views of Triple Couloirs or Gerber Sink, in case those are what you were looking for. I do have some photos of the east side of the mountain if those would be helpful.
author=Pleasure Horse link=topic=39515.msg159216#msg159216 date=1516211608]
Those were our tracks up to Colchuck Lake. As you probably noticed we didn't quite make it to the lake as we hit our hard turn-around-time. We must have been close. We descended our skin track, which was quite terrifying at times. Glad you made it out safe. Any pictures of Dragontail Peak? Our whole plan was to skin up to get Beta for an mixed ice/rock climb of Dragontail in a month. Any information would be helpful. Thanks.
Fantastic! What a trip. I'm inspired to get farther from the house than I have been all winter. Thanks for the great pics too. What a beauty with the wispy clouds below.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: